Optimus: "Previously on Transformers Prime..." Optimus: "A crash landing." Elita: "Looks like it's been buried here for centuries" Ratchet: "These Autobots didn't perish in the crash. They're displaying the effects of a virus." Drop of virus infected energon falls into Optimus. Ratchet: "If a cure exists, Megatron may be the only one who knows it." Arcee and Nakala see that Megatron is still alive. Ratchet: "You must enter his brain and find it." Nakala is hooked up to the cortical psychic patch and goes in Megatron's head. Megatron: "What are you doing inside my head?!" Ratchet: "We have the formula! Disconnect Nakala now!" Arcee detaches the cord from Nakala's head. Megatron: "NO! TAKE ME-E-E-E!!" Megatron: "I'm out. [laughs evilly" Nakala eyes are widened with his pupils shrunk.
We now see Optimus in the medical tube having a light shining in his eye by Ratchet. Ratchet: "Follow the light." he said and Optimus did as told by his physician. "Good. Good. I wouldn't advice anything strenuous, Optimus, but it appears that your systems have fully recovered from the cybonic plague." he said as he let Optimus out of the tube. Optimus: "Thanks to your medical expertise, old friend." Elita went over and hugged and kiss Optimus before saying, "Thank the AllSpark." Ratchet: "It was Nakala who braved unknown territory to locate the cure." Nakala smiled as he leaned against the wall in his tall height and looked away with his eyes closed as he waved his at them. It was basically telling them to stop with the praise and hero's treatment. Arcee: "Lucky for us, Megatron was still alive." Bee: "[buzzes]" "Yeah, I actually said that." Ratchet: "What matters is that you are on the med, Optimus, while Megatron --" Nakala: "I wouldn't count it as victory yet." Arcee: "Nakala's right. I did my best to finish Megatron's story. Just couldn't stick around long enough to see how it ended."
What no one noticed was Nakala's eyes widening a bit and pupils shrinking before he walked away. But this wasn't really Nakala that was walking away, it was Megatron. "It is only a matter of time before Optimus discovers all is not right with you, Nakala. I must reclaim my body, which means taking complete and total control of yours."
Miko: "Basketball, by way of Cybertron. Let the games begin! [blows whistle]" she says as we see Bumblebee spinning the cybertronian ball on one finger and throws the ball toward the hoop. Bulkhead blocks the shot by catching the ball and steals the point from him. Miko: "Yeah! Go Bulk!" she says as the ball rolls back to Bulkhead. He picks it up and turns to Bee and says, "Come on. Best two out of three." He throws the ball to Bee and Bee runs to Bulkhead and fakes him out and makes his way to the hoop. Raf: "Bee, you're in the clear! Dunk it, Bee!" he says with Jack sitting next to him on a vent area. And Bee does just that, jumping up and slamming the ball down the hoop. Raf: "Yeah!" Meanwhile, Nakala is just watching from the wall he's leaning against with his usual emotionless looking face he normally has, but turned it into a slight smile at the sight of them having fun. But then his eyes widened a bit and his pupils shrunk again as he started getting visions of Megatron's memories with the dark energon and space bridge. Bulkhead: "Hey Nakala?!" he heard him say getting him to snap out of his visions. "Wanna play next?"
Nakala didn't say anything as he let down his crossed arms and snapped his head toward the group. They were all immediately surprised by not only how fast he turned his head so suddenly, but the look he's giving them. Jack: "Uh...Nakala?" Hearing Jack's voice made him snap out of it and hold his head then face while facing downward. He lifts his head back up and allows himself to see out of his left eye while keeping his hand over the other one so he can look at the group with a look that basically said "Something's wrong with me and I don't know what." Jack: "A-Are you okay?" Nakala just shurgs before sighing and walking away from them. Raf: "What was that about?" Jack: "No idea. That's new." Nakala goes down the hallways wondering what was wrong with him and why he was seeing things, but his thoughts get interrupted by another Megatron control. Megatron: "If I am to return to my body, I must restore its functionality. How did I escape on high emission?" Megatron then sees a claw force its way into his chest and yank out the dark spark from within. "Of course. Dark energon." He then sees it was Starscream that plucked it from his chest, giving him an evil smirk. "Starscream." he said angrily before closing his eyes.
We now see the Decepticon warship, the Nemesis, where Starscream is in the medical room taunting Megatron's mindless body, knocking on his head. Starscream: "[knock X2] Knock, knock. [knock X2] Is anyone in there? No? Oh well. Seems I possess the only thing that'll allow you rise off that slab and walk again, my dearest Megatron. The only scrap left on this planet, plucked from your very spark chamber. But it cannot restore your mind. The Decepticons need a leader, not a decorative centerpiece. And I will convince them that I am the true heir to your throne with a plan so epic --" Knockout: "Not even the might Megatron could have conceived it?" Starscream was completely taken it back by Knockout's sudden appearance as he quickly turns around and while hiding the dark energon shard behind him. Starscream: [Chuckles nervously] That was the idea, Knockout. How long have you been there?" "Long enough. And it's "Commander Knockout" to you once and future Lord Starscream."
We are now in a classroom where Jack is wondering what's been up with his brother. He noticed he hasn't slept for a couple nights and has been acting stranger than normal. His brother went to the restroom who was now washing his face with cold water at the sink. Nakala: "Why am I seeing Megatron's face." he asked himself before he glooks up at the mirror to see Megatron staring right at him. He wasn't behind him either, no. Megatron has replaced Nakala's reflection with his own appearance. Out of instinct and being surprised, he punches a hole in the mirror causing bits of glass to scatter all over and scratch his face, and obviously his hand. Nakala says nothing as he pulls his fist away from the mirror and looks through the other mirrors to see if Megatron's face is in either of them as well. Luckily for him, they weren't. But what was going on with him? Why is he seeing Megatron's face? He needs to tell Ratchet about this right away, so he opens up a ground bridge back to the Autobot base.
Once he exits the vortex, he sees that no one is in the main room so he activates his mass shifter and begins to look for Ratchet. But as soon as he eyed Ratchet's flashlight (A/N: At least I think that's what it was Bumblebee broke) Megatron started taking control again. Nakala then walks up to the flashlight and picks it up, then a voice in his head was heard. Megatron: "Yes, go on, human. Obey my will." Nakala, out of anger, grips onto the flashlight so hard it bends and breaks. Ratchet: "Nakala!" As soon as his voice was heard, Nakala snapped back into reality and turned toward Ratchet who is behind him. "I needed that!" Nakala looks down at what he broke and just drops it without saying a word. Ratchet: "What has gotten into you? And shouldn't you be in school?" Nakala: "....Ratchet......Why do I keep seeing Megatron's face?" "You're seeing what?"
Nakala is now in his cybertronian form and is in the medical tube where Ratchet puts him in power down. Ratchet: "Nakala is complaining intermittent visions: waking nightmares, if you will." Arcee: "I thought you said he was fine when you checked him over." she said with a slight bit of anger. "Physically, but the experience he endured seems to be having a temporary effect on his psyche. This induced power-down should force Nakala's mind to rest and recover." Before anything else was said, beeping was happening on the console, meaning that someone was trying to contact the base. Fowler: "Prime... You spot any Decepticons wearing hula skirts lately?" Optimus: "No, Special Agent Fowelr. Why?" "'Cause I was hoping you would have a lead on the 'cons that broke into the Kuai Naval Observatory. Place looked like it was hit by an army of wrecking balls." Arcee: "'Why would 'cons break into an observatory?" Fowler: "Does the Hoit-Nikogosian ring and bells?" Elita: "The space telescope. I remember Nakala mentioning it before." "As of last night, missing its primary lens." Optimus: "It's difficult to guess Starscream's intent without knowing where the lens has been taken." "Good thing the lens has a tracking device."
Once they got access to the tracking device in the lens, they saw that it was in the one place Arcee doesn't want to be. "The Arctic? Great. Another chance to freeze our spark plugs off." With a better picture, they can see that the lens is being taken to a spot where there's a mother load of energon under a glacier. Bulkhead: "[whistles] That's an ND-7 class. Biggest unminable energon deposit there is." Optimus: "Unminable... until Starscream melts his way down to it." Elita: "With help from the lens they stole." Fowler: "Melting a glacier that size will cause sea levels to rise and demolish coastal cities." Meanwhile, the Decepticon warship, the Nemesis, hovered above the sight of the unminable energon deposit. Starscream: "Let the reign of Lord Starscream begin." he said before we see his Second in Command, Knockout, raise his arm to signal the weapon to be brought up. The vehicon controlling the weapon aims down at the glacier and fires their new solar weapon.
Back at the Autobot base, everyone, except Ratchet and Arcee, went to the Arctic to stop Starscream from causing major destruction. We see Arcee is talking to Nakala about her experiences during the war, Tailgate and Cliffjumper; even though she knows that he can't hear her at all. Ratchet then walks up and wonders why she's even talking to Nakala, knowing that she knows he can't hear him. "Arcee, you know Nakala can't hear you in power-down mode." Arcee: "I know...." Ratchet could immediately tell something was off with Arcee and asks her, "Arcee, what's wrong?" Arcee: "...Ratchet...What are these feelings I'm having. Ever since Nakala said somethings to me after Airachnid returned, and before that." "What did he say to you?"
Flashback to Arcee looking at the small pile of rocks where Cliffjumper's horn is. Arcee was staring at while also talking to it, hoping that her second partner was somehow listening in spirit. She was focused on the pile of rocks that she didn't realize Nakala was behind her 'til he spoke up. "Sounds like Cliffjumper was a real decent guy, huh?" he said getting Arcee to turn around in surprise. Arcee: "How long were you there?" Nakala: "Long enough." he said taking steps toward her. "I'm sorry for what you're going through, Arcee. I thought you might like some company; someone to talk to." Arcee: "I'd rather be alone." she said sternly. Nakala looks down at the ground before looking back at her and saying, "And that's fine too, but know that I really do want to help you Arcee." he said putting a hand on her shoulder and giving a smile he rarely does. The smile told her that he does care for her and is being honest about wanting to help her. The signs of sympathy are real and she can see that. Nakala: "You're not the only one who lost someone close to you, you know." he said allowing a couple of tears to fall before walking away.
Another flashback shows Arcee staring at the early night sky, just some time after encountering Airachnid again for the first time since after the war. She couldn't believe her past came back to haunt and torture her again. "Airachnid." she growled. All of a sudden, Nakala's voice was heard behind her. "I believe there is more to her than meets the eye, Arcee." he said causing her to turn around and see him walking up to her. Arcee: "Nakala. What do you mean?" Nakala: "What she said to you about why she works alone: I feel like it had more meaning behind it than just a way to taunt you." "What are you saying? That she also lost someone important to her? Why should I care?" she said with clear anger. Nakala turns to her before saying, "Arcee, I understand the feeling of bloodlust fueled by vengeance of a lost loved on. If it weren't for the memory of my sister, I would've lost myself completely..." he says looking down in shame with his eyes closed. Arcee just stand quiet and listens to what Nakala has to say to her. She of course already knew about the loss of his sister and what it made him do, but hearing that his actions would've been a permanent change is what makes her feel even more bad.
"Obviously, you haven't lost your sanity when Tailgate and Cliffjumper died, but wanting revenge like the way you do is what can get you killed. Besides, although making sure their killer gets what they deserve will only provide a temporary relief...like it did for me. The one you care for and lost will never truly be at peace knowing that you are still suffering from their death. I'm not saying to completely forget about them, but to not let their deaths control your actions either." He turns his body toward her after he said this, and she does the same. He puts a hand on her cheek before continuing. "You need to use the memories of them to move forward. Never let the past control you. Let it guide you instead." His voice was so calm and soothing and full of wisdom that Arcee felt like she was in a trance because of it. Nakala took her by surprise when he started hugging her, which she returned after a few moments. Flashback ends there.
Arcee: "Despite him still suffering himself, he's willing to go out of his way to make sure I'm okay with everything that happened with Tailgate and Cliffjumper. The way he treated me, it felt so...different. I can't really explain it." Ratchet heard what Arcee said and he already had an idea of what Arcee what was feeling, which surprised him. Ratchet: "Arcee, if I didn't know any better I believe you are in love with him." This took Arcee by surprise, but it also made a bit of sense to her. "W-What? In love with...Nakala?" she slowly turning her head to the spawn of Soundwave. Ratchet: "And he probably feels the same." Arcee kept her eyes Nakala while trying to really search her feelings this time. Was she really in love with him? Did he feel the same about her? She took steps closer to Nakala/Echowave and slowly reached for his face hidden behind the visor and gently rubbed his head with Ratchet watching. Arcee: "[mutters] Maybe I do." she said with uncertainty. All of a sudden, beeping happens on the console, and Ratchet sees it's a ground bridge request from somewhere in a forest. Arcee: "It must be Wingblade and Silverfang. Nakala had them go explore the outside world some more." Ratchet activated the ground bridge and the two creations of Nakala came through. They were immediately concerned when they saw their beloved creator in the medical tube, to which Arcee explained what happened.
While that was happening, Megatron was exploring Nakala's memories. Being that Nakala was sleeping for the first time in a couple of days, he was able to have easier access to them. And he very surprised to learn that this human was actually the spawn of his Communications Chief, Soundwave. He thought the sparkling had perished alongside his carrier, but it seems the he was born before that. "Ah. I see. That time on Cybertron, during the end of the war... Soundwave said he was making sure no one used the sparkling escape pods, but he was actually sending away his sparkling. Curious, how is it that "Echowave" gained a human form just seconds after landing on Earth? Hm." That's not all he learned about him though. He learned about the death of Nakala's sister, his creations, the return of Airachnid, Mech, and meeting Soundwave. He couldn't access to ALL the memories though, so he didn't learn the location of the Autobot base. "Soundwave, you and I will have a private discussion when I return. You are just lucky that you are too beneficial to me."
Meanwhile in the Arctic, Optimus, Elita, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead were making their way to the site of the unminable energon deposit. On their way, they see some icicles melting away, which was strange thing to see in this place. Elita: "This is supposed to be one of the two coldest places on Earth, yet it feels like Summer." Bulkhead looks around the corner they came up to and gets back behind it a bit to hide himself while also seeing the Decepticon warship. "Here, that's a bad thing." he says as the other three 'bots see the warship as well, zapping it's new solar heat weapon at the ground. Optimus: "Autobots... Remember the end run on Polyhex?"
Back at the base, Arcee, alongside Wingblade and Silverfange, are still with Nakala, wanting to be by his side when he wakes up. Ratchet: "Arcee, I'm going to the supply vault to see if I can find parts to repair this." he says holding up his broken flashlight. Arcee nods in response and Ratchet walks off, leaving Arcee with her thoughts about her feelings. But as soon as Ratchet left, Nakala's visor came back on, meaning he was now awake suddenly. But was it really Nakala that was awake? Arcee: "Am I really in love with him?" she asked herself only for the thought process to be interrupted by the sound of pistons hissing. The three look toward the medical tube and see Nakala walking away. Arcee: "Nakala?" she asked confused as of how he was even awake yet. WB & SF: "Creator?" Nakala said nothing as he walked over ground bridge console and punched in some coordinates before activating it. "Nakala." Arcee said trying to get his attention, which she did. The reaction she got though was unexpected of him. He grabbed his staff and pointed it at her, making it clear to stay away from him as he walked through the vortex. Arcee: "Nakala?!" WB & SF: "Creator! Where are you going?!" Ratchet then comes back and is wondering what's going on. "What just happened? he asked. Arcee: "Nakala suddenly woke up and --" "He was in power-down. Where does he think he's off to."
We see Nakala at the sight of Megatron's first undead army. But the voice that came from him wasn't his own voice... but Megatron's. "Where is it? Where?!" he asks himself looking around frantically for the dark energon shard he used here. He gets a flashback of him throwing it down to the ground below the rock he was standing on. He turns to his left and sees the toxic purple glow of the shard as he walks over to it and grabs it. Now all he has to do is wait for the Autobots to reopen the bridge. He could use Nakala's visor, but knowing that the Autobots don't have a lot of energon and no access to energon mines, he would rather have them waste their own energon.
Ratchet is looking at the ground bridge console to see where Nakala went, and is already feeling off the moment he saw it. Ratchet: "These are the coordinates for the site of our previous encounter with Megatron's undead." Arcee: "How does Nakala know the coordinates? You and Optimus were the only ones there." Silverfang: "He keeps certain coordinates used saved on his visor, just in case." "That doesn't explain why he went there. And why did he use the ground bridge instead of his visor?" Ratchet: "We'll have to figure that out on our own." he said reopening the ground bridge. As soon as he started making his way to it, Nakala emerged from it. Ratchet: "Nakala? What have you been doing?" Echowave said nothing as he continued walking forward, only to be stopped by Ratchet who grabs his long, slender arm. Ratchet turns Nakala's hand over to see what he was holding, and was surprised by what he saw. "Dark energon?" he asked only to be punched in the face and knocked out near the ground bridge console surprising the other three. Arcee: "Nakala, what are you doing?!" Again, Nakala said nothing as he brought out his tentacles to hold them in place as he puts in more coordinates.
Arcee: "Nakala, answer me!" Wingblade: "Creator!" Silverfang: "What's gotten into you!" As soon as Nakala/Megatron put in the new coordinates, made his way to the ground bridge. But what Megatron didn't expect was how strong willed Nakala was as he lets the three go before turning back into his human form. It was at this moment that Megatron realized that it was Nakala that prevented him from scrapping Arcee, Wingblade and Silverfang. Nakala: "[strained] Arcee." Arcee gasps in response hearing the pain in Nakala's voice as he turn his head toward her to reveal a tear falling. What he said next showed Arcee it's not his fault what he's doing or about to do. "[strained Help me....Megatron." His eyes went back to Megatron's control and ran into the portal. Arcee: "Megatron?" Wingblade: "Are you okay, dear Ratchet?" she asked now in her bipedal form. Silverfang: "You took quite a hit there, mate." Ratchet: "I'm fine. More importantly, is Nakala?" he asked as he stood up. Arcee: "Ratchet, I think Megatron is somehow controlling Nakala!" Wingblade: "What?!" Silverfang: "How's that even possible?! Bloody piker is in a coma!" Ratchet: "Of course. That's how. Curse me a fool for not seeing it sooner!" Arcee: "See what?!" Ratchet: "The cortical psychic patch acted as a two-way conduit. When Nakala returned to his own mind, Megatron followed. And now Nakala - Megatron - has bridged to nearly the same coordinates Optimus used." he says before reactivating the ground bridge to the same coordinates. "Let's go."
Back in the Arctic, the solar weapon the Decepticons have is still being used to melt the ice. Starscream: "Yes! I love when a plan comes together!" he said with a victorious smile, which was wiped away when he heard the sounds of vehicles to his right from below. He looks down to see three vehicles approaching and it's pretty obvious who they are. Starscream: "Autobots." Knockout: "Please, Lord Starscream, allow your second-in-command to do the honor." He then turns to Breakdown and Skyquake who walk up to the duo. "Breakdown, Skyquake, total them!" Skyquake growls at him for being ordered by someone that isn't Megatron, but obliges because he sees that Elita One is amongst the 'bots. He transforms and flies down while Breakdown jumps down and causes a shockwave once he hits the ground, sending the 'bots flying. Once the smoke clears, he stares down Bulkhead and Bumblebee while Skyquake lands in front of Elita. Skyquake: "Elita One. Or should I call you "Elita Prime." Elita: "Nice to see you too, Skyquake." Little did the 'cons know is that the trio was just a distraction as we see Optimus climbing a glacier.
On the Decepticon warship, a ground bridge portal has opened up; and out of it came Ratchet, Arcee, Wingblade, and Silverfang. Ratchet: "The Decepticon warship." he said before the four went down a hallway to see dead vehicons down another. Silverfang: "Megatron would do this to his own troops?" Arcee: "The vehicons are mere foot soldiers: Expendables/Clones." Ratchet: "I fear Megatron's mind is dominant, and clearly he came here for one purpose: To use the dark energon to resurrect his own body." Arcee: "No! Nakala won't let him! He's able to fight back! I saw it!" "I hope you're right." The four snuck their way down the hallway to the lab where they see Nakala/Megatron attaching the cortical psychic patch to his head. Ratchet immediately runs towards him to stop him. Arcee: "Ratchet, plz don't hut him!" Ratchet: "I don't have a choice!" he says as he tries to punch him twice, but fails. Megatron punches Ratchet into a wall, knocking him out immediately. He showed an evil smile as he took the dark energon out of his pocket and was about to step toward his body, but two voices stopped him. WB & SF: "Creator, no!" Nakala/Megatron turns around to look down at the creations in their bipedal forms.
Wingblade: "Remember who you are, dear Nakala! Remember us! You can beat him!" Silverfang: "That's right, mate! You might not be physically stronger than him, but your mind is!" Suddenly, Nakala's eyes turn back to normal as he regains control. "[groaning] Silv? Wings?" Wingblade: "Yes, creator. It's us." Inside Nakala's head, Megatron is furious that his vessel regained control somehow and immediately tries to regain it. "Unbelievable!!" Nakala feels Megatron trying to regain control and tries to fight back as he holds his head in pain and screams as he falls to his knees and arms. The symbiote duo kneel closer to the creator only as he's looking down to see if he's okay. But once he looks at them, they see that Megatron has regained control as he used his tentacles to grab them by their faces and throw them to a wall. Megatron turns around to see Ratchet about to unplug the tube connected to his body's spark chamber. Ratchet: "Farewell, Megatron." he said before unplugging it.
Megatron then comes over with Nakala's staff and zaps him for about 3 seconds before throwing him over to where the creations were, who were just getting back up. Arcee: "Nakala!!" Nakala/Megatron turns to the two-wheeler who has been doing nothing but watching everything transpire. He takes out the dark energon as he stares at her and says, "Nakala can't hear you anymore" "Yes he can. He just needs some help." she said with determination in her eyes as she ran to him and grabbed him by the cheeks to turn him around. "Nakala, listen! You can't give up! Like them, I know you are stronger than Megatron. You can beat him and force him back into his body! Remember that I still need you. I...I love you." she said before smacking her lips against his, taking both Megatron and Nakala by surprised.
Megatron stopped the kissing and punched Arcee hard in the stomach and kneed her in the face, knocking her down. Megatron: "How pathetic." he said before turning around and about to slam the dark energon in his body's spark chamber. But the entire arm stopped mid-air as the left hand has grabbed the right wrist. Megatron: "WHAT?!?! What's happening?!" Another voice came from the body this time, and it was its owner. Nakala: "I'm what's happning." "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!!" "[struggling] Simple, you might be really strong by yourself, but I have the support of my friends, my family, Arcee..." he said forcing a smile on his 2-minded face at her, which she smiled back. "I won't let you win. [grunts] I will force you back in that... [grunts in pain] endless dream, forever!" Both Megatron and Nakala scream in pain for control of the body as it falls to its knees, still clutching its head, screaming. Arcee: "Come one, Nakala! You can win this!" she yells as Ratchet, Wingblade, and Silverfang look on. Megatorn: "It appears I underestimated you... Echowave." This took Nakala by surprise for a second, hearing his cybertronian name come from Megatron.
Nakala: "You looked into my memories when I was out." Megatron: "Indeed. And I have to say that I am rather surprised that you live. I thought you had perished when I personally terminated your carrier." he said knowing that throw him off enough to take control, which it did. Nakala: "What?!" he yelled as Arcee, Ratchet, Wingblade, and Silverfang were also in shock. Megatron gained just enough control to force the dark energon into his body's spark chamber. The shard disappears within the spark chamber as the gaping hole repairs itself as if it was never there. Megatron leaves Nakala's body to re-enter his own, his optics shooting open for the first time in a long while. As he makes his way off the medical berth, five vehicons suddenly run in the room and are surprised to see their lord and master is finally awake. Megatron: "Decepticons! Your rightful lord and master has returned!"
Megatron takes a few steps forward before stopping next to Nakala to talk to him. Megatron: "I have to say that I'm rather surprised you were given a human form the moment you landed on this planet, son of Soundwave." Nakala looked at Megatron with anger over his birth mother's death. Nakala: "Why... Why did you kill my carrier?! She was a Decepticon, wasn't she?!" Nakala's friends were surprised at the tone of voice he was letting out 'cause he was not one to show this much emotions. "Your carrier was a traitor. She's been secretly giving information to the Autobots back on Cybertron, so she payed for it. YOUR death was supposed to be punishment for Soundwave... for not telling me about her treachery." Nakala, in a fit of anger, tries to fight Megatron, but it didn't last more than 5 seconds. Megatron grabs Nakala's right fist and breaks that hand, causing him to back up and get on his knee.
More footsteps were heard as everyone looks to see Soundwave run in the room. He felt something was wrong with his sparkling, then felt him in great amount of pain. Megatron stands straight up and walks toward Soundwave, who already knows he's in trouble. Megatron: "Soundwave, you and I will have a little private talk later." Soundwave does a slow nod in response before Megatron turns his attention to the vehicons. "Finish these pests! But leave him alive!" he says before he walks past them, with Soundwave hesitant to follow at first but does right away. "I have my own extermination to perform." The vehicons, while still trying to take in what they just heard, begin to open fire on the Autobots. The five 'bots immediately take cover behind something and Wingblade and Silverfang begin to open fire on the 'cons while Arcee and Ratchet try to tend to Nakala's broken hand. Arcee: "Nakala? Are you okay?" Nakala answers her question with his own. "Why is my sire still loyal to Megatron after knowing what he did?!" he yells quietly with tears falling. "My carrier... I'll never get to meet her." he said before crying, with Arcee hugging him for comfort with Ratchet about to snap Nakala's hand back in place but still feeling bad for what he just heard. So much happened so fast for everyone.
Meanwhile, back outside, Optimus climbed to the top of the glacier and stares down the warship. He transforms and goes full speed toward a ramp part of the cliff to get up to the warship. Luckily, he had enough air and speed to grab on to the edge of a part sticking out like a spike. He then makes his way to the flight deck where the Solar Ray is. Meanwhile, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Elita are doing their best against Breakdown and Skyquake. Bumblebee lands some hits on Breakdown before being hammered in the stomach and sent flying. He recovered so he can land mostly properly, but the pain from the hit got him to his knees. Breakdown then turned his attention to Bulkhead and ran at him with an evil laugh. Breakdown: "I'm gonna put you on ice!" he said as he raised his hammer to strike. Bulkhead had his wrecking ball hand ready meet Breakdown's hammer. As the two collided, it let out a shockwave which caused a long crack to form on the ground between the two. While that fight was going on, Elita was having a bit of difficulty dealing with Skyquake. After she got thrown back, Skyquake speaks to her again. "It will be a pleasure to annihilate Optimus Prime's sparkmate." Elita: "You want to know something we both have in common? [unsheathes wrist claws] We're both too stubborn to die. HAAAA!"
Starscream and Knockout are watching this from the ship, and Knockout points out something he noticed for a bit. Knockout: "Don't the 'bots seem... understaffed?" he asked Starscream before the sound of an engine was heard behind them. They turn around to see Optimus somehow got onto the ship and is making his way to them. Starscream immediately puts the blame on Knockout for no other reason other than him being the leader. Starscream: "What good is a second-in-command who fails to watch the rear!" he yells before grabbing his face and moving him to the side. He goes over to the solar ray and kicks the vehicon operating it as he said "Get out of my way!" and used it against Optimus. Optimus growls as he struggles to endure the sudden solar heat he was feeling and push on forward. Optimus' will was too strong for him to give in to the heat, however. Optimus: "AAAAAAHH!" he yells as he transforms and jumps in the air while unsheathing his blade and falls toward the weapon to break it. Starscream: "NO!" he yells before Optimus breaks the weapon which lets out an explosion big enough to blow the fighters on the ground away.
The 'bots recover and Elita sees Optimus injured on their ground level. Elita: "Optimus!" she calls out to him. Optimus groans in pain as he tries to recover from the explosion, but Starscream comes out of no where in his jet mode unscathed. Optimus sees as Starscream flies high up and flies back down toward him. Starscream: "[growls] Megatron's greatest mistake was ever allowing you to live, Prime!" he yells as he readies a missile to send him to the scrapie. But just as he was about to fire it, another jet comes out of no where and tackles Starscream. Optimus' optics widened as he saw who it was that saved him. Optimus: "Megatron." Elita: "He's back." Megatron carries Starscream all the way back up to the Nemesis and lets him drop. Once Starscream recovered from the sudden sneak attack, he looks up to see who it was that tackled him and was surprised to see who it was after they transformed out of their vehicle mode. Starscream: "Lord...Megatron. [shudders] You...are -- You're healed! Praise the AllSpark. It is a miracle!" Megatron: "Oh, it will be a miracle alright, Starscream, if you survive what I have planned for you!"
Starscream immediately felt fear as he figured that Megatron somehow knew what he tried to do. He transforms again to try and fly away, but Megatron was quick enough to grab onto the tail wings and fling Starscream to another spiked part of the ship. Starscream recollects himself and is panting while trying to think of how to save himself as Megatron lands in front of him. Starscream: "But the Autobots - Optimus - right there, waiting for you." Megatron was obviously not having any of it. Before he could respond, Skyquake comes out of no where and lands between the two, but not completely in Megatron's way. Skyquake: "Lord Megatron, I live to serve." Megatron: "Ah, Skyquake. It is good to see you again. Loyalty such as yours is a rare find. Speaking of..." he turns his attention back to Starscream as Skyquake moves out of his way. "My greatest mistake? I've made a few. But there is one I do not intend to make again!" he says as he grabs Starscream by the face and drags him back in the ship with Skyquake by his side. "[Fear] No, master! NO-O-O-O-O!!!"
The Autobots look on as the Nemesis flies away from them. With nothing else to do, they decide it't best to head back home. Optimus: "Ratchet, we need a bridge." Ratchet: "You are not the only ones." His voice was heard near them instead of over the comms, so the three look over to see not only Ratchet, but Arcee, Nakala, Wingblade and Sivlerfang as well. Elita notices Nakala's face and is concerned that her partner had an emotional breakdown. But something told her that something else had happened. Elita: "Nakala? Are you okay?" Nakala says nothing as he summons a ground bridge near the four before saying, "I...want to be...alone." He deactivated his mass-shifter and summoned another portal for him to go to the emergency room his mother works at. Arcee: "Nakala, wait." she says trying to stop him from leaving, but Ratchet stops her. "He needs some time alone with what he learned, Arcee." Arcee looks at Ratchet before looking down to see the portal closing and Nakala gone. Elita: "Ratchet, what happened?" Ratchet: "Long story." he said with his eyes closed.
Once back at the base, Ratchet told everyone -including Jack, Raf, and Miko - what had transpired, leaving everyone that wasn't there to witness it in shock and feeling sad for Nakala. Only thing he left out was Arcee confessing her love for Nakala's sorrow. Ratchet: "That's all that happened." Bulkhead: "Poor kid." Bee: "[buzzing sadly] Elita: "Primus." Optimus says nothing but closes his eyes sadly. Before anything else could happen or be said, the proximity sensor went off, indicating someone is up top. They all look at the screen to see Nakala exit a ground bridge in his tall form. Arcee: "I'll go talk to him." she immediately said making her way to the elevator. Once she gets to the top, she sees Nakala sitting on the edge of the cliff, staring at the starry, moonlit sky. She walks up to him slowly and kneels down behind him to put a hand on his shoulder, while also being closer to him. Arcee: "Nakala?" Nakala doesn't do any sound or movement in response to Arcee. Arcee puts her hand under his chin to turn his head so she can see his face. Arcee felt her spark break seeing that Nakala is crying, but trying to resist it. Arcee: "Nakala, just let it out. Please, just like you said you're here for me, I'm here for you." she said holding his cheek.
Nakala couldn't hold it anymore as he let the tears fall and really began to cry in her shoulder. "It's okay, Nakala. I'm here. We all are." she said trying not to cry, herself. Everyone is watching from the main screen and Ratchet decides that it's best to leave them alone, for now. Ratchet:"Nakala needs some time to recover." he says before switching away from the cameras. Nakala: "I...love you too...Arcee. Don't go." Arcee's spark warmed as she heard Nakala confess that he lovers her back. Arcee: "I'm not going anywhere, Nakala. I'm here for you whenever you need me." Nakala let out a smile before nearly falling asleep on her lap. Arcee: "*Despite you still suffering from everything, you're staying strong. You're putting others before you and not wanting them to focus on you. You are a very selfless, and very kind-hearted person. It's why I love you.*" Arcee: "Sweet dreams, Nakala. I love you." she said before kissing him on the cheek and letting him sleep on her lap, eventually getting some rest as well.
TO BE CONTINUED...