The Transformers: Evolutions: Dark Designs, Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE: THE ULTRACONS

"Well, this is certainly a surprise," Megatron muttered as he approached the five Transformers that comprised the Ultracons. 

"Indeed," said the group's leader Barricade, a horned Decepticon colored in black and gold. "Commander Shockwave simply did not see the...need to inform you."

"Ah, I see," Megatron replied. "Luckily, I actually have use for you..."

"Anything, Lord Megatron!" exclaimed the large, towering Decepticon known as Lugnut. "Anything for the glorious Decepticon cause!"

"Shut it, Lugnut," Barricade snapped. He turned back to Megatron. "What is it you require from us, my lord?"

Megatron brought out a hologram projector and activated it, revealing the image of an oil refinery. "There is a large supply of Energon at this refinery. However, we need Decepticons with more...ground-based alt modes, since a majority of my forces are fliers."

"No problem there," said a tall red Decepticon called Knock Out. "I have already uploaded a few ground vehicles into my databanks."

He projected various holographic images of Earthen vehicles, including automobiles, tanks, and cruisers. Barricade scanned a black police car and his body adapted as such. Lugnut, on the other hand, decided to chose an aerial form, scanning a heavy bomber aircraft. 

Meanwhile, a small, lanky Transformer known as Sideways scanned a violet motorcycle with yellow stripes, and a stout, bulky Decepticon who went by the name of Demolishor chose an anti-aircraft missile tank. Finally, Knock Out scanned a small, red sports automobile. 

Once the five Ultracons had adapted to their Earth forms, Megatron spoke again. "Very good. Soundwave then shall accompany you."

As if on cue, the stoic blue Decepticon converted into his tape deck form and landed into Barricade's hand.

"Now go," Megatron ordered as the Ultracons transformed into their vehicle modes. "Retrieve the Energon!"

*  *  *

"Prime!" the Autobot lieutenant Jazz called. "You've gotta' see this!"

Optimus Prime, along with Prowl and the veteran Ironhide, ran up to Jazz, who sat at Teletraan One's monitor. On the screen, they could see moving red dots heading towards an oil refinery.

"Leakin' lubricants!" Ironhide exclaimed. "I thought those 'Cons had given up!"

"I know Megatron," Optimus muttered. "He hardly ever gives up easily. Jazz?"

"Yeah, Prime?" 

"Take Ironhide, Sideswipe, and Mirage to the oil refinery with you, and see what you can do to stop the Decepticons."

"No problem, Big Bot," Jazz replied as he shifted into his Prosche 997 car mode. "C'mon, old iron. Let's roll."

Grumbling something about 'turbo-revving punks', Ironhide transformed into a red SUV and followed Jazz.

*  *  *

"I see no human resistance, Barricade," said Sideways as he drove into the oil refinery. "Guess we better start scouring."

Behind him drove in Barricade, Knock Out, and Demolishor, all of them transforming into their robot modes, along with Soundwave.

"So," Barricade muttered, turning to Knock Out. "Where do we start?"

Dropping down to his knees, Knock Out scanned the area with an arm-mounted scanner device. "I am picking up a lot of Energon below our very feet. Demolishor, did you bring the Energon transfers?"

The brutish Decepticon nodded, holding out multiple pipes that were often used to transfer Energon into cubes.

"Soundwave, deploy the Energon cubes," Barricade ordered the blue Decepticon. The emotionless communications officer nodded and soon, five empty cubes came from out of his chest. Just as the six Decepticons were about to work, five automobiles drove into the refinery behind them.

Sideways was the first to notice this and he let out a quiet chuckle. "Looks like we have company."

One by one the vehicles transformed and five Autobots soon stood ready to take on the Decepticons.

"Alright, Decepti-creeps," the red Autobot known as Ironhide growled, deploying his arm cannons. "Yer' days are numbered!"

"I wouldn't count on that," Demolishor muttered as he rotated his shoulder cannons and fired. The Autobots evaded the attacks and fired their own weapons. The Ultracons split up and tackled each Autobot, with Barricade taking on Jazz, Demolishor brawling with Ironhide, Sideways with Sideswipe, and Knock Out and Soundwave with Mirage.

*  *  *

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Autobot combatants, Lugnut transformed into his aerial mode and flew overhead, trying to decide on the best attack. Before he could think of one however, an object zoomed past him, sending the bomber jet Decepticon spinning out of control.

After straightening himself out, Lugnut converted back into his robot mode and searched angrily for what had distracted him. Finally, he caught sight of a white and red jet with modified thrusters and weapons, the latter which were firing. Noticing the Autobot insignias on the jet's wings, Lugnut chuckled to himself as he readied his unique arm weapon, which his fellow Utracons often dubbed the 'POKE' (for Punch of Kill Everything).

Just as he was about to ram his arm into the Autobot jet, the latter transformed and slammed his fist into the Decepticon's face. The titan roared in rage as the Autobot fired a pair of shoulder cannons into Lugnut's chest. Temporarily blind, Lugnut lost control of his flight capabilities and plummeted towards the ground below.

*  *  *

"Jumping gyros!" Autobot Sideswipe exclaimed, noticing that the falling Decepticon was headed right for where he and the others stood. "Let's split!"

Autobot and Decepticon alike moved for cover as the robot titan crashed to the ground, shaking the earth and leaving a crater-sized hole in the cement. The mysterious winged Autobot who had injured Lugnut slowly landed next to his defeated body, aiming his arm-mounted weapons at the cowering Ultracons.

"Who's next?" the newcomer asked. The Ultracons' response was to transform into their vehicle modes and drive off, fleeing from the oil refinery. Once they were gone, the Autobot turned to Sideswipe and the others and smiled.

"Need help taking this guy back to base?"

"Hang on!" Ironhide said, eying the newcomer skeptically. "Who are you? I don't remember seein' your face back on Cybertron?"

The winged Autobot chuckled. "Well, it has been a while, old timer. Name's Jetfire, Air Commander of the Autobot Sky Force."

*  *  *

"Lord Megatron, Soundwave and the Ultracons have returned," the Decepticon warrior known as Skywarp said, standing at the base's entrance.

Megatron stepped out of the base to see the Ultracons drive up, noticeably without Energon cubes...and Lugnut. 

The moment the five Decepticons had transformed into their robot modes, Megatron's scarlet eyes flared with fury. "Where is Lugnut? Where are the Energon cubes?"

Barricade glanced around nervously, as if searching for help. "Well...you see, my lord, the Autobots came and-"

"I thought your specialization was destroying Autobots easily," Megatron growled.

Barricade shifted his feet. "Yes, my lord. But, you see, this Autobot flier came and...he defeated Lugnut. We didn't stand a chance!"

"Wait," said Starscream, who had just walked up beside Megatron. "An Autobot flier, you say? Quite a rarity...was he white and red?"

"Yes," Barricade replied, his optics narrowing. "Why?"

"Yes, Starscream," Megatron muttered, turning to face the Air Commander. "Do you know this Autobot?"

"A little too well," Starscream murmured. "His name is Jetfire, though, back on Cybertron, he went by the name Skyfire."

"And how do you know him?"

Starscream smirked. "For the most part, he is my brother."