"It's too dangerous for you to leave, Beachcomber. Let's try to make a deal with the Insecticons!" Optimus Prime says.

"So, you want to make a deal, do you?" a voice says nastily. It is Shrapnel. "I have heard every word you said, Optimus Prime. The electro-disrupter beamed your voices directly into my receiver."

"What do you want, Shrapnel?" demands Optimus Prime.

"Want? I want everything! I want the Sun-Pak, the humans, and you! I have brought Bombshell with me. Come here, Bombshell." Shrapnel gestures, and the Insecticon they call Bombshell approaches. His metallic skin shines in the dim light.

"My cerebro-shell will deliver you into our hands!" he tells Optimus Prime. "Once I have shot you with it, you and all the Autobots will be slaves of the Insecticons!"

"Never!" cries Optimus Prime. He starts to struggle. Shrapnel presses another button on the electro-dirupter. Almost immediately, Optimus Prime and the Autobots stop moving.

"He's turned it to full power!" whispers Sparkplug. He and Buster are hidden behind Optimus Prime. "The Autobots are helpless!"

"Then it's up to us," whispers Buster. "What if we grabbed the disrupter? Could you figure out how to work it?"

It seems to be a simple device," says Sparkplug. "Besides, it's our only chance."

Continue.