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Chapter Text

Bumblebee found himself in and out of consciousness. He recognizes that a Decepticon seeker in front of him claiming he was offline to Megatron.

Megatron scowled before he pushed past her and flys off.

The seeker turns to him.

"I apologize for him. Megatron was never so brutal, and I am not a medic so all I can do is easy the pain." The green seeker whispered to him, she spoke cybertronian with a thick vosian accent.

Bumblebee closes his optics before he feels a sharp pain on his neck cables but the pain around the rest of his frame was not as bad as before. He looks up to see the green seeker running off before transforming into a cybertronian jet and flying off in the direction Megatron did.

That's when Ratchet and Optimus found him.

Though the pain was no more, he lost consciousness when he was lifted into the arms of Optimus Prime.

Bumblebee slowly onlined his optics to Arcee, a blue two wheeler, and Optimus chatting. Ratchet was working on something with his back to him and Bulkhead was standing near a door with a cube of energon in his servo. Optimus walked over to him when he saw that he was online. Bumblebee smiled at the Prime but when he was about to talk about the seeker that had helped him, only a soft beep came out.

Bumblebee's optics widened.

The pain was still no longer there but his voice as well. He reached up to his neck to find his voicebox no longer there. He let out another long chirp and started looking around. He was jittery, his frame shaking as the scout tried to make sense of what was happening to him. He was repeating the same sound over and over like he was trying to speak one word but couldn't get it out.

Ratchet rushed over strapped Bumblebee back down to the berth.

When Bumblebee had calm down, Optimus gave him a data-pad and gave it to Bumblebee.

"Write it down, solider and I will do my best to follow what you say." Optimus said as Ratchet unlatched Bumblebee from the medical berth.

'Megatron.... I did not tell him anything.'

Optimus read from the data pad.

"We know, soldiers. Even if you did I would not blame you." Optimus said to Bumblebee who nodded.

Ratchet and the others watched as Bumblebee typed in the pad once more.

'A Decepticon seeker helped. She told Megatron that I was offline and even gave me something for the pain.'

"No way a con helped you." Arcee stated with a servo on her hip.

"On the contrary Arcee, a toxin was found in Bumblebee's system that kept him stable and numbed his wounds so that the pain was little. I have no idea of an Autobot with a toxin like that but a Decepticon...... I am aware of a possibility of her having a toxin like that." Ratchet explained to the two wheeler.

Bumblebee beeped again as if saying 'See. I told you that a Decepticon saved me.'

"Alright, Bumblebee. I need to administer his medicine. It’s probably going to hurt."

Optimus held out his servo for Bumblebee. Bee nodded at Ratchet. As the needle went in and the medicine started to work, Bumblebee squeezed Optimus’s servo tightly though the scout soon left go and went to rest.

Bulkhead placed the cube near to the berth and left with Arcee and Cliffjumper behind him, the door shutting softly after they left.

Optimus looked at him with Ratchet.

Ratchet stared at him, unsure.

"Optimus, this war is killing our planet. The younglings are dying and....." Ratchet stops knowing that the last time this happened Bumblebee cried.

"Ratchet. I know but you know as much as I do that if the death of Megatron happens somebot even worse can take his place."

Ratchet knew.

Thrust, a seeker scientist, was a madbot. He had done more experiments on the Autobot prisoners than any other Decepticon. The horrors the medic had seen, even the Decepticons themselves were not free for Thrust's experiments. Toxicity, a Decepticon seeker, and her Autobot twin brother, Drillbit were experimented by Thrust and the effects are still unknown. Primus knows what the mad seeker would do if he was to become the Decepticon leader.

"Optimus, I know that but what are we to do." Ratchet wondered.

"We will have to leave Cybertron, old friend." Optimus said looking at the low supply of energon.

Ratchet nodds.

Optimus looks away from him.

He was a Prime now. He couldn't cry or not hope. He had to believe that there was good in every bot. He had to be the shoulder to calm down his soldiers.

He was Optimus Prime, a fearless leader.

But he too started to hopeless in this war.

Hopeless that Megatron would never see his wrongdoings.

Hopeless that he was the reason why his soldiers were being offlined.

Optimus looked out the window and wondered why he was given the matrix of leadership and not Megatronus as the Ark started and slowly left Cybertron behind.

Toxicity rushed around the ship, getting it ready to leave Cybertron. The planet became too corrupted to support life, the Decepticons too had to leave the planet like their Autobot counterpart. She sighed, Megatron would never find out that she was the one releasing the Autobot prisoners and she was fine with that.

She circled around the wasteland that was now Vos. Someone had bombed it and for some reason she refused to believe Megatron that it was the Autobots. It was illogical in her cpu that bots like Bulkhead and Ratchet could bomb an entire city, Wheeljack might bomb vehicles and other cons but not a city.

She sighed.

She had crawled out of all that rubbish and found even more chaos in the wake of the bombings. No seeker knew who did it and because of the Decepticons seekers still being in Vos, no bot blames them. Even if it was Starscream who had betrayed Sentinel Prime and given Megatron the protected Dark Energon or legendary it was highly unlikely that more of it existed.

She shook her helm before she walked into the ship where Starscream was with Soundwave.

'Sorry, old friend.' She sighed as she patted the ship before looking out the window of the Nemesis.

The dark energon Megatron had placed in the core had spread faster and farther than any of the Decepticons had ever imagined.

The night was faded purple.

"It's quiet tonight and beautiful. Even if it is purple." She humms gently as Soundwave and Starscream walked closer to her staring out of the window.

"Affirmative. It is indeed a beautiful night." Soundwave admitted as he stood next to her.

She had to stay in the Nemesis until they land on a habitable planet then leave to find more energon. Megatron was adamant on getting a lot of energon for his soldiers.

"The night is quiet. I miss the busy skies of Vos." Starscream said as the ship starts it's engines.

"Analysis: Negative." Soundwave added before he opened his mask.

Without the old council, Soundwave can show his face to them and not be in fear that the council would torture them to get to him.

Toxicity stared at the bot's silver optics, Soundwave was a very handsome mech but his face still remained unread as usual.

"I don't like the busier days of Cybertron. It made it harder to hide from the elite guards." Soundwave sighed.

"I never really fit in on Cybertron. Because of my telepathy, I was a freak in the optics of the council. I like my home world but I do not miss the council. Starscream, I...... I am unsure of my place in this war. I am conflicted with my actions, whether it is truly good for our planet." Soundwave looked at his pedes.

"I as well Soundwave. I suppose I should go to the bridge before Megatron calls for me." Starscream stretched his spinal struts.

Soundwave turns to him.

"Negative: Megatron is too focused on chasing the Prime. Conclusion: Megatron will not care if we stay here a little bit longer. Toxicity, come and watch the night with us." Soundwave asked.

Toxicity noted.

"Wonder if he always talks like that because he's a warrior like me or if he does it because he is is fond of talking like that." Toxicity wondered as she placed a servo on the window.

She watched as Cybertron disappeared with distant. When they go back to wherever the bots are going, Starscream’s trine will be separated and far away from each other. Not for the first time, Toxicity wondered if she’d chosen the wrong side.

Chapter Text

Bulkhead watches television with Bumblebee who was healed but still unable to talk, Bumblebee had made a language for them to understand what he was beeping and that's how the bot communicated with them now instead of the Cybertronian Sign Language he used before. As he watched the show, Bulkhead enjoyed the calmness of the base. Arcee and Cliffjumper were out on patrol, Ratchet was working as usual and Optimus was chatting with Agent Fowler. As the television show continues, Bulkhead becomes lost in thought.

Memories of his life as a youngling on energon farm were amazing but he got older and later he left his creator's farm to be a construction worker because on the farm during his free time, he had read every space bridge schematic he could get his hands on, it interested him and encouraged him to become a construction worker. This was where he met on his good friends; Wheeljack, Drillbit and Breakdown.

A memory before the war plays in his cpu.

A young Bulkhead walks into Maccadam's Old Oil House with his friends; Breakdown and Wheeljack. A young Megatronus is there drinking after a hard match with a large green seeker femme with silver optics and a red, black and blue colored mech seeker with red optics.

"Hey, bots!" Breakdown greeted as they walked through the door.

"Hey!" Everyone said back to them.

In Maccadam's Old Oil House, everybot knew everybot.

A medic rushes past him.

"Hey, Ratchet. What's up?" He greeted.

Ratchet stopped and waved but was ready to go ready once he had greeted him.

"Sorry, Bulkhead no time for chit-chat. Medical emergency, I'm needed." Ratchet yells as he runs to the outside world.

The green seeker giggles, her name is Toxicity and the seeker next to her is Starscream. Megatronus laughs as well before he gets up to greet them.

"Good job with the groundbridge, Bulkhead." Megatronus smiles before they all make their way to the middle of the bar.

"Where's Orion?" Toxicity sighs before taking a go at her oil.

"Under the table." Starscream pointed before handing said bot a cup of mixed high-grade energon.

His voice was pleasant to his audio receptors, nice and kind as well. Bulkhead still has no idea how Starscream’s voice changed so badly.

Orion was under the table with a data pad in his servo reading his time away before Starscream got his attention with the cup.

"Thanks." A gentle but deep voice whispered to the seeker.

Bulkhead really did not know Orion much but he knew that Orion was really shy so he never bothered him unnecessarily.

Bulkhead left them to their own devices as he watched Breakdown dance with a red bot as Wheeljack chatted with a bot he knew as Deadlock.

Slipstream, another femme seeker colored purple with blue optics similar to his own, walked over to Toxicity where the two started to dance after a chat and a friendly nuzzling.

Megatronus rolled his optics at his friend's behavior but with the look on his face, one would tell that he was having fun.

"You know that some of the drunks here believe that Maccadam could possibly be a prime." Starscream said to Orion who had come out from hiding once he had finished reading.

"Interesting theory. I believe that it makes sense in a way that only Maccadam can make a drink this good." Orion admitted, holding up his cup.

"Maccadam. A prime. I don't think so but he is definitely a Prime of a good time." Toxicity stated next to them having finished dancing with Slipstream and getting herself another drink.

Toxicity was right.

Maccadam's Old Oil House was the best bar in Cybertron and Maccadam might be a jolly old bot but Bulkhead was not sure if he was a Prime or not. Who knows.

Bulkhead then has a drink and cheers Toxicity for winning her match.

"Look at the lovebugs." Toxicity smiled as she tilted her helm to Butterfly and her sparkmate, Honeybee slow dancing.

"A little bee is in their future." Maccadam smiled as he crossed his arms after clearing the table.

Toxicity waves at the bot before she goes to see a bot whom Bulkhead knew as Ultra Magnus. He often wondered how a rule following bot like Ultra Magnus was friends with a gladiator like Toxicity that could offline bots without a second thought in the ring.

"Sparkmates are in the air tonight, huh Bulkhead?" Maccadam comments as he picks up the cup Toxicity left behind.

Bulkhead sighs as he shakes his helm as the memory fades away.

That memory was so long ago.

Jackie's whereabouts are unknown. Breakdown is a Decepticon with a creepy medic red bot named Knockout. He is not sure about what happened to Orion but Toxicity and Starscream are both Decepticons with the latter being second in command. Butterfly and Honeybee had been offlined by a unknown Decepticon but their only son, Bumblebee, still lived.

What would he do for a peace Cybertron. One where he would have a drink with his best bubs once more.

Bulkhead sighs again, deciding that he sat too long. He gets up and goes for a drive.

He truly misses what Cybertron once was.

Chapter Text

It was not the first time that Megatron beat him like this, certainly not the last.

Starscream sighed as he limped to Knockout, the poor medic and his cousin had scolded him the last time he did not attend to his injury at once.

Toxicity stared at him sadly when he entered the medical bay. She was there with Knockout making more medicine for less pain.

She was to leave for Mars soon. Megatron wanted more energon and she was part energon seeker.

'Trypticon, I am sorry that this happened to you. I wish that you would be able to hear me. Megatron has gone mad but there is no way that I will give up. I miss you old friend.' Toxicity said in vosian knowing that most would not understand her.

What would become the Nemesis was originally the Trypticon research station. This station orbited Cybertron and was under the command of Starscream, after being demoted from Commander of an Energon seeker squadron. Inside the station was Dark Energon, contained there since Unicron's battle with the Thirteen. For unknown reasons the station was also equipped with a very large cannon that could destroy a starship in one shot. The station was fueled by an Energon bridge for its scientific purposes. When the Great War started, Starscream chose to ally himself with Megatron, using the captured Sentinel Prime who he was guarding as a peace offering.

Megatron, accepted Starscream into their ranks seeing how there was little that could stand in the way of Starscream's ambition. He was curious as to the purpose of Starscream's space station and what it might hold. When Starscream took a rare absence from it the Decepticons attacked it, leaving only a few Seekers alive. When Starscream returned he found he had lost his bargaining chip. Megatron forgave Starscream for hiding the Dark Energon as he had done so out of fear and not used it against him. The station, and Starscream's seekers were then officially welcomed into the Decepticon ranks.

Using Dark Energon and the sparks of the dead, Shockwave granted life to the station. When the Autobots tried to leave Cybertron, the station's gun began blasting the transports. The Aerialbots were sent to disable it and when the station itself mocked them they destroyed it's T-Cog revealing Trypticon's monstrous robot mode. After a lengthy battle in the air and on the ground Trypticon fell into stasis and became a fuel source for the Autobots. When the planet became too corrupted to support life, the Decepticons too had to leave the planet and needed a starship to do so. Megatron and Soundwave traveled to Iacon to retrieve Trypticon's power core for use in building a ship.

Upon arrival they learned the Autobots had not actually removed the core and they could use Trypticon's body as their ship. Megatron informed the dormant giant, that if he could hear him, it was not a rescue mission and this was punishment for failing to destroy Optimus Prime. Soundwave said that due to the damages sustained the Nemesis would become Trypticon's permanent form.

Toxicity has worked with the giant before as she was the second biggest Decepticon in the unit. Trypticon had saved her life many times especially during the tower of Kanon before his untimely defeat.

Before becoming the Nemesis, Trypticon was shown to be a powerful, destructive, and loyal follower of Megatron. She wondered what Trypticon thought of their leader now.

She covered her audio receptors when Megatron started yelling at the Vechicons soldiers for being 'useless'

"Ah, Toxicity. Ready the troops for my departure." Megatron smirked.

'Where are you going?' She asked.

'I'm going to be gone for a undetermined amount of time, my dear Air Commander. Tell Soundwave to divided up my usual duties. I wanted Starscream to sign off on them as my second in command, once he onlined again.' Megatron informed her.

She bowed.

'Of course, my lord.'

Megatron debrief her and left the Nemesis and flew into the space bridge.

Toxicity watched him.

Starscream now was in charge of the Nemesis

As instructed she watched by Starscream’s side as he started to online.

"Toxicity!" He jumped up.

She looked at him and smiled.

'How are you feeling?' She asked.

'Like if Lugnut ran me over twice. It's fantastic, you should try it sometimes.' Starscream sassed.

'Perhaps another time, my cousin.' Toxicity sighed.

'It appears that Lord Megatron has left the Nemesis for an unknown amount of time. You know what that means?' She started.

Starscream stared at her probably still out of his helm because of the medication Knockout gave him.

'You're second in command, right?'

'Yes.'

'Lord Megatron is out of communication so that means......'

Starscream realized.

He was leader for now.

Toxicity bowed to him.

'I am requested to go to Mars, Lord Starscream. Comm link me for you required my assistance, my lord.'

Toxicity walked off after being dismissed by Starscream and flew off of the Nemesis. Soundwave would of been able to ground bridge her then but she liked the feeling of the wind of the planet.

As she flew, she wondered what kind of madness was going through Megatron's head.

Chapter Text

Toxicity sighed at Starscream who walked away from her and the injured Autobot. She looked at him before bending down to his level.

'Autobot. You are acquired to wear this if you are to stay with me.' She spoke in cybertronian, she was called from her solo mission by Starscream only two earthly days ago and she was still unsure of the earth language of English.

"Why would I...?" Cliffjumper started until he saw the look on her face.

If he did not put on the collar, Megatron would kill him sooner than if he was to put it on. Toxicity did not believe that killing was the way and so did her Cybertronian ninja teacher taught her. She believed in the way of peace.

'Please, Megatron will offline you if you do not. If you continue to be difficult I will have no choice but to do it myself.' She said.

The Autobot, Cliffjumper, did not make it easy for her to get the collar on him but she managed to convince him to wear the collar unaware that it made it look like he had been offlined.

As the Nemesis left the crater the vechicons made, the Autobots came through a groundbridge with Optimus making the best entrance out of the crew.

They held up their weapons but only saw nothing but a crater.

"An untapped energon deposit." Optimus stated as the crew moved closer to the crater.

"What's left of it." Bulkhead commented looking down.

"The first Deception activity in three years." Ratchet added.

"That we know of." Optimus said as he removed his battlemask.

"If they're scouting for energon, they may be preparing for his return." Optimus continued as his optics narrowed.

The Autobots walked into the crater with Arcee and Bumblebee leading the walk down to the crater.

Arcee gasped when she narrowed her optics and saw something. She rushed over to it. It was Cliffjumper's horn that had been broken off during the fight with the Vechicons. She picked it up and showed it to Ratchet.

"Ratchet, can you track his position?" Optimus asked.

"No. Cliffjumper's life signal just went offline." Ratchet reported.

The Nemesis flys higher than it did when they were scouting for energon.

Starscream stares at Cliffjumper following his cousin into the prison of the Nemesis.

Toxicity was one of the kindest Decepticons, it was obviously Cliffjumper's lucky day because of her arrival two earth days earlier. He goes back to typing on the computer when Soundwave walks towards him from the behind.

"Soundwave, what is it?" Starscream asked, turning his helm to face the other bot.

"Like Jasper Nevada's a party? We're alone where ever we travel on this rock, Cliff." Soundwave played a record of Arcee's comms talk to Cliffjumper.

Starscream turned his entire frame to face Soundwave before he spoke.

"Ah, the one called Arcee. Why imprison just one Autobot when we still have the advantage of surprise?" He said menacingly.

Cliffjumper hissed at the femme that was cleaning his wounds, she was gentle but that scrap hurt.

'So..... Who are you?' Cliffjumper asked in Cybertronian hoping to make small talk with her.

'My name is Toxicity and I am a energon seeker from Vos. Pleasure to meet you, Autobot Cliffjumper.' Toxicity said in cybertronian as she continued to clean the drying energon on him.

Cliffjumper looked at her.

Green curvy frame with wings that when lowered reached the floor, wires that framed her helm like Solus Prime with a spike in front of her helm like Starscream but horns on the sides of her helm, gold and silver mismatched optics, purple colored over her eyelids and lips, 95 feet tall, a Mace on her back and a kind face.

She was looked as if she was not meant to be a Decepticon.

Until a bot was to look closer, she had claws, a frame that matched Starscream’s just way bulkier and larger, sharp dental plates like Megatron and scars over her frame from years of being in the battlefield.

She was a warrior like him and the rest of the bots fighting in this war.

Cliffjumper stared at her for a while before he spoke to her once more.

'Why did you save me from Starscream?' He asked.

'Because thought I am a decepticon, I do not believe that executing everybot who commits violence against Megatron. No matter how brutal or unnecessary it is, is a not good idea. There is a better way to deal with misconduct and unnecessary death would only result in more deaths of innocent bots.' Toxicity said, sitting down, folding her long thick legs and heeled feet.

Cliffjumper nodded.

His old friend, Prowl, had a similar belief to her.

Prowl had trained as a ninja in Cybertron by a bot named Yoketron who had offered to teach him in exchange for dropping the charges against him when he had tried to avoid being drafted into fighting with the elite guards of the Council but was apprehended by Warpath.

Cliffjumper looked at her because she got up and walked away from him.

'Where are....'

'I am getting energon for you, Solider. Don't sell yourself short for getting beaten up by my vechicon troops.' She smiled.

The sun sets over a cliff as the Autobots mourned the assumed lost of Cliffjumper.

"We must not allow our anger over the lost of Cliffjumper to impair our judgement. As of today only we five Autobots remain on this Earth. We owe it to ourselves, to the memory of Cybertron, to any Autobots in any Galaxies seeking safe harbour, to humankind. And we owe it to the memory of our fallen comrade to survive." Optimus spoke to his team.

As Optimus spoke, Arcee placed Cliffjumper's horn over a memorial for him.

"Arcee." Optimus called to her as she started to walk.

"If Cliff's gone standing around here sulking won't bring him back. So unless anyone minds, I think I'll get back to protecting humankind." She said in a way in that sounded as if she really did not want to protect humankind before she fully walks off from the team, transforms and drives off.

"Optimus. Helping humans will only result in more tragedy." Ratchet says to Optimus after he had walked up to him to see Arcee leave.

"Your opinion is noted." Optimus replied.

Cliffjumper watched the seeker walk in to give him medical energon to help with his wounds.

He reaches for her horn.

'Huh? Is there something wrong, Autobot Cliffjumper?' Toxicity looked at the smaller bot curiously.

'You have horns like me. I think it's cool that you're a seeker with horns, most Cybertronians don't normally have horns.' Cliffjumper said to her, she bends down to let him touch her horns.

Toxicity smiled at him.

Cliffjumper could not help but wonder if Arcee was okay.

"Why are those guys shooting at us?" Jack asked.

Jack Darby was working at the KO Burger drive-thru. Arcee found herself being chased by a couple of Decepticons, and she ducks into the KO Burger parking lot, where Jack mistakes her for a real motorcycle and, fantasizing about one day having a motorcycle of his own, hops on. Sierra and a friend catch him apparently talking to the motorcycle, but while Jack has an awkward moment unfortunately the Decepticons spot Arcee. She takes off with a startled Jack still on board. After a short chase, she attempts to let Jack go, sending him down a side alley with a warning not to tell anyone what he's seen. As she speeds off, she spots one of the Decepticons heading after Jack and is forced to double back and pick him up.

Which led to their situation now.

"There's no us kid, And they're no guys." Arcee replied as she dodged the vehicles on the freeway to try and lose the vechicons after her and Jack.

Bumblebee arrives to help them out.

"Friend of yours?" Jack asked seeing Bumblebee knock the two vechicons off course.

"Family." Arcee replied after putting on a small smile.

Arcee drove further away from the vechicons as Bumblebee took care of them. Keeping them away from Arcee. But one of them was able to try the young scout and crashed into him as the other vechicon drove in front of the one that crashed into Bumblebee as they rushed after Arcee.

Toxicity walked into the control center to find Soundwave missing and Starscream yelling, finding it to be none of her business she left and headed back to the Autobot prison.

In a nearby drainage canal, Rafael Esquivel is playing with a remote-controlled car.

"Hi momma, racing right up the street. Okay, just five more minutes?" The twelve year old boy answered as Arcee and Jack literally drop in.

"Wow." Raf commented as the motorcycle flew over him.

"You have no idea." Jack commented getting off of Arcee.

The Decepticons drop in as well.

"This ends here, Cons." Arcee yells before she transforms into robot form to fight the cons.

Arcee rushes at them, avoiding their fire as she attacks them.

"What are they?" Raf asked.

"Talking cars that turn into robots. Or the other way around." Jack answers as they watched Arcee fight.

"This is for Cliff!" Arcee yelled punching the vechicon in the face with her servos.

That was until it started firing at her again, Arcee was forced to dodge them by flipping backwards but she had been shot.

Arcee is knocked out of the fight but Bumblebee arrives in time and jumps to the recuse.

He distractes the vechicons as Arcee gets up, rubbing her helm groaning in pain.

Unfortunately, Bumblebee is distracted by he accidentally steps on Raf's remote control car.

Bumblebee beeps an apology for stepping on his remote control car.

"No problem really." Raf said calming down Bumblebee before the Scout was hit by the vechicon.

Raf watched as the vechicons got ready to shoot the Scout.

"Leave him alone! - Please?" Raf yelled drawing the 'cons' attention, which unfortunately works too well, and the two kids are forced to flee into a drain.

"Bad call. Come on! Come on! Keep moving!" Jack said as the kids ran to the drain pipe.

Bumblebee and Arcee stand defiant against the Decepticons.

"Thank you." Raf thanked Bumblebee who beeped in response.

"Don't look back." Jack said putting his arm on Raf.

"What did we just see?" Raf asked Jack.

"No idea, and I'm not sure I want to find out." Jack answered as he pulled Raf to escape the Vechicons.

Unfortunately after Bumblebee saved the kids, he was outnumbered and ganged up on as Arcee was nursing her wounds. Bumblebee was thrown through Arcee, she bent down to help the scout up.

The vechicons walked towards as the injured Scout and blue two wheeler but a honk was hear as a larger green vehicle jumped in front of them and transformed into Bulkhead. He landed on the ground causing a earthquake.

"Who's ready to rumble?" Bulkhead asked as he stood by Bumblebee and Arcee.

The cons turn tail and run.

"What took you?" Arcee asked putting a servo on her hip after watching the Decepticons drive away from them as Bumblebee let down a sigh of relief.

"Traffic." Bulkhead shrugged.

Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead looked at each other.

"And the Cons would have been scrap metal if I hadn't been distracted by the human." Arcee reported to Optimus who was typing something in the computer.

"Human?" Optimus wondered as he slightly turned his helm in their direction.

Bumblebee beeped and held up two digits.

"Two boys." Optimus reported turning back to what he was doing before.

"I guess a second one caught us in action." Arcee started before she placed her hips to the side and an arm over her hip.

"I don't know.I was a little busy at the time." She continued as she raised her arm and servo.

"If the Decepticons are targeting us, anyone perceived as our ally will be at grave risk." Optimus said seriously as his optics narrowed.

Cliffjumper looked out the cell at Toxicity who sighed at Starscream who was yelling at two vechicons for losing Arcee and Bumblebee.

Cliffjumper smirked.

Take that vechicons.

Toxicity took Cliffjumper out with her as Starscream started to talk once more, not the biggest surprise there.

"Those transmissions are emanating from..... Why the frag is he here!?" Starscream yelled at Toxicity who scuffed at him.

'Because I wanted him here.' Toxicity sighed as she shrugged completely unamused by Starscream's antics.

'Besides, you know that Megatron does not mind when I have prisoners in the main lobby because it shows my superiority as their new mistress.' Toxicity added with a smirk that showed off her very sharp dental plates.

"Whatever!" Starscream yelled once more making Toxicity roll her optics again.

Starscream turned to Soundwave.

"Those transmissions are emanating from deep space. I would hate to waste the energon unless you are absolutely certain." Starscream confirmed as Toxicity rolled her optics at him for the third time for the day.

Soundwave merely nods his head but when Starscream turns around he has a laughing emoji on his screen until Starscream turns to him again.

"Then lock on transmission coordinates and activate the space bridge." Starscream sighed as he again looks away from them.

As it opens, Megatron emerges.

"Decepticons! I have returned." He yelled before he transformed into bot form.

Chapter Text

Megatron says nothing about the Autobot prisoner next to his Air Commander as he walked around the Nemesis.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Master." Starscream bowed.

Megatron nodded.

"Starscream, show me the fruits of your labour." Megatron asked of his second in command.

Starscream bowed again and went to put the location of what he wanted to show Megatron while Megatron walked over to Toxicity and the Autobot prisoner.

'Toxicity, you seem to have taken Autobot prisoners once more.' Megatron asked the seeker who bowed to him.

'It seems to be the case, my lord. I request that nothing harms him until I get bored of him. I am rather fond of his horns.' Toxicity requested.

"Your simple request is granted, my dear air commander." Megatron smiled at her.

Toxicity smirked.

'Thank you, my lord. You are too generous to me.' She said as she stayed bowed, smirking as she did which confused Cliffjumper.

Megatron nodded.

'Exactly. Toxicity, it would do you good if you were to learn English.' Megatron stated walking away from them.

Starscream shows off the massive energon deposit that the Decepticons have located. A closeup of the Decepticon warship over a mountain which has an energon deposit hidden within.

"Of the energon deposits we have located while you were away, Lord Megatron, this one is by far the most significant. The drones have been mining without a pause during your absence, and have amassed quite a stockpile. You there! Fetch me a sample!"

"Starscream! Now that I have returned I will issue the commands." Megatron reminded Starscream.

"I understand, Lord Megatron. Then as your humble servant, shall I ready the Space Bridge to bring forth the Decepticon army you have surely gathered during your three years in space?" Starscream stated bowing as Megatron walked towards the bridge causing the place to shake a little as he walked.

"My army will come. But my time away has yielded a more intriguing means of materializing them." Megatron said holding up the purple crystal in his servo.

Megatron holds up a purple crystal which seems to be letting off vapors.

"The solidified form of the matter the ancient texts referred to as the Blood of Unicron!" Megatron says with pride in his optics.

"Unicron the Destroyer But it is said that his blood is the anti-Spark!" Starscream informed Megatron as he walked around Megatron looking at the crystal.

"Plucked from cosmic shores, gaze upon Dark Energon!" Megatron stated proudly.

"Legend tells that it holds the power to revive the dead." Starscream added as he looked up at Megatron.

"We require only a cadaver to be certain. Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?" Megatron asked Starscream who jumped back in surprise.

"Hehehe, ahem, that may not be necessary." Starscream laughed awkwardly as he raised his claw.

"If I may, Lord Megatron? The Autobot was to be disposed off but......" Starscream stated, shrugging.

"I see. Let's see if that cloning device that you and your brother made still is capable of making sparkless clones." Megatron sighed.

"But Lord Megatron....... It takes too much energon to power that thing." Starscream gasped.

"Don't question my demands, Starscream. Get Toxicity to get a sample of that Autobot's CNA and get the clone or else you'll be the one getting the dark energon in your chest." Megatron growled as he bent down to Starscream's height.

"Yes, Master!" Starscream screamed before flying to the Nemesis.

Megatron smirked.

At Autobot HQ, Optimus Prime talks to the kids who had seen them and know about their existence.

"And since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of last night the Decepticons know of yours." Optimus explained to the three children.

"Got it, we spot any strange vehicles, call 911." Jack started.

"Can we go now?" He asked.

"Are you insane? I'm living a dream here in Botwana and I will not allow you or anyone else to shatter it!" Miko warned Jack pointing at him accusingly.

"It is best that you three remain under our watch. At least until we can determine our enemies' intentions." Optimus stated looking at the kids once more.

"Optimus. With all due respect, the human children are in as much danger - here as anywhere!" Ratchet argued.

"Children?!" Jack gasped.

"They have no protective shell! If they get underfoot they will go............. Slosh!" Ratchet continued his argument, stomping his foot for emphasis.

"Then for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step." Optimus finished Ratchet's argument placing a servo to his hip.

An alarm goes off, startling the bots excluding Optimus and Ratchet and scaring the kids.

Ratchet, Optimus, Bulkhead and Arcee walk over to the computer before Ratchet types in something on it.

"What's that?" Jack asked startled.

Bumblebee turns around from the others and beeps in response.

"Proximity sensor, someone's on top." Raf translates as Jack and Miko were unable to understand Bumblebee.

A screen pops up showing someone walking away from a helicopter.

"It's agent Fowler." Ratchet informed from the front of the computer.

"I-I thought we were the only humans who know about you guys." Jack wondered out loud.

"Special agent Fowler is our designated liason to the outside world, as he tends to visit only when there are issues. It may be best if you do not meet him at this time." Optimus informed the children after turning around to look at them.

The kids looked at each other before running off to hide as Agent Fowler came down the elevator.

"Seven wrecks, thirty four fender benders, a three hour traffic jam, and on particular note numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make and a black-and-yellow custom muscle car!" Agent Fowler reported, counting off of his fingers as he walked closer to the Autobots.

Ratchet and Bulkhead walked off from where Optimus stood as the Prime walked closer to Agent Fowler.

"So, anything you care to get off your tin chassis, Prime?" Agent Fowler finished.

"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." Optimus replied calmly as he bent to Agent Fowler's height on the platform.

"They're back, aren't they?" Agent Fowler guessed unamusingly.

"If you are referring to the Decepticons I have doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable." Optimus admitted to Agent Fowler.

"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon." Agent Fowler responded.

"Hear me, agent Fowler. We are your best, possibly your only defense against the Decepticon threat." Optimus warned.

"Says you." Agent Fowler huffed.

"Hey, fleshy!" Bulkhead said drawing Agent Fowler's attention to him.

"Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force, and how much to use." Bulkhead seated.

As he said this, Bulkhead ripped out a piece of machinery and proceeded to squeeze it until it broke.

"Bulkhead! I needed that!" Ratchet yelled at Bulkhead who had the decency to look remorseful at what he had just done.

"Enough!" Optimus said loud enough to catch Ratchet and Bulkhead's attention before he turned to Agent Fowler once more.

"Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, agent Fowler. I, however, cannot." Optimus stated firmly.

"Then do us both a favor and handle this, Prime! Under the radar. Or I will." Agent Fowler yelled.

On that note, Agent Fowler leaves.

"Pretty big bearings for a human." Bulkhead comments walking closer to Optimus.

Optimus looks at him.

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world Bulkhead, as he should be." was Optimus' calm reply.

Megatron smirks as Vechicons brought out a clone of the Autobot Cliffjumper which was strapped to the berth. Toxicity was following after them, she bowed to him.

'My lord, the cloning device has finally given up but not before delivering you what you requested of it.' Toxicity informed the Decepticon leader.

"That's fine for now but it is no use to us as the one who is needed to repair it is on another planet on a mission. Dispose of it when you have witnessed the power that is dark energon." Megatron said to Toxicity who stopped bowing after he finished talking.

'Of course, my lord.' She bowed quickly and got up to see what madness Megatron was planning.

"Let us see if power born of darkness can create a spark."

Megatron then slams the dark energon into the clone Cliffjumper's chest. Starscream slowly started to back away from them. The clone came back to life with a growl and glowing purple. He got free of his confines, and proceeded to attack the two nearby Vechcons.

Toxicity jumped back with her optics widened, pulled out her mace and stood in front of Starscream who had jumped back in surprise.

'How could anyone even consider something like that? It's vile.' Toxicity thought as she got herself ready to attack the clone.

"That's your plan?! Bring real Autobots back from the dead to attack us?!" Starscream gasped.

"That thing would no longer be considered an Autobot if it were the real one. Just a mindless beast, its only instinct to destroy anything in it's path." Megatron explained smirking as he did as Toxicity gasped at the madness.

Cliffjumper turned to attack Megatron. Starscream ran away from the location of the attack closer to where his cousin was but Megatron had sliced the poor clone in two. Half of the body falls off the cliff they were on, some of the dark energon splashing on Toxicity's face as Megatron drew his weapon away.

"There, Toxicity, Starscream, lies the indestructible seed of my army. The ultimate weapon! Once I learn to control it." Megatron smirked.

Cliff, even though he had been sliced in two, still tried to attack before he was tossed over the edge.

Toxicity looks at the clone.

'You do know that it will give off a life signal now that it technically has a spark now, my lord.' Toxicity warned.

"Then let the Autobots come and see their dear companion." Megatron laughed.

Toxicity looked at the clone sadly as her wings dropped.

This will not go well for them in the future.

"Blasted Earth check! Cliffjumper's signal popped back online." Ratchet reported looking at the computer.

"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asked but did not get an answer.

"How is that possible?" Optimus wondered.

"It isn't. Another bug! The system is chock-full of them." Ratchet explained or tried to.

"If there's any chance Cliff's alive-" Arcee started, she sounded so hopeful.

"Ratchet, prepare sickbay. We may need it." Optimus ordered.

"Hey! What can we do?" Miko asked.

"Remain with Ratchet." Optimus replied, putting on his battlemask.

"Aww." Miko whined, looking sad.

"Ugh." Ratchet groaned, looking put out.

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus called, taking lead of the charge as they transformed and drove into the ground bridge.

"What just happened?" Jack asked.

"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the Ground Bridge." Ratchet answered.

"What's a 'ground bridge'?" Raf asked, curiously.

"Ugh." Ratchet groaned again, throwing his servos in the air.

"A scaled down version of Space Bridge technology. Since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel." Ratchet explained rolling his optics.

"Wow! Does it work for humans?" Raf gasped.

"Naturally." Ratchet nodded.

"You mean I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked.

"Within moments. In fact allow me to send you there immediately, all three of you." Ratchet smirked, bending down to Miko's level.

"Watch it, Ratchet." Miko eyed him.

"Energon mine!" Bulkhead said as he and the others looked around.

"Judging by it's scale the Decepticons have been tunneling here for quite some time." Optimus said, walking deeper into the mine.

He quickly accessed  the situation.

"Let's find Cliffjumper!" Optimus tells the team before he walks out into the open where the attack starts.

Toxicity sighs at the explosion she heard.

She was right.

Again.

The Autobots got the fake Cliffjumper's life signal and came looking for him.

She flys up to the ship, this was not her fight and she was not going to get her servos dirty for Megatron this time.

"Maximum overdrive!" Optimus said before he transforms into truck mode and fights by bumping into the Vechicons stationed there with Bumblebee and Bulkhead following him as Arcee avoids the weapons left behind by the bigger bots.

Bulkhead whistles as they saw what the Decepticons had built.

"Quite an operation!" He comments.

Shots are fired.

"Blood of Unicron How might I fathom the depths of your mystery, become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?" Megatron said as he stared at the bigger crystal of dark energon.

"Lord Megatron! Intruders have been detected in the mines!" Starscream calls from a computer.

"Optimus?" Megatron wonders.

"Indeed." Starscream confirms.

"I need more time to prepare an appropriate reception for my old friend. Ready the ship for departure!" Megatron ordered.

"But the energon I've mined the Autobots will seize it!" Starscream argued.

"Then blow the mines!" Megatron replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

As the bots shot at the Vechicons, Arcee got a view of the clone.

"It's Cliff! I have a visual." She reported to Optimus.

"We'll cover you! Go!" Optimus promised.

Arcee races towards Cliff. Dark energon pools around him. The ledge Cliff is on begins to collapse with him with it. Arcee catches him before he falls.

"Cliff! No! Let's get you home, partner!" Arcee smiled.

Cliff who is somehow still alive looks up at her and growls.

Arcee gasped. He thrashes, and Arcee loses her grip. They couldn't save him. Then laughing is heard from above.

Optimus, Bulkhead and Bumblebee rushed over to see who.

"Prime. I'd stick around but I'm squeamish." Starscream admitted.

Starscream drops a bomb and flies off.

"The joint's gonna blow!" Bulkhead yelled.

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus commanded.

Optimus waited to make sure that all his team members had left before transforming himself.

The bomb explodes in a fiery blue inferno.

"Ratchet! Bridge us back! Use the arrival coordinates Now!" Optimus says over commlink as they drove away from the explosion.

The ground bridge opens up, and the autobots drive through with the inferno close behind.

"Cutting it a bit close. How about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet asked.

No one responds.

They all looked down.

Miko runs closer to them as she can in the platform.

"What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can we come with next time?" Miko asked not reading the situation correctly.

Arcee who was clearly not happy.

"Look!" She started until Jack stopped Miko.

"He-hey, Miko, let's go see what the bots hiding in their sock drawers." Jack asked.

"Seriously?" Miko groaned as Jack took her away from them.

"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asked.

"Not Cliff. At least Not any more. He was mutated. Butchered, like something from those 'Con experiments during the war." Arcee answered.

Arcee falls to the floor, not looking well. Bee starts whirring in concern.

"I'm fine! Just dizzy." She confirmed.

"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko wondered.

"Robots with emotions." Raf thought out loud.

"Robots who can die?" Jack questioned.

Ratchet runs a scan on Arcee.

"What is this?" Ratchet asked looking at the substance.

"Don't know. Cliff was covered in it. Leaking it." Arcee stated.

Ratchet scrapes some on the purple substance off as a sample.

"Go take a decontamination bath. Now!" Ratchet ordered.

"O-Optimus. I-I hate to bug, but - No bars." Jack said, still scared.

"A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radiowaves." Optimus explained walking closer to the kids.

"Well, if I don't call my mom like now I'm pretty sure cops will be out looking for me." Jack sighed.

"Have you broken a law?" Optimus wondered.

"A curfew. It's after ten p.m." Jack explained.

"I better get home too, or I'll be grounded for a year." Raf sighed.

"Earth customs. I hadn't considered. But the issue of your safety remains." Optimus sighed.

"Bulkhead! Accompany Miko home." Optimus ordered.

"Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Miko cheered.

"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form." Optimus warned.

"Curbside duty, got it." Bulkhead nodded as Miko silently booed.

"Bumblebee! You'll watch over Raf. - Ratchet!" Optimus continued until he reached Ratchet.

"Busy!" Ratchet yelled typing something and looking into the substance that was found on Arcee.

Optimus sighed.

"Arcee. You'll accompany Jack." He said looking at her.

"Ooh, still dizzy." Arcee argues trying to get out of duty.

"You're fine! Says your physician." Ratchet stopped her plan.

Toxicity sighs as she explains what happened to Cliffjumper.

'No way! Cee is going to kill you all.' Cliffjumper grumbles.

'If she can even reach my chest armor.' Toxicity laughed.

'All fun and games, City. She will get revenge for me even if it means killing. I don't like that but Arcee is a kind of femme whose emotions control her.' Cliffjumper explained.

'Then I'll be careful, Autobot Cliffjumper.' She smiled before she left the prison.

Cliffjumper smiled.

It was not what he thought it was on the Nemesis.

"I don't think you need to worry about further Autobot interference, Master. Not with Optimus gone." Starscream stated as Toxicity walked in.

"And what evidence do you posses of this fact?" Megatron asked as he walked around a huge chunk of dark energon.

"I destroyed the mines, as you instructed." Starscream added.

"Optimus is not so easily destroyed. We have millenia worth of battles behind us to prove it!" Megatron defended his rival.

"May be you should take a break, my Lord. I worry that too much contact with the Dark Energon might allow it's properties to adversely affect you." Starscream sighed.

"Or perhaps, Starscream, I have not permitted myself contact enough." Megatron wondered as Toxicity now sighs.

Megatron grabs a piece of the crystal.

"Wait! Lord Megatron! No! Not your Spark chamber! You do not know what it will do!" Starscream warned as Toxicity held up her mace to knock him out in case.

Megatron strikes himself with the dark energon. Vapors start coming off him before his eyes turn purple.

Toxicity gasped.

"Hmm." Ratchet said as he looked at the substance.

"The base elements of this goo are like nothing I've ever encountered. Must be extremely concentrated to have affected Arcee so rapidly. Unfortunately, complete results are slow coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools! Thank you very much, Bulkhead!" Ratchet sighed.

As Ratchet is moving a sample, some of the dark energon spills of only to land on part of the mackine bulkhead had crushed. The dark energon seeps into the machine which starts glowing purple. The dark energon has caused the piece of machine to come to life.

Chapter Text

The three kids and their Autobot guardians head back to the Autobot base, where Ratchet is being attacked by a piece of animated equipment. Optimus Prime deals with it, but now suspects that both it and Cliffjumper were vivified by Dark Energon.

"Thank goodness for peace and quiet! House guests can be such a bother!" Ratchet sighed as he looked at the substance through a microscope.

Something clatters to the ground.

"Wha?" Ratchet looked around.

Another sound is heard, it sounds like something walking around. Ratchet looks back up.

"Optimus?" Ratchet called out.

"By the Allspark!" Ratchet gasped loudly.

The machine come to life jumps at Ratchet.

Ratchet proceeds to hit the machine with a pipe. The little machine breaks the microscope Ratchet had previously been using.

"I needed that!" Ratchet yelled shaking his fist at the machine.

The little machine jumps at Ratchet again, only to be shot by Optimus. It tried to get back up only to be stomped on by Optimus.

"And stay broken!" Ratchet said to the now broken machine.

Ratchet turned to Optimus.

"Now, what could have caused that?!" Ratchet asked.

"I have a grave suspicion, Ratchet. Dark Energon." Optimus replied narrowing his optics.

"Lord Megatron?" Starscream said looking nervous.

'My lord?' Toxicity called out as well.

Megatron groaned.

"Ahhh. It's as if the blood of Unicron the Destroyer flows through my veins! As if I hear his very thoughts. I now know what I must do." Megatron says before he grabbed another piece of dark energon, and turns to leave.

"And what can I er we do to assist you, Master?" Starscream bowed.

"Quit groveling. And wait my command." Megatron instructed.

'Of course, my lord.' Toxicity bowed to him.

With that Megatron leaves.

Toxicity looks at Starscream unimpressed.

Soundwave silently approaches Starscream and Toxicity who were glaring at each other.

"Soundwave!" Starscream screamed slightly jumps at the mechs appearance.

'Greetings, Soundwave.' Toxicity greeted.

Soundwave nodded at her before turning his attention to Starscream.

"I fear that when our Master reached for the stars he came down with a touch of space madness. Lord Megatron has not been sound on his judgment since his return. Increase global surveillance!" Starscream admitted.

Toxicity rolled her optics as she crossed her arms.

"Quit groveling. And wait my command." Soundwave replied, using Megatron's voice.

"I'm not deaf! But if Optimus Prime lives, then I believe it is in Lord Megatron's best interest that we ensure his enemies destruction." Starscream defended as Toxicity rolled her optics at him.

Soundwave nodded.

Toxicity sighed but nodded as well. Starscream had a point.

After a while.

Starscream watched as his cousin meditate.

'Quiet! I can't concentrate with you walking around with your pedes knocking around.' Toxicity groaned angrily at the very anxious seeker.

"Sir! Agent Fowler. We have a situation. I'm en-route from the Autobot base. I'll brief you in person." Soundwave played using his reordered voices.

Toxicity and Starscream looked at him, both of them clearly interested.

"Autobot base, say! Humans. Always the weak link. Fetch me this 'Fowler', So that he may brief us instead." Starscream said as Toxicity got up from her position.

Soundwave nodded before he released Lazerbeak.

Lazerbeak does as told and goes to Agent Fowler whom he attacks.

"Hey! Big bird, I'm flying here!" The man first says until he sees what is coming after him.

"What in uncle Sam's beard!?" Agent Fowler yelled.

The mini-con is flying at him head on.

"First the freeways aren't safe, now air travel?!" Agent Fowler groaned.

Lazerbeak rams into the helicopter, tilting it off balance. Flying ahead, Agent Fowler slows done, allowing the mini-con to get in front of him.

"You wanna dance, con? I'll lead!" He smirked.

Then he starts shooting.

A few shots hit their target, but din't seem to do any good. Lazerbeak flips in the air, coming behind the helicopter to take off its tail rotor. The helicopter rapidly descends with Agent Fowler inside.

"Never an Autobot around when you actually need one!" Agent Fowler commented.

Agent Fowler continued in a downward spiral.

Lazerbeak followed, releasing his tentacles which broke into the helicopter and grabbed Agent Fowler. As he was being pulled out, Agent Fowler was able to press the emergency button before the copter crashed. Agent Fowler was carried off by Lazerbeak.

At the Autobot base, an alarm going off

"My ears!" Raf said as he covered his ears.

Bulkhead walked over to the computer to see what set the alarm off.

"It's an S.O.S. From Fowler." Bulkhead informed after he confirmed by looking at the computer.

The alarm stops before Bulkhead could do anything.

"Did you trace it?" Raf asked looking at Bulkhead.

"Location scan was incomplete." Bulkhead reported from the computer.

"Oh, well." Bulkhead shrugged before he walked away from the computer.

"Oh, well? Seriously?" Jack commented.

"Fowler's a jerk!" Bulkhead defended after he had turned around to talk to Jack and the others.

"Wow! Whether you like the guy or not the Decepticons may have him!" Jack said clearly shocked.

"And Agent Fowler knows your location." Raf added.

Then Raf realizes something else.

"Our location!" He gasped, putting his hand to his mouth.

"And did we not just witnessed how fast Fowler backs down from a 'Bot; The 'Cons will totally make him squeal!" Miko added with a serious face.

"But we lost the transmission. Fowler could be anywhere." Bulkhead argued.

"Maybe I can near it down." Raf said, picking up his computer and taking a seat.

"About five years ago the Government started microchipping their agents. You know, like owners do with pets." Raf explained to the others who looked at him shocked.

"What? I saw it on TV." Raf defended before he started his work.

"Anyway, if I can hack into the Fed's mainframe maybe I can pinpoint Fowler's coordinates." He stated as he typed in his computer.

"You know how to hack? But you're like two years old!" Miko stated, shocked.

"Twelve. And a quarter." Raf answered with a cheeky smile.

Toxicity raised a brow as Soundwave bought in a human presumed to be Agent Fowler.

"Welcome, Agent Fowler." Starscream greeted as he stood back towards the human with his arms folded behind his back.

"You treat all your guests this nice?" Agent Fowler sassed as he dusted himself off.

"Any friend of the Autobots." Starscream stated turning his body towards him.

"Autobot?" The human wondered.

"That one of them coin operated wash-my-own-car places?" Agent Fowler smirked.

Toxicity looked confused at him while Soundwave shook his helm when she went to ask what was it.

"Oh, so that's how it's going to be, hmm? Apparently no one has told you I have no appreciation for human humor." Starscream replied, clearly unimpressed.

Starscream turns his attention to Soundwave.

"Make our guest comfortable, Soundwave. Toxicity watch out for anything that is strange to you." Starscream ordered before walking away causing the floor to shake a little.

He then leaves Agent Fowler with Soundwave who approaches Agent Fowler.

"Latitude 39. 5, Longitude 116. 9." Raf informs the others.

Bulkhead starts up the ground bridge.

"OK, wait here." Bulkhead ordered.

"Oh." Miko groaned.

"Don't break up the band!" She muttered sadly.

"Uh Jack, you're in charge!" Bulkhead said awkwardly.

With that Bulkhead is running through the ground bridge, leaving the three kids at the base.

"Guess we three have run out the place. Miko?" Jack said as he turned to Raf but something was wrong.

"Miko?"Jack called out, worried.

Near The Decepticon Base.

"Fowler?" Bulkhead called out.

"Uh oh." He gasped when he looked forward before he walked closer but stood behind a cliff.

"The whole Decepticon shebang." Bulkhead confirmed, seeing some vechicons guarding the Nemesis.

Bulkhead slowly moves in closer to the Decepticon warship.

"Alright! What's the plan?" Miko said giving Bulkhead a thumbs-up.

"Miko!" Bulkhead gasped upon seeing the human girl.

She had been to loud.

A Vechicon heard her, and came over to check what made that noise. He saw Miko and pointed his blaster at her.

"Oh, unwise." Miko reported.

"Miko, get down!" Bulkhead yelled.

Miko ran.

The Decepticon got off a shot before Bulkhead tackled him, and started punching. Bulkhead brought him to the ground.

Toxicity was contacted.

'See to it that the Autobot is arrested and not one Autobot is harmed any further than needed.' She ordered her troops.

The Vechicon nodded before they saluted her and left.

Miko pick up a rock and slammed it into the Decepticons head.

"Hold him still!" Miko yelled.

It did nothing.

As expected.

Bulkhead picked her up, and placed her out of the way.

"Miko, look away!" Bulkhead ordered as he wrestled with the Vechicon.

"But-" Miko argued.

"Turn your head away!" Bulkhead said again more serious than before.

Bulkhead finished off the Decepticon by pulling his internal workings out of his chassis.

"Wow." Miko muttered in awe.

Bulkhead sighed.

Toxicity walked around the Nemesis.

Awaiting the arrival of the Autobot known as, Bulkhead.

Her dear cousin, Starscream was with their prisoner.

She hated the thought of using torture but she supposed that you got to do what you got to do to get information in war.

Toxicity moved closer to the walls when she saw the video Autobots known as Bumblebee who was the bot she saved, Bulkhead and Arcee with three fleshie things that looked like Agent Fowler that Starscream said was named humans. Toxicity immediately jumped into a fighting stance and placed her mace in front of her in a position to strike her opponents.

"Who is that!?!" Jack gasped, shocked at sudden appreance and the height of the transformer.

"She's pretty!!!!!! Like really pretty!!! And wings and heels!!!" Miko commented, looking excited at the decepticon in front of them who looked ready to fight them to the death.

"Enemy, Miko!" Jack exclaimed pointed to her fraction symbol on her wings and chest.

"Yeah, doesn't change the fact that she is pretty, has wings, heels and has a cool mace." Miko replied pointing to all the things she has described about Toxicity.

'Autobots, my dear cousin! What are your commands?' Toxicity warned Starscream who jumped up at the sudden comm.

"What was that language?" Raf wondered, looking at Bumblebee.

Bumblebee beeped his theory to Raf.

"It's not Cybertronian she's speaking so you think that it might be seeker chant or vosian." Raf repeated and translated for Jack and Miko who nodded.

Bumblebee nodded.

"She can't take us all on." Bulkhead said confidently looking at Toxicity and forgetting that she was a gladiator.

Toxicity smirked and changed her fighting pose.

"Wait." Bulkhead said as if he remembered something.

"I've seen Prowl do that move." Bulkhead added, still not remembering that Toxicity was once a gladiator as well.

Toxicity rushed at them in a great speed but she seemed to avoid the humans as she attacked. She first landed a hit on Bumblebee before she just dodged his attacks but her blow did nothing to him as she bashed Arcee with her pede and Bulkhead with her mace.

Back at the Terrorcon battle, Ratchet notes that exposure to the Dark Energon is sapping their strength. The fight on, but first Optimus, then Ratchet disappear under piles of Terrorcons. Megatron laughs...but with a cry, Optimus breaks free and helps Ratchet up.

Bulkhead growls as Toxicity picks up Arcee as she has Bumblebee pinned under her pede.

'I want something from you, two-wheeler.' Toxicity said in cybertronian.

"What is it, Con!?" Arcee demanded angrily, trying to kick the taller to no avail.

The kids all looked shocked as the seeker locks lips with Arcee.

She let's go off Arcee before she smiled at the shocked femme.

"Thank you, Autobot Arcee." She said in English as she bowed before getting back up and jumping up into the air to fly off away from them.

Arcee looked disgusted as she wiped her mouth as she glared at the jet that was flying away from them before she picked up the note.

Written in Vosian was, 'Cliffjumper is alive.'

"This makes no sense." Bulkhead groaned as he rubbed his helm looking at the note.

"Think it was her shopping list." Miko joked as she giggled.

Bulkhead would of laughed at the joke but he was unable to seeing that said warrior seeker has beaten him badly. Arcee and himself were both leaking energon from just servo to servo combat as Toxicity has placed her mace back behind her.

Toxicity flys into the area where Starscream is.

"My dear cousin, the Autobots are on the Nemesis. We must leave." She bowed.

Starscream rolled his optics at her but hearing the gunshots, he quickly leaves. Toxicity looks at Agent Fowler before cutting him down.

"This is a mere setback, human. Farewell for now and stay safe." Toxicity says before she leaves and the injured Autobots arrive to save Agent Fowler.

The kids know they've found important information, but are at a loss as to how to get it back to Optimus. As Raf's contemplating using a flash drive, a Decepticon walks in. The kids dive for cover, but Raf goes back for his backpack and is spotted by the Decepticon.

The Decepticon starts firing on Raf. Jack heroically runs out and tackles Raf behind one of the Decepticon corpses, before instructing Miko to take a picture. She snaps a picture of the Decepticon, before Jack redirects her at the computer screen. The kids leg it from the room, followed by the Decepticon, who is promptly taken out by Bulkhead.

Reunited, the kids and Autobots make their escape.

Optimus and Ratchet finish off the Terrorcon horde, and Optimus starts climbing up to Megatron. Megatron compliments Optimus on his performance, but boasts that the battle was simply a prelude to the main event and flies off. Ratchet wonders ominously what Megatron has in store for them.

Back at base, Ratchet's damaged arm is tended to, and Optimus tells off Bulkhead for letting the kids accompany him into battle.

Miko defends Bulkhead and tries to claim they were doing "recon" by showing the snapped schematics, but Jack's upset about the fact they were all almost killed and decides he wants out of the whole affair. After some sad farewells (except from Ratchet), they send him home by GroundBridge.

Back on the Decepticon ship in orbit, Megatron abuses Starscream for disobeying his orders which has resulted in damage to the ship which threatens to delay Megatron's plans. Starscream manages to quell his master's anger by announcing he has a way to get their plans back on course. Toxicity looked as if she wanted to kill Megatron through out the entire beating but she could do nothing as she was able to harm her old friend and technically it kind of was Starscream’s fault that the Nemesis was partly destroyed.

Miko pays Jack a visit and tries to talk him into returning to the Autobots, but he's content to go back to his normal life.

Ratchet, meanwhile, is checking out the data Miko photographed, and he realizes that it's the specs for a space bridge part. Bulkhead thinks it's great that Megatron's thinking of leaving, but Optimus points out that he's probably intending to bring an army to Earth with it, and there's only one place he can find enough Transformer corpses to build a new army: Cybertron.

Chapter Text

Starscream reviews the footage of Megatron's destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the Vehicon troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself Emperor of Destruction, but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a Decepticon on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

"Yes, yes. Starscream, I know that it is a warrior you are talking about and warriors like me are not going to take your attitude well so let me deal with this." Toxicity argues with her cousin.

Starscream stares at her.

She was right.

Warriors always did have a thing for hitting bots they found to be arrogant which unfortunately describes Starscream perfectly. However she did not was because she understood Starscream as a bot.

"Very well being a fellow warrior I suppose you have a better chance of being able to talk to the warrior." Starscream admitted.

"Soundwave, leave us!" Starscream ordered.

Soundwave nodded and left them to confirm Starscream's claim.

Toxicity hugs him.

"You know that I still respect you more than I admire my old friend." Toxicity cooed at the smaller bot who blushed.

"Toxicity, stop you're embarrassing me!"

"Dear leader I don't even need to try as you embarrass yourself enough for me." Toxicity smirked putting down Starscream.

"Thanks, Tox." Starscream whispered.

She smiled gently.

Soundwave detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the energon deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost Decepticon. Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an energon cube to revive him, revealing him to be none other than Skyquake.

"Hello, Skyquake. It's been a while since we last saw each other." Toxicity greeted the smaller bot.

Skyquake looked up at her.

"Toxicity, where am I?" He growled placing a servo to his helm.

"And where is my lord?" He wondered.

Toxicity placed a servo on Starscream.

"The Autobots have killed our leader." Toxicity exclaimed angrily as her wings shot up showing her rage.

Skyquake looked shocked.

"He was recruiting an army for us but the Autobots stopped him and the space bridge was blown up mere centimeters away from him. For now, Starscream is leading and trying to get revenge for our leader." Toxicity explained looking at him.

Skyquake looked at the smaller flyer.

"If that is the case then I will join your team." Skyquake bowed.

"But beware that I only plan on helping you, Starscream because we want the same enemy dead." Skyquake warned.

Starscream nodded.

"Thank Primus, Toxicity was here. I might of gotten scrapped instantly." Starscream thought as they were interrupted by Optimus who's familiar with Skyquake from the Battle of Technahar.

Optimus tries to talk peace, but Skyquake refused the terms as Optimus and Bumblebee were Autobots, the ones who helped killed Megatron. Toxicity pushs Starscream aside, she and Skyquake charged at Optimus.

Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Toxicity trade fire as Skyquake refused to attack as it was unbecoming of a warrior but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake.

Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all.

Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a vehicle mode and Toxicity won't attack if she thought that they were no longer a harm to her so the two Autobots transform and fall back but that did stop the shuttle and seeker duo from following them with their weapons out. Toxicity with her mace and Skyquake with his machine gun.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal.

"We have lost sight of Toxicity and Skyquake. Soundwave why aren't you tracking them?" Starscream wondered as he looked at the bot.

Soundwave let out a beep.

Starscream turned closer to the screen.

"What. What is it?" Starscream asked the faceless bot.

The Decepticon signal was from the location of the space bridge explosion. When he realizes that Soundwave means it's Megatron, Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances.

He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches Lazerbeak from his chest to follow his Starscream to see what the seeker was going to do with their master.

Agent Fowler investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Skyquake and Toxicity have managed to knock the Autobots down before the Decepticon scans his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake and Toxicity strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack Toxicity in turn. Enraged at the attack on the Air Commander, Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris.

"No bot would survive this." He said to himself.

"The last thing that I need to happen is a rumor that Megatron is still alive." He sighed as he heard a groan.

His optics widened.

Megatron was floating in the debris in space, he looked offlined especially with the damage done to his frame. Starscream floated over to him. Placing, his servo on Megatron's chest the bot rises up which frightens his second in command before grabbing him.

The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of Dark Energon, which Starscream rips from him.

"You have no idea how dangerous this thing is, do you Master?" Starscream scoffed holding up the crystal.

Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the Nemesis.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help.

Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet.

Toxicity leaves her fight with the Prime to catch him which she does but because of the speed he was going and the direction she had her left pede, her ankle joint has split in half and she fell to the ground with energon leaking from her pede which burnt the areas where it fell.

"Skyquake, report status." She asked.

"Injured but alive. Request for backup." Skyquake replied.

"No need, soldiers." She stared at the Prime getting closer to her and Skyquake.

"Soundwave, requesting groundbridge and an assist." Toxicity said to the bot who had found them.

Soundwave nodded.

A groundbridge was opened and the Decepticons were rushed through it by Soundwave who closed it before the Autobots could enter.

Toxicity limped with Skyquake who was helping her to the medbay to check on Megatron and herself.

"Soundwave, how is he?" Toxicity asked, ignoring the puddles of energon she left in her journey there.

"Status: Alive but injured." Soundwave answered.

"Bob, requesting a clean up before it destroys the Nemesis." Soundwave ordered after he saw how much energon Toxicity lost.

"Sorry. Can't control the toxins in my energon." She smiled before she turned to Megatron.

"I hope you will be okay soon, old friend." She thought before Soundwave attended to her pede.

Chapter Text

Makeshift laughed awkwardly as Toxicity glared at him.

"You........ YOU........ YOU FRAGGING PIECE OF WORTHLESS SCRAP METAL!!!!!" She yelled at the poor Decepticon who covered his audio receptors, she had been yelling at him still she had gotten up from a statis nap which lasted a day.

She only found out about the bomb incident a few hours ago and the Autobot purpose a few minutes ago.

Starscream sighed as Knockout, their now on board medic welded his pede.

Knock Out has finally arrived on the Nemesis, which took some time as he had to drive (something Starscream disdains). Knock Out assumes he's been brought to provide Megatron with a laboratory assist, when Toxicity takes him to the Decepticon leader's sick bed but was met with a injured second in command and Air Commander.

"Man, Starscream. What the hell happened?" Breakdown asked sitting next to the seeker as Skyquake stared at the Air Commander yelling profanities at one of the spies.

"Starscream contacted Makeshift to pose as Wheeljack and go to the Autobot Base and get the location while we had the real Wheeljack here but Wheeljack manages to kill his guard and get free from his bonds. Makeshift unfortunately was unable to obtain the location of the Autobot base. Makeshift's in the process of telling us that when they realizes that the grenade Makeshift is wearing has been primed and is about to explode so Starscream did the most illogical thing he could possibly think of he screamed as much as Makeshift did and tripped when they tried to run away from it which had bruised his pede and expectedly Soundwave got the grenades off of the fool and threw it off of the Nemesis." Toxicity explained as Makeshift gulped knowing that Soundwave was the one who informed her about the situation.

Toxicity sighed after her explanation.

"You could of gotten killed, soldier!" She spoke not yelling this time.

"Sorry." Makeshift muttered, looking down.

Toxicity sits down on the floor of the medbay of the Nemesis.

"Knockout, got any high grade?" She asked.

"Yeah. Wanna drink?" Knockout asked going over and pulling out the cube.

"Yeah, I'm stressed. This is a pain in my bumper and Lord Megatron is not even waking up anytime soon." Toxicity sighed, placing a claw to her face before taking the cube the medic offered.

Starscream explains Megatron's condition to Knock Out.

While Starscream was content to let nature take its course with Megatron, the crew of the Nemesis took a vote and decided to bring in a specialist. Toxicity kicked him after he explained the situation.

"Ow!" Starscream whined rubbing his upper thigh.

"Lord Megatron's life is not something to be played with, Starscream." Toxicity growled, before she get up to put away the high grade.

"Yes, yes but I worry that the pain our master is in is unbearable. I can't stand the thought of letting him suffer." Starscream explained as Toxicity reclaims her seat on the floor.

Toxicity rolled her optics.

Somehow she found that hard to believe.

"So what's up, Soundwave?" Toxicity asked.

Soundwave had received a signal from a ship headed for Earth. Skyquake wonders if it might be a Autobot trap, but Toxicity immediately rejects the idea as the Autobot Leader, Optimus Prime is too honorable to do such a thing unlike her cousin, Starscream. Soundwave identifies that it is a Decepticon and that the incoming Decepticon as Thrust, the very same mad scientist that experimented with Toxicity and many others. However he was not alone as he was with his spark spilt twin brother Halt, who was not well known by the other Decepticons.

"I must refuse to have him here, Soundwave. The things that bot has done to not only Autobots but also fellow Decepticons." Toxicity hissed.

"I agree his behavior creeps out even me." Knockout shivered.

"He scares me." Breakdown whispered as Knockout pats his back in comfort.

"I'm afraid we have no choice in the matter. He is a Decepticon and therefore we must welcome him with open arms even if we do not want to." Starscream sighed as Toxicity's long wings flattered.

"Even though Megatron himself had placed him in a prison for his crimes against me and my siblings." Toxicity growled, placing a servo over her spark.

"Yes, Commander. The rule that Megatron put in place was that all Decepticons were allowed on the Nemesis if they were willing to fight against the Autobots on earth." Soundwave confirmed using recorded voices.

Toxicity sighs angrily as Starscream pats her wings gently. Soundwave sends landing coordinates for Thrust's landing and no Decepticon is excited to see this old bot especially Toxicity. Toxicity glares at Thrust when he gets out of his ship, the shorter silver cone headed bot was followed by his brother who was orange and silver.

"Greetings, Toxicity." He smirked, thinking that he probably would be able to put fear into her.

Toxicity's optics twitched.

"I am your Commander, Thrust. I expect you to refer me to as such." Toxicity informed the bot as she looked away from him with her arms crossed behind her back.

Thrust looks ready to fight with her and Toxicity would not back down from a challenge.

Starscream sensing trouble, cleared his throat to get everybot's attention.

"Soundwave, is that all you had to show us?" Starscream asked as Thrust scowled that his arrival not being met with more excitement.

Soundwave bought up a picture whose depicted device was an Energon Harvester.

"Soundwave, where did you get it?" Skyquake asked, curiously.

Soundwave showed a video of him throwing a pillar at Miko as a distraction which works as Bulkhead intercepts the pillar and tackles Soundwave who easily slams him into the fresco that had the Energon Harvester, shattering it.

"Good job." Toxicity commented as she clapped.

Soundwave nodded with a smile under his mask. Thrust looked shocked at the sight of the Autobots but Halt seemed to be excited at the thought of being able to fight an Autobot.

"Ol' Bulkhead is losing his touch." Breakdown commented laughing a little.

"Perhaps, he is." Toxicity answered smirking a little.

"But Breakdown, you do know that Autobots have a right to fear Soundwave. Before the war, when Megatron was still a gladiator in the arenas no one ever came close to defeating him not even me but Soundwave was the only exception." She added still smirk as said bot nodded.

"We'll make plans to get the energon harvester. Breakdown, Knockout and Soundwave you're with Toxicity. Thrust and Halt stay here with me, Makeshift and Skyquake." Starscream ordered after Knockout had finished fixing the bruise on his pede.

The mentioned ones nodded as Toxicity saluted.

Thrust went to argue his position but with a quick side glance by Soundwave, he immediately shut up.

The Autobots move into position around the museum before the kids move in via GroundBridge on a motorized scissor lift. Miko deals with a security camera by taking a picture of the Harvester and balancing her phone on top of the camera.

Optimus looks around using his mirror upon hearing an engine and sees a red car driving up right next to him.

Knockout smiles obviously not known to Optimus.

"[wolf whistles] Sweet rims. 24 gauge? You're reeeeeeal heavy-duty! Just like my friend here!" Knockout comments as Breakdown drives very quickly towards the museum whom fires a missile at the museum.

Optimus manages to catch the missile however the glass of the museum's door cracked because of the missile hitting it. Optimus turns his attention to the kids and loses sight of Knockout and Breakdown. The red con shocks shocks him with an energon staff as the kids look on in horror as the con makes Optimus lose footing and fall to the ground. Knockout jumps on Optimus' back and shocks him twice more in case of the Autobot leader still being conscious.

Knockout signals to Breakdown and secretly Soundwave and Toxicity who are in the sky.

Breakdown sees the signal and barrels towards the museum entrance. Bumblebee and Arcee joined the fight but  failing to stop him. Bulkhead joins the fight as well, but Breakdown attacks him and throws him back into his partner which sets off the museum's alarms, alerting the security guard. The kids finally manage to get the Harvester onto their lift platform and head for the exit. Miko, scouting ahead on foot, is caught by the security guard, who whisks her away. Raf and Jack run toward a half-open loading ramp door, expecting Arcee, but instead it's Soundwave, who grabs the Harvester and departs. Toxicity, Knock Out and Breakdown spot him leaving and make their getaway as well.

Meanwhile, Miko attempts to spin a yarn to the security guard about how she got locked in the museum while researching her history report.

Back at the Autobot Base, Optimus and the crew think of how Starscream and the other Decepticons might use the energon harvester as Ratchet works on a replica Harvester to return to the museum in place of the stolen one. Most of the crew thinking that Starscream will attempt to use the Harvester to gather energon as quickly as possible, Optimus, Bumblebee and Arcee go out attempting to intercept them. However, Bulkhead that the Decepticons might be intending to go after the energon seam in Greece.

Indeed, the Decepticons expect Halt, Skyquake and Makeshift were there at the excavation site.

When the other two Decepticons attempt to correct Starscream on who's to thank for the Harvester, Thrust grads it out of Starsceam's servos and demonstrates the device's effectiveness on a hapless Vehicon, and the others expect Toxicity and Soundwave are suddenly a lot more submissive.

While Thrust starts tapping the energon seam, Bulkhead attempts to sneak up behind the Decepticons but clumsily lets them know he's there.

He manages to deal with Knock Out and Breakdown surprisingly Toxicity and Soundwave let's him go with no damage as he runs towards Thrust who turns the Harvester on him. Struggling to stay upright, Bulkhead reaches Thrust, smashes the 'Con in the face, and breaks the Harvester. He throws the device into the sky, where it explodes.

Thrust goes to attack again and finish the weakened Bulkhead when the rest of the Autobots arrive and chase him off. Toxicity stands there staring as Thrust flys off muttering curses under his breath before the rest of them too retreat for the day.

Miko is starting to run out of Greek history to bore the museum security guard with, when Fowler turns up to collect her.

The guard is surprised when Fowler points out the replica Harvester in place on the statue.

Outside, Miko is reunited with Bulkhead and tells him all about how she's going to write her report on how the Autobots interacted with ancient Greece.

Chapter Text

A lunar rover examines recent seismic activity on the Moon's surface and stumbles upon a crashed ship. As it moves in for a closer look, a huge, unidentified object lands on the rover and crushes it.

The huge thing turns out to be Lugnut.

A bot that was built by Thrust and Shockwave. Lugnut believes that the latter is his father figure.

"Careful, you copper-clad klutz! You stepped in something!" Hothead, Lugnut's partner who was a born triple changer, yelled at him.

"But with a few dancing lessons, you'll be light on your stabilizing zervos like me. Cha cha cha." Blitzwing changed to his random personality and started to dance.

"Silence, Blitzwing!" Bladensburg, Toxicity's younger brother, yelled using a recorded voice like Soundwave does as he too had a screen mask.

"I did not follow this beacon halfway across the galaxy for dancing lessons!" Tanker, another sibling whom was a part of the triple changer of Bladensburg, himself and his sister Gunner, argued with the dancing crazy bot.

"This was Megatron's ship!" Lugnut yelled.

"No you crazy glitch! This is our ship!" Tanker yelled before it changed back to Bladensburg.

"We got a separate ship from the Nemesis remember and we were to go on a mission but we crashed on the moon." Bladensburg explained to the two idiots of his team.

"Ahaha, Tanker never did have a knack for parking." Random laughed as Bladensburg switches to Tanker.

"I can hear you! You insufferable glitch head!" Tanker yelled only causing Random to laugh louder.

Bladensburg takes back control from Tanker.

"Then let us go back to earth. It appears a lot has changed since we left and the twins and Ravage miss Soundwave." Bladensburg added after Random had stopped laughing.

"Though it iz ztrange. This iz the zame quadrant that we last heard from Lockdown." Icy commented putting a digit to his chin.

An argument breaks out between the two as Lugnut does not like Lockdown.

"I'm surrounded by sparklings." Bladensburg sighed as Tanker and Gunner laughed at his frustration.

Lugnut suddenly confidently stating that he knows Megatron still lives.

Bladensburg goes to correct him but Lugnut already takes off in the direction of earth.

"Oh!" Bulkhead screamed before covering his eyes with one of his servos.

"Munched!" Miko yelled pointing to the television.

"Would you mind lowering the volume?" Ratchet huffed turning from the medic berth he was currently lying on.

Ratchet was rudely awakened from a stasis nap by an unapologetic Miko and Bulkhead as Raf and Jack cruise the Internet for pictures of Bumblebee to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures.

“Raf, can you erase the image from the internet?" Jack asked.

“I already did.” Rafael said, pushing his glasses further onto his nose.

“It’s gone.” Jack confirmed.

“Thank you, kid." Ratchet sighed, rubbing his right optic.

"Hey Ratchet. Check out the monster truck rally show Miko and I found on the television." Bulkhead smiled as said bot yawned having not gotten enough sleep that night because of Bulkhead.

"Innocent vehicles battling for the pleasure of human spectors." Ratchet started before he shivered in disgust.

"Blood sport!" He dismissed by waving his servo down as Raf and Jack laugh at Ratchet's reaction.

"Uuuuuugghhhh! He's such a spoil sport." Miko groans.

Bulkhead nods before they both turn back to the television.

Ratchet rolls his optics and tries to get some rest but an alarm sounded waking up the poor medic again.

A signal from Cybertronian lifeforms that were headed for Earth was picked. Arcee wonders if it might be a Decepticon trap, remembering the last time a new Autobot turned up and Ratchet confirms that one is from a Cybertronian escape pod and other from single bots approaching the earth.

Optimus, Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee  groundbridge into the crash site which is at an abandoned construction site to find it's a Decepticon pod but there was no sign of a Decepticon. The bots secretly spy in the area and found Lugnut who had mistaken a crane for a Cybertronian talking to it but while there, a familiar bot was seen. Prowl was there staring at the Decepticons. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering the last time a new Autobot turned up, but Prowl's detailed explanation of protecting Alpha Trion with Smokescreen and parting ways with Jazz in Cybertron convinces Optimus Prime that he is legitimate.

"Tells us, Autobot. Where is out leader!" Lugnut yelled before picking up the crane and throwing it.

"These can't be those miserable Autobots, they're far too small." Hothead yelled.

"I think you forgot about the two wheeler. She's as small as the creatures of this planet." Bladensburg informed.

"But look at that one! It's big, it's bold, it's sassy!" Hothead changed into Random and walked towards a vehicle with a wrecking ball.

"You!" Lugnut growled running up to the vehicle.

"What have you done with our beloved leader Megatron? Talk!" Lugnut yelled at the poor vehicle as Bumblebee and Bulkhead laughed softly so that the con could not hear them.

After a shove, the crane responds by slamming its wrecking ball into Blitzwing who fell back into Bladensburg who landed hard on the floor.

"Ow!" Random Blitzwing moaned.

"Hey! You useless scrap heap!" Tanker yelled from on the floor at Lugnut.

Optimus is forced to slice a tanker thrown by Lugnut in half. This promising opener falls apart when Blitzwing prevents both Prowl and Bumblebee from launching any attacks.

Bulkhead tries to outmuscle the massive 'Con, Lugnut proves to be too powerful and throws him aside. The combined efforts of Blitzwing and Lugnut prove too much for the Autobots, and things go from bad to worse when they tell the Decepticons that Megatron burned up "over Cleveland".

"Megatron lives!" A raging Lugnut screams as he activates his Punch of Kill Everything and levels the entire area, flooring the Autobots and burying both himself and Blitzwing.

"Lugnut you freaking afthole!" Tanker screamed as they were thrown into the air.