#9 - "Lost and Found"

Credits

Writer - James McDonough and Adam Patyk / Pencils - Don Figueroa / Inks - Elaine To / Letters - Ben Lee / Colors - Espen Grundetjern

Story

On guard detail, Blitzwing and Astrotrain see a shadowy figure lurching around the Wastelands. Blitzwing suggests shooting him, but Shockwave countermands the order, and sends them out to investigate. Blitzwing quickly locates the figure -- an ancient clone warrior -- and he and Astrotrain quickly destroy it. After reporting the target is down, however, they are ambushed by Razorclaw! Before Shockwave can act on the interrupted transmission, however, he's also ambushed -- by Megatron!

Meanwhile, at Autobase, Hot Rod and Kup are engaged in a battle exercise set on a simulation of Earth terrain. Despite Kup's use of unorthodox tricks and attacks, Hot Rod manages to get the drop on him. Kup chides him for his reckless fighting skills, but Hot Rod is eager to meet Arcee -- unaware that she's already with Springer...

...at the Autobase loading platform, where they're watching Prowl's team of Autobots as they return to Earth. Springer notes their courage in returning to Earth so soon, but Arcee is jealous at their sense of purpose and wistful at her own outsider status.

While Prowl comforts Huffer, who's already feeling melanchoic at leaving Cybertron again, their departure is also noted by the Quintessons on the planet Quintessa. Satisfied that the Autobots are unaware of their true threat to Earth, the Quintessons turn their attentions to the "secondary target"; while cautioning at Hot Rod's "affinity" with it, the Quintessons are confident they can use Arcee for their ends...

At Area 51 on Earth, Jazz and the now-repaired Autobots say goodbye to Marissa Fairborne and the EDC, catching a ride with Ratchet's group. Meanwhile, in Cinncinnati, a belicose Spike warns Bumblebee that the Autobots can't run around Earth with abandon, oblivious to the spectacle he's creating by arguing with his car. Bumblebee explains that recent events have shaken his faith in the eventual victory of the Autobots; Spike cuts the chat to stop a kidnapping, and is saved by Bumblebee when the assailant pulls out a gun.

In Decepticon Headuarters on Cybertron, Shockwave screams in horror as his laser-cannon arm has been ripped out! While Megatron explains that he's spared Shockwave's life to get good use from him, a team of clone warriors sets Shockwave's arm in a containment cast. Megatron then introduces Shockwave to his other discovery -- the long-lost Cybertronian warlords, the Predacons!

Shockwave then asks about the status of his troops, and Megatron reveals that they have pledged their loyalty to him instead -- all save Blitzwing, who refused to surrender and was destroyed by Razorclaw instead. When Shockwave asks how Megatron plans to retake Cybertron with a handful of troops, Megatron corrects his assumption by revealing his true target -- Earth!