As the Autobot/Decepticon fight draws to a close, the three amnesic Transformers travel to the next universe to find the next member of their group...

Synopsis

Starscream, hounded by Jetfire, demands Ramjet's assistance, but his fellow Seeker goes after the power source below ground, abandoning Starscream to the Autobot flier. Mirage, meanwhile, turns invisible, and the damaged Rodimus provides cover fire. Below ground, Skyfall, Landquake, Breakaway, and Cliffjumper gather around the Caretaker-a massive supercomputer, which even Landquake has trouble comprehending. The Caretaker explains that he was created by Vector Sigma to assist Breakaway; Skyfall is rendered incredulous, as he remembers Vector Sigma was damaged back on his Cybertron. The Caretaker explains that while that node of Vector Sigma was damaged, all other surviving nodes are functional, and that he is merely a terminal connected to the Vector Sigma gestalt. Caretaker requires Breakaway to help him input to continue his functions, but Breakaway realizes he cannot remember his purpose. Caretaker observes that Breakaway's CR chamber malfunctioned, and his memory back ups will be problematic until a process called "Reunification" is complete, with two of the others needed for the process. Question on what this Reunification is, the Caretaker explains that they must rejoin, their purpose as individuals over. Together, they and two others are a Prime, guardian of Rarefied Energon, which makes up the very substance of the Transformer race's bodies. Without it, no new Cybertronians can be created, and all will die. While they are in transit to the newly located position of the fourth component, the pool above, a reserve supply, will be siphoned off to another location. Landquake is still somewhat reluctant, unsure of this portal, but the supercomputer urges him on, unless all are condemned.

Topside, Megatron throws Bonecrusher aside, before being blasted in the chest by Optimus Prime. Grimlock attempts to join the fight, but Scavenger and Hightower knock him down. Soundwave continues firing on Rodimus, but Mirage sneaks behind him, invisible, and holds him at gunpoint. Back below, Breakaway is convinced to go through. Skyfall protests, not even sure if he knows what the Caretaker really is, but Landquake follows Breakaway, and urges Skyfall to come with him. Ramjet enters the chamber below, but activates a laser tripwire left by Cliffjumper, unleashing an explosion in his face. Soundwave has Astrotrain surrender, while Optimus and a recovered Grimlock team up against Megatron. Megatron orders a withdrawl, telling his nemesis that next time, the Autobots will not be so lucky. And below ground, Skyfall sighs, and enters the portal with Cliffjumper...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

• Characters mentioned but not seen include: Ramjet, Primus, a Prime and its fourth component, and Hook.

Continuity notes

• Ramjet (sorry, the other Ramjet) blew up Vector Sigma back in the first chapter of "Balancing Act".
• Hightower thinks they could build a new Hook from the spare parts obtained from Grimlock. Where exactly Hook and Mixmaster went is unknown; the bio for the Classics Devastator toy depicts Hightower with his personality mostly being that of Mixmaster with Hook's snobbishness, and it seems to be indicated here that Hightower is a renamed Mixmaster.

Transformers references

• Mirage is capable of turning invisible. This was not a power he had in the comic, which mostly followed his tech specs and depicted him as creating illusions; it was invented for the Sunbow The Transformers cartoon. His magazine profile and BotCon 2007 tech specs indicated that his upgraded form included the ability to turn invisible.
• CR Chambers are medical devices used to regenerate wounded Transformers, which were introduced in the Beast Wars cartoon.
• The Caretaker uses a space bridge to transport Skyfall and the others to the next component. Functionally, it resembles the space bridge seen in The Transformers cartoon, rather than the "suspension bridge"-type built by the Decepticons in the Marvel comics.

Errors

• Mirage calls Rodimus "Hot Rod" on page one.