—Nemesis, Lab—

"Knock, knock." Starscream taunted, rapping his knuckles against Megatron's faceplate with a mocking grin. He knocked a few more times, relishing the silence. "Is anyone home?"

There was no reply from Megatron's lifeless form, which only fueled Starscream's delight—until a cheerful voice interrupted.

"Are we playing a knock, knock joke? I love those!" Caboose chirped, his enthusiasm a stark contrast to the tension in the air.

"No, Caboose." Starscream replied, exasperated by the Blue Vehicon's obliviousness. It was moments like these that made him reconsider his life choices. "That's not what I meant—"

"Knock, knock!"

"Caboose, we're not—"

"Knock, knock!"

"This is not a—"

"Knock, knock!"

"WE'RE NOT DOING A KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE!" Starscream finally snapped, his patience wearing thin.

"Okay!"

With a resigned sigh, Starscream rubbed his hand across his faceplate, trying to regain composure. He shifted his gaze back to Megatron's still figure, stepping away from the berth with a sly grin. "Seems I possess the only thing that would allow you to rise off that slab and walk again."

He strutted over, standing tall before the dormant tyrant. "My dearest Megatron." he began, pulling out a gleaming Dark Energon Shard and tossing it playfully in the air before catching it, "The only scrap left on this planet, plucked from your very spark chamber! But it cannot restore your mind!"

"Oooh~ shiny! It's a purple crystal! Does it make purple juice? Like grape juice?" Caboose blurted out with childlike wonder.

Starscream sighed again, the frustration palpable. How did he end up in such a ridiculous situation?

'Oh, how I wish I could restore any smidge of intelligence you might have lost!' Starscream thought, a hint of exasperation creeping into his tone. He reminded himself yet again that Caboose had the intellect of a Sparkling. As they stood there, he questioned Caboose's grasp of Earth products like grape juice; after all, Cybertronians don't drink that stuff!

"No, Caboose! This purple crystal is important! Thus little trinket is not to be toyed with!"

"Oh... is it a bad purple crystal?"

"Yes! A very, very bad crystal!" Starscream exclaimed, narrowing his eyes. "This is not something you should touch. Do you understand?"

"Okay."

"I'm serious."

"Okay."

With that, Starscream turned back to gaze at Megatron's motionless form and continued his monologuing. "The Decepticons need a leader, not just a mindless centerpiece!"

"And I will prove to them that I am the rightful heir to your throne! My plan is so grand—"

"Not even the legendary Megatron could have conceived it?" Knockout interrupted, a smirk playing on his lips as he lounged in the doorway.

Starscream shot a glare at Knockout, who had a knack for being annoyingly candid.

"Hello, Sockout!"

"Hi, Idiot," Knockout shot back with a bemusedly.

Starscream fumbles for a moment, collecting himself as he stutters, "That was the plan, Knockout. How long have you been lurking there?"

"Long enough to catch the part where Caboose—"

"Hello!"

"—was trying to get you to play a knock-knock joke with him. And, might I remind you, it's Commander Knockout to you..." The crimson medic said with an exaggerated bow. Starscream raised an optic ridge at this theatrical display, "...once and future Lord Starscream!"

Caboose's eyes widened with excitement. "This is incredible! That means Starstream will be even more awesome than before!"

"Uh... Indeed!" Starscream beamed, his confidence swelling. "I will be the most magnificent ruler the Decepticons have ever known! And you..." he placed a hand on Caboose's shoulder, who looked up in awe, "...my dear friend, will be my loyal bodyguard!"

"That means I'm your bestest friend!" Caboose exclaimed, arms thrust into the air, his joy palpable.

"Yes! And as my bestest friend," Starscream continued with a mischievous grin, "you will help me!"

Caboose cheered in delight. "Yay!"

Knockout chimed in, arms crossed, "So, what's our next move, Lord Starscream?"

"Simple! We will begin extracting energon. Soundwave's recent reports indicate there's a massive concentration of energon below the ice in Antarctica. But it's all trapped under layers of ice," Starscream explained, his eyes glinting with ambition.

"So how do we get to this energon?" Knockout questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Starscream turned his gaze to Caboose, his grin broadening. "Caboose..."

"Yes?"

"How would you like to lend your best friend a helping hand?" Starscream asked, his tone dripping with intrigue.

"Oh! I'd love to! What do you need me to do?" Caboose replied eagerly, bouncing on his feet.

Starscream's grin widened as a devious idea began to form for his enthusiastic, if not slightly clueless, ally.

—Hawaii, Kauai Naval Observatory—

At the stroke of midnight, the Kauai Naval Observatory lay cloaked in tranquility, with only the gentle whispers of wind and the rustle of palm fronds breaking the silence. But this serene moment was abruptly shattered by the appearance of a shimmering green vortex, spiraling to life not far from the observatory.

Out of the swirling energy strode Breakdown, flanked by a pair of his loyal Vehicons. One of them, however, stood out.

"Are we on a beach? Starstream didn't mention anything about a beach trip! This is amazing! I want to build a sandcastle!" Caboose exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Focus, Caboose!" Breakdown commanded, trying to steer his excitable companion back on track.

"Okay, Bakedown!" Caboose chirped, seemingly undeterred, as he trotted after him.

The group approached the observatory, and a devious grin split Breakdown's face. "So, are we going to do this the easy way, or are we going to do it the Wrecker way?"

Before anyone could answer, Steve stepped forward, a glint of inspiration in his eyes. "Actually, I have a brilliant idea," he declared, turning his attention to Caboose. "Caboose, do you see that building over there?"

"Yep! Why?" Caboose replied, tilting his head in innocent curiosity.

"There's a surprise hidden inside, and we need you to get it open!" Steve said with enthusiasm.

Caboose's eyes widened. "Okay!" Without hesitation, he raced toward the building, fist raised high, an...

*SMASH!*

The wall crumbled under his punch as the rest of the side of the wall breaks.

Blinking in surprise, Caboose surveyed the wreckage with wide eyes. "Not my fault... that hole was always there," he offered, sheepishly glancing at the Decepticons.

Breakdown erupted into laughter, slapping his knee.

"Hahaha! Good one, Caboose!" he chuckled, leading the Vehicons into the half-destroyed structure.

"I'm not sure what I did to make you happy, but I'm glad!" Caboose said, his voice reflecting genuine innocence.

"You did great, Caboose." Breakdown patted the blue Vehicon's shoulder, a smile crossing his faceplate as the others carefully extracted the primary lens from the now-vulnerable space telescope. "You really did!"

"Neat," Caboose grinned, completely pleased with himself.

—Timeskip, Artic—

Well, that could have gone worse—though considering Caboose, "smooth" isn't really in his programming. Despite the chaotic disaster at the observatory, they managed to snag the primary lenses for their next grand scheme: a heat ray designed to melt the ice caps, revealing the rich stash of energon hidden beneath the frost.

Now, the Nemesis hovered ominously over the site of this untapped energon. On the top deck, Starscream, the newly anointed leader of the Decepticons, stood with his arms defiantly crossed, gazing into the distance. "Let the reign of Lord Starscream begin..."

Knockout gave a swift gesture to the ground to the operator of the heat ray. The device extended out and aims downward. But as he turned to the Vehicon manning the controls, his optics widened in disbelief. "CABOOSE?!"

"Huh?!" Starscream whirled around, taking in the sight of Caboose at the controls.

"Hello!" Caboose cheerfully waved from tte controls.

"Why in Primus' name is Caboose operating the heat ray?!" Starscream barked at Knockout, his frustration boiling over.

"I didn't authorize this!" Knockout shot back, only to spot a vacant Vehicon who should have been in charge of the heat ray, standing uselessly by its base, "Then why did you let Caboose take over?!" Knockout tone shifted from annoyance to sheer exasperation.

"..."

"..."

"...because I wanted to?" Vehicon replied with uncertainty.

Starscream sighed. No point in dwelling on it; they had a mission to accomplish. "...Caboose..."

"Yes?" Caboose responded, oblivious to the tension.

"Do you see the ice caps below us?"

"Yes, I do!" Caboose exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.

"Perfect. Now aim the ray down towards the ice caps and press the large button." Starscream instructed with painstaking clarity.

"Okay! Beep bop!" Caboose eagerly danced his fingers over the controls, and with a satisfying whoosh, the heat rays aimed down, unleashing streams of searing heat onto the Arctic ice below.

Mesmerized by the spectacle, Caboose hopped down and swaggered over to the edge, his eyes sparkling. "Oooh~ so pretty!"

"Yes, my friend. It is pretty—and you played a part in making it happen!" Starscream beamed at the Vehicon, a glint of pride in his voice.

"Yay! I am the best!" Caboose cheered, bouncing on his feet.

"Indeed, you are. Now... we wait for the ice caps to melt and we"ll begin extraction!" Starscream said with a sly grin, watching as another Vehicon operated the heat ray, unleashing torrents of intense warmth upon the glacier. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he sneered in triumph, his eyes fixated on the mass of ice slowly turning to vapor.

"I just love it when a plan comes together!" he declared, puffing out his chest in victory.

Suddenly, Caboose's gaze shifted. "Oh! Starstream! I see vehicles!" he exclaimed, pointing excitedly. "Are they here to see the pretty lights too?"

Starscream's grin faltered as he followed Caboose's finger, spotting a green SUV and a blue motorcycle racing toward their ship.

"Autobots," he hissed, venom dripping from his tone.

"Please, Lord Starscream," Knockout interjected, bowing deeply. "Let your second-in-command handle this." He then turned to Breakdown, who stood nearby. "Breakdown, TOTAL them!"

Breakdown's expression turned menacing, a sadistic grin spreading across his face. With a leap, he bounded onto one of the ship's sharp, extended wings, laughing maniacally as he soared down to the ground. "Hahahahaha!"

"Bye, Bakedown!" Caboose waved enthusiastically from the edge, prompting Breakdown to glance back and grin.

"Bye, Caboose!" he called back, right before he crashed into the icy terrain with a thunderous impact that sent tremors rippling through the ground.

The explosive shockwave caught Arcee and Bulkhead off guard, sending them skidding helplessly across the icy expanse until they finally came to a stop. There stood Breakdown, reveling in his chaotic entrance, as the two Autobots prepared for a showdown.

Arcee was the first to charge, her forearm blades gleaming in determination. Breakdown mirrored her aggression, lunging forward with a wicked laugh. As she leaped towards him, he effortlessly caught her and hurled her through the air, sending her crashing across the icy desert.

With a booming laugh, he barreled toward Bulkhead, his powerful hammer arm raised high. "I'm gonna put you on ice!" the Decepticon bellowed, the thrill of battle igniting in his chest.

The two mechs collided with a resounding crash, each wielding their weapons in a fierce display of power. The shockwave from their clash was immense, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the ice sheet and sending countless ice particles swirling into the air like glittering shards. The battle was on, and the stakes had never been higher.

From the top of the Nemesis, Starscream and Knockout stood on the lookout, keenly observing the fight below.

Caboose, brimming with enthusiasm, couldn't tear his gaze away from his friend Breakdown as he battled the Autobots. "This is incredible! Bakedown is so cool! The way he swings that hand hammer is awesome! It takes me back to when the Reds, Wash, and Tucker faced off against the Meta! Except Bakedown is nice, not a big meanie like the Meta...!"

As Caboose continued his spirited commentary—an incessant stream of excitement that the Seeker and Crimson Mech chose to tune out—something peculiar caught their attention.

"Is it just me, or do the Autobots seem understaffed?" Knockout remarked, just as the rumbling sound of an approaching vehicle drew their eyes.

They turned to find Optimus Prime roaring toward them in vehicle mode, in high speeds.

"What good is a second-in-command who can't keep an eye on the rear?" a furious Decepticon leader spat, grabbing Knockout by the face with his long fingers. Shoving him aside without a second thought, and then booted current operator of the heat ray.

"Get out of my way!" he commanded, quickly accessing the control panel. He adjusted the orange beam, aiming it directly at the Autobot Leader and igniting his exterior with searing heat.

"And then Wash somewhat became my new friend after Chruch, and..."Caboose abruptly halted his chatter, optics behind his battle mask at the intensity of the moment registered. "Huh?"

Optimus let out a growl as the beam struck him, forcing him to slow his advance.

"AAAAAH!" he roared, transforming midair, shooting down toward the weapon with blades drawn.

"NOOO!" Starscream screamed, horrified, as Optimus slashed the lens clean off the device. With no target to focus upon, the weapon erupted in a spectacular explosion, sending a shockwave in every direction and crashing Prime into the icy ground below.

He crashed down near Breakdown, Bulkhead, and Arcee, sending a shockwave that staggered them all. As the dust settled, they stared in disbelief at Optimus's charred form, half-buried in the snow, unable to move.

"Optimus!" Arcee called out, her voice laced with urgency.

The weight of the moment hung heavy as they looked down at their leader in despair. Just then, Starscream, ever the opportunist, aimed to finish what he had started, charging in for a missile strike that would surely spell the end for the Prime.

"Megatron's greatest mistake was letting you live, Prime!" Starscream bellowed, the missile locked and ready.

But fate had other plans. Out of nowhere, another Cybertronian jet hurtled through the sky, intercepting Starscream's deadly assault. The savior revealed himself to be...

"Megatron!" Optimus gasped, a mix of awe and horror in his voice.

"He's back," Arcee whispered, dread creeping into her words.

As Starscream reeled from the collision on the wings of the Nemesis, he transformed, his expression shifting to one of sheer panic as he caught sight of his revived leader striding toward him with calculated menace.

"Lord Megatron! You... you're healed! Praise the Allspark! It's a miracle!" Starscream's voice was shaky as he scrambled to appease his master, hoping to avoid a grim fate.

Megatron's lip curled into a sneer. "Oh, it will be a miracle, Starscream. If you survive what I have planned for you!"

Fear gripped the seeker as he darted into his jet mode, desperate to escape. But Megatron was faster, snatching Starscream from the sky by his tail wings and flinging him with brutal strength.

Starscream smacked into one of symmetrical spikes jutting out of the ship, barely managing to cling to it as he fought against gravity, his spark racing. Megatron closed the distance, transforming smoothly into his imposing bipedal form.

Panic twisted within Starscream as he crawled backward, his mind racing for a distraction. "B-but, look — the Autobots! Optimus! RIght there!" he stammered, gesturing wildly to the frozen figure below. "Waiting for you!"

"My biggest mistakes? I've made a few." Megatron's voice was cold, laced with a promise of revenge. "And I refuse to make the same one twice."

He reached for Starscream's head, his servo poised to deliver judgment, when suddenly...

"Hello!"

Startled, both Megatron and Starscream turned to see a blue Vehicon — a triple changer — standing behind them

"Who are you?" Megatron queried, narrowing his optics, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.

"Oh! I'm Caboose!" the Blue Vehicon chimed in cheerfully. "Did you have a nice nap, Mr. Sleepy Giant?"

"What?" Megatron blinked, bewildered.

Starscream observed the scene, his irritation forgotten for a moment as Caboose unwittingly occupied Megatron's attention. An idea, daring and cunning, began to take shape in Starscream's mind.

If he could turn this amusing diversion into an opportunity, perhaps he could redeem himself in Megatron's eyes by highlighting Caboose's potential.

"Caboose!" Starscream called out, drawing Megatron's narrowed gaze. Caboose perked up, looking at Starscream with eager anticipation. "Do you see those Autobots down there?"

He gestured toward the Autobots, still reeling from their latest skirmish. Megatron squinted, suspicion etched across his face. What was Starscream scheming now? Before he could voice his concerns, Caboose chimed in.

"Oh, yes! Are they new friends?" Caboose asked innocently, tilting his head.

"No, they're not 'friends'..." Starscream's smile twisted into something devious. "You know why?"

Megatron shot Starscream a wary look, his senses heightened. What was he getting at? But before he could interject, Starscream continued.

"They love Kittens with Spikes!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence enveloped the moment, the tension thick. Megatron stared, utterly baffled.

"...What? What does that have to do with—" He halted as he noticed Caboose's demeanor shift dramatically.

—(Play: Transformers One | Prime Reason — Brian Tyler)—

Gone was the friendly air; in its place was something more intense—something primal. Something...

...

...

...

...Angry.

Caboose stood rigid, fists clenched, his body shaking slightly, his visor flickering ominously from blue to a fierce blood red.

"And most importantly," Starscream continued with a wicked grin, "...they love Red Bull!"

And just like that, Caboose snaps.

With a swift motion, he locked eyes on the Autobots, then launched himself off the side of the Nemesis, plummeting toward them. Megatron's surprise was palpable as he watched the Blue Vehicon dive. Starscream turned to Megatron, a smug smirk plastered across his faceplate.

"My lord," he said, drawing Megatron's attention away from the unfolding chaos, "I know you've just awoken and might not be in the best mood due to recent events, but... would you care to witness the true capabilities of this Vehicon?"

Megatron narrowed his gaze, suspicion still clouding his mind, but curiosity piqued.

"Very well..." The revived Decepticon Warlord replied, crossing his arms and leaning forward, glaring down at the impending clash.

—X—

As the Autobots gazed up at the ominous silhouette of the Nemesis, Optimus Prime's keen optics caught sight of a figure plummeting from the sky, descending rapidly towards them.

"Someone is coming!" Optimus announced, squinting through the haze to identify the newcomer. As he focused, he realized it was a Vehicon—but unlike any they had faced before.

"Is that... a Vehicon?" Raf asked, adjusting his glasses with uncertainty.

"{Looks like it...}" Bumblebee beeped, his sensors alert as the figure hurtled closer.

And then...

*CRASH!*

The ground shook as the figure slammed down before them, debris and vapor swirling in a chaotic storm. The Autobots instinctively raised their forearms to shield their faceplates from the clouds of dust, with Bumblebee quickly positioning himself to protect Raf. Sensing the brewing conflict, they fell into battle stances, while Bumblebee gently placed Raf on Ratchet's servo, readying for a fight.

Through the swirling frost, a red visor flickered ominously. A different kind of Vehicon loomed a few feet away, seething with rage. He spoke with a deep, menacing voice that echoed in the chilling air, "MY NAME IS MICHEAL J. CABOOSE..."

In a flash, he charged at the Autobots, catching them off-guard.

"AND I...!"

"INCOMING!" Arcee shouted, transforming into her alt mode and launching forward, with Bumblebee right behind her.

Caboose, anticipating their attack, thrust his forearm out as a fusion cannon emerged, firing a devastating energy blast. The Autobots scattered, narrowly avoiding the lethal shot. Arcee managed to reach Caboose first, intercepting the fusion cannon and forcing him to redirect his aim. Undaunted, he yanked Arcee closer, retracting his cannon and swiftly smashing her into the ground, leaving her momentarily stunned.

He raised his fist, ready to deliver the finishing blow, proclaiming, "...HATE...!"

But before he could strike, Bumblebee shoulder-checked Caboose, sending him sprawling off of Arcee. Recovering swiftly, Caboose blocked Bumblebee's follow-up punch and retaliated with a fierce blow to his face.

Seizing the moment, Arcee attempted to place Caboose in a headlock, but the enraged foe was unfazed. With a brutal knee to Bumblebee's abdomen, he sent him stumbling back before grabbing Arcee and slamming her to the ground.

"Argh!" she grunted in pain as Bumblebee rallied to help her, only for Caboose to grasp him by the neck and throw him down with tremendous force. He grabs him by the leg and begins swinging the yellow Autobot as if he were a club, hitting Arcee and sent her hurtling away, her frame colliding with the ground.

As he whirled around, he swung Bumblebee into Bulkhead, who was rushing to assist his teammates. Caught off guard, the Wrecker was knocked back hard, landing on his back with a groan of dismay.

"Ugh..." Bulkhead muttered, struggling to regain his bearings.

With Bumblebee discarded like a rag doll, Caboose tossed him aside with a fierce swing, sending the yellow Autobot crashing to the earth.

"Bumblebee!" Raf cried out, panic lacing his voice. Optimus and Ratchet witnessed the chaos unfold, shock etched across their expressions. Yet, as the dust settled, Prime's surprise hardened into steely resolve.

With a menacing glare at the remaining Autobots, Caboose roare out.

"AUTOMATS!"

"...They're called Autobots, you idiot," Breakdown called out and interjected from where he had landed after being thrown by the wave of the explosion.

"THAT TOO!"

Then Caboose charged.

—To Be Continued—

I hope this chapter and stay tuned for the next chapter!