Optimus: "Previously on Transformers Prime." Arcee: 'Cons are back. Cliff might be neck-deep in scrap." Energon depot explodes on Cliffjumper. Ratchet: "Cliffjumper's signal, just went offline."  Optimus: As of today, only we six autobots remain on this Earth." Arcee and Elita fighting the 'Cons. Raf: "W-What are they?" Jack: "Talking cars that turn in to robots. Or the other around." Elita: "Your safeties are why you need to come with us." Jack: "Why are you here?" Optimus: "To protect your planet from Megatron. But if his return is immanent, it could be catastrophic." Megatron: "I have returned."

We see the Decepticon warship, the Nemesis, descending down to a hole in a mountain. An elevator drops down from the ship into the hole, where we saw vehicons mining energon. Starscream: "Of the energon deposits we have located while you were away Lord Megatron, this one is by far the most significant. The drones have been mining without pause during your absence, and have amassed quite a stockpile. You there! Fetch me a sample!" "Starscream!" Starscream turns to see Megatron coming out of the shadows. "Now that I have returned, I will issue the commands." "I...understand, Lord Megatron." Starscream said trying to hide his annoyance and disappointment. He loved being in charge. "Then, as your humble servant, shall I ready the space bridge to bring forth the Decepticon army you have surely gathered during your three years in space."

"My army will come. But my time away has yielded a more, intriguing means of materializing them -- A solidified form of the matter the ancient texts refer to as the blood of Unicron." he says holding up a purple energon shard. Starscream: "Unicron the Destroyer. But it is said that his blood is the antispark." Megatron: "Plucked from Cosmic shores, gaze upon dark energon." Starscream: "Legend tells it has the power to...revive the dead." Megatron: "We require only a cadaver to be certain. Are you willing to make the ultimate the sacrifice." Starscream does a nervous chuckle at that before speaking. "That may not be necessary. If I may, Lord Megatron." he says pointing his hands at the elevator where two vehicons show up with the scrapped body of Cliffjumper. "Consider it, a "welcome home" present." Starscream says as Megatron does an evil, pleased smile at the sight.

We are now back at the Autobot base, where Optimus is still talking to the kids. Optimus: "And since you now know of our existence, I fear that, as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours." Jack: "Got it. If we spot any strange vehicles, call 911. Can we go now?" Miko wasn't happy to hear this at all. "Are you insane? I'm living a dream here in "bot"-swana. And I will not allow you or anyone else to shatter it!" she says in quiet anger. Optimus: "It is best that you four remain under our watch. At least, until we can determine our enemies' intentions." Ratchet: "Optimus, with all due respect, the human children are in as much danger here as anywhere." Jack: "Children?" Ratchet: "They have no protective shell. If they get in underfoot, they will go...squish." Ratchet moves his foot a little forward which makes the four back up a bit. Elita: "We'll just have to watch where we step for the time being, Ratchet. I know you don't really care for humans, but at least try to get to know them better. Get used to them being around. They might surprise us." Ratchet: "*scoffs* I highly doubt that."

Before anymore words could be said, some alarm went off and green lights were blaring. "What's that?" Jack asked concerned. Bumblebee explains what it is, but no one but Raf and Nakala could understand him. "Proximity sensor. Someone's up top." Nakala said. "It's Agent Fowler." Ratchet said looking at the screen with Agent Fowler walking away from his helicopter to the another entrance of the base. Jack: "I-I thought we were the only humans that knew about you guys." Nakala: "It's the military. It would surprise me if they didn't know." Optimus: "Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world. As he tends to visit only when there are issues, it may be best if you do not meet him at this time." With that, the four ran under the stairs to hide. Elevator comes down and doors open to reveal an out of shape agent.

"7 wrecks, 34 fender benders, a 3-hour traffic jam, and of particular note, numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make, and a black-and-yellow muscle car." Fowler tells Optimus, clearly not happy and wanting answers. "So, anything you wanna get off your tin chest, Prime." Optimus: "We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." Fowler: "They're back, aren't they?" Optimus: "If you are referring to the Decepticons, I have doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable." Fowler: "Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon." Optimus: "Hear me, Agent Fowler. We are your best, possibly your only defense against the Decepticon threat." Fowler: "Says you." Bulkhead: "Hey fleshy. Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force, and how much to use." Bulkhead breaks a device as he says this, which Ratchet was angered about.

"Bulkhead, I needed that!" Optimus: "Enough! Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot." Fowler: "Then do us both a favor and handle this, Prime, under the radar. Or I will." Agent Fowler walks back in the elevator and leaves the base as he says this. Bulkhead: "Pretty big bearings... for a human. Optimus: "Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead, as he should be." Ratchet: "Now that that's over with, can we talk about something more important? Like what a human is doing with cybertronian relics?" he said looking over at Nakala, which causes everyone to look at him as well. "If you want them back, you ain't getting them." he said backing up a bit while holding on to the wrist device. "Nakala, it would be best if we hold on to them for your safety. Now that the 'cons know you have them." Optimus said. Nakala still wasn't gonna give them up. He's had dreams that he believes are memories of the items being given to him. "I said no!" he yelled quietly taking grabbing the staff and and making sharp metal come out of both ends to show how serious he is.

"Woah!" Miko exclaimed in surprise but also interest. This caught the Autobots by surprise, seeing that is was no ordinary staff. "The Staff of the Primes." Ratchet said in astonishment and disbelief. "The what?" Jack asked. "It is a weapon forged by the 13 Original Primes. The very first Primes that ever existed on Cybertron, before any of us came along. It is multiple weapons in one." Ratchet said. "Woah. That's so cool." Raf said. "May I see it?" Miko asked trying to grab it. Nakala moved it out of her reach and gave her a look. "These things are mine, and that's final." he said putting the staff back on his back. "They were given, so I keep." "Who gave them to you?" Elita asked. Nakala looked away then turned around before saying, "Don't know. ...Do know that it's...someone important." He said nothing else after that and walked back under the stairs and leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Leaving everyone to wonder who the unknown, yet important, person is.

We are now back in the energon mine where Megatron is about to test the dark energon on Cliff's corpse. "Let us see if power born of darkness can reignite the spark." he says just before he slams the dark energon shard in Cliff's spark chamber. Just as he did, the dark energon started glowing more and an aura surrounded it even more. Starscream backs up in fear, not knowing what to expect from the blood of Unicron the Destroyer. The dark energon shard then sinks itself inside of Cliff's body as its power flows through his veins, mutating him as he suddenly wakes up. He lets out a snarl, and then a growl as he thrashes about, trying to get free from being strapped down. Once it broke free, it set its sights on the two vehicons in front of him, who aimed their blasters in fear. The mutated Cliff charged at one of them and started pounding him into scrap. The vehicon was screaming for his life while trying to shoot his attacker, only for the terrorcon to chew the blaster arm right off and throw it to the side.

Starscream looked on in terror while Megatron looked on pleased with the results. The terrorcon then started to squeeze the head of its victim. The other vehicon started to shoot at the beast, only for it to not be phased much by it. The beast ignored the vehicon on the ground and pounced the other one. "That's your plan?! Bring Autobots back from the dead to attack us?!" Starscream yelled. Megatron: "That is no longer an Autobot. Just a mindless beast, it's only instinct to destroy anything in its path." The Terrorcon lets out a snarling roar before charging towards Megatron. Megatron unsheathes his wrist blade and slices the Terrorcon with such speed that it takes a few seconds for the beast to break in two and fall off the cliff. "There, Starscream, rise the indestructible seed of my army; the ultimate weapon." Terrorcon Cliffjumper tries to climb its way back up to Megatron and snarls at him, but Megatron pushes him off with his foot and on to a platform, left to rot. "Once I learn to control it." Starscream walks next to Megatron, doing an evil smile of his own.

Back at the Autobot base, their computers get an alert that Cliffjumper is alive. But Ratchet didn't believe it since it seemed impossible for a life signal to go offline then come back online. "Blasted Earth-tech! Cliffjumper's signal popped back online." Miko: "Who's Cliffjumper?" Optimus: "How is that possible?" Ratchet: "It isn't. Another bug. The system's chock-full of them." Arcee: "If there's any chance Cliff's alive..." Optimus: "Ratchet, prepare sick bay. We may need it." Miko: "Hey! What can we do?" Nakala was again annoyed with her. "What can we do? We're human." Miko: "So? We can still help." Elita: "Nakala's right. You four need to stay here with Ratchet where it's safe." Miko: "Aw!" Ratchet: "Aw." he says before he activates the ground bridge. "Autobots, rollout!" Optimus says before they transform and enter the ground bridge, surprising the four young humans. Nakala already knows what it is 'cuz he's used it before, but he thought it was something any cybertronian could use whenever, where ever they want like he can.

Jack: "What just happened?" Ratchet: "I transported them to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge." Raf: "What's a ground bridge?" Ratchet sighs in annoyance before answering. "A scaled-down version of space bridge technology. Since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel --" Jack: "You're stuck here...on Earth." Ratchet: "With the likes of you, yes. But I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet." Raf: "Woah. Does it work for humans?" Ratchet: "Naturally." Miko: "You mean, I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Ratchet: "Within moments. In fact, allow me to send you there immediately, all three of you." Miko did not take that lightly, especially when Ratchet got in her face with that smile and tone. So she got even and got closer to his face and gave him a look as she said, "Watch it, Ratchet." "Um, guys. Where did Nakala go?" Raf asked looking for him. Miko, Jack and Ratchet couldn't see him either. "Where did he go? He was just here, wasn't he?" Miko stated. "Don't know. He always goes off and does his own thing sometimes." Jack said.

We are now at the energon mine where a ground bridge portal opens, and out comes the Autobots, weapons ready and taking in their surroundings. Bulkhead: "Energon mine." Elita: "Seems like the 'cons have been digging here for a while, judging by it's scale." Optimus: "Indeed." They took cover behind some rocks and saw a group of miner-class vehicons going at work with their driveable drills and gathering shards. "Let's find Cliffjumper." Optimus said walking around the rock, with his team doing the same. The 'cons saw them and readied their blasters, with the 'bots doing the same. The 'cons opened fired first, while some charged at the 'bots with drills, and the battle commenced. The 'bots fired back while also not only dodging the drills, but knocking them down immediately after. What they never noticed, just before the battle started, was another ground bridge appearing in the same spot Team Prime came from. And out of the portal came Nakala.

"So, this is energon." he said looking at the beautiful blue glow of the crystal like energon. "*Better get some for the 'bots. I heard Ratchet say they don't have a good amount of energon, so I'll help with that. I need some for my cybertronian form as well.*" he thought before a light purple glow surrounded him, and standing in his place was a lighter color of Soundwave. He brought out his four tentacles and activated their drill mode and got to work. As soon as he was done with one, he would throw it in the portal he left open. He was only hoping that no one in the base would find the other end of the portal. He wasn't ready to show this side of him yet.

"What is this, anyway?" Miko asked about to touch some kind of device. "Broken. Don't touch." Ratchet said walking to the console. Miko was about to touch something else 'til Ratchet somehow knew she was going to without looking at her. "Don't touch that either." "Is there anything in here we can touch?" Jack asked before an error box appeared on one side of the screen. Raf: "How come you guys are using human computers?" Ratchet: "It certainly isn't by choice. It was handed down from the previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make modifications as I see fit." Just as he finished saying that, a bunch more error boxes appeared on all three screens. Ratchet groaned in annoyance, defeat, and slight frustration. "I think I can fix that." Raf said getting out his laptop. "Really?" Ratchet asked a little amused, but also doubtfully. "You know this is complex technology, don't you? I mean it isn't a child's toy." he said with a laugh in between. Raf did something on his laptop after he plugged it in to something and looked at back at Ratchet with a smile. "Now try it." Ratchet looked back at the screen to see the error boxes turned into green check marks and it went back to the screen it was left on, surprising Ratchet as he looked at Raf, surprised.

Meanwhile, the other Autobots were finishing up their first wave of vehicons in the energon mine. They holstered their weapons and walked towards the second wave before running. "Maximum overdrive!" Optimus ordered as he and the others transformed in their alt mode and charged at the 'cons, continuing to dodge blaster fire and running them over. Once all the vehicons were scrapped, the drove further in the mine and stopped to transform once they got to a place where a ramp and platforms were, with an elevator up to the warship. "*whistles* Quite an operation.* Bulkhead says right before they're shot at again.

On the warship, we see Megatron standing in front of the giant dark energon, studying it, wondering how to become one with its power. "Blood of Unicron, how might I fathom the depths of your mystery, become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?" His thoughts were interrupted once Starscream called him from the mines. "Lord Megatron, intruders have been detected in the mines." Megatron: "Optimus?" Starscream: "Indeed." Megatron: "I need more time to prepare and appropriate reception for my old friend. Ready the ship for departure." Starscream: "But the energon I've mined -- The Autobots will seize it!" Megatron: "Then blow the mines!"

The Autobots continue shooting at the vehicons so they can start looking for Cliffjumper. They don't know if he's in the mines or on the warship. That is until Arcee stops for moment to scan the area and spots Cliff on a platform. "It's Cliff. I have a visual." Optimus: "We'll cover you. Go!" Arcee jumps out from behind her cover and transforms to drive up the ramp so she can grab the elevator and parkour her way up to the platform. She succeeded and turned towards Cliff, or what was left of him. She was shocked to see him butchered and leaking some purple substance. Before she could get closer, 'cons started shooting at her, breaking the platform Cliff was on. "Cliff!" she yelled running to grab him before he fell. Optimus shot the two 'cons that were above her so she can pull him up. "Let's get you home partner." she said with a smile, only for it to turn into a face of surprise and fear once the mutated Cliff looked up at her and snarled. It tried to grab her only for Arcee to accidentally drop him. Optimus let out his hand with his optics widening at the sight. "Cliffjumper!" Elita yelled. It was a long drop too, so the moment he landed, they thought he was scrapped.

Arcee grunts in pain before an evil laugh echoes in the mines. They look up to Starscream holding something in his hand. "Prime! I'd stick around, but I'm squeamish." he says before he activates the device in his hand and drops it. It was at this moment that the 'bots knew it was a bomb. Starscream said nothing else as he leaps in the middle of the elevator and transforms in his jet mode and flies up in the ship. "The join's gonna blow!" Bulkhead stated the obvious. Optimus: "Autobots, roll out!" They all transform and make their way back to where they came from, but the explosion was catching up to them. It was there that they saw a slender cybertronian with a visor over their face holding energon. "Soundwave?? How long was he here??" Bulkhead asked really confused. Little did they know that it was actually Nakala. As soon as he saw them, he threw the energon he was holding in the ground bridge, looked back at the 'bots, then ran in the portal while closing it. "We'll worry about that later. Ratchet! Bridge us back using our arrival coordinates now!" Elita ordered. As soon as she did, their rescue portal opened up.

Ratchet and the three humans looked to see them coming out of the portal with an explosion right behind trailing them. Ratchet closed the portal in time for them to make it through and the explosion left behind. "Woah." Jack, Raf, and Miko said. Ratchet: "Cutting it a bit close. How about Cliffjumper?" The 'bots looked down in sadness, but Miko clearly didn't care about the loss of a comrade. "What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time?" Arcee was irritated at this and groaned in frustration. "Look --" Jack jumped in before things got worse. "H-Hey, Miko, let's go see what the 'bots hide in there sock drawers." he said as he guided her away. Miko: "Seriously?" Elita: "Where's Nakala?" Nakala: "Right here." Everyone looks to see a mech-size Nakala. "Exploring the base. What happened?" he asks as he walks over to them. Optimus: "Arcee, what did you see?" Arcee: "Not Cliff -- At least, not anymore. He was mutated, butchered like something from those 'con experiments during the war."

Nakala was hurt hearing how emotionally hurt Arcee was about losing someone. He knows what that's like. Then Arcee started to lose balance and fall like she was dizzy. "Woah woah woah." he said as he caught her. "You OK?" "I'm fine, just dizzy." Miko: "Robots who get dizzy?" Raf: "Robots with emotions." Jack: "Robots who can die." Nakala let her sit on a crate and noticed something on her hand. He held her finger gently as he looked what seemed to be toxic purple goo. "What is this?" The 'bots were confused of what they were looking at. Not even Ratchet knew what it was. Arcee blushed a bit from the way Nakala was holding her hand. His voice was soothing too. "I don't know. Cliff was covered in it. Leaking it." Ratchet grabbed a scalpel and took a sample of the purple substance. "Nakala, help her over there. She needs a decontamination bath." he said. Nakala nods his head as he helps Arcee up and guides her to the tube looking thing.

"Jack: "O-Optimus, I-I hate to bug, but no bars." Optimus: "A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves." Jack: "Well, if I don't call my mom, like, now, I'm pretty sure the cops will be out looking for me." Optimus leans closer to Jack's face thinking he did something bad at first. "Have you broken a law?" Jack: "Uh, curfew. It's after 10: P.M.." Raf: "I better get home, too, or I'll be grounded for a year." Optimus realized what was going on. "Earth customs -- I hadn't considered. But the issue of your safety remains. Bulkhead, accompany Miko home." Miko: "Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Optimus: "And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form." Bulkhead: Curbside duty. Got it." Miko: "Aw!" Optimus: "Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf." Bumblebee and Raf look at each other with a smile. (Yes, Bumblebee has his face guard on, but I'm pretty sure he smiled)

"Ratchet?" "Busy." he said clearly not wanting to hang out with a human any longer than he already has too. "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack." Jack put a hand behind his hand after making a face that said he was unsure of the pairing. Arcee didn't like it either, and she made it known by doing a fake sign of dizziness. "*sarcastically* still dizzy." Ratchet: "You're fine, says your physician." Arcee gave up and walked towards Jack. "I'll look after Nakala, Optimus." Elita said looking over  Optimus nods and the four humans went home.

Jack opens the garage door and Arcee and Elita drive in. Once parked, Jack tries to comfort Arcee. "Arcee, I just wanted to say... I'm really sorry for your loss." "Same here." Nakala says closing Elita's door. "What could you two possible know about loss." This angered the two of them, especially Nakala. Both he and Jack lost someone close to them. Elita knew Arcee was suffering right now, but she didn't need to be rude to others because of it. "Arcee --" Jack: "What, you think you're the only one with problems?" Arcee transforms and looks right at Jack. "I'm not sure girl trouble counts." Elita transforms too and looks at her. "Arcee. Enough." "*scoffs* Well, I-I'm pretty sure my girl trouble started the night I met you." Jack said trying to get even. "Both of you stop. That's enough. Arcee, I know you're hurt but you shouldn't take it out on them." Arcee knew Elita was right, but she still can't shake the feeling of losing someone else close to her. They already have enough going on, now they have to be bodyguards of humans.

The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the driveway was heard and the 4 looked to see a white car. "'Cons!" Arcee quietly yelled arming her blasters. "No!" "It's Mom!" Jack and Nakala both yelled running towards their mom named "June Darby." "Jack? Nakala?" she said getting out of her car. "Mom! [chuckles] Don't --Don't freak out. We can explain." Jack said not knowing how to explain to her about Arcee and Elita. But luckily for the two, she never saw them. "Can you?" she asked walking toward the motorcycle. "Jackson Darby, we talked about this." Jack: "Yeah, I know. And --" June: "You don't know. I worry about you enough when you're not here. Now I have to worry about you driving a motorcycle?" Jack: "I'm 16. I can't be riding a 10-speed forever." June: "How did you even afford this? And how did you afford that car Nakala? And aren't you worried about what people will think of the color?" Nakala: "One of my shirts is pink, mom. And so is one of my jackets and flannel shirts. I don't care what others think." June: "Because the color pink existed before any life in the universe was around?" Nakala: "[snaps fingers then points at her] Bingo." Nakala said this before so she knew what he was gonna say next. Jack: "You never even wore those outside the house, though." Nakala: "I do. Just rarely. I prefer to look mysterious." he said observing his gray and purple clothing.

Jack shakes his head before continuing to lie to their mother about the vehicles. Jack: "Whatever. Anyways, Mom. These are actually refurbished so, might need some repairs." Jack walks over to the motorcycle helmet he never wore before continuing. "Point is Mom, I may have been a kid when I bought this, but I'm not anymore. You always tell me to make responsible choices. Well, I-I chose her. And I'll be responsible. I promise." "Same with me and this car, mom." Nakala said rubbing the hood. June looks back at Jack realizing what he said. ""Her"? I didn't think you'd be bringing girls home just yet." Nakala snickered at this. "I...like to think she brought me." "Well, I'm glad you finally have a reason to wear your helmet -- every single time you ride. You will take me for a spin every once in a while." she said as the three exit the garage. "We'll see. She's kinda temper mental." Jack said shutting off the lights. and closing the garage door.

Next day, Arcee starts revving her engine to get Jack and Nakala's attention. They both enter the garage to see what they wanted. Jack: "Shh! Are you crazy? You'll wake up our Mom." Elita: "It's time for us to get back to base." "Aw, It's Saturday." Arcee: "You can both watch cartoons back at base with Bumblebee." "Cartoons. I'm 16." Jack goes to grab his helmet while Nakala goes to grab some things. "And leave a note for your Mom! She worries!"

On the Decepticon warship, Megatron continues to stand in front of the giant dark energon while letting Starscream say what he has to say. "I don't think you need worry about further Autobot interference, master. Not with Optimus gone." Megatron: "And what evidence do you possess of this fact?" Starscream: "I destroyed the mines, as you instructed." Megatron: "Optimus is not so easily destroyed. We have millennia worth of battles behind us to prove it." Starscream: "Maybe you should take a break, my lord. I worry that too much contact with the dark energon might allow it's properties to adversely affect you." Starscream unknowingly gave Megatron an idea when he said "contact." "Or perhaps, Starscream, I have not permitted myself contact enough." he said as he grabs a shard of dark energon. "Wait! Lord Megatron, NO! Not your spark chamber! You do not know what it will do!" But Megatron ignored him as he stabbed his spark chamber with the shard. And Megatron was freaking out and making growling and snarling noises, making Starscream fear the worst. And for a moment, Megatron's eyes glowed purple.

We are now at the Autobot base where Ratchet is studying the dark substance. "Hmm. The base elements of this goo are like nothing I've ever encountered. It must be extremely concentrated to have affected Arcee so rapidly. Unfortunately, complete results are slow-coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools. Thank you very much, Bulkhead." Unknown to him, he accidentally dropped a bit of the substance on his broken equipment that was left on the ground. It disappeared inside it and the tool started to change, coming to life.

TO BE CONTINUED...