Optimus: "Previously on Transformers Prime." "It is best that you three remain under our watch." Megatron: "Gaze upon dark energon." Starscream: "Legend tells it holds the power to... revive the dead." Ratchet: "Cliffjumper's signal popped back online." Mutant Cliffjumper snarls and charges at Megatron. Optimus: "Let's find Cliffjumper." Arcee: "Cliff!" Cliff falls off the platform. Nakala: "What is this?" Arcee: "I don't know. Cliff was covered in it." Starscream: "Wait! Lord Megatron! You do not know what it will do!" Megatron starts freaking out with the Dark energon inside him.

Arcee and Jack are at a stop sign and Arcee decides to have some fun with him. "Tighten your grip Jack." she says before speeding and popping a wheelie, catching Jack completely off guard. "[chuckling] Hey -- Hey, what's with you Arcee?" Arcee: "Thought you might actually enjoy the ride if you weren't getting shot at." Jack: "Oh, bring it." While Jack and Arcee were having fun on a joy ride, Miko and Bulkhead are on top of hill, ready to drive down it. "Ready...Set..." Bulkhead: "Miko, I'm supposed to be protecting you." Miko: "Bulkhead, I'm strapped tight inside of 10 tons of metal muscle. I'm protected." With no more words, Bulkhead started going down the really bumpy hill and Miko was having a blast. Meanwhile, Raf and Bumblebee were having fun playing a racing game on Bumblebee's radio screen. Bumblebee bumps his car into Raf's making it spin out of control and winning the game. "Awww!" [Beeps and buzzes in victory] "[laughs] No fair, Bumblebee. You've been driving a lot longer than I have. Meanwhile Nakala was with Elita listening to his kind of music that he considers real music. They were listening to a song called

(A/N: Anyone know this wonderful song of the legends?)

Elita: "That was a wonderful song, Nakala." Nakala: "Sure is. The song was mode by the one-time band of legends "U.S.A for Africa." It was to help them raise money after the famine." Elita: "What's the famine?" Nakala: "Long story short, a disease that killed about a million of us over a century ago." Elita: "I'm so sorry." Nakala: "Don't be. To me, it was mother nature saying that the human population needed to drop a bit." Elita: "You mean you don't care if other humans die?" Nakala: "That's not what I meant. We humans have come a long way but still have so far to go. Not just in mind, but in technology as well. But it makes me worry about our planet's safety." Elita: "What do you mean?" Nakala: "There are humans that don't give a scrap about mother nature at all. Those that cut down forests for their own benefit and profit, those that dump their trash outside for animals to choke on or get sick, polluting the air, dumping trash in the ocean, and our population growing means more trees and stuff have to be removed for houses to be placed. Especially since there are people who decide to own multiple houses that they'll never use besides their main one. And scientists and engineers are doing experiments on stuff that just might be the end of us one day. Or maybe the entire planet. I could keep going, but I don't feel like it."

Elita: "I had no idea of the troubles you humans went and are still going through. It sounds like you don't like your own species." Nakala: "In a way, I don't. But there are people out there that are wanting to make a difference, open the eyes of others. I still feel like it's hopeless." Elita: "Never lose hope, Nakala. No matter how bad things seems, no matter how lost in the darkness you are --" Nakala: "There's that one spark of light called hope to guide you. I know. But I've yet to see it. Especially since..." Elita: "Since what?" Nakala said nothing as he shakes his head and closes his eyes, letting a single tear drop. Elita: "*What has happened to him? [Sigh] I'll worry about it later. Better head back to base. But what I really want to know is...What are you really Nakala?*"

Back at the base, Ratchet is wondering how a supply of energon crystals got in their base. Or really, who gave it to them. Ratchet: "They said they saw someone that looked like Soundwave taking energon through a ground bridge, and it's now in our base. I highly doubt it was really Soundwave. He's been loyal to Megatron before the war even started. Could this have something to do with what Nakala's refusing to tell us?" Ratchet decided to push those questions aside for now and focus on purple substance he found on Arcee. "Thank goodness for peace and quiet. House guests can be such a bother." While he was using his microscope, the sound of metal clatter echoes in the room. "What?" he said looking around to see what it was. When he saw nothing he shrugged it off and got back to observing. That was until the sound of metallic tapping was heard. "Optimus?" he asked as he turned around, only to see that it definitely wasn't Optimus. "[gasps] By the AllSpark!" he says as he sees his broken equipment somehow alive and about to pounce him."

The newly born mini-con tries to jump on Ratchet but he dodges. It tries again, but Ratchet grabs a tray for it land on instead and jump on to the railing above. It jumps back down and Ratchet tries to hit it with a metal pole, (Instead of his blades for some reason) but the little thing is fast. "I needed that!" Ratchet says after the mini-con break his microscope by slicing it. Once again, it tries to pounce Ratchet, but Optimus came in and shot mid-air then stomped on it when it tried to get back up. Ratchet: "And stay broken! Now what could've caused that." Optimus: "I have a grave suspicion Ratchet...dark energon."

We are now back on the warship where Megatron is still standing in front of the dark energon. The effects of the shard he placed in his spark chamber are done and he growls in relief and pleasure. Enjoying the feeling of the dark energon now coursing through him. Though Starscream was still worried he might lash out like Cliffjumper did. "[nervous chuckle] Lord Megatron." Megatron: "It's as if the blood of Unicron the Destroyer flows through my veins. As if, I can hear his very thoughts. I now know what I must do." Starscream: "[another nervous chuckle] And what can I do to assist you, master?" Megatron: "Quit groveling and away my command." 

Megatron makes his way to the flight deck and flies off somewhere with Starscream in the bridge watching. Soundwave then walks up behind him, startling him a bit. "Soundwave! I fear that, when our master reached for the stars, he came down with a touch of space madness. Lord Megatron has not been of sound judgment since his return. Increase global surveillance." Soundwave: "Megatron: "Quit groveling and away my command." Starscream: "I'm not deaf! But if Optimus Prime lives, I believe it is in Lord Megatron's best interest that we ensure his enemies' destruction."

Optimus: "If the residue Arcee found on Cliffjumper brought your broken equipment to life, it would stand to reason that the very same substance brought Cliffjumper back from the dead. "Ratchet: "Hm. That would account for his life signal inexplicably coming back online, but dark energon? It's so scarce as to be virtually nonexistent. What would it be doing on Earth?" Optimus: "It was transported... by Megatron." Ratchet: "For what purpose?" Optimus: "To conquer this planet by raising an army of the undead." Ratchet: "[chuckles] Well, Megatron will need to break quite a few toaster ovens. I mean, where on this world would he find that many cybertronian dead?" Before anything else could be said, the other Autobots returned to the base with the humans. Jack: "That was awesome!" Raf: "Can we go again?" Miko: "Sweet!" Nakala: "That was fun." A sound was heard from Bulkhead before he opens up his chest partly and pulls out Miko's guitar. "Uh..." "Sorry. Must've left that in the back seat." she said grabbing it.

"Autobots, prepare to..." Optimus started to say before stopping suddenly and looking at the four humans. Arcee: "Roll out?" Optimus: "Remain here. Elita, Ratchet, you'll come with me. Arcee, we'll be outside communications range for some time, so I'm putting you in charge." Miko: "Dude, you're biggest. You should be the best." Bulkhead: "Um, he never picks me." Nakala: "Not how is works anyways, girl." Arcee: "Optimus, with all due respect, bodyguard is one thing. Babysitting's another." Jack walked away with an annoyed sigh when he heard that. "Besides, Ratchet hasn't been in the field since the war." Ratchet: "My pistons may be rusty, but my hearing is sharp as ever." Optimus: "For the moment, it's only reconnaissance." Elita: "Then why is there an edge in your voice, hon?" Optimus: "Much has changed in the last 24 hours, Elita, and we all need to adapt. Ratchet, bridge us out." Ratchet activates the ground bridge and the three go to where ever their destination is. Jack: "OK, Chief, so uh, what's on the activities list?" Arcee: "I'm going on patrol." she says as she rolls her eyes. Bulkhead: "But Optimus told us to stay." Arcee: "When you're in charge, you can call the shots. Bee, with me." Bee: "[disappointed/sad buzzing]" Arcee: "Bulkhead, you're in charge." she says before she and Bee transform and leave the base.

Bulkhead: "So, uh, what's on the activities list?" he asks, not so sure what to do either. Apparently Miko had an idea already in mind cuz she started mess with her guitar volume and tuning, which heart everyone's ears. "How about...band practice?" Raf: "But, we're not a band." Miko: Why so antisocial? [chuckling] Come on Raf. You play anything?" Raf: "Um...Keyboard?" Miko: "Laptops and samples. Good. Jack?" Jack: "I sometimes mess around the harmonica." he says as he rubs the back of his like he's embarrassed about it. Miko: "Do I look like I do country? Just cover yourself in fake blood and jump around screaming." Jack: "Uh..." Nakala already knew what type of "music" she was into and it made him dislike her more. "Heavy shriek metal?" he asked with more no emotion but with the hint of annoyance. "Yes!" "Hate it. Not real music." "What?! Why do you hate it? And what do you mean it's not real? It exists!"

"No potential. Random noises. Fake singing. Don't deserve to be called "music" if people are screaming to wreck their throats." he says as he sits on the floor with one leg flat and one with the knee up. "Anyone who likes it has never listened to anything else in their entire lives. Stuff that's actually good." "Ugh. Whatever. Bulkhead, percussion. We'll go for a big industrial sound. D.I.Y. --We're a band. You just gotta learn the songs. This one's a ballad: "My Fist, Your Face."" Just as she was about to start playing her guitar, the sound of a flute played. Miko: "Huh? Who's doing that?" she asked upset her song was interrupted before it started. Jack: "Nakala." he said pointing at him.

"Wow. That was beautiful." Bulkhead said amazed by the sound the thing made. Jack: "That's the flute for ya." Raf: "What kind of flute is it?" Nakala: "...Unique." Miko was about to get on to Nakala for interrupting her music, but then an alarm went off and the room lit up green. Bulkhead: "Proximity sensor. Quick, hide!" Nakala ran under the stairs while the Jack, Raf, and Miko ran behind Bulkhead. Nakala noticed the Miko carried her guitar with her and saw the cord is just barely long enough. He already knew that was going to get them caught. Elevator doors open and out comes Agent Fowler. "Prime!" Bulkhead: "Agent Fowler, uh, he's not here. Nobody's here...[chuckling] except me, of course." "Well, where did he go? Wait. Don't tell me. He's out pancaking a mini-mall. Now, I don't know what language you bots speak on your planet, but Prime promised he would handle the Decepticons. And blowing a crater in the middle of Nebraska is not what the word "handle" means in English." While he was talking, Bulkhead was moving his foot to hide the kids better cuz Fowler moved a bit, but it caused Miko to tug on her guitar and make notes play. "So, you tell Prime --" More notes played which caused Agent Fowler to look down and notice the cord tugging on something. "Since when are you 'bots electric?"

Nakala facepalmed and sighed knowing they had to show themselves now. Jack, Raf and Miko walked out from behind Bulkhead's foot. Jack: "Hey. How you doing?" Fowler: "Contact with civilians! Team Prime has really gone off book this time. Wait, don't tell me. You're running a daycare center." Nakala then walks out from behind the stairs and makes his way to his friends. "Actually, wrong place wrong time. She was snooping." Miko huffed angrily at him. Fowler: "I see. Well then, I better bring you four with me under federal custody. It's for your own protection." he said walking down the stairs to them. Bulkhead then put his foot between Fowler and the four. "We're protecting them." Fowler: "Is that so? Well, maybe you could explain that to my superiors at the Pentagon." Bulkhead: "Don't use that phone. It's...out of order." he says breaking the phone's numbers. Fowler: "This isn't over, big butt, not by a long shot!" he said angrily as he walked back up the stairs. Miko just simply mocked him while Bulkhead groans knowing that Optimus will be in trouble with the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Optimus, Ratchet and Elita we're walking in a gloomy looking rocky valley. Elita was still trying to process what she has been told. "I still can't believe we're now dealing with dark energon." Ratchet: "Speaking of, what do we hope to find here Optimus?" Optimus: "The site of the largest cybertronian battlefield in this galaxy." Ratchet: "On Earth? You must be joking." Optimus: "Do you recall the period late in the war when both sides began hiding their energon spoils off world?" Ratchet: "Of course. It's the reason energon deposits exist on planets such as this one." Elita: "It is also the reason the reason battles came to be waged on planets such as this one." Optimus: "Correct. And I fear Megatron's memory is as long as history?"

Back at the Autobot base, Fowler is taking off in his helicopter and pushed a button that turned on communications with General Bryce (A/N: I assume it's the general at least). "Sir, Agent Fowler. We have a situation. I'm en route from the Autobot base. I'll brief you in person." Little did Agent Fowler know was that Soundwave was listening the whole time. "Agent Fowler. I'm en route from the Autobot base. I'll brief you in person." Starscream: "Autobot base, eh? Humans: Always the weak link. Fetch me this Fowler so that he may brief us instead." Soundwave let's Laserbeak detach from his torso so it can fetch Folwer. While on his way back to the nearest military base, Fowler's radar goes off, showing that something in his flight patch. "Hey big bird, I'm flying here." It was only 'til he passes a corner that he sees it wasn't a bird at all. "What in Uncle Sam's beard?" he says as Laserbeak is about to crash into him.

Fowler dodges Laserbeak just in the nick of time, while losing control of his helicopter for a bit in the process. "First the freeways aren't safe, now air travel?" Agent Fowler is no in full retreat mode, but Laserbeak scrapes against the bottom of the chopper. Agent Fowler is able to keep it steady and sees he's heading for a wall. He immediately pulls up with Laserbeak still hot on his trail. But Agent Fowler wasn't gonna go down without a fight. So when a drop came, he slows down and descends, causing Laserbeak to be the one front and Fowler now doing the chasing "You wanna dance 'con? I'll lead!" he said before he stats shooting at Laserbeak, which is doing nothing to him. (A/N: Idk what happened on this next part. Either Fowler's gun malfunctioned or he ran out of ammo.) Laserbeak flew up and used it's wing to break off the tail propeller of the 'copter, causing it to continuously spin and about to crash. "Never an Autobot around when you actually need one." he said trying to regain control, but knew it wasn't gonna work. He tries to push a red button to send out an S.O.S, but Laserbeak lands on the 'copter and breaks the glass with his tentacles, trying to grab Agent Fowler. Fowler of course tries to fight back, but it's useless. Luckily he manages to push the red button to send out the signal just before he was pulled out of the 'copter, right before it crashed. Laserbreak carries Fowler to the Nemesis where he will be interrogated on where the Autobot base is.

Back at the Autobot base, an alarm goes off with green lights flashing. "My ears!" Raf says covering his ears. "Sounds different." Nakala pointed out. "It's an S.O.S, from Fowler." Bulkhead tries to trace it's signal but he has no clue what to do on the console. Nakala notices he pushed a button and wondered what it did cuz Bulkhead stopped stammering. Raf: "Did you trace it?" Bulkhead: "Location scan was incomplete." Well that answers Nakala's question. "Oh well." Jack: ""Oh well"? Seriously?" Bulkhead: "Fowler's a jerk." Jack: "Whoa! Whether you like the guy or not, the Decepticons may have him. Raf: " And Agent Fowler knows your location. [eyes widen at realization*]Our location." Miko: "And did we not just witness how fast Fowler backs down from a 'bot? The 'cons will totally make him squeal." Nakala: "Transmission lost. Can't find him [eyes widen a bit] Unless...Raf?" Raf: "I know what you're getting at. About five years ago, the government started microchipping their agents. You know, like owners do with pets." The others just look at him like "What did you just say?" "What? I saw it on TV. Anyway, if I can hack into the Fed's mainframe, maybe I can pinpoint Fowler's coordinates." Miko: "You how to hack? But you're like 2 years old." Nakala: "12." Raf: "And a quarter."

We see Fowler being escorted to the brig by two vehicons who drop him in front of Starscream. "Welcome... Agent Fowler." Fowler: "You treat all your guests this nice?" Starscream: *chuckles* Any friend of the Autobots." Fowler: "Autobot. That one of them coin operated, wash-my-own-car places?" Starscream was already irritated at this. "Oh, so that's how it's going to be, hmm? Apparently, no one has told you I have no appreciation for human humor. Make our guest comfortable." he said walking away allowing the vehicons to close in on Fowler, who gets worried but keeps his courage. He refuses to tell the 'cons anything about Autobots. While that was going on, Raf hacked into the Fed's mainframe and traced the signal. He tells Bulkhead the coordinates so he can go rescue Fowler. "Latitude: 39.5. Longitude: 116.9" Bulkhead opens up the ground bridge and is ready for some action. "Okay, wait here." he says. Miko: "Aw! Don't break up the band!" Bulkhead: "Uh...Nakala and Jack, you're both in charge." he says before going through the bridge. "Guess we four have the run of the place." Jack says before noticing Miko wasn't with them. "Miko? Miko?!" Nakala already knew where she went. "[facepalm] *She is such a liability.*"

Ground bridge portal appears and out of it comes Bulkhead, who starts looking around for Fowler. "Fowler?" he calls out before noticing the Decepticon warship. "Uh-Oh. The whole decepticon shebang." he says before taking cover behind a rock just his size. He watches a vehicon walk by before hearing a girl's voice near a smaller rock near him. Miko: "All right! What's the plan." Bulkhead: "Miko!" he yells in a whispered surprised while telling her to be quiet. But it was too late at that point cuz when Miko looked up, she saw a vehicon aiming it's blaster at her and realized her mistake immediately. "Ohh. Unwise." "Miko, get down!" Luckily she moved away in time to not get hit and Bulkhead pounces on the 'con, punching it in the face. But the 'con retaliated and scratched Bulkhead in the face to get back up. It tried to hit him again with it's blaster only to get punched in the face again, countering with another scratch. Bulkhead then pounces the 'con and holds it down best he could. Miko for some reason thought she could damage 'con with a small rock to the head. "Hold him still!" she yelled before slamming it.

Bulkhead moved Miko away and both he and the 'con put their hands on each other's shoulders, both preventing the other from trying to land another hit. "Miko, look away!" "But --" "Turn your head away!" he said before plunging his fist into the 'cons spark chamber and ripping out the spark itself. Miko saw it all as she said "Woah." Bulkhead let the 'con go knowing things just got more tough with her here. "Arcee, Bumblebee, do you read?" Arcee: "Loud and clear, Bulkhead." "I have a situation." "Bulkhead, they're children. Humans. Just do whatever." Bulkhead explains the situation which cause her and Bumblebee to skid to a stop. "You're where?! She's where?!" Jack, Raf and Nakala are staring at the bridge wondering what to do. Raf: "What should we do? Bulkhead may not even realize that she followed him." Jack: "Miko hasn't seen the 'cons in action like we have. She has no idea." Nakala: "Leave her." Jack and Raf couldn't believe what they heard him say. Jack: "Wha- eh- Nakala!" Nakala: "Left for action. Knows we're ants compared to them. Ignored the danger. Stupidity. All equal liability." Jack: "That doesn't matter! Not only is she just a teen, she's human! This is their war, not ours! And Optimus isn't willing to allow a single human casualty because of them!" "And we should for someone like her?"

Jack looks at him with a determined glare and Nakala knew his mind was made up. "Suit yourself." he says before sitting down and closing his eyes. Jack sighs in disappointment before looking to Raf. "Open up the bridge Raf." he says before making his way down the stairs. Raf activates the ground bridge and decides to follow Jack, not wanting him to go alone. Nakala watches them make their way in the bridge and sighs. "*I don't wish to save that girl for being so damn stupid, but I can't leave my two friends out there like that. Bulkhead might not be enough if the 'cons are actually there.*" he thinks to himself getting up. "Arcee to base, come in. Jack, listen up. We need you to bridge us back. Hello?" Nakala: "Make your way back to the base yourself. I'm going after them. My brother, my protection." he said before making his way to the portal with staff in hand. "Nakala? Wait! You can't fight the 'cons, even with those relics! Nakala?" Nakala didn't say another word as he disappeared in the portal. Once there was no response, Arcee knew he wasn't there anymore. "Bumblebee, metal to the pedal."

Back on the warship's brig, we see Agent Fowler chained up in the air by his arms. Starscream: "Agent Fowler, I have one simple request that will save your family the pain of grieving: Tell me the location of the Autobot base." "No problem. But I need to ask you something first." "Yes? I'm listening." "I got an issue with the customer service around here. Could I speak to the manager?" Starscream was even more irritated by this and growled. "I make the decisions here! I am in charge!" he yells before turning the vehicons in the room with him. "Bring the prod." Back outside the warship, Bulkhead waiting for Arcee and Bumblebee with Miko. Bulkhead: "What's taking Arcee and Bumblebee?" Miko: "Dude, the 'cons could be putting clamps on Fowler right now. Let's just storm the joint." Then the sound of a ground bridge portal was heard near them and Bulkhead thought they finally arrived. "Ah, they're here." he said before seeing that it was actually Jack, Raf, and Nakala. "Why don't those guys hang with their own bots. This is our one-on-one time." Miko says as she and Bulkhead groan for different reasons.

"Whoa-oh. Are your bones vibrating?" Raf asked a little disoriented. Nakala felt it but not as much as they did. That was when the three noticed not only the warship, but three vehicons aiming their blasters at them. "You there!" Bulkhead and Miko: "Scrap!" Back on the warship, Starscream is trying to get Fowler to talk, or else... "I ask nicely one last time: The Autobot base." "Sure thing buddy, right after you eat my star-spangled shorts." Starscream had enough of the human so he decided to taze him with the prod. "AAH!" "As I imagined, energon and human nervous systems don't mix."

With Optimus, Elita and Ratchet, they arrived at a dead end of the misty, gloomy valley where rusty remains of Autobots and Decepticons laid. Elita: "Primus." Ratchet: "For the first time in my life, Optimus, I had hoped that you were wrong." The sound of an engine was heard as the three look up to see Megatron in his alt mode and land on the cliff above on the opposite side of the bodies. "Optimus, been well? I see you brought not only your precious sparkmate, but your trusty watchdog. I was certain he'd be convalescing in a scrapyard by now." Ratchet: "Why don't you invite him down here for a check." he said pounding his fist in hand. Optimus: "I know why you're here, Megatron." Megatron: "Hardly a surprise, Optimus. After all, you and I have been at this for a long time. And your time has come to an end." he said before pulling out a dark energon shard and throwing it to the ground near the rusted bodies.

As soon as it lands, it sinks into the ground and its power courses through, causing cracks to appear with the toxic purple glow. Megatron's spark chamber started to glow as well cause of the shard with him. "Rise, my army!" he commanded as lots more cybertronian bodies started coming out of the ground. Ratchet: "By the AllSpark." he said with a quiet disbelief. Optimus looked on in disbelief as well, while Elita just looks on with not only disbelief, but a small bit of fear as well. An army of undead cybertronians? "BEHOLD...THE POWER OF DARK ENERGON!" Megatron yells as the terrorcons make their way towards their three targets.

TO BE CONTINUED...