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. Also, the name of Koji's mother was Kiko in Japanese. So, starting from this chapter and so forth, her English name is Noriko. Read & Review, please!
Plot – During their battle, a newfound power has awoken from Kicker and Misha's swords when they're together along with the results of Kicker and the boys affected from the Matrix by Magnus. Galvatron and Cryotek come up with a new strategic plan to separate them after discovering Fortress Maximus' current location. In the midsts of the fight, an old Autobot returns to the battlefield and assists them.
Chapter 22: Redemption
When Magnus saw Kicker, Rad, Ga'Mede and Koji heading into battle in their battle gear outfits, he stated to them. "Hold on. I don't think, you're ready yet."
Ga'Mede yelled back. "Says you! We're not quitters! Huh?"
Before they were about to move on, Magnus's chest-plate starts to glow radiant green and it already enshrouded his whole body. "What the? Th-This is..."
"Optimus! That light!" bellowed Rodimus.
"By the all-spark, it's the Matrix!"
After he divulged what was coming from his brother, it travelled directly onto Kicker, Rad, Ga'Mede and Koji as they feel the unusual power that they've received and screamed loudly.
"Ah! What's happening?" cried Kelly by covering her eyes from the bright light.
"I don't have a clue!" added Bridget as she also covered her eyes.
"Kicker!" Misha tries to step in and assist him, but Dr. Jones restrains her. "Dr. Jones, please! I need to help Kicker!"
"Wait, Misha. We're unsure of what it's doing to them."
Sally's eyes grew and watches in astonishment, while telling the group about this startling turn of events. "Hey, guys. Look!"
When the bright light had subsided, Kicker and the others were left confused as they felt the strange surge of energy that bestow on them. "Whoa! What was that?"
"Whatever it was, it must've boosted our strength" says Ga'Mede.
Koji remembered that familiar glow from before. "I know, what that was! That was the Matrix! Apart from what Optimus had, Magnus has the same powers as he does!"
"No way!" Rad smiled after he stared at his hands and clenched them in a form of a fist. "For some reason, I feel much stronger."
"Forget about that impression of yours, watch out!" shouted Alexis relating to M-Ai charging towards their path.
"Come on! Let's finish from where we left off!" informed Kicker to his teammates.
"Yeah!" said Koji, Rad and Ga'Mede altogether, while nodding their heads.
"Huh? What are they doing?" Lori asked Coby.
"You got me. Bud?"
"None, whatsoever."
"Kicker, Transform!" He transformed back into his crimson red outfit with brightly gold shoulders and hair with pure blue eyes as crimson red lightning sparked around his body.
"Rad, Transform!" He also transforms himself into his crimson blue outfit with silvery white shoulders and hair with brightly gold eyes.
When Koji and Ga'Mede did the same procedure, they too have the similar affects that Rad and Kicker have.
Everybody became very amazed about their armor transformations.
"Oh, wow!" says a surprised Coby.
"A-Amazing!" said Lori feeling completely stunned.
"How did they do that?" thought Bud.
T-Ai answered. "It was when Galvatron had infected Misha with Dark Energon and as a result, Kicker had tapped into his special strength from deep inside himself. The same goes for Rad and Koji, when myself and Alexis had the same outcome. Let alone Ga'Mede."
"What you're saying is that they've acquired this from their connection towards their best friends?" Kelly wondered.
She continued. "That's precisely it. Their feelings for one another is what caused them to obtain this."
"How ironic. The only feeling they'll be receiving is pain! Ruination! Bruticus! M-Ai! Attack them all!" commanded Galvatron to his troops.
"Time to squish you, rodents!" Ruination starts to plant his big foot onto Kicker and the group. But as he makes direct contact, his foot is stopped for some apparent reason. "Huh? Hey, what gives?"
Before he could figure out the problem, his foot is then lifted up by the unexpected combination of Koji, Kicker, Rad and Ga'Mede. With their glowing auras wrapping around their bodies, they were all able to push him off and land hard on his back.
This had left a mixture of confusion and shock on everybody's faces.
"What just happened?" says a freaked out Kelly.
"They took him down with one push!" Bridget confirmed.
"How can anyone like them be able to do that?" thought Alexis.
"I don't know but, it sure knocked the wind out of him!" told Carlos.
"Ha! Not for long! M-Ai, let's get them!" Bruticus suggested to her.
"Right!"
"Oh, crap! They're going to strike us on both sides!" Coby mentioned.
"What are we going to do?" Bud wondered.
Lori than noticed Koji clenching his fists and his expression was filled with determination. "Koji, you're not thinking of fighting her, are you? She almost looks like T-Ai."
"Even though that she does, I'm searching for some payback. She assaulted me from awhile back and now, it's my turn." His emerald green aura starts to glow brightly.
"What's up with that strange light?" asked Noriko.
Dr. Jones answered. "You probably weren't around to see this but, when Galvatron contaminated him with Dark Energon and used him like a puppet to hurt T-Ai, his inner powers had awakened from within him."
"Yes, but..."
He placed his hand on her shoulder and replied back. "He'll be fine. All we can do for right now is watch."
M-Ai immediately threw a hard punch at Koji's face, but he instantly caught it and hits a swift knee to her gut; followed by a vicious hard right cross.
Whereas Kicker, he unleashes one of his Energon techniques from his Energon Sabre and hurls it at the oncoming Bruticus. "Take this! Energon Tempest Slash!" By leaping into the air, he throws a straight medium light red cutter-like slash right at the ferocious Predacon and he was knocked down to the pavement. Right after he wiped off his forehead, Dreadwind and Sunstorm were behind his back and when he turned to see them homing in on their targets, he shields himself with his weapon.
Then, the unexpected had occurred: both Dreadwind and Sunstorm were blasted by a single shot from someone and when he sees who made a daring move on them, he gasped in awestruck.
Landing feet first with a sword in hand was Misha with a fierce look on her face. She took a deep breath and asked him. "Kicker, are you okay?"
"I'm fine but, why did you do that?" he said with a flare of anger.
"I was very worried about you! Can't you see that?"
During their brief conversation, Ga'Mede interrupted. "Hey! You two can chit-chat about each other's safety later. We've got Decepticons to trash!" He later fires some rounds from his rifle to aid the Autobots.
As for Rad, he has a hard time dealing with Ruination and avoids most of his firepower until the Autobot Brothers arrived after they've handled the Spy-Changers with some help from Team Bullet Train, Rodimus, Nightcruz and Daytonus. "Great timing, you guys!"
"All in a day's work, Rad" Prowl clarified.
"Now, let's blast them back to where they belong!" Sideburn said to X-Brawn.
"You got it, partner!"
By combining their weaponry altogether, they blasted Ruination right on his chest-plate. But much to their surprise, it only fazed him with minimum damage.
"Nice try, Auto-chumps! Get a charge out of this!"
As Ruination prepares to fire, Rad powers up his updated armor transformation and leapt high into the air. "Think again, you bozo!" He kicks him right at his face and it made him stumble back until he fell back down again.
"Ow. What hit me?"
"It's that accursed Matrix, that's what!" yelled Galvatron in rage.
"In that case, let's tear Optimus apart!" Cryotek proposed.
"I don't think so! Arm Cannon!" Magnus fires a barrage of missiles right at the two Decepticon leaders and guarded his brother for protection.
Optimus than praised him. "I owe you one, Magnus."
"It was nothing personal. A lot has changed, since I've made up my mind of joining you. Let's link up and beat them down."
The Autobot leader agreed with his idea. "Alright. Let's do it."
"Ultimate Energy Combiner! Omega Prime!" they said in unison.
Coby, Bud and Lori were surprised of witnessing the unified transformation of Optimus and Magnus.
"That's awesome!"
"More like, wicked!"
"I'll say."
"There'll be nothing left of you, but rotten tin-foil!" shouted Galvatron with a verbal warning.
"Then, come and get it!" informed Omega Prime to them. He equips himself with some heavy duty arsenal on his shoulders and fired at the duo. "Omega Arsenal Blast!"
Back to where Koji was fighting against M-Ai, he punches her in the face that made her stagger and by grabbing her uniform, he does an over-the-shoulder throw.
When she got up and brushed herself off, she replied. "I see that you're itching for some settlement. No matter." She cracks her neck. "I'll break you like a tree branch." After her last comment, she than teleported.
Koji didn't move. He had recognized this trick from last time. A long while back, he was clobbered by her devastating display of her Neo-Dark Energon powers. But not for the second time, because he was ready. He scoped out the place and she was nowhere in sight. It made him feel aggravated. "Damn! Where could she have gone off to?"
Suddenly, M-Ai re-appeared behind him and made a cold smirk.
Lori immediately alerted him about her presence. "Koji, she's behind you!"
He overheard her call and caught M-Ai's fast impending kick. By holding her leg, he simply twists her ankle and kicked her in the back.
She falls flat on her stomach and stood up again, but only with a look of anger. She places her hands in a size of a ball, where her chest is and aims at Koji.
He knew what was coming for him. "Oh, crap! Not this again!"
While M-Ai was preparing for her next attack, Misha informs Kicker.
"Kicker, look!"
"Why, that's..." Before long, his hair glowed brightly gold and sensed a strong surge of Neo-Dark Energon coming from M-Ai. "Yeow! That hurt!"
"Hey, what happened?" asked Ga'Mede, while he continues firing at the Decepticons.
"It's...the Neo-Dark Energon. It's growing...so strong." His senses from M-Ai's energy made him yell out in agony.
M-Ai noticed it from her back and as she glares at Koji for a brief moment, she grinned. "Well, Koji. Today is your lucky day."
"Huh? How, so?" he thought. When he sees Kicker suffering a headache from detecting the Neo-Dark Energon, he realizes of whom she's really targeting. "Kicker, watch out!"
When he hears Koji, M-Ai fires her attack. "Neo-Dark Energon Tsunami Blaster!"
As soon as the purple and black beam was sent straight at him, he braced himself with his Energon Sabre. That is, until Misha stepped in and does the same thing.
"Misha, you can't be serious!"
"I AM serious!" She draws up her Sword of Purpose and holds it closely to Kicker's Energon Sabre. Right before the beam that M-Ai had fired collided on them with sheer impact.
Rodimus and Koji both gasped in sheer horror.
"Misha!"
"Kicker!"
Once the dust was cleared, everyone saw a miraculous discovery.
Both Kicker and Misha were unharmed from M-Ai's direct attack, where an oval amber shield had protected them.
Sally had nearly freaked out. "Wh-What happened now?"
"Don't look at me," told Noriko.
"I know why. It's their swords." Dr. Jones pointed out their weapons and witnessed a small aura illuminating them each.
M-Ai was furious that they've survived the ordeal. "Damn those two!"
As soon as Galvatron and Cryotek got up, they've overlooked the small radiant glow from their optic sensors, just a mile away.
"Cryotek, did you see that?"
"Yes, I have." By noticing the young woman standing next close to Kicker and holding her sword, he complied. "I have an idea. But perhaps, we should call a tactical retreat."
Upon seeing Ruination down and the Spy-Changers fighting alongside the Decepticons against the Autobots, Galvatron gazed at Cryotek and later nodded his robotic head. "Then, let us make it so." He stood himself up and so did Cryotek.
Omega Prime aimed his weapons at them. "If you're looking for another round, I'll gladly give it to you."
"Savor your strength for later, Omega Prime. As far as myself and Cryotek would enjoy ripping you apart, we're letting you and the Autobots off the hook."
"You're what?" he said in confusion.
The Autobot brothers were also startled.
"Did I hear him right?" said Sideburn.
"No doubt about it. It's deja vu all over again" told Prowl.
"Yeah, it's like smelling recycled gas in the morning" added X-Brawn.
M-Ai overhears this and sends a clear message to Koji and the others. "Don't think that this is over between us. It's hardly begun." After that, she teleported and appeared on Galvatron's shoulder.
"Decepticons, fallback!"
With every Decepticon following his order, they return to their main headquarters.
The Autobots are beginning to think that they have seen this numerous times and only one has the answer to this perplexing puzzle.
"I'm getting the impression that the Decepticons are observing us" says Rodimus having his arms crossed.
"You mean that they're finding out about our weaknesses?" asked Alexis.
"In a word, yes."
"Or are they playing possum on us?" thought Carlos.
He answered. "If they reveal their true intentions, than they might be."
Elsewhere at Decepticon HQ, Galvatron and Cryotek lay out their latest plan.
"Now listen up, Decepticons. During our melee with the Autobots, me and Cryotek have discovered a unique sight from the humans."
M-Ai turned away and pouted. "So, what? They mean nothing to me!"
Cryotek retaliated. "Well, we do! Kicker and Misha have developed an interesting bond with their swords. Technically speaking, that's what triggered the barrier surrounding them."
When she traced back to that assault earlier, she saw a strange white radiant glow from both of their weapons. She turned her head back and explained. "That reminds me. Just when I thought I've made mincemeat out of those two, their swords had activated the effect. Namely, if we could separate them, they won't have the ability to protect themselves."
Galvatron praised M-Ai for her efforts. "Ah, what an excellent observation. We've been holding back that plan for a little while. This is our chance to strike back."
"Invigorating to say the very least" added Cryotek. "Mega-Octane!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Me and Galvatron have a job for you and M-Ai. Now, here's the deal."
Meanwhile, inside the Autobot base, Dr. Jones, Optimus and Rodimus have finished their scanning on Koji, Kicker, Rad and Ga'Mede after they became affected from the Matrix.
Lori, Bud, Coby and the others waited outside for the results.
T-Ai was among inside the scanning room and read the details. "Download is complete. Let's see here. Oh, this is new."
"What does it say, T-Ai?" asked Dr. Jones in question.
She continued. "All of the men's scanner logs show that their armor transformations have been infused with the Matrix from Ultra Magnus."
"That would explain as to how they've managed to lift Ruination all at once" Rodimus clarified.
"But what we do know is that there is no potential risk. Rather than the Energon Fusion."
"Yet, I also find it hard to believe of how Kicker and Misha formed a shield together. Almost as if, their swords were synchronized" told Dr. Jones. "If I'm right, maybe my son and Misha have grown much closer."
"True enough. But prior to that, the Decepticons may have found an opening" Optimus mentioned.
"Speaking of which, I've checked an update on Landfill and from what I've seen, he has nearly recovered" T-Ai said to him.
He nodded. "That's really good to hear."
Back outside of the waiting room, everyone became anxious and were also in discussion.
"How much longer can we take?" complained Billy.
"I don't know. Maybe until I'm hungry" says Fred.
Billy took out his wrench from his pocket and whacked him in the head, again. "Zip it!"
"Ouch! That still hurts!"
"You know, I find it strange as to why the Decepticons would retreat every time they encounter us" says Misha curiously.
"Yeah, me too" added Sally. "It feels like that they're setting us up for something."
That's when it hit Jenny in the head by slapping herself on the cheek. "I...I think, I know why. This might have to do with Fortress Maximus."
"There's no way! He's under stasis lock in the Arctic Ocean. Unless..." Karl turned to Bridget, where she nods her head by recalling a scene with M-Ai taking the miniature chip from inside Koji's head.
"Yes, I believe it is."
Everyone gasped in shock and comprehended as to what the Decepticons were really planning all along.
Kelly started to panic. "Y-You've got to be joking, right?"
Bridget shook her head in disagreement, where Kelly frowned.
Lori, Coby and Bud all blinked their eyes in confusion and became very baffled.
"Who's Fortress Maximus?"
"Was he really that strong?"
"And, why would the Decepticons be interested in him?"
Alexis stepped in and answered. "There's three reasons why: One, he's a bit similar to Unicron regarding his size and power. Two, Koji thought that he had the ability to control him, in which, he didn't. And third, T-Ai's dark twin, M-Ai known as Mimic Artificial Intelligence was made from T-Ai's DNA and has the enhanced abilities of the Neo-Dark Energon. You put all of those together and what did we get? Two savage Decepticons such as Galvatron and Cryotek willing to do whatever's necessary to bring Koji to their side with Neo-Dark Energon by piloting Fortress Maximus., while conquering Earth, Cybertron and the whole universe."
Upon learning from what she had told them, they were still not convinced.
Therefore, Lori popped up a question. "We may have gotten the picture, but we've never seen him in action before. Do you have any proof?"
By rolling her eyes in disbelief, she sulked. "Such amateurs."
At the Main Computer System, Magnus shows them the recorded material of Fortress Maximus in action.
They were now amazed of his appearance by showcasing his tremendous firepower, despite its lack of speed and the majority of its height and size.
Coby first spoke. "I never would've believed of seeing that much power from him."
"But now we know what it's capable of doing: Defending the Earth, Cybertron and also the universe" Bud stated.
As for Lori, she paid very close attention about Fortress Maximus. Not to mention the fact relating to Koji possibly controlling this gigantic Autobot. "That's Fortress Maximus? Damn! This is certainly no joke."
Right in the middle of looking over Fortress Maximus, the alarm had sounded. It alerted everybody in this very base.
Optimus quickly informs Koji and his friends after they've suited up. "Let's get moving, everyone! On the double!"
"We're right with you!"
Now stationed at the Main Computer System, Optimus pinpoints the location from the blinking red light on the world map and was shocked to find out where it was. "Oh, no! It's coming from the Arctic Ocean! This could only mean one thing..." He turns to Rodimus to complete the sentence.
"Fortress Maximus!"
"We've got to head over there before the Decepticons do!" Kicker recommended.
"I'm on it. T-Ai, I want you, Lori, Coby and Bud to stay put here and keep a close eye on Landfill" says Rodimus.
"No problem."
"Who's Landfill?" inquired Coby.
T-Ai responded. "They're the combination of the Build Team. However, as they were trying to prevent Galvatron from escaping, they fell victim to the Dark Energon from Galvatron and now they're being treated in the infirmary."
"Hurry up, you guys! We've got to get to the Arctic Ocean!" called Koji.
"Autobots, Transform and roll-out!" Optimus said, as he, the Autobot Brothers, Rodimus, Magnus, Demolisher and SnowCat, along with Kicker and the others go through the Space Bridge.
By arriving at the Arctic Ocean which was covered in a land full of pure blue water and several icebergs, Optimus, Rodimus and their crew search the area for any possible sign of Fortress Maximus.
Then sure enough, Kicker and Koji have found it.
"Optimus! Rodimus! Over here!"
"It's Fortress Maximus!"
They show them that its standing above high water with some ice caps surrounding the massive structure.
Both Autobot leaders scanned it for further analysis.
"According to its statistics, it has just risen from underwater."
"For the moment, it hasn't awoken and yet, this doesn't feel right."
"Yeah, I sense that too" told Sideburn. "Something is indeed very fishy."
Rodimus turns to Optimus. "I have to agree with what Sideburn had spoken. Let's spread out and find them."
"Good thinking. Everyone, search for any Decepticon activity in every area possible. We don't want to let our guard down."
"Yes, sir!" they all said.
And so, the investigation begins. With the Autobot Brothers and Team Bullet Train going on the west; Kicker, Misha, Koji, Rad and Ga'Mede search on the east; Optimus, Rodimus and Magnus look to the north side. As for SnowCat, Demolisher and Magnificus, they headed south. Since the search had started, the trail was becoming cold.
That is until it became red-hot, when Kicker's hair had suddenly glowed brightly gold. He sensed a disturbance nearby and knew what was up. He quickly turns to Misha. "Misha! Get out of the way! It's a trap!"
"What?"
Before she and everybody else knew, several vines had appeared and snared Misha from behind. Thus, trapping her. "I-I can't move!"
Kicker tries to go in and make the save. "Misha, hang on!" But as soon as he does, a huge purple Energon barrier came in and made him bounce back. It not only trapped him, but also Koji, Rad and Ga'Mede.
As Team Bullet Train, the Autobot Brothers, Demolisher, SnowCat and Magnificus also try to rescue her, they too are caught by numerous Energon barriers.
Except for Rodimus, Magnus and Optimus.
"Curses! We've been tricked!"
"And, Misha got caught!"
"Galvatron! Cryotek! We know you're out here!"
It didn't take long for them to appear from the sky and transforming into their robot forms.
"I see that your fellow Autobots had fallen right into our trap."
"We came fully prepared for your arrival, when you've re-discovered Fortress Maximus." Cryotek then turns to his left. "Good work, M-Ai and Ruination."
They revealed themselves from behind the corner, where the vines were coming from M-Ai's hands and Ruination holding a device in his hands.
Misha struggles to get her sword from her hip, but it was no use because M-Ai was restraining her. "If only I could reach a little further."
"There's nothing that you can do now" M-Ai reminded her.
"That's right. So stand still and let her give you some Neo-Dark Energon" told Ruination.
Kicker was helpless inside the Energon barrier, along with Koji, Rad and Ga'Mede.
"Damn you! Stay away from her!" he said, frustrated.
"What else can we do? We're defenseless" told Koji.
"I know. But, how do we get out of this Energon barrier?" Rad asked Ga'Mede.
"I don't have the slightest clue."
At the Main Computer System inside the Autobot base, Dr. Jones and everyone were viewing this from the Main Monitor and couldn't do anything to stop them from infecting Misha with Neo-Dark Energon.
"This is nuts! They've trapped everyone with Energon barriers!"
"But not Optimus, Rodimus and Magnus. What gives?" thought Sally.
"It must've been an elaborate plot to lure them in and take Misha captive" says Bridget.
Kelly blinked her eyes in perplexity after staring at Alexis, Noriko and Carlos. "H-How did you know?"
She clarified. "Never mind that. Right now, we need to think of something to help them. But, what?"
Later, Billy, Fred, Karl and Jenny came in running. As they all seemingly catch their breath, Alexis asked them.
"Hey, what's your hurry?"
"We'll tell you, why. It's Landfill, he's gone!" Jenny informed.
"Gone? What do you mean?" Carlos speculated.
Billy explicated. "When he went back online, he just stood up and went right into the Space Bridge."
"He didn't even leave us a tip" added Fred.
"Eh?" they all gasped together and becoming very rattled.
Back at the Arctic Ocean, Galvatron and Cryotek notifies the three remaining Autobots.
"Without your men to back you up, you're completely defenceless."
"And you're also outgunned."
For Magnus, however, he deviates. "Oh, yeah? I refuse to believe it! All you have are yourselves, that young misfit and Ruination. So I say, it's a stalemate."
Galvatron waved his finger back and forth at him. "You're wrong, Magnus. You know what they say, 'never judge a book by it's cover' and you have fell for it." He later snapped his fingers and out came the Spy-Changers, where they've surrounded Optimus, Rodimus and Magnus in every corner.
Rodimus grunted. "Damn! Kicker was right. This really was an ambush!"
"Indeed, it is. Normally, we'd still be going after Koji with Fortress Maximus. But since that we saw a connection between Kicker and his companion with their swords, we've decided to turn things around" Cryotek told them.
"So, you saw the power from Kicker and Misha's swords, ambushed us when we found Fortress Maximus and then contaminate Misha with Neo-Dark Energon to pilot him?" thought Optimus.
"You were close, Prime. But actually, we want to use her with the Sword of Purpose." Galvatron turns his attention to M-Ai still restraining Misha with her vines from her fingertips. "M-Ai, do your work."
She grinned. "The pleasure is all mine."
There was nothing that Kicker, his teammates and the other Autobots could do to prevent M-Ai from infecting Misha except watch, due to being blocked by the Energon barriers.
Kicker's fear was rising and hung his head down in shame without looking at Misha about to become tainted once again. "Misha...I'm so sorry."
That is when M-Ai's vines were torn off and the device that Ruination was holding for the Energon barriers got destroyed by two unexpected blasts. As a result, they were disabled and every Autobot including Kicker and company were all set free.
"Alright! The shields have been lifted!" says Rad cheerfully.
Galvatron was steaming mad. "Impossible! How did they break them?!"
"I did, Galva-trash!" says a new voice.
"What?!" As he and Cryotek turned around to see who fired their shots, they became very shocked to see an old face.
Standing tall with its weapon in hand was a familiar Autobot that Optimus and Koji had recognized.
"Landfill!"
"Wretched fool!" yelled Galvatron with aggression.
"Great! Now, they have a chance!" said Dr. Jones.
"But, wait. How did he get there in the first place?" asked Alexis.
"I did."
As they whirled around, they notice that it was T-Ai.
"Why is that?" Sally asks.
She elucidated. "After Landfill had recovered from the Dark Energon, along with Dr. Jones and Team Bullet Train removing it, me, Lori and her friends had noticed an object that was lodged inside his main programming."
Lori and Coby came in and shows them the round white object that they were rolling, alongside Bud.
"And this was the cause."
"It's pretty heavy, if you ask me."
"Whoa! What is that thing?" said Carlos.
T-Ai answered. "It's called a Cerebro shell. It allows the user to control the victim's mind and do whatever they want."
"So that's what really happened to the Build Team. The Decepticons had implanted that device inside their head and combined it with Dark Energon" Sally confirmed.
"Well, that explains everything" thought Kelly shrugging her shoulders.
Back to where the Autobots had left off, they were able to re-group with Optimus, Magnus and Rodimus along with Kicker and his crew.
Galvatron and Cryotek thought that they had it all figured it out but, much to their dismay, they hadn't accounted the return of Landfill. For that reason, the Autobots have regained the number advantage. But still, they refuse to go down without a fight.
"We're not letting you walking away this time, Prime!"
"Spy-Changers, attack!"
They followed his orders and fired at the Autobots. Unfortunately, they've missed their targets.
Now it was Magnus and Optimus' move to turn things around.
"Hey, Optimus. Let's whip those two meat-heads into shape."
He nods his head in agreement. "By all means."
They unified themselves to become Omega Prime, once again.
After Kicker saw them merge, he turns to Koji and Rad. "Hey, Koji! Rad! Let's rock their world by letting ourselves combine!"
"Yeah!"
"It's time to feel the burn!"
They placed their hands together in a Y formation and shouted out their catchphrase to unite as one entity. "Energon Fusion!"
When Coby, Lori and Bud had witnessed their combined armor transformations by unifying into one warrior, they all became very bewildered.
"Amazing!"
"Incredible!"
"Sweet!"
Whereas Noriko, she was left very speechless upon seeing her son in action. "Koji..."
"Okay! It's Decepticon season! (Long yodel)" SnowCat called.
"You got that right! Hit the road, Galva-jack!" shouted X-Brawn by firing his rifle at Galvatron's chest-plate, along with Sideburn and Prowl.
"Chew on this, Cryotek!" told Rodimus by firing his gun right at his face.
"And here's one for me!" added Landfill firing his weapon at Cryotek too for some payback.
Ruination tries to fire his twin lasers at Misha. "I'll burn you to a crisp!"
Misha stopped and by seeing his projectile coming towards her path, she remained calm. Her sword glowed once and with sheer timing, she deflected his shot right back at him and sends him flying to the ground.
M-Ai was awfully surprised to see that Misha's usage on the Sword of Purpose had done well. She than teleported and tries to perform a sneak attack on her.
But she felt her occurrence and slashed right onto her face. It made M-Ai scream in pain and covered her wound.
When M-Ai stumbled back and fell down to her knees, she uncovered her face on the water as a reflection and became infuriated. Her right eye now has a serious red scar. She stood herself up, turned around at Misha with her fists clenched and yelled. "Damn you! You've ruined my face!"
"That's for what you did to Kicker!" informed Misha.
"Omega Prime, let's finish this!" says Kicker, Rad and Koji altogether.
"Right! Prime Ultra Laser!" He fires a full onslaught of lasers at Galvatron and Cryotek, followed by the unified forces of the three men.
"Ultimate Final Energon Blade!"
With their combined efforts, along with the rest of the Autobots, the Decepticon leaders were defeated.
"Decepticons, regroup! Huh?"
Just then, both factions heard a huge rumbling sound and it was coming from Fortress Maximus. It was beginning to sink underwater, once again.
"Hey, look! He's sinking!" Rodimus cited.
"His new deactivation code has operated" says Omega Prime as everybody else watched to see it going underground, along with Cerebros.
Galvatron turned to M-Ai. "I take it that you haven't finished installing the cyber-chip you've taken from Koji. Have you?"
"No, it wasn't strong enough to jam its frequencies between Cerebros and Maximus."
"Pah! Another plan failed. How typical" Cryotek scoffed.
Now back at Autobot HQ, Optimus and Rodimus welcomes back the Build Team.
"It's good to have you back on our side, Wedge."
"For once, we were awfully worried."
Wedge commented. "Think nothing of it, Optimus. We owe it to the little lady."
T-Ai replied angrily. "Hey! I'm not a little lady!" She than softens her voice. "Still, thanks. Optimus, it was a Cerebro shell that made them fell under Galvatron's control."
"I see."
Kicker turns to the Build Team. "So, you're the Build Team, right? Thanks for saving Misha back there."
"Don't worry about it." Wedge introduced himself and his men. "By the way, I'm Wedge. That's Heavy Load, Grim Lock and High-Tower. Together, we can build and also construct almost anything."
Kicker stiffened his giggle. "Well, one thing is certain, the Decepticons' plans are now under heavy construction."
As he laughed, so did everybody else in this very base.
But inside Decepticon HQ, there was one individual that was in no mood for humor. M-Ai was staring at her reflection with her new look that Misha gave her. A blood-red scar on her right eye. She pumps her fist, where it glowed some Neo-Dark Energon on it.
"Curse you, Misha! Someday, you're going to pay for wrecking my face!" After that, she punches the mirror with so much force, it shattered into several pieces all over the floor. In a way, she didn't care. However, when she picked up a piece, she grinned evilly with a different thought. "Although...this does suit me well."
She made a wicked smile, where her eyes glowed brightly amber.
End of Chapter 22