Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, The Owl House or their characters
In the South Pole, Optimus Prime was seen laying in a big icy crater that was made from his fall from the sky and the Autobot leader seemed very injured as he groaned in pain and started crawling a few degrees around. That was when Predaking showed up from the sky and roared down at Optimus before he transformed and landed in front of him.
"It took a cataclysm to extinguish Cybertron's original Predacon inhabitants. You never stood a chance against me, Prime." Predaking proclaimed before he shifted his hand into a blaster-like weapon and aimed it at Optimus, energising it up. "In fact, the time has come for your extinction."
But before he could fire, a familiar orange energy shield was thrown out of the facility and it hit Predaking right in the face. Predaking stumbled back a bit and Grimlock then charged right out of the facility before he punched the Predacon right in his torso, sending him flying back a few miles. When Grimlock picked up his shield, he turned his attention towards Optimus.
"I gave you an order, Grimlock." Optimus told him, groaning a bit.
"Since when have I taken orders from you, Optimus?" Grimlock asked rhetorically. "You just stay down and let me handle that beast."
"Very well." Optimus said with a nod, slowly standing up and limping to the side to stay clear of the battle.
Grimlock turned his attention back to Predaking, who had recovered and glared directly at the Dinobot leader.
"You're just the Cybertronian I've been waiting for fight." Grimlock scowled, cracking his robotic neck.
"I have also waited for this encounter with you, Dinobot." Predaking replied. "You are almost like me in many ways, yet your alternate form was genetically forced upon your coding. I was born with my Predacon heritage."
"That's true, but both of us were still forged into what we are today inside Shockwave's laboratory." Grimlock said with a glare. "Nothing good ever comes from that Decepticon's hands."
"Do you seek to talk or battle, Dinobot?" Predaking questioned, having had enough of this conversation.
"I'm always prepared for a battle." Grimlock answered. "It's time to see which of us is the better beast!"
With a pair of determined shouts, Grimlock and Predaking charged straight at each other and thrusted their fists forward before they collided, creating a very powerful shockwave as Optimus took cover behind an ice pillar.
(Linebreak)
Inside the facility, the rest of the team were still being's kept under fire by the Vehicons with Amity making a large Abomination wall for them to take cover behind.
"At this rate, we won't make it to that collider!" Willow stated.
Seaspray knew she was right and then shifted his hand into his signature torpedo launcher.
"Permission to clear a path for us, Commander?" Seaspray asked.
"Granted." Ultra Magnus answered.
"I'll help throw in some extra big bangs, too." Boscha said, taking out a pair of potion bottles.
"That's a good idea." Luz replied with a smile, holding up her staff and making the tip emit purple energy.
Boscha then tossed both her potions over to the Vehicons and they rolled along the floor in front of them before Luz and Seaspray fired their magic laser and torpedo respectively.
(Linebreak)
At the same time, Shockwave, Shatter, Dropkick, Sharpshot and Kickback were still overseeing their forces claim the particle collider synchrotron.
"Unit one, what is the status of the Autobots and their pets?" Shatter asked on her com-link, wanting a status update.
"They've all blowing their way through our forces, ma'am! We can't stop them!" A Vehicon called from the other side.
"Fools! We can't rely on any of you to do anything!" Sharpshot scolded angrily.
A loud bang noise was suddenly heard from the entrance and the Decepticons turned towards it to see a Vehicon fly right out from it before the Autobots and Hexside Squad showed up in their vehicle forms and Witch staffs respectively.
"Here's Team Hex-Prime, suckas!" Luz shouted with a grin.
The Autobots transformed and started shooting down the Vehicons with their blasters while the Hexside Squad assisted them with their magic abilities, until Dropkick jumped down and he tackled down Bumblebee as the two of them engaged in an intense fist-fight. Sharpshot fired electricity at the group and most of them avoided it before Willow pulled down Sharpshot with some large vines, allowing Slug to ram straight into him in his Triceratops form. Shatter leaped down from her position and clashed her fists against Arcee's wrist blades, only for Elita and Cliffjumper knock her back with double punches. Kickback avoided some shots from Ironhide's cannon and then Swoop attacked him from the air in his Pterodactyl form before Amity summoned an Abomination to restrain the grasshopper Insecticon and Luz used an Ice Glyph to freeze his large appendages. Shockwave fired his arm cannon at the group, which earned their attention.
"Magnus, can you take care of Shockwave?" Elita asked as she knee-struck Shatter and jabbed her twice.
"Of course!" Ultra Magnus nodded before leaping straight onto Shockwave.
The two of them landed on the other side of the platform and they repeatedly exchanged punches with each other, until Shockwave caught Ultra Magnus' hook hand and twisted it downwards.
"This is no place for a one-handed Autobot." Shockwave insulted, only for the Autobot commander to punch him away.
"I'll take one bum hand over one good eye any day." Ultra Magnus replied before he attacked again.
"Hey, has anyone seen Grimlock?!" Cliffjumper asked, finally noticing the Dinobot leader's absence.
(Linebreak)
Back outside, Grimlock was repeatedly punching Predaking back with all his great strength and soon grabbed the Predacon by his face before running ahead and dragging him along the ground face-first into it. Grimlock tossed Predaking up and used his shield to bash him a few feet away from him, creating a large trail of damage on the ice floor.
"Give up, Predacon! You can't win!" Grimlock stated.
"I am Predaking! And I will never yield to the likes of you!" Predaking answered firmly.
The Predacon then charged straight at Grimlock and delivered a powerful reverse-kick to him, but Grimlock stood his ground and brought out his orange Energon sword before he swiftly sliced Predaking across the torso with his weapon. Predaking clenched his torso a bit and angrily swiped his claws at Predaking, who blocked them with his shield and then tackled Predaking back a bit before grabbing him and doing a powerful suplex move that left them both in a crater. Grimlock immediately stood up and he grabbed Predaking by his left leg, slowly spinning him around and picking up speed with every second before eventually tossing him into a large ice structure, making it crash apart upon impact as Predaking groaned in pain slightly.
"Disappointing." Grimlock scoffed.
Predaking suddenly shot back up with a deadly glare and shifted his hand into a blaster again before shooting a stream of hot fire from it, causing Grimlock to shield himself with his arms as he grunted from the inside heat he felt from the fire beam. The Dinobot leader slowly stomped his way through the fire beam in order to get closer, but Predaking increased his fire power and Grimlock was unable to power through it. Just then, Optimus decided to give Grimlock a hand by aiming his blaster at Predaking and fired it straight at the Predacon, causing him to step back a bit and end his blaster's fire beam. Grimlock managed to quickly recover and he charged straight towards Predaking, giving him a powerful shoulder-tackle that sent him skidding back as the two beastly Cybertronians scowled right at each other.
"Enough of this! Time to take this battle to the next level!" Grimlock announced before he slammed his hands onto the ground, transforming into his T-Rex form and roaring ferociously.
Predaking retaliated by transforming into his Predacon form and screeched in anger at his foe before they once again charged at each other. When the two Cybertronian beasts collided, they sent out a powerful shockwave that ended up sending them and Optimus skidding back a bit. Predaking was the first to recover as he used his front feet to pin down Grimlock and started slashing at him with his claws, until the Dinobot leader brought up his massive feet and kicked Predaking straight off him. Once he got back up, Grimlock slammed his jaws around Predaking's neck and slammed him against the ice floor while relentlessly chomping down on his metal skin before tossing him away. Predaking got back up and let out a very mad roar as he then charged at Grimlock to clamp his jaws on him, but the Dinobot leader managed to rush to the side and avoid it. Grimlock breathed fire onto Predaking while charging straight at him and tackled into the Predacon, causing them both to roll against the ice floor. Once the two beastly Cybertronians got up and saw they were a few feet away from each other, they charged up their respective fire breaths and unleashed them with full power. The two fire breaths collided and Grimlock and Predaking kept breathing it out to see which one would overpower the other, until the colliding flames ended up creating a massive explosion that sent Grimlock and Predaking flying back, along with Optimus as he was too close to the blast radius. When the smoke cleared away after a few seconds, Predaking slowly stood back up and shook his face before he noticed that Optimus and Grimlock were laying many miles away from him and they were not moving. Predaking started to charge up a fire blast to finish them, until he got a com-link call.
"Predaking, I have been informed that our objective is at risk." Megatron said. "Secure it, now!"
With no other choice but to obey his leader, Predaking unleashed his fire blast straight into the air instead of at his enemies.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus delivered a few more punches to Shockwave's face and the one-eyed scientists retaliated with a swipe from his cannon. Fortunately, Ultra Magnus managed to quickly strike at Shockwave with his claw and then delivered a powerful uppercut that made Shockwave collapse. Bumblebee, Ironhide, Luz, Hunter and Skara took cover behind some machinery parts as Dropkick was currently shooting at them in his helicopter form.
"We need to get that Con back down here!" Ironhide stated.
"I've got just the thing for that!" Luz replied, bringing out a Plant Glyph.
"You're gonna need to avoid being shot at, Luz!" Bumblebee reminded.
"I'll give her a distraction!" Hunter stated as gripped his Witch staff.
The blonde Witch boy then jumped over his cover and Dropkick focused his attention on him, firing straight at Hunter and he used his flash ability to avoid all the shots. Luz ran out and she launched some vines from her Glyph, which tangled around Dropkick's rotor blade and caused him to transform into robot mode before he landed on the floor. Dropkick soon got wrapped up in the circuits by the vines as they all got tangled in his transforming process.
"You think these little vines can hold me?!" Dropkick questioned Luz with a glare.
"That's not what the plan is!" Luz stated before Bumblebee and Ironhide then charged at the blue Decepticon and they both punched him in the face.
Dropkick was sent flying away as the vines were torn off him and he ended up crashing into Shatter while she was busy battling Arcee and Elita, causing both of them to collide in a nearby wall. At the same time, Slug knocked down Sharpshot and pinned him down with his front feet and Swoop his metal talons to keep Kickback grounded as Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, Seaspray, Amity, Willow and Boscha kept them at bay with their respective weapons.
"You dumb little bugs never learn." Slug warned.
"Get off me so we I can scrap you all!" Sharpshot yelled in anger.
"Don't even think about it." Amity threatened, pointing an Abomination blade right at his face.
"Looks like we've beaten them all." Seaspray said with a smile.
"Commander, objective secured." Arcee informed as she and some of the others approached the synchrotron.
"It would appear that you've lost this battle, Shockwave." Elita said, walking up to the one eyed-scientist.
"Now might be a fine time to surrender." Ultra Magnus added.
"A logical assumption, were it not for…" Shockwave began to say as he stood up, only for the ceiling to start cracking apart.
"That doesn't sound good." Skara muttered worriedly.
Just then, Predaking crashed through the ceiling and landed on the floor before he bashed Ultra Magnus and Elita away.
"Kids, get back!" Wheeljack called before Predaking smacked him and Seaspray away with his tail.
The Hexside Squad quickly regrouped and Amity formed an Abomination shield around them to defend themselves against Predaking, who was shot from behind by Arcee, Bumblebee and Ironhide. Predaking swatted the three of them away with his large tail and noticed Swoop flying straight at him before he blew the Pterodactyl Dinobot away with a powerful gust of wind generated by his wings. Slug charged towards Predaking with his horns pointed at him, only for Predaking to grab him with his left claw and then toss him away. Predaking then grabbed Shockwave and flew ontop of the synchrotron before using his tail to propel himself out the way he came in with the giant machine in his possession. Shatter, Dropkick, Sharpshot and Kickback soon recovered and they all ran up to the ceiling hole.
"We'll all be leaving with our prize now, fools!" Shatter stated before she and Dropkick transformed into their air vehicle forms, with Sharpshot and Kickback doing the same.
"You all don't know it, but you've already lost! Lost! Lost!" Kickback laughed psychotically as they all flew out the hole.
The Hexside Squad emerged out of the Abomination shield to see their Autobot friends slowly recovering from Predaking's surprise attack.
"Titan curse it, this sucks." Boscha grumbled.
(Linebreak)
Back outside, Optimus and Grimlock both began to stood up and groaned painfully as they noticed Predaking was gone.
"I nearly had him." Grimlock muttered, flexing his right arm.
Just then, he and Optimus heard a familiar sound and they looked up to see Predaking flying into a Ground Bridge with Shockwave and the synchrotron before Shatter, Dropkick, Sharpshot and Kickback flew in after him and the Ground Bridge closed up.
"You fought very well against the Predacon today, Grimlock." Optimus complimented.
"I still intend to finish what we both started." Grimlock said as he picked up his sword and shield and placed them away, while Optimus reacquired his mini-gun.
The rest of the Autobot/Witch team then showed up from the facility and they approached Optimus and Grimlock.
"We weren't able to stop them. That Predacon just keeps making things difficult." Luz admitted depressingly.
"We're still alive. That's what really counts." Cliffjumper assured.
"You look like you've been through the fight of your life, Grim." Slug told his team leader.
"Are ya glad you finally got to take on that Pred?" Swoop asked.
"Yeah, but he owes me a rematch." Grimlock replied.
"Ratchet, we require immediate transport back to base." Elita informed on her com-link.
(Linebreak)
At Unit E, the rest of the team were still laying down unconsciously as Fowler was the first one to wake up, a little bit dazed.
"Students, there's a man on the wing of this plane." Fowler mumbled in a dizzy way.
"Ratchet, can you hear me?" Elita asked on the communication machine.
"Vee? Are you listening?" Luz questioned.
Hearing the voices caused Bulkhead, Jazz, Smokescreen, Jetfire, Snarl, Sludge and Gus to wake up as all of them groaned weakly.
"That Soundwave sure knows how to leave a big pain." Jazz admitted.
"Nothing ever works out for us these days." Gus said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Commander Elita? Luz?" Bulkhead asked as he heard their voices more clearly.
"Bulkhead, is everything okay at the base?" Elita asked. "Where's Ratchet?"
"What about Vee? Do you see her?" Luz asked, a bit concnerd.
Bulkhead and the others looked around and they noticed that Ratchet and Vee were missing, along with Soundwave.
(Linebreak)
"They're…They're gone." Bulkhead said, much to the away team's shock.
"Gone?" Willow repeated in disbelief.
"And so is Soundwave." Jetfire said grimly.
"No." Luz gasped while holding her hands over her mouth, fearing the worst for her adoptive sister.
(Linebreak)
On the Nemesis, Ratchet was seen restrained onto a medical table in a concealed room and Megatron approached him, making the Autobot medic wake up.
"What do you want from me?" Ratchet questioned with a glare.
"Your assistance, actually. To complete a little…science project." Megatron answered. "And just in case you were planning to refuse, we have your little shapeshifting pet in our possession, as well."
"Don't even think bringing any harm to Vee!" Ratchet stated angrily. "Even so, I will never cooperate!"
Just then, Shockwave showed up with a Cortical Psychic Patch cable in hand.
"Shockwave does not require your cooperation to siphon your knowledge, Doctor." Megatron replied as Shockwave brought the cable closer to Ratchet's head.
(Linebreak)
In another room on the Nemesis, Vee was seen sleeping on a flat metal surface in her Basilisk form and she groaned tiredly, waking up and rubbing her head.
"Ugh, my head is killing me." Vee said weakly. "Where…Where am I?"
When the Basilisk girl fully regain her eyesight, she gasped in shock at seeing she was in a small room with Cybertronian metal around it and in front of her was a red laser wall. From all indications, Vee was in a cell on the Nemesis itself.
"You're exactly where you need to be, little organic." A menacing voice said as Vee looked up to see Thundercracker and Skywarp grinning down at her from outside her cell.
"And don't worry about that Autobot medic you came with. He's going to be just fine…until Lord Megatron and Shockwave are done with him." Thundercracker said before he and Skywarp walked away laughing.
"Ratchet…" Vee whispered fearfully, wondering what Megatron was planning to do with him.
(Linebreak)
At Unit E, the Autobots and Hexside Squad all regrouped with each other and they were immediately working hard on finding a way to rescue Ratchet and Vee.
"Peeled some paint off Laserbeak." Smokescreen said as Arcee was holding said piece he shot off. "If I were a better shot, Ratchet and Vee would still be here."
"Don't blame yourself, Smokey." Skara said assuringly. "You did the best you could."
"I should've been here. I could've stopped Soundwave from kidnapping them." Luz muttered while hugging herself, worried out of her mind. "If something happens to Vee and Mama finds out…"
"It's going to be okay, batata." Amity said, pulling her girlfriend in for a warm hug. "We're going to get her and Ratchet back."
"I just wish I could've done a better job at stopping old screen-face." Gus said remorsefully.
"Chin up, young ones. We've calmed the entire floor." Ultra Magnus said. "For now, that remains our only clue."
"They've obviously been taken to the Nemesis, but we can't track it while it's cloaking system is still up and running." Cliffjumper admitted.
"Cliff's right. They could be anywhere on this marble." Swoop agreed.
"Nothing in the Ground Bridge log." Bulkhead informed. "If they bridged Ratchet and Vee out of here, they used theirs."
"Which only could've been possible if Soundwave sent his location to the Cons." Willow added.
"Why would he wanna take Ratch and the little shifter prisoner, but leave the others back here?" Slug questioned.
"How the heck should any of us know?" Boscha asked rhetorically.
"If Megatron intends to hold our teammates hostage, I find it curious that he's made no demands." Ultra Magnus admitted.
"Perhaps he's using them for something else instead of a ransom?" Elita guessed.
"It would stand to reason that Ratchet must possess something the Decepticons want." Optimus said.
"And he's using Vee as a hostage to gain his cooperation." Hunter added, making Luz gain an even more worried look.
"If those stinking Cons think about laying a hand on Vee, they're gonna be in for a whole lot of pain." Jazz declared firmly, pounding his fist into his hand.
"They wouldn't dare to mess with that girl since she likes eating Energon from them." Ironhide reminded.
"Well, whatever the Cons are after, Ratch won't give it up." Bulkhead reassured as there was a small moment of silence. "Right?"
"Megatron can always just extract the information he needs from Ratchet right out of his mind." Grimlock replied grimly. "He'll get what he's after, one way or another."
"Perfect." Amity muttered.
(Linebreak)
On the Nemesis' main deck, Predaking showed up on the elevator and he approached Megatron.
"Lord Megatron, I understand that you have brought an accursed Autobot and one of his flesh pets aboard this warship." Predaking said.
"Indeed." Megatron answered.
"Then I will accomplish with them what I failed to do with the Prime and Dinobot." Predaking announced, shifting his hand into a blaster as Megatron walked towards him.
"Predaking, this Autobot is more than a prisoner. Also, the knowledge his shapeshifting pet possesses may allow us to finally figure out a way to venture into the home world of these Witches. You do wish for Cybertron's restoration and a second world for your kind to live on, don't you?" Megatron asked, causing Predaking to relent thoughtfully. "Both our captives' usefulness will come to an end. And when that time arrives, I assure you, they will be all yours."
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Team Prime and the Hexside Squad were still trying to figure out what Megatron wanted with Ratchet and Vee as Fowler sent out a phone call to his forces.
"Listen, I need 24/7 satellite monitoring. Eyes on the skies and ears to the ground!" Fowler stated before hanging up.
"With Vee, Megatron could probably gain knowledge that'll help him figure out a way to get into the Boiling Isles." Luz admitted to her friends.
"That's definitely not good." Seaspray said.
"But still, why would they need to capture Ratchet, too?" Hunter asked.
"Maybe bucket-head's after the techno babble?" Wheeljack guessed while typing on a monitor and displaying an image of a familiar green substance.
"The Synth-En formula?" Arcee asked.
"But, that stuff is still incomplete." Jazz reminded.
"Doesn't mean Shockwave can figure out a way to get it fully working." Swoop replied.
"Why would the Cons need the artificial stuff if they already control most of this planet's Energon reserves?" Smokescreen asked.
"Greed. What else?" Bulkhead answered.
"Or it's probably because he needs it as a key ingredient to what he's currently building." Grimlock said.
"Grimlock actually has a good point." Skara agreed.
"If Megatron is truly rebuilding the Omega Lock, as Ratchet summarised, Synthetic Energon might be a necessary component." Optimus theorised.
"And Luz may be correct about what Megatron intends to use Vee for. Once he has finished using the rebuild Omega Lock to cyber form Earth and restore Cybertron, he will the sight his sights on the Boiling Isles." Elita said with a grim expression.
"It won't be that easy for him." Gus replied.
"I hate to be the one to bring lightning to a thunderstorm, but there's one thing we're all ignoring. If the Cons found Ratchet and Vee here, they know the location of this base." Fowler told everyone, causing them all to become greatly concerned.
"Well…shouldn't that mean we need to start leaving?!" Boscha asked in a panic.
"Not yet. We can find a way to deal with this situation and find a way to rescue Ratchet and Vee." Jetfire replied.
"Well we need knowledge on Decepticon things, we none of us really have." Willow admitted.
"Actually, there is one who possesses great knowledge of Decepticon tactics and tech, and he has already proven to be a great secret ally to us." Optimus told everyone.
"Really? Who?" Snarl asked.
Just then, everyone heard a banging noise that was coming from Unit E's main entrance.
"It sounds like he received her message, Optimus." Elita told her love interest.
Optimus then walked up to the entrance and used both his hands to open it, revealing a familiar Cybertronian standing in the other side and causing most of the group to gain very surprised expressions.
"No way." Slug whispered in disbelief.
"You." Seaspray scowled, glaring dangerously at the Cybertronian in front of him and his team.
"Greetings, Autobots and younglings." Dreadwing greeted. "I was told that you require aid in finding the Nemesis."
(Linebreak)
Speaking of which, Shockwave had finished with his Cortical Psychic Patch operation on Ratchet.
"And what did the Cortical Psychic Patch yield?" Megatron asked as Shockwave removed the cable from the back of Ratchet's head.
"Only confirmation that the Synthetic Energon formula is unstable, and that the Autobot medic's work on it remains incomplete." Shockwave answered.
"Then it seems we must help Ratchet finish his work." Megatron proclaimed. "And Shockwave, I would also like for you to see to our organic shapeshifting guest in our ship's cell. Some cooperation may help the youngling be more at ease in her current situation."
"As you wish, Lord Megatron." Shockwave said with a bow.
(Linebreak)
Later on, a now fully awake Ratchet was standing in the middle of an interrogation room with his hand cuffed and a single light shining down on him. Just then, Megatron walked into the room with Starscream, Soundwave, Shatter and Dropkick by his side.
"Are you through poking around inside my head?" Ratchet questioned, turning to face the Decepticon leader and marching up to him. "You didn't find what you wanted, did you? Or else you wouldn't be here. And if you've brought any harm to Vee…"
"Your little shapeshifting friend is safe. But more importantly, what I want apparently does not exist." Megatron said.
"And that would be?" Ratchet asked.
"We would very much like for you to complete your work on the formula for Synthetic Energon." Megatron replied.
"Even if I were capable, do you think that I would hand you a limitless supply of fuel and ammunition just so you can turn around and use it against the Autobots and our young friends?" Ratchet questioned, turning away from Megatron to show he wasn't willing to do his dirty work.
"Oh, you misunderstand, dearest Ratchet. I intend to use your formula for the purpose of creation, not destruction." Megatron told him as this earned Ratchet's attention. "We have fortuitously discovered that your Synth-En, when combined with cyber nucleic acid, may in fact form the basis for an alternative cyber-matter."
"You are attempting to rebuild the Omega Lock." Ratchet realised.
"We stand on the verge of a great moment in time, you and I. The restoration of our very home planet." Megatron said.
"Collaborate with the barbarian who essentially destroyed our planet in the first place? Who sadistically crushed Bumblebee's voice box while looking him in the eye? Who is currently keeping an innocent young being as a prisoner on this warship? No thank you." Ratchet replied sternly.
"Then I present you with a choice. Complete your research or…" Megatron began to say as he then gestured to Soundwave.
The communication Decepticon walked forward and displayed his picture of the Hexside Squad to Ratchet as Starscream simply chuckled.
"Little organics, always the weak link." Starscream mocked.
"Optimus already chose these creatures over our planet. We are hoping you will make the right choice, this time." Shatter said with her hands behind her back.
"Are these younglings supposed to mean something to me?" Ratchet questioned, hoping his little white lie would keep Luz and her friends from being targeted. "They have already proven capable of defending themselves from all of you."
"I am well aware of their magic's potential and look forward to harnessing that power when we find a way into the Witches' home world so that we may use it to lead our kind into a far more advanced generation. Also, I think this will be more interesting to you." Megatron explained as Soundwave then showed footage of Unit E. "As you must certainly be aware, we know the location of your current base. Accept my offer and I will allow your fellow Autobots and organic pets to remain unharmed. Think it over, good doctor."
Megatron then walked out of the interrogation room with his four followers in tow, leaving Ratchet alone with his thoughts. All five Decepticons started to walk their way down the Nemesis' corridors.
"Master, you're not serious about letting those Auto-losers and their primitive little friends stay alive, are you?" Dropkick questioned.
"Of course not, Dropkick. We already have one being from the Boiling Isles and that is more than enough for us." Megatron replied. "Assemble your armada, Starscream, and decimate their base, once again."
Starscream smirked sinisterly at this order he was given, glad he was given another chance to fully destroy their enemies for good.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Vee was seen sulking in her cell while holding her tail to her chest before she heard some metal footsteps outside and turned to see Shockwave standing before her.
"Let me guess, you're Shockwave?" Vee asked with a glare.
"You assume correctly, young one." Shockwave replied.
"Are you here to dissect me or collect samples of my blood?" Vee questioned.
"I have no intentions of performing any such primitive ways of logical science." Shockwave said, much to Vee's surprise. "I am simply here to examine you."
"There isn't exactly much for me to know about." Vee replied.
"That is not entirely true. Soundwave scanned your biology before he transported you and the Autobot medic onto the Nemesis and showed it to me." Shockwave told her. "From what I saw, your organic structure is not entirely pure and that can only mean that you were cloned from a sample of your kind's originally deceased blood."
"I…I was. Some psycho brought me and a few others back so he could learn about my magic-draining ability." Vee said, looking down sadly at the thought of those bad memories. "But I managed to escape and soon found myself in this human world."
"I see. Your origin shares a very similar one to my first clone specimen for my recently terminated Project Predacon." Shockwave commented.
"Yeah, it does. If I'm being very series with you right now, I wish that the Autobots and my friends never destroyed those Predacon Protoforms." Vee said, sounding quite sour.
"It is not usual for beings such as yourself to feel remorse for those considered a danger to all of you, but your sympathy towards the protoforms is logical due to how similar your origin is to theirs." Shockwave said. "I too was disappointed when Megatron had to give the order to terminate my creations after learning of Predaking's evolved intellect."
"Wait, what?!" Vee asked in astonishment. "Megatron wanted the Predacons destroyed by my friends?!"
"Indeed. It was the only logical solution to ensure that we would survive a future revolution by their hands. Fortunately, we have found a very fortunate outcome in this event as we now work towards the reconstruction of the Omega Lock so that we may use it to claim Cybertron and Earth as our worlds." Shockwave explained. "And once that is done, we will require the knowledge you possess that will potential give us a clue on how to create an entrance into this Boiling Isles world and obtain the secret to harnessing its magic. It is only a matter of time." Shockwave explained as he then walked away, while Vee looked down for a minute and the showed a very angry expression on her face.
"Megatron." Vee hissed in rage, showing her very deadly teeth and clawed fingers.
(Linebreak)
At the same time, Team Prime, the Hexside Squad and Dinobots were still trying to search for the Nemesis with Dreadwing's aid.
"Do we have anything, yet?" Sludge asked Fowler, who sighed in response.
"All aerial search patterns are coming up empty." Fowler replied.
"No com-link chatter, either." Arcee added.
"We obviously can't try giving them a call while the Nemesis is jamming their signals." Amity said.
"And no ground activity. It's a little too quiet out there." Wheeljack admitted as they looked at the holographic map.
"Those Cons are all cowards." Grimlock grumbled.
"Since the Decepticons no longer seek Predacon bones or Earth technology, there is no activity to track." Optimus said.
"They're obviously not taking another chance of us getting a prisoner to interrogate, again." Luz added with her arms crossed.
"So until Megs or any of his buddies come out of their flying den, we're pretty much stuck at rock bottom." Jazz quipped.
"Even if I were to send out a beacon to signal the Nemesis, they would instantly recognise my coding signature and be suspicious of my reappearance for such a long time." Dreadwing admitted. "Currently, we have no good solution to this problem."
"Coming from you, that's totally expected." Seaspray replied with a frown.
"Not the time, water-head." Ironhide told him firmly. "I don't like Dreadwing as much as you, but we kinda need him."
"You wanted me and Willow to put aside our differences before, Seaspray. Now you need to do the same with this Con." Boscha added, earning a sigh of defeat from the aquatic Wrecker.
"Does that mean there's no way we can save Ratchet or Vee?" Skara asked worriedly.
"We never said that, Skara. There is always a way to solve a problem as long as you have hope." Elita reassured.
"Ratchet didn't think this new hand he built for me was good enough." Ultra Magnus lamented, bringing up his claw hand. "But I'll tell you what truly isn't good enough…giving up. We have no choice but to play this old school. Split up into teams for maximum coverage."
"At this point, I'm willing to do anything to get Ratch and Vee back." Gus proclaimed.
"You said it, pal." Swoop agreed.
But suddenly, the base's alarms started going off and the screen showed a red warning label.
"What now?!" Slug asked outrageously.
"We have incoming. A whole fleet's worth!" Fowler announced.
"That's just wonderful." Cliffjumper said in sarcasm.
"I might as well get into the air and stop them." Jetfire said as he prepared to leave.
"Negative, Jetfire. We have a different solution." Optimus told him, placing a hand on the aerial Autobot's shoulder.
Outside, Starscream was flying towards the military outpost with Thundercracker, Skywarp and his Seeker armada. Many soldier pilots got into their fighter jets and they flew right up into the air to form a defensive perimeter against the Decepticons.
"We've got the base in our sights, Starscream!" Thundercracker stated.
"Concentrate your fire on Hanger E." Starscream ordered.
The fighter jets fired their turrets at the armada and they all flew around to avoid their shots.
"These humans are such lousy shots!" Skywarp mocked, teleporting throughout the air.
Starscream and his armada then flew up higher as the Autobots and Hexside Squad watched from their base.
"Air cover's holding. For the moment." Fowler said.
"Let's just hope this plan will work." Hunter muttered.
Starscream then flew down by himself and avoided more turret shots from the air defence before firing a pair of missiles at Unit E, which the Autobots and Hexside Squad saw on the radar. The two missiles then hit the base and it exploded into large flames, while Starscream flew right over it.
"Lord Megatron, I am pleased to report that the Autobot base has been reduced to ashes." Starscream informed before he and his armada flew away.
"We win this time, Auto-scum!" Thundercracker called.
"We'll make sure to send your two friends your regards!" Skywarp added with a laugh.
But unknown to the Decepticons, Team Prime, the Hexside Squad and the Dinobots were all standing outside in front of the burning facility.
"Wow. It's a good thing none of us were in there." Luz admitted, a bit shocked by the flaming wreck in front of her and her friends.
"The mess hall sure is a mess." Smokescreen joked.
"More like blown up and burning down." Amity replied.
"We are fortunate that Starscream is easily deceived by appearances." Dreadwing said as firefighters were putting out the destroyed facility's flames, while the water washed away some paint on the letter sigh to reveal the E was actually an F.
"You know that I could've just done an illusion of the whole thing." Gus told everyone.
"This was a bit more easier, Gus." Wheeljack replied.
(Linebreak)
Back on the Nemesis, Ratchet was being escorted to the main deck by two Vehicons and soon arrived there, with Megatron in front of him.
"I'm sure you would more fully appreciate a tour of our facilities if you were comfortable." Megatron said.
One of the Vehicons deactivated the cuffs around Ratchet's wrists and the Autobot medic changed his hands into blades.
"How do you know I won't use these to amputate?" Ratchet asked threateningly.
"And pass up a chance to see our molecular masking field?" Megatron questioned, gesturing to the terminal in front as Ratchet placed his blades away.
"Your cloaking device." Ratchet said as he approached the terminal, only to simply scoff. "Shielding is shielding, high tech or low."
"Perhaps you'll be more impressed by our Energon transfusion capacitor." Megatron replied as he showed an image of an energy sphere on the main screen. "It allows us to maximize our consumption at thousand-fold."
"Decepticon engineering never fails to impress." Ratchet admitted.
"Doctor, we may be mortal enemies, but Autobots and Decepticons do share one common goal. You would like to see the ruins of our devastated home world restored to their former brilliance, as would I." Megatron explained, displaying an image of a fully-functional Cybertron.
"Megatron, you would just try to conquer Cybertron all over again, and enslave anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to you." Ratchet proclaimed, still not buying into Megatron's offer.
"Of course, I would! And your comrades would attempt to stop me as ever." Megatron retorted. "But at least we would once again possess a planet worth fighting for."
"Perhaps, but you wouldn't stop there, would you? Earth would be next, if not first. And then you would move onto the Boiling Isles, other lands in it's realm and many more worlds you see fit to conquer like a planet inhabited by sentient amphibious beings or possibly a realm of magic beings and monsters." Ratchet said with narrowed eyes. "What assurance do I have that you would leave any sentient life forms be? And that you wouldn't instantly terminate me or Vee once you get what you need?"
"None whatsoever. After all, we both know that as a Decepticon, any assurances I might offer would be…worthless." Megatron said. "But that does not change the fact that you may be Cybertron's only hope of ever seeing life again."
Megatron began to walk away to leave Ratchet alone once again, but soon stopped to say a few personal things.
"And between the two of us, Doctor, I do not have a complete desire to terminate all the beings on the Boiling Isles." Megatron admitted. "As a matter of fact, I have grown to be very fascinated by the Witches you have recently worked with."
"You do?" Ratchet asked, quite surprised.
"I had never believed that mere organic beings were not capable of using such magnificent powers on their own. But after seeing Luz Noceda and her companions use their magic in such extraordinary ways, I have long desired to set foot on their home world and interact with more cooperative ones so that they may share us the secrets to how they make their magical powers work. If a mere human can use it, why not Cybertronians as well?"
(Linebreak)
After taking care of the fire, the Autobots and Hexside Squad were back in their base and coming up with a plan.
"So, Smokescreen was able to shoot off Laserbeak's transponder when he invaded the base." Dreadwing realised.
"Nice work, Smokes." Cliffjumper complimented the Autobot rookie.
"You're not such a bad shot after all." Arcee added.
Hunter was currently using Vee's laptop to study Laserbeak's piece as it was wired up for better analysis with his friends by his side, while Fowler approached them.
"We thought you might be the best one to provide an analysis, in Ratchet and Vee's absence." Fowler said.
"Hunter did spend most of his time hanging around Vee." Gus said in agreement.
"Well for one thing, it's trying to send a communication to the Nemesis." Hunter informed.
"What makes you think that?" Boscha asked.
"Because it's showing a message." Hunter replied.
The others looked on the laptop and saw that it was only sentences in Cybertronian language.
"Hunter, that's all in Cybertronian words." Willow admitted.
"First he's able to understand what Bumblebee says and now he's able to know Cybertronian languages." Amity said, a little impressed.
"Vee explained all of them to me. She said that she learned all of them from Ratchet, too." Hunter explained.
"Yeah, she's even show me how Cybertronian tech can work with Energon and stuff." Luz said as she then looked down in depression and rubbed her arm.
"Like Amity said earlier, we're going to get them back." Skara reassured with a smile.
"No matter the cost." Gus added.
"If it's talking to its momma, can we triangulate the signal?" Fowler asked.
"You serious right now, dude?" Swoop questioned, tilting his head a bit.
"To a shielded warship?" Ultra Magnus reminded.
"It's worth trying to me." Jazz said.
"If the transponder was still attached to Laserbeak or something similar, we could trace it back to the Nemesis." Elita deduced.
"In that case, we should give it some wings." Jetfire suggested.
"How're we supposed to do that?" Snarl questioned.
"Maybe we could use some spare parts from the base's storage room." Luz answered.
"If we can put that transponder inside a drone of our making, we can use it to find a way to the Nemesis and get our pals back." Seaspray added.
"And then we'll storm that ship to find Ratchet and the little one." Grimlock declared.
"Then let's do it, for the doc and Vee." Wheeljack said.
(Linebreak)
Back on the Nemesis, Megatron led Ratchet into another room with Shatter and Dropkick in tow.
"While your forces have put a dent in our resources, Shockwave has been invaluable in updating our laboratory." Megatron explained as they arrived at the cneter of the lab room. "Should you choose to accept the task, you shall have unrestricted access to our equipment."
"Just as long as you don't try sabotaging it." Dropkick warned.
Ratchet looked around the lab room and soon noticed a circular object on a nearby table.
"Is that a quantum cryo-inducer?" Ratchet asked astonishingly. "Only two were ever made."
"Three, actually. You are holding the original prototype." Megatron replied.
"And it's still operational after all these years." Shatter added.
(Linebreak)
At Unit E, Wheeljack was helping the Hexside Squad and Dreadwing build their drone for Laserbeak's transponder.
"The frequency just keeps shorting out!" Hunter complained, still working with Vee's laptop.
"Easy, Golden Guard. Let me try uncrossing some wires." Wheeljack said as he worked with a different piece.
"I'll see if I can upload the correct Decepticon signal code into our drone so that it will be recognised by the Nemesis as a friendly." Dreadwing offered.
"Thanks, Dreadwing." Amity said kindly.
"Now there's something you don't see every day." Smokescreen said as he and the other Autobots watched.
"You mean a Decepticon helping us with a rescue plan?" Cliffjumper asked.
"It's not a surprise to me. Dreadwing's completely cool, now." Jazz said.
"I still don't like him." Seaspray muttered.
"Actually, it's the fact that Wheeljack can do inventing instead of just wrecking." Smokescreen admitted.
"Jackie wasn't always a Wrecker, you know. Before the war started, he was a pretty good engineer with a big mind." Bulkhead said.
"He came up with some of the wildest gadgets I've ever seen, even if a few of them blew up in his face." Seaspray snickered.
"That would be pretty good entertainment." Ironhide commented.
"Let me see if I can connect these pieces." Willow said as she was about to use a pair of vines to pull together two metal parts.
"Yep, yep, yep! I can handle it!" Gus snapped, moving in front before they heard a crashing noise.
"Skara! I needed that!" Amity complained to the Bard Witch girl, who had accidentally damaged something.
"My bad." Skara apologised.
"Hey, have any of you noticed that we're kinda starting to act like the medic Bot?" Boscha asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh, puh-lease." Hunter scoffed.
"My point exactly." Boscha said.
"It's like a bad case of that human thing called Déjà vu." Sludge muttered to himself.
Fowler was currently leaning against the platform railing and watching the scene below as Luz approached him with Stringbean floating beside her.
"Agent Fowler, are you okay?" Luz asked as Stringbean hissed in curiosity.
"Just preoccupied, thinking about the close calls we humans have had with the Cons lately." Fowler replied. "Smacked down by Soundwave, getting zapped by a living warship."
"Yeah, Trypticon was something I don't wanna go through again." Luz admitted.
"The uncomfortable reality is the Bots might not always be here. And even if they are, they can't be everywhere at once as we've learned. Even your friends' fancy magic can't always keep them safe." Fowler explained, looking towards the Apex Armor on a nearby table. "This armor is the only thing that stood between Willow and that Predacon, the reason she came back without a scratch. Cyber tech like that could be just what we need to give our agents on the front lines a fighting chance. Agents like…maybe you someday."
"Wait, me?" Luz repeated surprisingly.
"You'll be of age soon. And you're Prime material, kid." Fowler commented. "Your mom thought you might be a good fit and you might even be a representative for this Boiling Isles place someday, seeing as you've been wishy-washy about future plans along with finding a way back everyday."
"Hold on, you've been talking to my mom and never got me involved?" Luz questioned before she shook her head. "You know, that's not really important. I just think that maybe we should just keeps things as powerful as an indestructible suit of armor and magical papers that have magical energy in them to ourselves. You never know when someone ends up wanting to use this kind of power for something absolutely terrible. Take Silas for example."
"Yeah, you've got a good point there." Fowler agreed, remembering how the M.E.C.H commander wanted to use Cybertronian tech and Glyph magic to create his 'new world order'.
Suddenly, the two of them heard a flying noise and they saw a winged drone flying right into the air before it flew straight at them. Luz and Fowler ducked onto the floor while Stringbean shifted into an eagle and flew right over the drone.
"Custer's moustache!" Fowler exclaimed.
The drone hovered around the base while making a noise similar to Laserbeak's before if eventually landed on the table it was made from, with Hunter holding a remote control in his hands.
"Sorry about that. I'm still trying to figure out how this remote works." Hunter admitted.
"I think I need to change my star-spangled shorts." Fowler muttered.
"Chip still needs some fine-tuning to work." Willow said.
"Chip? You gave it a name?" Jetfire questioned.
"There's nothing wrong with that." Gus replied.
"So we're gonna let this doohickey fly back to Con's central…" Smokescreen began to say.
"And lead us right to Ratchet and Vee." Luz finished.
"This plan seems very unlikely to work. But, I guess I'll still go with it anyway." Grimlock said with a casual shrug.
"If this plan may lead to me helping to move on from the dark past I used go live in, I shall gladly assist all of you in rescuing your comrades." Dreadwing told the Autobots and Hexside Squad sincerely.
"Let's get to work, then." Amity announced.
(Linebreak)
Vee was still seen inside her cell on the Nemesis as she looked at the ceiling, feeling bored to death. That was until she heard metallic footsteps again and saw that approaching her cell was Wildrider this time.
"What do you Cons want, this time?" Vee questioned.
"Nothing. I've just been assigned to guard you until the Autobot medic helps us with completing that Synth-En formula." Wildrider replied.
"Ratchet is never going to help you with anything!" Vee retorted.
"I wouldn't say that. Lord Megatron can be super persuasive it getting others to help him." Wildrider said with a smirk before he then brought out one of his blades, making Vee's eyes widen in worridness. "And should the medic refuse to help, you'll end up paying the price, shifter."
Speaking of Ratchet, he was being led to somewhere else by Megatron, Shatter and Dropkick.
"Even if you manage to reconstruct the Omega Lock, it is a mystic force. I've come to my senses." Ratchet proclaimed. "The notion of scientifically replicating its capability is pure folly. Madness, even."
"You shouldn't try believing in the impossible, doc." Dropkick told him as a door in front of them opened up, allowing them to walk through.
"Dropkick is correct. How will we ever for certain, doctor…if we do not try?" Megatron asked before he pressed onto a nearby button, making a large circular hatch below them open up. "And how can we not try, when the means finally lie within our reach?"
Ratchet looked down the open hatch and gained a very shocked look at what he saw. It was the Omega Lock itself, now fully rebuilt and latched onto the bottom of the Nemesis with many Vehicons and Insecticons putting the finishing touches on it.
"Do you not agree that this is simply magnificent? A miracle of Cybertronian history has been rebuilt." Shatter remarked.
"By the Allspark. You've actually done it." Ratchet whispered.
"Decepticon engineering. It will not take long for this Omega Lock's drives to be fully operational." Megatron explained. "All that is still needed to restore our home is the cyber-matter to launch through it."
"Which requires a stabilised formula for the production of Synthetic Energon." Ratchet finished, imagining the possibly of Cybertron finally being restored.
"I have every confidence in you, Doctor." Megatron assured.
"So what do you say? Are you in or out?" Dropkick asked in anticipation.
After having a very long and conflicted thought about it, Ratchet finally came to a decision as this would both protect Vee and bring his home back to life.
"I'll do it." Ratchet announced. "But then, you already knew that, didn't you?"
"We did." Shatter said with a low giggle, while Megatron grew a very sinister smirk on his face as he now had Ratchet's trust in the palm of his hand.
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