Chapter 007: Tracking

Wang Bo was unimpressed by Optimus Prime's idea. In his view, Sentinel Prime was still sleeping on the far side of the moon, and only when Optimus awakened him would Sentinel cause trouble.

If that was the case, it would be better to simply not awaken him and let Sentinel Prime remain asleep.

But Optimus Prime's words clearly indicated he intended to awaken Sentinel Prime and then settle the matter with him.

It was completely unnecessary.

That said, everyone has their own thoughts. Optimus Prime chose not to avoid the issue but to confront it head-on. In a sense, that was Prime's true nature.

As expected of Optimus Prime.

Even Xiao Qing couldn't help but praise Optimus Prime.

Optimus Prime accepted the compliment and said, "We should act now. Before Starscream discovers Megatron, we must head to the Hoover Dam and destroy him."

Though it felt a bit like taking advantage of someone's misfortune, in other words, it could be called... hitting a dog when it's down!

Optimus Prime was clearly not as rigid as imagined, insisting on a fair fight with the enemy.

The conflict between him and Megatron was irreconcilable. Since that was the case, it was better to take advantage of Megatron's predicament, kick him while he was down, and finish him off.

At least it could prevent the tragic outcome of his comrade Jazz being torn in half by Megatron.

Optimus Prime's proposal gained everyone's approval. They all transformed into vehicles, ready to race to the Hoover Dam.

Bumblebee quickly stopped his enthusiastic comrades and said, "Calm down, partners. Actually, there's a better way to get to the Hoover Dam."

Optimus Prime was taken aback and transformed back from a vehicle into an Autobot. "What is the better way, Bumblebee?"

Bumblebee turned to look at Wang Bo.

Wang Bo nodded, raised his hand, and began to draw a circle. A series of electric sparks burst forth in the air, and then a portal leading to the Hoover Dam base was opened by Wang Bo.

On the other side of the portal was a huge laboratory.

However, to Wang Bo's surprise, the laboratory was empty, with no one inside.

He stepped through the portal into the laboratory and found that most of the equipment was still there, but there were no people. Looking around, Wang Bo realized that not only the laboratory but the entire base was largely deserted.

But most of the experimental equipment remained, along with some documents.

Only the people were missing, as well as Megatron, who should have been there.

"Where is this place?" Optimus Prime stepped through the portal into the laboratory and looked around.

Bumblebee stood beside him and said, "This is the Hoover Dam base. The AllSpark and Megatron were both here, but now there's no one."

Wang Bo said, "Clearly, our last intrusion here, when we took the AllSpark, alerted them. So these people have already left. Apart from Megatron and some essentials, most things were left behind. It seems they left in a hurry."

Optimus Prime nodded, agreeing with Wang Bo's assessment. After linking into the base's internal network, he saw footage from the base's monitors showing the evacuation.

"They've taken Megatron with them, but humans don't know how dangerous Megatron is. We must find him as soon as possible," Optimus Prime said with concern.

Ironhide asked, "But where should we look for Megatron?"

Ratchet couldn't help but look at Optimus Prime, feeling that this was the moment for Optimus to step up.

Optimus Prime said, "Given the speed of humans and the haste of their retreat, they must have left many clues. Find those clues. We must locate Megatron before he awakens."

Jazz, Ironhide, Bumblebee, and Ratchet nodded in succession and began searching the base for clues.

Before long, they actually found some leads.

Ratchet discovered that after leaving, the humans had split into two groups: one heading east and the other west. But he couldn't determine whether Megatron had been taken east or west.

Optimus Prime decisively said, "We'll split into two teams. The first team will be led by me, with Ironhide and Jazz following me."

"The second team will be led by Mr. Wang Bo, with Bumblebee and Ratchet accompanying him. Whichever team finds Megatron, we can use Mr. Wang Bo's space portal technology to regroup quickly."

"I agree." Bumblebee never questioned Optimus Prime.

And Ratchet, being a loyal follower of Optimus Prime, naturally had no objections. He nodded and said, "I agree too."

Ironhide and Jazz had no objections either.

So the group split into two teams and followed the traces of the human retreat.

Wang Bo and Xiao Qing rode in Bumblebee's sports car, heading east. In the blink of an eye, their speed reached three hundred miles per hour. Ratchet followed closely behind Bumblebee, keeping up without falling behind.

Logically, given Ratchet's vehicle model, it shouldn't be able to go that fast.

But the thing is, Ratchet wasn't a car made by humans; he was a Cybertronian mechanical lifeform. Three hundred miles per hour was nothing—four hundred or even five hundred would be no problem.

No matter how fast Bumblebee drove, Ratchet could keep up.

The two Autobots, one after the other, chased from night until nearly dawn before they caught up with the convoy that had evacuated from the Hoover Dam base.

The convoy had a long, serpentine line of vehicles, including an extended truck in the middle. If Wang Bo guessed correctly, Megatron was lying inside that extended truck.

He activated his X-ray vision and instantly saw through the interior of the convoy.

Sure enough, inside the extended truck, Megatron lay quietly. The truck had been modified, with cold air spraying continuously from various corners of the cargo compartment.

Megatron was still frozen and unable to move.

Around the truck, a group of armed vehicles provided escort, and two helicopters circled in the sky, ensuring the convoy's safety.

Wang Bo's spirits lifted. He said, "Bumblebee, tell Optimus Prime we've found Megatron."

Bumblebee immediately reported to Optimus Prime.

Optimus Prime reported his location.

After confirming the position, Wang Bo casually opened a portal behind him.

A few seconds later, Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and Jazz stepped through the portal one by one, falling in behind Ratchet.

Wang Bo closed the portal.

Optimus Prime accelerated, overtaking Ratchet and then Bumblebee, becoming the lead vehicle of the convoy.

Optimus Prime was about to speed up and pursue when, at that moment, an F-22 Raptor jet fighter suddenly flew in from the horizon and dropped two missiles at the convoy ahead.

Boom! Boom!