"Energon signal's getting stronger. About 5 clicks due north." Smokescreen said. Bee buzzed and followed him. "What did you mean 'speed limit'? I have a gauge in here that goes to 150. If the humans who designed my vehicle form didn't want it to go that fast, they shouldn't have given me the option!" Smokescreen said.
He started going very fast but nearly collided with a Jeep. The angry driver stepped out with a crowbar. "Hey, Indy 500! When I'm through with you, you're going to need more than a pit crew to put you back together!" He threatened. Smokescreen transformed, leaving the driver shocked. "Bring it!" Smokescreen said as he kneeled down to the human.
The human dropped the crowbar. "Who's the tough guy now, huh?" Smokescreen asked. Then Bee honked his horn, transformed, and pushed Smokescreen aside while buzzing. "Relax, Bumblebee! I'm just messing around." Smokescreen said. Unfortunately, the human managed to take a picture of them both.
Later, Jack and Elsa found the picture. "Found it. Old road rage didn't waste any time posting your mug shots. Raf will scrap those as soon as he's back from house hunting." Jack said. "Is this what you learned while serving Alpha Trion?! I highly doubt that he would have condoned such irresponsible behavior!" Ratchet snapped.
"Blowing your cover is not okay." Arcee said. "Sorry, guys. I know I really messed up." Smokescreen apologized. "While Ratchet and Arcee are correct, I believe that we are all equally responsible for this incident." Optimus said. The other Autobots protested.
"Our recent efforts have been so intensly focused on averting crises that we have overlooked matters. Such as teaching Smokescreen how to best function on this planet. It is an oversight that must be corrected." Optimus said. "Optimus, I'm honored to train under you and will do whatever it takes to make things right, to make you proud." Smokescreen said.
"Perhaps the best way for you to learn about the human world is from a human or maybe two." Optimus said. "Smokescreen gets his own partner?" Arcee asked. "Oh, please! Isn't having 5 humans here enough?" Ratchet asked, earning a glare from everybody. Even Optimus. Ratchet scoffed, then shuddered and returned to work.
"I was referring to two already among us." Optimus said as he looked at Jack and Elsa. "We can do it, Optimus." Elsa said. "We've all put in curbside duty. Part of the gig." Bulkhead said. Jack and Elsa climb down the ladder. "Then let's go for a drive, teachers." Smokescreen transformed.
Jack and Elsa enter Smokescreen, and he drives out of base. "Optimus, with all due respect, Agent Fowler is out relocating Raf's family because the 'Cons discovered where he lives. Meanwhile, Smokescreen in all his wisdom chooses a vehicle mode with screaming double 38s on the doors, making him an easy target. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more than concerned about Jack and Elsa's safety." Arcee said. "Nonetheless, the fact remains that our recruit is in need of instruction. I believe that Smokescreen's Spark is in the right place and that he now understands the necessity of protecting humanity." Optimus said.
Smokescreen turned a hard left. "Okay, intersection. Let's review. Light's green?" Jack asked. "Green for go." Smokescreen said. "And yellow?" Elsa asked. "Go faster!" Smokescreen said happily. He picked up speed. "Whoa! Smokescreen! stop!" Elsa yelled. The light turned red, and Smokescreen immediately stopped.
"Just messing around." Smokescreen laughed. They heard an engine roar. Jack seemed to recognize it as he said, "Oh no!" And lowered himself while raising the window. "What is it, Jackie?" Elsa asked. "'Cons?" Smokescreen asked. "Just someone from school I'd rather not talk to." Jack said.
Vince stood up and noticed Jack hiding. He reached into his food bag. "Drive." Jack said. "Red light, teach. No can do." Smokescreen said. Jack sat up. Vince threw a burger at them and drove off. Elsa immediately lowered the passenger window and yelled, "Jerk!"
"Seriously?" Smokescreen asked. "Guys, just let it go." Jack said. Smokescreen started driving. "Are you kidding me? Where's your self-respect? We got to stand up for ourselves!" Smokescreen protested. "We also have to follow Optimus' rule. It's not just about protecting humans. You can't harm them either." Jack said. "Who said anything about harming?" Smokescreen asked.
They returned to base, laughing the whole way. "I am so posting this tonight." Jack said as Smokescreen transformed. "Served Vince right!" Elsa said. "Arcee, Arcee, check out Vince's car." Jack said and held up his phone.
"The bully?" Arcee asked and looked at Jack's phone. Vince's car was demolished. It was covered in greasy food, purple ice jutted from the ground, and stabbed into the tires. A sheet of violet ice covered the hood. The trunk was open and filled with purple snow. And the windows were covered with purple frost, courtesy of Elsa.
"Hey, Vince, did you want fries and purple winter with that?" Jack mocked. He, Elsa, and Smokescreen laughed again. "Let me get this straight, so you two taught Smokescreen everything he never needed to know about fast food or winter in the summer." Arcee assumed.
"He passed drivers Ed. Work hard, play hard." Jack said. "Jackie, we should do that to Vince again." Elsa said with a big smile. "Yeah. No humans were harmed in the making of these photos, honest." Smokescreen said.
"You have decoded the next set of Iacon coordinates?" Megatron inquired as he looked at Soundwave's visor. "Excellent, Soundwave! Then it is time to beta test our decoy." Megatron said and held a beeping canister.
"I am nearly finished decoding the next Iacon coordinates." Optimus said. "You may not need to complete your task, Optimus." Ratchet said when the monitor beeped. "An Iacon locator beacon." Optimus said. "It seems the Decepticons have already excavated the next relic." Ratchet said.
"Ratchet, triangulate coordinates and activate the Ground-Bridge." Optimus said. Ratchet turned the portal on. "Bring on the 'Cons." Bulkhead said. "Where is Smokescreen?" Optimus asked. "Out training again with Jack and Elsa." Arcee said. "We cannot wait. Autobtos, transform and roll out!" Optimus commanded. They transformed and entered the portal.
The Nemesis hung in the air as the Decepticons mined for the Iacon Relic. "Lord Megatron!" A Vehicon called when he moved a rock. "I certainly hope that our new acquisition is of Decepticon origin." Megatron said but froze when he saw it. "It can not be!" He gasped as a Vehicon moved another rock, revealing a sword with a golden handle. "Power of this magnitude must never be allowed to fall into the hands of Optimus Prime, no matter what!" Megatron said.
The warlord approached the Star Saber and grabbed the handle. He pulled on the sword, but it didn't budge. Megatron kept tugging and pulling with no victory. "Give... me... it!" He strained and yelled as he planted a pede onto the wall and pulled the sword but slipped off. Megatron raised both servos and released his magic onto the Star Saber, then used his cannon to blast it multiple times. When the ice particles and smoke cleared, Megatron saw that the rock and the Star Saber were unharmed.
"The rock is impermeable! The relic is emanating a protective shield! It will only respond to the power of a Prime." Megatron roared. "We will remove it if we have to take the entire mountain!" He declared.
The monitor detected the signal. "Optimsu, I just picked up a second Iacon locator beacon." Ratchet said but was met with static. "Optimus, do you read?" Ratchet asked again.
The Autobots were surrounded by a fog. "No sign of 'Cons." Bulkhead said. They didn't know that Soundwave was in the area with a locator beacon attached to him.
Smokescreen, Jack, and Elsa re-entered base while laughing. They stepped out, and Smokescreen transformed. "Oh man. My boss is gonna freak!" Jack said. "That thing we stuffed in his tailpipe. What's it called again?" Smokescreen asked. "Pizza!" Jack wheezed. "He won't even be able to go home 'cause I froze his engine!" Elsa laughed.
"Will you 3 keep it down? Arcee? Cyclonus? Can anyone hear me?" Ratchet asked but was met with silence. "Ratchet, what's going on?" Jack asked. "Our sensors detected a second Iacon locator beacon, but I can't reach Optimus." Ratchet said.
"I'll go." Smokescreen volunteered. "Alone?" Ratchet asked. "You have a better option?" Smokescreen asked. "Fine." Ratchet said and powered on the Ground-Bridge. "He says fine. But I don't think he really wants me to go alone." Smokescreen said to Jack and Elsa.
The humans first entered the portal. "We just pulled a Miko." Jack sighed. "Let's go grab a relic!" Smokescreen said. They ran after him and hid behind a few rocks. They peeked over and saw the Decepticons watching the Star Saber. "Whoa. It's a sword." Jack said. "Not just any sword. That looks like the Star Saber. A legendary weapon forged by Solus Prime. As Lore would have it. It's rumored to wield the power of the Matrix. I'm gonna make Optimus proud." Smokescreen said.
"Not a good idea." Jack said. "Why?" Smokescreen asked. "Because Megatron's here, and he has magic." Jack said. They watched Megatron order his troops around. "The dark lord himself. He won't know what hit him." Smokescreen said.
"Smokey, wait. Something's not right." Elsa stopped him. "Why doesn't Megatron just take the Star Saber?" Jack asked. "Germaphobe?" Smokescreen guessed. "Seriously, we need to wait for backup." Jack said. "You heard Ratchet. Backup's not available right now." Smokescreen jumped down.
The Decepticons kept moving the rocks. "Enough! Commence transport!" Megatron ordered. A giant claw extended from the Nemesis and grabbed the rock holding the Star Saber. The Vehicons fired as Smokescreen appeared and killed them. "Who in the pits of Kaon is that?" Megatron asked.
Smokescreen ran for the Star Saber and tried to pull it out but failed. "Scrap! It's really in there tight!" He was shot from behind by a Vehicon. They surrounded him.
"No! No, this can't be happening!" Jack said and grabbed his phone. "Ratchet. You got to get Optimus here now! Smokescreen went for the relic. It's called a Star Saber." Jack stopped when he heard growling. An Insecticon was behind him and Elsa.
Elsa launched a beam of magic at the Insecticon and froze its bug legs together. The creature knocked down a tree as Elsa and Jack ran. "Where in the name of Cybertron are you?" Ratchet asked. The Insecticon chased them. "And did you say 'Star Saber'?" Ratchet heard the Insecticon. "Oh my. Jack? Elsa? Optimus, please respond!" Ratchet begged.
Still nothing. "I can see that you're alive, Optimus. Why won't you answer me?" Ratchet asked.
The signal changed again. "Oh. Every time we get close to the beacon, the signal moves. "All this leg work is giving me itchy fists." Bulkhead said and clashed his servos together. "It seems we have been led astray by a Decepticon trick." Optimus said. A Ground-Bridge opened, and Ratchet came through. "We have a situation." He said.
Elsa froze an Insecticon in ice, but two more took its place like the Hydra. She and Jack kept running as the Nemesis started lifting the mountain. "Bring him to me." Megatron ordered.
Jack and Elsa took cover in a cave as an Insecticon tried to grab them. The Vehicons dragged Smokescreen to the warlord. "What is your name, Autobot?" Megatron asked. "Why? Who wants to know?" Smokescreen asked.
As Megatron was about to smack Smokescreen, Vehicons started firing as Autobots came at them. "Where's Optimus?!" Megatron demanded. He looked around and found Optimus climbing the mountain, transforming to get more speed, then transform and kept climbing. "Keep Prime from the relic!" Megatron ordered. He and a few Vehicons transformed and flew towards Optimus.
Smokescreen aimed his cannon, but a Vehicon pointed his own gun but was blasted away. "I got your back." Bulkhead said. More Vehicons fired, and Arcee noticed two Insecticons clawing at nearby rocks.
As they lifted the rocks, they found Jack and Elsa, but they were bashed and killed. "Arcee!" Jack sighed. "What could you two possibly have been thinking?!" Arcee asked.
Optimus transformed into his truck mode as Megatron and the Vehicons kept shooting. The warlord was so angry that dark clouds began to form and the temperature plummeted. "Is it cold, or is it just me?" Jetfire asked. A bolt of purple lightning erupted from the sky and nearly hit Optimus, leaving a giant ice sheet. Optimus drove off a ramp. A shot from Megatron forced Optimus to transform. He reached for the Star Saber and grabbed its hilt.
A Vehicon collided with the rock. The Star Saber started glowing and let go of the rock. Optimus fell as Megatron and the other Vehicons transformed and ran into the Nemesis.
Optimus hit the ground with a great thud. He pulled the Star Saber out and held it up. "I loosened it for him." Smokescreen said.
"Drop the mountain on him!" Megatron ordered. The Nemesis let go of the rock, and it tumbled down the hill.
"Optimus, retreat!"
"Run, Prime!"
"Now!" The Autobots yelled. Optimus turned around as the rock was closer, and with one swing, Optimus summoned a blue umbra wave of energy from the Saber and cut the mountain in half, and it stopped behind him.
"Did he just?" Bulkhead asked. Bee buzzed in shock. "No way." Elsa said. Optimus looked up at the Nemesis. Megatron stared at the screen in utter horror. Optimus even winked at him.
Optimus started running and yelled as he swung the Star Saber. The resulting umbra wave hit the Nemesis from behind. The Decepticons fell around. "It can do that?" Smokescreen asked. The Nemesis nearly hit the ground, but it regained balance and retreated as the growing storm dissipated.
"We Decepticons now face our darkest hour." Megatron declared.
"How epic was that? I saw it with my own optics. But I still don't believe it." Smokescreen said. "You know what I don't believe? That after everything you've been told, you still put two humans at risk." Arcee said.
"Arcee, it wasn't his fault. We shouldn't have -" Jack started. "Don't you even start with me. We'll talk tomorrow. Send Jack and Elsa home." Arcee said. Ratchet opened the portal. Jack and Elsa reluctantly walked forward but stopped and looked at Smokescreen. "Green for go." He said.
Jack and Elsa entered the portal. "We've been in need of another Autobot in our ranks, not another child." Arcee said. "Look, Arcee, I was wrong, and I'm sorry. Again. And if you need to kick me off Team Prime," Smokescreen said. "Disregard for human safety, or anyone's safety, will not be tolerated. Do you understand?" Optimus asked with a scary voice as he planted the Star Saber on the ground.
"Fully, sir." Smokescreen said. "We must never lose sight of the fact that upon this Earth, we are titans, and such power must be used wisely." Optimus said. The Star Saber glowed brightly, and Optimus held it up. "Whoa." Bulkhead said. "Optimus, speak to me." Ratchet said. Optimus stared intently at the Star Saber. "Optimus." Ratchet repeated.
"I am receiving a message." Optimus said with a slightly distorted voice. "From who?" Ratchet asked. "Alpha Trion."