54- Darkest Hour.
The Autobots were in a big bind: the Decepticons captured their human friends and brought them to Cybertron. And now, they menaced to expose them to the atmosphere and let them die if the Autobots do not surrender them the Omega Keys. For the moment, they were holding their position without knowing what to do.
Han tried to get free kicking the pod without result. "Not how I wanted to spend my first trip to Cybertron."
"Starscream." Megatron called.
He lifted his pod which contained Aris. "Aris, is time to come out and play." He sang before scratching the glass with his claws.
"Go ahead. The Autobots were prepared to sacrifice themselves for our planets. I'll do the same for theirs." Aris responded courageously.
"That goes for me too, creepy." Han followed.
"That make us three. You will not use us for this." Luke added.
"Better four, I'm in. You won't win this time." Leia supported.
"We are all together in this. You will not get the keys, Megatron." Sky added.
"They're very brave indeed, all of them. Perhaps we should oblige them." Megatron said.
"If my decision dooms the future of the Autobot cause on Cybertron, so be it. But I will never forsake our human allies." Optimus declared before planting the Star Saber to the ground and took a few steps back.
One by one, the Autobots deactivated their relics and threw them with the Star Saber. The children could only look sad how their friends gave up.
"Now if you please, the Omega Keys. One at a time." Megatron demanded.
Skywarp took a step forward, with the pod which contained Han.
"You first, big boy." The black Seeker asked.
Bulkhead looked at Optimus, who signaled him to go nodding. So Bulkhead, walked until he met with Skywarp face to face.
"If I don't get the boy, I'll make you eat this key." Bulkhead threatened slamming the key in Skywarp's hand.
"You're welcome." Skywarp answered giving him the pod.
"Get scrapped, clancker!" Han cursed.
Next, Bumblebee and Thundercracker met half ways for the pod where the Skywalker twins were.
"Something to say, scout?" Thundercracker mocked.
"(If I discover that you have harmed them, even a little, you're doom.)" Bee menaced giving him the key and taking the pod. "(Easy, guys.)"
After him, Cliffjumper was the next one, who met with Starscream for Aris's exchange.
"Well, it is curious how things can turn so suddenly, no Cliffjumper?"
"Enjoy the moment, Scream." Cliff said giving him the key and taking Aris's pod. "It will not last long."
There was only one pod and one key left.
"If this little one was important enough to entrust with the Matrix of Leadership, he's worth the main Omega Key." Megatron declared.
Optimus signaled Arcee to make the trade. She met with Slipstream half ways, so she placed the pod to the ground.
"No tricks." The female Seeker advised. "The key if you please."
Arcee gave her the final key. Sky looked sad to Arcee, but she gave him a smile. Then, a space bridge appeared before she could move back with the team, and Knock Out came out of it.
"Someone has called for backup?" The red Decepticon announced before stepping aside, allowing another battalion of land and air soldiers, tanks, heavy soldiers, long-range distance soldiers and light scout Cons surrounded the Autobots with weapons ready.
Meanwhile, on the Autobot base, Ratchet kept checking the monitors waiting when he got a call.
He sighed relieved. "Optimus, were you successful?"
"Ratchet, it's me, Padmé Amidala. How are you?" She called from her house, accompanied by senator Bonteri, duchess Satine and also C-3PO.
"Ah, uh…busy, senator Amidala. I'm expecting urgent news from the Autobots."
"Oh, are the kids with them?" Satine asked.
"No. Why?"
"We haven't seen them in all day, and no one of them are returning our calls."
"I will have them contact you immediately should I hear from them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must keep the com-lines clear." Ratchet said before hanging up.
"Ratchet?! Hello?!" Padmé called, without answer. "He hung up."
"And he said the kids are not at base?" Lux asked.
"Autobots, always so busy." 3PO simply said.
At the same time on Cybertron, with Team Prime cornered, Megatron proceeded to activate the Omega Lock.
"Now bare witness as a new era dawns on Cybertron." Megatron proclaimed.
The four Seekers inserted the Omega Keys by order. Then, the lock projected a holographic control panel.
"Behold the Age of the Decepticons!" Megatron shouted to the sky.
The Omega Lock started to charge when electric currents flowed through the structure. Next, Megatron pressed a button, making the lock fired a beam of pure energy at a crumbled building, making all its pieces mixed together. Within a minute, the building was completely restored.
"By the Allspark." Optimus expressed.
"(Incredible.)"
"Whoa." The children said at the same time.
"Instant home makeover." Han added.
"Shiny." Knock Out observed.
"You have what you wanted, Megatron. This conflict is between Autobots and Decepticons. Allow me to return the humans to their homes."
"Oh, I wouldn't recommend it. They'll be far safer here." Megatron advised, making Optimus suspect which was his true intentions. "Is the space bridge locked on target?"
"Per your instructions, Lord Megatron." Starscream confirmed.
"Excellent. Why rule only one world, when I can rule an entire galaxy?"
Then, a space bridge appeared right above the Omega Lock. Megatron pressed a button and the lock fired an energy beam at the portal.
"No." Optimus said horrified.
The space bridge sent the beam directly to a very certain planet: Naboo. Meanwhile, senators Bonteri, Amidala and duchess Satine were still waiting for news about their children, when suddenly they heard a sound of alarming beeps coming at them. It was BB-8, who came rolling at high speed.
"BB-8? What are you doing here?" Padmé asked confused.
"Hey, calm down, little fella. And explain why are you so anxious." 3PO said.
But before the little droid could say anything, everyone felt a sudden earthquake. When they turned, they were speechless when they saw a blue beam touching the earth from the distance.
"Oh no, this can't be good." 3PO said.
That was also noticed too at base.
"Optimus, do you read? An unknown energy spike in Naboo's atmosphere is crashing all my systems." Ratchet reported. "Please tell me this is related to the activation of the Omega Lock."
Back on Cybertron…
"If the Omega Lock can restore Cybertron, it'll do the same to our worlds, right?" Han asked worried.
"No. It will cyberform your planets in favor of their new matrix. Destroying all indigenous life in the process." Optimus revealed.
"Such raw power, and countless worlds to infuse with it, millions of planets to dominate. So, what shall I call my first new domain? New Kaon, or perhaps Gilded Naboo?" Megatron gloated.
Optimus looked the scene before he looked at the humans sadly.
"No!" Luke protested.
"Leave our planet alone!" Leia added.
Next, he looked back to Megatron, who laughed maniacally like the rest of the Decepticons. With this Optimus had had enough, so he, fueled by rage, pulled out his sword and eliminated the Con in front of him. Next, he sprinted for the Star Saber and grabbed it. Three Cons tried to stop him, but he unleashed a wave of energy that sent them flying. Roaring in rage, Megatron pulled out his Dark Star Saber and charged for Optimus, so he did the same. But when they clashed their swords, Optimus used all his strength that he took the chance and cut off Megatron's Prime arm, giving him enormous amount of pain. The arm, still holding the Dark Star Saber, fell to the ground, while Megatron fell to his knees. Next, Optimus went for the Omega Lock, so the three Seekers and Knock Out fired their weapons at him, but he continued advancing, deflecting the shots. Starscream tried to hit him with a missile, but he dodged it in the last moment. That allowed him to jump on his face and let out a battle cry as he prepared to hit the Omega Lock control panel. The result caused a big explosion that pushed everyone back, but a least the beam of energy disappeared, something that Ratchet noticed too when all the computers returned to normal.
"Optimus, can you read?"
"Ratchet, please open a space bridge." The Autobot leader replied sad, so Ratchet went for it immediately.
Back to Cybertron, the entire Omega Lock was completely in ruins and flames. Fortunately, the Autobots were not harmed by the explosion, as well as the pods. Optimus appeared from the smoke and placed the Star Saber back on his back, just when their space bridge appeared and everyone went in. Starscream and the other Decepticons recovered and witnessed in horror how the Omega Lock was now.
Slipstream fell to her knees, shocked by the view. "No, our chance to resurrect our home is all gone."
"We were so close." Thundercracker added.
"I guess we should cancel the welcome home party." Knock Out simply said, right before Skywarp punched angrily him back.
"You fool! Is that all what you have to say?! Do something useful and attend to our master, he requires medical attention."
Knock Out did it without arguing because Megatron was still hurt for his duel against Prime.
"Where are they? Where are the Autobots?!" Thundercracker demanded, also mad.
"There! They're escaping!" Slipstream spotted as their portal closed.
"PRIME! You will pay for dooming Cybertron to remain a lifeless husk!" Starscream declared furious.
But for everyone's surprise, Megatron was not mad, instead he started to laugh maniacally.
"They can run, but they can never again run home. The moment is here. It's time to show all our new might." Megatron said smirking.
The Autobots' return to base was too quiet. Ratchet noticed they were carrying the pods with the kids still inside.
"The children? What happened?" Ratchet asked, but no one spoke, only set free the children. "Somebody say something."
"Optimus…destroyed the Omega Lock." Bulkhead finally said.
"What?! You did…"
"What was necessary." Optimus interrupted. "There was no time for another prolonged battle, not with the galaxy in imminent danger."
"So you destroyed the only device in any universe capable of restoring our home?" Ratchet asked, very shocked and in disbelief. "Optimus…we needed that."
"You weren't there, doc. And it's not your place to second guess a battlefield decision." Smokey defended.
"It most certainly is! There had to be another way!" Ratchet protested, now mad.
"It wasn't that simple, Ratchet." Sky started.
"Megatron was using the Omega Lock to attack Naboo." Aris added.
"Optimus saved Naboo, and the rest of the galaxy." Han followed.
"What about our planet?! All of our struggles and energon spilled, countless sacrifices for nothing?!" Ratchet shouted in rage.
"Ratchet, calm down. That's not gonna help in anyway." Cliff said, trying to tranquilize him.
"Right decision or wrong, what's done is done. But we have another problem here on this galaxy: the Cons just changed the rules when they put the children into play." Arcee said.
In that moment, the computer beeped, signaling an incoming transmission.
"Optimus! The Republic Military Command is preparing to mobilize all forces. We need to know what we're dealing with!"
"To what do you refer, Master Skywalker?"
"Maybe you should step outside and see for yourselves."
"Ratchet, watch the children."
The kids didn't have any clue of what was going on. The Autobots took the supreme elevator to reach the base's top. Right in front of them was a huge cybertronian structure. At the same time, the Twilight landed next to them and Anakin, Obi Wan, Ahsoka and R2 met with them.
"Is that what I think it is?" Ahsoka asked.
"Indeed. Megatron has managed to accomplish the first phase of his cyberforming of Naboo: the construction of his fortress." Optimus observed.
"In the plains? I don't get it." Anakin said.
"We already had the nearest towns evacuated. Why here?" Obi Wan asked.
"(Look! Something is coming down!)" Bee pointed.
Everyone saw the Nemesis descending towards them, in front of the fortress.
"Because the Decepticons have discovered the location of our base." Optimus realized.
"Sir, alarming news." A voice called from Anakin's com-device.
"What is it, Rex?"
"There is something huge coming out from hyperspace. It seems to be a droid fleet. It's approaching Naboo fast."
Suddenly, lots of separatist ships started to appear from hyperspace. It was composed by lots of ships of each class (former Commerce Guild corvettes, former Confederacy cruisers, Diamond-class cruisers, Captor-class droid carriers or heavy munitions cruisers, Separatist bombardment ships, Lupus-class missile frigates, Munificent-class star frigates, Recusant-class light destroyers, Bulkwark Mark II battle cruisers, former Trade Federation cruisers, Separatist cruisers, DH-Omni support vessels, former Sabaoth destroyers, Providence-class destroyers, Lucrehulk-class battleships, five Subjugator-class heavy cruisers, the former superweapon cruiser; The Shadowblade, now as a capital ship and more types.), but they looked a little different: now they had a more advanced appearance and all showed the Decepticon emblem instead of the CIS symbol.
"Wow, that's some huge fleet." Ahsoka said in disbelief.
"Indeed, Snips. That's the biggest droid fleet I've ever seen." Anakin admitted.
"The biggest one the galaxy has ever seen." Obi Wan clarified.
Immediately, all the ships started to gathered around the Nemesis, like if they were escorting it.
"It seems that Megatron has managed to claim the entire former separatist droid army." Optimus realized.
On top of the Nemesis, Megatron was accompanied by Soundwave and Knock Out in front of a huge battalion of Decepticon air soldiers with a color scheme similar to Starscream's: a new Seeker armada, his second-in-command and his fellow Seekers, starfighter and bomber droids in walker form and former battle droids, all wearing the Decepticon emblem.
"Our opportunity to revive Cybertron has been lost, due to the treachery of Optimus Prime! But from our fortress of New Kaon, we will instead seize control of this world! And we will not stop here: for this shall be the first one of the new territories we'll claim, following with the rest of all this galaxy, the beginning of a new reign: the first step of the rising of the new Decepticon Empire! DECEPTICONS, TRANSFORM AND RISE UP!" Megatron proclaimed.
"All hail Megatron!" The entire battalion, Cons and droids, yelled.
"I thought he'd never ask!" Starscream declared cheered.
"Ready to bring chaos from the skies again?!" Skywarp followed.
"Just like the old times." Thundercracker nodded.
"Let's take flight!" Slipstream announced.
The four main Seekers changed to vehicle form, the first time for the new three (Skywarp's new alt form was a kind of starfighter used by the Hutt (Borvo the Hutt's starfighter from Episode 1: Battle for Naboo.), Thundercracker scanned a MorningStar-C starfighter as vehicle form and Slipstream's was a N-X Police Cruiser.), and the rest of the Seeker battalion followed them. The vulture and hyena droids changed to flyer form and followed them too, alongside lots of former trade federation bomber droids, droid tri-fighters, E-STAP droid starbombers, hunter-seeker droids, Scarab-class droid starfighters, droid gunships, MAFs and other types of droid starfighters. Also, from the cruisers' hangars, more flyer droids came out, alongside lots of TIEs (TIE fighters, TIE interceptors, TIE light bombers, TIE advanced bombers, TIE defenders, TIE phantoms, TIE hunters, TIE scouts, TIE raptors, TIE avengers, TIE strikers, TIE reapers, TIE whispers, TIE predators, Nssis-class clawcraft starfighters, TIE droids, TIE daggers and more types.) took off from the hangars and joined their new air commanders.
"Come, my armada! Seek, destroy, attack!" Starscream commanded.
The new Decepticon armada fired a barrage of laser shots at the Autobots and Jedi, but they managed to evade the impacts. They started to defend themselves the best that they could, especially because the next wave was an Insecticon swarm that charged at them and started crawling over their base. The Autobots fought and fired them off the base's stop as the Jedi pushed them off with the Force before the others continued firing them, so Optimus swung the Star Saber and destroyed all the Insecticons that were on its way. But coming from the explosion, the Seekers and the rest of the armada approached for another round.
"Autobots, into the base." Optimus commanded.
As everyone went back to the elevator, Bulkhead noticed that the Jedi were still deflecting the shots and went back to the Twilight.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Bulkhead asked.
"Our duty." Anakin answered before the ship took off.
The Twilight went right at the armada, firing at them. But because there were lots of enemies firing, the ship had no choice but to dodge.
"To many enemies to engage all by our own." Obi Wan noticed.
"That's why we're going to split up."
"Anakin, what do you mean?"
"I'm going out there. They can't get us both if I'm going taking them down."
"He, sounds like you have some plan, no Skyguy?"
"Well, you know me, Snips. I know how to deal with the action of the battlefield. Ready, R2?"
His old buddy beeped in affirmation before Anakin's Jedi starfighter came flying from the Twilight's cargo room. But the armada was focused in attacking the Autobot base. That was noticed inside the base.
"What's happening?" Luke asked, just when the Autobots returned.
"What is going on out there?" Ratchet asked.
"The Decepticons have invaded Naboo." Optimus answered.
"And Skywalker, Kenobi and Tano seem to think they can hold them off!" Bulkhead added.
"And to make things worse, now they have the entire droid army and fleet fighting on their side." Cliff revealed.
"What?!" The kids said in union.
Just like it looked, there was too many adversaries that they started to chase the Jedi too. The Twilight was now being chased by two vulture droids and a TIE defender.
"This is getting worse by the moment." Ahsoka observed as she handled the main turret to fire back the enemies. "Master, may giving us a hand here?"
"I would like, but I have my own problems here. I didn't have idea that flyer Cons were as good as I am." Anakin answered as R2 saw Thundercracker and three Seekers going after them. "We all are going to need help here."
"I'm on it. This is master Obi Wan Kenobi to Republic Military Command. We need immediate combat support." The Jedi master called through the ship's com-link.
Then one shot hit the ship, making it to start smoking. And to make things worse, their path was blocked by two TIE fighters and an Insecticon.
"Obi Wan?"
"Yes Ahsoka, I don't like this either. Come on, Republic Military Command."
"End of the line, Jedi." One of the droids which were piloting the TIEs said.
But before they could fire, the TIEs and the Insecticon were shot down by heavy laser fire.
"What was that?" Obi Wan asked relieved.
"Looks like a miracle for me." Ahsoka said smiling.
From the sky, a very familiar ship appeared and continued firing at the enemy ships, taking down the ones after the Twilight. R2 and Anakin also saw more ships being taking down.
"Prime, reinforcements just arrived."
"Master Skywalker, your military cannot prevail against…" Optimus started.
"You didn't think I was gonna let Team Prime have all the fun, did you?" A familiar voice said.
"Haha, it's Jackie!" Bulkhead shouted happy.
Indeed, Wheeljack joined the battle shooting down enemies with his ship.
"Wheeljack? But how did you…?" Ratchet started at the moment Wheeljack appeared on the screen.
"I picked up a strange energy surge. Hope you don't mind the company."
"No, it's just that after everything, well…"
"We're still on the same team, doc. Always will be."
Wheeljack continued his warpath, eliminating Insecticons, TIEs and droids on his way. Meanwhile, it was time for Optimus to take an importance choice.
"Ratchet, prepare to bridge everyone out of here." Optimus decided.
"We're abandoning the base?"
"The base is lost. Wheeljack and the Jedi can only buy us time to escape. Bumblebee, Leia, Luke, you'll depart first."
"(Okay.)"
"You're splitting us up?" Aris asked.
"Shouldn't we stick together?" Han asked.
"All for one and one for all?" Sky added.
"We must disperse to avoid capture, until we can regroup and launch a counterattack. Survival is our only priority now." Optimus explained before everyone prepared to leave base.
Back to the outside, Anakin had a droid tri-fighter chasing him. He noticed a Seeker heading his way, so he used the smoke from the burning remains of a TIE to blind them, making them to crash into each other.
"You know Anakin? Even it looks like the old times, and I missed that a little, this is far one of the hardest situations we have been through."
"And you're right on that, Ahsoka. But I will tell you something: the day when we're down by a bunch of droids, is the day we…"
Suddenly, a large shadow started to raise above the base: it was the Nemesis, which positioned itself above it. But besides that, the entire new Decepticon fleet started to move all around the base.
"Yes, R2. I have a bad feeling about this." Anakin nodded him.
"What's going on?" Ahsoka asked.
"It looks like they are moving into attack position." Obi Wan deduced.
Megatron stood in the edge of the Nemesis's top spotting everything. Inside the base, Bee and the twins went through the portal. Next, Ratchet rested the ground bridge to another location while Bulkhead got ready for departure, with Han inside him.
"We haven't much time!" Optimus reminded.
Aris was already on Cliffjumper and Sky hopped on Arcee, and looked worried to each other before Han and Bulkhead entered the ground bridge. The next coordinates were for Cliff and Aris, who departed immediately, right before Arcee and Sky's turn. At the same time outside, Padmé, Lux, Satine, C-3PO and BB-8 were on a speeder driving towards the base and saw Megatron's new fleet above it. Unfortunately, a Seeker and two vulture droids spotted them and fired at them. The shots caused them to swerve and stop the speeder. The Seeker transformed alongside the droids, which changed to walker form, and approached them, making BB-8 beep alarmed. Fortunately, after shooting down a Scarab droid, Anakin and R2 were close enough to detect them.
"What? You heard BB-8?" Anakin asked, earning a confirmation from the droid. "Wait, Padmé and the others are there. Obi Wan, Ahsoka, our couples, 3PO and BB-8 are in danger, right below my position. You go and pick them up, I'll cover you."
"I see them. We're on our way." Obi Wan nodded.
The Seeker and the droids were about to fire, but the Twilight's weapons eliminated them first, making them collapse on top of the speeder.
"Thanks the Maker, master Anakin and the others has saved us." 3PO thanked as they saw the ship landing near to them.
As the group ran to the ship, Wheeljack was now the one who was attracting too much attention: lots of droid starfighters and TIEs were chasing him, until they split up, allowing Skywarp to start firing at the Jackhammer. Wheeljack performed an acrobatic to get behind the Seeker, but he wasn't there, instead, he was behind him again. Wheeljack tried again, but Skywarp managed to anticipate his movements and took advantage by using his teleportation ability to confuse him.
"I have him now. Guys, your turn." The black Seeker announced as he launched two missiles at the Jackhammer.
Wheeljack was too busy dodging the seeker missiles that he didn't noticed Slipstream and Starscream were behind him.
"You're scrap." She said as she and Starscream launched two missiles at him.
Wheeljack saw the new missiles incoming, so he steered his ship in a barrel roll and even banked to the left and the right, but the missiles continued following until impacted on the Jackhammer's engines. The ship crashed somewhere behind the mountain which was the base.
"How I missed eliminating Autobots like that." Slipstream admitted.
"And that's how you wreck a Wrecker!" Starscream bragged before laughing maniacally.
Inside the base, it was Smokescreen's turn for departure. He saluted Optimus before transforming and drive at the portal.
"What about you?" Ratchet asked.
"I will ensure that the Decepticons cannot follow." Optimus replied.
Knowing what Optimus was referring with that, Ratchet walked to the ground bridge, but stopped at the entrance with his head down.
"I…never imagined it would end like this." Ratchet said sadly before he entered the portal.
"Neither did I, old friend." Optimus said before looking at the ground bridge's controls.
Back outside, the fleet stopped moving, with all ships looking at the base. The Nemesis opened its lower part and pulled out some kind of antenna-like object that aimed at the base and started to charge with energy: it was some kind of superweapon. Anakin and everyone inside the Twilight could saw it too.
"You're detecting a huge energy reading coming from that thing?" Anakin asked, earning beeps of confirmation from R2. "I don't like how this situation is becoming."
Optimus pulled out the Star Saber, with intention of use it. He raised it and hit the ground bridge controls with it.
"Lord Megatron, all ships are in position and aiming at the target. Awaiting your command." Kraken reported through com-link from one of the command ships.
"Fire!"
All the ships of the fleet fired all their weapons at the base. All bombers and gunships joined, firing all their bombs, missiles and heavy weapons. But the final blow was made by the Nemesis, which's strange weapon fired a huge beam of energy to the base's top. That huge combination of firepower destroyed the entire mountain and the base. When the smoke cleared, it revealed the entire base reduced to a fiery ruin.
"No." Satine expressed horrified, while Padmé and Obi Wan refused to look and as Ahsoka and Lux hug each other in sadness.
"It can't be." 3PO added in sadness too.
Anakin also was shocked for what he witnessed. "There's nothing we can do. Let's get out of here."
Both ships left the area, making the enemy ships to stop chasing them and return with the fleet. Megatron changed to vehicle form and allowed two TIE avengers to escort him to the base, as Starscream did accompanied by two droid starfighters. Alongside Slipstream, they all transformed and landed, right in front of the Autobot symbol of the ground.
"This is the place alright." Slipstream observed.
"This was the place." Megatron corrected.
"United we stand, divided they fall." Starscream added.
Not very far from them, in a pile of burning ruble was Optimus's arm stuck out, which looked like if he had fallen. Without the Autobots to stand against them, Naboo was now under control of the Decepticon forces. A new age of evil, darkness and terror had begun, with everybody, everywhere and everything on the galaxy was now at the mercy of Megatron and his Decepticon empire.
