Transformers: Prime: The New Beginning

Chapter 9: Revenge of the Banished

Back in the Badlands, Ultra Magnus, Arcee, Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and the Vehicons continued their fight against the New Decepticons in an intense and unrelenting shoot-out. For each enemy the Autobots shot down, the New Decepticon's forces took out twice the number. And they were gaining ground over their heroic adversaries fast. Ultra Magnus soon realized that there were too many of them to defeat, and they would be overwhelmed. So, he made the only decision he could to ensure his fellow Autobots' survival before more New Decepticons appeared. "Autobots! Retreat!" Ultra Magnus yelled. No one had to be told twice, and they obeyed.

Magnus and his Autobot troops fled the area and found refuge in an abandoned building that was close to the Omega Lock. "Ratchet, this is Ultra Magnus: the situation has escalated! We need a Groundbridge at these coordinates." But then suddenly, just before Magnus could relay their exact position, a ground/space bridge portal opened inside the very building they had taken refuge in - and in the very same room, they were in. The Autobots had hopefully assumed that Ratchet already activated the ground bridge when things started going south: perhaps their scanners detected the danger, and Ratched had acted accordingly. But then, to the Autobots' dismay, and growing fear, a dark figure stepped out of that portal. A sharpened grin stretched across his face as his arms locked behind his back, and the Decepticon symbol on his chest glowed an eerie, purple light - even his crimson eyes flashed the same toxic purple for just long enough for the Autobots to see. From the moment this being stepped forth, Ultra Magnus as well as Arcee, Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and even the Vehicons could feel the presence of evil. Malice that hung in the air like a festering malignancy even Megatron himself was hard-pressed to match, even at his worst.

"Surprise!" The figure said with a malevolent grin. From his voice, the bots now fully recognized the Decepticon standing before them as his identity became all too clear. "Doomsayer!" Bulkhead exclaimed in complete shock. This made the Decepticon Overlord's smile lessen a bit as a grimace in his eyes stared at his enemies. "That's Lord Doomsayer to you!" Doomsayer corrected. "Overlord of The New Decepticons, and Herald of Unicron The Chaos Bringer, himself. Such a pleasure to meet you all face-to-face." He scanned the group with what seemed to be a look of disappointment. "It's a shame the rest of your team couldn't be present, but......I already anticipated a mere scouting party. So, oh well."

"You said your base was in the Badlands!" said Arcee angrily.

"I lied! Though I thought it should be obvious, all things considered." He pointed to his emblem with a single index with a mocking smile. "I lured you into the Badlands with false information, and bait. And guess what? You Autobots do what you always do, and you actually believed me even when experience should warn otherwise. I set a trap and you sprang it gloriously!" Doomsayer replied with wicked glee. "But now, enough about me, for now. Allow me to introduce my high-ranking generals: the Inner Circle of The New Decepticons." The dark robot stretched his hand at the portal behind him. Doomsayer's followers, Astrocharge, Scourge, Reflector, Crossfire, Skywarp, and Motorstrike stepped out of the portal, either smiling in malevolent satisfaction or glaring with the intent for harm on the Autobots. All had arrived, including...

"Hello, Autobots," Starscream said to the Autobots in that same slimy, slippery, conniving, and arrogant tone he was known for. "Did you miss me? Hopefully, as much as I DIDN'T miss any of you. Not that I care, since all of you are scrap piles waiting to happen."

"Starscream!? Is that...?" Wheeljack said in shock, as he almost didn't recognize the seeker who was once Megatron's right-hand bot. Starscream himself chuckled at the shocked expressions of recognition, courtesy of Wheeljack. "Yes, it is I: Starscream, former Second in Command to Megatron, and Commander of the Seeker Armada of The Decepticons. Although, I am sad to say that I'm no longer the seeker commander you knew." Starscream told the Autobots in a fake sad tone, as it only led to a brief cackle. "Now I am AIR Commander Starscream of the New Decepticons - and the Battle Fleet to come!" He proclaimed triumphantly.