A hot quiver went through Optimus's right arm. Sparks jumped from the gash. He could barely make a fist. He fought against the growing fear as he stared across the clearing at Thundercracker, Blitzwing and Blackout. He did not like his chances fighting three Decepticons with only one fully functional hand.
I have been in worse situations before.
He also had no choice. Occupying those three meant they could not pursue the other Autobots and their human allies to try and steal the fragments.
With a final glance back at Wheeljack, who was repairing the wound in Sky Lynx's bird half, and took a step toward the Decepticons. Sky Lynx's dark blue battlecat form growled and followed. A broadsword grew from Optimus's left hand.
"Come fight me, if you dare."
Thundercracker threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, we dare, Optimus Prime. We most definitely dare."
He raised his right arm. A battleaxe grew from it. Swords popped out of Blitzwing's and Blackout's hands.
The three Decepticons marched forward.
Optimus accessed the computer network of Sector Seven's headquarters, calling up the system that managed the defense grid. He quickly scanned the location of the camouflaged weapons and devised a plan of attack.
He stood his ground, sword raised, letting the Decepticons come to him.
"I'm taking one of his arms," declared Blackout. "Megatron said he wanted Prime alive. He didn't say he had to be in one piece."
The Decepticons were halfway across the clearing.
Optimus activated the defense grid.
Parts of the ground behind the Decepticons slid back. Gears whirred as THELs, grenade and missile launchers, multi-barreled cannons and .50 caliber machine guns emerged.
"What's that noise?" Blitzwing turned around.
The beam from a THEL struck him in the chest. Flames and sparks burst off his frame.
GAU-8 cannons growled. The grenade launchers thumped. The Decepticons jerked back as 30mm armor-piercing rounds and RAPTOR rounds cut into their metallic hides. A TOW missile exploded against Thundercracker's leg.
Optimus charged them. The battlecat sprinted alongside him. A cannon grew from Blackout's arm. He shot one of the THELs, blowing it to pieces. A GAU-8 swung toward him and unleashed a barrage of 30mm rounds. Sparks jumped off Blackout's torso. He fired at the human cannon. A pillar of flames tore it apart. Streams of bright yellow spewed from the explosion as ammunition detonated.
Sky Lynx's battlecat jumped through the air. It crashed against Blackout, knocking him to the damp ground. The other two Decepticons turned to their fallen comrade, then Thundercracker swung around to Optimus. He started to bring up his axe.
Optimus lowered his shoulder and rammed the Decepticon. Thundercracker's arms flung out to his sides. He slammed into the ground, sliding across the west grass and flattening a machine gun platform.
Blitzwing turned, sword raised. Optimus knocked it to the side and kicked the Decepticon in the abdomen. He soared over the battlecat, who had its jaws wrapped around Blackout's arm. It bit down, sparks shooting from its mouth. A crushing, ripping sound followed. Blackout's severed forearm fell to the ground.
The Decepticon cried out. With his remaining hand he punched the battlecat in the side of the head. It tumbled away. Blackout started to get up.
Optimus drove his sword into the Decepticon's chest. Blackout went into spasms. Optimus withdrew the sword. Sparks and smoke burst from the wound. A tubular launcher sprouted from Optimus's shoulder. He fired two missiles into Blackout's wound. His chest exploded in a mass of fire. The light in Blackout's eyes dimmed, then faded all together.
Blitzwing got to his feet. He yelled and charged, swinging his sword. Optimus blocked the blow. A harsh metal-on-metal clang enveloped the clearing.
Blitzwing slashed at Optimus again. He deflected it with his sword. Another swing from Blitzwing. Another block.
Optimus spotted Thundercracker approaching. The battlecat leapt at him. Thundercracker caught it and slammed it into the ground once, twice, three times. He then stomped its belly.
Blades crashed together as Optimus and Blitzwing dueled. The Autobot leader thrust his sword at the Decepticon. He dodged to the side. Optimus forced his damaged arm to move. He rammed his elbow into Blitzwing's torso, staggering him. He then glanced back at Sky Lynx's battlecat. A cannon popped out of Thundercracker's wrist. He aimed it at the battlecat.
Optimus took control of a nearby grenade launcher. It fired three RAPTOR rounds. Two ripped into Thundercracker's side. He roared in pain and stumbled away from the battlecat.
Another section of ground slid away. Up rose a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun with its double, conical-shaped barrels. The weapon fired with a steady drumbeat. Shells burst along Thundercracker's body.
Optimus ducked a swipe from Blitzwing's sword. He sprang forward, shoved his shoulder into the other Transformer's torso, and lifted him onto his shoulder.
"Put me down, damn you!" Blitzwing shouted.
"I intend to."
Optimus slammed him into the ground, cratering it. He retracted his sword. Twin laser barrels emerged from his left hand. Blitzwing pushed himself to his feet. Optimus fired. The beams blasted through the Decepticon's side.
Optimus sprang away from his wounded opponent and landed in front of a staggering Thundercracker. He punched him in the face, kneed him in the abdomen, then flung him to the side. Thundercracker bounced across the soaked grass. A GAU-8 and a grenade launcher swiveled toward him and fired. Holes appeared in his torso and legs.
"I'm getting out of here!" Thundercracker pushed himself to his feet and ran. He stumbled a few times, hit by armor-piercing rounds. The Decepticon jumped into the air and transformed into a MiG-29. Blitzwing turned into an enlarged F-15 and flew after him.
Optimus turned the entire defense grid on the fleeing Decepticons, adding his own firepower to the hail of shells, grenades and missiles. Orange and black explosions flashed on and around Thundercracker and Blitzwing. The two staggered and dropped to the ground, trailing smoke and flame.
Optimus shut off the defense grid and stared across the jungle. He considered going after Thundercracker and Blitzwing, but his gaze settled on Sky Lynx and Wheeljack. He had to protect his engineer until he finished repairing the other Autobot.
Blitzwing and Thundercracker will also have to take time to tend to their damage. They're out of this fight for a while.
He checked on the battlecat. Aside from a few dents, it was fine. Optimus walked across the clearing, his thoughts turning to the other Autobots and their human allies, hoping they fared well, and wishing he could be with them.
XXXXX
Onslaught peered through the trees, watching Vortex as he hovered toward the hill overlooking the human city. The Combaticon helicopter landed and transformed into robot mode. He jogged into the trees, joining the rest of his comrades.
"Report," ordered Onslaught.
"I detected no sign of the Autobots or the Allspark fragments."
"They must be there." Swindle jabbed a finger toward Ponce. "A city that size would be the perfect hiding place. They can assume the form of any vehicle, halt somewhere and power down their systems to avoid detection. That's what I'd do."
Onslaught stared first at Swindle, then back at the city. He considered what his fellow Combaticon said. Swindle was, after all, an expert in deception.
"Perhaps you're right."
"I know I'm right," Swindle replied.
"So how do we find them in a city that size?" asked Brawl.
Onslaught stood quietly, his gaze still on Ponce. "We don't find them. We get the Autobots to come to us."
Blastoff drew back his head in a quizzical manner. "How?"
"The Autobots are sentimental when it comes to small, organic lifeforms, somehow believing them worthy to live."
"That is not exactly a secret," said Brawl. "How will that help us destroy the Autobots and obtain the Allspark?"
Onslaught turned to him. "According to Earth's information networks, this city of Ponce contains more than one hundred-seventy thousand humans. No Autobot would stand by and allow that many lifeforms to be endangered."
"And you intend to endanger all those fleshlings?" Swindle grinned.
"No. I intend to kill them until the Autobots give us the Allspark fragments."
TO BE CONTINUED