Chapter Twenty Five- The Chaos Bringer
Megatron was inside a canyon surrounded by multiple rock copies of Unicron.
"Lord Megatron, have you uncovered any further signs of Unicron's emergence?" Shockwave asked through the com-link.
"Unicron is power incarnate. And you, the legacy of the true Primes, shall perish." All the copies of Unicron said at the same time, which was heard in the com-link.
"I take that as a yes. We are on our way." Starscream declared as they were going to the ground bridge portal.
"Negative. Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants me, Starscream." Megatron said activating his weapons. "This fight must be mine alone."
The clones jumped from the high cliffs to attack, but Megatron shot them before they even hit the ground. One came up from behind and attacks him, but Megatron blocked him and shot it. Another one grabbed Megatron from behind, but he flipped it over. Megatron continued firing as he jumped off from one cliff and onto the other. One of the clones came up from the ground, but Megatron stabbed it with his sword before it had time to attack. Megatron continued jumping from cliff to cliff, shooting or stabbing the Unicron clones. He kept firing at a boulder, causing it to fall and kill two clones. One of the clones tackled him off of a cliff, but Megatron flipped him over and the clone crashed into the ground, before Megatron flipped back and hit a wall. Then he fired at one of the clones that were charging at him. More clones came to attack him, but Megatron shot at them, slice them or threw them. As more clones came to attack him, two clones jumped from higher ground and tackled him to the ground. They grabbed him by the arms as Megatron tried to break free, but it was no use. One clone was getting ready to kill him, but then a shot hit it in the chest. Megatron looked over to see a ground bridge open and his team coming out of it. Starscream transformed into his alt mode, and then he flew and returned to his robot form before kick one clone. The other Decepticons helped free Megatron destroying the remaining clones and the ones coming at them. Before two managed to hurt Airachnid and Stinger, Megatron shot one and stabbed the other.
"Starscream, did you not relay my command? Return to base." Megatron ordered.
"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, warrior of Primus." Unicron said.
"Megatron, you're Unicron's target. Maybe you should consider returning to base." Airachnid retorted.
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth. Even our base's shielding will only cloak my position for so long. I will not put others at risk." Megatron explained.
"Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once." Breakdown insisted.
"Please, listen to reason. If you don't survive, Megatron, I fear neither will this planet." Shockwave proclaimed through the com-link.
"Very well." Megatron gave in.
"Let's move!" Starscream said as he charged into battle.
The team continued shooting at the clones as they made their way through the canyon. Airachnid, Starscream and Stinger jumped to the next terrain, but a clone appeared from the ground. Megatron transformed into his alt mode and flew straight through it. As they made it to the top of the canyon, the Decepticons transformed into their alt modes and sped off, evading or crushing the clones on their way. A mountain suddenly began crumbling as a giant face appeared. The Decepticons transformed and looked up to see a Unicron clone of the size of a mountain stand high and tall.
"(Is that the real Unicron?)" Stinger asked.
"No, not Unicron himself, but another of his manifestations." Megatron answered.
"If we can't beat Unicron and if we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Knock Out 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." Megatron answered.
Megatron began to fire as Breakdown, Knock Out and Stinger transformed and drove forward. They stopped and began to fire at Unicron from behind, but Unicron simply used his arm to knock them both away. Unicron felt shots being fired at him and turned around to see Airachnid shooting webs and him and Starscream launching missiles. They transformed to flew and evade him, but Unicron knocked them away, so they transformed into their bipedal form as they skidded across the floor. Megatron continued firing at him before he transformed and flew, firing from different sides.
"Fool!" Unicron said as he moved his arm, causing rocks to fly out of the ground.
Megatron tried to dodge them, but they all pinned him to the floor. Breakdown, Knock Out and Stinger got up and continued firing at him, but Unicron didn't pay attention as he raised his foot.
"I am this world's past and its future. And as of this moment…"
"No!" Starscream screamed.
"All Primes are simply past."
Before Unicron could crush Megatron, some blasters hit Unicron from behind in the face. The clone then fell to the floor and shattered into a million pieces. The Decepticons looked at the rubble before looking to each other.
"(Who made that wonderful shot?)" Stinger asked.
"Wasn't me." Airachnid said.
"Me neither." Breakdown said.
"I never was good at shooting." Knock Out added.
"Shockwave?" Starscream asked through the com-link.
"What is it? What happened?" Shockwave demanded through his com-link.
"I happened." A voice declared.
Everyone looked up to see Optimus Prime standing on top of the pile of rubble. Then he jumped and landed in front of them.
"Optimus Prime?" Breakdown said in disbelief.
"King Bot's there too?" Miko asked.
"He has aligned himself with Unicron." Soundwave answered with disgust.
"Don't be so sure. Prime just saved Megatron's tailpipe." Airachnid said, surprising everyone.
Megatron pushed rocks out of his way as Optimus walked up to him. Optimus aimed his blaster at him, causing everyone to aim their weapon to him. But then, Optimus stopped charging his blaster, changed it into his hand and offered it to Megatron. Megatron was slightly hesitant before he took his hand and Optimus pulled him out of the rubble.
"It is rather ironic, considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark." Optimus recalled.
"That option remains very much in play." Megatron threaten.
"I would expect nothing less, however I have a proposal. Join me in defeating our share enemy: Unicron, the chaos bringer." Optimus said.
"Ha, absurd! Unicron is evil incarnate. If Optimus was to take anyone's side, why would it be ours?" Starscream demanded.
"Because after Unicron finished with me, Optimus will be the next one wanted by him. Besides, his pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet." Megatron answered.
"You know me all too well, Megatron." Optimus smirked.
"You lead an army of Bots. Why come to us?" Knock Out asked.
"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command, something that I believe I had, but Unicron revealed that is was not with me. The true power of a Prime." Optimus gesture his arm to Megatron.
"Then I guess we don't need you." Breakdown said.
"On the contrary. Megatron 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 movements. Megatron, our past alliances, Autobot, Decepticon, no longer matter. Not while Unicron lives." Optimus explained.
On base, Shockwave slammed his fist on the computers in anger. "The past always matters!"
"A truce between Autobot and Decepticon. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?" Megatron asked.
"Only as long as it is mutual beneficial." Optimus answered.
"And when our proposed shared mission is complete?" Megatron asked again.
"I will conquer this Earth. My way." Optimus proclaimed.
"Brutal honesty from an Autobot." Airachnid questioned in slight surprise.
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil." Starscream retorted.
"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron is yet to fully awaken. With each passing moment, the chaos bringer evolves. Mutating Earth from the inside out. What we've witness until now is but a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will wreak upon your world." Optimus explained, making everyone in base to remain quiet.
"Like the quest of power of your Prime predecessors destroyed Cybetron?" Knock Out retorted.
"Make no mistake! This time there will be a planet left for me to rule." Optimus declared.
"Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down to the center of the Earth. How are we supposed to get there, drive?" Breakdown asked.
"There is only one way." Megatron said.
"Absolutely not!" Shockwave shouted, knowing Megatron's plan.
"Ground bridging into space or on a moving train is difficult enough. But plotting a blind jump inside of a sentient being? It's impossible." Soundwave explained.
"Besides, direct exposure to that much dark energon will debilitate you. You haven't built up immunity like Prime has." Shockwave added.
"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance." Optimus remarked.
"You can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?" Megatron asked.
"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 declared.
"Lord Megatron, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?" Starscream asked.
Megatron looked over at Optimus, who slightly nodded his head.
"With the Matrix of Leadership." Megatron answered, leaving everyone in shock.
"What is that?" Silas asked.
"A vessel of pure energy. The collective wisdom of the Primes." Shockwave answered.
"Do we have time for a scavenger hunt? I mean, where is Megatron supposed to find this matrix?" Jack asked.
"Megatron does not need to find it. Optimus carries it within him." Soundwave explained as he pointed to his chest.
"It was the combine power of the Primes that defeated Unicron so long ago. The very reason he now seeks to destroy you." Optimus said.
"Wait. If Optimus has the matrix within him and he's called Prime, might not he also use his power against Unicron?" Miko asked in confusion.
"It would not be the same, because Optimus is not its rightful owner. If Optimus used the matrix, its power would not affect Unicron the same way." Shockwave cleared.
"It would follow that unleashing the power of the matrix directly into Unicron's spark would return him to stasis." Megatron concluded.
"Hold on. If everything goes right, Unicron's gonna stay down there?" Miko asked.
"Yeah, can't we siphon him out somehow?" Jack asked.
"He's not in the Earth's core, Jack. He is the Earth's core." Raf explained.
"Rafael is correct. Tampering with your core could affect the magnetic pull; trigger the very cataclysmic event we are attempting to remediate. Tragically, Unicron is your planet very seed. Always has been and always must be." Shockwave said.
Suddenly, lots of rocks went to the same direction, where another giant clone of Unicron began to raise.
"We got another one!" Knock Out yelled.
"Soundwave, send the ground bridge." Megatron instructed.
As everyone covered their faces from the violent wind a ground bridge opened right behind them.
"Wait! We're opening a direct path into our base with Optimus standing right there?" Airachnid asked.
"And seriously, he's going to risk his own spark to save us?" Breakdown remarked.
That made Optimus laugh. "Hardly my nature." He looked up at the now standing Unicron. "Consider my offer, I shall keep it busy." He said before he transformed and drove to the clone.
While the Decepticons returned to base, Optimus began to climb to Unicron as he fired at him. At the same time, in the Ark, the Autobots began to get nervous.
"No word yet from Optimus Prime?" Ratchet asked to Blaster, but he didn't responded.
"Do you believe our leader has abandoned us, while this world erupts in chaos?" Bulkhead asked to everyone.
"I don't know, but I'm starting to worry about our leader safety." Bee said.
"Just in case, we should consider the possibility of a future, when Optimus Prime is no more with us." Smokescreen suggested.
"Well, he has a point. What do you think, commander?" Arcee asked to Elita One, but she didn't answer, but everyone could see worry in her eyes.
Back in the Decepticon base…
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measures, but bringing Optimus here?!" Starscream exclaimed.
"How can you even think about letting that monster near these children after what he did to Raf?" June demanded.
"He will be closely monitored, and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more." Megatron declared.
"What's going to stop the Bots from calling in an air strike if they know where you live?" Silas asked.
"By ground bridging Optimus here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates." Soundwave explained.
"Megatron, what's gonna happen to you when all of the matrix's energy is released?" Jack asked.
"The power within the matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner." Megatron said.
"But you have an idea, don't you?" Jack asked.
Megatron paused for a moment.
"Decepticons, if humankind is to be saved, I have no choice but to proceed. But you do." Megatron declared.
"My liege, when I join your cause, I promised that I will follow you anywhere you go. And I have intention to make that true." Starscream confessed.
"Me too, lord Megatron." Soundwave proclaimed.
"Now we are three, but someone has to stay here and command the base in your absence." Shockwave said.
The rest of the Decepticons paused for a moment as they looked at their human friends.
"Well, I don't know about humankind, but I'm willing to do it, for Miko." Breakdown declared.
"For Jack." Airachnid said.
"(For Raf.)" Stinger said.
"For our three little friends." Knock Out said.
That made the children smile. Optimus continued to battle Unicron, but now he was facing three giant clones, however he was able to damage seriously the leg of one of them.
"Optimus, we are sending transport." Megatron informed through the com-link.
"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Megatron." Optimus remarked.
Optimus jumped high into the air before he transformed and punched one of the clones in the face, shattering the entire head. Optimus landed on the ground as the clone shattered into a million pieces and walked through a ground bridge portal directly to base before it closed.
"No fair! I've never seen him! Why do we have to hide?" Miko grunted as Starscream pushed her into the hall.
"Because I said so." Starscream answered before he walked away.
Starscream returned back with the others, who were looking at the ground bridge opened. Then Optimus appeared before them, walking toward them. All of them activated their weapons.
"So, this is where the magic happens. Quaint." Optimus said looking around the base.
The kids, June and Silas looked at the scene that was playing before them. Raf, still angry about what Optimus did to him, couldn't take it and ran out from his hiding place.
"Raf!" Jack yelled.
"Rafael, no!" June yelled.
Optimus looked over to see Raf and the other humans running up to him.
"You." Raf said before Jack caught him.
"Ah." Optimus began as Knock Out got in front of him and aim his blasters. "You're looking much better than the last time we meet, little one. Humans, resilient."
"Come on, Raf. He isn't worth it." Jack said as June took him and comforted him.
"Elita told me about you, young one. I never forget a face, even that of a human." Optimus informed.
Jack just glared at Optimus before he walked away. Miko looked at Jack before she looked back at Optimus.
"You double cross anyone, mine is the face you'll never forget. Never!" Miko declared.
Fortunately, Silas managed to grab Miko and pulled her back, while Optimus just looked at her not amused.
"Soundwave, obtain the destination coordinates from our guest." Megatron instructed.
Optimus and Soundwave walked over to the ground bridge while the other Decepticons still aimed their weapons at the Autobot leader. While the humans left the main hall, someone followed them.
"Jack." Megatron said before he knelt down. "Will you keep something for me?"
"Sure." Jack answered.
Megatron pulled out a small thing-like metal. It transformed until it becoming smaller, enough so Jack could grab it with his hand.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It is… the key to the ground bridge power supply." Megatron answered.
"Okay but, shouldn't Soundwave or Shockwave have this?" Jack asked.
"Perhaps, but I've been impressed by how much you have matured since we first meet. As such, I feel you have earned the responsibility of safeguarding this important device, until I return." Megatron explained.
Jack looked at it before he looked back at Megatron. "I won't let you down."
With that done, Megatron returned to the main hall, where the ground bridge was opened and Optimus waiting next to it.
"Lock and ready." Shockwave said as the other Decepticons were ready for departure.
"You first." Airachnid said looking at Optimus.
"As you wish." Optimus said as he bowed before he walked through.
The Decepticons looked back to see their human friends looking at them. They started to get into the portal. Megatron looked back at them one more time before he went with the others, leaving them with Shockwave. On the other side of the portal, Optimus and the Decepticons arrived in a very strange place: huge metal bridges and walls with veins glowing dark energon, they were inside of Unicron's body.
"So, how long before Unicron knows we're here?" Airachnid asked.
"Make no mistake, he already does." Optimus answered.
Optimus and the Decepticons continued walking through the core not knowing that they were being watched by Unicron's eye.
To be continued…