Note: The character Vulstrun mentioned in this chapter is from my dear friend and Transformer fan Tyroth Darkstorm's fanfic 'Nemesis'
Chapter Twenty-Six
Starscream's Plans
Meanwhile on the Nemesis, Optimus was right in his guess about Starscream as the Second in Command stood on the bridge at the command station watching the recording of the Spacebridge's destruction.
He knew very well that even though the Decepticon Commander was nothing like his merciless Leader, he was ready and willing to lead the Decepticon Cause the way he wanted.
Starscream narrowed his optics and tutted at the footage, only remembering too well the explosion that cost the life of his leader.
He could also feel a tingling shiver of excitmement within him surge.
For many years he had wanted to do things his way, just like he had done previously to bring down the Autobots, and now with Megatron gone, he could be the Leader he wanted to be, he was Commander Starscream, no, not commander, Lord Starscream!
"Yes, Lord Starscream has a nice ring to it..." he thought to himself before looking back at the footage.
"Such a shame, but I applaud you Megatron. You certainly made a grand exit." Starscream drawled, then shut off the footage as he heard the sonar-like sound Soundwave behind him.
He smirked then put on a serious face as he addressed the faceless Decepticon.
"Soundwave, cue the audio visual, I wish to address the troops." Starscream commanded to which Soundwave did so, pleasing the former commander. Starscream hoped that after Soundwave obeyed his order, that gaining the loyaty of the troops would be just as easy.
He then turned to the monitor, forcing a dejected look onto his face.
All over the ship, Starscream's face appeared on the computer monitors, and as that happened, all the drones, vechions and all others serving the Decepticon cause stopped what they were doing to look.
"The loss of Megatron, leader of the great Decepticon uprising, is certainly a blow to our cause…" Starscream spoke "Yet we mustn't despair over his…tragic demise, but instead embrace his ultimate sacrifice and build upon the foundation he laid, with an even mightier hand."
As Starscream said his speech, he spoke with forced grief but then started to speak more confidently, hoping in a way the troops would show encouragement and excitement, yet that hope was damped when a Vehicon in one of the main rooms spoke up.
"Uh, with all due respect, Comma-eh… Lord Starscream?" A Vehicon asked quickly correcting himself so as not to fall even more foul of the new Leader.
Normally one would never question their leader, especially not Megatron, but to Starscream, he felt he could speak his piece as he wasn't as threatening as the former Decepticon Warlord.
"Yes, yes, what is it?" Starscream asked in an annoyed tone.
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" The Vehicon asked, getting murmurs of agreements from everyone else.
Starscream huffed then he stated in an angry tone.
"Allow me to be crystal clear. I studied for millennia under our former Master, thus I am equipped to lead you. I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, Emperor of Destruction!" He hoped this time he would hear cheers of support from the troops, but again he only got confused mutterings.
"What?" Starscream asked disgusted by the lack of enthusiasm from the troops to which he stomped towards the exit passing Soundwave on the way.
"Argh, what use are troops who can't rise to the task of inflicting unspeakable destruction in my name?" He muttered to himself, but then he paused as he remembered something.
"But wait, legend tells of one capable warrior, one who exists here on this very planet. One who can be student to my master." Starscream said aloud to himself as he left the command room with Soundwave following him.
Starscream had recalled he'd discovered the signal of a Cybertronian warrior well over an Earth year ago.
This warrior was indeed a dangerous one who had been loyal to Megatron throughout the Great War and had been sent of world to protect their energon Stockpile.
Starscream had not informed Megatron, upon his now fallen master's return, for fear that Skyquake would claim his position as Air Commander, and Starscream did not want to give Megatron a reason to be rid of him.
With Megatron's destruction, Skyquake would naturally follow the Decepticons' next Lord and Master, and that would be him, Starscream...
Back at the Autobot Base, it had been over an hour since Fowler, Monalisa and Leonardo had left to meet Fowler's superiors and were trying to keep themselves busy.
Splinter decided to meditate on an armchair near the lift.
Raphael and Michelangelo decided to play a video game.
Donatello choose to watch Ratchet at the screens to look for energon or any Decepticon Activity as well as hopefully learn more about their science and technology.
Pandora and Kemeko meanwhile decided to talk with Bumblebee about his adventures during the War for Cybertron whilst Arcee translated for them.
Bumblebee had spoken about how he fought in the war, not just as a scout but how he had taken down several Decepticons with his wrist blasters and many other fighting moves he knew.
"He says he still has a long way to go before he reaches Warrior Class." Arcee explained.
"No way!" Pandora cried "Give how we briefly saw you guys! I thought you were all Warrior Class!"
"Not all of us." Arcee said looking at Bumblebee who bleeped and nodded if not a little sadly.
"One needs more battle experience to reach the Warrior Class."
"Get off!" Pandora scoffed "After what we saw what he can do?"
"I agree!" Kemeko chimed in.
Just then Optimus appeared and placed a large servo on Bumblebee's shoulder.
"I second your opinion girls." He said "But Autobot life Cycles are much longer than those of the humans, and although it may be hard to believe, our young scout still has so much to experience."
"Sounds similar to someone else we know huh Geisha?" Raphael's voice was heard from the higher platforms.
Pandora went a little pink.
"You're seventeen and one of the Ninjas now kid, but when you were younger, you begged so much to join us, yet you still had a lot to learn!"
"Aint that the truth!" Michelangelo joined in "But I always admired your drive!"
"Even if it did get you into scraps!" Kemeko agreed making Pandora blush more.
"Hey!" the hybrid protested "I don't always get into scraps!"
"Not like your latest one got us to meet these guys?" Kemeko asked "Not complaining mind you!" she said, "But still!"
"Hey! It wasn't my fault!" Pandora argued "I said before I didn't know..."
"Girls!" Donatello called over "I thought we spoke about that! You were in the wrong place at the wrong time! It wasn't really Pandora's fault!"
"I second Donatello's statement." Optimus agreed looking down at the girls "Young Pandora had no idea of what was to befall you."
Pandora was still blushing, but she gave a satisfied look at Kemeko before putting out her tongue to which Kemeko pulled a face back.
Bumblebee looked at Pandora's red cheeks and he lifted a digit and gently stroked her left one before bleeping and whirring.
Pandora looked up at the scout then at Arcee who translated what he said.
"He said he's happy to know what there's someone who felt the same way." She said, "And he'd like to know more about what you did you prove yourself."
Pandora blinked as she looked at Bumblebee.
"Really?" she asked with a smile, "Well I'll happily tell you!"
Bumblebee bleeped and whirred as if saying yes please.
Kemeko shrugged and watched as Pandora stepped closer to Bumblebee to speak of her training as well as the adventures she had before she became a full member of the Hamato Clan as a Ninja.
Meanwhile, Starscream and Soundwave had left the Nemesis via their flying vehicle forms and had landed in the Rocky Caverns of the Nevada desert unknowingly not far away from the Autobot's hidden base to find what Starscream had remembered.
They stood on the higest point of the caverns looking down at the deep grooves in the desert.
Soundwave had his scanning system sticking out of the top of his head trying to pinpoint where Starscream believed the Decepticon warrior was hidden.
"During the Great war, so much Energon was hidden on the forsaken rock but our departed master sent some of Cybertron's greatest to guard it." Starscream explained to Soundwave.
"True warriors, lying in stasis, waiting to be reawakened. Such folly that late in life, Megatron searched distant space for warriors rather than here beneath his feet." He sneered.
Soundwave's scanning system continued to bleep, then his face screen pulsed a negative signal and Starscream frowned.
"What do you mean you can't pinpoint his signal?" he asked angrily. "I know we are close! Boost the power to your sensors!"
Soundwave did so and boosted his power, Starscream watched with his dentre gritted in determination and before long, a Decepticon emblem flashed on Soundwave's 'face' screen.
"Yes…" Starscream smirked.
"There." He pointed to a location on Soundwave's screen 'face' with a pointed digit.
Soundwave zeroed in on the exact location before the two Decepticons transformed and headed for the coordinates, to the resting place of a Decepticon warrior, who might help Starscream succeed in what Megatron could not do: Conquer Earth.
Back at the base, Pandora was halfway through explaining her training and her experiences with Bumblebee, yet she had not yet reached the part where she had fought against her Uncle Tyroth's evil counterpart Vulstrun, nor when she and Kemeko had infiltrated the Foot Headquarters to rescue her family.
All the while, the Scout listened in earnest, feeling rather comforted that there was someone else who had felt the same as him presently.
Just then, the computers set off an alert and everyone stopped to look over.
Ratchet pulled up the information on the computer and Donatello leaned in to look to which he saw a map of the Nevada desert and several pinpoints flashing.
"Exposed Energon and it's on the move." The Medic reported.
"And since we ain't moving it, guess who must be." Bulkhead said as he walked over to observe.
"Decepticons." Arcee answered.
"Without Megatron?" Michelangelo asked.
"Unfortunately, Megatron's legacy will live on, as others rise to take his place." Optimus explained.
"Very much how Izo Arashi took over from Shredder." Raphael said growing lowly at the thought of their enemies, "Or other leaders tried to take over the Purple Dragon Gangs after Jake had Hun pushing up daises."
"When one leader falls, another rises to take their place." Splinter spoke up "It is all too common, and a strong determined leader always makes sure there is one to take their place when they fall."
Optimus agreed then turned to Bumblebee.
"We must see to what is happening." He said "Bumblebee, let us see about this energon in transit." He said before turning to the others "We will be in contact if needed, in the meantime, remain here."
The others agreed.
"We'll be there if you need us Prime!" Ironhide saluted "But we'll need to be ready if Fowler, Leo and Mona need help again,which I hope they don't." he added silently "for their sake."
"Exactly my thoughts Ironhide." Optimus agreed "Though I hope this time there will be no incidents."
He looked over to the yellow scout who was disappointed that he had to stop listening to Pandora, but the hybrid patted his servo and winked at him.
"We'll continue later alright?" she said.
Bumblebee nodded and bleeped in agreement then stood up and joined Optimus then Ratchet activated the ground-bridge before everyone saw them leave.
"Good luck guys!" Michelangelo called as the two autobots disappeared into the Vortex.
"Hope it goes well!" Kemeko said crossing her fingers and Pandora wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Me too Kem, me too." She agreed hoping that both Bumblebee and Optimus would return safely.
Looks like Starscreams got plans here, and I'm sure a lot of you who've seen the show know what's coming next!
Also, looks like Bumblebee's sharing some dreams Pandora had when she was younger and in training, and as Optimus and Arcee have said, Bumblebee has a way to go before he can reach Warrior Class.