Chapter Twenty-Seven
Skyquake Awakens
Back in the desert, Starscream and Soundwave had flown to the co-ordinates Soundwave had detected, and they soon came across a huge rock formation in the caverns.
To the human eye, it looked like any other piece of rocks within the desert, but to the two Decepticons, there was a great secret hiding behind it.
Starscream's eyes gleamed as he saw it, and his servos shook with anticipation.
Working together, he and Soundwave removed a Decepticon tomb from the hidden compartment inside the cliff face.
It was as black as coal, with many grooves on it which the pair recognised as their Cybertronian design.
Within it was their Decepticon warrior who lay in stasis waiting to be awakened.
"Excellent, Soundwave." Starscream complemented before moving in front of the tomb and holding out his servo, his digits wiggling.
"The cube."
Silently, Soundwave opened a compartment he carried which he handed to his commander who slid it open and revealed a glowing blue Energon cube.
He removed the cube from the box and inserted it into the lock inside the compartment hole of the tomb, like a key to the lock.
He took a step back and the tomb and its content began to power up.
"Yes, the Energon infusion. It's working!" Starscream proclaimed and soon the tomb door opened in a bright flash of light.
"Soon..." he thought in excitement "Soon..."
Meanwhile not far away, the Autobot Ground Bridge vortex opened, and Bumblebee emerged followed closely by Optimus.
Once Optimus was out, the portal closed, and They were met by an ominous sound which only meant trouble and Bumblebee picked it up straight away bleeping to Optimus his thoughts on the situation then he saw Starscream and Soundwave and ducked behind a boulder.
"No, Bumblebee, it does not." Optimus muttered "Hold your position and await my command." He ordered as he advanced towards the Decepticons, moving slowly so as not to attract their attention.
Bumblebee watched his leader walk forward.
He didn't want to just let Optimus handle the situation alone, but he knew better to obey his leader, so he stayed put and got ready just in case.
Meanwhile, Starscream stood before the tomb as it opened before him to reveal its contents.
"Awaken warrior! Rise and serve your new master!" Starscream proclaimed.
Once the tomb was open, glowing red eyes stared down at Starscream and a large green and white coloured, with red details on his armour, the newly awakened Decepticon emerged from the tight space he had been confined in for eons.
When he did, he fully looked at the two Decepticons before him.
He stretched his limbs and took in his freedom from his tomb, the sun baring down on him and the air that blew through the caverns of the rocky desert.
"Skyquake serves only one master." The Decepticon boomed as he leaned forward at Starscream.
"Excellent." Starscream smirked "Your loyalty and devotion will set a fine example for the troops."
"No need to be timid, Skyquake. You may bow." He invited bringing his servo to his chest ready to accept Skyquake's devotion.
Yet, Skyquake stood tall as he looked down at Starscream, his optics flashing.
"You fail to grasp my meaning. I am here on a mission, assigned to me by my one master: Megatron." He corrected.
"Yes, him…" Starscream stated "Sadly Megatron is no longer with us." He informed.
Skyquake looked appalled as he heard that.
"Impossible!" he gasped in disbelief.
"Why is it this difficult for everyone to accept?" Starscream muttered to himself before looking up at Skyquake.
He was already annoyed that the troops on the Nemesis doubted his leadership, and he wasn't in the mood for someone else to doubt him also.
"Skyquake, I located you. I awakened you. Thus, I, Lord Starscream, am now your master!" he stated factually.
Skyquake snarled angrily at Starscream and stepped close to him ready to throttle him, but a well-known voice distracted them.
"It has been a while, Skyquake."
Hearing the voice, Skyquake, Starscream, and Soundwave turned to their left and saw Optimus Prime standing before them.
At first Starscream was shocked, but he soon remembered the fact that as soon as the Autobots found an Energon signature or a signal from a crashed ship, Autobot and Decepticon alike, they would come and investigate.
The enormous Decepticon shoved Starscream out of the way as soon as he saw the Autobot leader walking over.
"Optimus Prime." Skyquake said in the same booming voice.
"I haven't seen you since the Battle of Technar. Megatron ordered me to annihilate you." He recalled.
"That was a long time ago." Optimus stated in the same calm tone as he walked closer.
"That may be, Prime, but my order still stands." Skyquake stated, as he was ready to finally fulfill that order.
"Is this ancient war still worth fighting? When so many comrades have been lost? And worlds destroyed?" Optimus questioned both Starscream and Skyquake.
He looked to the Seeker.
"Starscream, if you want to be true leader, then stray from Megatron's path and lead the Decepticons towards peace." He requested.
"I would be willing to consider a truce, if you would be willing to bow before me, Optimus Prime." Starscream answered with a smirk.
"Again?!" Skyquake bellowed as he angrily turned to Starscream.
"Bow to this!" he shouted then he punched Starscream in the chest, sending him flying causing Starscream to collide into the cliff face.
The Decepticon commander gasped in pain as he removed himself from the rocky wall then he cowardly transformed into his jet form, and he took off out of the cavern.
However, he didn't want to miss the slowly unfolding battle that was to happen between Prime and Skyquake.
Optimus frowned disapprovally at Starscream's actions, but he pushed it aside to deal with Skyquake who advanced towards him.
"Skyquake, this is a new era, on another world." Optimus said as he tried one last time to reason with the Decepticon.
"Side with the Autobots and help me end this conflict forever." He requested yet Skyquake glared.
"I will NEVER side with a Prime!" Skyquake proclaimed before he charged towards Optimus with a roar!
Optimus got ready to fight, but he wasn't prepared when Skyquake threw a punch at him, and he was knocked into a nearby archway then before he had a chance to shake off stars, than Skyquake picked the Prime up by his shoulders and threw him around like a rag doll!
Meanwhile, Starscream flew up onto a higher part of the rock formation where Soundwave was standing having moved away from the battle a few minutes before, and both watched everything unfold.
Starscream narrowed his optics as he watched, this was too good of a battle to miss.
The Seeker had an advantage over the Autobot enemy for in his possession was one of Cybertron's greatest warriors even if he wasn't under his control, just through his loyalty to Megatron and his hatred for Optimus Prime, he had a weapon against the Autobots.
Within a matter of moments, the war would work out in the Decepticon's favor.
If Optimus fell in battle, then who would the Autobots turn to?
"What need have I for peace when I have Skyquake?" Starscream asked rhetorically to Soundwave who just stood silent and watched the commotion below.
"With some discipline, he will learn to respect his new master, and once it becomes known that Skyquake destroyed Optimus Prime under my command, all Decepticons will gratefully bow to me." Starscream proclaimed confidently.
Back at the Autobot base, Donatello was watching Ratchet as he observed the screens.
"So, Ratchet?" he asked to which the Medic looked over.
"Yes, what is it?" he asked in an annoyed tone.
Donatello bit his lip.
"Sorry," he said, "I'm just curious about the screens and how we're able to keep track of everything."
Ratchet blinked as he looked at the purple masked turtle.
"I've had to be the all-seeing eye a few times myself as part of Team Hamato." He said, "Often hacking into systems to help my brothers and sister."
"Is that so?" Ratchet asked, interest peaking at him.
Donatello nodded.
"Years back, I broke my leg in a confrontation with our enemies, so I had to remain back at the lair in New York whilst my brothers and Monalisa went on scouting missions" he explained "I did very much what you're doing now, watching the screens, checking for traps and the like."
"I see." Ratchet said cocking his head.
Donatello felt a light in his soul as he watched Ratchet, seeing how he was getting the Autobot medic's interest.
"Please, show me more?" he asked.
"Well, if you wish to learn." Ratchet said then held out his servo for Donatello to climb into which the turtle did so, and the medic held him up to the screens and began to point out everything to the curious turtle.
As that happened, Ironhide who had been standing near the raised platform looking rather bored and wondering if either Optimus or Fowler would be in touch needing assistance saw Ratchet and Donatello deep in conversation and he chuckled before tapping Bulkhead's shoulder.
The wrecker who had been sitting on the floor in conversation with Pandora and Kemeko looked up in question then Ironhide pointed to Ratchet and Donatello.
"Seems Ratchet's got a student there to his master!" he commented.
"Well, what do you know!" Bulkhead exclaimed "Never thought I'd see that!"
"Ratchet showing an earthling his work?" Arcee chimed in walking over.
"Uncle Donnie is always curious about anything Alien or science and Math related!" Kemeko said looking up at Arcee and Bulkhead.
"Yeah!" Pandora agreed "You wouldn't believe the stories he's told us of what he and our parents saw in their lifetimes!"
"Come again?" Bulkhead asked blinking his optics.
Kemeko rolled her eyes.
"Pandora!" she said exasperated.
'What?" Pandora asked, "It's true!"
"Not now!" Kemeko snapped "We should let our parents tell the story when the time's right! As Grandpa says!"
Pandora groaned.
"Alright! Alright!" she said with a shrug "And I guess you're right! Grandpa Splinter is better at telling stories than me at most!"
"And we look forward to hearing them!" Arcee said with a smile and winking at Pandora and Kemeko who both smiled back.
Back in the desert, from his hiding place, Bumblebee observed as Skyquake and Optimus stood facing each other ready to fight.
Optimus flipped out one of his cannons and fired a few shots at Skyquake scoring several hits, yet Skyquake retaliated by drawing his Gatling gun and firing the powerful gun.
Each rapid shot hit Optimus, knocking him back a few feet. But it didn't force Optimus to back down. It would take more than that to bring him down.
As that happened Bumblebee couldn't stand it, and he was willing to run in there and save his leader.
Gathering his courage, the yellow scout ran out towards the battle!
"Bumblebee, no!" Optimus warned.
Yet Bumblebee ingored his leader's warning and jumped into the air and activating his wrist cannons.
He fired several rounds at Skyquake, hitting him on the back and in the shoulder.
Skyquake quickly turned around and opened fire on the scout, yet Bumblebee was able to avoid the shots and continued firing as he got closer.
Unfortunately, when he tried to tackle the big Decepticon, Skyquake grabbed him and threw him into the cliff side like a piece of trash!
As Bumblebee was thrown into the rocks, Skyquake pointed his Gatling gun at Bumblebee, but before he could shoot, Optimus grabbed the gun and shoved it toward the air making him fire upwards!
As that happened, Bumblebee got up and charged at Skyquake as Optimus managed to disarm the Decepticon but Skyquake easily caught Bumblebee with both hands and tossed him aside like a ragdoll like he did Prime earlier.
Seeing his scout get hit, Optimus punched Skyquake in the face, but Skyquake returned with his own making the Prime stagger.
He attempted to score a second strike, but Optimus had recovered quickly and ducked underneath it and moved behind him.
Optimus attempted to grab Skyquake, only to be elbowed in the face, causing him to stumble back.
Bumblebee, having got up again, joined Optimus as he staggered to his side, and bleeped in question to which Optimus turned to him as well as kept the advancing Decepticon in his sights.
"Skyquake has yet to acquire a vehicle mode." Optimus replied quietly.
It was then Bumblebee remembered that if a Cybertronian was in stasis for a long period of time, their systems could forget their alternate mode and, upon awakening, they would need to acquire a new one.
Hopefully with this knowledge, they still had an advantage against Skyquake.
Skyquake turned to the Autobots and picked up his gun and readied it before charging at them!
"Fall back." Optimus ordered and the two switched to their vehicle modes.
Optimus and Bumblebee then began driving backwards before spinning around, making a cloud of dust and sand hoping to create some confusion and temporary invisibility.
"So, time has made you a coward, Prime?" Skyquake questioned before he continued firing blindly at the cloud of dust and sand.
At the same time, Soundwave and Starscream continued to watch the battle.
"Do not miss a single moment, Soundwave!" Starscream ordered.
"We shall need visual documentation of Optimus Prime's demise…for the historical record."
He gritted his denture.
"If only Megatron could see." he mused to himself "What I achieved that he did not, seeing Optimus Prime fall by the hand of someone under my command!" he continued to observe as well as glance at Soundwave making sure he captured every moment.
Yeesh! Theres a lot of violence here, and Optimus, try as he might, looks like he's having no luck gettign Skyquake on his side to join the Autobot cause!
Back at the base, Ratchet seems happy to know someone's interested in what he does.