LOG-010.

  I'd been correct in speaking to Dreadwing right before recharge, since a mere two hours later Megatron had shown up announcing Soundwave's successful decoding of the next set of coordinates.

  Alongside that, Knockout had returned from his own mission, bearing yet another Key. Of course thanks to my presence, the Decepticons still didn't quite know what the identical relics did, but keeping them out of Autobot servos was motive enough.

  "Shockwave?"

  Shaking myself, I nodded and activated the groundbridge.

  "Coordinates set. Connection is stable."

  Dreadwing nodded and walked through the almost hypnotic tunnel, followed by Z-1 and Z-2. The Zakus clutching their scavenged weapons tightly.

  A moment later, they were gone and the bridge was shut down. I could only hope that nothing went too badly compared to canon.

  Shaking my helm, I got up to go back to work. There was science to be done after all.

  ---

  The trio of cybertronians halted upon exiting the groundbridge into a large forested area, tinted a soft orange with Autumn's arrival.

  A second of inspection later and they began to spread out slightly, with Dreadwing taking point. The Seeker held up a servo, gesturing with it while the other clutched the device that would lead the insertion team to the relic's precise location.

  "Advance and keep your wits about you, if we are here, then the Autobots could be as well."

  To the mech's satisfaction, the Zakus obeyed promptly, stowing their weapons and creeping forward, optics scanning their surroundings. One of them spoke up, Z-2, if the officer remembered correctly.

  "Commander Dreadwing...is organic vegetation common on this planet?"

  Brushing a larger branch to the side, Dreadwing nodded.

  "Yes. Although the local biosphere is far more diverse, forests like this make up a significant portion of the planet. Though the rest is still mostly water."

  They made idle conversation for a few moments, with their superior occasionally pointing out ways to travel without making too much noise.

  Notably, Dreadwing took the time to set up a few remotely detonated mines, explaining the importance of preparing a battlefield beforehand to his temporary students.

  The trio had just been making their way uphill when Dreadwing had ducked, snapping out a command.

  "Down! Two hostiles, bearing forty five degrees!"

  They all went prone, observing the pair of mechs emerging from a groundbrige below them. One considerably bulkier than the other, with a paint job somewhat similar to the Zakus' own. His counterpart a flashier blue and white, bearing elite guard insignia.

  "What do we do Commander?"

  Dreadwing glanced at the Zaku lying next to him, before turning to stare back at the advancing Autobots.

  He slowly got up, bearing a nasty smirk.

  "We will destroy them, of course. Quickly, we'll need to get ahead of them." Snatching up his detonater, he activated it, even as the Zakus unholstered their weapons.

  ---

  Megatron glanced at me, one of his brow plates slowly reaching towards the ceiling. Soundwave silently watched from behind him. The rest of the bridge's occupants kept working.

  Glancing at his spymaster, Megatron turned back to me with a grunt.

  "And why exactly do you require my presence at the relic chambers?"

  I held up the datapad showing my projected idea, keeping a calm voice.

  "I would like to test a theory, however it would only be possible with your cooperation, Lord Megatron."

  The silver mech nodded, taking the datapad from my servo and looking it over.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "This is...a frame design. With relevant alt modes?"

  Nodding, I gestured to the smaller scaled vehicle models. A tank and cybertronian jet respectively.

  "Correct. It is my belief that the forge of Solus Prime could be used to effectively convert a standard cybertronian into a triple changer. I would volunteer for this procedure."

  He gave a hum and looked down, seemingly thinking on it. Looking back up at me, he nodded.

  "I had not considered such an idea, though I suppose concocting new methods of enhancing and augmenting our forces is your area of expertise. And it would only be right to restore your former abilities, no?"

  I reaponded with a silent nod.

  "Very well, follow me."

  Turning to walk after the departing warlord, I raised a question.

  "My lord, what was the ultimate fate of Starscream?"

  Megatron scowled, handing my datapad to Soundwave.

  "Undecided, for now the traitorous wretch has been confined to the brig. I suppose you have a suggestion?"

  Tilting my helm, I thought for a moment before responding. The small silence allowed our footsteps to echo for a second or two.

  "I would speak to him before making any such decision, lord Megatron."

  The mad mech answered my statement with a quiet hum.

  "How very logical of you."

  ---

  Beepbeepbeep.

  Bulkhead held up a blaster, shushing the cadet slightly ahead of him.

  Stepping up next to the Wrecker, Smokescreen glanced around.

  "What is that?"

  They both snapped their gazes upwards as a voice reached them from a hill a short distance away from them.

  "One of the last sounds that you will ever hear. Open fire!"

  The pair of Autobots had mere seconds to duck before a pair of green mechs snapped up next to the Seeker, levelling their rifle-like blasters at the duo and opening fire.

  Dreadwing took to the sky as the two soldiers began to retreat in the face of the Decepticons' suppressive fire.

  Snapping a shot off, Smokescreen shook his helm.

  "Who are those guys?! I don't recognize em!"

  Bulkhead tanked a trio of rounds, ducking behind a tree. His face fell upon coming into contact with one of Dreadwing's beeping mines.

  "Don't know, but we're getting out of here! Let's go!"

  Sprinting in the opposite direction of the attacking Decepticons, the duo kept running even as explosions began to ring out behind them, culminating in the unfortunate Autobots being thrown off a cliff and rolling down a hill for a few seconds.

  The reprieve was short however, as upon standing up they once more found themselves face to face with a rapidly approaching Dreadwing.

  Bulkhead growled to himself, before throwing the relic locater at his surprised partner.

  "Smoke, I'll handle Dreadwing. Go get the relic!"

  The Seeker smirked as the cadet took off running, stretching out his shoulders.

  "It would appear I am not the only one training a recruit today. But forget about him, let us settle this quickly!"

  With twin battlecries competing for which was loudest, the two charged each other.

  ---

  Smokescreen tore through the brush, swerving to a halt as several shots whizzed past him.

  "Slagging-buzz off, will ya?!"

  Transforming a servo into it's blaster configuration, he fired a dozen shots downrange, forcing the green Decepticon opposite him to duck.

  Smirking, Smokescreen continued moving, electing to taunt the suppressed enemy.

  "Yeah! That'll teach you!"

  Then the mech's presumed twin shot out from behind yet another tree (Smokescreen was beginning to dislike forests) swinging down upon the Autobot with an axe that registered as dangerously hot to his own sensors.

  "Woah buddy! Cool it down eh?"

  The Zaku's only response was a quiet "no" before slashing at his target horizontally, forcing Smokescreen to jump above the blade and kick his aggressive opponent in the chest.

  Before he could finish the green mech off however, the Autobot was forced to tank several rounds from the other Decepticon.

  "S-scrap! Talk about trigger happy!"

  The forest continued to flash with blue and red lights as the battle continued. Meanwhile, a short ways away, a large explosion erupted, kicking dirt into the air.

  Then the energon fire stopped, Smokescreen peaking up above a boulder just in time to witness the pair of Zakus sprinting towards the blast.

  "Well, better make this quick!"

  Transforming, the elite guard sped off towards the relic locater's indicated direction.

  ---

  The clang of metal slamming into metal continued as Megatron effectively whacked the everloving shit out of me.

  And yet, it didn't hurt. Tingled a lot, though that was probably my diagnostics systems registering that my frame was changing.

  It went on for maybe an hour or so, before the warlord set the forge aside with a huff, holding out a servo which I grasped, and pulled me up.

  "Well? You appear different at least."

  Soundwave stepped forward, and I swore I heard a snap of a camera before my new form was displayed on his visor.

  I looked...hm.

  The frame design evoked a few (muted) feelings from my processor.

  It definitely bore resemblance to my old frame. Before the Empurata. Before the Functionists (cunts) had removed my wings from my body.

  Yet the bulky armor and treads, alongside the new paint job from my time as a Decepticon remained.

  It was a perfect blend of both forms, in essence, one that had me feeling strange. But also somewhat pleased

  "Shockwave."

  Mentally shaking myself, I turned to Megatron, nodding.

  "Apologies, my t-cog was merely registering it's new capabilities. Unfortunately, my original alt mode is still lost to me."

  Megatron crossed his arms, taking on a contemplative expression.

  "A problem that we can solve. Accompany me to the flight deck. Soundwave, return the forge of Solus Prime to it's chambers."

  ---

  Z-1 fired back at the pair of Autobots, even as his fellow Zaku continued to drag a smoking Dreadwing backwards.

  It had been a lesson thoroughly drilled into them by their creator. One should always focus on the mission, but never sacrifice their lives without just cause.

  Better to win the war rather than a single battle.

  Twisting to allow his shoulder armor to absorb a stray shot, he activated his comms, slowly retreating.

  "Z-1 to Nemesis, requesting emergency groundbridge and reinforcements! Enemy forces present, I repeat, enemy forces present!"

  A moment of contested fire later, a pair of swirling green tunnels opened up. The Autobots began to retreat towards their own portal, even as the pair of Zakus continued to drag their superior officer backwards.

  Then a familiar yet oddly purple jet tore through the Decepticon portal, firing a pair of blasts at the Autobots.

  The first missed, with the second slamming into the elite guard's back, prompting a cry of pain. His larger counterpart dragging him forward just in time as the groundbridge closed behind them.

  The jet that Z-1 had assumed was a newly painted Megatron swerved around, the cybertronian transforming midair and landing in front of the trio of Decepticons with a thump.

  Shockwave took one look at the battered Zakus and unconscious Dreadwing, and sighed.

  "Megatron isn't going to like this."