SoundFire Prime presents TFA: Season Four

Sari: “Well?”

Skyfire: “Before time began, there was…the All-Spark. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them with life. That is how our race was born. That is how you were born, Sari.”

Sari and Professor Sumdac look at each other.

Skyfire: “The All-Spark originally created thirteen of our species. Eventually, plenty more of us were created. I was one of the latter. We all knew the extent of the All-Spark’s power, but as we would discover, it was not limitless. In order to keep the All-Spark fully charged, the power of the stars needed to be harnessed by a special faction called Seekers. I was one of the original Seekers until others like Starscream came along. Of course, we intended to use the power of the All-Spark to give live to our species for the good of the universe. Unfortunately, not everyone shared our ideals. The All-Spark had the unimaginable power to create a vast army of transforming robotic organisms. We tried to overlook that flaw and use the All-Spark to create peace and prosperity for our species. Then, everything changed forever. Of the original thirteen Cybertronians, there was one who grew to have much hatred and evil in his spark. His name…was Judas Prime.”

Professor Sumdac: “Judas? You mean like in the…?”

Skyfire nods his head.

Skyfire: “You humans have your origins, and we have ours, but in the grand scheme of things, we’re really not that different. Judas Prime was…a horrible, wretched ‘bot. He was once loyal to our leader, but one orbital cycle, he just…”

Sari: “What?”

Skyfire looks down and shakes his head.

Skyfire: “…He fell from grace. He betrayed us all. He wanted the All-Spark for himself, and he wouldn’t stop at anything to get his servos on it. He killed almost all of the twelve other originals, and I’ll never understand why, but he let his brother, who he hated so very much…live. I became one of his followers, but then I realized that what he was doing was wrong, and so I abandoned him. Luckily, we were able to defeat the Fallen and imprison him, but he was too dangerous to be kept on Cybertron, so we sent him to Earth, were he would remain imprisoned for all eternity…at least, that’s what we thought. Now, Judas Prime’s brother is Vector Prime. Vector Prime has the power over time and space. He envisioned that the Fallen would one day return after the seals keeping locked in his earthly prison would be broken. Fifty stellar cycles ago, your friends, Optimus Prime and his crew, found the All-Spark after we had cast it off into space millions of stellar cycles earlier in order to keep it from the clutches of Judas Prime’s followers.”

Sari: “The Decepticons.”

Skyfire: “Yes, and unfortunately, Megatron, who had given his spark to Judas Prime at the beginning of the Great War, found Optimus Prime, his team, and the All-Spark, and tried to take it back. Thankfully, the Autobots defeated Megatron and sent him crashing down to Earth in flames. Upon finding the All-Spark, the first of many seals were broken. The second seal was broken when Megatron was deactivated. The third seal is when you father found Megatron and created his business by reverse engineering his circuitry.”

Professor Sumdac drops to his knees and shakes his head. Sari puts her arm around Professor Sumdac.

Skyfire: “It wasn’t your fault. Vector Prime predicted it would happen. It had to happen.”

Sari: “What do you mean?”

Skyfire: “Judas Prime must be set free. It has been foretold by Vector Prime. The seals will be broken. Judas Prime will rise again. There is nothing we can do to stop it from happening. It will come to pass, and when it does…the universe will be plunged into eternal damnation.”

Sari: “……”

Professor Sumdac: “……”

Skyfire: “But fear not, for Judas Prime can be stopped. With the defeat of Judas Prime, the Great War will finally end.”

Sari: “But…it already did. I mean, Megatron got away, but Optimus and the others can stop him.”

Skyfire glares at Sari.

Skyfire: “You think the war has ended?! You’re wrong!”

Sari: “……”

Skyfire bends down and comes face to face with Sari. He speaks in a low, grave voice.

Skyfire: “It hasn’t even begun.”

Sari: “How can we end it?”

Skyfire stands up and looks down at Sari.

Skyfire: “The answer will come in time, that’s all I can say for now.”

Skyfire helps Sari and Professor Sumdac up.

Skyfire: “Don’t let it worry you. Trust me when I say that there will be a happy ending to this tale. I sincerely hope that my being here did not ruin your holiday. I want you to enjoy the time off you have, and not worry about anything. You’re not alone. I can help you, and so can the other Autobots. Just have faith and meditate as often as you can. That’s an order.”

Sari nods her head and smiles.

Sari: “Thank you, Skyfire. I will.”

Skyfire nods his head.

Skyfire: “I could use a holiday, myself. So I think I’ll be hanging around here for a little while. I’ll see you later, little lass.”

Skyfire turns his back to Sari and Professor Sumdac and limps away.

Professor Sumdac: “Skyfire, wait!”

Skyfire looks over his shoulder at Professor Sumdac.

Professor Sumdac: “How did Sari come to Earth? How did she get here?”

Skyfire: “I brought her here from Cybertron eight stellar cycles ago. Oh, and bringing Sari to Earth and having you transfer your DNA to her were also seals that needed to be broken.”

Sari: “But why am I here in the first place? I have this feeling that the All-Spark chose me for some reason, other than to upgrade myself with the key."

Skyfire: “All will be revealed in time. Speaking of which, do you still have that key of yours?"

Sari: "Yes."

Skyfire: "......I see."

Sari tilts her head.

Skyfire: "Well, I'm going to hang around here for a little bit. I'll be in touch, Sari."

Skyfire snaps his finger and disappears in a purple flash of light.

Professor Sumdac: "Well, that was very informative."

Sari: "Yeah, I feel like I have a lot more closure now."

Professor Sumdac: "I'm so relieved that I finally know more about your past."

Sari: "So am I. Well, all this excitement has me really worn out. I think I'm gonna grab my stuff and head back to the room."

Kremzeek yawns and rests his head against Sari's cheek. Sari smiles playfully and speaks in a sing-song voice.

Sari: "Uh oh, it looks like a certain little angel could use a nice little nap."

Kremzeek shakes his head.

Kremzeek: "No, no, Kremzeek no sleepy. Kremzeek no need stupid nap."

Sari: "Are you sure?"

Kremzeek rubs his eyes and nods his head. Sari picks up Kremzeek and cradles him in her arms.

Sari: "Because I think you are sleepy, and if you're sleepy, then I have to put you down for a nap."

Kremzeek: "No nap!"

Sari slowly rocks Kremzeek back and forth in her arms. Kremzeek snuggles up to Sari.

Kremzeek: "Kremzeek...is...sleepy."

Sari: "Yeah, I'm gonna take him back to the room."

Professor Sumdac: "Okay, I think I'll come back, too."

Sari: "Cool."

Sari and Professor Sumdac walk back to the hotel. Ravage spys on Sari from the sand dunes and growls.

To be continued...

Professor Sumdac and Kremzeek are asleep in the hotel room, but Sari is still awake. Sari is standing out on the hotel room’s balcony. She is looking up at the full moon.

Sari: “It’s so beautiful. It reminds me of the day I met Sixshot. There was a full moon that night, too, and it looked just like this.”

Sari sighs and sits down in a lounge chair.

Sari: “I wonder how the big guy’s doing. Eh, I’ll give a call just to see if he’s all right.”

Sari takes out her cell phone and calls Sixshot over his com link.

Sixshot: “Yo, this is Sixshot. Go ahead.”

Sari smiles eagerly.

Sari: “Hi, Uncle Sixshot.”

Sixshot: “Oh, hey there, Monkey. It’s so good to hear from you.”

Sari: “It’s good to hear from you too, big guy. I miss you.”

Sixshot: “I miss you too. So, I take it you’re still using those pretty blue optics of yours to get free stuff and whatever?”

Sari giggles.

Sari: “You bet I am. Are you still a great big softy? I hope you haven’t been acting like a big blue meanie since I last saw you, because that would make me really sad.”

Sixshot chuckles softly.

Sixshot: “Well, let’s just say I’m not so much of a jerk anymore since I’ve been…hanging out with the Autobots.”

Sari: “Well, that’s good. Hey, I’m on vacation right now.”

Sixshot: “Yeah?”

Sari: “Uh-huh, and I’m having a really great time.”

Sixshot: “Good for you, Sari. Hey, how’s that stuffed wolf I gave you before I left?”

Sari: “Don’t worry; I’m taking really good care of it. I brought it with me on my vacation so I’d have a little piece of home in case I get homesick, which I highly doubt I will, and so I don’t miss you too much. Did I tell you that I gave him a name?”

Sixshot: “No, what’s his name?”

Sari: “Neil.”

Sixshot: “Neil, huh? That’s a good name. I like it.”

Sari: “I’m glad you do. Speaking of, are you taking good care of Garry?”

Sixshot: “You mean the stuffing primate? Don’t worry your little pigtails about him. He’s fine, but I’m sorry to tell you that I haven’t been feeding him. It’s not that I didn’t want to, I just can’t any bananas out here in space for him to eat.”

Sari giggles.

Sari: “You’re so silly.”

Sixshot chuckles softly.

Sixshot: “Anything to get a laugh out of my best friend.”

Sari: “Aww, it’s so nice of you to say that.”

Sixshot: “I know. So listen, I’m on my way to Earth with a whole team of Autobots. We’re gonna be setting up a permanent base down there.”

Sari: “Oh yeah, Blurr told me all about that. He got here before you guys, but he didn’t tell me you were coming, too.”

Sixshot: “Well, unfortunately, we won’t be getting there for six orbital cycles. The ship we’re flying on is a rusty old piece of scrap. Not to mention it’s ridiculously slow.”

Sari: “That’s okay; I’ll be coming home in about six days, too. So you’ll likely be there by the time I get back.”

Sixshot: “Oh, cool. Hey, listen, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

Sari: “What?”

Sixshot: “Well, it’s really important, and I have a feeling that you’re really going to like it. The only catch is that I can’t tell you what it is just yet.”

Sari gasps and smiles eagerly.

Sari: “You mean it’s a surprise? You have a surprise for me, Sixshot?”

Sixshot: “Yes, yes I do.”

Sari squeals with joy.

Sari: “I don’t even know what it is, and I love it already!”

Sixshot chuckles softly.

Sixshot: “Okay, just calm down, cute jetpack girl.”

Sari: “Can you tell me what it is now?”

Sixshot: “No, Sari. You’re just gonna have to wait.”

Sari: “Aw, come on, I can’t wait!”

Sixshot chuckles teasingly.

Sixshot: “You have no choice.”

Sari speaks in a soft, sweet, innocent voice.

Sari: “Pwetty pwease, Uncle Sixshot? Pwetty pweeeaaase?”

Sixshot: “Hey, that’s not fair, Sari. You know I can’t say no to you when you talk to me like that.”

Sari speaks in a sing-song voice.

Sari: “If you tell me what the secret is, I’ll be your my bestest friend in the whole wide world, Uncle Sixshot.”

Sixshot speaks in a sing-song voice.

Sixshot: “You already are my best friend, little monkey.”

Sari: “So that means you have to tell me.”

Sixshot laughs.

Sixshot: “I guess you're right, but I won’t, at least not yet.”

Sari: “Aww, okay. I’ll wait.”

Sixshot: “That a girl. So tell me, have you made any new friends down there?”

Sari: “Oh yeah, I met this really cool old guy today.”

Sixshot: “Oh yeah?”

Sari: “Yeah, he was kind of funny. He was old and crotchety, and he had this like, really thick Scottish accent.”

Sixshot: “…Yeah?”

Sari: “Uh-huh, and he kept complaining about having itchy rust in his aft, or something.”

Sixshot: “Skyfire.”

Sari: “…How did you know that?”

Sixshot: “Skyfire is a really good friend of mine.”

Sari: “Really?”

Sixshot: “Oh yeah, the two of us go way back.”

Sari: “He told me that he’s been watching over me since I was a baby, and that he brought me to Earth when I was a protoform.”

Sixshot: “…What else did he tell you?”

Sari: “He told me about the history of the All-Spark and Cybertron. He also told me something about seals and some fallen guy.”

Sixshot: “……”

Sari: “Sixshot, he told me that the Great War’s not over yet. I’m starting to get worried. How is everybody? Are they all okay?”

Sixshot: “They’re fine, now I want you to listen, Sari; everything is going to be okay. There’s nothing to be worried about. We'll take care of this thing when you get back to Detroit, but for now, I want you to enjoy yourself on your trip. Don’t give any thought to what Skyfire told you. Can you do that more me, Sari?”

Sari: “I promise, Sixshot.”

Sixshot: “Okay. You should probably get some sleep now. You've got a big orbital cycle ahead of you tomorrow. Do you have any plans in particular?”

Sari: “I was gonna go surfing at some point, and maybe do a little souvenir shopping around town.”

Sixshot: “Good, good, do some fun things to take your mind off of all that bad stuff. It’ll do you good.”

Sari: “Okay, well…”

Sari yawns.

Sari: “Good night, Sixshot.”

Sixshot: “Good night, Sari. Sweet dreams, little monkey.”

Sari and Sixshot hang up on each other. Sari gets up and goes back inside. She gets in bed and falls asleep. Frenzy is seen to be standing on the balcony railing. He watches Sari in night vision and chuckles deviously.

Frenzy: (Translated) “Sleep now, hottie-hot-hottie Earth girl. Once I’m through with you…”

Frenzy chatters wildly and raises his eyebrows.

Frenzy: (Translated) “I’m gonna have you sleeping…with the fishes!”

Frenzy giggles deviously and thrusts his pelvis. He loses his balance on the railing and falls backwards to the ground below (Professor Sumdac and Sari’s room is on the second floor.) Frenzy sees Barricade standing over him with his arms crossed.

Frenzy: (Translated) “Hi there.”

Barricade rolls his eyes and groans.

Barricade: “This is supposed to be our vacation. I didn’t drive spark knows how many miles from Michigan all the way to Mexico just so you could stalk the techno-organic girl…again.”

Frenzy clicks and tilts his head.

Frenzy: (Translated) “Who said anything about stalking? I’m gonna ask her to marry me!”

Barricade: “…You are a sick, twisted little freak.”

Frenzy chuckles wryly.

Frenzy: (Translated) “Said the robot that has probes built into his circuitry.”

Barricade: “I only use them for interrogations, Frenzy! You on the other hand, want them for things I can’t even say without drawing the attention of the F.C.C.”

Frenzy: (Translated) “Censorship is useless. Remember that thing I told you about that happened back in 1986?”

Barricade: “Whatever. I’m going back to the parking lot to take a stasis nap. You do whatever you want.”

Barricade walks away. Frenzy looks around and whimpers. He jumps and runs after Barricade.

Frenzy: (Translated) “Barricade, wait! Don’t leave me out there in the dark! There could be chupacabras out there!”

Ravage watches Frenzy from the darkness and looks up at Sari and Professor Sumdac’s room. Waspinator is walking down the jungle trail.

Waspinator: “Wazzpinator can’t see anything out here.”

Waspinator walks into a tree and bumps his head. A family of howler monkeys falls out of the tree and attack Waspinator. Waspinator screams and runs down the jungle trail with the howler monkeys hanging on to him.

Waspinator: “Wazzpinator want truck, not monkeyzz!!”

Down on the beach, Octopunch, Snaptrap, Nautilator, Overbite, Seawing, Skalor, and Tentakil emerge from beneath the waves and walk onto the shore.

Octopunch: “The girl and I are more alike than she knows. Perhaps I should take it upon myself and tell her just what she really is. She might find it quite enlightening. Then again, the truth has been known to be quite painful in rare instances. Be that as it may, there’s only one way to find out how she’ll take the news…”

To be continued…

Megatron, Starscream, Shockwave, and Scalpel are in the laboratory in Megatron’s palace. A severely bruised and battered Elite Guard General Rhinestone is strapped down to an operating table. There is another operating table next to Rhinestone. Strapped down to the operating table is a large, bulky black body with a purple radioactive symbol on its chest, large crab-like pincers for hands, red tank treads on its legs, red saw blades on the sides of its arms, and a large silver cranium with a black visor. Rhinestone is taking deep labored breaths and is trying his best to stay alive. Shockwave pulls out his tank cannon and points it at Rhinestone’s head.

Shockwave: “You can’t perform an operation without first administering an anesthetic. Just count back from a hundred, and we can get things started.”

Rhinestone: “……”

Shockwave shakes his head.

Shockwave: “No? Well, okay then.”

Shockwave pulls the trigger and shoots Rhinestone pointblank in his head. Rhinestone’s body begins to fade to gray. Scalpel climbs on top of Rhinestone’s chest and pulls it open. He jumps to the side to give Shockwave room to work.

Scalpel: “You may begin the transplant, but act quickly before his spark goes out.”

Shockwave: “I know how to do this, Doctor Scalpel, thank you.”

Shockwave reaches in and pulls out Rhinestone’s spark.

Shockwave: “You know, Doctor, I wouldn’t mind tearing that techno-organic girl open to see what’s inside her.”

Scalpel rubs his claws together and chuckles deviously.

Scalpel: “Oh, yes, I would very much like to do that, myself. After seeing her shaking servos with Sentinel Prime on the news broadcasts, I have to say; it appears as though her anatomy is rather…delicious. Her inner circuitry would be very informative for my studies, while her outer shell, her human skin…”

Scalpel shudders dreamily.

Scalpel: “Would be oh so very…aesthetically pleasing for my more…intimate studies.”

Megatron and Starscream share a look of pure disgust and look at each other. Shockwave rolls his eye and carries Rhinestone’s spark over to the vessel on the operation table opposite Rhinestone.

Shockwave: “Well, it’s perfectly obvious that you and Frenzy are related to each other.”

Scalpel shakes his head. He jumps off of Rhinestone’s operating table and scurries over to Shockwave.

Scalpel: “No, no, Shockwave, you misunderstood me. You see, my brother Frenzy admires the girl’s beauty and views her as nothing more than optic candy. I on the other hand, admire the girl’s inner and outer anatomy, not because I am attracted to her romantically, if I can even call it that considering my brother’s perverse obsession with her, but because I wish to have a better understanding of the fine line between organic and robotic anatomy. Now, of course, I am well aware of all that is needed to be known about our species as a whole, but we have so little information on organics, and now that organics are no longer banned and feared on Cybertron, we need now more than ever to learn about this mysterious species. This girl, this “Sari Sumdac” as the Autobots call her, represents an unheard of balance between our species and the species that puzzles us to this very stellar cycle.”

Shockwave nods his head understandably.

Shockwave: “I see where you’re going with this. What if we were to discover how the girl functions as a half organic and half machine being? We already know, of course, of organisms such as Blackarachnia, but not enough to use it to our advantage. Perhaps if we were to harness a sufficient amount of information, we could perhaps learn to create an unstoppable army of techno-organisms and triumph over the Autobots once and for all.”

Scalpel laughs maniacally.

Scalpel: “That’s brilliant, Shockwave! Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! Genius, I say!”

Megatron strokes his chin thoughtfully.

Megatron: “What do you think, Master?”

The Fallen: “AN ARMY OF TECHNO-ORGANISMS DESIGNED TO CARRY OUT MY REIGN OF TERROR ACROSS THE UNIVERSE? HMM, THE VERY IDEA PIQUES MY INTERST, BUT I HAVE A BETTER IDEA FOR AN ARMY THAT CAN SERVE ME MOST LOYALY.”

Starscream: “Well, what about dissecting the girl? Is that one of the many seals you speak of?”

The Fallen: “THE CHILD IS UNLIKE ANY BEING IN THE UNIVERSE. SHE IS, IN A WORD, QUITE A SPECIAL CASE. SHE IS A TECHNO-ORGANIC HUMANOID, A HUMAN AND A CYBERTRONIAN BOTH IN ONE BODY. WHILE AN ARMY OF THESE CREATURES WOULD STRIKE FEAR INTO THE UNIVERSE, THE GIRL IN PARTICULAR IS JUST TOO STRONG. NO MORE OF HER KIND SHOULD BE PRODUCED AFTER HER. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE WISE TO EXAMINE HER ANATOMY AND LEARN THE SECRET THAT SHE PROTECTS. SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, THE GIRL IS THE KEY TO MY RESURRECTION. IT’S YOUR MISSION TO DISCOVER JUST HOW SHE CAN HELP ME OUT OF MY PRISON. NOT NOW, BUT SOON, YOU WILL HAVE TO VENTURE TO EARTH WITH MY FOLLOWERS AND FIND THE GIRL. WHEN YOU LEARN WHAT SHE HOLDS, YOU MUST BRING HER TO ME.”

Megatron: “But…Master, we don’t even know where you are.”

Starscream: “How can we bring the girl to you if we can’t even find you?”

The Fallen: “I CANNOT REVEAL MY LOCATION TO YOU JUST YET.”

Megatron: “Will you tell us where you are when we are closer to the final seals?”

The Fallen: “YES. I’M AFRAID I MUST TAKE AN EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENSE FROM CYBERTRON, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME.”

Starscream: “Are you returning to your prison, Master?”

The Fallen: “NO, BUT I AM RETURNING TO EARTH FOR A PERSONAL MATTER THAT IS MY BUSINESS, AND MINE ALONE. ADIOS.”

Megatron and Starscream bow their heads.

Megatron and Starscream: “All hail the Fallen!”

Shockwave: “Lord Megatron and Lord Starscream, are you ready for the final phase of the transplant?”

Starscream: “Yes, may proceed with the transplant, Shockwave.”

Shockwave nods his head.

Shockwave: “Very well, my lord.”

Scalpel jumps up on the operating table and pulls the body’s spark chamber open. Shockwave places Rhinestone’s spark inside of the body’s spark chamber. Scalpel closes the spark chamber and crawls on top of Shockwave’s shoulder. Shockwave shudders.

Shockwave: “Please refrain from touching me in such a rather haunting matter in the future.”

Scalpel giggles deviously.

Scalpel: “Forgive me, Shockwave, but my small size tends to make me rather mischievous in rare instances.”

Shockwave: “Rare instances? Hah!”

The body glows All-Spark blue and breaks free of the straps on the operating table that had it pinned down. It jumps off the operating table, picks it up, and throws it through the wall with an inhuman roar. Scalpel laughs manically.

Scalpel: “IT’S ALIVE!!!”

The monster grabs Rhinestone’s lifeless body and tears it limb from limb. The monster throws Rhinestone’s torso at Shockwave, who jumps out of the way just in time. Megatron and Starscream look at each other and smile knowingly.

Megatron: “Brilliant! This creature that was built from one of the two protoforms that were stolen from the Autobots appears to be quite a powerful soldier.”

Starscream: “Tell us, monster, what is your designation?”

The monster snarls and stomps over to Starscream. The monster towers over Starscream and picks him up by his chin. The monster roars in Starscream’s face and throws him against the wall. Starscream stands up straight and cracks his neck and knuckles. He nods his head and smirks. The monster pounds the ground and roars.

Megatron: “We ask you again, monster, what is your designation?”

Tankor: “I AM TANKOR, AND TANKOR SMAAAAAASH!!!”

Megatron smirks.

Megatron: “Oh, this is going to be so epic.”

To be continued…

Skyfire is taking a stasis nap on the beach in his SR-71 Blackbird mode. Sixshot calls his over his com link.

Sixshot: “Skyfire. Skyfire? Skyfire!”

Skyfire grumbles.

Skyfire: “Let sleeping space dogs lie, my boyo.”

Sixshot: “Skyfire, listen to me, things on Cybertron are going south fast. Those three protoforms the Autobots brought back from the Nemesis? Yeah, well, two of them were stolen by the Decepticons. If you think that’s bad, you don’t know the half of it. That Autobot general who looks like he could transform into one of those horned animal things was kidnapped, the Elite Guard is assuming the worst at this point. Blaster picked up some sort of weird energy fluxuation coming from Megatron’s old palace in Trypticon. I’m thinkin’ its the war machine?"

Skyfire: “…Dang it!”

Sixshot: “How’s Sari? She told me she met you, and that you told her about the Fallen.”

Skyfire: “Indeed I did.”

Sixshot: “What else did you tell her?”

Skyfire: “Just the history of our species and the seals.”

Sixshot: “How did she take it?”

Skyfire: “She seemed worried at first, but I told her not to be.”

Sixshot: “Oh, did you tell her about me?”

Skyfire: “No, I figured you could do that yourself, lad. Me thinks the lassie will be tickled pink to find out that her sweet Uncle Sixshot has known her since she was a wee little baby, and that it was her baby cuteness that made you have a change 'o heart in the first place.”

Sixshot chuckles softly.

Sixshot: “She was one cute kid, I’ll tell you that.”

Skyfire chuckles softly.

Skyfire: “It amazes me to this very day how such a tiny little lassie could have tamed such a big, mean serial killer with a spark as black as night such as yourself.”

Sixshot sighs.

Sixshot: “It amazes me too, Skyfire. It amazes me, too.”

Skyfire: “Ah, it just goes to show that deep down inside of every ‘bot, there’s a special soft spot that’s waiting to be touched by purity and kindness.”

Sixshot: “With the exception of Scorponok, Megatron, and Starscream.”

Skyfire: “They’ve made their decisions. They’ve chosen their paths. There’s nothing but darkness and hatred left in that miserable lot.”

Sixshot: “You know, I’ve been thinking.”

Skyfire: “What?”

Sixshot: “I have this feeling I just can’t shake that’s telling me that I need to get to Earth as soon as possible, like there’s something I should be waiting for, but I can’t put my servo on what it could be. You know, it’s like my reaper sense is tingling.”

Skyfire: “Then perhaps you should get down here as soon as you can. The Deathbringer is always doing things to crease you. Who knows, maybe this time he’s planning to attack the wee lass to get to you.”

Sixshot: “That’s not going to happen.”

Skyfire: “The Deathbringer is as persistent as you are. Neither one of you is going to give up until the other is dead, or if there’s a reasonable body count on whichever side.”

Sixshot: “Well, let me tell you something, the reapers are all going to die…for good. No one gets away with threatening my little monkey’s life, and if Deathbringer lays so much as one servo on her head, I’m going to make him suffer so hard, that for the first time in his life, he’s going to know pain.”

Skyfire: “You really do care about Sari, don’t you, Sixshot?”

Sixshot: “When I first met Sari seven and a half stellar cycles ago, I wanted nothing to with her at all. Then I held her in the palm of my servo, and she looked up at me with those big optics of hers. I felt my spark warm up for the first time in my life. The time I spent with her made me realize how precious life is, and I’ve spent most of my life taking lives, most of them innocent. When I held Sari, I saw her innocence, and it was one of the most…beautiful things I’d ever seen. From that point on, I knew I had made a terrible mistake by joining the Decepticons, but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t leave them on my own. Sari was the incentive I need to leave the Decepticons. She’s helped me become a better ‘bot, and I’m forever in dept to her. I owe her everything. She’s my best friend. No offense.”

Skyfire chuckles softly.

Skyfire: “Its okay, Sixshot. I understand. She’s more that a friend though, isn’t she?”

Sixshot: “Yes, Skyfire, she is more than my friend. The bond I have with Sari…it’s like…it’s like she’s my little girl.”

Skyfire: “Your daughter?”

Sixshot: “Yeah, my daughter, and I’m like her father.”

Skyfire: “You know, Sixshot, the bond between a father and his daughter is one of the most sacred relationships in the universe. I hope you realize how fortunate you are to feel that way about her.”

Sixshot: “I do, and Skyfire?”

Skyfire: “What is it, laddie buck?”

Sixshot: "You've been there for me since the very beginning. You were there when I joined Yoketron's Cyber Ninja Corps, when I left Yoketron's Cyber Ninja Corps, when I joined the Decepticons, and up to this very point in time now that I'm an Autobot again. You've never once abandoned me. Before I met Sari, you were the only real friend I had, and you'll always be my friend no matter what happens. You're like the father I never had, Skyfire, and I just wanted to thank you for being there for me all these stellar cycles."

Skyfire: "...You're welcome, Sixshot. I've waited a really long time to hear you say that to my face. Thank you, laddie buck."

Sixshot: "You're welcome. I'll see you real soon, Skyfire."

Skyfire: "I'll be waitin' for ya, Sixshot."

Sixshot: "Good night."

Skyfire: "Right back at ya."

Sixshot and Skyfire hang up on each other. Skyfire goes back to sleep. Meanwhile, Arcee is working on the main control panel at the Cybertron Space Bridge Nexus. Her eyes are glued to the screen. She is doing a routine maintenance scan on the surrounding space bridge portals, when all of a sudden, the screen goes black. Arcee gasps and sighs impatiently.

Arcee: “Oh, that’s just great! Better restart the system, maybe it just has a glitch in the…”

A mechanical ventriloquist dummy (resembling Generation One Scroponok with a white face, piercing blue/red eyes, a black tuxedo, and a red bowtie (“Billy” from Saw) appears on the screen. Arcee tilts her head and raises her eyebrow inquisitively.

Scorponok: “Hello, Arcee. You don’t know me, but I know you. It’s my understanding that you’ve been through quite an ordeal these past few stellar cycles. It must have been hard for you. I wish I could say that I feel your pain, but sadly, I do not.”

Scorponok chuckles softly.

Scorponok: “At least, not yet, anyway. Now then, let’s get down to business, shall we? After doing some research, it’s come to my attention that you were once a school teacher. Therefore, I trust you’ve taught protoforms a thing or to about just about everything there is to know in the universe? Yes? Well then, here’s a question for you…”

Arcee turns around and gasps with horror. Scorponok towers over Arcee with the graying bodies of Arcee’s sisters, Chromia and Moonracer, in his hands. Arcee shakes her head.

Arcee: “Chromia…Moonracer…no…no! What have you done to them?!”

Scorponok smirks and throws the bodies at Arcee. Arcee falls back against the control panel. She looks down and sees Chromia resting her head on her lap.

Arcee: “Chromia…”

Chromia: “Arcee…*KZZT*…I…*KZZT*…I love you…*KZZT*…sis…*KZZT*”

Scorponok: “So tell me, teacher, how do you cure a scorpion’s sting?”

Arcee narrows her eyes and scowls.

Arcee: “YOU MONSTER!!!”

Scorponok chuckles wryly and shakes his head. He backhands Arcee. Arcee rubs her cheek ruefully and glares at Scorponok. Scorponok’s eyes turn jet black as Deathbringer overshadows him.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “ACTUALLY, I PREFER DEVIL, DEMON, PITSPAWN, CEBEBONITRON, CANDYBOT, SPAWN OF THE FALLEN, OR MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, THE FALLEN’S ADVOCATE, BUT MONSTER? PLEASE, THAT’S JUST INSULTING.”

Arcee snarls and spits in Scorponok’s face. Scorponok sighs and wipes the spit from his face. Scorponok points his stinger at Arcee’s chest.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY HOPING I WOULDN’T HAVE TO TAKE YOU OFFLINE, MISS ARCEE, BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I ACTUALLY FIND YOU QUITE ATTRACTIVE, IF NOT HOT. THE SAME GOES FOR YOUR SISTERS. HEH, TRIPLETS, GOTTA LOVE ‘EM.”

Arcee narrows her eyes.

Arcee: “Why are you here? What do you want?”

Scorponok rolls his eyes.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “WELL, I’M STANDING AT THE CENTER OF THE SPACE BRIDGE NEXUS, THE FRAGGIN’ PORTAL TO THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE ALL IN ONE SITTING. OH, I WONDER.”

Arcee: “Don’t tell me, you want to get to Earth, right?”

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “AWW, YOU SPOILED THE SURPRISE! DON’T TELL ME, YOU’VE BEEN TALKING TO SIXSHOT?”

Arcee: “He told me all about you. How you’re nothing but a worthless errand ‘bot for the Fallen himself, Deathbringer.”

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “WORTHLESS ERRAND ‘BOT, HUH? GOOD OLD SIXSHOT HAS CALLED ME A LOT OF HARSH THINGS OVER THE STELLAR CYCLES, BUT “WORTHLESS ERRAND ‘BOT?” THAT IS A COMPLETE AND BOLD-FACED FALSEHOOD. THE FALLEN PAYS WELL IN BLOOD MONEY, AND WITH THAT IN PROCESSOR, I NEVER STOP WORKING. NOW LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT GLITCH-HEAD, SIXSHOT. HE…”

Smokescreen, Windcharger, and Tap Out are standing behind Scorponok with their blasters locked and loaded. Scorponok looks over his shoulder at them.

Smokescreen: “Let go of her, now! I am not going to ask you again, Decepticon scum!”

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “ASSISTANCE, PLEASE!”

A robotic wolf charges at Smokescreen from out of nowhere and pounces on him, pinning him to the ground. The robotic wolf mauls Smokescreen to death. A large robotic vampire bat swoops down on Windcharger and bites his head off. Windcharger’s headless body turns gray and drops to the ground. The robotic vampire bat laps up the energon dripping out of Windcharger’s body. A robotic alligator lunges at Tap Out with its mouth open and chomps down on him until he turns completely gray and swallows him. Arcee gasps in horror.

Arcee: “NOOO!!!”

The robotic animal trio transforms into their robot modes and reveals themselves to be Weirdwolf, Mindwipe, and Skullcruncher possessed by reapers with jet black eyes.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “I HAVE TO SAY, THAT WAS RATHER ANTI-CLIMATIC. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER IF THEY HAD AT LEAST TRIED TO FIGHT BACK. OH WELL, THAT’S CANNON FODDER FOR YA. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?”

Arcee turns her attention to her sisters, who are moaning and wincing in pain.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, I USUALLY LEAVING THE DEAL MAKING TO MY MASTER, BUT I’M FEELING UNUSUALLY GENEROUS TODAY. SO I THINK I’LL GIVE YOU TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. NOW, YOU CAN EITHER STAY HERE AND DIE TRYING TO KEEP ME AND MY COHORTS FROM ACCESSING THE SPACE BRIDGE NEXUS AND LET YOUR SISTERS DIE, OR YOU SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR YOUR POOR SISTERS AND LEAVE THE NEXUS IN MY POSSESSION. I’D MAKE A DECISION NOW, IF I WERE YOU.”

Arcee stalls. She pulls herself up and drags her ailing sisters away to safety. She shoots Scorponok a hateful look. Scorponok quickly gets to work on the space bridge control panel. The space bridges circling the Nexus activate and beam down at the center and create a massive transwarp portal. Scorponok turns to face Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf, and Mindwipe.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) “OKAY, WE GO TO EARTH AND LOOK FOR THE GIRL, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. THEN WE HOLD HER HOSTAGE AND WAIT FOR SIXSHOT TO COME TO HER RESCUE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. WE ASK HIM TO JOIN THE REAPERS, AND HE SAYS NO, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. WE KILL HIM AND THE GIRL, AND THEN WE BASICALLY DESTROY THE WHOLE FRAGGING PLANET, END OF STORY. ARE WE GOOD? ANY QUESTIONS? NO? OKAY, LET’S GO THEN.”

Scorponok, Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf, and Mindwipe enter the transwarp portal.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) "IT IS TIME FOR MY ENDGAME TO BEGIN. THE FALLEN CAN HAVE HIS FUN ANOTHER TIME."

To be continued…

A green harrier jet (Acid Storm) is being pursued by a black space shuttle (Blast Off) and a purple helicopter (Vortex) high above the streets of Detroit.

Blast Off: “Well, I’ve lost whatever patience I had left for this blighter. Vortex, what do you suggest we do now?”

Vortex: “Good question, Blast Off. I was thinking we could…oh, I don’t know…SHOOT THE SON OF A BISCUIT EATING BULLDOG OUT OF THE SPARKDAMN SKY!!!”

Vortex laughs maniacally as he fires his mounted machine guns on Acid Storm (a green, brown, and gold clone of Starscream) and shoots him out of the sky. Acid Storm transforms into robot mode and crashes to the street below. He pulls himself up and stumbles away in a daze. A missile truck (Onslaught,) an Abrams tank (Brawl,) and an armored humvee (Swindle) pull up to Acid Storm and transform into their respective robot modes. Blast Off and Vortex transform into their robot modes and land on the ground below. The Combaticons arm their weapons and surround Acid Storm.

Onslaught: “That’s far enough, Dr. Acid Storm.”

Swindle: “You can try all you want, Seeker, but you won’t be able to weasel your way out of this. I know, because I’m an expert in the field of weaseling my way out of sticky situations.”

Blast Off: “The only way out is through a quick and painless death. Unfortunately, we don’t do quick and painless.”

Brawl: “Slow and painful always wins the race!”

Vortex: “Enough talk! Let’s make this drudge suffer!”

Vortex laughs evilly. The Combaticons open fire on Acid Storm. They continuously shoot him until he collapses and begins turning gray. The Combaticons cease fire and lower their weapons.

Onslaught: “Combaticons…you know the drill.”

The Combaticons combine to form Bruticus. Bruticus looks down at a battered and bruised Acid Storm and lifts his foot.

Bruticus: “SAY GOODNIGHT, ACID STORM.”

Bruticus stomps on Acid Storm and crushes him to death.

Bruticus: “HEH, AND THE THREAT OF GLOBAL WARMING WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY…30%. NOT BAD FOR A PLANET THAT’S ALREADY ON THE VERGE OF AN EXTINCT SPECIES OF WHITE BEARS. IT’S A PITY WE PROMISED WE WOULDN’T KILL ANY HUMANS. IT MIGHT DO THE PLANET WELL TO WIPE OUT THE SPECIES RESPONSIBLE FOR WIPING OUT EVERY OTHER SPECIES. AH, BUT YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.”

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar is battling Thrust (a maroon and black clone of Starscream.) Thrust is shooting null rays at Wreck-Gar, while Wreck-Gar is throwing whatever he can find at Thrust.

Wreck-Gar: “Uh-oh, I’m all out of stuff to through at the jet guy. This is not good.”

Wreck-Gar looks around and spots Bobby Bolivia’s used car lot down the street.

Wreck-Gar: “Oh, that’s convenient.”

Wreck-Gar runs down to Bobby Bolivia’s used car lot and stands in the middle of the parking lot. Thrust flies towards Wreck-Gar and shoots null rays at him.

Wreck-Gar: “Prepare for your demise, jet guy, for I am Wreck-Gar the car throwing hero!”

Wreck-Gar picks up a Chevrolet Camaro and throws it at Thrust. Thrust takes damage and falls face first to the ground. Wreck-Gar picks up a Pontiac Solstice and throws it at Thrust. Bobby Bolivia rushes out of the garage and up to Wreck-Gar.

Bobby Bolivia: “What are you doing, boy?! Quit destroying all my cars! I need them cars to help support my mammy’s heath care.”

Bobby Bolivia looks over at a little white house next door to his used car lot. His mother is sitting in a chair out on the lawn, chatting with her friend.

Bobby Bolivia: “Hey, Mammy, how you doin’ over there?”

Bobby Bolivia’s mother gives him the loser sign. Bobby Bolivia shakes his head and scowls.

Bobby Bolivia: “On second thought, you can destroy as many of them cars as you want, homie.”

Wreck-Gar picks up a GMC Topkick and throws it on top of Thrust. Thrust shoves the GMC Topkick off of his body and charges towards Wreck-Gar, null rays a blazin’. Wreck-Gar draws his energy blades.

Wreck-Gar: “GARBAGE!!!”

Wreck-Gar runs up to Thrust and slashes him with his energy blades. He slices through Thrust’s armor like paper mache.

Wreck-Gar: “Like a surgeon, cutting for the very first time!”

Thrust bleeds energon through his wounds and falls on his back. He takes a final labored breath and clutches his chest before he turns gray. Wreck-Gar puts his hands on his hips and nods his head.

Wreck-Gar: “I am Wreck-Gar, and I am only good for one thing.”

Bobby Bolivia: “What?”

Wreck-Gar: “BEING AWESOME!!!”

Wreck-Gar transforms into a garbage truck and speeds away. Bobby Bolivia rubs the back of his neck as he surveys the damage done to his used car lot.

Bobby Bolivia: “Huh, I guess I won’t be making any sales for a while...”

The Dinobots are battling Dirge (a teal, yellow, and magenta clone of Starscream) in front of Wyatt Toys. Swoop and Snarl are wounded, while Grimlock and Dinotron are still going strong.

Dinotron: “Grimlock, we must stop the Seeker once and for all. He has already damaged Swoop and Snarl, and is close to harming the human bystanders. We need a plan of attack. I know, I will slow him down and gradually deplete his health.”

Grimlock: “What me Grimlock supposed to do, stand there and watch like idiot?”

Dinotron chuckles softly.

Dinotron: “That will not be necessary, Grimlock, for you have already mastered that art.”

Grimlock tilts his head and raises his unibrow.

Grimlock: “Me Grimlock don’t get it.”

Dinotron: “And you don’t have to, my friend. As I was saying, I will weaken the Seeker as best as I can, and when I give the signal, you shall finish him off once and for all. Do you understand, Grimlock?”

Grimlock nods his head and smiles. Dinotron nods his head and transforms his tail into a sword.

Dinotron: “Very well then. Remember the plan, and you shall ensure us victory.”

Dinotron narrows his eyes and turns his attention to Dirge, who is shooting null rays at a passing city bus full of humans. He charges towards Dirge with the graceful speed of a cheetah.

Dinotron: “Mistress Sari is a life giving angel of mercy. She entrusted me with the gift of a beating spark to ensure that I would do my part to protect innocent life. She entrusted me with the protection of her fellow humans, and I shall not let her down.”

Dinotron leaps at Dirge and swings his sword at him. He cuts a deep, bleeding gash across Dirge’s chest. Dirge screams in pain and clutches his chest.

Dirge: “Why do you have an awesome sword?! I want an awesome sword like yours, but all I have are these blasted null ray blasters! Why does everyone have better things than me?! It’s not fair! I want things that are awesome and much better than everyone else! I deserve it!”

Dinotron shakes his head and wags his finger disapprovingly.

Dinotron: “Your perception of life is flawed, Seeker. There is no need for weapons of power or other things that are the best of everything else. If you were as intelligent as I am, you would know that the only thing that is of true worth is what you already have, and that is the beating spark beneath your chest plate. Life is the only true item of value, anything else is but a necessity that means nothing in the big picture.”

Dirge stalls and narrows his eyes. He aims his null rays at Dinotron. Dinotron snarls and stands his ground.

Dirge: “That actually makes sense. Why do you make more sense than me?! I want to be smart like you! It’s not fair, why can’t I be smart like you?!”

Dinotron frowns and shakes his head.

Dinotron: “There is much envy in your circuitry, Seeker. It shall be your downfall.”

Dirge: “Is that a threat, dinosaur?”

Dinotron: “I am only telling it like it is, Seeker of envy.”

Dirge smirks.

Dirge: “Ah, but I am not just envious, dinosaur.”

Dirge blasts Dinotron with his null rays and sends him flying backwards into an ATM machine. Money flies out of the ATM machine in a steady, never-ending stream. Innocent bystanders crowd around Dinotron and gather as much money as they can. Dirge growls and soars towards Dinotron and the crowd of money hungry civilians.

Dirge: “I’M ALSO GREEDY LIKE A TURBOFOX!! GET AWAY FROM MY CURRENCY, YOU FLESHLING PIGS!!”

Dinotron leaps to his feet and converts his sword into a small missile launcher.

Dinotron: “I know not the consequences of referencing this lyric, and I do not care.”

Dinotron closes one eye and takes careful aim at Dirge’s jet mode cockpit on his chest.

Dinotron: “MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL!!!”

Dinotron fires a missile that strikes Dirge in his chest and shatters his cockpit into a million pieces. Dirge grabs onto Dinotron and holds him tight. Dirge and Dinotron crash through the wall and into a bank. Dinotron grabs a hold of Dirge and shoves him against a safe. Dirge crashes through the safe door and slumps down to the floor against a shelf full of money.

Dinotron: “Grimlock, come quickly!”

Grimlock rushes up to Dinotron with his fire sword drawn.

Dinotron: “Finish him off, Grimlock, while he’s still down!”

Grimlock roars and charges into the safe and stands before Dirge, who is struggling to stand up.

Grimlock: “DINOBOTS RULE, GLITCH!!!”

Grimlock swings his fire sword at Dirge and severs him from the waist up. Dirge’s upper half falls to the ground. His lower half tilts over and falls to the ground. Dirge tries to gasp for air, but gives up the ghost. Dirge turns gray and dies. Grimlock stomps out of the safe and roars. He breathes fire up at the ceiling and activates the emergency sprinklers. Civilians run out of the bank in legions. Dinotron shakes his head and crosses his arms. He can’t help but smile as he watches Grimlock celebrate his victory over Dirge.

Grimlock: “OH YEAH, ME GRIMLOCK BADAFT!!!”

Dinotron chuckles softly.

Dinotron: “Come, we must tend to Swoop and Snarl’s wounds.”

Dinotron puts his missile launcher away and calmly walks out of the bank. Grimlock runs after Grimlock. Grimlock and Dinotron meet up with Wreck-Gar, Bruticus, Swoop, and Snarl. Bruticus pulls apart and transforms back into the Combaticons.

Onslaught: “I say, that was a good show, old chaps.”

Captain Fanzone walks up to the Substitute Autobots. Onslaught gets down on his knees and looks down at Captain Fanzone.

Onslaught: “So, how did we do, Captain Fanzone?”

Captain Fanzone sighs deeply.

Captain Fanzone: “I didn’t think it was humanly possible, but it turns out that there are actually Autobots that do a whole lot more damage than the regular Autobots. At best, you guys have probably caused about twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifty dollars in damage.”

Grimlock: “Uh, is that bad thing?”

Captain Fanzone sighs and shakes his head.

Captain Fanzone: “Forget about it. The important thing is that you brought the Decepticon crime rate down by about 56%, which is better than nothing, I guess.”

Swindle smirks.

Swindle: “Glad we could help.”

Captain Fanzone looks up at Swindle.

Captain Fanzone: “Oh, by the way, no hard feelings about me wanting to have you stripped down at sold for spare parts at one of my police auctions a while back?”

Swindle forces a smile and puts his hands behind his back. He cleches his fist and holds a plasma grenade in his other hand. He talks through his teeth.

Swindle: “None whatsoever, Captain.”

Captain Fanzone nods his head and turns his back to Swindle. Swindle scowls and raises his shaking arm cannon. Blast Off holds Swindle back. Vortex pushes Swindle’s arm down and shakes his head. Swindle pulls away from Blast Off and Vortex and crosses his arms with a pout. Captain Fanzone looks around at the Substitute Autobots and scratches his head.

Captain Fanzone: “Hey, where’s that zippy blue guy who’s supposed to be your leader?”

Slipstream and Blurr are staring each other down outside Sumdac Tower.

Slipstream: “So, are you ready for the big end of level boss fight, blue boy?”

Blurr draws his energy saw and revs it up. He narrows his eyes.

Blurr: “You brought me back to life, became one of my closest friends, and then left me in charge, Sari, and I promise you, I am going to do everything in my power to make you proud.”

Blurr pulls back and crouches as if he is preparing for the ultimate high-stakes marathon.

Blurr: “This is for you, Sari.”

To be continued…

Blurr: “I’m going to give you a head start.”

Slipstream chuckles.

Slipstream: “What?”

Blurr: “You heard me, you malfunctioning harpy.”

Slipstream scowls.

Slipstream: “What, you’re just going to let me fly away?”

Blurr: “What’s the matter? Don’t think you can do it?”

Slipstream: “Hey, I never said…”

Blurr: “Coward.”

Slipstream: “What did you call me?!”

Blurr: “I called you a coward, you coward!”

Slipstream clenches her fists.

Blurr: “I’ll give you a ten nanoclick head start. I want to see if you can outrun me. No one in the universe can outrun me though, especially a knock-off like you, Slipstream. That is your name, isn’t it? It’s just that there are a lot of ignorant bots out there who see you clones as nothing but worthless knock-offs that are too pathetic to even have identities, and I was hoping I’d make a good first impression.”

Slipstream groans impatiently.

Slipstream: “Do you ever stop talking?!”

Blurr: “No, I don’t. Now I’m not going to tell you again, you Decepticon drudge, run, or fly if you prefer. Just do it as fast as you can.”

Slipstream stalls and glares at Blurr. She transforms into a harrier jet and flies away from Blurr at mach speed. Blurr smirks.

Blurr: “Wait for it…”

Slipstream soars down the streets of Downtown Detroit. Blurr revs up his energy saw until it reaches full power. He engages his turbo drive. He resumes crouching and pulls back as far as he can.

Blurr: “Wait for it…”

Blurr blasts off and sprints after Slipstream as fast as he can. He runs so fast that he is seen as nothing more than a blue streak of light.

Blurr: “Running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running, running!”

Blurr catches up to Slipstream and leaps on top of her.

Slipstream: “What in the...?!”

Blurr takes his energy saw and slices straight down Slipstream’s jet mode beginning at the tip of her nose. Slipstream screams in pain. Blurr flips off of Slipstream and lands on his feet on the street below. Slipstream slows down and splits in half. Both halves of Slipstream crash to the street in a fiery wreck. They begin to vibrate out of control and then explode. What remains of Slipstream is slowly devoured by flames. Blurr puts his energy saw away and smirks.

Blurr: “First one to the finish line, motherboarder!”

Meanwhile, Soundwave is inside an old abandoned warehouse in the slums of Detroit. He is talking to Ravage over his com link.

Soundwave: “Ravage, do you have the fleshling in your sights?”

Ravage gently nudges the balcony door open and creeps into Sari and Professor Sumdac’s hotel room. He spies Sari sleeping in her bed and growls softly.

Soundwave: “Excellent. Proceed with the extraction.”

Ravage purrs and sits on the floor. He scratches his neck with hind leg and yawns.

Soundwave: “Never mind the parental unit.”

Ravage growls softly.

Soundwave: “The energy creature is of no importance, either.”

Ravage creeps over to Sari’s bed and climbs up on it.

Soundwave: “Be careful not to wake her. Wait until after you extract her spark energy and then wake her up. I can only imagine how terrified the girl will be when the last thing she sees before she dies is my most loyal servant.”

Ravage hovers over Sari and glares at her chest jewel.

Soundwave: “That is the external source of her All-Spark powers. That is where you must extract her spark.”

The blade at the tip of Ravage’s tail extends. Ravage growls softly and points his tail at Sari’s chest jewel.

Soundwave: “On my signal.”

Ravage purrs and nods his head. Just as Soundwave is about to give Ravage the order to strike, he is grabbed and lifted up off the ground by the headless, waterlogged body of the original Starscream (last seen when it sank to the bottom of the Detroit River in Transwarped.) The headless Starscream slams Soundwave against the wall. Soundwave struggles to break free from the headless Starscream’s grip. Ravage tilts his head as he listens to the sounds of struggle over his com link. Fire shoots out from where Starscream’s head once sat.

The Fallen: “CALL OFF RAVAGE, SOUNDWAVE! CALL HIM OFF!!!”

Soundwave: “Who are you?!”

The Fallen: “CALL OFF RAVAGE THIS INSTANT! I DEMAND IT! THE GIRL MUST BE KEPT ONLINE!!!”

Soundwave: “The…techno-organic…must be…destroyed.”

The Fallen: “THE TECHNO-ORGANIC MUST LIVE! I NEED HER TO RELEASE ME! I REACTIVATED YOU SO YOU COULD BRING THE GIRL TO ME, AND YOU FAILED TO DO SO.”

Soundwave: “…You are the one who has been giving me my commands?”

The Fallen: “YES, AND I AM ALSO THE ONE WHO GAVE LIFE TO YOUR MINIONS. WHEN YOU WERE DESTROYED BY OPTIMUS PRIME AND DEACTIVATED BY THE GIRL, I BROUGHT YOU BACK ONLINE ONCE AGAIN. EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO IS BECAUSE OF ME.”

Soundwave stalls.

Soundwave: “Ravage, abort the operation.”

Ravage growls softly and jumps off of Sari’s bed. Kremzeek wakes up and looks at Ravage. Ravage bears his teeth and growls. Kremzeek gasps and floats up to Sari. He nudges her awake.

Kremzeek: “Sari. Wake up, Sari.”

Sari: “…Huh? What?”

Ravage rushes out the door and leaps off the balcony. He runs off into the jungle. Sari opens her eyes and turns to look at Kremzeek. Kremzeek looks at the open door.

Kremzeek: “…Where did he…go?”

Sari yawns.

Sari: “Kremzeek…what is it…little buddy? What’s wrong?”

Kremzeek: “Kitty cat monster…tried to hurt Sari.”

Sari: “…What?”

Sari laughs softly and smiles exhaustedly.

Sari: “Oh, Kremzeek…it’s okay…you were just having a…bad dream…that’s all.”

Kremzeek shakes his head.

Kremzeek: “No…no…kitty cat monster come through door…tried to kill Sari.”

Sari yawns and gets out of bed. She closes and locks the door.

Sari: “I just forgot to…lock the door when I came in earlier. It must have blown…open by itself.”

Sari gets back in bed.

Kremzeek: “But…kitty cat monster…”

Sari: “It’s okay…I’m fine, Kremzeek…no one hurt me.”

Kremzeek: “Sari is…safe?”

Sari: “Oh, yes…I’m safe. Here…”

Sari moves over to and gives Kremzeek room to sleep on her pillow.

Sari: “Will you feel better if I share my pillow with you?”

Kremzeek: “…Kremzeek just have…bad dream?”

Sari nods her head.

Sari: “That’s all…now listen…I’m really sleepy…I have to go back to bed now, and you should do the same, okay, little buddy?”

Kremzeek: “Okay…Kremzeek sorry Kremzeek woke Sari up.”

Sari closes her eyes and laughs softly.

Sari: “Its okay, baby.”

Kremzeek: “Good night, Sari.”

Kremzeek kisses Sari on her cheek and smiles.

Sari: “Aww, good night, Kremzeek, my sweet little angel.”

Kremzeek lies down on Sari’s pillow and closes his eyes.

Kremzeek: "No, Pretty girl Sari is angel.”

Sari: “…Thank you…friend.”

Sari falls asleep with a smile on her face. Kremzeek snuggles up to Sari’s pillow and falls asleep with a smile on his face. The Fallen lets go of Soundwave.

The Fallen: “NOW, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME. I HAVE WORK FOR YOU, SOUNDWAVE.”

Soundwave: “What kind of work?”

The Fallen: “WELL...”

To be continued…