Cybertron: Iacon, The Decagon.
"So, it's Skygnaw..." Shockwave muttered, staring at a signal intercepted by Soundwave and translated by the orbital relay. He handed the intel to Turtler, who was standing nearby.
"Lord Shockwave, what is this?" Turtler took the report, his expression shifting to one of confusion.
Turtler, an Elite-class Decepticon warrior, was the leader of the Seacons—the only Decepticon squad specialized in sub-aquatic warfare. Every member was an expert in deep-sea combat, transforming into mechanized aquatic beasts that could merge into the gestalt giant, Piranacon. Aside from Turtler, the team consisted of Overbite, Tentakil, Skalor, and Nautilator.
Turtler scanned the report. After a long moment, he looked up with a face full of shock. "Is this true, Lord Shockwave?"
"Yes," Shockwave nodded, ever a bot of few words. "Inform the others."
"Right away, My Lord!"
Turtler hurried off, his spark energized by the news. Within the hour, every Decepticon remaining on Cybertron knew of the two major developments: Blackarachnia had officially returned to the fold, and a young, powerful new Commander had risen to lead the vanguard on Earth.
Alaska: Base One.
Massive Insecticons droned through the air. Upon leaving Planet Rubicund, Blackarachnia hadn't brought the entire swarm—only the fastest-developing brood. Since Insecticons possessed the ability to self-replicate, a single drone theoretically represented an infinite army. Consequently, most of the swarm remained on Rubicund to "harvest" the remaining Cephalons.
As Megatron strode through the corridors of Base One, he asked abruptly, "Skygnaw. Starscream claims you know the location of the human boy, Sam Witwicky."
"I do, Lord Megatron."
Skygnaw felt a surge of cold annoyance as he glanced at Starscream. The Seeker was clearly trying to shove him into the line of fire. Intelligence was usually Soundwave's domain; why was Starscream pushing the responsibility onto him?
Fortunately, he did indeed have Sam's location locked.
"Rest assured, My Lord. The boy is under constant surveillance. He has nowhere to run."
"Good," Megatron rumbled. "Tell the Decepticons to prepare. We move now!"
Los Angeles: A street ten miles from Mission City University.
A white sedan with a smashed front end tore through traffic, weaving past cars at high speed. Inside, Sam lowered his phone, exhaling a breath of relief.
"I reached Bumblebee," Sam said. "He told us to find a place to hide. He and Optimus are on their way."
"Whoa, we have backup? More giant robots?" Leo asked from the back seat, his voice trembling. He was clutching a metal toolbox to his chest; every so often, the box would rattle as the prisoner inside shrieked. He had only just realized they were hauling a captured Decepticon—Wheelie.
"Yeah. They're called Autobots. They're the good guys," Sam explained.
"And what are they like? I mean, do they start shooting the second things get weird, like Sophia did?"
After a frantic explanation from Sam and Mikaela, Leo had finally grasped what a Decepticon was.
"No," Sam shook his head. "They're friendly. Much better than Decepticons. Honestly, the one you just saw was actually kind of polite. If you ever saw the leader of the Decepticons, Mega—"
BOOM!
"Whoa!!"
A massive explosion erupted directly in front of them, a pillar of fire and smoke rising from the asphalt. As the smoke cleared, it revealed a gaping crater in the middle of the road.
"Help! Someone help!"
Drivers who couldn't brake in time plunged into the pit, and the air was filled with the shriek of tires.
SCREECH—
Mikaela slammed the brakes to the floor, the car skidding to a halt mere inches from the jagged edge of the crater.
"Whew... that was close..." The three of them exhaled in unison.
Rumble... rumble...
"Wait. What's that sound?"
Before they could process the attack, they looked through the windshield and saw a sleek, triangular craft screaming toward them from the horizon.
"Is that one of the good guys?" Leo asked, his face pale.
"No," Sam's eyes widened in terror. "Autobots can't fly. It's a Decepticon. We're in trouble again. Mikaela, go! Go!"
"Don't tell me what to do, Sam! I'm trying to start it!"
But the car chose the worst possible moment to fail. The sudden stop had stalled the engine, and no matter how many times Mikaela rubbed the hotwires together, the sedan remained dead.
"It's here! It's right on top of us!"
The massive assault craft hovered directly over the car. A heavy magnetic tow-hook dropped from the underside.
CRUNCH—
The hook pierced through the roof of the sedan like a spear through paper. Leo screamed as the metal jaggedly missed his head by an inch, shearing off a lock of his hair.
"Sam, I got it!" Mikaela shouted as the engine finally sparked.
"Mikaela... I think it's too late."
The hook clamped tight. The next second, the trio felt the entire car lurch as it was lifted into the sky.
"My god! I'm too young to die!" Leo wailed. "Sam, I regret everything! I regret getting in this car with you and your girlfriend! The aliens weren't even looking for me! Why am I here?!"
As Leo screamed, the sedan rose higher and higher until the entirety of Los Angeles was visible below them.
Skygnaw, towing the car, flew straight toward an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. Inside one of the massive warehouses, three Decepticons waited. Blackarachnia hung from the ceiling in her mechanical spider mode, a patient predator in the shadows. Megatron stood with imposing authority next to a jagged metal medical table, with Starscream lingering at his side like a shadow.
Outside, the Horsemen were stationed on the rooftops, scanning the perimeter for any sign of interference.
The silence was broken by the roar of engines as the white sedan was hauled through the shattered roof of the warehouse.
"Lord Megatron," Starscream said, watching Skygnaw's craft hover above them. "Skygnaw has returned. Your plan was flawless."
"Starscream, I have eyes!"
"Yes, My Lord..." Starscream offered a sheepish grin as his flattery failed again.
CLANG.
The hook released, and the sedan slammed into the concrete floor, shattering the remaining glass. Skygnaw transformed and landed gracefully. "Lord Megatron. Mission accomplished."
"Well done, Skygnaw. You did not disappoint."
Megatron nodded, pleased with the new Commander's efficiency. Perhaps because Blackarachnia was ill-suited for the capture or because he didn't trust Starscream, Megatron had put this task solely on Skygnaw.
"Lord Megatron, allow me to extract the vermin," Starscream volunteered, stepping forward. He deployed his whirring chainsaw and moved toward the car.
Zzzzt—screech! "AAAAH!"
Inside, the trio had barely recovered from the fall when the saw blade tore through the roof, showering them in sparks. Leo scrambled to the far side of the seat. "I swear, if I survive this, I am never sitting in the back again!"
CRACK.
Under the strength of a Commander, the sedan was peeled open like a tin can in seconds. Sam opened his eyes, blinking against the dust and light. He looked around and his heart sank. "We're dead. We're totally dead."
"Megatron... Starscream... Skygnaw..."
After Bumblebee had been traded back to Sam by Skygnaw months ago, the scout had given Sam a full debriefing on the Decepticon high command. Sam didn't know how Megatron was alive, but he recognized everyone in the room.
Megatron leaned down, his crimson optics boring into Sam. He looked at the human boy who had once killed him with the AllSpark, savoring the moment of impending revenge. But first, he needed the data in the boy's head.
"Out. Now, boy."
"Okay! Okay, I'm coming out! Just don't hurt them!"
Sam raised his hands and crawled out of the wreckage.
"Closer, boy. You remember me, don't you?" Megatron's voice was soft, almost conversational.
Skygnaw watched silently from the side.
"Yeah. I remember you. It's been a while. Look, that whole thing at Mission City... that was an accident. I didn't mean to—"
"Silence!"
BAM! Megatron backhanded Sam, sending him flying onto the metal table. "Your chattering makes me sick!"
"Sam!" Mikaela screamed, clutching her mouth as tears blurred her vision. Leo stood frozen, his mouth agape in terror. They were completely, utterly helpless.