"OW! Dropkick, you son of a--AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

That single kick from Dropkick made Steve fall right out of Spacewarp, and fall he did. He fell straight through the open hatch, hurling through the clouds and was now hurling straight down to the drop point. Everyone watched as he fell out of the plane, screaming at the top of his vocal processor, giggling all the while.

"Everyone!" Tempest ordered. "Go! Go! Go!"

A small alarm system went off inside of Spacewarp's cockpit, blaring loudly. A few seconds later, Spacewarp started to blare a high pounding electric guitar through a set of speakers inside the bay, loud for all the Decepticons to hear.

"Aww, yeah!!!" Spacewarp cheered.

Shatter and Dropkick were the first to jump, jumping like they were about to cannonball into a pool. Barricade jumped too, followed by Bludgeon and Blackout. Flamewar and Thunderblast were next to follow, arms and legs spread like eagles. Heatseeker and Slashmark soon followed, both of them divebombing through the open hatch. All five of the Terrorcons jumped as well, and Tempest was the last to dive. As soon as she was out, Spacewarp's entire shuttle mode transformed, shrinking back to her original size and she began to skydive with everyone else.

Her arms and legs were spread, as she pushed through some of the clouds, quickly catching up with the rest of the Decepticons. As all of their bodies were hurling through the air, the Decepticons were slowly becoming in sync with how far they were falling. All falling as a team, in a star shaped formation, with Tempest dead at the top point. Everyone was equally excited as they were falling through the skies, diving with style.

"Lets get some!" Barricade cheered.

"Whoo-hoo!" Thunderblast squeed.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Steve screamed at the top of his lungs, flailing around like a rag-doll.

"Yea-haw!" Heatseeker bellowed.

Barricade and Thunderblast's heads tried to look back at Heatseeker who was hovering down with them, both giving deranged faces.

"He sounds weird!" Thunderblast shouted as the wind brushed past her plating.

"The humans would refer to his vocal processor as a gangster from the Earthly 1940s!" Barricade replied back, trying to yell over the wind.

"The landing site is down below! Everyone, on my command!"

Everyone listened for Tempest's commands.

"Ready?"

"YEAH!!!" Everyone shouted.

"Deploy parachutes!"

A parachute fired out of Pyra Magna's body, jerking Tempest inside up as she began to slow down. Barricade and Flamewar's parachutes released as well, along with most of the Terrorcons. Shatter, Dropkick, Thunderblast and Blackout all transformed into their flight modes, slowly easing into the wind as they began their descent to the ground. Helicopter blades chopping up the air, taking control and hovering down to the ground. The sound of high powered jet engines bursting and soaring down like bullets.

First to land was Barricade, whose feet hit the ground with a slam. Then Bludgeon was next, landing safely next to him. The Terrorcons all landed safely as well, and others began to follow. Everyone slowly started to hit the ground, all sticking the landing like pros. But not everyone had arrived on the ground just yet.

"Where's Steve?" Tempest asked.

The soft sound of a screaming man was heard up just high in the skies. All of their heads tilted to look up, hearing the screaming. They didn't see his body, but they could very well hear him spiraling through the air.

An awkward silence hit among the group, as they all just stood and waited for Steve to finally collide with the ground. Thunderblast's arms went behind her back and she lightly kicked some rocks on the ground, Flamewar tapping her heel beside her.

A minute or two went by and he was still falling, until finally they saw him push right through a cloud, coming towards them. Tempest looked back down and she took a step back. And before anyone could react, Steve slammed right into the ground in front of her, creating a big cloud of dust in the process. Everyone coughed and tried to push the smoke out of the way, until it started to become clear.

Steve's body was spread out, arms and legs as far as possible, and he was flat on his stomach. In the process of the fall he had created a giant crater just big enough to fit his body, pushing through the rocks he had crashed through.

"... Owwww..." Steve moaned.

"Come on buddy, it's okay," Spacewarp said, grabbing Steve's arms and pulling him out of the hole like a piece of gum that got sticky.

Steve was eventually back on his own two feet, but quickly collapsed and fell again.

"There's a reason why I like to stay behind on missions, and it's because of things like this!"

Tempest rolled her eyes, and took a few steps forward, before the front of her foot reached the edge of a cliff. She took a knee down to gaze below, eyeing the area. A fence surrounded the outside of an oil refiniery, and it had just all the materials they need to do a little Energon harvesting.

Blackout whistled. "That's a lot of oil being processed..."

"Enough to make the Energon required," Bludgeon added.

"You sure we should go here?" Steve said as he looked down at the site below.

"Yes, and it's the first location the Fallen put in my head," Tempest said, staring back at the faceless Vehicon.

"... okay, you're sounding CRAZY right now!!! I think maybe you should have just left me back at base... I wish to go back, please!"

Without warning, Spacewarp started to grab Steve by the shoulders and stared him right in the eyes. "Yeah? Well I wish EnerGulp didn't go out of business 6,000 years ago! But you know sometimes dreams don't come true! I spent 10 years on this planet, you think I stayed safe by staying still in one place!? You're in this now, Vehicon!"

Steve was a bit confused and albeit disturbed from Spacewarp's yelling, until he felt her soft fingers stroke his cheek.

"I'm only yelling to impress the other guys. I'd never let anything happen to you buddy," Spacewarp whispered with a wink. "Just kick back here if you don't wanna fight, it's cool."

"Okay," Steve whispered back.

Spacewarp eventually let go of his shoulders, and looked back to the others who were all staring at her with brows raised, but out of confusion and disturbance.

"What?"

"... Anyways. Look."

Tempest and the Decepticons stared down at their target. Only one problem; humans.

"How are we going to get them to leave? We cannot storm down, and under no circumstance can we be seen," Tempest ordered.

"There's so many of them. Please, let me attack them," Dropkick begged.

"No. Not yet. We have to do this quietly. I have an idea..." Shatter extended her hand out, revealing a small orb in her palm. It was flowing with Energon, and with a small amount of light.

"What is that?" Tempest asked.

"Something that will get them all to leave... and without giving ourselves away."

"Promise me you won't break it," Spacewarp said, pushing Shatter aside to look her in the eye. "I don't have any more of them, and I lost the blueprints to make them."

"I promise," Shatter winked. The triple-changer attached the light bender on her shoulder, and a flash of light beamed in everyone's faces. When they looked back, Shatter was no longer there. They noticed a small human was now standing before them, just below. Shatter looked up at them, chuckling evilly.

"My appearance has changed... but my actual structure hasn't."

To prove her point, an invisible hand patted Dropkick's shoulder, making him tense up.

"Don't do that, that's creepy," Dropkick shivered.

"Tempest, if you can wait.. I will have the entire plant evacuated so we may do our job."

Shatter transformed into her car form and drove off to the right side of where they stood, driving down a little path that just went down to the main gates rather smoothly. As soon as she was down, she moved herself to a structure where the security guard at the front gate wouldn't catch her. She transformed into her robot mode, and activated the device, creating the illusion.

She dashed over to the front gate, completely inconspicuous. And with a clear throat, she called for the guard.

"Excuse me, sir?"

The guard looked and saw the new woman standing at the front of the gate. Taking precaution and coming out, he walked up to meet this woman, face to face. Her appearance seemed normal, but she looked more like a businesswoman filing taxes than someone working at this refinery.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Dr. Shatter, I work with the board of Health and Security. I'm afraid you need to call your superiors and evacuate the premises, at once."

"And why is that?"

Shatter mimed a clipboard in front of the man, showing the documentation that looked like it was on a real life clipboard.

"We have run tests on the grounds, and I'm afraid some toxic vapors have started to fill the air. It's highly contagious for the human lungs, and it could lead to inhalation, pain... death."

The guard read the document up and down, making sure that every ounce of it wasn't fake in the slightest. Not once did he get a feeling that Shatter wasn't a human.

"I see... okay, I'll contact my superiors, and we'll have this place vacated."

"In 10 minutes?"

"... Yes. Why?"

"Any longer, and I think more of your fellow co-workers will suffer. You wouldn't want them to die, would you?"

"No, I wouldn't."

"Good. My bio-hazard team will arrive shortly to try and contain as much as we can to make this area less toxic for your lives. And tell your workers to just go home for the day, we'll alert you as soon as everything is clear."

And just like that, the guard went to go inside to inform his superiors. And as he left, he didn't see the smirk on Shatter's face, and the chuckles that followed.

"The workers will be out of the refinery in ten minutes. Until then, I suggest we standby and wait until they have cleared..."

---

Back at Autobot headquarters, everyone was moving right along smooth as can be. Everyone was dressed, ready to begin another day of action, and things were getting underway. Sunset and her friends mostly just talked the time away, enjoying some momentary peace until they knew they would have to get back onto the mission. But when time came, they went straight away.

Just then, Teletraan-2's monitor blinked, with a new map and location flickering on its screen. Wheeljack quickly rushed over, looking to intercept it. And just like before, the energy signature belonging to their departed ally was the first thing on screen.

"Sunset. We've detected Pyra Magna's tracking signal again. Went out of range for awhile, but we found her located somewhere in Utah," Wheeljack said.

"And where she is, I bet the Decepticons are too," Sunset nodded. "Spitfire!"

"Yes ma'am?"

"Page the Autobots to come into the main center, we need to get moving."

"Yes ma'am!" Spitfire saluted.

Sunset quickly rushed over to a nearby hangar door, and pressed the button. When the door opened up, there standing was a mech. A power suit for her, one that had been locked away for years. That mech was roughly the size of Optimus Prime, with a similar looking body, but it was mostly colored in her own skin colors; yellow, orange, and red. There was no head to the mech, at least, not yet.

She struggled to get her suit on, and she allowed the metal on it to transform around her body and form the suit. A head transformed over her face, one that resembled Optimus Prime's.

"Okay. Now... Head On!"

Sunset sprung up into the air like a gazelle, and the suit transformed around her body. It expanded in size, and it snapped on top of the power suit, turning into the head and completing the robot.

"Phoenix Prime, activated."

Sunset slowly started to move, and she stepped out of the hangar, approaching the main center. But not as fast as she would like it, unfortunately. The movements in the joints and the body were very slow, and she wasn't moving as fast as she should have been.

"Okay, this suit's running a little slow, but right now, we can't worry about that."

"So Sunset, what's the plan?" Rainbow Dash called out. She and the rest of the girls dashed into the main center, looking up at the mech.

"I'm taking everyone out to Utah, we've got to stop them."

"Great! So where are our mechs?"

"Locked up."

Rarity raised a finger. "What do you mean?"

Sunset sighed, "Girls, I know you just came here but, I can't take you on this one."

"What!?" Pinkie exclaimed. "But we can kick their butts, there's more of us now!"

"I know, but these mechs are out of date, I don't know how well you girls can fight! I don't want you girls going into the fight unprepared. Okay?"

Rainbow threw her head back and groaned. "Finnnneee..."

"Just stay safe out there, alright?"

"I will," Sunset's mech eye winked. "Autobots! Transform!"

One by one, the Autobots began to transform. Everyone lined up together, and converted into vehicle modes. Sunset's mech then transformed into it's big rig mode, and she flew off the mounted shoulder and back into her normal suit. She climbed into the driver seat of the truck, and buckled herself up.

"Alright good, now we can go."

Sunset's head jolted up and turned to stare at the woman who was moving into the seat next to her. Equipped in some protective armor, including a set gloves that covered her hands and with a bow and quiver full of arrows sitting in her lap.

"Sour? What are you doing?"

"Just playing god, it's going great!"

"I'm serious."

"Oh, that's right... well I'm coming with you guys, I've got asses to kick," Sour replied.

"Sour, are you sure you're okay to come? I mean you're not even wearing the proper gear to--"

"Listen, Sunbutt!" Sour interrupted. "I've got the armor, I know what I'm doing! Besides, I got the boys to equip my new suit with some Cybertronian armor so I'm protected just like you! And my arrows are Cybertronian too!" She giggled.

Sunset paused for a moment, and looked at her with a stern glare. "Sour, look, I know you want to go after them to get revenge, but a wise man once told me--"

"Revenge is a dish best served cold," Sour stopped her.

"No, Sour, he said--"

"You've got a nice ass."

"Okay now you're just pushing my buttons."

The other truck door opened up, and Sour was found pushed out of it, falling on her back. Arrows and bow with her as well. Sour gave an unamused glare to Sunset as she picked up her weapon.

"I could have just climbed out on my own," Sour grumbled.

"Sour, listen to me. Revenge isn't going to bring them back. I know. And I know you're hurt but--"

"--No, you shut up!" Sour interrupted again. "I'm not going to sit by while Shatter and Dropkick are still out there! I'm coming with you whether you like it or not, and I'm going to stop them before they kill more innocent families! Smallfoot and Betamax are dead because I didn't get them to safety... and damn it, I'm going to do what it takes to prevent more from dying."

Sunset could see genuine care lingering on the sarcastic girl's face. Even a hint of fear. And as much as she wanted to say no, she knew Sour Sweet would be coming regardless of her orders.

"I can't believe I'm saying this... okay, you can come with us. But you're staying close to an Autobot, and don't leave their sight. Understand?"

"Aye-Aye, Captain."

Sunset shook her head, groaning as she pulled the passenger door closed. This was going to be a long day. Sour, grabbing all of her weapons and gear, slowly stood back up, trying to stand on her own two feet. She could move, for sure, but not as fast as before thanks to the explosions and injuries to her leg.

"Hey, Sour. Over here."

Sour turned her head to the gray motorcycle that was just sitting idly. "You need a lift?"

Sour smirked and she hopped onto the riding seat. "Thanks... whoever you are."

"Mohawk. And trust me, I want payback just as much as you do. Those creeps killed my friends, and they've got another thing comin'."

Sour frowned. "Sorry about that. What do you say you and I work together for a little... revenge?"

"Ohohoho, you're speaking my language," Mohawk chuckled.

Rest Q activated the Groundbridge, and the portal opened up.

"Autobots, lets ride out!"

Engines revved up, and everyone charged through, entering Utah that was waiting for them on the other side.

---

The oil refinery was cleared out, and now the Decepticons were beginning to convert the oil into Energon cubes. Everyone was moving to work, all over the vicinity.

"Move! We need to grab as much as we can," Hun-Gurr ordered, yelling at his Terrorcons.

"We're moving as fast as we can!" Blot complained.

"Conversion of Energon... this is a Vehicon's job," Rippersnapper moaned.

"Shut your traps!" Shatter shouted. "If we speed this along, then we can leave before the Autobots arrive."

"Why speed... when we can simply take them on?" Sinnertwin growled with some excitement.

"Everyone!" Cutthroat howled.

The Decepticons gazed up.

"Autobots arriving!"

"Then we attack," Hun-Gurr ordered. "Terrorcons, we'll take on the Autobots."

The Terrorcons immediately stopped what they were doing, leaping off from their posts and jumped over some of the massive pipes and tubes that were connected. They landed outside the refinery, immediately making charge. Flamewar, Shatter, Dropkick, Thunderblast, Bludgeon, Slashmark, and Heatseeker accompanied them.

"Looks like we have a welcoming committee," Sideswipe joked.

"Autobots. Attack!" Sunset ordered.

"Lets rip and tear them!" Hun-Gurr howled.

Autobots transformed and they let out a battle cry to the skies.

"Okay, let's take them-- OOF!"

Hun-Gurr pounced on Sunset, knocking her down on her back. She gazed up, gasping when she saw the two double-heads.

"Remember me?"

"Hun-Gurr!?"

Hun-Gurr chuckled, and jumped right off, distracted by another Autobot opponent. Hun-Gurr leaped and pounded Trailbreaker to the ground, trying to bite at his head. Thankfully Hoist and Grapple were there to try and help, forcing Hun-Gurr off his body.

Sunset's mech slowly got back up, but she couldn't help but keep staring at the Terrorcon. She remembered encountering the Terrorcons many times during their battles with Megatron, but as far as she knew, they were loyal to Megatron! Now they were here on Earth?

"No... but they were... and... h-how!?"

Mohawk raced past her, with Sour Sweet riding on top. She extended her bow, equipping an arrow. She focused her sight on the first Decepticon she saw, and fired. The arrow penetrated the armor of a nearby Vehicon foot-soldier, and an explosion came right in his face, knocking him down on the ground.

Rigs, Nitro, and Bluestreak lined up together, aiming together in a row, shooting at an incoming Dropkick.

"Take him down!" Nitro shouted.

"You think these little bullets can take me?"

Dropkick transformed into helicopter mode and started to shoot at them from the air. When he fired upon them, the trio split up into three different directions to avoid fire. Dropkick then spun around and focused on a new target; Bumblebee. He fired at the young scout, who jumped out of the way just in time.

"Can't dodge me forever," Dropkick bantered.

"Maybe not, but I can fight back!" Bumblebee bantered back, firing a few potshots at the triple-changer. Jazz quickly joined his side, shooting with Bumblebee at the Decepticon.

Arcee and Strongarm teamed up with a little bit of Circuit-Su fighting against Shatter. Shatter took a few punches, but she was able to withstand both Autobots. Bludgeon was able to fight as well, swinging his swords around as he fought Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

Sunset watched the fights from all around, but not for long. Rippersnapper lunged into the air and tackled Sunset down again, in primitive form. His maw tried to bite at Sunset's face, but her hands moved up, clutching him and trying to push him off.

"Never mind... this could be a lot harder than I thought!" Sunset cried.

---

Twilight and the girls watched everything through the suit cams on Sunset's mech. They watched as all the Decepticons came charging at them, knocking her down almost too easily. The situation was quickly starting to concern them.

"Girls, they're in trouble. You know what that means?"

"We go out there to help them?" Pinkie asked with a little nudge to her arm.

"Sunset told us to stay, but we're going to have to go."

"But what if she's right? What if the mechs don't work, what if--"

"--We won't know anything if we just sit here and do nothing!" Rainbow barked.

"Exactly. I know it's risky, and you don't have to go. But I'm going out there," Twilight said, standing up straight. "So who's with me?"

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Don't take all the glory, I don't want to miss a chance to kick some sorry butt!"

"Me too!"

"Oh what the heck, I'm in!" Rarity smiled.

"Oh... alright. I'm in."

"Yea-haw!" Applejack cheered. "It's battle time!"

"To the mechs!" Twilight called, leading the group to the hangar.

Everyone came darting down the hallway, heading straight for another hangar. Twilight's hand slammed on the button to open the doors, and they slid open. Everyone rushed to the set of lockers, and were surprised to see that there was still that set for their own names. Armor and suits were still available for them. As fast as they could, they opened them up and shuffled about, trying to slip into the suits.

"Alright, Rainbow Dash, let's kick it up!"

Rainbow quickly shuffled her shoulders into the armor, and the helmet transformed over her face. "Still awesome!"

"Rainspeed mech, ignited," Teletraan's voice spoke.

"Alright Applejack, take it!"

Applejack smirked as her helmet transformed over her head, providing full protectiong.

"Applebrawn!" Applejack shouted as she climbed into her mech, the machine moving by her command. "Ready and standin' by!"

"Your turn, Rarity!"

"Radiance, darling," Rarity cooed. She watched her palm become encased by the protective glove, then moving her fingers around in the metallic armor. "Still fabulous as it was a decade ago."

"Ready Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy finished struggling to get her suit back on before setting foot back inside her mech. "Flutterblades, ready!"

"Pinkie Pie, you ready to kick some Decepticon butt?" Rainbow Dash called.

"You bet!"

"Got it!" Pinkie Pie quipped before coughing. "Dusty, but... ready and standing by!"

And last one to suit up was Twilight. "Head On!" She flew up into the air and mounted on top of her mech's shoulders, the Headmaster suit expanding and transforming into the head.

"Sparkplug mech, activated."

Twilight took one step forward, and then another, and then another until she started to run. Rainbow Dash was next to follow, accompanied by Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie at the very end.

"Alright girls, lets get a move on!" Twilight called as she started to run.

"As long as these mechs can stay together, we'll be unstoppable!" Rainbow Dash beamed with pride.

"Why do I get the feeling that's going to bite us in the behind later?" Applejack muttered.

The six girls stood in front of the Groundbridge, all standing straight and battle-ready. Weapons loaded up, and everyone looked ready to kick some butt. And with a boost of confidence, Twilight gave her call.

"Everyone! Transform and roll out!" Twilight ordered.

Next Chapter: Chapter 22: Battle! Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 6 Minutes