Chapter 28: In the End Part 1
Megatron's army narrowed in on the defenseless Autobot ship now stripped of its protective shields. A multitude of rockets and missiles launches themselves at the outer hole exploding in a sea of flames and wreckage. Hound, Lennox and his team fired furiously at the onslaught in an attempt to buy Wheeljack enough time to reactivate the rest of the Autobots.
Megatron ordered his troops to advance harder against the human alliance protecting the Ark. When the attack had been ongoing for almost an entire minute Megatron knew something was amiss.
"Dreadwind!" Megatron bellowed at one of his subrogates.
"Yes my lord." The Decepticon replied. Dreadwind was currently position at the eastern side of the Ark and was heading a small team of seekers in their attack.
"Why hasn't Shockwave begun his assault!" Megatron question accusingly.
Dreadwind didn't know how to respond. He wasn't designated a correspondent with General Shockwave, nor had he been involved with the Decepticon's attack strategy.
"I don't know my lord." Dreadwind replied sheepishly.
"Well find out!" Megatron bellowed.
Bumblebee's form had multiple advantages over that of Shockwave. The small Autobot was very agile and very effective at dodging artillery. Yet as physically superior he was than Shockwave, Bumblebee just could not penetrate the large Decepticon's armor with his blades. Only a weapon would be effective. The problem was Shockwave did not ease for a second to allow Bumblebee to discharge a single shot, forcing the small Autobot to continually dodge Shockwave's superior artillery. So Bumblebee kept evading, leaping into the air, sliding across the ground, moving side to side, waiting for Shockwave to make a mistake and expose himself to Bumblebee's weaponry. At least Bee hoped for a mistake because he knew he couldn't dodge the Decepticon forever.
Wheeljack ran deep inside the Ark heading straight for the control room. Sam barely kept on the Autobot's tail, the scientist was quick on his feet. The inside the Ark was a metal wonder of colossal corridors, hallways and rooms. Big enough that a robot like Optimus would fit comfortably.
"This way Sam!" Wheeljack called out to the human falling behind. Whilst Wheeljack was helping with directions, he didn't reduce his pace. He knew time was of the essence so not a second could be spared.
Turning another large corner down a corridor the spaceship opened out to an enormous room scatter with seats and control panels that rose above Sam's head. Shifting his eyes across the room Sam could now see the floors littered with the bodies of the Autobots. All of them. Optimus… Ironhide… Ratchet. All motionless, almost lifeless, and Sam's heart froze as he stared at their vulnerability. He never thought he would ever see these alien warriors as defenseless and weak and it petrified him to look upon them in this state.
"Are they alright?" Sam asked Wheeljack in a shaken voice, the scientist already punching away at one of the control panels. With each press of a button the panel lit up in a vibrant orange and a digital pulsing sound emanated. Concentrating solely on his workstation Wheeljack refrained from answering Sam's question until his eyes flickered through a hologram screen rapidly displaying an array of information in Cybertronian glyphs.
"They are all still functioning." Wheeljack responded. Sam sighed in relief, but Wheeljack did not share the sentiment. "When the ship crashed it sustained extensive damage. The Ark has placed them in stasis to prevent damage to their sparks while it self repairs to optimal efficiency."
"This thing self repairs?" Sam replied stunned and impressed.
Turning Sam Wheeljack's optics glowed bright though the subtle darkness of the room, "Yes. The Ark repairs itself using energon resources. Back on Cybertron the ship was designed when there was ample supply of energon. Now with the energon depleted and no source of refuel, the ship utilises energy from suns, like solar power, to convert it to energon."
Wheeljack continued typing at the control panel as he spoke, "Unfortunately solar power is not as strong as raw energon and it would take years for the ship to convert enough to repair all its systems."
"Well we can't wait that long!" Sam stressed.
"Indeed," Wheeljack affirmed, "So I am overriding the systems protection protocols."
"How long will that take?" Sam asked just as the spaceship quaked, a loud explosion erupting outside.
Wheeljack cringed, "Hopefully not long for all our sakes."
"We can't keep this up!" Lennox yelled across to Epps who was also pinned down from the onslaught of incoming fire. Hound lead the front of the defense firing his missiles at the incoming artillery and Decepticons. So far the team had been successful in preventing the full destructive force of Megatron's army, but their defenses were growing thin. Around them fires and explosions rained, bloodies bodies scattered the sands and it wouldn't be long until they were overrun.
Abruptly the sky filled with the booming noise of jet engines and Lennox cringed gripping himself for a concentrated attack from the enemy. Peering up at over fifteen incoming Jets the surviving soldiers gasped their guns in trepidation. The fear and anxiety of the impending assault suddenly stripped away as the team watched the incoming Jets divert their paths towards the surrounding Decepticon forces, unleashing their missiles and weapons in beautiful unison.
"We have reinforcements!" Epps lamented stimulating the burnt and bloodied soldiers to cheer.
"It's stopped." Sam commented still waiting in anticipation to Wheeljack's typing at his control station. The Autobot simply ignored the comment, not out of rudeness, but out of complete concentration to his task.
Sam wandered over to the deceiving bodies of the Autobots. All in their bipedal form laying motionless on the ground, their optics failing to emit that bright glow which signified the vibrant life shining through their sparks. Unlike a human in a coma, these beings did not breathe and they didn't have a heartbeat. In any other circumstance you would be sure they were all dead.
Running a hand across Optimus' hand that laid adjacent to his body Sam flinched in realisation that the limb was cold. He was so accustomed to the warm touch and the temperature change was disturbing from Optimus' usual heat, a heat that reminded Sam how alive Optimus was disregarding the fact his body was composed of machine and metal. It made Sam shudder looking at Optimus like this, reminding him all too well it wasn't so long ago that the robot was in all respects literally dead. A death he caused.
Jolting Sam from his stupor Wheeljack suddenly shot out in triumphant glee, "Eureka!" the robot sounded like a mad scientist that should be cast in a Frankenstein movies. Sam turned to Wheeljack whose face was glowing with a prideful smile, "If genius had a name it would be Wheeljack!" Sam couldn't help but give the robot a cocked smile. Then just like that the command centre began buzzing with the subtle sounds of energon powering circuits and processors. Swinging his body around Sam watched as the room of lifeless bodies began to move and twitch, optics powering to their vibrant glow, vents compressing, and metal appendages returning to their full functions.
Prowl was the first one to speak up, the rest of the Autobots giving him a cold stare like one does noisy child who was being way too loud in the morning, "What the slag happened? Where the slag are we? What the slag happened to the ship? Who the slag is that ?" that last question ending with Prowl pointing to Sam. Sam didn't know Prowl, never met him before, but he knew the guy would be very… interesting.
Optimus composed himself raising his body to a kneeled position and setting his eyes on Sam standing nearby giving him a half cocked smile, "Sam," Optimus began in the familiar ominous and comforting voice, "You came back for us."
Sam opened his mouth to reply but he was quickly cut off by Wheeljack, "And what about me? This is so typical I…" Wheeljack rant being curtly cut off by Hotrod, "Oh shut up!" Wheeljack just crossed his arms in a pout.
Sam was overwhelmed with relief to see all his friends again. He didn't realise how much losing them had shaken him. But it was no time for divulging in rapture. Realisation slapping his across the face Sam yelled out, "Hey guys. I know you all just woke up but its no time for morning coffee. Megatron has an army outside and his gunning for the Ark." And just when ironic timing couldn't be more perfect the Ark tremored with the impact of something exploding on its exterior.
Opitmus' body sprang to action standing onto its feet and turning determinately to his subordinates, "Wheeljack, see what you can do about getting the ark's guns online, the rest of you are with me."
Wheeljack cringed, "Ah that's a hefty request for…"
"Just try." Optimus responded cutting him off. Wheeljack turned back to his control panel and began vigorously typing away.
Before Optimus could lead his troops out of the control room Sam flashed in remembrance and called out, "Optimus wait!" the robot leader turned to the tiny human's holler, "We lost Bumblebee on our way here. He stayed behind to fight." The pain in Sam's voice shining through.
"Don't worry Sam," Optimus reassured him, "I'll send someone to look for him."
"Let me go with you." Sam implored walking towards the group of Autobots. Optimus held out his hand in refusal, "No Sam it's too dangerous. Bumblebee would want you safe." Optimus' reply halting Sam in his tracks as he watched the Autobots run down the spaceship's corridor and out of sight.
"Come here you insolent little pest!" Shockwave spat furiously still recovering from a stab of Bumblebee's blade. The yellow warrior stood defiant in a crouch, his battle mask lowered over the intense glow of his optics. Bumblebee was just too quick for the oversized Decepticon and he had survived this long on swift and speedy elusions. But the little Autobots luck had just expired. The booming noise of a jet engine was enclosing on his position, Bee was now outnumbered.
"Autobots attack!" Optimus commanded leaping out from the Ark. A horde of robots followed his wake firing their weaponry into the skyline. Lennox and Epps eyed each other in pure stun and relief.
"Bout time!" Epps muttered, "Way to go Sam." Lennox murmured quietly.
Decepticons and Autobots scattered the desert grounds in glorious battle. Windcharger, Ironhide, Ratchet, Sunstreaker, Hound and Optimus took the front, countering the Decepticons attacking from the ground and from the skies. Jolt was a warrior in his own stance, using his electrified whips on the closest enemy he could find. The small Autobots Prowl, Hotrod, Mudflap, Skidz, Chromia and Elita One and the surviving human soldiers implemented a combined attack at their enemy combining their fire power against the larger Decepticon seeker in range of their weapons. It was now an even fight.
Thrown into the heat of battle Optimus did not forget his promise to Sam. Sending out a message to Sunstreaker, the fastest Autobot they have, "Sunstreaker, sweep the grounds for Bumblebee."
Sunstreaker cringed replying over his communications link to his leader across the battle grounds, "Optimus, we have our hands full here!"
"Soldier you have your orders." Optimus responded curtly. With a groan Sunstreaker transformed a red Lamborghini Countach and took off out of the battle grounds into the desert.
"This is unworkable." Wheeljack spat, the scientist refraining from saying impossible. Nothing was impossible in science. But even now he would be willing to make an exception.
Sam stood beside the silver Autobot eyeing his work but fuming at feeling so helpless. Bumblebee was in trouble, NEST and the Autobots were fighting for their lives, and here he was, inside the Ark taking cover.
Sam did not respond to Wheeljack's frustration just waited for the Autobot to continue his rant, "We drained the ships entire energy resources deactivating the spark stasis," and here it was, "I am not a miracle worker! I am a scientist."
"And now you will be scrap!" Wheeljack and Sam swung their startled bodies around to the snarling voice behind them. A dark form walked into view from a side corridor.
"Megatron!" Wheeljack hissed. "Sam run!" Wheeljack and Sam took off in a sprint, the heavy footsteps of the Decepticon leader thudding behind them.
Wheeljack was a small Autobot and knew his weaknesses, being able to outrun Megatron was definitely one of them. Grabbing Sam at the elbow he pulled the human to a corridor of the ship they had no ventured before.
"What are you doing, the exit is that way!" Sam yelled, Megatron's footsteps are close and deafening, each pound of his feet ratting the surrounding metal walls.
"We wont make it. We gotta lose him." Wheeljack replied.
Zipping through corners, corridors and random rooms Wheeljack lead sam through the spaceship in hopes of losing Megatron, the large form of the Decepticon working to their advantage as the small Autobot and human could weave past corners fast and swift. Making a bold move Wheeljack turned a sharp corner spying an adjacent room and before Megatron could make the turn Wheeljack whispered to Sam, "wait for me" and heaved the boy inside the room, the human flailing into the air and landing roughly on his side against the metal floor. Sam looked up to see Megatron speed past the room after Wheeljack.
"Dreadwind to Megatron, come in Megatron." This was the third time Dreadwind tried contacting his leader, and the third time his comm. messages went unanswered. Rapidly approaching Shockwave's last known location Dreadwind discovered the reason the general had been tardy on his attack against the Ark, he had been distracted.
Bumblebee ducked as Shockwave swung his large metal arms for the Autobot's head. The fierce swing of the con left the general's back exposed, finally, an opening for Bumblebee. Extending his battle blade Bumblebee lunged at Shockwave's exposed side plunging his weapon deep its side, twisting it, and ripping it out viciously. Shockwave wailed in agony swinging his arm back and connecting it with Bumblebee who fell from the impact, initiated a cat roll, and was back on his feet to witness the now limp and damaged Shockwave glaring at him.
"You will pay for that you little insect!" Shockwave spat. Bumblebee glowered at Shockwave giving him an expression of bring it on. But to the 'bots dismay his momentary advantage would be short lived. His scanners alarmed alerting him to the presence of an approaching aircraft, the signatures of the craft indicating it was a Decepticon. Excellent Bumblebee exclaimed in his head, now I am out numbered.
Wheeljack ran as fast as his little robotic legs could carry him, the loud thuds of Megatron's feet were still hot on his tail. As hard as he tried, he could not lose the huge tin can. He needed backup. "Wheeljack to Autobots, urgent situation, Megatron is onboard the Ark, he is pursuing me and I cannot shake him. Need assistance." At that message Optimus' optics instantly flicker. Uttering viciously beneath his breath Optimus breathed, "Megatron" and immediately ran towards the Ark. Reaching the front entrance of the Ark Optimus was seconds from entering the ship before the doors slammed shut. Opitmus bellowed banging his hands against the door, "No!" snickering inside the Ark at the door's control panel Punch jumps down from the controls after successfully wiring the door preventing any Autobot from entering.
"Wheeljack, the front entrance has malfunctioned, we cannot enter the Ark." Wheeljack's body was starting to run low on energy and endurance to keep evading Megatron, and Optimus' comm. response was like someone informing you that you were in a high speed car with no brakes. It was then Wheeljack through running across random corridors spotted how the Decepticon had entered the Ark. A large gaping hole now occupied the side of the Ark at the medical station. That was his way out. Remembering where he had dropped off Sam, almost on the other side of the ship, Wheeljack gripped building up all the energy he could muster and transformed keeping the moment of his sprint. The one bipedal robot was now a high powered silver Hayabusa Motorbike that roared its engines and sped through the Ark in a blurr.
Wheeljack's alternate mode was fast, but it drained a lot of Wheeljack's energy and at an exponential rate. Another disadvantage was the bike's engine was extremely loud. But Wheeljack was no longer attempting to out run Megatron by being sneaky; he needed to outrun Megatron to Sam then to the hole in the Ark and if he was lucky the Decepticon would not clue in on his plan.
Dreadwind approached general Shockwave taking an attack position behind the yellow Autobot the general had engaged. Firing his missiles Bumblebee barely dodged the powerful explosions as they rained around him. concentrating on the new cons' attack shockwave was able to take advantage of Bumblebee distraction and land a powerful kick against his chest. The kick sent Bumblebee metres into the air landing roughly against the desert grounds. Quick to advance on Bumblebee as he laid damaged and beaten Dreadwind rose his missiles over the yellow Autobot and prepared to fire.
"Stop." Shockwave commanded seconds before Dreadwind initiated the final strike.
"What?" Dreadwind replied in aggressive confusion.
"Hold him." Shockwave commanded. Dreadwind did not question his commanding officer, taking point behind Bumblebee and pinning his down on the ground. Shockwave smiled malevolently. "I want him to watch as I destroy everything he cares about."
Twisting his arms around Bumblebee's neck and torso Dreadwind chocked the Autobot as he held his head and made him watch. Shockwave powered the large cannon in his chest, the weapons pulsating and in seconds a stream of energy burst from the cannon with a terrific explosion, flew through the air, and disappeared across the desert.
"What the hell is that?" Lennox grimaced. In synchronism everyone before the Ark, Autobot, Decepticon and human alike caught the sight of a bright flash erupting in the distance, all realising in shock that the blast was growing and heading straight for them.
Screams erupted across the battleground, cybertronian and human, "Run!" not seconds after the continuous stream of energy flew through the battle and collided into the Ark. The blast exploded on impact, a bright flash blinding everyone around it as they all ran to flee the blast radius. The front of the Ark exploded in fiery fury, blue and red flames bursting engulfing the ship as the blast of energy continued to stream unremittingly. The shockwave sent soldiers to their knees as they crawled back to their feet and continued to run as far away as they could. With each passing second the blast consumed more and more of the Ark spreading explosions like a ripple in water.
Decepticons once engaged in battle took to retreating to the skies and across the desert grounds.
Reaching a distance far enough the explosions were no longer forcing him onto his knees Optimus turned to his once majestic spaceship, now ablaze in an inferno. Realisation of what was happening in front of him Optimus screamed, agony streaming from his vocals, "Sam!" His spark clenching inside his chest Optimus watched as a the stream of energy raged until nothing but destruction laid before him and unending inferno engulfing the Ark in a torrent of flames and finally the stream of energy dissipated and disappeared.
Optimus looked around at his team. The scene was a haze of death and despair. Barely any humans alive, most laid burned and dead across the desert battle ground amongst pieces of their Decepticon foes. Skidz wailed in agony holding his motionless brother Mudflap to his chest. Prowl held tight onto his left arm which had been separated from its socket, wires sparking from the connections. Chromia's body in pieces on the ground, lifeless, cold. Each soldier bearing new damage and wounds. All the death and misery around him, clawing at Optimus' spark, and the enduring despair of watching the Ark destroyed before him knowing Sam was onboard, by his orders, by his choice… his fault.
Author's note:
Sorry for the delay in updating.
I've decided this will be the second last chapter of this story. I have renamed the story as I have written in a new ending. The last chapter will be up soon. If you enjoyed this chapter please review, it is always much appreciated.
