IDW - Optimus Prime #18

Title: The Falling Interlude: The First Who Was Named

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Sara Pitre-Durocher and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Optimus, now chained up by Shockwave asks what happened to his old friend, and how he is posing as Onyx Prime. Shockwave happily explains it all to his friend...

After he was drawn into the singularity in Crystal City, he was launched twelve million years into the past, badly injured, but still alive. He is soon found by a roaming shepherd, the original Onyx, who asks if he can help him. Without hesitating Shockwave kills Onyx, sending his beasts running to safety. One of the "beasts", a biped remains, who Shockwave named Megatronus.

Soon, Shockwave manages to gather the beasts again, and becomes known as Onyx Prime. Along with Megatronus, he teaches them to fight, creating an army of his own. Before long, he sends Megatronus out to create his Darklander army and begin his siege on other territories. Shockwave dons his full disguise as Onyx and sets out to unite the Thirteen Primes to create their new society.

Following their founding of society, Shockwave manages to convince the others to attempt Expansionism, and spread their message to the stars, however on the first world they encounter Shockwave manipulates things so the Cybertronians attack the natives, slaughtering them, and traumatising Alpha Trion, who was there to document the mission.

When they returned to Cybertron, Prima had a screaming match with Megatronus, blaming him for the slaughter on the unnamed planet. This eventually leads to Shockwave manipulating Liege Maximo into, in turn, manipulating Megatronus into attempting to kill Prima. During their battle, Solus rushes to help Prima, but she ends up being run through by her own Star Saber, Megatronus escapes, taking the sword with him, and the other Primes renounce him as "The Fallen".

Liege Maximo is captured for his manipulation of Megatronus, imprisoned inside his own Titan, Vigilem, with his people charged to be his wardens and keep him away forever. After Vigilem is sent away, Prima leads a mission with "Onyx" and Trion to hunt down Megatronus aboard his own Titan, Emissary.

Soon, Prima and Onyx encounter Megatronus on planet Tsiehshi, where Megatronus manages to cleave Prima in half with ease, however "Onyx" betrays Megatronus and decapitates him, and brings their bodies back to Emissary, where he tells Trion that they died fighting each other. Trion believes his story and they are interred back on Cybertron.

Emissary takes Prima's body into space, however "Onyx" sabotages Emissary, causing him to eventually crash onto the prehistoric world of Elonia, bringing about the end of the era of the Primes...

Back in the present, Shockwave explains that all he has done has been to spear-head the progress of Cybertron, even these dark days he has brought about by attacking the planet. Optimus disagrees, which Shockwave always knew he would. 

He decides to give Optimus the chance to change his mind, by sending him into the Singularity too...as he pushes him right into it....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab Thrown into Crystal City Singularity by Shockwave

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Metrotitan - Autobot City Seemingly Dead

Decepticon

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

The Primes

Onyx Prime/Shockwave

Liege Maximo

Megatronus/The Fallen (Flashback Only) Killed by Shockwave

Prima (Flashback Only) Killed by Megatronus

Solus Prime (Flashback Only) Killed by Megatronus

Alpha Trion (Flashback Only)

Alchemist Prime (Flashback Only)

Amalgamous Prime (Flashback Only)

Nexus Prime (Flashback Only)

Quintus Prime (Flashback Only)

Vector Prime (Flashback Only)

Micronus Prime (Flashback Only)

"The Arisen" (Flashback Only)

Maximal

Iguanus - Iguana

Snarl - Lion

Backstop - Rhino

Ramulus - Ibex

Other Maximals/Herd Members (Flashback Only)

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Mistress of Flame

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Devastator - Constructicon Combiner

Original Onyx (Flashback Only) Killed by Shockwave

Vigilem - Space Ship (Flashback Only) Lobotomized by The Primes

Emissary - Space Ship (Flashback Only) Crashed into Elonia by Shockwave

Arcee - Cannon (Flashback Only)

Galvatron - Cannon (Flashback Only)

Omega Supreme - Space Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Omega Sentinel Army - Space Shuttles (Flashback Only)

Darklander Army (Flashback Only)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Ancient Headmasters (Mentioned)

Other

Primitive Elonian (Flashback Only)

Cybertron's First Victims (Flashback Only) Dead

Notes

• Wow sometimes being behind schedule on these things does have it's benefits! The planet that Emissary is shown crashing on has been confirmed as being Elonia in Unicron #0
• So...turns out Shockwave is pretty much responsible for everything that happened in Cybertronian history, even the seemingly coincidental stuff, such as the Eukarian ship that would end up doing the Hearts of Steel re-enactment being filled with a crew that just happened to look like the main G1 cast of Transformers. We know that "Onyx" sent them towards Earth, where he knew his younger self was going to experiment on them...YIKES!
• Shockwave has immense knowledge of what happened on Cybertron in the early years of the Primes because he listened to the stories told by Alpha Trion.
• It's revealed here that Shockwave was launched twelve million years into the past when he was drawn into the Crystal City singularity. We learned a while ago that Bumblebee was somehow alive inside the Singularity, and thanks to the Unicron #0 preview, we knew he was going to be returning to the "real world" soon anyway. So at least this isn't out of the blue I guess?
• In an astonishing amount of detail, the original Onyx, whom Shockwave killed and replaced is shown to be a quadruped, where the Shockwave version of him has been mostly bipedal...and people just thought that was an art error!
• It's revealed here that Shockwave named Megatronus here, explaining why his name is similar to Megatron's, given that in this continuity Megatronus' name was unknown until recently.
• This issue explains that Shockwave, knowing of their doomed futures, managed to manipulate the Primes to doing as he pleased, especially when manipulating Megatronus and Liege Maximo
• It's revealed here that, despite what was shown in earlier stories, Solus Prime was killed by Megatronus stabbing her with her own Star Saber.
• This issue confirms that the Matrix was indeed originally the hilt to the Star Saber
• Briefly during the flashback we see a heavily silhouetted figure of "The Arisen". We should presumably discover who he really is, and his supposed connection with Optimus soon

DW - War Within The Dark Ages

Plot

Megatron has completed his Space Bridge and is about to test it out, but Optimus attacks him, and both fall into it. Because the Space Bridge was only configured for one, it explodes, and both leaders are lost, soon afterwards space opens up, and The Fallen is flung from his interdimensional prison and lands on Cybertron. Later, the Autobots and Decepticons are now mostly segregated and work as smaller teams. The Lightning Strike Coalition, led by Grimlock, attack the Predacons, led by Starscream to steal their Energon shipment.

Meanwhile this is happening the Autobots left in their base in Iacon are despondent about their current situation. Elsewhere in Kalis the Chaos Trinity are messing around with the dark arts when The Fallen appears and conscripts them into helping him, leading them into a chamber below the surface, towards a strange seal.

At the Well of All Sparks The Fallen gives Bludgeon a taster of his power, which he promises to give them all if they help him in his plot, which he and his pals fully agree to.

At the Tagan Heights, the Wreckers, led by Springer are looking for Ratbat's Ultracons when they discover that Ratbat has recruited Devastator, despite there being a ruling against using Gestalts in these wars, due to the damage they cause. In Iacon the Protectobots learn about Devastator's involvement in the battles and decide they need to act as well, so they head out to help, not knowing that someone is watching them.

At the Tagan Heights Devastator is tearing through the Wreckers, and Springer gets trapped in some cables in a building, where Ratbat and his team arrive and gloat, and get ready to kill him.

The Chaos Trinity continue their plots to kidnap some Transformers for The Fallen's plan, which includes Grimlock. The Protectobots arrive at the Heights and combine into Defensor to join the battle, the tremors caused from the two gestalts battling frees Springer, but he and the Decepticons just stare at the giants fighting.

At Iacon again, Jetfire returns to base and wonders where everyone is., despite the planet seeming to be in chaos.

Springer screams at Ratbat about unleashing a Gestalt battle in Tagan Heights, especially due to the energon being stored there. At Iacon Jetfire takes to the consoles of Autobase to try and work out all that's happening, and finds it odd how everything that could possibly go wrong is all happening at once.

Prowl leads a large team of Autobots into Nova Cronum where Decepticon activity has been detected, they enter a city, when suddenly thecity Transforms, revealing that it's Trypticon in disguise and starts attacking the Autobots.

The Wreckers try to stop the Gestalt fight, whilst Jetfire decides to share his data with someone else who might have more, so they can figure out what's happening, Shockwave, the two agree to meet.

Springer manages to get through to Defensor, who manages to de-combine, and manage to rig it so Devastator is plugged into a power station and is overloaded, defeating him and forcing him to de-combine too.

Prowl calls for help with Trypticon, but his message is hacked with a recording of Jetfire and Shockwave agreeing to meet up, especially for Grimlock to see...

The Autobots are being crushed by Trypticon, and the LSC decide to help them, except for Grimlock, who wants to go deal with Jetfire and Shockwave. Jetfire and Shockwave have met up and are about to exchange information when the Chaos Trinity attack Shockwave, they eventually defeat him and hypnotize Jetfire into coming with them, as they are leaving Grimlock arrives, planning to execute Jetfire for treachery, but The Fallen needs him still.

Trypticon ends his attack when Shockwave contacts him and leaves. Grimlock is about to kill Jetfire, but The Fallen arrives and manually stops him.

The Fallen easily defeats Grimlock and has the Chaos Trinity collect the others he needs whilst he takes his captives, Jetfire and Grimlock to the Well of All Sparks. Following the battle with Trypticon the Autobots are being repaired and start to agree with Jetfire's idea about the planet falling into chaos all of a sudden, and then receive a message from Swoop saying that Grimlock went to deal with Jetfire and hasn't returned. THEN the base receives reports from down below at the prison wing about The Fallen attacking and trying to get to their captive, Blitzwing. Meanwhile the Protectobots are attacked by the Chaos Trinity and Hot Spot is kidnapped, whilst the Autobot guards are defeated and The Fallen kidnaps Blitzwing too.

Everyone starts hunting down The Fallen and his cronies to rescue the missing Transformers, meanwhile The Fallen has the four kidnapped Transformers strapped into the Well of All Sparks, and has them being used to activate the seal, in order to summon his master, Unicron.

Shockwave and his Decepticons attack the Chaos Trinity, who are guarding the entrance to the Well, the Autobots learn of this attack and figure out that Shockwave must be there to deal with The Fallen, so they decide to help out too. Grimlock manages to break out of his restraints inside the Well, whilst above the Trinity are slowly being killed, Grimlock frees Jetfire and decides to trust him now and work together to free the other captives, so they can stop the seal from opening any further and Jetfire contacts Bumblebee and has him erect a forcefield around the Well, stopping the energies from leaving.

Inside the force field The Fallen goes to kill Jetfire for thwarting his plans, when Primus himself appears and traps him inside the seal (yet Jetfire is still a robot atheist). The united Transformers break into the chamber and find it a mess. In the aftermath the entrance is sealed up by the Transformers with codes that can only be released when all are one. Jetfire meanwhile wonders what The Fallen was trying to summon, and whether it's still around somewhere...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Lost in Space

Jetfire - Jet

Grimlock - Armoured Vehicle

Prowl - Speeder

Swoop - Jet

Sludge - Tank

Slag - Armoured Vehicle

Snarl - Armoured Vehicle

Springer - Helicopter

Topspin - Jet

Twin Twist - Drill Tank

Roadbuster - Gun Mounted Vehicle

Whirl - Helicopter

Sandstorm - Buggy

Broadside - Jet

Hot Spot - Fire Suppression Unit

Blades - Helicopter

Groove - Motorcycle

First Aid - Van

Streetwise - Speeder

Defensor - Protectobot Gestalt

Jazz - Speeder

Sideswipe - Speeder

Sunstreaker - Speeder

Kup - Speeder

Hound - Speeder Jeep

Tracks - Speeder

Mirage

Huffer - Truck

Perceptor

Skids - Speeder Van Crushed by Trypticon

Cliffjumper - Car

Gears - Speeder

Wheeljack - Speeder Van

Ironhide - Van

Bumblebee - Winged Speeder

Bluestreak - Speeder

Trailbreaker - Van

Ratchet - Van

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank Lost in Space

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Bludgeon - Tank Killed by Skywarp

Mindwipe - Jet Killed by Shockwave

Bugly - Jet Killed in Battle

Ratbat - Jet

Trypticon - Battle Platform

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Starscream - Tetra Jet

Thundercracker - Tetra Jet

Skywarp - Tetra Jet

Motormaster - Truck

Blast Off - Jet

Octane - Jet

Astrotrain - Jet

Thrust - Jet

Soundwave

Ravage

Brawl - Tank

Krok

Horri-Bull

Chop Shop

Venom

Ransack

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Scavenger - Excavator

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Hook - Crane

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Stormbringer (Mentioned) Killed by LSC

Pulse (Mentioned) Killed by LSC

Hardcase Killed by LSC

Other Decepticons

Other

The Fallen - Tank Trapped in the Seal of Primus

Primus

Unicron - Ringed Planet Inert

Notes

• This story's main plot of Optimus and Megatron going missing is sort of ruined when you remember that this is set BEFORE the main G1 storyline from Dreamwave, which has both of them fully alive, so we sort of know they'll be back one day
• This story introduces the idea that Ratbat used to have a more humanoid appearance, which is later used more extensively in IDW's back story
• Gestalt technology is shown to be quite dangerous and leaves the Gestalt a bit insane...it seems to have gotten better by the "present"
• Grimlock almost calls Swoop, Divebomb, a reference to the character's original name in the Marvel comics (and apparently here too)
• A little weird...and hard to see, but Primus' ethereal hand looks a bit more organic than robotic
• The Fallen being drawn into the seal on Cybertron would have been brought up again later in the planned continuation of the G1 Dreamwave comic, where he would have been revealed to have been possessing Sunstorm to an extent, and later Jetfire as well
• The seal shown here on Cybertron was to be connected to the one seen on Earth as well
• Shockwave later actually does summon Unicron during his reign....but I think that wasn't his plan...I hope....

IDW - Tales of The Fallen

Bumblebee

Plot

Bumblebee returns to Tranquility to act as Sam's guardian again and the two have fun together, however Sam's parents (who know about the Transformers by now) tell him that Bumblebee can't stay with them when Sam goes off to college. Sam's annoyed and goes to see Mikaela, be says to Bumblebee that he wants him to stay behind tonight, however on the way there Sam is abducted.

Later Mikaela calls Sam's parents to ask where he is, so Ron tells Bumblebee that Sam's missing, and he races off to find him. Bumblebee receieves a message from someone asking for the Allspark in exchange for Sam.

Elsewhere, Barricade is dangling Sam over a car compactor ordering him to give him the Allspark fragment when Bumblebee arrives and frees his human friend. The two robots fight, and Bumblebee eventually wins by dousing Barricade in gasoline and then shooting him, cauing an explosion. Bumblebee and Sam escape, but unseen to them so does Barricade.

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Decepticon

Barricade - Police Car

Human

Sam Witwicky

Ron Witwicky

Judy Witwicky

Miles

Mikaela Banes

Trent

Other Humans

Lindsey (Mentioned)

Dog

Mojo

Notes

• This story shows what happened between Bumblebee being sent back to look after Sam and the start of ROTF

Sideswipe

Plot

Sideswipe arrives on Earth in late 2008 and immediately starts hunting down Demolishor, who caused major problems for him in the past and is tearing apart a city looking for him. NEST notices him and tells Optimus to bring him in or he'll be killed. Ironhide is sent out and soon finds him fighting with Demolishor again, he helps Sideswipe against Demolishor. The mexican army is sent in to deal with the warring robots, and chase off Denolishor, however Ironhide defends Sideswipe from one missile, injuring himself before the other Autobots and NEST arrive and stop the problem, Sideswipe probably joins the team after this.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Ratchet - Emergency Humvee

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Sideswipe's Brigade (Flashback) Killed by Demolishor

Decepticon

Demolishor - Excavator

Human

Lennox

Epps

Admiral Morshower

Other Humans

Notes

• Sideswipe is shown to have a history with Demolishor, pity he never ended up with the kill-shot against him huh?
• This story shows Sideswipe appearing before Arcee and the Others here, which MIGHT contradict the scene in Alliance.
• Sideswipe has pop up guns in vehicle mode, which is added to his alternate mode in later toys.

Jetfire

Plot

Jetfire, in the past completes another mission for The Fallen and creates energon from a star using a harvester on a lifeless world (or so he thinks). Later the duo meet with the Dynasty of Primes in their dimension who are upset by the planet that was just destroyed in fact had life upon it and then all vow to not use the harvesters on worlds with life. The Fallen isn't happy, and Jetfire is confused as he didn't know the planet was lifeless. The Fallen begins his own faction, the Decepticons with Jetfire as a member.

Later Jetfire and The Fallen go to Earth, where they find lifeforms, but The Fallen doesn't care and starts killing the humans he finds, Jetfire is shocked and tries to stop his master before the harvester can be used there.

The rest of the Dynasty of Primes arrive on the planet to confront The Fallen for his actions, The Fallen transports Jetfire and his other Decepticons away to fight alone. Jetfire and the Decepticons fight it out, but Jetfire manages to take them all down one by one. Afterwards he starts travelling the world, searching for thousands of years.

Eventually Jetfire comes across a stealth jet that's just crashed and assumes it's form.

Characters

Decepticon

The Fallen

Jetfire - Blackbird Stealth Jet (Formerly Space Ship)

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck Killed by Jetfire

Rampage - Bulldozer Killed by Jetfire

Scrapper - Front End Loader Killed by Jetfire

Long Haul - Dump Truck Killed by Jetfire

Scavenger - Excavator Killed by Jetfire

Hightower - Crane Killed by Jetfire

Other

Dynasty of Primes

Captain E. Laska

Lt. Sheep

Ancient Humans

Notes

• This story shows Jetfire being inducted into The Fallen's original Decepticons and him leaving it too
• The Constructicons in this story aren't the same guys who appear in ROTF as well, just guys who happen to look like them
• Jetfire's travels around the world after defeating The Fallen's troops is shown in Sector Seven

The Fallen

Plot

The Fallen has been using the harvester to power up the Allspark, but uses stars that are responsible for planets with life, against the Dynasty's laws, so he starts a revolution against his brothers and actively seeks out to kill all lesser lifeforms for their star's energy. Over time he gathers up a large load arsenal of weapons.

The Fallen sets a trap for his brothers by setting up the Harvester on another planet, Earth, and asks for his brothers to come with the Matrix so he can activate it.

Jetfire turns against his master for his actions and is sent away by The Fallen along with his other Decepticons whilst The Fallen battles and slaughters his brothers. Eventually Prima arrives and defeats his brother, using his powers to launch The Fallen into his sarcophagus, trapping him in another dimension, once there, The Fallen vows vengeance.

Characters

Decepticon

The Fallen Banished away by Prima

Jetfire

Scrapper - Front End Loader Dead

Long Haul - Dump Truck Dead

Rampage - Bulldozer Dead

Overload - Articulated Dump Truck Dead

Other

Prima

Dynasty of Primes Killed by The Fallen

Aliens Killed by The Fallen and his Troops

Notes

• This story shows The Fallen betraying his brothers and killing most of them off
• One of the Primes use Optimus Prime's protoform toy from the first toyline, this is Prima
• The Fallen defeated his brothers by using a secret cache of weapons he's been collecting for ages, whilst they just tried to reason with him by talking.
• This story is set during the same time-frame as the previous story

Ravage

Plot

Ravage's dead body was recovered at some point, and is revived by a mysterious group who send him missions to complete. The first mission is to recover the dead Allspark Mutations that attacked Sam in his house and then evade capture, he manages this after a long chase, and ends up hiding under a building that was just air-striked on presidential orders. Soundwave witnesses this from orbit and wonders what's happening

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Decepticon

Soundwave - Satellite

Ravage - Aquatic Vehicle

Reedman - Ball Bearings

Rampage - Bulldozer

Human

Sam Witwicky

President Barrack Obama

NEST

Military

Ravage's New Masters

Other

Appliance Bots Dead

Notes

• This story shows that Ravage's death as seen in the movie itself, but not in the comic DID happen in the comic too, but just off-screen
• This story sets up a main plot point of Ravage being revived by a mysterious organization which is continued in Nefarious
• This is the only "Tales" story to be set AFTER the movie, with all the others being background for the characters included

Arcee

Plot

Arcee's ship is attacked by Thundercracker and all aboard are killed, later Arcee wakes up in Flatline's lab in a new body, next to her sister's in new bodies as well and he plans to use her and her sisters as an experiment in creating a new type of warrior, after his failed experiment using Skids and Mudflap.

The three sisters are reactivated and now share a mind to some extent, unfortunately for Flatline, the sisters are still Autobots, break free and start attacking the Decepticons in the base after freeing the twins.

After a quick battle, the 5 Auotbots escape after avoiding the lab's self destruction, and the Decepticon's own escape. The 5 Autobots later leave on the Twin's ship and head towards Earth, to answer Optimus' call for reinforcements.

Characters

Autobot

Arcee

Chromia

Elita One

Skids

Mudflap

Breakaway Killed by Thundercracker

Clocker Killed by Thundercracker

Optimus Prime (Flashback)

Decepticon

Thundercracker - Cybertronian Jet

Flatline

Dreadwing Drones - Cybertronian Jets

Payload Drones

Starscream (Flashback)

Notes

• This story shows what happened after Reign of Starscream, and shows why Arcee has a new tripartate body, as well as why Elita is alive again. Chromia's past life is explored later.
• This story shows that Skids and Mudflap are a bit dim-witted because Flatline experimented on them
• Wow Flatline is dumb, he upgraded Arcee and her sisters with greater abilities and DIDN'T make sure that she was mind-wiped or something first?!?

IDW - Revenge of the Fallen Adaptation

Plot

Thousands of years ago on Earth, The Fallen wages a war against his brothers, The Primes over the Star Harvester on the planet, as The Fallen plans to use it to destroy the sun and take it's energy for himself. (wonder who won?)

Back in the present day NEST and their Autobot allies chase two Decepticons, Sideways and Demolishor across Shanghai Optimus takes down Demolishor, who then warns Optimus that the Fallen shall rise again before dying, meanwhile Sideways is killed by Sideswipe. The incident in Shanghai is covered up, which Sam watches on TV.

Sam is packing his bags for college when he finds a shard of the Allspark in the clothes he wore during the Mission City battle and is infused with some energy whilst on the phone with Mikaela. The shard falls through his floor and into the kitchen which brings all the appliances to life, and they attack. Bumblebee, who lives in the garage attacks them, and ends up blowing the house up, leaving Judy furious (as the parents know about the Autobots now). Later Mikaela arrives and Sam gives her the shard, which the Decepticon Wheelie sees and reports. Sam and Bumblebee say goodbye, as he cant take a car to college as a freshman.

Galloway meets with Lennox and his team at the NEST base on Diego Garcia and tells them that the government isn't happy about the damage caused in Shanghai, and Optimus says that if the government asks them to leave then they will, but remind them that the Decepticons still exist on the planet and will go after humans, whether the Autobots are around or not. Soundwave, in orbit, launches Ravage to Diego Garcia, which he learned to be where the Allspark shard is, and also learns where Megatron was dumped in the ocean. Elsewhere, Sam moves into his college dorm and starts meeting his new classmates including Leo and Alice.

Ravage infiltrates NEST and steals the Allspark shard, later Sam goes to a party with his new friends when he called out by Bumblebee, who takes him to see Optimus. He tells Sam that the government believes the Decepticon attacks are the Autobot's fault and that the Allspark shard has been stolen and they need his help for realations.

Elsewhere Ravage and some other Decepticons, including Scalpel use the Allspark Shard to revive Megatron.

Megatron flies off to the crashed Nemesis on another planet where he meets with Starscream and talks with The Fallen in his dimension. Megatron is told that Sam now holds the power of the Allspark within him, and they need him for their ultimate plan to find the Matrix to power the harvester.

In school, Sam starts feeling the effects of the Allspark by assimilating knowledge too fast and starts overloading. Sam calls Mikaela about this and during the call Wheelie tries to steal her shard from the safe, but she stops him and tells Sam that she's coming to his school.

NEST detect multiple Decepticon attacks in America and send out some troops to deal with them. At Princeton Alice tries to seduce Sam and is revealed to be a Decepticon, Mikaela and Leo arrive just as Alice is trying to strangle him with her tongue, and the three of them escape in a car they steal after a short chase through the school. Alice chases the car, but Mikaela drives into her, knocking her away, however Grindor appears from nowhere and catches the car, hauling it away with him.

Sam is taken to a warehouse where Scalpel prepares to cut out his brain for them to use when  Bumblebee and Optimus appear and kill the doctor and fight off the Decepticons. Optimus drives off with Sam whilst Bumblebee takes Leo and Mikaela. Optimus ends up in a forest where he fights off Megatron, Starscream and Grindor whilst trying to protect Sam but ends up being killed by Megatron. Before Megatron can get to Sam though the other Autobots arrive and Bumblebee takes the Humans away with the Twins into hiding.

Megatron hacks the satellite feeds and addresses the Earth and orders them to find Sam for him, or he'll start destroying the world. Sam's parents in France (on their world tour) are kidnapped by some Decepticons.

Whilst on the run Sam decides he needs help, Leo suggests they go see someone who hacked his website and seems to know all about the symbols he keeps seeing in his head. The person they go to see turns out to the former Agent Simmons, who tells them that the Transformers have been on Earth for some time now, and shows them pictures of those symbols found across the planet, and even photos of some vehicles who they believe to be Transformers too.

The humans tell Wheelie (whom Mikaela had stuffed in a toll box after their fight) to help them find one of these old Transformers, and he directs them to the Smithsonian, where their Allspark shard launches itself towards a blackbird jet, which reconfigures into the now elderly Jetfire, a Decepticon who decided to defect some time ago. Sam shows Jetfire the symbols, which Jetfire interprets as clues to finding the Matrix, he then transports himself, the Autobots and Humans to Egypt via a space bridge, once there he explains who The Fallen is and that he planned to destroy Earth, so his former brothers turned their bodies into a tomb to hide the Matrix, the only thing that can reactivate the harvester, from The Fallen. He sends Sam and the others on a mission to find it, as it's power can also be used to revive Optimus.

Elsewhere, NEST is disbanded after recent events and Galloway prepares to escort them back to Diego Garcia. In Egypt Sam is noticed by the local intelligence agencies, and Soundwave learns he's there. Sam works out where Jetfire's clues for the Matrix's location lead to and calls Lennox's wife to get a secret message to her husband to ask for military assistance.

Sam and the others arrive at Petra and find the Tomb of the Primes and Sam grabs the Matrix, which turns to dust, Sam refuses to give up and gathers the dust up into a sock as they hear the military jets arriving nearby. NEST hijack the plane their on, and force Galloway out of the plane elsewhere as the team airdrops to the location Sam sent to them.

Megatron and the Decepticons arrive in Egypt as well and start attacking Sam and his group, and the NEST guys too. Soundwave is in orbit hacking the surveillance images and edits them to remove the Decepticons. Sam and Mikaela run off through the ruins with the Matrix dust whilst Bumblebee and the others create diversions. Nearby, The Fallen arrives from his dimension and lands on top of a pyramid

The Fallen order Megatron and the Decepticons to find the Matrix before Optimus can be revived with it. Sam and Mikaela and found by Rampage, who reveals that he has Sam's parents hostage. Elsewhere the Twins, Simmons and Leo see Devastator begin his attack on a pyramid. Sam's parents are rescued by Bumblebee who kills Rampage in the process and takes them away to safety.

Devastator's attack on the pyramid reveals that the harvester was hidden beneath it, Simmons manages to contact a US ship that holds a rail gun weapon on board and helps them to target it towards Devastator, whilst the Twins fight the giant monster, elsewhere Sam and Mikaela meet up with the army guys and Jetfire arrives at the battle, taking out some Decepticons easily, but eventually gets mortally wounded by Scorponok. Sam makes a run for it and tries to use the Matrix on Optimus, but he's caught in a blast and killed.

Whilst dead, Sam sees the Dynasty of Primes who tell him that he has proven himself as a true leader, and is worthy of the Matrix, so they revive him. The Matrix reforms and Sam uses it on Optimus, reviving him as well. The Fallen teleports nearby and steals the Matrix from Sam, and returns to the harvester, Jetfire offers his body to create an upgrade for Opitmus to allow him to fly, so Ratchet gets to work.

The Rail Gun weapon kills Devastator as Optimus arrives and destroys the harvester. Optimus reveals to Megatron that a Prime cannot be created (as The Fallen promised Megatron) but has to be born. Megatron is disillusioned and turns against The Fallen, and leaves through one of The Fallen's own space bridges as Optimus kills The Fallen himself.

In the aftermath the humans and Autobots return home and wonder about the future, as Megatron, on the Nemesis looks over his newly born army of hatchlings, and begins his preparations....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Ratchet - Emergency Humvee

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Skids - Smart Car (Formerly Front of Ice Cream Truck)

Mudflap - Smart Car (Formerly Rear of Ice Cream Truck)

Arcee - Motorcycle

Chromia - Motorcycle

Elita One - Motorcycle

Decepticon

The Fallen Killed by Optimus Prime

Megatron - Cybertronian Jet/Cybertronian Tank

Soundwave - Satellite

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Wheelie - RC Pick Up Truck (Defected to Autobots)

Jetfire - Blackbird Stealth Jet (Defected to Autobots) Killed by Scorponok, Parts given to Optimus

Sideways - Audi R8 Killed by Sideswipe

Grindor - Military Helicopter Killed by Optimus Prime

Scalpel - Microscope Killed by Optimus Prime

Ravage - Missile

Reedman - Ball Bearings

Alice - Animatronic Woman

Demolishor - Excavator Killed by Optimus Prime

Scrapmetal - Bulldozer

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck Killed by Jetfire

Overload - Articulated Dump Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Rampage - Bulldozer

Devastator - Construction Vehicles Killed by Rail Gun

Scorponok - Part of Helicopter

Frenzy (Head Only) Dead

Hatchlings

Other Decepticon Attackers

Human

Sam Witwicky

Mikaela Banes

Lennox

Epps

Galloway

Leo Spitz

Seymour Simmons

Ron Witwicky

Judy Witwicky

Sarah Lennox

Monica Epps

Admiral Morshower

Professor Colan

Fassbinder

Sharsky

NEST

Other Humans

POTUS (Mentioned)

Other

The Dynasty of Primes Dead

Ejector - Toaster Killed by Bumblebee

Appliance-Bots - Kitchen Appliances Killed by Bumblebee

Notes

• This is the adaptation of the ROTF Movie (duh)
• Again, some details have been changed for speed/ease of reading/add older details from the script etc
• Megatron knowing where The Fallen's ship is, is explained in Defiance where he visits him during the Allspark hunt.
• The vine thingies that attack The Fallen at the end are very random...no one seems to know what they are...(I blame Quintessons)
• The end of this story shows the Hatchlings being born, which were omitted from the movie version, but are a plot point in DOTM.
• The scene where Arcee and her sisters were injured in Egypt was omitted here, but is referenced in later stories
• Likewise Ravage's death wasn't shown here, but was shown in a later story as happening here