Optimus slowly stood up from the snow when Predaking appeared, roared, and transformed. "It took a cataclysm to extinguish Cybertron's original Prime inhabitants. You never stood a chance against me, Prime. In fact, the time has come for your extinction." Predaking sneered and transformed his servo into a cannon and aimed it at Optimus.
Optimus shoved the cannon aside and started punching him.
The Autobots were still battling the Vehicons. "Permission to hasten our progress, chief?" Wheeljack asked and held a grenade. "Granted." Ultra Magnus said. Wheeljack threw the grenade at the Vehicons and blew them up.
Shockwave watched the entrance, and a Vehicon was thrown into the room. The other Vehicons looked at the husk in confusion, and then the Autobots came through and started shooting them. Shockwave aimed his cannon and fired at Magnus, but the commander tackled the mad scientist across the room and started punching him before Shockwave caught his claw.
"This is no place for a one-handed Autobot." Shockwave said. Ultra Magnus punched him with his good servo. "I'll take one bum hand over one good eye any day." He said.
Optimus kept punching Predaking, then headbutted him across the snow. "Stand down, Predacon!" He ordered. "I am Predaking. And I will never bow to your kind." Predaking growled and ran at Optimus again. Predaking kicked him while also transforming into his Predacon mode and got ready to torch the Prime.
"Predaking, I have been informed that our objective is at risk. Secure it, now." Megatron said. Predaking looked back at Optimus, but he was gone. Predaking roared and released a stream of fire into the air.
Ultra Magnus beat Shockwave down as the Autobots finished off the Vehicons. Commander, objective secured." Chromia said. "Now might be a fine time for surrender." Ultra Magnus said. "Q logical assumption, were it not for," Shockwave started, and Predaking came through the rood and pushed Magnus away.
Predaking grabbed Shockwave and the power core, then took off.
Optimus came out of hiding and stumbled as he regained his footing. He saw Predaking enter a portal with Shockwave and their prize. Optimus grabbed his minigun and put it away as the Autobots came out of the facility. "Ratchet, we require immediate transport back to base." Arcee said.
Agent Fowler woke up. "Stewardess, there's a man on the wing of this plane!" Agent Fowler groaned. "Ratchet, do you read?" Arcee asked. "Arcee?" Jetfire asked as he stumbled onto the bridge as the other Autobots woke up. "Jetfire? Is everything alright? Where's Ratchet?" Arcee asked. Ratchet was nowhere in sight.
"He's, he's gone." Jetfire said.
Ratchet was restrained to a medical slab on the Nemesis. Megatron came in, and Ratchet awoke. "What do you want from me?" Ratchet asked. "Your assistance, actually. To help complete a little science project." Megatron said.
"I will never cooperate." Ratchet said. "Shockwave does not require your cooperation to siphon your knowledge, doctor." Megatron said as Shockwave appeared with a sparkling cord.
"Peeled some paint off Laserbeak. But if I were a better shot, Ratchet would still be here." Smokescreen said. "Chin up, soldier. We've combed the entire floor. For the moment, that remains our only clue." Ultra Magnus said. "Nothing in the Ground-Bridge log. If they bridged Ratchet out of here, they used theirs, not our." Cyclonus said.
"Why take Ratchet prisoner, but leave these three behind?" Arcee asked. "If Megatron intends to hold our medic hostage, I find it curious that he's made no demands." Ultra Magnus said. "It would stand to reason that Ratchet possesses something the Decepticons want." Optimus deduced.
"Well, whatever the 'Cons are after, Ratch won't give it up. Right?" Bulkhead asked.
"Lord Megatron, I understand that you've brought an accursed Autobot aboard this warship." Predaking said as he approached the warlord. "Indeed." Megatron said. "Then I will accomplish with him what I failed to with the Prime." Predaking said, and his servo transformed into a cannon.
"Predaking, this Autobot is more than a prisoner. You do wish for Cybertron's restoration, do you not?" Megatron asked. Predaking lowered his cannon. "Our captive's usefulness will come to an end. And when that time arrives, I assure you, he will be all yours." Megatron said.
"Listen, I need 24/7 satellite monitoring. Eyes on the skies and ears to the ground. Agent Fowler said. "Maybe Buckethead's after the techno-babble." Wheeljack said. "The Synth'N formula?" Chromia asked. "Why would the 'Cons need the artificial stuff if they already control most of this planet's Energon reserves?" Smokescreen asked.
"Greed. What else?" Bulkhead asked. "If Megatron is truly rebuilding the Omega Lock as Ratchet surmised, Synthetic Energon might be a necessary component." Optimus said.
"I hate to be the one to bring lightning to a thunderstorm, but there's one thing we're all ignoring. If the 'Cons found Ratchet here, they know the location of this base." Agent Fowler said. Every Autobot stood in fear.
"And what did the Cortical Psychic Patch unyield?" Megatron asked. "Only confirmation that the Synthetic Energon formula is unstable and that the Autobot medic's work on it remains incomplete." Shockwave said as he removed the cord from the back of the slab. "Then it seems we must help Ratchet finish his work." Megatron said.
Later, Ratchet was held inside the cell unit and heard the door open. "Are you through poking around inside my head? You didn't find what you wanted, did you? Or else you wouldn't be here." He said. "What I want apparently does not yet exist." Megatron said. "And that would be?" Ratchet asked.
"We would very much like for you to complete your work on the formula for Synthetic Energon." Megatron said. "Even if I were capable, do you think that I would hand you a limitless supply of fuel and ammunition just so you can turn around and use it on the Autobots?" Ratchet asked.
"Oh, you misunderstand, dearest Ratchet. I intend to use your formula for the purpose of creation. Not destruction." Megatron said. Ratchet faced him again. "We have fortuitously discovered that your Synth'N, when combined with Cybernucleic acid, may, in fact, form the basis for an alternative Cyber-Matter." Megatron said.
"You are attempting to rebuild the Omega Lock." Ratchet said. "We stand on the verge of a great moment in time, you and I. The restoration of our very homeworld." Megatron said. "Collaborate with the barbarian who essentially destroyed our planet in the first place? Who sadistically crushed Bumblebee's voice-box while looking him in the eye? Who nearly killed Raf and Anna? Who turned Elsa into a herald of Unicron so that he may take her powers for his own agenda? No, thank you." Ratchet said.
"Then I present you with a choice: Complete your research, or." Megatron started as Soundwave appeared and displayed an image of Jack, Miko, Raf, Elsa, and Anna on his visor. Starscream snickered. "Humans. This universe or another, they're always the weak link." He said.
"Are these humans supposed to mean something to me?" Ratchet asked. "If not, I am certain this will." Megatron said. Soundwave displayed an image of the Harbinger hovering above the human base. "As you must certainly be aware, we know Elsa used her magic to rebuild the Harbinger as I felt it happen, and you dumped the Dark Energon from the core to prevent the Harbinger from coming to life and it is now docked at the human base. Accept my offer, and I will allow your fellow Autobots and human pets to remain unharmed. Think it ober, good doctor." Megatron said.
He and the Decepticons left the holding cell. "My liege, you aren't really going to allow the Autobots to remain operational?" Starscream asked. "Of course not. Assemble your armada, Starscream, and decimate their base once again, and bring the Harbinger down once and for all." Megatron instructed.
"All aerial search patterns are coming up empty." Agent Fowler said. "No commlink chatter either." Chromia said. "And no ground activity." Jetfire said. "It's a little too quiet out there." Wheeljack said. "Since the Decepticons no longer seek Predacon bones, or Earth technology, there is no activity to track." Optimus said.
"So until Megatron makes a move, we're in a holding pattern." Bulkhead said. "Ratchet didn't think this new hand he built for me was good enough. But I'll tell you what truly isn't good enough: Giving up. We have no choice but to play this old school. Split into teams for maximum coverage." Ultra Magnus said.
The Harbinger's alarms started blaring. "We have incoming. A whole fleet's worth." Agent Fowler said. Starscream and his Seeker armada were closing in. Soldiers rushed to their jets and hung in the air as the attackers came closer. "Concentrate your fire on the Harbinger." Starscream said. The soldiers started shooting.
"Air cover is holding. For the moment." Agent Fowler said. Starscream and multiple Vehicons broke away from the armada and dodged fire. They all fired their rockets at the Harbinger's thrusters, and the ship came crashing down. "Lord Megatron, I am pleased to report that the now-Autobot warship has been reduced to ashes." Starscream said.
What he didn't know was that the Harbinger was still in the air, in one piece, and completely invisible. The other Harbinger was merely a hologram with a few large boulders inside held by thrusters next to the hologram's own thrusters to make it believable.
"The hologram sure is a mess." Smokescreen said. "Thank goodness for the Harbinger having environmental camouflage." Jetfire said. "We are fortunate the Decepticons can be fooled by a simple hologram." Ultra Magnus said. "How long do we have to keep this hologram up?" Chromia asked. "Until we are sure the attackers are out of sight." Optimus said.
"I'm sure you would more fully appreciate a tour of our facilities if you were comfortable." Megatron said as Ratchet was guided onto the bridge. A Vehicon deactivated Ratchet's Energon cuffs. "How do you know I won't use these to amputate?" Ratchet asked and turned his servos into swords. "And pass up a chance to see our molecular masking field?" Megatron asked. "Your cloaking device." Ratchet observed.
He observed the machine. "Shielding is shielding. High tech or low. Besides, I figured out how to utilize the Harbinger's electromagnetic shielding." Ratchet said. "Perhaps you'll be more impressed by our Energon transfusion capacitor." Megatron said. He displayed an image of the transfusor. "It allows us to maximize our consumption a thousand-fold." Megatron said.
"Decepticon engineering never fails to impress." Ratchet said. "Doctor, we may be mortal enemies, but Autobots and Decepticons do share one common goal. You would like to see the ruins of our devastated homeworld restored to their former brilliance, as would I." Megatron said.
He showed an image of a revived Cybertron. "Megatron, you would just try to conquer Cybertron all over again and enslave anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to you." Ratchet said. "Of course I would! And your comrades would attempt to stop me, as ever. But at least we would once again possess a planet worth fighting over." Megatron said.
"Perhaps. But you wouldn't stop there, would you? Earth would be next, if not first. What assurance do I have that you would leave humankind be? And that you wouldn't instantly terminate me once you get what wgat you need?" Ratchet asked. "None, whatsoever. After all, we both know that as a Decepticon, any assurances I might offer would be worthless. But that does not change the fact that you may be Cybertron's only hope of vee seeing life again." Megatron said.
Ratchet stared at him as he left.
"So the kid clipped the business end of Laserbeak's transponder." Wheeljack said. "You're not such a bad shot after all." Arcee said. "We thought you might be the best one to provide an analysis in Ratchet's absence." Agent Fowler said as Raf worked on the wing piece of Laserbeak. It was hooked up to his computer.
"It's trying to communicate with the warship." Raf said. "How do you know?" Anna asked. "It's telling us." Raf said. "Uh, Raf, that's Cybertronian code." Jack said. "Wait. First, Raf understands Bumblebee, now he reads Cybertronian? Are we sure he's not some kind of alien?" Miko asked. "I've been learning for a while. In between stuff. When Ratchet... had time to teach me. " Raf said.
"Rafy. We'll get him back." Elsa assured as Jack put a hand on Raf's shoulder. "If it's the last thing we do." Miko added. "If it's talking to its mama, can we triangulate the signal?" Agent Fowler asked. "To a shielded warship?" Ultra Magnus asked. "If the transponder were still attached to Laserbeak, we could follow it." Arcee said.
"Maybe we should give it wings." Wheeljack said. "We can use spare parts from around the warship." Raf suggested. "Then let's do it. For the doc." Wheeljack said.
"While your forces have put a dent in our resources, Shockwave has been invaluable in updating our laboratory. Should you choose to accept the task, you shall have unrestricted access to our equipment." Megatron said as they entered Shockwave's lab.
"Is that a quantum cryo inducer?" Ratchet asked and approached the device on the table. "Only two were ever made." He marveled and held the contraption. "3, actually. You are holding the original prototype." Megatron said.
Wheeljack brought the pieces. "The frequency modulator keeps shorting out." Raf said. "Easy, champ. Let me try uncrossing some wires." Wheeljack said. "Now there's someone you don't see every day." Smokescreen said. "Jackie wasn't always a loner, you know. Being a Wrecker was all about the team." Bulkhead said.
"Yip, yip, yip. Miko, I needed that!" Raf snapped at Miko when she dropped a pipe on a part. "I was just trying to tighten up that thingamajig." Miko said. "Please." Raf said. "We have a mini Ratchet now." Chromia said. "Is everything okay, Agent Fowler?" Elsa asked.
"Just preoccupied. Thinking about the close calls we humans have had with the 'Cons lately. Smacked down by Soundwave, stuck in Knockout's trunk with your mom," Agent Fowler said. "Moving on." Jack said next to Elsa.
"The uncomfortable reality is, the 'Bots might not always be here. And even if they are, they can't be everywhere at once as we've learned. This armor is the only thing that stood between Miko and that Predacon. The reason she came back without a scratch. Cybertech like that could be just what we need to give our agents on the front lines a fighting chance. Agents like, maybe you two someday." Agent Fowler said.
"What?" Elsa asked. "Jack will be of age soon. And your magic is amazing. And you're both prime material, kids. Your mom thought you both might be good fits, seeing as you have been wishy-washy about future plans." Agent Fowler said. "Wait. You've been talking to our mom about us?" Jack asked.
They heard rumbling, and a giant object flew at them. "Custer's mustache!" Agent Fowler exclaimed as he shoved Jack and Elsa down to avoid being hit. The device flew around the bridge before landing next to Raf. "Sorry, Agent Fowler." He apologized.
"I think I need to change my star-spangled shorts." Agent Fowler said. "I'm still fine-tuning chip's remote." Raf said. "Chip?" Cyclonus asked. "So we're gonna let this doohickey fly back to 'Con central." Smokescreen said. "And lead us right to Ratchy." Elsa finished.
"Even if you managed to reconstruct the Omega Lock, it is a mystic force. I've come to my senses. The notion of scientifically replicating its capability is pure folly. Madness, even." Ratchet said. "But how will we ever know for certain, doctor, if we do not try?" Megatron asked as they entered a chamber.
He pressed a button, and the floor in front of them opened up. "And how can we not try when the means finally lie within our reach?" Megatron asked.
Ratchet looked down, and his optics widened in shock and awe. For he saw the Omega Lock itself, mounted onto the Nemesis. The Vehicons were nearly finished with rebuilding it. "By the Allspark. You've actually done it." Ratchet gasped.
"Decepticon engineering. It will not take long for this Omega Lock's drives to be fully operational. All that is still needed to restore our home is the Cyber-Matter to launch through it." Megatron said. "Which requires a stabilized formula for the production of Synthetic Energon." Ratchet said.
"I have every confidence in you, doctor." Megatron said. "I'll do it. But then you already knew that, didn't you?" Ratchet asked.
Megatron grinned evilly.