Not as long as I hoped... But my life is headed for the Pit right now
and I want to finish this fic before the going really gets tough.

Thanks so much for reviewing! You really cheer me up on bad days. ^.^

The end is near.

DISCLAIMER: All song clips are copyright to their respective artists... I fail at remembering song names, much less singers. Sorry!

EDIT(Jan 12th, 2010): rewrote small section to make it clearer after comment by a reviewer Pyra Sanada (thanks for pointing out my vagueness!)

"Starscream, call the others!"

"I thought you wanted to wait until-"

"Now! I want those humans destroyed immediately."

"Yes, Lord Megatron. Second wave, advance! Main targets are humans and their aircraft... Lord Megatron, they are coming!"

"Well don-uhhhhhhh..."

"Lord Megatron's been injured!"

"We should fall back, retreat!"

"No, hold your ground, hold your ground!"

Chapter Thirty Seven

Megatron and Optimus were struggling to push the other to the ground when the first sabot round whistled through the air. The Autobot leader was forced to make an undignified dive to the ground, feeling the heat of the sabot as it shot past his head and struck its mark. Megatron stared at the hole in his shoulder, completely surprised, then snarled and aimed his fusion cannon at the fighter jet. "Shoot me, will you, Starscream?" he broadcast as loudly as possible, thinking it was his mutinous SIC who had fired.

Knocking down the Decepticon leader before he could shoot, Optimus radioed the humans, warning them of the danger. They acknowledged, then looped the jet around for another strike.

"Lord Megatron, that was the humans, not myself, I'm fighting the Autobot femme," Starscream sent hastily, dodging a stream of arrows from Arcee's crossbow.

Megatron shoved Optimus aside and stood. "Where are those reinforcements you called?"

"Coming, they're coming."

The humans radioed Optimus and he rolled to one side, risking a shot in the back rather than being hit by a sabot round. One, two, three shots struck in quick succession. Megatron collapsed face first on the ground, flames spreading across his armor. Panic began to spread among the Decepticons, but Starscream ordered them to hold their ground.

Bumblebee found himself encircled by Decepticons, who began teasing the yellow scout, firing shots that came close but didn't hit. He retaliated with both cannons on their highest power. One Decepticon fell; the circle tightened and Bumblebee was pushed to the ground from behind. At once two Decepticons pinned down his cannons and legs while a third stuck his face close to the Autobot's, a wicked gleam in his red eyes.

"Remember me?"

Shaking, Bumblebee managed a slight nod, unable to speak, his vocal processors aching. The AllSpark may have healed him, but the phantom pain returned whenever he thought of Tyger Pax or this mech, a nameless Decepticon who served Megatron as a torturer and took malicious pleasure in his work.

"Your vocal processors have been fixed, I see." The mech reached out and began to squeeze Bumblebee's neck. "Or, perhaps not."

Choking, the Autobot tried to pull away. He could feel parts grinding together, the light protection around his vocal processors giving in, putting pressure on the delicate machinery underneath.

Three blasts scorched the air, and the Decepticon's grip loosened. He and his companions fell, eyes dimming in death.

Bumblebee blinked at his rescuer, not believing his optics. Cannons humming, he pointed them at the mech, then, unable to speak, he played a song clip. "'Take a last look around while you're alive.'"

Barricade shook his head and shot the Decepticon sneaking up behind the scout. "Less music, more shooting, Autobot."

"'The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.'" With a quick nod, Bumblebee got to his feet and began shooting, blaring the song 'Indestructable'.

Still shaking his head, Barricade moved to help the next Autobot in trouble, not noticing Thundercracker aiming a missile at his back. A crash behind him did catch his attention and he turned to find the Seeker knocked out, Ironhide's smoking cannons aimed at the next Decepticon foolish enough to venture into his range.

"Move it," the black Autobot shouted at Barricade. "I've got your back, get Jazz out of that mess."

Surprised but not about to turn down the weapon specialist's offer, Barricade moved. Five shots dispelled Jazz's attackers, then the ex-Decepticon had to jump aside when the Autobot fired.

"Jazz!" Ironhide growled. "Aim for the enemy, they don't need help taking us down."

"Decepticons, retreat!" Starscream yelled over his faction's open channel, transforming and taking to the air. Skywarp had managed to override the forced recharge and informed his brother that Katrina was nearby, virtually unprotected.

"That cowardly Seeker ran off," Arcee sent to the other Autobots. "I think he's calling a retreat."

"They're falling back," agreed Optimus. "Form a circle around Megatron. We may be able to negotiate the release of Katrina."

Bumblebee moved to stand next to his leader. "No need. She's with Sam and Mikaela."

"Then the humans will dispose of his corpse."

The Autobots, one by one, joined the group surrounding Megatron, weapons ready should the Decepticons attempt to get their dead leader back. It didn't seem that any where anxious to try. All the Decepticons were in retreat now. A few sent parting shots toward the Autobots before transforming and vanishing into the night, while the others simply ran, leaving behind their dead and wounded.

"Decepticons, retreat!" Starscream repeated, then fired two shots at the human aircraft before diving toward the small group of young humans.

"Help!"

Jazz cursed, realizing what the Decepticon was doing. "He's goin' after Katrina."

"Wait, Jazz," Optimus said, knowing the smaller mech would never reach the humans in time. "Help's on its way."

"Is that Barricade?" Arcee asked, shocked.

***

Sam shoved Katrina to the ground as the jet swept past. Starscream transformed midair and landed on his feet. Reaching for the girl, he failed to notice the police car racing toward him. It struck head-on, knocking the larger mech over. Hampered by the wounds Arcee's arrows had given him, Starscream tried to get to his feet. Raising his head, he found himself staring down the barrel of Barricade's left cannon.

"You have five seconds to run before I shoot."

The Seeker was gone in four.

Jazz arrived on the scene a second later. "Katrina, are ya okay?"

"I guess so," she moaned. "I think my bruises have bruises."

"Sorry," Sam said, offering his hand to help her up. "Reflex action."

"Better than being grabbed by an evil jet," said Mikaela.

"Did you see Barricade?" Sam added, eyes widening. "He came out of nowhere and pow! No more Decepticon."

Mikaela nodded. "Thank you-" She turned in a full circle and frowned. "Where'd he go?"

Katrina sighed. "The Decepticons will be hunting him down for sure now. He and Frenzy have gone to hide."

"Without so much as a good-bye?" Sam scowled. "Just like a-I mean, that's rude."

"Somethin' wrong?" asked Jazz, noticing Katrina's sad expression.

"No." The girl rubbed her eyes.

Sam grinned. "Ready to sleep in a real bed tonight?"

Katrina looked down at her grass-stained clothes and skin streaked with dirt and dried blood. Her stomach rumbled, and the girl smiled. "I'd like a hot shower and something to eat first."

Jazz transformed and opened his driver's door. "Hop in, we'll head for the Witwickys' place. You two want a ride?"

"I'll take them," Bumblebee sent, rolling to a stop next to his fellow Autobot. "'If you're going my way, I'm going to drive it all night long.'"

"His vocal processors are damaged again," Ratchet said, joining the group. "Katrina, I need to scan you for internal injuries before you leave."

The girl cringed. "Will it hurt?"

"No. Just hold still." Ratchet scanned all three humans, then gave a short nod. "Nothing worse than a sprained ankle. Try not to walk on it for a few days. Sam, Mikaela, you pass, too. Get some rest."

"I saw Starscream shoot another jet," Sam started.

"The humans are fine," said Ratchet.

"Not so much their jet," Jazz added. "There's lots o' stuff ta clean up before mornin'."

"Is everyone else okay?" asked Katrina.

"No fatalities on our side," Jazz assured her. "Can't say the same for the 'Cons, though."

Optimus Prime walked over. "The Government is sending jets to aid with the clean-up, ETA 1800."

"Why so long?" Ratchet asked.

"Red tape," Prowl replied. "Government Official Galloway is bad news, as you humans say."

"Total agreement with you," Captain Lennox called, dashing across the ground, his men behind him. "Anyone seen Simmons?"

"No," said Optimus. "He may have returned home."

"Damn, I was going to have the men stay at his place until the military shows up." Lennox yawned. "Sam, right? Would your parents mind if-"

"You are welcome to stay at the Autobot headquarters," Optimus offered.

"We don't have enough guest rooms, but I suppose you guys wouldn't care about sleeping on the couch or floor," Sam said, already dialing home. "I just hope you understand that I'm going to be grounded for the rest of my life for this."