Time passed as Bumblebee got closer and closer to a full recovery. After Ratchet had gone to the Energon mine to confront Megatron and got a hole punched into his chest by the warlord, he finally started to realize how much of an aft he was being. While he laid on the medical berth next to Bumblebee he decided that he will no longer use himself as a test subject, he will keep testing the Synthetic Energon on machines.
Once he recovered and was well enough to get back to work, he put most of his focus on helping Bumblebee to recover. Each day showed signs of improvement which pleased the 'Bots and their human companions, Raf most of all. But now they're all worried about Optimus' safety as he tries to fight off Unicron alone.
So much has happened in a short span of time, from Optimus getting into a fight with Megatron to dark Energon suddenly erupting from the Earth to natural disasters happening all over the place. They recall a prophecy that has been passed down for centuries and they soon come to the conclusion that it's centered around Unicron the chaos bringer, who they find out is Earth itself. Everything leads to this point where Optimus finds himself surrounded by Unicron.
"Optimus, have you uncovered any further signs of Unicron's emergence?" Ratchet asks over the comm.
:: Unicron is power incarnate. :: They hear Unicron's voice come over the comm. :: And you, the last of the Primes, shall perish. ::
"I take that as a yes." Ratchet mumbles out before he turns around with Bulkhead, "We are on our way!"
:: Negative, Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants me, Ratchet. :: There's a brief pause. :: This fight must be mine alone. ::
With his blasters drawn Optimus pulls his mask over his face as he prepares to fight. All the Unicrons attack him and he fights them off, taking them down one by one. He shoots and slashes as he runs and jumps from one cliff to another, he was able to stay ahead for a bit until a few of the Unicrons ganged up on him and held him in place. Optimus has no way of breaking free and he watches with wide optics as one of them jumps down from a ledge and gets ready to kill him.
Before he can strike the killing blow he's taken down by blaster shots. Optimus looks to see Bulkhead and Ratchet coming through the groundbridge, Bumblebee is still not fit for battle so Ratchet had to go in his place. Bulkhead continues shooting while Ratchet drives off the cliff only to transform, transforming his servos into his surgical blades, and land on one of the Unicrons, cutting him down. Optimus begins firing again and gets back up to continue fighting.
"Ratchet, I thought I said to stay back. This is my fight. Now return to base." Optimus says after he stabs one of the Unicrons. They managed to get the upper hand for the time being.
"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus."
"You're Unicron's target, Optimus. I recommend you return to base." Ratchet says as he slashes at one of them.
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth." Optimus replies as he continues shooting, "Even our base's shielding will only cloak my position for so long. I will not put others at risk."
"Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once." Bulkhead tries to reason.
"Please, listen to reason. If you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet." Ratchet adds in.
"Very well." Optimus finally agrees and Ratchet takes point in leading the way followed by Bulkhead and Optimus.
They ran and jumped across the ledges as they took down the Unicron manifestations as they appeared. They kept going until they reached a flat surface where they transformed and drove away. One of the manifestations formed in front of Optimus and he drove right through it, breaking it apart.
They keep driving until a giant Unicron manifests in front of them, stopping them in their tracks. They come to a halt and transform to look up at the massive thing, "Is this Unicron?" Ratchet asks as small regrets begin to creep in, he's starting to wish he had stayed at the base but he couldn't leave Optimus and Bulkhead to fight these things alone and Bumblebee wasn't fit to help out.
"No, not Unicron himself. But another of his manifestations."
"If we can't beat Unicron and we can't outrun him. What exactly are we supposed to do?" Bulkhead asks.
"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." Optimus walks forward as he transforms his servos into his guns.
Optimus runs towards the huge manifestation shooting while Bulkhead transforms to drive around him, once he's behind the thing he transforms again to start shooting. Ratchet watches as he determines how he can help, his little surgical tools would do nothing on this giant. Unicron swipes at the ground, bringing up dirt and dust while Bulkhead tries to run away but Unicron hits him and sends him flying.
Optimus runs at him shooting, "Fool!" Unicron says as he hits the ground, he sends boulders flying toward Optimus which knocks him down and covers him. Upon seeing this Ratchet runs over to help him while Unicron walks towards Optimus, Bulkhead also runs towards them while shooting at Unicron. Ratchet's not sure what he can do against this giant manifestation but he has to do something to help Optimus.
"I am of this world's past and of its future…" Unicron begins saying as he lifts a foot over Optimus who had just finished removing some boulders off him, "…and as of this moment."
"Optimus, no!" Ratchet shouts as he transforms.
"All Primes are simply past." Unicron brings down his foot, getting ready to squash Optimus, but just before he can he gets shot in the face. Ratchet comes to a halt and transforms as he watches the giant fall to the ground.
Ratchet and Bulkhead look at each other as they wonder who shot Unicron, :: What's going on guys? What's happening? :: Bumblebee asks over the comm.
:: Someone just shot down Unicron as he was getting ready to kill Optimus. :: Bulkhead responded.
"That would be me!" The voice echoed from above. Bulkhead and Ratchet look up to see Megatron standing on one of the rocks of Unicron's crumpled body.
Megatron jumps down and looks at the 'Bots, "Megatron!" Bulkhead shouts in surprise.
:: King Kong's there too? :: Miko is heard asking over the comm.
"Yes, and surprisingly, he saved Optimus' tailpipe." Ratchet says in response.
Megatron walks over to Optimus who is pushing his way out from the boulder and he aims his cannon at him. Bulkhead transforms his servo into his blaster and points it at him while Ratchet gets ready to attack him. But to their surprise, Megatron turns his arm over to put out his servo for Optimus to take. Optimus studies him for a second before taking his servo and standing up. Bulkhead pulls his blaster back but he stays on alert, so does Ratchet.
"It is rather ironic considering our last encounter." Megatron says as he walks away from Optimus. He stops walking and turns to look at Optimus again, "If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark."
Optimus walks towards him, "That option remains very much in play." He says as he comes to a stop in front of Megatron and looks up at him.
"I would expect nothing less. However…" Megatron walks around Optimus and takes a few steps away, "I have a proposal." He stops walking and turns to look at him again, "Join me in defeating our shared enemy, Unicron the chaos bringer."
Optimus glares at him, he's insane if he thinks they're gonna team up, "Ha! Absurd!" Ratchet shouts out all of a sudden, "Unicron is evil incarnate. If Megatron was to take any side, why would it be ours?"
"Because Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet." Optimus says as he takes a few steps towards Megatron.
"You know me all too well, Optimus."
"You lead an army of 'Cons." Bulkhead starts talking, "Why come to us?"
"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command. The power of a Prime." Megatron says as he motions to Optimus.
"Uh-huh, then I guess we don't need you."
"On the contrary, Optimus 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 walks towards Optimus, "Optimus, our past alliances, Autobots, Decepticons, no longer matter. Not while Unicron lives."
Ratchet runs over to stand beside them, feeling outraged by what Megatron just said, "The past always matters!" He shouts.
Optimus places a servo on his shoulder to calm him before looking back at Megatron, "A truce between Autobots and Decepticons. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?"
"Only as long as is mutually beneficial."
"And, when our shared mission is complete?"
"I will conquer this Earth, my way."
"Lining with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil." Ratchet says as he glares at the warlord.
"How about we throw in something else that might help you change your mind?" Megatron says before getting on his comm. The three look at him in confusion as they wonder what he has planned.
:: Soundwave, open a groundbridge at my coordinates… ::
Optimus, Ratchet and Bulkhead tense as they get ready for a fight. They suspect that Megatron is calling in an army to persuade them forcefully.
:: …and send Arcee to me. :: Megatron finishes with a hint of a smirk at seeing their reaction.
Their optics widen. Is Arcee really coming or is this another trick?