Elsewhere, Unicron summoned Galvatron and told him that he had failed. The Autobots had made a fool of him. The Matrix has not been destroyed, and Ultra Magnus still lived. He ordered Galvatron to seek out the Autobots on the Planet of Junk.
Meanwhile, with most of their ship gone, Ultra Magnus and the other band of Autobots attempted a crash landing on the rugged planet of Junk. The crew recovered quickly and at once began to do some repairs. Daniel tried on his father's old exo-suit and assisted the Autobots.
The inhabitants of the land- the Junkions observed the strangers from a distance. Suddenely, both Junkions and Autobots were startled by the sound of jets. Galvatron and his fleet of marauding Decepticons descened upon the land. The Autobots scattered, and dodged for cover. Galvatron aboard Cyclonus quickly detonated the Autobot ship with a few rockets.
The Autobots made a fighting retreat down a long valley. The cave formed by junk on either side gave some protection from Decepticon fire. Ultra Magnus brought up the rear. He waited until the Autobots were clear, then fired his weapon to bring down some of the junk as a barrier behind him.
Now he stood alone before the fury of the Decepticon attack. From a ridge nearby, Galvatron watched. Ultra Magnus opened his chest compartment and took out the Matrix. He tried desparately to open the bright glowing object but a special shield prevented its power from being released.
"Prime!"he cried "You said the Matrix would light our darkest hour!"
"Magnus, I want the Matrix!" Galvatron demanded.
"Never!" Magnus cried defiantly, believing the Matrix would protect him from laser rockets.
But it didn't. Ultra Magnus was blown to pieces by the sweeps at Galvatron's command. Galvatron gained hold of the Matrix.
"Unicron, my master, with this I shall make you my slave."
As the Autobots regrouped, they discovered to their horror the smoking remains of their leader.
"First Prime. Now Ultra Magnus" cried Arcee "What do we do?"
Before any of them could respond, there was a roar of motor cycle engines. The native Junkions attacked the visitors riding their motor cycles. The Autobots transformed and fled, but the Junkions popped from beneath the Junk like crapgrass to trap the Autobots.
In the midst of the confrontation however, a strange ship approached. Autobots and Junkions dropped their guard alike. Familiar faces peered through the ports:
"It's Hot Rod!" Arcee cried excitedly.
"And Kup and the Dinobots!" said Daniel.
The Junkions watched suspiciously as the Autobots disembarked.
But Hot Rod had learnt his lesson from Quintessa and used the universal greeting to convey to the Junkions the Autobots meant no harm.
The Junkions turned out to be a friendly people, and they returned Hot Rod's greeting. With the mis-understanding cleared up, the Junkions helped the Autobots bring Ultra Magnus back to life. Things now seemed better for the Autobots now they have a leader. But Hot Rod realised all this was nothing because Galvatron had stolen the Matrix of light. Without it, the Autobots were doomed. Wreck-Far, leader of the Junkions vowed to enlist his people to help the Autobots persue Galvatron, winning back the Matrix to destroy Unicron.
Go to Part10.