Prime Rising

Chapter Four: Facing Your Demons

Team Rodimus was stunned. They had expected only one mad super-Decepticon, and now it seemed they had two to contend with.

"Deal with the underlings." Galvatron said to Scourge. "I'll handle their sorry excuse for a leader myself!"

"As you wish." Hissed Scourge, baring his claws.

As the two approached, Rodimus decided to put the plan into action.

"Autobots, scatter!" He called, activating his makeshift jetpack. His team transformed into vehicle mode and peeled off to the east.

"Oh no, you don't!" Snarled Galvatron, taking to the air himself. "You can't get away that easily!"

Scourge too soared after his quarry.

"That's right, run!" He said gleefully. "It's no fun, otherwise!"

As Rodimus jetted into space, he made sure Galvatron was following him. When the mad Decepticon came close enough, he turned and unleashed a blast of energy from his gauntlets, which had been fashioned from starship thrusters.

"Aargh!" Roared Galvatron, as the energy scorched his chest. "You'll pay for that, Autobot!"

"Pay?" Inquired Rodimus, firing a length of cable topped by a magnet at his opponant. "How about if I charge it?"

The instant the magnet struck Galvatron, the cable unleashed a burst of electricity, courtesy of the tesla dynamo bolted to Rodimus' back.

Shrugging off the electric onslaught, Galvatron hissed "Your pathetic attacks only succeed in increasing my rage, Autobot!"

Galatron jetted towards Rodimus, mace in hand, ready to smash the Autobots head into scrap. But Rodimus was ready. He grabbed the mace on the downward swing, using Galvatron's own momentum to throw him into an asteroid.

"How did you..." Gasped Galvatron.

"Diffusion." Smile Rodimus. "The art of using your opponent's force against them. I figured you'd be much less sturdy up here then on solid ground."

"Clever," Admitted Galvatron. "But not clever enough!"

Catching Rodimus offguard, Galvatron swung his mace into the Autobot's side, sending him spinning into space.

Back on the asteroid, Scourge was using his built-in tracking technology to hunt down the Autobots, taking maniacal pleasure in doing so.

"You can run, but you can't hide!" He cackled, before his laughter was cut short by Brawn slamming into him. The smallest Autobot had been thrown straight at Scourge by Ironhide, knocking the Decepticon onto the ground, and producing a dust-filled crater.

"Who's hiding, fangface?" Called Ironhide, before Brawn's prone body was flung out of the dust cloud, head first.

Scourge emerged from the dust, the smile wiped from his face.

"The time for laughter is over, it seems." He seethed. "Now comes the time for screaming!"

"My thoughts exactly!" Yelled Hot Shot, jumping from beyond a rock pile and engulfing the Decepticon in flames.

While Scourge raised his arms to shield himself from the flames, Red Alert came at him from behind. Producing an Energon scalpel from his left arm, she slashed at one of the Decepticon's legs, bringing him to his knees. Activating his armor, Ironhide charged at Scourge, pummeling him with punch after punch. Scourge retaliated by slashing him with his claws, but they were unable to penetrate the armor coating. After striking Scourge with a punch hard enough to make him stagger back, Ironhide kneeled on one knee, allowing the recovered Brawn to use him as a ramp for his vehicle mode. Flying towards the Decepticon, Brawn transformed into robot mode, delivering a powerful double kick that sent Scourge straight into a small mountain, which promptly collapsed on him.

"Did we get 'im?" Asked Hot Shot hopefully. "Please tell me we got 'im."

"Course we did." Smirked Brawn. "We scrapped that slag-sucker!"

"You know it, pal!" Cheered Ironhide. "We didn't even need the plan boss-bot cooked up!"

"I'm not so sure." Said Red Alert. "If he's anywhere near as tough as Galvatron, then logic would dictate..."

Red Alert was cut off by the sound of shifting rubble. Scourge burst out of the fallen mountain, angrier then ever. Without a word, he activated the laser cannon atop his head, letting loose a downpour of energy blasts.

"Let's move it, people!" Red Alert called, as they all transformed to vehicle mode and sped off. "Looks like we might need that plan after all!"

Meanwhile, Rodimus was receiving the beating of his life. The vicious Galvatron had capitalised on his moment of arrogance and complacency, and was raining down blow after blow. As Rodimus tried block and parry the hailstrom of attacks, he thought to himself 'Well, guess this is it. The last in a long line of mistakes. My final, greatest failure. What was I thinking, trying to stop Galvatron alone? Trying to put a ridiculous, hopeless plan into motion? I'm not worthy to be a Prime...'

As one of Galvatron's blows sent him flying, Rodimus saw his team in desperate battle with Scourge on the asteroid. They were losing, yet they were doing their best to put their part of the plan, his plan, into action. Despite everything, they still believed in their commander. Rodimus cursed himself. 'I've been such a fool. If Galvatron wins, he'll have free reign to attack Cybertron, and I can't let that happen! My team believes in me. They trust my judgment. They're laying their lives on the line for my plan. If they can have faith in me, then so can I!

Using his jet pack to right himself, Rodimus saw Galvatron coming right at him. Dodging the Decepticon's assault, he called out "If you want me, come and get me!" and soared towards a black spot in the distance.

"There is no escape, Autobot!" Spat Galvatron, flying after him. "I'll chase you to the ends of the universe!"

"That's what I'm counting on." Chuckled Rodimus softly.

Back on the asteroid, Scourge was gleefully chasing the retreating Autobots.

"Running away, cowards?" He taunted, spotting him heading towards a cave, presumabley so they could hide from. Leaping into the air, Scourge transformed into vehicle mode, beat them there, then transformed back into robot mode and landing in front of the cave mouth. "I think not!"

The Autobots looked at each, sharing an unspoken thought. Then, Ironhide charged, armoring up as he did, and threw a punch. Scourge caught the punch and spun Ironhide around, fling him into Red Alert. Brawn leapt at him, swinging both fists, but was caught in midair, and brutally drop-kicked.

Scourge turned to Hot Shot, who had not budged. "Your turn." He sneered.

"No." Hot Shot smiled activating his flamethrowers. "Your turn."

Hot Shot let loose two fireballs, which streaked right past Scourge, into the mouth of the cave.

"You need to work on your aim." Smirked Scourge.

"Wrong." Hot Shot smirked back. "My aim's dead on."

As Scourge pondered the Autobot's statement, he quickly became aware of a glow from behind him. Turning, he received the full force of the mine's ignited Energon scraps in the face. The explosion tore through his weakened body, tearing him apart, and sending the pieces flying into space.

"Don't go all to pieces." Chuckled Hot Shot from behind the rock he had taken cover by. "It's just goodbye!"

Meanwhile, Rodimus was leading Galvatron towards a black hole. Utilising a risky, "slingshot" manouever, he intended to trick the mad Decepticon into flying into the event horizon and getting sucked in. 'It should work.' Rodimus thought. 'Galvatron may be a better flier, but he's a lot heavier then I am.'

As Galvatron neared, Rodimus picked up speed, heading for the black hole's rim. Galvatron had never seen or heard of a black hole before, so he had no way of knowing what he was flying towards.

"Foolish Autobot!" He snarled arrogantly. "You cannot escape me!"

As Galvatron increased his speed, Rodimus put his plan into action. He jetted into the black hole at just the right angle, coming in just an inch close to the event horizon, the point of no return, then turning and increasing his speed to maximum. As Galvatron followed, he turned too late and found himself being pulled in.

"No!" Screeched Galvatron, grabbing the jet booster around Rodimus' ankle servo. "Whatever that is, I won't go in alone!"

"Yes... You... Will!" Groaned Rodimus, reaching down and deactivating the magnetic clamp that held the booster in place.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Roared Galvatron, as he fell towards the center of the black hole.

Pushing the cobbled-together jet pack to it's limits, Rodimus managed to escape the gravitational force, returning to normal space. As he landed back on the asteroid, he found his team cheering for him.

"Way to go, boss-bot!" Called Hot Shot.

"Plan worked like a charm!" Cheered Ironhide.

"We scrapped Scourge good!" Whooped Brawn.

"What about Galvatron?" Asked Red Alert.

"Finished." Rodimus declared. "Let's continue with the salvage operation. See if we can cobble together a working ship."

"Yes, sir!" Bellowed Team Rodimus.

Rodimus smiled. Galvatron's attack turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It had enabled to finally shrug off his feelings of inadequacy, and be the Prime that he meant to be, not just for himself, but for his team, for Cybertron, and for all Autobot kind.

After Team Rodimus' makeshift craft finally took off, the Quintesson ship came out of hiding. It gathered up Scourge's remains. Inside, the decimated Decepticon was placed in a repair chamber, his body slowly being restored.

"Subject Scourge is greatly damaged." Noted one of the Quintessons. "But he can be repaired, with time."

"Very well." Growled the Lead Quintesson. "And what of Galvatron?"

"Unknown, sir." Replied the underling. "Even our science knows nothing of what truely happens within a black hole."

"If there were a way to survive, I'm sure our wayward creation would have found it." Declared the leader. "But for now, we focus on the Autobots. Particulary this 'Rodimus Prime'. He and his team may prove to be troublesome. We must account for them in all future strategems." He then smiled wickedly. "Have patience, my brothers. Revenge on the hatred Cybertronians will be ours... soon."

The End?

(Transformers Animated and all associated characters are the property of Hasbro and Cartoon network.)