This Evil Reborn

• Writer - Simon Furman
• Penciler - Guido Guidi
• Inker - Elaine To
• Colorist - David Cheung
• Lettering - Ben Lee

Summary

  Ten years after the defeat of Unicron, Cybertron is united and rebuilt in peace, but Optimus Prime remains uneasy. He warns the Cybertronian High Council to prepare for war despite their current peace, but the Council ignores his advice, reluctant to jepoardize their newfound peace by inciting hostility.

  Elsewhere in Cyber City, Tidal Wave leads a group of disgruntled Decepticons in thrashing a refinerey plant. They are greeted by Starscream, who mocks the toothless remains of the Decepticons, but is quickly silenced by the arrival of Scorponok. Angry at Starscream's dismissal of their ranks, Scorponok blasts him into a grinding pit; Starscream is killed, but not before Tidal Wave loses a leg. Ignoring his condition, Scorponok leads the Decepticons through an energy gateway to catch an appointment...

  At the Mini-Con Village Six-Beta, Optimus Prime meets up with Over-Run and his newest invention, the Omnicons. Over-Run explains that the Omnicons are a new evolutionary path he has been exploring, and when Prime shares his concern that Unicron may still be alive, Over-Run cryptically suggests that he ask Cybertron itself for the answers.

  Beyond the boundaries of space, the near-dead husk of Unicron drifts. Scorponok and his Decepticons arrive via the gateway, where they are greeted by Alpha-Quintesson, a metallic being of claws and tentacles. The skeptical Tidal Wave is presented as a new member of Unicron's army, but quickly becomes a believer when his injuries are healed and he is infused with newfound power!

  Back on Cybertron, Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, and Ironhide arrive at the Southern Polar Peninsula. Following Over-Run's directions, Optimus proceeds to a specific uplink platform, where he makes contact with an ancient Cybertronian spirit, the Sig-Omega. In this vision, Sig-Omega reveals to Optimus Prime that Unicron is alive, and shows him the Decepticons conferring with Alpha-Quintesson. Prime is then contacted by Megatron's spirit, who says he is a prisoner in Unicron's spark core. In exchange for his freedom, Megatron will help Prime defeat Unicron, and warns Optimus to turn his attentions back to Earth.

  As the vision fades, Optimus realizes that Unicron is after a rich seam of Energon on Earth, and the Autobots must prevent him from getting it. And as Scorponok and the Decepticons return to Cybertron, the Alpha-Quintesson is joined by the four horsemen of Unicron, who ride off to bring the apocalypse!