02x22 - Hard Knocks

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Transformers Prime" It is paramount that we recover the final four Iacon relics the Omega keys.

- Keys? - To what? The regeneration of our home planet.

A tomb.

One known to contain the remains of Primes.

At long last, the power of the Primes belongs to me! Four sets of coordinates from Alpha Trion remain encrypted.

It is logical to conclude that each corresponds to the location of one of the Omega keys.

My first creation, fashioned from the very blood of Unicron.

I call it the Dark Star Saber.

The relic now! Oh, you mean this? Finders keepers.

You should have seen Optimus Prime's face when his precious Star Saber shattered like glass and, with it his dreams of an Autobot victory.

Granted, Optimus will be more determined than ever to discover the locations of the remaining Iacon entries before we can.

Ah, very good.

I see you have decoded the next set of coordinates.

Way to step things up, Soundwave.

I do hope this Iacon relic is something less sacred and more profane, like an electro-disruptor cannon.

- We could use one of those.

- Indeed, Knockout.

Dreadwing, report to the bridge immediately.

Please, lord Megatron, allow me the honor of retrieving this relic for you.

I'm surprised you would risk your finish so soon after your accident.

Nonetheless, I remain unconvinced that you are the best choice for the task since you failed to secure the phase shifter.

I lacked the proper tools.

But since Soundwave's currently occupied, I can't imagine he'll mind if I borrow this So that I might better secure your prize and heap some hurt on the Autobots.

I'm gonna be a great warrior someday, like Optimus.

Well, train hard and gain some wisdom along the way, and I'm sure it'll happen.

Oh, it will.

It's my destiny.

How so? Well, one minute I'm on security detail at Iacon.

I mean, what are the chances, right? Things happen for a reason.

We get it, Smokescreen.

You're special.

We're lucky to have you.

All I'm really saying is, I've come a long way, and this is one opportunity I don't plan on messing up.

Autobots, the next Iacon coordinates have been decoded.

Ratchet, ready the ground bridge.

Last one to the Omega key has to scrub the Energon tanks for a week.

Didn't know we were keeping score.

Arcee, Bumblebee, prepare to roll out.

Wait.

What about me? I mean me and Bulkhead.

The two of you will remain here in the event i'm able to decode a subsequent database entry before the others return.

Optimus is right.

Considering the very fate of Cybertron is at stake, response time is critical.

Keep your engines idling, kid.

Come on, Bee.

Destiny awaits.

We call it a pit stop.

We'll get back in the race.

Over there.

Well, well, just the Autobots I wanted to see.

I'll handle the mad doctor.

You grab the key.

I've been waiting to thank you both for all the memories.

Who knew that sound waves could be such a.

Knockout? What's that, dear? I can't hear you! Bee, the relic! Scrap.

How low can it go? Subwoofer or depth charge? Scrap.

It appears identical to the one taken from me by Optimus Prime.

Ah.

Perhaps it is a decoy the Autobots allowed you to seize as a means of sabotage.

Unlikely, my liege.

They battled too desperately for it.

Then pieces of a larger puzzle, perhaps.

Excellent, Soundwave.

With any luck, these new coordinates will shed some light on the subject.

Soundwave's on fire.

And so I am.

Keep your vanity in check, doctor.

Haven't I proven myself?! Your scientific expertise remains of greater use to me analyzing our latest acquisition.

I must know what this relic is and what it can do.

I'm sorry, Optimus.

Knockout was there, waiting for us.

Seems the 'Cons are improving their decoding skills.

And it seems that, with two keys already separated, no one currently possesses the means to revive Cybertron.

While our quest to restore our planet may have reached a stalemate, securing the remaining keys is still the most prudent course of action.

Man, it must have been crazy with Knockout going all sonic.

Oh, I wish I'd been there.

I would have Would have what? Recovered the key like you did the first one? Maybe.

Who knows? I just want us to be f*ring on all cylinders, you know, now that the Star Saber's gone.

And I have a pretty good track record so far.

Look, kid, Arcee and Bumblebee are no slouches, and Optimus managed just fine for eons without the big sword.

Of course, you wouldn't know about that.

And you've been locked in stasis the whole time we've been fighting this w*r.

Exactly, and I'm ready to make up for lost time.

When Optimus says you're ready.

You got to be in this for the long haul.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Hurry up, already! How is it possible that speed-enhancing Energon takes longer to process than regular Energon?! An entire chunk of Red Energon, and this is all I get?! There's enough here for one dose, maybe two! Mmm.

Decepticon movement.

While speed is hardly a suitable replacement for the might of the Apex armor, it should provide me with enough of an edge to obtain a more formidable relic.

The next coordinates are ready.

There remains one set left to decode.

On it, boss.

I'm gonna bring back that key.

Yeah Uh, Bulk? Forgetting something? Make sure you keep an eye on destiny's child, okay? Compared to watching Miko, piece of cake.

Stick close.

And stay focused.

- Gotcha! - I mean it.

- Me too.

- Shh.

What is that? One of the last sounds that you will ever hear.

Dreadwing.

We got to get out of here now! Smoke, I'll handle Dreadwing.

Go get the relic.

You got it.

You love doing your dirty work from a distance, don't you? Too bad you don't have the ball bearings to fight up close and personal.

In this particular case, I will be all too happy to make an exception.

An admirable effort, but you obviously forgot how our last encounter ended.

No, I didn't.

Smoke, I'm on my way.

Destiny.

Smokescreen! Wake up! Wh-what happened? That's what I want to know.

The Omega key.

I had it until something hit me from behind.

Dreadwing must have had backup.

That relic's long gone.

Ratchet, we need a bridge.

I-I told Optimus I'd return with that key.

Listen, kid, Alpha Trion said we need all four keys to restore Cybertron, remember? We just need to hang on to the one we have and find a way to get the others back from Megatron.

The promise of a new Cybertron in the palm of my hand when I obtain all four.

Smokescreen was sucker-punched.

Could have happened to any of us.

But it didn't, because I was the one who dropped his guard.

I was the one who blew it.

Some great warrior I'm turning out to be.

You still don't get it, do you? A couple of victories aren't gonna make you a legend.

And not every mission results in success, not for me, not for Bee, not even for Optimus.

We've gained relics, and we've lost some.

We've also lost friends.

We've even lost a world.

But this is one time we get a do-over.

We have a chance to bring back Cybertron, and everyone in this room needs to be in sync.

This isn't about you or your destiny.

- Arcee, you have made your point.

- Optimus, he needs to hear this.

You might actually become a great warrior one day, and I sincerely hope that you do.

But greatness begins and ends with putting the team first, not your personal scorecard.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for you guys.

Then stop trying to be a hero and start being an Autobot.

You know what? Maybe I'm just not good enough.

Next time Optimus advises you to stop, perhaps you should listen.

I'll bring him back.

Smokescreen is young, Bulkhead, and has much to learn, but right now he needs to clear his thoughts.

And I need to finish decoding the final Iacon entry.

You never even spied the relic?! By the time I reached the location, it was gone, as were the Autobots.

It would serve us well to not only decode the final Iacon entry before Optimus Prime does, but to recapture those relics currently held by the Autobots.

Soundwave.

Despite your primary task, I trust that you have been making progress pinpointing the location of their base.

Good.

Given the recent accumulation of evidence, we possess a clearer idea of where their human colleagues reside.

And Laserbeak should soon determine whether the Autobots dwell in proximity.

Ah.

The final entry has been decoded.

Has it? Perhaps it's a layer of secondary encryption.

The coordinates are forming an image.

Why would the final Iacon entry be different from the others? Maybe it's a picture of the relic.

Of what possible use could that be to us without knowing its location? I trust that Alpha Trion has his reasons.

Smokescreen? Prime's latest recruit is the final relic of Iacon? Is this that hotshot's idea of a joke? - Maybe he knows where the key is.

- And never bothered to mention it? A more likely possibility is that Smokescreen himself somehow is the key, without knowing it.

Whatever the case, he could be in grave danger.

Smokescreen, return to base immediately.

He may have deactivated his comm link.

Locate his position and prepare the ground bridge.

It seems our side project is already paying off.

You picked the wrong day to mess with me, 'Con.

Smokescreen.

No!