"Lord Megatron." The Decepticon scientist, Shockwave, greeted as he bowed to his leader.
"Shockwave. This is quite an unexpected turn." Megatron admitted, rubbing his chin curiously. "I thought you perished on Cybertron." He said, pointedly while glancing at Starscream.
"Yes, yes, yes. As did we all." Starscream admitted, feeling like he was in big trouble right now.
"Reports of my demise were greatly…premature." Shockwave said, recalling the day when Arcee and Cliffjumper hijacked his Space Bridge so they could get to Cybertron.
In his memories, Shockwave was seen attempting to fix the Space Bridge controls before Cliffjumper started shooting him.
"A pair of Autobots infiltrated my facility on Cybertron, sabotaging my Space Bridge." Shockwave explained.
The one-eyed scientist tried to attack Cliffjumper, but the red Autobot was able to swipe him off his feet before he and Arcee were later seen running through the Space Bridge. A laser blast suddenly blasted the floor in front of them and they turned around to see Shockwave pursuing them.
"I gave chase, but failed to accurately calculate the outcome." Shockwave said.
Arcee was seen avoiding a laser from his flashback self and then shooting him straight in the eye.
"That's where our story comes in from that point." Shatter added, getting her, Dropkick, Lugnut, and Blitzwing involved in this retelling. "While all of you were headed for this Earth planet, which was miles away even with our standards. And let us just say, it was an interesting trip."
In the vast open space, a Decepticon shuttle was flying through a space sector while Dropkick crossed his arms with Lugnut beside him. "Grr, it's been stellar cycles since we even have action, my axles are itching to get back in action!"
"Dropkick! Megatron is bold, Megatron is wise, he will return and we must be ready to-" Lugnut tried to say before Shatter came in.
"To wipe out the last of the Autobot resistance in the galaxy, blah-blah-blah." Shatter said as she stepped forward with an annoyed expression. "Out of curiosity, Lugnut, did you memorize that speech or is it hard wired in that one track processor you call a head?" She questioned rudely before an ice beam froze her arm.
"As usual, Shatter, your demeanor is hard and shallow than your integration skills of yours." Blitzwing said as he retracted his turrets.
"Blow it out of your exhaust port, three-con." Shatter growled as she broke her arm free from the ice as Blitzwing's face turned to a red angry one.
"The name is Blitzwing, femme! Remember it!" Blitzwing yelled angrily. "Because it's the last thing you're gonna hear before I-" He was cut off when he changed his face to the crazy one. "Express my feelings in song! You shattered my heart, you shattered the glass!~" She sang as the four Decepticons then started arguing with each other while also complaining.
"So that went on for a while," Dropkick said as the four cons arguing continuing, "And would have kept on going if we hadn't gotten an emergency signal."
Just then, a beeping sound was heard from a console, which got their attention as the four Decepticons walked up to it as Shatter inspected it. "That's a Decepticon signal, back on Cybertron." Shatter noted.
"And it appears to be emitting from, Shockwave's Laboratory." Blitzwing realized.
"Shockwave? Sending out an emergency signal?" Dropkick asked in disbelief. "This has to be a trick."
"No. Shockwave is the most loyal and valuable member to Megatron." Lugnut said to them. "If he requires assistance, then we must return to Cybertron at once!"
"Do we even have enough Energon to make the trip?" Blitzwing questioned as Shatter check the fuels.
"We have just enough to reach Cybertron, but after that, we'll be stranded out there." Shatter said to them.
"But if Shockwave needs help, perhaps in return he will repair our ship." Dropkick said.
"Then let us aid Shockwave at once!" Lugnut declared as they set their ship on course ot Cybertron.
"It took us quite some time and wasted the Energon, but we managed to reach Cybertron to aid Shockwave." Blitzwing said while continuing the story. "But when we got there, we were too late."
After reaching Cybertron, the four Decepticons are walking down the tunnel before they make it to what used to be Shockwave's Space Bridge as there was debris and wires around. "Eheheh, Shockwave should really hire a cleaning crew!" Blitzwing said while in his crazy face.
"Looks like Shockwave had a bad day." Dropkick said while they walked around the wreckage.
"His signal originated from here. Start searching for anything." Shatter ordered as the four Decepticons started rummaging through the wreckage.
"Eventually we found our comrade Shockwave, damaged but still functional." Lugnut declared.
Soon as Lugnut moved a a piece of chuck and looked down as he saw something that made gasped. "I have found him!" Lugnut called as the other three Decepticons rushed to him and they saw the damaged and blinded Shockwave on the ground as Shockwave slowly turned his head towards them.
"Shockwave." Shatter said as she kneeled down to him.
"You look… terrible." Blitzwing commented.
"Come on, let's get him out of here." Dropkick said as they slowly picked Shockwave up.
"Shatter, Lugnut, Blitzwing, and Dropkick discovered me in the rubble, blinded." Shockwave said. "It soon became clear that the five of us were marooned on our dead planet, with no means of communication and no solution to refuel their ship."
Some time later, Shockwave was seen working on some experiments in his lab while Shatter worked at a nearby terminal and Dropkick, Lugnut, and Blitzwing brought in a crate of supplies.
"In time, we repaired my wounds and resumed my experiments. The solitude enabled me to make tremendous advances in my research." Shockwave explained. "Shatter, Lugnut, Blitzwing, and Dropkick were invaluable in their assistance over the many cycles."
"It wasn't as fun as eliminating Autobots, but it was still better than nothing," Dropkick admitted.
"And we still wish to pound those Autobots into sheet metal for stranding us there!" Blitzwing yelled in his angry face.
As the five Decepticons kept working, they then heard a signaling noise and looked at one of the terminals to see an energy signal being detected on Cybertron itself.
"Until one day, my instruments detected a massive surge of unidentifiable energy." Shockwave continued.
Shockwave, Shatter, Lugnut, Blitzwing and Dropkick were later seen driving through the Sea of Rust in their Cybertronian vehicle forms towards what was left of the Omega Lock.
"We all traveled towards the source of the energy signal, at the edge of the Sea of Rust," Shatter said. "That's when we encountered your salvage and the destroyed Omega Lock as Knock Out explained earlier."
"But, this was not the search party we had anticipated so long ago." Shockwave added.
At the wreck, Knock Out, Lockdown, and Clobber were very shocked to see Shockwave, Shatter, Lugnut, Blitzwing, and Dropkick show up as the three of them transformed into their robot forms.
We then return to the present as Shockwave, Shatter and Dropkick finished explaining their story.
"So, that's what happened," Blitzwing said with a shrug.
"We're all back in the Decepticons' ranks and helping you guys fight against the Autobots and their little pets." Dropkick remarked.
"But that leaves one unanswered question." Shockwave said before they all turned their attention to Starscream, slowly walking up to him in a mad way. "Why was I left for scrap? Abandoned? Why?" He questioned, marching right in front of Starscream.
Starscream felt a great wave of fear wash over him as Shockwave kept on staring at him with no one intervening as his reflection was cast into Shockwave's red Optic.
"The-The…The explosion! It…It collapsed the power core chamber!" Starscream explained fearfully, "The last thing anyone witnessed was you charging into the Space Bridge portal. No one saw you come back out!" He stated as he leaned back, hoping Shockwave bought it.
"I find your reply to be…logical." Shockwave said, causing the air commander to sigh in relief.
Shockwave then turned away and began to walk alongside Megatron, Shatter, Blitzwing, Lugnut and Dropkick.
"But you will be pleased to know that I've avenged your seeming demise by personally terminating the Autobot Cliffjumper." Starscream told the one-eyed scientist, hopping to get on his good side.
"You extinguished an Autobot?" Shatter asked skeptically.
"Eh, we saw the vid feed. He actually killed Cliffjumper." Deadend said with a shrug.
"Careful, though Starscream. You may dislocate a landing gear patting yourself on the back." Knock Out teased.
"Don't worry. We're gonna make sure to do what you couldn't." Dropkick said smugly, but the air commander decided to just ignore him.
"As Megatron's First Lieutenant, allow me to welcome all three of you back to the winning team." Starscream said sincerely.
"And allow me to clarify the new chain of command." Megatron announced, gaining the attention of his Decepticon followers. "While Starscream will retain authority over military operations, Shockwave will be my First Lieutenant in charge of all scientific endeavors."
"Uh, so you are saying we shall each report directly to you?" Starscream asked timidly.
"Affirmative," Megatron answered before he walked out the room with the other Cons following, except for Starscream as he slapped his side in anger.
"Completely logical, my liege." Starscream scowled to himself.
Somewhere in farmland, Prowl, Acree, and Jack are driving down the road while trying to make their way to Metroplex or find any other Autobots. "Hey, hungry? There's a town up ahead." Acree said to Jack.
"I better not. I'm running low on cash." Jack said to her.
"At least you don't have to buy gasoline." Acree commented.
"We have been driving for a while," Prowl noted, "Let's stop and rest for a while."
"Agreed. Need to stretch my legs." Acree said as the two stopped by an empty barn as Jack got off Arcee as she and Prowl transformed and stretched. "Oh, yeah." She said in relief as she and Prowl have been in vehicle mode for some time that it was getting uncomfortable.
"Why is it that when I stay transformed for long periods of time, I always get this crick in my neck stabilizer?" Prowl questioned while twirling his arm while rubbing his neck.
"No idea. But it feels good to stretch." Acree said as she turned her back a bit.
"Acree, Prowl." Jack spoke up as the two Autobots turned to him as he watched the sun on the horizon. "The Autobots are scattered to the winds. For all we know, you two and I could be the only ones left." He said hopelessly.
"We don't believe that, Jack," Arcee said in comfort, placing a servo on him, "And I know you don't either."
"The others are still alive, I'm sure of it." Prowl said to them.
"Maybe so." Jack said as he turned to them. "But the Decepticons outnumber us a hundred to one." He stated. "Aren't there any more Autobots out there who can help?"
Prowl and Acree gave solemn looks. "Not sure, kid. The War for Cybertron took a heavy toll on the Autobots. And that was before the exodus." Prowl said with his head down.
"But there were others who escaped in the Ark." Acree said to Jack.
"So, where are they?" Jack asked as Acree scoop up some dirt as it blew away from the wind.
"Scattered to the winds." Acree said solemnly as they watched the dust fly.
"Or returned to Allspark," Prowl said solemnly as they continued to watch the sunset.
"So let's focus on getting back to Jasper and Metroplex on getting the Autobots back together." Acree said to them as they nodded with determination.
Meanwhile, Bumblebee, Jazz and Ratchet continued to roll down the road while Windblade flew above and behind them. "Raf, did you find anything?" Bumblebee asked while Raf was on his computer.
"Nadha, Bee." Raf answered as he searched through the conspiracy website. "Just the same old rubber masks and bad CG."
"Keep searching, kid." Jazz said to them. "That conspiracy website thing is the only thing we have that the Decepticons can't track. So it could give us a clue on finding out where the others are."
"That is if it could give us a clue." Windblade said to them. "Because usually, Bumblebee is the one who keeps getting spotted on camera." She teased.
"For some repetitive reason," Ratchet complained.
"Heheh, that is kinda true." Bumblebee said with a sheepish tone.
"Well, I'll keep trying until-" Raf trailed off before he stopped at a certain picture. "Whoa! I found something!"
"You did?!/You Did?!" The Autobots all said in surprise.
The picture was a bit dark and pixelated, but it showed a picture of a junkyard for broken down vehicles, but he saw a familiar femme walking by. "It's Elita." Raf said with a smile.
"Hold on, Ratch. You told us Elita and Optimus were the last ones to escape, right?" Jazz asked.
"Yes. They bridged me away before I could for them." Ratchet said to them. "They told me they'll take the next bridge."
"So if Elita is there…" Windblade started hopefully.
"Optimus will be there too!" Bumblebee cheered.
At Darkmount, Shockwave, Shatter, Lugnut, Blitzwing, and Dropkick were being debriefed with Megatron and the other Cons on recent events while Starscream was at the main deck's terminal and glaring at Shockwave in jealousy.
"Arg, Shockwave's toting is so transparent. Megatron's respect is earned by deeds, not words." Starscream said to himself as he started checking the conspiracy website himself. "Useless, useless, useless. Billions of cameras in the hands of those miserable humans. One of them is bound to catch an Autobot eventually."
As he kept on searching, Starscream then found the same picture of Elita in the junkyard that Raf had found earlier.
"Well well well, what have we here?" Starscream asked with a smirk before turning to his master and the others. "Lord Megatron, I have found something of great interest."
"There is no time to waste. Rafael, where is she located?" Ratchet asked as they continued driving.
"The photo was taken yesterday, in a junkyard outside of Woodland Park." Raf explained while getting the location.
"That's not too far from here." Jazz said.
"Think you can make sure we don't get any surprise guests, little genius?" Windblade asked the boy.
"I'm gonna scrub Elita, and replace her with…" Raf said with a smirk as he did just that.
"The Location of Elita One," Starscream said, showing the picture of…the tap-dancing monkey.
The Decepticons looked at the image incredulously while Knock Out, Clobber, and Lockdown laughed at the silly image and some kept a straight face.
"Wait, what?" Starscream asked in surprise as he turned to the terminal. "It was just here! Surely, one of you saw it!"
"Starscream, you would do well to take a cue from Soundwave on occasions, and keep things to yourself." Megatron said while gritting his teeth.
"Vow of silence, such a cop-out." Starscream muttered as he went back to searching.
"If Starscream if finished showing us worthless human videos, Dropkick, Blitzwing, Lugnut and I request that we venture to the town nearby in search of suitable vehicle forms, Lord Megatron." Shatter told her leader respectfully.
"Yes, my lord. If we're gonna be of some help. We could obtain some vehicle forms to blend in with the area." Blitzwing said to them as Lugnut nodded.
"Very well, Shatter. Be sure to return as soon as you have both acquired a new form." Megatron replied.
"Will do, my Lord." Dropkick said before he and Shatter walked away to exit the fortress.
"Lord Megatron, surely our Autobot prisoner is a better source of information than this primitive data-net." Shockwave proclaimed, referring to the website Starscream was using.
"I will have you know, Shockwave, that a few of us have been grinding down Wheeljack for days." Starscream retorted. "If he knew anything, he would have spilled it by now."
"Again…some prove to be better at holding their tongues than others." Megatron said.
"Perhaps you would have better results if instead of a club, you used a scalpel. I recommend a Cortical Psychic Patch." Shockwave suggested.
At the still-destroyed city of Jasper, Shatter, Dropkick, Lugnut, and Blitzwing scope the area for any vehicle they could scan. "Wow, Lord Megatron sure has threw a party in this place." Blitzwing complimented.
"This is the true witness of the glory of Megatron's might!" Lugnut declared while gesturing to the destruction. "And soon, they'll spread across the entire area!"
"What makes you think we'll find some useful vehicle forms in this wreck, partner?" Dropkick questioned.
"There is always a chance of finding what you need." Shatter answered. "All you need to do is search hard enough into your surroundings."
"She is right. We just need to search harder." Blitzwing said before his face changed to his angry one. "So stop complaining and start searching, you cover clag cluts!" He yelled as the four spread out to find some vehicles for their alt modes.
Shatter and Dropkick arrived at the drinking bar, they looked around the parking area and they were very fortunate to find a red 1971 Harrier Jump Jet and a blue 1974 AMC Javelin car, both of which had off-terrain features.
"Now these look like a pair of good forms." Dropkick complemented, a bit impressed. "Wouldn't you think so?"
"Perhaps these forms will suit us well on this pitiful planet." Shatter said before a pair of green lasers shot out of her eyes and she scanned the jet with them.
Dropkick did the exact same thing with the car before he and Shatter withdrew their scanners. Once they had their vehicle forms, Shatter and Dropkick transformed into exact copies of the the car and jet they scanned.
"I'm sure to get used to this new form." Dropkick chuckled amusingly. "Maybe we can pick up some new ones later on?"
"That's if we ever find something that will serve both of us well." Shatter replied as both of them transformed back into Robot form. "But our land-based will be suitable, for now."
"I wonder if the two malfunctions found there's." Dropkick said as he looked around.
"Be patient. Some vehicles are not suited for Cybertronians." Shatter said with her arms crossed.
"Fine. But I'm scouting around." Dropkick said before he noticed a missile launcher, or what remains of it while it was still loaded.
"You're a child." Shatter muttered as Dropkick scanned the missile turrets.
"Mmm, this one is very interesting." Dropkick said as his left arm transformed and had missile launchers combined with his blaster before he noticed a small handheld weapon on the ground and picked it up.
"That's terrifying. If you wanted to poke someone's eye out." Shatter sarcastically said as Dropkick pressed the trigger on the weapon, which released a huge flame that surprised the two Decepticons.
"Or melt them." Dropkick said with a smirk while Shatter rolled her eyes.
With Blitzwing and Lugnut, they are searching the battlefield for any vehicle modes as Blitzwing gave an angry face again. "What is suited for us here?! There's nothing but craters, smoke, and not to mention, destruction!" He yelled.
"Silence, Blitzwing!" Lugnut shouted with a look. "Megatron wanted us to obtain vehicle modes to gain some advantage with the Autobots and not to blown our cover! It would be wise to listen to our leader."
Blitzwing's face went to a calm head. "Okay. Okay. Chill. I was just wondering. Because from what I'm seeing, Megatron sure went to town on this spot." He stated the destruction around them.
"Well, I found my proper form." Lugnut said as he walked up to a down cargo carrier plane and he scanned it with his signal optics as Blitzwing noticed two military vehicles still intact, a jet and a double barrel tank.
"I will choose this fighter jet." Blitzwing said before he went to his angry face. "No! The assault tank!" He exclaimed before his face then turned from his calm one of his angry one. "Jet. Tank! The Jet. Tank! Jet! Tank!" Then his head turned to his crazed one as he gave a crazed laughter. "Why not scan both?!" He exclaimed with his arms raised as he scanned both vehicles.
Meanwhile, in the woodland area, the Wreckers were sitting in the clearing meadow waiting for Grimlock and Wheeljack, "I don't think they're coming." Miko said in concern.
"Well considering Grim's not exactly built for speed," Crosshairs commented.
"Don't worry, every Wrecker knows the protocol." Bulkhead assured them. "And I made sure to explain it simpler to Grimlock. Him and Jackie will show."
"If they're still kicking." Kup said in concern.
At Metroplex, Grimlock was sitting down, thinking about something before he gasped, "I remember!" He said, slamming his fist into his paw with a smile before rushing off to the bridge. "Yo everybody! I know where the Wreckers are!" He cheered.
"Wait, you do?" Sideswipe asked in surprise.
"Yeah! I just remembered where they would meet!" Grimlock cheered with a smile.
"Well, you think you can give us coordinates, Grimlock?" Fixit asked in wonder.
"Sure thing!" Grimlock said with a smile.
Back at Darkmount in the interrogation room, Wheeljack was seen strapped to a Cybertronian table as Shockwave was in front of him while preparing a Cortical Psychic Patch cable.
"Do your worst, Doc. I'm a Wrecker, I can take it." Wheeljack proclaimed challengingly as Shockwave inserted one end of the cable in the back of his head and approached the white Wrecker.
"Trust me. You, in fact, cannot." Shockwave replied, pointing the cable's end straight at Wheeljack to scavenge his mind.
Once he was done with the Cortical Psychic Patch operation, Shockwave stood before Megatron to tell him the results with the other Cons standing behind him.
"The patch failed to yield any new information on the whereabouts of the Autobots." Shockwave told his leader.
"Hmm, I see." Megatron muttered in disappointment.
"Huh, then it would seem that Wheeljack has outlived his usefulness." Starscream said with a smirk.
"However, I have managed to recover an even more valuable piece of information." Shockwave quickly added, which got their attention.
"And that is…" Megatron asked slowly.
"The location of Metroplex." Shockwave answered, which made the Decepticons smile at the news.
"And I'm guessing that the Autobots will regroup there?" Lockdown said with a smirk.
"Correct. If they are truly scattered, it is only logical that they would regroup there." Shockwave explained.
"Then we must prepare our forces and strike now before they can." Megatron said with a smirk.
"Well, with your permission Lord Megatron, I shall see to Wheeljack's immediate termination now that he is now useless." Starscream said with a smirk while hiding in the shadows behind some pillars was a familiar pair of Minicons as they looked in horror at what they just learned.
"We must warn our Master that Wheeljack is danger." Jetstorm whispered to Slipstream.
"Not just him, but all the Autobots." Slipstream added as they quickly snuck away.
With Drift, he is hiding in the shadows somewhere in Darkmount while avoiding the Vehicons' optics while searching for any signs of Wheeljack while he sends his students to scout ahead and to see if Megatron is planning something.
After waiting a bit, Jetstorm and Slipstream rushed up to him. "Jetstorm, Slipstream, did you two learn anything of value?" Drift questioned his MInicons.
"Master, Megatron is about execute Wheeljack," Slipstream said in worry.
"Even worse, he now knows where Metroplex is hidden." Jetstorm added, which Drift widened his eyes in horror. "If we don't do something, the Autobots will rolling right into a trap."
"And we shall, but we must rescue Wheeljack first, come quickly!" Drift ordered as the three rushed off.
At a different part of Darkmount, Wheeljack groaned in pain as he was starting to wake up from his Cortical Psychic Patch experience.
"Wake up, Wrecker." A Vehicon ordered, shoving him on the side.
When Wheeljack was fully awake, he found himself standing over an edge with the cuffs still on and two Vehicons guarding him, while two more were on the other side of the platform. Beneath them was an extremely hot smelting pit.
"Time to smelt." One of the Vehicons told Wheeljack. "Commander Starscream wanted you conscious so you'd know precisely who ordered your execution."
"Where is Screamy?" Wheeljack questioned sarcastically. "Doesn't have the bearings to do this himself?" He added before he was pushed forward close to the edge as he looked at the smelting pit.
"Jump." The Vehicon ordered pushed him forward.
"Hey, are you a flyer?" Wheeljack questioned as the Vehicon looked at him confusingly before he kicked him back and tossed him over as he screamed and started falling towards the pit as the other Vehicons aimed their weapons at him.
But then suddenly, the Vehicon behind Wheeljack was knocked over and stabbed into the chest as it was Slipstream and Jetstorm who tackled the Vehicon down while on the other side, Drift fell from the ceiling and held his two swords as he sliced the other two Vehicons down as their remains fell into the smelting pit.
"'Bout time you three showed up." Wheeljack said with a smirk as Drift somersault over the smelting pit, landing on the Vehicon that was gonna fly out as it grunted and fell back down to the pit, actually hitting the lava as he melted away while Drift landed next to Wheeljack. "You know, I could've escaped myself." He boasted.
"Forgive me, I wasn't aware your plan was to hopefully survive a smelting pit." Drift said naturally.
"Eh, I was making it up as I go along." Wheeljack shrugged while showing his cuffs, "So you gonna give me a hand with these?" He asked.
Drift nodded as he raised his sword and cut the cuffs, freeing Wheeljack as the wrecker rubbed his wrists. "We mustn't belay. We must send word out to our allies." Drift said to him. "From your memories, Megatron is now aware of the location of Metroplex."
"Aw Scrap." Wheeljack griped.
"But how are we gonna get word to them?" Jetstorm asked.
"The Autobot comlink is still down." Slipstream added. "By the time we get to Metroplex to warn them, it will be too late."
"I may have a solution." Drift said with a serious look. "But it will be risky, and dangerous."
"I like it already." Wheeljack smirked.
Somewhere in the corridors of Darkmount, some Vehicons were walking by, going on about their business before blaster fires hit a few before the rest were sliced and diced down as it revealed to be Drift and Wheeljack as they rushed down the corridor.
"You sure you know where you're going?" Wheeljack asked with a brow.
"I once scouted the original Darkmount back on Cybertron for any value during the war." Drift answered while looking to the corner. "If the layouts are similar, then the communication relays should just be beyond here."
"Well, lead the way chief, because if one Vehicon notice I've escape, then-" Wheeljack started before a couple of Vehicons spotted them.
"Autobots! Sound the alarm!" A Vehicon shouted as the alarm went off.
"Yes. Let's make haste." Drift said as the two rushed off while fighting off any Vehicons in their way before they made it to a room as they entered through and quickly shut the door before the Vehicons spotted them.
They looked around and saw the terminal and monitors around them. "I take it we're here?" Wheeljack guessed as they walked up to the monitor.
"Yes. Now, to send the message to our comrades. And let's hurry before the Decepticons discover where we are." Drift said as he went to the console. "Wheeljack, can you hack into their system?"
"Sure. Now, stand back and be prepared to deliver the message and make a quick escape." Wheeljack said with a smirk as he started working on the console.
On the Metroplex, as Grimlock was trying convince the other Autobots to get him leave to meet with the Wreckers but they were uncertain. "Come on, guys! They could be there!" Grimlock insisted.
"Grimlock, we're not sure if the Wreckers are there or not." Chromia tried to reason. "We don't know if they were captured or discovered."
"Or even if the Decepticons found their spot and is waiting for you." Ironhide added.
"But we might have a chance to find them!" Grimlock urged. "Come on, aren't we Autobots?! We look out for each other!"
"You make a valid point, Grimlock, but still the meeting point doesn't matter," Ironhide said to him, "The Wreckers will be coming here so unless something changes I-" He was cut off when the console beeped.
"Sirs, I'm getting an unauthorized message." Fixit spoke up to them. "And it's of Decepticon origin."
"Decepticon?" Strongarm asked in surprise, as were the others. "You think Megatron found us?"
"No. but it said to be from Wheeljack and Drift, Ma'am." Fixit answered, which got their attention.
"Wheeljack and Drift?" Jetfire asked as he pressed a button, which played the message.
"Wheeljack and Drift to any Autobots out there. If any Autobots are at Metroplex, you need to move, because Megatron knows where the big lug is hiding." Wheeljack's voice spoke up, which shocked the Autobots.
"Megatron is planning an attack force on Metroplex as we speak. You must evacuate, if possible, move Metroplex to a safer location as soon as possible," Drift told them, "We will reconnoiter with you as soon as we can," He added as the message finish.
"Okay this just got real." Firestar said seriously.
"We have to move Metroplex." Moonracer said to them.
"Can we?" Sideswipe asked in wonder.
"Fixit, do we have enough Energon to move Metroplex to another location?" Chromia asked the Minicon.
"Yes, we should," Fixit said, checking their energon supply, "But if we move, the remaining Autobots will not be able to find us again."
"Yeah, but if we don't move at all…" Reck started.
"Then we'll all be destroyed like what happened to…" Ruin added
"The Autobot base." Reck'n'Ruin finished in unison.
"Then we'll have to head out there and find them wherever they are," Ironhide stated before turning to Grimlock, "Grimlock, head to the Wrecker's meeting place and give them the situation."
"Alright!" Grimlock cheered with a smile with his fists raised.
Back on Darkmount, Drift and Wheeljack roll out as fast as they can away from Darkmount as Wheeljack gives a laugh. "I gotta say, that was fun." He commented. "You sure you weren't a Wrecker?"
"Now is not the time for jokes, Wheeljack." Drift said to him. "Even if our message went through, finding the other Autobots will be even harder than before."
"Don't worry. I have a feeling I know where some of them are." Wheeljack said to him. "Follow me." He said as he drove ahead as Drift followed behind him as they made their way far away from Darkmount before any Decepticons spotted them.
"So Wheeljack escaped, with the help of Deadlock?" Megatron questioned with a growl. "This is how you handle things."
"Wheeljack is not the first prisoner to escape Starscream's care." Shockwave noted while looking at Starscream, who gave him a glare.
"And here's something much worse." Lockdown said as he looked at a tablet. "We have intercepted an unauthorized transmission. Apparently, the two send word out to their friends on Metroplex. They know we're coming!"
"What?!" Megatron questioned in anger.
"Great, so the Autobots now know we're gonna attack their titan base." Shadow Striker said with a growl.
"Wouldn't be surprised if they tried to move the big lug somewhere else." Deadend said with his arms crossed.
"Your careless actions have cost us greatly, Starscream!" Megatron shouted.
"Actually master, I allowed Wheeljack and Deadlock to escape," Starscream admitted with a smirk.
"You what?!" Megatron demanded with a furious glare, rising from his throne.
"But the Autobots' every move, his every word, will be monitored," Starscream said assuringly, making his master raise an eyebrow.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Lockdown asked as the air commander brought out a small device.
"Thanks to a simple tracking device implanted while the prisoner was still unconscious, following the failed Cortical Psychic Patch," Starscream explained, shooting a smirk towards Shockwave. "Now, all we have to do is wait, watch and listen. When the Wrecker and the traitor reunite with the other Autobots, my armada will strike."
Hearing this new plan, Megatron calmed down and began smirking sinisterly.
Meanwhile in Woodpark scrapyard, Bumblebee's group rolled in while searching around for Elita One. "You sure They're here, Raf?" Windblade asked. "Because this is a bit unsettling with these decommissioned vehicles."
"They gotta be here." Raf said to them as they kept searching.
"You think a pink car and a red and Blue big rig would stand out." Jazz commented as they kept looking. "Either a car or a pickup truck would stand out in a place like this."
Bumblebee then came to a stop as they found Elita in her vehicle mode, "Elita! There You are!" Bumblebee cheered as Raf came out of him while the scout, medic, City Speaker and veteran transformed.
"Thank the Allspark, you're safe." Ratchet said in relief.
"We were worried about you. Where's Optimus?" Windblade asked, which Elita didn't response, not even a flicker of her front lights.
"Uh, Elita?" Raf asked in wonder.
"Leave me alone." Elita said sadly to them while still in vehicle mode, which surprised them.
"What are you talking about, commander?" Jazz asked in confusion.
"You're interrupting my power down." Elita said to them.
"Elita, this is no time for rest," Ratchet told her, "Tell Optimus we're here and then we will all head to Metroplex and began our plan to stop Megatron."
"We can't stop Megatron!" Elita said firmly, which startled them. "Not anymore. The Omega Lock is destroyed. The Autobots are scattered. This war is over. And we… lost." She said hopelessly.
"You're giving up?!" Raf asked in shock. "We can't just give up!"
"Yeah, you don't give up just like that!" Windblade added as Elita transformed and faced them.
"Then tell me what we can do?!" Elita questioned with a glare. "Without communications, without a Ground Bridge, without a base of operations or resources of any kind!?"
"What are you talking about?" Jazz questioned with a brow. "We have Metroplex."
Elita gave a scoff. "Not if we don't know where he is. Megatron learned of its location, they've probably moved by now, the coordinates are worthless to us! How do you except us to fight back when we don't have resources?!"
"Wait, remember when Stascream stole the Omega Keys? He had Groundbridge." Bumblebee reminded them.
"Bee's right." Raf said in agreement. "We know Starscream has access to a Ground Bridge while he was operating solo."
"Yes, yes, he clearly had been using the derelict Decepticon ship, the Harbinger." Ratchet noted, seeing their idea.
"That ship lies in ruins, what use could it possibly be to us?" Elita asked with a frown.
"It could be full of Cybertronian tech and supplies we need, even a Ground Bridge for us to use." Jazz said.
"And it's probably abandoned again now that Starscream's back with the cons." Raf added as Elita gave another scoff.
"Well, resources won't be of much use…" Elita started before she gave a sad look. "Not without someone to… lead us." She added as she looked away.
"What are you talking about? We still have you and Optimus," Raf said as Elita's fist shook, "Just tell us where he is and then we'll head to the Harbinger-"
"OPTIMUS IS GONE!" Elita yelled as she slammed her fist in a pile of junk cars, causing it to tumble down as the others flinched back as Elita just stood there with a sad look as her lips quivered. "Optimus, is gone." She muttered with her head down.
"W-What do you mean?" Ratchet stammered as Elita just stood there.
"When we opened the final Ground Bridge, Optimus stayed behind so that we wouldn't be followed." Elita said with her back turned to them. "I pleaded with him to come with me, but he insisted he atone to his decision with the Omega Lock. And then… I left him right as the Decepticons opened fire." She added while she tried to keep her emotions in check while clenching her fists.
Raf and the other Autobots looked horrified, "You mean Optimus is…" Raf trailed off.
"No." Bumblebee muttered.
"Did his spark extinguish?" Ratchet asked desperately.
"I'm not sure, but his spark is still lit, but it's weak." Elita said to them while placing a servo on her chassis. "He's barely hanging on."
"Wait, then he's still alive," Windblade said optimistically.
"But we don't know where he is!" Elita snapped. "And I can tell his condition is critical, and without proper care, Optimus… might not make it."
"All the more reason we must return to the Harbinger, with its resources I may be able to find our comrades." Ratchet told her. "
"Like how your carelessness of thinking Earth wasn't important?" Elita questioned to Ratchet, who flinched back at the reminder. "It's because of you, Ratchet, if you have at least picked up the children, none of this would've happened!"
"I-I know I should've just-" Ratchet tried to say.
"It's because of you, we lost our chance to restore Cybertron! Our friends are scattered, the Decepticons are hunting us down, and now, Optimus is losing his life!" Elita shouted as Ratchet leaned back.
"Whoa whoa, commander! Chill!" Jazz said as he got in front of Elita. "We all are still mad at Ratchet's words and his actions, but he wants to make it up to us. And with the Harbinger, we might have a chance. It ain't much, but it's a start."
Elita growled. "Then you'll have to start without me." She retorted with a look. "This is someone else's fight now."
"There is no one else, Elita! Just us! Just the team!" Raf pleaded.
Elita shook her head with a frown as she turned away from them. "Please." She muttered before she went into her vehicle mode. "Just let me, rust in peace. At least, then, I'll see Optimus again." She muttered sadly as her headlights went out.
"You really think that what Optimus would want you to do? Give your life away and allow others to suffer just to be with him?" Ratchet questioned. "You are better than this, Elita. And you know it."
Elita stood there as she said nothing as Raf lowered his head. "Come on, guys." Raf said as Bumblebee transformed and Raf entered him.
"Just so you know, Optimus would want you to keep going for him, Elita." Windblade said with a look to their commander. "Even in the darkest times, we always find a way. And we won't give up the fight." She added as she, Ratchet, and Jazz transformed and went off, leaving Elita alone as she stood there in her vehicle mode.
Once they were gone though, her headlights turned on as her engine revved up.
Back in the underground caverns, Hot Rod sat next to the injured Optimus just as Smokescreen came through the wall. "I'm back." Smokescreen said to them.
"Did you find anything for Optimus, Smokescreen?" Hot Rod asked desperately while Optimus groaned as he turned to them.
"I'm sorry. I comb through every square micron of the old base." Smokescreen said sadly. "I couldn't find Ratchet's medical kit, not even a bandage."
"Scrap," Hot Rod griped, "Well, even if you did find something, I doubt there would be anything to get this fixed," He said, gesturing to Optimus' broken state.
"The Forge…of Solus…Prime…" Optimus breathed out weakly.
"It's gone too, the Cons picked the place clean," Smokescreen said to him.
Hot Rod however thought for a moment and got what Optimus was saying, "No wait, if we can get the Forge then Optimus can use it to fix himself!" He realized with a smile.
"Yeah, that's a great idea!" Smokescreen said with a smile. "The Power of the Primes. Optimus, just hang on a little bit longer."
"That Forge gotta be somewhere in Megatron's fortress." Hot Rod added as he stood up. "I'll go get it. Smokescreen, you stay here and watch Optimus."
"You got it." Smokescreen saluted as he handed Hot Rod the Phase Shifter as Hot Rod activated.
"I'll catch you guys soon." Hot Rod said as he phased through the walls to begin his mission.
Meanwhile, the Wreckers and Miko were still sitting in the mountain range while Miko fell asleep while leaning on Bulkhead as the sun rose. Soon, the Wreckers heard tires screeching as they stood up, which caused Miko to fall down.
"Miko, wake up." Bulkhead said as Miko woke up as she stretched with a yawn.
"Why?" Miko asked as the Wreckers ready their weapons.
"Someone's coming." Kup said with a serious look.
"If it cons, we'll take care of them." Crosshairs said as they ready their pistols as the revving sounds got closer and closer as the three Wreckers ready their weapons.
But then, Bulkhead heard the noise clearer as he gave a smile and retracted his weapons. "I know the hum of that engine anywhere." He said as Crosshairs and Kup heard it too as they smiled and retracted their weapons as Bulkhead rushed down just as Wheeljack came to view and transformed into bot-form as Bulkhead laughed. "Jackie!" He called as he gave a belly bump to the White Wrecker. "Where you been buddy?!" He asked as he gave Wheeljack a tight hug.
"Catching up with a few old dance partners." Wheeljack groaned from the tight hug Bulkhead is giving him as Miko took the picture while Crosshairs and Kup chuckled from this.
"Oh, that's funny." Crosshairs said with a smile.
"Good see you guys." Wheeljack said with a smirk. "Safe to assume we're the only six Wreckers around."
"Six?" Kup asked in confusion before they heard another engine sound go off as they saw it transformed to reveal Drift. "Drift?"
"Hello, Wreckers." Drift said with a brow. "It is a huge relief to have finally found you."
"If it weren't for him, I would've been dumped into the smelting pit." Wheeljack said with a smirk.
"You infiltrated Darkmount?" Crosshairs asked in surprise before he gave a smirk. "Not bad."
"Now that we are together, we can now plan our move." Kup said with a smile.
"So, what are we waiting for? Let's do some damage." Miko said with a smirk.
"What's our next move, Jackie? Do we circle back to base or Metroplex?" Bulkhead asked on a communication device, which the Decepticons heard from the Nemesis.
"There is no base. The Cons blasted it to dust." Wheeljack replied.
"What Metroplex about then?" Crosshairs asked.
"Unlikely. The Decepticons learned of Metroplex's location." Drift said to them. "Wheeljack and I managed to send word out to them and we hope they received it in time to moved him to another location before Megatron had the chance to strike."
"Then we got no other place to go." Kup added.
"Well, I say once Grimlock shows up, we figure out our next move." Bulkhead suggested.
"The dimwit played right into my hands." Starscream said with a sinister chuckle.
"I can't believe Scream managed to pull this off." Dropkick whispered.
"Let's just hope it ends with the Wreckers' destruction." Shatter replied.
"Oh, it will. All Seekers to the flight deck." Starscream ordered on the communicator. "We have pinpointed the enemy!"
A bunch of Seeker Vehicons flew from the Nemesis and they started to approach the tracking signal that was tagged on Wheeljack. "Attack, my armada!" He declared while smirking devilously.
At the mountain area, Starscream's Seeker armada arrived at the tracking signal's location and they transformed, landing on the ground near a river with their blasters out.
"We're at the coordinates, Commander Starscream." One of the Vehicon Seekers informed.
"Hold fast. They're approaching your position." Starscream replied on the com-link.
The Vehicon Seekers aimed their blasters at the end of the lake and saw something slowly streaming down it, which was soon revealed to be a log. Ontop of a far away cliff edge, the Wreckers, Drift, and Miko were watching the Vehicon Seekers.
"Targets in range." Bulkhead said.
"Get ready to flip the switch, Jackie." Crosshairs told the swordsman Wrecker, who held a detonator in his hand.
As the log got closer to the Vehicons, the tracking device and one of Wheeljack's grenades was revealed to be inside it.
"And…boom." Wheeljack whispered with a sly smile, pressing on the detonator's button.
"GRENADE!" A Vehicon Seeker yelled upon seeing the explosive, only for him and all the others to be destroyed once the grenade exploded.
Starscream gasped in shock when he saw that his Seeker soldiers were wiped off the Nemesis' screen to indicate they had been destroyed.
"He…he tricked us." Starscream said in total disbelief as he turned to Megatron, who scowled in disappointment.
"Knew it was too good to be true." Dropkick said to Shatter, chuckling in satisfaction.
The Wreckers team saw the explosion from their position and they stood up. "Excellent work, Wheeljack." Kup said to the white Wrecker with a smile.
"How'd you know the Cons planted a tracker on you?" Miko wondered.
"I figure the Cons were up to something, so I did a little poking around under my hood." Wheeljack explained while tapping to his scratched hood.
"Haha, that's our Jackie." Bulkhead said with a smile before a Groundbridge portal opened up next to them as a certain Dinobot walked out.
"Anybody here need punching?!" Grimlock asked, slamming his fists together.
"Heheh, Grimlock!" Miko cheered happily as Grimlock looked around and saw the Wreckers, Miko, and Drift.
"I knew I found you guys here!" Grimlock cheered happily. "And you're alive!"
"Heheh, we knew you get your tail here, Dinobutt!" Bulkhead said with a laugh.
"We got Wheeljack and Drift's message that the Cons found out where Metroplex is, and then Ironhide said I had come get ya, in case you were in trouble!" Grimlock explained to them.
"Well, not right now. But thanks for the concern." Kup said with a smile.
"Come on, Metroplex is already being moved." Grimlock said while gesturing to the Ground Bridge. "Fixit is still having trouble finding the other, but you're a start!"
"Wait, I had an idea on how we can find the others way faster, buddy." Wheeljack said, which got Grimlock's attention.
"What do you mean?" Grimlock asked.
"If your little pal couldn't trace our signal earlier, then we might have a hard time finding the others." Wheeljack explained.
"He got a point." Crosshairs said with a shrug. "If Fixit would've beamed us back to Metroplex by now or found a way to contact us."
"Meaning it will be similar if we don't help the others." Drift said with a serious tone.
"But, how are we gonna find them?" Grimlock asked. "We're already having trouble finding anybot, and with Megatron's forces around, it's gonna be even harder."
"That's why I salvaged some munitions from the Jackhammer when Drift and I escaped." Wheeljack said while patting one of his bombs, "You think that made a loud noise, just wait." He said with a smirk while transforming.
"Mm, interesting," Grimlock said before turning to the Ground Bridge. "Give me a sec." He said as he rushed towards the Ground Bridge and poke his head in for a moment as they waited for a moment before Grimlock stuck his head out and the Ground Bridge closed. "I just told the others in Metroplex about our plan. And once they see it, they'll come."
"Great. Now, let's roll." Wheeljack said as he took off at high speed as the others did and Miko got on Bulkhead while Grimlock went into Dinobot form and rushed after them to see what Wheeljack had planned.
Meanwhile at the Harbinger, Bumblebee's group made it to the abandoned Decepticon ship as they tried to get the ship powered up while Bumblebee and Jazz plugged in a cable that filled up a nearby container with Energon.
"The Energon is all filled in." Bumblebee said.
"Good, now hold it right there." Ratchet said as he was on a Decepticon console with Windblade and Raf behind him as he tried to power it on, which the lights flickered before it went out as they slouched in defeat.
"Scrap. Starscream must've used up much of its power." Windblade growled.
"Energon-wasting con." Jazz muttered.
"Keep trying, we'll figure it out." Raf said to them.
"Hang on, I must've miscalibrating the Energon transducer." Ratchet said as he went back to the console. "I'll have this ready shortly. But we certainly could do with an extra set of Servos though." He added.
"An extra set you say?" A familiar voice said as they turned and they were surprised to see Elita One walking up to them. "Perhaps I could be some assistant." She said with her hands on her hips.
"Elita!" Raf cheered with a smile.
"You came. You actually came." Ratchet said with a smile as Elita walked up to them.
"Of course I did." Elita said as she walked up to the equipment. "Now, let's get to work, Autobots. We have friends to find." She said as she started attaching some equipment while she gave a small smile to them as they smiled back as well, seeing that Elita hadn't truly given up hope.
Meanwhile on the open road, Acree, Prowl, and Jack were driving down the road in the middle of nowhere. "Miles and miles of Road, and still no sign of the others yet," Prowl said.
"The last time things looked bleak, Optimus slipped me that keycard." Jack said in despair. "Something we can hang our hopes on."
"We know you're feeling helpless, Jack." Acree said to him. "But this doesn't need to be your burden."
"We're in this together. And we'll face it as such." Prowl said before a Cybertonian Ship came over them, causing them to skid in to a stop as they looked and saw it landing down in front of them as Jack got off of Acree as she and Prowl transformed. "Could be one of the Decepticons, stay behind us." He told Jack.
"And get ready for anything." Acree added as they ready theri weapons as a hatch opened up and five figures came out from it as they stopped forward as the two ready their weapons, but their eyes widened at what they saw that made them smiled. "Jack, I don't think we're gonna need that keycard."
"Because we now have something even better." Prowl added as Jack watched as coming out of the smoke were five male Autobots.
The first of them was coloured in blue with red accents, while also having a slightly similar appearance to Optimus with two structures on the top of his shoulders. The second one is green and yellow color schemes and large servos. The third one is dark green with military details, a military cap-like helmet, beard details and grenades strapped his chassis. The fourth one is red and black with one of his optics covered with a monocle with a shoulder cannon, and the fifth one is blue and white, was lean and agile and has shoulder cannon while having two blades on his wrists.
"Kid, meet Ultra Magnus, Springer, Hound, Proceptor, and Mirage," Prowl said with a smirk at the five new Autobots.
Back on the Nemesis, Megatron was scolding Starscream for another one of his failures.
"So not only did you fail to destroy the Autobots, but you allowed their numbers to increase." Megatron growled angrily. "Is there no one who can bring me their heads?!" he demanded
"We just don't have any good way of tracking them or overcome whatever tricks they have." Shadow Striker admitted.
"And where are we gonna get something that can?" Deadend questioned.
"If I may, Lord Megatron, during my exile on Cybertron with Shatter, Dropkick, Lugnut, and Blitzwing, I resumed work on a long dormant project." Shockwave said as he approached the terminal and used it to display some cyberonian DNA structures. "One that I believe may provide a solution to our current problem."
"Cyber nucleic acid?" Knock Out asked.
"The building blocks of all Cybertronian life." Shatter identified.
"Do you four know what this secret project even is?" Lockdown asked four Decepticons that were stranded with Shockwave. "You did stay with him, after all."
"He said it was top secret." Blitzwing said with a shrug.
"Yeah, we were never allowed to step into that room and take a peek," Dropkick replied with a shrug.
"Correct. This hailed from a specimen I excavated upon our planet and had yielded promising results." Shockwave told everyone.
"The Autobots continue to evade us. What makes you think we can afford to wait for the answer to our prayers to be birthed in some Petri dish?" Starscream asked rhetorically, not going along with Shockwave's solution.
"You misunderstand. The subject has been fully cultivated and it needs only to be transported from my laboratory on Cybertron." Shockwave replied, leaving Starscream speechless.
"Then by all means, activate the Space Bridge." Megatron ordered.
In a dark laboratory on Cybertron, the Space Bridge portal opened up and Shockwave walked into his old lab, approaching a large container that was filled with yellowish-green liquid and it also had something very large within. Shockwave approached a nearby terminal and pressed on some digital buttons, causing some of the lights to switch on and a bunch of electricity coursed down into the containment tube. The large creature inside then opened it's eyes and growled lowly as the yellowish-green liquid was drained away, while Shockwave simply watched.
At Darkmount, Megatron sat on his thrown and tapped his finger against the arm piece as Starscream, Blitzwing, Lugnut, Clobber, Sky-Byte, Lockdown, Deadend, Shadow Striker, Soundwave, Knock Out, Shatter and Dropkick stood near him.
"Is he supposed to be this long?" Lugnut questioned impatiently.
"Give him a minute, Lugnut," Clobber said while tapping her servos.
Just then, the Space Bridge reappeared in front of some Vehicons at the back area and Shockwave walked out of it before approaching the others, curtsying to his master.
"I present to you, my liege…the ultimate Autobot hunter," Shockwave announced, gesturing towards the Space Bridge portal.
At that very moment, something very large and Cybertronian slowly emerged from the portal with vicious snarls. Whatever this beast was, it had a long tail, a mouth full of unfriendly teeth, extremely sharp talons and a super long tail that was coated in spikes. The other Decepticons took some steps back in fear, Shatter, Lugnut, Blitzwing, and Dropkick looked at each other in bewilderment before looking back at the huge beast, and Megatron rose from his throne in absolute astonishment as the ginormous creature in front of them let out a loud roar to make its presence fully known.
It is clear that things for the Autobot are about to get very, very, bad.
Another chapter joins the ranks.
So Let's review the Scattered Teams:
Team Metroplex: Ironhide, Chromia, Firestar, Moonracer, Whirl, Jetfire, Rack'n'Ruin, Sideswipe, Strongarm, and Fixit
Team Harbinger: Bumblebee, Windblade, Jazz, Ratchet, Elita One, and Raf
Team Iron-Will: Arcee, Prowl, Springer, Ultra Magnus, Hound, Mirage, and Jack
Team Wrecker: Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Kup, Crosshairs, Grimlock, Drift, Slipstream, Jetstorm, and Miko
Team Nemesis: Optimus Prime, Hot Rod and Smokescreen
With the Autobots all linked up with plans to get back together and get back on their feet, things are looking up for them…until Shockwave's secret weapon gets pulled into the Cyber Equation.
For those who don't know, Springer is one of the Autobots from the OG series, Hound is based on his Bayverse Counterpart, Mirage is a combo of Bayverse and Gen 1, and Preceptor is canon to the Prime Timeline in Rescue Bots Academy.
Stay tuned, for the Autobots work together on getting back together all while they're being hunted by what is quite possibly the most powerful creature they've seen yet, in "Prey".