Lord Megatron flew through the air, transformed, and joined a bunch of Vehicons in a large area. This time, the Decepticons were not here for Energon, but for something else.
"Megatron?" Ratchet observed from behind a rock with Optimus. "It seems you detected the ancient Autobot frequency precisely because it was unearthed." Optimus said. "Well, our backup shouldn't be far behind." Ratchet said. "Without knowing what the Decepticons have exhumed, I do not think I am willing to wait." Optimus said and replaced his servo for his cannon.
The Vehicons found what they were looking for. "Show me." Megatron said. They lifted it up. "Bring it to me with utmost care." Megatron ordered. They showed him a large container. Megatron opened it but was halted by Optimus. "Megatron, I cannot allow you to pilfer Autobot relics!" He said.
"Not only are you misinformed, Optimus, but I would strongly advise you to lower your weapons. Unless you're in the mood for mutually assured destruction." Megatron said and held out a plaque like device. "It can't be!" Ratchet gasped.
"The Spark Extractor." Optimus identified.
"Rather unassuming, yet capable of extracting every Spark within its radius. And to think that you led me straight to it, Optimus. Or should I say Orion Pax did? You really should have left your Decepticon shield intact, for you have no idea how useful your code-breaking skills prove to be during our all too brief time together. Soudnwave, send a Ground-Bridge." Megatron said.
A portal opened up. "Engage them!" Megatron ordered. The Vehicons fired away as the warlord stomped towards the Ground-Bridge. Another group of Vehicons prepared to join their allies when they heard an engine. Bumblebee jumped from the higher ridge and landed in front of them, dodged gunfire, drove up a canyon wall, and joined Optimus and Ratchet.
"Bumblebee, secure the package." Said Optimus. Bee drove underneath a Vehicon and into the Ground-Bridge portal. He transformed and snatched the Spark Extractor from Megatron's grasp. "What?!" The warlord growled. He readied his wrist blade and chased the scout. Bee transformed and drove behind him.
Megatron stomped his pede, filling the tunnel with purple ice, but Bee emerged unharmed. Megatron came out soon after. He plunged his servo into the ground, causing ice to grow everywhere. But much to his anger, only dead Vehicons were everywhere instead of frozen Autobots.
Later in Autobot base, Bee was beeping/telling the others what he did. "Loop-de-loop, huh?" Arcee asked. Bee then gave Raf a new yellow toy car that Bee accidentally crushed during the events of Darkness Rising. "You have some brass bearings, Bumblebee." Bulkhead congratulated.
"Optimus, here. The source of the ancient frequency we detected." Ratchet said as he ran scans on the Spark Extractor. "An Iacon homing beacon." Optimus said. "What's an Autobot locator doing on that?" Chromia asked. "The Class-A Decepticon weapons confiscated during the war were sealed within the vaults below Iacon." Optimus explained.
"Where you once worked as an archivist." Bulkhead said. "Iacon was both a cultural center and a stronghold which Megatron raided when Autobot troops were at their nadir. It stands to reason that in anticipation of Iacon being overrun by enemy forces, these weapons were jettisoned off-world to keep them far from Decepticon reach." Optimus said.
"Clearly, the beacon was added as a safety measure should the weapons ever be found by the undesired party?" Ratchet added. "Well, thanks to our hotshot stunt driver, this one's going in our vault." Bulkhead said. "Do you think this is the only intel you supplied to Megatron?" Chromia asked.
"Chromia, you are right to ask, and I am afraid I do not remember." Optimus said. "Optimus, Megatron clearly took advantage of your amnesia. But for all we know, this Spark Extractor is the extent of it. Have you stopped to consider that he might have suggested otherwise to merely plague your thoughts?" Ratchet asked.
Megatron angrily slammed his servo onto a terminal. "The Spark Extractor was in my grasp! I should have removed more than that scout's voice-box when I had the chance!" He roared. Soundwave came up to him with the two other coordinates that Orion decoded on his visor. "Indeed, Soundwave. We possess two more sets of coordinates, which Orion decrypted before departing ranks. Let us see what other long-lost treasures we might be reunited with." Megatron said.
Bee drove down the road and buzzed to Bulkhead. "Yeah, I just picked up the same signal. Could be another homing beacon. Let's rendezvous with the coordinates." The Wrecker said. Bee picked up speed, then drove off the road, and transformed.
He walked forward and found a large probe device. He inspected the object before hearing something. He turned to the side but was met with a bolt of electricity, knocking him out.
Silas and M.E.C.H. soldiers surrounded the scout. "Silas, another one's headed toward pur position. Estimated arrival two minutes." A soldier informed Silas. "Work briskly." Silas said. Another soldier gave the first one a toolbox, and he set to work welding through Bumblebee's frame. High above them, a silver fighter jet zoomed through the air and transformed into Starscream. The Seeker observed M.E.C.H. working on Bee from a high rise.
"It would appear the signal was a trap. Better Bumblebee than me." Starscream said.
Silas saw Bulkhead coming closer. "The backup is ahead of schedule." Silas said. "As luck would have it, so am I." The soldier said and yanked out Bumblebee's T-Cog. "Move out." Silas said. Starscream observed M.E.C.H enter a helicopter and retreat as Bumblebee woke up.
Bulkhead drove up to him and transformed. "Bee! Who did this? 'Cons?" He asked. Bee buzzed. "Only one way to find out. Come on!" Bulkhead said and transformed. Bee attempted to transform as well, but he didn't. The confused scout attempted to tramsform again, but only a few parts shifted and returned to normal.
Bulkhead stopped, drove backward, and transformed. "Are we rolling or not?!" He asked impatiently. Bee explained with buzzing. "What do you mean you can't?" Bulkhead asked. Bee looked at him.
Ratchet scanned Bumblebee. "You can fix Bee, can't you?" Raf asked. "Bumblebee was hit pretty hard. The stun blasts may have fried his T-Cog." Ratchet said. "What's that?" Elsa asked. "It's the organ that allows us to scan vehicles and transform." Arcee said. "By the Allspark. Bumblebee's T-Cog isn't damaged. It's missing!" Ratchet gasped.
"But the Decepticons transform too. Why would they steal that?" Jack asked. "Megatron may be known to raise zombies, but he's no ghoul." Ratchet said. "If Megatron wasn't behind this, then who was?" Raf asked. "The ones who cannibalized Breakdown." Bulkhead said. "And tried to gut me." Arcee said. "M.E.C.H." Ratchet identified.
"Them again?" Elsa asked. "Yes, and it would appear their knowledge of Cybertronian biotech has grown more sophisticated." Ratchet said. "But why would they hurt Bee?" Anna asked.
Bee grew more upset and got off the berth. "Bumblebee, please, you are not presently equipped to handle this." Optimus said. Bee buzzed with growing irritation. "You're mistaken, my friend. I do know what it's like to lose a vital part of oneself, and as a result, I know the value of putting one's faith in the strength of those around you. We vow to do everything in our power to make you whole again." Optimus said.
"And if not, Ratchet can just make you a new... cog thing. Right?" Miko asked. Bumblebee stared at her, then groaned in buzzing and sat down. "What'd I say?" Miko asked. "Miko, a T-Cog is a biomechanism, not a scrap yard find. If it were that easy, don't you think I would have replaced Bumblebee's voice-box by now?" Ratchet asked.
Bee continued buzzing and waving his arms. "You're not useless, Bee." Raf said. Bumblebee lightly buzzed and hung his head low, as did Raf. "Alright, alright, I say none of us transform until Bumblebee gets his cog back." Bulkhead suggested. "Your Spark's in the right place, green, but I don't think now is the time to be limiting ourselves." Chromia said.
"Not with Megatron potentially seeking other doomsday devices, and I fear not while M.E.C.H. uses Bumblebee's T-Cog for their own sinister purpose." Optimus said.
Inside an abandoned warehouse facility, one of the M.E.C.H. soldiers typed something into one of the supercomputers, making a claw place the T-Cog into a giant robot as Silas came into the room. "Commence beta test." He announced. The soldier typed in a few more codes, and the robots arm started moving while the rest of it glowed. "Installation complete. Commencing scan." The soldier said.
Twin beams of light fired from the robot's eyes and started scanning a nearby helicopter. "Scan successful. Commencing transformation." The soldier said. The robot tried to transform, but nothing happened. Silas looked at the soldier as he tied in more codes. The robot still didn't transform, and then it powered down.
Then, a sinister laugh filled the room. Starscream pushed open the doors. "You are the ones who turned poor Breakdown into a pitiful science experiment? Didn't learn much from the experience, did you?" Starscream asked as he pushed a helicopter's blades out of his way, then dozens of red dots appeared on his body as M.E.C.H. soldiers pointed their guns at him.
"Enough to know where the soft spots are, Decepticon." Silas said. "Oh, please. I am no longer affiliated with that entity. Besides, if I were here to avenge the big lug, you would be screaming for mercy by now." Starscream said. "Why are you here?" Silas asked. "To propose an alliance. You see, we have much more in common than you might think. And I am not merely referring to our battle scars." Starscream said.
"What could I possibly gain from such an arrangement?" Silas asked. "Insider knowledge." Starscream said.
Silas raised his hand, and the soldiers lowered their weapons. "Wise choice. Now, a T-Cog isn't technology. It is biology. Which means it will reject any power source, other than Energon." Starscream explained. "Go on." Silas said. "Energon is the fuel, the ammunition, and the lifeblood of all Cybertronians. Whatever their affiliation." Starscream continued. "You and I both want it, and currently I lack the means of locating it. But once I supply you with the particulars of it's chemical makeup," Starscream cut his arm with his sharp digit, drawing some Energon, and he placed it into the robot, and it accepted it. "We can utilize your considerable resources to devise a means of detecting new deposits for us to share." Starscream said.
"If the supply meets M.E.C.H.s rather significant demand." Silas said. "Ah, intending to build an army, are you? I am no stranger to ambition." Starscream said.
Bee approached Ratchet while buzzing and beeping. "Optimus, Bulkhead, Cyclonus, Jetfire, and Chromia haven't reported in yet." Ratchet said. Bee kept buzzing. "Bumblebee, I will let you know the moment I hear something." Ratchet said.
Bee didn't stop buzzing and tapped his shoulder. "Oh, for Primus' sake. Will someone keep him occupied so I can get some work done?!" Ratchet groaned. "Hey, Bee! How about a video game?" Raf asked. Bee beeped and joined them until he saw Raf and Miko racing. "Bad call. "Sorry." Raf apologized.
"Hey no big deal. That game's lame. What do you say we watch some TV?" Miko suggested and changed the channel, which showed a car commercial. "The new Urbana 500. It won't just rock your world. It will transform it." The narrator said, leaving the children wide-eyed. Bumblebee yelled in buzzing and stomped away.
"Taking the 'auto' out of an Autobot is so not a good thing." Miko said. "Bee, come on. You're just as amazing without wheels. I mean, speed isn't everything." Raf said. Jack then drove into the base and came to a stop with Elsa holding on behind him. "Personal best, Arcee. You hit 120 easy." Jack said. Bee grew angry. "Uh." Elsa started.
Bee growled in buzzing and marched off. "Bumblebee, where do you think you're going?" Ratchet asked. Bee buzzed in response. "You can't just go for a walk. We are robots in disguise. Leaving the base in this form puts you at risk of being seen and of us being discovered! You'll just have to remain in the silo until -" Ratchet put a servo on Bee, but he harshly swatted it away. He buzzed furiously at the medic and stormed away.
"Yes, Bumblebee. Until I can fix you." Ratchet said.
The next day, Elsa and Anna drew chalk pictures on the outside wall of daycare waiting for June to pick them up. But a siren got their attention. Much to their confusion, it wasn't June or any other Autobot. They wouldn't be surprised if it was Cyclonus or Jetfire, but it was Ratchet. The door opened, showing Raf inside. "Come on, come on." He said. The girls dropped the chalk and ran to the ambulance.
"I thought momma June was picking us up." Elsa said. "She's stuck at work, so is Jack and Miko's in detention, again. And the Autobots are trying to find Bumblebee's T-Cog." Raf said. "You kids wanna ride with the siren on?" Ratchet asked. "No, thank you." They all said together.
The monitor alerted woth something. Bee buzzed hopefully. "This could be it. I'll alert the others." Bulkhead said. Bee buzzed again. "I know you and I can handle it, Bee. But there's no reason to... what are you trying to prove?" Bulkhead asked. Bee buzzed and Bulkhead groaned.
"Ratchy, what happened to Bee's voice?" Elsa asked. "It was severely damaged in battle." Ratchet said. "How?" Anna asked. "How do you think? Tragically, of course, it happened at Tiger Pax. Our brave scout was captured by Megatron's forces and interrogated, but he refused to provide intel, and paid a grave price for his courage. Bumblebee was left for scrap, but Autobots troops led by Cyclonus found him and evacuated him to a triage facility, where a field medic managed to stabilize his condition." Ratchet said.
"So, we owe Bumblebee's life to that field medic." Raf said. "That's one way of looking at it, I suppose. Though the medic... could have done better." Ratchet said. Raf knew he was talking about himself.
A Ground-Bridge opened in the middle of a forest and Bulkhead stepped out. "Clear." He said and Bumblebee came out. "I still don't know how you talked me into this. You're worse than Miko." Bulkhead said. Bee buzzed in return. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Not every mission ends in a high-speed pursuit, but without your-" Bulkhead started and Bee buzzed warningly.
"Fine. I'll drop it. But if Optimus finds out, this was not my idea." Bulkhead said. Bee buzzed and waved his servo. "Signal's coming from over there." Bulkhead said, the target started moving towards them on the tracker. "And it's coming our way, fast!"
Knockout emerged from a cave in automobile mode. "Catch me if you can!" He taunted. "I'll get him!" Bulkhead said, then heard footsteps and Breakdown came out, sledge hammer ready. "Okay, you get him!" Bulkhead said, and he and Breakdown fought.
Bumblebee chased Knockout, who said, "Sporting of you." Bumblebee readied his wrist cannons, but they didn't activate much to his anger.
"You're not even gonna try and shoot up my tires?" Knockout asked and stopped. "Bumblebee! Where's your famous horsepower, huh? Show me some speed!" He yelled. Bumblebee ran at him again, and he drove forward. Bumblebee saw an abandoned truck. He picked it up and rode on it, quickly catching up to Knockout.
"What is with the rent-a-car?" Knockout asked. Bee got closer until a tire broke off the axel. "I'd stick around and do some donuts around you, but I have a delivery to make." Knockout said and turned a corner. Bee couldn't slow down the truck, and he went off the road, through the rail, and off the edge.
To be continued...