//------------------------------// // Old Allies in a New World // Story: Transformers: Return of the Dark Spark // by DarkSkylynx //------------------------------// Chapter Four: Old Allies in a New World "Loyalty is but a flower in the winds of fear and temptation." Once a Decepticon, now an Autobot, Drift is a fearsome warrior who lives by the sword and code of the samurai. The most unique out of Optimus' crew, Drift has two vehicle modes: One is a helicopter while the other is a car. Drift is also very loyal and noble soldier who will follow Optimus Prime til the end of time and space itself. He once rode the ferocious knight Slug in the battle of Hong Kong. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ By the time the Autobots reached the location of the portal, it was already night time. Just as soon as they all stopped, Cade Yeager and Brains got out of Optimus and Bumblebee before the rest of the Autobots transformed into their robot modes. They then all looked to see a massive forest right in front of them. “Is the portal in there Optimus?” Cade asked the Autobot leader. “Yes Cade. This is where I picked up the anomaly. Whatever lies within that forest holds a great power that must be kept out of Lockdown’s hands, less he destroy all of humanity.” The Autobot leader stated. “Well then what are we waiting for? Let’s get in there and blow some mercenaries all the way back to Cybertron!” Crosshairs shouted. “Patience Crosshairs. If you look first, you may not leap without a plan.” Drift stated. “Oh come on! What are you, Air Raid? Cut the crappy mottos before I do!” Hound told Drift. Bumblebee gave out some electronic bleeps to which Optimus translated as “I agree with both you Bumblebee and Drift. We need to be cautious when entering the forest. We do not know what lies in their so we must be careful.” Brains said to them “I can’t argue with that. The only thing I got as a weapon is what remains of my leg.” as held up his right leg. Cade then pulled out his alien gun and said “Well I guess there’s no going back now. Let’s go in.” “My sentiments exactly.” Hound replied. “All right Autobots. Move in slowly.” Optimus Prime told his Autobots. Soon, the six Autobots and Cade walked into the forest with their guns loaded and ready to fire. As they traveled through the blackened woods, they encountered several animals walking and flying around in the night. Some of those animals, which turned out to be a couple of bats, flew by them and startled Hound. “Whoa! What in the name of the AllSpark was that?” Hound exclaimed. “Relax Hound. It’s just a couple of bats.” Cade told the bearded Autobots. Crosshairs, Bumblebee, and Drift chuckled at Hound’s scared display while Hound angrily looked at the three of them and said “Shut up you three!” Optimus turned to the four of them and said “Focus Autobots!” The four of them then turned around back and continued to follow Optimus while Cade and Brains followed in silence. After a while of walking, Optimus turned around and told his Autobots “Autobots, we are nearing the portal. Be prepared for whatever lies up ahead. That includes you Cade.” The other Autobots and Cade nodded in silence and prepared their weapons. Before they could move any further, they began to hear stomping noises. “Something tells me we aren’t alone Optimus.” Drift stated. As the Autobots turned to face the direction where the noise was coming from, they started to hear more stomping noises as well as something flapping its wings. As they all readied themselves, they then noticed five pairs of red eyes within the darkness. Moments afterwards, four humongous metallic creatures appeared in front of them. One of them, who were in front of the other two, had a long and grey body. On his body were two tiny arms with three fingers and really sharp claws. Also attached to his huge body were two large legs that looked like they were made for squishing stuffy. The face of this creature wasn’t to appealing either because it had four sharp spikes on each end. In addition, his teeth were very jagged and long. To the left of him was a much taller and grey creature with a much smaller mouth and smaller teeth. On his back were large spikes that resembled sails and his hands were much larger than the first creature and his tail had more spikes on the top of it yet it was smaller than the first one’s tail. The one next to the spiked creature was a grey colored, two headed long-necked creature with massive wings. On these wings were claws with three fingers and a long thing body with two thin legs with three claws. Behind it are two thin and spiky tails with large spear-shaped ends that you could imagine they were made for impaling. The last one had a large and wide forehead with two downward curved spikes on top and two upward curved spikes on its chin. Its body was grey like the other three but it walked on all three of its legs. Its body and its tail were covered in spikes. The Autobots and Cade just started in complete shock at who was standing before them. The legendary knights that Lockdown captured and helped them defeat Galvatron’s army before being set free. Grimlock the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Scorn the Spinosaurus, Strafe the two-headed Pterodactyl, and Slug the Triceratops. “Well I’ll be. Long time no see Spike.” Crosshairs told Scorn. Scorn gave out a low hollow in response to his nickname. “It is great to see you again Slug” Drift told the Triceratops. Slug jumped onto his hind legs before slamming his forelegs on the ground. Bumblebee gave out some friendly bleeps at Strafe to which Strafe’s two heads gave out a friendly screech. “Grimlock, what are you and your knights doing here?” Optimus asked the T-Rex. Grimlock then gave out a screech and pointed his tail towards the direction that the Autobots were heading. “I don’t know about you, but I think these guys were going for the portal too.” Hound stated. “I guess you’re right Hound. Should we let them come with us Optimus?” Cade asked. Optimus thought of it for a minute. He and his Autobots still owed Grimlock and the knights for helping them in Hong Kong and he didn’t feel right commanding them after setting them free. Yet he still knew that if Lockdown had upped his men, he and his team probably won’t stand a chance. He then turned to Grimlock and said “Grimlock, Strafe, Slug and Scorn. Will the four of you come with us to stop Lockdown again? Grimlock and the other three let out a screech in agreement. Soon, the eleven of them continued on into the forest. Just as they made out into a clearing, the Autobots, Cade, and the knights stared in complete shock at the portal in front of them as well as the figure also in front of them. The knights growled when they saw the figure. It was the one who imprisoned them like pets for over a century. Lockdown. “Well, well, well. Isn’t this a cozy reunion Optimus?” Lockdown sarcastically said. “Lockdown, step away from the portal.” Optimus stated. “I’m afraid I can’t do that Optimus. This portal right here will be my ticket to becoming a well-paid bounty hunter once more. And this time, you and your blasted Autobots, sniveling human pet and disgusting lizards won’t stop me!” Lockdown shouted. Grimlock and his team gave out a nasty growl at that response. “Why do want to go through this portal? What benefit can you make out of it?” Cade asked. “Don’t you understand human? Beyond this portal lies the very relic Optimus Prime shot out into space forever! Beyond that portal, created by its own essence, the Dark Spark awaits to be claimed by me!” Lockdown boasted. The Autobots and knights’ eyes widened when they heard the words ‘Dark Spark’. “You cannot be serious Lockdown. You believe the Dark Spark created that portal and is currently in an unknown world to which that portal leads to?” Optimus asked with a shocked expression. “Of course! I may not know where it leads to or if there are any signs of life in the world it leads to, but as long as they’re willing to die at my feet when I bring it back here, I don’t care.” Lockdown told the Prime. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a relic to reclaim.” Moments afterwards, Lockdowns ship appeared behind the Autobots and began to shoot at them. As the Autobots, knights and Cade took cover, Lockdown jumped onto his ship and yelled “The next time we meet, you’re all going to perish!” Before he flew into the portal, Optimus, Bumblebee (holding Cade and Brains in his hands), Hound, Crosshairs, Drift, Grimlock, Slug, Strafe and Scorn jumped onto the ship as it entered the portal as it closed behind them. Just after the ship left the portal, the Autobots, Cade, and the knights looked down at the planet before them. What they saw were so many acres of forest and land and mountains beyond the eyes could see. They even saw what appeared to be a castle in the middle of a town and an even larger one embedded in a far off mountain. “Oh my God.” Was the only thing Cade could say when he saw the beauty of the planet. Sadly, it was short lived when Lockdown’s ship begins to rock violently. Everyone then realized that Lockdown knew they were on his ship and was trying to get them off. “Autobots, hang on tight!” Optimus shouted. Meanwhile in the ship, Lockdown was still trying to get them to let go. “You filthy machines and organic! GET OFF MY SHIP!” Lockdown then did a whole 360 which successfully threw all the Autobots off before flying far away. As the bots were falling and screaming, Optimus yelled to Bumblebee “Hold on to Cade and Brains Bumblebee!” to which Bumblebee nodded his head and held the two of them close to his chest. Optimus then turned his head to see the knights falling farther away from where they were falling. “Optimus, the knights!” Drift shouted. “We can’t worry about them now! They’ll be fine! But we must brace for impact Autobots!” Optimus shouted back. It wasn’t long that Optimus, Bumblebee, Crosshairs, Hound and Drift landed in a nearby forest while Grimlock, Slug, Strafe and Scorn landed a little farther off. Little did they know that somepony was watching them fall.