A/N: To Prodigal: Don't worry, there will be some interesting stuff going on with the Dinobots. And there will be more Autobots and Decepticons!
To Klicks: Yup, that was the idea I was going for! XD
To Ash Uzumaki: Sorry for that Typo! Yeah, I meant the Decepticons, but 'bots could have been interpreted as Robot. Thanks for the heads-up! Also, imagine Megatron as the flashbacks, kindly looking, scarless, and with smooth teeth, lol.
To Sakiko of Soleana: YES! Grimlock and his crew will play a part! I hope you and other readers like it!

Chapter 12

Gladatorial Rematch

"Squad 1! Scout the perimeter! I will be entering the mine," Megatron ordered to his soldiers through the open Decepticon channel. After several steps, his blue optics became the only source of light. The second squad, who acted as backup, provided extra ambient light with active gun arms.

"Stay alert. This setting stinks of a trap," Megatron commented darkly. He took his own advice and focused his internal scanners for any foreign hostile energon signals.

"Ugh!" A pained grunt sounded through the open decepticon channel. "General Megatron! The ambush is not on the perimeter! It's ins-"

An explosion on the other side of the comm. interrupted one of Squad 1's member's rushed warning. Megatron paused and narrowed his optics, as though attempting to pierce even further through the dark mine tunnel.

"Squad 1. Prepare a SpaceBridge and withdraw. Squad 2, stay close. An ambush may be lying in wait."

Megatron's soldiers responded with affirmatives, and they tightened their formation. Two Vehicons on either side of him, and three Vehicons took up the rear, with two of them staying alert for an attack from behind.

Then an impressive tremor sounded through the mine. Of course, Megatron was anticipating that there would be an ambush.

What startled Megatron was the fact that almost he lost his footing. The Vehicons had noticed this too and exchanged glances. Whoever was up there had to be pretty massive to shake the ground that much. And Megatron could almost guess who it was.

"Squad 2, maintain perimeter, but do not engage."

"Sir?" One of the Decepticon troopers asked in concern. Megatron glanced behind him and held up a hand.

"I will handle this. An old score to settle."

"Come out! GRIMLOCK!" Megatron bellowed, balling his fists in anticipation. The Vehicons activated their guns, pointing in towards the darkness.

"I said do not engage!" Megatron ordered strongly. Following his command, a hearty laugh sounded from the still shadowed section of the mine. A steady pattern of heavy thunks sounded, resonating footsteps belonging to an Autobot known for his sheer size and power.

"I see you have not let your commanding presence lose it's effect," Grimlock observed. All that could be seen of him was his reflective blue visor that bounced the light emanating from his unseen optics. The otherwise unassuming blue of the visor was offset by the muddled red light under it. Then he stepped out of the shadows, his presence encouraging Megatron's back up to take a cautious step backwards.

"Vehicons. Return to the Nemesis," The gladiator ordered, not taking his optics off of Grimlock. Since he had an idea of where all of the hostiles would be located now, he'd have no need for them at the moment. The Vehicons without a word retreated through through nearby mine entrance.

"Optimus must be slipping, if he needs the abilities of someone of your caliber," Megatron admitted. The last time he had fought Grimlock seriously was at least a millennium ago. Without hesitation, Megatron's blade unsheathed above his right hand and below his fusion cannon.

"My abilities are necessary to see the goal of a Prime to come to fruition," The Dinobot commander answered, his facemask blocking from view Grimlock's mouth. Megatron couldn't tell what Grimlock was thinking. The sides of the face-guard had violent, decorative fangs, a hint to his alt. mode.

"I presume then...that asking you to reconsider my offer doesn't stand?" Megatron asked with a smirk, but humorlessly.

Grimlock began to stroll forward with heavy footsteps, unsheathing an enormous Energon blade from subspace. In response, Megatron planted feet into the ground, tightening stance.

"Indeed," Grimlock responded, breaking into a charge. Megatron mirrored the action, and they both raised their swordarms, prepared to attempt to run each other through.

If one stood outside of the mine, one would have been suprised to see a giant, silver robot careening thruogh the entrance to land at the mouth of the cave. He had grunted with a crash, but had risen quickly.

"Seems he hasn't lost any strength in his punches," Megatron half-joked to himself. Swaying quickly to the left, Grimlock leaped through the air, just missing his head with his vicious blade. Using his right arm, Megatron feigned a slash with his sword, but rather shot Grimlock in his sword shoulder, causing him to back up enough to create a comfortable distance between them.

"You can stop Optimus' corrupt movement," Megatron ventured, parrying a sword blow before being slugged in the jaw. Reeling backwards, he dodged yet another sword swing and punched Grimlock clean at the side of the jaw. Any other bot, it would have knocked them out, but Grimlock paused before looking his way again.

"I follow the Prime. Any other way is dishonorable. Besides, you did attempt to have me stasis-locked indefinitely," Grimlock retorted angrily, shoulder tackling Megatron. The force of the strike slid Megatron backwards, making him collide with the outer wall of the mine. Megatron wouldn't be able to keep this up. Even with all of his past experience as a warrior, Grimlock was simply too strong. He had heard that Grimlock and his team were enhanced by a scientist, but he didn't know who.

His eyes widened before he moved his helm to the side to evade a rock shattering punch. Thinking quickly, Megatron gripped Grimlock's arm and shifted his weight, managing to flip Grimlock over and into the air. The Dinobot commander went with the momentum, and landed into a shoulder roll and getting to his feet quickly.

"Whatever caused your...condition, was not caused by a Decepticon!" Megatron shouted, leaping into the air with his sword aimed at Grimlock. The Dinobot gladiator swung his sword and clashed with Megatron's and their clashing continued, neither fighter giving ground.

"Why have you decided to face me now of all times?"

Grimlock chuckled humorlessly, sheathing his Energon blade and catching Megatron sword swing from the arm.

"This has merely been a distraction, to extract a relic."

Megatron's eyes widened in suprise. That was why Grimlock was here. His enhanced energon signature would have masked the signature coming off of a relic.

"Well played," Megatron uttered. In the distance, he could spot a beast shaped Autobot seeker pulling a slab of rock through the air, with other beastly looking grounded Autobots following behind. So that's where the other Dinobots were.

Kicking Grimlock in the torso, Megatron managed to break Grimlock's grip on his arm.

"Yes, well, I must bid you adieu. Our rematch will have to wait," Grimlock responded with an amused laugh. He planted his fists parallel from each other into the ground and the transformation process began.

Megatron had never seen Grimlock's new transformation in person, but it still caused him watch in awe as a towering, mechanical, Tyrannosaurus Rex took the place of Grimlock. Without another word, but with a roar, the Dinobot unleashed flames, blining Megatron's view of his sides. As soon as the flames erupted, they were gone, and so was Grimlock and the Dinobots.

Megatron called a groundbridge and watched the mouth of the mine as he contemplated the implications of the relic. He was unsure of what relic that they had recovered, but he sincerely hoped that it wasn't the Star Saber.