The Star Harvester.
The machine built to consume suns.
In the lore, The Fallen constructed it on Earth in 17,000 B.C. The other six Primes sacrificed themselves to hide the Matrix of Leadership—the activation key—in a tomb made of their own bodies.
If Starscream is circling Egypt, he's looking for the Matrix.
Or maybe he's looking for the Harvester itself.
Nathan's processor whirred. Starscream isn't an archaeologist. If he's digging in the sand, it's because someone told him where to look.
The Fallen.
It was the only explanation. In the movies, Starscream served The Fallen after Megatron's death. He must have established contact already.
So, Starscream works for The Fallen. Scalpel works for Soundwave. And I work for... myself.
Nathan felt a strange sense of calm. The board was set. He just had to avoid being a pawn.
"Lord Scalpel," Nathan said, keeping his voice neutral. "I suspect Starscream is looking for ancient Cybertronian artifacts. Perhaps weapons."
"Weapons? Ha!" Scalpel scoffed. "Knowing him, he probably thinks he can find a scepter to wave around."
"But," Scalpel added, his tone serious, "there is another possibility. Megatron might be buried there."
Nathan almost laughed. Wrong continent, doc. Megatron is chilling in the Arctic.
But he kept silent. "Indeed. That is a valid theory."
"So, will you do it?" Scalpel pressed. "Will you watch him for me?"
"I will keep my sensors open," Nathan promised. I'll keep them open, but I won't necessarily report anything.
"Good." Scalpel seemed satisfied. "Now, get back on the table. The test isn't finished."
Nathan climbed back onto the medical slab. As the cables reconnected to his chest, he decided to cash in some of his new political capital.
"Lord Scalpel," he asked, staring up at the ceiling. "Since we are being honest... I have a question."
"Speak."
"How can I evolve?"
Scalpel paused his typing. He rotated his head to look at the drone.
"Evolve?"
"Yes. I am a Middle-Tier warrior with an Energy Core. I am... artificial."
Nathan placed a hand over his chest.
"How do I replace this battery with a real Spark? How do I become a true Cybertronian?"
It was the question that mattered most. An Energy Core was just fuel. A Spark was a soul, a power source that connected to the AllSpark and allowed for infinite growth. Without a Spark, he capped at Middle-Tier. With a Spark, he could become a Prime.
"Ze-ze~ Ambitious little glitch, aren't you?"
Scalpel cackled, hopping onto Nathan's chest.
"Most drones are happy just to be online. But you... you want a soul."
"I want power," Nathan corrected. "A Spark is power."
"True. Very true."
Scalpel tapped his chin claw thoughtfully.
"To answer your question... there are two ways to obtain a Spark."
Two ways?
Nathan's optics widened. He knew about the AllSpark. What was the second method?
"The first way," Scalpel explained, "is obvious. The AllSpark. The Cube. If you touch it, it can bestow life. It can turn raw metal into a Spark."
"But the Cube is lost. So that method is... unlikely."
Not unlikely, Nathan thought. Just difficult.
"And the second way?" Nathan asked eagerly.
Scalpel leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"The second way... is Cannibalism."
Nathan's cooling fans stopped.
"Cannibalism?"
"Yes. You rip the Spark out of a living Cybertronian and shove it into your own chest."
Scalpel made a violent ripping motion with his claws.
"But it's not that simple. A Spark is unique to its host. To make it yours, you must merge with it. You must overpower the original consciousness. It is dangerous. Painful. And often fatal."
"But if you succeed..." Scalpel's eyes gleamed. "You inherit their power. Their memories. Their rank."
Nathan lay in silence, processing this.
Method 1: The Holy Grail (AllSpark).
Method 2: Highlander (There can be only one).
"I see," Nathan said softly. "So if I want to become a Commander... I just have to eat a Commander's Spark."
"Theoretically," Scalpel grinned. "But try to eat Starscream, and you'll just get indigestion. And a hole in your head."
"Of course," Nathan replied.
But in the darkness of his mind, a new objective was added to his list.
Find the AllSpark.
If that fails... find a Spark to steal.