Hey everyone! I'm back with the second last chapter of Season 2! I can't believe we're almost at season 3! This is now the longest chapter I have ever written, it being two hundred words longer than Inside Job, and I hope you all like it. Enjoy! P.S. Sorry for any grammatical errors.
Transformers Prime: The Medic's Assistant
Chapter 62: Regeneration
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Prime
(Autobot Base)
The next day, everyone was still trying to figure out what to do. At this point, the kids were back at base and were informed of the situation.
Sierra and Stormracer sat off to the side as they watched the other kids' reactions. As they expected, they weren't too happy by the news. Miko on the other hand thought something else.
"Sweet!" the Japanese girl excitedly said, "I'm so transferring to Cybertron! You and I can live together, Bulk!"
Stormracer leaned towards Sierra. "I don't think she fully understands the situation."
The human girl shook her head. "Nope." Making sure the others weren't in hearing distance, she looked up at her guardian. "Did you tell the others about you know who yet?"
Stormracer vented. "No, not yet. Everyone's been so focused on the keys."
Sierra frowned at her. "Do you even plan on telling them?"
"Of course I do," the femme said, "I'm just... waiting for the right moment."
Sierra gave her a look. "You know, if I had a dime for every time Emily told me she was waiting for the right moment, I'd be rich."
Stormracer raised her optical ridge at her. "What do you mean?"
"You're stalling."
Stormracer was taken back by this. "Wha- I'm not stalling! Like I said, I'm just waiting for the right time!"
"And what's the right time? Hmm? After he hurts you? After the bots find out on their own?"
"When... when it's not so... when I... I'll know when it's time," Stormracer stuttered. Though she nervously glanced away as she rubbed the back of her helm.
Seeing the two off to the side, Smokescreen made his way over to them. "Hey. What's the gossip over here?"
"Trying to convince Juliet here to fess up already," Sierra told him.
Smokescreen's smile disappeared as he looked at Stormracer. "You still haven't said anything? I thought you said you were going to." He paused for a moment before looking at Sierra in confusion. "Wait, what's a Juliet?"
"Fictional character who falls for a guy from a rivaling family," Sierra explained.
"Oh."
"Look, one problem at a time, okay?" Stormracer said, "Right now, everyone needs to focus on getting the keys back. Once we do that, then I'll tell everyone."
Sierra and Smokescreen simultaneously folded their arms and gave her a look.
Seeing there was no convincing them, Stormracer groaned. "Okay, I'll tell them today. I don't know when today, but today."
Both glanced at one another, unsure if she would actually do it or not.
"You promise?" Smokescreen asked.
Stormracer vented. "I promise."
"Just no more excuses, Storm," Sierra told her.
"We're pushing you because we care," Smokescreen added.
The femme vented again. "I know, and I appreciate you both for it." She nervously folded her arms as she looked at the floor. "I'm just scared how the others will react."
"They'll be angry for sure... but it will only be worse if you don't tell them," Sierra reminded her.
"We'll be right there behind you," Smokescreen assured Stormracer.
The teal femme smiled at her two best friends. "Thanks."
The three walked towards the others as Miko started planning out loud.
"You know, I may not be the first human on Cybertron, but I can still be the first human exchange student," she said as she sat on Bulkhead's shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell us about the Omega Keys before?" Jack asked Arcee.
"You probably didn't notice, but things have been kind of intense around here lately," she responded.
"So, you guys could really be going home soon, huh?" Raf sadly asked.
"Don't worry, Raf," Miko said, "you'll come visit. Once we get our place set up, he can bunk with us, right Bulk?"
"Uh, Miko..." Bulkhead went to say.
"You are taking me with you, right?" the girl asked.
Bulkhead went quiet, not having the spark to tell his friend he couldn't take her with him.
"Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves here?" Ratchet asked, "not only do we lack any actual method of reaching Cybertron, but Starscream now controls the soul mean of our planet's restoration."
"As far as we know," Optimus added.
"You think Starscream rejoined the cons?" Smokescreen asked.
"He might have used the Omega Keys to buy back Megatron's favor," Arcee responded.
Ratchet scoffed. "Without first trying to sell them to the highest bidder? It wouldn't surprise me if he had the nerve to contact us and-"
An alert from the computer interrupted him. Sure enough, a signal popped up with an embedded message.
"Okay, that's weird," Bulkhead commented.
"Is it Starscream?" Arcee asked.
Ratchet opened it, but it wasn't from who they were expecting. "No. It's Dreadwing. And he wants to meet."
Everyone was surprised by this.
"Meet? Why?" Stormracer asked.
"It could be a trick like last time," Arcee said.
Optimus thought it over before looking at his medic. "Ratchet, open the Groundbridge. We will meet with Dreadwing."
"Seriously?" Bulkhead asked.
"He may have information on the Omega Keys," Optimus explained, "but we will still take precautions."
Ratchet went to the groundbridge and locked onto the signal's coordinates. Soon as it opened, the others transformed and drove through the portal. Stormracer stepped closer to the portal before Ratchet called out to her.
"Ep ep! You're not going!" he told her as he deactivated the groundbridge, "the last thing we need is you getting captured again."
Stormracer's shoulders drooped. She wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Why did Dreadwing want to meet? Did something happen?
She checked the time before looking at the kids. "Lunch break will be ending soon. You four should head back to school."
"Aww!" Miko whined, "but we want to know what's going on!"
"We'll fill you in after school," Stormracer told her, "But right now your education comes first."
Miko pouted as she, Jack, and Raf walked towards the bridge. Sierra stopped to look at her guardian.
"Today, Storm," she reminded her.
"I will," the femme said, "now go before you're late for class."
Sierra walked over to Jack who was waiting for her.
"What was that about?" he asked Sierra.
"Oh, uh... just girl stuff," she fibbed.
The four kids were soon groundbridged back to Jasper, leaving just the medic and the assistant at base.
Stormracer glanced at Ratchet who was back at the computer. Sierra and Smokescreen's words filled her head as she bit her lip. Building up a small amount of nerve, she walked over to her boss. He didn't bother looking as he kept his focus on the monitor.
"Hey, uh Ratchet?" she asked as she stopped behind him. "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" he asked as he continued working.
"J-just a hypothetical question. Umm... say someone did something that they know their friends would really look down upon, but they had good intentions... would you be mad at said person?"
The medic stopped what he was doing as he paused at her question. He turned around and looked at her with a confused look on his face. "What are you talking about?"
Stormracer froze up as her boss just looked at her weird. "Uuh... what I mean is-"
"Ratchet, bridge us back," Optimus interrupted through the comm unit.
Ratchet walked past his assistant to reactivate the Groundbridge. Stormracer let out a vent, both relieved and upset that she didn't get to tell her boss the truth.
Soon the others returned to base... and with a familiar relic.
"Is that..." Ratchet went to asked.
"The Forge of Solus Prime," Optimus said.
Stormracer stared at the large relic in shock. "No way!" She then looked at the others in confusion. "Wait, did Dreadwing give it to you?"
"Yeah," Arcee answered, "and he said the only thing he wanted was for us to use it wisely."
"Say what now?" the teal femme asked.
"Did he say anything about the Omega Keys?" Ratchet asked.
"Starscream made a deal with the cons," Bulkhead said, "Megatron has them now."
"But why is Dreadwing helping us?" Stormracer asked.
"Dreadwing now sees the Decepticons in their true colors, and has unaligned himself with them," Optimus said.
The teal femme's optics lit up. "Does... does that mean he's joining us?"
"No," Optimus answered, "though he has betrayed Megatron, he still sees us as the ones who terminated his twin. I do not know what he intends to do from this point on... but I fear he may do something drastic." He held up the forge. The hammer had already been activated as it glowed in the Prime's servo.
"It's no Star Saber, but I bet it could shatter Megatron's blade and put some dents in that ugly mug of his," Smokescreen said.
"It's not that kind of hammer," Arcee told him.
"With the Decepticons in possession of all four Omega Keys, a more appropriate use of the Forge would be to use it to replicate our own," Ratchet suggested.
"You mean we can make ourselves some spare keys?" Stormracer asked half-jokingly.
"Even with such power, their reconstruction would require a level of expertise I do not possess," Optimus said.
"I guess we better hope Megatron doesn't destroy the keys to prevent anyone from ever going home," Arcee said.
"Megatron may be evil, but I believe he will use the keys for their intended purpose," the Prime told her as he set the hammer on the floor.
"Well, I say let him keep them and do the work for us," Bulkhead suggested.
Everyone just gave him a look.
"What, I mean, what difference does it make who restores Cybertron?" he asked.
"If Megatron revives Cybertron, he will no doubt use it to his political advantage," Optimus explained.
"I- wha- I... you lost me," Bulkhead said in confusion.
"In all likely hood, the leader of the Decepticons would portray himself as our planet's savior and brand all Autobots as war criminals."
"The grand deception continues," Arcee added.
"Megatron's so called achievement could influence Cybertron for eons to come," Ratchet said, "poisoning the minds of its returning citizens. Hardly the ideal way to begin a new age."
"But there is hope," Optimus said, "for while Megatron may have the keys, he has yet to discover the existence of the Omega Lock itself."
Everyone was surprised by the new detail.
"Omega Lock?" Bulkhead asked.
"Wait, now you lost me," Arcee said.
"That which the four relics were designed to activate," Optimus explained, "we must locate the device before Megatron does and secure it until we can recover the keys."
"There are no more Iacon entrees to decode," Ratchet said, "this lock could be anywhere on Earth."
"Actually, it is on Cybertron," the Prime revealed.
"What?" everyone asked in unison.
"How do you know?" Ratchet asked.
"Alpha Trion revealed its location to me during the message conveyed by the Star Saber," Optimus explained as he picked up the Forge and made his way towards the groundbridge.
"And you didn't think to tell us?" the medic asked, sounding a little hurt.
The Prime stopped to look at him. "Alpha Trion did not wish it so." He turned back around and kept walking. "With the Forge of Solus Prime, we now possess the means of reaching Cybertron." He said as he climbed down beside the Groundbridge, "I must work quickly, as our tactical advantage over Megatron will not last long."
(The Nemesis)
Knock Out still felt sore from the beating he received from Megatron. Soon after he repaired himself, he began Starscream's t-cog transplant. And he hated every second of it.
How he wanted to just stab the seeker in the spark while he was under. However, he had a feeling Megatron had Soundwave keeping a close optic on him. He grumbled as he installed the t-cog into his patient.
Once he had Starscream welded back up, he awakened the flier.
"Rise and shine," he said bitterly as Starscream's optics opened, "your T-cog transplant was a success unfortunately. Yes, I'm just that good."
Happy to be whole again, Starscream happily vented. "Finally. I can't wait to take flight and soar above the clouds."
However, the mood changed when someone else entered the medbay.
"Starscream."
Knock Out and Starscream looked over to see Dreadwing standing in front of the doorway... not looking very happy.
"I regret to inform you that you will not live to spread your wings ever again," Dreadwing said as he pulled out his gun and aimed it at a now terrified Starscream. He let out a battle cry as he fired.
Starscream managed to duck his head down in time, making the shot soar over him and hit something else. Even Knock Out shielded himself from the attack. Both shrieked as they went separate directions. Starscream had leaped off the berth and ended up getting himself cornered.
Knock Out was on the other side next to the doorway as Dreadwing made his way towards the smaller flier.
"Knock Out, help me!" Starscream pleaded.
The doctor only turned around and ran out of the room. He wasn't dumb enough to try and take on Dreadwing.
Dreadwing tossed his gun to the floor as he kept his optics on Starscream. He then pulled out his sword as he approached the timid seeker.
As a desperate attempt, Starscream grabbed a surgical drill and held it up to defend himself. "Dreadwing, what has gotten into you?" he asked.
Dreadwing responded by swinging his sword, slicing the drill in half.
Starscream was horrified as he dropped what was left of the tool and started crawling back. "No, wait, this is about Skyquake, isn't it? I-I thought we had put that behind us?"
"So had I!" Dreadwing said angrily as he swung his sword at him.
Starscream shrieked as he dodged the blade. "Casualties are an unfortunate consequence of war! But I assure you your twin met his end with great honor!"
"Which you disgraced by raising him from the dead!" Dreadwing furiously pointed out.
"Oh, you know about that," Starscream said nervously. He looked around to try and find anything else he could use to defend himself, but nothing was in reach. "There must be something I can do!" he pleaded to his attacker, "some form of reparation I can offer to alleviate your anguish!"
"Your spark will suffice!" Dreadwing said as he raised his sword up.
"Dreadwing!"
The blue and gold flier turned around to see his leader standing in the doorway.
"Stand down!" Megatron ordered sternly.
"This desecrater must pay for his actions!" Dreadwing argued as he pointed at Starscream.
"You call this loyalty, Master?!" Starscream fearfully asked his leader.
"I said stand down!" Megatron repeated, "that is an order."
"One which I cannot follow," Dreadwing said as he looked back at Starscream. Ready to avenge his brother, Dreadwing let out a battle cry as he raised his sword up to finish Starscream once and for all. Just then he heard a blaster fire from behind, followed by a burning pain in his back. His optics widened as he dropped his sword. Soon everything went black as he fell face down onto the floor.
Megatron glared at the blue con as he deactivated his cannon.
Starscream couldn't believe he was still alive as he checked himself over. "I'm okay?" he asked before deliriously laughing, "I'm okay! Haha, ha! Lord Megatron, you have my eternal thanks."
Megatron walked over and frowned at him. "Do not ever make me regret which one of you I spared," he warned the seeker.
Starscream nervously chuckled but bowed. "Of course, my Master."
Figuring it was safe to enter, Knock Out stepped into the Medbay. There he saw Dreadwing on the floor with a large, scorched wound in his back. His optics widened at the sight.
"Knock Out," Megatron said, gaining his attention, "have this waste of metal taken to recycling." He walked past Dreadwing's motionless body and made his way towards the door. "You and Starscream will be tasked together to learn the function of the Omega Keys."
"O-Of course, my Liege," Knock Out said as his leader walked out of the room.
Starscream got up and approached Dreadwing. Evilly laughing, he kicked him in his side. "Not so tough now, are you?!"
Knock Out grimly looked at Dreadwing. It was a reminder to what happens to those who disobey their leader. And Dreadwing was the most loyal of them all. No one was safe.
Letting out a vent, Knock Out called for maintenance. "I need two vehicons sent to medbay to deal with recycling," he ordered. Though once he turned around, he was met with five sharp digits slashing down into his finish.
"HEY!" He exclaimed as he staggered back. He looked down at the deep scratch marks on his chest before glaring up at Starscream. "What was that for?!"
"You left me to die!" Starscream angrily growled.
"There's nothing I could have done!" Knock Out argued, "he would have scrapped us both!"
"I would watch yourself if I were you, Doctor," Starscream warned as he shoved past him towards the door.
Knock Out frowned as he looked down at his finish. The scratches were so deep he could see energon trying to ooze out of them.
The vehicons soon arrived and were shocked to see who it was they were fetching.
"Just get it out of my sight," Knock Out told them.
The vehicons complied and dragged the body away along with the ex-commander's weapons.
Soon as they left, Knock Out looked back at his scratches and angrily vented.
The vehicons took the body down the hall towards recycling. Each had a hold of the former commander by the arms as they dragged him across the floor.
However unknown to the two cons, the flier regained consciousness as his optics flickered back on. Weakly glancing at the two vehicons, he closed them again and remained still.
Soon the vehicons reached the room and dragged Dreadwing inside. There they just dropped him next to the pile of fallen vehicons waiting to be smelted down.
"There," one of the vehicons said nonchalantly, "Rust in peace."
"Too bad he's gone," the other said, "he was a more tolerable commander than Starscream. Aw well."
They turned their backs to the flier as the first vehicon looked at the large gun.
"Can't believe he was able to carry around a gun this size," the vehicon said as he studied it. He tried holding it up and pretended to fire it.
The other one laughed as he held up the sword and swung it around. "I think I might keep this. I always wanted a sword."
"Oh please," his friend said, "you'd take your visor out within the first five nanoseconds with that thing."
The two were too busy chatting that they failed to notice Dreadwing slowly getting back onto his pedes behind them. Glaring down at the two, he grabbed them both from behind.
The vehicons shrieked as the large flier lifted them up in the air, making them drop his weapons.
Dreadwing then roughly slammed the two of them together, knocking them both out. The vehicons now limp in his hold, he tossed them aside before collapsing onto his knee. His back stung badly. Megatron had missed his spark by a centimeter, but he was still badly injured. Clutching his chest, he vented through the pain as he frowned. He tried standing back up but collapsed down again. Looking at his sword, he grabbed it and tried using it like a cane. Taking a big vent, he leaned against the sword and pushed himself back onto his pedes. A grunt escaped his mouth as he felt a sharp pain shoot through him. He tried keeping his balance as he vented through the pain.
Placing his sword and gun back on him, he staggered out of the room, having to use the wall to support himself. He could feel his vision going in and out as he kept moving. He only managed to walk a few feet away before hearing a bunch of vehicons approaching from the other end of the corridor. He went to reach for his gun, but nearly lost his balance. It was no use. he was in no condition to fight. He had to retreat. Looking to the side, he saw a way out.
The flier pushed himself to the other side of the hall and stumbled into the room, sealing the door shut behind him. He then opened the airlock, causing all the air to be sucked out of the hole. The warship was already ascending towards the Earth's atmosphere as the sky grew darker.
Dreadwing staggered towards the opened lock. He quickly grabbed onto the sides, keeping himself from being pulled out through the hole. Glancing over his shoulder, he frowned as he looked at the sealed door. Everything he fought for... everything he believed in... he was leaving it all behind.
Letting go of the sides, he allowed the air to pull him out of the ship. At first, he flipped around in the sky as he shot past the Nemesis, making him grunt as his back stung. Once he was far enough away, he let out a painful yell as he transformed into jet mode. He then flew away from the Nemesis... leaving the Decepticons for good.
(Autobot Base)
While Optimus worked on the groundbridge, everyone stood off to the side and talked amongst themselves. They were all upset that Optimus withheld information from them, especially something so important.
"Is it my imagination, or has Optimus been acting differently since that message from Alpha Trion?" Arcee asked.
"It's not like him to not tell us everything," Bumblebee bleeped.
"Yeah, he has been keeping things from us," Bulkhead agreed.
"Even Ratchets out of the loop," Arcee added.
"Well give me one good reason Optimus couldn't trust his own teammates," Bulkhead said angrily, "why he couldn't have told us about the Omega Lock."
"Because if he had, Megatron would have pulled it out of my head with his patch," Smokescreen responded as he walked over to the group.
"Like it matters, Bulkhead grumbled, "the cons are holding all the keys anyway."
Everyone was quiet as they thought to themselves.
Knowing she hadn't said anything yet, Smokescreen stood beside Stormracer and nudged her arm. She looked at him as he did a quick glance at the others.
Stormracer glanced at the group who were still clearly upset. She nervously looked back at Smokescreen who was still trying to encourage her. Finally, she let out a vent and stepped forward.
"Hey, uh, bots?" she spoke.
All optics looked at her, making her even more nervous.
"I uh... th-there's something I need to tell you all."
The bots glanced at one another before looking back at the assistant.
"What is it?" Arcee asked her.
But before the teal femme could say anything, Ratchet called her over from his workstation.
"Stormracer, I need you here right now," the medic said.
"Whoa hang on there, Ratchet," Bulkhead said, "Storm wants to say something."
Stormracer however grew scared as her boss looked at her. She couldn't bring herself to do it. Getting cold feet, she rubbed the back of her helm. "I-it's okay, Bulk. It's nothing important." She shamefully made her way over to Ratchet, leaving the others puzzled.
Smokescreen vented as he shook his helm at her.
(The Nemesis)
Knock out and Starscream were in the lab with the four Omega Keys sitting on the table. Knock Out scanned each key, trying to figure out how they worked. Though he wasn't having very much luck.
Starscream only stood off to the side as he frowned at the doctor.
"Tick tock, Knock Out, tick tock!" the seeker said impatiently, "Megatron is expecting results. And given what we just witnessed; I say we cannot afford to disappoint our master."
"We?" Knock Out asked as he frowned at him. "Unless nagging counts, I haven't seen you lift a finger."
"I am the one who brought him the keys," Starscream argued, "do I really need to prove myself further by deciphering how they operate too?"
"Well, perhaps if my research hadn't been sidelined by someone's cosmetic surgery, I might be further along right now!" the doctor exclaimed as he held up a key.
Starscream scoffed. "Oh, just give it here!" He took the key from Knock Out's servo and tried opening it somehow. When that didn't work, he hit it against the table multiple times.
"Oh gee, why didn't I think of that?!" Knock Out asked sarcastically.
Starscream had enough and angrily swung the key at Knock Out, scratching his finish yet again.
This of course angered the doctor. "I just buffed that!" He grabbed another key and swung it at Starscream who swung his at the same time. Though when their two keys made contact, they went online and merged with one another. Both cons were surprised by this as they looked at their discovery.
"Do you think...?" Knock Out started to ask.
Both of them grabbed the remaining two keys and each held one up.
"Ready?" Starscream said, "Go!"
They brought the two keys into the merged ones. All four glowed as they locked together. Knock Out and Starscream let go as the keys hovered over the table. Soon a hologram popped up from the keys, revealing a map of Cybertron. A red light appeared on the map, marking a location for something.
Starscream laughed. "And that is why Dreadwing is pushing up lugnuts."
"And we are not," Knock Out added with a smirk.
The two cons didn't waste any time presenting their findings to their master.
Megatron looked at the map before him. "Of course!" he said, "keys are useless without something to unlock." He looked at Soundwave standing behind the other two. "Target the spacebridge for Cybertron."
(Autobot Base)
Soon Optimus had completed modifying the groundbridge/spacebridge. Everyone was amazed that the Prime was able to do it by a swing of a hammer.
Ratchet took a look at the controls. "Yet another astonishing convergence of magic and science," he said, "courtesy of the ancients."
"And our leader," Smokescreen added.
"It's hard to believe," Bulkhead said in amazement, "a few swings of that hammer and bam!"
They all turned around to look at the bridge.
"Our groundbridge is now a spacebridge," Arcee said.
Just then the alarms went off on the computer as a green light flashed.
"Our sensors are detecting a massive energon burst occurring outside Earth's atmosphere," Ratchet reported, "the surge of that kind can only mean one thing. Activation of another spacebridge."
"The cons are already on the move?" Stormracer asked.
Optimus approached the group. "Megatron has discovered that the Omega Lock is on Cybertron."
"It appears we have lost our advantage," Ratchet said.
"But with Megatron unaware that we now possess the means of interstellar travel, the element of surprise remains in our favor," Optimus stated. "We must embark on this mission with every resource at our disposal."
The others went off to grab the Iacon relics from the vaults.
Meanwhile, Stormracer rushed over to the workstation and grabbed a couple beakers. Due to them having limited resources, Ratchet didn't allow her to use the chemicals they had for her own personal use. However, she had a feeling the medic would make an exception. Quickly putting together a formula, she grinned as she bottled it up in three flasks and attached them to her. She then ran to her hangar and grabbed her hologram projector. Securing it on, she ran back to the main hangar. Everyone but Optimus was already at the groundbridge with the relics in their possession.
"Wait up!" she said as she ran over to them.
The team was surprised to see Stormracer running over with her hologram projector on her arm and a few flasks attached to her hips.
"Storm, what are you doing?" Arcee asked.
"I'm coming with you," she said, "Optimus said every resource at our disposal, right? I'm sure that includes your back up."
"And Ratchet okayed this?" Bumblebee asked.
"Okayed what?" the medic asked as he walked over. He looked at his assistant and frowned. "What are you doing?" He pointed at the flasks, "what is that?!"
"Storm says she's coming with us," Bulkhead said.
Ratchet's optics widened in shock. "Oh no she's not!" he sternly exclaimed.
"Come on, Ratchet," Stormracer protested, "I've helped with missions before."
"Missions, yes, but not in battle!"
"Look, Optimus wants to throw everything we got at the cons. That should include me. I just want to help get the keys back."
"I'll keep her safe," Smokescreen told Ratchet, "As long as I have the Phase Shifter with me, nothing will hit her."
"We could use all the help we can get, Ratchet," Arcee said.
"Storm has shown she can be tough during a fight," Bulkhead added.
Ratchet was silent as he looked at all of them. Finally, he let out a vent and pinched his brow. He then sternly looked at Smokescreen. "If she gets hurt, I will hold you personally responsible."
"Understood," Smokescreen said with a salute.
The spacebridge was soon activated as everyone stood in front of it. They could hear Optimus outside the room, using the Forge on something else.
"What's he forging now?" Bulkhead asked.
Everyone looked at the corridor as the forge slammed down one last time. To their surprise, Optimus made his way into the hangar... with a fully restored Star Sabor.
Seeing his bots ready to roll, the prime approached them with his weapon in hand. He then noticed Stormracer was among them as well.
"Ratchet gave me the okay," she told him.
"I'll watch her back," Smokescreen added.
Optimus nodded before looking at the ground/space bridge. "Megatron must be stopped no matter the cost."
The six of them transformed and drove through the spacebridge, ready for the fight ahead of them.
(The Nemesis)
With Megatron having already left for Cybertron, Knock Out was back in his medbay trying to fix up his paint job. If they were going to restore their home world, he refused to be a part of it with his finished ruined.
As he buffed out his armor, Starscream walked into the room with a grin on his face.
"Ah, I had a feeling you would be here," the seeker said as he approached the doctor.
Knock Out glanced at him with a frown. "Here to ruin my finish again, Screamy?"
"That's Commander Starscream to you," the seeker said as he stood tall with his servos behind his back.
Knock Out groaned to himself. "You got your old spot back. Congratulations."
"Yes," the newly appointed commander said with a smirk. "Lord Megatron left me in command before he left. Meaning once again, I am your superior."
"Oh goody," Knock Out sarcastically said as he continued buffing his finish.
Starscream stepped around him as he continued talking. "It is only a matter of time before Megatron finds what he is seeking. And when he does, we will be able to not only revive Cybertron... but reformat Earth as well."
Knock Out's optics widened. Turning off his buffer, he looked at Starscream. "Earth?"
"Megatron has plans for this planet. In order to achieve it, he seeks to change it as he sees fits."
"But we'll have Cybertron," the doctor pointed out, "Why not just leave the Autobots here to rust away? They do really seem to like it here."
Starscream evilly smirked. "Precisely. Everything they swore to protect... they will see wiped out before their very optics."
Knock Out felt his tank drop. Stormracer loved Earth. What Megatron was planning would devastate her.
Starscream noticed his troubled expression. "Don't tell me you now care about this pitiful planet."
The doctor looked at him and scoffed. "Of course not. Yes, the humans make great automobiles, but I couldn't care less about what happens to this mudball."
Starscream smirked, already knowing what was on Knock Out's mind. "I see. But Stormracer is quite the opposite, isn't she?"
Knock Out frowned as he glanced away. "Like you said. The Autobots care about this world."
"Yes, what a shame," the SIC said before shrugging, "Oh well. I'm sure she will get over it... If Megatron allows her to live that long anyway."
The doctor glared at him.
"Just don't forget whose side you're on, Knock Out." Starscream warned before leaving the room.
Soon as the SIC left, Knock Out growled as he put down his buffer. He then angrily swiped his arm across the table, knocking everything off of it. Letting out a vent, he leaned onto the table and held his head in frustration.
(Jasper, Nevada)
It had been almost an hour since the dismissal bell rang. All the kids had left the school grounds already. All but four.
Sitting outside on the stairs, Jack, Sierra, Raf, and Miko were still waiting for the bots to come pick them up.
"I don't think they're coming," Raf said.
Sierra was on her phone trying to call Stormracer, but with no luck. "I can't get a hold of Storm," she said.
Even Miko was on her phone trying to call Bulkhead. "I can't reach Bulkhead either," she said.
Jack pulled out his phone. But instead of calling Arcee, he called the base. Immediately Ratchet picked up.
"Optimus?" Ratchet asked.
"Uh, no, Ratchet, it's Jack," the boy responded, "Is something wrong? Because schools been out for almost an hour, and no one showed to pick us up."
"That it because the entire team is rather... indisposed at the moment," the medic said, "I suggest you obtain an alternate method of transport."
"What's he saying?" Miko asked Jack as she hopped down.
"The bots are busy," Jack answered her.
"Why can't Stormracer pick us up?" Sierra asked.
"Stormracer went with the team," Ratchet said, answering the girl's question.
"He says Stormracers with them," Jack told his girlfriend.
"Then tell Ratchet to come get us," Miko argued, "It's not like he has anything else to do!"
"Just go home!" the medic said, "I will be in touch later!" He then hung up on the four.
"Uh- Hello?" Jack asked. He looked at his phone then at the others. "He hung up."
"What crawled up his tailpipe and died?" Miko asked.
"Did Ratchet tell you what's going on?" Raf asked the older boy.
"No," Jack said, "they seem to be keeping us in the dark lately."
"A lot has been going on for them," Sierra said, "they probably didn't have time to tell us everything."
"But we're part of Team Prime too!" Miko argued.
Jack sighed. "Ratchet did say he will let us know later. Until then, there's nothing we can really do except wait."
(Cybertron)
Stormracer couldn't believe she was back on Cybertron. She had believed she would never have the chance to do so again. Though she was heartbroken of what became of it. Everything was in ruin. A total waste land. It no longer looked like the home she remembered.
"I forgot how bad it was," she said as they drove across the metal plain.
"The war really did a number on this place," Bulkhead added.
Smokescreen drove up beside them. "Hey, once we revive Cybertron, we'll make the place look good as new."
Stormracer looked at him and smiled. "Yeah," she said optimistically.
The group continued driving before they reached their destination. The Sea of Rust.
Stormracer looked at the rust storm around them. Some things hadn't changed. "This is where I got my name," she told Smokescreen.
"Then let's show the cons why your names Stormracer," her friend encouraged her.
It wasn't long before they spotted the Decepticons from afar. Megatron was taking lead with an army of vehicons behind him. Four of them each held an Omega Key as they walked.
"Right on que," Arcee said.
Optimus looked at the team. "Autobots, here is the plan..."
Each given their orders, the team split up. Stormracer went with Smokescreen as they quietly approached the vehicons without being spotted.
Smokescreen looked at his friend and held out his servo. "You ready?"
Stormracer grabbed a flask from her side as she took Smokescreen's servo. "Let's do it."
The two then phased through the ground and made their way towards the army. They could hear the vehicons' footsteps walking over them as they waited for the right moment. Once the vehicons were in front of them, the two autobots phased upwards out of the ground.
"Oh, boys!" Stormracer sang as she tossed the round flask up and down in her servo.
The three vehicons from behind turned around just as Smokescreen fired at them.
Soon all the other vehicons turned around to see the two autobots.
Stormracer activated her hologram projector and made many copies of her and Smokescreen, confusing the vehicons.
The cons shot at the holograms, hoping to get the real Stormracer and Smokescreen.
Smokecreen continued shooting while Stormracer threw the flask with all her might at the enemy. Soon as it hit the ground, it exploded, sending the vehicons near it to go flying back from the force.
Smokescreen then took Stormracer by the servo and the two ran off before phasing through a wall, making the holograms disappear as well.
Stormracer vented heavily as she let out a small chuckle. "Phew! Talk about an adrenaline rush!"
"We're just getting started," Smokescreen said with a smirk, "we still gotta get those keys."
They could hear the others attacking the vehicons with the relics. Bumblebee had used the Polar Gauntlet to throw a large ball of metal at the vehicons while Bulkhead used the immobilizer to freeze a bunch in place. Arcee leaped down from a structure and placed the Apex Armor on her. The armor soon covered her completely as she landed, shielding her from the Decepticons' firepower. Hearing the group charging at the enemy above them, Smokescreen and Stormracer phased through the ground again and charged with their comrades. Stormracer activated her hologram projector, making copies of her and the others to confuse the cons.
"Defend the keys!" they heard Megatron shout at the vehicons.
The other vehicons circled around the four holding the Omega Keys, ready to defend them with their lives.
The two sides charged at one another. A vehicon threw a punch at Bumblebee, only to learn it was a hologram of the scout. The real Bumblebee then appeared, and sucker punched him to the ground.
Stormracer stuck close to Smokescreen as they fought the vehicons. Stormracer grabbed another flask and threw it. Another explosion went off, knocking the vehicons back. She then transformed into her vehicle mode and drove around the cons, even making copies of herself to throw them off. She then noticed a long-broken pipe sticking out of the ground. Activating her grappling claw, she fired it at the pipe, pulling it out and dragging it across the ground behind her. The teal car drove between the vehicons, gaining their attention. They were too distracted by her that they failed to notice the pipe coming up from behind. They shrieked as the pipe hit them under their legs and knocked them off their pedes.
"See you next fall!" Stormracer shouted at them. As she got closer to Smokescreen, she noticed a vehicon trying to sneak up behind him. Speeding over, she transformed and grabbed hold of the pipe. Before the vehicon could fire at Smokescreen, the teal femme let out a battle cry as she swung the pipe with all her might at the vehicon's helm.
CRACK!
The con fell to the ground unconscious with his visor cracked.
Smokescreen saw this as he looked at his friend in shock. "Whoa."
Both ducked down as more shots fired at them. Smokescreen grabbed hold of Stormracer before they phased through the ground. Getting behind the vehicons, Stormracer activated her EMP generator as they phased back up and returned fire. Once those vehicons were dealt with, Smokescreen and Stormracer joined the others.
Megatron pulled out the Dark Star Saber and charged with more vehicons firing at the bots.
Team Prime charged as well with Optimus running past them with the Star Saber ready. Smokescreen made sure Stormracer didn't get hit as he used the Phase Shifter to protect her from the firepower.
While she and Smokescreen fought the cons, Stormracer looked to see Optimus and Megatron fighting each other with their swords. Waves of blue and purple energy was everywhere as they clashed blades.
The femme shrieked as a blast hit near her. She fell back to see a vehicon about to fire at her before he was shot in the chest by Smokescreen.
"Storm, stay focused!" Arcee told her as she ran by.
"Right!" the assistant said as she got back up.
Using the relics, the team managed to take down most of the vehicons guarding the keys. Bulkhead immobilized them all while Bumblebee used the Polar Gauntlet to pull the keys from the vehicons' frozen servos. Him, Arcee, Bulkhead, and Smokescreen each grabbed a key from the gauntlet's beam. They had done it.
"Yes!" Stormracer cheered.
With the keys in their possession, Optimus pushed Megatron back before swinging the Star Saber. The wave released from it hit Megatron with such force he went flying upwards and landed on top of a building.
The bots then transformed and started falling back with more vehicons charging at them. Stormracer was about to follow before she noticed a dead vehicon bleeding out a lot of energon. She looked up at the leaning structure the vehicon was laying against. A crazy idea then came to her as she pulled out her last flask.
Arcee looked behind to see the teal femme still there. "Storm!" she yelled as she turned around to get her.
Stormracer threw the flask at the energon before transforming and speeding away.
BOOM!
The explosion was strong enough to destroy the last support of the structure.
The vehicons that were approaching stopped in their tracks when they saw the large structure falling towards them.
"FALLBACK!" one of them shouted.
The vehicons retreated before they could be crushed by the structure, though they were roughly flown forward by the force of the impact.
Stormracer already had pedal to the metal as the building hit the ground, the force causing rust, debris and smoke to fly outwards.
Arcee saw this and immediately turned around with the teal car catching up.
"GO, GO, GO!" Stormracer said as a cloud of smoke and rust chased after them.
The two managed to avoid getting caught in the smoke as they caught up with the others.
"What was that?!" Bulkhead asked in shock.
"The vehicons were still chasing us," Stormracer said, "I slowed them down."
Arcee was silent for a moment, making the teal femme think she was mad at her.
"Good job," Arcee told the assistant.
"Way to go, Storm!" Bumblebee bleeped.
Stormracer smiled as they kept on driving. Just then she noticed someone was missing. "Hey, where's Smokescreen?"
Megatron recovered from the blow and approached the edge of the building. He glared down at what was left of his army.
"I will have those keys, or I will have your SPARKS!" he threatened them.
Smokescreen then phased through a wall right in the middle of the vehicons. "I can help with the last part," he said as he revealed the relic he had been carrying.
Megatron's optics widened. "The spark extractor!"
The vehicons fired at Smokescreen, but he managed to dodge in time and activate the spark extractor. He then phased through the ground in time as the extractor went online.
The vehicons tried to retreat but found themselves caught in the extractor's energy dome. The dome grew bigger and bigger, taking out every vehicon caught in it.
Seeing the energy field approaching him, Megatron let out a yell as he threw the Dark Star Saber at the extractor. The sword pierced through its mark, deactivating the extractor for good. But the damage had already been done to his army.
Leaping down from the building, he walked over and pulled his sword out from the broken relic.
"Starscream!" he said into his commlink, "the Autobots have seized the Omega Keys. Send reinforcements immediately!"
(The Nemesis)
Over at the bridge, Starscream and Soundwave stood at the monitor as the commander responded to their leader.
"Actually, Lord Megatron, Soundwave has been briefing me on recent developments, and we may have a more effective solution." Soon after he explained his plan to Megatron, Starscream looked at Knock Out who was standing behind him. "Time to test your loyalty, dear Knock Out."
Knock Out looked at the coordinates with dread. This was the one thing he knew Stormracer would slag him for. He couldn't do it. Maybe he could change their minds somehow.
"Should we really waste our time with this?" Knock Out asked, "I'm sure with the proper reinforcement-"
"Are you arguing with your superiors, Knock Out?" Starscream asked in a warning tone.
Knock Out went quiet. He tried thinking of a way to talk the SIC out of it, but Starscream was testing him. And he knew what would happen if he didn't follow orders.
Having no choice, he shamefully lowered his head. "No... Commander."
(Jasper, Nevada)
Back in Jasper, the four kids were walking down the street, deciding they might as well hang out at Jack's house for the time being.
"Can't believe we're stuck in Jasper while the bots are out on a mission," Miko grumbled.
"I wonder how the bots are doing," Raf said.
"It would be nice to know what they're doing," Sierra said, "especially since Stormracer went with them."
"Let's just hope they're okay and that they'll call back soon," Jack said.
"Ugh! Let's just call Ratchet again and tell him to groundbridge us or something!" Miko complained.
As the girl talked, Raf heard the sound of an engine behind them. Curious, he stopped and looked over his shoulder at the source of the sound. His eyes widened in horror at what he saw following them.
"Uh, guys?" He said as he pointed.
The others stopped and turned around to see what he was pointing at. Soon they too were fearful at the dark colored car approaching.
"Vehicon!" Sierra exclaimed.
"Run!" Jack yelled.
The four humans started running away from the vehicon. But they didn't get far before another vehicon pulled into view, blocking their path.
The kids fearfully backed away towards an alley as the two cars boxed them in. Next thing they heard was an engine revving behind them. Turning around, they saw the red Aston Martin pulling up towards them in the alley.
"I suggest you come quietly," Knock Out told the children.
(Cybertron)
Smokescreen managed to catch up with the others as they followed Optimus to the Omega Lock's location. It didn't take long before they drove into a clearing. There they transformed and walked towards the spot.
"Our head start won't last long," Arcee said.
"This is where Alpha Trion said we'll find it, right?" Smokescreen asked.
"These are the coordinates," Bulkhead confirmed.
Seeing a boxlike structure up ahead, the team walked over to it.
"Is this it?" Stormracer asked curiously.
"Doesn't look like much," Bulkhead commented.
Optimus wiped the dust off of it. He then contacted base. "Ratchet, we have located the Omega Lock." He looked at the others. "According to Alpha Trion, the Omega Lock is a conduit to the very AllSpark itself."
Stormracer let out a vent to calm her excitement. "I can't believe we're really about to do this," she said excitedly.
Smokescreen stepped towards the Prime. "Optimus, an honor like this shouldn't belong to me," he said as he held out the key he was holding to Optimus. Just then the key began glowing in his servo, as did the others.
The Omega Lock then lit up, sensing the keys as they sensed it. Even the ground lit up around them, forming a pattern. Just then the ground began pulling apart and shifted. One by one, four large structures emerged from the ground and surrounded the team. Everything continued growing and shifting as the team watched in amazement. Soon a large ring formed over their heads, forming a shimmering blue energy field within it.
"Wow," Stormracer said in amazement.
Just then they heard a sound approaching them. Looking over, they saw Megatron flying straight towards them in his aircraft form. Everyone immediately ran over and pulled out the relics as the Decepticon leader transformed and landed in front of them.
"Autobots," Megatron said as he approached them. "I would suggest that you put a halt on your task and hand over those keys."
"And why would we do that?" Smokescreen asked.
Megatron evilly grinned as a spacebridge portal appeared behind him. Starscream, Soundwave, and Knock Out instantly stepped out of the portal, each carrying a pod... containing the children inside of them.
"So that I may hand over the humans," Megatron answered as he gestured towards them.
Stormracer's optics widened when she saw Sierra in the pod Knock Out was holding. "Sierra?" she said fearfully.
Sierra saw her guardian and looked at her with fear on her face.
"And if we refuse?" Optimus asked Megatron.
The Decepticon leader walked over to him. "Then I will have no choice but to open the pods, exposing your pets to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere." He threatened as he stood face to face with Optimus. "And then, we can all watch them instantly perish together."
Dun dun DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Holy crap you guys, one more chapter and then we're in season 3! And lets just say things are about to hit the fan for Stormracer in the next chapter.
Yes, Dreadwing is still alive! SURPRISE! In my opinion, I think he could have had a cool redemption arc in the series, and I want to give that to him. And yes, I had Megatron shoot Dreadwing with his own cannon and not with Dreadwing's gun like in the show. Reason for that is because I personally think that Dreadwing's gun does a lot more damage compared to everyone else's firepower. I mean, it put a big hole through Dreadwing's chest in the series! So yeah, hence why I decided to have Megatron use his own, otherwise there was no way Dreadwing was going to walk away with a huge hole where his spark was.
Thank you all for reading and hopefully I will post again soon. Until next time! God bless!