"Of all the scrap brained ideas, taking Bumblebee into a potential chase scenario when he no longer has the ability to access his wheels!" Ratchet seethed. "He improvised." Bulkhead said. "Hey, Bee's waking up." Raf said.
Bee groaned and held his helm. "You've already lost your voice, and your T-Cog. Were you really trying to add your Spark to the list?" Ratchet asked. Bee buzzed. "Don't say that, Bumblebee! You're not useless." Raf said. "Look, I hate to break up the pity party, but the 'Cons just added unknown Iacon payday number 2 to their armory." Arcee said.
"Neither blame nor praise will modify past events. But we cannot afford to take further unnecessary risks. Bumblebee, you are not to leave our base. Not until we can retrieve your missing biomechanism." Optimus said from behind. Ratchet joined him. "Bumblebee is right to be less than hopeful. But you and I both know there exists a way to make him whole again." The medic said.
"A transplant. But they would require a donor." Optimus said. "You need to look no further than the Autobot standing before you." Ratchet said, and Optimus looked at him in shock.
"A generous offer, old friend. But your solution would merely trade one Autobot's handicap fkr another's." Optimus said. "I don't rely upon my T-Cog. Not like Bumblebee does, the abilities to transform is virtually wasted on me. This is where I spend my days, where my thoughts and hands are of value. Not my weapons or wheels. Our team can't afford to be shy even one warrior in the field." Ratchet said.
"You make a compelling case, but know that we will find Bumblebee's T-Cog." Optimus said. "Optimus, M.E.C.H. are savages, who knows what damage they may have already inflicted upon it, or, or if I will be able to repair it." Ratchet said.
"Ratchet, you did everything in your power." Optimus said. "Please! Do you really think this is simply about my inability to restore Bumblebee's voice-box? I-I just want to do what's right for our scout, for the team." Ratchet said.
Aboard the Nemesis, Knockout presented the new Iacon Relic to Megatron. "Ah, excellent work, Knockout." The warlord praised. "I live to serve, Lord Megatron. But what exactly is it?" Knockout asked. Megatron raised a servo, and a blast of magic came out. Knockout yelped and blocked himself with the relic, which created a shield and deflected the blast.
"Now you know." Megatron said. "I think I leaked a little transmission fluid." Knockout admitted.
M.E.C.H. soldiers scanned the area for the Energon deposit, and then a tracker located it. "Source located." The soldier said. "Yes, gratifying. Isn't it, Silas? I often advised Megatron to seek out human allies. After all, it seems to provide the Autobots with an occasional edge, but despite his reputation as a brilliant strategist, Megatron is woefully small-minded when it comes to worming with minds smaller than our own." Starscream said while keeping the fact that he saw Elsa use her ice magic a secret, and Silas glared at him.
"Ah, he was simply referring to head size." Starscream said. "Do you ever not speak?" Silas asked and walked away. "Did I mention that I have personally extinguished an Autobot?" Starscream asked a M.E.C.H. soldier, who then ran away.
Silas looked around at the crystals of solidified Energon. "Energon in its purest state." Starscream said. "Ready to be mined." Silas said. "And processed, my flesh-covered compatriot, to give us the advantage." Starscream said.
"Obviously, since I am the other patient involved, I will be unable to perform the surgery. Therefore, one of you must serve as my proxy." Ratchet said as he addressed the Autobots like military troops. "Um. Better at breaking things." Ratchet said to Bulkhead, who sighed happily. "You three have large hands." He said to Chromia, Jetfire, and Cyclonus.
"Arcee." Ratchet said. "Optimus has steadier hands." Arcee said. "Steady and much too large to be rooting around beneath my hood." Ratchet said. Arcee sputtered and walked away. "Arcee, you can do this. You're as steely as they come." Jack said. "On a battlefield. Not in an operating theater." Arcee said.
"Same thing, as long as you're behind the knife, not under it." Jack said. "Does this mean Bumblebee's gonna transform into an ambulance from now on, or be all cranky?" Miko asked. "'Cause that would be weird." She finished.
Bumblebee and Ratchet lay on separate medical berths. "Inducing Stasis." Arcee said. Bee buzzed in concern at Ratchet. "Yeah, you can... when... it's over." Ratchet sputtered and entered Stasis. "Okay, Bumblebee. Your turn." Arcee said, but the alarms started blaring. "What's happening?" Raf asked. "Ratchet's flatlining?!" Miko yelled. "No, he isn't." Arcee said.
"It's an Iacon homing beacon." Optimus said. "If we're picking up the signal, it means the 'Cons just unearthed another relic." Cyclonus said. "Autobots, prepare to roll out!" Optimus ordered. "Yes." Arcee muttered. Bee rose up, ready to fight. "Except for our patients." Optimus said.
Bee hummed and sat down. "It would be best to interrupt Stasis." Optimus said. Arcee did so, and she, Optimus, Bulkhead, Cyclonus, Jetfire, and Chromia came through the Ground-Bridge and into the Arctic. Optimus scanned for the new Iacon Relic and found the location.
Back in base, Agent Fowler called. "Prime, breaking news!" He said, and Bee showed up to the monitor. "Huh? Where's Prime?" Agent Fowler asked. Bee buzzed, and Agent Fowler sighed. "Look, let him know I just received access to satellite imagery, which I believe pinpoints the center of operations of M.E.C.H." Agent Fowler said.
Bee started bleeping much to Agent Fowler's annoyance. "Oh, for the love of. Get me someone who speaks something other than 'bleep'!" Agent Fowler said. "I can help." Raf offered. "WHAT?! Do I hear a fuzor in need of voice-box repair?" Ratchet mumbled in Stasis.
"What's a fuzor?! What's going on over there?" Agent Fowler asked. "I am able. Just ask Bantor. He was all mandrel before I put a tiger in his tank." Ratchet grumbled as he rose up, then fell back. Agent Fowler was speechless. Bee buzzed at Raf, who said, "But, Bee, you heard what Optimus said about leaving the base."
Bee buzzed again. "Send the coordinates, Agent Fowler. We'll make sure Optimus gets them." Jack said.
The Autobots climbed up the side of the mountain and finally arrived at the top, where they saw Knockout and Breakdown, with the latter hammering rocks away from a golden, larger one. "I don't get it, all this chipping away with my hammer, just to bring Megatron another hammer." Breakdown said.
"That hammer is a sacred relic of the 13 Original Primes." Optimus said. "Really?" Cyclonus asked. "Isn't that the opposite of Decepticon doomsday device?" Arcee questioned. "It would stand to reason that in addition to confiscated Decepticon artillery, any artifacts of great significance stored in the vaults of Iacon would also have been shipped off-world. And none would be greater than this: The Forge of Solus Prime. For it possesses the power to mystically infuse raw material with working mechanisms." Optimus said.
"As in if we had it, we could pound any weapon we can dream of into existence?" Bulkhead asked. "Or possibly construct a new T-Cog for Bumblebee." Optimus said.
Meanwhile, inside M.E.C.H.s current base of operations, a tube was hooked up to the chest of the robot. "Initiate transfusion." Silas commanded. An Energon pump started pumping the Blood of Primus into the robot, and its arm began to move. "It's working!" Silas marveled.
"Energon! It will do wonders for our future army." Starscream said, and then Silas looked at him. "Your future army. In fact, we are mere moments from beholding the miracle of transformation." Starscream said, and the entire warehouse started shaking, and Bumblebee broke through the door. Soldiers aimed their weapons.
"No T-Cog. He's unarmed." Starscream said and fired a missile which only struck the wall behind Bee. The soldiers and Seeker shot at him, but Bumblebee ripped a large claw off its mount and hit Starscream with it.
Breakdown mostly freed the Forge of Solus Prime. "Time to get a grip." Knockout said, and Breakdown grabbed the handle and gave it his all until a rocket blew up the ground behind them. Jetfire and Cyclone circled the air as Optimus, Chromia, Bulkhead, and Arcee drove at them.
Knockout activated the shield generator to block the attacks from the Autobots while Bulkhead roared as he transformed, pounded Breakdown, and sent him flying into the wall.
Jetfire and Cyclonus fired two more rockets at Knockout, but the shield generator deflected them. He then made the generator extend and push back Optimus, Arcee, and Chromia. "Autobots, check out my new finish protector!" Knockout exclaimed. He created a giant circle of it and pushed the Autobots and flyers back, forcing Jetfire and Cyclonus to transform.
Bee continued battling M.E.C.H. when the robot came online. It observed the fight until a gun hit its eyes. Bee then ripped the claw off and threw it at more soldiers like bowling pins. Silas groaned and saw Bee rip the robot open and take back his T-Cog until Starscream shot him in the chassis, making him drop the T-Cog and fall into the terminal, electrifying him.
"So close, and yet -" Starscream started. "Our location and prototype have been compromised. Destroy the intruder and meet me at the rendezvous point, with my T-Cog." Silas ordered. "I am not one of your foot soldiers! I am a consultant!" Starscream yelled.
Bee finally woke up as Starscream grabbed the T-Cog, and his other servo turned into his cannon, which he pointed at the organ. "One step, and your precious biomech is scrap." He threatened.
Ratchet groaned as Stasis wore off, and he got off the medical berth. "Ratchet, how you feeling?" Jack asked. "Fine. In fact, I feel as though nothing's changed." Ratchet said. The monitor beeped with Agent Fowler's call. "Prime!" He said. "What is it, Agent Fowler?" Ratchet asked. "Has Prime reached the coordinates?" Agent Fowler asked.
"Coordinates?" Ratchet asked in confusion. "Possible M.E.C.H location! I sent them a half-hour ago." Agent Fowler said. "Uh, don't worry, Agent Fowler. It's taken care of." Jack said. "Optimus had to go lock fenders with some 'Cons." Miko said. "So, Bumblebee went instead." Raf said. "WHAT?! BUMBLEBEE CAN'T DO THAT! HE'S RECOVERING FROM SURGERY!" Ratchet screamed at them.
"Um. About that." Elsa said.
Bee buzzed angrily at Starscream. "Or you'll what? Shoot? How sad to be incapable of achieving vehicle mode, experiencing the sensation of speed. How very pathetic to be a failure as an Autobot." Starscream taunted. Bumblebee charged at him, punched the T-Cog out of his servo, and lept at it. He was so close. Starscream pointed his cannon. The T-Cog was nearly in his grasp, but Starscream fired and destroyed the T-Cog and jumped onto the robot.
Bee loked at the destroyed T-Cog. "Time to jet, because I can!" Starscream said. He then transformed and flew through a hole in the ceiling. Bee stepped to the damaged T-Cog, fell to his knees, and held it to chassis.
Silas turned to leave, and Starscream transformed and landed in front of him. "My T-Cog." Silas said. "Yes, that. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the ferocity of battle." Starscream lied. Silas grew angry. "A temporary setback. Other Autobots, other T-Cogs. We shall find a replacement soon enough." Starscream said.
"Not 'soon enough', now." Silas said. His soldiers came out of the trees, all guns aimed at Starscream. The sound of his screams filled the night forest.
"For the most creative use of a shield generator in a supporting role, the winner is Knockout!" Knockout said as he continued pushing the Autobots towards the ledge. "Somebody better do something soon." Cyclonus said. Bulkhead continued hitting Breakdown, but the Stunticon soon managed to hit him with his sledge hammer, sending the Wrecker flying towards the Forge of Solus Prime.
Knockout pushed the Autobots closer to the ledge. Bulkhead grabbed the handle of the Forge, and used all his strength to lift it out of its resting place. "Mine's bigger!" He said. Breakdown yelled and ran at Bulkhead, but the Wrecker swung the massive hammer, and sent Breakdown flying into Knockout and the shield generator fell towards Bulkhead.
Knockout ran towards it, but Bulkhead smashed it with the Forge. Then a Ground-Bridge opened behind him, and a shot hit him in the back, making him drop the Forge. "Bulkhead!" Arcee cried as Lord Megatron came through.
The Autobots aim their weapons, and Megatron picks up the Forge and aims a servo at Bulkhead. "Nuh-uh-uh."
Knockout and Breakdown join the warlord. "A relic of the Primes here on Earth? The Decepticon cause is once again indebted to the contributions of Orion Pax." Megatron said and stepped into the portal. The Autobots shot at Knockout and Breakdown, who transformed and drove into the portal before it closed.
Bulkhead groaned as he got up, and Arcee ran to check on him. "I'm fine." He said. "Optimus, we have reason to believe we have located M.E.C.H.s center of operations. Bumblebee is already there." Ratchet said over the comms.
Starscream slowly woke up. "What?" He gasped as he got up. He saw the now abandoned M.E.C.H. base, then a Ground-Bridge open and Optimus, Bulkhead, Cyclonus, Arcee, Jetfire, and Chromia come through. "Autobots!" He attempted to transform to get away, but his parts slightly moved and returned to normal. He tried again, but got the same result. "My T-Cog!" He realized. Seeing no other option, Starscream ran away.
The Autobots found Bee come out of the warehouse, holding his destroyed T-Cog. "Oh, Bee." Chromia said. "Ratchet, reopen the Ground-Bridge, and prepare for surgery." Optimus said. "Thanks to me, Megatron has the Forge." Bulkhead said.
"While we would have put the Forge of Solus Prime to valuable use, I do not believe we have reason to fear Megatron's possession of it." Optimus said.
Aboard the Nemesis, Megatron smashed an Energon container with the Forge of Solus Prime, but it was just a flattened object. "Hmm. It doesn't look like a Fortress Maximus grade nucleon shock cannon." Knockout observed. "It is as I suspected. Without the power of a Prime to activate it, the Forge is merely another addition to our tool chest. One we must nonetheless keep as far as possible from the reach of a Prime." Megatron said.
Ratchet scanned Bumblebee, and said, "I... did what I could."
"Our scout could not have been in better hands, old friend." Optimus said. "And we didn't stick with plan A and let Ratchet donate his cog why?" Miko asked. "Bumblebee wouldn't accept it." Jack said. Bee buzzed as he stood up and continued buzzing. "Bumblebee, easy." Ratchet said.
Bee buzzed again and playfully punched the air. "Please, recovery takes time." Ratchet said. Bee tried to activate his cannons, but they didn't form. He buzzed in confusion. "The damage was severe." Ratchet said. Bee tried to transform again but failed. He groaned but then transformed into his car mode. Everybody else cheered.
Bee drove around, opened his door, and honked his horn for Raf. "Anywhere!" Raf said, and climebd jnti Bee's passenger side. "Just drive." He said, and Bumblebee drove out of base. "Go easy! Adhere to standard break-in procedure!" Ratchet laughed.
"Whoa. Bee's T-Cog looked like it was ready for the scrap yard." Jetfire said. "Hard to believe the doc repaired it." Chromia agreed. "That is not all Ratchet repaired today." Optimus said. Every-bot smiled at their medic.