"Vitals are improving. You will be back on your struts in good time." Ratchet said as he examined Ultra Magnus. "Exactly how long is good time? Because with Optimus missing in action, we could really use Ultra Magnus' council." Bee said.
"Bumblebee, we have each been witness to those among us who have risen above their station time and again. Wreckers, scouts, even field medics. The Chaos Bringer is at our doorstep, and now, more than ever before, we cannot afford to wait for salvation." Ratchet said.
"We'll launch an attack on Darkmount. Provided Unicron's still there." Bee said. The nearby terminal started beeping. "Or first attempt to locate him, in the event he is not." Ratchet said.
Predaking examined the area and saw something flying towards him. "The beacon. It worked!" He said happily. He didn't know that the object was Unicron.
"Predaking? Alive?" Megatron asked. "You know this primitive lifeform?" Unicron asked. "Yes. A warrior once under my command, though I thought he had perished in battle." Megatron smiled deviously.
"How fortunate that I was wrong. For Predaking is a loyal and powerful combatant who could very well be the greater instrument of destruction which you seek." He said.
Unicron transformed and landed in front of Predaking. "Megatron?" He asked angrily. "Warrior! I call upon you to serve your master!" Unicron said. "In the name of the mighty legions of Predacons who preceded me, I shall never again yield to your charge. But I will heed your previous advice and face my true enemy as a beast!" Predaking transformed and breathed fire at Unicron who bellowed in pain.
"You dare to deceive me and have both of us destroyed?!" The Chaos Bringer thundered at the warlord. "Perhaps not destroyed. Just damaged enough that our shared form will no longer be of use to you and force you to abandon what remains. For regaining my free will, even over a mangled and deficient frame, is preferable to enduring a waking life as your slave!" Megatron yelled.
"For your insolence, I will only make you endure greater suffering!" Unicron growled, and twin beams of energy erupted from his eyes and struck Megatron in his chassis, making him scream in pain.
Predaking roared and grabbed Unicron, then blew him away. Unicron created a cannon and shot Predaking. He roared and ran at him again. Unicron blasted Predaking into a building wall and then created a mace of Dark Energon.
Predaking recovered and ran at Unicron again, only to be beaten back until the last blow knocked him out. "Now, let us learn more of these mighty legions of which you spoke by peering directly into your mind." Unicron said. He planted a servo onto Predaking's helm and saw the entire Predacon army, then the refuge.
Unicron removed his servo and sighed happily. "I know now what I require to tear this world asunder and where I might find them." The Chaos Bringer said.
Shockwave was driving down the road. "Shockwave, how was your journey?" Starscream asked, and Shockwave transformed. "Long. Explain why you have summoned me to the middle of nowhere." He said.
"Because I have located our army." Starscream said. They were at Predaking's refuge. "The clones sniffed out quite the mother load, wouldn't you say?" Starscream asked.
"I recommend that we utilize the warship's operating system to search for Megatron's life-signal." Ratchet said. "Doc, that remodel who kicked our tailpipes, he might have looked and sounded like old Buckethead, but it wasn't him." Bulkhead said as they entered the bridge and marched past Soundwave's frozen corpse.
"That much I know, but even if a fraction of Megatron's Spark still flickers within his body, the ship's scanners may pick it up." Ratchet said.
Shockwave was busy blasting bones while Firestar and Starscream carried a few as Darksteel was struggling to lift a bone. He yanked it free and accidentally hit Skylynx in the back of his helm. He turned around, and Darksteel laughed.
"So you find me amusing?" Skylynx asked. He yanked the bone from Darksteel and hit his face-plate with it.
"Ow! That hurt!" Darksteel said. They started wrestling over the bone. "That bone could be your comrade someday. Now stop fooling around and return to the task at hand!" Starscream ordered.
"I do find it curious that I am not the only one currently seeking the remains of mighty legions." A familiar voice said. The Unicron possessed Megatron stood near the valley.
"It cannot be!" Starscream gasped. "It defies logic." Shockwave said. "Lord Megatron. But, but how? You, er - oh, what does it matter?! Our master is back and looking far more imposing than ever. My liege, rest assured we have been working tirelessly in your absence to build an army powerful enough to conquer Cybertron." Starscream said.
"I do not wish to conquer this world! I wish to eradicate it!" Unicron harshly corrected. "Uh, apologies, Lord Megatron. I can't say that I'm following." Starscream said.
"Silence, fool!" Unicron ordered and punched Starscream towards the 3 Predacons. "Your master is under my control. I am the destroyer of worlds, the bringer of chaos, and the lord of the undead!" Unicron stated as his servos glowed.
"Unicron." Shockwave realized. "I say we show the 'lord of the undead' what it's like to be unliving." Skylynx suggested. "I don't like you two at all, but who's up for a new chew toy?" Firestar asked. "Rip him to shreds!" Darksteel said.
They all transformed into their Predacon modes, and Firestar tackled Unicron into the ground. She tried to bite him, but Unicron picked her up as he stood up and threw her away. Darksteel tried to bite him, but Unicron shoved him aside. Skylynx released a fireball and engulfed Unicron as he, Darksteel, and Firestar circled their prey.
Unicron emerged from the fire unharmed and blasted Darksteel into Firestar. Skylynx dodged the first two blasts, but the third and fourth took him down. Unicron kicked him aside as he walked past Shockwave and Starscream. Starscream cowered as usual.
When Unicron was at the edge of the valley, he raised his glowing servos and stabbed into the ground, releasing a wave of Dark Energon.
The Nemesis found the warlord. "Megatron's life-signal." Ratchet said. "So somewhere inside that new body armor, he's still alive?" Chromia asked. "He's perished and returned before. A phenomenon no doubt aided by the Blood of Unicron, which has coursed through his veins and continues to flow through Elsa." Ratchet said. "The coordinates indicate he's left Darkmount." Bee said.
"Triangulatung his exact position." Ratchet said. "We were there earlier today." Bee said when Ratchet found his location. "Predaking's refuge?" Arcee asked. "Unicron is retracing our steps?" Cyclonus asked. "Whoa, wait, what in Alpha Trion's beard is that?" Smokescreen asked when a purple blip appeared on the screen.
"My legion, arise and purge this world with your dragon fire!" Unicron yelled as lightning erupted from his servos. The Predacons recovered and watched purple cracks spread across the ground and split apart. A purple mist surrounded the undead Predacons as they burst forth from the ground. Their empty optics glowed violet.
"Terrorcons created from Predacons?" Starscream asked. "It defies all science." Shockwave said. "We're doomed!" Starscream cried, then transformed and took off.
Shockwave watched the Terrorcons approach him. He transformed and started shooting the undead monsters until one tipped him over and they all attacked him.
"Given that we are dealing with Unicron himself, the energy mass can be only one thing. Dark Energon. But for what purpose?" Ratchet asked. "We all saw it. The valley was filled with ancient Predacon bones." Bee said.
"Unicron's raising an undead army." Chromia said. "One currently traveling across the Hydrax Plateau towards," Ratchet gasped when he saw where the army was going. "The Well of All Sparks. The most direct route to Cybertron's core and Primus." He finished.
The valley near the Well glowed with purple mist as the undead Terrorcons marched across the plains, roaring and hungry. Unicron even rode one to witness the event.
"The past shall consume the future, the dead shall consume the living, and chaos shall reign supreme!" The Chaos Bringer yelled.
To be continued...