CHAPTER THREE
As the Ark slowly landed on the Junk Planet, Optimus Prime could clearly see why it was called such. Heaps of trash and debris piled up everywhere; crashed spaceships jutted out of some, discarded equipment out of others. After he and those on the bridge surveyed the terrain- if it could truly be called that- it was Sideswipe who voiced their minds.
"What a dump."
"My sentiments exactly," Perceptor said. "Now then, who shall go down to meet with the natives?"
"You, Wheeljack, and Bulkhead shall accompany me," Optimus Prime told the scientist. "I plan on making this meeting short and simply ask for help on repairing our ship."
As the four of them set out from the Ark, they were instantly greeted by the roar of engines. Up on the horizon, fast approaching them, was a group of dirt-colored vehicles, mostly comprised of motorcycles and garbage haulers. Upon reaching the Autobots, they all screeched to a halt and converted into robot forms.
What Optimus presumed to be the leader stepped forward and offered the Autobot leader his hand, grinning widely.
"Welcome to Junkion!" he said rather loudly. "I am Wreck-Gar! Who might you be?"
"Er, Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots," Optimus replied, shaking Wreck-Gar's hand. "Our ship is critically damaged, so we were hoping that-"
"Ah, say no more!" Wreck-Gar exclaimed. "We Junkions are experts at fixing stuff!"
"Glad to hear it," Wheeljack said. "But, uh, what about the distress signal we were picking up?"
An utterly baffled look crossed Wreck-Gar's face. "Distress signal? What distress signal? I don't know any distress signal." Turning to his fellow Junkions, he said, "Does anyone here know of a distress signal?"
The others gave a collective shake of the head. Wreck-Gar turned back to the Autobots and shrugged. "Sorry, pals. No distress signal here."
Optimus sighed. "Never mind that. Our ship is missing a rear thruster. Can you replace it?"
Wreck-Gar grinned. "Sure we can! Fixing stuff is our game! Do you need it done by a certain time?"
"The quicker, the better."
"Then let's move!" Wreck-Gar clapped his hands and, as one, the numerous Junkions moved towards the Ark and began assessing the damage.
Watching them work, Bulkhead said, "Looks like this will be a short visit."
"Try not to jinx it, buddy," Wheeljack muttered. "That's the last thing we need right now."
* * *
"I grow tired of waiting."
Piloting the Nemesis as it went through hyperspace, Barricade said, "Don't look at me. Soundwave's in control of detecting the Autobots."
Megatron scowled. "Spare me your insolence. I asked for a report, not excuses."
"It appears we have lost them, Lord Megatron," Soundwave said. "I cannot pickup the tracking beacon Makeshift placed on their ship."
Growling, Megatron ordered, "Bring us out of hyperspace!"
Barricade did so and the Nemesis exited out into an uncharted system. Megatron then rose from his command chair and stormed towards Soundwave's monitor station.
"Are you certain that you can't find the signal?" the Decepticon leader snapped.
"Something appears to be interfering it," Soundwave said. "By my readings, it appears to be a distress signal."
"Find out where it's coming from and who it's from," Megatron ordered. "If we find that out, then we might be able to find the Ark."
"Unless it's some elaborate ruse of Optimus Prime's fabrication," Starscream muttered. "It would be such a shame to fall for such a trick."
Megatron gave him a scathing look. "Starscream, the last thing I need is critical comments from you. Make yourself useful and prepare your Seekers for an aerial recon or assault, depending on Soundwave's findings."
Starscream scowled at him but went to carry out his orders anyway. Not long after, Soundwave provided Megatron with a report.
"My lord, the signal appears to be of Decepticon origin."
Megatron whirled around to face him, incredulous. "What? Are you sure?"
"Affirmative. It is heavily encrypted to disguise its origin from Autobot sensors, but it is no doubt from one of our own."
The Decepticon leader scratched his chin. "Where is it hailing from?"
"From a nearby system, approximately on the edge of Autobot space. Give me a few minutes to decipher the location."
Leaving Soundwave to his work, Megatron returned to his command chair and awaited the comm officer's next report. He could practically taste his inevitable triumph over Optimus Prime and the Autobots. For too long had he been waiting for that moment.
And it was without a doubt short at hand.
* * *
"Captain, we've picked up a signal."
Thundertron, captain of the Tidal Wave and leader of the Star Seekers, shifted forward in his seat. "Of what sort?"
"Still tryin' to decipher, captain," said Stronghorn. "It's certainly Cybertronian."
Thundertron grinned savagely. "Excellent. Our first catch of the day. Where is it coming from?"
"Junkion, Autobot territory."
"Bring the ship out of hyperspace!" Thundertron roared, starling those around him.
Stronghorn did as told and brought the Tidal Wave out of hyperspace. As the irregularly-shaped word of Junkion came into view, the Star Seeker captain chuckled.
Today was going to be a good one.
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