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Fracture looked around her.
"This is their landmark?" she sneered.
She was inside a high hallway with a golden plaque of the building imprinted on the far wall. Tiny elevators stretched across the wall, while the usual guards were, of course, nowhere to be seen.
"It isn't big enough to be a hatchery," Fracture muttered. "What do you think?"
But when she turned, Bludgeon was nowhere in sight. He hadn't entered the building, but for him to leave without acknowledging her was extremely rude.
I might just kill him after all…
But when she left and turned her head left and right, he was still out of sight.
"Where—?" she began to ask herself, before some rubble trickled onto her shoulder. She looked up.
Bludgeon, like some fictional yet royal ape before him, was clambering up the side of the tower, breaking apart windows and stone as he ascended.
"Idiot," Fracture muttered under her breath.
Bludgeon kept climbing.
I need to see it.
Twenty-five floors up.
I need to see my new kingdom.
Fifty floors up. The wind whipped his skin, but he gave a deep laugh and continued on.
It is time to defend it. To the last 'con if need be.
He reached the observation deck. He was almost at the top.
Although, truly, I am the last Decepticon.
Holding the spire at the very top, he leant out and looked over New York.
He saw the forest of corpses in the park, the wrecked buildings, the frozen rivers… and beyond, he saw the Bronx, where the Autobots licked their wounds.
But he knew his enemies would arrive soon. And they would bring thunder.
He looked up.
It seems the thunder's arrived.
Black clouds gathered overhead. A deep rumbling could be heard for miles.
Now the true battle begins. It won't be about any stupid Pillars, or Allsparks… no, this will be pure fighting. The aim, to kill the enemy. The glory, to the one left alive. The victory, to the one who returns home…
But Bludgeon was already home. Here, among the fires of war and the glory of battle, he could live and die happily.
He roared with laughter. And lightning arced over the Empire State Building.
This is my time. This is… My. War.
Episode 26: Bludgeoned to Death (Part 2)
Sound and fury
Drowns my heart
Every nerve
IS TORN APART!
—Cygnus X-1
They sat around in the gloom, none of them looking at each other. Optimus had not said one word. Epps had simply sat on the ground and looked at the floor.
Sideswipe had disappeared an hour earlier. Although they had worked out that it had probably been Mindwipe who had brainwashed Sideswipe, it didn't change the fact that if Sideswipe hadn't attacked Optimus… Colonel William Lennox might still be alive.
A young, red-faced major from Mount Vernon's armoured division entered.
"General Redwood is moving out," the major told the remnants of HARP, "He says you can come with if you want. You're experience and prowess would be greatly appreciated."
No-one moved or said anything. The major nodded hurriedly and left.
Most of the newbies were affected by Colonel Lennox's death, but only because everyone else was. The way the Autobots acted and the way in which the veterans held him in such high esteem, made the new guys feel as if a great, looming presence had disappeared. They seemed shrunken in and desolated, not just from the loss of command, but from the loss of a great friend.
No-one felt this more than the Autobots. Although only Ratchet, Bumblebee and, of course, Optimus had been with the colonel since the beginning, the others had been led by his cool head and powerful speech, until they simply respected him. He was also one of the few humans' who was genuinely liked among the aliens. Now it seemed that Epps was the only one left alive…
"It really is no use sitting here," Arcee announced, standing up. "We might as well go out there and kill the bastards who took out Will."
There were several murmurings of agreement, but everyone still turned to look up at Optimus.
He sat in the middle of the room, staring hard at the floor. No doubt Lennox's death had affected him greatly, especially when Lennox's last act had been to save him… and Optimus's last act had been to rebuff him.
"You've got to remember who we're fighting, Optimus," Arcee told him, "The Decepticons are out there, waiting for us to attack them. We need to go out and meet them, with the humans backing us, and wipe Bludgeon's brigade from the planet!"
There was now a chorus of shouts. Mirage stood as well, lending his support to Arcee.
But Optimus still did not look up. The shouting began to die down.
Suddenly, Bumblebee leapt up.
"Optimus Prime!" he roared in their language, "Don't remember Lennox; remember who killed him! Remember who killed Ironhide! Remember who killed Sam!"
Optimus raised his head to look at Bumblebee, the oldest veteran among them. And yet still so young for an Autobot… in fact, looking around, they were all far too young.
They shouldn't be fighting a war. And not a war such as this, a never-ending war…
Even Epps, who still sat with his arms over his head, was young compared to human veterans.
"Optimus!" Mirage cried, "The humans are moving out! We need to join them or they'll be decimated!"
Optimus flexed his fist.
So what if they die? They are just like us… nothing more than idiots who will wage war forever more… we can't change anything, we can't do anything… and we can't save anyone…
Then, a peculiar sound could be heard. It sounded like distant thunder, yet came from within the hangar.
The members of HARP looked around, trying to locate the source of the strange noise. Their ears and audio receptors were drawn to Sixshot.
With a start, they realised he was laughing.
Optimus cast his gaze around to where the new Autobot sat in the corner. His glare could kill a snake.
"And what are you so happy about?" he growled.
Sixshot looked up. Everyone stared at him.
"Happy?" Sixshot said, almost bemused, "You think I'm… happy? I don't think I ever could be…"
"Then what are you laughing for?" Optimus thundered.
Sixshot chuckled. "Your sheer ridiculousness, Optimus Prime. Prime… HA! That's a title they reserve for the heroes; the brave and the selfless! And yet you sit here, moping like a puerile hatchling. I expected more from a Prime, more from Optimus who has kept the Autobots alive through these long deca-cycles. 'Prime'? I name you pathetic, Optimus; you are unable to lead yourself, let alone the rest of us."
Bumblebee trained his blaster on Sixshot. "Say another word and I'll split your skull!"
Sixshot gazed at him coolly. "Put away that gun, kid, before I shove it down your throat and blow it out your ass."
The two of them glared at each other before Arcee interrupted. "Stop it! The humans are moving out! We have to decide now; are we going with them?"
Sixshot chuckled. "It depends on what our fearless leader orders. Ask Optimus, female."
Arcee glared at Sixshot, before turning to Optimus.
Who wasn't there.
Everyone looked at the hangar entrance, where Optimus stood, staring out towards New York.
They waited.
Optimus turned his head to look at them.
"We will kill them all," he uttered, "But Bludgeon's mine."
They whooped and cheered and near-charged out the hangar.
Unlike his master, who had to clamber up like a damned monkey, Overload's insect legs were up to the task of scaling the colossal structure his commander had stupidly placed himself.
He reached the top, he spider-legs digging into the foundation.
"Lieutenant Bludgeon," Overload muttered, "Insect soldiers are pouring in from the western city, while more come down from the north. Our defences are set up; what are your orders?"
Bludgeon still clung to the spire. He still looked out over his territory.
"The Autobots are coming," he growled, "With renewed vigour."
Overload said nothing, praying his commander wouldn't rattle away into a soliloquy.
There was silence. Overload waited patiently.
"Detonate the bridges across the Hudson River," Bludgeon ordered at last, "Block all tunnels and subways."
Overload nodded and began to scramble down.
"Come then, Optimus," Bludgeon muttered, "Come one, come all. Let us battle in this hive and leave such a body count that our legacy will forever be cemented! Let us fight, until one of us dies upon the other's blade! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
His laugh carried across the city, as New York braced itself for full-scale war.
The tanks and other assorted armoured vehicles charged down 7th Avenue, attack choppers flying overhead. They passed straight through Harlem without any outside interruptions.
"General Redwood!" a young lieutenant cried from the general's jeep, "They've blown all access to New Jersey! We're cut off!"
The general cursed under his breath. "Get Optimus Prime up front; he can take the brunt of the firepower and will be the first to rush in."
The lieutenant nodded and turned to give the communications officer his remits. A minute later, the Autobot leader came thundering up beside them, to the cheers of the soldiers.
Suddenly, there were several sounds, not unlike explosions, coming from the west.
"Sir! 1st Column's been hit! They're being attacked on Broadway!"
"Where's third column?" the general roared.
"They're clearing away rubble on Park Avenue!"
"Fuck the rubble! We're isolated! Can't the gunships see anything?"
The lieutenant looked up to see the AH-64 Apaches. And saw what destroyed them.
A huge Seeker smashed straight down through one, before landing on the general's jeep with a thunderous crash, killing all inside immediately. The Seeker gazed around, splitting the convoy in half.
Crashdive grinned and drew an absolutely huge scimitar off his back.
The next tank in line tried to raise its cannon in a panic, but Crashdive swung his scimitar downwards, splitting the tank in half. Electricity crackled off his blade.
But before he could dispatch the next in line, Mirage leapt at him. Although he was considerably smaller than his adversary, he still charged with all his might, three small missiles firing from his shoulders. Crashdive let them explode against the side of his blade, before it clashed with Mirage's two.
Right from the start, it was an unfair fight. Crashdive was eight feet taller than his Autobot adversary, with nearly twice as much weight, and his scimitar could cut through titanium. He kicked away the pesky Autobot and raised his scimitar for a dismembering blow.
But then his back exploded in pain. He whirled around and saw that the tanks of the other half were opening fire. And Optimus Prime was running straight towards him.
With a twisted shriek of amusement, Crashdive swung his scimitar down, striking the tarmac. With a thunderous shockwave, an electrical bolt of yellow lightning sliced down the street, shredding through the tanks and knocking Optimus Prime to the ground. With a roar of triumph, Crashdive shot into the air… and found Mirage hanging onto his leg. Spitting and snarling, he transformed, dropping the Autobot, and fled into the sky in his Su-37 Terminator form.
Mirage dropped like a stone, falling past the buildings and towards the street, towards the street, towards the street—
Optimus caught him by the foot. The Prime looked angry.
"Mirage," he warned, putting his comrade back on terra firma, "What kind of brazen idiocy caused you to cling on to him?"
"It worked for Skystalker back in Tibet…" Mirage muttered.
"Tibet. Do you actually remember what happened to you in Tibet?"
Mirage hung his head on shame. Optimus looked to the other Autobots who had joined them.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"Crashdive," Arcee spat, "He's a big 'con, but he doesn't talk much."
"Why not?"
"I tore his voice box out on Cybertron."
Optimus gave a mirthless snort before turning to look south-west.
"Are there any more like him?"
"I assume there'll be lots."
Optimus hefted his blaster up. "Then let's get them."
They transformed and roared down the street, leaving the human armour behind.
"Life's so hard, isn't it?" Allheart rhetorically asked, stalking through Marcus's mind like a shadow, always following.
"Could you not please interrupt?"
"To wrap one's tongue around another… how disgusting," Allheart sneered, "You have no shame, Marcus Twist."
"And you have no feelings."
"I have feelings. Just none that you'd like."
"But why do you persist on intruding in my personal life? What have I ever done to you?"
"You've done nothing wrong to me, Marcus. It's just that living in your head is an incredibly dull experience; to reinvigorate it, I interrupt you at the most… awkward moments."
"Awkward is right, you bastard. I'm trying to enjoy my time with Stacy, and all I get is your hideous face in my way."
Allheart grinned. Marcus shivered.
Stacy pulled away. "Are you alright?"
"I… wish I could say I was."
"Then what's the matter?"
"My head, that's what."
"Remember… don't say a word about me," Allheart hissed.
"And why would I ever do that?"
"What are you seeing now?" Stacy asked, "The Decepticons?"
"I wish…"
Suddenly, the door swung open and Ryder barged in, carrying something.
"Do you mind?" Stacy asked vehemently.
"Of course not," Ryder replied, striding up their beds, "But as I know you would throw a hissy fit at me later for not showing you this, I'm showing you this."
He placed a laptop between them. There was a strange image on the screen.
"What's this?" Marcus asked.
"Real-time of the Battle for New York," Ryder replied, "I hacked an already hacked satellite to bring you this video feed. Courtesy of Soundwave's Hacked International Territory. Yes, I made that for the acronym."
Absorbed by the battle, Marcus didn't realise what Ryder had said until a minute later.
"Wait a second… this is coming from a satellite the Decepticons have hacked?"
"No. It's coming from a satellite that Soundwave is riding at this very moment. Despite his influence over the world, he cares very little for watching his own security. That will be a mistake he won't live to regret, I'm sure."
"Why haven't you shown this to General Mason?" Marcus asked, already knowing the answer.
Ryder lit a cigarette and blew smoke out his mouth. "Because he would attempt to arrest me for messing with good old Eagleland. And he wouldn't so anything about Soundwave."
"Why not show it to the Autobots when they return?"
"If they return."
"You know just how to ruin everything, don't you?"
Ryder nodded. "I guess you won't be thanking me for the laptop then. I could always take it back you know."
"N-No!" Stacy cried in alarm, fascinated by the raging battle, "Thanks, Ryder."
Marcus nodded in appreciation. Ryder shrugged and moved towards the exit.
"Just tell me when you're going on your next Decepticon killing adventure," he asked, "I could do with one of those."
Arcee stabbed her serrated blade through a drone's head, before swiping down, splitting it in half. A second one tore at her arm with bullets, but with a throw of her sword she pierced its head and dropped it dead.
Overcast was next, but without a blade Arcee realised the odds were in his favour. He swung a club her way, but she quickly pounced away, regrouping.
"We really could use Sideswipe about now," she muttered as Overcast stalked towards her.
The Autobots were in pitch battle with the Decepticons and yet again in Central Park. They had retraced their steps back to the field of crucifixes, to which they were more prepared for, and found a drone taskforce waiting for them.
Mirage decapitated another drone, before kicking another in the cheek, sending it crashing into an icy lake. But then a missile from an unseen enemy smashed into his chest, sending him skidding across the snow, destroying several of the morale-killing totems.
A drone appeared out of nowhere and pointed a blaster down at him. Its soulless optic did not give away hatred, fear, hunger or insanity, for it possessed no spark for those. It was a machine, in the same way an aircraft was.
But a missile blew apart the drone before it could land the killing blow. Mirage looked up to see several AH-64 gunships fly overhead. Missiles streamed from them like the aftermath of a party popper, each one impacting upon a target and tearing it apart.
On a huge hotel overlooking the park, Skywarp grinned.
"Let's go, big guy," he muttered.
Crashdive didn't respond.
They leapt off, transformed and shot towards the gunships, returning missiles and a few lasers. Gunships blew apart and their flaming debris fell upon the park like a firestorm, both humans and Autobots rushing to get out of the way. The entire park was soon covered in both fire and water.
Optimus Prime tore open three drones with one swing of his keyblade, before striking down another two with the following strike.
"Push them back!" he roared, "Kill them all!"
Those in HARP needed no more encouragement, as both human and Autobot blew apart drones and pushed the remaining Decepticons back.
"Optimus!" Bumblebee cried, "I'm detecting unknown energy signatures to the east!"
"Reinforcements?" Mirage asked as a missile whistled overhead.
"But for who?" Sixshot asked sagely, blowing open a drone's head with a revolver.
They continued to fight on, regardless of the impending unknowns. The Decepticon forces began to fall back, losing ground and troops. The Seekers took to the sky and fled towards the Empire State Building.
"Where are they no—" Optimus asked, but was interrupted.
Ten IFVs launched themselves into the park, firing wildly at the cybertronians. The Autobots ducked and Decepticon drones were torn apart, huge armour-piercing rounds penetrating them all. Explosions rocked New York… and then all was silent.
The once massive battle had completely faded. Slowly, hesitantly, HARP soldiers climbed out of the snow and looked around. The Autobots did too.
The ten Infantry Fighting Vehicles were in an orderly line in the middle of the park. They did not move and no-one from inside came out.
Bumblebee, not one to wait, asked, "Which side are you on?"
Then, much to everyone's shock, the ten IFVs transformed.
Together, in synchronisation, the ten armoured vehicles twisted in on themselves, parts coming away and being replaced, before ten figures the size of Mirage stood to attention. Khaki green and brown with green optics, they all stared straight ahead. One at the end spoke.
"This one's designation is Landmine 1," the new transformer said, "We are on the side of HARP and the United States of America."
"Optimus," Bumblebee said uncomfortably, "What the hell is this?"
"Ratchet," Optimus spoke through his communicator, "Are you there?"
"Yes, Optimus," came the reply from Kublak Han, "And I know why you're calling; the Landmine units. General Mason's just informed me of them. He says that he will discuss them later, when you get back; apparently, all you need to know is that they're on our side."
Optimus felt increased rage bubbling up inside of him.
"I know how you must be feeling Optimus; destroy them if you wish. But for now, please take out all the Decepticons and make sure you all come back alive."
Optimus nodded, before realising Ratchet couldn't see it, and turned to Landmine 1.
"Are you programmed to follow our orders?" he asked the automaton.
"We will follow Optimus Prime," came the robot's response. This was no transformer, Optimus realised, just the shade of one.
"Then follow us," Optimus ordered, and HARP began to move through Central Park.
The Landmine units followed.
"They've destroyed our vanguard!" Skywarp cried, landing on the huge tower, "And they've got some form of drone reinforcements!"
Bludgeon looked down on his fellow lieutenant in distaste. To him, Skywarp was still just a grunt who got amazingly lucky thanks to Thundercracker's surprising charity. He didn't deserve his promotion and he didn't deserve to boss smarter 'cons around. Despite that, Bludgeon had to admit Skywarp's aerial supremacy was matched only by Starscream and the Decepticon who promoted him.
"We have reserves," Bludgeon growled in response, "The Dreads among them. Your Seekers need to keep the skies clear; it won't be long until insect bombers start to arrive and flatten our city."
Skywarp glared up at Bludgeon while Fracture watched from the side-lines.
"What was the point?" Skywarp muttered.
"What?" Bludgeon snarled.
"What was the point in taking this hive?" Skywarp questioned, "The humans will bring down their entire army down on us; we'll never keep it. It has no tactical or strategic advantages, nor any amount of energon or the likes. What was the point?"
Bludgeon turned to look out over New York. He grimaced.
"You are aware, Skywarp, that you will die?"
Skywarp drew a blade off his back. "Are you threatening me?"
"Put that toy away before you embarrass yourself," Bludgeon dismissed, "I asked you if you were aware that you will eventually die?"
Skywarp frowned and sheathed the blade. "No-one lives forever."
"Now you're getting the picture. Everyone dies, do they not?"
"Yeah, they do."
"WRONG!" Bludgeon suddenly roared, slamming a fist into the tower, shocking the other two lieutenants. "Anyone can live forever! So many have already!"
"You're insane…"
"Washington," Bludgeon growled, "Is the name of an insect who created this very faction we have invaded. He lives forever; through memory, through teachings, through legacy. He even has a hive named after him. He will never ever die because of what he has done. But what of the insects we have killed? The ones who decorate the streets below; they will only live on as a sad statistic. A million is a number, while a single person can change the world. Today, I have done something that will live forever and I with it!"
"But you'll still die!" Skywarp argued, "The insects, no matter how memorable they are, are all dead!"
"Name one of the insects you have killed today," Bludgeon asked.
Skywarp stared hard at Bludgeon, trying to work out if it was some sort of trick.
"Do you remember Sentinel Prime?" Bludgeon uttered.
Skywarp frowned. "Of course I do—"
"Then Sentinel lives on, in our minds and theirs. But the people below will be nameless and forgotten, dead forever…"
Skywarp was now boiling with rage. "You're an idiot. When you're dead, you're dead. You won't be alive to see anyone remember you."
"But if you're going to die, why not die in the lives of others?" Bludgeon asked.
"It's the one who's last alive who wins," Skywarp retorted, "Immortality is impossible, but outliving everyone else isn't."
"Then what would your existence have wrought?"
At that point, Fracture rolled her optics and sighed. "Pretentious philosophies aside, gentlemen," she interrupted, "The Autobots are coming."
Bludgeon and Skywarp looked back to the Park. A reinforced HARP army was heading their way.
"Then let's shape our own futures," Bludgeon muttered, "In whatever way we see fit. But I suggest starting with the destruction of our enemies."
"That," Skywarp said with a grin, "Is something we can agree on."
He leapt into the air, transformed, and shot off.
"SEEKERS!" he roared, "TO ME!"
The pitiful force of Overcast, Crashdive and a dozen aerial drones joined him.
Bludgeon stood with renewed vigour.
"FULL SCALE ATTACK!" he thundered, every ear or audio receptor in the city hearing it.
From the streets below, drones burst out of hiding places, the Dreads took to the wheel and Mindwipe prepared his tools.
"I want you up here," Bludgeon told her, "With your rifle. You can kill whoever you want; just not Optimus Prime."
"Alright then," Fracture said with a salacious smile, lying on her front, "Just don't get in my target reticule."
Bludgeon stopped on his way to descend the tower, glowering at Fracture with unmatched menace.
"Shoot anyone I don't tell you to shoot," he growled with fury, "And I'll flay you."
"I'm looking forward to it," she muttered and cocked her rifle.
Bludgeon leapt from the Empire State Building. Withdrawing his katana, he stabbed it into the epic architecture, dragging it down as he fell, slowing his descent. He landed with purpose and poise and turned towards to the Park.
"ALL UNITS!" he roared with resplendent command, "DESTROY. THEM. ALL! LET THIS BE OUR FINAL BATTLE!"
They charged into the battle of the titans.
And snow began to fall.
Blood ran black, metal screeched on metal and
the dead screamed in agony.
They fought under monuments of death, majesty and
gods snorted in derision.
There, there. There, there.
I'm cold…
For the dead tell no tales
but their blood told it all.
Metre by metre, the Decepticons were pushed back. Landmine 4 was killed by a headshot, while soldiers were torn apart around them. They reached the edge of the park, taking cover by drone corpses, while the Seekers hunted from above.
A second shot from Fracture tore through Landmine 10, killing it instantly.
Blood dribbled down Epps's chin. He looked up, hefting a launcher.
"One more push, guys," he muttered, not knowing or caring whether his men heard, "And we're there. We can push them into the bay if we wanted to…"
Then, without warning, he charged from cover, firing wildly.
The soldiers of HARP followed him, roaring their support.
One by one they fell, through fire and steel,
crying out in terror.
Trampled underfoot, madness all around,
None escaped the chaos.
All for an audience of damned and needy
The harbinger of their war.
And they died.
Oh, yes, they died…
"Mindwipe," Reverb hissed, "I'd suggest that we flee this battlefield…"
"But why miss the show for your cowardice?" Mindwipe retorted, "This is too good to miss."
Tankor said nothing, the hulking Decepticon standing firm.
"We could at least retreat to a higher vantage point…" Reverb continued.
"Shut up."
Suddenly Tankor grunted. The other two Decepticons looked at him.
A long, sharp blade was sticking out of his chest. Tankor slumped forward, sliding off the blade, dying as his head hit the roof.
"Evening," Sideswipe muttered, cleaning his sword on the concrete, "Gentlemen."
Reverb squeled while Mindwipe wasted no time and leapt off the building, a blade slicing his arm off as he fell. Reverb transformed into a motorcycle and sped as fast as he could off the roof.
Mindwipe smashed into the ground.
No escape, no place to hide, so
you can only fight to their death.
Sound and fury, break their hearts;
nothing left but spare parts.
Welcome to the city of the damned
where you will rot.
But there is hope left…
for those who dream to take it.
They encircled the Empire State Building.
"At least they didn't wreck this," Lieutenant Henderson allowed.
"I think we should be more concerned with survivors than with the buildings," Bumblebee shot back at him.
Henderson looked at the ground. "People need hope. This building still stands where the people have fallen…"
"Where the hell is Sideswipe?" Epps shouted, "We've been dying to get through this city and he runs off over… over nothing more than a mistake!"
"I think he's helping," Optimus muttered, "In his own way. We may not see him… but the Decepticons will."
And now the final battle rages, without monarch or cause
just for vengeance.
Vengeance kills more than love, that's obvious
For those who wish to see.
So, while Liberty looks down on them all with sad eyes
the world waits with baited breath.
Liberty… only true liberty can come from death,
the freedom of all things.
"Looks like you've got your backs to the sea," Skywarp said triumphantly, "While I'm only limited by space itself."
"We were always going to end up in this position," Bludgeon answered him, staring up at the sky, storm clouds gathering. "For it is the final stand I deeply care about."
"Final stand…?" Fracture muttered, realisation beginning to dawn on her.
"You mean you never wanted to live through this?" Skywarp asked bitterly, "How pathetic…"
Bludgeon grabbed the Seeker by the throat, crushing it in a vice-like grip.
"Which is more pathetic?" Bludgeon growled as Skywarp choked, "Your cowardice, or my fight?"
"We'll see," Fracture said, placed a hand on Bludgeon's arm. He let go and Skywarp transformed. The Seeker shot into the sky, fleeing back to the moon.
"But do you really want to make your stand here?" Fracture asked, looking around the pier, "I thought for someone of your ego you'd want a place much more…"
"Grand?" Bludgeon finished and pointed behind her.
Out in the bay, there was an island. And upon this island, standing erect like the Colossus of Rhodes so many years before it, was a lady bathed in green.
"That's not bad," Fracture admitted, "It seems the insects love their gods even in their modern era."
"That is no god," Bludgeon replied, "That is their personification of Liberty, in the form of a female."
"A female?" Fracture asked with a smile, "Maybe these humans have the right idea about leadership."
"Liberty is not a leader," Bludgeon finished, "It is a lie."
And then he stepped into the water, and sank like a stone.
"Would you look at that?" Dreadwing asked, "Look at that battle, raging."
Ramjet dismissed it without a second thought. "Autobots, Decepticons and humans all jockeying for position. Infantile."
"Agreed. But still fascinating."
Despite what it looked like, Mars was a cold planet. Further from the sun than Earth, it received less powerful light and therefore, less powerful warmth. Dreadwing shivered and turned his internal temperature up.
"How much longer must we wait?" he asked for the millionth time, if only to pass it by seconds.
"When Harbinger completes its plan," Ramjet answered, "Harbinger is the only one who can put paid to all that we've strived for. Once Harbinger has finished and our agent reports back, we can finish what we came to do."
Dreadwing wondered for a while.
"How can Harbinger stop us? It is just one human, correct?"
Ramjet shifted his optics. "Wrong. And the reason Harbinger can stop us, is that Harbinger can kill off the Autobots or the Decepticons whenever Harbinger feels like it. Harbinger can even do it to us if we were on Earth."
"Could Harbinger kill the destroyer?"
"Since when did you become a hatchling? Nothing can harm the destroyer, living, dead or else…"
"Else?"
Ramjet grinned. "There's a creature on that planet both man and cybertronian was never supposed to see."
"And what is that creature?"
But Ramjet only chuckled. Dreadwing was left to wallow in contemplation.
"The army reserves are clearing Chinatown and Little Italy," Henderson informed everyone on the pier, "And still no sign of Bludgeon."
They sat on the pier the Decepticons had occupied only minutes ago. The remnants of HARP were nowhere near what they had been. Both Arcee and Mirage where in stasis lock, fifty-four men had died, including the colonel and Sideswipe was still nowhere to be seen.
But they had retaken the city. That's all that mattered. The Decepticons had been ousted and… and… and what was left?
"We have just claimed an empty husk," Optimus muttered, "All those lives wasted… for nothing."
It would be at this point that someone would argue, come out with a counter to Optimus's proclamation, defend what they had reclaimed. But no-one did. They had lost so much for a city whose population had been eradicated save for a lucky hundred or so. There had been no need… and what was worse, Bludgeon was gone. Disappeared to launch another massacre someplace else or to report his success back to Megatron.
"We'd better return to Kublak Han," Bumblebee concluded, his voice far away, "The army will clear up here—"
"OPTIMUS!" boomed a voice across the city.
They turned towards Liberty Island.
Atop the green colossus, a silhouetted figure stood triumphant.
"COME FACE ME LIKE A TRUE CYBERTRONIAN!" Bludgeon roared, "ONE-ON-ONE, THE LAST BATTLE!"
There was silence.
Slowly, steadily, Optimus stood. He walked across the pier.
"Optimus!" Bumblebee cried, "You must know it's a trap!"
Optimus continued to walk.
"I believe he knows," Sixshot muttered.
"No-one follow me," Optimus ordered, before he stepped into the water and disappeared beneath the waves.
Silence prevailed again.
"We wait five minutes," Bumblebee muttered, "Then we follow."
But they all knew that in the end, only Bumblebee would follow. They had seen too much for one day, fought for so long, fought so hard… the soldiers of HARP would not follow.
I am coming, Optimus thought.
He is coming, Bludgeon thought.
And I will kill him.
And he will try to kill me.
And I will succeed.
And he will fail.
For the lives of others, for the good in those I know… and for Colonel William Lennox.
For the power and the glory, for ever and ever… and for me.
Let this fight be our last.