Chapter 21

I do not own Transformers.

Hmmmm, I am not sure whether I wanted to make this into a trilogy, and have Orianna at the center of the 3rd story. I will think about it though. I really am ready to move on to other stories, but I will definitely consider it.

Your reviews are the greatest.

Optimus gave his daughter and Gabby a kiss before de-activating his holoform, and organized the rest of the Autobots.

Gabby grabbed his hand with surprising strength before he got out of the Hummer, and said, "Please be careful."

Optimus smiled at her. "You are going to marry me after all this is over right?"

Gabby smiled though her fear showed on her face. "Yes."

Orianna was still crying in Gabby's arms, and Optimus rubbed her head lightly.

"Do not worry, little one, you keep your mother safe," he said only half-joking.

Then Gabby knew he was gone. She looked to the heavens, and asked when this would be over?

She looked down at her daughter, and whispered to her that everything would be ok.

She could only hope what Orianna told her would not come to pass.

…

They had about ten minutes before Thunderwing would arrive there, and Deserae said that he was ready for battle.

"How badly is he injured?" Optimus asked now in robot mode.

All Autobots were in robot mode except Ratchet who would be transferring Gabby into a human military vehicle so she could get far away from there.

"Some rust has set into his circuits, so he is flying erratically. You could use that to your advantage. Otherwise, only minor injuries in the hip, shoulder, and neck area," she answered.

Deserae was now in robotic mode as well. Screw it that those others did not trust her, she would still fight Thunderwing, and then she would leave this planet forever.

"Autobots! Ready for battle," Optimus said.

Optimus watched as Gabby and his daughter were transferred to the human medical vehicle, and took off. He could only pray to Primus that Thunderwing would not get to them.

Ratchet then transformed and was ready as well. Optimus was tired of Thunderwing. He would die before his mate or his child would be put in danger again.

"Anything special you want us to do, Optimus?" Jazz asked.

Optimus lowered his faceplate as he heard the jet inch closer to them. "Kill him."

The trees began to sway in the wind; the dust began to fly everywhere around the Autobots. It was like the Earth stopped turning at the moment Thunderwing landed.

All Autobots and humans were ready to fire at Opitmus's orders.

"Optimus Prime!" Thunderwing said through broken fangs.

"Ready…."Optimus said.

"Give me your new Prime!" Thunderwing's eyes glowed a deep ruby of anger.

"Aim…You will never have my child!"

Optimus didn't hesitate any longer. "Fire!"

Shots rang out all around them as each and every weapon via Autobot or human began firing on the huge Decepticon.

Thunderwing laughed through the gunfire. Optimus knew they were getting nowhere. He had to think of something and quick.

"Aim for his joints!" Deserae yelled to the others.

The Autobots did as ordered, and began aiming for Thunderwing's joints, but he still came towards them, and one by one he took them out.

Optimus watched helplessly as each of his soldiers could not handle the power of Thunderwing.

Jazz and Bumble Bee flew through the warehouse. Ironhide had his lower leg blown off. The twins were flung through the forest. Sideswipe was crushed beneath the foot of the huge Decepticon. Ratchet lost part of his left optic and forehead. He was blinded and began to crawl away. Humans were disintegrated without even a blink from Thunderwing's optics. It was a massacre, and Optimus knew Thunderwing was saving him and Deserae for last.

He quickly scanned the area to make sure that Gabby and Orianna were far enough away.

"Lennox! Tell your men to retreat!" Optimus yelled out.

Lennox didn't argue, and began yelling to his military to back off.

Optimus looked down at them and said, "Just keep Gabrielle safe."

Lennox nodded and him and Epps started to gather the injured to get out of there. Optimus could hear him barking orders to get all military out of the area.

Before Optimus could do anything more, Deserae jumped on Thunderwing. She began to shoot into his neck, which caused Thunderwing to discharge his weapons everywhere. Optimus had to duck a few times not to get hit by the lasers that were exiting his cannons.

"Deserae no!" He yelled taking a few shots at the Decepticon.

He began to run towards the two fighting Decepticons when Thunderwing was able to gather himself, and grabbed Deserae by the throat.

He held the femme in the air, and said, "You betrayed me one last time."

Optimus took a few more shots, but he was too late. Thunderwing then tore through Deserae as if she was a rag doll, as the humans would say. She screamed in pain and then her optics went dark.

Optimus closed his optics for a moment in grief as his niece fell to the ground lifeless.

"Now, give me the Prime," Thunderwing said with menace.

"Never," Optimus said.

"I kept your human lover alive Prime, don't you think you owe me?" Thunderwing laughed.

Optimus growled in anger. "My child nor my mate is not yours for the taking, Thunderwing!"

Thunderwing shook his head. "Optimus Prime, only you would become so soft that you would take a human lover. Unicron was not happy about the half-breed, but now he considers her an asset to his goal."

Optimus would not let Thunderwing's mocking make him do anything stupid. He had to fight him smart. It was obvious Deserae's suggestion of wearing him out was not going to work any time soon.

"No! He will never use my child for his evil," Optimus mocked back.

Thunderwing thought for a moment, and said, "You're right, that is why we need her."

"You will have to get through me first," he said still looking for that opening.

The two began to circle in each other both waiting for the other to attack.

"Come on, Prime. You know no one can defeat me," Thunderwing said.

Optimus smirked through his faceplates. "That is not what my mate told me."

Thunderwing cursed in their language, and then smiled. "She will help us achieve a new generation of Decepticon greatness."

Optimus had about enough of this. So, it was true. They would have killed Gabby and taken Orianna away to train her to be one of their own, and then eventually take over Earth.

"Not while I live!"

"That won't be for much longer," Thunderwing stood straight up, and Optimus realized that injuries around his hip area were rusting from the water Gabby set off before. Yes, it had worked after all.

"After all, after your dead, I will not only have your sparkling, but I will have the creation matrix. How wonderful is that?"

Optimus discharged his ax, and jumped into action.

He quickly brought the ax down into Thunderwing's left hip. The cut went through, but not all the way. However, Thunderwing screamed in pain, and stumbled back.

Before Optimus could react Thunderwing grabbed him and pulled him to the ground with a Thud.

Optimus hit the ground so hard that his optics darkened for a moment.

He tried to recover, and was thrown off into some of the trees into the area. It brought back bad memories of when Megatron was able to defeat him.

Optimus groaned, and yelled out when he spotted Ironhide again try to jump on Thunderwing who still lay on the ground.

Ironhide as able to get another shot into the other side of Thunderwing's neck, and began to try to tear off Thunderwing's helmet.

However, Thunderwing recovered quickly, and grabbed Ironhide by his other leg and lifted him in the air upside down.

Optimus rose trying to get to his friend and get him down.

Thunderwing held Ironhide upside down, and said, "Puny mech."

Optimus could only watch in horror as Ironhide was thrown somewhere again into the forest. He could see small explosions all around that part of the forest. He could only hope that Ironhide was still alive and they could save him again.

Thunderwing roared into the air, and said to Optimus, "Give her to me!"

"No!"

"I have had enough of your games," he said lowly.

"You will be defeated," Optimus said getting his ax ready again. This time the cut would go all the way through and the shell would be off.

Before Thunderwing could react Optimus jumped on him again, and this time was able to get a grip on his shoulder area.

He finished what Ironhide had begun, and before Thunderwing could get to Optimus, he ripped his helmet off, and revealed the horrifying site of the robot underneath.

Optimus cringed, but tried not to hesitate, as he was about to bring his ax down into the head of the Pretender, he felt tremendous pain as Thunderwing gripped his lower leg. Optimus tried get out of the grip, but he couldn't quite move fast enough.

Thunderwing laughed as Optimus Prime flailed about at arm's length.

"Fool! I told you that I will not be defeated," Thunderwing said.

Optimus had to look away from the picture in front of him. This would not be the last thing he would see in his processors before he dies.

He tried to picture Gabby and Orianna. He swung his ax, but could not get a shot in.

He then charged his gun, and shot at Thunderwing who just dangled him in the air, and avoided the shots easily.

Thunderwing began to squeeze Optimus's neck.

He struggled against it, but it was not working.

The metal began to crush beneath Thunderwing's grip. Soon he would be beheaded, and it was just as horrible for them as it was for humans.

He could feel his head separating from the rest of his body.

His processors began to fade, and again he pictured Gabby and his new baby daughter. He asked Primus to apologize to them for him. He was sorry that yet again, he could not protect them.

His gears and circuits were stopping. This was the end.

Before Optimus went into the darkness to join Primus and so many of the others that had been lost, he saw a white flash come over him and Thunderwing.

He could barely hear, but he could have sworn that he heard Gabby scream his name, and Thunderwing roar in pain.

He knew he hit the ground, but what happened to have Thunderwing let go of him?

He had no idea, but the white light that surrounded him was beautiful.

I wonder where it came from, he thought weakening into darkness.

I know cliffhangar. How could I? Well, the next update will be tomorrow so it won't be for long.