CHAPTER 16

The morning that followed for Eclipse dragged on slowly and painfully. Her processor was flooded with images of the base and everyone in it. Images of mom and dad, and Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Prowl, Ratchet and even Sari too.

She thought about the countless hours of playing video games and playing hockey outside with Bumblebee and Sari.

Just then Megatron walked past her only to stop and watch curiously as she drifted off, obviously thinking about things elsewhere.

"Your processor is obviously full to its peak with things that seem to be troubling you."

Eclipse didn't answer. Megatron watched curiously only to curse and then whop her on the back of the head. She both flinched and yelped at Megatron's strike. She scowled and stared coldly and yet with a slight childish mood.

Megatron stared blankly and soon looked away. "It would appear to me that something seems to be troubling you. Would you care to inform me of 'what' exactly?"

Eclipse remained quiet for a long time only to sigh and shrug. "Nothing, just about a dream I had."

Megatron was quiet, but soon kneeled down and took Eclipse into his hands and placed her in his lap as he seated himself on the floor. "Now, inform me of what seems to be troubling your mind."

Eclipse looked up into the large mass that made up the mighty Decepticon leader. She looked away and shrugged. "Just about stupid things."

Megatron leaned down closer and smiled fiendishly. "Just about stupid Autobot things?"

Eclipse looked away and shrugged. Megatron leaned even closer and was about to say something when Lugnut ran in.

"My Lord, something has come up that requires your attention."

Megatron looked up and nodded as he placed Eclipse on the floor and rose to his stabilizing servos. "Very well…"

As Megatron walked away and out of the room, Eclipse stared down at the palms of her hands but soon closed them into fists as she rose to her stabilizing servos and raced out the door.

As she raced into the main throne room she slowed to a quiet trot and quietly approached Megatron and Lugnut who were standing by the monitors. She stopped and listened quietly.

Lugnut turned from the screens and kneeled. "My lord, the Autobots have shown up within our vicinity and appear to have retrieved a newly found All-Spark fragment; what do you wish us to do?"

Megatron remained silent for a long period of time until he finally passed a glance to Eclipse, then smiled mischievously. "Call in Blitzwing from patrol…Eclipse has unfinished business with the Autobot leader…"

Meanwhile, the Autobots stood together in a triangular formation…waiting. StarRacer stood unwarily with her stabilizing servos shaking but her hand in Optimus' right hand as his left held a dimly glowing fragment. Optimus stood motionless like stone, watching the skies and listening for the horribly familiar sounds of propellers piercing the atmosphere and jet engines ripping the sky apart. To Optimus and StarRacer's right, Bulkhead and Bumblebee stood quietly watching the tree line around them. And to Optimus and StarRacer's left, both Ratchet and Prowl stood ready posed for battle.

Within the distance, the sound of engines indeed pierced the sky as Megatron flew with Lugnut and Blitzwing fallowing not too far behind. Eclipse sat quietly in Megatron's cockpit (that just happens to be JUST the right size) and surveyed the rugged landscape as it passed down below.

Suddenly Lugnut's voice chimed in over Megatron's radio. "Autobots are seven clicks north-north east and we're closing in fast."

Megatron's voice growled. "Very well…keep me informed."

Eclipse remained quiet as the number of clicks between them and her 'previous care-takers'. For a while it was seven clicks north-north east, then it was six clicks north-north east and so on. And with each passing second, the pain in her spark ached more. It was when they were finally within firing range that it seemed like her chest plate was going to burst…and then…they saw them. Megatron immediately readied his cannon to firing capacity and ordered both Lugnut and Blitzwing to do the same. Eclipse sank down lower and whimpered miserably. Something about this just didn't seem right and she felt like something horrible was going to happen. But what could she do now? She could see everything going on outside Megatron's cockpit. She watched everything from the large mass of evergreen, maple and oak trees passing underneath them to the prairies and bogs that made up the area. She could even see all six Autobots standing in an empty field. Suddenly Eclipse sat upright and stared out the cockpit in awe.

Slowly, Megatron descended from the sky just yards away from the Autobots that had posed themselves for battle. Lugnut and Blitzwing on the other hand had transformed in mid-landing and crashed to the ground in a display of both power and accuracy and had all available weapons readied for battle. Megatron opened his cockpit and allowed the small youngling to crawl out and step down to the ground before transforming himself and taking the child into his arms.

StarRacer stared in horror and tried to lunge forward to grab little StarChaser away from that monster, only to be grabbed and yanked back by her mate.

She wheeled around with tears beginning to form. "Optimus, what are you doing? Let me go!"

Optimus pulled StarRacer closer and growled. "StarRacer, if you get anywhere near him he'll kill you without hesitation!"

StarRacer turned away from Optimus and looked with horror at her sparkling who was nuzzling into the Decepticon leader's armor. She then caught glance of Megatron's optics looking at her with a look of pleasure written on his face plate.

StarRacer growled and again took a lunge at Megatron and her sparkling only to be held back by both Optimus and Ratchet.

She looked up enraged. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY CHILD YOU MONSTER?"

Optimus and Ratchet struggled to hold the femme back as Megatron laughed. "I have done nothing to MY child, other than show her what REAL parenting is."

StarRacer screamed and literally clawed at both Ratchet and Optimus' grasp in order to get free. "DAMN IT MEGATRON! I SWEAR, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU I WILL RIP YOUR OPTICS FROM THERE CASINGS AND CRUSH THEM WITH MY OWN HANDS!"

Megatron laughed hysterically at both Optimus and Ratchet trying to calm the raging femme. He then looked down at the child only to see her whimpering and crying. Optimus, Ratchet and StarRacer all froze as Megatron gently raised the child closer to his face and rubbed his face plate against hers.

Megatron then passed a glance to the Autobot leader who was watching in both awe and terror. He smiled horribly as her rested his cold sparkless lips against the child's cheek. Optimus' rage overwhelmed him and he shot straight for Megatron's throat only to be close-lined by Bumblebee, Bulkhead AND Prowl, and even at that they had difficulty holding him back.

Optimus glared coldly through his visor and hissed. "Megatron…I swear from here to Cybertron…you WILL regret that…"

Megatron laughed as the child's face rested against his. "What are you going to do about it Autobot, I gained this child fairly. She came to ME, nothing more. She has chosen her path."

Megatron again laughed hysterically at the sight of both biological parents of HIS adopted sparkling having to be restrained. He looked at Eclipse and laughed as he stroked her back. "Now…what is it you Autobots want considering you have so desperately tried to merit our attention?"

Slowly Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Prowl looked at their leader as they cautiously lessened their grip on him. Slowly he straightened up and looked directly at Megatron. "We wish to make a trade…"

Megatron looked up and raised an optic ridge in interest. "Oh, and what are the terms."

Optimus passed a glance to the rest of his team including StarRacer who all nodded in return. Optimus turned to Megatron and swallowed hard as he choked on the next words to come out of his vocalize.

"We will trade you ALL of the All-Spark fragments…for StarChaser."

Megatron adjusted his stance and raised an optic ridge. "What?"

Optimus turned to Bulkhead and nodded. Bulkhead nodded and opened his mid-plate (grill) compartment and pulled out the same orange and black box that we all have become oh-so familiar with and set it out on the ground out in front of all of them.

Megatron looked up and growled. "And what makes you Autobots think that I'm falling for that trick again?"

Slowly Optimus kneeled down and opened the box. Sure enough, there were several dimly glowing fragments inside the box.

Optimus stood up and stepped away. "No catches. No tricks, all WE want is to have OUR child back."

For a long and somewhat awkward time, there was no movement between either opposing side until Megatron looked up laughing. "And what would you foolish Autobots do if I took the fragments AND the child? Hmm?"

Suddenly StarRacer again tried to break free. "We would fight to the death before we would allow that!"

Eclipse optics slowly drifted to Megatron's face plate as laughter slowly began to erupt from his chest. "Very well, if that's the way you want it…then let it be done."

Optimus held StarRacer in his arms and looked at Megatron confused. "What are you talking about?"

Carefully, Megatron faced Blitzwing and placed Eclipse in his arms and then turned back smiling. "Instead of making a trade, how about we have a showdown."

Optimus pulled StarRacer behind him and growled. "What kind of showdown?"

Megatron chuckled quietly and sighed. "It's a rather simple task really; two bots and ONLY two bots battle in hand to hand combat. No guns… just blades. Last bot standing takes the fragments and the child. In other words, that mech wins everything."

StarRacer shoved herself forward angrily. "And who says it's going to be a mech that's going to be fighting?"

Optimus pulled StarRacer back and placed two steady hands on her shoulders.

StarRacer wheeled around angrily. "Optimus, LET GO!"

Optimus shook his head and spoke hoarsely. "No, if anyone has to correct these wrongs, it's me."

StarRacer looked up and growled. "OPTIMUS!"

Optimus said nothing; instead he merely passed a cold and harsh stare to StarRacer's optics. As much as it angered her she understood. This was something HE had to do, HE promised her that he was going to get her back, and if fighting Megatron in hand to hand combat was the only way…than that was it. There were no arguments.

Optimus glared coldly at Megatron and slowly nodded. "Fine, we'll have it your way Megatron. Last bot standing takes all."

Optimus then took several steps forward and stopped only feet in front of Megatron and posed himself ready for battle with his axe and battle mask over his face.

Megatron turned to both Lugnut, Blitzwing and Eclipse and with a mere wave of his hand; all three backed away near the tree line out of the way. Megatron then pulled out both swords, one in either hand and chuckled. "It's not too late Autobot…I will allow you to forfeit and just walk away."

Without warning Optimus' axe handle doubled in length and he adjusted his stance. "I will never forfeit to you Megatron…not as long as long as systems function and my sparks beats."

Megatron nodded and removed his arm mounted cannon and tossed it to Lugnut, then posed himself for battle. "Have it your way Autobot."

Like a flash of lightning Megatron lunged forward with both blades raging for Optimus' throat and chest. Optimus ducked and thrust his axe forward to block the attempted blow to his chest. He then wheeled his axe around and struck Megatron in the back of his right stabilizing servo. He shouts out in pain then growled as he again tried to place a blow on the surprisingly fast red and blue target. He raised his swords high and struck Optimus in the side.

On the Decepticon side of the prairie, Eclipse watched in horror as Optimus fell to the ground for only a second only to jump out of the way to dodge another lethal blow from Megatron's legendary swords. She couldn't help but turn away and push her face into Blitzwing's chest plate. Blitzwing looked down and laughed. "Don't fret Eclipse, Megatron iz vinning!"

Eclipse looked up and sure enough, it appeared that Megatron was beginning to have the upper hand. Optimus was beginning to slow down in his dodges thus making him an easier target. And Megatron was speeding up because he had reserved his energy and now intended to lay down the hammer on Optimus once and for all.

Even though the battle only seemed to last for a few minutes, it indeed lasted for a few hours; each bot taking a blow at the other and waiting to see who will be the first to fall and not get back up. Megatron thrust his sword down on Optimus only to have it stopped and pulled out of his grip and thrown out of reach.

Exhausted, Optimus held his axe up trying to reserve his strength. "Now…we can fight fairly."

Megatron merely laughed as he lunged for Optimus again. "Taking away one sword won't save you Autobot!"

There were several violent attempts from Megatron to savagely thrust his sword into Optimus' chest, neck and mid plates but surprisingly, Optimus managed to ovoid every blow. That was until Megatron backhanded Optimus across the face plate with a closed fist and knocked him to the ground. Then violently jumped Optimus and pushed his blade down into his shoulder.

The sound of metal literally being torn apart and Optimus screaming made Eclipse cringe. Megatron stood ominously over Optimus holding the blade in place. He chuckled coldly as he twisted and turned the blade to make the wound worse. Optimus clawed at the blade trying to pull out but cringed and screamed at every surging movement.

Then with a quick pull backwards motion, Megatron pulled the blade out and took a small step back. Optimus rolled over onto his side holding his shoulder cursing in agony.

Megatron circled Optimus like a hungry vulture and growled at the Autobot before him. "Get up!"

Eclipse watched in horror as Optimus lay still. Suddenly Megatron grabbed the Autobot leader by the throat and held him up high above his head. "Stand up and fight you coward…even I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your mate!"

Optimus growled as he tried to pull Megatron's hands away. "I'm not a coward Megatron."

Megatron threw Optimus down to the ground and pinned him down with a single stabilizing servo. "Very well…then you shall die honorably."

Megatron then raised his sword high above his head. To Optimus, he was nothing but a silhouette against the evening sun. Optimus looked to his right and saw his axe a little more than arms length away and tried to reach for it. Megatron froze and began to laugh. Optimus looked up dumfounded.

Megatron laughed and shook his head. 'Now, what does this sight remind me of…ah yes that faithful day when we battled on your pathetic ship…"

Megatron then smiled fiendishly. "…only this time…luck won't save you."

Optimus again looked to his axe and frantically reached for it. Megatron laughed as he lowered his blade into his hand. "You know, it's funny Autobot…"

Optimus then looked up and tried to move Megatron's stabilizing servo from his waist. Megatron held his sword to his left as to stab Optimus' at an angle. He smiled and laughed evilly. "…this was over before it even begun."

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Megatron thrust his blade down violently with a great force. Metal ripped and glass shattered. From both sides bots screamed. Optimus opened his optics and watched in horror. Megatron froze and couldn't move.

Shaking violently, Eclipse stood between Optimus and Megatron and had the Decepticon leader's sword punctured straight through her mid plate. Suddenly everyone fell quiet. Slowly Eclipse looked down and saw fuel draining out from the wound. Megatron hesitated but suddenly let go of the sword and grabbed Eclipse and backed a few feet away. Both Lugnut and Blitzwing rushed over and circled Megatron and the child.

Megatron looked down almost screaming. "Eclipse, what were you thinking? Why did you do that?"

Eclipse lay frozen in pain on the ground, optics frozen and fuel leaking through her mouth. Megatron looked around and pulled Eclipse closer. "Eclipse, speak to me…why did you do that?"

Eclipse slowly looked up from his arms and was slow to speak. "Megatron…I…I…I couldn't…let you do it."

She laid her head back and swallowed hard. "I couldn't let…you kill him…"

Megatron looked up at the Autobots crowding around their leader and watching them. Bumblebee took a small step forward toward them. Megatron immediately snatched his cannon from Lugnut and aimed for the yellow Autobot. "STAY BACK!" Bumblebee froze and stepped back. Megatron again looked down at the child then at Blitzwing. Blitzwing scanned her and shook his head. "She iz fading fast my lord."

Suddenly Megatron felt a small hand rest on his arm. He looked down only to see her staring up at him. "Megatron…please…you…you have to…let me go…"

Megatron looked down confused and angry. "What?"

Eclipse then looked at the Autobots watching horrified and tears swelling. "You…have to let…me go with them…"

Megatron looked up and growled angrily. "But they're—!"

She again swallowed hard. "Autobots…I know…just like me."

Megatron looked down both dumbfounded and furious. Eclipse looked at him, still smiling. "Megatron…no matter what my father has done to hurt me…that still doesn't change the fact that he's my father…and deep down…I know in my spark that he loves me…and my mother too."

She then weakly turned her attention the Autobots who were watching. "…and if my dad was willing to die to get me back…then I know I'm doing the right thing."

She then turned back to Megatron smiling. "If I want any chance of surviving…you have to let them take me home…my REAL home."

There was a long and awkward silence that again passed, but with each passing second Eclipse's spark was growing dimmer and Megatron knew it. With a heavy and unsettling sigh Megatron gently placed the child on the ground and stepped back. Both Lugnut and Blitzwing watched in awe, but followed. The Autobots too watched in awe.

Megatron looked up and growled. "I'm not doing this for you Autobot…I'm doing this for her!"

Then with a fury of moving metal they transformed and flew into the fading evening sky. Only seconds after they were out of sight, both Optimus and StarRacer lunged for their dying child. StarRacer screamed for Ratchet as Optimus fought with himself whether to remove the blade or not and screamed at little StarChaser to stay with him. Ratchet demanded that Optimus not touch the blade as much as possible because it was actually slowing the loss of fuel making her die slower. StarChaser on the other hand was beginning to black out and all she remembered was her father's voice begging her to stay with him.