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Plot – The unusual mixture of Kicker's bloodstain and the Neo-Dark Energon has turned Artemis from a gynoid and into a human, while the effects are permanent. Then, Misha becomes jealous, when she sees Stella hanging around with Kicker. The rivalry between them gets worse after he shows a wedding dress and he accidentally fell on top of her. When Misha saw this, she became devastated and assuming that Kicker care more about Stella than her. Betrayed, she runs away from him and it catches Alexis' attention. When Cryotek puts the heavy squeeze on Alexis, her loud screaming alerted a very familiar Decepticon from deep within the Autobot base.
Chapter 29: Bitter Rivals
Everybody couldn't believe of what they've seen here. Artemis has been turned into a human. Her long dark green hair is now smooth, her light fuschia eyes remained the same, her yellow crown with blue orb and antennas became a headband, her white and pink jumpsuit became an outfit, her semi-long pink boots became solid steel with high heels and her red and yellow coat with shoulder pads became a pair of Noble's Shoulders.
Kicker was left dumbfounded upon witnessing Artemis's newest appearance, while clutching his injured shoulder. "I'm...speechless."
Even Misha couldn't believe it either. "I'm with you."
"How in the name of the Tripredacus Council did this happen?" asked Galvatron to Cryotek.
"It would seem that there has been an interference within her and it goes far beyond our expectations."
Rodimus turns to Omega Prime. "I hate to say it, but do you actually believe them?"
"I'm not sure. But whatever the cause is, it may provide us with an explanation behind her unusual transformation."
At Autobot HQ, Dr. Jones was also left puzzled regarding Artemis's new features. "This is unprecedented! I thought that because she was a gynoid, the Neo-Dark Energon would eventually terminate her. Instead, she ended up like this. Yet, how and why?"
"Well, she did save your son and Misha's lives. So, how come it didn't turn her into a merciless fighter?" thought T-Ai.
Alexis glanced at Carlos and he shrugged his shoulders. He does the same to Sally, Bridget, Kelly and Stella as they too had the same reaction while shaking their heads.
Noriko asks Koji. "What do you think happened?"
"I-I just don't know."
Back in the downtown area, a stalemate has occurred between the Autobots and Decepticons due to Artemis's sudden evolution from a gynoid into a human rather than being brainwashed. It was then broken off by Galvatron and Cryotek, regarding this strange turn of events.
"Once again, this day is yours, Omega Prime. But, don't be so fortunate about your comrade."
"She'll only have herself to blame and not us."
Both Decepticon leaders and their army retreated to their headquarters by contemplating another plan against their deadly adversaries.
Thus, Omega Prime, Rodimus, the Autobots, Kicker, Misha and Artemis are all that's left in the semi-damaged downtown area.
"Head back to base, everyone. We've got some serious work to do."
"Omega Prime, Artemis needs to be fully examined and Kicker needs..." Rodimus quickly cuts himself off by seeing Kicker already feeling better, thanks to his newly obtained ability; a minor healing factor.
"I needed what Rodimus?"
Not only was the red and yellow flamed Autobot felt shocked, so was Misha. "Kicker, your shoulder!"
"Huh?" He noticed that the bloodstain on his shoulder blade his disappeared. In-spite of feeling rejuvenated, he also couldn't believe his eyes either. "This is getting more crazy than I thought."
Now immediately into the emergency support room of the Autobot base, Artemis is being closely examined in the X-Ray room relating to the Neo-Dark Energon transforming her entire body.
Whereas Kicker, he now resides in his dormitory by putting on his normal clothing after his battle armour suit and Energon Sabre are now under repairs. He looks at his stomach by lifting up his shirt that was originally stabbed by Koji's resurrected father. The sword mark wasn't there and he still feels shocked to see it vanish, while acquiring a minor healing factor. He smacked himself on the forehead. "Oh, brother. I still can't fathom about what Cryotek had said. Me, getting a healing factor?" He looked at his hand, firmly grips it and sighed. "At least, I didn't end up worse than my late mother. What else is new?"
Just then, the corridors were opened. But much to his dismay, it wasn't Misha that came inside his room, it was Stella.
"Hey, Kicker."
His cheeks were formed with a hint of redness upon her sudden appearance. "S-Stella? What are you doing in here?"
She sat down next to him and answered. "I'd figured that you would need some company. Tell me, how is your shoulder?"
He glanced at it for a brief moment, flexed it and replied. "It's better now and I think, I know what happened to Artemis back there."
"Really? How?" thought Stella.
Kicker continued. "When Galvatron fired the Neo-Dark Energon straight at us, Artemis shoved me and Misha in the nick of time. But then, her hand touched my injured shoulder that was covered in blood and after she got hit, it disappeared. Maybe, that's why she became human, because of my shoulder injury. Long before I got myself healed, minutes later."
Right after his theory about Artemis and making a full recovery, Stella smiled brightly at him. "You're wonderful."
"Eh? Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?" his cheeks had turned slightly red.
From across the hallway, Misha is walking down to Kicker's room where he's currently resting and that's when she overheard a commotion. By the time she got there, she became jealous to see Kicker chatting with Stella. She sneered at the red-haired woman smiling and laughing with Kicker.
"When you transformed, it reminded me of my personal Autobot friend, the Super Stunt Team leader, Redline."
"Redline? I've never met that Autobot and I don't have any resemblance to him."
She countered. "Perhaps. Yet, I have the ability to understand the Mini-Cons' standard binary language."
He gasped in astonishment. "You do?" He smiled back. "That's great. How did you that?"
Misha grinds her teeth in frustration and believing that Kicker is quickly getting along with Stella, she steps inside to join them.
Stella answered Kicker's question. "It requires a mental link of some sort, when a Mini-Con bonds with a Bulk. Once they went back to Planet Cybertron, I resumed my previous job and took up drawing as my hobby, in order to remember my friends. Then, a year later, my red hair had turned platinum blonde - indicating that they've returned. I asked them to change my hair easily much like their systems being upgraded. Thankfully, they were able to do so."
"So, your hair colour changes whenever you sense your friends? That's so cool! It's just like mine, except it turns brightly gold by detecting a stash of Energon" says Kicker.
That's when Stella noticed someone in the distance. "Speaking of detection, your best friend is here."
As he turned to Stella's direction, he right away became surprised to see Misha looking angry with him. "Ah! Misha!"
"Why is she here with you, Kicker? Did you invite her?" she shouts.
"No, I didn't! She came here on her own! I wouldn't invite anyone else other than you" he cried.
But Misha countered back in anger. "You expect me to believe that? Of all the nerve! What were you thinking?"
Stella stood up from Kicker's bed and confronts Misha. "Calm yourself. He's telling you the truth. I stopped by on my own accord, while admiring his bravery and armor transformation. Nothing else."
Not willing to accept Stella's statement, Misha crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at her. "Even if he did resemble your Autobot partner, he would regret it."
The red-haired woman became appalled of Misha's response. "What was that?"
"You want a piece of me?"
Both Misha and Stella are glaring at each other in the eye and are looking to throw the first punch until Kicker intervened to break up the conflict.
"Cut it out, Misha. We're supposed to be fighting the Decepticons, not each other."
"Since when did you became the voice of reason? You're easily so hotheaded by going into battle without thinking first" told Misha.
Stella pushed Misha aside. "Hey, that's not the way I see in him."
"Who are you to judge people's actions?" she asked, while raising her eyebrow in question.
"I don't, because I'm a compassionate, brave and proud person" answered Stella. Then, she felt Kicker tapping her on the arm.
"Which reminds me. I almost forgot to thank you for helping me, back at the old shipyard. I owe you one."
"In that case, allow me to return the favour." She pulls him by the hand and kisses him right on the cheek. A small hint of redness was shown on his cheeks again.
As a result of seeing Stella kissing her lover, Misha's face turned dark red in pure jealousy. "Are you kidding me?!"
"Misha, simmer down. If you're looking for a fight, do it outside but not here" told Kicker, while Stella sticks her tongue out at her.
The dark-brown haired gal was taken back by surprise. "But, Kicker..."
"It ain't right to treat our colleagues with that kind of behaviour."
"We should be more than just friends, if you and I can study closer together." As she smiled again by sitting on his lap and threw her arms around his neck, it made Misha more jealous than ever.
Upon feeling uneasy of Stella peering straight at him, he reluctantly replied. "W-Well, I could try, if I had some spare time."
"Then, go right ahead!" yelled Misha to Kicker. "See if I care! It's obvious that she's more attractive and smarter than I am! Humph!" Afterwards, she stormed out of his room in frustration.
"Hey, wait a minute! Come back here, Misha!" But much to his chagrin, she didn't respond back due to the animosity between her and Stella. "What have I got myself into?"
"It's not your fault. So, think it over and I'll see you later." She got off from Kicker's lap and also exited from his room with a wink from her eye and a bright smile straight at him.
This resulted of Kicker's cheeks turning red in embarrassment. After she left, he starts to contemplate about seeing Misha getting jealous over Stella. "Good grief."
While Kicker is in hot water with his relationship with Misha, back inside the infirmary, Rad, Ga'Mede and the Spy-Changers are still recovering from their previous fight against Galvatron, Cryotek, the Decepticons and Koji's resurrected father.
Dr. Jones, Sally, Alexis and Carlos stood next to them by checking up on their status. Bud, Coby and Lori were already there.
"Based on their current conditions, Rad and Ga'Mede's injuries are nowhere near critical. Although they've received minor damage to their battle armour suits, they must remain here until they're up and ready."
"I still can't believe that the Decepticons would do this. Bring Koji's father back from the dead? How horrible."
"Almost as worse than our outing from the tower a long while back."
"Yeah. It's also unfortunate for what happened to the Spy-Changers. Optimus said that they specialize in stealth and tactics, right?" asked Carlos to Dr. Jones.
"Exactly. But even though that we've managed to recover them, it could take time. Regardless, we're still no match for Galvatron and Cryotek since their combined strength and army is nearly immeasurable."
Sally, Alexis and Carlos gazed at each other for a brief moment and then at Bud, Coby and Lori as they all sighed together in disbelief.
Suddenly, they heard Bridget and Kelly being shoved over by a certain someone.
"Hey, watch where you're going!"
"What's your problem, Misha?"
She retorted to them. "That's none of your concern!"
"Holy frijoles! Sounds like someone's not in a happy mood" told Carlos.
By recognizing that tone of voice, Dr. Jones and company immediately knew that it was Misha and decided to confront her regarding the negative behaviour towards Bridget and Kelly. As soon as they stepped out of the infirmary, he turns her from behind and asked. "What's wrong with you, Misha? Did you get into another argument with my son?"
She yelled. "It's more than that! He was with Stella!"
"You mean Stella Holley? Hey, now. Just because he's with another woman that's prettier than you, it doesn't mean he would ditch you for someone better. Right?"
Bridget and Kelly smacked themselves on the forehead and shook their heads in disgust. Just as Misha was about to lay out her frustration on Dr. Jones, T-Ai, Koji and Noriko came running in with the progress report relating to Artemis's transformation.
"Excuse me, Dr. Jones. But, here's a full rundown about Artemis being turned into a human."
"And from the looks of it, it doesn't sound too good."
"Oh, really? Let me see." T-Ai gives Dr. Jones the printed details and as he reads the information very carefully, he gasped. "What? This is far beyond anything I've ever seen!" He turns to T-Ai. "You're saying that my son's blood is what caused the Neo-Dark Energon to change her into a human?"
"Actually, you're half-right. When Artemis got zapped, your son's bloodstain on her hand caused a disruption inside her original programming as a gynoid. Normally, we thought that she would fall under Galvatron's control or being terminated. But instead, it all came down to one conclusion: a metamorphosis."
Everyone gasped in utter shock as to why Artemis didn't get brainwashed, but turned her from a gynoid and into a human.
"Is that why she got a new makeover?" asked Kelly.
"I suppose so. Anything else?" wondered Bridget.
T-Ai continued. "Just this. Due to the unusual results of the Neo-Dark Energon mixed with Kicker's bloodstain and consolidating it by turning her gynoid genes into human flesh, the effects are irreversible. In other words, she's stuck that way...permanently."
"Whoa! Are you serious?" cried Sally.
She nods her head in full confirmation. "I'm afraid so. Despite saving Kicker and Misha's lives, she nearly paid a heavy price."
During this, Noriko has noticed Misha's angry expression. So, she cautiously walked up to her and asked. "You look troubled, miss. Please tell me why're feeling this way, so I can help you out."
At first, Misha wanted nothing from Noriko's assistance. But as she glanced at her beautiful face and comparing it with her deceased mother's, she explained her reason. "I-I felt upset that Kicker was talking with Stella, when she walked in and admired him, along with saving his life. She even said that his armor transformation reminds her of Redline."
"Redline? Who's that?" asked Dr. Jones raising his eyebrow.
Misha pressed forward. "He's the Autobot leader of the Super Stunt Team and she has the ability to understand the Mini-Cons' binary language. Much like Kicker, her hair also changed but into platinum blonde and sensing the presence of her friends. The thought of it made me feel jealous and miserable." She turns her head away from the group and was about to cry until Noriko placed her hand on Misha's head and comforted her.
"Don't feel so discouraged. I'm very certain that he deeply cares about you; just like me and my son. You mustn't let the behaviour of others destroy your inner peace. Deep down, he'll always be there for you, regardless of how difficult life throws at us."
After listening to her heartfelt words, Misha could feel her heart sing and as tears of joy appeared in her blue eyes, she embraced Noriko in a warm hug. "Oh, thank you!"
"You're very welcome." Noriko stroked her long dark brown hair.
"Wow, Koji. Your Mom is really kind and helpful" told Carlos.
"True, but it hasn't been easy for me and her, ever since I lost my father."
"What happened to him, Koji?" asked Alexis curiously.
"He passed away from a heart attack during his previous research and because of the Predacons reading his mind everyday when he was first captured by Galvatron, it had taken a serious toll on his body until that fateful day." He lowered his head down in shame and it allowed T-Ai to wrap her arms around him.
By understanding the heavy loss of Koji's father many years ago, it gave Dr. Jones a very interesting but odd idea for future reference.
Elsewhere at the Decepticon base, Galvatron and Cryotek are trying to build another plan to defeat the Autobots and their human companions; in order to conquer Earth, Cybertron and quite possibly the entire galaxy under their combined power.
"It amazes me that the young female has become human. Was she really a Maximal all along?"
"Not really." Cryotek turns on the Main Monitor and it shows an information dialog about the green-haired woman. "According to the Predacon database, her name is Artemis and was originally a gynoid from the moon side of the Planet Gaea. You do recall that assault from the old laboratory in Silicon Valley, where that stasis pod used to be?"
Galvatron remembers the location of an abandoned laboratory that triggered a signal. "Yes. So, that's what was inside of it and from centuries ago. How intriguing. Proceed."
Cryotek read more of the displayed information. "Just before that idiotic Bludgeon destroyed it and caused the entire building to collapse, one of our men was able to collect a sample of it and brought it here. The process took longer than I had anticipated but we now know why. She wanted to escape the primal wars between the Predacons and Maximals and that's where she ended up on this fabled planet by crashing into that sacred building through time travelling."
"And then, hiding herself in secrecy. It's no wonder that she's different than the rest of us, along with that stasis pod. But since that we've changed her with Neo-Dark Energon, it's pointless of re-capturing her" told Galvatron to Cryotek.
"Almost, but not entirely. I was thinking about the red-haired female. She's been a thorn on our side, when she first interfered in one of our previous schemes. Observe." He played a flashback video that showed Stella saving Bud at the last possible moment from being infected with Neo-Dark Energon.
"I see. That's the same woman who helped out the human Kicker. I think, it's time that we should have a personal meeting with her. Yes." says Galvatron with a sickening laugh and so did Cryotek.
Elsewhere in the shopping district, Kicker is looking for a special gift to make amends with Misha after the rivalry between her and Stella got personal. In short, Ultra Magnus was assigned to accompany him prior to Rodimus' orders and stood outside in his vehicle mode while getting annoyed from the loud and busy traffic.
"This is pathetic. Why do I have to put up with this?"
The monitor was shown on-screen next to him and it was Rodimus. "It was all because Kicker was with another girl and it made Misha very upset."
"I still don't get it. How come I was chosen on this silly trip? Shouldn't the Autobot Brothers handle this, instead of me?"
Rodimus answered. "They're on patrol as of right now and due to the last altercation between you two, both myself and Dr. Jones handpicked you."
"Oh, I see. You want me to fool around with him." Magnus started to grin. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea after all."
"This is not the time to play silly games, Magnus! If you keep on doing this, Optimus and I will kick you out of the Autobot team and you're also no better than both Cryotek and Galvatron! So, stay alert for any Decepticon activities. Over and out." Rodimus shuts off the monitor and became disgruntled over Magnus' teasing towards Kicker.
"I knew that before he even said it" says Magnus to himself.
Speaking of Kicker, he spotted numerous fancy shoes, toys, games, electronics, vehicles but none of them had caught his attention in order to impress his longtime girlfriend, Misha. Then, he saw something extraordinary that would solidify his connection with her. Displaying as a fashion dummy is a pure fit and flare wedding dress and he wasted no time purchasing it from the local clerk. As soon as he was done shopping, he motions to Magnus about the special purchase by getting inside his vehicle mode. "I'm done with my gift, Magnus. Let's go back to base."
"Well, it's about damn time. What did you get for her, kid?" he said with a sly smile.
Kicker starts bickering. "Hey, I'm not a kid! I'm an adult and will you get going already?"
"Fine. Don't hesitate too much. Rodimus, open up the Space Bridge and also, there hasn't been any Decepticons in our area" told Magnus to Rodimus.
"Understood." The second-in-command activates the Space Bridge and sure enough, it was opened for Kicker and Ultra Magnus to go in and return to Autobot HQ.
Quickly into his dormitory, Kicker opens up the big box that contained the fit and flare wedding dress he purchased earlier. The design was very elegant as he can almost picture himself and Misha tying the knot together with loud wedding bells and smiles on their faces while being surrounded by friends and families. He kept gazing at the beautiful wedding dress until he heard the corridors opened and he quickly covered the box containing the wedding dress.
However, much to his disappointment and shock, it was Stella once again. "Hi, Kicker. Where have you been?"
He hung his head down in disgust. "Aw, man! I was suppose to be expecting Misha but not you!"
Stella narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "You mean you haven't given yourself some thought about us?"
By making a deep sigh, he retorted. "No, I haven't." He walks towards his desk and slammed his fists. "You see, unlike me and Koji, Misha doesn't have her parents because they died in a car crash during her youth. Just years before the Energon wars against Unicron and the black hole afterwards. If I end up with you, her life would be far worse than that."
That made Stella gasp in surprise. "Oh, my! I-I'm really sorry."
"Even I felt the same way, when my father revealed her childhood to me and everyone, since he was the one that raised and taught her about Energon technology" says Kicker.
As Stella unfolds her arms, she responded with a smile. "Fascinating. You have one special girlfriend, Kicker and I mean it."
A hint of redness was formed on his cheeks. "Th-Thanks."
Curious, she asked more from him. "So, Kicker or is that really your name? Be honest and where did you go?"
"First off, that's what I'm called all the time but my real name is Chad for obvious reasons. Let alone Junior. But most importantly, I went to a shopping mall with Ultra Magnus and bought something special."
"Oh? Mind if you could show it to me?" Stella offered.
"Are you sure?" thought Kicker.
By nodding her head, he took a deep breath and removed the cover from the box. At first glance, Stella was left curious. But when he carefully unfolds it, it revealed the fit and flare wedding dress. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
She became very amazed of its design. "Wow! It sure does! Let me have a look." As she displays herself in the mirror with the fit and flare wedding dress, she turns to Kicker. "I wonder, if I should be a bride. What do you think?"
"Huh? Fine, I guess." Then, after he folded and placed the wedding dress back into the box, he accidentally tripped over his own shoelace that got lose and as he collided with Stella, she fell down to the floor until she saw Kicker nearly landing on-top of her and stopped at mid-way. This caused both of their faces to turn very red upon meeting up close and personal.
Suddenly, Kicker heard someone gasp and as he looked up, it was Misha and her face was filled with horror and misery to see Kicker having a moment with Stella. Shocked to see what has transpired, he got off from Stella, stood up and tries talking some sense into her. "Misha, wait! It's not what you think."
Not wanting to listen his side of the story, she runs away from him and exits from the Autobot base with her heart filled with loneliness and betrayal while her fabled blue eyes were filled with tears of sadness. "How could you, Kicker?! After all we've been through over the years?!"
During her takeoff, Carlos and Alexis caught a glimpse of Misha's miserable expression and were left wondering as to why she suddenly ran off. They tried calling her name out.
"Hey, where are you going, Misha?"
"Misha! Come back! Misha!"
But she didn't answer to either of them and has already left the Autobot base in misery. They begin to ponder about what really happened between Kicker and herself.
"Does this have to do with Kicker?" asked Carlos to Alexis.
"Probably. While I go check up on Kicker, notify Optimus and Rodimus about Misha's departure."
Carlos nods his head and headed towards the Main Computer System, while Alexis goes in the opposite direction.
Back on over at Kicker's room, he initially fixed his shoelace that caused him to fall onto Stella and felt embarrassed where it resulted Misha feeling depressed. He shook his head. "I can't believe that I did that! She thinks that I'm having an affair with you!"
Stella retorted. "My apologizes, Kicker. The last person that I had a deep connection is Redline. So, it's been far too long. Therefore..." She extended her hand out by offering his handshake. "No hard feelings between us? I'll help you and Misha in anyway possible."
Although reluctant, he accepted it and grasped her hand firmly. He was smiling with Stella for a brief moment until minutes later, Alexis came running in hard and catching her breath. "What's wrong, Alexis? Are you practicing for a marathon?"
"Not funny, Kicker! It's Misha and she ran away!"
"What?!" cried Stella and Kicker in unison.
Once Optimus and Rodimus were told about Misha running away from the Autobot base for unspecified reasons, he notifies the Autobots to locate her.
"Alright, everyone. Whatever caused Misha to run off like that, we must find her immediately and bring her back safely."
"If you see any Decepticons roaming around and possibly target her, fight back until she's brought safe and sound."
"Yes, sir!" they all said.
Around the same time that they were given direct instructions to their teammates, Koji, T-Ai, Noriko, Sally, Dr. Jones, Carlos, Bud, Coby, Lori, Bridget, Kelly, Artemis, Kicker and Stella have also joined in and were also left puzzled about Misha leaving the Autobot base so sudden.
"I wonder, why Misha just went up and left. Any ideas, T-Ai?"
"None, Koji. I didn't see her."
As everyone else are left questioning themselves, Noriko remembered something important and that's when she came to a realization to everybody. "Oh, no! I-I think, I know why."
"What is it, Noriko?" asked Dr. Jones.
She unveiled the truth. "I believe that she was awfully upset about seeing Kicker sitting next to Stella in his room. I gave her some comforting words and yet, it already slipped by. What could've happened?"
Sally became suspicious about her brother's actions towards Misha and turns to him. "Kicker, did you cheat on her with Stella again? If you did, you're going to be in serious trouble!"
"I would never do that to her! What gave you that impression, you dunderhead?" yelled Kicker.
They kept glaring at each other with angry looks until Ultra Magnus walked in and interrupted their quarrel.
"Stop it, both of you!" Magnus turns to Kicker. "Tell me, kid. What really happened between you and that gal of yours? I don't see you acting like a Decepticon and then, turning the other cheek."
"For the last time, I'm not a kid!" shouted Kicker in defence.
Magnus aims his Arm Cannon at him. "Do you want me to prove your point?"
He calls forth his Energon Sabre and aiming it back at Magnus. "Go ahead and try!"
Dr. Jones, Carlos, Alexis, Bud, Coby and Lori all shook their heads in disgust to see them fighting against each other once more.
Already fed up with their constant arguing, Optimus yells at the bumbling duo. "That's quite enough! My brother is right. Kicker, please tell all of us and why."
He answered. "Misha saw me on top of Stella, when she walked in and so..." He gulped his throat down and concluded his sentence. "She thought that I was having an affair with her."
For a brief moment, everyone was left completely silent and confused. But when they fully understood Kicker's involvement with Stella, they all shouted:
"WHAT?!"
"I cannot believe that you would do something so cruel!" said Dr. Jones angrily, followed by Alexis, Sally and Lori.
"So that's why, you idiot!"
"Still reckless as ever!"
"Incompetent bug!"
Kicker protested to them. "H-Hey! That's not true! It...It was unintentional of me! All because I tripped over my own shoelace."
They all glared at him with angry expressions on their faces and with their backs turned, their arms were folded. Except for one individual and that was Koji's mother, Noriko.
She walked forward and clasped her hands with his. "I trust you, Kicker. You would never bring harm to your loved ones. Especially, her."
"HUH?!" everyone cried altogether, upon hearing Noriko's statement to Kicker and turned back to him.
"You actually believe him? In-spite of what he did?" thought Sally.
Noriko nodded. "Yes. You still remain calm, regardless of your negative behaviour and constant worrying."
"Eh? For real?" cried Kicker.
Meanwhile, Misha is now all alone at an industrial park after witnessing Kicker being on top of Stella and it shattered her heart into a million pieces. She cried very hard after everything they've been through together other than her rivalry with Stella Holley: they've first met as kids on a grassy planet, the Energon wars against Unicron, the birth of Primus's sun until its collapse, witnessing Colonel Franklin's marriage to Lucy Suzuki after the black hole was sealed by the four Cyber Planet Keys, Dr. Jones unveiling her dark childhood to him, obtaining the Sword of Purpose from Mount Fuji, acquiring her own battle armor outfit and gaining her armor transformation after Kicker sacrificed his life to save hers.
"I-I cannot believe that he did that! I can't forgive him!" she kept on crying over Kicker presumably cheating on her until she hears the sounds of an oncoming vehicle heading in her direction.
As soon as she looked up, she felt startled to see Ultra Magnus right in-front of her. "Ultra Magnus? Wh-What are you doing out here?"
"Dr. Jones requested me to find you and I didn't come alone."
She gets the impression that he has brought Kicker on board and so, she turned around and folded her arms. "I don't want to talk with him! He's fine without me, since he has Stella!"
But little does Misha know that within Ultra Magnus' vehicle mode was not only Kicker inside, but also Alexis.
Kicker grunted. "I knew this was a bad idea. You go talk to Misha, since you're the last witness that saw her."
"True but, why do I have to go with you?"
He scratched his head in confusion. "It was not only my Dad's opinion, but also...Rodimus?"
Upon recalling her previous meeting with the red and yellow flamed Autobot relating to a certain colleague of hers, she quickly answered. "Okay. I'm fine with that. Wish me luck." She exits out of her seat and confront Misha. This left Kicker and even Ultra Magnus very puzzled as Optimus' brother was shown on the monitor screen.
"What's gotten into her, lately?"
"It's anyone's guess, I believe. Aside from that, do you think that I should contact Optimus for reinforcements?"
"Hold that thought. Let's just watch and see." Kicker remains inside Ultra Magnus' vehicle mode and witness Alexis trying to calm down Misha's miserable breakdown.
Regardless of seeing Alexis, Misha refuses to turn around and hear the real truth about what actually happened between Kicker and Stella.
Alexis took a deep breath and complied to her. "Please listen to me, Misha. You should know that running away isn't the best solution. In fact, Kicker didn't really made out with her. He simply forgot to fix his shoelace and that's when he fell down on her."
"How can you be so sure? He cheated on me!" cried Misha in anger, while tears kept streaming down on her cheeks.
By shaking her head in disappointment, she approaches Misha and placed her hand on her shoulder. "You've got it all wrong, Misha. What he did was an accident and he would never turn his back on you. If it occurred between me and Rad, I'd still be at his side and forgive him."
"Alexis" says Misha sadly after turning her head back at her with hot tears in her eyes.
With a simple nod, she gives her some interesting words of advice. "You see, the only person you need to be good enough for is yourself and just because you carry it so well doesn't mean it isn't heavy."
It was that very moment, Misha could feel her heart repaired with great relief. Even Kicker was beside himself, regarding Alexis's touching words towards her. Then, realizing that Kicker was indeed right all along and receiving some heartwarming thoughts from Alexis, she hugged her dearly. "Alexis! Thank you so much."
Relieved to see Misha feeling much better after clearing things up with Alexis, Kicker decides to join in.
Suddenly, Magnus detected a strong presence. "Wait! Something's heading this way!"
"Say, what?" That's when Kicker's hair turned brightly gold and as he gets out of Ultra Magnus, he quickly alerts Alexis and Misha. "Hey, Alexis! Misha! Run for it!"
They heard his warning and as soon as they do, they both get rocked by Galvatron and Cryotek's appearances landing right in-front of them hard. When they recuperate, however, they were both grabbed by Galvatron and Cryotek's massive hands. Galvatron is holding Misha, while Cryotek does the same with Alexis as the girls are trapped within their grasp.
"Well, well. Look what we have here."
"Instead of the red-haired woman, we've caught someone else! Now, that's what you call catch of the day!"
"Misha! Alexis!" yelled Kicker.
At the Viewing Monitor System inside Autobot HQ, Optimus and Rodimus became horrified to see Alexis and Misha at the mercy of Galvatron and Cryotek since both Ultra Magnus and Kicker are outmatched by them.
"Oh, no! Misha and Alexis are being held captive by Galvatron and Cryotek! Rodimus, I want you, the Autobot Brothers and Team Bullet Train to head over there as quickly as possible!"
"You got it! T-Ai, activate the Space Bridge!" he called to her.
"No problem!" By punching the coordinates of their whereabouts, the Space Bridge was opened as Optimus, Rodimus, the Autobot Brothers and Team Bullet Train go through while hopefully rescue the girls and assist Magnus and Kicker.
Dr. Jones and Sally are also hoping that Kicker, Alexis and Misha will it make back safe and sound.
"Hang on, Kicker. Help is on the way."
"Please be really careful out there, brother."
Back on over at the Industrial Park, Galvatron and Cryotek gloat at their captured victims by gripping them inside their hands.
"We may not have gotten the right woman, but we certainly have got something better!"
"Indeed. Shall we put the squeeze on them?"
Feeling his anger starting to burn like the sun, Kicker shouted back at the two Decepticon leaders. "Don't you even dare!"
"I think, we'll start off with this one" says Cryotek by putting the squeeze on Alexis hard.
She feels her body being pressurized from Cryotek's raw strength. As it becomes tighter, she felt something cracked and when she does, she screamed very loudly. It was so loud that it can be heard from all the way to the Autobot base and even down into the infirmary room.
Within the dark hidden bunker lies the massive stasis pod that Rodimus had reformatted and it was now fully completed. When the sleeping transformer heard a familiar female screaming in pain, he slowly spoke. "Th-That voice..." His eyes lit up and growled in anger. "She's in danger!" By pumping its fists, he fires his rockets from inside the stasis pod and blasted his way out of the corridors as the liquid starts pouring onto the floor. By crouching down, he lets out a roar of anger, blasted the ceiling above with his proton cannons and out of the Autobot base as it locates the young woman's screams through his radar screen. "There!"
This brought the attention of everyone that felt the Autobot base shook up really hard.
"Jumping gyros! What the heck was that?" cried Coby.
"Good question." Dr. Jones checks from one of the surveillance videos and sure enough, it came from down in the infirmary room and was left in shambles. "What in the world?"
Back at the Industrial Park, Cryotek continues to put the squeeze on Alexis as she feels her body being crippled.
Kicker and Magnus could watch helplessly, while Galvatron laughed menacingly with Misha captive. "Now, I shall do the same with her."
"NO!" cried Kicker. He was about to come to her aid with his Energon Sabre, when a new voice had interjected.
"Not so fast!"
As the Decepticon leaders overheard someone from above the sky, a flash of shock came from Kicker's eyes and gasped in bewilderment.
"That voice! But, it can't be!"
Magnus questioned him. "Hey, why are you stopping? Your gal is in danger!"
"I know but..." He was going to finish his sentence until he heard a really loud fighter jet that came down from the sky and landed onto the ground by transforming itself.
"Starscream, Transform!"
After the dust had subsided, both sides became very stunned to see an awfully familiar Decepticon that has just arrived. Kicker's eyes and mouth were widened in astonishment, followed by Dr. Jones, Sally, Carlos, Coby, Lori, Bud, Stella, Artemis, Koji, T-Ai, Noriko, Kelly and Bridget.
Just as Optimus, Rodimus and their Autobot crew also arrived to witness the shocking return of a newly reformed Decepticon.
"By the Matrix!"
"It's...Starscream!"
To Be Continued...
End of Chapter 29