Hey there, everyone and I'm back with the third chapter of "Air Superiority". Upon joining the Autobots, SI Skyquake got a mixed reception of his presence as expected and was about to give them coordinates of Energon locations to them as a gift until Agent Fowler showed up to demand explanation from Optimus Prime.

My responses to these Guest reviews that I can't normally reply on PM:

Chris Amanatidis: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. And yeah, you got good points regarding other SI stories following the stations of the canon without any much change despite their ability to do so. But don't worry, SI Skyquake will do his best to help win the war. The start of it is giving Team Prime access to the Energon deposits the original Skyquake was guarding.

They are always in constant short supply.

Troglodyte: Your wish is granted.

Alter: Thanks for your concern and here's the update. Real life can be a pain but we persevere.

Guest #1: Here it is.

TIANO C-G: Thanks, I appreciate it and yeah, no worries.

Guest #2: Hope you're happy now.

Seithr03: Thanks, glad you enjoyed the story and yeah, I definitely nailed it good. No worries, it's here now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime and its cast of characters. They belong to Hasbro.

Enjoy and don't forget to review. :D

Chapter 3

At Autobot Base Omega One

"Alright, let me get this straight here, Prime."

An annoyed Special Agent Fowler said with a frown after Optimus Prime had explained to him of what exactly happened back at the desert canyon and vouched for me. While I stood where I was and observed the scene happening between the Autobot leader and the liaison from the United States government after the latter showed up.

The other members of Team Prime and their human friends were also listening as well, wanting to see how it went.

The out of shape ex-Army Ranger pointed at my face, stating in his own recap, "Skyquake here used to be one of these Seekers, the Decepticons' equivalent of the Air Force that were led by Starscream, and he used to try to kill you in one of the battles of your planet's civil war but failed. And then he had been on Earth after arriving here for millions of years, sleeping beneath everyone's noses all this time until Starscream woke him up and wanted him to bend the knee as his new master. But then flyboy refused, scared him off and decided to join you when you offered him a spot in your team. But only after you defeat him in a duel Street Fighter-style."

It surprised me to learn that Agent Fowler apparently knew about Street Fighter. Which made me amused of imagining the image of him playing the game with a straight face in my processor. Not only that, I noticed that Miko Nakadai looked very intrigued upon overhearing it from Agent Fowler. She definitely wanted to see if the older man still got it at his current age by challenging him to a video game duel.

If he had ever entertained that notion first of course.

"And then, he scanned my jet fighter mid-flight without warning and out of nowhere because he had lost his original vehicle mode from his beauty sleep!", Fowler finished.

I made my polite interjection whilst trying to compliment the U.S. government agent, "I asked permission from Prime before I have done that, Agent Fowler. There is no need to worry of your well-being. The scanning process is harmless. Although I must admit, your vehicle is impressive for your planet's technology when I scanned it as my new alt-mode to acquire."

"Actually, I made modifications to Agent Fowler's aircraft, Skyquake. Upgraded the air pressure regulators so that he could fly it without need of a flight suit.", Ratchet called out to correct me, which I can see that Agent Fowler's outburst had gotten the grumpy Autobot medic's attention to investigate and see the commotion.

"Ah, I see.", I noted.

Now that Ratchet said it, since he modified Fowler's jet with the schematics I acquired from scanning it, it would mean that any human who boarded my alt-mode during flight on Earth's skies won't have to worry about air pressure destroying their inner organs.

But then it made me wince to recall about Starscream in the Bayverse comics intentionally killing the poor schmuck inside his alt-mode's cockpit when flying away to leave Earth. I'd rather not test my luck of going into space with Agent Fowler in it and it's better safe than sorry.

"Listen here, flyboy! I understand that you needed a new vehicle mode to blend in on Earth but stealing plans for classified military aircraft will not be tolerated on my watch!", the portly man warned me with a glare.

Like I stated previously regarding Arcee, if looks could kill, anyone on the receiving end of it would have dropped dead on the ground by now.

I held back my laugh of amusement because I knew that Fowler would definitely not be in a good mood when Dreadwing, the twin brother of the original Skyquake, or rather mine now, would scan his vehicle upon seeing it in his eventual arrival on Earth in the future. Instead I reassured him with a nod, "I understand, Agent Fowler. I will not do it again and I will ask for your consent should I need another flight form."

Turning to Optimus, Fowler asked him in a skeptic tone, "Are you sure Skyquake is really trustworthy, Prime? To have him, a Decepticon defector, join your team even though he tried to kill you before in the past?"

Arcee and Bulkhead seemed to agree with the human agent about it, which I can see they're still in strong reservation at me joining Team Prime for being a recently former Decepticon.

The Autobot leader said in confirmation, "Indeed, Agent Fowler. There have been few cases of former Decepticons who have chosen to stray from Megatron's path of tyranny and defected by their own free will during the war on Cybertron. Notably, Jetfire and Drift. As for Skyquake, he and his twin brother, Dreadwing are both honorable warriors even among Megatron's ranks. Once they gave their word, it is an absolute bond."

"Because I have defeated him fair and square in a duel, Skyquake honored his word to side with the Autobots and will never break it.", Robot Space Jesus ended his explanation.

I gave a solemn nod in confirmation to back up his statement.

"The flyboy has a twin with the same code of honor like a Bushido, huh? Alright, I trust you, Prime.", the U.S. government agent reluctantly conceded before returning his direction at me. "However, if you're gonna be part of Prime's crew, you will have to accept these terms first, Skyquake."

Even though I knew what he meant regarding the whole "Robots in Disguise" theme, I played along by asking. "And what would that be, Agent Fowler?"

Fowler answered to me, "The terms would be that you're going to be my new jet. Unlike Prime and his team, you literally stand out too much and your flying form doesn't exactly blend in with the public compared to theirs as civilian vehicles. It also includes your weapon of choice looking like it came straight out of Predator movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. That doesn't scream subtle."

Huh, he did notice my Energon gatling gun in the background and I didn't know that he's a fan of the first Predator movie as well. It wouldn't be a surprise if Agent Fowler would obligatorily say "Get to da choppa!" at some point of his life.

"So you are going to ride me?", I inquired out loud with faux curiosity.

"Um, phrasing!", Jack Darby snickered with Miko Nakadai following but an innocent Rafael Esquivel was puzzled.

As if you're one to talk, Mr. "You're My First Ride, Arcee" as I did my best to make a good imitation of The Rock's eyebrow raise at the black haired teenager with attitude. And speaking of The Rock, it's a shame that Cliffjumper had bit the dust so early in the first episode of the series. Just like the original Skyquake, he was introduced in one episode and then die simultaneously.

And then both of them were turned into Terrorcon zombies by Dark Energon respectively. At least the zombified Cliffjumper perished for real after Starscream rigged the Decepticon Energon mine to explode with a short timer bomb while the zombified OG Skyquake himself was doomed to roam around the Shadowzone for eternity.

But unlike them, I lived as Skyquake and I'm gonna see through it until the very end.

Seemingly unaware of the innuendo or just going with the flow like a professional he was, Agent Fowler said, "That's right. I can't have you fly around the U.S. and international airspace on your own without tipping off the Air Force from the Pentagon and other nations of Earth into sending their jets after your tailpipe for being an unknown aircraft with identical schematics of my ride that you scanned. But with me around by your side, you won't have that issue."

He added, "Therefore, you're sticking with me as my new wingman, flyboy."

I frowned in response as it meant that I would be limited from going as I please to fly around the Earth. Then it hit me that it's more of a silver lining because Agent Fowler would be my human partner. At least I won't have to babysit the three human kids who already have their Autobot partners with them. Instead hang around with the former Army Rangers member albeit within one of the U.S. military base's hangar bays to maintain cover.

Said hangar bay that might be later used as a new base after Megatron had it destroyed with the Nemesis's colossal cannon from above.

"Very well then, Agent Fowler. I accept your terms.", I said with a nod.

Satisfied with my answer, Fowler then began asking me questions, "So what were you doing on Earth for millions of years, Skyquake? Sleeping all the way from prehistoric times to the present?"

I seized this moment before me as I explained, "Simple, Agent Fowler. Several Decepticons including myself were tasked to guard the Energon deposits that were hidden on Earth. Starscream was the first to found and awakened me in a foolish attempt to coerce me to pledge my loyalty to him before Prime appeared and won me over instead."

"There are more Decepticons on Earth this whole time?!", Agent Fowler exclaimed as his eyes widened in shock of the fact the enemy have been hidden under the notice of humanity this whole time and I can tell it terrified him of imagining the worse case scenario of any of the dormant Decepticons waking up and going for a walk in any of Earth's cities.

My reveal about the Decepticon guardians on Earth also shocked the members of Team Prime as well.

"Scrap!", Arcee and Bulkhead said together.

Ratchet muttered, "By the Allspark..."

"Indeed. More Decepticons of Skyquake's caliber...", a nervous Bumblebee beeped in agreement.

Miko noted, "Whoa, everyone looks so worried."

Jack commented, "I thought it was obvious. Those Decepticons must be more dangerous than the ones we're familiar with."

"So how many are they, Skyquake?", Rafael wondered.

"Six of them to be exact, little one. They were scattered across this planet and they have slumbered in stasis pods just like myself for countless cycles until they will be awakened with an Energon cube like I was.", I further explained before adding with a frown on my faceplate. "... But I doubt Prime would be able to convince them. They are not as reasonable compared to myself."

Agent Fowler asked with a raised eyebrow, "Define "not as reasonable", flyboy?"

I replied with a deep sigh, "Any of them would immediately attack Prime on sight than even giving him a chance to hear him out first. They are all loyal to Megatron but unlike my brother and I, they do not share our code of honor. They will also not hesitate to turn their weapons at me for siding with the Autobots. If they had their way, they would raze the cities down to the ground in their path."

I can see Optimus's faceplate having a solemn contemplation, obviously wanting to negotiate with the Decepticons first than resort to fighting as the first option. He really wanted to use reason to convince any bot from straying the path.

"Then we should need to go after those Cons and capture their stasis pods before Starscream goes after them!", Bulkhead yelled with Ratchet, Bumblebee and Arcee nodding.

That I can agree with the former Wrecker. These six Decepticons are too dangerous to be left alone and it's probably a good thing that Starscream never seemed to go after them and abandoned his scheme after the fiasco of trying to convince the original Skyquake to be his new lackey, settling for using Megatron's comatose body currently on life support to rally the Decepticons instead.

Even Megatron had apparently forgotten their existence when he could have sent out his aerial Vehicon troops to find and awaken them all at their locations before rallying them to his side when he had the major upper hand on Earth with his Darkmount fortress. Their collective might would have greatly bolstered the Decepticon forces of their military might and morale to have them on their side. Even more so when Shockwave would eventually show up on Earth with the Predaking.

When I accessed the memories of my processor to know who they were prior to their deployment and slumbering on Earth, it made me shudder to recognize the identities of the six Decepticon guardians.

Strika, the General of Destruction; Obsidian, her Conjunx Endura who's also the tactical genius; Lugnut, the ever fanatical brute whose level of loyalty to Megatron exceeds even the original Skyquake and Dreadwing; Scourge, the tracker with a habit of taking dead Autobots' insignias as trophies; Astrotrain, the colossal Triple Changer who's almost as tall as a Combiner; and finally Blackout, the one-bot heavy brigade.

I can see why Megatron had assigned the original Skyquake and those six Decepticons as guardians of the hidden Energon deposits for a reason. Not only they are very strong and dangerous in their own right, all of them are fully committed to the Decepticon cause until the bitter end of their lives.

Except for me as I'm Skyquake who recently defected to the Autobots through an honor duel with Optimus that I lost after suffering a Prime time smackdown.

Either way, all six of them must be found and kept hidden away just like what Team Prime did to Airachnid when she was trapped in one of the Insecticons' stasis pods by Arcee. It is easier said than done though because we would have to explore through every single location of the Energon deposit. Even Soundwave had some trouble in trying to locate the original Skyquake as the stasis pods of the Decepticon guardians ain't a piece of space cake.

But first things first, I went to the console of the Autobot base and began to type in the coordinates of the Energon deposits from the memories of my processors. I intend to finish what I was supposed to do before Agent Fowler's entrance interrupted me.

"Skyquake, what are you doing?", Optimus called out to me.

Arcee and Bulkhead made their respective combat stances in anticipation, waiting for the excuse that they were right to be suspicious about the larger Seeker all along. Even Bumblebee seemed to feel wary, really hoping it wasn't a deception.

Fortunately, I proved them wrong.

On the three main screens, they displayed the several major sites with large red blips dotting on almost every major continent of Earth after finishing my typing and pressed the "Enter" button. "Here they are, the location of the Energon deposits and they are yours now, Prime.", I stated to Team Prime and their human friends.

I moved out of the way for Ratchet to verify the authenticity of the coordinates himself. To see that if it's not a signal for the Decepticons to detect and head their way to the Autobots' secret base.

"By the Allspark, they are really the coordinates to the Energon deposits! Optimus, we need to go harvest them now while we have the chance!", the Autobot medic stated with widened optics and a smile. He was filled with relief that Team Prime now have a stable supply of Energon to harvest and sustain from thanks to me.

The Robot Space Jesus agreed before declaring, "Autobots, prepare the mining equipment. Ratchet, open the Ground Bridge to the first Energon deposit of your choosing."

Ratchet eagerly nodded as he began to prep the Ground Bridge for activation and typing in one of the locations' coordinates. It seems that his grumpiness was now taking the backseat once more.

"Roger that, Optimus! Come on, Bee! We're mining Energon now!", Bulkhead obeyed, feeling happy that Team Prime won't have issues of Energon shortage for the first time in solar cycles.

"And what if we stumble on one of Skyquake's sleeping buddies there?", Arcee inquired as she still believed that it's some Decepticon trick and she was waiting for the metallic pede to drop at any moment.

"We take their stasis pod into our custody.", Optimus simply stated in reply before turning to me. "Skyquake, will you help us mine the Energon?"

Seeing it as a way to keep building trust and goodwill with Team Prime, I nodded with a smile. "Very well, Prime. I will join you."

I picked up by Energon gatling gun from the floor, placing it away at my back before following the four Autobots into the hallway of their base to pick up the Energon mining equipment required for the operation. On the other hand, I can overhear Miko asking Agent Fowler if he knows Street Fighter and challenged him to a duel between them when she got her confirmation.

Jack and Rafael decided to hang around and see how it went between their friend and the ex-Army Rangers man while Team Prime and I are planning out our Energon mining field trip together.

At the bridge of The Nemesis, somewhere away from Earth's orbit

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SKYQUAKE JOINED THE AUTOBOTS?!"

Starscream angrily demanded after learning from Soundwave about the recent defection of a powerful Seeker to Optimus Prime's side. The Decepticon chief communications officer used his blank screen face to replay the footage of Skyquake dueling with the leader of the Autobots as hard as he can but ultimately lost in the end in front of Starscream to see.

He and Soundwave had left the medical bay of the Nemesis ship where the comatose body of Megatron had been successfully recovered and was currently under intensive care. Starscream also ordered Soundwave to contact Knock Out and his Conjunx Endura, Breakdown, who were somewhere on Earth in the middle of something what those human couples call a "honeymoon", to rendezvous with the Nemesis ship as soon as they're done so that the flamboyant Decepticon medic can get to work of fixing up Megatron.

"I don't understand. Why would Skyquake betray the Decepticon cause in the first place?", the wannabe self-proclaimed successor of Megatron incredulously wondered.

Soundwave then replayed the recorded voice of Skyquake in response, "The condition is that I face you in an honorable duel between us. Just you and me... To settle the score where we left off from the Battle of Technahar once and for all. If you win, I will pledge my loyalty to you Prime. But if I win..."

He finished it with Optimus's voice recording, "You will remain with the Decepticons..."

After hearing that, Starscream growled in annoyance, "Of course, the idiotic Skyquake had to use the honor duel in a failed gambit to defeat Optimus once more since that blasted Battle of Technahar. Now that Prime defeated him, he will keep his word and joined the Autobots as promised. He and Dreadwing are too honorable for their own good. Honor has no place in the battlefield."

It really vexed him that his scheme of getting Skyquake on his side failed. Not only that large brute rudely rejected him verbally and physically, he actually sided with Optimus Prime like he said he would. That made the Air Commander entirely drop his scheme of trying to find another guardian of the Energon deposit and convince the said bot to be his subordinate.

Cowardly as Starscream may be but cowards do survive and he would rather not get beaten up constantly after every rejection again, thank you very much.

On the silver lining however, Starscream at least claimed the body of Megatron from the remains of the obliterated Space Bridge nearby the dark side of the Moon as a consolation prize, which he then used to his advantage of getting the crew of The Nemesis to follow him under the promise of the true Decepticon leader's eventual recovery.

However, Starscream slyly smirked because he remembered that the two Seekers were born twins with a shared spark. "However, Dreadwing might be coming here from whatever far reaches of the galaxy he had been frequenting after sensing his brother's revival from stasis lock. No doubt, he would come here and want to reunite with Skyquake."

Then the Air Commander finished, "...But I will be the one to welcome him first and explain about his twin's treason and dishonorable defection to the Autobots. Skyquake will suffer the consequences of his actions."

He can already imagine Dreadwing angrily attacking Skyquake for turning his back on the Decepticons in his processors. It made Starscream snicker sinisterly at the Schadenfreude that he was looking forward to it happening in the future.

Meanwhile behind Starscream's back, Soundwave replayed the recorded scene of Skyquake staring at him before entering into the Ground Bridge of the Autobots on his blank screen face. Ever the silent mech, while he was fully aware of the twins' tendency to keep their word as their code of honor even though it can be detrimental in hindsight, the true second-in-command of Megatron pondered to himself regarding Skyquake. Being a former gladiator of Kaon himself, he can understand Skyquake wanting to have another shot at defeating Optimus Prime after his failure at the Battle of Technahar through an honor duel.

Which of course ended in defeat and the twin brother of Dreadwing had to practice what he preached or else be seen as a hypocrite.

Soundwave despises hypocrites, reminding himself of the reason why he took a vow of silence and followed through it in the first place. In fact, he respected Skyquake for sticking to his guns and he knew if Megatron were with him, he would obviously be disappointed but accepted the outcome.

Either way, Skyquake would be officially declared a traitor to the Decepticons for defecting to the Autobots and he will be shot at when they encounter him at the battlefield on Earth.

On the other hand, while Starscream have abandoned his scheme of finding the slumbering Decepticon guardians, Soundwave still continued his search for them around Earth. He will just need one to find and awaken the said guardian so that the latter will reveal more locations of his comrades and the Energon deposits.

Somewhere in the far side of the galaxy

Within the Sky Claw ship, Dreadwing was on the hunt for Autobots that had scattered themselves across the galaxy after almost everyone left Cybertron in its dead state. Recently, he was pursuing Seaspray, one of the Wreckers who was traveling in his own personal ship. Once the Seeker captain captures the so-called old barnacle butt, he intended to rig the latter's transportation with explosives as trap to lure any schmuck Autobots responding to its signal and detonate it, killing them and Seaspray simultaneously.

But then suddenly, he felt a presence on his spark as if he felt whole again and he already knew what it meant.

"Skyquake... My twin brother has finally awoken from his cycles-long slumber. Lord Megatron must have revived him in need of his service as a proud Decepticon warrior once more.", Dreadwing muttered with happiness before he then frowned. "But something is odd. Why does he feel... different?"

It doesn't sit right well with Dreadwing at all, which doesn't help that he cannot read minds at all with his twin despite sharing the same spark together. He hoped that Skyquake was just shaking off from his cycles-long stasis and in need to catch up and adjust himself with the current times he had missed.

Shaking off that feeling and needing answers from Skyquake in person, the Seeker captain decided to abandon his pursuit of Seaspray and head towards the location of his sibling. "Consider yourself lucky, Autobot. My hunt has been postponed... for now.", he said.

Meanwhile at the Depth Charge ship, Seaspray noticed the Sky Claw changing course to a different direction, leaving him alone. "Huh, strange. Dreadwing left? What could have gotten him to do that?", he wondered aloud to himself.

Frowning that his would-be pursuer was departing, the seaborne Wrecker tapped into his ship's communication system, turning on the visual. "Commander Ultra Magnus, do you read me? This is Seaspray.", he called out.

"Confirmed, Seaspray. I read you. What is your report, soldier? Have you lured Dreadwing to our position?", Ultra Magnus demanded after responding from his Iron Will ship, his full appearance was shown through the visual of Seaspray's visual.

The old barnacle butt had met up with his former commanding officer and his own motley crew of Autobots he had gathered at some point during his lonesome space travel. During the reunion, he learned from Ultra Magnus that Dreadwing had been taking out scores of Autobots in his path and the second-in-command of Optimus Prime was determined to make him pay for it.

Thus, they had planned an ambush to take out the Seeker captain and avenge their fallen comrades with Seaspray volunteering himself of being the bait.

"Negative, sir. Dreadwing abandoned pursuit of my ship and diverted the Sky Claw away to another direction. Something must have been urgent for him to do so.", Seaspray replied.

The large Autobot with huge shoulder pads realized with narrowed optics in suspicion, "Or someone. Dreadwing must have responded to the call of Megatron. That is not good news, Seaspray. It would mean he is rallying any Decepticons that heed his call to his side once more."

Seaspray can overhear the commentary of the Autobot crew members from the Iron Will ship of Ultra Magnus as they were privy to the communications between the two.

"So the Decepticon punk is meeting up with the Buckethead, huh?"

"BLAM! POW! That spells big trouble!"

"That means if Megatron is there, then Prime might not be far behind to ruin his groove."

"Optimus... He still lives..."

"Do you want me to pursue him, Commander? Find out where he is heading to meet up with the Buckethead himself.", the Wreckers member asked from Ultra Magnus.

Ultra Magnus pondered about it for a moment before stating his answer, "Affirmative, soldier. Follow after Dreadwing but keep your distance far from him. Once you've confirmed the location, send us the coordinates and we will be there."

"Roger that! Tell Ironhide and Jazz that our surprise party for Dreadwing had been rescheduled. Seaspray out!", Seaspray complied before ending his communication with the second-in-command of Optimus Prime and gripped the controls of his personal ship.

Accelerating the Depth Charge ship's thrusters, Seaspray began his chase after Dreadwing across space.

Author's Note: Alright, Chapter 3 of "Air Superiority is done and I hope you like it. Agent Fowler was informed about SI Skyquake joining Team Prime from Optimus Prime which he had the latter be his new jet and someone to look after. On the other hand, Dreadwing sensed his twin brother's return and is heading for Earth while Seaspray, spared of his canon fate of dying unceremoniously, was curious and contacted Ultra Magnus, who gathered an unlikely crew of Autobots in this story, about the situation.

And then Seaspray set course to follow after Dreadwing.

In "Masters & Students" episode, Starscream mentioned there were other Decepticon warriors who were tasked to guard the Energon deposits and Skyquake was the first to be found, which he attempted to make him his new loyal servant but failed. And then this was never brought up again after that. So, I decided to make good use of those unseen warriors.

By the way, Happy Belated Easter, everyone!

Enjoy and don't forget to review. :D