iTransformers
Chapter Twelve: Destiny Breaks Even
Running down the street, Carly tried to silence her breathing, sensing a Decepticon around every corner. Burning bullets ripped through the air, ricocheting off the roads and shattering windows.
Suddenly, a loud screeching sound tore through the air. Sam's head shot back as a blue and red Peterbilt semi knocked over a stack of boxes and crates in an alley. "Optimus!" the blond screamed, overjoyed.
The truck's armor began to shift, grinding against its different sections as it rose to the form of a biped. Optimus then thrust his arms back into a fighting stance. "Are you alright, my friends?" he asked, his voice majestic as always.
"We're fine," Sam called back, glancing at Bumblebee. "We need to get Bee outta here, though."
"I will cover you," Optimus replied, walking in front of his allies. The machine then deployed his mouth guard. Cyclonus turned his head away from Carly, and furiously flew towards the Autobot leader. Bringing his optic sensors into a concentrated glare, Optimus charged forward, and grabbed the helicopter at its sides.
Suddenly, the Decepticon began to fire at random. Must protect the humans, Optimus told himself. The Autobot focused his strength, and thrust the assassin into the road, destroying two of its propeller blades.
"Leader-1, PowerLink," Prime called out. The yellow Mini-Con shot out of his partner's chest, and merged with his arm, activating the cannon on Optimus' left arm. With a loud groan, the Autobot assaulted his foe with a vicious blast of Cybertronian fire power, shattering its exoskull, and destroying its cerebral computer. "Well done, my partner." Leader-1 replied with a grateful, electronic dialing sound.
"Prime, Starscream!" Ironhide yelled, sighting the jet flying towards the ground.
With savage precision, the Decepticon swooped down, knocking Optimus off of his feet, hitting the ground with a loud thud, and shattering the road. Circling around, Starscream shot back at the Autobot. Quickly rising to his feet, the heroic machine charged forward. Suddenly, another jet; a silver- green Military fighter, flew from behind Optimus, then tore up just behind him. Sensing this, the Autobot lept into the air. "PowerLink!" the two declared. The two began to shift their armor, then merge together. Starscream pulled over to the side, desperate to escape his opponent, and smashed through a nearby building to his left.
Dropping out of the sky, the newly-formed Autobot's heavily armored legs depressed the asphalt. Standing roughly thirty-five feet tall, the machine bore its weapons; Optimus' black cannon over his its left arm, a multi-barreled sniper gun over its right, twin jet boosters on the back of his shoulder blades, and an Autobot shield over its chest. Optimus' body was still somewhat recognizable, especially the face. "Welcome to Earth, Jetfire," Optimus' voice announced.
"Glad to be working for you again, Prime," a higher-pitched but still gruff voice with an Australian accent replied.
"Bigger target," Starscream happily snarled, a smile forming on his face. The two Cybertronians charged at one another, their thrusters tearing through the air. Optimus swung his armored fist into the Decepticon's abdomen, thrusting him into an abandoned building; the glass shattered, bricks crumbled, and the entire structure gave way.
Sam and Freddie adjusted the settings in the tow truck, and took off with Bumblebee tied to the back. "Come on," Sam said under her breath. "Can't this thing go any faster?" Suddenly, Freddie caught Cyclonus out of the corner of his eye.
"My gosh," the brunette exclaimed. "Bee, can you take that one out?" Bumblebee nodded, and readied his cannon; aiming it at the Decepticon's facial region
Sam, growing frantic, pressed on the gas pedal. Bumblebee fired a burning blast of plasma at Cyclonus. However, the sudden burst of speed threw off his aim, resulting in an injury to the evil machine's leg.
"Sam, calm down," Freddie pleaded, feeling his heart race.
"I can't!" the blond screamed, her pulse spiking. "I can't do this anymore! This whole thing is nuts! I can't do it anymore!"
"It'll be okay," the brunette replied, struggling to act as a voice of reason. Sam was strong, confident, and independent, but this was all too much for her. "This'll all be over once Carly gets the cube away from here...They won't let them hurt us."
Bumblebee looked at Sam, and nodded. Swallowing hard, the blond nodded back. "Ready to finish that piece of rust?" she asked, slowly returning to her usual self.
"Yeah," Bumblebee answered with an enthused, electronic voice. Reloading his gun, the yellow Autobot fixed his sights on the recovering machine. Sam threw the truck into reverse, steering towards Cyclonus. Bumblebee launched round after round of Energon-infused energy at the threat.
Screaming in rageful agony, the Decepticon tried to charge forward at its foes, only to fall to the ground under both Bumblebee and the soldiers' fire. "Nice!" one of the soldiers yelled out, thrusting his fist down.
"I don't think it's over yet," Lennox replied, looking at Starscream start to recover.
Suddenly, a massive, grizzly aircraft flew overhead, obliterating an army jet that stood in its path, then spiraling towards the earth. Its parts grinding and screeching, the jet transformed into Megatron, who smashed into the road with a loud thud that shook the glass of the surrounding buildings. "Megatron," Ironhide gravely declared.
"Fall back!" Arcee ordered, waving her allies away from the threat. Firestar lept onto the pink Autobot's shoulder as she and Jazz lead the soldiers away from the Decepticon leader.
Optimus tore through the air, then landed hard on the ground. "Megatron," he said, his voice confident and grave as he entered a fighting stance.
"Prime!" the Decepticon growled. "My brother...still defending the plague of humanity."
"And I see your lust for power has not relented," the Autobot replied, showing no offense.
"Brother?" Spencer whispered as Russo was taken to a safe area.
The gray robot walked forward, everything about him emanating wickedness and power. "Pitiful," he said, his voice like an animal's snarls. "Even with the aid of your pathetic Autobot companions, you are nothing compared to me." For a second, time stood still.
"Disconnect, Jetfire," Optimus ordered. "This battle is my own."
"Understood," the Australian-sounding robot accepted before separating from his leader. Megatron was already charging forward, and knocked Optimus on his back. The Autobot thrust his weight to the side, knocking his enemy off of him. Optimus threw his fist into Megatron's cold face, sending sparks onto the road.
"You're so weak!" Megatron hollered, knocking his brother off his feet with a single slash of his arm. Picking himself up, Optimus grappled with the Decepticon. "Humans and Mini-Cons don't deserve to live," the gray machine snarled.
"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings!" Optimus shot back, forcing Megatron back. "They deserve to choose for themselves."
"You forsake our planet for your own petty beliefs," Megatron snarled, his hatred burning like never before. "The AllSpark is our only hope to save our brethren."
"But at the cost of their's," Optimus fought back, pushing against Megatron.
Starscream rose to his bird-like legs, gazing at the battle. Several soldiers opened fire at the minor Decepticon, but to no avail. Looking around, Starscream took off into the air, and flew towards the heavens. Megatron deployed his blade, and swung it at Optimus, only to miss when he ducked. Lunging forward, the blue and red Autobot activated his fire sword, and slashed off a section of Megatron's shoulder. Recoiling in a second of pain, the Decepticon glared at his foe. "You still fight for the weak!" he screamed, hatred fueling every word. "And for that, you will die with them!" Megatron grabbed Optimus by one of the windows covering his chest, and thew him into a nearby glass building. Smashing his hands together, the Deception formed a massive cannon, and blasted it at Prime.
"Decepticon trash!" Ironhide exclaimed, leading Jazz, Arcee, and the Mini-Cons towards Megatron. The Autobots opened fire on the Deception, merely causing an irritation.
"Worthless underlings," Megatron scoffed, shooting the ground before the heroic machines and knocking them off balance. Jazz lept into the air with Bluestreak by his side.
"PowerLink!" the young Autobot commanded, his voice confident and strong. The two merged, and Jazz thew his arms out, letting the blades hack into Megatron's arm. "Not so tough without your goons, are yuh, punk?"
With a growl of displeasure, Megatron grabbed the Autobot. "How dare you oppose me?" he snarled.
"Jazz, fall back!" Optimus ordered, fearing for his ally's life. The Autobot sprang to his feet, and charged forward. "Jetfire, now!" The jet swooped down, and merged with his leader. The enhanced Autobot activated its boosters, and rammed Megatron full-on in his back. Jazz landed on his feet.
"Thanks for the save, Prime," the silver robot said.
Meanwhile, Carly ran through the building, holding the AllSpark for dear life. I have to do this, she told herself, her breath heavy. I can't let them down...Protect them, Bee. The brunette ran up the stairs, and reached the roof. Suddenly, a roaring sound hollered through the air, and Starscream rose to eye level with the teenager. "For me?" he mockingly said, his scraggy voice laced with prideful happiness. "You shouldn't have." Reaching his clawed hands towards the cube, the Decepticon felt his spark flare.
"No way," Carly replied, running for the edge of the hotel. Starscream intently followed, growing aggravated. Suddenly, Carly turned around, and lit the flare with the Decepticon's eye, causing him to fall back.
"Worthless piece of flesh!" the cowardly jet-machine screeched, clenching his damaged optic sensor. A helicopter flew towards the building, seeing the signal.
"Package detected," one of the pilots declared. "Move in for emergency pickup." Several copters dropped down towards Carly.
"Hey!" the brunette yelled, waving the flare back and forth. "Over heeere!"
"Hostile approaching friendly," an African American pilot declared. "Engaging." The expert marksman released two low-impact missiles at Starscream, causing him to lose his bearings and fall to the ground. A second helicopter lowered just above Carly, and a young man with a short haircut and several cuts on his face held his arms out to receive the AllSpark.
Carly outstretched her hands, and let the soldier take the cube. "Watch it!" she suddenly yelled. However, the teenager was too late; a pitch black helicopter swooped in sideways, slashing the army copter in half with its enhanced propellor blades. The men screamed, and the AllSpark dropped from the air. Desperately, Carly lept down from the large building, reaching for the cube. A large, yellow hand caught the girl and the cube. "Ah, there you are," Ratchet said. "Thank you..." Carly nodded, then looked up to see the Deception helicopter circle around.
"Watch out!" the girl yelled. Ratchet dropped from the side of the building, and shot a smoke bomb from his gun. The enemy was thrown off course, and crashed into a nearby hotel.
"Operation failed," Russo said under his heavy breath. "Those robots are our only hope now. Ah!"
"Try not to move," a female soldier instructed.
Sam and Freddie drove Bumblebee into the center of the town, coming within Megatron's range. "Crap!" the blond yelled, shifting into drive. Bumblebee shot a round of plasma bullets into the Decepticon's back as he and Optimus attacked one another. "Bail," the yellow robot told his friends, using the voice of an old movie convict.
"No one gets left behind," Sam replied, her eyes gazing into Bumblebee's.
"Right," Freddie added, his voice brave. "We're a team."
Megatron's body squealed as he turned to the crippled Autobot. Jazz and Ironhide tackled the gray machine. "Prime!" the black robot yelled. "Help Carly...She has the AllSpark."
Reluctantly, Optimus soared away from his foe, and approached Carly and Ratchet. Blackout recovered from his crash, and jumped down at the three. Ratchet shot the Decepticon's facial region, but was knocked down by the evil machine's falling body. "Carly!" Optimus called, sheltering the human from Blackout's claws. The helicopter roared, and found round after round of hot lead tear into him.
"Come on!" Lennox yelled. "Get some!" The young man continued to fire at the Decepticon, though it seemed useless. Blackout walked forward, but felt a throbbing in its leg from the soldier's fire, and collapsed on the ground. A final bullet shattered the monster's optic. "Yeah!" Lennox yelled, running back. Other soldiers noticed the act of bravery, or insanity. Suddenly, Starscream tore through the air, missed Optimus, and grabbed Jazz at random.
The young Autobot began slashing the Decepticon across its chest. "You wanna piece of me?" Jazz screamed. "You wanna piece?"
With a vicious scream, Starscream tore his smaller opponent in half at the waste. "I much prefer two," he said before dropping the pieces to the ground. Bluestreak disconnected, and fused with Ironhide.
"Carly," Optimus said, opening his arms around the girl. "You risked your life to protect the AllSpark."
"...No sacrifice..." Carly replied. "No victory."
Megatron thew off his attackers, and ran at Optimus, knocking him on his chest and shattering the asphalt. "Give me the cube, insect!" the Deception commanded. "And you may live to be my pet."
"I'm never giving you this AllSpark," Carly called back. Ratchet threw Blackout off, and struggled to his feet.
"Leave her alone!" Optimus hollered, rising to his feet and chopping off part of Megatron's left arm. The Autobot smashed into the Decepticon. "Carly, run!"
Carly clenched the cube, and ran towards Ironhide and Arcee. The pink motorcycle-robot transformed, and drove towards the brunette. "Carly, get on," she said. Carly sat on the Autobot, and let her drive off.
"Carly!" Freddie yelled, waving his friend over. Arcee drove over to Bumblebee, letting the girl off.
"What happened?" Sam asked.
"The drop-off fell through," Carly answered. "Thanks for protecting them, Bee." The yellow Autobot nodded at the girl he swore to protect. "We have to find the Ark."
The blue and red Autobot was thrown onto the ground by his brother, moaning in pain. Crawling forward, Optimus looked at his allies. "Carly... you must push the cube in my chest," he said, his voice grave and desperate. "It can not fall into Megatron's hands...I will sacrifice myself to destroy it."
"Optimus, no," Carly begged, feeling her throat start to ache.
"It's the only way," Prime replied, his voice saddened. Megatron laughed with malicious fury, and threw his brother away.
"Give it here, child," the gray Deception said, his voice laced with shear pleasure.
"Carly," Optimus called, throwing his fist into the ground. "Put the cube in my chest, now!" Carly looked at Megatron, then Optimus, then made her decision. "Carly..."
"Carly, no!" Sam called, watching Carly put the cube up to Megatron's chest. A violent flow of pure, raw Energon flowed into Megatron's chest, filling his spark to the point of agony.
Screaming in pain, Megatron grabbed his chest, then glared down at Carly, trying to slash at her. However, the pain was too great, and he looked at the air, electrical currents coursing through his voice. With one sudden flash of energy flashing through him, Megatron fell flat on the ground.
As the final shine of life flashed over Megatron's eyes, Optimus walked over to him with a grave nature to him. "You left me no choice, brother," he said, his majestic voice grave and hanging on every sorrowful word. Megatron's eyes faded.
Lowering himself on one knee, Optimus picked up what would be the remains of the AllSpark. That cube meant everything to Cybertron and every surviving member of the species. It had to be done, though; it could not fall into the hands of darkness. "Carly...I owe you my life," Prime said.
Ironhide and Arcee walked over, holding what remained of their fallen ally, their heads down in sorrow. "Prime," Ironhide said, his voice grave. "... We couldn't save him."
"Jazz," Optimus moaned, taking his young friend. Looking over the horrific scene before him; the destroyed AllSpark, the piles of dead Decepticons (including his own misguided brother), the crippled ally, and all the lost lives (especially Jazz, who had so many hopes and fascinations for the world before him). "We lost a great comrade today," Optimus said to his allies. "...But gained new ones. Thank you...all of you. You honor us with your bravery."
Suddenly, the sky bled over with darkness. Purple energy engulfed the entire area. It was as if the atmosphere was torn open and gored to reveal its stars and cosmic gases. Optimus gazed up at the horrific sight. Electrical blasts tore through buildings and the road. A gigantic, mechanical nightmare of a mouth approached Earth. Its body was endless; as large as a planet, lined with spikes and filled with Energon fluids and teeth. "I am the consumer of worlds...Earth will be given to me to gorge on...despite your attempts to stop me."
Optimus Prime rose his head towards the threat. "...Not as long as I function," Prime declared, his voice stronger and more powerful than ever before. "By the power of my spark...leave this world!" A blast of pure, endless light erupted from Optimus' spark, assaulting the planet. With a scream of agony, the beast soon faded, returning to sky to its normal, beautiful dusk stage. It was as if nothing had ever happened.
The nightmare was over. Smiling, Sam and Freddie looked up at Bumblebee, then at Carly, the returning Spencer, and Optimus. The sound of focusing frequencies echoed through the air. "P-Permission to speak, sir," Bumblebee said, not in a borrowed voice, but in his true, mature, heroic voice.
"Permission granted, old friend," Optimus warmly answered, looking at his young ally under the orange and crimson lights of the sunset.
"...I wish to stay with the humans," he said, remembering everything Carly, Sam, Spencer, and Freddie had sacrificed, how they risked their lives to save him, and their endless tendency to care and believe.
"If that is her choice," Prime replied, looking to Carly for an answer. The orange sky shined behind Optimus, inspiring anyone who saw him. Lennox helped Russo over to the ground on his shoulder.
"...Yes," Carly answered, accepting a new future, and new friends. Sam, Freddie, and Spencer smiled at the girl's choice. The group joined in a large group hug. Leader-1, Firestar, Bluestreak, and Laserbeak joined in as well. Ironhide gently put his arm around Arcee. Ratchet and Jetfire stood beside each other and around Optimus. Bumblebee smiled on the inside; knowing he had a new life, new friends.
With the AllSpark gone, we can no longer return life to our planet...But fate has yielded its reward; a new world to call...Home.
Captain Lennox gently knocked on the door, watched as Alan's wife opened it, taking in that look of terror she had on her face, then gave her the note; the last reminder of Alan and his bravery. "I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, hoping the sunset would drawn him out.
We live among earth's people now...Known only to our allies...Hiding in plain sight...
The Autobots drove in different directions under the guise of their vehicle modes. Carly, Sam, and Freddie rested on Bumblebee's hood, watching the sun set over the horizon of illuminated buildings and hills.
But watching over them in secret...Waiting...Protecting. I have witness their capacity for courage and valor...And though we are worlds apart...Like us, there's more to them than meets the eye.
Standing majestically on the cliff, overlooking the land he and his friends vowed to protect, even as the colors of dusk engulfed it, Optimus put his hands on his hips in a heroic stance, and looked up at the stars. I am Optimus Prime...and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars...We are here. We are waiting.
Among the endless void of space, resting on the meteors and debris, several Autobots received Prime's message, and felt hope within themselves once again. Even in the coldness of the cosmos, they felt warm.
Carly pressed her lips against Freddie's that night. "...Thanks for staying strong," she said, knowing they had a future together.
"No...Thank you," Freddie replied, knowing what Carly had been through. Sam watched the two, letting a smile form on her face as she and Bumblebee saw a happy ending for the two.
Epilogue and Aftermath
Like the coward he truly was, Starscream left earth once he realized the Decepticons would fall. Trailing through geospace, the jet soon reached the stars. "Megatron has failed us all." All are dead... All are dead. Carving the mournful words into the wall of their old base, Starscream hollered at an empty world. "All are dead!" The machine's cry echoed on forever, as did his rage and pain.
"...I hear you specialize in cloning operations," said a scraggly voice. The Decepticon was clad in a torn brown robe.
"I'm sure you've heard a lot of things," a sneaky-looking machine replied, not paying much attention. A claw grabbed the extortionist, and a cloak dropped to the floor; "Make me an army!" Starscream commanded, his fury consuming him.
Exiting the pod, the Decepticon looked at the protoforms as they molded into his image. Pressing his claw to the glass, Starscream watched as more of his kind were born. "Soon, my soldiers...soon," he promised.
Standing with his clones and the rag-tag army he'd scrounged together, Starscream held his line on the planet that would soon be his. However, Cosmos, Cliffjumper, and The B.U.R.N. were too powerful. Watching his men die in flames, Starscream let out a gasp of pain. "My soldiers!" he cried, devastated. "...My brothers..." Many moaned and watched their bodies tear into pieces. "My army!...My fault..." Decepticons were dying by the second, just as before. "All survivors...retreat!" Starscream, several clones, and a former mercenary fled the planet in shame.
"I beg your forgiveness," said a defeated, shamed Starscream, bent down on one knee and staring at the floor like a dog. "...And offer you an army." Bowing in complete defeat, the Decepticon could hear The Fallen's satisfied snarl, and what may have been laughter.
Stars fell. Stars fell from the sky, and landed in the very place Prime said they'd be. Lennox and his men were waiting to welcome the new army to Earth. The N.E.S.T. would soon be a reality. The Autobots would live on, as would the Mini-Cons.
Cast
Miranda Cosgrove Carly Shay
Jennette McCurdy Sam Puckett
Nathan Kress Freddie Benson
Jerry Trainor Spencer Shay
Josh Duhamel Ronald Lennox
With the Voices of...
Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime
Mark Ryan as Bumblebee
Jess Harnell as Ironhide
Robert Foxworth as Ratchet
Grey DeLisle as Arcee
Jennette McCurdy as Firestar
Hugo Weaving as Megatron
Charlie Adler as Starscream
Frank Welker as RatBat and additional Decepticons
and Jeremy Irons as Unicron
Coming Soon...
iTransformers II: Revenge of the Fallen
