Aboard the Nemesis, two Vehicons dragged Arcee into the bridge, right towards Starscream. "They said it couldn't be done. The one called Arcee is too quick, too stealthy to be captured. Well, here you are with a rare opportunity to make history. You see, I have intercepted this encrypted Autobot signal. And if it's encrypted, it must be important. Decode it for me, and I will see to it that you perish quickly." The Seeker offered.
Arcee groaned. "Speak up! I can't hear you when you whimper." Starscream said. "Get... fragged." Arcee retorted. Starscream started laughing. "Perhaps you will be more inclined to cooperate when it is not your own well-being at stake."
Two other Vehicons dragged a familiar 'Bot into the bridge and dropped him next to Arcee. "Arcee. Been a while." Said Cliffjumper.
"Give me the encryption code, or I will add your comrade Cliffjumper to the multitude of fallen Autobots below!" Starscream ordered. "Scrap him. I barely know the guy." Arcee said. "Ouch. Glad I'm not the sensitive type." Cliffjumper remarked.
"Cybertron is little more than a graveyard now. GIVE ME THE CODE!" Starscream ordered. "I'm not afraid of you, Starscream. You're no Megatron." Arcee said. Starscream yelled and raised his claws.
Arcee snapped out of the memory and back into reality. Bulkhead was lying on his chassis and groaning. "3 steps, Bulkhead? That's all you can manage?" Miko asked. "I'm sorry, Miko. My legs still hurt." Bulkhead groaned, but he reluctantly stood up. "What did I tell you?" Miko asked. "No excuses." Said Bulkhead.
"Exactly. Try again. 10 steps this time." Miko said. Bulkhead wobbled away.
"I hope decoding the Iacon Database is going more smoothly than Bulkhead's recovery." Ratchet said as he approached Optimus. "Slow but steady, old friend." Optimus said. "Human technology. But your expertise in the field should provide any edge we need to beat the Decepticons at this game." Ratchet said.
"I fear their access to Cybertronian technology may provide them with equal advantage." Optimus said. They heard a sudden crash. Bulkhead collapsed. "Not good enough! You have to come back stronger than before!" Miko said.
"Time for a break, Bulkhead." Ratchet said as he helped the green Wrecker stand up. "A break? You think the 'Cons are gonna give Bulkhead a break in the middle of a firefight?" Miko asked. "If you push a patient too far too fast, you risk exacerbating their injuries." Ratchet countered.
"But -" Miko started. "Bulkhead needs to rest." Ratchet said and helped Bulkhead away with Chromia's aid.
Miko groaned. Bee drove into Autobot base and transformed. "Out of the way!" Miko growled as she marched past the scout.
Later, the Japanese girl was sitting on the ledge above Autobot base, sniffling to herself. "Miko?" Arcee asked nearby. "Oh, uh, hey, Arcee." Miko said quickly as she wiped away her tears. "I was just.." Miko stopped. "Aren't we a little close to the edge?" Arcee asked. "Heights don't scare me." Miko said.
"Bulkhead's coming along just fine. Thanks mostly to your efforts. But he needs a friend right now, not a drill sergeant." Arcee said. "No offense, but I came up here for some privacy." Miko said.
"I understand what you're going through. If you ever want someone to talk to -" Arcee started. "I'm fine, okay? I'm not the one Hardshell tried to scrap." Miko said. "Miko, it's rough when someone you care about gets hurt. Closing yourself off from feeling won't help anyone." Arcee said.
"Well, you would know, wouldn't you?" Miko asked. "Yes... I would." Arcee said. Miko and Arcee looked at the pile of rocks on top of the deceased Cliffjumper's severed horn. "Arcee, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." Miko apologized.
"It's okay. He's... been on my mind lately. After I lost my first partner, Tailgate, I pushed everyone away. Until Cliffjumper came along." Arcee said. "What was he like?" Miko asked. "Cliff was... quite the conversationalist." Arcee said.
Past Cliffjumper was thrown into the Nemesis' holding cell. "Cliffjumper? Are you..." Arcee trailed off. "I-I can't, I can't believe you actually care." Cliffjumper smirked. "The only thing I care about is whether you talked just now." Arcee said as Cliffjumper stood up. "You always this nice to your rescuers?" He asked.
Cliffjumper started pounding the far wall. "Didn't answer my question." Arcee said. "I got bored with Starscream's little workout. So I idled my engines and faked shutdown. Scream bought it." Cliffjumper said. "How did you wind up here?" Arcee asked.
"Intercepted some chatter about a Decepticon operation on the old home planet. So I follow the trail and find Starscream shipping massive amounts of Energon here to Cybertron. What's your story?" Cliffjumper asked. "Same." Arcee said. "You're quite the conversationalist." Cliffjumper remarked.
"I've tried every interrogation technique, and nothing is working! I would just eliminate them, but the code they carry is too valuable." Starscream fumed next to Soundwave in the bridge. "If only I could just break them open and take it!" He ranted.
Soundwave suddenly pointed at Cybertron. "No. I will not take the prisoners to the surface. Why should I let him have all the glory?" Starscream questioned. "The code they carry is too valuable." Soundwave repeated Starscream's words. "Alright, since I must deliver the Energon to him anyway." Starscream groaned.
Starscream and the Vehicons were escorting Arcee and Cliffjumper and multiple canisters of fresh Energon crystals through the desolate remains of Cybertron. "So this is Kaon, huh? Love what your Decepticons have done with the place. The ruins are especially picturesque." Cliffjumper said.
"Silence!" Starscream ordered, and a Vehicon guard pushed Cliffjumper forward. They were escorted into a lab chamber. "Here we are." Starscream said. "That's not a good sign." Cliffjumper said as his optics swept across the tables filled with frightening tools.
"Since I could not compel you to surrender the encryption code, I'm forced to introduce you to someone whose methods are a little more... persuasive." Starscream said as he grabbed an Energon prod.
Arcee and Cliffjumper heard heavy footsteps and looked at the entrance to the lab. Out came a purple, one-opticed, and one-servod cyclops mech. "We may be in a little more trouble than I thought." Cliffjumper said.
"Autobots, say hello to Shockwave." Starscream introduced them to the cyclops named Shockwave.
Later, Arcee and Cliffjumper were tied to medical berths. "Delivering a mountain of Energon, intercepting an Autobot communique, and capturing two key prisoners is impressive, I admit. But Lord Megatron expects nothing less from his first lieu -" Starscream paused when Shockwave glared at him.
"I should let you work, right? No doubt you are trying to concentrate. Carry on." Starscream said. Shockwave picked up a cord and attached an end of it to the back of his helm while Arcee was trying to saw her Energon cuffs.
"Um, Shockwave, are you certain you can extract the decryption code code without first nullifying our subject's neural net?" Starscream asked. "I invented the Cortical Psychic Patch. I am familiar with its idiosyncrasies." Shockwave replied. "Of course you are." Starscream sputtered as Shockwave walked away from him.
"Keep that away from me, you one-eyed freak!" Arcee hissed. "Leave her alone! Use it on me!" Cliffjumper yelled. "Do not worry. If her mind does not survive the procedure, you will be next." Shockwave maliciously assured before he jabbed the other end of the cord into Arcee's helm. The code appeared on the screen next to Starscream.
"Ah, the code." The Seeker said. Shockwave yanked the cord out of Arcee's helm, and she passed out. "Arcee! Arcee! I'll scrap you both!" Cliffjumper yelled. "Shut up! I'm trying to listen!" Starscream ordered.
"This is Optimus Prime. To all surviving Autobots who hear this message, I ask you to join me in a remote corner of the galaxy. On a small planet rich with Energon. I have reason to believe this world will soon become a new target of Decepticon conquest. Our team is small but strong. Join me at these coordinates so that we might plan our resistance. Safe journeys." A recording of Optimus said as Earth appeared on the screen.
Cliffjumper looked at Arcee, and she opened her optics, pretending to be knocked out. She winked at Cliffjumper before She went back to sawing at her cuffs.
"Brilliant! Not only do we know where to find Optimus Prime, but he's begging for help. Now is the time to strike!" Starscream said. "You are no longer of use." Shockwave said and aimed his cheese-grater designed arm cannon at Cliffjumper. "Hey, Scream. Curious. You always let other 'Cons do your dirty work?" Cliffjumper asked.
"Shockwave. You already disposed of one of my prisoners. Cliffjumper is mine." Starscream said. "Your reasoning is hardly... logical. But indulge yourself." Shockwave said and lowered his cannon.
The cyclops mech left the room. "What do you think, Cliffjumper? Plenty to choose from here. Shall we go with precise dissection or blunt force?" Starscream asked as he picked up the Energon prod.
Arcee broke a cuff. "Your choice, Scream. Whatever you pick. I'm just gonna end up using it on you." Cliffjumper said. "Very well." Starscream turned around. "Why don't we do this the old-fashioned way?" The Seeker asked and raised his claws.
Arcee tackled Starscream and kicked him onto her medical berth and activated the Energon cuffs. "No! No!" Starscream screamed as he tried to break out.
Arcee deactivated Cliffjumper's cuffs. "Thanks for the save." He thanked. "Your turn, Starscream. What's with all the Energon?" Arcee asked. "As if I would tell you." Starscream said. "Talk or you're a science experiment. I'm not kidding!" Arcee threatened and marched past Cliffjumper.
"You should probably tell her something. I'm not sure how long I can hold her back." Cliffjumper said. "I'm no expert with this thing, but I hear one slip-up can fry a neural net." Arcee said and held a device. "Shockwave! He's the one you want! He's building a Space-Bridge beneath Kaon!" Starscream revealed.
"Impossible. Space-Bridge technology has been lost for mega-cycles." Arcee said. "And yet he managed. Shockwave never left Cybertron precisely so he could scavenge parts, then reverse-engineer Space-Bridge mechanics." Starscream confessed. "And you just delivered all the Energon he needs to power it up." Cliffjumper said.
"Well, it often pains me. I try to be a team player." Starscream admitted. Arcee punched Starscream, knocking him out. "Going somewhere?" Cliffjumper asked. "To take down a Space-Bridge." Arcee said. "Without me?" Cliffjumper asked. "This'll require stealth. Not chatter." Arcee said.
"Oh, you mean the chatter that distracted Starscream long enough for you to free yourself?" Cliffjumper asked. "Just try not to slow me down." Arcee said.
They both landed in a tunnel and ran down it. "You know where you're going?" Cliffjumper asked. "My unit used these tunnels during the war. They're part of Old Cybertron." Arcee said.
They turned a corner and started climbing rubble. "The sooner we blow the Bridge, the sooner we join up with Optimus Prime." Cliffjumper said. "Give him my regards." Arcee said.
"Did you not hear Prime's message? He needs us." Cliffjumper said. "Teamwork isn't my thing. After we finish this, you and I go our separate ways." Arcee said. "Whatever you say, partner." Cliffjumper said.
"Let's get one thing straight: You are not my partner." Arcee said. "Arcee, I know it's rough. I really do." Cliffjumper said. "I don't know what you're talking about." Arcee said. "Tailgate." Cliffjumper said. Arcee immediately had a memory of Airachnid slaying Tailgate. "TAILGATE!" She cried.
"Closing yourself off from feeling won't help anyone." Cliffjumper said right as Miko broke the conversation. "Sounds familiar." She said. "Good advice is good advice." Arcee said. "So I gotta know. What happened next?" Miko asked.
Arcee kept telling the story.
Two Vehicons guarded the Space-Bridge until Arcee and Cliffjumper tackled them both and hid them behind two walls, then took cover under the floor and surveyed the Space-Bridge. "Shockwave's latest work of art." Arcee said. "Already fueled and ready to rip." Cliffjumper added.
"Arcee, look famiar?" He asked her when their optics landed on the terminal near the portal. "The coordinates Optimus provided. They're being used to target the Space-Bridge." Arcee said. "Which means the 'Cons will ambush Optimus and his team before any Autobot reinforcements can get there." Cliffjumper said.
"If the 'Cons scorch Optimus, the war is as good as over." Arcee said. "We can fix that." Cliffjumper said and turned his servo into a 3-barreled cannon. "No. We don't have the ordinance to blow the Bridge. I'll have to sabotage the control systems." Arcee said. "What about access? You just gonna walk up there and ask for permission?" Cliffjumper questioned.
"No. You are." Arcee said.
"Uh, excuse me. I got separated from the tour group. Does anyone know where I can find the Decepticon base?" Cliffjumper asked as he approached the Vehicons, and they prepared their triangle-shaped cannons.
"Whoa! Didn't Commander Starscream tell you? I'm on your side now!" Cliffjumper lied. The Vehicons looked at each other. "That coward Optimus Prime turned tail and ran. Left the rest of us Autobots to fend for ourselves. So much for camaraderie, huh?" Cliffjumper asked as Arcee secretly accessed the controls.
"Figured I'd rather be in the winning team. So I took Starscream up on his offer. Imagine the look on Prime's face when it starts raining Decepticons. Me with them." Cliffjumper said. The Vehicons didn't lower their cannons. "Really, I know all about Starscream's plan. We can all get along now." Cliffjumper said.
The Vehicons lowered their cannons. "There's someone behind me, isn't there?" Cliffjumper asked. He turned around and was met with Shockwave. "Only Starscream could fail to dispose of a helpless captive." The scientist said. Suddenly, the Space-Bridge started making weird noises. "Uh, is it supposed to sound like that?" Cliffjumper asked.
Shockwave bashed him away and ran at Arcee. "Interloper!" He threw Arcee away, and she held onto the ledge of the floor. "You have overriden the Energon containment protocols, haven't you? Clever, but not irreversible." Shockwave said and set to work.
The Vehicons pinned Cliffjumper down, but he kicked them away. He punched one until it fell, then threw the other into the ground and punched its helm. He used another Vehicon as a shield from another Vehicon and punched it away before he prepared his cannon and shot the controls, then Shockwave, but the attacks did nothing against the cyclops.
Cliffjumper yelled before he jumped over Shockwave and landed behind him and dodged his cannon before kicking Shockwave down and aimed his own cannon at the mech's helm, but Shockwave kicked him away.
Two more Vehicon aimed their cannons at Cliffjumper, but Arcee shot them both, then shot more. She prepared her arm blades and slashed more, then kicked another. She saw Shockwave aim his cheese-grater designed arm cannon at Cliffjumper. "There is more than one way to nullify a neural net." He said.
"Not this time." Arcee said and shot a support beam above them, which landed on Shockwave. Arcee ran to Cliffjumper. "Cliff?" She asked. "I knew you cared." Cliffjumper remarked.
"It appears Shockwave's arrogance was his undoing." Starscream said with two Vehicons next to him as they entered the chamber. "Destroy them!" The Seeker commanded. The Vehicons fired, and Cliffjumper and Arcee hid behind rubble as the Space-Bridge grew more unstable.
"Autobots, whatever you did to the Space-Bridge, undo it now!" Starscream ordered. "They should really stop shooting at us if they want our help." Cliffjumper said. Cliffjumper and Arcee ducked down. "Seeing as how our exit is blocked and we have an open Space-Bridge portal currently set for Prime's location, you with me?" Cliffjumper asked.
He raised a servo. Arcee looked at him before taking it. "The Space-Bridge! It's going to blow!" Starscream cried. He and the Vehicons ran off as Arcee and Cliffjumper ran into the portal while Shockwave rose from the rubble.
As the Autobots ran through the vortex, a shot stopped them. They turned around as Shockwave fired again. "Give it everything you got!" Cliffjumper yelled. They shot at Shockwave, and he fired back. The blast knocked them away.
Arcee looked at Cliffjumper, then at Shockwave as he advanced towards them. Arcee stood up between Cliffjumper and Shockwave. Shockwave raised his cannon and fired. Arcee quickly moved aside and fired her own cannon, blinding Shockwave. "Bull's-eye!" Cliffjumper said, and he and Arcee ran forward.
Shockwave fired blindly, but all the shots missed the Autobots. An unstable portal opened up into Earth and spat Cliffjumper and Arcee out.
The portal collapsed and disappeared. "Think Shockwave survived?" Arcee asked. "Hope so. I want a rematch." Cliffjumper said. They both stood up. "Let's find Optimus, partner." Arcee said and held out her servo. He took it.
They walked through the desert. "Rich with Energon, huh? Hope the whole rock doesn't look like this. Reminds me of the time I was lost in the Sea of Rust back on Cybertron. Except I was separated from my unit with absolutely no one to talk to." Cliffjumper chatted.
"Talk at?" Arcee asked. "Admit it. You love the company!" Cliffjumper said.
"Funny. At first, I didn't think I'd ever get used to Cliff's constant chatter. Now, there's nothing louder to me than the silence." Present Arcee said. Miko slowly put a hand on her servo. They both smiled at each other.