SoundFire Prime presents TFA: Season Four

Prologue to Season Four

Scorponok’s plan was beginning to come full circle. He had a seemingly loyal army to follow him to Earth on his quest for ultimate power, as well as supreme leadership of the Decepticons. He had already taken the Dead Matrix from Nemesis Prime, the evil clone of Optimus Prime. All Scorponok needed now was the power of the All-Spark to complete his transformation into the demonic Megazarak. However, with the All-Spark dispersed all across Detroit, Michigan, it was going to be easier said than done. That is, until it came to Scorponok’s attention that a human teenage girl possessed the holy power of the All-Spark. Unfortunately for Scorponok, this girl, Sari Sumdac, as she was referred to by the Autobots, was too well protected by the Elite Guard reinforcements that had come to the aid of Optimus Prime and his Autobots. Scorponok had no choice but to abort his unholy mission and return to Cybertron, but he vowed to return with a vengeance, and an armada of Decepticons to get the job done. Feeling that Sari was safe, Generals Hound and Kup of the Elite Guard decided to rally up their soldiers and return to Cybertron. They assured the Earth Autobots that they would return after persuading the Autobot High Council to establish a permanent base of operations on Earth so that the Earth Autobots would no longer be alone in there battle to destroy any Decepticon forces bold enough to set foot on Earth. They were not sure how the long the process would take, but they promised that they would do their very best to return to Earth as soon as they could. Unfortunately for Sari, Sixshot, a Decepticon bounty hunter turned Autobot informant who she had become very good friends with, had to return to Cybertron with the Elite Guard as well. Sari and Sixshot savored the time they had left together. When the time came for her to say goodbye to Sixshot, Sari did so with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes. Sixshot promised Sari that they would see each other again and asked that she have faith in him. Sari promised that she would stay strong for Sixshot and gave him a kiss on his cheek before saying goodbye one last time. To Sari, Sixshot was so much more than just her best friend. Sixshot was like a father to Sari. He had taught her one of life’s most important lessons. That lesson was that no matter who you are or what you’ve done, you can change. Anyone can change. When Sixshot left, Sari wanted to cry, but she had promised that she would be strong for him. So, she took a deep breath, let it out, wiped a tear from her eye, and smiled. Sari had always told Sixshot the most important aspects of friendship, and it wasn’t until that moment that she realized one thing she had never told him, but then again, she didn’t really need to. Friends never say goodbye. A week had passed since Sixshot’s departure, and so many things had happened. A human had set foot on Cybertron for the first time, Sentinel Prime had become the acting Magnus while Ultra Magnus was on spark support, a comatose Arcee was kidnapped by the Decepticon traitor Shockwave, who had been living beneath the streets of Cybertron for who knows how long, Jazz had left the Elite Guard and joined the Autobots on Earth, Megatron had finally gained control over Omega Supreme after transwarping randomly across the universe, the All-Spark was reborn, Sari had gained some closure on her origins, Prowl sacrificed himself to save the universe, and Megatron was finally defeated. While it appeared that the Great War had finally ended, in reality, it hadn’t even begun…

Scorponok chuckles evilly. His glowing red eyes illuminate his face in the darkness. His eyes turn jet black and drown the light from his eyes in darkness.

Scorponok: (Deathbringer) "Oh, yes. There will be energon."

A demonic alien engulfed in flames towers behind Scorponok and lights the darkness.

The Fallen: "DO NOT BE AFRAID. I AM THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. TAKE MY SERVO, AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO SALVATION. IF YOU FALL, I SHALL HELP YOU UP. I MYSELF HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE, BUT NOW, I SHALL HAVE REDEMPTION."

The Fallen and Scorponok laugh demonically. They are swarmed by a flock of black ravens that burst into flames.

THE FALLEN'S MEGACYCLE IS UPON US...

Picking up right where Endgame Part 2 of Transformers Animated Season Three left off...

The crowd is going absolutely wild. Optimus Prime and the Earth Autobots have just stepped out of the ship that transformed and revealed it to be Omega Supreme. Optimus Prime is wearing the new All-Spark around his neck and is wielding Ultra Magnus’ hammer. Bumblebee, Jazz, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are holding up Prowl’s corpse in a casket so everyone there can see that he gave his spark for them all. Arcee is standing beside Ratchet. Sari is floating in front of three unused protoforms. Megatron, Shockwave, and Lugnut are in stasis cuffs. Sentinel Prime is glaring at Optimus Prime with his arms crossed. Behind him, Jetfire and Jetstorm are cheering wildly for Optimus Prime and the others. Sentinel Prime looks over his shoulder at the Jet Twins and narrows his eyes. Jetfire and Jetstorm stop cheering. Sentinel Prime takes a deep breath and sighs. He walks up to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime frowns. Everyone falls silent.

Sentinel Prime: “Well, you did it. You actually did it. You defeated and captured Megatron, you brought the Magnus hammer back, and you ended the Great War. I guess you finally win, Old Buddy.”

Optimus Prime: “Sentinel, listen…”

Sentinel Prime raises his hand for silence and shakes his head.

Sentinel Prime: “I was wrong about you, Optimus. You are a hero. You’re not a washout or a worthless crankshaft. I only said those things because I never forgave you for what happened to Elita-1. I always busted on you every chance I could, but you always stood your ground. You never once snapped at me. I always thought of myself as the better ‘bot, but it turns out that you were the better ‘bot all along, not me.”

Everyone stare at Sentinel Prime in awe. Bulkhead’s jaw literally drops clean off his face.

Optimus Prime: “Sentinel…are you…really apologizing…to me?!”

Sentinel Prime nods his head and extends his hand towards Optimus Prime.

Sentinel Prime: “I’ve been a fool all these stellar cycles. Elita-1 wasn’t the only thing I lost that orbital cycle. I also lost my best friend in the whole universe because I was too spark broken and stupid to forgive him for something that was all my fault. I wanted to go to that planet. You warned me again and again not to go any further, and I never listened. It’s because of me that we lost Elita-1. It’s because of me that now she’s some sort of mutant spider freak. You never should have been expelled from the academy, Optimus, but that doesn’t matter anymore, because you’ve proven yourself to be worthy of Elite Guard status.”

Optimus Prime smiles and nods his head. Sentinel Prime smiles and nods his head. Optimus Prime and Sentinel Prime shake hands.

Optimus Prime: “Thank you so much, Sentinel. You have no idea how much that means to me, especially coming from you.”

Sentinel Prime: “I’m pretty sure I do, Old Buddy. You’re gonna need that hammer, because as of right now, I’m stepping down as acting Magnus. You deserve it so much more that I do, so do me a favor and wield it well, at least until Ultra Magnus recovers, anyway.”

Optimus Prime looks back at his team. He looks over at Sari and then up at Omega Supreme. He looks at Sentinel Prime and nods his head.

Optimus Prime: “I will.”

Sentinel Prime and Optimus Prime salute each other.

Sentinel Prime: “In fact, I think your whole team deserves to be moved up to Elite Guard status, and while I hate to say this, so does the techno-organic kid that you hid from me the last time I came to Earth.”

Optimus Prime: “…I only did that because everyone knows how much you hate organics, and after what happened with Blackarachnia and Waspinator, you have to admit that it was for the best.”

Sentinel Prime shrugs.

Sentinel Prime: “Well, be that as it may, I’ve figured that while I’m burying the hatchet with you, I might as well get over my fear of organics. While I’m at it, I think it’s about high time that the age of organic discrimination on Cybertron came to a much deserved end. Come here, Tara.”

Sari flies over to Sentinel Prime.

Sari: “It’s Sari, not Tara.”

Sentinel Prime scoffs.

Sentinel: “Sari, Tara, Bubbles, Dil, Timmy, Poof, Raven, Ben, Truffles, what's the difference?!”

Sari looks out of the corner of her eyes.

Sentinel Prime: “Just be glad I didn’t call you a slimy organic ooze demon like I would any other organic. Anyway, before I get too far ahead of myself, I want to ask you for your forgivness on behalf of your fellow organics. As far as I’m concerned, you’re one of us now, and you’re more than welcome to come and go as you please on this planet.”

Optimus Prime: “I agree.”

Sari: “……”

Sentinel Prime extends his hand towards Sari. Sari looks out at the crowd. She looks back at the Autobots and turns to Sentinel Prime.

Sari: “Thank you, Sentinel.”

Sentinel Prime and Sari shake hands. The crowd resumes cheering wildly. Sentinel Prime backs away from Optimus Prime to give him room.

Sentinel Prime: “It’s all you, Old Buddy.”

Sari backs up and lands on the ground. Optimus Prime raises the Magnus hammer in the air.

Optimus Prime: “’TIL ALL ARE ONE!”

Everyone: “’TIL ALL ARE ONE! ‘TIL ALL ARE ONE! ‘TIL ALL ARE ONE! ‘TIL ALL ARE ONE! 'TIL ALL ARE ONE!”

Warden Stockade and five navy blue Autotroopers step out from the crowd and walk up to Megatron, Shockwave, and Lugnut. Stockade stares Megatron down and chuckles.

Stockade: “Well, well, well, I had to see it to believe it, and believe it or not, it’s true as blue. The great and mighty Megatron has finally been brought to justice. Fancy that. I’m so anxious to haul you in, that I’m not even gonna bother reading you your rights. Take ‘em away, boys.”

Two of the Autotroopers grab hold of Megatron and cart him away. Two other Autotroopers grab hold of Lugnut. Lugnut pulls away from them and walks after Megatron. The Autotroopers follow close behind. The one remaining Autotrooper grabs hold of Shockwave and starts after the others. Blurr races through the crowd and runs up to Shockwave.

Blurr: “Hello, Longarm Prime, Sir, or should I say Shockwave?”

Shockwave single red eye widens. He shakes his head in disbelief and struggles to speak.

Shockwave: “B...B…B…Bl...Blu…Blurr?!”

Blurr: “Well, it sure as hell ain’t Bluestreak!”

Shockwave: “How did you…?”

Blurr: “With a little bit of science, and a whole lot of All-Spark energy from that girl over there.”

Blurr and Shockwave look at Sari. Blurr smiles eagerly and waves.

Blurr: “Hello, Sari. It’s absolutely, positively great to see you again. I’m fine. How are you? Good? Good. Hey, congratulations on becoming an Autobot. I guess that means you’re one of us now. Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, it is kind of awesome. Anyway, if you’re going to be staying on Cybertron for a while, come looking for me, and I’ll show you all the best places to visit all across the planet in no less than three and a half nanoclicks. I can do that, of course, because I’m the fastest thing on wheels. Much, much faster than Bumblebee, I might add. Anyway, it was good seeing you again. I’m looking forward to the next time we get to hang out and do stuff, because you’re so much gosh darn fun to be friends with. Oops, gotta go. Bye, Sari.”

Sari nods her head and smiles beneath her battle mask.

Sari: “Okay, I’ll see you around, Blurr.”

Blurr turns to Shockwave and narrows his eyes.

Shockwave: “Look, I know you’re mad about me crushing you into a cube and handing you over to Cliffjumper who inadvertently tossed you into an incinerator.”

Cliffjumper slowly backs away into the crowd and whistles casually.

Shockwave: “But come on now. I was simply just doing my job. Kind of like you, only I succeeded in completing my mission while you…”

Blurr scowls. Shockwave gulps.

Shockwave: “No?”

Blurr raises his fists.

Blurr: “I can catch you, and I can stop you, you Decepticon drudge.”

Blurr rapidly punches Shockwave in the face again and again and again. He then kicks Shockwave in the stomach. Shockwave reels back in pain. Blurr tears Shockwave out of the Autotrooper’s arm and slams him onto the ground. Shockwave tries to get up. Blurr kicks Shockwave. Shockwave collapses and groans in pain.

Shockwave: “I guess I deserved that.”

Blurr bends down and pulls on Shockwave’s antennas as hard as he can.

Shockwave: “Uncle!”

Blurr pokes Shockwave in his eye.

Blurr: “Well, glad I finally got that out of my system. I finally got my revenge. Now I think I’m going to walk it off, or in my unusual case, run it off. I think I’ll take my leave now. I gotta leave this place. It’s been cool, but I gotta go. Bye everybody. Sayonara!”

Blurr runs off at mach speed and disappears down an alley while laughing maniacally. The Autotrooper helps Shockwave up.

Stockade: “Get him out of here.”

Warden Stockade and the Autotrooper walk off with Shockwave. Hound and Kup walk up to Optimus Prime and salute him.

Hound: “Good to finally have you aboard the Elite Guard, Optimus Magnus.”

Optimus Magnus salutes Hound and Kup.

Optimus Magnus: “Thank you, Generals.”

Kup: “We’ll take care of those protoforms. Oh, and we’ll also be taking Prowl.”

Optimus Magnus: “If you don’t mind, Sirs, I’d like Prowl’s funeral to be held on Earth.”

Hound: “It’s not really our call. You’re the one with the hammer, so you decided where the funeral will be held and where it won’t.”

Optimus Magnus nods his head.

Optimus Magnus: “Oh, right.”

Kup: “But we will need to take Prowl’s body down to the morgue.”

Optimus Prime: “Very well then.”

Kup snaps his fingers. Dai Atlas and Warpath take Prowl’s casket from the Autobots and carry it away. Outback, Trailbreaker, and Powerglide pick up the unused protoforms and carry them away. The crowd starts to clear out. Sari looks at Sentinel Prime and shakes her head in disbelief.

Sari: “I can’t believe it. Sentinel Prime used to be such a big chinned jerk, and now he’s…nice. Go figure.”

Sixshot: “Why are you so surprised, Monkey?”

Sari gasps and turns around. Sixshot floats out of the shadows towards Sari. He is wearing a black trench coat and a snap brim fedora.

Sixshot: “Like I’ve told you before, no matter who you are or what you’ve done in life, you can change. Anyone can change.”

Sari retracts her battle mask and smiles tearfully. Sixshot nods his head and chuckles softly.

Sixshot: “Told you I’d be alright.”

Sari: “Sixshot…”

To be continued…

Everything is in black and white. A pair of eyes open and frantically darts back and forth. Everything is fading in and out of focus. The sound of flapping wings, followed by the taunting calls of black ravens is heard from out of nowhere. The sound of a scythe swinging back and forth, followed by a creaking groan, echoes from out of the darkness. The rapid beating of a heart overwhelms every other sound, and then, silence.

The Fallen: “AWAKEN.”

Everything returns to color. The Iacon Mortuary explodes and crumbles to the ground. Dozens of jet black Autotroopers run out of the flaming wreckage and try to put out the flames that are slowly devouring their bodies. Starscream calmly steps out of the flames and walks down the street. He shoots null rays at fleeing civilians and kills them in an instant. A group of olive Autotroopers opens fire on Starscream. Starscream rolls his eyes and flies over to them. He performs a sweeping kick that knocks the Autotroopers to the ground. One of the Autotroopers grabs Starscream’s ankle. Starscream shakes his head and blasts the Autotrooper’s head clean off of his body. The remaining Autotroopers scramble to their feet and try to apprehend Starscream. Starscream kills them all. He picks up the one remaining Autotrooper and tears him in half. A towering flame shoots up out of a manhole behind Starscream. Starscream turns around to face the flame and sees the full body apparition of the Fallen himself appear before him.

Starscream: "I know you. You're the Fallen. The Herald of Unicron himself."

The Fallen nods his head.

The Fallen: “ALLOW ME TO BE BRIEF, FOR RESURRECTING YOU HAS DRAINED MUCH OF MY STRENGTH, AND LEAVES ME WITH BARELY ENOUGH TO PRESENT MYSELF TO YOU. NOW, DO YOU REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU? YES OR NO WILL SUFFICE.”

Starscream: “Yes.”

The Fallen: “EXCELLENT. DO YOU WISH TO SEEK REVENGE AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED YOU IN THE PAST?”

Starscream nods his head and smirks.

Starscream: “Oh, hell yes.”

The Fallen: “PERFECT. WILL YOU ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR QUEST FOR VENGEANCE, BUT ONLY AS LONG AS YOU DO AS I COMMAND?”

Starscream stalls, and then slowly nods his head.

Starscream: “…Yes.”

The Fallen: “VERY WELL. YOU SHALL BE REWARD FOR YOUR LOYALTY. BUT FIRST…”

Starscream and the Fallen lock eyes. The Fallen’s eyes glow red and fire a powerful laser blast at Starscream’s forehead.

The Fallen: “ALLOW ME TO EXPOUND.”

Starscream screams in excruciating pain and drops to his knees while clutching his head. The open wound where his All-Spark fragment once sat miraculously disappears. Starscream stares at his hands and laughs manically as they burst into flames. Starscream’s entire body becomes engulfed in flames.

The Fallen: “ARISE, LORD STARSCREAM.”

The flames on Starscream’s body die down. Starscream stands up and takes a deep, labored breath. Starscream is now beige with black Cyberglyphics tattooed all over his body and has inverted Decepticon insignias on his wings. His Animated voice has been replaced by his live-action movie counterpart’s voice.

Starscream: “The war is over, and Megatron’s reign over the Decepticons has come to an end. Now it is time for a new era. Now it is time for my reign. The reign of Starscream! All will tremble! None shall be spared! The only ally I have is you, and you alone, my master.”

The Fallen: “NO, THERE ARE OTHERS.”

Starscream: “Others?”

The Fallen: “INDEED. WHILE YOU ARE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER YOUR FORMER SHELL, YOU ARE NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION I HAVE FOR YOU.”

Starscream: “Mission? I thought my only mission was to have my revenge on everyone who has stood in my way of supreme leadership.”

The Fallen: “NO, AT LEAST, NOT ENTIRELY.”

Starscream: “Explain yourself.”

The Fallen: “YOU WILL HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP, LORD STARSCREAM, BUT FIRST, I NEED YOU TO PREPARE FOR MY RETURN.”

Starscream: “Your return, Master?”

The Fallen: “I AM IMPRISONED ON THE HUMAN PLANET, EARTH. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM NOT YET STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK FREE OF MY PRISON. THAT IS WHERE YOU COME IN, LORD STARSCREAM.”

Starscream: “Very well then, but how can I help you?”

The Fallen: “I NEED YOU TO BUILD AN ARMY COMPRISED OF ONLY MY MOST LOYAL FOLLOWERS. YOU WILL FIND THEM IN THE CITY OF TRYPTICON, WHICH I AM CERTAIN YOU ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.”

Starscream nods his head.

Starscream: “Indeed I am, but even then, how can I help you? You are a supernatural entity with powers far beyond even my comprehension. I am but a humble Seeker who has just been resurrected by your generosity. So I ask you once more, how can I, along with an army of your devoted worshippers, help you break free?”

The Fallen snaps his finger and morphs into a vision of Sari Sumdac. Starscream narrows his eyes and sneers.

Starscream: “The human? Yes, I remember her, but very vaguely. I barely recognized her, for I have only encountered her once or twice. What of it?”

The Fallen: “I CANNOT SAY. BUT KNOW THIS, SHE IS THE KEY TO MY RESURRECTION, AND SHE MUST BE FOUND. SHE MUST BE BROUGHT TO ME. TELL ME YOU UNDERSTAND.”

Starscream: “I understand, my master.”

The Fallen nods his head.

The Fallen: “EXCELLENT. NOW THEN, MY TIME IN THE LIVING WORLD IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE. I MUST LEAVE YOU NOW. BUT WORRY NOT, FOR I SHALL APPEAR TO YOU ONCE MORE IN THE FUTURE. NOW GO. YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOU ORDERS, AND NOW YOU MUST CARRY THEM OUT TO ENSURE MY GLORIOUS COMEBACK.”

Starscream bows to The Fallen.

Starscream: “Yes, I live to serve you, my master.”

The Fallen nods his head and disappears in a cloud of black smoke. Starscream transforms into a harrier jet and flies away.

To be continued…