Chapter 9: Stand Together
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers or Sailor Moon, they're the property of Hasbro, and Naoko Takeuchi respectively. Any other copyrighted material found in this story is the property of its respected owner. Good Reading.
A light wind swept across the grass field of Kimitsu Park as a lone individual strolled to her awaiting companion. Zoycite, and her Decepticon escort scouted many locations in the past couple of days, and after much effort, they chose the city of Kinitsu as their target. Much of the people there have been concentrated at its Park for the city's annual festival, thus making it an easy target.
Zoycite held her black crystal up high, and watched it glow as the sun's rays bounced off its sharp edges. Though the wind was cool, the warmth of the energy filled object kept her comfortable, but she'd rather be in the warm embrace of Malachite whom she hasn't been in contact with since her departure. Once she reached the Decepticon, the energy from the crystal would be transferred to the energy harvester in the mech's storage compartment, then both go on and do the same thing until the harvester device was full.
However, the tranquility quickly came to an end when a chain like object wrapped around her neck, and jerked her back a few feet. She turned around to face the weilder, Sailor Venus, and engaged her in a desperate game of tug-of-war. After a few pulls, Zoycite lunged forward, mainly to loosen chain. It worked. She pulled off the chain and drew much needed breaths.
Venus ran up and kicked out her legs to trip her enemy, but Zoycite reacted just in time. She drew back the chain and shot several beams of light from her free hand. The explosions threw Zoycite to the ground, but quickly regained her nerves, just in time to dodge Venus' fist as it slammed the ground where her head used to be.
A fiery arrow streaked through the air and severed Zoycite's right arm at the elbow.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH....." She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Another impact from Venus' light beam threw the distressed general back several meters, she struggled to get back up but the sheer pain made it practically impossible. The Sailor Soldiers grouped and made a run for Zoycite, however, the sudden sound of chopping air, and powerful winds stopped them in their tracks. They looked up to see a massive helicopter,an MH-53 Pave Low, descended rapidly upon them. The Sailors, and Tuxedo Mask teleported away, and regrouped. Venus looked at the helicopter's transformation, and quickly realised it wasn't one of them.
"DECEPTICON!" She yelled.
Blackout fired his pulse cannon at the assembled adversaries, but the attack was deflected by a force field that surrounded them. He fired the gatling gun, but it also, was ineffective. A trio of vehicles, a Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, and a red Porsche 911 Carrera drove at speed for the Decepticon. They transformed into their robot modes and attacked. Autobots. He realised.
The Soldiers teleported to another part of the field while Blackout's attention was refocused on the Autobots. With the memory of their previous, and first encounter with the Decepticons, Barricade to be specific, they approached the downed Zoycite with caution, not wanting to repeat that disastrous time.
Blackout backed up a few paces as the Autobots Trailbreaker, Prowl, and Cliffjumper drew their weapons, then glanced at Zoycite laying on the ground behind him, her life signs fading. Movement in the distance caught his attention, and realised it was the humans, he shot the pulse cannon yet again, but once more it was ineffective by their surrounding deflector shields. A few rounds from the Autobots impacted his leg, and fell him to one knee. A burst from Blackout's gatling gun scattered the incoming bots, but only momentarily.
Megatron and Malachite gazed upon a large holographic screen to calculate their next move. So far their co-operative efforts have been limited to having a Decepticon escort one of the generals on assignments to gather energy for the entity called Metaria. Until the Decepticons establish their base of operations, and then bring in more troops, and resources, this is all that can be done right now.
"I recommend we start gathering energy from places further away from heavily populated areas." Observed Megatron. "That way less attention is drawn, and therefore less chances of interference from the militaries in this country."
"I see your point." Replied the observant Malachite. "We'd be fighting the Sailor Soldiers, the Autobots, and the American and Japanese militaries at the same time. But, in the cities, we can gather vastly more energy in one place."
"Lord Megatron." Interrupted Soundwave from his communications console. "Urgent message from one of our field teams."
"Patch it through to my station, Soundwave."
Megatron, and the Dark Kingdom general put aside their current task, and listen to the interruption.
*Blackout to Dark Kingdom.* Bellowed the Decepticon's distressed voice. *Have been ambushed by Autobots, and the Sailors. Need immediate evac.*
"Blackout, what is the combat situation?" Replied Megatron as he filtered out the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and impacted metal.
*Hopeless. Zoycite is gravely injured, and won't survive much longer. Need evac now!*
A sudden influx of anxiety flooded Malachite's body at the news. "We have to go. Now!" He exclaimed to his mechanized counterpart.
"I know." Responded Megatron, then refocused his attention to Blackout's communication. "Blackout, we're on our way. Hold until we get there."
*I'll try. Hurry!*
The huge silver mech motioned to Soundwave to open the long range communications system. "Megatron to all Decepticons with in striking distance of Kimitsu City. Attack all enemies in the Park and ensure the safety of the evacuation."
After a few moments his urgent request was answered.
*Barricade en route.*
*Skywarp incoming.*
*Thundercracker responding.*
The battle weary Blackout grabbed the Autobot Cliffjumper, that clutched to his shoulder, and threw him to a nearby building. Prowl kept the pressure on the Decepticon with his blaster fire, the numerous impacts spun, and pushed back the large mech. Blackout glanced over to see the Sailors still cautiously approached his position while under the covering fire of Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. Small fires from the most damaged areas of his body began to take their toll as his movement and co-ordination became erratic. If help didn't arrive in the next few minutes, there will be nothing left to rescue.
A sudden explosion sent him reeling back, and his left arm crashed to the ground. Female voices cheered in the distance, the Sailor Soldiers obviously happy to get some payback from the last time. The hulking Decepticon fell to one knee again, his energy levels low from the massive fluid lose, it was only a matter of time now. Not like he didn't give it his all.
Venus stopped attacking by the sound of approaching aircraft. The high pitched whine of turbine engines brought her attention to the sky where a pair of jets, F-15 Eagles with USAF markings, passed over them at tree top level . I know that sound. I''ve heard those engines before. Venus thought to herself. What were the names on the planes? Thundercracker, and...Skywarp?
Trailbreaker hid behind a corner of a nearby building, trying to keep the shields he generated around the Sailor Soldiers at full strengh, however, the attacks from Blackout put a huge strain on his shield generator, and monitoring systems. He also shot at the huge Decepticon to distract him while Prowl reloaded his weapon. All this multi-tasking kept him from noticing that Barricade had snuck up on him.
A pair of plasma rounds impacted his back and knocked his shield generator offline. He didn't even had time to scream when blades slashed through his armour, the sheering pain overloaded his systems, and rendered the Autobot offline.
The Sailors stopped their movements when bright purple colours flickered across their bodies breifly. They glanced at eachother, wondered what just happened.
"Trailbreaker. Are you alright?" Queried Sailor Mercury, then waited for a reply. "No response from him."
Sailor Venus grabbed a small rock and threw it at Mercury.
"Ouch!" She reacted. "Why did you do that for, Venus!?"
"Our shields are gone!" Yelled the blonde haired Venus, then glared up at the sky as the pair of F-15s circled around and let loose a number of missiles. "INCOMING!"
They hastily teleported to another part of the grass field just before the missiles exploded around their former position. Sailor Moon glared at a menacing figure as it quietly snuck up on the un-suspecting Prowl.
"PROWL! BEHIND YOU!" She yelled.
The Autobot abruptly turned about at the sudden warning, and braced himself when Barricade tackled him to the ground. The two mechs struggled to get the upper hand, however, they only managed to land the occasional punch, neither getting a decisive advantage.
The Sailors ducked, and braced when something large landed hard among them. Jupiter dared an upward look where a tall Decepticon filled her vision. She shot a lightning bolt at it, but the Seeker dodged her attack with ease. The mech glared down at Sailor Jupiter, and simply smirked.
"I'll show you thunder!" Bellowed Thundercracker.
His turbine engines quickly spooled up, and let loose an ear piercing sonic boom. The Sailor Soldiers grasped their heads, and ears, the sheer amount of pain so intolerable they collapsed. Astrotrain, in his space shuttle mode, landed near Blackout's position, the side door slid open, and disembarked Hook, Megatron and Malachite. The Dark Kingdom general rushed to his fallen lover, gently picked her up, and made his way back to the awaiting Astrotrain. Hook, with help from Skywarp, grabbed a hold of Blackout, and carried him back to the shuttle.
Sailor Mercury, straining to tolerate the pain, typed away on her super computer an urgent message, then emailed it away.
The vicious power struggle between Barricade and Prowl continued, when all of a sudden, the Decepticon stropped. A communique was sent out, it was nearby from what his sensors showed, and recognized the sender. Oceanpearl217 again. He deduced. Its origin was among one of the Sailor Soldiers. One of them IS the target.
A refocused Cliffjumper tackled Barricade, the force broke the Decepticon's grip on Prowl, and began his own fight with the hunter. Their battle reduced to a primal brawl between two vicious animals, growling, clawing, and punching eachother. Prowl, now free from the close quarter fight, took aim at the Decepticon master, and fired his blaster. Megatron jerked, and huffed from the numerous hits, then regained his composure, and returned fire with his arm mounted fusion cannon. The Autobot flew back from the strong hit, and crashed into the side of the building where the Sailors were grouped. Chunks of brick and cement fell on the stricken Prowl, the only signs of life, a small moan. Some sharp piercings were felt, and Megatron looked at his leg where roses had embedded themselves then exploded. The huge Decepticon stepped back, and looked at a shadowy figure standing on a nearby roof. Tuxedo Mask teleported away just before a round from Megatron's cannon destroyed the top of the building.
Megatron stepped forward to attack Tuxedo Mask again, but halted at the sight of incoming Autobot reinforcements. Optimus Prime, Elita-One, Hound, and Ironhide transformed into their robot modes, and joined the fight.
"We're set to go Lord Megatron." Said Astrotrain.
The Decepticon master glared in silence at his hated counterpart, the urge to kill Optimus built up, but he quickly repressed it, knowing what they came here for. Another time. "Very well. We got we came for! All units got to ground!"
Megatron jumped into the shuttle as it took off, and slammed the door shut. Thundercracker grabbed Cliffjumper, tore him off Barricade and threw him to the incoming Autobots. Barricade transformed into his vehicle mode, and drove off at full speed. TC fired a burst from his laser cannons to scatter the Autobots, then he himself changed to his F-15 mode, and flew into the night sky.
Sailor Moon, aided by Tuxedo Mask, limped to Optimus, his entourage scattered to help the downed Trailbreaker, wounded Prowl, and Cliffjumper. The sound of approaching emergency vehicles signaled to Prime, and the Soldiers that now is a time to leave, the debrief had to wait till later.
"Optimus." Said Moon. "What...what was that huge, silver machine? It took out Prowl with just one shot, and attacked Tuxedo Mask here."
"That my dear..." Replied the Autobot master. "is Lord Megatron."
"Honey." Interrupted Tuxedo Mask. "We have to go, now! Optimus, we'll have to get together later."
Prime nodded, and signaled to his Autobots to change back, and leave. Elita-One and Cliffjumper put Trailbreaker, and Prowl into Prime's trailer. With them aboard, the Autobot transport truck drove away, followed by Ironhide, and Hound. The Sailor Soldiers regained enough of their senses to teleport. When the Police, Fire, and Ambulance services arrived, the culprits of this carnage were long gone.
An angered Malachite, his uniform stained with the blood of Zoycite, left the side of his lover's bed, and made his way to the Decepticon's make shift infirmary. Hook, despite his limited knowledge of human physiology, stopped the bleeding, and stabilized her life signs once they arrived back at the Dark Kingdom. He has never been more scared in his life, the thought of losing Zoycite troubled him greatly. She was the only thing that kept Malachite going for the past few years. Beryl, however, wasn't informed as she was gone with Shockwave to find a suitable power source for the Hashima Island base, where the Constructicons had just begun to retrofit the day before. Malachite entered the infirmary and strolled to Megatron, and the injured Blackout.
"You were suppose to watch out for her, Blackout!" Bellowed the Dark general. "A simple thing to do, and you f*cked it up! Explain yourself!"
"I...didn't see them coming." He replied with a little weakness.
"So you were neglecting your duty to protect her!" Malachite shot back with anger. "She was almost killed because of you!"
"The Sailor Soldiers never showed up on my sensors. For some reason I couldn't pick them up until they attacked."
"You sure picked a hell of a time to help her."
"I attacked the Sailors, and drew them away from Zoycite when she fell. I put myself on top of her when the Autobots joined in."
"Protection means that your target doesn't get hurt! You, Blackout, have failed terribly at your task. It boggles the mind how any of your fellow Decepticons are still alive, when they have you as a colleague." He viciously spat. "This is all your fault!"
The general walked away, and returned to his lover's side. The battle was lost, but on the bright side they managed to return with Zoycite's crystal still filled with the gathered energy. Megatron looked back at Blackout, and beckoned him not to respond. A rebuttal would do no good, and will just result in a senseless debate with no end. The damaged Decepticon nodded, and let Hook begin the repairs.
Strascream stayed just outside the doorway where he remained unseen. He spent the past day breaking in his newly repaired body, and made himself familiar with his new surroundings. He also took some time to contact his brothers, Thundercracker, and Skywarp, whom were pleased to hear that he was alive, and hoped to see him soon. The Seeker wondered if this alliance will end like all the others. Whenever the Decepticons made an alien race an ally, it always ended badly for the aliens. Though, the same can be said for the Autobots.
"How are things going with this new ally, Megatron?" Queried the Seeker when Megatron exited the infirmary.
"Starscream." He sourly acknowledged. "We are doing just fine. Not like its any concern of yours, traitor."
Starscream chuckled at hearing that word again. "But, I live to serve you, Lord Megatron." He happily replied with sarcasm. He knew how to push Megatron's buttons.
"I'd love to stay and humour you, but I have urgent business to tend to. Why don't you make yourself useful, and help out around here, or get lost. Which ever you choose will be fine with me, you little psycho."
"Naw, I think I'll like it here." He spoke with his signature smirk. "I'm off to familiarize myself with this world, AND our Dark Kingdom ally." Added the screechy voiced Seeker as he passed Megatron on his way out. "See you soon, f*ckatron."
An un-settling feeling washed over the Decepticon master as he watched Starscream, walk away. He wondered what was worse; having Starscream, the most dangerous Cybertronian, back in his camp, or surrendering to the Autobots.
Darien suddenly awoke from a nightmare, his arms trembled slightly, and sweat poured from his visage. He slowly got out of bed and walked to the bathroom where he cleaned himself up. It can't end that way. He thought to himself. God, I hope it doesn't. He went back to the bedroom and gently sat on his side of the bed.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Asked the half asleep Serena.
"Just a bad dream, sweetheart." He answered. "Well...more like a premonition, really."
"What? You haven't had a premonition dream in years."
"Yeah, I know. That's what is so disturbing."
"Whats it about?"
"The entire city of Tokyo was on fire. The Autobots, and Decepticons were fighting eachother openly, all over the place." Described Darien. "But, it wasn't just here in Tokyo, but all over the world; London, Paris, New York, and so on. The same thing everywhere; everything set aflame, Autobots, and Decepticons pounding eachother amongst the ruined cities."
She wrapped an arm around his, and rested her head on his shoulder. They have been through many, so called, doomsday scenarios, but none have ever come close to coming true. However, this time seemed different for some reason. Serena remembered back to the battle at Kimitsu Park just hours ago. The Autobots, and Decepticons clearly showed the hatred between each other, and it was actually scary to remember. She pondered what would happen if their hatred boiled out of control. Would spill over into open fighting, not just in Tokyo City, but all over the globe?