Sam was borderline incoherent, his words tripping over each other in a frantic rush of adrenaline.
"Last night... at the refinery! That eight-meter black robot, the one that flies—he's with the police car you beat! He's a fighter jet..."
"Whoa, these aliens are something else. They can turn into planes too?" Glen remarked from the background, a look of genuine awe on his face.
"Last night... you mean... Skygnaw?"
Bumblebee pulsed an electronic query. Sam's description was vivid enough for the scout to recognize the stranger he'd briefly clashed with before the capture.
"Yes! That's him! Skygnaw?" Sam shouted.
"Yes," Bumblebee signaled with a somber whirl of his optics. "Where is he now?"
Sam looked at Tom Banacheck, who responded immediately. "This 'Skygnaw' is currently prowling the lower levels. We don't know his exact objective, but our analysts believe he's heading for the cryo-vault to liberate NBE-1."
"Megatron? He is here too?"
Bumblebee's frame shuddered, his fans spinning up in a high-pitched whine. The presence of Megatron changed everything.
"Yes," Sam urged. "That's why we need you, Bee."
"No time to lose, Sam. Take me to the Spark."
Bumblebee knew the window of opportunity was slamming shut. If other Decepticons were on the way, the base would become a tomb.
Under Sam's lead, Bumblebee transformed into the sleek yellow Camaro and roared toward the AllSpark Isolation Hall. On the way, Sam laid out the distinction between Autobots and Decepticons for the government officials, while Bumblebee transmitted the situation directly to Optimus Prime. Under Prime's directive, the scout officially accepted a temporary alliance with the human military.
Inside the Isolation Hall, Epps watched the yellow car drift to a stop beneath the gargantuan Cube. He nudged Lennox. "Whoa, Will. What's he doing? Look at him!"
Under the gaze of the soldiers and scientists, Bumblebee reached out and touched the AllSpark. The massive structure responded with a rhythmic, mechanical clatter—tink-clink-shhhk—folding in on itself like a colossal puzzle box.
Within seconds, the skyscraper-sized artifact had condensed into the size of a basketball.
Ignoring the stunned silence of the humans, Bumblebee cradled the Cube and moved toward Sam. "Sam, you must take the Spark out of this base. Optimus and the others are coming. They will meet you outside."
"What? Me? Alone?" Sam stammered as the heavy, humming weight of the Cube was placed in his arms. "Bee, aren't you coming?"
"No. I must intercept the Decepticon. Megatron must not wake up."
Bumblebee, a veteran of the Great War, knew better than anyone that a revived Megatron meant the end of this world.
Lennox saw the plan forming and barked orders. "Move! To the armory! Get the armored transports ready! We're escorting this boy out of here. The nearest city is thirty miles out—we hide the Cube in the urban sprawl!"
He turned to Secretary Keller. "Mr. Secretary?"
"Captain?"
"I don't know if we can make it to the city on our own. I need Air Force cover. Every bird you can get in the air!"
Keller looked at Simmons. "Do we have a hardline radio?"
"Sir, this is Sector Seven. We have everything."
"Good. Lennox, go. I'll handle the Pentagon. I'm calling in the cavalry."
The Cryo-Vault.
Black Panther burst through the security doors, its jagged teeth bared. The remaining researchers screamed, abandoning their stations in a frantic scramble for the exits.
Following the drone, Skygnaw walked calmly into the freezing mist. He didn't need a map; his internal sensors had triangulated the thermal anomaly of the massive cooling unit.
"Lord Megatron!"
Frenzy leaped from Skygnaw's shoulder before he had even stopped, sprinting toward the high platform where the silver titan stood encased in ice.
Skygnaw studied the frozen Leader. Even dormant and frosted over, Megatron radiated a terrifying aura of raw power. This was Megatron at his absolute zenith—the most feared warrior in the galaxy.
"Skygnaw, I'm initiating the thaw! Keep them off me!" Frenzy shouted, his spindly fingers already flying across a nearby computer terminal.
"Do it," Skygnaw nodded. He knew that simply killing the refrigeration units would be enough to trigger the reanimation.
Virus injected... override complete... commencing thermal purge.
"WARNING: NBE-1 CRYOGENIC SYSTEM FAILURE."
The sirens blared through the vault, red emergency lights strobing against the ice. Suddenly, a low-frequency hum echoed from the tunnel outside.
Skygnaw's optics narrowed. He turned his head sharply. A yellow Camaro was screaming toward the vault, tires smoking.
Bumblebee.
Skygnaw didn't panic. He was an Elite-Class Warrior now; he had the armor and the firepower to hold the line.
"Frenzy, how long?"
"Skygnaw, is that an Autobot?" Frenzy shrieked, hearing the engine. "Damn it! These biologicals used liquid neon—the boiling point is too low! It's taking forever! I need three minutes for a full core-reboot!"
"Three minutes. I'll give you three minutes."
Skygnaw shifted his heavy repeater into place.
WHOOSH-WHOOSH!
Four tracking rockets spiraled from his shoulder pod. The narrow tunnel offered no cover. Bumblebee was forced to transform at high speed, his tires screeching as he skidded into a humanoid stance.
BOOM!
The rockets detonated against the concrete walls, showering the tunnel in debris. Bumblebee fired back, a blue pulse of plasma screaming past Skygnaw's head.
Bumblebee's sensors pinged in surprise. Only yesterday, this Decepticon was a grunt. Now, Skygnaw moved with the weight and precision of a peer.
Skygnaw didn't let up. His 12.6mm rounds chewed through the air, keeping the scout at a distance. Skygnaw was wary of a melee engagement—he had the power, but his CQC experience was thin. Better to play the long-range game.
"The thaw is complete!" Frenzy screamed. "Skygnaw, get back! He's waking up!"
Skygnaw fired one last volley and leaped backward, putting distance between himself and the platform. He didn't need to risk his chassis if the Leader was about to take the field.
Bumblebee saw the retreat and lunged forward, desperate to reach the platform. But he was too late.
CRACK.
The ice shattered. Chains as thick as a human's waist snapped like dry twigs. A terrifying, guttural roar shook the very foundations of Hoover Dam.
"I... AM... MEGATRON!"
The red glow in Megatron's optics ignited with a hellish intensity. He ignored Frenzy, his gaze locking instantly onto the yellow scout.
"Autobot... Bumblebee..."
Megatron didn't even bother to chase him yet. He stretched his massive limbs, the frost falling from his silver plating like broken glass. He turned to the three Decepticons in the room.
"Frenzy. Well done."
Then, his gaze landed on Skygnaw. "Decepticon. I do not recognize your signature. State your name!"
Skygnaw bowed his head, his voice respectful but steady. "Lord Megatron. I am Skygnaw, under the command of Starscream. I was sparked upon this planet."
Megatron looked at the Elite-Class frame. A warrior of this caliber born on a backwater world? He was intrigued, but only slightly. "Skygnaw. And Starscream? He is here as well?"
"Lord Starscream is inbound, my Liege."
"Hmph. That coward is always late." Megatron stepped off the platform, the ground trembling under his weight. "Frenzy! Brief me on the Spark's status! Now!"