Soundwave was busy decoding the last 3 Iacon coordinates. Megatron laughed. "You should have seen Optimus Prime's face when his precious Star Saber shattered like glass, and with it his dreams of an Autobot victory. Granted, Optimus will be more determined more than ever to discover the locations of the remaining Iacon entries before we can." He said.
A white set of coordinates appeared over the cluster of coordinates on the front of the ship. "Ah, very good. I see you have decoded the next set of coordinates." Megatron said. "Way to step things up, Soundwave. I do hope this Iacon Relic is something less sacred and more profane. Like an electro-disruptor cannon. We could use one of those." Knockout said as he entered the bridge.
"Indeed, Knockout. Dreadwing, report to the bridge immediately." Megatron ordered. "Please, Lord Megatron, allow me the honor of retrieving this relic for you." Knockout said. "I'm surprised you would risk your finish so soon after your accident." Megatron said.
Knockout scowled. "Nonetheless, I remain unconvinced that you are the best choice for the task since you failed to secure the Phase Shifter." Megatron said. "I lacked the proper tools, but since Soundwave's currently occupied, I can't imagine he'll mind if I borrowed this so that I might better secure your prize and heap some hurt on the Autobots." Knockout said and held the Resonance Blaster.
Optimus continued decoding the last Iacon coordinates. "I'm gonna be a great warrior someday, like Optimus." Smokescreen said. "Well, train hard, and gain some wisdom along the way, and I'm sure it'll happen." Bulkhead said. "Oh, it will. It's my destiny." Smokescreen said.
Bee buzzed in confusion. "How so?" Arcee asked. "Well, one minute I'm on security detail at Iacon. The next, I wake up on the other side of the galaxy to find myself under Optimus' command. I mean, what are the chances, right? Things happen for a reason." Smokescreen said.
"We get it, Smokescreen. You're special. We're lucky to have you." Arcee said sarcastically. "All I'm really saying is I've come a long way, and this is one opportunity I don't plan on messing up." Smokescreen said.
"Autobots, the next Iacon coordinates have been decoded. Ratchet, ready the Ground-Bridge." Optimus said. "Last one to the Omega Key has to scrub the Energon tanks for a week." Smokescreen challenged. "Didn't know we were keeping score." Arcee said.
"Arcee, Bumblebee, prepare to roll out." Optimus said. Bee buzzed. "Wait, what about me?" Smokescreen asked. "Huh." Bulkhead said. "I mean, me and the rest?" Smokescreen corrected. "The rest of you will remain here in the event I am able to decode a subsequent database entry before the others return." Optimus said.
"Optimus is right. Considering the very fate of Cybertron is at stake, response time is critical." Ratchet said. He activated the Ground-Bridge. "Keep your engines idling, kid. Come on, Bee. Destiny awaits." Arcee said. They both transformed and entered the portal. "We call it a pit stop. We'll get back in the race." Bulkhead said as he playfully pushed Smokescreen.
The portal opened onto a dock, and Bee and Arcee transformed. "Over there." Arcee said. The Omega Key sat on a pedestal. "Well, well. Just the Autobots I wanted to see." Knockout said as he emerged from behind the rock. "I'll handle the mad doctor. You grab the key." Arcee said and readied her cannons.
"I've been waiting to thank you both for all the memories." Knockout said maliciously and fired the Resonance Blaster. The wave blew Arcee away and pinned Bee into a wall. "Who knew that sound waves could be such a knock out?" Knockout asked.
He pinned Arcee into the wall as she tried to grab the Omega Key. "What's that, dear? I can't hear you!" Knockout taunted. "Bee, the relic!" Arcee strained. Knockout deactivated the relic and saw Bee stumble for the relic. "Scrap!" He cursed and saw Arcee stumble for the relic as well. "How low can it go?" Knockout asked.
He fired the Blaster into the ground. The resulting shock wave blew both Autobots away. "Subwoofer or depth charge?" Knockout asked. Later, Bee pushed a rock off his body as Arcee limped for the Omega Key but saw that it was gone. "Scrap." She groaned.
Megatron examined the Omega Key. "It appears identical to the ones taken from me by Optimus Prime. Perhaps it is a decoy the Autobots allowed you to seize as a means of sabotage." He said as he took the Omega Key from Knockout.
"Unlikely, my liege. They battled too desperately for it." Knockout said. "Then pieces of a larger puzzle, perhaps." Megatron said. Soundwave decoded another set of coordinates. "Excellent, Soundwave. With any luck, these new coordinates will shed some light on the subject." Megatron said.
"Soundwave's on fire, and so am I." Knockout said and prepared to leave the bridge. "Keep your vanity in check, doctor." Megatron warned. "Haven't I proven myself?" Knockout asked. "Your scientific expertise remains of greater use to me analyzing our latest acquisition. I must know what this relic is and what it can do." Megatron said.
Bee was inside the decontamination shower. "I'm sorry, Optimus. Knockout was there, waiting for us. Seems the 'Cons are improving their decoding skills." Arcee apologized. "And it seems that with two keys already separated, no one currently possesses the means to revive Cybertron." Ratchet said.
"While our quest to restore our planet may have reached a stalemate, securing the remaining keys is still the most prudent course of action." Optimus said. "Man, it must have been crazy with Knockout going all sonic, I wish I'd been there. I would have -" Smokescreen started. "Would have what? Recovered the key like you did the first 3?" Arcee asked.
"Maybe. Who knows? I just want us to be firing on all cylinders, you know, now that the Star Saber's gone. And I have a pretty good track record so far." Smokescreen said. Arcee groaned as she stood up and moved past Smokescreen. "Look, kid. Arcee and Bumblebee are no slouches, and Optimus managed fine for eons without the big sword. Of course, you wouldn't know about that. You've been locked in Stasis the whole time we've been fighting this war." Bulkhead said.
"Exactly, and I'm ready to make up for lost time." Smokescreen said. "When Optimus says you're ready. You got to be in this for the long haul. Slow and steady wins the race." Bulkhead said.
At the remains of the Harbinger, Starscream was processing the Red Energon crystal into its liquid form, which was taking forever. The canister was partly full, and only one drop fell at a time. "Hurry up, already!" The Seeker growled. Only another tiny drop fell. "How is it possible that speed-enhancing Energon takes longer to process than regular Energon?!" Starscream asked.
Another measly drop fell. The machine beeped, signaling that the processing was done. Starscream growled and removed the canister from the processor. "An entire chunk of Red Energon, and this is all I get?! There's enough here for one dose! Maybe two!" He yelled. The Harbinger's systems detected something. "Decepticon movement. While speed is hardly a suitable replacement for the might of the Apex Armor, it should provide me with enough of an edge to obtain a mote formidable relic." Starscream said and smirked.
The next set was done. "The next coordinates are ready." Optimus said. "There remains one set left to decode." Ratchet said and activated the Ground-Bridge. "On it, boss." Bulkhead said. "I'm gonna bring back that key." Smokescreen said. "Uh, Bulk? Forgetting something?" Arcee asked and held a tracker.
Bulkhead took the tracker, but Arcee pulled him down. "Make sure you keep an eye on destiny's child, okay?" She asked. "Compared to watching Miko, piece of cake." Bulkhead said. He and Smokescreen ran into the portal.
They emerged into a forest. "Stay close, stay focused." Bulkhead advised. "Gotcha." Smokescreen said. "I mean it." Bulkhead warned. "Me too." Smokescreen said. "Shh." Bulkhead said. They heard a weird noise. "What is that?" Smokescreen asked. They saw Dreadwing on a hill above them.
"One of the last sounds that you will ever hear." He said. "Dreadwing!" Bulkhead said. Dreadwing transformed and flew at them. "Scrap!" Bulkhead said as he and Smokescreen jumped aside, and Dreadwing flew away. They heard a beeping sound, and Bulkhead noticed a bomb. There were other beeps as other bombs in the trees activated.
"We gotta get out of here now!" Bulkhead pushed Smokescreen, and they ran from the exploding devices as trees were set on fire. Bulkhead and Smokescreen were blown onto a steep slope as Dreadwing watched the area become a giant plume of black smoke.
Bulkhead and Smokescreen landed on the bottom, and Dreadwing transformed. "Smoke, I'll handle Dreadwing. Go get the relic!" Bulkhead ordered. He tossed the tracker to Smokescreen. "You got it!" He said and ran off. Dreadwing was about to chase him until Bulkhead stopped him.
"You love doing your dirty work from a distance, don't you? Too bad you don't have the ball bearings to fight up close and personal!" He said. "In this particular case, I will be all too happy to make an exception." Dreadwing said. He leaped off the rock as Bulkhead readied his mace.
Dreadwing moved his mace aside and planted a bomb onto his back. Bulkhead swung his mace again but missed Dreadwing. Dreadwing punched Bulkhead, but the green Wrecker tackled the Decepticon into a tree. Dreadwing pushed him off and kicked him away.
Bulkhead hit Dreadwing in the helm with his mace, then blasted Dreadwing through a tree and into a rock. "An admirable effort, but you obviously forgot how our last encounter ended." Dreadwing said as he held a detonator and pressed the button. "No, I didn't." Bulkhead said.
Dreadwing realized his bomb was on his back. He pried it off and threw it into the air as it exploded, knocking Dreadwing away. Bulkhead watched Dreadwing pass out. "Smoke, I'm on my way." He said.
Smokescreen pushed rocks aside and found the canister. He lifted the lid off, which opened up, revealing the next Omega Key. "Destiny." He said. Something moving at hyperspeed knocked Smokescreen out.
"Smokescreen, wake up!" Bulkhead said as Smokescreen came too. "What happened?" He asked. "That's what I want to know." Bulkhead said. "The Omega Key!" Smokescreen realized and saw that it was nowhere to be seen. "I had it until something hit me from behind." He said.
"Dreadwing must have had backup. That relic's long gone. Ratchet, we need a Bridge." Bulkhead said. "I-I told Optimus I'd return with that key." Smokescreen said. A portal opened. "Listen, kid. Alpha Trion said we need all 6 Omega Keys to restore Cybertron, remember? We just need to hang onto the 3 we have and find a way to get the others back from Megatron." Bulkhead said.
Starscream was watching them. "The promise of a new Cybertron in the palm of my hand when I obtain all 6." He said. He then disappeared.
"Smokescreen was sucker-punched, could have happened to any of us." Bulkhead said. "But it didn't. Because I was the one who dropped his guard, I was the one who blew it. Some great warrior I'm turning out to be." Smokescreen said.
"You still don't get it, do you? A couple of victories aren't gonna make you a legend, and not every mission results in success. Not for me, not for Bee, not for Cyclonus, Jetfire, Chromia, not even for Optimus. We've gained relics, and we've lost some. We've also lost friends, we've even lost a world. But this is one time we get a do-over. We have a chance to bring back Cybertron, and everyone in this room needs to be in sync. This isn't about you or your destiny." Arcee said.
"Arcee, you've made your point." Optimus said. "Optimus, he needs to hear this. You might actually become a great warrior one day, and I sincerely hope that you do, but greatness begins and ends with putting the team first. Not your personal scorecard." Arcee said.
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you guys." Smokescreen defended. "Then stop trying to be a hero and start being an Autobot." Arcee said. Smokescreen looked at Optimus. "You know what? Maybe I'm just not good enough." He said and transformed and left.
Jetfire softly but firmly smacked Arcee in the back of her helm. "What was that for?" She asked. "Next time Optimus advises you to stop, perhaps you should listen." Ratchet said from behind. "I'll bring him back." Bulkhead volunteered, but Optimus put a servo on his chassis. "Smokescreen is young, Bulkhead, and has much to learn. But right now, he needs to clear his thoughts, and I need to finish decoding the final Iacon entry." He said.
"You never even spied the relic?" Megatron asked Dreadwing as Soundwave worked on the last coordinates. "By the time I reached the location, it was gone, as were the Autobots." Dreadwing said. "It would serve us well to not only decode the final Iacon entry before Optimus Prime does, but to recapture those relics currently held by the Autobots. Soundwave, despite your primary task, I trust that you have been making progress pinpointing the location of their base." Megatron said.
Soundwave started scanning the desert of Nebraska. "Good. Given the recent accumulation of evidence, we possess a clear idea of where their human colleagues reside. Laserbeak should soon determine whether the Autobots dwell in proximity." Megatron said as Laserbeak was searching for the enemies.
"Ah, the final entry has been decoded." Optimus said as the last coordinates were displayed on the screen. "Has it?" Ratchet asked. The monitor showed a cluster of pixels. "Hmm. Perhaps it's a layer of secondary encryption." Optimus said.
"The coordinates are forming an image. Why would the final Iacon entry be different from the others?" Megatron asked.
The Autobots surrounded Optimus. "Maybe it's a picture of the relic." Bulkhead guessed. "Of what possible use could that be to us without knowing its location?" Ratchet asked. "I trust that Alpha Trion had his reasons." Optimus said. The pixels formed into the image of Smokescreen. "Smokescreen?" Bulkhead asked.
"Prime's latest recruit is the final relic of Iacon?" Megatron asked. "Is this that hotshot's idea of a joke?" Chromia asked. Bee buzzed. "Maybe Smokescreen knows where it is." Jetfire said. "And never bother to mention it?" Arcee asked. "A more likely possibility is that Smokescreen himself somehow is the key without knowing it." Ratchet said.
"Whatever the case, he could be in grave danger. Smokescreen, return to base immediately." Optimus ordered. Nothing. "He may have deactivated his comm link." Ratchet said. "Locate his position and prepare the Ground-Bridge." Optimus said.
Laserbeak saw Smokescreen on the road, and Soundwave showed him to Megatron. "It seems pur side project is already paying off." He said.
Laserbeak fired at Smokescreen, making him transform. "You picked the wrong day to mess with me, 'Con." He said. He prepared to shoot Laserbeak until a wave of sound waves blew him away and knocked him out. The attacker was Soundwave himself. A Ground-Bridge opened, and the Autobots came through as Soundwave opened his own portal while dragging Smokescreen along.
"Smokescreen!" Optimus said. But the portal closed before they could enter.