03x03 - Prey

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Transformers Prime.

Shockwave I thought you'd perished on Cybertron.

The patch failed to yield any new information on the whereabouts of the Autobots.

I' d know the hum of that engine anywhere.

Jackie! - We can't just give up! - Then tell me what we can do! We know Starscream had access to a groundbridge.

He'd clearly been using the Harbinger.

It could be full of Cybertronian tech.

Resources won't be of much use, not without someone to lead us.

The Forge.

If you had the Forge, you could fix yourself up! Meet Ultra Magnus.

I present to you, my liege, the ultimate Autobot hunter.

3x03 - Prey A Predacon.

They've been extinct since the beginning of Cybertronian history.

Indeed.

But the specimen you see before you was bred in the laboratory, cloned from fossilized remains, which I discovered on Cybertron.

Shockwave, it does my spark good to see you once again tampering with creation.

Master, please! Keep your distance! No need for alarm.

The beast is completely under my control.

Such primal magnificence.

A sample of Energon, from Wheeljack, spilled during the Autobot's failed interrogation.

Let the hunt begin.

Guys, you know I'm all for blowin' the scrap outta stuff, but what does flattening a Decepticon mine have to do with getting the band back together and taking down Megatron? Simple.

When we light up this place, the blast'll be big and unmistakable.

Any Autobot within 500 klicks will see the sky glowin' with Energon, - and come runnin'.

- Then bring the rain.

Mainframe's up and running.

But I'll need help hacking the operating codes.

Even if the groundbridge proves functional, it will be next to worthless without a means of pinpointing the current locations of our compatriots.

Use your head, Bumblebee.

If the Decepticons had the ability to track Autobot signals, we'd have all been at Megatron's mercy here on Earth a long time ago.

Back where we started.

But not if I can reconfigure these Decepticon frequencies.

At the very least, we may be able to access their comm-link.

No one's seen or heard from you since Cybertron went dark.

How did you find your way to Earth? Soldier, we may not be on Cybertron, but m*llitary protocol remains.

- My apologies, Sir.

- Sir? Advise the native life-form to watch its tone as well.

What? Who is this guy? Ultra Magnus was Optimus' key Lieutenant during the w*r back on Cybertron.

Very "by the book.

" Just go with it.

As for your broader question, my story is that of all Autobots since the exodus.

I wandered the spaceways in search of others, reuniting with some, often only to see them fall at the hands of the Decepticons.

Until you detected the Omega beam, and followed it here.

If you are referring to the massive energy burst originating from Cybertron, that would be affirmative.

Upon my arrival, it became evident that this planet had been invaded.

My scanners also detected Autobot life signals, yours being in closest proximity to my position.

Signals? As in plural? - Sir.

- Five total.

Out of seven.

Jack, that doesn't necessarily mean what you're thinking.

Autobot signals can't be detected when they're shielded.

Cozy little place you built for yourself, Megatron.

Finding the Forge in there may take awhile.

Then, again, maybe you still keep your valuables in the usual place.

I won't let you down, Optimus.

I'm sorry, "overreacting?" Easy for you to say, Knockout.

Nobody here wants your post.

I, on the other hand, hold the most coveted position within the Decepticon ranks.

And no matter what he may claim, I know that Shockwave is plotting to usurp me! Did you see the smug look in his eye when he unveiled that vile beast to lord Megatron? You don't scare me, ugly.

Hello, beautiful.

- Munitions planted.

- Let's get this party started.

Company.

- Megatron? - Nah.

Bigger.

And I don't remember seeing that move in buckethead's repertoire.

A dragon? Where'd the 'Cons get a dragon? - What's a dragon? - What's a dragon? Giant flying fire-breathing lizard.

Whoa! Whoa! - Bulkhead, you okay? - Easy, I may be hot to the touch.

Why isn't it coming after us? Lookin' for me, beast? I'm right here.

We're gonna need more firepower! Good thing I know just where to find some! Incoming! Autobots! And the walls came tumblin' down.

Yes! Snuff the tragic dragon! We're toast.

- One of ours? - Does it matter? Hey.

- Jack! - Arcee! Miko.

Can't breathe.

Weakling.

- Thanks for the save.

- Thank the Commander.

- Soldiers.

- You? Ultra Magnus? It's an honor.

It's an honor, Sir.

Guess blowin' that mine made us pretty easy to spot.

Ultra Magnus already had a bead on your signals, and ours.

Care to tell us what exactly's nipping at our tailpipes? We think it's a robot dragon.

Or a Cybertronian reptile.

Brace yourselves.

- Oh! - Whoa! It's right on top of us.

- Whoa! - Whoa! What is it now, lord Megatron? Agent Fowler, it's Ratchet! Ratchet? Where's Jack? Is he with you? No, he is not.

Listen, we don't have much time.

I have taken a tremendous, yet calculated, risk in contacting you.

Hopefully, the Decepticons are not monitoring their own frequencies as closely as they no doubt are those of the humans.

I am transmitting our current coordinates.

What? Ratchet, have you heard from anyone else? What about Prime? It's one of ours! Raf! Girl's got a grip, doesn't she? You're alive.

- Ultra Magnus? - Doctor.

What a grave disappointment this must be for you, master.

And to make matters worse, because it cannot speak, we have no way of knowing why the Predacon failed so miserably.

Poor, mute, mindless creature.

New paint job looks good, Bee.

At least you had something to work with.

- If I reversed my colors, I'd be pink.

- The communications link needs further calibration to be compatible with Autobot frequencies.

The groundbridge, however, is fully operational.

That would've come in handy when robo-dragon was trying to eat us for breakfast.

The indigenous population of this planet, do they all display the same disregard for authority? No.

Mostly just Miko.

- No! - Don't sh**t! It's Fowler.

He's with us! It's okay, mom.

I'm fine.

Your families are safe.

Agent Fowler saw to it that Jasper was evacuated in time.

The only signals Ultra Magnus was able to isolate - are standing right here.

- Maybe his scanner's faulty.

So the kid's unaccounted for.

Smokescreen bridged out unaccompanied.

Only Optimus knows where.

And Optimus remained behind, to destroy the groundbridge, to ensure that everyone else made it to safety.

I watched the base go down.

No one or thing walked out of there.

- Not that we could see.

- Even if Prime survived, I'm not sure we can afford to wait for him to show up.

Not with Megatron holding our planet hostage from his high and mighty perch at Darkmount.

I would be inclined to agree with the native life-form.

We must stop Megatron, with or without Optimus Prime.

Optimus! I have the Forge! You can use it to repair yourself! That is not the reason I had you retrieve the relic.

What? I don't understand.

The power of the Forge is not unlimited.

Its energy has already begun to ebb.

So it's running low, who cares? All we need is enough juice to get you back into fighting shape! Whatever power remains must be used to rebuild the Omega lock, - to restore Cybertron.

- But that would mean The fate of all our kind is more vital than that of any one of us.

Including me.

We must do everything in our power to ensure Megatron's downfall, but we will need to be smart about it.

- Whoa, who put shoulderpads in command? - Temporary command.

Ultra Magnus is the only logical choice.

He was trained by Optimus and served as his commanding officer throughout the w*r for Cybertron.

Now, unless there is any further objection, soldier, please, follow me.

Aye aye, Cap'n.

Autobots.

Take your pick.

Now you're speaking my language, Sir.

Optimus, the Forge is a relic of the Primes.

We can't use it to restore Cybertron, not without a Prime.

- Not without you.

- There will be a new Prime.

You can worry about that after we get you patched up, and we take down Megatron.

The time for a new leader is upon us.

In my spark I believe that leader stands before me right now.