By the time Megatron, Arcee, and Optimus arrived at the body, Temptest and Bumblebee had already been reunited with Knockout. Temptest was in the middle of talking to the cherry red vehicle when the three pulled up and his optics widened dramatically.

"Are you sure?" Knockout whispered.

"Yeah, he's good," Temptest assured him. "I'll tell you all about it later."

Megatron looked down at the still frame in the center of their circle and knelt. He examined the wound that had burned a hole through the spark, glanced at his cannon, and frowned.

Knockout walked over and pointed down. "It has the necessary circumference, texture, and spacing that we can assume he was initially shot once by his own weapon from behind and then stabbed through the gut, and then a fusion cannon eerily similar to yours was pressed against his spark chamber before it fired. There were two perps, one victim, and they wasted no time in killing him. It was definitely some sort of ambush."

Arcee blinked. "Knockout is smart?"

Knockout glared at her. "Smarter than you."

Arcee gawked, but Optimus only shook his helm at her and stepped forward. "Does this mean that Megatron is here?"

"I've already asked Soundwave to run a scan on the area's energy levels, but he's not here yet..." Knockout trailed off and frowned at the ground. "There was a scuffle."

"Is that surprising?" Megatron questioned.

Knockout looked back at Ultra Magnus's dead frame and tilted his helm curiously. "Ultra Magnus didn't get enough time to retaliate. I'm guessing... whoever shot him from behind attacked their partner in crime after the deed was done."

"Who do we know that constantly betrays their allies?" Temptest sighed. "Too bad he is the one dead."

"Or it could be a traitor from our world," Arcee suggested. "Starscream wouldn't be above an ambush."

Temptest sneered. "Starscream wouldn't— whatever."

"Megatron," Optimus glanced at the silver mech who perked up at the sound of his name, "our Megatron would have been above an ambush. He would have preferred a large spectacle and he certainly would not have asked Starscream for help."

"So... we don't know who did it?" Bumblebee beeped slowly.

"One Megatron and one mystery," Knockout finalized.

"So you can figure out Megatron's blaster signature, but not the one on his back?" Temptest scowled. "I thought that was beneath your expertise."

"I already told you he was shot by his own weapon, so unless we have two Ultra..." Knockout trailed off. "Do we?"

Optimus shook his helm. "I have difficulty imagining Ultra Magnus ever aligning himself with Megatron, regardless of their goals."

"Yeah, if he broke the rulebook, it would probably break my processor," Arcee snorted.

Bumblebee beeped. "How long until Ratchet finds a way to contact the others? He could ask them."

"We're not sure if that's possible without the relic," Optimus told him, "but Ratchet is doing his best to prepare."

"The last guy who had the relic is terminated," Temptest pointed out. "How are we supposed to get it now?"

The sound of approaching jet engines pulled everyone's attention away from the conversation. The Autobots tensed, but Megatron's faceplates spread with a grin.

"Soundwave," Megatron greeted once the black drone landed. "I'm glad to know you are well."

Knockout cleared his throat awkwardly and looked at Temptest warningly. The femme frowned.

"Starscream is dead," Soundwave started. "We thought you and Temptest were dead."

Megatron's grin faded. "I tried to contact you both when I got back, but communications were down and the base was in ruins."

Soundwave's fist clenched. "Decepticon command was in need of leadership."

Temptest bit her derma guiltily. Technically, that was her fault. Megatron did tell her to stay behind to lead them...

Megatron looked down. "I am sorry."

Soundwave stared for a moment longer before finally nodding. Megatron relaxed and turned to face their mismatched crew of Decepticons and Autobots.

"Good news," Temptest told the faceless mech. "Ultra Magnus is terminated and we have another Optimus who can beat up our Optimus."

"Or get stabbed," Arcee muttered.

"I'm not sure a second Optimus is entirely good news at this point, but," Megatron looked at Soundwave. "We do need to find a way to get them back to their dimension. We owe them a debt for helping rescue Temptest."

"Ultra Magnus helped too," Bumblebee muttered.

Temptest looked at him like he was stupid.

"So what does this Prime have to say for himself?" Soundwave questioned venomously.

Optimus stepped toward the two fliers. "Soundwave, I understand you have grievances with my counterpart, and for as long as my team is stranded on your world, we will do our best to help you repair the damages the Autobots have caused here."

"Just don't forget that you're one too," Soundwave said.

"He's better than that impo—" Optimus held out his servo to keep Arcee from defending him before nodding at Soundwave respectfully and turning away.

"My team and I will return to Ratchet and continue our project. Whether or not your team will allow us access to your temporary base is entirely up to you. Until your decision is made, we will keep our distance and keep in contact," Optimus told them.

Knockout blanched. "We going to leave Autobots unsupervised!?"

"I didn't say that," Megatron looked between the four Decepticons and frowned. "But our numbers are spread thin and—"

"I can watch them," Temptest volunteered.

"No."

"But they've already proven that—"

Megatron cut her off. "The Autobots will report to Soundwave via the communication channels periodically. We can visit them if something of importance arises."

Temptest rolled her optics. "Fine."

"Autobots, roll out," Optimus directed.

The three of them transformed and drove off, leaving the Decepticons to watch them go.

"This is weirder than my old paint job," Knockout grimaced. "How did you guys manage to fight side-by-side with him?"

"Reluctantly," Megatron admitted, "but he is clearly a different mech than the one we know... however difficult it is to convince ourselves of that."

"Yeah, you sound really convinced," Temptest said sarcastically. "Very trusting and appreciative."

"You of all people should understand," Knockout stated.

Temptest shrugged. "Yeah, it's weird, but... I saw the matrix of leadership in his spark chamber. It was alive."

"It could have been fake," Soundwave pointed out. "The matrix chose Megatron, not Optimus."

"No," Temptest shook her helm. "It was definitely real. And it was beautiful."

"Beautiful?" Knockout raised an eyebrow.

"Like–like hope," Temptest said. "Like all the hopes we had for the matrix back in the day finally being used for the right reasons. It was real. It was really amazing."

Soundwave placed his servo on her shoulder. "You are due for a medical evaluation."

Temptest laughed. "Gee, thanks."

Knockout snorted. "Who could blame him when you're rambling on about hope? About Optimus? Without violence?"

"Because it's true!"

"Uh-huh," Knockout transformed. "We'll see about that."

The three of them transformed, letting Soundwave lead the way to Airachnid's base. Megatron stayed back for a moment, frowning, watching them go. He looked down at Ultra Magnus, his optics on the hole in his chassis. His servo raised up and the Decepticon examined his own blaster, frown deepening.

If his evil doppelganger was here, they had a serious problem, and Megatron wasn't sure if his team would be as worried about it as he was. They were all deeply devoted to him. They might trust the other Megatron, who he knew from personal experience was manipulative and ruthless.

The same problem could be found in the situation with the Optimuss. They've all hated Optimus for a very long time and it was hard for Megatron to trust the new mech, despite the many times he'd proven himself.

Megatron sighed and transformed.

A problem for another day.