Transformers: Prime: Smokescreen's Destiny

Chapter 7: Sorrowful & Regretful

Back at the Nemesis, Smokescreen transformed back into his robot mode and he was still upset when Megatron came to congratulate him. "Congratulations, my son. You have done well, Smokescreen and I am so proud of you." The warlord said to his adopted son as he placed his hand servo onto his shoulder. Smokescreen looked at Megatron before lowering his head down, feeling sad, angry, and regretful. "I can't believe it...I betrayed my team!" Smokescreen exclaimed. Megatron gave the rookie a reassuring look. "You did the right thing by choosing a different side and to be on our side was a better choice, Smokescreen. What you did wasn't wrong. So pay no attention to the Autobots and focus more on being a Decepticon. You are now one of us." Megatron told the young bot. "As you wish, father." Smokescreen replied.

In the aftermath of the battle, Team Prime returned to their hidden base where Optimus Prime and his Autobots had a group gathering, and luckily, their human allies weren't there to hear the unfortunate news of what became of their rookie. Ratchet was unhappy with the way Smokescreen denounced and betrayed the Autobots by joining Megatron's side as his surrogate son and he and the Autobots are worried that the young mech would reveal to the Decepticons the location of their secret base. Arcee on the other hand is guilty of being so hard on Smokescreen and she and the rest of the Autobots are ashamed of themselves for doubting Smokescreen and his potential to be their new warrior as he believed he was destined for greatness.

"We shouldn't have doubted him. But now, Smokescreen has joined Megatron and renounced the Autobots because of us! It's our fault that he left us and now we've lost another one of our teammates. Just as we've lost Cliffjumper...!" Ratchet said remorsefully. Arcee disagreed as she admitted, "No, Ratchet. It's my fault. I was the one for being too hard on Smokescreen." She said in regret.

"Mine too." Said Bulkhead. "The kid said he had the full potential of becoming a great warrior. But we doubted him for being reckless and now...he's accepted a fate worse than death because of how we treated him." He said in regret. Optimus Prime nodded, "No. I believe that Smokescreen did what he thought was right." He said. "Optimus! How could you say that?!" Ratchet exclaimed, "Smokescreen is young and strong! Do you know what Megatron would do to him now that he's a Decepticon?! He could brainwash him or even force him to reveal the location of our hidden base!" He said. "I know. But from what Smokescreen told me, he thinks that he will try to change Megatron's mind about whatever plans he has for Earth and Cybertron and that he will convince him to win the war peacefully without destroying innocent lives for his creed of peace through tyranny." Optimus Prime said to his Autobot friends.

Wheeljack disagreed, "That's crazy talk. There is no way that Megatron would have a little bit of good in his cold spark! Let's not forget about the fact that he murdered one of our closest allies, including Cliffjumper! So what makes you believe that Smokescreen could reform him!?" He asked. The Prime answered, "I know Megatron. He would not harm children, he would only have them captured and used for ransom." Optimus Prime told Wheeljack before he explained to his Autobot comrades, "From what he told me, Megatron claimed that he once saved Smokescreen from the day he was born when he lost his carrier. He brought him over to the nursery at Iacon where he cared for him and put him up for adoption. And Megatron even claimed to have given Smokescreen his name and loved him as if he were his metal and Energon."

"That's insane. I know that you and Megatron were friends before the war began, but you cannot trust in the words of that evil warlord!" Ratchet protested, "He practically lied to Smokescreen that he was his sire the whole time and I don't see any family resemblance between Smokescreen and Megatron!" He said. "He didn't say that Megatron was Smokescreen's father, Ratchet." Bulkhead corrected Ratchet. "I can only assume that he wanted the kid to join the Decepticons so that bucket head will have an heir to his empire." He said. "We will pray to Primus for Smokescreen's safety, but all we can do now is try to find a way to reason with him and get him back from the Decepticons. Megatron cannot be reasoned with and he will never change his mind about winning the war." Arcee told her Autobot friends. Bumblebee, still without a voice box, bleeped as he said, "I just hope that Smokescreen is just going through a phase right now until he can see the error of his ways and return to us soon."