Prime Hunting

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Prime Hunting, pt. 1
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We're on Cybertron, behind the Predacon lines. WINDSWEEPER, RUCKUS, and CRANKCASE are each walking in robot mode on patrols, returning to the main battle formation.

CRANKCASE: I don't like this new symbol. It lacks style.

WINDSWEEPER: New age, new race, new symbol.

RUCKUS: Not like we have a lot of choice in the matter. At least while we're stuck on Cybertron anyway.

WINDSWEEPER: Oh, so you want to desert?

CRANKCASE: I don't know. Iguanus has already hopped a shuttle back to Char. A number of other Decepticons have joined him. I just wonder if we should.

WINDSWEEPER: And give up all this? Seriously, there's nothing left on Char. Any future we can hope for is here.

GROTESQUE (off camera): What little there is of it, Triggercons.

We turn and see GROTESQUE and DOUBLECROSS, both in their beast modes, moving forward. The TRIGGERCONS move in a blur, popping out their weapons and firing quickly. The shots are off, only due to the Monsterbot's quick leaps aside.

DOUBLECROSS (left): I like them, they play rough!

DOUBLECROSS (right): Monsterbots play rougher!

GROTESQUE: Time to feed.

The two Monsterbots rush forward, leaping into their prey now. Both of them hit into RUCKUS, ripping into his armored hide. WINDSWEEPER fires into GROTESQUE, but the shots do little more than bounce off of the thick armored hide.

RUCKUS: Help me!

WINDSWEEPER: I can't slow them down. Ruckus!

To the Triggercon's horror, the two Monsterbots begin to shred RUCKUS in front of them. WINSWEEPER is in more of a panic now, firing wildly at the two beasts. CRANKCASE opens fire as well, backing away.

WINDSWEEPER: Take them down!

CRANKCASE: We can't, they're too strong for us. We have to go.

WINDSWEEPER: We're not leaving Ruckus.

GROTESQUE (grinning): He is already dead.

DOUBLECROSS (left): And now it's your turn.

DOUBLECROSS's twin heads open and fire red flame at WINDSWEEPER. CRANKCASE looks around him for an avenue of escape, and transforms into his jeep mode. WINDSWEEPER leaps up, transforming to his jet mode. DOUBLECROSS is quicker, however, and flies up, grabbing WINDSWEEPER in his teeth.

WINDSWEEPER: No! No! Crankcase, get them off of me!

CRANKCASE stammers and screeches his tires back, seeking escape. As he watches, GROTESQUE and DOUBLECROSS both grab into the helpless Decepticon, and begin to tear him to pieces.

WINDSWEEPER: Damn you, Crankcase! Damn you -

As WINDSWEEPER's voice falls suddenly silent, both Monsterbots drop the scrapped remains and transform to their robot modes, looking around.

DOUBLECROSS: He scarpered.

GROTESQUE: What does it matter? He'll die like the rest of them.

DOUBLECROSS: Idiot, what if he reports back? I don't want to spend the rest of my days in stasis.

GROTESQUE: The Decepticons are dying, Doublecross. They're not going to worry about two Monsterbots. Let's just be sure we get our share of killing in before we hop off-planet.

DOUBLECROSS: Without Repugnus? And where do we hop?

GROTESQUE (smiling): You heard them. There are Decepticons on Char. We'll go there, and begin our feeding in prime lands.

We cut away to show CRANKCASE running from the scene at full-speed. As he runs off we pan over to Iacon, then peer inside. LIOCONVOY, ELITA LIO (a rebuilt form of ELITA ONE, now as a protoform), and CEREBROS are inside conversing.

CEREBROS: If I hadn't lost Fortress Maximus to Galvatron, this would go a lot quicker.

ELITA LIO: You did what you could do. Your defense crippled the Decepticon's advance and bought us time to regroup. We have no regrets.

CEREBROS: Except now I'm forced to wait back at Headquarters instead of doing my part in finally ending this war. Final victory is so close now.

LIOCONVOY: It will be costly, however. Teletran Two has been making estimates on casualties. I dread giving the order to advance.

ELITA LIO: And if we don't? Do you think that the Decepticons would accept anything amounting to a truce?

LIOCONVOY: It's hard to say. If I knew for sure Galvatron remained in power, then I would say 'no'. But the Decepticons have changed their tactics overnight, and fight with renewed vigor.

CEREBROS: Do you think their internal struggles finally caught up with them?

LIOCONVOY: Galvatron has been quiet for days, and something has refreshed their spirits. Perhaps they've found a different commander, perhaps one even willing to talk terms.

ELITA LIO: Then we try to negotiate?

CEREBROS: We don't know what's going on in their chain in command. But now would be the best time to make an attempt. Provided that they have reason to trust us.

ULTRA MAGNUS (off camera): That may be a problem.

The assembled group turns aside to see ULTRA MAGNUS, robot, carrying the shattered remains of REPUGNUS. CEREBROS shakes his head. LIOCONVOY sighs and steps forward.

CEREBROS: Repugnus.

LIOCONVOY: Where did you find him?

ULTRA MAGNUS: Springer located his remains near Darkmount. Looks like the Monsterbots made a bee-line for the enemy. Looks like this one found more than he could handle.

ELITA LIO: Monsterbots?

CEREBROS: A mistake, made back on Earth.

LIOCONVOY: They were created to be a new form of Dinobot. Unfortunately, their violence and hatred were all-consuming. They lived only to destroy and kill.

CEREBROS: On Earth, a number of humans were killed because they were between the Monsterbots and a small team of Decepticons. We hunted them down, brought them here, and locked them in stasis. Megatron demanded that we turn them over to him for war crimes, we agreed to keep them locked away.

ELITA LIO: They sound worse than Decepticons.

LIOCONVOY: They were. I couldn't bring myself to order their termination. That may have been a mistake.

ULTRA MAGNUS: And now two of them are loose on Cybertron. They'll be heading to Darkmount, killing everything in their path.

ELITA LIO: Should we do anything? If they're attacking the Decepticons, maybe we should let them wear themselves out on the line.

CEREBROS: It's not that simple, Elita. The Monsterbots like to kill Decepticons, but they'll kill anyone when the mood strikes them. They'll even kill fellow Autobots.

ELITA LIO: Oh, Primus.

LIOCONVOY: We're going to have to hunt them down. Cerebros, you're in charge while I'm gone.

CEREBROS: Prime, I can't allow you to go after them alone.

ELITA LIO: Then I'll accompany him. Just keep the home base warm for us, Spike.

CEREBROS: Yes, ma'am.

LIOCONVOY: Elita, you mustn't risk yourself.

ELITA LIO: No arguments, Optimus. We're in this together. Besides, it's time I learn what this new protoform can do.

LIOCONVOY: Very well, then. Autobots, transform, and roll out!

LIOCONVOY and ELITA LIO both transform to their lion modes as ULTRA MAGNUS adopts his car-carrier mode. As all three leave, CEREBROS stands quietly, looking past them.

CEREBROS: Matrix protect you both.

CEREBROS turns back to Teletran Two's display system. He calls up a tactical display of Cybertron. Most of it is highlighted in purple, with only a few sectors marked in violet.

CEREBROS: So close now. And only three Autobots may know anything about what happens next.

CEREBROS changes the display settings to show the faces of PROWL, SILVERBOLT, and IRONHIDE. He lets out a long breath and makes his decision.

CEREBROS: Prowl, come to the command room, please. I need to speak with you.

We cut to Darkmount. Thunder can be heard all around as flashes of light play on its surface. The borders are obviously under attack. In the command chamber, CRANKCASE, robot mode, has finally reached ANTAGONY, MEGATRON, and SKY SHADOW, all in their robot modes.

ANTAGONY: You ran.

CRANKCASE (stammering): I had to. I was overwhelmed.

MEGATRON: Where are Ruckus and Windsweeper?

CRANKCASE (stammering): They didn't get away. I'm not sure if there is anything left of them. We tried to fight them, but they were too powerful.

SKY SHADOW: You're sure of who they are?

CRANKCASE (panting): Monsterbots. I remember them from Earth.

ANTAGONY: Repugnus said that they had escaped.

MEGATRON: Interesting, yes. Crankcase, contact the Constructions and set about trying to salvage your comrades. Perhaps they can rebuild them into more proper protoforms.

CRANKCASE: Yes - Yes, sir.

CRANKCASE backs out, thankful to be allowed to live and heads out the door.

ANTAGONY steps forward clearly not amused.

ANTAGONY: He abandoned his comrades, and you're going to let him get away with that? He should be scrapped for what he's done.

MEGATRON: It doesn't matter now. This is a more interesting development, yes.

SKY SHADOW: How so?

MEGATRON: We have two powerful Autobot outcasts, behind our lines and killing our troops. Their skills obviously might be beneficial to the Predacon cause, yes. Find them. Bring them here.

SKY SHADOW: Bring them to us? They hate everything. What makes you think that they would switch sides?

MEGATRON: They won't be given a choice, no. Contact Hook and Scrapper immediately. I have work for them.

MEGATRON betrays a dark laugh as we fade to black.

Prime Hunting, pt. 2
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We open up near the lines. ULTRA MAGNUS, carrier mode, moves into the foreground. From within, ELITA LIO, and LIOCONVOY, both in lion mode, both leap out of the truck and then land next to him, looking ready for the attack.

ULTRA MAGNUS: These are the coordinates where Repugnus was found.

ELITA LIO: That stench - torn fuel lines and fuel.

LIOCONVOY: The other Monsterbots couldn't have gotten off too far. Magnus, head to the line and take charge of the troops there. Get in touch if anything changes.

ULTRA MAGNUS: Right away, Prime. Good luck, and be careful.

ULTRA MAGNUS arcs away and drives off to the distance, leaving the two lion forms behind. ELITA LIO starts to sniff around.

ELITA LIO: It's no use. All the fighting and the stench is going to make sniffing them out too difficult.

LIOCONVOY: We should make moves to the line, then. We know which way the Monsterbots would head.

As LIOCONVOY looks towards Darkmount, we cut over to show ANTAGONY, ant mode, moving along the ground, followed closely by SKY SHADOW, also in beast mode, covering behind her.

ANTAGONY: "Find them," he says.

SKY SHADOW: Seems simple enough, don't you think?

ANTAGONY: Why should be bother looking? Just to feed that pretender's ego?

SKY SHADOW (smirking): Megatron's not a pretender. Iguanus is. Megatron's a -

ANTAGONY: I don't need to say what your Megatron is.

SKY SHADOW: Lost your sense of humor? Look, do you want Galvatron back? It's not like we've really got options any more.

ANTAGONY: You never know what options are available.

SKY SHADOW: I'll keep that in mind when I finally see some. Right now I -

SKY SHADOW stops suddenly, and transforms to robot mode, motioning for ANTAGONY to do the same. She gives a confused look.

ANTAGONY: You see something?

SKY SHADOW (unsure): Maybe.

We hear a scream from the distance, where SKY SHADOW is looking. The two Predacons rush forward, drawing their weapons and ready to engage. As they near, there is another scream, and a brilliant flash of light in the distance.

SKY SHADOW: Primus!

As they finally reach the scene, we see SLUGSLINGER, robot mode, or rather what's left of him. Pieces are torn in every direction, rent blue and gray metal is scattered everywhere. The two Predacons arrive just to time to see the lights of DIRGE's optics go out for the last time.

ANTAGONY: We're behind the lines. It has to be them.

SKY SHADOW: They got away quick, I can't see anything.

ANTAGONY: We should call in, get some backup. Transform at -

SKY SHADOW: Wait!

SKY SHADOW grabs ANTAGONY quickly by the wrist as she's about to activate her radio. She growls, but waits to hear her comrade out. The look in her face, however, is one of murderous intent.

SKY SHADOW: Don't call out just yet.

ANTAGONY: You want to gave them all alone?

SKY SHADOW: Better that than tip them off to our presence.

ANTAGONY: Excuse me?

SKY SHADOW: They've been picking off troops and groups alone off the lines, right? I think they're looking for radio signals away from the line, then hunting down the Predacons sending them.

ANTAGONY: Makes sense. What do we do, then, wise one?

SKT SHADOW: Right now, I've got no idea. Let's just see if we can follow them.

We cut to the line. We see several armed Predacon guards firing from bunkers. Across from them, an Autobot emplacement is using its automatic guns to keep the Decepticons in their positions. Tucked back from the distance are ELITA LIO and LIOCONVOY, lion mode.

ELITA LIO: Such brutality. I had hoped that the reports were being exaggerated.

LIO CONVOY: Unfortunately, they weren't.

ELITA LIO: At least the battle is giving us a diversion to cross the line. Do you think the Monsterbots came this way?

LIO CONVOY transforms suddenly, picking up an item in his robot mode. He looks at it, and we see the tattered head of a Decepticon Seeker, his face frozen forever in terror.

LIO CONVOY: It appears so.

ELITA LIO: Optimus, if we do find them, what then?

LIO CONVOY: We put them down. We don't have a choice.

ELITA LIO: Is that the right thing to do?

LIO CONVOY (sighing): I don't know. A part of me is praying that the meet their fate in battle. But it's my responsibility to see to their end if they don't.

ELITA LIO: I understand.

LIO CONVOY: Let's go, then.

We watch LIO CONVOY and ELITA LIO cross the line, and then cut to another part of the Cybertron. DOUBLECROSS and GROTESQUE continue walking in their robot modes, heading towards Darkmount itself.

DOUBLECROSS: We're being followed, you know.

GROTESQUE: Let them. If they could fight us, they would have done so by now.

DOUBLECROSS: Ah. Here it is - another radio call. It's a small group of Predacons joining up to reinforce the line.

GROTESQUE: Let's give our hunters something more enjoyable to watch, then. Transform!

GROTESQUE and DOUBLECROSS both convert to their beast modes and pick up their pace, moving along off to the side. We cut to, a Predacon waypoint. COUNTERPUNCH is standing here with a number of assorted warriors, including THRUST and DIRGE. All are in robot mode.

COUNTERPUNCH: Megatron's orders were to send you to the line. He's got other plans for me.

DIRGE: You've always got other orders, Counterpunch. Why don't you suffer on the line like the rest of us?

COUNTERPUNCH: Think I wouldn't rather just head on out that way? You haven't had to listen to our leader's speeches.

THRUST: Better than getting shot, I'm sure.

COUNTERPUNCH: I'll be out there as soon as I can. Just don't to anything stupid.

DIRGE (darkly): Death comes to the one who insults me.

COUNTERPUNCH: Shut up and get going. Predacons, fly out.

THRUST: Decepticons, follow me!

THRUST and DIRGE leap up and take to the air, rushing to the sky and off to the line. COUNTERPUNCH shakes his head and breathes a sigh of relief.

COUNTERPUNCH: Been too busy to report in. There's so much to go over. Counterpunch to Blaster, come in. This is the field mouse to the barn, please come in.

BLASTER (on radio): Counterpunch? Where have you been, you're over a day late in your report. Thought we had lost you.

COUNTERPUNCH: You've come close a few times. I can't talk too long. Let's just say that there's a new Megatron in town, and the politics over here just got a lot more interesting. I'll try to sneak over the line later this cycle for a complete report.

BLASTER (on radio): Be careful.

We hear the grating of metal nearby, and Counterpunch stiffens.

COUNTERPUNCH: Someone's coming, hold on.

DOUBLECROSS (left, entering): Well, well.

We change our view to show DOUBLECROSS and GROTESQUE both stepping out of the darkness in their beast modes. Both of them are sneering.

DOUBLECROSS (right): I thought we had found a Decepticon.

GROTESQUE: No, no. We just found someone pretending to be a Decepticon. You know, a faux foe. What should we do now?

COUNTERPUNCH (confused): You've been released?

COUNTERPUNCH transforms quickly to his alternate persona, PUNCH, and steps back, narrowing his optics.

DOUBLECROSS (right): You know how it is with good behavior and all.

DOUBLECROSS (left): You can never keep the bad guys in behind bars.

PUNCH wise raises his weapon to attack, but the two Monsterbots leap up and are on him. PUNCH screams out to fight, but is overwhelmed. The sounds of snarling and scraping fill the air, and the airwaves, as we cut to Iacon's Command Tower. BLASTER, robot is listening in.

BLASTER: Punch, get out of there, you hear me?

PUNCH doesn't reply, but on BLASTER's screen, the tiny graphic showing his transmission location winks out. BLASTER slams his fist into the table and opens up another channel.

BLASTER: Damn. Ultra Magnus, come in. Magnus, come in.

ULTRA MAGNUS (on radio, the sounds of battle in the background): I read you, Blaster. I'm a little busy.

BLASTER: We just lost Punch. The Monsterbots found him.

ULTRA MAGNUS (on radio): Understood. Where?

BLASTER: I'm sending you the coordinates now. Tell Optimus to tear them open for me. Punch was my friend.

ULTRA MAGNUS (on radio): Understood. Magnus, out.

Cut to behind the lines. LIOCONVOY and ELITA LIO are both in lion mode, walking carefully through the war-torn terrain. LIOCONVOY lowers his eyes, deeply saddened.

ELITA LIO: News?

LIOCONVOY (saddened): Grotesque and Doublecross killed Punch.

ELITA LIO (grim): Do we know where it happened?

LIOCONVOY: Blaster traced Punch's last transmission. We have them.

We show LIOCONVOY scratching hard into the steel earth of Cybertron. We look on his angry visage once more as we fade to black.

Prime Hunting, pt. 3
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We open up on Cybetron's surface. ANTAGONY and SKY SHADOW have reached PUNCH's remains. The two Predacons are in robot mode, looking over the scrap with worry in their optics.

SKY SHADOW: Savage and brutal. They make the Terrorcons look tame.

ANTAGONY: Don't remind of them.

SKY SHADOW (smirking): Oh, not your model Decepticons?

ANTAGONY: About as much as these Monsterbots are model Autobots.

SKY SHADOW (musing): They're nearby still. I think they're aware of us.

ANTAGONY: Why aren't they attacking us, then?

SKY SHADOW: We're protoforms. They probably don't think too much of us.

ANTAGONY: I would like to give them a bit of an education then. Beast mode.

ANTAGONY converts to ant mode, followed quickly by SKY SHADOW. The two Predacons quickly arc around, posturing themselves. We cut over and see DOUBLECROSS and GROTESQUE, both in their beast modes. DOUBLECROSS is tearing the remains of a robot between his heads.

GROTESQUE: The flier lets out a buzz when he approaches. They're on the move.

DOUBLECROSS (left): They're attacking?

GROTESQUE: They're closing, the fools. At least we'll have some sport.

DOUBLECROSS (right): Let's rip 'em.

We cut across the scene to show SKY SHADOW and ANTAGONY rushing forward in their beast modes. DOUBLECROSS leaps to attack ANTAGONY, but the ant is quicker, spraying an blast of acid from her mandibles as DOUBLECROSS bears down on her. He screams out and falls aside.

ANTAGONY: You've done enough today, Autobot.

GROTESQUE: We haven't even started.

GROTESQUE transforms to his robot mode and opens fire as SKY SHADOW moves in. SKY SHADOW is forced into a wide evasion, but manages to circle out of the way of the impending attack.

SKY SHADOW: Let us know when you do.

DOUBLECROSS: I had heard that these new Predacons had some ability to them. I wonder if they taste as good as their predecessors.

DOUBLECROSS spins around and tail-smashes into ANTAGONY, hard. The female ant is sent spinning into a far wall. GROTESTUE gets his act together as well, and slams his powerful fists against the flying Predacon. SKY SHADOW crashes hard, snapping one of his wings.

SKY SHADOW: That's it. Sky Shadow! Terrorize!

ANTAGONY: Antagony! Terrorize!

Both Monsterbots turn to see the lovely ANTAGONY reveal herself from her beast mode. She fires quickly, however, slamming acid into DOUBLECROSS's armor. Meanwhile, SKY SHADOW trips his communicator.

SKY SHADOW: Sky Shadow to Megatron, we've engaged our prey, but they've got of overpowered. We need backup as soon as possible.

MEGATRON (on radio): I'm surprised you chose a direct assault. Reinforcements are coming, stall the situation as best you can. Out.

SKY SHADOW: Right.

SKY SHADOW raises his piercer-cannon and opens fire. GROTESQUE is hit square in the back, and stammers. This time, however, GROTESQUE is in no mood to play. The Monsterbot rushes forward, blasting constantly at SKY SHADOW, who only manages to dodge near ANTAGONY's position.

ANTAGONY (out of breath): We've damaged them.

SKY SHADOW: Help's coming.

ANTAGONY: Won't be here in time.

GROTESQUE and DOUBLECROSS meet back together, converting again to their beast modes. Both show few signs of damage, but aren't about to let up their attack.

DOUBLECROSS (left): It's all over, Predacons.

DOUBLECROSS (right): Time to sample from the new menu.

GROTESQUE: I get the female. I want to savor her.

As they move forward, ANTAGONY and SKY SHADOW raise their weapons. But, from aside, four powerful missiles rush in. The two Monsterbots react quickly, but GROTESQUE is smashed hard by one, and sent in a wild spin. We look to the source of the missiles and see LIOCONVOY, in attack mode. ELITA LIO is at his side, in lion mode.

LIOCONVOY: Monsterbots, I'm giving you one last chance to surrender.

ANTAGONY: Is that - Optimus Prime?

SKY SHADOW: Sounds like him.

DOUBLECROSS: And be thrown in storage again? Never!

DOUBLECROSS turns to fire, ignoring the two Predacons as his thirst for revenge overcomes him. As GROTESQUE realizes what is happening, he rights himself and rushes at the two lion forms.

LIOCONVOY (darkly): Then you give me no choice.

LIOCONVOY and ELITA LIO leap into action. As DOUBLECROSS rushes forward, he's met full on with a powerful tear from LIOCONVOY's razor-sharp claws. ELITA LIO, for her part, slices through GROTESQUE's armor quickly, ripping through where the missiles had already caused damage.

GROTESQUE: Witch!

ELITA LIO is not deterred, and leaps off of the downed GROTESQUE, only to spin and leap back, keeping the Monsterbot off-balance. DOUBLECROSS fares only a little better against LIOCONVOY, being thrown back by the lion's powerful ramming attack.

ANTAGONY: The Autobots do kill their own, after all.

SKY SHADOW: I don't think that they take pleasure in it.

ANTAGONY: Hypocrites.

SKY SHADOW: You dismiss them too easily. Besides, they're doing most of our work for us. Wait for my signal.

ANTAGONY: And do what?

SKY SHADOW (smiling): You'll see.

We return to the battle as LIOCONVOY is thrown from DOUBLECROSS. GROTESQUE transforms, staggering from the multiple assaults he has been taking. LIOCONVOY and ELITA LIO, however, have had enough of the brawl.

LIOCONVOY: Optimus Prime, Maximize.

ELITA LIO: Elita One, Maximize.

Both Autobot leaders transform to their robot modes, their weapons trained on the two Monsterbots. GROTESQUE and DOUBLECROSS both look on, doing their best to remain defiant.

GROTESQUE: You won't destroy me, Optimus. You haven't got the iron. You'll lock me away until some fool lets us out again. I'm an Autobot, remember?

LIOCONVOY: Consider this a dishonorable discharge.

LIOCONVOY opens fire again with all his missiles aimed at the already damaged GROTESQUE. With a single quick cry, the Monsterbot is reduced to metal shards on the landscape. DOUBLECROSS shuffles back. Finally, he realizes, it's over.

DOUBLECROSS: No. No! You can't. I surrender.

ELITA LIO: We're not taking your surrender this time. You've shown your true colors. You killed fellow Autobots out of sheer fuel-lust. There will be no mercy on you this time.

SKY SHADOW steps up, quickly, raising his weapon at the two Autobot leaders.

ANTAGONY raises a brow, but she follows suit, obviously a bit surprised.

SKY SHADOW: That's enough, Elita.

ELITA LIO: Decepticon, this is an Autobot matter, stay out of it.

SKY SHADOW: That beast of yours is a high prize for the Predacon empire. He's all I want right now.

ANTAGONY: Are you crazy? We can slag them all!

ELITA LIO: I don't think so, Antagony.

SKY SHADOW: Not yet, but reinforcements are on the way. I just have to stall long enough for them to get here.

LIOCONVOY: I'm not turning an Autobot over to your brand of justice.

SKY SHADOW: Spare me, you were about to slag them both. Bad enough you already killed off Grotesque. Leave the other Monsterbot to us and we'll call it a compromise, okay?

ELITA LIO (calmly): There is a flight of Decepticons coming, Optimus.

LIOCONVOY: This goes even more against my instincts, but you have the driver's seat, 'Predacon'. Doublecross will meet his punishment with you.

ELITA LIO: You would have been better off just surrendering to us for execution, Doublecross.

LIOCONVOY: It's over, Elita. Let's return home. Transform and head out.

ELITA LIO looks at her mate a long moment, unsure, but does as he orders. LIOCONVOY turns to look at DOUBLECROSS and shakes his head. The Autobot leader finally transforms and leaves quietly.

ANTAGONY (fuming): Another second and we could have had Prime as well.

SKY SHADOW: Maybe. Probably not. We got our prize, though.

We close in on DOUBLECROSS, who is alone above GROTESQUE's dead form as a number of Decepticon and Predacon jets now move in for the kill. As he bears his teeth to seek an attack, they open fire and we fade to Darkmount. We see MEGATRON, robot mode, sitting tall in a large throne structure. CICADACON, HOOK, SCRAPPER, SEA CLAMP, ANTAGONY and RAMHORN all flank him, all in robot mode. Finally, DOUBLECROSS, in robot mode and in chains, is on the floor at MEGATRON's feet.

MEGATRON: Well, Doublecross, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard of your talents, yes. I'm here to offer you a deal.

DOUBLECROSS (snarling): I'll kill you!

MEGATRON: I think not, no. I am in charge here. And you, Monsterbot, are about to become initiated in the ways of the Predacons. Hook, Scrapper, take this Monsterbot to the protoform pit, and place the programming chip that I've designed into its place.

HOOK: At once, Megatron.

DOUBLECROSS (fearing): You're reprogramming me?

MEGATRON: Well, I can't very well have you harboring murderous intent towards other Predacons, can't I? No, you will be made a bit more - manageable - for my purposes. Take him away.

HOOK and SCRAPPER look at one another then drag the now screaming Monsterbot away. ANTAGONY shakes her head, expressing disapproval, but MEGATRON merely laughs.

ANTAGONY: Disgusting.

MEGATRON: Perhaps, Antagony, but a wise tyrant knows when to allow his enemies do his fighting for him. This has, after all, been a good day.

MEGATRON laughs quietly. We zoom in on him and then fade to black.

The End