(1. It seems the main thing of this chapter was to set up the familial comradery amongst the MECH bots and steeljaws faction.
(2. Speaking of steeljaw I'm curious where his character will go from here, since his body count is one of the reasons why he was so feared in the first place.
(3.rodimus is being smart but my god I can already tell this is gonna backfire.
(4. Also I don't appreciate how mean all the MECH bots were to ransack. He didn't mean to and stinger was just calling him family.
(5. Hmmm. Unicron is a god after all. Now what could that crystal be? Thunderwing?

 

So I was going to split this into two different parts since there is a clear deviation. I decided to just include everything this time. I think from here on there are no more splits. That way everything after this will be paced as intended. But oh well, you get a good long one to discuss.
Here is part 8: Fists of a Deserter.



Back at MECH, the Dinobots fully emerge from the groundbridge. First, a teal velociraptor with red eyes and green highlights on the underside of its tail, spine, neck, and arm blades speed its way to Grindor and sniff him before wagging its tail. Grindor pets him.


Grindor: “It’s good to see you again, Slash.”


Slash doesn’t speak regularly but instead random noises come out whenever he tries to vocalize. This time it’s a gentle honking of a car horn. A purple triceratops with horns under its chin and a red face lazily walks in. This is Slug, and laziness is his greatest talent. He instantly looks around and tips himself over on his side and instantly tries to take a nap.


Wedge: “Come on you just got here!”


Slug: “I know, and that took a lot out of me.”


Wedge: “All that strength and no energy to back it up.”


Slug: “Wake me up when it’s time to fight.”


Slug begins to nap right on the spot. Nobody bothers to move him. Next, a two headed pteranodon flies in and actually transforms into his robot mode. This is Strafe, the direct challenger to Swoop. He kneels before Deadspark.


Strafe: “My swords are at your beckoning, Deadspark.”


Deadspark: “I am no leader, Strafe.”


Strafe: “Yet we all see you that way.”


Deadspark: “I wish to pass that title to someone more deserving.”


Strafe: “I have yet to see anyone come close to that title.


Nitro: “What about me?”


Strafe: “Not even close.”


Nitro: “I’ll get you for that!”


Strafe:’ and while we’re talking about you, I advise staying out of the skies. That’s my domain. I let you fly out of courtesy, not because you’re worthy.”


Silas: “Now now, my children. The skies belong to all who can fly. If you kill all our enemies I will personally allow those with flight to soar wherever they please.”


Stinger: “Hey Strafe.”


Strafe: “Ah, Stinger. It’s so good to see you again. I know the two of us will do incredible things together.”


Stinger: “Let's start with killing Bumblebee and Strafe!”


Strafe: “Sounds like a plan.”


The last and most powerful of the Dinobots emerge. Their leader, the spinosaurus Scorn. Heis mission; Destroy Grimlock. He transforms into his robot mode and observes his comrades.


Scorn: “Father at last we have returned.”


Silas: “And not a moment too soon, Scorn.”


Scorn: “You had us shipped away like we were disposable. I greatly disapprove of that.”


Silas: “I assure you that was never personal. We didn’t have a room for all of you. We accidentally created too many creations from the Allspark. The room we are in now was built specifically for the four of you.”


Scorn: “It looks quite barren. Unworthy of an apex predator like myself.”


Silas: “Kill Grimlock and you may roam Earth as you please.”


Scorn: “Then I suggest sending me as soon as possible Deadspark Bruticus, and myself are all you need to exterminate the population of Cybertron.”


Slug: “By all means do that. I don't feel like working today.”


Silas: “All of you will be needed. In two hours we make the first move, and I will require a special team to make the first move.”


Nitro: “You ready to go all in?”


Silas: “Just the opposite. We started too aggressive and that led to our premature discovery. Now we have to change the agenda. We don’t start with bang, but rather a metaphorical single gunshot. They haven’t made a move on us yet, and that means they’re planning ahead, seeing what information they can gather on us. We need to bring that to an immediate end. The best way is to force them to make a move. I know exactly how to do it, and we’ll start off by finding out where the target that escaped went.”


At last we finally return to the Decepticon’s perspective. For now it’s just the Decepticons located in Shockblast’s tower. All of the Decepticons that hate Galvatron have congregated there. The roster as of right now is Shockblast, Motormaster, and the Coneheads.


Motor: “Another day goes by and he yet lives.”


Shock: “By all means Motormaster, challenge him when he has the Star Saber and Predacons waiting for him.”


Dirge: “We would back you up.”


Motor: “I would do better on my own. The three of you are far too weak.”


Ramjet: “You’re right buddy.”


Shock: “As of right now we are far too few and numbers, only one of us is powerful enough to take him.”


Thrust: “What about those other Decepticons that we don’t talk to?”


Shock: “Perhaps, but I doubt they would be a turning point.”


Motor: “Where is Scourge?”


Shock: “He should be here any moment. He is bringing guests to us.”


Thrust: “What kind of guests?”


Scourge finally appears and there are three people behind him.


Scourge: “I brought the people you asked for. Not sure why we need them.”


The guests are the three surviving Star Seekers Stench, Slapper, and Darkscream.


Stench: “What do you want?”


Slapper: “We don't have anything to say to you!”


Motor: “On that we agree.”


Dirge: “I see why you brought them, Shockblast. They would be perfect additions to our ranks.”


Dark: “We aren’t loyal to you at all. We will only ever serve one man.”


Motor: “And that man is dead. Our leader killed yours.”


Slapper: “Watch your mouth!”


Motor: “And let me in on a little secret. I personally killed Grimwing. I blew off half of his face and sent his corpse on an endless journey to the void of space.”


Darkscream pulls out his freeze ray and aims it at Motormaster’s head. His hand trembles. Motormaster gets off his chair and approaches him.


Motor: (intense) “Go ahead and pull the trigger. I’ll allow it, but just know the moment you do I’ll make sure the Star Seekers will be permanently erased from our history.”


Stench: “Damn you!”


Dirge: “Now Motormaster, we shouldn't kill them.”


Motor: “Are you trying to order me around?”


Dirge: “Perish the thought! I’m simply saying that we should at least hear why Shockblast invited them here in the first place. Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious?”


Motor: “No, but Shockblast has yet to steer me wrong. For that reason alone I will allow continuance of this farce.”


Shock: “I thank you, Motormaster. As for you, Star Seekers. As someone who has lost family to Galvatron I understand your situation better than anyone else.”


Stench: “Who did you lose?”


Shock: “My younger and older brothers. For years I’ve been forced to serve that monster with no hope of avenging their deaths. That is, of course, until recently. I believe we may have found the perfect chance to strike back. What we need of course are allies. Everyone in this room has a reason to hate Galvatron. Even with our leverage it still won’t be enough to defeat him. We need numbers first and foremost. Stench, Slapper, and Darkscream of the Star Seekers. Galvatron murdered your captain, the man you called your father, in the most cruel of ways. I have tortured many subjects myself, but it was always in the pursuit of science. That was nothing more than a tasteless act of a malicious warmonger who feeds off of cruelty. Will you join us in destroying the enemy we all share together?”


Slapper: “What do you think boys?”


Dark: “Well they are the only people that have given us any semblance of respect.”


Slapper: “And they want to help us avenge the captain.”


Dark: “Yeah but what about after that?”


Shock: “You can return to Cybertron and live the life you want.”


Motor: “Just know that just because you are on my side does not mean I will rescue you if you’re in danger. Either save yourselves or die. I don’t care what option you choose.”


Stench: “Fine. I’m in.”


Slapper: “Me too.”


Dark: “Same.”


Dirge; “Welcome aboard!”


Scourge: “So what’s the plan, Shockblast?”


Shockblast: “I’ve outlined a five stage plan on how we must defeat him. First is swaying key individuals to our side. There are five in total. We’ve already secured one.”


Scourge: “And who is the first?”


Shock: “Blitzwing of course. We must secure Tarn and the Predacons loyalty as well.”


Ramjet: “You got the audio to sway the dragons right?”


Shock: “Yes, but that alone might not be enough to make them fully join us. We have to make them believe that we are their true allies.”


Motor: “I will work on Tarn if that is the case.”


Shock: “That will be a more difficult task than you realize. We must frame Galvatron as unfit to lead. Only then will mutiny ever be on the table.”


Thrust: “So that’s just the first step. What’s step two?”


Shock: “We have to make sure Galvatron is unable to-”


A message breaches his monitors. It’s a live holographic feed that is displayed at the table. Everyone looks closer until the image clears up to reveal Blitzwing as the sender.


Blitz: “Blitzwing to Charr, come in!”


Thrust: “We read you loud and clear Blitzwing. Is something wrong?”


Blitz: “The crew and I are fine and we’re still on schedule to arrive tomorrow morning. The caveat is that I made a careless mistake, and we’ve been discovered.”


Scourge: “Were you followed?”


Blitz: “No, but the Autobots now know that myself and one of our passengers were on board this ship. I think it was the Wrecker Gears that figured it out.”


Dirge: “That loud-mouthed reprobate! Of all the times to show his face he picks now?”


Blitz: “The element of surprise is no longer our ally against the Autobots. We will have to overcome an even greater hurdle now. I have though.”


Shock: “You are needed more than ever, Blitzwing.”


Blitz: “I intend to make us the winner even if it costs me my own life. I will see you tomorrow, my friends.”


The message ends.


Shock: “The meeting is adjourned. We will continue when he returns.”


On Cybertron Rodimus and Ultra Magnus are paying a visit to four very special Autobots. They are known as the Wall of Four. These Autobots are the masters of tactical defense and preservation. They’re like a four man squad that rivals even some of the Wreckers. Impactor, Big Shot, Stakeout, and Storm Cloud are at the holding facility where they meet our heroes.


Rod: “Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice, Impactor. I know you and our team were busy guarding the prison holding the Shadow Core Decepticons.”


Impactor: “No worries, Rodimus Prime! When we get called to serve we waste no time.”


Magnus: “We’re glad to have your help.”


Big: “Yeah…”


Rod: “Anyway I need you to guard the Forge of Solus Prime for the next few days at the minimum.”


Stake: “No problem!


Storm: “I don’t mean to question you, my Prime, but why the sudden reassignment?”


Impact: “Storm Cloud, we never question our orders.”


Storm: “Geez I was just asking.”


Rod: “It’s fine. I don’t know if you believe in the more mystical aspects of our culture.”


Big: “Man, Unicron turned out to be real .We’ll believe anything now.”


Stake: “Not to mention the Flame Kingdom is a thing.”


Rod: “Right, well, I got a vision from the Matrix. It showed me the Forge briefly. I have reason to believe that someone will attempt to take it for unknown purposes.”


Big: “Wait, the Matrix can do that?”


Storm: “Guess so.”


Impactor “Do you have any idea who it might be? Any information could be beneficial.”


Magnus: “Unfortunately we have nothing.”


Stake: “Well that puts a damper on things.”


Impactor: “Regardless I will make sure that the relic of the Primes will not leave its entrusted place.”


Rod: “I thank you, Impactor.”


Stake: “I just hope you guys are able to find a good replacement for the cons in the jail.”


Magnus: “Way ahead of you. We assigned Grimlock, Swoop, and Slag over there. We even got Windcharger to tag along with them.”


Impactor: “I suppose we should get to work huh?”


The Wall of four show off some of their state-of-the-art defense tech. They have motion sensors, cameras, thermal imaging, landmines, invisible electric grids and several turrets. Storm Cloud takes out a laptop and starts coding something.


Magnus: “It’s like a personal army.”


Big: “We make sure we prepare for the worst. That's why we’ve been so successful.”


Stake: “We especially got to thank Storm Cloud’s master hacking specs.”


Storm: “Not even Soundwave can beat me.”


Rod: “That’s quite the claim to make.”


Impactor: “You never told him Ultra Magnus?”


Magnus: “They speak the truth. This team is the only stain on Soundwave's career. He’s never been able to beat them by hacking or any other attempts to disrupt them.”


Rod: “You beat him in battle? That's quite a feat.”


Impactor: “Well truth be told we’ve never actually faced him in battle before. In fact none of us have ever met him. We've simply stopped him in every way that doesn’t have to do with direct confrontation.”


Big: “But I’d love to see him try us. He’ll get his circuits knocked.”


Stake: “Yeah he’ll be history!”


Rod: “I see, if you don’t mind me asking, Storm Cloud. How did you come up with those hacking specs?”


Storm: “I didn't come up with them. I found them just lying around in a battlefield. Don’t remember which one. They’ve been a lifesaver.”


Rod: “I'll say. Anyways, I must be going now. I trust that you’ll do a stellar job as always. If you need any assistance we will be there to assist you.”


Impactor: “We’ve never needed any so far, and I don’t think we will this time either. We’ll still accept that offer if in the unlikely situation we would need it.”


Rod: “Farewell!”


They wave to each other and the Primes drive off. The Wall of Four waits until they are far enough away to speak. Stakeout in particular lets out a giant sigh of relief.


Stake: “Oh thank the Matrix they left!”


Big: “I’m surprised you boys held out that long.”


Storm: “I thought they were never going to leave!”


Impactor: “Ultra Magnus is as unpleasant to be around as ever.”


Storm: “Let’s stab him next time.”


Impactor: “Now now, Storm Cloud. Your inner Decepticon is showing.”


Storm: “Hey man, I’ve only recently started warming up to this whole helping others garbage. Old habits die hard.”


Big: “You should be thanking Impactor for saving you for serving time in the big house.”


Storm: “Yeah yeah I know.”


Impactor: “I don’t regret recruiting a former Decepticon to join us. It wound up being a perfect decision.”


Stake: “I’m just glad they didn’t ask too deeply about your specs or else we’d be in a world of trouble!”


Storm: “It’s not like I killed anyone for it. It was just lying there!”


Impactor: “That is true but it’s where we found it that is the problem.”


Stake: “I don't even know why you guys wanted to head there anyway.”


Big: “Guess we got curious, right?”


Impactor: “I apologize for subjecting you all to that, but it worked to our benefit, and for the benefit of Cybertron.”


Big: “You know, I’m really surprised Soundwave never figured out what those specs are.”


Storm: “I always make sure the encryption changes so the trail runs cold. He’ll never figure it out as long as I keep it up.”


Impactor: “Keep it that way Storm Cloud. The last thing we need is Soundwave getting more active against us.”


Storm: “Will do, big boss.”


Big: “That Ultra Magnus sure is a piece of work ain’t he?”


Stake: “That’s an understatement.”


Impactor: “He’s as engaging as giant rock, and I must apologize to all giant rocks for the grave insult I’ve given them.”


Big: “He’s no hero. He’s a warmonger.”


Stake: “No better than Megatron.”


Big: “How’d that freak ever got to second in command of all Autobots beats me.”


Stake: “Being the big bro of Optimus prime has its perks.”


Impactor: “It should’ve been me.”


Big: “Damn straight!”


Stake: “I heard he treats his Wreckers like slaves.”


Big: “Impactor treats us like family.”


Impactor: “It’s the way it should be.”


Stake: “Good people like you are always screwed over by those in charge.”


Impactor: “I had hoped with the changing of the guard I would finally be recognized for my efforts, but nothing had changed.”


Big: “Look how many Wreckers are left. Just four of them. All of those Autobots he led to their deaths.”


Storm: “And we’re all still alive.”


Impactor: “I know that’s not a fair comparison considering there were many of them and a few were bound to die regardless of how well he led his troops, but the fact that so few are alive is a perfect demonstration of the failure that is Ultra Magnus. I fought hard to keep us all safe.”


Big: “And we did the same for you.”


Storm: “So what do you want to do? Take him out?”


Impactor: “Heavens no, Storm Cloud! Such actions would be treason. Just because we despise him doesn’t mean we act against him. Although if he was in danger and we could save him I would not take any action at all.”


Stake: “Not our monkey or our circus. I see what you mean boss.”


Impactor: “Now then let’s begin.”


The Wall of Four continue their fortification of the vault and the scene transitions to Springer, Gears, and Roadbuster reminiscing about their days as Wreckers. They’re currently at their favorite bar, called Polarclaw’s Brewery. A giant T.V playing commercials in the background.


Gears: “I tell ya, there’s no other group of crazies I’d jump ass-first into trouble with than you guys!”


Springer: “You were almost as crazy as Whirl. I can’t believe that you still managed to survive everything.”


Gear: “I can say the same about you, pal.”


Springer: “Hey I didn't try picking fights with Megatron at every chance I got like you did.”


Gear: “Well yeah you were a big chicken!”


Road: “Y’all are the reason why I drink.”


Springer: “Oh don't play victim, Roadbuster. You got in some sticky situations.”


Road: “Look, that fight with Berserker was all Topspin’s fault alright?”


Springer: “I’m talking about the Tarn and Shellshock battle.”


Road: “Yeah I barely survived that battle if it wasn’t for you guys and the commander.”


Gears: “But let’s not forget how Springer here risked his life just to spite our dear old commander.”


Springer: “I was young and stupid back then I admit it.”


Road: “Now he’s just stupid.”


They all laugh.


Gears: “Shame Magnus didn’t join us.”


Springer: “He had work to do with our Prime.”


Gears: “Who would've guessed your childhood friend would be our newest leader.”


Springer: “I’m still trying to process it myself, but great things come out of the most unexpected places.”


Road: “He’s done pretty good so far. Let’s pray for a continuation of that.”


Springer: “And I’ll be there to help him every step of the way.”


The T.V starts playing an Autobot propaganda commercial officially endorsed by Ultra Magnus and Optimus. It shows a bunch of Autobots that look exactly alike marching in perfect synchronization. Everyone is colored completely white as plastic models. They each carry a type of rifle in their hands. The text reads as follows.


“Find your purpose.”


“Become part of something greater.”


“Make a difference.”


“Become the hero you were meant to be.”


“Join the Autobot military today.”


Springer: “Always hated that commercial.”


Springer’s words trigger a flashback, but not for him, nor anyone else in the room for that matter. The flashback belongs to Brawn. This is the story of a man who tried to find his purpose and failed. A tale of how disillusion leads to desertion. Long before the war began Brawn was a simple protoform assigned a rather lackluster purpose. That was a janitor, the lowest of the low. Even upon his creation he struggled with even this simple of a job. Brawn narrates this.


“I was a failure from the very start. I couldn't imagine being any lower than rock bottom, but there I was.”


Some Autobots pass by him while he’s mopping the floor. One kicks the mop out of his hands and the other pushes him. He falls face-first into the bucket which is still full of all that disgusting water. Brawn doesn't attempt to remove himself from there. He just wants to die in silence.


“I was fired after that. Guess your employers don’t care that you were assaulted on company property. I was just a cog in the wheel after all, the smallest cog in fact.”


Now jobless, Brawn wanders the streets of Metroplex as a petty thief barely scraping by. This continued until he finally stole money from the wrong person. That person was Blitzwing, who even back then was in a decent social status nearing his ascension to his elite status. After swimming Blitzwing, Brawn goes into a full sprint and eventually drives off. Brawn marks a decent distance before he looks in his rearview mirror to see a full fledged jet flying at such low altitude to chase him. Suffice to say the power of the jet’s thrusters makes brawn’s car flip over. Both of them transform and Blizwing lands right next to him and grabs him with one hand. He holds him over his head.


Blitz: “DID YOU THINK YOU COULD HIDE??!!”


Brawn: “Let go of me!”


Blitz: “GARBAGE LIKE YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO GIVE ME ORDERS!”


Blitzwing punches him right in the stomach with his free hand.


Blitz: (intense) “I will enjoy destroying every cubic inch of your putrid body!”


He starts to crush his neck.


Blitz: “You stole from the wrong person. Do you even know who I am?!”


Brawn: “No.”


Blitz: “I see, ignorance is such a cruel handicap to an inferior creature like you.”


He lets go of his neck and lets him drop to the floor. He starts kicking him while he’s down.


Blitz: -growling- “You filthy Autobots are all the same. You take everything from us, and even when we have nothing you always take more! When you’re finished with us you just eat your own! Monsters, all of you!”


Brawn: (pleading) “I’m sorry, please stop!”


Blitz: “You’re going to die here, wretched thief!”


“I really was going to die there. The fear of death took over me, and never let go. I could only sit there hopelessly waiting the hend, but dumb luck had other plans.


Two Autobot police officers arrive on the scene and Blitzwing is forced to save face.


Cop 1: “Blitzwing, what’s going on?”


Blitz: “This creature attempted to steal from me. I subdued him for you.”


Cop 2: “Thank you. We apologize for not arriving sooner.”


Blitz: “Don't beat yourselves up. You were trying your best. Just get this one out of my sight.”


Blitzwing gives Brawn one last death stare before departing.


“I was given military service or jail time. As a fearful man who was afraid of what would happen to me in prison I reluctantly picked military service. In hindsight that only made everything worse. That choice made me meet three people that changed my life. Two for the worst, and one for the better. On my first day I would meet the man that poisoned my mind.”


Brawn is busy trying to clear hurdles and crawl through mud with other new recruits. He’s at the very back of the pack. He struggles with even the basics. Imagine his surprise when two pre-teens appear behind him and then pass him within seconds. The two of them soon surpass all the others easily. They are the first to finish, and everyone including Brawn is exhausted. One of the kids is green and yellow, and the other is red and orange.


Kid 1: “You almost beat me that time.”


Kid 2: “I’ll beat you next time, Springer!”


Kid 1: “You haven't done it yet, Hot Rod. It’s not going to happen.”


Kid 2: “Oh yeah? watch me!”


“Two kids just appeared and then showed up everyone in the training regiment. Rumor had it that they were close to Autobot legend Kup. They joined on a whim. I didn’t understand why they would bother joining this. There wasn’t a war, so we didn't need child soldiers.”


A montage shows Brawn and the other recruits constantly struggling to get past the obstacle courses, and yet again Springer and Hot Rod are continuing to show up the older recruits. This continues on for several days. Each time Springer wins, but Hot Rod is always shortening the gap between them. This eventually comes to a head when they finally tie.


Rod: “You didn’t beat me!”


Springer: “You didn’t beat me either short fuse!”


Rod: “Yeah well I didn’t lose!”


Springer: “You didn’t win either.”


Rod: “Just let me have this!”


Springer: “Yeah I don’t think so.”


Brawn crawls past both of them completely exhausted. He collapses right next to them, and the two boys help him up.


Rod: “You alright mister?”


Springer: “You don’t look too well.”


Brawn: “How…”


Springer: “How what?”


Brawn: “How do you keep beating everyone else.”


Rod: “Kup puts us through even worse tests, so this stuff us a breeze.”


Brawn: “That's horrible.”


Rod: “Not really. I asked for it.”


Brawn: “You did?”


Springer: “I was bored so I tagged along.”


Brawn: “So you’re doing this just because you wanted something to do.”


Springer “Yep!”


Brawn: “Geez I’m no match for either of you.”


Rod: “I’m sure you’ll get better.”


Brawn: “Not likely. Guys like me aren’t made for anything other than failure.”


Springer: “Oh come on you’ll do fine. What’s your name anyway?”


Brawn: “I’m Brawn.”


Springer: “Brawn huh? “I’m Springer, and this guy is Hot Rod.”


Rod: “Nice to meet you!”


“So I got to know them and I did improve in my training a little bit. Turns out I was good with marksman rifles and pistols, so I at least had that going for me. Three years later the impossible happened. An attack at the docks sparked the fire of revolution. The champion of Kaon’s arena and two of his subordinates attacked and killed several workers. Three others were critically wounded. Hours later our leader Sentinel Prime was killed in a vicious battle against Megatron and Soundwave. Megatron displayed quite the case to the world when he revealed that he managed to persuade king Terradive of the Seacons to his side. The king personally aided Megatron and Soundwave in their battle against our Prime. Megatron had done the impossible. He swayed the Seacons that the land dwellers of Cybertron and Seacons could live in peace, but only if the Autobots were destroyed. It was a powerful message that shook everyone to their core. I could see why so many people followed him.”


It shows a montage of Autobot cities being ruthlessly attacked by Decepticon and Seacon forces. It shows Brawn is cowering under a table as he narrowly avoids an airstrike. All the people in the building except him died.


“Things were looking grim, but Megatron made a miscalculation. The three dock workers he critically injured weren’t just some random nobodies. They were his two brothers and his youngest brother’s girlfriend. They became Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, and Elita-1 respectively. The power and influence they wielded turned the tide of the war from a sure loss to a stalemate.”


It transitions back to that propaganda commercial, but this time Brawn is among the marching soldiers. He is the only one that stands out from their monochromatic appearances. He looks around with terror in his eyes. He is little more than a cog in the machine, the smallest as he had mentioned earlier. Brawn collapses and has a complete mental breakdown. All the years of endless war and death has finally sent him on a downward spiral. The soldiers continue to march on…


“I didn’t want to die. I just wanted to live. Was that too much to ask for? I know I was a waste of space, but I didn’t deserve any of it. So I continued to fight. It simply got worse.”


Brawn is behind a barricade with a random Autobot trying to hold a line.


Autobot: “Don’t worry, I got you covered!”


The Autobot jumps up to shoot, and then suddenly goes limp. He slumps back next to Brawn, and there is a bullet that went straight through his head. By some cursed miracle Brawn survives this incident as well when the Wreckers show up. In a drop ship. To his surprise he finds Springer, who is in his late teens now.


Springer: “Brawn, is that you?”


Brawn: “Springer, I can’t believe it! What are you doing here?”


Springer: “We’re going to destroy this whole sector. Are there any other survivors?”


Brawn: “I don’t know.”


Brawn hears the voice of Ultra Magnus for the first time. He is in the back in the captain’s chair shrouded in darkness. Only those piercing blue eyes are visible


Magnus: “We don’t have time for this. He’s the lucky one. The rest will have to be sacrificed.


Springer: “Come on you soulless bastard, there has to be more time.”


Magnus: -grim- “Every moment we waste on them is an act of cruelty. We would be giving them a false hope. They will not die in vain I promise.”


“These Wreckers had just begun, and they were trying to fill their spots. With convincing from Springer, I was inducted into the team. I guess Ultra Magnus was impressed with my desire to survive. I was one of the last to join. In total there were 19 of us.”


Brawn’s information is inaccurate, but that is not his fault at all. One of the members inducted a secret member before their “demise”. That is a tale for the future.


“Attacking military compounds, bombing airbases, and assassinating targets were part of our missions. That much I understood. It made sense for us to tackle the tough jobs, but there were parts that didn’t make any sense. Exterminating Decepticon hostages, bombing Decepticon civilian areas, and even attacking neutral zones that went directly against the code of war on our planet. Is this what Optimus wanted to hide, and why did he make his older brother do all of this? Something didn’t add up, but I didn’t have the time to wonder about that because one day in one of the jungles changed me forever.”


Cybertron has environments just like Earth as it has been covered before. This time the jungles are a focal point. While on the surface they operate the same as Earth, it gets far more complicated the deeper one travels. For example they have acid rain. Yes Earth has those as well, but there is a very blatant difference. The plants and wildlife are completely unaffected from this phenomenon. Whether this is because the environment itself has developed a tolerance or immunity remains to be seen. The only known victims are any Cybertronians that wander inside of it. The damage isn’t quite life threatening, but too much exposure without cover can cause death. There are also several other strange things that can be found if one looks hard enough, and it can be good or bad depending on what it is.


“I couldn't forget that day if I wanted to. It was only a year into our time as a team and Ironhide quit to work directly with Optimus. He even asked to have his service as a Wrecker erased. Ultra Magnus had no objections and let him on his way. I wish I just did that and so much might’ve been different, but the time for regret is a distant memory. We had received word that the Shadow Core was searching for a legendary resource to power a new type of bomb. They were going to use their professional digger to uncover it. We were to stop them at once.”


The scene shows a few of the Wreckers in the acid rain with no protection at all. The members consist of Brawn, Ultra Magnus, Springer, Wheeljack, a giant blue Autobot, an armored blue Autobot, and a grey Autobot with red painted flames on his chest who looks like he turns into some sort of dune buggy. Only the characters we’ve gotten to really know speak in this segment.


Springer: “How much further?”


Magnus: “I don’t know. Is that an issue?”


Springer: “Well, no-”


Magnus: “Then cease the unnecessary questioning.”


Wheel: “Chief, he was asking a simple question.”


Magnus: “And I have zero tolerance for insubordination, Wheeljack.”


Sprigner: “Would it have killed you to at least get us some shields to protect us from the rain?”


Magnus: (condescending) “Is a little paint job corroding too much for you to handle?”


Springer: “I guess you didn’t want us in the best shape to fight the enemy, good on you.’


Magnus: “By the time I received the information the Shadow Core was already on the move. Time was not a luxury we could afford.”


Springer: “Well I hope we get this done soon. I don’t like this place.”


Magnus: “If mother nature is our enemy here then we will overcome her as well.”


Brawn: “Do we know what this source looks like? Maybe we can steal it from them and use it for our side instead.”


Magnus: “That would be the optimal outcome, but knowing Tarn he’ll do anything to make sure we never get even the most microscopic advantage.”


After about an hour of enduring the rain they finally find the Shadow Core. They are in an artificial bubble that protects them from the rain. In the group is Tarn Fracture, Bludgeon, the giant orange member with the battleaxe from Adhoc’s flashback, and a new purple and yellow Decepticon that transforms into some sort of sports car. His arms transform into giant drills and he begins digging for something.


Bludgeon: “Are you sure this will help in our efforts, Tarn?”


Tarn: “Of course. Have I ever steered you wrong?”


Bludgeon: “....I suppose not.”


Tarn: -firm- “You are correct. Do not waiver from your beliefs.”


Fracture: “Just hurry the hell up, I don’t like sitting around.”


Bludgeon: “Do not dishonor us any further than you have already.”


Fracture: “And what are you going to do? Put me in my place? We both know you’re barely out of your training wheels compared to me.”


Bludgeon reaches for his sword, and Fracture’s face gets twisted with excitement as he raises one of his hands right to Bludgeon’s face. His claws are inches from his face.


Fracture: (amped up) “What are you waiting for asshole? Fight me so I can kill you!”


Tarn intervenes between both of them.


Tarn: “Both of you stand down, we have guests.”


Fracture: “Yeah yeah I know. I just wanted some quality friendly fire before I took them all out.”


Tarn fires right at the Wreckers, who reveal themselves.


Bludgeon: “So there really were people.”


Fracture: “I knew about it for a while, and it looks like Tarn picked up on it not too long after. See, Bludgeon? You’re useless here. Go back to cutting wood and meditating, or whatever boring shit you’re into.”


Bludgeon’s hands tighten into fists.


Tarn: “Enough, so Ultra Magnus, you’ve discovered our little scavenger hunt.”


Magnus: “You picked quite the place to die.”


Tarn: “No protection from the rain on your comrades. It shows how little you care for your men.”


Magnus: “I do care about my men. I can’t say the same about you. They’re all tools that you discard when you have no further use for them.”


Tarn: “Nonsense. They are my brothers and sisters. I would do anything for them,”


Fracture: “No, he’s definitely right about that.”


Budgeon: “Do you ever shut up?


Fracture: “Get real, Bludgeon. Your idealistic crap really pisses me off. Tarn sees us as weapons not people If any of you think you’re special to him then you’re the one with the issues not me.”


Magnus: “If that’s how you feel, Fracture, then you should join us.”


Fracture: “Oh hell no! I may hate these guys but at least I get a kick out of disrupting their whole perfect synergy.”


Tan: “So are you going to cooperate then this time?”


Fracture: “Why not. It’s not like I had other plans today other than drinking myself half to death.”


Tarn: “Great.”


The drilling Decepticon quits drilling.


Tarn: “No, continue to drill. We must find this source at all costs.”


Magnus: “Wreckers, prepare to attack.”


Tarn: “Fight whomever you wish, but Ultra Magnus is mine.”


Brawn’s narration takes over.


“Of course I got stuck with Fracture. The guy who almost never leaves anyone alive. I had a better chance of fighting Tarn but of course Ultra Magnus had to challenge him leader to leader.”


An embarrassingly short battle between Fracture and Brawn begins. Brawn shoots with his pistols, but Fracture casually avoids them. It takes less than five seconds for him to close the gap between them and slash his chest. To Fracture’s surprise Brawn doesn’t die.


Fracture: “So you got tougher armor than I thought. Fine with me!”


Brawn tries to punch him, but Fracture ducks and picks him up, throwing him right next to the drilling Decepticon. The force of the drills along with the added weight of Brawn makes the floor in that spot break apart, and Brawn falls into the hole. The other Decepticon is not too pleased.


Drill: “Hey you almost got me killed!”


Fracture: “Was I supposed to feel bad?”


Drill: “Yes!”


Fracture: “Well I’m failing that at the moment.”


Drill: “Whatever man.”


Brawn survives the fall as it was only about two or three stories deep, but the inside is so dark that it gives the Decepticons the assumption he died. Brawn loses consciousness for a few minutes but awakens when he feels something on his hands. It’s wet, and in the tiny sliver of light that is through the cracks Brawn sees that his green hands are now turning grey. His hands had fallen into a pool of a strange bubbling liquid.


Brawn: “This must be the source!”


“Judging by the sounds outside it sounded like my team was losing. I don’t know what came over me but I crawled out of there and wanted to play the hero.”


The Wrecker’s minus Brawn and someone else are backed into a corner. They're all beaten pretty rough, but all the Shadow Core Decepticons have wounds on them outside of Fracture and the drilling con.


Tarn: “So this is how it ends for you. An unmarked grave where your bodies will soon dissolve into nothingness. Honestly I still think that’s too kind of a fate for you, but I suppose I can accept it.”


That giant orange Decepticon fires a ballistic missile at the Wreckers. Their deaths are all but guaranteed. Ultra Magnus is welcoming his end, but Brawn suddenly jumps out in front of everyone, Brawn’s narration continues.


“I don’t know what I was thinking. My mind was running on fumes. I wanted to live so badly, yet I was ready to sacrifice myself to save Springer and the others.” I hated myself for that, but it did eventually lead me to the path I desired.”


Brawn without thinking punches the missile with his fist. The explosion is blocked by his fists, sparing the Wreckers. The force of the blowback hits the unprepared Shadow Core Decepticons far away. To make matters worse for them, Tarn accidently fires his palm laser into the puddle, destroying it.


Wheel: “What just happened?”


Magnus: “I don’t know, but we need to retreat.”


The Wreckers manage to get to their dropship and escape. Brawn notices the armored blue Autobot isn’t there.


Brawn: “Wait, where’s Breacher?”


Wheel: “He died protecting Springer.”


Magnus: “His sacrifice won't be in vain.


Wheel: “We should get his body.”


Magnus: “No, it’s too risky.”


Springer: “How did you do that, Brawn? Your fists are a different color.”


Brawn: “I fell into some strange liquid when I fell.”


Wheel: “That must’ve been the source they were looking for.”


Magnus: “And it’s been destroyed now. The mission was a failure.”


Springer: “Well Brawn’s fists are covered in it, and it saved his life.”


Magus: “We’ll have to test his fists to see what they can do.”


Springer: “Yeah, with Brawn having this we can win the war!”


Brawn looks at Springer with a confused look before putting his head down.


“I always hated you for that, Springer. Not because you did something to offend me or hurt me, but because you gave me hope.”


There is a montage of Brawn’s fists being tested for their indestructibility. First is from blades, then gunfire, flames, liquid nitrogen, acid, and missiles. One day Wheeljack storms in and throws his swords down in front of Ultra Magnus.


Magnus: “Have something to say, Wheeljack?”


Wheel: “Yeah, I quit!”


Ultra Magnus slams his hands down at his desk.


Magnus: “You can’t quit!”


Wheel: “I can and I will. Ironhide did, and so should i.”


Magnus: “You are to stay here.”


Wheel: “I realize now that my time is wasted here. I can make more of a difference working directly under Optimus. You kicked Longarm out because he wasn’t fit for us, and you let Ironhide resign. I don’t see the big deal.”


Magnus: “Our numbers are shrinking. Losing even another one of us will be detrimental.”


Wheel: “And whose fault is that? Not mine. All of the lost lives are on you. We’re little more than scraps off your plate. I never belonged here. I’m a scientist, dammit! I’m not cut out for this barbarian warfare.”


Magnus “So you would abandon your post and forsake us all?”


Wheel: “I’m not forsaking anyone. I’m going to where I can make the biggest difference.”


Ultra Magnus’s fist clenches, and it looks like he’s about to attack Wheeljack, but shadows cover his eyes and he takes a deep breath.


Magnus: “Very well, Wheeljack. I will allow you to leave, but you will be dishonorably discharged, and you will have your service record stained with failures of my choosing.”


Wheel: “Stain my record as much as you like, but it won’t change anything. Good look to the rest of you.”


Brawn watches Wheeljack leave, and Ultra Mag us does not look too pleased.


“I wish I had Wheeljack’s courage. It only got worse for me. Since my fists were the perfect defense I was often brought to the front lines. That’s the last palace I ever wanted to be. Around that time Optimus and his team left Cybertron on the Ark and Megatron, Soundwave, and Starscream were aboard their own ship with their forces. Shockwave and Tarn were the only true forces left to face, but it turned out that Shockwave’s contingency plans were more effective than we realized. We were getting forced back even more. Tarn and the Shadow Core were slowly taking us out one by one. I knew my time would come soon enough, so I decided to deprive everyone that opportunity and free myself.”


“As luck would have it there was a bomb in a civilian city that made it look like I died. It tore out pieces of my body as evidence and whisked myself away into the night. Of course being presumed dead and still being hunted by Decepticons would still be a drag. Thankfully I found an ally. He was a Decepticon who deserted just like me. He was ranked a second lieutenant. Apparently Megatron himself was fuming when he heard he left. His name was Metal Wing, and I remember his looks quite well. Those blues eyes and that skinny grey body. He reminded me of a bat. Our peace was soon interrupted by an unexpected guest, but that guest was the third and final person that changed my life forever. He was the one that made a positive impact on my life.


Metal: “At this rate we’ll never have a winner. If this continues barely anyone will survive. I won’t be a part of an endless war. We either need a winner soon or we need to stop completely. It’s the only way we survive.”


The building they are in starts to rumble. Someone has found them.


Brawn: “Run!”


As the two of them are trying to flee it is revealed that Lockdown’s ship has intercepted them both, and they are dragged into the ship’s tractor beam. Brawn manages to free himself and get inside the ship safely. Metalwing is stuck in the field. Lockdown and his crew arrive and surround them both.


Lockdown: “Well well, Metalwing, I caught you at last. It’s not every day I get to catch a second lieutenant.”


Metal: “Why are you here? Megatron is gone.”


Lockdown: “You see the beauty of that is I’m being paid not to care about your fate. With that said however, you’ve been moved to a different destination..”


Metal: “Then where am I going?”


Lockdown: “Shockwave’s tower. You’re no longer seen as a valuable asset, so you're giving Shockwave a generous donation. Enjoy being the newest experiment, and I'll enjoy a fine payday.”


Lockdown finally notices Brawn.


Lockdown: “Looks like I have a stray aboard my ship.”


Metal: “Save me, Brawn!”


Lockdown: “Are you really wanting to do this?”


Lockdown cracks his neck.


Brawn: “I don’t know if I do.”


Metal: -shrill- “What do you mean you don’t know!?”


Lockdown: “A wise decision. Now, I’ll have my crew safely escort you back to where I picked you up by mistake. I’m here for him, not you.”


Brawn: “Wait, let me stay with you!”


Lockdown: “Excuse me?”


Brawn: “I don’t want to go back. I’m a deserter too.”


Lockdown: “Is that so? I have no records of any recent desertions from the Autobots.”


Brawn: “That’s because I faked my death.”


Lockdown: “Well congratulations, you avoided my wrath. You should go now before I decide to force you out myself.”


Brawn: “Let me join you! I can’t take this war anymore.”


Lockdown: ”And why would I do that? I already have a solid crew."


Brawn: “Your crew are drones and animals. They can only do so well. You need someone who can think fast and adapt to situations.”


Lockdown: “And you can?”


Brawn: “Yes. I’m a Wrecker.”


Lockdown: “A Wrecker, I see. That does have potential to be useful. What are your talents?”


Brawn: “Short range firearms and long range firearms. I also have indestructible fists.”


Lockdown: “Indestructible fists?”


Brawn: “It’s a long story. I'll fill you in later.”


Lockdown: “I don’t believe me. Get him boy!”


Once of Lockdown’s cyber wolves bites brawn’s hand. It’s teeth shatters to pieces. It screeches in pain, and Lockdown raises an eyebrow in surprise.


Lockdown: “Well shit, you were telling the truth.”


Brawn: “Sorry about your pet.”


Lockdown suddenly pulls out a gun and shoots the pet right in the head.


Lockdown: “It’s alright, I have plenty more.”


Brawn is taken aback by Lockdown’s merciless attitude to his pets.


Brawn: “You killed it.”


Lockdown: “It’s just as you said. They can only go so far. I’ll give you a shot mister... I don’t quite remember the name he said.”


Brawn: “Call me Brawn.”


Lockdown holds out his hand.


Lockdown: “Very well, Brawn. Welcome to my world.”


Brawn eagerly shakes his hand.


Metal: “Are you serious? After everything we’ve been through?


Brawn punches Metal Wing hard enough to knock him out instantly.


Lockdown: “You sold out your friend pretty quick.”


Brawn: “He wasn’t my friend. He was a means to an end.”


Lockdown: “Kid, you’ll go far in this business.”


“That was my first mission with Lockdown. I never saw Metal Wing again. I knew there was risk in this job, but I didn’t care. I finally found my place. I won’t let anyone get in the way, not even my old comrades.”


The flashback ends and there are two training dummies that look like Ultra Magnus and Springer. Brawn double taps the Ultra Magnus dummy in the head and then he continually shoots the Springer dummy until there is nothing but pieces.


Brawn: “Get ready, old buddy. That’ll be you very soon.”


To conclude we head to Ultra Magnus’s perspective. He is currently in his own home, which is a high skyscraper. It’s currently sunset, and as he looks up to see the stars he sees something rather odd. A small twinkle off in the distance. A twinkle that should be there, and suddenly it gets much brighter. It was at this moment that the battle began, and the enemy made a decisive blow right away.

 

1)looks like the dinobots have finally been revealed.
2)I like strafe and stinger as a duo.
3)between brawn and the wall of four there's a lot of animosity towards magnus.
4)I kind of sympathize with brawn more. He's still heartless for what he did to metalwing. I still think springers gonna kill him.
5)this decepticons against galvatron thing is really getting out of hand.
6)it was nice to see the shadow core bots again. Still peeved at bludgeon dying.
7)welp mech made it to cybertron. Crap.

 

Man with a life like that no wonder Brawn ended up quitting the Autobots. Makes me wonder if Magnus regretted on how he play a part into Brawn deserting?

 

Time for some high octane action. Tensio has been building up so it was ony natural to finally bring out a fight scene. I did say this one would have the most, so they had to be somewhere. Something I always wanted to write was character development right in the middle of a fight and I think I did just that. Anyway here is part 9: The Night of Fire





One hour before MECH decides to move forward with their plans. Shadelock, Wedge, and Strafe are helping Silas and Lex devise their plan. Deadspark is present as well but he isn’t participating.


Shade: “I assume you want to divide us into teams, correct?”


Silas: “Yes, I’ve been thinking long and hard about this. I think for this part I’m having the four of you sitting out on this. The same goes for the rest of the Dinobots and the combiner teams.”


Wedge: “But why? I’m amazing!”


Silas: “Can you say the same about your team?”


Wedge: “Well no.”


Strafe: “You bring us back into the fold just to have us on standby?”


Silas: “If all goes well you will be used next.”


Strafe: “I’ll play your game then...for now.”


Deadspark: “How cowardly, father. I am your ultimate weapon and yet all you use me for is eliminating a few of your own kind.”


Silas: “If I used you off the bat then we would have a harder time because they would try to counter us. You need to think about the bigger picture here, Deadspark.”


Deadspark: “You are the least qualified person in this room to say such things when you yourself see nothing but vengeance in the narrow window you dare to call your soul.”


Shadelock turns away and tries to hide his grin since he completely agrees with Deadspark’s statement.


Silas: “And this is why I am the master and you are the soldier.”


Deadspark: (intense) “And how long do you think that will last? If you see us as animals then you know what happens when we bear our fangs.”


Silas: “If you want to go wild, then I’ll let you, but only at a time of my choosing.”


Deadspark: “Then I suggest you hurry up then. Others do not share my generous level of patience.”


Silas: “Of this I am aware.”


Shade: “So does this formation I suggested work for you?”


Silas: “It’s perfect, Shadelock.”


Shade: “I was designed to be that way.”


Lex: “You certainly were.”


Silas: “Wedge, could you do me a favor and fetch Armorhide and Refuge?”


Wedge: “You want those losers involved? I could do whatever they could do.”


Silas: “If you want them gone for a while I suggest you get them.”


Wedge: “Sounds good to me!”


Silas: “The rest of you are free to return to the others.”


They all leave and Deadspark looks back one last time at his three comrades. That phenomenon happens again where everyone in front of him dies. Strafe gets impaled by several of Deadspark’s shadow strands, Wedge is torn in half, and Shadelock gets his head smashed in. Deadspark blinks and once again and sees that everyone is once again alive and well.


Deadspark: “Just what am I seeing? Did I kill them? No, they would’ve said something if I did. Just what else is wrong with me?”


Back at Silas and Lex’s perspective they are discussing their plans moving forward.


Lex: “Sir, the pieces are in place.”


Silas: “Yes it looks like we were able to salvage that mess after all. To think all these years of planning almost went down in flames from a lack of judgement so close to crunch time.”


Lex: “To think that the time you told us about will finally come. I nearly lost hope until you came around.”


Silas: “I won’t sit by and let another one of us become a victim of their war. Cybertron has underestimated us for the last time.”


Lex: “My only concern is the creation’s loyalty. They treat Deadspark’s word like it’s the gospel.”


Silas: “They would follow him to hell and kill every last devil inside. We must insure that they instead go for the devils lurking beyond the stars.”


Lex: “Will you be joining us in the battle? You don't have a body to pilot, but you have something even better.”


Silas: “Absolutely.”


Silas reveals the Apex Armor that Sixshot lost in his battle with Tarn. Somehow it landed with the Dark Energon near their base. Just how does this keep happening? The answer is not ready to be revealed. When it does, the relationship between Cybertron will be permanently changed.


Transitioning back to Cybertron just a few minutes before the light. The Wall of Four are busy guarding when one of their motion sensors are triggered.


Stake: “We got movement in the east corridor!”


Impactor: “Rodimus was right after all.”


Big: “Who’s the idiots trying to rob the joint with us on the job?”


Impactor: “Storm Cloud, pull up security footage.”


Storm Cloud does so, and there are two figures that walked through the doors.


Stake: “Only two of them?”


Big: “How’d they get past our other defenses?”


Impactor: “Can you get a clearer picture?”


Storm Cloud tries, but the intruders see the camera, and the camera is destroyed. What was strange is that neither intruder seemed to move when it happened.


Impactor: “Strange, I don’t know any Decepticon that boxy. Motormaster perhaps, but I didn’t see his head crest.”


Storm: “That other guy I didn’t recognize either.”


Impactor: “Approach with caution. We have a job to do.”


They manage to catch up quickly since Storm Cloud had the full schematics of the place. The two intruders have their backs to the Wall of Four.


Impactor: “Halt! You are on private property.”


?: (nonchalant) “Good heavens! We’ve been found! What ever shall I do?”


Big: “Identify yourselves or we’ll shoot!”


Only the large figure answers back. The voice is very familiar.


?: “I’m one of you of course!”


Impactor: “Too vague.”


Storm: “Try anything funny and your brains will be on the wall!”


?: “I am the third.”


Big: “Third what? Stop playing games.”


?: “The third of your gods.”


Big: “I’m getting sick of this. Let’s arrest them.”


?: “My boy, get behind me.”


It cuts abruptly to a minute in the past. Rodimus is watching the twin suns set from his suite.


Rod: “What a lovely night this has been. Tomorrow I have a lot of work to do. We need to stop whatever is brewing in its tracks.”


It cuts back to the Wall of Four. The larger intruder slowly turns around. They see part of his face, and that’s when they realize what was going on. The fire in his eyes said everything. His body glows for a second and Big Shot instinctively throws something down in front of his team. A massive explosion of fire engulfs the entire room. It doesn't end there as it blasts its way out of the room where anyone even remotely in the distance can see it from far away. Both Rodimus and Ultra Magnus are stunned to see the explosion, but soon regain focus and head over. Ultra Magnus doesn’t have as far a distance to travel so he should be there within a few minutes. Rodimus on the other hand has about fifteen minutes to travel. Rodimus uses his bow to transform it into the crossbow form and fires a far harpoon into the neighboring building. He uses it to zipline to cut a little bit of his trip shorter before falling to the street and driving his way there.


If the explosion wasn’t a big enough indicator of who was responsible then seeing The Fallen and Mindwipe emerge from the smoke should answer that question.


Fallen: “And that’s four more Autobots turned to ash.”


Mindwipe: “I apologize for triggering the motion sensor.”


Fallen: “Don’t let it bother you. One of us was bound to slip up. They had it well guarded.”


Mindwipe: “I could’ve hypnotized them and asked for directions before you blasted him.”


Fallen: “I don’t mean to disrespect you, but those four together would’ve been too much to handle. One or two were acceptable, but not them all. You've improved a lot, but I won’t involve you in a fight I didn't think you could win.”


Mindwipe: “Well there goes no witnesses. Now we’ll get more people on their way to stop us.”


Fallen: “All the more reason to finish this quickly, and if we are halted we eliminate them. Simple enough.”


Mindwipe: “They must have it deeper. I don’t see anything that could contain it.”


Fallen: “My thoughts exactly.”


A strange noise gets their attention. It turns out the Wall of Four survived the attack. Big Shot threw down a panic bubble to protect them.


Fallen: “So you survived. How irritating.”


The Fallen goes to blast them, but Impactor shoots him in the arm, and the force of the shot is enough for him to miss.


Impactor: “Don’t underestimate us just because we’re mortal.”


Fallen: “What is there to underestimate exactly? You know you can’t kill me.”


Impactor: “I know, but the same can’t be said for him!”


He shoots at Mindwipe but The Fallen shields him from the shot and retaliates with a ring of fire to knock them all down. They get back up but Big Shot is slow to get up. The Fallen unsheathes Avarice and charges the blade. Tendrils of fire surround the pair but they suddenly hit the floor. They’re carving a circle. Impactor understands what’s going on.


Impactor: “Stop him before it’s too late!”


Impactor is punched out of nowhere. Big Shot did it, but it’s become apparent that Mindwipe hypnotized him.


Impactor: “Come on Big Shot, snap out of it!”


Bigshot continues to attack him.


Impactor: “Stakeout, Storm Cloud, don’t look into his eyes! Go after them!”


Storm: “You got it!”


It’s revealed that The Fallen uses his sword to cave a hole into the floor. It drops him and Mindwipe down on a falling platform. Storm Cloud transforms and Stakeout rides on top of him. As the villains descend on their custom platform they fight the two Autobots in a visually impressive battle. The Fallen sends out fireballs and heat slashes at the two, but they manage to dodge the attacks. Mindwipe transforms and flies around while dodging shots from Stakeout. Mindwipe dares to attack them head on. Stakeout thinks it’s an easy shot, but Mindwipe starts spinning while keeping a straight line at them. He transforms back into robot mode and while still spinning he manages to make a slice in Stakeout’s stomach, which subsequently knocks him off of Storm Cloud. Stakeout manages to land on the falling platform, but is in a more dangerous spot. Now he has to deal with Megatronus directly. He attacks him, but the Prime doesn’t even flinch. The Fallen just swats him away and hits the wall.


Mindwipe is chasing Storm Cloud in a circle in a downward spiral as they get lower. Eventually the platform lands to the bottom floor. The Fallen feels the power of the Forge near. It makes sense considering both the first Primes and the relics were forged from the same kind of power. Judging from the surroundings the only logical place for it to be is inside a giant fortified pillar in the middle. With the help of his sword he strips away the armor. There is a glass barrier and the attempts to slice it. It does nothing. Meanwhile Mindwipe finally collides with Storm Cloud, forcing him to transform. Mindwipe follows suit as well. Storm Cloud attempts to fight him but Mindwipe is showing him up. He blocks every attack and manages to sneak in a few cuts and punches after every third or fourth block. It looks like it’s going to be downhill for the Autobot, but Stakeout appears out of nowhere with his electric tonfas and zaps Mindwipe from behind. That gives Storm Cloud time to jump back as Mindwipe turns around to attack, but Stakeout slams his other tonfa down on Mindwipe’s head. He then goes low to zap him in the chest. Storm Cloud fires a plasma sniper rifle into Mindwipe’s chest, and Stakeout roundhouse kicks him in the face to knock him down. Mindwipe gets up and is about to use his hypnotism but The Fallen berates him.


Fallen: “You are not to use your hypnosis on these weaklings.”


Stake: “Excuse me? We’re kicking his ass right now.”


Mindwipe: “But why can’t I use it?”


Fallen: “You’ve improved so much as a fighter. The only way to grow is realize there may be a time where using it won’t be an option. You can’t rely on one aspect to win all your battles.”


Mindwipe: “I see, very well.”


Mindwipe takes out his daggers and both Autobots attack him from every side. With each passing moment the advantage they had on him is starting to dwindle as less attacks are connecting. Mindwipe throws a dagger into Storm Cloud’s knee and then kicks him in the face. Stakeout attempts a jump attack, but Mindwipe spins so hard like a tornado he knocks Stakeout to the ground. He then pounces on the Autobot to keep him down. Storm cloud attempts to get up but Mindwipe throws a blue dagger into his body and it explodes into a pillar of ice to beat him. Mindwipe then stomps on Stakeout’s face three times to make him unable to battle.


Mindwipe: “You fought well, but nothing you could ever do will be enough.”


Stakeout: “We can't lose to you.”


The Fallen attempts to heat up the glass and it nearly works. With him growing impatient he tries a more subtle approach. The fingers from his left hand begin to glow orange and red, and they become incased with molten hot claws. He has always been able to do this, but there has been no reason to do this when he has fire and a sword. Like an expert thrift, he slowly twists his hand in a perfect circle to carve a hole in the glass. The piece falls out and he sticks his arm inside. He’s done it. The Forge of Solus Prime is now his.


Fallen: “At last, the beginning of the end of our enemies starts with this. A hammer containing the power of creation!”


Mindwipe is about to execute both Autobots on the spot, but Blurr speeds onto the scene and steals it right out of his hands.


Blurr: “Not today!”


Fallen: “You made the mistake of not leaving with it immediately, speedster. Now you will pay for that mistake with your life!”


He fires streams of fire at Blurr. He dodges easily and tries to leave with the Forge, but he sends out a ring of fire to prevent his escape. While Blurr is distracted Mindwipe throws a dagger into the back of his right knee.


Mindwipe: “You aren’t going anywhere!”


Blurr is forced to dodge attacks from both villains while holding the Forge and being crippled from the knee injury. It makes him slower. The Fallen attempts to portal him away, but Blurr manages to slide underneath it. He starts doing fast attacks on Mindwipe. He strikes from every possible angle. And ends by uppercutting him into the air. Mindwipe does a backflip while in the air to recover and lands on his feet.


Fallen: “He’s still too fast.”


Mindwipe: “Allow me to test my theories on him.”


Fallen: “It’s worth a shot.”


Mindwipe takes a deep breath and then slits one of his arms. He starts to bleed, and Blurr is confused.


Blurr: “Uhh… you’re supposed to do that to me.”


Mindwipe: “Then come at me. I just gave you an advantage. Will you brave the challenge, or have you finally outpaced your own brain?”


Blurr challenges him head on and hits from both sides before backing up. Mindwipe seemed to just let him hit him. Instead of fighting back he looks at the ground at his blood.


Mindwipe: “Four more drops. Two from each.”


Blurr: “What are you talking about?”


Mindwipe: “Strike me again and discover it yourself.”


Blurr decides to call his bluff and speeds in for the attack. Before he can fully attack, Mindwipe manages to cut at Blurr’s cheek. Blurr retreats a little in complete shock that Mindwipe managed to stop him.


Blurr: “I don’t believe it...you timed the speed of my attacks to the number of blood drops from each hit.”


Mindwipe: “You are a dangerous adversary, but you are easy to counter.”


Blurr: “Well I’ll just go faster then!”


Mindwipe: “Master, when I hit him next that will be your chance.”


Fallen: “I’m ready.”


Blurr goes faster and attacks from the left, but once again Mindwipe dominates him and the moment he gets close, Blurr gets a deep cut across his chest. The Fallen wastes no time and explodes the ground Blurr was around and it knocks him away several feet. He loses his grip on the Forge, and The Fallen portals it back in his hands. Blurr is slow to get up, clutching his chest.


Blurr: “How...how did you know that time?”


Mindwipe: “I watched you fight many times. You always favor attacks from the left, especially when it’s your first.”


Blurr: “I never even noticed.”


Mindwipe: “I did, and that’s why you’re going to die!”


Fallen: “We have what we came for. Let's leave.”


The Fallen was about to do that, but someone uses magnets to make him lose the hammer again. This time stronger reinforcements arrive in the form of Ultra Magnus, Windcharger, and the three available Dinobots Grimlcok, Swoop, and Slag.


Wind: “I’m sorry bud. Did I interrupt something?”


Fallen: “More insulant pests.”


The Fallen attempts to fire from his sword, but Windcharger’s electromagnets change his arm’s motions so it misses the group.


Fallen: “How dare a mortal control my body!”


Wind: “Who knew puppeteering a demigod was this easy?”


The Fallen’s entire body is set ablaze from pure rage.


Magnus: “Windcharger, if you push this any further he’s going to nuke the entire city.”


Wind: “Sorry, sir. I’ll restrain myself.”


Fallen: “Well if it isn’t my fellow Prime Ultra Magnus. Tell me, is the bearer of the Matrix on his way as well?”


Magnus: “He is, and if you’re wise you’ll leave while you can.”


Fallen: “I’ll take those odds if you don’t mind. I do greatly appreciate the concern that a fellow Prime has for his predecessor.”


Grimlock: “This guy is so full of it.”


Fallen: “Don’t think I’ve forgotten our battle in London all those years ago, monster. If you wish to lose again I’ll gladly accept the invitation.”


Mindwipe: “What is the plan, master?”


Fallen: “Simple, dear Mindwipe. We destroy them all.”


The Fallen wastes no time and opens two portals. One in front of him and the other right behind the Autobots. He launches a stream of fire that knocks Ultra Magnus and the others down with him. Swoop is able to save Ultra magnus and Windcharger from having a bad fall. Grimlock and Slag make it down no problem. Grimlock transforms into his dinosaur form and breathes fire to melt Storm Cloud’s icy prison.


Storm: “Hey thanks for that!”


Magnus: “Slag, you help Blurr and Storm Cloud take on Mindwipe. The rest of us will deal with Megatronus.”


Fallen: “Now this I have to see!”


First perspective is Mindwipe taking on Storm Cloud, Slag, and the wounded Blurr. Blurr is too hurt to so speed attacks, so he opts instead for ranged attacks with his electro rifle. Storm Cloud goes with mid range attacks with his rifle and missile launchers. Slag goes all in for direct attacks. The wings of his club are fast enough where Mindwipe has to dedicate all of his attention to dodging. He blocks some of the attacks and makes a few hits, but the Dinobot’s armor makes him nearly unaffected. Slag goes for a jump attack and mindwipe is forced to leap back. Mindwipe is hit by a missile from Storm Cloud and gets shot in the back by Blurr. He is paralyzed long enough for Slag to smack him down on the head. The force is strong enough to knock him to the floor. Mindwipe in a hurry gets up and uses his powers on Slag, but nothing happens.


Mindwipe: “What’s going on?”


Slag: “Me Slag re=tarded remember?”


Slag hits a homerun knocking Mindwipe into the top of the water. Meanwhile Megatronus faces Ultra Magnus, two Dinobots, and Windcharger. Ultra Magnus and Grimlock attack head on while Swoop does hit and runs tactics in the air. Windcharger provides medium range support. Ultra Magnus fires his mega missile, and The Fallen deploys his shield, Lost to to deflect it. Grimlock attacks with his sword and forces The Fallen back. Swoop scratches his back with his talons, and then Grimlock manages to hit him in the face with his shield. Ultra Magnus smacks him in the face with his hammer. Since he is the only one that can kill him, he actually felt the pain from that hit. Swoop flies directly above him, transforms, and then smacks his molten spiked fail down on his head. It makes him fall to his stomach. Grimlock transforms into dinosaur form and smashes his tail down on his back. The Fallen is beyond pissed now and uses an explosive field of fire to knock them back. Swoop is the first to return to the battle and dives in for another attack. Megatronus longed for this, and he opens up a portal right in front of him. Swoop is unable to slow down and enters. The portal led to Metroplex, a solid 100 miles from the battle. He’s out.


Swoop: “Oh come on!”


Grimlock: “Swoop!”


Fallen: “Don’t worry, monster. He’s just fine. You should be more worried about what I’m going to do to you and your friends.”


Grimlock: “That trick won’t work on me.”


Fallen: “I had no intention of sending you away. I want to destroy you as painfully as possible. As for you, Ultra Magnus, if i didn’t know any better I’d think you were trying to kill me.”


Magnus: “I'll do whatever it takes to keep the Forge away from you.”


Fallen: ”Then you are welcome to try!”


Their fight begins anew but switching back to Mindwipe’s perspective he is still stuck to the wall. Slag, Blurr, and Storm Cloud are beginning to aid Ultra Magnus in fighting the Fallen. With little choice he breaks out of the wall to aid his master. In a blind rage he throws a red dagger into Storm Cloud’s chest, which creates a small explosion to knock him down. Blurr and Slag return to battle him instead. Mindwipes swoops down and attacks Blurr but he dodges all of his attacks. The speedster cuts him with his saw and then uppercuts him. Blurr jumps and does a flurry of lightning fast kicks to his face. The only reason they don’t kill Mindwipe is because the damage Blurr received slowed him down just enough for Mindwipe to stay conscious during this beating. Mindwipe is able to catch Blurr’s foot and then throws him to the floor. Slag tries to swing at him, but Mindwipe ducks and slices at his wrist to make him drop his club. He then throws three red daggers that explode and knock him to the floor. Storm Cloud fires missiles, but Minidwipe throws regular daggers into them to make them explode mid-attack.


Back at the Fallen’s battle, he is now fighting on more even ground with one less opponent to deal with. Grimlock smacks him from behind with his shield and then slices The Fallen’s arm to force him to drop his shield. Ultra Magnus smashes his hammer into his face, and Grimlock stabs him in the back. The Fallen smacks Ultra Magnus with his sword and then kicks Grimlock back. He attempts to backs him with fire from the sword, but Windcharger uses his magnets on his leg to make him step to the side and miss his shot. The Fallen attempts to attack Widncharger with a full fire blast, and it would've hit had Windcharger not activated his forcefield bubble. It shields him from the damage but now the force of the attack. It makes him still inside the bubble hit the wall and daze him temporarily. Ultra Magnus hits him in the back and Grimlock attempts to smack him again with his shield. Ultra Magnus launches a small fireball into Ultra Magnus to knock him down and then grabs Grimlock’s shield with his free hand. He turns up the heat on Grimlock’s shield, burning his hand and forcing him to drop his shield. He then receives a fiery punch in the face. Windcharger returns to the battle and uses his magnets to hold Megatronus’s arms in place and let’s both Autobots recover. The Fallen manages to break free from the magnet’s grasp this time, and in a clever move the Fallen opens a small portal by his feet just where Windcharger can’t see it. He opens another portal right behind Windcharger and then launches a fireball into it that enters the portal and strikes Windcharger right in the back. It doesn’t knock him out but it forces him to his knees. Ultra Magnus swings his hammer, but The Fallen strafes and portals him in front of Grimlock. So the swing hits the Dinobot instead.


MInidwipe attempts to kill Windcharger but is tackled by Blurr. Mindwipe throws out an orange dagger that looks like it missed Storm Cloud, but it suddenly turns out to be a homing dagger and it hits him in the back and explodes, incapacitating him. Grimlock does an overhead slash with his sword, but The Fallen does a ring blast to knock both Autobots back. Grimlock transforms into dinosaur mode and lets Ultra Magnus ride on top of his head. He leaps off to attack The Fallen, but he blocks the attack. It leaves an opening for Grimlock to smack him with his tail, but The Fallen teleports in front of him and starts to heat up his body. Ultra Magnus grabs him from behind and the Fallen jabs his elbow into his face. He then teleports them both into the air and then blasts him down to the ground. As he descends Grimlock tries to bite him, but the Fallen gives him a firey kick to his face. The Fallen opens up more portals and sends a rain of fire down on both of them. It would’ve gotten worse if it wasn’t for Windhcharger placing a forcefield bubble on the Fallen himself, trapping him with his own attack. It does quite a deal of damage to him since he can be hurt by his own magic. The Fallen carves hole out of the bubble and then melts the floor where Ultra Magnus and Grimlock stand to where they’re stuck. He now has his full attention of Windcharger.


Fallen: “Now then, mortal. You face a demigod yourself.”


Wind: “You want a trophy or that title or what?”


Fallen: “This will be your only warning. Leave or die. You fought well enough to earn an ounce of my respect.”


Wind: “Well I have a lot of bad habits. Not leaving a fight that I should leave is one of them.”


Fallen: “Then I’ll take you down.”


Wind: “Go ahead and try. I know your powers, so your portals and fire won’t be enough to get me.”


Fallen: “I see, you’re on high alert. Thank you for the warning. I’ll end you in one subtle move then.”


Wind: “What are you talking about?”


The Fallen extends his free arm out and points it in Windcharger’s direction. He then grinds his sword across his arm with enough speed and friction to create sparks. One of the sparks strays off and shoots out like a bullet and hits the right cheek of Windhcarger’s face. It burns for a second before going off like a firecracker. The blast is enough to knock him out cold. Grimlock in a fit of rage manages to break free.


Grimlock: “Windcharger!”


Fallen: “Don’t mourn that fool. He isn’t dead yet. That wasn’t strong enough to kill him.”


Grimlock: “What did you do to him?”


Fallen: “The sparks I create with friction can become projectiles. If it hits their target it causes a set of mini chain reaction explosions. I can’t believe that idiot just stood there and let it happen. So much for these elite warriors.”


Grimlock: “Then how about this?”


Grimlock chargers him and breathes fire into him, completely forgetting that his opponent is made of it. He realizes his mistake and transforms back, but it’s too late. He absorbed all the fire and used it to power him up and heal from the wounds Ultra Magnus gave him.


Fallen: “You really don’t learn do you, creature?”


The Fallen grabs Grimlock by the face and unloads a massive explosion right in Grimlock’s face, blasting him back. The powered up Prime teleports and catches Grimlock just to blast him with fire from behind. He then portals himself right underneath Grimlock just so he can blast him in the air. He then starts doing a bunch of mid-air portal slices with his sword. He then ends the battle with Grimkock with one massive firefly slash, and then lands on top of him, kicking him in the face to knock him out. Ultra magnus has got one leg free, but at this point it’s too late.


Fallen: “Mindwipe are you finished yet?”


He sees Mindwipe is still taking on the three Autobots.


Fallen: “Very well, I’ll clean up this mess.”


The Fallen uses Avarice’s power to create flaming tendril with barbs on them. They launch out to hit Storm Cloud and Slag, but Blurr dodges. The Fallen just makes several portals to kennel him until he gets stuck as well. He starts thrashing them into walls and then has them strangling them all, burning their necks.


Fallen: “Time to end this.”


He starts sending a heat current through the barbs that would’ve incinerated them instantly if they reached him. A miracle happens when a giant yellow laser hits The Fallen from behind, and the barbs vanish before reaching their targets.


Slag: “That was too close!”


Blurr: “Who did that?”


The culprit jumps down. It was Impactor. He manages to defeat the hypnotized Big Shot, but the battle was rough as evidenced with the dents and bruises all over his body. He frees Ultra Magnus but then throws him to the ground.


Impactor: “You are a disgrace Ultra Magnus! I can’t believe you are letting this criminal get away!”


Magnus: “What are you talking about!”


Impactor: “For all these years I’ve stood by and let you lead good men to their graves. I won’t allow you to lead mine to theirs!”


Magnus: “If you have an issue with me then bring it up after the battle.”


The Fallen gets up.


Fallen: “I’m getting really tired of these interruptions.”


Impactor: “You and me both. Now face me, Megatronus!”


Magnus: “Let me help you, I’m the only one who can kill him right now.”


Impactor: “Fine but don’t get in my way.”


Impactor fires his laser again, but The Fallen portals it and sends it to Ultra Magnus. The Fallen and Mindwipe’s eyes meet, and they exchange a nod. Something is up. Ultra Magnus fires his missile, but The Fallen makes it explode. That was fine because Impactor sends out his quad missile launcher and all four hit him. Ultra Magnus then swings into The Fallen’s chest and it makes him bounce across the floor. The Fallen blasts out fire that hits Impactor, but it only makes him stumble back. Ultra Magnus tries to hit him again, but The Fallen uses his sword to create a wall of fire to hold him back. Impactor fires a harpoon from his arm, but Mindwipe throws a dagger to sever it. This distracts Impactor to look away, and then the firewall disappears. Ultra Magus leaps to attack, but suddenly Impactor shoots him instead! At this point Rodimus has finally arrived at the scene, and he brought the Aerialbots with him.


Rod: “Sorry for being late, I brought reinforcements.”


Fallen: “So the new Prime finally shows himself.”


Mindwipe walks right in front of his master and goes right to left, like a predator eyeing his prey. It catches the attention of the Aerialbots.


Rod: “It’s over, you’re outnumbered.”


Fallen: “Are you so sure?”


The sounds of several guns clicking catches Rodimus off guard. He looks over and sees all of the Aerialbots have been hypnotized.


Rod: “Impossible...when did Mindwipe…”


He suddenly remembers when Mindwipe walked in front of his master, it was a ploy to make the Aerialbots make eye contact with him.


Mindwipe: “These weak minded fools are all too easy to manipulate.”


Rod: “You were able to get them from that far away?”


Mindwipe: “You are not the only one who grows stronger with each battle, Autobot. My power already exceeds your own.”


Blurr attempts to attack but Storm Cloud shoots him down. He was hypnotized near the end of the battle right when Mindwipe threw that homing dagger after being tackled by Blurr. Impactor was corrupted when Mindwipe distracted him when he severed the harpoon. The possess Impactor now holds the gun holstered on his leg right to Ultra Magnus’s head. All the other hypnotized victims point their weapon at their own heads, and their fingers are on the trigger.


Slag: “Coward!”


Fallen: (swarmy) “If your fast friend here does as much sneeze in my general direction then your allies will all be part of a mass suicide. I know you wouldn't want that on your conscience, now would you, Rodimus Prime?”


Rod: “Just what do you want with the Forge?”


Fallen: “What an insultingly low brow question to ask! What DON’T I want to use it for? I wish to create.”


Rod: “Create what exactly? I can’t imagine you having any noble intentions.”


Fallen: “You are the last person to call my intentions into question when you had the perfect tool to solve your problems. You all bask in the glory of creation, yet sit idly by and do nothing! Think of all the roads that could’ve been built, or the lives that you could’ve saved had you ever actually decided to take your roles as Primes seriously. Do not fret, fellow Prime, for I intend to make full use of precious artifact’s power. I will use it in ways your mortal minds could never even begin to conceive.”


Rod: “You were right that I should’ve used it, but we did it away from monsters like you could never misuse it.”


Fallen: “Didn’t go to plan now did it?”


Rod: “I can’t stop you, so just take it and leave. Just spare the lives of those your apprentice has possessed.”


Fallen: “Fine with me. Come Mindwipe, our work here is done.”


He opens up a portal to a strange place and enters. Mindwipe enters and the portal is just about to close until The Fallen speaks.


Fallen :”On second thought, Mindiwipe, kill them.”


Mindwipes eyes glow and the victims are milliseconds from killing themselves. Blurr manages to kick Storm Cloud down, and in a slow motion sequence Blurr manages to save Impactor, scales up the wall, and manages to save all the Aerialbots as well.


Blurr: “I was finally fast enough to save everyone.”


Fallen: “Pity, seeing their brains redecorate this place would’ve been a massive improvement over this monotonous location. Oh well.”


The portal closes and both The Fallen and Mindwipe are in the location, Mindipe is confused however.


“Master, this isn’t our base.”


“You’re right. This is my first mission.”


“How does this help the cause?”


“It doesn’t. This is personal. We’re starting small. I need a test to gauge the Forge's current power.”


The place they arrived in is on Earth. It’s at a volcano, and not just any volcano. It’s the one where he faced off against Optimus all those years ago.


Fallen: “It’s time I return to full power.”


Back on Cybertron the damage has been done Grimlock, Bigshot, Stakeout, and Ultra Magnus are beyond battered. The Forge is now in the hands of their enemy, and Rodimuss’ reputation took a hit. The journey to hell began, but little did he know this would wind up being the LEAST of his troubles.

 

1)and the mysterious enemy storming cybertron is...fallen and mindwipe*holy music stops*
2)I respect the four for having the courage to try and fight a literal demigod, but god that was reckless.
3)alright atleast blurr finally had his moment.
4)and now mindwipe is a threat, well at least now the amount of exploitable weaknesses he has is hampered.
5)so mech hasn't even left earth yet, welp they're fucked.
6)yeah rodimus is gonna get crap for letting megs get away without a fight, that was pretty stupid.

 

The Fallen and his minions sure did quite the damage here.

 

Farewell Kentaro Miura. I joined the Berserk train quite late, but your work was incredible. May you find peace in your on bonfire of dreams. Anyway got a nice log one with plenty of interesting developments worth discussing. Here is part 10: Galvatron's Gambit



At Red Alert’s hospital he has his hand full with the new influx of patients. The most injured are Stakeout, Storm Cloud, Blurr, Ultra Magnus, and Grimlock. Slag and Windcharger needed a brief patch up and were discharged rather quickly. Sixshot, Springer, Arcee, and Perceptor arrive as well. Swoop even manages to return from his unexpected trip.


Red: “I told you to stop getting injured!”


Grimlock: “Sorry doc, we had a mission.”


Red: “And you failed.”


Rod: “We know. The Forge is now in the hands of Megatronus. Who knows what he’ll use it for.”


Magnus: “My question is why he never went for it sooner. He had all the time in the world. Why now?”


Sixshot: “Curious indeed. I also wish to apologize for not being there to aid you all. You fought bravely. Perhaps if I were there we might’ve been able to keep the Forge.”


Arcee: “Not to burst your bubble but Megatronus is currently the most powerful being in the universe that we know of. I don’t think the outcome would have been any different.”


Sixshot: “We’ll never know.”


Springer: “I’m more impressed nobody died. You and Grimlock are like tanks there, Ultra Magnus.”


Magnus: “If I kept fighting any further I know my life would’ve ended there.”


Springer: “Well look on the bright side. That near death experience made you even stronger so you’ll kick that oven right in his face next time.”


Magnus: “Sometimes I wish I shared your vigor.”


Impactor storms into the room. His patience has clearly run out.


Impactor: “You are incredibly lucky my men survive, Ultra magnus. Had even one perished you would’ve joined them in the grave.”


Rod: “You have no right to threaten a higher rank like that.”


Impactor: “But I do have a right to say you have made terrible judgements as leaders. I should’ve been the second in command of the Autobots but you let this failure continue to bring us down.”


Magnus: “To which judgments do you refer?”


Impactor: “It seems I have to spoon feed the information to you. Your entire term as leader of The Wreckers. Only four of you are left. Who knows how many civilians were erased because of your actions.”


Magnus: “I see...you are right about that. I was rash. I desired to have this war to end so fast I developed tunnel vision. By the time I realized what I had done I had already lost so many. So I decided I would ensure those who were left and did the best I could. I managed to succeed up until the attack on Autobot city two years ago. The loss of Topspin and Leadfoot are a grim reminder of the failures I once had. All I can do now is make sure nobody else dies on my watch.”


Impactor: “You're telling the truth. I can see it in your eyes that you’ve changed. Something still isn’t right with you though. I don’t know what it is.”


Springer: “Look if you’re done lecturing him you should check on your own men.”


Impactor: “Way ahead of you. Well, Rodimus, now that the Forge is lost I would hope that there is a place for us to guard.”


Rod: “I do. I need you to guard the Crystal City prison.”


Impactor: “Ah, the prison with all the incarcerated Shadow Core Decepticons.”


Rod: “That’s not all that’s being held there. On one of the less secured floors is Frenzy.”


Impactor: “I see, you think Soundwave may try to break out his Minicon and the rest of the group.”


Rod: “This week would be perfect for him to do something like that.”


Impactor: “As soon as we’re cleared from the hospital we will do just that.”


Impactor leaves and visits the others in the room reserved for them. Storm Cloud and Stakeout were in the worst condition, but Big Shot was battered as well.


Stake: “Hey boss, good to see you.”


Big: “We lost, didn’t we? I just woke up a few minutes ago.”


Impactor: “Yeah, the Forge was lost.”


Big: “It was all my fault. I let him hypnotize me.”


Impactor: “If there was anything I have to say about it, then I would say you had the least amount of involvement in this. I was the one who failed. If it wasn’t for you, Big Shot, we would’ve been incinerated from that first blast.”


Storm: “I’ll take a beating any day over becoming ashes.”


Big: “Yeah, but I hurt you, Impactor. Just thinking about what I did shakes me to my core. The worst part was that I wasn't completely gone. That sick bastard left me awake and I was forced to watch myself fight you.”


Stake: “That Mindwipe is a monster, even more than that candle asshole.”


Storm: “We still failed at the end of the day. For the first time our perfect record has a stain.”


Impactor: “Look on the bright side. It took a literal demigod to hand us our first defeat.”


Big: “Yeah I guess you’re right.”


Impactor: “We’ll do even better next time. We’re tasked with the prison in Crystal City. Frenzy is there. You know what that means.”


Big: “Soundwave will try to stop us again.”


Storm: “He sure can try!”


Impactor: “Right. One other thing, it looks like we should cool off our vendetta against Ultra Magnus for the time being.”


Big: “But why?”


Impactor: “I hate to admit it but he did help out. If it wasn’t for him some of you might not be here today.”


Stake: “But he’s still a bad man right?”


Impactor: “I’m not sure anymore. I still don’t trust him completely but I noticed in his eyes he has changed. All that rage I once saw is replaced with sorrow and regret. There are still skeletons in his closet, but I found myself being more concerned with everyone else in the room.


Storm: “What do you mean?”


Impactor: “If I criticized Ultra Magnus any further I had a chilling feeling that Springer was going to slit my throat.”


Storm: “He always was a white knight.”


Impactor: “Arcee, Blurr, and Sixshot were terrifying. They’re natural born killers. Even the doctor felt like he had some demons. Honestly the only people I felt like I could feel safe around were Rodimus and those Dinobots.”


Big: “What’s going on with our people?”


Impactor: “I don’t know, but I have a feeling something horrible is going to go down at some point.”


Back at Rodimus’s perspective Windcharger walks in. The side of his face where the sparks exploded has left some burn scars.


Rod: “I hope you’ll be okay.”


Wind: “Don’t worry about me. The only real damage I received was to my pride.”


Swoop: “You usually don’t fight a demigod and go unscathed.”


Arcee: “Easy for you to say, you got portaled out when the fight started.”


Swoop: “Really had to open up that wound didn’t ya?”


Sixshot: “I’m more surprised that nobody died. How is it that everyone in the fight survived?”


Magnus: “I’d attribute that to Blurr for saving everyone that was hypnotized.”


Blurr: “For once I was fast enough.”


Swoop: “You really are our best weapon aren’t you?”


Rod: “And I’m proud to have you.”


Blurr: “Thanks I really appreciate it.”


Slag: “Me Slag want a rematch with the bat guy.”


Rod: “We’ll see him again for sure. It’s only a matter of when.”


Alert: “I swear you people all have death wishes.”


Rod: “Look, the rest of you better heal up. As soon as you’re discharged we have work to do.”


Griloick: “Yes sir!”


Swoop: “Slag and I will stay behind to keep Grimlock company.”


Wind: “I’m going back home. Just give me a ring if you need anything.”


Rod: “Will do.”


Rodimus, Arcee Springer, and Sixshot leave the hospital from the front entrance while Windcharger leaves from the back. The four are ambushed by several Autobtos and Decepticons with microphones and cameras.


Springer: “If it isn’t everyone's favorite parasite, the associated press!”


Autobot: “Rodimus, why did you let Megatronus take the Forge?”


Decepticon: “What are your plans to combat the growing crime rates from Beast Planet inhabitants?”


Minicon: “Why have you not defeated Galvatron for good?”


Flame: “How much longer until the wreckage of the Tidalwave is removed?”


Junkion: “Is it true that a Decepticon with two couches now has three couches?”


Arcee: “Ugh, this is fake news!”


Before Rodimus is pressured into giving answers Skylynx flies above their heads and opens up his hatch. Inside him are Blaster and Perceptor. Blaster uses his powers to temporarily jam all the microphones and cameras.


Skylynx: “Quick, get inside!”


The Autobots waste no time on Skylynx’s offer and flee inside. Skylynx flies off to give his friends some much needed peace.


Rod: “I’m happy to see you again, but what prompted this.”


Skylynx: “Call it atonement for not being there to aid you in that battle.”


Arcee: “That or you got to miss out on seeing three Primes in the same room.”


Skylynx: “...Yeah okay that too.”


Springer: “Haven’t seen you around in awhile Blaster. Where you been all this time.”


Blaster: “Hey man this might surprise you but I got a career that doesn’t revolve around you guys.”


Springer: “And that’s why it sucks.”


Blaster: “Look I’ll get the press off your necks. They trust me for some reason.”


Rod: “That would be greatly appreciated.”


Arcee: “So what about you, Perceptor? You’ve been keeping a low profile.”


Perce: “Sorry about that I’ve been absorbed in my work lately. If you aren't busy I'd like to show you something I discovered lately.”


Rod: “Please do.”


Skylynx drops off Blaster so he can help ease the tensions from the press. The others arrive at Perceptor’s lab where he has his monitor showing a schematic of Earth.


Sixshot: “Is something wrong with Earth? If so, we need to get Daniel out of there immediately.”


Perce: “I’m actually not sure what this is. I don’t want to throw out the red flags just yet.”


Rod: “But it was concerning enough for you to bring us here.”


Perce: “In a sense yes. Well recently I’ve been updating our satellites and global sensors to pick up energy signatures. I devised an algorithm that helps detect energy that is otherwise invisible. When I heard about the mysterious attack on the Earth team I decided to put my focus there. What I found is rather...troubling.”


Rod: “In what regard?”


Perce: “I’ve found two unique signatures that have apparently been around for about a year.”


Sixshot: “Do you know what they are?”


Perce: “Yes actually, and the first one solves a huge mystery for us. It’s the Allspark.”


Rod: “The Allspark is on earth?”


Arcee: “I heard it was in Starscream’s possession in that battle in New York some twenty plus years ago. Reports say he lost it and it was never found. Guess we assumed the Decepticons took it with them.”


Perce: “Here’s where things get dicey. It’s not a stray signal, the strength behind it implies it’s been put to use.”


Rod: “Someone is using the Allspark… Any ideas who it could be?”


Perce: “Well the only active threat on Earth is this Steeljaw individual.”


Rod: “I see, perhaps he was more dangerous than we thought.”


Arcee: “He’s already been responsible for killing a few Autobots, and he had a part to play in your sister’s death.”


Springer: “Still doesn’t make sense of the humans and how they had the bodies of fallen Decepticons though.”


Rod: “There is still a piece of the puzzle we’re missing, and it’s one that ties it all together.”


Sixshot: “Perhaps we get the Earth team to track this Steeljaw down and see if he has it.”


Rod: “My thoughts exactly, Sixshot.”


Arcee: “By chance were you able to track the Allspark's location?”


Perce: “Only a little bit. I am certain it’s somewhere in the United States.”


Arcee: (sarcastic) “Great only a whole continent. That really narrows it down!”


Rod: “I’ll get the Earth team on it as soon as possible. Now about that other source.”


Perce: “I find this to be even more disturbing.”


Springer: “Well out with it.”


Perce: “I’m able to locate the source of this one much better, but something is odd about it’s distribution.”


Rod:’ Where is it?”


Perce: “You aren’t going to like it. It’s in Nevada.”


Arcee: “That’s not a coincidence.”


Perce: “But there’s a problem. It’s all over Nevada.”


Rod: “What do you mean?”


Perce: “While I was able to track it that much the energy is equally distributed around the entire state. It gets stranger from here. I mean this literally. The energy doesn’t bleed into any of the neighboring states. It’s stopped perfectly at the borders. It’s like some sort of energy cocoon wrapped itself there.”


Rod: “Is there any danger?”


Perce: “Not that I’ve been able to deduce.”


Springer: “Well how much do you want to bet that the Allspark is in Nevada as well?”


Perce: “That is an increasingly plausible theory.”


Sixshot: “So what about this other source is so scary to you?”


Perce: “How do I put this….well… it appears this second energy source is of equal power to the Allspark, perhaps even exceeding it.”


Sixshot: “How is such a thing possible?”


Springer: “Could it be the final missing relic of the Primes?”


Perce: “Unlikely. Only the Matrix, Allspark, and Star Saber radiate any kind of energy signature. The three I mentioned before all have similar spectrums because of how closely tied their origins are. This, however, is something else entirely.”


Rod: “Something of equal or greater power to the Allspark. I didn’t think such a thing could exist in this world. Perhaps we’ve been thinking too small the entire time.”


Sixshot: “We’re all just specks in an infinite void. Only now do we realize our place as our roles become even smaller still.”


Arcee: “You must be fun at parties.”


Sixshot: “Wouldn't know, I’ve never been to one.”


Springer: “So what do we do, boss?”


Rod: “Call the Earth team. They have to make capturing Steeljaw a priority. They have to find out if he's in possession of the Allspark.”


Sixshot: “It would be wise to let our human allies know of the possible danger.”


Rod: “We will do just that. Also I’m going to give a quick call to our friends the Junkions just in case this escalates into something we can’t face alone.”


The Autobots leave with a justified concern that something is building behind the scenes. Back at Area 51 Armorhide, Refuge, Strafe, and Rend are summoned by Silas.


Strafe: “So I see you kept your word saying I was next.”


Silas: “Your mission will come immediately after I assign them.”


Armor: “I admit I’m a little surprised that you would want to use me again so quickly after I botched that mission.”


Silas: “Consider this your atonement. You do wish to redeem yourself, yes?”


Armor: “I...yes I do.”


Silas pulls up a map with many roads.


Silas: “You, Refuge, and Rend will be doing reconnaissance on these roads here.”


Armor: “Where is this?”


Silas: “We believe that the full team of Autobots you encountered before is somewhere in this region. The three of you will survey every road in this region. You won’t be allowed to come back unless you either find something or you complete the route.”


Armor: “I see. Consider it done.”


Armorhide and Refuge enter the groundbridge but Rend doesn’t join them immediately. He waits until both leave where Silas addresses him.


Silas: “You know the real reason why I sent you, Rend.”


Rend nods his head.


Silas: “If you do this well then I will no longer consider you to be a failure.”


Rend confidently strides into the groundbridge where he meets up with Armorhide and Refuge. The three of them waste no time driving. Armorhide can’t help but notice the way Rend is driving with them. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out his real purpose.


“I see, this isn’t just a search mission, this is keeping watch on us. I guess Silas still doesn’t trust me. I can’t say I blame him. I’ll just have to prove myself this time.”


Another portal opens in the sky thirty miles from them and Strafe flies out. He was assigned as well, and he carries something in his talons. It’s some sort of spiked pillar. He transforms on top of a nearby mountain and jams it into the rocks.


“I have to do this all over the state? I’m starting to regret even speaking my mind.”


He looks off to the sky and seems at peace.


“On second thought, perhaps I can get used to this after all.”


He transforms and begins flying. Along the way he gets a call from Stinger.


“Strafe you left already!”


“Sorry, little buddy, but I was getting far too claustrophobic.”


“Being in there isn't that bad. It has Deadspark, your other dino pals, and me.”


“Believe me when I say that seeing you, Widow, and Deadspark again was the best thing that happened to me in months.”


“I just wished you stayed longer before leaving.”


“I was in a cramped space while we were separated from the rest of you. I especially felt like a bird trapped in a cage. Coming back to the original bunker still felt like another prison. I needed to spread my wings and fly by any means necessary.”


“Well don’t take too long. I have a Bumblebee to kill!”


“Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten.”


“You won’t let that Swoop steal your sky, right?”


“He doesn’t stand a chance.”


“I didn’t think so.”


“I’m sure he’s strong in his own right, but I was made to kill him just like you with Bumblebee. When they are dead we have our own lives ahead of us.”


“Then hurry up and get it done!”


“I’ll see what I can do.”


He hangs up and stares once more into the sky.


“The skies will be mine no matter what Silas says.”


Back on Charr the time has finally arrived. Blitzwing and his mystery crew have finally arrived. All of the villainous Decepticons have come to personally greet him. The door opens and Blitzwing is the first to come out.


Blitz: “Greetings once more, fellow Decepticons!”


Ramjet: “Hell yeah Blitzwing’s back!”


Tarn: “You are here to stay this time, yes?”


Blitz: “Indeed. Together we will do what we’ve set out for all this time.”


Tarn: “Good. Now about the other Decepticons with you. I’m quite eager to meet them.”


Blitz: “I’m certain most of them will be to your liking.”


Astro: “What does he mean by most?”


Some heavy footsteps eagerly make their way to the exit and out jumps a black Decpeticon with a maroon chest and back. There are tank treads on his legs and a very visible jet cockpit on his chest with blue colored windows. This is Skytread, and he’s the last Decepticon triple changer that exists.


Tread: “Oh hell yeah I’m back baby!”


Octane: “Skytread my man! I thought you got blown up in a battle against Elita-1 ages ago!”


Tread: “I did and I survived! Details are a little fuzzy, but you know what else? It just feels so good to be in motion. Ya know what I mean?”


Astro: “Uh yeah sure we’ll go with that.”


Tread: “So I heard that our leader has been mistreating y’all. That’s not right!”


Dirge: “Shush you fool! You don’t know if Soundwave is listening.”


Motor: “I dislike this one already.”


Tread: “Hey man what’s your beef?”


Motormaster was more than likely going to kill him if it wasn’t for the timely intervention of Blitzwing.


Blitz: “Now, Motormaster. I realize that you want to turn him into dust, but he meant you no disrespect. He’s simply passionate. You yourself are quite passionate about your own ambitions.”


Motor: “Passion means nothing without results.”


Blitz: “I could not agree more.”


The cordial chat is interrupted by several footsteps getting louder. Three Decepticons step out . They are The Triad. I won’t go over their custom designs a second time for obvious reasons.


Vanish: “Hey everyone we’re here!”


Thrust: “Uh, who’s we?”


Crisis: “We’re The Triad of course! I know you’ve heard of us.”


Ramjet: “Nope!”


Crisis: “Oh come on Ramjet! We fought side by side!”


Ramjet: “Either I hit my head too much or you’re forgettable.”


Crisis: “There’s no way I'm forgettable! I live streamed me killing five Autobots!”


Astro: “Aw crap we got an influencer!”


Vanish: “So what if they don’t remember you? They’re missing out on greatness.”


Dirge: “I still haven't caught your names.”


Vanish: “Oh, well I’m Vanisher, cloaking extraordinaire. The influencer is Crisis, and our big friend here is Crater.”


Crater wastes no time asserting himself.


Crater: “Introductions mean nothing if we can’t make a good first impression. Instead I’ll let my actions speak for me.”


Motor: “Finally someone that understands.”


Crater: “I heard you're quite strong, Motormaster.”


Motor: “Are you wanting to see firsthand?”


Crater: “Perhaps in the future. For now I want me and my friends here to assess the situation.”


Tread: “Oh yeah we still got one more in there.”


The final Decepticon exits the dropship, and he’s quite the sight to behold. He’s large, dark blue with some yellow highlights around his ankles, forearms, and on parts of the outside of his face. He has two different colored and shaped eyes. His left eye is yellow, rectangular and only barely is illuminated to show that he can see out of it. The right eye is green, circular, and glows brightly. He turns into some sort of chemical carrying truck because two of the large canisters are part of his back. In the free space on his back is a yellow sledgehammer with “caution” written on the handle. He says nothing as he walks past everyone. Octane tries to socialize with him when he gets in front of him.


Octane: “Hey now what’s the big hurry?”


The Decepticon looks at Octane with such disdain, and instead of speaking he stretches out his arm so his hand is only a few inches away from Octane’s face. Octane sees that there is some sort of nozzle on the underside of his wrist.


Octane: “What is that thing?”


?: (cold): “That is the fate that awaits you if you impede my progress any further. All I have to do is spray you even a little bit and your face will melt off. The choice is yours.”


Octane: “Jeez man relax. I wasn’t trying to get in your way.”


?: “It doesn’t matter what your intentions are if the result ends negatively.”


Octane: “Look man I'm sorry just don’t melt my face off.”


The Decepticon looks at him with a steely gaze and decides to put his hand down.


?: “You’re quite lucky today. I’m usually not as magnanimous as my other associates.”


Drag: “So you got a name, scary guy?”


?: “I am Contagion, and I am not here to make friends or actively participate in the war.”


Thrust: “Then why are you here?”


Con: “To advance the progress of science. Now if you excuse me I have work to do.”


Contagion drives off directly to Shockblast's tower.


Ramjet: “I don’t like that guy.”


Blitz: “He matters not. Come, we should not keep Galvatron waiting.”


At Galvatron’s castle all the Decepticons bar Shockblast and the new arrival Contagion. Gavatron sits atop his throne with Soundwave, Cyclonus, and Scourge at his side.


Galvatron: “You sure took your time Blitzwing, I was beginning to think you ditched me.”


Blitz: “Perish the thought my lord. As promised, here are the arrivals I spoke of.”


Galvatron: “Now either you are a liar or you suck at counting. I’m noticing 9 less Decepticons than you promised.”


Blitz: “One of our arrivals is currently in Shockblast’s tower. He isn’t big on people. As for the other seven they should be here in a few hours. They had to pick up an 8th member of their team.”


Galvatron: “An eighth? Who could be so important that they kept me waiting?”


Blitz: “Someone of similar status to you, my lord.”


Galvatron: “THAT’S A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT! I don't see a single bitch more important than me around. What about you, Cyclonus?”


Cyclonus: “Not one, sir.”


Galvatron: “You’re goddamn right! Those assclowns better get here soon or I’ll start taking names. I think I’ll start with those three generic gearheads over there!”


Galvatron is of course referring to the Triad.


Crisis: “Excuse me? Who's generic?”


Galvatron: “Oh my! The learning curve is really slow with this one!”


Vanish: “We once escorted you to safety back during the raid in Crystal City!”


Galvatron: “Never remembered you!”


Galvatron laughs so hard he accidentally charges up his Particle Cannon. It nearly hits Skytread’s head. The entire room falls silent. Cyclonus’s horn ears droop down and Scavenger is clinging tightly to Mixmaster. As for poor Skytread, he crumples to his knees shaking in terror. Tensions are now getting worse, but Galvatron starts to nervously laugh it off before speaking.


Galvatron: “Well...with that out of the way I’d like to make an announcement. I know it has been a stressful time, but as a reward for your endurance I have developed a friendly competition between us all.”


Reflect: “What kind of competition, old friend?”


Galvatron: “Why a tournament of course! The last one standing wins.”


There are murmurs around as curiosity begins to leak through.


Motor: “Tournaments mean nothing to me. I already know I'm the strongest.”


Predaking: “You seem to forget that I stand before you.”


Motor: “And you are still a caged animal.”


Predaking- growling- “Care to repeat that?


Galvatron: “Silence Predaking! You won’t be participating.”


Predaking: “What?”


Galvatron: “I won’t be participating either. If either of us were involved then we would be the final two and one of us would win. As much as the idea of defeating you in a battle excites me, it would be unfair to have a competition where we knew the outcome. With that said, I will not participate. Neither will any of the Predacons for that matter.”


Splicer: “Oh then who can participate?”


Galvatron: “Anyone can participate as long as they aren’t a Predacon or a combiner like Devastator. The Constructicons themselves can participate but individually. I will allow Beastbox and Squawktalk to join as a duo and can combine into Squawkbox ”


Longhaul: “A test to see a warrior's growth huh? I’m in.”


Mix: “Don’t do it, Longhaul. I don’t want my favorite transporter getting hurt!”


Longhaul: “Oh shut up and stop treating me like a child! I’m not the same poor fighter I used to be. I’m better now.”


Rampage: “But how much better are you?”


Longhaul: “Much better. I was trained by a great fighter.”


Scrapper: “Who just so happened to be Unicron’s lackey.”


Longhaul: “I’m sure he had his reasons.”


Scrapper: “Keep telling yourself that.”


Blitz: “As much as the idea of showing off my skills entices me I find myself lacking a proper incentive to join.”


Swindle: “Competitions need prizes, and I’m all about prizes!”


Galvatron: “And what a prize indeed. The winner of this competition will be the leader of all Decepticons for a day!”


Everyone’s reaction gets excited. Cyclonus and Soudnwave on the other hand are confused.


Cyclonus: (whispering) “Sir, this isn’t the prize we came up with.”


Galvatron: “Shit up, I know what I'm doing.”


Dirge: “Leader for the day? What does that entail?”


Galvatron: “We have a scheduled invasion with the Quintessons to attack Cybertron in a few days. The winner will assume full command of both our forces and the Quintesson fleet. Since some of you think leading is so easy, I’m giving you the opportunity to see firsthand. In addition to that you can issue any command you see fit to all of us including me.”


The Decepticons get excited among themselves.


Dirge: “So what are the rules to this competition?”


Soundwave: “There will be a total of 28 participants. They will be selected by random lots. Just because you want to participate doesn't mean you will get the chance to. Perhaps some of you will want to willingly opt out to let friends that are better suited for combat. I will explain the rest on the day the tournament begins.”


Reflect: “In that case I willingly step aside. I am a spectator and observer first, combatant never.”


Riptide: “You’ll need some quality commentary, so Clash and I will provide that service.”


Clash: “You couldn't ask for better entertainers!”


Galvatron: “Well I could but they’re on Cybertron.”


Tarn: “I highly doubt Shockblast or Contagion want to participate since they’re scientists but I’ll ask them anyway.”


Galvatron: “I’ll be banking on that. They have a role to play. I want you all to upgrade at least one item, weapon, or ability in your arsenal. I will have Shockblast tend to your requests. It can be anything. Even as simple as a new gun or melee weapon. The only restriction is that it can’t be anything that has enough power to destroy the arena.”


Motormaster, Dirge, and Scourge all exchange a look where they begin to draw ideas.


Soundwave: “We will begin the selection process.”


All the Decepticons interested grab a ball with a number. The numbers of different balls appear on a screen. Those lucky to have a matching number are selected, and it’s a most interesting lineup. The 28 contestants are both combiner teams, Cyclonus, Scourge, Splicer, Knockout, Tarn, Blitzwing, Waspiantor, Astrotrain, Octane, the Triad, the surviving Star Seekers, the Coneheads, Rumble, and Beastbox and Squawktalk entering as a pair under a single banner.


Soundwave: “These are your lineups. We will start in two days. The first day will be for Shockblast and Contagion to work on your requests.”


Everyone leaves, but the Constructicons, Waspoinator, Splicer, and Knockout are summoned to Galvatron’s private chambers.


Soundwave: “This is illogical! A tournament of my own design and I don't even get to participate in it. Only three of my minions made it and two of them are questionable at best!”


Squawk: “We have feelings you know!”


Beastbox: “Yeah you can’t talk about Ravage and Laserbeak like that.”


Rumble: “He was talking about you two!”


Beastbox: “Oh… hey wait a minute!”


Cyclonus: “At the very least Splicer, Scourge, and myself will fight for you to maintain order.”


Scrapper: “So why are we here exactly?”


Galvatron: “I need you all to fight for my team.”


Knockout: “I understand. We could have a real weirdo running things if we’re not careful.”


Galvatron: “Motormaster especially is the biggest threat.”


Splicer: “Don’t forget about Tarn and Blitzwing. I don’t trust either of them.”


Galvatron: “Tarn has been loyal to the Decepticon cause from day one.”


Knockout: “That doesn’t mean he’s completely loyal to you.”


Soundwave: “I see no reason to distrust Blitzwing at this moment.”


Knockout: “He’s been gone for quite some time. Remember the last time we had a high ranking Decepticon off on his own for too long? He switched sides.”


Soundwave: “Blitzwing’s hatred for Autobots is similar to Tarn's; he won’t defect.”


Knockout: “Maybe not defection, but treason is never off the table.”


Rampage: “I see your point. I don’t want our hierarchy to be ruined by anyone. I will fight for you on one condition.”


Galvatron: “Name it.”


Rampage: “I want to resume the search for Overload.”


Galvatron: “He’s dead, but fine. If any of you win then I will allow it.”


Mix: “Just imagine me winning the whole thing! Now that’s a dream come true!”


Scavenge: “Or maybe I can win too!”


Everyone laughs at Scavenger who just slumps in a corner in shame.


Wasp: “I guess Waspinator will help you too.”


Splicer: “I just know we can beat them!”


Back at Shockblast’s tower, Contagion finally meets with Shockblast.


“So you are Shockblast, younger brother to scientific legend Shockwave.”


“And you are?”


“Contagion, a Decepticon of science just like yourself.”


“No disrespect intended, but I have never heard of you.”


“This comes as no surprise to me. My achievements while effective were always a post-it note in comparison to you and your brother’s work.”


“So I’m assuming you were part of the new arrivals”


“Correct, and that means I am well acquainted with our fellow scientist in the deserts.”


“What did he ask of you?”


“Simply to never reveal his existence to Galvatron. In return he allowed me to return to serve the cause debt free.”


“He trusted you? He doesn’t fully trust anyone.”


“He understood that my motivations were simple just like his. He seeks to add fuel to the war, and you seek vengeance.”


“What is it that you seek?”


“Progress. Nothing but progress in science itself. I am a believer that in order for us to reach our maximum potential all avenues must be taken. There should be no limits to lengths we go for the sake of progress. No cost is too great as long as the end result is achieved.”


“I see. You are an even stronger believer than even my brother.”


“I do not like people because they get in the way, but they do have a good use as lab rats.”


“So why have you come to my tower?”


“To offer a partnership. I need resources, and you need waste disposal.”


“What waste are you talking about?”


“Galvatron of course. I don’t care about the divide between our faction, but if it means a chance to work with the current greatest mind of the Decepticons then I suppose I have picked a side.”


Shockblast gets the notification of the tournament and his assignment. Contagion reads it as well.


“So a tournament is happening? I will get to work then.”


“Are you joking? You would be aiding the enemy.”


“Perhaps, but this is how we first met Megatron in the beginning. Despite being scientists we had a unique interest in physical combat prowess. As much as I hate him now Megatron was the greatest specimen we ever laid our eyes on. My brother was his first sponsor and fourth ever follower.”


“That still doesn’t explain why you would help aid enemy combatants.”


“Because we believed in the spirit of competition. I will do this to honor Shockwave’s emmory.”


“For a family dedicated to logic you seem to rely on emotions for your decisions.”


“If it comes back to bite me then so be it. Our people just have to be better than theirs. We have Blitzwing, Dead-end, Motormaster on our side. They alone give me enough confidence.”


“Fine, if this is what I have to do to get in your good graces I will bite the proverbial bullet.”


The pair begin their work on the requests. On the other side’s perspective they all meet in the barracks. Motormaster is absent, but everyone else is accounted for.


Astro: “Why did you call me and Octane?”


Blitz: “We know that you’re on the fence about all of this but I highly recommend you join our cause.”


Skytread: “Yeah guys come on! Triple changers for life!”


Octane: “What’s in it for me?”


Blitz: “Don’t tell me you’re satisfied with the way your leader treats you.”


Octane: “I don’t like it, but there's nothing we can do.”


Dirge: “Yes there is. It’s called winning.”


Octane: “You clowns really think any of you can win? “


Crisis: “You bet we can! All my online followers will be cheering me on!”


Dead: “Perhaps you forgot there are actually fighters among us.”


Drag: “Some better than others.”


Dead: “So drop out if you fight me.”


Stench: “Not a chance. We will fight to avenge our captain.”


Dark: “Quitting isn't an option.”


Thrust: “We need as much help as we can get.”


Scourge: “And I intend to win it all.”


Ramjet: “Alright pal, just try getting past Tarn or Motormaster. You can’t even beat Cyclonus.”


Scourge: “Yes I can. If we fight I will prove it.”


Crater: “I hate to disappoint everyone, but I’m going to win it.”


Astro: “Nice try, nobody, but you have no idea what we got in store.”


Crater: “Guess we’ll find out won’t we?”


Skytread: “Come on guys don’t be fighting. We’re all on the same team ehre!”


Blitz: “As l hate to bring up an unfortunate occurrence. Some of us will undoubtedly face off against one another.”


Vanish: “Pray that the matchups are balanced or one sided in our favor.”


Thrust: “Maybe some of us should drop out to favor certain people.”


Vanish: “And blow our cover? I see you’re not the covert type.”


Thrust: “You’ve only been here like an hour and you’re already annoying.”


Vanish: “Better get used to it. I’m a realist.”


Dirge: “Sorry, Thrust, but this Vanisher is correct. We should fight as convincingly as possible.”


Blitz: “And there’s another reason why we should fight. We are warriors. Our pride would never allow such things.”


Thrust: “Speak for yourself man.”


Drag: “Where is Motormaster? He left.”


Dead: “No doubt he’s talking to Tarn. Maybe he thinks he can get him on his side.”


Dead: “That’s not what he's doing at all. You clearly don’t know him very well.”


Blitz: “Then what is he up to?”


Dead: “Isn’t it obvious? He’s going to tell Tarn to bring out his best for their inevitable showdown.”


In Tarn’s private quarters Motormaster enters.


“And what brings you here at this hour, Motormaster.”


“This tournament has split our faction in two. Where do you stand?”


“I always stand with the Decepticons.”


“That’s not what I’m asking. Are you on Galvatron's side, or are you with me and the rebellion?”


“Then make it split in three because I have no stake in this civil war.”


“How can you possibly be neutral in this scenario?”


“It’s quite simple really. My goals are above treason and blind loyalty. I intend to win this competition to further my goals of complete Autobot genocide.”


“If that’s the case then fine. Just so you know you won’t win.”


“And why is that?”


“Because I am participating, and I am much stronger than you.”


“Thanks to your training I have grown stronger.”


“And thanks to you I am an even greater fighter.”


“Then perhaps this will be an even match after all.”


“Maybe, but that depends all on you, Tarn.”


“What do you mean? “


“Since you love your fellow Decpeticons so much now doubt you will go soft on them. I have no intentions of sparing anyone in these battles. I am here to win. I refuse to lose to any of these weaklings, and I have made it my sole desire to defeat you. If and when we face off you better not pull your punches or else I will kill you for dishonoring our duel.”


“I would expect no less of a response from you. I will meet your request on every level. Just because I consider you an ally and possibly a friend does not mean I will hold back. I have no intention of killing you, but you and I both know we can defeat the other without going to those extremes.”


“You finally understand. When we are done with this we can track down that traitor Sixshtot like the animal he is.”


“My spark burns for all the ways I can make him suffer for betraying me. He will wish for death but that will only happen when I am satisfied.”


“Then you better get training. I will do so myself.”


The two rivals prepare themselves for an inevitable battle. Despite all three sides having different types of fighter this will undoubtedly be more evenly matched then everyone would expect. One last group is meeting. It’s a trio made of Vortex, Brawl, and Swindle.


Vortex: “Glad you guys came with me.”


Brawl: “What’s the deal?”


Vortex: “That whole coup thing. Motormaster and the others think we’re on the same page. New flash, I’m not.”


Swindle: “But why? Not being on board is bad for business.”


Vortex: “You can’t be serious right now.”


Swindle: “I just go where the profit takes me.”


Vortex: “We can’t let Motormaster of Blitzwing, or any of the people opposing Galvatron win this tournament. If that happens our whole army will be thrown into chaos.”


Brawl: “....So that’s a bad thing right?”


Vortex: “Yes!”


Swindle: “I see. Chaos equals no money. I can’t let that happen.”


Brawl: “But why don’t you want this, Vortex?”


Vortex: “because they’re my friends. We were all made specifically to kill, but we got to experience life. I especially took in the full experience, I realized that there are things that matter to me deeply, and that’s all of you. I love you guys, I enjoy the Constructicons and their antics, I love the kindness that Splicer tries to give all of us. I love your childish innocence, Brawl. I even greatly admire Motormaster’s ambitions even if he is on the wrong side. He never falters from his beliefs, and that was always so inspiring to me.”


Swindle: “Well who would’ve thought the emotional appeal would sell me, but here we are.”


Vortex:” I know you don’t want Dead-end to go down a


Swindle: (embarrassed) “Well I guess that much is true.”


Vortex: “I’d take the bullet for any of you, and I know that Galvatron wouldn't do this if he wasn’t brain damaged. We just have to put trust in him and the others. We have to do what we can.”


Brawl: “Yeah I get it now. Count me in buddy. If anyone could stop them it would be you, Cyclonus, or Splicer.”


Vortex: “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”


The tender moment is interrupted when a small Decepticon cruiser able to carry around ten people warps just above them out of nowhere. Brawl grabs Vortex to protect him, and Swindle sends out a forcefield bubble to protect both of them since he himself was out of the crash’s path.


Brawl: “What the heck was that? “


Vortex: “Looks like a cruiser.”


Swindle: “Where did it come from?


Vortex: “Not sure, but I know where its destination was.”


Someone taps on the glass of the cockpit but it’s pitch black inside. Swindle pulls out a thermal scanner and detects 8 body signatures. What is bizarre is that the shapes of the bodies


Swindle: “Be careful, Vortex. Something is off about the people inside.”


Vortex gets a closer look and is taken about.


Brawl: “What’s wrong? Are they ugly?”


Vortex: “I’m not sure if the shock of nearly dying is the cause of this, but one of them looks like an Earth walrus with a cybernetic eyepatch.”

 

Impactor, please shut the f#*k up.

Yeah, so the entire decepticon factions is just f#*ked, treason left and uncaring left and right.

Stinger and strafe is literally the best part of this chapter to me.

MECH has the alpspark. Yeah. Again things are kinda f#*ked.

On the other hand it's nice to see skytread.

Also the pretenders have arrived.

Yeah things are f#*ked.

 

Good to see Impactor's letting go of his grudges. With what's gonna happen he'll need all the allies he can get.

 

This really says a lot about society when we can go from horror to downright absurd comedy. I apologize in advance for any braincells lost. It's fairly long but I think you'll enjoy it. Plus it's ridiculously quotable. Here is part 11: Playing Pretend


In the confines of Area 51 a movie is playing to entertain the other creations to help ease their growing appetites for action, The films in question are documentaries about World War 2, specifically the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. For a few seconds the television goes static Before it becomes a hassle it turns back to normal. Unbeknownst to the others, Deadspark was the one that caused the disruption. He melted inbetween walls and put his hand to the back of the screen. His eyes became static just like the TV. Call it fate or a moment of curiosity, but that contact allowed Deadspark to witness those dark moments as they happened in real time. It isn’t time travel that he’s experiencing, but rather the energy from the victims of those crimes forged some sort of connection to him since he himself is technically dead.


It’s all there for them to see. Jews, Polish, and other groups all tortured and killed in gas chambers and other methods. On the other side he witnesses people being worked to death in Russia all because of one psycho’s paranoia. Deadspark could almost feel the pain and suffering they all went through. He has no emotional reaction, but it certainly makes him ponder.


“To think that people would do this to each other just because of who they are or for having a different opinion? Is there really anything worth saving if they can’t stand the sight of each other?”


Deadspark leaves the experience behind him and he returns to his room where he goes to ponder his existence. He looks down at his own chest and sees one the stitched faces on his body begins to cry. It’s Stella’s face .He simply looks at it blankly before stabbing it with his hand. Stella wakes up scared out of her mind. She realizes she is in her bedroom and slows her breathing. It was a dream, but it felt like there was more to it than that.


It cuts to Miko who seems to be having a flashback to her old life. She is having lunch with her family at her house. She is about to enjoy her ramen until a sound breaks the ambiance. Rumbling followed by the whole house exploding in a jumpscare transitions to Miko who has awoken from her nightmare of the impact of the Tidalwave’s wreckage. She looks at her cybernetic arm and it reminds her of the tragedies that befell her and her people. In anger she shoots out a blast of energy from her arm and then cries.


On to a polar opposite tone we visit the planet of Junk. Wreck-Gar received the call from Perceptor alerting him of the recent happenings. He has acted accordingly and told his armies to start preparations in case they are needed. In the meantime he is playing a team game against Carl and some other members. It seems to be some sort of game or cornhole, but with giant plush whales. When the stomach is pressed it fires eggs from its mouth. When it hits something the eggs unleash colors like it was paintball. It seems like Wreck-Gar won in a landslide because all the other competitors including Carl are covered in eggs.


Wreck: “I win again! You guys must’ve given up halfway through.”


Carl: “I almost expected foul play. No way those eggs were ripe in this season!”


Wreck: “Well I found a secret technique to make them ripe all year. I’m not telling you though.”


Carl: “You evil man!”


A noticeably much older Junkion paves his way through the wreckage. He is one of the current elders of the planets. Unlike Cybertronians, who live for millions to the occasional billion years, a Junkion’s life span lasts up to five centuries at most. Comparatively speaking, they try to live life to the fullest. Like some of the other subgroups of Junkions, they opted to name themselves after Earth celebrities. This one in particular chose a rather controversial individual to be named after. Pray they don’t follow the same path as the human they borrowed their name from.


Wreck: “Well if it isn’t chief elder Kevin Spacey! The nearest elementary school is ten kilometers away so I have no clue why you’re here.”


Kevin: “Real funny, but I came here for a pressing matter.”


Wreck: “Alright I’m listening.”


Kevin: “It’s about our alliance with Cybertron.”


Wreck: “What about it?”


Kevin: “It’s a mistake.”


Wreck: “How?”


Kevin: “You know about our age old tradition. We stay out of foreign planet’s affairs.”


Wreck: “I never forgot, so I made an exception, so what?”


Kevin: “An exception that has cost us lives.”


Wreck: “Excuse me, buster, but if we didn’t team up with them then Unicron would've destroyed every planet in the universe!”


Kevin: “That one was acceptable, but the Star Seekers incident had no involvement with us.”


Wreck: “Cybertron saved us all. We owe them a great debt. Besides, they’re our friends now, and friends stick together.”


Kevin: “And how many more of us are you willing to sacrifice before you realize the error of your ways?”


Wreck: “Like it or not this is the way. Tradition should be honored, but common sense should be put above that.”


Kevin: “Then what will happen if the council comes to the agreement that you are no longer fit to lead?”


Wreck: “They would have to come to a unanimous decision for that to happen, and they haven’t agreed on anything in centuries.”


Kevin: “We shall see, Wreck-Gar, we shall see.”


Elder Kevin Spacey retreats into a poorly made automobile with another dubiously named elder named Harvey Weinstein. Both are never seen again.


Wreck: “They sure love that private island don't they?”


Back on Charr, Galvatron is busy throttling a poor Sweep out of sheer boredom. Cyclonus nor Soundwave dare to interfere with his entertainment. Even the ghosts of Fearswoop and Terradive have stopped by to watch the torture. The Constructicons are also inside the castle receiving assistance from Knockout and Splicer. Vortex and Swindle enter the door in a hurry.


Galvatron: “What makes the two of you think you can barge in like you own the place?”


Vortex: “My apologies my lord, but the group that Blitzwing mentioned has finally arrived.”


Galvatron: “Have they now? Well let them in.”


Vortex: “Yes sir, they wanted me to introduce themselves to you as the Pretenders.”


Longhaul: “Pretenders?”


Mix: “My business senses tell me that brand isn’t going far.”


Like old school T.V shows the doors open with a white light creeping in, and shadowy figures walk through the doorway until they take shape to reveal the Pretenders in all their…. well, they think it’s glory anyway. Instead all the Decpeticons bar Vortex and Swindle have no idea what they’re looking at. With that said let’s go over what they all look like.


The first one, out in the very front appears to be their leader who is dressed in an Earth diving suit...but there are two major problems. The first is that the suit is based off of the very first suits, making it horribly out of date. The second are the octopus tentacles protruding out of it. Inside the helmet of the suit appears to be a monstrous face inside of it. This one is carrying Liege Maximo’s trident.


To his left is an even stranger design. It can only be described as a spider gorilla. It has the body of an Earth gorilla standing on its hind legs, but the top half of its head is that of a spider with 8 eyes. Two regular, four red dot eyes on the top of the head, and two green insect eyes on the sides of his head. The mouth resembles that of a gorilla's, but with mandibles. It even has four arms with three claws and a thumb on each. That one looks over at Longhaul and appears to glare at him. Longhaul takes note of that as something seems rather nostalgic about him.


After that is what would’ve been a perfect disguise as it appears to match the appearance of an Earth warthog….if there wasn’t a giant laser cannon fixed on it’s back. The warthog appears to angrily mutter something under its breath. He’s clearly a people person.


Next up is a black and purple insect from what could only be assumed is from a race that will never be seen or heard from again. There isn't too much to go off other than the turquoise knees and horizontal stripes on its chest. It seems to be creepily looking over at the guy to his left.


That guy is a giant purple bipedal lizard that is wearing some sort of warrior getup. It has gold plated knee pads, a lizard skull belt, black shoulder pads, black armbands, and some gold spiked chest armor. The lizard has a tail similar to that of a rattlesnake.


Further down is what appears to be a Seacon but it doesn’t quite fit the bill. It looks like an orca, but the top half of its head is colored and shaped like that of the Portuguese Man O’ War. The rest looks like a generic sea monster with armor.


The penultimate Pretender looks like he was ripped straight from the He-Man universe. He looks human, albeit over nine feet tall with perfect physique and a weird battle helmet.


Last and certainly not least is a bipedal Earth walrus with a circular cybernetic eyepatch and battle armor. All the Pretenders in all their self proclaimed glory. The others march in a horizontal line behind their leader, but on closer inspection you can see there is rampant unprofessionalism in this bizarre team. They are all out of sync in the line, some either going too fast or too slow. It comes to a head when the lizard accidentally brushes against the spider gorilla. The spider gorilla nudges back, which causes the lizard to step on the insect’s foot. The insect hisses and slaps the lizard, and then the warthog starts squealing and gets bonked on the head by the sea creature. The walrus completely unprovoked pushes the He-Man wannabe down to the floor. The situation has devolved into petty fighting as all the Pretenders bar their leader is beating each other up. Their leader gets fed up and ignites the trident to make them stop. He speaks in a deep, sinister voice that has the slight vocal effect of sounding underwater.


Leader “Cease this foolishness! I will not have you all make a fool of me in the presence of Galvatron!”


Galvatron: “There is no need to reprimand your cohorts for such a thing. You have done that job all by yourself.”


Leader: “Oh… I see.”


Warthog: “I told you he’d think this is dumbest shit ever! You never listen to me!”


Spider: “With an attitude like yours I’m not surprised at all.”


Warthog: “Shut the hell up!”


Galvatron: “Is there a circus in town? How strange, I never asked for more clowns.”


Leader: “Please forgive my poor opening. My name is Octopunch, and this is my group called the Pretenders. I am also the current king of the Seacons. Well, boys, introduce yourselves.”


Warthog: “I’m Snarler, second in command of these idiots. Please save me from this idiocy, lord Galvatron.”


Galvatron: “I think not.”


Spider: “Call me Oilmaster, I’m what you call a double Pretender.”


Longhaul: “You sound vaguely familiar. Do I know you?”


Oil: “Yes, but that isn’t important right now.”


Lizard: “I’m Iguanus. Pleased to serve you once more, my lord.”


Sea: “I am Sub Marauder. Point me in a direction and people will die. You have my word.”


Insect: “I’m Bugly. Mind if I smell your armpits?”


Galvatron: “Of course you can, just know I will redecorate the halls with your corpse.”


Man: “I am Stranglehold, just look at this physique, true art is it not?”


Walrus: “And I’m Longtooth. I used to be an Autobot but defected long ago.”


Galvatron: “So, Octopunch, I will ask you what the hell I'm looking at here.”


Octo: “I see you must have several questions.”


Galvatron: “I might have one or two.”


Octo: “While it doesn’t look like it. We are all Cybertronians. What you see before you is our Pretender shells.”


Soundwave: “Shells?”


Sub: “We developed these shells as a way of advanced infiltration warfare.”


Soundwave: “In what regard?”


Octo: “It is known that we all can transform to either fight or to disguise ourselves. We focused on the disguise aspect specifically.”


Oil: “And we took it too the next level.”


Iguanus: “A disguise within a disguise.”


Galvatron: “And to whom is the intended audience for you all to fool? Is it the blind or the mentally disabled?”


Octo: “I apologize I don’t follow.”


Scrapper:” Are you joking? He’s saying your disguises are trash!”


Snarler: “Impossible! Our disguises are completely accurate to Earth and its environment.”


Scavenge: “Oh yeah because a walrus with an eyepatch exists on Earth.”


Mix: “Don’t forget those warthogs with laser cannons, gotta watch out for those!”


Snarler: “I saw the anime that documented the warthogs with the lasers. Everyone knows anime translates to real life!”


Fear: “Is this guy messing around or is he serious?”


Terra: “Not sure, but I’m more curious about my people’s newest ruler.”


Cyclonus: “I mean no disrespect with this question, but have any of you actually ever stepped foot on Earth?”


Octo: “Truth be told we have not. For me it was the endless infighting in our kingdoms that prevented me from leaving.”


Long: “The rest of us were off on other assigned missions from you before Unicron’s attack. From that point on we were in hiding just like Blitzwing and the others.”


Sub: “But rest assured we got this from a reliable source.”


Soundwave: “And who is this source?”


Strangle: “Well I think it was a guy who knew a guy that once saw another guy who looked at a picture of a box, and that box’s second cousin twice removed said something about what Earth was really like.”


Galvatron and the other Decpeticosn can’t believe the words they are hearing and refuse to even utter a word for quite a long while. The awkward silence is finally broken when Snarler’s Warthog oinks.


Galvatron: “So what happened to your ship. You crashed, I see.”


Octo: “Well it was a long arduous journey. We barely made it here alive.”


A flashback abruptly cuts through Ocotopunch’s excuse to show what really happened. They are a few minutes away from landing on Charr. Ocotpunch sits on the center chair which is positioned like a throne. Stranglehold and Snarler are piloting the ship, and we get to see Snarler outside of his shell since a quadruped animal can’t steer. He’s a generic box headed Decepticon with a green body and yellow limbs. Everything is going well until Iguanus jumps out of his seat.


Iguanus: “EPIC ENTRANCE TIME!”


Iguanus shoves Snarler and Stranglehold aside and hijacks the steering wheel which leads them crashing where Vortex was meeting with Swindle and Brawl.


Galvatron: “Enough! I demand you show your face to me, Octopunch. As one leader to another it is disrespectful to hide behind such a disguise!”


Octopunch opens his shell to reveal a maroon colored Seacon with yellow arms and legs. There is something blue attached to his back. They are the legs of the sea creature he transforms into which happens to be a crab. His real voice sounds more like the average everyday Joe instead of what the shell provides him.


Octo: “My real name is Clawtrap.”


Soundwave: “A commoner rose to the ranks? This is unprecedented.”


Terra: “How did that disaster happen?”


Fear: “I'm sure he’s about to tell him.”


Claw: “Among the chaos of anarchy I was able to steal the trident and wipe away the competition. The time of change has arrived


Galvatron: “Oh this I got to hear.”


Claw: “For starters the rich are no longer rich.”


Terra: “...He didn’t.”


Claw: “The lower class is now getting the fair treatment they deserve.”


Terra: “That son of a-”


Claw: “And the wealth is being distributed equally.”


Terradive is literally about to explode, but that gets interrupted when all the Decepticons break out in laughter. Even Soundwave had a prerecorded laugh track installed for such an occasion. Clawtrap is visibly confused.


Tarra: “Yeah take your bad ideas back to the hole you crawled out of, Crabby Sanders!”


Claw: “Have I said something amusing?”


Galvatron: “Obviously. So what about you, spider monkey? You interest me the most.”


Oil: “I assumed I would. Very well, my lord.”


Oilmaaster jumps out of his shell to reveal an interesting sight. Longhaul, Mixmaster, and Scrapper immediately recognize him.


Scrapper: “Is that really him?”


Scavenge: “I feel like I’ve seen him before.”


Mix: “I don’t believe it. That’s-”


Longhaul: “Brunt.”


Brunt is a purple Decepticon of a bulky nature. The treads on his arms and from the knees up on his legs strongly imply that he transforms into some sort of tank. His left arm has a cannon with three orange rings surrounding the barrel. The real shocker is the rest of his appearance. While it’s immediately obvious that he was born from a protoform, it seems to be to his disadvantage. He looks far more like a robot than any other character. His head is shaped like a cylinder and he has no mouth. He has a silver and rectangular mouthplate that faces vertically from the shorter sides. He has a single red eye visor like Cyclops from X-Men, but this goes around his head 270 degrees, with the only blind spot being the 90 degrees behind him. He has two fingers and a thumb on each hand. His shoulders have three lights sticking out of them.


Brunt: “It hasn’t been long enough since I last saw you, Longhaul.”


Galvatron: “How are you acquainted?”


Mix: “Well he wanted to be part of the Constructicons back when we were first starting.”


Brunt: “And I lost that position to Longhaul. What a mistake that was.”


Longhaul: “You still aren’t over that?”


Brunt: “Of course I am. I can still call your appointment a mistake any time I choose. It doesn’t really matter anymore. You have a team and so do I.”


Longhaul: “Then why haven’t I heard anything about you?”


Brunt: “We aren’t exactly in need of the spotlight. There’s a time and a place for everything, and now it’s ours.”


Claw: “We are here to serve Galvatron.”


Sub: “Any Autobot in our path will meet a gruesome end.”


Snarler: “Then we should get going!”


Claw: “Not yet, we have yet to receive orders.”


Brunt: “Such a shame what happened to poor Overload. His loss is on you, Longhaul.”


Rampage angrily smashes the ground with his tread whips.


Rampage: “Speak ill of my brother again and I will kill you!”


Brunt: “It was not my intention to insult him for dying. I’m simply trying to say that had I been on the Constructicons instead of Longhaul I could’ve helped prevent his death.”


Rampage: “You’re mistaken. He is still alive.”


Brunt: “If you say so. There is no evidence for such a claim.”


Brunt suddenly starts looking around. Even though there is no way to tell his emotions with an expressionless face like his, the somewhat frantic motions his body makes implies a worry about some outside force.


Brunt: “Sir, we should wrap this up quickly.”


Claw: “Anyway, Galvatron, we are here to aid you.”


Galvatron: “Yeah thanks but no thanks. I’ve seen nothing of value from any of you.”


Bugly: “He’s right guys we kinda suck. So now that I have everyone’s attention does anyone want to buy some crack?”


Claw: “Give us a chance and we can help you with your debt.”


Galvatron: “Excuse me?”


Claw: “We know that you hired Lockdown to capture Rodimus and his friends.”


Galvatron: “How is that even possible?”


Claw: “It’s wise to keep tabs on your ally’s activities. You never know when an opportunity like this presents itself.”


Galvatron: “Prying into my personal affairs could potentially end your life, but pray tell, how exactly can you help me with that?”


Claw: “Simply give us permission to hunt Rodimus down ourselves. We will do it for no money. All we want in return is a place at your table.”


Galvatron: “If you think I would trust a bunch of amateurs like you then you clearly never understood why I became leader in the first place.”


Sub:” I know we don’t look it, but we are quite capable fighters. The eight of us combined should be enough to subdue them.”


Galvatron: “Very well, humor me then. I do love watching circus acts. If you do somehow succeed I will agree to your terms. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind!”


Claw: “You will not regret this, my lord. I promise you that.”


Galvatron: “I feel as if I already have.”


Clawtrap returns to his Pretender shell, and Brunt does as well. The rest of the Pretenders get ready to leave on a new ship chartered for them. Snarler hasn’t entered though as he is tasked to make sure Octopunch and Oilmaster both return.


Oil: “Watch me replace you in this, Longhaul.”


Longhaul: “I’d fight you before that happens.”


Oil: “You’ll still lose like last time.”


All the Pretenders are getting ready to leave. Longhaul approaches Mixmaster over a rather sensitive subject.


Longhaul “Hey, uh, Mixmaster. Can I ask you something?”


Mix: “Of course!”


Longhaul: “Why exactly did you choose me over Brunt?”


Mix: “Well that’s an easy one. It’s because I knew I could pay you less!”


Longhaul: (hurt) “Oh I see.”


Mix: “Now let’s hurry up! I got a tournament to win!”


Now only Galvatron’s inner circle remains.


Cyclonus: “Do you think these Pretenders can take them down before Lockdown?”


Galvatron: “I highly doubt it, but stranger things have happened.”


Soundwave “You have a tournament to prepare for.”


Scourge: “And I intend to win it.”


Cyclonus: “I wish you luck, my friend.”


Scourge: “I didn’t ask you.”


Back at the Pretender’s ship it's revealed to be a Seacon vessel, which makes sense since Octopunch leads all Seacons. It has the look of a Man O’ War, colors and everything. Snarler is the last one on board and he emerges from his warthog shell to man the ships. Iguanus and Longtooth are laughing about something. Typed in all capital letters is a message that someone who takes anime far too seriously would get unreasonably upset over. It reads as follows.


TRAPS ARE GAY!


Snarler is overwhelmed with rage and punches the monitor just like that guy in the meme video.


Snarler: (unhinged) “WHO PUT THAT ON THERE??? WHO WROTE THAT LIE?”


Oil: “Not me. I don’t care either.”


Snarler: “So none of you cowards will fess up huh? Figured as much.”


Sub: “Dear Snarler, you take this anime way too seriously.”


Snarler: “Because it’s real life! How else are we supposed to learn about humans?”


Long: “How about actually going to Earth?”


Snarler: “Too boring. If you really wanted me to lose control you should’ve said dubs were better.”


Oil: “Well they are.”


Strangle: “Why would I ever read when I'm watching something? We have books and texts for that.”


Oil: “Besides, nobody back in the day watched the classics like Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, DBZ, Yu Yu Hakusho, FMAB, or Naruto unless they were Japanese.”


Snarler: “Yeah whatever.”


Strangle: “Hey Snarler, don’t mean to bother you but you made a hole in the monitor.”


Snarler slowly turns his head back at the monitor and he did indeed punch a hole in the screen Snarler screeches and starts desperately crawling away.


Snarler: -shaking- “Holes, holes, keep me away from them.”


Bugly: “I thought we all loved a good hole.”


Long: “Please don’t phrase it like that.”


Strangle: “Yeah I’m trying to flex my perfect physique here!”


Octo: “You children should stay focused on the task at hand.”


Sub: “I agree. We should be planning on enjoying ourselves when we torture Rodimus and his crew to death.”


Octo: “Galvatron wants them alive.”


Sub: “I highly doubt it will be that way.”


Oil: “They won’t go down without a fight. It would be easier to kill off one or two.”


Octo: “Perhaps, but I like keeping my word as accurately as possible .It’s about honor among leaders.”


Oil: “By the way, Clawtrap, it was wise of you to end the introduction as soon as you did. I feel like we were being closed in on.”


Octo: “It’s Octopunch now. Remember I don't call you Brunt when you are in your shell. Are you speaking of the duck again?”


Oil: “Yes, he’s been getting closer to me. He is determined.”


Long: “Dude, there’s no duck watching you.”


Oil: “Yes there is! I can feel his presence. He wishes for my destruction. I know if he catches me I will be powerless to stop him and I will die.”


Long: “Yeah, sure pal.”


Oil: “Fine, don’t believe me. At least I’m not afraid of being afraid.”


Long: “I’m not afraid of that! I mean, unless I’ve been living a lie. If that’s the case I should be very afraid, or what if there really is nothing to be afraid of except for fear itself. Damn you, now I’m getting scared!”


Oil: “Serves you right.”


Sub: “You bumbling idiots need to get back on track. You know what they do to guys like us if we fail? I can’t fail, not again If we screw this up Galvatron is going to castrate me with an iCarly DVD boxset!”


Iguanus: “Bro, chill.”


Sub: “Easy for you to say, you’re dumb as a rock with no care in the world.”


Iguanus: “Hey man I’m sensitive.”


Bugly: “Almost as sensitive as Stranglehold’s chest.”


Long: “Too much info there.”


Strangle: “He’s out of his mind. What he said was impossible.”


Iguanus: “Bro, you have man boobs.”


Strangle: “You dare say that to me??”


Bugly: “Let me touch your boobs!”


Strangle: “Get away from me!


Snarler: “You guys are all a bunch of freaks!”


Long: “Bugly is so clingy, reminds me of my ex wife before I ran her over with a truck.”


Strangle: “I crushed mine with a rock.”


Bugly: “Whoa that’s crazy! (super serious) Kiss me on the mouth!”


Strangle: “I told you I don’t love you anymore!”


Bugly: “Come on, you know you’re missing out.”


Iguanus: “Why is Stranglehold saying his loves him?”


Sub: “It’s because he’s gay you fool!”


Iganus: “What does gay mean?”


Sub: “You mean you don’t really know?”


Iguanas: “Nope.”


Long: “It means he can’t see.”


Strangle: “No it doesn’t!”


Iguanas: “I’m so sorry, bro. I had no idea you had a hard time seeing.”


Bugly: “I see, I see, said the gay man!”


Strangle: “I hate all of you!”


Bugly: “So, hypothetically speaking, if I had to kill one of you, which should it be?”


Long: “Definitely Iguanus.”


Iguanus: “What did I do?”


Long: “You’re an idiot.”


Iguanus: “Hey, I may be stupid, but at least I’m not dumb!”


Bugly: “Guess I’d have to cut up Iguanus if I had to kill him.”


Strangle: “Wait, if you cut him, then that means he’ll bleed.”


Stranglehold immediately starts getting squeamish.


Strangle: “I never want to see blood as long as I live.”


Octo: “Then you chose a very poor career path.”


Snarler: “You guys all suck. How long does it take to get to Earth?”


Oil: “It’s not like it’s next door you know.”


Octo: “You all talk too much. We must be committed to this objective.”


Iguanus: “Committed? Nobody told me I'm starting a new relationship! I hate dating, the girls have cooties!”


Octo: “We will be arriving at Earth within fifteen minutes. Do not attempt to usurp control of the wheel, Iguanus.”


Iguanus: “Sorry I wanted to look cool.”


Snarler: “Now that everything calmed down, which one of you clowns wrote that on my screen?”


Long: “It was Stranglehold.”


Snarler: “I knew it!”


Strangle: “No it wasn’t! Longtooth did it! He’s lying again. All he does is lie!”


Long: “I don’t recall ever doing that.”


Sub: “Come now, you always skirt responsibility when you’re at fault.”


Long: “You have no proof.”


Sub: “Just the other day I saw you fill Oilmaster’s energon containers with tar and then blamed Iguanus for it.”


Oil: “So it was you!”


Long: “Uh, other than that you have no proof!”


Octo: -under his breath- “These people are why I drink.”


In a miracle the dysfunctional Pretenders manage to arrive to Earth without a hitch. The ship has a cloaking device that works perfectly, and it’s the only real effective disguise. Upon landing the ship it becomes apparent we missed some unique conversations.


Octo: “How dare all of you not think Boss Baby is the Godfather of animated movies!”


Oil: “Your tastes are too weird for us.”


Long: “What do you mean you aren’t going to tell me why George Lopez should’ve never got his driver's license?”


Sub: “That is a tale for another time. We have a mission now.”


Stranglehold is busy sending questionable texts to someone. He even says what he’s typing out loud.


Strangle: “Kitten, you haven’t been sending me the elbow pictures I requested. Daddy is getting displeased.”


Oil: “Easy there, Discord mod.”


Strangle: “My kitten hasn’t been messaging me anymore. And the other members keep posting memes in general.”


Long: “You shouldn't be complaining about memes when you laugh at Minion memes.”


Strangle: “You’ll never understand the artistic value they have.”


Snarler: “Shut up, I don’t even know if we’re in the right place”


Octo: “We are on Earth. That much is certain.”


Snarler: “I know that, dumbass! I meant if we are in the right location. All I see is the ocean.”


Snarler is indeed correct. It looks like Octopunch just lauded them somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Octopunch course corrects and they eventually find land. It’s unclear where they are other than a beach in America. There is a massive pier with humans walking around. The pretenders take note of their small size.


Sub: “Well, it appears that they are much smaller than we realized.”


Octo: “Then it is quite fortunate we have mass shifting on our side.”


Ever since the Quintessons gave Decepticons their tech the art of mass shifting is no longer a talent reserved for Soundwave and Reflector. Anyone can do it with the right tech, but nobody uses it for combat or infiltration purposes. Instead it gets used for mundane purposes like cargo storage. The Pretenders are the only team that has seen its potential. They manage to shrink down to sizes that won’t compromise the pier, but they are still too big. They are all about eight feet tall with the exception of Snarler, who is within the legal limits of warthog size.


All Pretenders walk side by side in a hilarious effort to blend in with all the humans. Mr. Boombastic begins to play in the background as all the humans are unable to understand what they’re looking at. A kid with an ice cream cone drops his ice cream in disbelief, and Bugly immediately starts to lap it up.


Iguanus: “Dude, you can’t do that!”


Bugly: “I can’t?”


Iguanus: “Not without a straw!”


The two begin sucking up the icecream, horrifying everyone. The rest of the team tries to do damage control.


Strangle: -flexing- “Check it out, ladies, a real man has arrived.”


Octo: “Yes, that’s such a human thing of you to say! Just look at how human we are!”


Snarler: “Yeah ignore those weirdos over there…..I mean warthog noises! Oink oink or some shit like that!”


Sub: “Hey, don’t look at me like that. I don’t represent any group!”


Oil: “I think it’s working, Octopunch. They suspect nothing!”


Octo: “Of course it’s working. We are masters of disguise.”


Bugly: “So hypothetically speaking, could I eat your poop humans? It fascinates me.”


Sub: “Yeah, going too far there.”


Bugly: “But I need to know!


Ocot: “Silence, we came here for a mission...and… well.”


Sub: “What is it?”


Octo: “I just looked down at the water. We’re really high up.”


Snarler: “Oh you gotta be kidding! Your vertigo is really that sensitive?”


Sub: “We’re barely over twenty feet at most.”


Octo: “It doesn’t matter. It’s still too high, and I-”


Octopunch can’t even finish his sentence because just one look at the water below is enough to get him dizzy. He throws up right in his suit. It completely covers the diver helmet’s vision, and some leaks out into the water. Octopunch is scrambling to figure out where he is and accidentally trips over the railing, falling into the water.


Snarler: “Well great now all the fish here have aids!”


Bugly: “I’d say we failed successfully!”


Longtooth looks at Bugly for a moment before tossing him into the ocean as well.”


Bugly: “I don’t know what I did but I deserved it!”


Long: “Looks like I got to salvage this.”


Longtooth dives into the water, and it has a surprise feature. When in contact with the oceans his shell evolves from a bipedal walrus to a tail more accurate to a real walrus. He swims up on a rock near the shore and puts the red circular scanner over his eye, and it scans the entire area over an entire mile radius looking for any Autobot presence. Of course he comes up short.


Long: “No Autobots here. This was a waste of time.”


Snarler: “Good now we can move on from this dump!”


Octopunch is slowly recovering from his fall, but he’s still dizzy and stumbles over a rock. This makes him accidentally activate his trident, and it hits the pier. It catches on blue fire. And all the humans on it are caught in it. As their screams fill the air the Pretenders and a few lucky humans jump in the water to save themselves from impending doom.


Oil: “It’s time to get out of here.”


Sub: “This went about as well as I expected. How is our fearless leader holding up?”


Oil: “He’ll be fine, but we should get out of here. I feel him nearing me once more.”


Long: “Idiot, ducks can’t go at lightspeed.”


Oil: “How would you know? Have you ever seen a duck?”


Long: “Well, no, but-”


Oil: “I’m the duck master, and I have every legal right to be afraid.”


Octo: “Pretenders, we must continue on.”


It’s not sure how long they have been on Earth by now, but they are now in a city with posters of Rodimus and his team. They pester anyone who gets too close about the Autobot’s whereabouts.


Octo: “Have you seen this Autobot?”


Man: “No.”


Oil: “Have you seen Rodimus Prime?”


Woman: “Who?”


Iguanus: “Anyone seen that Springer guy? That jerk owes me money!”


Sub: “Dear Iguanus, you continue to disappoint me. Just how many crayons did you stick up your nose this time?”


Iguanus: “Hey man, lay off! I only stuck five up my nose. Oh. and just so we’re clear, only two are still stuck this time!”


Sub: “I should’ve expected as much. At this rate Galvatron will skin our hides for sure! Oh how dreadful.”


Long: “Speak for yourself, I’d skin Snarler’s Warthog skin for free!”


Snarler: “Just try, asshole!”


Their argument is interrupted when they hear some ungodly screeching come from around the corner. Stranglehold is the closest and investigates. He finds Bugly sitting in a corner hissing at an ant on the sidewalk.


Bugly: -hissing- “Get away from me demon!”


Strangle: “It’s just an ant.”


Bugly: “I hate bugs!”


Oil: “Then why would you use one as your shell?”


Bughly: “To face my fear.”


Iguanas: “Yeah just like I faced my other fear of clowns by banging one. Turns out Ronald Mcdonald was pretty submissive...why are you all looking at me like that?”


Octo: “It seems Rodimus Prime is quite good at covering his tracks. He is a worthy opponent.”


Oil: “Or he has no reason to come here. Let's be real for a moment.”


Sub: “He doesn’t live on Earth. We need something that will bring him down here.”


Octo: “Something indeed. Longtooth, did you get the vehicle I requested?”


Longtooth pulls up in an Earth van that has enough room to fit all of them. They all shrink down to about 6 feet tall except for Snarler, who is in the back laying down. Longtooth drives with Octopunch riding shotgun.


Octo: “Next stop, Rodimus Prime!”


It abruptly cuts to where Longtooth has crashed the van in some random forest. Longtooth manages to get out of the van and stumbles around. Octopunch was consumed by the airbag. Snarler was flung out the front windshield since he wasn’t buckled in. The rest of them are stuck inside. Iguanus manages to finally kick a door down but he’s too dizzy to make out completely. His face is planted on the ground, and as he tries to crawl out Stranglehold accidentally steps on his head as he stumbles out.


Strangle: “Nobody is hurt, right? If any of you are bleeding I’m going to scream.”


Iguanus tries to make it out again but this time Oilmaster steps on his head.


Oil: “I’ve seen armless people with better driving skills.”


Long: “So sue me.”


Iguanus tries one last time but Sub Marauder comes out visibly frustrated and steps on him.


Sub: “So is this whole mission going to be completely botched because of you, Longtooth? If so, I'm not taking the fall for you.”


Long: “Well maybe if your shell’s giant head didn’t obscure my vision we wouldn't have crashed.”


Bugly makes it out and helps Iguanus to his feet. Snarler also comes back and he’s pissed.


Snarler: “That was the worst ride I’ve ever had!”


Bugly: “Is it politically correct to say walruses can’t drive?”


Long: “I won’t sit around taking this character defamation.”


Oil: “What character is there to be defamed anyway?”


Long: “I’m an innocent Decepticon walrus and you can’t change my mind!”


Oil: “You are impossible to work with.”


Octopunch finally regains consciousness and uses the trident to burn a hole in the roof of the van to bust out.


Octo: “It has become apparent that none of you seem fully committed to the task at hand.”


Iguanus: “I told you not to use that word around me! I can’t commit again.”


Snarler: “Well it’s been your poor excuse of leadership that has landed us nowhere, you royal jackass!”


Octo: “You know not what you speak, you quadrupedal grump!”


Snarler: “Maybe if you all weren’t so dumb I wouldn’t be pissed off!”


Long: “We can all agree it’s your fault and not mine.”


Sub: “Anything to pass the buck, huh?


Long: “I don’t like your tone.”


Sub: “And I never liked you.”


Long: “Feeling is very mutual, pal.”


Strangle: “Come on guys we should all calm down.”


Bugly: “A good elbow lick will lighten the mood.”


Strangle: “Get away from me, freak!”


Oil: “The problem is that none of you have taken this idea to its true potential like I have. I’m the only double Pretender.”


Sub: “And what, pray tell, is the point of being a fusion of two different disguises?”


Oil: “Isn’t it obvious? Double disguise means double duck deception!”


Sub: “I used to think you were someone I could rely on, but now I see you are just as delusional as the rest of them.”


Oil: “I have no delusions. When this mission is over I'm going to take out Longhaul for disgracing me.”


Sub: “Don’t be an idiot, this whole gimmick doesn’t make sense! These disguises don’t even match anything on Earth. Snarler came close but he couldn't realize that anime wasn’t real life.”


Snarler: “You take that back!”


Oil: “Then why do you wear your shell, Sub Marauder?”


Sub: “Because I am part of this team of fools and I simply followed Octopunch’s orders.”


Octo: “We are the greatest spies the Decpeticons have ever known.”


Long: “Pretty sure that’s Soundwave.”


Octo: “I will settle for second place.”


Snarler: “We suck at this, and everyone laughs at us. We’re a joke.”


Octo: “We will make everyone respect us.”


Snarler: “You couldn't even get your own Seacons to respect you, that’s why you ran off with the trident as a disgraced king.”


Octo: “If it wasn’t for me then most of you would be dead by now.”


Bugly: “You’re right but that’s pretty rude.”


Snarler: “I wish I died so i wouldn't have to see all this.”


Long: “Then get lost, Pumba. I’ll do this myself if I have to.”


Snarler “I’m not taking any shit from a failed Autobot.”


Octo: “Enough of this!”


Oil: “I think it’s time I kicked your asses.”


Snarler: “Bring it, and I’ll take out the rest of you with me1”


Strangle: “Don’t involve me. I’m just going to watch.”


Bugly: “Same.”


Iguanus makes the first move, but Oilmaster quickly takes him out of the fight with all four fists punching him in the face, knocking him out instantly. The other three hesitate before making a move. Octopunch blasts Oilmaster with the trident.


Oil: “Are you trying to kill me?”


Octo: “You have the most durable shell here, so quit complaining.”


Oil: “Not complaining, you asked for it!”


Octopunch gets rammed by Snarler, who knocks him down. Snarler himself gets kicked away by Sub Maruader. Oilmaster returns and starts attacking Sub Marauder, he is able to block half the punches with his seashell shaped shield, but there are too many arms. Snarler shoots Oilmaster in the back with his back mounted cannon, and Sub Marauder takes advantage of that and smacks Oilmaster in the face with his shield. Oilmaster is pissed and grabs Sub Marauder and throws him into Octopunch. Snarler attempts to attack Octopunch but he starts delivering a beatdown on the warthog. The hits are so intense it starts lifting him off the ground. Each hit makes the warthog squeal until finally Oilmaster concludes with a wicked uppercut that sends Snarler far away. The squeals slowly fade before he lands far away.


Longtooth finally gets involved and tackles Oilmaster. Sub Marauder and Ocotopunch have a fight with each other. Sub Maruder’s sword matches Octopunch movements with the trident, and they both wind up shooting each other. Longtooth manages to suplex Oilmaster and then throws him into a tree. Snarler returns and shoots at Longtooth who ducks. Octopunch grabs Snarler and forcefully activates his laser cannon, and starts spinning all the way around. Even the Pretenders not fighting have to duck for cover. The laser made a hole in one of the trees, and Snarler’s Trypophobia gets to him. He bites Octopunch’s hand, forcing him to let go. Longtooth fights Sub Marauder and takes some cheap shots at him. Oilmaster finally returns and kicks Longtooth down. Snarler and Ocotpunch both shoot Oilmaster down, but then Longtooth decks Octopunch. Sub Marauder slaps Longtooth with the hilt of his sword, and he in turn gets rammed by Snarler.


Oilmaster then decides to fight all four of them at once and holds his own, kicking Snarler away, backhanding Longtooth, and then getting in a double arm lock with Sub Marauder and Octopunch. Oilmaster manages to smash both their heads together and toss them aside just in time to kick Longtooth back. The others decide to forge a temporary truce to fight him. Octopunch, Sub Marauder, and Longtooth manage to grab all of his arms collectively and let Snarler continually charge into his chest to wear him down. The truce is immediately broken as soon as Longtooth goes right for Octopunch, who counters by slamming the trident down on his head. The battle comes to an end when Iguanus suddenly regains consciousness. They all charge each other. Snarler’s laser, Iguanus’s gun, Octopunch’s trident, Sub Marauder's rifle, Longtooth’s plasma cannon, and Oilmaster’s fists all collide and create a giant explosion from the force of all that power combining. All six of them are on the ground not moving while Stranglehold and Bugly go investigate.


Strangle: “I really hope they aren’t dead. Being stuck with you is worse than blood any day.”


Bugly: “I don’t mean to be that guy, but which three will I have to eat?”


Snarler: “We aren't dead idiots!”


Bugly: “That sucks... I mean great!”


Sub: “I joined this team because I was promised death and torture to the Autobots. Was that a lie as well??


Octo: “I’m sorry, I’ve been a terrible leader, and maybe we really are all failures.”


Long: “Speak for yourself, not me.”


Octo: “You’re just as fearful as the rest of you.”


Long: “Fine, I’m afraid. I’m the most scared of all. Happy now?”


Bugly: “Only if I can suck on your walrus tusk.”


Long: “I hate you but I’m too weak to kill you.”


Strangle: “Are you guys all good now? No more wanting to kill each other?’


Snarler: “I guess.”


Oil: “We really aren’t much of a team.”


Octo: “You’re right. We’ve failed as a team, but we haven’t failed the mission. There is still time for us.”


Iguanus: “But what about that Lockdown? He’ll get to them before we do.”


Octo: “That may be the case, but he will underestimate us. The Autobots will too. We may not be good spies, but we all know how to fight, and we’ll use that to our advantage.”


The Pretenders have no idea that deep in space Lockdown has been spectating them this entire time.


Brawn: “These guys are idiots!”


Lockdown: “That is true on the surface, but some of them may pose a real threat. I advise Staying away from Octopunch, Oilmaster, and Bugly.”


Brawn: “I understand the first two, but why Bugly?”


Lockdown: “Something tells me he’s more than just a lunatic. I don’t think you would win if you fought him.”


Brawn: "You would though, right?”


Lockdown: “Yes of course. Let’s use these guys to our advantage. Maybe they will inadvertently bring Rodimus Prime to us.”


Back at the Pretenders they are trying to devise a plan to draw Rodimus to Earth, but nothing seems to be sticking.


Octo: “It seems that there is nothing that will bring him here.”


Oil: “Perhaps it’s a sign that we should give up.”


Something clicks in Octopunch’s head.


Octo: “Say that again.”


Oil: “Perhaps it is a sign that we should give up?”


Octo: “You cracked the code, but not the way you think. Listen carefully, everyone. Stranglehold, I’ll need your strength. Snarler, we need measurements. Oilmaster, find us a paintbrush, Bugly, get some paint. Longtooth, head out with Iguanus because we need a hammer and nails. Lastly, Sub Marauder, we need your penmanship for this. I will bring the artistic flare this project needs. By the way, Bugly, don't drink the paint before you get it to us.”


Bugly: (to himself) “How did he know?”


A mini montage shows off the Pretenders all prepping for the project. First, Bugly finds paint and is doing everything in his power not to give into temptation and drink it all. Next, Iguanaus and Longtooth find a hammer and nails. Iguanus has lots of lumber, but too much is sticking out the back. He loses sight of Longtooth, who is behind him. As Longtooth turns the corner behind him Iguanus turns around. The lumber swings and hits Longtooth in the head, knocking him out. Iguanus thought he felt something but just shrugs it off and leaves.


Octopunch uses Snarler’s warthog as a measuring stick. He then orders Stranglehold to use his strength to break the pieces where he outlined. After he does so, Octopunch and Snarler nod their heads in satisfaction. The plan is coming together. Oilmaster returns with the paintbrush. Bugly delivers the paint and instead eats the surrounding dirt and rolls around, much to Stranglehold’s dismay.


Longtooth and Iguanus return and start hammering the nails into the wood, but Longtooth puts a few nails in Iguanus’s head as revenge for the lumber incident. Finally, Sub Marauder and Octopunch put on the finishing touches. Everyone gathers around to see their masterpiece.


Iguanus: “I’m in tears, man!”


Strangle: “Never have I seen something so beautiful since my physique.”


Bugly: “It makes me want to fart on a bear.”


Iguanus: “Put it in a museum!”


Sub: “Clearly my penmanship carried this.”


Long: “It’s pretty crap if you ask me.”


Snarler: “This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”


Octo: “Nonsense, it is just as intended.”


Oil: “There is no way this will work.”


Snarler: “Yeah it’s way too stupid to work.”


Octo: “Just the opposite, actually. This is so stupid it HAS to work.”


What fresh hell was created? A sign that has two distinct features. The first is a horrible depiction of Rodimus’s face that makes him look fat, and they gave him giant nostrils. The real icing on the cake is what it says. It’s a walking contradiction with horrible spelling errors that could only be described as the special ed class sharing one brain cell. On the other hand the handwriting is beautiful with no signs of stress or errors. The prompt reads as follows with the message using Rodimus’s face as the starting point to call him out.




CUM 2 FYTE US OR U HAV BIG SMELL!




Back on Cybertron the alarms are blaring. Rodimus and the others rush in to see what is going on. A level three alert has been sounded. That is the third highest alert possible. Level one and two is a full scale invasion and a random attack respectively. Level three is for threats or Decepticon sightings. Rodimus sees the sign and gets serious.


Rod: “I see….this is a declaration of war.”


Blurr and Springer burst out laughing at the sign because of how Rodimus looks. Rodimus can’t believe it and turns to Arcee, who tries her hardest to hold it in but fails. Ultra Magnus and Percetor are smirking but manage to stay otherwise composed. Sixshot is the only one to look at it from a realistic point of view.”


Sixshot: “Did a child make this?”


Springer: “I gotta say they really captured your essence."


Rod: “I don’t have nostrils that big."


Arcee: “Sounds like you really do have the big smell!"


Rod: “That’s it, whoever did this must be brought to justice.”


Blurr: “Aren’t you taking this too personally?”


Rod: “My image has been tarnished by some Decepticon. I must teach them a lesson. This is personal.”


Sixshot: “It might be a trap”


Rod: "That won’t matter. They won’t stop us.”


Arcee: “Just get the Earth team to get them.”


Rod: "Fine.”


Rodimus manages to reach Sandstorm, but judging by the background noise it seems he’s oin the road.


Sand: “My Prime, what is it?”


Rod: “We have some Decpeticons on Earth I need you to deal with.”


Sand: “I would but we just located Steeljaw and his friends. We’re en route to apprehend them as we speak.”


Rod: “I see, very well. You deal with Steeljaw. We will handle this mystery for ourselves.”


The call ends.


Sixshot: “Do you think this is related to the group that attacked the Earth Team?


Magnus: “Unlikely. This seems to be an unknown third party. The assailants were tacticall and used an ambush. This group is giving us an invitation and we’re apparently going on their terms.”


Rod: “As soon as we deal with them we can focus more on what is going on with that energy in Nevada. Perceptor, make sure to call our human allies before the day ends about our plan.”


Perce: “Yes of course!”


Rod: “Autobots, roll out.”


And so Rodimus and his team embark on his petty vendetta. Our final scene takes us to the ever ominous and always looming head of Unicron. A little twinkle appears near the chin and when magnified it reveals The Fallen and Mindwipe returning from their trip to Earth.


“To think all the pieces were there this whole time. It’s quite fortunate, wouldn't you say?”


“Yes, master. In fact- what is this?”


“What has you so tense?”


“Something has changed. A piece that was not here before.”


“I don’t see what you mean, Mindwipe. It looks exactly the same to me.”


“With all due respect, my master, my photographic memory never fails me. Something on Unicron’s chin is different since we were last here.”


“Is that a fact? Can you point me to this change?”


“Can you portal us twenty miles forward?”


“Fine, I will indulge you just out of curiosity.”


They travel twenty miles and Mindwipe is once again vindicated. He found the crystal structure that was previously mentioned. There is a difference though. The structure has shattered. Whatever was being created hatched.


“Master, do you know what this is?”


“No clue in the slightest. This is new territory even in my vast experience with the supernatural.”


“Something was created here, but what?”


“I wonder how this is possible since Unicron himself is currently dead.”


“Do you think that whatever was in there is on our side?”


“ I would certainly hope so, but there is one guarantee I can give you, dear Mindiwipe?”


“What is it?”


“I can tell from the density that whatever emerged from this crystal came out very recently. We just missed it.”

 

1)wreckgars really allowing himself to be talked down by some old f#*ks who named themselves after some perverts.
Potato)the pretenders made me need Tylenol. God.
3) mindwipe and the falens bit was actually really cool. Thunderwing I'm guessing.
4)I kinda love how this stuff with Miko and deadspark is actually messed up then is proceeded by the dumbest sh*t I've seen since the overload chapter.

 

That's quite a debut the Pretenders got. XD

 

Back to the serious story you signed up for. Here is part 12: A Battle of Hate and Heart.


Later that morning Stella arrives in Area 51 on orders from Silas. At the entrance Lex greets her.


“Stella, I’m glad you’re here.”


“I'm a little nervous.”


“Nothing to be nervous about. It means you’re fully becoming one of us.”


“I am?”


“You earned it. You get to see the top secret projects no one gets to see.”


“You really think I’m worthy of this?”


“Yes. Let's not keep Silas waiting.”


Stella and Lex take the elevator down and arrive in a meeting room where Silas, Bradford, and Eugine are all talking.


Eugine: “The energy output seems to be weakening. I fear if we push the Allspark any further we may end up destroying it.”


Silas: “And you think putting a halt on all creation is the real solution?”


Eugine: “It would be better to take a break. We have plenty of creations at our disposal.”


Silas: “Our people are dying every day we don’t continue.”


Eugine: “Our whole dream will die if we overload our greatest power source.”


Silas: “As much as I hate to admit it I see you’re right.”


Bradford: “Hey boss, she’s here.”


Silas: “Stella! I’m so glad you could make it. I have so much to show you.”


Stella: “This all feels so fast. Are you sure I deserve this?”


Silas: “If it wasn’t for you we wouldn't have got as far as we have now. We are forever grateful. Come, let me show you some of the creations you helped us develop.”


They sink further in and they see the build team. Burrow. Patchwork, and Roller are busy being weird. Wedge and Trench are sitting in a corner together but not talking.


Lex: “I think we can all admit these guys aren’t the most effective.


Wedge: “Hey I heard that you jerk!”


On the next floor they find Ransack trying to tell a war story that never happened to Rollcage, Junkheap, and Hemlock.


Ransack: “So there I was, all alone. The only thing to aid me was a broken toothbrush!”


Hemlock: “Last time you said you had a woodpecker.”


Rollcage: “Shut up I want to hear the story!”


Hemlock: “At least the toothbrush is more useful than Armorhide.”


Stella: “They shouldn’t talk bad about their friends.”


Silas: “Armorhide deserves it. He let one of our enemies escape and failed the mission.”


Bradford: “Failure is a sign of weakness to them. Can’t say I disagree.”


Silas: “Ransack, Rollcage, Hemlock, Junkheap, come meet the girl that helped us create you.”


Ransack looks at her with great interest, and his arms fall off.


Ransack: “Oh you shouldn't have. You finally got me a pet lamp!”


Stella giggles and that gives the sweet old man a smile.


Stella: “I like this one. He’s a gentle soul.”


Ransack: “You hear that? I’m genital or something!”


Rollcage: “Well aren’t you a cutie? I’d love to pinch your little head off!”


Hemlock: “Easy there, psycho. Let’s be a little grateful to this one.”


Junk: “Look at me, I'm way more grateful than them!”


Stella: “They all have such unique personalities.”


Eugine: “One of the many wonders of the Allspark. Thanks to your blueprints we were able to make them this way.”


Silas: “And this isn’t even our best work. Come see the Dinobots.”


Silas brings them to the Dinobot’s enclosure. The three remaining Dinobots are wandering around since Strafe was set free on that mysterious task. Slug is still sleeping in a corner. He hasn’t even budged since everyone was last together. Slash looks up and cheerfully jumps up and down, tweeting like a bird. Scorn on the other hand makes Stella uncomfortable because he is eying her like a predator does their prey. He walks back and forth, his eyes never blinking.


Scorn: “Silas, I grow ever impatient. My hunger for destruction can only be waylaid for only so long. If I am not satisfied soon, I may do something highly unfavorable, starting with that new human.”


Silas: “This one is absolutely off limits, Scorn. Need I remind you that I am in charge of you all?”


Scorn: “I don’t remember allowing you to command me. I am king here...well I suppose I am the second king here. The first of course is him.”


Stella: “Him?”


Silas: “He is a soldier just like you, and like you he has a role to play. You all do.”


Scorn: “Then find my role soon, or else I fear this cage may not be enough to hold me.”


The Dinobot walks away with the hunger for blood fueling his soul’s fire. They finally reach the very bottom where Deadspark is being held in his containment cell.


Silas: “Thanks to you, we were able to create the ultimate weapon. This is Deadspark.”


They open the doors and they see each other. Both Stella and Deadspark’s eyes widen as they immediately recognize each other from that dream Stella had. Deadspark immediately looks at his body for her face but doesn’t see it.


Silas: “My my, that’s the most expressive I’ve seen you be, Deadspark.”


Deadspark: “Do not get used to it, father.”


Stella gets a good look at him and recalls Eugine’s words from before.


Stella: “This is him, Eugine? The one you told me about?”


Eugine: “Yes.”


Bradford: “Pretty ugly huh? Guess it doesn’t matter if he does the job.”


Deadspark: “Why have you brought her here? Is she to die as well?”


Stella: “Umm what does he mean by that?”


Silas: “He gets dramatic sometimes, he’s not dangerous to you.”


Deadspark: “Don’t make such empty vows on my behalf. It’s unbecoming of you.”


Silas: “Well regardless she is partly responsible for your creation, so you should be thanking her for giving you the gift of life.”


Deadspark’s eyes flash for a split second and veins start to appear in the area surrounding his eyes. The back of the room suddenly has some sort of black mold starting to spread directly behind him. His face starts forming cracks with pieces that fall off. The sounds it makes gives him the appearance of some sort of monstrous porcelain doll with flesh. With the most emotion he’s been able to muster he barely is able to keep himself composed.


Deadspark: (intense) “Gift? Gift? What part of any of this could ever be considered a gift? There is no gift here, only a curse. That is what life has been to everything with it. I shouldn't be alive, and I am not alive by the definition you have given it. I’m nothing more than an enslaved puppet bound by the strings of your hatred. We are all slaves to something, and I am yours. Tell me, father. What is it you are enslaved to? Fear? Hate? Arrogance? Perhaps all three. It doesn’t matter in the end because vengeance is a fool's game. You’ll see that soon enough. That is, of course, unless I decide that this illusion of yours is no longer accommodating enough for me. If that comes to pass then even I with all my mercy will have none left to give. What will you do then? Will you run, or will you cling onto your fantasies like an infant with its toy? Make your mind up soon, or else I will make that choice for you!”


Deadspark sends out what looks like a black line that passes through everyone but does no harm. At least that’s what she thinks at first. Lex begins to have the skin on his fingers peel off like a banana. He reaches out to Deadspark, and a weird barrier blocks him from progressing any further. He manages to stick his arm through the resistance, but then the muscle tissue peels away until it is down to the bloodied bone. It soon takes over his whole body until he is completely destroyed. Stella screams and turns to Eugine, who is throwing up blood, and in that blood are razor blades and scissors. He continues to throw them up until it is too much and it tears through his neck to kill him. Bradford clutches his stomach and brutally explodes into chunks of flesh. Silas can only look helpless at her as he is set on fire and becomes ash. Stella screams her heart in both fear and sadness. Then, like a complete change in the air she hears Deadspark’s voice rumbling inside her head.


“Open your eyes.”


Stella does so almost as if put under a trance, and when she does she sees that her friends are all still alive, but not moving. It’s become clear that Deadspark put Stella under that strange mind trap he put on Jack in the very beginning.


“They’re… alright? I saw them die.”


“So you saw that too did you? Most interesting.”


“You mean you didn’t kill them?”


“No.”


“Then what did you do to them?”


“Nothing, at least as far as my knowledge goes. I’ve seen this happen to others before, but I haven’t figured out what this is yet.”


“How do you not know your own powers?”


“There is much I don’t know about myself. It’s not as if I ever wanted to know anyway.”


“Then where am I? Why did you take me here?”


“You wouldn't understand what this is, but I wanted to ask you questions. You are partially responsible for my creation, after all.”


“You wanted to talk? Alright, ask away.”


“What makes you think any of me is justified?”


“I don’t know what you mean.”


Deadspark rests a hand on his cheek and then stabs his cheek with his own fingers. He digs around as Stella cringes to the horrible sounds of flesh and metal getting shredded. He then tears off an entire chunk of his face and flicks it at Stella’s feet. It writhes around with little tendrils and pulsates.


“Tell me, does this terrify you?”


“Yes.”


“Then my point is proven already. I shouldn’t have been brought to this sea of stone.”


“You were made to destroy our enemies. Something tells me you could do just that.”


“Yes, of this I am aware. Destruction is such a fundamental element of a weapon. Dare I say the defining element, wouldn't you agree?”


“No. There is another purpose it can serve. One far more important than that.”


“And what, pray tell, could ever be more vital than destruction?”


“Defending something that matters. When you value something or someone, you want to protect them.”


Deadspark pauses for a moment for he did not expect such an answer. He explodes and completely vanishes. Stella looks around but a jumpscare happens with Deadspark’s mouth floating next to her ear.


(chilling) “And what could I ever defend. I was never meant to save lives. I exist merely to snuff them out!”


(anxious) “Okay, can you please not do that?”


The rest of Deadspark reforms. There’s something peculiar about the way he comes back. It can’t be fully revealed yet, but Stella bored five different colored lights that were purple, blue, green, red, and black.


“So, Stella Holly, do you really believe that I can ever protect anything?”


“That all depends on you.”


“....I do not follow.”


“You keep going on about how you’re cursed and made only to kill. Do you believe that?”


“Of course. You haven’t felt what I have, or more accurately, what I haven't been able to feel.”


“That's true, but that experience can only go as far as you yourself are willing to take it.”


“So you’re saying I am weighing myself down.”


“Yes I am.”


“Rather bold of you to make such claims. Especially from a human like you.”


“Making me human means I’m wrong?”


“You all lie, cheat, steal, and kill.”


“We’re not all like that.”


“So I’m supposed to believe it simply because you say so?”


“I wouldn't ask that of you. I simply want you to have an open mind.”


“I have seen what you’re all capable of. Those atrocities are far worse than what I could imagine.”


“That's only one half of the story. If you can visualize what we’ve done, then surely you can also imagine what we could be. What you could be.”


“I can’t be anything other than a tool.”


“You are more than the sum of your parts.”


“Who are you to say I am more than that? It’s your fault I exist.”


“And I’m sorry if I hurt you.”


Deadspark doesn’t buy it and looks into her soul. He doesn’t find the pit of darkness he sees in everyone from MECH. instead he finds something different, Something much lighter. A grey that is close to becoming white.


“I can’t believe this. You were being sincere with me.”


“Of course I was. I never meant to cause you pain. I just want to help as many people as I can.”


“You would do that for others? Why?”


“For the same reason the other creations would do it for you. Because they care about you.”


“They...care for me?”


“Of course. I saw how they spoke of you. You’re everything to them.”


“I’m not worthy of such praise.”


“To you, maybe. But to them you are.”


“I can’t feel these emotions. I’m unsure of how to face them like this.”


“Do whatever you feel inside your heart.”


“Inside my...heart.”


Deadspark’s entire foundation crumbles. He’s so used to being in control of these conversations, but this human girl has taken the power from him, and in a way he’s relieved.


“Stella Holly I see I have not had an open mind about people. If there are those like you that exist then maye there can be a chance for you after all.”


“Thank you, Deadspark. I think with your help you can make that chance even greater.”


“You almost make me want to believe in myself. I won’t do you any harm. You're the first human I have found myself fond of. Go, achieve your dreams. Let nothing stop you.”


Deadspark breaks the veil to free Stella. All the other humans are none the wiser.


Deadspark: “I do not despise this one. She gets a pass from me.”


Silas: “I told you you’d like her.”


Deadspark: “Now if only the rest of you could follow that path.”


Silas: “My my, I think that’s the first time you’ve given us any level of praise.”


Deadspar: “Do not get used to it.”


Deadspark watches Stella leave, and a shadow appears to try and to attack her. Deadspark yells out “no!” and for the first time the bad vision doesn’t come to pass.


Deadspark: (to himself) “Feel inside my heart. I’m not sure I can do that. Still, I must try. If not for me, then for them. Maybe if they’re lucky, I’ll give humans a fair chance.”


Back on Charr it’s the night before the first round of the tournament, everyone is preparing in their own special way, be it training like Cyclonus and Scourge, deep meditation like Tarn, or getting hammered the night before like all the triple changers. They are sharing a space with Swindle, Vortex, and Waspinator. Astrotrain is completely passed out on the floor, and Octane is reduced to a burping mess. Skytread is able to speak, but he's just spouting nonsense.


Sky: “You guys are great, you know that? Great! I’ve only met some of you a few days ago but you’re just great.”


Swindle: “You’ll really think i’m special when you get the great deals out of the merchandise tomorrow!”


Vortex: “Speaking of which, I finally have you cornered, buddy.”


Swindle: “What do you mean, ol’ teammate of mine?”


Vortex: “You owe me a discount.”


Swindle: “Look, you might make a giant guy with anger issues with me, but I don’t give my discounts out that easily. The teammate discount won’t work here.”


Vortex: “Then it’s a good thing I’ve stacked up.”


Vortex dumps a slew of Swindle’s coupons. He must’ve been saving them from the very beginning.”


Swindle: “...Well I’m sure there’s an expiration date on most of these.”


Vortex: “You said they were valid as long


Swindle: -laughing nervously- “I said that?.....Oh yeah I did.”


Vortex: “Go ahead. Count them all. I know you have an instant counter somewhere in that unlimited arsenal of yours.”


Swindle obliged and to his horror the total rings up to a whopping 10,386 coupons. To put this in perspective this is the legendary number required to achieve Swindle’s lifetime customer premium discount. It was considered impossible to achieve because it comes with the stipulation that Swindle can steal them back at any time to prevent anyone from getting by. Most of his customers died with the Tidalwave crashing, so he had thought it was pointless. Lo and behold his most reliable teammate managed to evade his tricks for all these years. So how much is the discount? A mere 14%, but remember that for Swindle he never makes discounts in double digits, let alone over 5%.


Swindle: “I can’t believe this. You’re making me uphold my end of the deal!”


Vortex: “hard work pays off. I love you and your tech, but for crying out loud did it have to be that big a struggle just to get that low of a price?”


Swindle: “Obviously! I love money.”


Vortex: “Well now you’ll never make me pay full price ever again.”


Swindle reenacts that Yakuza meme where he slams his fist down on the table and storms off.


Sky: “Dude...you’re a legend.”


On that day Vortex would become a legend for doing the impossible, but perhaps other reasons for being seen as a legend may present themselves. The same could be said about a particular green dumptruck that has been working hard.


Back on Earth the Earth team is immediately on the tail of Steeljaw and his two consorts. Bumblebee and Sideswipe as mentioned before have joined the group for this occasion. Deep-Down riding atop Sandstorms flying form since his submarine can't fly or drive. Outback, Sandstorm, and Smokescreen are out in front since they are the fastest, and Outback in particular is tracking their scent.


Outback: “This way. They're close.”


Drift: “I can't believe I’m stuck with such a pedestrian task. I am a fighter, not law enforcement.”


Side: “So do you always complain when you don't get your way?”


Drift: “I wouldn't expect you to understand.”


Bee: “Actually most of us here do understand. You have to remember you put yourself in this position.”


Side: “If you’re so good then you’ll help us take out these three guys with no difficulty.”


Drift: “Very well. I wish to make myself useful in the biggest way possible. If this is the first step to achieving that then so be it.”


Outback: “Sandstorm, open fire on the road!”


Sand: “Are you sure? There's nobody here.”


Outback: “Mate, just trust me!”


Sandstorm while flying opens fire on the road and he eventually hits Steelajw’s invisible vehicle. He manages to make it capsize. Steeljaw, Thunderhoof, and Sonar crawl out of it.


Thunder: “I thought we were invisible, Steeljaw!”


Steeljaw: “We were, but Outback’s sense of smell is uncanny. Dare I say it surpasses my own.”


Thunder: “Oh great. Yous guys ain’t very helpful in a fight are ya?”


Sonar: “We might be in trouble this time.”


Sandstorm: “It’s over, Steeljaw!”


Steeljaw: “My my, you gathered this many people because of me? I must say that’s the most sincere form of flattery you could give me.”


Smoke: “We didn't want to


Steeljaw: “Very smart of you.”


Side: “So come along quietly or else.”


Steeljaw: “Oh, Thunderhoof, I think you know what to do. Show them what or else really means.”


Thunder: “Yeah yeah, whateva!”


Thudnerhoof stomps on the ground with the earthquakes that also contain surges of electricity. Overclock is the first one hit by the electricity, followed quickly by Smokescreen. Deepdown, Overclock, Smokescreen, and Outback fall into the chasm while Sandstorm transforms into his VTOL form to fly over it. Bumblebee, Drift, and Sideswipe manage to get safely over.


Drift: “That one has tremendous power.”


Side: “No kidding.”


While the others are falling Deep-Down acts fast and embeds his hooks into the sides. He fires the remaining ones that Smokescreen and Overclock grab onto. He doesn’t reach Outback, but the blind Autobot uses his lasso to snag onto something.


Smoke: “Thank goddess for you, Deep-Down!”


Deep: “Finally, I get to be useful”


Smoke: “Don’t be like that, you're a part of the team for a reason!”


Clock: “That solves our falling problem, but how do we get back up?”


Deep: “Overclock, buddy, I’m going to do something risky. I think this is your time to shine.”


Clock: “Really? How?”


Deep: “Just do what I tell you, and then shoot those baddies down.”


Clock: “Alright!”


Back at the Earth Team’s headquarters the Mincons are monitoring the situation.


Fixit: “Oh no! Half of the team went down the chasm.”


Brains: “Eh, don’t get worried, they bounce back a little too easily.”


Wheelie: “Still more intense than it should be. It’s just three guys.”


Fixit’s attention is diverted to a monitor to his right. Something came up that has him confused.”


Wheelie: “Yo, what is it?”


Fixit: “Just an extremely faint energy signature came up and disappeared. Probably nothing.”


Back at the members that didn’t fall’s perspective, they see the trio driving off.


Sand: “After them!”


Sandstorm resumes flying while Bumblebee, Drift, and Sideswipe pull out the full throttle. They begin to catch up because Thunderhoof’s tractor form isn’t exactly meant for high speed chases.


Sonar: “Boss, they’re gaining on us!”


Steeljaw: “Time for another stamp!”


Thunderhoof transforms back and stomps again to create another hole, but this time the Autobots are ready.


Side: “Time to pull out all the stops!”


Sideswipe brings back a power long forgotten by everyone that read this, the power of Stealth Force that so far only he can use. With his vehicle mode decked out with guns and enhanced mobility he manages to jump and spin around like a disk in his Stealth Force form over the hole. With help from Sandstorm they both manage to shoot up all three of them enough to force them to stop. Sonar gets shot down, but on the way to the floor he shoots out one lucky stray blast that hits Sandstorm. He tries to transform back but he crashes and winds up breaking a leg.


Sand: “Don’t worry about me, just get them!”


Bumblebee, Drift, and Sideswipe pursue them even further. Sideswipe’s stealth force is the star of the chase as he manages to catch up first and shoots Steeljaw’s left rear tire, forcing him to spin out. Thunderhoof is forced to help him out.


Thunder: “Looks like we gotta beat them down.”


Stelljaw: “My thoughts exactly.”


Drift: “I will take the wolf. You take the moose.”


Thunder: “Who you callin a moose?”


Thunderhoof charges at Bumblebee, but he rolls out of the way and starts shooting him in the back Sideswipe follows in suit, but it seems to agitate Thunderhoof more than hurt him. He manages to close the gap and reels his head up to launch Sideswipe into the air. He transforms back into stealth force and works in tandem with Bumblebee to go circles around him shooting him as they move. Thudnerhoof stomps on the ground again to separate them, and Sideswipe's form is able to dodge easily while Bumblebee has more difficulty. Bumblebee is rammed into, but Sideswipe manages to save him by driving into Thunderhoof. He transforms back and starts hitting him with his arm blades. It knocks the mafia boss around, but Thunderhoof just hits harder. One good punch to the chest sends Sideswipe right into a guardrail. Thunderhoof is about to crush him, but Bumblebee manages to jump on him, and brings him down by wrapping his whole arm around his neck to force him to the floor. It didn't work for long, but it was enough for Sideswipe to recover. Thudnerhoof gets back up and Bumblebee has him in a full nelson. Thudnerhoof swings around violently and eventually grabs Bumblebee by the arms and throws him over his shoulders, slamming him to the floor. Sideswipe starts firing all of his mines into the road and that manages to stop him from killing Bumblebee and makes him take a good amount of damage.


As for Drift and Steeljaw they lock eyes. Drift takes out his swords and Steeljaw releases his claws and his wolverine claws. Steeljaw snarls and rushes forward faster than Drift thought was possible and the new Autobot is forced on the defensive. He manages to slash Drift's shoulders, and that’s when the former Shadow Core Decepticon realizes that this is no ordinary criminal. He starts taking it seriously and manages to push back. He gets a good gash on Steeljaw’s left arm. Steeljaw whips Drift with his tail, which forces him to roll. Steeljaw pounces on him and tries to bite his neck. Steeljaw still has his blades in hand and makes a double stab into Steeljaw’s lower torso. Their fight ended quite quicker than Steeljaw had wanted. Drift kicks Steeljaw off as the wolf clutches his chest, and is bleeding out. Sonar sees this and tries to crawl his way.


Sonar: “I’m coming!”


Sandstorm manages to pin him to the ground despite the broken leg.


Sand: “You’re not going anywhere!”


Against all odds of probability this battle is taking place in a distance that even Strafe can see from. He can’t believe he found some of the enemies his team is destined to destroy along with some strange new ones. He radios Silas immediately.


Strake: “This is Strafe, come in!”


Silas: “We read you, Strafe. WHat’s the situation.”


Strafe: “I’ve spotted Bumblebee, Sideswipe, and Sandstorm of the Earth team fighting alongside some sort of samurai. They’re all fighting some sort of robot werewolf, bat, and reindeer.”


Silas: “Do not engage.”


Strafe: “But this is what you wanted us to do!”


Silas: “Those four newcomers aren’t part of our data pool. Going into a situation like this without the necessary information will compromise the mission.”


Strafe; “Then what should I do?”


Silas: “Keep watching and continue to update us. In the meantime activate the pillar nearest to you.”


Strafe activates his closest pillar and it sends out some sort of wave that none of the Autobots or Decpeticons seem to take notice of.


Strafe: “What just happened?”


Silas: “That was a custom made radio frequency that we just stuck to the autobots like glue. For some reason it didn't work on those three Decepticons. It works by scanning their insignia. The other pillars will ping this frequency back and forth, and they themselves don’t know they have become a living radio tower. They will lead us right to the Earth Team’s base. From there we will send a team to capture or kill them.”


Strafe: “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you.”


Silas: “To win a war like this you have to plan the next ten steps before the enemy ever considers it.”


As to why the tracking didn’t work on Steeljaw, Sonar, and Thunderhoof, well the answer is incredibly simple. Steeljaw’s paranoia with the insignias was spot on. Slashing them out was the correct call after all. If there’s no signal to bounce back then they themselves are camouflaged.


Transitioning back to the Minicons, Fixit is again looking at his monitor.


Fixit: “Huh, that weird blip is back again, and it looks closer.”


Wheelie: “Are you sure it’s not some glitch?”


Brain: “Nope, Fixit’s right. Something’s up.”


The blip becomes a full fledged dot all of a sudden, and then just vanishes.


Brain: “What the heck is going on?”


The blip then appears again but vanishes, only to show up again every two or three seconds.


Fixit: “This is bad, whatever that thing is is heading to the fight!”


Fixit tries to radio in but something is jamming their signal.


Wheelie: “Guess it’s up to them to face it alone.”


Back at Strafe’s perspective he just soars so high up in the sky nobody can see him. His attention is directed elsewhere when one of his two dinosaur heads sees something block the sun for a moment. He looks up and an object flies right next to him quite fast. While it doesn’t really interfere with him Strafe had the feeling the object definitely gave him a staredown when it went by.


Strafe: “Whoa, what was that?”


Silas: “What’s going Strafe?”


Strafe: “Some sort of jet just appeared out of nowhere. It was so quiet it snuck up on me!”


Silas: “Did it attack you?”


Strafe: "No, but it’s heading for the fight. Should I follow it?”


Silas: “Negative. If it came that close to you it was to give you a message.”


Strafe: “What kind of message?


Silas: “That it was very aware of your existence, and that you aren’t the reason it’s here. It’s coming for someone.”


Strafe: “If it wasn’t going to attack me, then who is it really after?”


Thunderhoof is still getting slapped around and sees Steeljaw in moral peril. Both Bumblebee and Sideswipe jump at him from both sides and he catches them both. He constantly bashes their heads together before tossing them away. Sideswipe hits the wall and Bumblebee gets face-planted into the street. Drift is about to get destroyed but a loud gunshot is heard and Thunderhoof is incapcitated. It was Overclock, who managed to get out of the chasm thanks to Deep-Down's help.


Clock: “Sorry I’m late!”


Drift: “You saved me, so I’ll overlook that transgression.”


Their peace is short lived as Sonar breaks free by blasting the floor to knock him and Sandstorm away. He knocks Drift out by using his screech to knock him into the way. He hits his head and is knocked out cold. Sonar manages to pick Steeljaw oup and starts to carry him away.


Overclock is about to shoot him down but the object flies over him and makes him miss. The object is some sort of jet. A ball of light surrounds it and it vanishes! It reappears after two seconds and disappears in the light ball once more. The next time it appears it begins to transform and keeps phasing in and out. It suddenly makes a chilling change of direction and passes directly over Bumblebee’s head.


Before he can realize what is happening the newcomer grabs Sideswipe by the neck and they both vanish. In reality they are both warping at high speeds until they get out of sight. Sonar lays the wounded Steeljaw on top of Thunderhoof’s tractor and they all drive off during the confusion.


Thunder: “That another friend of yours?”


Steeljaw: “I have no idea who that was, but I’m glad we got out there when we did.”


Sonar: “You could've died back there!”


Steel: “We need to lay low. We’re in too deep. We need to head to Nevada as soon as possible. There are plenty of barren places to hide.”


Sonar: “We’re changing course?”


Steel: “Yes, now go west.”


Thunder: “Yeah yeah, I heard ya.”


The trio depart to Nevada, not knowing that even greater danger lies there. Speaking of danger, Bumblebee, Sandstorm, and Overclock are looking for Sideswipe.


Clock: “What the heck was that thing?”


Bee: “I don’t know, it took Sideswipe!”


Sand: “They couldn't have gone far.”


Bee: “Wherever he is we need to find him fast. I don’t know why it took him specifically, but it can’t be good.”


Finally, at Sideawipe’s perspective, the force of the grab and the constant warping took its toll and knocked him out. He finds himself peacefully waking up though. When he is fully awake he realizes the jet is mere inches from his face. It hardly makes a sound, but there is a faint engine working. It’s unlike any jet he’s ever seen. It’s so jagged yet sleek. It’s like a manta ray was a jet. It’s primarily back with some gold patches and a few touches of orange. The cockpit vaguely resembles a skull, but it is still too nonstandard enough to not represent any kind of species.


“Who….are you?”


The jet starts to transform. We don’t see what this person looks like yet because the voice alone is telling enough.


“Have you forgotten me already? I would think that you would remember the guy you stabbed in the neck.”


“Wait… I know that voice.”


“Revenge is a fool’s game isn’t it, Sideswipe? So is death to a person in my position. You and I are the king of fools, but this time only my revenge will be complete.”

Sideswipe fully recognizes the voice and is beyond shocked.

(shaking) “I can’t believe this….Sideways????”

 

Man did Deadspark go through an existainial crisis. Also Sideways played a part in Sidswipe's past? Curious.

 

1)*deadspark rant* *hides in a corner*
2)I kind of hope we get Stella and deadspark to interact again, she seems like she could be a positive influence in his sad existence.
3)vortex is the real MVP.
4) SIDEWAYS! WTF?! I THOUGHT HE DIED!

 

Here is part 13: Sole Survivor


Miko is in a training room using her robotic arm to fire out energy to destroy targets. The discharge of energy is physically exhausting. It seems the Circuit Breaker cybernetics are best only in emergencies.


Silas: “That's good enough, Miko. Get some rest.”


Miko gets a surprise from Stella, who may have just caught her at the worst possible time.


“Stella!”


She gives her a big hug, but not knowing her own strength she almost snaps the poor slender Stella like a twig.


“You’re even stronger than last time. Are you taking your vitamins?”


-giggling- “Yeah.”


“You look tired. Everything alright? ‘


“Just doing some practice.”


“Physical therapy with your new arm and leg?”


“No, combat practice.”


Stella does a double take.”


“I’m sorry, what do you mean?''


“You know, to fight.”


“Like a self defense course?”


“You could say that, yeah.”


“And who are you trying to defend yourself from?”


“Those Autobots and Decepticons.”


“Why would you ever be near them?”


“So I can kill them.”


“And how would you do that?”


Miko shows Stella the full extent of the Circuit Breaker’s potential. The translucent part of her arm glows with pure blue energy. The fingers of her hand extend and the segments glow blue as well. The palm of her hand opens up to show energy coming out of that as well. She charges it up into a swirling sphere of energy. The stress of the energy begins to take its toll on her and she releases the energy, nearly collapsing. Stella catches her thankfully.


“I thought these were just advanced prosthetics!”


“They are, and they’re my chance for payback.”


“Look at the toll it took on you, and that was just you showing me.”


“I’ll be stronger next time.”


“There shouldn’t be a next time! You’re just a little girl! You’re not a fighter.”


-snapping- “And you’re not my sister!”


Miko realizes that was too far and tries to backtrack.


“Stella, I’m so sorry, I didn’t-”


Stella turns her back to her.


-hurt- “So that's how you really feel. I get it. You aren’t my sister either, but I always thought of you like that.”


“Look, dad, I mean, Silas, said that this was my chance to get payback.”


“You’re really starting to call him dad?”


“Someone has to be! Nobody came for me but him!”


“I know, but don’t let him completely replace what you had.”


“I have nothing left of my parents because of those robots. I want to kill them all!”


Miko starts to cry.


(tearful) “That's all I have left.”


“Look, I won’t tell you how to live your life, but you need to figure this out on your own. Just think long and hard about this alright? “


“I made up my mind already.”


Stella just leaves Miko.


(to herself) “I need to talk to someone about this, but who?”


Miko looks lost and then suddenly perks up and shoots at the wall.


“I don’t like being watched, especially by you, freak!”


In a surprise reveal Deadspark had put his face to the wall and became one with it. His face takes shape with the lights acting as his eyes and mouth. The shelves become shaped like his horns.


“It wasn't my intention to scare you. I simply was curious.”


“You should’ve just asked. What do you want?”


“You and I are alike.”


“I'm nothing like you.”


“You are wrong. We both share a common goal.”


“I don’t want to kill myself.”


“My goals have changed for the time being. Your friend Stella gave me a new perspective. One I offer you. Our interests now align.”


“So what do we have in common?”


“We both search for inner peace.”


“So you think you know how I can get it?”


“You want inner peace? Then don’t become Silas. He will only deepen the wounds inside your heart.”


“I will only find peace when the aliens are dead.”


“Think long and hard about that. I don’t care what you decide either way. I simply was extending an olive branch to someone whose pain matches my own.”


Dadspark unfuses with the wall, and the wall returns back to normal. Miko is left to wonder if revenge is all that fulfilling. Deadspark on the other hand has even more pressing matters to process.


“Weaponizing a child’s suffering to become a killing machine. I know you could do horrible things, father, but this is beyond what I thought you were capable of. I should be more surprised, but when humanity’s evil hits rock bottom there is always a way to dig deeper.”


Back in Vegas the Witwickys and company are enjoying the Vegas lifestyle. Tyrone is continuing his ominous winning streak.


Tyrone: “I’m about to buy this whole casino.”


Fowler: “God help us all if you do.”


Chip: “Quite the good time. I really needed this.”


Spike: “When I see more paperwork it’s going to be too soon.”


Chip: “That's why we have people to do that for us.”


Spike: “I know but still, it’s a pain for them too. Let’s just hope the boys are behaving themselves.”


Fowler accidentally bumps into Ace, and something comes out of Ace’s pocket. It’s a photo of a young man, and judging from the looks it’s quite old. Black and white old.


Fowler: “Relative of yours?”


Ace: “Not quite.”


Fowler: “Then who is it?”


Ace: “I’ll tell you later, okay?”


Fowler: “Fine with me.”


Carly orders a martini and the waitress hands it to her, but the glass cracks suddenly, with the drink leaking from it.


Waitress: “I’m so sorry! I’ll get you a new one right away.”


Carly doesn't say anything and just looks into the glass. She’s not a superstitious person, but with Tyrone’s uncanny luck and the glass breaking only on her she can’t help but feel like there is an omen about, and how right she was. What she doesn’t realize is how personal it would hit. At the Earth team’s base Dune Runner finally has recovered from the injuries he received from the initial battle with MECH.


Dune: “Hey guys what did I miss?”


Brains: “We found Steeljaw’s crew.”


Dune “Great, send me in!”


Wheelie: “Can’t do that.”


Dune: “Nonsense! A good ol’ sarge like me needs to support his troops.”


Fixit: “We’re experiencing technical difficulties and some third party abducted Sideswipe.”


Dune: “You’re kidding.”


Fixit: “Thankfully we're still picking up a signal. We just can’t activate the groundbridge.”


FIxit radios in the Earth team on his findings.


Fixit: “Come in Earth Team I’ve finally got a fix on Sideswipe’s location. It’s finally stopped moving.”


Sand: “Where is he now?”


Fixit: “About thirty kilometers from your location. If you hurry you might be able to get there in time.”


Sand: “There’s no time to waste, let’s go Bumblebee. As for you, Overclock, help everyone back up.”


Clock: “Sure thing.”


Sandstorm and Bumblebee speed off to help Sideswipe. The question is, will it be enough. As for Sideswipe himself, he is currently at a loss for words trying to understand how Sideways is alive. Speaking of which, in case it wasn’t obvious already his design is directly pulled from his appearance on Transformers: Cybertron. The only change is that its put through the filter of the movies to


“I killed you.”


“You did kill me. I remember it well.”


“How is this possible?”


“Because fate believes that I don’t deserve a happy ending.”


“And why do you look different?”


“Because of the god you killed.”


“Unicron did this? But how?”


“I was finally at peace, for about a few minutes. My soul had moved on to a better place.”


Sideways’s fist clenches.


“But then Unicron ripped it right back into his own body. My job was far from over to him. No servant can ever finish serving him, even when they die. My body was fused to his and began to evolve. Even after his death I spent over a year being reformed to a shape that he desired. I emerged just mere hours ago with new powers and less individuality. You can see my face is not capable of any type of expression. The price of failing a god is worse than you could ever imagine. Now I’m going to take that anger out on you.”


“We stopped him once, we can stop him again. It’s not my fault this happened.”


(cold) “You aren’t listening. I don’t hate you for killing me. I hate you because you failed your mission. Death means nothing to a god that has dominion over it. If he could bring someone as insignificant as me back, then he can return as well.”


“You can’t just give up like this. I don’t hate you for what you did anymore. I finally understand.”


“Good for you, but that won’t change what’s going to happen.”


“If I have no choice but to fight then I will. I beat you once, and I’ll do it again.”


“Don’t underestimate me. This new body of mine has powers and weapons even greater than my last form, and you barely defeated me then.”


“Guess we’ll see won’t we?”


Sideways brings out the wings of his jet form to form a blade just like the toy. He swings it at Sideswipe at such incredible speed that he barely dodges it. The next slash Sideswipe manages to block, but it knocks him to the side. Sideways tries to hack at him while he’s down but Sideswipe manages to use his wheel feet to give him back up quickly. The two exchange attacks and eventually lock weapons. What seemed like a safe option becomes a mistake as the new body Unicron gave to Sideways has given him strength greater than that of the Autobot. Sideswipe is kicked down to the floor and barely is able to avoid getting cut down. Sideswipe thinks fast and uses his wheel foot and the hydraulics of his car form to do a series of fast kicks to Sideways’s face. It manages to break the distance between them and Sideswipe starts lasering Sideways with his pulse lasers. It forced Sideways to teleport.


“Show yourself, coward!”


Sideways immediately complies and does a roundhouse kick to his face. Sideswipe tries to fight back but Sideways is now doing many teleportations, cutting at him from every possible position. He eventually gets a cut on his left cheek. Sideswipe starts to panic, but then quickly realizes that there is about a two or three second pause between each teleportation as well as a ball of light that envelops Sideways. Sideswipe looks for that as Sideways reforms behind him. Sideswipe switches to his mines and fires five right into Sideways’s chest.


(in pain) “How did you know?”


“You’re getting stale, Sideways. Give up now while you still have a shred of dignity left.”


“The only reason I haven’t killed you is because I haven’t gotten used to the new abilities this body has.”


“You mean there’s more?”


“I’ll give you a taste.”


The shield that Sideways has on his left arm unleashes the four hidden blades inside, and as a new trick there is also an energy based SMG that riddles Sideswipe with shots. Sideways teleports right into Sideswipe’s face and then swats him with the shield and it cuts at his sides. Sideswipe goes for a leg sweep but Sideways jumps over and slams the shield on his head and back. He’s about to shoot him in the head but Sideswipe stabs Sideways right in his knee. While he screams in pain, Sideswipe unloads ten mines onto his body, transforms into stealth force and continues to shoot him up. Sideways is unable to correctly counter and is desperately shooting back. Even when he teleports to dodge, Sideswipe is landing more shots than before. Sideways manages to shoot out a few of the guns in Sideswipe’s stealth force to render it mostly useless. Sideswipe transforms back and jumps overhead to attack but Sideways blocks with his shield and uses the momentum to slam Sideswipe to the ground. Sideways tries shooting him down but Sideswipe bounces back and clashes with him again. Sideways changes up his attack strategy and leads with his shield to throw the Autobot off. He jabs him with the shield and then does a quick hit in the face. Sideswipe tries to uppercut, but Sideways ducks and manages to scratch Sideswipe in the side of his chest. He then uppercuts Sideswipe in the chin with the shield to knock him to the ground.


“What’s wrong, Sideswipe? I thought this was going to be a repeat of last time.”


“You’re getting desperate, Sideways, you’re barely holding on.”


“That’s because I haven't shown you my strongest moves yet. I think it’s time to cut this touching reunion short.”


Sideways’s blade begins to glow green. He then slashes at Sideswipe from far away, but out comes a line of energy. It’s the same exact kind of attack that Thundertron could do with his lion claws, but the difference is that there is only one slash compared to Thundertron’s three. The slash Sideways sends out is a little faster in order to compensate. Sideswipe is unable to make a rash decision and uses all of his blades to block the attack. Not only does the force of the hit knock him to the floor, but the top half of his right arm blade is cleaved clean off. Sideways splits his blade into smaller halves so he can dual wield. The blades this time glow orange. He sends more slashes at a faster rate, but they are much smaller, and therefore deal less damage. Sideswipe is pelted with them and pieces of him are coming off. Sideswipe manages to shoot Sideways in the hand to make him drop a blade. He then throws mines at his feet that he steps on. Now pieces of the reborn herald are decorating the floor with his rival. Sideswipe then lau8cbes the broken blade at Sideways while he’s trying to recover from the mines. The blade nearly hits him, but he manages to swat it away. Despite deflecting, the force of the attack is still so strong that Sideways is knocked to the ground and lends on a ton of mines Sideswipe set. A massive explosion hits him as his back is heavily damaged. It’s quite clear that Sideways is now on the losing side of this battle. He’s pushed to the limits.


“So that’s how it is. Very well. I will honor your request.”


Sideways picks up the dropped half of his sword and refuses it to create the sword. Sideswipe is going for a killing blow. Sideways’s blade glows green, and before Sideswipe can attack, Sideways teleports away, and suddenly teleports mere inches from him, and then does something. He then teleports right behind Sideswipe. The blade is still glowing green but Sideways puts away all his weapons. Sideswipe is confused as to what happened and looks back at Sideways. Then he looks down and sees a perfect circle all across his waist. Before he can realize what has happened his vision then shuts off. Sideswipe falls apart and dies the very moment the top half separates from the lower half.


Sideways doesn’t say a word to the killed Autobot. It’s impossible to know what he’s feeling in this moment be it anger, satisfaction, regret, or something else entirely. He simply transforms and flies away.


Strafe saw it all and reports to Silas.


Strafe: “Sideswipe has been terminated by the mystery figure.”


Silas: “See why I wanted you to avoid conflict. That could’ve been you. Report back to the base. You’ve played your part.”


Strafe: “Right.”


About five minutes later the Autobots arrive at the battle and find the corpse. Bumblebee in particular is devastated in seeing his best friend like this.


Bee: (trembling) “I can’t believe this...Sideswipe...please don’t leave me like everyone else! I can’t be alone… I’m the last one!”


Outback: “What does he mean by that?”


Sand: “You don’t know? The original team that arrived on Earth, Everyone else died up until now. Jazz died last year and now Sideswipe has been slain by a mystery assailant.”


Outback: “Then what do we do?”


Sand: “We have to notify Rodimus and the others immediately.”


Bumblebee regains his composure for the time being to speak up.


Bee: “And there’s someone else that we should call as well.”


Sand: “Who?”


Back in Vegas, Carly got the call she never wanted to receive. The Autobot she bonded with and shared so many precious memories with has been taken from her. Remember, this is a story of loss and agony, and no amount of Pretender nonsense can ever change that. The poor crying woman is conformed by her husband and son, but no amount of support can ever take away a pain that cuts this deep.


At Unicorn’s head Sideways flies there, much to the surprise of The Fallen and Mindwipe.


Fallen: “Are you what came out of the crystal?”


Sideways: “Looks like everyone forgot who I was.”


Fallen: “Sideways! Might I say I prefer this new look on you. You seem far more capable than last time. Not to mention you return to us at the perfect time.”


Sideways: “I guess I'm glad someone is happy to see me return. I have new powers. I think I can finally be on equal footing with Mindwipe.”


This was apparently the worst choice of words to speak because Mindwipe in an amazing feat of speed holds a blade across his neck.


Mindwipe: (cold) “You and I are not equals. Remember this.”


Sideways: “Right, my apologies.”


Mindwipe’s fist clenches, but he does spare Sideways, glaring at him the entire time. The Fallen looks closer at Sideways and sees that he is damaged.


Fallen: “My my, it looks like someone was having fun without us.”


Sideways: “I had a score to settle. Nothing more.”


Fallen: “I understand that more than you can imagine. It’s your lucky day because you came back at the right time."


Sideways finally notices the Forge laying next to a wall.


Sideways: “Is that the Forge of Solus prime?”


Fallen: “Indeed it is. Mindwipe and I went window shopping, and , well you know me. When I set my sights on something I simply must have it.”


Sideways: “To think I would see such a powerful relic like this in my lifetime… well my second lifetime.”


Fallen: “My sword is a relic, lest you forget. I do understand that it isn’t as remarkable as this hammer as much as I begrudgingly admit. This is now indispensable to our plans. As an added bonus I can patch you up with a few swings. Death will become an even smaller fear for us.”


Sideways: “So what’s the plan, Megatronus? What are we doing with this hammer?”


The Fallen’s eyes smile with that same look of triumph he’s given in the past.


Fallen: “Isn’t it obvious?”


With the ominous plan set in motion Rodimus and his team arrive on Earth in search of the Pretenders, unaware that Lockdown’s ship has their signal tracked from a safe distance in the planet’s atmosphere. MECH is preparing their next move, and Steeljaw’s group is heading to Nevada as established from the previous part. For now, all these threads are going to be put on halt because now is the time for the Decepticon’s tournament of glory to begin.

 

1)huh, deadspark is becoming a positive influence, never thought I'd see that.
2)sideswipes death caught me aff guard., Doesn't that mean bee is the only member left of the original earth team?
3)the part with the fallen was the best. Easily the centerpiece of this chapter.

 

It should tell you something that even a murderous robot creation made for slaughter and war finds the act of child soldiers repulsive. As for Sideswipe at least he went out fighting bravely.

 

So here's the deal. The story formatting will be going a little differently for the time being. The next five parts outside of this opening scene will be exclusively on round 1 of the tournament. Then there will be a two or three part plot break focused on everyone else, then another three parts on round 2, and so on. So let's get started. Here is part 14: The Tournament's Wild Start.


In MECH’s headquarters Silas is looking over files and dossiers of all the creations. He’s currently deciding who he wants to attack the Earth Team once their location is fully revealed. Shadelock peers into the room.


Silas: “Something you need, Shadelock?”


Shade: “Forgive me, I couldn’t help but be curious. I see you’re looking at all of us. Is this for a mission?”


Silas: “Yes, the Earth Team will be the first target to bait out our true targets. I’ve informed Armorhide, Rend, and Refuge to scout the newly acquired area that has been relayed to us thanks to my plan.”


Shade: “You think Armorhide can handle this?”


Silas: “He won’t be attacking anyone right now. If he wishes to observe from afar like a coward then who am I to deny him his dreams?”


Shade: “That's mean spirited but I can’t disagree.”


Silas: “We’ll need the Minicons to disable their perimeter security. After that I need a good team that can capture them with as little resistance and can keep them from alerting Rodimus.”


Shade: “You need someone responsible like me to lead the charge.”


Silas: “As much as I would like to use you, it is too risky. You form Bruticus, the second biggest gun next to Deadspark. I want to keep your presence a secret until the final act when it’s too late for them to escape.”


Shade: “Then if not me, then who else would be responsible enough?”


Silas looks at the security cameras to observe the other creations and something catches his eye. Junkheap is trying to carry supplies but is about to dump them when Grindor manages to catch it.


Junk: “Thanks man!”


Grindor wacks him on the head.


Grindor: “Be more careful next time! You can split yourself, remember? Divvy up the labor!”


Junk: “Oh right!”


Ransack is about to trip and fall and Grindor catches him.


Grindor: “I think it’s time you go back to bed, gramps.”


Ransack: “I think I’ll do that, thanks!”


Chopsaw has been watching some scietnest walk by for some time. His urges begin to overtake him and his rotor blades start spinning as he tries to cut at him. Grindor tackles him to the ground while the scientist runs for his life.


Chop: “LET ME SLICE HIM TO PIECES!”


Grindor: “I'm not having a repeat of last week with you! It took forever to get rid of the smell!”


Silas and Shadelock have arrived at a very logical conclusion.


Silas: “Well I found my team lead. Now I need to figure out if Nitro should be on his team or not.”


On Charr the first day of the tournament is here. The arena is a standard dirt floor meant to emulate the rocky roads of the desert. There are several rocks and boulders around that can be used for environmental warfare. The stadium is filled with Sweeps who make 99% of the audience. The remaining percent is all of our named characters. Since they’re relevant they get better seats and have free reign over where they can be. Notable seatings are Tarn, Motormaster, Dirge, and Blitzwing have a section exclusive to them. To their surprise Predaking and Razorclaw join them.


Predaking: “Are these seats taken?”


Motor: “Why are you sitting with us?


Dirge: “My thoughts exactly!”


Motor: “I was talking about you.”


Dirge: “Oh….”


Tarn: “You are free to do as you wish. I will not stop you.”


Predaking: “You still do not like me, do you?”


Tarn: “It’s not that I don’t like you, I just feel like you are out of place.”


Predaking: “Because I am a beast?”


Tarn: “No, because you are a relic of a forgotten era. Everyone you see in this section represents the present.”


Razor: “Just remember we’re stronger than all of you. We could feast on you and you would be helpless to stop us.”


Motor: “Dirge would be the first one to go.”


Dirge: -pleading- “Please don’t make me look weak in front of them!”


Motor: “Regardless even if you aren’t my favorites I will respect your power.”


Predaking: “Then I hope to see you one day respect me.”


Motor: “You want my respect? Fight with me against our enemies and win.”


Predaking: “Deal.”


Blitz: “My my, Motormaster. Everyone here seems to be under your spell.”


Dirge: “He does seem to have everyone clamoring for his respect.”


Razor: “I couldn't care less.”


Blitz: “Even Tarn and I are enamored with you, how do you do it?”


Motor: “I never asked for this.”


Tarn: “He is a Decepticon of simple resolve. I find that to be a perfect trait in an ally.”


Blitz: “Well said, not to mention he must be quite the titan in the battlefield. I find myself most anxious to see you perform.”


Motor: “Then pray that I don’t face you. I won’t go easy on you.”


On the opposite side are a bunch that were unlikely to sit together. The Triad, the Star Seekers, and Scourge.


Crisis: “I can’t wait to get a boost in my follower base when I win these fights!”


Vanish: “You’ll have to get through us first.”


Scourge: “And none of you are taking me out.”


Stench: “Yeah, that’s our job.”


Scourge: “Don't kid yourself.”


Slapper: “Hey, we have something to prove.”


Scourge: “Newsflash, kid, we all have something to prove.”


Crater: “Let’s chill. We’re all on the same side. If one of us wins we all win.”


Dark: “Just one more than others.”


Another corner is a ragtag of some of the lower class Decepticons. They comprise of Thrust, Ramjet, Darksteel, Octane, and Astrotrain.


Octane: “Hey, uh, Darksteel, not that I don't mind you being here, but why aren't you with the other lizards?”


Steel: “Because I’m the third wheel. I don’t want their crap right now. Besides, I’m a man of the people. Now let’s be obnoxious.”


Ramjet: “This guy gets it!”


A smaller group at the top row is Reflector, Skytread, Waspinator, and Hightower, who is forced to be placed in the highest peak because he doesn’t have legs.


Skytread: “Hey this is totally exciting ya know? I’m pumped man, pumped!”


High: “I hate my life.”


Skytread: “Don’t be like that, bro, you’re great.”


Reflect: “You would think there would be room for me near the front, but oh well. I guess I’ll just be a spectator.”


Wasp: “Waspiantor just wants to get something to eat.”


Dead-end is alone waiting patiently for his turn. The penultimate group is the remaining members of both combiner teams happily chatting.


Swindle: “I’m going to make a killing off of these sales.”


Mix: “And with my expertise we’ll get your merch on a galaxy wide distribution!”


Scrapper: -groaning- “Just get to my fight so I don’t have to hear this.”


Longhaul: “I’m going to prove myself at last.”


Vortex: “I’ll be rooting for you, big green.”


Longhaul: “Really?”


Vortex: “Of course, but I’m still betting on me!”


Drag: “And you guys call me a jerk.”


Vortex: “What do you mean?”


Drag: “You shouldn't lie to Longhaul like that. Poor guy isn't going to make it past round one.”


Longhaul: “And what if I do?”


Brawl: “Then he’ll eat a hat!”


Drag: “Sure, I’ll take that bet. Not only that but I'll never talk trash about you ever again.”


Longhaul: “You were talking trash about me?”


Drag: “I mean...well… yeah. I need hobbies, ya know.”


And of course to conclude the standings in a podium like the Roman Colosseum where the emperors would be seated is Galvatron, Cyclonus, Soundwave, Splicer, and Knockout. Fearswoop and Terradive are there as well but can’t be seen because they’re ghosts.


Terra: “If only he could see us there, just to know we’ve never left his side.


Fear: “Well at least we’re here...in spirit!”


Terra; ‘I’ll give you that one.”


Galvatron’s insanity seems to have calmed down for the time being. He looks back at Cyclonus, Splicer, and Knockout.


Galvatron: “One of you must win this.”


Cyclonus: “It will be done.”


Splicer: “You can count on us!”


Knockout doesn’t say anything and instead looks at Tarn’s group. He knows if they stand any chance of winning then Tarn, Motormaster, and Blitzwing have to be taken out.


But enough setup, it’s time for the tournament to actually start. The lights dim and triumphant music begins to play. A lone spotlight focuses on a small spot near the front row. Sitting there are Riptide and Clash. There are microphones next to them.


Riptide: “Welcome Decpetiocns, one and all to the first ever tournament of glory. I’m Riptide.”


Clash: “And I’m Clash, but you already know that. We are honored to be your announcers and commentators for this glorious event.”


Riptide: “Decepticons without battle is like a Seacon being deprived of murder. It’s torture, and I know many of you have felt the same.”


Clash: “And now you can unleash these primal urges...within certain parameters.”


Riptide: “Shall we go over the rules for this contest?”


Clash: “I’ll go first. The main rule of this contest is no killing.”


All the Sweep and evil Decpticons start booing.


Clash: “Yeah yeah I know, that’s half the fun. There just aren’t that many of us left. It would be a shame if we lost a good man down there.”


Riptide: “In addition to killing you can’t tear off limbs or explode people...unless your name is Waspinator.”


Wasp: “This is rigged!”


Clash: “So how exactly do you win these fights? Well there are four different ways to win.”


Riptide: “The first is a complete knockout. If they're unconscious then it’s over.”


Clash: “Second is they’re beaten to the point where they can no longer continue fighting. Since this is difficult to determine we will let Soundwave handle that. It was his design after all.”


Riptide: “Third is being tossed out the ring. Don’t worry, the fall isn’t fatal. There is a gelatinous substance below created by Mixmaster that will feel like a giant waterbed. It only counts as a ring out if you touch the substance. If you’re able to recover before touching it then you can resume without any penalty.”


Clash: “Last and certainly least is when the combatant willingly surrenders. That’s for wimps but I know someone out there is going to do it.”


Riptide: “We also have audience participation. You all can predict the winners of each match. There is no prize or penalty of being right or wrong. It's just there to show you if you’re with the majority or not. We’ll only show it during the more unique matchups.”


Clash: “Now for the final topic, the matches themselves. Have you noticed that there are no brackets? That’s because every single match will be randomly decided.”


Riptide: “And there’s also a major twist with this first round. You may not be limited to a simple duel. There could be three or even four of you in a fight. Three man fights are less common in the lottery and there is a less than three percent chance of a four man battle.”


Clash: “So do you have any words for us, lord Galvatron?”


Galvatron: “Yes, show me what you all got.”


Clash: “Excellent, so let’s begin the tournament. Let’s see what our first match will be!”


On the giant monitors everyone looks and sees that two icons appear to imply this will be a standard match. There are headshots of all the participants that are randomly being cycled through until they eventually stop on two people, and it’s already an interesting match.


Riptide: “Well color me curious on this one. I wouldn't never have imagined these two would face off. Our first contenders are none other than Waspinator and Swindle! Come on down!”


Thrust: “Well Swindle is going to win no doubt.”


Darksteel: “Waspinator is toast!”


Blitz: “Hardly an exciting first match.”


Razor: “Guess we’ll find out.”


Swindle and Waspiantor are a few feet apart in the ring.


Swindle: “I promise I’ll make this as quick as I can.”


Wasp: “So will Waspinator.”


Swindle: “Excuse me? You're not going to win.”


Wasp: “Prove it, sales bot.”


Swindle: “Fine.”


Clash: “Are you both ready?”


Both: “Yes!”


Clash: “Then let the first match of the tournament begin!”


The match starts and Swindle shoots at Waspinator with his gyro cannon. He transforms and flies around to avoid his shots. Seeing as this is going nowhere Swindle uses the rayguns on his back compartment and they manage to hit his wings. Waspiantor transforms back and rolls to recover. He fires his wing's scales at Swindle, but his forcefield is activated.


Drag: “Well that’s game. His forcefield is nearly impossible to shatter, It only happened back when we fought you guys on Earth on Starscream’s orders.”


Scavenge: “I kinda feel bad for Waspiantor. He was at a disadvantage from the start.”


Drag: “Yeah, the only guy he could probably beat is you!”


Scavenge: “Shut up, man!”


Swindle unleashes the gatling gun inside his chest and unloads a full clip into Waspinator’s body. The riddled body falls over.


Swindle: “Guess I win!”


The body shakes and then Waspiantor gets right back up.


Wasp: “That hurt.”


Swindle: “Guess a knockout isn’t possible with you. Guess I’ll just shoot you until you can’t continue.”


Swindle unleashes everything to shoot up Waspiantor until he is just pieces.


Swindle: “Well that settles that!”


Swindle is even more annoyed when the pieces of Waspiantor start to reform too quickly to call the match. He continues shooting him for three minutes straight and the audience has grown bored of it.


Darksteel: “I want a refund.”


Thrust: “This is all for free.


Darksteel: “I still want a refund.”


Ramjet: “Just make him surrender you dolt!”


Swindle: “Hey now, that’s a great idea! Waspinator, I like you and all, but this has gone on long enough. How about you call it quits. I don’t like shooting you and I know you don’t like getting shot.”


Wasp: “Waspinator will not.”


Swindle: “I beg your pardon? Did you just say that you won’t?”


Wasp: “Correct.”


Swindle: “But why?”


Wasp: “Waspiantor wants to prove he’s not just a joke.”


Scourge: “Too late for that, pal!”


Clash: “look like we got a standstill ehre fold. What will Swindle do?”


Swindle:’ Well I guess that means I just have to ring you out.”


Swindle grabs one of Waspiantor’s disembodied legs and tosses it out the arena. No bells or dings happen, much to everyone’s confusion.


Swindle: “Uh, hello? I won.”


Riptide: “No you didn’t.”


Swindle: “His leg is out of the ring.”


Clash: “But is Waspinator out of the ring?”


Swindle: “You never said anything about that!”


Clash: “Remember Waspinator is different from the rest of us. We had to bend the rules for his sake. If you want to ring him out then you need to toss his head out.”


Swindle: “Fine!”


Waspinator reforms completely, and tries to grab Swindle, but his forcefield stops him.


Swindle: “Forcefield, remember? I patented this myself. You need way more power to break it, and that's something you don’t have.”


Something doesn’t seem right because Waspinator’s arms are glowing blue, the same hue as the forcield. A big shock comes when Waspiantor’s arms start breaking through. A huge gap in the forcefield appears where he was grabbing.


Swindle: “You’re eating my forcefield? How?”


Wasp: “This was Waspiator’s upgrade, energy absorption!”


Swindle is forced to shoot Waspiantor, and he spins around and fires his grenade launcher. Swindle is forced to turn his back to Waspinator since that part of the field wasn’t damaged. Waspinator transforms and flies above Swindle's head and lands at the top of the field. He begins to absorb the top of it and Swindle is forced to activate his upgrade, which is nothing more than more space in his pocket dimension. He unloads all sorts of lasers to blast Waspinator to bits until there is nothing left but a head. Swindle kicks the head near the edge of the area to try to knock him out, but Waspinator pulls a fast one and blasts his laser eyes onto the floor. It makes contact with the dirt on the arena and makes a dust cloud to blind Swindle. Waspinator is slowly regenerating a neck and Swindle is able to find him. He tries to shoot him, but Waspinator’s head keeps hopping around and he continues to regenerate. The tradeoff is that he becomes a bigger target and shots are landing. Eventually his torso, wings and an arm are reformed.


Swindle: “Let’s end this fight, Waspiantor!”


Wasp: “Waspinator agrees!”


Swindle appears to corner Waspiantor to the edge of the ring. He shoots out his wings and blasts off the arm that had just regrown.


Swindle: “I’ll admit I never thought you of all people would give me that much trouble. You got my respect, but like all good bargains you have to uphold your end. Sayonara!”


Swindle blasts Waspiantor off the ring, and since his wings are busted he can’t fly away this time, he’s done for, but Swindle can’t help but notice that as he’s falling Waspinator is smiling. Why? He’s lost the fight...right?


Well yes, but not as it turns out he won’t be alone. Swindle suddenly feels something grab his hand and yank him down. It was the arm that got blasted off. Swindle completely forgot Waspinator can control limbs that are detached from his body. Swindle is going down, but he still has his energy hook. He manages to grab the edge of the ring and starts to grapple back up, but in the final seconds of Waspiantor’s fall he shoots his eye lasers one last time to destroy the hooks. Swindle is now falling. He probably would have saved himself, but he is thrust into such a panic that he ensures his own demise. Both fighters hit the gelatinous substance, and the buzzer blairs loudly, leaving most of the audience in complete shock.


Crater: “Did that really just happen?”


Stench: “Looks like it.”


Riptide: “Well would you look at that? The first match ends in a double knockout. This is the kind of unpredictable entertainment that only all of you can provide. Give them a hand!”


Splicer: “Good job, Wapiantor!”


Astro: “You suck, Swindle!”


Cyclous: “Looks like we underestimated Waspinator.”


Knockout: “Or we overestimated Swindle.”


Splicer: “Come on they both gave it their all. We should be cheering them on.”


Knockout: “My goodness, brother, your positivity is infectious.”


Swindle returns to where he was sitting and slumps in his seat.


Swindle: “I can’t believe I lost.”


Mix: “Yeah, that was rough buddy.”


Swindle: “Just hurry up with another match so people can forget me.”


Clash: “Now how about our second match. Roll out the roster!”


The randomization process begins again but tosses both Swindle and Waspinator into a little recycling bin. This time the turnout is a battle of reds. They are Knockout and Scavenger.


Splicer: “Good luck, Knockout.”


Knockout: “It’s Scavenger, I don’t need luck.”


Splicer: “Well...you...okay you’re right.”


Galvatron: “Kick his ass!”


Knockout: “Fine, but not because you asked.”


Scavenge: “Oh boy now’s my chance!”


Scrapper: “For what exactly?”


Scavenge: “To prove myself!”


Mix: “That you’ll go down in two hits instead of one?”


Scavenge: “No.”


Longhaul: “That you can actually survive more than twenty seconds?”


Scavenge: “NO!”


Longhaul: “Then what is it?”


Scavenge: “That I can do this!”


All of his teammates, Vortex, Swindle, Brawl, and Dragstrip look at him dumbfounded until Brawl lets a giggle slip. Then they all laugh at him, even some of the Sweeps overheard it. It’s not long until word travels through the arena and nearly everyone is laughing at him. Swindle is taking advantage of the situation.


Swindle: “Haha, yes you see that’s way funnier than what happened to me!”


Drag: “That was pretty funny, but this is even funnier!”


Scavenge: “I’ll show you, I'll show you all!”


Scavenger immediately falls down the stairs trying to reach the arena. He eventually makes his way to the ring where the countdown begins.


Knockout: “Let’s end this quickly. This dirt is getting on my finish, and that’s not good.”


Scavenge: “I agree.”


Knockout: “Galvatron wants me to beat you up, but I don’t have the stomach for it. Just surrender and we’ll both be happy.”


Scavenge: “I won’t be.”


Knockout: “You know you can’t win.”


Scavenge: “I’ll never know if I don’t try.”


Knockout: “Oh my...you’re serious. Fine I’ll make it quick then.”


Clash: “And begin!”


Scavenger goes for a punch, but Knockout sidesteps and punches him right in the stomach. Scavenger clutches it in pain and crumples to the floor.


Knockout: “Call the match, Clash, he can’t continue.”


Scavenge: “Shut up, I’m not done!”


Scavenger is slow to get up, and people are already rolling their eyes. What started as a joke has become an annoyance.


Sweep: “Get on with the next match!”


Skytread: “Take him down!”


Knockout decks Scavenger in the jaw. It appeases most of the audience, but they collectively groan when Scavenger continues to get up.


Scavenge: “You know, I know I suck. It’s been like that from the start. I just wanted it to be different just once.”


Knockout: “That hits a little too close to home. I was you a long time ago.”


Scavenge: “Then how did you change that?”


Knockout: “The change that happened in me can’t happen to everyone. You either have it or you don’t.”


Scavenge: “I see, then I’ll show you what I have.”


Scavenger unveils his new upgrade. The parts of the excavator’s shovel that are on his arms sharpen and then Scavenger manages to run fast enough while Knockout is distracted to tackle him to the ground. He inches the claws closer to his face, and it starts to scratch Knockout’s cheek. Knockout is through with this and knees Scavenger in the chest several times until he forces him off. He pulls out his electric staff and then zaps Scavenger until he falls to the floor. He’s barely moving, but Knockout doesn’t want to electrocute him any further. He twirls his staff above his head, switches to the blunt end, and then slams it down on Scavenger’s head to knock him out.


Riptide: “And Scavenger is knocked out colder than a victim of Cardi B!”


Clash: “The fight was like a trainwreck, but without the people dying.”


Some Sweeps come flying down and carry Scavenger’s body to the medical ward to treat his injuries.


Blitz: “That went by as quickly as I expected.”


Predaking: “Knockout got an easy win.”


Dirge: “And we didn’t see him unveil his new upgrade either. Smart.”


Motor: “It doesn't matter, If he faces any of us his fate is sealed.”


Cyclonus: “Good one of us made it through. Glad it was him.”


The next match and the final one to be shown in this specific part is one that has everyone on the edge of their seats. It’s the battle of the new incarnations as Cyclonus is pitted against Scourge.


Scourge: “At last, I’ll finally prove myself the better of us.”


Galvatron: “Just because he is part of our circle does not mean you should go easy on him. Treat every fight with caution.”


Cyclonus: “I’ll try to talk him out of it.”


Both combatants meet in the arena, and everyone puts in their votes. It’s a seventy thirty split in favor of Cyclonus.


Predaking: “I’m genuinely surprised Scourge got that high of a vote. No offense intended.”


Blitz: “I admit I don’t know much about either of these two so I’m going in blind.”


Motor: “Prepare yourselves, this is about to get messy.”


Scourge watches Cyclonus carefully and notices a very subtle difference about him, the hilt of his swords have something different about them. There are four buttons colored red, white, blue, and yellow. This is clearly the upgrade, but the purpose is still unknown.


Cyclonus: “Scourge, let’s just let me pass and I’ll win this for the both of us.”


Scourge: “Why? So you can have your way again?”


Cyclonus: “I don’t follow.”


Scourge: “I know you think you’re better than me. You think you’re doing me a service by convincing me to forfeit.”


Cyclonus: “No it’s that, I just don’t like facing off against friends.”


Scourge: “Friends huh? Making a lot of assumptions there.”


Cyclonus: “So I’m wrong?”


Scourge: “Friends have each other’s back. What have you done for me beside looks down on me?”


Cyclonus: “I’ve never looked down on you.”


Scourge: “But you are not a good teammate. Just because we were molded by the same god doesn’t mean we are the same. All you do is clamor over our leader like he’s a despot. Maybe it’s your programming, but you’re little more than a lapdog with swords.”


Cyclonus: “I’m just doing what was expected of me.”


Scourge: “And that’s all there is to you. Maybe it was my old self, but I don’t feel the way you do. I see everything as it is. If you think he gives a shit about you then you’re mistaken. Let me take this opportunity to beat some sense into you.”


Cyclonus: “It seems we both have something to prove. I won’t hold it against you for feeling this way, but I will make you respect the path I’ve chosen.”


Scourge: “You want my respect, then don’t hold back against me!”


Riptide: “Are you two ready?”


Both: “Yes.”


Riptide: “Then let the third match begin!”


Scourge isn’t one to waste time and pulls out his raygun with the speed of western sharpshooter. Cyclonus only barely dodges the first shot and is immediately forced on the defensive as Scourge fires more shots. Since no shots are missing he sets the gun to fire a continuous steam. Cyclonus has to slide underneath and pulls out his own blaster and shoots Scourge three times. While the shots do make him step back it does very little damage. The stream gets closer and grazes Cyclonus’s shoulder. He fires directly into Scourge’s hand. It hurts him just enough to drop his gun. Cyclonus takes the opportunity to close the distance gap and starts slashing him with his sword. He makes cut after cut to his chest and Scourge is forced to use his arms to shield himself from more attacks.


Cyclonus: “This is what you wanted right? No holding back! I hope this was worth it!”


Cyclonus makes a double vertical slash doward at Scourge to immobilize him, but Cyclonus and the rest of the audience gaps when Scourge grabs him by both wrists. The blood leaking from Scourge’s arms and the looks of satisfaction in his visor implies this battle has only just begun. Scourge tightens his grip on Cyclonus’s wrist and begins to crush them. He then slams Cyclonus on the ground, and he drops both his swords. Scourge kicks the swords away and Cyclonus is lifted up and gets a knee to the stomach. Cyclonus breaks free with the thrusters on his back. He attempts to shoot but Scourge pulls out his whip faster than Cyclonus can shoot, and Cyclonus’s gun is knocked out of his hands and out of the ring. Cyclonus is barely dodging the whip and gets in close to punch and kick Scourge with everything he has. Unfortunately for the master swordsman, Scourge’s bulky exterior too too for him to do any damage at all.


Scourge: “Are you serious? That’s all you have for me? I’ll show you what a real punch feels like!”


Scourge punches Cyclonus right in the nose and breaks it. Scourge continues punching Cyclonus at half strength, knocking him around. The audience cheers at his pain.


Octane: “Give him a punch for me!”


Astro: “Kick his teeth in!”


Vanish: “Take him down, Scourge!”


Scourge ramps up the pace and finishes with an uppercut.


Scourge: “I’m not going to be in your shadow any longer, Cyclonus. I’m on top.”


Cyclonus: “Your voice has been heard, but I won’t go out quietly!”


Cyclonus smacks his knuckles together to summon his shadow clones. They grab at Scourge’s arms to distract him Since they’re both only half Cyclonus’s strength they are fairly easy to dispatch. They do keep reappearing and wear him down just enough for Cyclonus to grab his swords. He boosts forward and slashes Scourge in the chest, and then does it in the back. Cyclonus continues with hit and run tactics, the best way to counter someone like Scourge.


Cyclonus should’ve figured Scourge still had a hand to play, and he still has his whip. He misses his attacks but Cyclonus is forced to transform and fly around. The speed of the jet is too fast for Scourge to even hit him. Cyclonus racks up more and more damage as Scourge begins to slow down.


Stench: “Looks like this is the end for Scourge.”


Slapper: “Not too surprising. Cyclonus is better by miles.”


Cyclonus goes for what would be the finishing blow, but Scourge pulls one of the boldest stunts so far in the tournament. Just as Cyclonus is beginning his transformation back into robot mode for the strike, Scourge pulls out his whip, and the whip unveils its upgrade. The tip of the strand splits into three strands, and the tips of the strands transforms into spiked balls. Cyclonus is about to hit Scourge, but he sees the whips. Unfortunately he is too deep into his own attack to flee, and both fighters trade blows. Cyclonus gets the worse trade between the two as the whips actually tore off one of his wings. Scourge despite getting two good cuts on his chest still stands.


Fear: “Whoa he actually got him!”


Terra: “This is much closer than I thought it would be.”


Galvatron: “Damn, you, Cyclonus, get up!”


Cyclonus: “I can't believe it...you would risk that just for a chance at me?”


Scourge: “I knew I had no chance of keeping up with you, so instead I’d let you trap yourself.”


Cyclous: “But those injuries are severe!”


Scourge: “Only one of us is willing to do what it takes to win. Let me show you what it feels like to lose!”


The triple whip strikes Cyclonus in the chest and actually cracks part of it. It hits him in the face and dents his cheek. He falls to the ground and the whip is wrapped around his right ankle. Scourge is thrashing Cyclonus all around the arena, swinging him into the rocks, making sure his body and face hit them. After that he continuously whips Cyclonus in the back.


Scourge: (sadistic) “Oh how I love therapy!”


Riptide: “Oh the calamity! The delicious torture we see now is exactly what we needed!”


Clash: “Look at that pain and misery Cyclonus is going through. We caught it in 4K!”


Riptide: “It’s almost as good as my favorite snuff films!”


Splicer: “I can’t bear to look.”


Scourge decides that enough is enough and begins to drag Cyclonus over to the edge. He seems to hit a bump in the road, but doesnt pay attention to it.


Scourge: “I’m done with this. Your yells of pain almost made up for all the shit I had put up with you….almost. Now that I got this match in the bag, I’m going to take out whoever’s next even easier.”


Cyclonus: “And what makes you think you’ve won?”


Thrust: “Scourge, look out!”


Scourge: “What?”


Scourge feels a massive pain in his stomach. He looks down and sees that Cyclonus stabbed him with both of his swords. He staggers back as Cyclonus removes both blades from his body. He falls to his knees.


Scourge: “How did you…”


Scourge suddenly remembers that bump in the road. It wasn’t a bump at all.


Cyclonus: “I had to let you thrash me around long enough for me to pick up my swords off the floor.”


Scourge: “I should’ve never turned my back on you, that’s my fault.”


Cyclonus: “You proved yourself today. The fight is mine though.”


Riptide: “Those wounds look fatal from here.”


Cyclonus: “Don't worry, I purposely missed his vitals. The worst he’ll have is a bad stomach ache.”


Clash: “We’ll take your word for it. Shall we call it in favor of you


Scourge: -snarling- “Don’t you dare call it!”


Clash: (nervously) “Yes sir!”


Cyclonus: “But you’re in too grave a condition to continue.”


Scourge: “Shut your mouth! It’s not fair!”


Cyclonus: “What do you mean? We both fought to our limits.”


Scourge: “Not that! It’s your power.”


Cyclonus: “What do they have to do with anything?”


Scourge: “Everything. When we became reformatted by Unicron we all got a new look and abilities, except me. Galvatron became a triple changer, and you got your shadow clones. I got nothing, why?”


Cyclous: “You know what? That’s that’s great question. I’ve been so focused on everything else I never realized that Unicron never gave you something.”


Scourge: “Because I’m fated to be in your shadow, just like your clones.”


Scourge slams his fist on the floor.


Scourge: “Just once I want something to go my way, is that so hard to ask?”


He slams his fist down harder. A very faint click is heard.


Scourge: “I’d rather die than ever admit defeat to you! You’ll have to ring me out or knock me out!”


Cyclonus: “So be it.”


Scourge slams his fist down on the ground in pure rage the hardest his remaining strength will allow. That seems to be the magic way because his left hand begins to vibrate. A panel in the palm of his hand opens up to reveal a shape that looks like an upside down Y that glows blue. Within two seconds of it charging, Cyclonus is suddenly rolling across the arena from some sort of force. It’s not a laser or any real type of energy, this is something else.


Clash: “Looks like Scourge has a power after all. He just needed to throw a temper tantrum.”


Riptide: “Let this be a lesson, everyone. If you scream loud and long enough you’ll get what you want even if you don't deserve it.”


Scourge checks his other wrist and it has the same hidden ability. He flicks it on and off to test it and decides he’s confident to attack Cyclonus. He is about to blast him but something unexpected happens. The panel on his left hand separates from him and hits the floor, and it blasts its beam upwards. Scourge accidently steps directly over it, but instead of being damaged he is lifted high into the air.


Soundwave: “These appear to be some sort of gravity lifts.”


Scourge can’t fly from being too gravely injured. He thinks the fall will be his doom, but one last surprise was in store for him. He not only landed on his feet, but the landing felt light as a feather. Apparently he has a second ability where he not only is completely immune to fall damage of any kind, but when he’s specifically in robot mode he gets a two second boost of running mobility that could be a perfect early attack.


He catches up to Cyclonus and puts his other hand over his head and activates the gravity switch. It forces Cyclonus to the ground and continues to apply it to him to try to make him get crushed all the way through the arena. It looks like victory is his but he feels a burning sensation on his foot. It forces him to stagger back and he sees that Cyclonus’s swords are glowing red.


Scourge: “So that’s your upgrade huh? Status effects. Red means you heat your blades up. That must be used in emergencies like that. What do the others do?”


Cyclonus: “I’ll show you only one more. No offense to you, but it’s best I keep the other two under wraps against other foes. I’ll show what yellow does since you’re so curious!”


Cyclonus flicks the yellow switch, and the swords emanate electricity. Scourge has no time to attack and he gets struck hard in the face. It feels like getting hit with the combined force of a defibrillator, electric fence, and cattle prod, but with the speed and elegance of a blade. He takes more hits to the face and body and gets to the edge of the arena. Cyclonus lays out one last double slash to Scourge’s body and knocks him over. As he falls Scourge sends out one last hit of his triple whip that knocks one sword off of Cyclonus’s hand, and the remaining whip wraps around his ankle and yanks him to the bottom with him.


Scourge: “I might not be able to beat you, but I can make you lose with me!”


The buzzer sounds and the fight is over. Scourge is lying in the substance barely able to move due to his injuries and pure exhaustion. The audience has their jaws collectively dropped (well, those that have jaws anyway)


Riptide: “Unbelievable, what a conclusion. Cyclonus is the winner!”


Scourge: “WHAT DO YOU JUST SAY????? IT’S A DOUBLE LOSS!”


Clash: “Look again in instant replay!”


The replay shows something that only a master like Cyclonus could pull off. As he was yanked off with Scourge he thought of a crazy solution. With the remaining sword in his hand he threw it into the floor below and it was planted perfectly inside. He then used what little power in his thrusters to slow his descent as much as he could. Finally, Cyclonus lands on the hilt of the sword with one foot and stays blanched on top of it. Since Cyclonus technically never touched the substance himself he managed to pull off the win by the most narrow margin.


Mix: “Now that’s what I call a show! Well worth the money.”


Scrapper: “It’s free.”


Mix: “Even better!”


Cyclonus: “You did amazing, Scourge.”


Scourge: “I’ll let you have this one for now. I have some new powers to get used to.”


Dirge: “Curse that Cyclonus, he’s far too dangerous to be beaten.”


Predaking: “That was a battle of warriors. Truly spectacular.”


Blitz: “At the very least we got to see him unveil half of his new upgrade. The other half must be quite strong for him to not use it in such a close match.”


Motr; “It doesn’t matter what he has. If I face him he will be crushed.”


Tarn: “Never change, Motormaster.”


Galvatron: “Well that’s another ally making it through.”


Splicer: “I wonder who’s next.”


Clash: “What an incredible finish, and this is only the third match of the first round! I don’t think the next match will hold a candle to that one.”


Riptide: “Which is fine, you can always impress us next time. Let’s see what’s next!”


The next match is set to be another one on one, and the fighters are a very unexpected pair. While the winner is almost guaranteed it’s no doubt going to be interesting to watch. They are Splicer and Ramjet.