(A Week Later: Downtown Los Angeles: 11:00 AM)

The warm sun watched the grounds along with cirrus clouds on clear blue skies. The vehicles had been coming and going on the busy and normal streets after the HYDRA period. The people were free to do and go everywhere without being terrorized. Elita One disguised herself as a red Porsche which she roamed around the streets of Los Angeles on a mission to search any Decepticon. Scanning around the area, she knew some of them were hiding. She suddenly rushed down the road to stop them and headed over to her next destination.

On the other side of the road, Shatter and Dropkick parked at Chinatown and waited for any opportunity to hunt down Zeta or Skyblade anytime soon.

" Got anything there? " a male voice from a blue monster car asked. " Any news from Skyblade. "

" Not yet, " the red female answered. " We can't find him. "

" It's been a week now! How can we tell Megatron that we can't find that damn traitor?! "

" Our main mission is to obtain the Control Stone. No more, no less. "

" Got it, sorry about that! "

Shatter detected another Cybertronian coming and said to her partner, " We have an incoming detractor. "

" Who? " Dropkick curiously asked.

" You idiot, it's an Autobot! "

" So, it's one of Cliffjumper's friends, then?! "

" I think so, " she replied. " She's heading towards us. "

The red Porsche had arrived at the parking area in near Chinatown where she found some two classic muscle cars. Elita One was alarmed as she knew these two were Decepticons in disguise. Shatter and Dropkick had come to confront the female Autobot.

" Well, well, well, what do we have here..." Shatter sternly spoke. " What do you want from us Autobot? "

" I have come here to stop you from invading this planet, " Elita answered and blinked her headlights. " Now, stand down before we can get serious here. "

Dropkick loudly laughed at her and replied, " Hah! What made you say that?! "

" I'm in a mission to prevent you and Megatron to take any further lives on this planet! "

" We don't think so..."

" What do you mean? " Elita raised her voice as she got confused. " I don't understand what you're saying. "

" We are here for an important mission, too..." Shatter replied and moved around in circles. " It's classified. "

" Are you hunting for the Autobots like me?! "

" Not only that, you dumb girl! " Dropkick insultingly replied.

" How dare you have..."

" What's the matter?! Did we burst your bubble, Autobot?! "

Elita One became more nervous than ever. Her real mission was to prevent the Decepticons like them to take any conquest of every planet in the cosmos. This time, she was being cornered by them. Alone and afraid, she thought of calling the Optimus Prime and the others. Shatter and Dropkick morphed into their true selves and waited for their adversary's response when it took much time.

" We can't afford to waste our time here, " Shatter seriously answered. " Now, did you know the location of the Control Stone? "

" I have no idea what you're talking about, " Elita replied.

" Liar! Tell us, where's the Control Stone?! "

" I...I do understand you're looking for that important gem, but I don't know where it is right now. My only mission is to defeat you! "

" Oh, really?! " the blue car took out his blade and laughed. " How about facing your death, lady?! "

Become more afraid than ever, Elita wanted to divert her enemies' attention by fighting them. Shatter signalled her partner to execute another Autobot for the second time.

" No, you can't do this! " the red Porsche cried.

" Because you didn't give us any answers, " the female red Decepticon spoke. " You will also face death like your late comrade. "

" Who?! "

" The one you called Cliffjumper. "

Elita was surprised to hear what happened to her fellow Cybertronian who perished few weeks ago. She didn't realize his life had ended in the hands of them.

" What have you done to him?! " she cried.

" Just like you, he never gave us any pertinent answers where that traitor had gone! Now, you will face the same thing, " the red Decepticon replied and turned to her partner. " Now, take her down! "

" Sure thing! "

The male blue Decepticon was maniacally laughing and taking his blade. He was very ready to take down another Autobot for good. Elita One became more terrified and anxious for which she would face death on her mission. What she was worrying the most was her friends and her superior Optimus Prime. She thought of reverting into her true form, however Dropkick was about to slash her into half. Suddenly, a grey haired male humanoid passed by to see another terror from his former colleagues. Zeta or Skyblade was thinking to confront his detractors once again before they took another life.

" Hey! " he called their attention as the two turned to him.

" That traitor..." Shatter muttered and turned her attention to the humanoid. " What do you want now, Skyblade?! "

" I asked you to let her go, " Skyblade answered.

" Oh, so you're the hero now, eh?! " Dropkick laughed and pointed at his blade to the newcomer.

" Let's say a Kree hero just inspired me to fight you again and again, " the male humanoid morphed into a grey Cybertronian.

" You!! " Shatter indignantly responded and made her upper limbs into a laser cannon gun.

" So, do you even think you can shoot me with that, Shatter? " he asked.

" As soon as Megatron wants you dead! " she released a laser beam and aimed at the former Decepticon.

Skyblade was able to dodge the attack and took out his sharp blade from his back. He instantly slashed the red Decepticon down. Shatter fell down as her circuits got injured.

" Dropkick, take him down! " she angrily yelled.

The blue Decepticon jumped over Skyblade's head and readied himself to give him a final blow. Skyblade held his weapon and sternly glared at his foe. Dropkick evilly grinned and pointed at his blade towards the grey Living machine.

" Prepare to die! " he loudly yelped.

" I don't think so...." Skyblade made his first hit to the other Decepticon.

" Then, make me! "

Elita One watched the two male Cybertronian's made their blade sparring. She got surprised a former Decepticon was fighting against his former friend. The two remained hitting and exchanging strikes. Dropkick was very sure that he could eliminate the grey one into halves. Focusing on the spar without any awareness, he found his blade got slashed into halves.

" No! How can you do this to me! " he angrily yelled.

" More like, I can give you a punishment instead of killing you, " Skyblade replied and cut the blue Decepticon's arms.

Dropkick was yelling in pain as Shatter was not pleased that she and her partner got failed in taking the grey Living Machine down. Elita One was spared, but she couldn't believe in what she had seen and turned to his rescuer.

" You saved my life, " she muttered. " But you're a Decepticon like them! How come you have..."

" Switched sides? " Skyblade continued. " Look miss, I have my reasons not to get involved with them. I hope you understand. "

" But...."

" It's a long story to tell. "

" Yes, it is a long story to tell, " a male voice echoed and laughed. " Hello, again! Skyblade! "

Elita One and Skyblade got surprised to see another Decepticon coming who appeared to be a Police car. Shatter and Dropkick were both pleased to meet another ally coming to them.

" Finally, it's Barricade..." Dropkick happily beamed.

" You guys need my help, then! I'll be the one who could take this loser down! " Barricade spoke and morphed into his true form.

" Don't you even dare! " Skyblade muttered and gave the new challenger an uppercut blow.

" My, that hurts! " the police car Decepticon laughed and quickly grabbed Skyblade's arm, slowly crushing it.

Elita One got alarmed to see the strong attack from another Decepticon. She thought of transforming, however she failed in doing so when Barricade pointed a weapon on her.

" Do you think you can stop us for good?! Then again, you will just fail! " he answered and dropped the former Decepticon down.

" Good job, Barricade, " Shatter replied.

" Thanks for doing that! " Dropkick added.

" No worries, these two will learn a lesson, not to mess with us! "

The three Decepticons transformed into vehicles and left Skyblade and Elita One on the corner. The grey Decepticon managed to heal himself and morphed into a humanoid. Elita noticed him doing it as she got curious.

" These three couldn't stop me from being hunted and chased, " he angrily muttered and heavily sighed.

" So, you have left that faction and settled here? " she asked.

" For two centuries, yes. Now, you know why I don't want their actions and quit joining with them. "

" You mean, Megatron's conquest? "

" Yes, " he nodded.

Elita One had a clear picture of her mission since she knew one of her fellow Autobots perished on this planet. Then, she realized of a former Decepticon had deserted his group for some reasons.

" Tell me, is this something to do with the one called the Control Stone? " she asked.

" Yes. Now, I need to find the bearer of that Infinity Stone and protect him from any danger. "

" How did you know that? "

" A Kree Eternal just mentioned that to me, " Skyblade answered. " Now, I must find him before Megatron hunts him down. Can you help me? "

Elita got curious from the former Decepticon's statements and deeply thought about it. Perhaps, Optimus knew something about the Bearers of the Infinity Stones. She wanted to ask any further questions which she would gain something in order to defeat the mad Cybertronian. It took a while for her to process in her mind and plan for her further actions. She intently looked at the humanoid one and understood what he had meant.

" All right then, I can help you. Since this is my mission, I will make sure to support this being who holds the powerful stone in the cosmos. "

" Thank you. "