The audience was uncomforted with what Omega Scion had said.

"Cloning isn't a new norm, but it is less than ethnical." Ratchet commented.

Shockwave looks onto the concept. "It is essential though. For the sake of our race."

"Says the bot who turned us to monsters!" says Sludge.

Shockwave ignored it.

"Omega Scion."

"Very well."

The Orb of the Future glows for one more time in the future.

In the Darksyde, the Predacons were on an experiment...

"Nucleate the thermal coils!"

"Nucleating!"

"Activate mutator beams!"

"Activating."

"Boost particle ionator to triple capacity."

"Boosting!"

"Increase Chamber pressure!"

Scorponok pulled two levers together under strain "The circuits -- they're overloading!" he complained.

"Let them!" then Megatron turns to the chamber increasing significantly "Activate the excellerator FULL FORCE!"

Scorponok complied as the cells fused together with the experiment as Megatron looks with anticipation. When the chamber was done, it created a Utahraptor similar to Dinobot's Beast Mode.

"Success! Yess... I present to you a perfect Clone of Dinobot! And all I needed was a speck of that traitor's DNA. Very impressive." Megatron monologued with glee and confidence to know that his experiment is a success.

"Dinobot's DNA?" asked Breakdown.

"Dinobot was a former Predacon, Breakdown. Megatron would have kept any CNA traces of Dinobot in his ship." Shockwave replied.

"Cloning via DNA: viable." Soundwave notified.

"Viable indeed Soundwave. Lord Megatron, with your permission, we can resort to cloning to-"

"Create more Cybertronians, Shockwave? I will permit it. But I will ensure Soundwave keeps a close eye on you in case you perform it with... unethical methods."

"Yes, Lord Megatron."

The Autobots were worried. At least Megatron approved it on the condition that Shockwave wasn't to do any shady methods to make clones. But they were still worried.

"But, uh, what do we need him for?" asked Scorponok.

"He'll provide us, shall we say, an unfair advantage, by infiltrating the Maximal base and shutting down their defense grid!" Megatron explained as he manuevered around the Dinobot clone "Of course, he can't transform but I doubt it will be necessary."

"Fool. It is necessary. Without a transformation cog, the clone cannot be distinguished from the real Dinobot." spat Shockwave. 

"You certain this zombiebot can pull it off?" asked his so-called second in command.

"Not only will I pull it off, I'll chew it up and spit it out!" the clone retorted.

"Excellent!" applauded Megatron. "Now it's Terrorsaur's job to eliminate the real Dinobot. Yess. Then I'll send in the Clone!"

Back at the Axalon's outskirts, where Dinobot had been assigned guard duty to keep an eye out for Predacons.

"By the Inferno I'm bored." he complained. "There's never a Predacon around when you need one."

"I know what you mean, Dinobro. I've always felt the same way." Smokescreen added.

"So would I. Air patrol's been nothing less but a chore." Air Raid said.

"Tch, you kids are all about looking for crazy, spark-threatening thrills." Ironhide sneered.

"Better that than you pushing data bytes for a living, grandpa." Warpath jabbed.

"At last. Now to give our treacherous friend a little motivation. Terrosaur- TERRORIZE!"

Terrorsaur transformed, then fired at Dinobot to gain his attention, enough for the ex-Predacon to spot him just as he yawned, knocking Dinobot to a boulder. When he spotted Terrorsaur flying in the distance, he revered in battle-glory "AT LAST, AN END TO THE BOREDOM. DINOBOT -- MAXIMIZE!" then transforms, firing his laser beams continously at Terrorsaur.

"Beast Mode!" he said panickingly and flies away from Dinobot.

Angered, Dinobot called out "Coward! You won't escape me that easily." (Bumblebee: Slow down, you're running to their cyber-net!)

"Some warriors are always willing to throw away their lives for even a trivial matter of battle." Ultra Magnus commented, knowing too well that Dinobot would walk into a trap.

Dinobot gave chase, pursuing Terrorsaur to a cave under a mountain, then transforms, preparing his sword.

"Where are you my old comrade? Come out and we'll have a nice little chat!" he taunts looking for Terrorsaur.

Terrorsaur shows his face... just right above Dinobot.

"I have nothing to say... EXCEPT GOODBYE!!!" Terrorsaur narrowly dodged a laser beam that could have blown his head off, and flies out of the cave, then transforms to Robot Mode, where he unleashes his shoulder cannons and fires at the cave, causing a massive cave-in that buries Dinobot alive.

"No!" he shouted as he was buried deep within the cave-in.

The Autobot higher-ups shook their heads. They wished Dinobot would have known better than just chase a Predacon just to satisfy his urge for battle.

"I kinda hope he isn't dead. I mean, we've suffered worse than that, right Magnus?" Wheeljack commented.

"Sure we did, soldier." Ultra Magnus commented.

Prime smirked slightly. Predaking just rolled his optics.

"Rust in peace, 'old comrade'!" then he hailed his leader "Terrorsaur to Megatron. I've taken care of Dinobot. You may proceed with Phase Two." then flies back, having accomplished his task.

"Acknowledged. Megatron out." then Megatron turned to the clone "It is time for you to do your worst. Go!"

"As you command, mighty Megatron." the clone replied then marched out of the Darksyde. He later arrived at the Axalon and warned Primal "Optimus -- the Predacons... They're mounting a full-scale assault." feigning exhaustion.

"From where -- ?" asked the leader of the Maximals.

"Grid Omega." Primal checked the computer to scan for any Predacon activity on Grid Omega, but he found none. Suspecting it to be a Predacon sabotage...

"There's nothing on the scanners. Rattrap, check the Grids around Omega."

Having been nearby the Grid, Rattrap patrolled around Omega for any Predacons, but he found none around the perimeter. "Peaceful as an R-Chamber. Looks like ole Chopperface is seeing things."

"That's a clone and he's misdirecting you!" Jetfire commented.

"Easy. They don't know that yet." Silverbolt replied.

"NO! THEY'RE THERE I TELL YOU." insisted 'Dinobot'.

"They could be using some kind of stealth device." Primal wondered then replied "Rhinox and Cheetor are close, I'll have them move in." then he turned to 'Dinobot' "You and Rattrap go back to where you saw them and get a fix on their position."

"There's no time for that." argued the clone "If you don't stop them now, they'll overrun the base. You must lead a counterattack at once."

"He's baiting ya, monkey boy. Don't listen to him." Bulkhead commented.

"No, you should definitely listen to him. I think he's telling the truth." Breakdown retorted.

Both rivals glared at each other, but were soon held back by their comrades.

"Sentinel can handle them. And there's no reason to fight a battle we can avoid. Better get moving." Primal repeated the order.

"But, but --" 'Dinobot' was cut off by Primal insisting "That's an order." forcing 'Dinobot to comply and leave the Axalon.

"Well? Ya coming -- ?" asked an impatient Rattrap as soon as 'Dinobot' caught up with him. "So where's these Predacons? It's as quiet as an oiled bearing out here."

"They should be right over that ridge." said 'Dinobot'.

"Well, then we better transform. RATTRAP -- Maximize." then transforms, but he notices 'Dinobot' not following him in transformation so he asked "What you waitin' for, microbrain? Settle into the metal."

"Optimus said fix their position, not engage in battle. We can do that better in Beast Mode." proposed 'Dinobot'.

"Oh boy, the clone's just gonna do that just to backstab the rat."

"Thanks for the tip, Captain Obvious."

Wheeljack shook his head as Knockout and his former colleagues laugh.

In front of a log bridging two long gaps, down below was a river of lava "Whoa, man! talk about your Inferno!"

"Let's go quickly. Why don't you lead the way?"

Rattrap went ahead but 'Dinobot' began to kick the log, shaking up the makeshift bridge's structure.

"Hey, what are you doin'-- ?!" Rattrap asked, exasperated.

"I should think it would be obvious. Even to a vermin like you." then 'Dinobot' kicked off the log, sending Rattrap falling to the river of lava screaming. The rat Maximal was fortunate to know a narrow gap had stopped the fall.

"Oh, man! Just knew I smelled a rat. And it wasn't even me." he began to climb, cursing "Just wait till I --" he was interrupted when he smelled smoke underneath the log. The structure was weakening and he realized his doom as soon as the log split in half and he went down with it to the lava. "NOOOOOOO!"

Arcee paled.

Rattrap landed face first in a narrow obsidian platform, but it was flowing along with the lava.

"Oh, man Gimme a break!!!!" he panicked out of fear.

Meanwhile, Dinobot had managed to dig out of the cave-in with his spinning claw, then looked around for his old friend, but when there was none, he climbed out of the pile and walked back to the Axalon.

Back at the Axalon...

"We've scoped Grid Omega ... no sign of Preds or anything else." radioed Rhinox. Confused, Primal pondered "Odd. Rattrap and Dinobot should be there by now. Better have Cheetor check it out --" but was cut off when 'Dinobot' arrived, seemingly exhausted.

"Dinobot!"

"Optimus!!!" 

"What happened?" Primal asked.

'Dinobot' replied "We... We were ambushed... Megatron is... is using a stealth device, just as you suspected."

"Where's Rattrap?" asked Primal.

"Trapped. You must leave at once if you're to save him. Coordinates 3-9-6." 'Dinobot' provided. Primal turned to the computer to calculate said coordinates.

"I'll get you to the R-Chamber first." Primal offered.

"No! There's no time. I can make it. You go." retorted 'Dinobot'.

"Oh boy, I'm putting Sentinel on automatic. When you've repaired yourself, take over the scanners and com-links."

"Of course. Good luck --" as soon as Primal left the Axalon "Fool!"

"Something tells me this isn't going well as that Clone thinks." Perceptor commented.

[Perimeter shield online. Sentinel now active.]

"Optimus will rue the day he left this Clone alone!!! Now what was it Megatron said to do? Oh yes." the clone attempted to access Sentinel, but he was stopped with...

[PLEASE ENTER DEACTIVATION CODE.] replied Sentinel.

"Deactivation code? Megatron said nothing about that."

Prime felt gladdened that his possible descendant had managed to leave a code in case of security measures.

"Well, at least Primal left a code that clone doesn't know."

"Certainly, Ratchet."

"Oh well I'm sure I can figure it out." he pressed a series of buttons to guess the code "There, that should do it." and submits it, but...

[Code incorrect!] then Sentinel scans 'Dinobot' [Scanning user. User identified as Dinobot, Beast Mode.]

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm Dinobot." (Jetfire: No, you're not.) "And I order you to deactivate." but Sentinel doesn't detect a reliable signature in 'Dinobot'

[Maximal energy signature not present. Please enter deactivation code.]

He pressed another series of guesses but [Code incorrect!] then tries touching the Sentinel interface, but it responds by zapping through his circuits, incapacitating the clone.

"Megatron said this would be easy!" 'Dinobot' complained.

Meanwhile...

"Any sign of Rattrap or the Predacons?" Primal asked after regrouping with Cheetor to Rattrap's last position.

"No Preds but I picked up Rattrap's scent a few minutes ago. It ends here." Cheetor replied then asks "You don't think he-" but he was cut off by Primal.

"Let's hope not. Rattrap's a pain in the circuits but I'd hate to lose him. We better keep searching." Primal proposed.

Down below, Rattrap struggled to keep balance of the platform he was in as if he was surfing. He swerved left to avoid an obstacle but clinged on that side to avoid falling off, then when it listed to maintain balance, he went back at the centre. He was lucky that it didn't splash lava once it fell down to multiple falls too short to make a splash fall, but once it curved around the bend, it revealed the end, sending Rattap to a panic.

"Oh man, you gotta be kidding me!"

Once he saw the end which leads to a much larger fall, he transformed "Rattrap - MAXIMIZE!" then leaped through multiple rocks to reach the gap before he fell to the lava, closely escaping death.

"Oh, boy!... I was almost deep fried rat!" relieved Rattap then he climbed up.

"Quite fortunate that he escaped death once more." Prime commented.

"Still that was cool! I've seen humans do that when they're at the beaches." Knockout said.

"Well, it's time to blow this joint." Rattrap pulled out an explosive, threw it under a rock then held on to it, just as the explosive detonates from underneath, sending Rattrap propelling in the air like a rocket scientist.

"Heh, clever rat. I should definitely do the same if I was stuck in that situation." Swindle said.

"But you can fly."

"There's more ways to escape a death trap than just flying, Vortex."

"What was that?" both Cheetor and Primal moved to investigate the noise, finding Rattrap barely climbing up the edge.

"You alright?" asked Primal.

"Yeah, I will be." Rattrap gained his bearings "Soon as I get my hands on that stinking Dinobot. Ya know, that bolt-head tried to scrap me."

"I wouldn't bother with this. He doesn't know about the clone yet." Ratchet said.

"But Dinobot's the one who told us you were trapped?" Cheetor said.

"Oh yeah, sure he did. To cover his own big butt! I tried to tell you ...once a Pred always a Pred! Now where is he?" Rattrap asked looking around as if Dinobot was accompanying Primal and Cheetor.

"I left him back at the base... alone." Primal replied.

"Well ... That's just 'Prime.'" groused Rattrap.

"Whoa there rat. You can't just copy your leader!" Warpath commented.

Back at the Axalon...

"Sentinel, stand down..." Dinobot ordered.

[Perimeter Shield deactivated.] Sentinel's defenses stand down, as the real Dinobot walked back to the Axalon.

"Yes, I've done it." then the clone hailed his leader "Clone One to Megatron."

"I kinda hope the Maxies get there in time to know what's going on." Air Raid commented.

"Megatron here. Report."

"Phase Three accomplished. Defense grid deactivated."

"And the Maximals?"

"Off on a wild vermin chase. The base is yours for the taking."

"Excellent! Yess... I'll be there shortly. Megatron out!"

The clone was about to abandon the Axalon, but he saw a mirror image of him. After quite a while, he found out that it wasn't a image and headbutts him in the chest.

"What in the Inferno are you!?!" asked the real Dinobot.

"What you might have been had you not betrayed Megatron!" the clone retorted.

"Dinobot - MAXIMIZE!" the real Dinobot transformed, menacingly raising his weapons against his clone and approaching him with ferocity.

"Oh, no..." the clone reeled back.

"Well what are you waiting for? Transform, so I can finish you with honor!" the real Dinobot demanded.

"I ... I can't." he replied.

"Told ya that t-cog was necessary!" no one can determine who said that.

 "Of course. You're nothing but a clone. Well, far be it from me to fight an inferior foe." as soon as Dinobot transforms, the clone whips him with his tail, sending Dinobot flying to the Axalon's glass interior.

"Fortunately I don't share your stupid sense of honor."

"Come on Real Dino! Get that slagged-up clone and show him who's the boss!" Warpath cheered.

Dinobot regained his bearings to challenge and face the clone, but the latter started throwing a chair at him. He growled and dodged more the clone threw at him. He stood up and pressed a button which hails the clone close to him, then kicks him against the computer. The clone had his last laugh at smashing a periscope against the real Dinobot, knocking him to the ground.

"Megatron will reward me for this." the clone gloated then walked away, but the real Dinobot was not done yet.

Warpath smirked.

"Defenseless and completely unguarded." Megatron commented in Beast Form just outside at the Axalon. "It almost seems too easy..." then walks in alone. Seemingly, the clone walks down to meet with Megatron.

"Megatron. Where are the others?"

"Preparing an ambush for those Maximal fools. Then when they return here I'll finish them with their own defense grid."

"Your brilliance is an inspiration to me." the clone gloated.

"You are a most enchanting creature. I may just clone the rest of my troops." Megatron replied.

"Oh come on. Our Megatron wasn't that arrogant." Onslaught moaned.

"Let it be Onslaught. It will serve as that fool's downfall." Megatron replied.

"And now my Leader, the prize is yours." Dinobot allowed Megatron to pass, and once he is close, he commanded "Sentinel, activate Perimeter Shield."

Sentinel complies and the shield activates, repelling Megatron away from the Axalon before he can get any closer. He stood up in Robot Mode and retorts "So you ungrateful clone, you're as treacherous as the real Dinobot."

"Correction. I AM the real Dinobot." he transforms to Robot Mode.

Megatron laughs "That was quite a cunning thrill for Dinobot! Tricking my descendant into believing that he was the clone! What a wonder."

"So you managed to best my clone after all. A pity. He was such a loyal fellow. Unlike you --" he fired his fusion cannon as Dinobot fired his laser eyes. It seemed that Dinobot was gaining the upper hand at least, but he managed to hold his ground, kneeling, his weapon used as a stand, then his beam managed to overpower Dinobot's for a time until a missile flies by and breaks the stalemate. The Maximals had arrived.

"Game's over Megatron." they all readied their weapons at Megatron.

"Well, it appears my revenge must be postponed until next we meet..." he fired at the Maximals then flees, running as quick as he can from their gunfire, even if he took quite a hit from them.

"Yeah, you better run you yellow-plated coward!" said by the young Autobots.

"I wonder, what happened to that ambush he planned?" asked Wheeljack.

"Probably just went around another route, Jacky." Bulkhead said.

"It's their territory. They would know the lay better than the Preds." Jetfire