Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers: RiD/Robots in Disguise (Car Robots), Armada (Micron Legends), Energon (Superlink), Cybertron (Galaxy Force), Beast Wars II or Victory. Read & Review, please!
Plot – After the tragic loss of Miranda Jones, Kicker and his family try to recover themselves, while being joined by Coby, Lori and Bud. Along the way, they discover that Koji's birthday is nearby. But then, Lori accidentally assaults him after not accepting Coby's joke. In return, she wants to fix her mistake by finding the perfect gift. However, the Decepticons have overheard it and are planning a bigger surprise for Koji.
Chapter 21: Crashing The Party
Outside, Dr. Jones heard Kicker's loud scream and was awfully surprised as to what the result was. "I don't like the sound of that."
"You don't suppose..." Before Misha could go on, she sees Kicker coming from out of the hospital with his head hung down and feeling forlorn.
Sally ran up to him and asked about their mother. "Kicker, is she..."
He responded by shaking his head.
When that happened, her eyes were widened and cried hard as she nestled her head on his chest. Dr. Jones also became mournful of this horrific loss, along with Misha, Rad, Alexis and Carlos. As for the Autobots and everyone else, they also became very shocked of this tragic news.
As Kicker stroked Sally's hair and embraced her, some tears had strolled down from his eyes.
Several days later, everyone attended at Miranda Jones's funeral and were all dressed in black clothing. It was a day of mourning. Koji, T-Ai, Karl, Jenny, Bridget, Kelly, Billy, Fred and Ga'Mede were all there to mourn the loss of Miranda Jones. The Autobots were also there as they stood idly by and watched the service commence.
As for Kicker, Misha, Rad, Alexis, Carlos, Dr. Brian Jones and Sally, they mourned the most with tears of sadness in their eyes and their expressions were filled with distraught.
During the memorial service, three familiar faces have come to share their condolences to the late Miranda Jones. Like the rest of the people, they too were dressed in black, while carrying an item in their hands.
As Rad lifted his head up and overhearing the small footsteps, he noticed their appearances and tapped Alexis and Carlos on their shoulders.
Alexis widened her eyes in astonishment and whispered quietly in Rad's ear. "Rad! That's Coby, Lori and Bud!"
"Yes, I see them, Alexis. But, what is it that they're holding?"
"Good question," says Carlos.
When everybody have managed to finish their final prayers, Coby, Lori and Bud present Kicker a long red, yellow and orange vinyl robe.
"Thanks but, what am I supposed to do with this?" he asked.
Coby answered. "Just place it on-top of your mother's casket and you'll see why."
By nodding his head, Kicker walked right up to the casket, covered it up and revealed its features. It had an Autobot symbol in the center with red, orange and yellow flames in the background. He was amazed that it has the same design on Rodimus' chest-plate. After that, he stares at the casket with his deceased mother inside and watches it laying down slowly six feet under.
As it hits the bottom, a prayer was sung to honor the memory of Miranda Jones.
Whereas Kicker, he was in no mood for a choir and as he turned away quietly, he reached inside his pockets and pulled out the ring that his mother gave to him before her unfortunate passing. He grasped it tightly and thought to himself, regarding his relationship with Misha. "Don't worry, Mom. I won't let you down."
One week has gone by, since Miranda has passed on. But the Jones family and everybody else are still reeling with despair. That is, except for one individual: Koji.
He made a deep sigh with Bud standing against the wall next to him, while the rest of his friends are busy chatting. "This is going to be really hard on them."
"Yeah, I know. It was heartbreaking to see her gone so sudden. By the way, my name is Bud Hansen."
Koji shook Bud's handshake and replied back. "I'm Koji Onishi and I wasn't referring to her."
"Huh? Then, what's eating you?"
Coby and Lori huddled over, along with Karl, Billy, Jenny, Bridget, Kelly and Fred as to what is going through Koji's mind.
He stares at everyone and unveiled the truth. "It's...my birthday."
"What?" they all gasped in unison.
"S-Seriously? It's already today?" Kelly asked to Bridget.
"Who knew?" she shrugged her shoulders.
"So, why are you looking so down all of a sudden?" wondered Jenny.
As Koji turned his head away, he verified to the group. "It's not about my Dad, it's my Mom. I haven't seen nor heard from her, since my Dad left." He buried his face between his crossed-legs. "I just...don't have the slightest clue."
"Man, he's taking it hard" says Coby. "What should we do?"
Lori grunted. "Don't look at me. I ain't a party planner."
"We can't just let him sulk there" Billy suggested.
"Or, getting himself starved like I am" says Fred rubbing and feeling his stomach.
Billy got irritated once more from Fred's hunger problem and so, he pulls out his wrench from side pocket and whacks him at the back of his head. "Do you ever get tired of that?!"
"I don't know. But, will you please stop hitting me with that wrench of yours? It really hurts, when you do that!"
"The answer is no!" he said angrily.
Coby was a bit surprised with Billy's outburst on Fred and makes a funny laugh.
That didn't approve Lori at all and began to get upset with him. "What's so damn funny?"
When Coby continued to laugh, he explained. "He's a lot like you, but only much younger and your temper is much shorter than his."
Once Bud laughed with Coby, Lori's face turned pure red and became very angry with his silly comment on her. She was about to throw a vicious punch until Bridget, Kelly, Jenny and Karl intervened by restraining her.
"Lori! Calm down!" told Bridget.
"Don't take it personally. I'm sure, he didn't mean it" Jenny informed.
"Like hell! Now, let me go!" Lori tries to get out, but she failed.
Later on, she hears someone giving her a message. "Hey, now. Just take it easy. You need to learn to joke for once."
With frustration in her eyes, she breaks free and shouted at the individual. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, like...hell!" She throws a hard right fist straight at the person's face and fell to the ground.
Everybody gasped in shock to see that Lori has assaulted someone.
Bridget stood right in-front of Lori's face and became irate. "You fool! Do you realize what you've done?"
"No and why is that?"
"Take a look." Kelly points to Lori as to whom she attacked just now.
When Lori slowly turned her head, she gasped in shock by seeing Koji on the floor and covering his injured eye that had a small black mark. "Oh, crap!"
"Nice going, Lori" says Coby pouting.
"You hurt Koji on his birthday!" says Jenny.
Lori felt sorry. Her attitude had gotten the better of her and this had resulted of hitting Koji on purpose. As she approached to him, she apologizes for her actions. "Listen, I'm really sorry about..."
"Don't talk to me!" yelled Koji.
They all stood there and became perplexed to hear Koji's slight reaction.
As he managed to get to his feet, Lori tries once again to make up for her mistake. "Koji, I said that I'm..."
But much to her dismay, he interrupts her and shouts right back at her in anger. "Get out of my face!"
The moment she heard him say those harsh words, her heart had cracked. As she froze in silence, Koji placed his hand on his forehead and ran away from them without replying back.
Coby placed his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Her complexion was filled with misery and replied softly. "No. I shouldn't have done that in the first place. If only there was some way of helping him out, I would be able to solve this."
Most of the others were in deep thought. That's when Bridget, Jenny and Karl had come up with a solution.
"Actually, there is a way. But, we mustn't tell Koji about this. Do you want to help?" Bridget offered.
Lori reluctantly agreed by nodding her head.
"Okay. Now, here's what I'm advising."
Elsewhere at the Main Computer System, Kicker, Sally, Dr. Jones, Rad, Alexis, Misha and Carlos were all still feeling the effects from Miranda Jones's funeral, a few weeks ago.
As for Ga'Mede, he stood himself against the wall with his arms crossed. He too felt sorry for this heartbreaking loss.
Sally begins to cry and nestled her head on Dr. Jones's chest, while he embraced her.
"I still can't believe that she's gone" says Rad sadly.
"Yeah." Alexis wipes her tears from her eyes that almost trickled down her cheeks.
"Hey." Rad puts his hand on her shoulder and responded. "Let's just keep it together. We don't want the Decepticons to get the edge on us, right?"
She turns to him with a faint smile on her face. "Sure, Rad."
Just then, Optimus, Rodimus and Magnus came in.
"How goes it, Optimus?" Kicker asked.
"We've checked on the status of Fortress Maximus back at the Arctic Ocean and so far, he remains under stasis-lock for the time being."
Rodimus stared at the group. Their expressions were heavy. "You're still devastated with this loss of yours, aren't you?"
"Yes, we still are." Sighed Kicker. "This is almost as worse than Misha losing her parents."
"Kicker..." thought Misha in her mind.
"Oh, this is getting out of control. I mean, first they've wanted Koji, than Fortress Maximus and now with this evil twin of T-Ai, we're almost at the deep end" Carlos explained.
"Don't push your luck, pal. We're not in hot water, just yet" Magnus informed.
"But, I still believe that we are. Better yet, is it possible that there might be a connection to all of this?" thought Kicker.
"It's highly possible. Though, I have no doubt that Galvatron would do anything in his power to get what he wants and that's..."
Before he could press any further, someone had interpolated him.
"Optimus!"
As they all looked ahead, they noticed that it was Coby, alongside with Lori who interrupted.
"Hey, dude! What's up with Lori?" Carlos asked.
"She accidentally punched Koji in the face."
"What?" they all shouted together.
"Why did she do that?" Alexis wondered.
Coby explained her actions. "When we were making up a silly joke about Billy and Fred, she had simply lost it and punched Koji in the face." He turned to her. "You just had to do that."
"I-I tried to apologize but he didn't listen. Especially on his birthday."
"His what?" gasped Rad.
"I didn't mean to. It was un-intentional" cried Lori.
"Looks like, we have an issue that needs to be settled. Your intake on this, Optimus" Rodimus said.
"I suppose, we'll help. But, let's see to it that he doesn't know about it."
Rodimus nodded. "Yes, sir."
Magnus grunted at his brother's idea. "I don't like this at all, Optimus. Why do we even bother of throwing a surprise for him, when we can launch an all-out attack on the Decepticons?"
"You have to understand that Koji's life has taken a harsh turn, when his father passed on. Now that the Decepticons have returned with Neo-Dark Energon, along with Fortress Maximus involved, we have to be more cautious. So for now, let's make some arrangements."
Back at Decepticon HQ, M-Ai is recharging her Neo-Dark Energon powers. It was almost alarmingly low, before Galvatron and Cryotek have connected some wiring to her body, in order for her powers to be at full capacity.
Whereas the Decepticons, such as Mega-Octane and Bruticus including the others, they were discussing about M-Ai restoring her strength.
"How long do you think that it will take for her to be fully-charged?"
"In about one solar-cycle. It's already been a few weeks and there's hardly any action going on from those Auto-jerks."
"Yeah. Ever since they've created her, plus Ga'Mede and Magnificus turning against us, things have been really rough nowadays" Bludgeon mentioned.
"But what about that cyber-chip, she retrieved from that miserable human? We're uncertain, if it's fully functioning" thought Axer.
Unfortunately, Galvatron and Cryotek have overheard the commotion relating to the item.
"We heard that."
"In fact, we've inserted it into her brain. However, we've also discovered that Fortress Maximus is under stasis lock with a stronger bio-recognition command block. Right now, it's stationed at the Arctic Ocean."
"That's a real shame. Anything else?" asked Dread Wind.
"There is. Check this out." Wind Sheer called to them, by viewing the Main Monitor System. "Do you notice anything wrong with this picture?" He shows the faction the clear blue sky with many cities and streets below.
This had sparked some curiosity from both Decepticon leaders.
"What are you trying to tell us, Wind Sheer?"
"This is no time for a sight-seeing tour!"
He replied. "It's more than that. There's not a single Autobot or any of those annoying humans snooping around. It's like, they're planning something in private."
Galvatron folded his arms. "I see. This isn't like them. I'm beginning to suspect that weather is going through the mind of Optimus, it's not about eliminating our Neo-Dark Energon."
"Perhaps, we should barge in and find out what it is" Cryotek suggested.
"An excellent idea. Ro-Tor! Sunstorm!"
The two aerial Decepticons stepped forward.
"Yes, Galvatron?"
"What are your orders?"
Galvatron commanded to them. "Scope out every area in the city for any Autobot or human that you can find. When you do, pay close attention to every detail and report back to me at once. I'll also be sending you the Spy-Changers and Mega-Octane with you. Now, go!"
Ro-Tor and Sunstorm bowed to him.
"Of course, Galvatron."
"We'll be on our way."
Somewhere in downtown, Lori, Coby, Bridget, Bud and Kelly are busy browsing around the city with the Autobot Brothers. Trying to find the best possible gift for Koji's birthday. But all that they could find were clothing, furniture and electronics but none of them were the right ones that were suitable for him.
Lori made a sigh of disbelief sitting next to Coby inside Sideburn. "This is so boring. We've looked through every shopping district and still, nothing would please him."
"Don't worry. We'll find something."
Kelly responded, while sitting next to Bridget and Bud on the back seat inside X-Brawn. "We just have to keep trying."
That's when Bridget had noticed someone in the distance. "Wait! We might have found the right one." She gets out of X-Brawn's seat and stepped onto the sidewalk to see a young woman walking.
This had left confusion for the others.
"Great. Now, what's up?" thought Bud.
"Whatever Bridget is planning, it better be for a good reason" Coby said.
"I hope so. I still feel left out after what happened with Koji" grumbled Lori.
He answered to her. "Hey, don't let that get to you. When it's all set and done, you'll be able to forgive him."
She smiled. "Thanks, Coby." She concludes her sentence by planting a kiss on his cheek.
Sideburn pouted. "Get a room, will you? It's not like that you're going to make amends with him." He right away gasped, when he saw Lori twitching her eyebrow, grinding her teeth and her whole face turning red with steam coming from out of her nose and ears.
Coby instantly got out of Sideburn, before Lori blew her top. "Oh, no! Not this again!"
And then, it happened. Lori throws out her temper tantrum right at Sideburn. "Don't tell me, what to do! You damn hot-head!"
The blue Autobot began to panic. "Hey, cut it out! I was only kidding!"
"Shut up, you bum!"
Upon looking on helplessly at Lori taking out her anger and frustration on a defenceless Sideburn, Coby shook his head in shame. "After all these years, she's still easily hot-tempered."
Kelly asked Bud by raising her eyebrow in question. "Was she always like this, when you first met?"
He replied. "That's basically it."
"You don't say. She's almost similar to Ultra Magnus and Kicker combined. Only worse" says X-Brawn.
"Let's not even go there. We've got a job to do." Prowl than sees Bridget being accompanied with the young woman that she saw. "Hey, there's Bridget and she's with someone."
"Say, Bridget, who is that woman?" asked Coby.
As she looks around the area, she whispers into Coby's ear. By telling him of who that woman really is, he gasped in shock.
"N-No way! Are you certain that's her?"
Bridget nodded. "Yes, indeed."
"That's great. Now, excuse me." By checking on to see Sideburn, he was still get beaten by Lori's anger, before Coby interrupts and breaks up the situation. "Hey, Lori. Bridget just brought her gift for Koji."
After hearing from his response, Lori managed to cool down and exits out of Sideburn. "Well, it's about time." She brushed herself off. "So, what now?"
Bridget confronts her. "Now's your chance to make up for your mistake on Koji, by surprising him with that gift we brought."
"What? Me?" cried Lori.
Unknown to them and the Autobot Brothers, Mega-Octane and Hot-Shot, a member of the Spy-Changers under the influence of the Neo-Dark Energon were spying on them from a couple of blocks away.
"Interesting. They're throwing out a surprise party. Wait till they see ours."
"Of course. Notify Galvatron, immediately. I'll follow them." Hot-Shot utilizes his stealth-tactic techniques by hiding inside the building, turned on his invisibility mode and went underground.
Mega-Octane than makes contact to his leader. "Galvatron, I've discovered the situation with those pesky humans, while hanging around with the Autobot Brothers."
"And what's the verdict?"
He responded. "It turns out that they're pulling off a surprise party for the human, Koji. Good thing, we didn't get invited."
Galvatron grinned. "That's the idea."
"Huh? What do you mean? Hot-Shot and the Spy-Changers are already on pursuit with them and..."
"Let them be. We want to ensure that all of the cards are put in place. Once they're all flipped up, we shall strike" told Galvatron.
"It better be a good hand. Otherwise, we'll have to draw another set" Cryotek cited.
Meanwhile, back at Autobot HQ, Koji is having a discussion with T-Ai about the incident that occurred between him and Lori.
"And, that's how it is. When Lori couldn't take a joke from Coby, she physically attacked me on purpose. In other words, I tried to help her."
"Just before you yelled at her in the face?" she thought.
Koji nods his head. "And, today is my birthday."
She gasped. "What? Koji, why didn't you tell me about it?"
He continued. "Remember the funeral that we attended for Kicker's mother? I was also feeling the effects. Yet, I felt discouraged when we uncovered that Galvatron placed a miniature cyber-chip inside my head before he brainwashed me with Dark Energon. That enforced me to bring Fortress Maximus all the way from Planet Cybertron." Koji stood up from his bed, clenched his fist tight and pounded the wall in frustration. "Damn it! I can't believe that I've brought him here for nothing! All because of Galvatron manipulating me!"
T-Ai consoles him. "Koji, please calm down. It's not your fault."
By releasing his fist from the wall, he breathed deeply. "I'm sorry. It's just that...I don't know as to why they would be interested in me and Fortress Maximus. Almost as if, they would use me as a pawn in their personal game."
During his conversation with T-Ai, Rodimus was eavesdropping on the details from outside of the door and listened carefully while Koji pressed forward.
"If for some reason, I would redeem myself by proving that I can still control him, I might be able to pull it off."
For T-Ai, however, it didn't suit well for her. "Don't forget, Koji. Fortress Maximus is still under stasis lock and may have its bio-recognition command block but much stronger. I hate to say this but, the possibility of you controlling him again is slim to none."
Koji started to protest. "How can you be so certain that I can't? I haven't even tried!"
Moments later, Rodimus stepped in and decided to end their conversation. "For once, she's right, Koji. You may not be able to function him."
"But, why not?"
The red and yellow flamed Autobot replied. "He can only be activated, when the Earth or Cybertron is in danger and second, if the Decepticons find out that you still have the ability to operate him, we'll be back to where we started."
He groaned. "Is there anything else that I need to know besides him?"
"Actually, there is. Both of you, come with me" Rodimus told them and exited out of the room.
Unsure what to make of it, Koji and T-Ai followed him until he was waiting outside of the Autobot base in his vehicle mode.
"Any idea on where he's taking us, T-Ai?"
"I'm not sure, Koji. I have nothing to do with this."
As they both went inside his seats and buckled up, Rodimus hits the gas pedal and burned some rubber on his tires.
Koji freaked out, when Rodimus had accelerated without warning him and T-Ai. "Ah! Rodimus, why are you going so fast? You could get yourself a ticket!"
"This isn't a drag race for crying out loud!" she cried.
"I know that. Which is why I will be activating the Space Bridge. Just hang on tight." Right around the same time, it appeared and they all went right through.
Later on, they re-appeared at a local park as Koji and T-Ai exit from out of Rodimus before he transformed into his robot mode.
It was the same location that Kicker and Misha had their date until Galvatron came in, took her hostage and then terminated Scourge's spark while merging it to become Neo-Dark Energon until Cryotek's arrival.
"This is the exact spot, where Cryotek first came here, isn't it?" says Koji to Rodimus.
"Yes, it does. It's also where the Neo-Dark Energon was made."
T-Ai piqued up. "Rodimus, I owe you an apology in regards for me sacrificing Koji. If I hadn't pitched in, I..."
But, he cuts her off. "You don't have to feel sorry for your actions, T-Ai. What you did back at the tower, you did the right thing. For that, I commend you."
She smiled. "Thank you, Rodimus."
Along the way, Rodimus stopped and so did Koji and T-Ai. "Well, here we are."
Koji blinked his eyes as both he and T-Ai saw nothing but trees, benches and a lake. "Huh? Where? I don't see anything."
"Don't tell me that you brought us out here for wandering off!"
"No, not even close. Hit it, Optimus!" he yelled as hundreds of confetti were popped everywhere by the Autobots, Kicker, his family members and mostly Koji's friends.
"Wh-What's this?" gasped Koji.
Kicker answered. "Hi, Koji."
Just as everybody shouted out these words in unison. "Happy Birthday!"
Koji's eyes were glistened with joy upon seeing this. "E-Everyone...you shouldn't have."
Rad approached to him. "Well, what are you waiting for? Blow out the candles."
He sat down at the centered table sitting next to a cake with his name on it and right away blew the candles out.
They all applauded for him. After that, he thanked them.
"Thanks, everyone. By the way, who set this all up?"
"That would be me, Koji" said a young woman's voice.
As he turned to his right, he notices Bridget smiling and nodded her head at him. "Bridget? Wow, that's really thoughtful of you."
She performed a small laugh. "I wasn't the only one that put this event altogether. Kelly, Coby, Bud and even Lori helped me to organize it. That includes the Autobots."
He glanced at Lori that was sitting next to T-Ai on his left. There was a look of grief on her face. He recalls the incident from earlier in the day and so, he responds back to her. "Listen, Lori. About what I said, I take it back and I forgive you."
Lori became astonished and her eyes were expanded. "K-Koji." She later smiled. "In that case, I'll return the favor with my gift to you."
"Oh, really? What is it?" He was so busy getting excited that he failed to notice someone walking up behind him and spoke.
"Turn around, Koji."
The moment he heard that familiar voice, he gasped in shock. "N-No way! But, it can't be!" He slowly turned his head around and what he saw, blew his breath away.
There stood a tall woman with light brown hair, dark brown eyes, wearing a green business suit with a white shirt, green skirt and low-heel white shoes. She had a frequent smile on her pretty face.
"M-Mother?"
She smiled at him. "Hello, Koji. It's so good to see you again."
With tears of joy pouring down from his eyes and onto his cheeks, he got out of his chair and hugged her. "Mother!"
Everybody became very touched of this heartfelt reunion.
Alexis wiped a tear from her eye, while sitting next to Kelly. "I'm so happy for him."
"Same with me. It has been a very tough time for him living by himself. But now that he's reunited with her, things might work out well for him."
As for T-Ai, she became very perplexed to see Koji's mother for the first time. She turned to Lori and asked. "How were you able to find her? He hasn't seen her, ever since his father passed away."
"We stumbled upon her somewhere in downtown and that's how me and the rest of us found her." She than noticed the Autobot insignia on T-Ai's helmet. "That symbol! You're with them, right?"
T-Ai retorted. "I was. But believe it or not, I used to be a hologram back then."
Lori's mouth had dropped. "You were what?"
She continued. "That's the same way of how Kicker and Sally reacted. The reason that I became human is because I took Cybertronian surgery. It took approximately two decades to complete the transformation and another thing, my name is T-Ai; Tactical Artificial Intelligence." She pulls out a handshake to Lori.
That didn't take long for her to shake T-Ai's hand and smiled back.
Elsewhere at the sky above, Ro-Tor and Sunstorm have spotted their prey.
"Let's shake things up a bit!"
"Yeah! Time to trash this place! Open fire!" Sunstorm unleashes a barrage of missiles right at the unsuspecting humans until Optimus and Rodimus saw it and alerted everyone.
"Decepticons! Everyone, move out of the way!"
"We'll handle this from here!"
They've all managed to escape and found a nearby exit until Ga'Mede detected something was completely wrong.
"Stop! Don't get any closer!"
"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Sally.
Instead of replying back, he pulls out his handy pulsar handgun from his hip and fires it. As a result, it revealed to be Mirage from one of the Spy-Changers when its stealth mode was worn off.
"What the? Then, that must mean..." Koji turned to T-Ai as she unveiled the truth.
"Ambush!"
That's when the remaining Spy-Changers have shown themselves from their hiding places and pointed their weapons at them. They have them surrounded at every turn and there was no turning back.
"Aw, man! We're trapped!" complained Carlos.
"Oh, no! We can't escape!" cried Misha clutching next to Kicker.
"They're the Spy-Changers? I didn't expect to see that" said Coby.
"Well, one thing is certain, they're up to something" Kicker mentioned. He then turned to Rad. "And if I'm not mistaken, we still can't use our armor transformations."
"You're right. It's already been a few weeks and yet, there's nothing left in the tank that will allow us to fight back."
Bud raised his eyebrow in question. "What are you guys talking about?"
"It's a very long story. We need to figure out on how to get past them" Koji suggested, while standing at his mother's side.
"Think again, you twerp!" a new voice had interjected.
Coming from behind Crosswise's leg was M-Ai with a smirk on her face.
"T-Ai, that girl looks exactly like you" says Lori.
She folded her arms. "Except that she's my opposite."
"How so?" Coby thought.
"Galvatron and Cryotek took a sample of my DNA, when I was brainwashed and created a copy of me but with pure evil. Her only purpose is to serve them and fight with Neo-Dark Energon that's building up inside her body."
"Neo-Dark Energon? That's crazy!" cried Bud.
"Don't get your panties in a bunch. I too had that" Ga'Mede informed.
"Wh-What?" gasped Lori.
M-Ai laughed. "You're so gullible. This is what happens, when your mind is set on something else. Such amateurs."
"What did you say?!" shouted Lori.
"Lori! Cool it" Coby does his best to calm her nerves, but it only got worse.
"You're all like a bunch of flies, just ready to be swatted without any wings. Cause even if you had any, you'd fall flat on your ugly faces." M-Ai finishes it with a cackling laugh.
Alexis frowned. "That's not even funny."
"I know. She's a major wreck, if you ask me" told Carlos.
Rad notifies the both of them about Lori. "Hey, guys. We have a problem. It's Lori and she's steaming mad."
When they did, Lori's face was red-hot and steam had come from out of her ears and nose as she breaks free from Coby, she charges straight at M-Ai with rage.
"Lori! Don't do it!" called Coby.
But it was already too late as she attempts to throw a wild punch to M-Ai's face.
For M-Ai, however, she had her arms crossed behind her back, closed her purple eyes and made an evil grin on her face.
Therefore, Kicker's hair had glowed brightly gold and felt a strong surge of Neo-Dark Energon coming from M-Ai. He felt his head beginning to shake. "Argh! M-My head!"
"Kicker, what's the matter?" wondered Misha.
He responded. "I-I can feel the Neo-Dark Energon." He tries to warn Lori. "Lori, get away from her!"
Unfortunately, much to his awful timing, she threw her punch and that's when a purple, red and black force-field appeared by surrounding M-Ai. It blocked Lori's oncoming fist and she gets flown back to the ground.
"Lori!" shouted Coby.
"What was that?" asked Noriko.
"It looked like some sort of a barrier" answered Koji.
"That was one of her latest features, human."
When everybody looked up, they could see Galvatron and Cryotek arriving at the scene.
Optimus and Rodimus both felt furious to see them.
"Galvatron and Cryotek!"
"We should've known that it was you!"
The Decepticon leaders responded back.
"Quite right. Now that we know there was a party going on around here, we'd figured that we would crash in."
"So, we're taking over."
Magnus grunted. "In your dreams! Eat this!" He fires a brigade of rockets right onto their chest-plates.
They've received some minor damages, but that didn't stop them.
"Pathetic! Is that the best you got?" thought Cryotek.
"Come forth, Ruination!" called Galvatron to one of his minions.
As he sprouted out, Optimus and Rodimus made two quick commands.
"Now, Rail Racer!"
"Nightcruz! Daytonus! Hauler! Do it!"
"What?" says Galvatron and Cryotek in unison.
Team Bullet Train came out as Rail Racer and performs a shoulder thrust to Ruination; followed by a huge throw. Whereas Nightcruz, Daytonus and Hauler appeared as they strike down the Spy-Changers with their previous tactics from before.
"Sweet! They had a backup plan, all along!" said Karl.
"Way to go!" cheered Jenny in delight.
"It's not possible! How did you know we were here?" Galvatron demanded an explanation.
Optimus explained. "I knew that you were about to invade us, eventually. With some thanks from Demolisher, SnowCat and Magnificus, we were prepared for your next assault."
"Quite clever of you. But you're forgetting about M-Ai, remember?" Cryotek mentioned to him.
Rodimus froze. "Damn! Kicker, get Lori out of there!"
As soon as Kicker hears him, both he and Coby escort her away from M-Ai's path. That is, until they see her charging right at them.
"Coby! Take Lori!" informed Kicker.
"Right!"
After that, Koji, Rad and Ga'Mede join up with him. Then, Kicker and the rest of them remove their normal clothing and reveal their battle armor outfits.
Before long, Coby consoles Lori. "Hey, are you okay?"
She immediately woke up and sees Coby staring at her. "I'm...I'm fine, Coby." She later notices Kicker and his partners have changed their outfits. "Hey, what's with those getups?"
Magnus overhears it and warned Kicker and the group. "Hold on. I don't think, you're ready yet."
"Yeah well, we're not quitters!" yelled Ga'Mede.
That's when they saw a radiant green glow coming from Magnus's chest. Before anyone else could speak, it got even brighter and was sent directly onto Koji, Kicker, Rad and Ga'Mede.
All four men were screaming in the worst way upon feeling the unknown source of energy receiving from Magnus.
"Ah! What's happening?" cried Kelly with her eyes covered.
To Be Continued...
End of Chapter 21