Megatron and Starscream surveyed the metallic Cyber-Matter structure. "Simply put, this combination of elements could allow us to cyberform entire worlds." Shockwave said. "Why do I feel a Shockwave plan coming on?" Starscream asked, then Shockwave grabbed him.
"Do not think for a moment, Starscream, that it has gone unnoticed that you left me at the mercy of the Autobots!" He growled. "Master! Are you going to allow one lieutenant to harm another?" Starscream asked. "Master?" He asked again. "I'm thinking." Megatron said.
Shockwave pushed him forward and held his helm above a Cyber-Matter spike. "I am tempted to force you to share my perception of things." Shockwave snarled. "No! I only did what I thought was best for the mission. But I feel compelled to add that it was my very error in judgment that made this happy accident possible." Starscream said.
Shockwave still held on. "If I recollect, you were seeking to purge your laboratory of sensitive materials before the Autobots arrived. Were you not?" Starscream asked. "Your argument... is logical." Shockwave said and let him go. "Exemplary teamwork. Now, tell me, Shockwave, why does this Cyber-Matter resemble chaos?" Megatron asked.
"The basic elements are apparently unstable. I will turn my attention to correcting that." Shockwave said. "Ah. Nevertheless, should we use this Cyber-Matter to Cybertron or cyberform Earth, we would require a launch mechanism, would we not? Then, we will focus all our remaining resources upon the successful reconstruction of the Omega Lock." Megatron said.
The Autobots and the humans watched Ratchet finish repairing Ultra Magnus. "I've dome everything I can. Considering the limitations of my equipment and less than ideal spare parts." Ratchet revealed a claw for Magnus' servo.
"It remains uncertain if Ultra Magnus' new appendage will be fit for battle. Though, it should prove functional after the requisite amount of therapy." Ratchet finished.
"That is all we can hope for, old friend." Optimus said. "You doing okay?" Arcee asked. "I'm still two-fisted." Wheeljack said. "So is Magnus." Chromia said. "Wait and see. The claw's gonna become his signature. You know, like the way you own that voice-box Ratchet slapped in your throat." Smokescreen said. Bee buzzed upset.
"I mean, you know, everyone understands you fine. Why would you even consider getting it fixed now, am I right?" Smokescreen asked. Bee buzzed furiously and marched away. "What did he say?" Anna asked. "Bee's kind of still attached to the sound of his own voice. His original one." Raf translated.
"Hey, look at the bright, shiny side. Commander Magnus and Jackie single-handedly put the kibosh on Project Predacon." Bulkhead said. "Though at least one beast that we know of remains. The one who has demonstrated the ability to transform." Optimus said.
The Nemesis hovered in orbit around Earth. "Predaking, we will soon plot our strike against the Autobots to punish them for the massecre of your kind." Megatron said. "While I fully intend to exact my revenge, Project Predacon was merely a squadron, not an army." Predaking said.
"I see." Megatron said. "My liege, if you truly aspire to restore our homworld, then I have every faith that you will resurrect the entirety of the Predacon race from the remains which lie there. So that I may lead them against any and all of our shared enemies." Predaking said.
"We salvaged much of the wreckage of the Omega Lock. But the damage was quite severe, I would urge the selective use of Earth technology. Retrofitting its operating systems will be more efficient than rebuilding from scratch." Shockwave explained.
"Then do provide Starscream with your wishlist. Since Shockwave must turn his attention to the stabilization of our Cyber-Matter, you will be in charge of acquisitions." Megatron said.
"Prime! We have trouble brewing." Agent Fowler said on a terminal in the bridge. "The 'Cons staged a smash-and-grab at the Los Alamos nuclear plant late last night and made off with 20 tons of control rods." Agent Fowler said. "What are the Decepticons looking to build?" Optimus questioned.
"Lord Megatron, I have determined that the Synthetic Energon formula provided by Knockout is the source of the instability. Simply because it is incomplete." Shockwave reported. "Then make haste and complete it. We will not only require enough Cyber-Matter to rebuild one planet but to remake a second." Megatron ordered.
"Master, excuse my impudence, but what is the logic behind ruling two worlds?" Shockwave asked. "It has taken me quite some time to fully comprehend that Earth and Cybertron have always been linked. Two halves of one whole. Primus and Unicron. And that to rule only one would be to never truly rule either." Megatron said.
"Prime. It's 'Cons again, in progress this time." Agent Fowler said over the terminal. "Coordinates received, Agent Fowler." Ratchet activated a Ground-Bridge. "Let's roll." Ultra Magnus said. "Yep, yep. Your ability to roll remains predicated upon further exploration of your manual dexterity." Ratchet halted him.
"I'm afraid that Ratchet's authority supersedes my own in medical matters." Optimus said. "Understood." Ultra Magnus sighed.
The Vehicons exited the plant with their prize when a Ground-Bridge opened, and Optimus and the Autobots came through, with the flyers last. Soundwave spotted them. Soundwave set a Ground-Bridge next to the Vehicons, and they carried the prize towards it and fired at the Autobots.
Optimus noticed Soundwave deploy Laserbeak. He transformed and flew up with Cyclonus and Jetfire as Laserbeak followed. "Too slow, birdie!" Jetfire taunted. Optimus punched Laserbeak away.
The Vehicons entered the portal and escaped with their prize. Optimus grabbed his minigun and shot at Soundwave. One Energon bullet hit Soundwave, and he fell out of the air and hit power lines. The Autobots transformed. "Whoa." Smokescreen exclaimed.
Soundwave tried to get up, but the electricity from the wires knocked him out. Laserbeak got away. "Ratchet, reopen the Ground-Bridge but ensure that the humans are kept at a safe distance, for we will be returning with a Decepticon prisoner." Optimus said.
Soundwave was restrained to a medical slab in the bridge. "Because we had the foresight to utilize the Harbinger's electromagnetic shielding, pirate captive will be unable to transmit his coordinates to the Decepticon warship." Ratchet said. "Nor will they, in turn, be able to pinpoint his location." Optimus added.
"Guess we have all the time in the world to make Mr. Personality tell us everything he knows." Wheeljack said. "The 'Cons surveillance chief must know a lot, right?" Jack asked. "But Soundwave doesn't speak, does he?" Miko asked. "Does he even have a face?" Elsa asked.
"With Laserbeak unable to triangulate Soundwave's current location, ate you not concerned about what our comrade might spill?" Starscream asked. "Of one thing I'm certain, Soundwave knows when to impart information and when to withhold it." Megatron said.
Optimus began the interrogation. "Why is Megatron stealing human technology? What is he attempting to build?" He asked, only for Soundwave to repeat his words in a horrid remix. "Whoa. Optimus Prime: The Remix." Miko said. A purple smiley face appeared on Soundwave's visor.
Bulkhead readied his mace. "Oh, yeah? Why don't I wipe that smile right off his face." He suggested. "Soundwave, we have treated you fairly. For the sake of the natives of this planet, tell us what Megatron is attempting to build before we are forced to rely upon less civil methods of interrogation." Optimus said.
Soundwave emitted painful sound waves. Everybody coveted their ears until Soundwave stopped. "Scrap this! Soundwave is no ordinary Cybertronian, inside or out. So I would strongly suggest opening him up so we can have a first-hand look at the information recorded on his drives." Ratchet suggested.
No one was really up to cracking Soundwave open like an egg. Red words appeared on Soundwave's visor. "Uh oh." Jetfire said. "Alright, he's downloading data!" Bulkhead said. "No. Soundwave is erasing data!" Ratchet said grimly.
As soon as it was done, Soundwave looked at all of them and said four chilling words. "Soundwave superior. Autobots inferior." Everyone backed away in shock. Soundwave's visor turned off, and he fell limp. "Is he?" Bulkhead asked. Ratchet scanned the spy-master.
"His vital signs remain functional. It seems he has simply severed all communications by crashing his own drives." He said.
"Lord Megatron, I have located the one item upon this world which possesses enough raw tonnage to power the reconstructed Omega Lock. A particle collider synchotron." Shockwave said. "Excellent, Shockwave." Megatron said.
"However, the successful completion of the Synthetic Energon formula is proving to be far more difficult than anticipated." Shockwave said and approached another computer. "Knockout first procured this unfinished shamble from the Autobot medic, did he not?" Megatron asked.
"That is my understanding." Shockwave said. "Then the most efficient means to an end may very well be to recruit that medic." Megatron suggested. "Attempting to abduct the one Autobot who rarely leaves their base. A base we have yet to locate may prove to be a challenge." Starscream said.
"You forget that we currently have an agent within the Autobot base." Megatron said. "Laserbeak could reconnect with Soundwave and upload his directive to him." Shockwave said. "Which would still require knowing the of their base." Starscream said.
"It is my understanding that Soundwave kept surveillance records of more than just the human children." Shockwave said.
"Prime, these recent 'Con heists have General Bryce breathing down my neck. So I got to get back to the barbecue today for another grilling." Agent Fowler said. "Understood, Agent Gowler, and rest assured, should our prisoner return online, we will resume our interrogation." Optimus said as he looked at Soundwave.
"Sounds like a plan. I'll get back to base as soon as possible." Agent Fowler said. He didn't know that Laserbeak was following behind.
"You summoned me, Lord Megatron." Predaking said. "I require your services since we anticipate an Autobot presence at our next event." Megatron said. "I welcome any opportunity to face the Prime again. Warrior to warrior." Predaking said. "You pride yourself on your evolution, yet you have learned nothing! I may have lost my surveillance chief today. The Autobots have expanded their forces, while ours continue to dwindle!" Megatron snapped.
"Then I shall simply battle twice as fiercely." Predaking said. "As a beast." Megatron added.
"I'm on my way to the base, but I just got word. The 'Cons busted into the Solaris particle collider at the South pole." Agent Fowler said. "Autobots." Optimus said. Ultra Magnus stepped forward, and Ratchet stopped him. "Doc, the commander's ready." Wheeljack said.
"Fine, fine." Ratchet said and walked away. "Bulkhead, Smokescreen, Jetfire, remain here with Ratchet to guard our prisoner. Everyone else, transform and roll out." Optimus ordered. Ratchet activated a portal, and the Autobots transformed and left.
"Can't we throw a tarp over him?" Jetfire asked. "He's creeping us out." Bulkhead added. "Yeah, it's like he's watching, no matter where you go." Smokescreen agreed. "Would all 3 of you stop focusing on what Soundwave can or cannot see and help me figure out what he did not tell? Like why Megatron would be interested in something believed to generate enough power to create a black hole." Ratchet said.
Agent Fowler arrived at the base, boarded a helicopter, and flew to the Harbinger. Laserbeak was circling around the base.
"Black holes? So Megatron's looking to swallow up the known universe." Smokescreen said. "And everything in it." Jetfire added. "No. No. He would merely want to harness the power of something capable of swallowing worlds in order to... create one. Oh, my." Ratchet muttered.
The other Autobots stepped towards the building. "Optimus, I know this hardly seems the time, but it may aid you in your task." Ratchet said. Optimus raised a servo, and the Autobots halted. "Go ahead." He said. "I believe that Megatron may he attempting to rebuild the Omega Lock. Do we let him?" Ratchet asked.
"No. For you know as well as I that Megatron will use a reconstructed Lock to cyberform both Cybertron and Earth. And that is one abuse of power that we cannot allow." Optimus said. "Understood." Ratchet sighed.
The Autobots moved forward again. Lit up by the moonlight, Predaking, in his beast mode, flew after the Autobots and roared. They turned around as Predaking blew fire at them. "Down!" Ultra Magnus commanded. The fireball struck the ground as Optimus readied his cannon and fired.
Predaking then disappeared into the night blizzard as the Autobots rejoined their leader. "The Decepticons must not be allowed to secure their target." Optimus said. The Predacon hissed as it appeared again. "I will engage the Predacon." Optimus said. "You heard your leader. Forge ahead." Ultra Magnus commanded.
They all ran into the building and left Optimus to face the Predacon. He grabbed his minigun and fired. Predaking twirled around the Energon bullets and blew fire at Optimus, but the Prime activated his jetpack and flew from the blaze, and Predaking stumbled onto the snow.
Predaking flew after him as he fired his mingun again. Predaking blew fire, but Optimus flew aside and collided with Predaking and shot him into an ice cliff. Optimus shot the cliff and ice piled on top of Predaking, but he flew out of the debris.
Predaking smashed into Optimus and sent them away from the facility. Predaking scratched Optimus' helm and tried to bite him, but Optimus grabbed his mandibles. Predaking's neck started glowing, and before he could torch Optimus, Optimus pushed his helm away, and the fire blew around them.
Predaking threw him off, and Optimus held his cannon and minigun and fired at Predaking. Predaking scratched his chassis, and Optimus went into freefall and hit the snow with a great thud.
Ultra Magnus led the Autobots through the facility, and when they turned a corner, a group of Vehicons opened fire, and the Autobots returned fire. "Someone knew we were coming." Chromia said. "You think?" Arcee asked. Shockwave observed two Vehicons working on deconstructing the collider when gunfire interrupted them.
"Ratchet, it may not be with the Forge or the Omega Lock, but we're gonna find a way to get our planet repaired." Smokescreen said. Agent Fowler walked into the bridge with a handful of files. Laserbeak burst through the window on the front of the Harbinger. "Oh, no." Ratchet said.
Laserbeak shot at them, then shot Soundwave's Energon cuffs. Smokescreen shot at Laserbeak, and a small piece of his wing broke off. Laserbeak pushed Jetfire off the bridge onto the lower level, and he was electrocuted by a terminal. Laserbeak then attached himself to Soundwave's chassis, and his visor glowed as his mind and memories were restored.
Bulkhead readied his mace, but Soundwave pushed him away. Smokescreen tried to kick him, but Soundwave extended a tentacle, pinned Smokescreen to the ground, and electrocuted. Bulkhead stood up, but another tentacle attached to his chassis, and they were both electrocuted.
Agent Fowler yelled as he grabbed a rod, but Soundwave swatted him away with a tentacle, and Agent Fowler passed out. Ratchet was defenseless as Soundwave stepped closer, and the last thing Ratchet saw was his face-plate on the spy-master's visor before everything went black.