Chapter 4 - Epilogue
Optimus heard the shots knowing there was no possible way Sam could have survived that assault of firing guns and he was overwhelmed with grief. Optimus glanced over and saw the black and white police car snatch him up to safety. Ironhide growled as he saw the troubling youth rescued by Barricade knowing that wasn't exactly the ending he was looking for. Ironhide approached Optimus with a snarl.
"You're finished, Prime." he growled as Optimus moved faster firing his cannon blasting Ironhide's arm off knocking him off his feet.
Megatron fired his Fusion cannon at Sideswipe taking him out along with Arcee; while Optimus took out both Flare-up and Chromia. Optimus looked directly at Ironhide when he took out Chromia being she was Ironhide's bonded. A move Optimus would never do as an Autobot but now he was a Decepticon and his pain over being betrayed by his team and humans was just so high. He never thought he would be forced to take out the very warriors who gave him strength. Megatron rushed over to Optimus and lifted him over his shoulder and took off.
"Decepticons, fall back!" Megatron yelled.
Megatron realized his mistake they should have taken out Ratchet without a medic the Autobots left would have never been able to seek help. The Decepticons met up at a secret hiding place and Megatron tried to help Optimus' wounds he had sustained from Ironhide in battle. The Decepticons had taken heavy losses and lost so many men and things just kept going from bad to worse. Sam climbed up on Optimus and cried over losing Mikaela and Bumblebee. Optimus ran his finger down Sam's body very gently. It was clear Megatron was angry over Starscream's death and Barricade was beyond angry over Bumblebee's death. Bumblebee was his friend.
"Forgive me, brother; I made a grave error in judgment we should have taken out Ratchet first without their medic we might have stood a better chance." Megatron said.
"Don't beat yourself up about it." Optimus said softly.
"We shouldn't be hiding like this we are Decepticons and we should crush those slaggers for our losses." Barricade said adding. "When Optimus is patched up we should crush them all including the insects that allied themselves with the Autobots." Barricade said in a bitter tone as Optimus saw the bandage on Sam's arm.
"You got shot, Samuel?" Optimus asked his concern shining through as always for the boy.
"It's just a scratch Barricade bandaged it up for me with his holoform in his vehicle form; thanks again Barricade." Sam said as Barricade merely nodded.
"Yes, thank you." Optimus said.
Barricade was not used to praise it felt good. Megatron lowered himself toward Sam an unreadable expression on the warlord's face.
"You showed vast courage on the battlefield; I was wrong about you, Samuel James Witwicky. You showed Optimus more honor today than even you realize; you were willing to die for him. That in my book shows a loyalty for Optimus not many fleshlings would show; I am pleased you're with us little human." Megatron said as Sam was just as surprised at Megatron's confession because he remembered how Megatron chased him down in Mission City for the cube. "I do not even hold any ill will toward you for killing me with the Allspark." Megatron said.
"Thanks Megatron." Sam said as Optimus groaned slightly from pain.
"I have to defeat Ironhide or he'll never leave us alone." Optimus said.
"Then what...? Those humans will never leave us alone; we'll be hunted constantly." Skywarp said.
"They killed Starscream and they won't rest until we're all dead." Thundercracker snarled.
Barricade turned his fangs showing as he snarled.
"Yeah, then we can take some out with us." Barricade snarled.
Megatron had a concerned expression on his face; which Optimus saw instantly.
"What's wrong?" Optimus asked.
"I'm truly disturbed about your injuries, Optimus; if you get another severe beating your spark could be endangered. I do not want your life taken from you not now not ever." Megatron said. "We've just settled our differences and our brothers again."
"If we do not fight now and put an end to this we will never a real life being hunted either." Optimus said.
"Won't have much of a life dead either." Sam countered. "They are taking everything away from us those we care about." Sam said.
"Then when our wounds heal enough we start taking those that they care about let them feel our wrath now." Optimus said in an angry tone.
"Optimus is right we rest and then hit them again with all we've got." Megatron said as he turned toward Prime. "Rest now, Optimus." Megatron said as he held his brother tighter needing to feel him closer knowing the next time they went into battle it could very well be their last.
(Autobot Base)
Ironhide knelt by Chromia's body as Lennox walked up to Ironhide sadness in his heart for his fellow comrade.
"I'm sorry, Hide." Lennox said as Ironhide looked down at the human and regarded him sadly.
"Thank you, Will. Ironhide said.
"Who did it?" Epps asked walking up.
"Optimus..." was all Ironhide snarled as Ratchet tried to fix his arm. "He's injured with no medic when the next battle ensues I'll have him." Ironhide said in a sinister tone.
"He's smart got to give him that." Epps said as Ironhide huffed in annoyance.
"I will kill him slowly for taking my bonded from me; but first I will take his brother from him." Ironhide said.
"Wait, I don't get it; who is his brother?" Epps asked.
"Megatron..." Ratchet said as he got an interesting idea. "Bring Sideswipe's body in the medical bay and Ironhide you come too it's time for some upgrades." Ratchet snarled as he saw all the carnage on the ground there were dead NEST troops all over and John Keller and Galloway laid on the ground their bodies a mangled mess.
General Morshower was in the base trying to think of the best type of strategy to use against Optimus.
"We will take Optimus down, General Morshower." Ratchet said as the General nodded clearly upset over John Keller's death.
"Do what needs to be done to kill him." was all he said.
"Ironhide needs to take Optimus out himself now no helping him; it's personal he killed his bonded he will need to kill Optimus on his own." Ratchet said as he quickly made upgrades to Ironhide with Jolt's help.
(Decepticon base)
Optimus was watching his brother closely. Optimus was no fool; he knew this would be the last battle for him. He glanced at Samuel and saw Barricade had him on his chest. Samuel was the last thing Barricade had to remind him of Bumblebee he knew that was why Barricade protected Samuel so strongly. He had tried to talk Barricade into taking Sam and leaving but Barricade would have none of it and Sam well Sam refused to leave. Optimus' memory banks shifted and flowed to the first time he met Samuel and Mikaela. They were both unafraid of him when he transformed and lowered to speak to them. He went through so many memories and was so glad he was able to call the two teenagers his friends. He found his optics misting on him and he quickly wiped the leakage away.
Xxx
It was five days later, when Ratchet asked the NEST team to send word through skywriters that Optimus was to meet Ironhide for battle. It was Skywarp and Thundercracker who saw the message first and told Optimus and Megatron about it.
"Guess this is it then." Sam said.
"You do not have to come, Samuel." Optimus said.
"Yes, I do; we fought together in Mission City we'll fight now together side by side." Sam said as Optimus smiled and nodded as his spark filled with such love for the boy who stood in front of him.
The Decepticons took off heading for the location they were supposed to meet the Autobots at. The battle started quick and it was brutal. Sam had a rifle that Barricade had swiped for him and he fired on several NEST troops killing them. He saw Epps aiming a rocket launcher at Barricade and he aimed his rifle at Epps and shot him. The soldier looked stunned that Sam got him as he crumpled to the ground blood trickled from the side of his mouth.
"EPPS...!" Lennox roared as his eyes filled with hatred as he fired at the boy he used to think of as a little brother and hit him several times in the chest.
Sam clutched his chest as he fell to his knees as Optimus went to Sam.
"Samuel no...!" Optimus cried.
"Lo...ve...ya...big guy...Get...Hid...e..." was all Sam said before he pitched over lifeless.
Optimus was losing everyone he ever cared about he glanced around and saw Thundercracker and Skywarp had fallen. Barricade was severally injured. It was then he saw General Morshower send a rocket from a rocket launcher and it headed toward Barricade catching his spark and the giant Decepticon fell. Grindor came in fast and low and sent missiles bombarding the humans his missiles took out several NEST troops as well as Mudflap, Skidz and Jolt whom was barely holding on. It was Ratchet and Ironhide who were rather hard to kill. Optimus saw Ironhide, but his warning came too late for Megatron as Ironhide's upgraded cannons sliced into Megatron's chest one after the other until the last missile hit his spark.
"MEGATRON...!" Optimus yelled as he went to Megatron who he knew was already dead.
Silence…
"Goodbye brother," Optimus whispered as his spark raced with anger.
Optimus' sword came out hatred pulsating through his circuits; if he was going to die this day he was taking Ironhide with him and Ratchet. Optimus' cannon came out and he sent missiles one by one cascading into Ratchet who stumbled back as Optimus shot the medic incessantly until Ratchet fell. Ironhide looked around at the fallen Autobots and the fallen humans and saw his comrade and friend Will Lennox on the ground his body mangled as his processors went to Sarah and Annabelle she would be without a father and Sarah would be without a mate all because of Optimus Prime. The hatred was so unbelievable as he roared and charged the Prime as he brought out Sideswipe's swords and lunged at the Prime. Ironhide knew he had Optimus this time he was badly wounded and this time he would tear the Prime apart and give him a slow agonizing death. Ironhide heard Optimus' roars of pain and that alone spurred him on as well as the Energon pouring from him. It wasn't until he saw Optimus purge Energon up from his mouth that he knew that Energon was backing up on his enemy.
"You're dying, Optimus." Ironhide said in a wickedly evil tone
"So will you." Optimus snarled as he rammed his sword into Ironhide's chest realizing dimly that his strength was fading fast.
"You stupid, Prime; you missed my spark." he growled as his sword smashed into Optimus' chest as Optimus' optics widened.
Optimus had one shot at this to take Hide's spark for all he had done to him; he carefully took aim and with the last remaining strength impaled the weapons specialist in his spark as he looked confused that Optimus managed to kill him while he remained onlined. Optimus managed to pull free of the sword in his chest his spark was still intact thankfully but at what cost. He was dying Energon was leaving his body very quickly. He crawled on his hands and knees toward Megatron as tears ran from his optics as he rested his head on Megatron's chest and cried heavily. He could feel death creeping up on him darkness was clawing at him he was going to go into stasis lock and when he did he would never wake up. He won but at what cost the lives of everyone he loved and cared about it was truly just unmistakably cruel what life had done to him striping him of everything he truly was and brought him to this point in his life. It was shameful for him just shameful he thought as darkness finally claimed him taking Optimus Prime forever.
(Optimus POV)
I heard voices very familiar voices I could hear them saying things that just didn't make sense; I wanted to make the voices stop I was in agony and didn't want to hear the voices any longer. I onlined my optics and was immediately assaulted by bright lights and Ratchet's concerned face staring down at me.
"Thank Primus; you're alive you've been in stasis for 5 weeks I thought we'd lost you." Ratchet said.
I was gone, wasn't I?
"What happened?" I asked.
"You were ambushed and taken prisoner by Starscream and Barricade; you were tortured, beaten. You were in slagging shape when we found you were dying Optimus I am not sure how you pulled through." Ratchet said as I saw Ironhide in recharge next to him on a chair. "Yes, he has been here nonstop he hasn't left your side; he was a basket case I thought he was going to kill Starscream I've never seen him so angry. He's your body guard and thinks of you as a son, Optimus." Ratchet said as I gently moved my hand toward the sleeping mech and took his hand in mine and smiled and realized I had dreamed those terrible things.
"I had nightmares everyone turned on me and that I was a Decepticon and ... Sam and Mikaela where are they?" I asked as Ratchet motioned to my chest and there recharging were Sam and Mikaela.
"They drugged you they used some human type of drug and it was introduced into your main Energon line. You were very violent when we rescued you I had to give you something to force you into stasis but you remained in stasis for five weeks. We were very concerned General Morshower and John Keller have been here checking on you as well, Optimus. Everyone loves you and cares deeply for you; we even have some new arrivals as well." Ratchet said.
"Who arrived?" I asked in a shaky tone.
"Arcee, Flare-up, Chromia, Jolt, Sideswipe and the twins..."
"Mudflap and Skidz...?" I asked groaning as Ratchet nodded as I felt a squeeze to my hand and saw Ironhide on his pedes in a minute.
"You slagger, don't ever scare me like that again!" Ironhide grumbled as he continued to tighten his hold on my hand. "Welcome back, boss." Ironhide grinned sheepishly after as I had to smile at him because of it.
I ran my finger down first Sam's back then down Mikaela' and they both woke up.
"Optimus...!" they both said hugging me as best as they could as I chuckled.
"We were so worried...!" Sam exclaimed as he watched Mikaela rub my face.
"Thank you for your concern; it makes me feel good." I said.
"You're welcome, Optimus anytime." Sam said as he kept caressing my armor with a smile.
"Don't ever scare us again okay, big guy?" Lennox said as I looked over seeing Ironhide carrying the two NEST soldiers.
I smiled.
: I can't tell you how much of a nervous wreck I was, boss:
: Oh really, how's that:
: Oh you'll see; besides its doctor's orders for you to rest now instead of talking:
Everyone came in one by one to welcome me back to the living so to speak I looked at my arms and saw the familiar red and blue flames and a smile hit my lip plates. Whatever they did to me caused me to have the most frightening images and I was never so happy to learn that it was all a dream. It was a blessing to know everything I had worked so hard to preserve and fight for wasn't for nothing. I was truly loved and appreciated by my soldiers and the humans; it wasn't all for nothing.
The End