Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVII, Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR
--Cybertron--

    Thrusters roaring, the three jets shot over the ruins of Kaon. For countless years it had been Cybertron's industrial center, as well as the heart of its criminal activity. But now it was no different than any of the other cities that had fallen.

    "I am picking up high energon readings," Scourge said, flying to Galvatron's left. "Extremely high."

    Galvatron dipped his nosecone slightly to find the source of the reading: a very angry Megatron, powered by Ultra-Energon.

    Ever despot needs a challenger....

    As one, the three Heralds converted to their robot modes and landed before the usurped Decepticon leader, the latter flanked by his followers. With a twisted smirk, Galvatron stepped ahead of his own group.

    "It figures. You rely on a power source to fight me rather than your own physical strength. That is so much like you."

    Megatron sneered. "Only so I can more easily ensure your certain demise."

    Galvatron scoffed. "How can you possibly hope to defeat me? I have slayed Myskrion and his Headmasters at the Battle of Aegiax. I decimated the Destron Legions and conquered the Darklands. Powerful warriors such as Ecliptor have fallen to my wrath. What have you done to match my accomplishments?"

    A blaster bolt from Megatron's fusion cannon narrowly missed Galvatron's head. Violet energy flared from Megatron's optics.

    "I have conquered worlds. I have expanded an empire. I have toppled cities. Armies have trembled before me-- Autobot and other. I have seen the light and been thrown into the abyss-- and survived both."

    He reached behind his back and brought out a battle mace. "Two Primes have fallen to my wrath... though it would seem I didn't do a good enough job with one of them. Allow me to fix that."

    With that, he released a roaring battle cry and charged into battle with the ancient warrior.

--Gigantion--

    If one word came to mind upon seeing Gigantion's cities, it was big. The smallest of the buildings were the size of skyscrapers while anything taller reached all the way to the edge of the stratosphere.

    "Wow," Bumblebee commented as he stepped off the with the others. "Looks like someone had a lot of time on their hands."

    "The natives of Gigantion had a thing for architecture," Glyph said. "They desired nothing more but to refine their skills and build grander structures, rather than to take part in any war."

    "So, where are the natives?" Bulkhead asked, scanning the deserted city.

    "They are presumed to have died out roughly five hundred years ago," Glyph said. "No one knows what caused their extinction."

    "I have no doubt we will soon find the answer," Optimus said. "Windblade, scout overhead and let us know if you find anything interesting."

    As Windblade morphed to her jet form and took off, the other Autobots began to explore the large city. Glyph instantly took interest in a series of ancient hieroglyphics carved into the base of one of the buildings.

    "This is Old Cybertronian," she murmured, getting down on her knees to examine it. "Looks like it was carved in a hurry."

    "Do you know what it says?" Perceptor asked.

    "I can't make out most of the words. All I can decipher is... something about the 'end of days.'"

    "Yeah, that isn't cryptic at all," Brainstorm said dryly.

    "This isn't funny," Drift said. "There's something bad here, something apocalyptic."

    "I'm pretty sure we've all gathered as much from that," Bumblebee said. "Now it's the question of whether we go looking for it... or let it come to us."

    "Better make it the latter." Windblade came swooping back towards them, returning to robot mode. "I just saw something really bad a few buildings down."

    "What is it?" Optimus asked.

    "Well, they number about a hundred, they're big, they're gold... and they have freakishly huge swords."

--Lost Light--

    Humming a soft tune to himself (it had been stuck in his head for ages, and he didn't even know what it was called), Skids dangled his legs over the oil reservoir. It was a nice, quiet place where he could find some time to think, unlike Swerve's bar, where the bartender alone could drive anyone out.

    Here, he thought about his past, which he found to be rather messy; he had been to so many timelines that his memory banks frequently required refreshing. The more recent he had been to stood out in his mind for mainly one reason: he could not remember where he had been before then.

    It was as if someone had gone into his memories and erased a certain portion of them. To say it disturbed him would have been an understatement. All he knew was that it had something to do with giant gold robots with huge swords that constantly went--

    "Nineteen eighty-four."

    Skids' optics went wide even before the monstrous shapes started to emerge from the reservoir....

*  *  *

    "So they have datapads and holo-zines on Earth, too?"

    "Yeah!" Hound said, sitting across from Riptide and Nautica at Swerve's bar. "Except they call datapads 'tablets' and they use something called 'pay-per' for holo-zines. And they're called magazines instead. But other than that, it's a lot like what we have!"

    Riptide rubbed his chin. "Hmm, interesting. These humans certainly sound like an intriguing species."

    "Frankly, I think they sound weird," Nautica said. "I mean, seriously, who eats organic food?"

    Hound began counting on his fingers. "Nebulans, Temptorians... quite a lot of species."

    "Seventeen twenty-one."

    "I wouldn't say that many--"

    "Get down!" Nautica lunged across the table to push Hound off his seat as gunfire came behind the latter. While Riptide scurried for cover and Swerve ducked behind the counter, Nautica brandished her wrench, glaring at the gun-toting golden giant standing in the doorway to the bar.

    "I have no idea who the heck you are, but you're gonna get it, buster."

    "Seventeen twenty-one."

--Gigantion--

    "A hundred of them?" Brainstorm said incredulously. "Did you seriously say--"

    "I meant what I said!" Windblade snapped. "So what say we do something about it instead of acting like sitting cyber-ducks?"

    "First, we must find our inner compass," Drift said calmly. "We must calm ourselves before--"

    "Oh, sure, let's all take advice from the ex-Decepticon," Windblade said angrily. "The ex-Decepticon who maimed and killed Autobots for a good half of his--"

    "That's enough, Windblade," Optimus said sternly. "Drift has a point; we need to keep a level head. Are these golden bots approaching our position?"

    Still glaring at Drift, Windblade said, "No, they appeared to be stationary. I'm not sure if they saw me though...."

    "Either way, we'll have to take the risk of going towards them. Lead us to--"

    "Now, now, there's no need for that."

    The Autobots turned to see a tall, lanky figure emerging from the shadow of a building, flanked by others in the darkness. Optimus narrowed his optics at the newcomer.

    "Lockdown."

    The bounty hunter smirked. "Been a while, Prime. Not so long for you, Deadlock," he added with a nod to the ex-Decepticon.

    "What are you doing here?" Drift asked darkly.

    "I should be asking the same of you." Lockdown flashed a wicked grin. "How about you come quietly with me to my employer. Maybe then we can all get our answers."

    Optimus regarded the bounty hunter and his cronies for a moment before raising his hands in surrender. The others reluctantly followed suit.

    "Very well. Take us to your leader."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVII, Chapter Three

I'm done doing chapter previews, just so you know.

CHAPTER THREE

--The Lost Light, the bridge--

    "Gigantion, huh? So we're finally going to Gigantion," Bumblebee said. "Not Junkion or Aquatron or Earth. Gigantion. After 113 years. Wow."

    Skids glanced at him oddly before turning to Arcee, who was staring at the stars out one of the ship's ports. "Am I missing something?"

    "It's a long story," Arcee replied. "We had to make quite a few detours on our trip."

    "Is that right? So you had to make a stop at Junkion of all places?"

    Arcee shrugged. "Like I said, it's a long story."

    "Did you stop by Velocitron?" asked Swerve as he passed by. "Did you see Blurr?"

    Arcee sighed exasperatedly. "Yes, we saw Blurr, at a race. No, we didn't talk with him or get his autograph. Please, shut up."

    "Don't bother," Skids snorted. "It never works, from what I hear."

    Sure enough, no more than two seconds later: "Did you get his autograph?"

*  *  *

    "I see you've been busy in the past century," Perceptor commented as he entered Brainstorm's cluttered lab, where the aforementioned scientist and Nautica were working. Picking up a small metal sphere, he held it up close to his optic. "What is this?"

    "Don't touch it!" Brainstorm quickly snatched it from his hands. "It's a prototype suspense bomb. Once detonated, it causes the victim to think time is slowing down, leaving them hanging in suspense."

    Perceptor crossed his arms. "And how exactly would anyone benefit from that?"

    "I, well, er... you just never know." Putting the bomb away, he then turned to Nautica, who was focused on some sort of project. "How are things proceeding, my young apprentice?"

    "Don't call me that," Nautica said through gritted teeth. "And be quiet! I'm trying to work here."

    "Oh, okay," Brainstorm whispered in a mockful tone. "I'll give you your privacy. Didn't mean to interrupt. Sheesh."

    "What is she working on?" Perceptor asked.

    "Her wrench. She wants to give it more gadgets so she can do more than just fix things and throw it at people."

    "Interesting."

    "Mm, not really. So! What have you been up to lately?"

    Perceptor frowned, his shoulders sagging. "Well...."

*  *  *

    "Y'know, it's funny when you think about it, Shock," the blue Duobot said to his red lookalike as they worked in the Lost Light's engine rooms. "Just a month or so ago, we only had a ruddy four crew-members on our ship-- five, before the captain left us. Now we've got a whoopin' twenty-three, and Optimus slaggin' Prime is one of them!"

    "Hard to believe, isn't it?" Shock laughed as he finished welding a panel on a thruster shut. "Though not as hard to believe as Skids' little story."

    "Ugh, don't remind me." Ore shook his head. "I'm still tryin' to wrap my processor around it: I mean, all of that because of a plant?"

    "Yeah, I know. I guess when you're a time traveler, you--" Shock suddenly paused, his hand moving up to his communicator. "Huh? Now? But we haven't-- eh? Okay, if you say so."

    Turning to his brother, the red Duobot said, "That was Prime. We're making the jump to hyperspace now. Is the hyper-drive all set?"

    "Aw slag, I totally forgot." Ore quickly rushed over to the hyper-drive and opened a panel in it, fiddling with its inner workings. When he was done, he started to pull his arms out... only for them to get caught.

    "Hyperspace sequence initiated. Jumping in ten... nine...."

    "Are you done yet?" Shock asked. "We've gotta get out of here!"

    "My arms are stuck!" Ore cried.

    "Seven... six...."

    Shock grabbed a hold of Ore and heaved, but no matter how much strength he used, he could not get his brother free.

    "Five... four...."

    "Hang on, I'll use my torch," Shock said, deploying his tool.

    "Better hurry!"

    "Three... two...."

    "Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurr--!"

    "One."

*  *  *

    Optimus Prime's world had become red.

    Alarms blared all over the bridge. Most of the Autobots were on the floor like he was, disoriented from the violent tumult that had shaken the ship upon making the jump to lightspeed. Picking himself up, he called out, "What just happened?!"

    Riptide pulled himself back to his monitor. "Some explosion went off in the engine rooms! The hyper-drive is damaged!"

    Optimus directed his attention to the viewport, where a tunnel of stretched out stars twirled before it. "Anyway we can pull out?"

    Before Riptide could answer, Perceptor, Brainstorm, and Nautica entered the bridge, the latter rushing to the hyper-drive controls.

    "I'm on it!" she said. "I'm a quantum mechanic."

    "What?!" Riptide exclaimed. "Since when?"

    "Since always. Now shut up and let me work."

    Her hands moving almost as fast as lightning, Nautica worked with the hyper-drive controls, activating emergency backup systems to lessen the damage somewhat and eventually brought the ship out of hyperspace, bringing it out before a massive, purple world.

    "Huh," Bumblebee said. "We actually dropped out at our original destination, and without crashing. That's a first."

    "We still can't land, though," Windblade said grimly. "The engines are out completely."

    "Then we'll have to take a shuttle," Optimus said. "I'll take a team down with me to scout out the landscape. We'll contact you if we need reinforcements."

    "I'll stay back to command the ship," Elita said. Her voice suddenly became quiet as she said, "Be safe, Optimus."

    Optimus caught her gaze and stared into her optics. After a quiet moment, he nodded. "I promise."

    With that, he went to quickly gather up a team. Soon, with Bumblebee, Drift, Bulkhead, Brainstorm, Perceptor, Glyph, and Windblade, he was heading down for the Lost Light's shuttle bay, where two gold shuttles awaited them.

    "What do you think we'll find down there?" Bulkhead asked. "Glyph tells me there's less data on Gigantion than any of the colony worlds, besides Gorlam Prime."

    "Who can say?" Optimus said. "After all I've been through, I have to wonder if anything can faze me now."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVII, Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

--Cybertron--

    I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I am that which is, which was, and is yet to come... and you will know my name is Megatron when I lay my vengeance upon you.

    Megatron looked down at his copy of the Covenant of Primus. It had been years since he had last looked upon it, centuries even. After taking over the Decepticons, he had found little need to consult in it, having no time for myths and legends.

    It was only now that he read its passages once again, poised to fulfill his destiny, to rediscover himself, and better plot out his plan for the future.

    If there was ever going to be a future.

    "Everything is ready, Lord Megatron."

    The Decepticon leader turned his attention to the winged blue and gold mech standing behind him. Ever since Soundwave had revealed himself to be a Herald of Unicron, Megatron had been wary of him-- even after he had declared himself his servant once again.

    Pushing aside his doubts and the Covenant, Megatron simply nodded. "Then we begin."

--Earth--

    "So this is Earth," Swerve said, looking across the rocky plains where the Autobot base was located near. "I dunno, but I was kind of expecting... more."

    "Like what?" Bumblebee asked, standing next to him with Hound and Skids.

    "I dunno, just... more. Like... colossal buildings and cities and... stuff."

    "Ah, we have plenty of those on Cybertron," Hound said. "Personally, I love it here; the creatures are beautiful, the moon is gorgeous... I could go on!"

    "Really, he could," Bumblebee muttered.

    "Well, it's certainly a lot cleaner than when I last visited here," Skids said.

    Swerve gave him a confused look. "Wait, you've been here before? Since when?"

    Skids waved off the question. "It's not important." He then looked back towards the base, where the other Autobots were filling each other in on recent events. "They're probably gonna take a while, if they're gonna go over every single detail."

    "I hope they get to the part where we met Blurr," Swerve said excitedly. "That's been the most exciting thing on this trip!"

    "Wow, I so wish I could have been there," Bumblebee said sarcastically. "That would have been a lot more fun than nearly being killed by Megatron or Scorponok."

    Swerve frowned. "Sorry if I hit a nerve circuit there."

    "I'm just saying that we haven't exactly had it easy here like you guys."

    "And it's only going to get worse."

    The four Autobots turned to see Optimus Prime, Elita One, and others exiting the base. While Elita had her entire team with her, Optimus only had Drift, Arcee, Bulkhead, and Perceptor accompanying him.

    "We are leaving to complete our original mission: to find the AllSpark shards," Optimus informed them. "Bumblebee, Hound, you'll be coming along as well."

    As the assembled crew headed back for the Lost Light, Bumblebee looked from Drift to Windblade, both of them keeping a great distance from each other. He then turned to Optimus, keeping his voice low.

    "Are you sure it's a good idea having those two on the same ship?"

    "It was Elita's suggestion," Optimus replied. "Besides, I doubt they'd go so far as to kill each other."

    "I don't know," Bumblebee murmured. "She came pretty close to doing so earlier."

    Optimus inclined his head. "Revenge can be an unpredictable beast. I'll be sure to keep an optic on them."

    Upon reaching the huge ship, Bumblebee took the moment to take one last look at the scenery of Earth. Although he was not quite as close to it as Hound was, he was somewhat fond of it and its natives, and was sad to leave it behind.

    "Do you think we'll ever come back?" he asked Prime.

    Optimus stopped but only to slightly look over his shoulder. "We can only hope."

    With that, he went up into the Lost Light. It wasn't long before Bumblebee followed him.

--Cybertron--

    Galvatron did not need Scourge's droning report to know what had been done: the Nega-Core on Animatron had been activated, with Velocitron's following suit. Aquatron and Combatron had already been handled, Earth mysteriously so... all that was left was Gigantion, which had mysteriously reappeared after having been gone for so long. However, the time was not quite right to activate it.

    Cutting off Scourge with the sharp wave of a hand, Galvatron got off of his throne. Looking up towards the darkened sky, he said to the hunter, "It's time we find Vector Sigma."

    Scourge arched an optic ridge. "Vector Sigma? Is it really necessary to the plan?"

    "Perhaps not, but I am curious to find out if the legends are true," Galvatron said. "According to the Guiding Hand myth, it is said that Primus reformatted himself into Vector Sigma. Perhaps through it we can reach Primus and make the upcoming Reunification a smoother process."

    "And if not?" Scourge inquired.

    Galvatron smirked. "Then we could always use it to create the next generation of Cybertronians under our command."

    Scourge bowed his head. "Shall we head on over to Kaon then?"

    "Indeed we shall." A dark expression clouded Galvatron's face. "And perhaps put an end to a certain group of traitors."

*  *  *

    "This was all the Ultra-Energon I was able to procure," Knock Out said as he readied the cobbled-together vat connected to the powerful ore. "As soon as we landed the Nemesis, security got all uptight about it. Good thing I had a spare buffer on person, otherwise...."

    Megatron tuned out the medic's self-obsessed rant, instead eying the vat warily. "Are you sure this will be... sufficient enough to perform the infusion?"

    "Hmm? Oh, I'm sure it'll be find." Knock Out waved a dismissive hand. "It might look like scrap from the outside, but it should still work smoothly."

    "And if it doesn't," Lugnut growled, coming up behind the red Decepticon, "I'll make sure you never make the same mistake again... or anything at all."

    "Stand down, Lugnut," Megatron snapped. "We have no time for infighting." He then stepped into the vat and turned to nod at Knock Out. "Begin."

    The medic closed up the vat and pressed a few commands on the control panel. In seconds, the cylinder was choked up in purple smoke and energy was surging into Megatron's system, eliciting pained cries from him.

    "Master!" Lugnut rushed up to the vat, ready to tear it open. "He's in pain! Get him out of there at once!"

    "Move away, you lug!" Knock Out cried. "He's supposed to be screaming! It's part of the process! ...I think."

    Ignoring him, Lugnut tore the cylinder's doors open... and was greeted with a fusion cannon to the face. Stepping out of the vat, glowing with pinkish-violet energy, was Megatron, eyes blazing.

    While Lugnut struggled to pick himself back up, Knock Out slowly stepped away from the Decepticon leader. "Wow... hadn't even gotten to twenty percent yet."

    "Thankfully, it will be enough," Megatron growled. "Now we wait. If what Soundwave claims to have overheard is true, Galvatron will be coming here to reach Vector Sigma."

    As if on cue, the roar of jet engines were heard in the distance, as a trio of fighters approached.

    Megatron's optics narrowed. "Speak of the devil... and he shall come to you."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVII, Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

--The Lost Light, moments earlier--

    "Here we are," Windblade said. "Earth."

    Elita-One and the crew stared at the blue-green world as it came into view. Vast oceans surrounded large continents, all bursting with life if the ship's scanners were anything to go by.

    "We're supposed to search for Prime in all of that?!" Riptide exclaimed.

    "Not necessarily," Nautica said, reading the scanners. "I'm picking up energon signatures in this one concentrated area. I'm willing to be that's where he and the rest of his crew are."

    "Well, what are we waiting for?" Swerve said excitedly. "Let's go find our Prime!"

--Earth, now--

    Optimus Prime watched as the massive white ship touched ground before him and the thirty-three gathered Autobots. Although it was not quite as large as the Ark, it was certainly quite impressive.

    Standing beside him, Ironhide cocked his arm cannons. "Decepticons, you reckon?"

    "Even if they are, hold your fire," Optimus said. "If they were hostile, they probably would have just landed right on top of us."

    At that moment, a boarding ramp lowered from the front of the ship and seventeen Autobots could be seen on the threshold of the entryway. In the lead, not looking any different from the last time he had seen her, was someone Optimus was not expecting to ever see again.

    "Elita?"

    Her optics blinked when they fell on him. "Optimus?"

    For a moment, everything was still. Then, before anyone knew it, Elita was launching herself into the Autobot leader's arms, holding him closely and tightly.

    "I will kill you if you ever leave me like that again," she muttered under her breath.

    Optimus chuckled as he returned the hug. "I'll make sure not to then."

    Watching the touching moment, Swerve wiped an imaginary tear from his visor. "Sure does tug at the spark."

    "For once, we can agree on something," Chromedome said. "I guess even a Prime can find time for a--"

   "Uh oh." Rewind jabbed him in the side while nodding towards a white and black mech standing amongst the Earth Autobots. "Look who's here."

    Chromedome followed his gaze before groaning. "Prowl? Aw, slag...."

    "Huh? Did you just say Prowl?" Skids leaned forward to get a better look at the police car Autobot. "Oh, geez. This is gonna be awkward."

    "What do you mean?" Rewind asked. "You have a bad history with him, too?"

    Before Skids could answer him, Windblade suddenly brushed past them and stormed down the ramp, heading straight for a white and red mech in the crowd of Prime's Autobots. Just as Drift turned to look at her, Windblade lunged and knocked him to the ground. Unsheathing her blade, she pointed it at his neck.

    "Not a word," she hissed, "unless you wish to no longer have a head."

    "Windblade, stand down!" Elita ordered, moving away from Optimus and towards the Autobot warrior. "What is the meaning of this?"

    "This is the Decepticon that killed Yoketron," Windblade growled.

    "I'm not a Decepticon. Not anymore," Drift murmured. "And I'll have you know that I deeply regret Yoketron's death. Not a day goes by where I look back at my actions without remorse."

    "You think I'm going to buy that?" Windblade raised her blade. "Think again-- if you can still think at all once I--"

    "Windblade!"

    A pair of large arms wrapped around the vengeful Autobot as Strongarm forcefully pulled Windblade away from Drift. Elita then stormed up to her, an infuriated look on her faceplate.

    "Explain yourself," the captain said coldly.

    Windblade scowled. "A year after the war started, the Cyber-Ninja Dojo which I used to train at was set on fire and my master, Sensei Yoketron, was found dead. I acquired CCTV footage from cameras in the area to find out it was a Decepticon called Deadlock who started the fire." She nodded towards Drift. "And that's him right there."

    "Your cameras must not have captured everything," Drift said, rising to his feet. "After I... burnt down the dojo, I went searching for Yoketron's body, because my commanding officer wanted evidence of his death. I found Yoketron to still be alive, if only barely. He... he told me that he didn't resent me for my actions, that he knew it wasn't my fault."

    "Why would he say that?" Windblade snapped. "How would he know anything about you?"

    Drift's shoulders sagged. "Because I used to be his student as well."

    All became silent. Windblade's scowl lessened somewhat, though it hardly waned. Seeing that it was unlikely for her to attack again, Strongarm released her. Windblade was then quick to join the other Lost Lighters, keeping her distance from Drift.

    Shattering the silence, Optimus Prime revved softly to attract everyone's attention. To Elita, he said, "I'm sure you have quite the story to tell."

    Elita smirked. "I'm sure yours is even better."

    "Yeah, especially if it involves these guys," Skids commented, pointing up at the seven Dinobots who had been looming silently as watchers since the Lost Light's arrival.

    Optimus chuckled. "They're just the tip of the iceberg."

--Animatron--

    The agile warrior moved swiftly through the dense jungle, evading the attention of its denizens. He had no time to become involved with the civil war waging between the natives; he had more pressing matters at hand.

    It didn't take long for him to reach his destination: the ancient temple which served as the Predacon fortress. Morphing into his jet mode, he shot forward quick enough to escape the guards' notice. Had any of them spotted him, they would have simply dismissed him as a bird.

    Reaching the top of the temple, the warrior returned to robot mode and went straight for the objective of his mission; an invisible device that could only be seen by those who had ventured into the Dead Universe and embraced the darkness.

    His hand fell on the main switch of the device and he pulled it. In an instant, a beam of energy was shooting up from the machine and into the night-lit sky. Some of the stars began to dim when the beam came within their field.

    Nodding to himself in satisfaction, Sideways converted back into his alt mode and made for the darkening sky.

PRELUDE TO CHAOS
Part 3: Chaos Ascending

Next chapter preview:

    "He's supposed to be screaming! It's part of the process! ...I think."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVI, Chapter Nine & Epilogue

CHAPTER NINE

--Cybertron--

    "Lord Megatron?" 

    Standing amongst the ruins of Kolkular, Kaon's former capitol, Megatron clenched his fists but did not turn to face Barricade. "I do not desire your company, Barricade-- or anyone's, for that matter. Leave me be."

    He heard the shifting of feet. "Someone... wishes to speak with you, my liege."

    Megatron turned his head to see Soundwave standing there with Barricade. Immediately he whirled around and aimed his fusion cannon at the traitor. Barricade hastily raised his hands placatingly.

    "Please, my lord, hear him out. It's-- his 'betrayal' is not how you think it is."

    "Oh, really?" Megatron snarled. "Please enlighten me then, before I blast a hole in your chest."

    Soundwave stepped forward, not at all intimidated by his former leader. "I am not your enemy, Megatron."

    "And you are not my ally. Thus it would not pain me to obliterate you right here and now."

    Soundwave inclined his head. "Understand this, Megatron: I did not relish in turning on you. From my time serving under you, I found you to be a competent leader, with a far better ideology than Trannis ever had. You were the leader Cybertron needed, the leader a unified Cybertronian race needed."

    Megatron said nothing, his fusion cannon still aimed.

    Soundwave took another step forward. "I only stuck with Galvatron to initiate the endgame of his agenda. But now the time has come to take his place. It is time for the Decepticons to finally triumph."

    Megatron was silent for a long time, regarding Soundwave carefully. Then, slowly and with extreme caution, he lowered his fusion cannon.

    "Is it that easy?" he asked. "Surely Galvatron has dozens of bodyguards protecting him, and his loyalists far outnumber mine."

    "Only out of fear," Soundwave said. "But you can rekindle their courage."

    Megatron fell silent again, but only for a moment. Then, the slightest hint of a smirk crossed his faceplate.

    "Then I shall."

--Earth--

    Dinosaurs?

    The Attinger part of Scorponok's mind was considerably more baffled than the Decepticon himself in response to this change of tide.

    Dinosaurs?

    He looked on in horror as his drones were easily torn to shreds by the giant metal lizards.

    Dinosaurs?!

    Gritting his teeth in anger, Scorponok charged into the battle with guns ablaze. Stepping through the remains of Trax drones, he set his optics on the Tyrannosaurus rex, whose brutal fighting style struck him as familiar.

    Grimlock.

    Suddenly, he was back in the pits of Kaon, facing off against the most brutal Autobot he had ever known, and the one Cybertronian to defeat him in the ring. The same would not happen here.

    "Grimlock!"

    At the cry of his name, the Dinobot leader turned to see Scorponok charging towards him. With a snarl, he transformed into his robot mode and brought out a mighty spiked mace.

    The earth trembled as mace clashed against claws.

*  *  *

    "Looks like the party started without us," Lockdown commented.

    Drift did not respond, too flabbergasted by what he was seeing. He and his newfound bounty hunter partner had just fought their way through hordes of Machination drones before finally escaping the lab... only to find seven robot dinosaurs fighting on the streets.

    "Can't say I've seen anything like that in my travels. Or that," Lockdown added, nodding towards a monstrous two-headed Shockwave.

    Drift snorted as he brandished his two short swords. "This planet is just full of surprises, isn't it?"

    "Well, I'm not sticking around for anymore," Lockdown said, morphing into his muscle car form.

    "What?" Drift exclaimed. "I thought you were helping me!"

    The bounty hunter left out a harsh laugh. "I saw it more as you helping me get out of that drone-infested lab. And seeing as we're out of that particular mess now...."

    He revved up his engine, causing dust to blow into Drift's face. The bounty hunter was long gone by the time his vision cleared.

    Shrugging off the encounter, Drift ran to join the battle.

*  *  *

    "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this day?"

    Grimlock grunted as Scorponok threw his fist into his abdomen.

    "Four thousand years." Scorponok ducked as the Dinobot swung his maul in retaliation. "Four thousand years ago, on this day, you defeated me in the gladiatorial pits of Kaon."

    "Probably should have finished you there and then," Grimlock growled, swinging his mace again.

    Scorponok caught the spiked ball of the weapon in his claws. "You humiliated me. In front of dozens of fans. In all my life, I had never been defeated. My reputation was tarnished."

    Grimlock struggled to free his mace from his opponent's grip, only for Scorponok to tighten it.

    "But not this time. This time, I am utterly invincible. This time, I shall not be defeated and humiliated."

    He wrenched the mace from Grimlock's hands, snapping it in two.

    "This time, I will destroy you!"

    Grimlock responded to this proclamation by headbutting Scorponok on the skull, causing the Decepticon to stagger back. The Dinobot then punched the ground before changing back into his T-Rex form, after which he swung his large tail and struck Scorponok across the chest.

    "All talk and no show," Grimlock muttered.

    Scorponok cackled. "You want me to show? Ask and you shall receive."

    At this, he unloaded his total array of weapons: laser cannons from his chest, gun barrels on his tail, rocket launchers from his arms. They began to ravage Grimlock's body, tearing away pieces of his armor plating, but the Dinobot did not falter. Instead, he simply pressed against the assault, moving closer and closer to his opponent.

    Scorponok sneered at him. "I admire your courage in the face of death, but you realize that your efforts are futile. I am indestructible while you are as weak as wood in comparison."

    "Me, Grimlock, not weak. Me king."

    With that, he opened his mouth and unleashed a blast of fire. The flames caught onto Scorponok's outstretched arms before spreading across his body, melting the alloys of his armor. Scorponok screamed as he flailed about, trying to ward off the flames but to no avail. The Decepticon then reached towards his head and, much to everyone's astonishment, tore it off.

    As it fell to the ground, the disembodied head converted into a humanoid shape, that of Scorponok's Headmaster partner Harold Attinger. The head of Machination then made a run for it even as the body of his partner crumpled to the ground.

    But the surprises did not end there. In Scorponok's chest, a pinprick of blue glowed, growing larger and larger by the second. In time, it had grown into a full-sized portal... and a figure was climbing out of it, emerging head-first.

    Grimlock narrowed his eyes at the newcomer. "Prime."

    Optimus Prime did not respond as he finished exiting the portal, which closed shut as soon as he was fully out, leaving behind only a sliver of blue.

    An AllSpark shard.

    Optimus bent over to retrieve it... only to freeze when he saw it was embedded into the charred remains of the headless Scorponok. He then looked around, his optics scanning the remains of numerous Machination drones before landing on the Autobots and their Dinobot comrades.

    "So this is what you get up to whenever I'm not around."

EPILOGUE

--Cybertron--

    When Scourge had left to track down the D.J.D., he had taken at least a dozen Sweeps to fulfill the task of taking the Key to Vector Sigma from them. Now he returned to Cybertron with only two Sweeps.

    Galvatron's face was expressionless, but his disappointment still obvious to Scourge as the hunter and his wingmen transformed and landed before him.

    "You have failed."

    Scourge bowed his head. "The D.J.D. were... considerably more formidable in combat than expected."

    Galvatron growled. "And so you have failed to retrieve the Vector Sigma Key."

    "Now, I didn't say that."

    A golden glint caught Galvatron's eye and he looked to see the Vector Sigma Key in Scourge's hand. With a gleam in his scarlet optics, Galvatron took the key and held it up to admire. A malicious grin crossed his face.

    "Perfect."

--Earth--

    "It would seem you all had a productive day."

    "That's one way of putting it," Ironhide muttered. 

    All of the Autobots-- including both Earth units, Drift, the Dinobots, Sky Lynx, and Optimus Prime-- were gathered outside Omega Outpost One, for the base itself was too small to accomodate the massive Dinobots. The battle against the Machination drones was long over, with all of the drones destroyed and word spreading that the organization had been shut down.

    Pacing back and forth, Prowl rubbed his head crest. "Well, at the very least, it's good to know that Machination will no longer be a threat, now that Scorponok's out of the picture."

    "His head got away," Drift pointed out.

    "Yes, well, he's just a mere human in armor now." Prowl then turned to Optimus, who was watching the sunset behind the horizon. "So... care to explain that whole AllSpark portal thing?"

    "I wish I could," Optimus said. "My only theory is that the Matrix of Leadership is connected to the AllSpark somehow."

    "And you say you saw Alpha Trion in that dimension you were stuck in? Alive?"

    "I don't understand it myself. But it doesn't matter now. We've finally found another AllSpark shard."

    Ironhide snorted. "Yeah, and how many are left to go? It's taken us a slaggin' century just to get three!"

    "There's gotta be a quicker way," Bumblebee said. "Prime, can't the Matrix be of any help? You did say it's connected to the AllSpark somehow."

    Before Optimus could answer him, Hound suddenly pointed towards an indescribable shape in the sky, which was growing larger by the second. "Look! If that's a bird, it's a heck of a big one!"

    Following his gaze, Arcee slowly shook her head. "I... don't think that's a bird."

    In time, before any of the Autobots knew, a massive ship was coming down from the sky, preparing to touch down....

*  *  *

    Harold Attinger forced his legs to carry him through the dark alleyway. With each step he took, he found himself growing weaker and weaker, as if becoming separated from Scorponok had taken a toll on him. 

    But he's still with me, he thought. I can still hear him. He's in my head.

    As am I.

    Attinger froze at the sound of the voice, his feet rooted to ground. Eldritch was the only word that came to mind when he heard the voice; sinister, eerie, not of this world. Even with armor on, he felt a chill air crawling down his spine.

    You fear me. That is good. That means you are fit.

    The world began to grow dark around Attinger, as if he was being pulled into a void. Shadows moved like phantoms around him. Was this death, he wondered?

    The AllSpark shard was all that was keeping Scorponok alive; keeping you alive. Now your fate rests in my hands. I could let you die, here and now....

    He felt a tightness in his chest, as if a hand as clutching his heart.

    ...But I won't. You have skills that could be useful to me. You may have a part to play in the grand scheme.

    Like a veil being cast aside, the darkness peeled away and Attinger found himself feeling... reborn. Black and gold armor plating replaced those in green and purple; red energy lines glowed all around his body, highlighting his form in the darkness of night.

    Attinger was no more. He was, now and forever, Scorponok.

    Arise... my Herald.

TO BE CONTINUED

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVI, Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

--Cybertron--

    "How long has he been gone?"

    Knock Out checked the chronometer built into his arm. "Nearly a megacycle now."

    Skywarp frowned. "Think we should check on him?"

    The Decepticon medic snorted. "No way am I bothering him. If you want a fusion cannon to the face, be my guest. I'm not leaving."

    "Wait a nanoklik." Barricade abruptly shot to his feet, having been sitting in silence ever since Megatron had left them. "Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?"

    All of the Decepticons looked up to see a trio of fighter ships flying in the dark sky above. Two of the fighters were identical-- being blue and white jets-- while the third had a sleeker design and had gold in place of white.

    The alt mode was different, but the Decepticons all recognized who the stealth bomber was.

    "Soundwave," Blackout growled.

    In unison, the planes transformed and descended to the ground, their landing bringing up clouds of dust. While the all-identical Sweeps at the ready, Soundwave was unarmed. The Decepticon stepped forward to address his former comrades.

    "Where is Megatron?"

    "You do not deserve to know, traitor!" Lugnut bellowed, stomping forward to confront Soundwave. "You betrayed us for someone who is not deserving of the name 'Decepticon!'"

    "I did not betray anyone," Soundwave replied icily. "I have been loyal to Galvatron since the beginning. I was merely lying in wait until the order came to begin the endgame."

    "So why are you here, huh?" Barricade said, unfurling his flail. "Why have you come back to us?"

    "I was given the order to kill you."

    "Well, let's have at it then," Skywarp growled, aiming his null rays. "Let's see if you can fight as well as you can... whatever."

    "But I'm not going to."

    "Ha! Just what I thought! You--" Skywarp paused, blinking. "Wait, what?"

    Soundwave drew two guns and fired both at the Sweeps, killing them.

    "I need to speak with Megatron," he said. "Where is he?"

    The Decepticons glanced amongst themselves for a moment. Lugnut looked about ready to burst again but Barricade signaled him to calm down before stepping up to the communications officer.

    "I'll take you to him." With that, he converted into his police car form and drove into Kaon's ruins, with Soundwave close behind.

--Earth--

    "--Robots attacking Tampa, Florida. Ten have been reported dead, twenty mortally wounded--"

    The news report had been enough for the Autobots at either base. Within minutes, two Groundbridge portals were transporting two groups of Autobots to the ransacked streets of Tampa. Emerging from one were Bulkhead, Hot Rod, and Mirage, while Jazz, Trailbreaker, and Cliffjumper emerged from the other.

    Jazz was the first to spot the Machination drones shooting at terrified humans. "These guys again, huh?"

    "It would appear so," Mirage muttered, readying his gun. "I'm all for making sure it's the last time we see them."

    "You've got an aye from me," Bulkhead said as he deployed a wrecking ball from his arm.

    Jazz smirked as he cocked his own gun. "Then let's roll."

*  *  *

    Drift quickly moved away in time just as Stinger fired its gun. Bringing out his swords, he charged towards the Machination drone, evading subsequent shots. Just as he prepared to dive and slice the drone, Stinger reached behind its back and hurled a throwing star at the Autobot.

    As Drift was sent falling onto his back, two of the Trax drones moved in to finish him off. They never got the chance, for a series of gunshots saw to their end.

    Drift looked up to see Lockdown standing over him. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

    "'Fraid not," Lockdown grunted. "You're lucky Scorponok forgot my payment. Otherwise I'd be light-years away from here, and you'd be dead."

    Drift glared at him as he got back to his feet. "What does Scorponok, of all people, want with me?"

    Lockdown opened his mouth to reply but was cut off when another throwing star zipped past his head. The bounty hunter lifted his arm blaster at Stinger and blew the drone's head to smithereens.

    "How 'bout we wait to ask him yourself?"

*  *  *

    And so the Autobots enter the field. Scorponok smirked to himself as he watched his drones-- his Decepticons-- battle the recently-arrived Autobots. If only they knew what fate had in store for them.

    A shadow fell next to him and he turned to see what he considered to be one of the greatest of his creations: a two-headed monstrous copy of Shockwave, which he liked to call "Dual-Shock."

    Grinning cruelly, Scorponok nodded towards the Autobots. "Handle them as you see fit."

*  *  *

    "Hey, Jazz?"

    "What is it, Bulkhead?" Jazz said as he finished off a Trax drone.

    "Since when did Shockwave have two heads?"

    Jazz turned to see the most abominable thing his optics had ever borne witness to. Hulking and massive, the Machination drone was of more alien design than its brothers, lacking identifiable alt mode parts. Jutting out from its bulky torso were two heads reminiscent of Shockwave, though they had more pronounced heads and something of a mouth. As if it didn't look fearsome enough, it had a large blade attached to each arm.

    "Remind me to never drink Nightmare Fuel again," Trailbreaker murmured.

    Before Jazz could give out any orders, Bulkhead charged towards the two-headed Shockwave with a battle cry. The large green Autobot swung his wrecking ball at the drone, only for Dual-Shock to grab it and use it to yank him to the ground.

    Just as the two-headed drone raised one of its blade arms to skewer Bulkhead, Mirage moved in and fired his gun at one of the head's single eye. As Dual-Shock recoiled, Bulkhead got back to his feet and threw himself at the drone, knocking it to the ground.

    Rewinding his wrecking ball back into his arm to serve as a mace instead, Bulkhead raised his arm to pummel Dual-Shock... only for twin laser blasts to hit him square in the chest.

    As the big green Autobot staggered back, all optics turned to see the new player on the field. Large, purple and green, with massive claws and a stinger tail, Jazz knew immediately who it was.

    "Scorponok."

    The Decepticon chuckled. "In the metal. Your efforts hare are valiant yet futile. Allow me to reward your heroism... with death."

    Folding down from his chest plate were two laser cannons while another two flipped out from his stinger tail. As the barrels glowed, the Autobots readied their weapons....

    "Tally-ho!"

    At the sound of the voice, suddenly coming out of nowhere, both Autobot and Decepticon alike looked up to see a large shape moving in the sky. Colored in white, blue, and red, it resembled a space shuttle with a crawler-transport attached to its underbelly.

    Mirage blinked at the vessel. "Sky Lynx?"

    A hatch opened in the transport and the Autobots could see Arcee, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Hound, and the twins in the opening... and all six of them were atop giant metal dinosaurs....

    "What the slag...?" Cliffjumper muttered.

    One of the robot dinosaurs-- a Tyrannosaurus rex-- opened its maw and released a tremendous roar. "Dinobots... crash and burn!"

    Then, as one, the dinosaurs jumped off of the transport and descended towards the ground below....

Next chapter preview:

    "This planet is just full of surprises, isn't it?"

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVI, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

--Earth--

    "Are you ready for the procedure, sir?"

    "As I'll ever be," Harold Attinger replied, clad in tan and purple armor with a helmet tucked under his arm. "Let's go."

    Joshua Joyce led Attinger into the next chamber. Inside, there were two things of note: one being a cylindrical vat connected to all sorts of terminals, and the other being the headless body of Scorponok.

    "The ununtrium infusion was a success," Lyman said, rushing up eagerly to greet his superiors. "Scorponok will now by impervious to damage, nearly invincible. All that remains is for you to take the helm, so to say, sir."

    Attinger nodded approvingly. "Then let us begin."

--Cybertron--

    "My liege, there's something you should see."

    Breaking away from the contemplative trance he had been in, Galvatron looked down to see Jhiaxus standing before him. "What is it?"

    His chief scientist showed him the datapad he was holding. On its screen was a blue beam of energy shooting off into space, originating from a blue-green world.

    "The Nega-Core on Terra has been activated," Jhiaxus said gravelly.

    Galvatron frowned. "We haven't sent anyone there yet, and no one else besides our fellow heralds should know of its location."

    "Well, whoever is responsible is clearly all for our plan."

    Galvatron snorted. "Unless it was a happy accident."

    He turned away from the scientist, continuing to watch the rebuilding. After a moment had passed he then said, "Any luck in finding Megatron?"

    "Yes, actually," Jhiaxus said. "Soundwave has found him in Kaon, with a small cell of Decepticon rebels. He is awaiting your orders on how to deal with them."

    Galvatron was silent for a moment while Jhiaxus looked at him expectantly. When the Herald of Unicron spoke, his words were not exactly what the scientist was expecting.

    "Kill them all."

    Jhiaxus jerked slightly. "My liege?"

    "You heard me," Galvatron snarled. "We cannot risk letting anyone interfere with the plan, especially if they know of the Nega-Cores."

    Jhiaxus bowed his head, somewhat reluctantly. "Then I shall relay the order to him, my liege."

    The scientist took his leave. Left alone to return to his meditation, Galvatron couldn't help but notice that the nighttime sky was just a bit darker than normal.

--Dead Universe--

    "Haven't we played this game before?" Optimus Prime said to his dark doppelganger. "I thought we had come to an understanding, Scourge."

    Nemesis Prime chuckled darkly. "Oh, I am not Scourge. He has long since become as much a part of you as I am."

    "And you would be?"

    "The manifestation of all your doubts, fear, and anger. I represent of the dark legacy the Primes have left you to continue."

    "And...? Are you just going to taunt me? What is your purpose?"

    "That's what you should be asking yourself. What is your purpose?"

    "To restore Cybertron and lead our race to a new golden age."

    "And have you made much progress?"

    Optimus fell silent.

    Nemesis stepped forward, his optics baring into Optimus'. "Just what I thought. And yet they call you the true Prime for carrying the Matrix of Leadership. But Sentinel Prime actually succeeded in bringing about peace, and his hand never brushed the Matrix. Tell me, what have you done-- what have you accomplished-- to deserve the title of Prime?"

    Optimus looked at his feet, mulling over the question, before looking straight into Nemesis' eye. "I brought back faith."

    "What?"

    "For years, the Prime lineage has been corrupted, creating the dark legacy you represent. Nominus brought forth functionism, Zeta was an extremist, even Sentinel committed some questionable acts, such as allowing functionism to prosper. I wouldn't blame any Autobot for renouncing their allegiance after that.

    "But I rekindled their hope. I made up for the wrongdoings of my predecessors. I proved myself to be the leader the Autobots needed."

    Nemesis grunted. "Can you live up to those words?"

    "I can only try."

    At that, Nemesis Prime vanished in a cloud of black smoke. As soon as he was gone, a small beam of blue energy shot out from the Matrix in Optimus' chest, creating a portal before him. Seeing it as his only exit, the Autobot leader stepped forward and fell through.

--Earth--

    The procedure had been painful-- extremely so-- but when he stepped out of the cylindrical chamber, Harold Attinger felt like a new person. Then again, he was sharing a single mind with another now.

    All of the scientists in the lab were looking at him expectantly. Wringing his hands nervously, Lyman said tentatively, "H-how do you feel, sir?"

    Attinger grinned, bursting with the feeling of victory. "Incredible."

    "Good, good. Shall we... shall we test the transformation cog?"

    "Yes, immediately."

    After putting on his helmet, Attinger willed himself to transform. Moving as fluidly and natural as walking, his limbs folded up and compacted into the shape of a head. In seconds, he was seeing through a pair of eyes that were not his own.

    A pair of robot arms descended from the ceiling and lifted him up from the floor, moving him towards the headless body of Scorponok. As he was inserted into the Decepticon's empty head socket, Attinger realized that, at that moment, he was no longer just the head of Scorponok.

    He was Scorponok.

    The lab workers watched as the giant robot flexed its claws, testing out the joints in the arms and legs. Biting his lip, Joshua Joyce stepped forward.

    "How do you feel... sirs?"

    A tight smile crossed Scorponok's faceplate. "Incredible."

    He looked down at the gathered scientists, who were all regarding him with... was it fear? Yes, fear. The sincerest form of respect. Attinger liked how it felt.

    Splaying his arms, Scorponok said, "Thank you all for your dedication and a life time of service. No one could ask for better subordinates."

    His smile grew tighter as his red visor gleamed with malice. "However, as they always say, all good things must come to an end. I now find myself better fitted for the exclusive company of the titans."

    He took a step forward, finding glee in the terror that all of the scientists displayed.

    "Consider yourselves all relived of duty."

    From his back, Scorponok's stinger tail lowered, unveiling twin cannons. In mere seconds, the lab was in flames.

*  *  *

    Drift awoke to the earth shaking.

    The last he remembered, he was being taken up into Lockdown's ship. After that, nothing. Looking around with his optics, he didn't appear to be on a ship of any sorts; going by the white, sterile walls and different types of machinery, it was more like a lab.

    Another quake. He then heard a female voice say, "What's going on?"

    "Probably just another one of Gill's inventions gone wrong," said a second voice-- a male one. "Just ignore it."

    As soon as those words had been spoken, a third quake heralded the explosion of a nearby wall. Amid the dust and rubble, Drift could make out the silhouette of four Trax drones, led by a fifth Machination drone in red and black.

    "What the--? Stinger?!" An old human man rushed into Drift's view. "The drones-- they've gone haywire! Evelyn, sound the--"

    A gunshot from Stinger's arm cannon silenced the man. A second ended the scream of the woman. Preparing a third, Stinger aimed its gun straight at Drift's face....

Next chapter preview:

    "Remind me to never drink Nightmare Fuel again."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XVI, Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

--Dead Universe--

    To Optimus Prime, it seemed as if whenever he thought he couldn't be in more disbelief, something came up to prove him wrong.

    "No," he murmured. "Impossible. You're a Prime? One of the first?"

    "It's admittedly not that much of a special title, having used it before Alpha Prime started the practice of there being only one," Alpha Trion said. "But yes, I am one of the first Thirteen."

    "But... how come you never told me?"

    The old sage smiled. "Because up until my death, I never knew. When I first awoke as Alpha Trion, I was an amnesiac. I had wiped my memories of being Sigma Prime in order to protect secrets I couldn't let fall into the wrong hands, while preserving my place as the great historian."

    "So when you died, all of those memories came back?"

    "Precisely."

    Optimus rubbed his forehead, probably not for the first time today. "Okay, I think this is starting to make sense... not much though. So then, why were you brought here into the Dead Universe instead of the AllSpark?"

    Alpha Trion held his chin in his hand. "I... have my theories."

    "I'm all ears."

    "The Dead Universe, as you can see, is a desolate wasteland; effectively dead, as its name would suggest. As such... it would seem like the perfect place for a being that represents desolation and death to reside."

    Optimus raised an optic ridge. "You don't mean... he's here, do you?"

    "It would be a logical assumption."

    Optimus shook his head. "No. That's one thing I can't believe. The Thirteen Primes, perhaps... but deities? Next you're going to tell me Primus is real."

    Alpha Trion frowned slightly. "As a carrier of the Matrix, I would think you'd be a believer."

    The Autobot leader sighed. "At this point, I don't know what to believe in anymore."

    "At the very least, believe in yourself."

    Optimus used over the words for a moment before turning back to Trion... only to find his mentor gone. In his place was a near-perfect replication of Optimus himself, albeit in black and gray.

    Nemesis Prime.

    "The question is: Can you?"

--Earth--

    The Autobots dove for cover as the seven Dinobots charged towards them. As one of the massive creatures-- which resembled a three-horned Triceratops-- passed by, Sideswipe jumped at it and began shooting his blaster at its neck.

    "Down, Dino! Down, boy!" he shouted.

    Unaffected by the shots, the metal dinosaur growled. "Me, Slag, no pet! Me, Slag, crush you!"

    "Oh yeah? Well-- wait, Slag?" Sideswipe suddenly wailed as the Triceratops swung its body and sent the red Autobot flying into a tree.

    Sunstreaker ran to his brother's aid, only to be rammed into by a Stegosaurus. Arcee then came charging to take on the dinosaur only to be grabbed from above by a Pteranodon. The winged creature didn't get far with her though, for her arm blades caused enough harm for it to drop her to the ground.

    As she landed, the Pteranodon transformed in mid-air and landed before her with two swords brandished. Despite the mech's monstrous appearance, with massive wings on his back and the halves of the Pteranodon head serving as shoulder-pads, something about him struck Arcee as familiar.

    "Intruders have ruined everything," the Dinobot growled. "Me, Swoop, must get rid of intruders!"

    "Swoop?" Arcee said. "Aren't you one of the Dynobots?"

    "Yes! Me, Swoop, thought that was clear!"

    "No, no, I mean Dynobots-- with a 'Y.'"

    A confused look crossed Swoop's face. "You know of Dynobots?"

    "Yes, I'm an Autobot-- we all are. We're not your enemies."

    Swoop scowled. "You activate device. You must be enemies."

    "It was an accident," Arcee insisted. "We didn't know what it was-- we couldn't even see it!"

    The Dinobot seemed to consider this for a moment. Then, slowly and not without caution, he lowered his dual blades. "Not... enemies," he murmured. "Grimlock!"

    One of the metal dinosaurs-- a massive Tyrannosaurus rex-- paused in its battle with Ironhide to look at Swoop. "What?" it growled.

    "Not enemies!" Swoop cried. "Autobots! Accident! Friends!"

    The T-Rex growled before changing shape. While most of his body was similarly monstrous like Swoop's, his head was unmistakeable as that of Grimlock, with his blue visor and fanged mouthplate.

    "Friends, you say," the Dinobot leader grunted. "How you know they telling truth?"

    "Come on, Grim!" Ironhide said. "Don't say you've forgotten me! We were on the Lightning Strike Coalition together!"

    Grimlock regarded the veteran Autobot for a moment before snorting. "You said it stupid name."

    Ironhide smirked. "Well, it was."

    Seeing that their leader appeared to be on (relatively) good terms with the Autobots, the other five Dinobots transformed as well. Three of them, including the Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Apatosaurus-- were recognizable as Slag, Snarl, and Sludge. The other two-- a Velociraptor and a Spinosaurus respectively-- were not familiar to any of the Autobots and lacked the unified gray, gold, and red color scheme of the other Dinobots.

    Looking up at the gathered Dinobots, Bumblebee said, "So, uh, what's the story here? How did you guys end up on Earth?"

    Snarl grunted. "Long story. Not want to tell."

    "Ooh! Swoop will tell! Swoop love telling stories!"

    "Enough," Grimlock growled. "Me, Grimlock, tell it."

    Finding a large rock, Grimlock set himself down on it while the six Autobots gathered around to hear his tale.

    "A hundred and thirteen years ago, we Dynobots were captured and sent to Jungle Planet. There we got beast forms. Then, we activate space bridge and end up here."

    "Not all of us," Slag interjected.

    Grimlock glanced at him. "True. Me, Grimlock, sent back to Cybertron first but then got ship to find other Dinobots."

    "So what about that thing?" Sideswipe asked, pointing a thumb at the invisible, beam-shooting device. "What is it?"

    Grimlock's visor narrowed. "Not sure what it called, but we Dinobots somehow knew it had to be protected."

    "So you were fighting us over this thing and you don't even know what the slag it is?" Ironhide rolled his optics. "Yeah, that makes perfect sense."

    Snarl stomped forward to loom over the veteran Autobot menacingly. "You think it simple as that? You try being stuck on stupid planet for hundred years with nothing to do."

    "And what is up with your syntax?" Sunstreaker asked. "You didn't talk like cavemen back on Cybertron-- well, except for Sludge, maybe."

    "If I had to wager a guess, they haven't had much interaction with anyone but themselves since they arrived here, so their language is stunted," Arcee said.

    "So what do we do now?" Bumblebee asked. "This thing shooting out energy probably isn't a good thing, is it?"

    "Well, what else do you do when in doubt?" a voice called out.

    Grimlock groaned. "Oh, spark...."

    Crashing through the woods was a massive metal creature, carrying itself on four legs like a mammal, while flapping the wings of a prehistoric bird.

    "Always have faith in the infinite wisdom of the stupendous SKY LYNX!"

    Hound rubbed his head. "This is becoming a very odd day...."

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    "I now find myself better fitted for the exclusive company of the titans."