Chapter 25: One Shall Rise Part 2
"Optimus, have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?"
"We're surrounded," Ava answered.
"Unicron is power incarnate, and you, the last of the Prime's and your legacy, shall perish."
"We are on our way."
"Negative. Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants us, Ratchet."
Optimus activated his blasters and his battle mask before looking to his daughter. Ava looked up at him and nodded. Clones jumped upon the cliff that Optimus and Ava were on, and the two quickly dispose of them before running cliff to cliff while Unicron clones came wave after wave until one of them finally shot Ava off with electricity.
"Ava!" Optimus shouted before he too was tackled off the cliff by a clone.
The Prime stumbled back into a wall after being crushed by a clone. Another approached the down Prime and got a couple hits before he was blasted away. Optimus held on for a little longer before he was ping-ponged around. He stabbed one in the face and threw him off the cliff before two more jumped up. He fired at them before he was tackled from behind. Two clones grabbed him by the arms as he struggled to get free, but stopped when one of the clones held a limp form of his daughter. One jumped down from a cliff and was about to end the Prime before a Ground bridge opened and blaster fire stopped him. Optimus glanced to his side and saw the others have arrived.
Ava faked being dead as she opened her eyes and knocked the clone's head off with her hammer. She rolled and landed on the ground while Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead free Optimus. Once he was, the Prime kicked a clone away before blasting and throwing one away and running. Arcee and Bumblebee fired at the one behind the Prime. Bee kicked one while another knocked Arcee down. Optimus came and tossed one before stabbing the other.
"Did Ratchet not relay my command? Return to base." Optimus ordered.
"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus."
"Optimus, you and Ava are Unicron's target. Maybe you two should consider returning to base."
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate us anywhere on Earth. Even our bases' shielding would only cloak our positions for so long. I will not put others at risk."
"Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once."
"Please! Listen to reason! If you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet."
Optimus' optics widened before he gave in. "Very well. Ava," he called.
The techno glanced behind her and nodded as she heard from her visor and finished killing off the clone before retreating to her family just as another clone jumped to where she was.
"Let's move," Arcee said and the Autobots continued to fight the clones while reaching to the top of the canyon.
Optimus transformed and let his daughter in before driving and knocking all the clones. They were clear for a moment but they had to transform when another clone, bigger than anything started to form.
"Ugh, come on!" Ava groaned, frustrated, exhausted and tired.
"Is that the real Unicron?" Bee asked.
"No, not Unicron himself, but another of his manifestation," Optimus answered.
"If we can't beat Unicron, and we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Bulkhead asked.
"All we can do. Neutralize his vessels as they appear, until we find a way to destroy him... without destroying the very Earth upon which we walk."
Ava hoped off of Optimus' servo and began to fire at the giant while Bulkhead and Bumblebee transformed and drove behind him to try and flank him. But Unicron moved the arm with the spikes and knocked them back. He felt more shots being fired on arm and he simply walked Arcee with his other arm forcing her to transform and landing on her stomach. With them out of the way, Unicron focused on his targets who were firing at him.
"Fools!"
He pounded the ground beneath and rocks came flying at the Prime who shoved his daughter aside before he was crushed by the rocks. Ava rolled onto a side before getting on her fronts and her eyes widening when she saw her Sire about to be stomped on like an ant.
"I am this world's past and its future. And as of this moment..."
"NO!" Both Arcee and Ava shouted.
"...all Prime's are simply past."
Out of nowhere, blaster fire was heard and hit Unicron in the face, causing him to crumble.
Ava grunted as she stood up while the others regrouped around her.
"Who shot him in the face?" Bee asked.
"Wasn't me," Arcee answered.
"Me neither," Bulkhead answered before they all looked to the techno who was staring at the person who did it.
"Ratchet?"
"What is it? What happened?"
"I happened." a voice declared.
Everyone looked at the voice and saw the last person they expected to save Optimus.
"Megatron?" Bulkhead asked in disbelief after jumping the remains of the clone.
"King's 'Con there, too?" Miko asked.
"He has aligned himself with Unicron." Ratchet explained.
"Don't be so sure. Megatron just saved Optimus' tailpipe." Arcee said making the medic's optics to widen.
Optimus pushed rocks out of his way before Megatron aimed his cannon at him. The Autobots aimed their weapons at him, but Megatron offered his servo instead. Optimus looked at him surprised before accepting his offer and was pulled out of the rubble.
"It is rather ironic considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark."
"That option remains very much in play," Optimus stated face to face.
"I would expect nothing less. However, I have a proposal. Join me in defeating our shared enemy - Unicron, the chaos-bringer."
"Ha! Absurd! Unicron is evil incarnate if Megatron wants to take any side, why would it be ours?"
"Because Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet," Optimus answered.
Ava scoffed, "Domination. Typical."
"You know me all too well, Optimus," Megatron smirked.
"You lead an army of 'Cons, why come to us?" Bulkhead asked.
"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command - the power of a Prime." Megatron gestured to Optimus.
Bulkhead scoffed, "Then I guess we don't need you."
"On the contrary, Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron, but I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's lifeblood runs through me. Only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his moves. Optimus, our past alliances - Autobot, Decepticon - no longer matter, not while Unicron lives."
"A truce between Autobot and Decepticon. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?"
"Only as long as it's mutually beneficial."
Ava rolled her eyes. "And when our proposed shared mission is complete?"
"I will conquer this Earth... my way," Megatron smirked, eyeing Prime's daughter.
"Brutal honesty from a Decepticon?"
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil." Ratchet retorted.
"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron?" Megatron retorted. "Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken. With each passing moment, the bringer of chaos evolves, mutating Earth from the inside out. What we have witnessed until now is but a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will wreak upon your world."
"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron?" Arcee retorted.
"Make no mistake. This time, there will be a planet left for me to rule."
"Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down at the center of the Earth. How are we supposed to get there - drive?"
"What kind of a question is that?" Ava asked. "Earth is not like Cybertron. The only possible way to get there is by drilling."
"There is another way," Optimus said.
"Absolutely not!" Ratchet denied immediately, knowing what he meant. "Ground-bridging into space or into moving trains is difficult enough. But plotting a blind jump inside a sentient being?! Besides, direct exposure to that much dark energon will debilitate you. You haven't built up an immunity like Megatron has."
"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance," Megatron remarked.
"You can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?"
"If you transport us to this planet's core, I can lead you directly into Unicron's spark... the very heart of his darkness."
"Optimus, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?" Arcee asked.
"With the Matrix of Leadership."
Ava's eyes widened as she remembered asking about the vessel and knows what happens after. "Sire, if you use the Matrix..."
Optimus knelt down to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, sweet spark, I have a backup plan. But, during my absence, you must lead the others. Can you do that?" he asked low enough so only she can hear.
"I-I'll does my best," Ava answered.
"I know you will." Optimus smiled underneath his mask before standing up and facing the Decepticon leader.
"It was the combined power of the Prime's that defeated Unicron so long ago, the very reason he now seeks to destroy you," Megatron said.
"It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's spark would return him to stasis."
"Hold on. If 'everything goes right' Unicron's gonna stay down there?"
"Yeah. Can't we siphon him out somehow?"
"He's not in the Earth's core, Jack. He is the Earth's core."
"Rafael is correct. Tampering with your core could affect the magnetic poles, trigger the very cataclysmic event we are attempting to remedy. Tragically, Unicron is your planets very seed. Always has been and always must be."
Suddenly, rocks started to roll toward the remains of the giant clone.
"We got another one," Bulkhead said.
"Ratchet, send a Ground bridge," Optimus ordered.
Arcee grabbed Ava and started to fight back the violent wind when a portal opened beside them. "Wait. We're opening a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?"
"And seriously, he's going to risk his own spark to save us?" Bulkhead remarked.
Megatron laughed. "Hardly my nature." He looked up at the giant. "Consider my offer. I shall keep it busy." He stated before jumping and transforming into a jet and distracting the clone.
The Autobots jumped through the Ground bridge.
"No word yet from Lord Megatron?" Airachnid asked. Soundwave didn't reply. "It appears our leader has abandoned us while this world erupts in chaos. I believe we must consider the possibility of a future without Megatron."
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measure, but bringing Megatron here?" Ratchet asked as he paced back and forth.
"How can you even think about letting that monster near these children after what he did to Raf?" June asked.
"He will be closely monitored and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more."
"What's going to stop the 'Con from calling in an air strike if he knows where you live?" Fowler asked.
"By Ground-bridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates."
"Optimus, what's gonna happen to you when all your Matrix's energy released?" Jack asked, as Ava hugged her arm.
"The power within the Matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner."
"But you have an idea, don't you?"
Optimus paused as he looked at his daughter before looking to the others. "Autobots, if humankind is to be saved... I have no choice but to proceed. But you do."
"Well, I don't know about humankind, but I'm willing to do it... for Miko."
"For Jack."
"For Raf."
Ava glanced up when her Sire stopped in front of her. She jumped into his arms and hugged his chest which he returned.
Megatron continued to battle Unicron, but now he was facing three of them alone. He delivered a blow in one of the clone's leg, causing it to fall.
"Megatron, we are sending landing coordinates." Optimus informed the warlord over the comm-link.
"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Optimus." Megatron remarked and delivered a punch to a clones face before entering the Ground bridge.
Miko grunts as Ratchet pushes her. "No fair! I've never seen him! Why do we have to hide?"
"Because I said so!" Ratchet answered just before the portal opens.
The medic walked to the others just when Megatron entered the base. Ava watched from behind the Ground bridge controls as his steps were slow and heavy.
"So, this is where the magic happens. Quaint."
Her antennas twitched when Ava heard Jack and June yell and saw Raf running toward the warlord. "You!" Raf said before Jack caught him.
"Ah!" Megatron turned to the boy but Arcee put herself between them. "You're looking much better than the last time we met, little one. Humans... resilent."
"Come on, Raf. He isn't worth it." Jack said before walking away.
"And you. I never forget a face - even that of a human." Megatron stated.
Jack just glared at him before walking back to the others.
"You double-cross anyone mine is the face you'll never forget. Never!" Miko declared.
Fowler grabbed Miko and pulled her back while Megatron stared at her unamused by her threat.
"Ratchet obtain the destination from our guest." Optimus instructed.
Megatron and Ratchet approached the controls where Ava stood. The warlord smirked at her which she stuck her tongue out at him before stomping over to the little furniture area to get far away from him. Megatron seemed amused by her behavior but focused back on the task.
While Ratchet was getting the coordinates, Optimus walked to the humans. "Jack..." Said boy turned around. "will you keep something for me?"
"Sure."
Optimus held up the object that looked like something important stuff is kept. He made it smaller and handed it to Jack.
"What is it?"
"It is the key to the Ground bridge power supply."
"Okay, but shouldn't Ratchet or Ava have this?"
"Perhaps." He looked down with sadness that this will be the last time he will be able to remember his daughter. "But I've been impressed by how much you have matured since we first met. As such, I feel you have earned the responsibility of safeguarding this important device, until I return."
"Return? What do you mean?"
"Ratchet and Ava will answer any questions you have." Optimus answered.
Jack looked at the key before back at the Prime. "I won't let you down."
With that, Optimus returned to the others where everything was ready.
"Locked and ready." Ratchet stated.
Arcee approached the portal but stopped and looked up at the warlord who glared at her. "You first."
"As you wish." Megatron said before leaving.
Arcee glanced back before following with the others behind her. However, Optimus stopped to get one last look at the humans and his daughter before leaving them with Ratchet. On the other side, Megatron and the Autobots arrived in a place that has metal bridges and walls with veins glowing dark energon.
"So, how long before Unicron knows we're here?" Arcee asked.
"Make no mistake - he already does." Megatron answered before continuing to walk through the core not knowing that they were being watched by Unicron's eye.