Transformers: Prime: Smokescreen's Destiny

Chapter 8: Common Ground

It was only yesterday since the day Smokescreen left the Autobots and joined Megatron's side as a Decepticon. Optimus Prime and his Autobots felt ashamed for what had happened the other day. If they hadn't been so hard on Smokescreen then maybe he wouldn't of renounced the Autobots and joined the Decepticons. Team Prime were at the base when their human allies came for a visit. Jack Darby, Miko Nakadai, and Rafael Esquivel had arrived in the Autobot base after school and they got to spend time with Bumblebee, Arcee, Wheeljack, and Bulkhead while playing video games when Jack asked Optimus Prime about Smokescreen and where he was.

"Uh, Optimus? Where is Smokescreen?" The teenage human boy asked. The red and blue Autobot leader lowered his head and made a forlorn expression. He and the Autobots knew that they would have to tell the children and their other human friends the bad news even though they didn't want to, but they had to.

"Jack...We have some unfortunate news regarding our latest recruit." Optimus began. Jack was feeling concerned and confused about Smokescreen. "Smokescreen has left our base...and he joined the Decepticons." Optimus Prime told the young man. Jack gasped in shock. "No. It can't be tue. He wouldn't betray us, would he?!" Jack Darby exclaimed. Ratchet stepped in and joined the conversation, "I'm afraid that it is true, Jack. You see...Smokescreen renounced the Autobots and joined Megatron as his adopted son because we were so hard on him. Not only that, but Megatron manipulated the young bot into believing that he can tell him about his parents and what happened to them." Ratchet explained. "Parents??" Jack asked, confused. "Smokescreen's got a mom and dad?" He asked. "We're not sure if that's true. In fact, it is rare for Cybertronians to reproduce and have sparklings of their own, a term that we use for Cybertronain children. Not all of us have parents such as sires and carriers that humans would refer to as "fathers" and "mothers"." Ratchet told Jack.

"But how does it work? Does it work the same way as humans?" Jack Darby asked Ratchet. "That's the story for another time. But for now, the bad news is, Smokescreen betrayed us by joining the Decepticons and becoming Megatron's adopted son. We found out about it when we learned that Smokescreen left our base while we were recharging. We tried to commlink him in the morning, but he didn't respond. So we went outside the base to search for him. But then, when we were surrounded by Decepticons and their allies, Megatron revealed that he got Smokescreen to join his side." Ratchet explained.

"No." Jack said in betrayal. "We're sorry, Jack. It was our fault that he left us." Ratchet told him. "No, Ratchet. Megatron is the one to blame for influencing Smokescreen into becoming a Decepticon and convincing him to betray us! I was hoping that I would take him out for a spin or even a test drive, but now it seems like Smokescreen is going to tell Megatron where the Autobot's Hidden Base is!" Jack exclaimed. "No, Jack. Smokescreen may have switched sides, but he would not reveal our classified location to Megatron. At least, not yet. I believe that Smokescreen may have some good intentions and some good reasons as he told us the other day that he wants to try to change Megatron's mind about conquering the Earth and Cybertron." Optimus Prime replied, "Which is why I believe that Smokescreen joined our enemies in the hopes of reforming them so that they would not want to destroy us anymore. But even I am not certain, as I have no doubt in my mind that Megatron would still refuse to accept any form of redemption since we believe that he has some sinister plans about using Smokescreen to help him achieve his sinister goals." Optimus Prime said to Ratchet and Jack Darby.

"Optimus. It was bad enough that we lost Cliffjumper, but Smokescreen is young and strong. He's practically just as young as Jack and Megatron knows exactly how to take advantage on children by manipulating and brainwashing them since they are easily the most vulnerable and influential people out there." Ratchet said to the Prime. "Who knows how long Megatron will be keeping Smokescreen captive before he could actually corrupt his spark and brainwash him even further! We have to get him back and tell him that what he's doing is foolish! We have to do something! We can't just sit around and do nothing and let Smokescreen accept a fate worse than death! He doesn't deserve to be with Megatron as his own adopted son! Not ever!"