Transformers: Eradication

Part 30: Destroying Shockwave's Legacy

In New York everything is completely silent. All of the Decepticons have been stationed to scout the area for the Autobots, and they know they will be coming soon. The Dreads are driving around Wall Street hoping to catch their foes. The Coneheads soar over Trump tower reporting everything that they see. In Little Italy Oil Slick blankly walks the desolate streets, with a lifeless expression that makes one wonder if he is actually alive. All the minions except for Buzzsaw have set up a barricade in SoHo. All the Constructicons bar Mixmaster drive around Central Park looking for anything out of the ordinary. Waspinator sits atop the Brooklyn Bridge alone, but he falls asleep and accidentally falls into the road, breaking into pieces. Megatron, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Splicer, and Mixmaster all camp out at Ellis Island. They know that this must end.

Meanwhile the Autobots are informed by Wheeljack and Perceptor that all Decepticons have been relocated to New York. Now they begin their final preparations.

Mirage: "This is it everyone. In a few hours we may be fighting the last battle. Some of us aren't going to make it out, that's just how it goes. One thing's for certain, we're ending this war today."

Ace: "We're not going down without a fight."

Road: "This isn't the worst situation we've been in."

Grimlock: "Plus we got some great new help."

Fowler: "Don't forget great old help."

Grimlock: "Of course."

Silver: "It's time to make a stand. I'm going to be the best leader the Aerialbots ever had!"

Fire: "Look at you finally getting that confidence."

Jetfire: "Yeah man congrats."

Skydive and Stratosphere give him a thumbs up.

Airraid: "Yeah whatever. I'll follow you until I get bored."

Silver: "And what about you Slingshot?"

Sling: "No! "

Silver: "Come on."

Sling: "No way! I'll never listen to you!"

Silver: "I had a feeling you'd say that. Skydive, Stratosphere, take care of it."

Skydive and Stratosphere start mercilessly slapping Slingshot until he agrees to be a team player.

Sling: (pleading) Please stop! I'll be good I promise!"

Silver: "You heard him. He's good now."

Skydive and Stratosphere stop the assault and help Slingshot up. For once there seems to be a sense of unity among the Aerialbots.

Fire: "We're finally working as a real time."

Jetfire: "It's about time"

Airraid: (under his breath) "For now."

Silver: "Let's do this."

Mirage: "It's our advantage over the Decepticons. They are always at war with one another, and we have teamwork on our side. That's how you the original team won the battle of San Francisco, how myself and the new arrivals won the battle of London, and it will be the same for New York, only this time Megatron and his army are going to be participating in their last battle."

Blaster: "Groovy, let's do it!"

Road: "They're going to eat dirt when I'm done with them!"

Topspin: "I bet I can kill more than you can!"

Leadfoot: "It's on!"

Tyrone: "Hey man try not to die out there."

Ace: "Same goes to you."

Jolt: "So what do we do now?"

Blaster: "Anyone want to listen to some motivational music?"

Grimlock: "Go for it!"

Blaster puts on motivational music to pump all the Autobots and humans up for their biggest battle yet. On Cybertron the situation gets to a crucial point. It is 8 hours before the battle of New York and 10 hours and 17 minutes before an event that will change the war drastically. The outside security of Shockwave's tower is doing its nightly rounds. During a brief moment where all cameras and guards are looking in all different direction some grey blur zooms past them without even noticing. The blur makes it right before the doors close and makes its way through the tower. The blur becomes a figure as its speed seems to be slowing down. It's Starscream, and now without the power of the Red Energon he's completely vulnerable. Luckily for him he's near the room that he desires: the protoform room. Now inside he sees the six Eradicon protoforms.

"Finally you're all mine. I'll be needing you all for my revenge."

Outside someone is humming a tune that sounds like the classic Transformers theme. It's Knockout, who happily enters the room oblivious until he sees Starscream just frozen there not knowing what to do next. Knockout is in a state of disbelief, his eye are as big as dinner plates. After about a minute of silence and no movement, Knockout breaks the chain by coughing.

"Oh.. hello Knockout."

"You're supposed to be dead, Starscream."

"Well look how accurate that turned out."

They pause and another minute passes by.

"Well this is awkward."

"That's because you made it awkward!"

(sassy) "Well excuse me for for being surprised you're alive! So how did you survive anyway?"

"I"m not sure."

"How can you not be sure?"

"I just don't know. Anyway you're just the person I was hoping I to see."

"Really? Why?"

I need to ask a favor of you."

"I'm afraid to ask."

"You owe me."

(dreading) "I was hoping this day would never come."

"My T-cog has been separated from my body. I'd like you to put it back in."

"That's it? Well that's a relief. Let's just get this over with."

Knockout begins the surgery with almost no complications...almost. Near the final step there seems to be something that just isn't falling into place. Shockblast just happens to be walking down the hallway when he hears some highly questionable dialogue.

"Come on just put it in!"

"I'm pushing as hard as I can."

"I didn't know you were so weak. Do it harder!"

"I wouldn't be wearing myself out if you didn't have such a small space!"

"Oh that's rich! If we want to talk about something small I think we should look no further!"

Shockblast enters the room as Knockout finally figures out the problem. Shockblast is relieved that what he assumed was going on wasn't the case.

Knockout: "Oh that's what the problem was. It was just a misplaced panel!"

Scream: (dry) "Nice to know that incompetence is still your defining trait."

Knockout: "Yeah you're welcome."

Both of them turn around to see Shockblast pointing his gun at Starscream.

Shock: "Hands where I can see them."

Meanwhile in the lower labs where Elita-1 is held captive, she is still struggling to free herself from her bonds. Nothing is going well, and more cracks are appearing in the pod until it finally bursts open. Everything including the experiments in the fall silent. Whatever emerged from that pod is slowly getting up with their body all disjointed like in those Grudge movies. The poor lighting and the one lamp that hangs above makes it feel like a sci-fi horror movie. Some heavy panting is heard from the figure, and it's definitely a female like Knockout said. her purple eyes seem to have an insectoid trait to them. From her perspective they seem compound, and she seems to have a three legged apparatus on her back. The woman looks at Elita-1 and speaks with Gina Torres's voice.

-grunts- "Elita-1. it's you."

"I know that voice... Roulette... what have they done to you?"

"The better question is what haven't they done to me. I've become so much more."

The apparatus on her back raises her up, and they are long spider like legs. Elita-1 is in terror from the being that was once her friend has been replaced with this being.

Switching back to Starscream's perspective where he and Knockout are being held up by Shockblast the seeker tries to reason with the cyclops.

Scream:"Now Shockblast this isn't what it looks like."

Shock: "Thankfully it wasn't."

Scream: "There is no reason to get in my way."

Shock: "I have every reason. You are a criminal plain and simple. As for you Knockout, you are committing treason."

Knockout: "Treason?! He threatened me at gunpoint!"

Scream: (shrill) "Why you lying coward!"

Shock: (frustrated) "Enough! Both of you are getting locked up for this."

Knockout: "Do you realize what they do to gorgeous people like me in prison? It's rear roulette down there, and I don't want to lose the draw!"

Scream: "We want the same thing Shockblast."

Shock: "There is absolutely nothing that I want that correlates to you."

Scream: "That's where you're wrong. We both want revenge."

Shock: "What could I possibly want revenge for?"

Scream: "Your brother. I can help you avenge him."

Shock: ".... I'm listening."

Scream: 'We've both lost something because of Megatron, and we want him dead because of it. I know you mourned for Blastwave. Now is your chance to make your dream a reality."

Knockout: "Hold the phone here. I may not be the biggest fan of the guy, but he still helped raise me and Splicer and gave us a career. I don't want him to die."

Shock: "Silence, I'm weighing my options."

Shockblast thinks carefully about his next move. It seems that vengeance has clouded his once reasonable mind.

Shock: "Very well. I will assist you. What do you have in mind?"

Knockout: "Are you serious?"

Shock: "Deadly serious."

Scream: "I am most grateful Shockblast. You will not regret this. I want to use your Eradicons."

Shock: "We were about to scrap those. If you want them then they are yours. Though I do not understand how you can use them without a proper power source."

Scream: "I have the Allspark."

Knockout: (under his breath) "Of course you do."

Shock: "We had been trying to give these six special powers, and we've succeeded with four of the six. Dragstrip and Motormaster are still up in the air."
Scream: "Don't worry about that. I'll handle that end. I do need a vehicle form for Motormaster, Brawl, Swindle, and Vortex. I also need weapons for all of them."

Shockblast goes to a monitor and starts downloading information directly to the protoforms to give them guns and Vehicles.

Shock: "First up for Brawl we have the new double barreled models for tanks. These ones also have a turret form for increased firepower. The weapons come automatically with it."

Scream: "Sounds like a good choice."

Shockblast completely skips Dead-end.

Scream: "You skipped that one."

Shock: "Trust me that one is finished. He already has a Path Blaster. For Dragstrip I'm downloading a Subsonic Repeater as his default weapon. It can fire forty shots in 4 seconds."

Scream: "Impressive."

Shock: "Swindle is outfitted with the newest hummers on Cybertron. The default weapon is the Gyro Cannon. The target's sense of balance is thrown out the window."

Scream: "Yes now we should speed this up."

Shock: "Now for the one designated Vortex. Any personal preferences on his vehicle?"

Scream: "I'm in dire need of a flyer."

Shock: "Then I have the Obelisk V-29. It's a new helicopter that also has a jet form. It's the perfect combination of speed, power, and control. His weapon is the Neutron Assualt Rifle, a tri-barrled machine gun.It even has a sword in the back of the gun that has a gun hidden inside."

Knockout: "Seems a bit excessive, doesn't it?"

Scream: "Quiet. I want to see what you have for our last member."

Shock: "Ah yes. The one designated Motormaster. His vehicle is the SA2B-Dreadnought class We've given him the Riot Cannon, a prototype of the Fusion Cannon. It does less damage but has a higher firing rate. We also added the Chaos Rift Combuster."

Knockout: "You know we banned those weapons from the olympics for being too cheap right?"

Scream: "All of these are excellent choices. Thank you for your help."

After some time Starscream manages to stuff all of the protoforms in his pocket dimension. he tries to leave but Shockblast gives him a warning.

Shock: "Wait, I must warn you about the security system. I don't know how you got in undetected, but there are sensors that let Shockwave know that someone has left the building. If one of us leaves it will be suspicious. You need a distraction."

Scream: "And I have the perfect distraction in mind."

This perfect distraction sounds good on paper, but would result in major ramifications in the far future. The Insecticons are still in their cages and growing more agitated. Kickback however seems more complacent, and his cell is filthy. There are strange colored smears all along the glass of his cage.

Kickback: "Hey guys what should I smear next on the glass?"

Shrapnel: "Nothing nothing!"

Bomb: "It's starting to smell."

Starscream, Shockblast, and Knockout enter their room. Kickback's antennas twitch with glee.

Bomb: "What an unexpected surprise."

Shrapnel: "What do you want?"

Scream: "We're here to make you a deal."

Shrapnel: "We're listening listening."

Meanwhile Moonracer, Chromia, Firestar, Beta, Flare-up, Jazz, and Ironhide are still stuck in their respective chairs. Jazz has discovered that if he turns his head from left to right the chair will squeak. He starts annoying the others with his new trick.

Ironhide: (annoyed) "Will you stop doing that?"

Jazz pauses before doing it again even faster.

Flare: -groans- "Just kill me now."

Ironhide: "I swear if I was free I'd tear him limb from limb!"

Jazz: "Hey man I'm just try to lighten up the mood."

Chromia: (snipy) "Nothing like annoying us to lighten up the mood huh?"

They hear sounds of someone running around them, and to their amazement someone comes through the wall. It's Smokescreen of all people. Somehow he survived the attack from the Driller.

Smoke: (brightly) "Hey guys!"

Jazz: (freaking out) "HOLY CRAP HE REALLY IS A SPOOK THIS TIME!"

Smoke: "What? No! I'm not dead. I used my shifter at the last second to avoid the attack. I still got hurt but I'm all better now."

Fire: "We're just glad you're alive."

Moon: "That makes us feel a little better."

Flare: "So are you going to get us out of here or what?"

Smoke: "I will, but first I need to rescue Optimus. The security is tight there, and if I rescued you first the alarms will go off and they will tighten their security. I might not get to him even with my shifter. I'll come back for you I promise."

Chromia: "Understood. Good luck."

Smoke: "I don't need luck, I'm a spook!"

Smokescreen leaves to go to Optimus's aid while it transitions back to the Insecticons being offered a deal.

Bomb: "So what you're saying is that if we follow you, Starscream, you will set us free?"

Scream: "We have a common enemy in the form of Megatron. Side with me and we shall take him down together."

Bomb: "We agree to your terms."

Starscream opens the cages and the Insecticons immediately attack them. They all take a blast of electricity from Shrapnel.

Bomb: "We follow nobody, and our loyalty is to each other."

Shrapnel: "Megatron is ours ours!"

Kickback (rubbing his hands) "Hide your protoforms and hide your wife because I'm going to be doing everybody!"

The Insecticons run out to free themselves, leaving the other Decepticons to slowly recover.

Knockout: "That didn't work at all."

Scream: "On the contrary, it worked perfectly."

Shock: "You knew this would happen?"

Scream: "If they were working for me and failed they would probably let someone know I'm alive. This way they have no reason to spill anything if they aren't working for me."

Knockout: "That's some twisted logic right there, but I do see your point."

Suddenly the alarms start blaring as it appears someone has been set free.

Shock: "That couldn't be the Insecticons. Something is going on. Check it out, Knockout."

Knockout: "Of course!"

Scream: "And thank you for helping me, Knockout. I can finally soar through the air and feel the gentle breeze against my wings."

Knockout: "You're welcome, just don't do anything you might regret."

Scream: "No promises there."

Knockout: "It was worth a shot."

Knockout leaves to investigate while Starscream tries to find a space bridge with Shockblast. The time shifts back a few minutes before the alarm sounds. Smokescreen enters the room where Optimus has been locked up.

"You're alive!"

"Crazy right? Listen we don't have much time. Take my hand."

Optimus holds his hand, and Smokescreen activates his Phase Shifter. Thanks to their connection Optimus phases right through the table and is free.

"Thank you Smokescreen. Do you know where Elita-1 is being held?"

"I don't, sorry."

"It's alright. I can manage. Save the others."

(salutes) "You got it!"

Smokescreen runs through floor after floor to get back to the others while Optimus struggles to find Elita-1. The young Autobot successfully returns and helps the others break free.

Fire: "My hero!"

Chromia: "Great job, kid."

Moon: "We better get out of there before the welcoming committee gets here."

Flare: "Agreed."

Smoke: "I know the way the out, so stay close!"

At the same Elita-1 is struggling to reason with the mutated Roulette, who is probably going going to kill her if she doesn't calm her down.

-hissing- "You left me here to die!"

"That's not true! We searched for so long but nothing ever turned up. We feared the worst."

"You lie!"

"I swear it's the truth. You should have died a long time ago. It tears me apart to see you like this!"

"You really are telling telling the truth. I must leave this place for I am a monster."

"You're not a monster. You can still fight with us."

"I can't. I'm not who I once was. I can't change my past, but I can change your present."

Roulette scratches her arm and makes it bleed. She flicks her blood on Elita's bonds. To her surprise her blood is acid, and melts the bonds to free her.

"Thank you Roulette."

"Don't call me that. Roulette is dead. I don't know what I am anymore. I must leave this planet."

"Another place where there is life."

(pleading) "Not Quintessa! They'll tear you apart!"

"No, not there. I had heard stories of another planet like ours. I will take refuge there. Save yourself. Do what I could never do."

The Autobot formerly known as Roulette drills a hole in the wall and jumps out. She transforms into a helicopter and finds an escape ship nearby. She viciously kills a guard before entering and taking off. It was the last time Elita-1 ever saw her. Elita looks at the cage full of experiments and makes a heroic decision to free them. She hacks down on the lock with her sword. At this moment the alarm goes off in tandem with the other events happening. She urges the other experiments to escape.

"Be free! Save yourselves!"

Eight of the ten immediately jump out, but one instantly falls to its death. The others make it to safety and run, The only remaining two are the wing creature and the creature with a long neck. The winged creature darts out and stretches his wings to fly off. Based off of his silhouette he seems to be a bat. The long necked experiment lumbers over to whole and jumps to transform to some sort of flying vehicle. Elita-1 leaves the room to search for her friends. While this is happening Shockwave is fully alerted to all of the escapes and tries locking down the doors. Smokescreen's team comes to that problem when Ironhide and Jazz fall through a trap door. The situation worsens when Knockout comes to stop them.

Knockout: "And where do you think you're going."

Moon: "Out of here and away from you would be a great start."

Knockout: "Cute, but you don't stand a chance."

Chromia: "Get back, Smokescreen."

Flare: "This is going to get ugly."

Knockout: "For you!"

All of the Autobots except for Smokescreen attack Knockout, who really shows what he's made of this time. It's no wonder why Splicer got so good at fighting. Beta makes the first move by shooting at Knockout, but he does a spin dodge and twirls his staff, shooting it directly in Beta's chest to knock her down. Moonracer is the next one to get close and she gets electrocuted by his staff and struck in the head to take her out of the fight. Firestar shoots the staff from his hands, but Knockout is still fairly well armed. He comes packed with a concussion blaster on each forearm and his hands transform into buzzsaws. Firestar picks up a chair and throws it, but Knockout slices it in half. He was unaware that it was a distraction for Chromia to get close and get two punches to connect to his face. Before her next punch lands Knockout grabs the back of her head and slams her face on the table to take her down. Flare-up gets a jumping kick to Knockout's chin, and he gets knocked on his back. Flare-up closes in but Knockout electrocutes her, and he shoots Firestar to defeat her. Before he can do anything Smokescreen confronts him.

"Hey that's enough!"

"You're the Autobot that was swallowed by the Driller. How did you survive?"

"I'm a ghost, duh. Pretty spooky huh?"

"Not really."

"I'm going to beat you and then have a dance party!"

"How do you function?"

"Hey I'm just like you. I pay my taxes one arm and leg at a time."

"Yeah I'm just going to stop you now."

"Not this time!"

Smokescreen tackles Knockout and then phases him into the wall just like he did in Prime. He helps the others up and leaves Knockout in the wall.

Knockout: "Hey get back here! I'm too beautiful to be stuck!"

Ironhide and Jazz find Optimus and they keep running until they eventually catch up to Elita-1. They both hug and hurry to find an exit. Unfortunately all the doors have been either locked or barred up. Ironhide offers a much easier solution and shoots a wall.

Jazz: "We should have just opened with that."

Ironhide: "Agreed."

While this is going on Starscream is preparing to leave in a private groundbridge thanks to Shockblast.

"Farewell and good luck. I hope to be introduced to our new team in the future."

"It's the least I can do. Thank you for your help."

"Your welcome. Now avenge us both. But before I go I have to ask what Megatron took from you."

"It's personal. I want to leave it at that for now."

Starscream jumps into the portal and disappears. Shockwave at this point grows increasingly frustrated and releases the Driller.

Shockwave: "This has gone far enough. None will escape."

It finds Smokescreen just as he phases everyone out of the tower. It instantly gets to hunt. Smokescreen and the others see it coming and transform to drive away. The beast is closing in, and then the unthinkable happens. Along the road is a bump, and Moonracer hits it. She falls and crashes down. The others are helpless to stop what happens next as Moonracer looks up just to see the Driller claim her life. Moonracer is no more, but her sacrifice was not in vain. The distraction allows them all to escape. Shockwave is not pleased.

Shockwave: "One death is not good enough. We must seek the others out an- what's going on?"

The tower begins shaking, and there is buzzing in the background. Outside the Insecticons have created a massive drone army. They start consuming the epicenter of the tower. He sees Kickback standing on the side and flipping him off and starts to salute him before flying away. The drones have chewed through enough of tower that the top half tilts and breaks off. It falls off to the side, and it cuts to Shockwave, Shockblast, and Knockout still in the wall with a worried look right before the tower falls. It is unknown if any of them are alive. One miracle does happen when Optimus and the other team reunite near the base's space bridge.

Elita: "Oh thank the Matrix you're all alright. Where is Moonracer?"

The others exchange a teary glance, and Elita-1 gets the message.

Elita: "We'll all miss her."

Jazz: "Especially me."

Chromia: "There's nothing we could have done."

Flare: "Well this is just great. We're down a vital member and we're stuck here."

Ironhide: "We still have this space bridge."

?: "How right you are are!"

A blast of electricity appears in front of them. When the smoke clears they see the Insecticons and their entire army above their heads. The main three fly down to make a bargain.

Flare: "Who are you?"

Kickback: "The name's Moe. Moe Lester."

Shrapnel: "We are the Insecticons. We're the mightiest Decepticons that ever lived lived!"

Bomb: "Well if it isn't Optimus Prime. I do belive this is the first time we've officially met. My name is Bombshell and these are my partners Shrapnel and Kickback. It seems like you're in no condition to battle so we're going to make you a deal."

Prime: "And what kind of deal is that?"

Bomb: "I'm sure you're well aware of that space bridge and there is no doubt in our minds that you want to use it to return to Earth. We want to go too, but we're going first."

Prime: "And why would I ever let a Decepticon back on Earth? "

Bomb: "Two reasons. The first is that we want Megatron destroyed as well. The other reason is that if you don't we will slaughter you where you stand. We have the strength and the numbers and you are far too weak at this moment. It's an offer you can't refuse."

The Autobots reluctantly activate the space bridge. The drones immediately start flying in while the real Insecticons say their goodbyes.

Bomb: "A wise decision."

Ironhide: "We had no choice."

Bomb: "And it shall always be the only choice. Farewell."

Shrapnel: "Pleasure doing buisness with you!"

Kickback: "I got first dibs on Megatron."

Bomb: "You're going to have to wait in line."

As the three enter nobody is aware that the bat creature blended in with the crowd of drones and heads to Earth with them before separating himself from the group. Optimus, Ironhide, and Jazz prepare to leave for Earth as well, but not before saying their goodbyes.

Prime: "I'm sorry we cannot stay. I must save Earth."

Elita: "It's alright. I understand."

Ironhide: "I'll be back for you, Chromia."

Chromia: "You better be, hon, or I'll be mighty upset."

Smoke: "Will I ever see you again, Optimus?"

Prime: "You can bet on it."

Fire: "So I guess this is goodbye for now."

Flare: (sarcastic) "This has been such an enlightening experience."

Chromia: "Can it will you?"

Prime: "You can come with me, Elita. It doesn't have to be goodbye."

Elita: "I can't leave, not now. You're needed on Earth, and I'm needed here."

Prime: "I suppose you're right."

The two embrace and share a goodbye kiss that lifts everyone else's spirits. They gaze into each other's eyes one last time before entering the streams and leaving. The portal closes leaving Elita and her team alone.

Flare: "So what now?"

Elita: "We return to base."

Fire: "You got it!"

Everyone drives off instantly except for Flare-up. She waits a few moments looking at the wreckage of the tower. Something on her wrist makes a beep that she checks out. She looks back at the wreckage one last time, smiles, and then drives off to catch up with the rest of the group.

Back on Earth Starscream makes it back to his island. He finally has everything he needs to build his team.

"At last Eradicons, the time to serve your master has come!"