Chapter Twenty-Two: Honor to the End
First time in a long while that I'm doing a pre-chapter author's note. After all, this is it, folks. The final chapter of Honor to the End! I'm posting this on June 25, exactly five years after I published this fanfic. During those years, this went on a very long hiatus, and I've only started really getting into this again just last year. Many readers have already forgotten or even outright left this fic, and I won't blame them. But for those who have stayed, especially new readers, thank you all for your support. I have more to say, but I'll keep that for the second author's note. For now, enjoy the final chapter!
Also, STICK TO THE END OF THIS CHAPTER. The third installment of this trilogy will not make sense if you don't.
As he beheld the Star Saber in its glory, Cade could only stare in awe. It was really worthy of being Cybertron's greatest weapon, for he didn't know anything on earth that could come close to its craftsmanship. The design of the blade, of a metal that was beyond anything Cade knew; the way it thrummed with energy, filling the chamber with heat; and the way it shone in the darkness, like a beacon of hope.
It was beautiful.
The rest of the Knights gazed at it with reverence, and even Viviane was rendered speechless. Grimlock held it aloft for a moment, letting them see its majestic form, before lowering his arm and striding toward Steelbane. The Knight Apprentice was confused at first, but his expression turned into shock, and then doubt.
"Grandmaster, what—" he began to say, but Grimlock's firm gaze silenced him.
"Kneel," the Grandmaster said, still speaking in Ancient Cybertronian. And Steelbane obeyed. "Stormreign would have been my first choice, but we don't have much time. And you have proven yourself, Steelbane."
"What is he saying?" Viviane whispered. Cade shook his head, not wanting to disrupt this moment.
Grimlock continued, "Though Sky Lynx has been its guardian, the Star Saber needs a wielder worthy of its power—one who would not abuse it. A Prime is not among us, and so it needs a Knight who would wield it in his stead."
Uncertainty flashed in Steelbane's optics. "I…. I am not worthy, Grandmaster," he said, switching to his native language. "I do not have the strength, nor the skills to wield the Star Saber. I have failed in protecting the Skyboom Shield and the two Omega Keys." He bowed lower. "I cannot take it. I'm sorry."
"You are questioning my judgement?"
"No, Grandmaster!" Steelbane looked, then lowered his head further upon seeing Grimlock's stern expression. "It's just… Why not Dreadwing? Or Sky Lynx? We could just wait until we get to Stormreign and—"
"I fear there will be no time for that," Grimlock said. "If we rejoin the others, it will be on the battlefield. No, Steelbane. You have to wield it. You will need the Star Saber's power to defeat our wayward brothers. Now, do you accept?"
Despite the lingering doubts in his optics, Steelbane planted a fist in his spark and bowed even lower. "I… I accept, Grandmaster."
"Then take the sword and rise." He offered the sword, hilt first.
Steelbane reluctantly grasped it and rose. For a moment, he marveled at the blade. Then he looked at Grimlock and said, "I will not fail you, Grandmaster."
The leader of the Knights nodded. He glanced at Slag, who stepped forward and addressed them all. "Now that it's done, it's time we rejoin the others. Daybreak is a few hours away. If we're lucky, the Omega Lock will be protected by the power of the Star Saber."
They soon returned to Burton and Fowler. Thankfully, Cade didn't have to carry Vivian back to the top of the island, as Sky Lynx offered to ferry them. Throughout the brief flight, Viviane's arms were wrapped tightly around Cade, almost breaking his ribs.
When they landed, Fowler hurried to them with an urgent look. He stared briefly in awe at the white sword that Steelbane now wielded, and greeted the two newly awakened Knights before turning to Cade. "You have to hurry. I got a message from HQ and things are not looking good."
Alarm shot through Cade. "What do you mean? Did the attack start already?"
"Yes. Thirty minutes ago. For the moment, they are holding off the assault. But we don't know how long they would last without help."
"Is Megatron leading the vanguard?" Strafe asked.
The lines in Fowler's face deepened. "That's the problem. He's not. His lieutenants are, as well as that dragon."
The Knights exchanged worried looks. "He's charging the Requiem Blaster," Scorn said grimly.
"We can't stay here then." Steelbane strode to Fowler, who had been watching them silently from the side. "I have to go, old friend. When this battle is over, I will tell you all about the battle."
The old Custodian smiled. "I will be awaiting your return, Steelbane. Good luck."
As Cade watched them, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and was surprised to see Viviane standing there awkwardly, her expression blank. "What?" he said.
She frowned. "Are you going to join them?"
Cade shrugged. "I have to. You know that."
Viviane nodded, as if that confirmed something. Her expression was starting to bother Cade. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now."
"Yeah."
"Take care of yourself out there."
"I will."
She hesitated, looking like she still wanted to say something. Cade waited patiently. But when she was not forthcoming, Cade was about to turn away when she leaned forward and her lips pressed gently on his cheek. It was only for a brief moment, and by the time it was over, Viviane had already strode past him without a word before his mind started working again.
He must have been standing there far longer than necessary, because Fowler cleared his throat and pointed at the waiting Knights, who were al in their beast forms. "Cade, we are on a very short timetable."
Cade quickly regained his composure and nodded. "Right." He started when Fowler grasped his hand."
"Godspeed, Cade," his fellow Custodian said.
He nodded, though his mind was still reeling from what Viviane. He didn't know what to make of it, but her lips… It was warm, even in the cold.
Shaking his head, Cade willed the Apex Armor to form around his body, then climbed onto Sky Lynx, sitting on a slight depression in his neck, where his lower body joined with his top half. The metal was hard, and Cade was glad that he wore the Apex Armor; it would save him minutes of agony.
Grimlock glanced at him, and Cade nodded. The leader then roared, loud in the night, both as a salute to the Custodians and as defiance against their enemies. And the rest of the Knights echoed him, until the air seemed to tremble.
With a running start, Steelbane surged into the air, followed by Sky Lynx and the rest of the Knights Apprentices. A portal blossomed near the Grandmasters, and they charged through it. The Apprentices circled once, then dove down to follow them.
As they neared the Groundbridge, Cade took one last glance at Viviane. Her eyes were worried, but she was smiling in his direction.
He nodded to her in reassurance, before everything went green.
===HttE===
Another explosion rocked the Orion, but Ultra Magnus remained seated on the command chair, gripping his hammer with one hand. The ship's energy shield still held, and it would take much more than the Decepticons' paltry attacks to bring it down.
He watched the screens with rapt attention. Five of them displayed live feed from the five strike teams deployed—three on the ground, and two in the air—with their current status in searate monitors. A larger screen dominated the center, where a map tracked real-time movements and positions of their allies and enemies.
So far, they were doing well. The attack had begun exactly an hour before sunrise, with the Cons probing the defenses. Most had been regular foot soldiers, which Springer's team and the TRF had dealt with easily. The air attacks followed almost simultaneously, but Ultra Magnus refrained from deploying the Aerialbots; they needn't to, yet. The Orion's point defense system should be more than enough to keep enemy starfighters at bay.
On the ground, a second wave of enemy squadrons advanced, and his optics narrowed. Like before, they were regular grunts—no more than cannon fodder for Megatron. Another probing attack, presumably. But the dragon soaring above them told another story.
So they're sending him now, he thought with grim amusement. Instinctively, his left hand balled into a fist. First Aid had outdone himself in replacing the hand with a new, but Ultra Magnus could never forget the humiliation, and excruciating agony, he had suffered from Predaking before.
"Sir, Bluestreak is asking permission to take down Predaking," Blaster said from his seat.
"Denied," Ultra Magnus said. Bluestreak was a fine soldier and an even better sniper, but his overconfidence could sometimes blind him to his priorities. "Tell him to maintain position. We'll let the Knights deal with that monster."
"They won't engage until the Omega Lock is under attack," Red Alert said, turning away from the radar console.
"And Predaking will go after the Omega Lock." Ultra Magnus switched his gaze elsewhere with a tone of finality. "Send in Wingblade and Powerglide if they require assistance. Until then, we'll let the beast come to us."
"Yes, sir."
Satisfied, Ultra Magnus relaxed. Prowl's plan was working. With the Orion hovering directly above the Omega Lock, a direct hit to the ship would send it crashing into the structure, which Megatron would not want. It was effectively a deterrence against the Requiem Blaster, and the only variable left was Megatron himself. But if the defense force stayed in their position, the warlord wouldn't even think of unleashing the relic's full power.
Of course, there was the Knight Ship, but Ultra Magnus was not worried about it. The ancient spacecraft was more a transport and carrier than an actual warship, unlike his Orion. It hung further back from the battlefield, well out of range from Orion's long-range anti-ship missiles and proton cannons, merely dropping fresh troops into the battle. It didn't have the capabilities to engage them in open combat, not without receiving a full bombardment.
And since Megatron was likely going to send in everything he had as soon as he had determined the strength and weaknesses of their defensive lines, as he always did, it would leave the Knight Ship nearly unguarded—which would be the perfect target for a strike team to infiltrate and sabotage.
Ultra Magnus smirked. He could already feel their victory.
===HttE===
"Two squadrons incoming from the northe-east, five hundred meters!" a human spotter shouted.
Prowl quickly brought his gaze to the location, noting the loose formation and equipment. There were a little more than a dozen Cons, with light armor and weapons; common foot soldiers like the first wave. He would have ignored them—the two British Royal Army battalions and Hound's team should be enough to repel them—but the sight of Predaking gave him pause.
The dragon circled in the sky, and was staying there for now. Prowl knew that he was the spear's tip; the spear that Megatron would use to pierce through their defenses at the crucial moment. But he had not expected the Predacon leader to appear so early.
He glanced around, reviewing their positions. The Omega Lock was still in its innate state: a ruin of huge rocks piled in strange formations, or the Sonehenge as humans called it. The Knight Apprentices—Stormreign, Dragonicus, and Skullitron—stood in a line at the front, swords planted firmly on the ground with their hands resting on the hilts, never moving from their spoots save for the swivel of their heads as they tracked the battle's progress.
They would not help with the defense, Prowl understood that much from their blunt admission. Not unless the Omega Lock itself was attacked, even if Unicron himself stood in front of them. It was a decision that Prowl despised; a passiveness that would not bring them to victory. But he, nor the commander himself, could do anything to convince the Knights otherwise.
Thus, it fell on the Autobots and humans to keep the Decepticons at bay. The Orion covered the sky, so they were safe from air strikes. A ditch, twenty feet deep, encircled the Stonehenge in a five-hundred-meter radius, where the defenders had entrenched themselves. Gun emplacements secured their front and sides, with three teams of Autobots defending each area, joined by TRF squadrons and tanks and artillery from the British forces.
It was a powerful defensive line, but something about this second wave nagged at Prowl. They had not seen the Combaticons, nor was there any major offensive from the Cons. Instead, they settled with probing attacks and didn't care much about the casualties; a most curious strategy, considering how they always operated back in Cybertron. It was not uncommon for the Cons to rush the opposition if they could win with overwhelming numbers.
They did not have enough numbers, of course. But Prowl thought that a hundred and fifty Cons were sizable enough, especially if Bruticus provided suppressive fire with Insecticons acting as shock troops. But so far, that hasn't happened yet.
Prowl soon heard the sound of gunfire, but his gaze drifted back to Predaking. It was still circling high in the sky, and didn't seem to be the least interested in joining the battle. Perhaps he was merely watching, or even waiting for Megatron's signal. In any case, the dragon was not a threat, for now.
He was just about to bring his optics back to the holographic map he was studying when another man shouted, "Two more squadrons, approaching from two o'clock! Barricade is leading them."
That drew Prowl's attention. He turned off the holo-map and strode toward the north flank, Crouching behind the barriers, he saw the new group charged at the Omega Lock, with Barricade shouting his war cry. On the left flank, the battle was still ongoing, and almost half of the second wave already lay dead. Hound's new plasma cannons roared.
Then another group appeared, fifty strong, heavily armed and armored. And Prowl's processors went into overdrive. Their center was defended by Springer and half of the Wreckers, along with the TRF and British army's main force—more than a thousand men in full. They had suffered some casualties during the first assault, but it was not enough to break the line. The right flank was held by Bumblebee, Drift, and the Protectobots. And though the Autobot Combiner was two members short, Streetwise's three-mech team was still formidable.
Megatron should know this. Why was he sending in just a two-pronged attack?
A rumble sounded from the southern side. In the distance, Bruticus's towering form rose above the trees. A company of soldiers went with him. But not an ordinary one. From what Prowl could see, they were humans. And judging by their uniforms, they didn't look to be associated with any country.
Mercenaries.
Prowl looked at Lennox standing nearby, who was scowling at the sight. "You said there were humans who supported Sentinel Prime's invasion, correct?" the strategist asked, even though he had already read the files.
"Yes, but we've already arrested them. And they were just a small group. Businessmen. This one's different." He growled and began to bark orders, reinforcing the southern line. Only Bluestreak and Smokescreen defend that part, along with three companies; against Bruticus and those mercenaries, they would be overwhelmed.
There was a thunderous boom. Prowl looked up, his expression wary, as did many of the defenders. Pinpricks of bright lights scattered through the sky, trails of smoke behind them—missiles, and strong ones. They arched across the sky, like hundreds of fireflies.
To an unprepared army, the projectiles spelled doom. But not the Autobots and humans. The Orion responded with its own volley, launching missiles that burst into shrapnels, forming a shield that shredded the incoming barrage. The sky was filled with fore and smoke, and the sound of explosions carried on for hundreds of meters.
And yet it was only the start. All enemy squadrons began to charge, and there was no time for Prowl to think and watch. He pulled out an assault gun from subspace and kneeled on one knee behind a wall of concrete and sandbags. Gunfire and explosions erupted him, mixed with fierce war cries from some of the more vocal Autobots and humans.
Ahead, the Decepticon main force kept coming. Prowl fired a quick burst, and two went down immediately. The tanks unleashed a barrage, tearing apart the foremost lines. Roadbuster was cackling as his machineguns blazed while Topspin, ver the quiet one, had a look of fierce concentration as he mowed down a group.
And yet the Cons came. Warpath fired round after round, but for every kill he did, another mech would surge forward. To the north-east, Hound was roaring defiantly as another squadron rushed his and his team's position. The bright flashes of muzzle fire made it difficult for Prowl to see the Con's actual numbers, but he estimated them to be at least two dozen. Which meant that there were probably hundred enemies bearing down on the Omega Lock.
Lennox and Santos were barking orders as the Cons smashed into the frontlines, where an all-out melee ensued. While the tanks and artillery retreated to a more defensible position, Prowl and the Wreckers met the enemy head-on. He saw Springer punching and kicking his way through, and Warpath providing covering fire for him.
Prowl returned his assault into subspace and unsheathed his sword—Sunsteaker's spare one. And with it, Prowl cleaved a Con trooper in the middle. It warmed his spark that though Sunstreaker was no longer with them, the sword he had given Prowl would continue the fight he had left behind.
Another one came, and Prowl beheaded him with a quick stroke. As he fought three more, a gust of wind blew past, and a mighty roar shook the air as Predaking soared above, heading straight for the Lock. Three roars answered his challenge, and Prowl knew that the three Knights were finally joining the fight.
It was utter chaos by that point. After Prowl dispatched his opponents, he surveyed the battlefield quickly. The frontline was broken, where Megatron had concentrated his forces. But the flanks still held, pushing back Barricade's forces. If they could manage to keep the sides from collapsing, they could crush the center with a three-pronged assault, then reinforce Smokescreen's position.
For several minutes, Prowl assisted wherever he could. He was both the strategist and SIC, so he was a prime target. But he couldn't stand idly by while the enemy overran them. And so his sword sang in the night, felling every Con who made the illogical decision of coming after him.
As he swung at an enemy, the sky above them lit up. A full air wing of Decepticon flyers still swarmed the Orion, trying to get past its shield and defense system. Even as Prowl watched, a laser turret exploded from a precise shot.
The Aerialbots wouldn't deploy, not yet. It was one of the plan's crucial points that Prowl had insisted they follow, no matter what happened. Silverbolt's team was one of the two aces they possessed, only to be used when the right situation called for them.
"Prowl!" Drift called, sprinting toward his direction. A Con tried to bar his way, but the former assassin vaulted over him. He landed gracefully behind his opponent, then pirouetted on his feet and decapitated the Con with a swift stroke. As both the head and body collapsed to the ground, Drift continued his approach.
"We've driven off Barricade's force," he said when he arrived. "The Protectobots will be here soon."
Prowl nodded. The center was regrouping, and the Cons were fewer than when they had begun the charge. He could see some of the Wreckers plowing through a large concentration of enemy force that were approaching the tanks.
He glanced behind him. Predaking were being chased in the air by the Knights, but the dragon didn't draw away. He kept harassing them, evading their attacks, then diving toward the Omega Lock, only to be chased away again—an endless cycle of hit-and-run. It was an odd strategy, one that made Prowl uncertain.
Springer's cry of victory drew his and Drift's attention. The Cons were in full retreat, including their air wing, their force less than half of what they had sent. The humans were cheering, but Lennox and Santos shared Prowl's grim expression. Decepticons would never retreat. They all knew that.
"Reform the defense line," he said. Predaking was still nearby, and Bruticus's force never left their position. "Send the Protectobots to the southern side."
As Drift radioed Streetwise, Prowl strode toward Lennox. Injured soldiers were helped over to a tent reserved for them, while the numerous corpses that littered the grassy field were being carried to another spot. Blood and energon pooled in the ground, and Prowl had to be careful where he stepped; it was easy to slip, even for a mech.
He found Lennox supervising the repairs of the concrete barriers and sandbags, many of which had been destroyed during the Decepticons' initial charge. "Lennox," Prowl said. "What's the status?"
The colonel looked up at him. "Bad. But not as bad as we expected. Cons took out a whole tank squadron before Warpath and Santos's unit could kill them." Fifty feet away, a line of charred tanks smoldered in the darkness. "We lost two platoons, and a lot were injured." He shook his head. "They couldn't have chosen a better time to attack."
Prowl knew what he meant. Even though they had planted dozens of spotlights along the perimeter and were using night-vision equipment, the moonless night and overcast sky made it difficult for human eyes to determine the exact location of the enemies until they were close. The Bots had no such disadvantage, but they were still too few for them to be everywhere at once.
"They'll attack again, won't they?" Lennox continued. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes," Prowl replied. "And if my calculations are correct, Bruticus will be spearheading the next assault."
As if on cue, the ground rumbled. They both turned to see the Combiner took a step, then another, and another.
"These guys really don't let up," Lennox muttered.
"They wouldn't be Decepticons if they did." Prowl sent a quick message to Drift. Not a minute later, a trio of Autobots rushed to the southern side of the defense line—a police car, an ambulance, and a rescue helicopter. And behind them was a full company of British soldiers and TRF troopers.
Prowl altformed and raced after them, joined by Santos' unit. Overhead, Predaking roared and banked left, retreating within a cloud. The Knights seemed to hesitate for a moment, then drifted back to the ground, reverting to their mech forms as they landed. Deep scratches and scorched marks adorned their armors, and their expressions were troubled.
Arriving at the southern defense line, Prowl reverted to his mech form. The Protectobots were already waiting, their weapons primed and ready. Further back, Bluestreak was in a prone position in the sniper's nest alongside his human counterparts.
"Sir!" Smokescreen saluted.
"Give me a sitrep," Prowl said, even as he surveyed the advancing enemy force. There were some strange vehicles mixed in with the human mercenaries that Bruticus had brought with him, but Prowl didn't find any matches in the files that the US military had provided.
"Yes, sir. We only suffered minor casualties from the attack earlier, but they took out some of our anti-aircraft guns." His doorwings drooped slightly. "Sorry. I was helping a platoon and there were just so many of them."
"It's fine. We still have the Orion and the Aerialbots if they decide to launch an airstrike." Which was getting likelier with each passing second; Prowl had already seen this tactic before during the Decepticon's final push into Iacon.
He turned to Santos. "Do you know what those tanks are?"
The TRF captain peered through a binocular for a minute, then shook his head. "I have no idea." He frowned as he glanced at him. "I thought they were Cons."
"No, they are not. In fact, they looked human-made." And that worried Prowl. It meant that the Decepticons had found themselves a powerful ally.
A roar rent the air. In the sky, Predaking shot out of a cloud like a spear, and he was not alone. The traitorous Knights, Scourge and Cyclonus, flew on either side of him. And behind them, over three dozen flyers and Orbital Assault Carriers. But that's not all.
The surviving Cons from the earlier assault had already regrouped, and was preparing for another charge. A mass of warriors formed in a line, growling and snarling. And from within their ranks, Megatron strode forward, the Requiem Blaster glowing in his right arm. He raised it high above, straight toward the Orion, and a sudden coldness crept into Prowl's spark.
"Prowl to Orion! You have an incoming high output energy attack!" he shouted over the comm link. "Take evasive maneuvers now!"
He knew it was both unnecessary and futiile. The Orion's sensors should have already picked up the signature, and the ship was too massive to avoid it in time. The only way it would survive was to initiate a warp jump, but that would take it away from the field of battle for hours, depriving the Autobots of air support. The Commander would not allow that.
Prowl braced for the worst, as did everyone… and a Groundbridge appeared in front of the Omega Lock.
The Grandmasters charged with fierce bellows, swiftly followed by the Knights Apprentices. Prowl saw Cade riding a Knight he had never seen before, who allowed him to leapt to the ground before soaring into the sky with the other flyers to engage Predaking and his escorts. Steelbane remained behind, altforming immediately and drawing a pearly white sword that blazed with the light of a star.
Megatron fired.
In response, Steelbane stood his ground, gripping the hilt with both hands, and swung mightily.
A shockwave burst forth from the blade, an arc of crackling energy. It sped to the air, humming with power, straight toward the beam's path. Prowl watched stiffly, and the humans held their breath as the two energy collided. There was a great explosion, the sky lighting up bright as daylight. He could feel the heat even from the ground, and the shockwave blew over them like a terrible storm. Many of the sandbags were thrown into the air, and the tents shook wildly from their poles. The flyers—both Autobots and Decepticons alike—scattered. Humans and mechs had to grab for support, and even the Orion swayed from the shockwave.
When the light receded and darkness took over once more, Prowl looked on in stunned silence, for the ship was unscathed, albeit dozens of meters away from its initial position, and Steelbane stood proudly with the sword held high.
Megatroon screamed, "DECEPTICONS, ATTACK!"
===HttE===
The Jackhammer flew noiselessly in the clouds. The hum of its engines was barely noticeable in the audio receptors, while the clouds helped to conceal it from unwanted optics.
Of course, that didn't matter when they were heading straight for the enemy's starship. Arcee had done, and completed, a lot of daring raids that would make the two Wreckers in front of her envious. But this was probably one of her most dangerous yet.
"Hey, it's going to be fine," Cliffjumper assured her, standing by her side. He must have noticed the way she stood stiffly.
"It's going to be fine. We're just going to infiltrate the enemy's flying fortress," she said in a dry tone. "Of course, Cliff. Everything's going to be just fine."
The Autobot warrior laughed. "Ah, come on, Cee. You've got some of the best Bots with you. Besides, all we need to do is cripple the launching bays, Groundbridge, and communications."
Cliff was right, she supposed, looking at the mechs around her. Bulkhead and Brawn were two of their strongest soldiers, despite their contrasting height. Mirage was the perfect infiltrator, and Wheeljack's talent in making things explode, even without his grenades, was a Primussent. And she, as the team leader, would make sure that they would succeed.
But the thought of possibly facing those twins sent her processors in scrambles. Airachnid and her eccentric, and terribly violent, twin sister were not seen in the battlefield. It should be safe to assume that they had stayed behind in the Knight Ship, waiting for unsuspecting prey to fall into their sticky traps.
"Five minutes to target," Mirage said from the co-pilot seat. "Hey, Jackie. You sure we got enough bombs for this mission?"
"'Course," the Wrecker said. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "See those containers back there? We can blow the entire ship with them, actually."
As long as the Jackhammer didn't blow up first, Arcee thought, edging as far away as possible from five steel boxes piled on top of another and secured with chains, not five meters from where she stood. "We can't blow the entire ship, though," she said, reminding them of an important part of their mission. "The Knights need it."
"Yes, ma'am," he said. "A pity. It would have been fun to see Bucketron's expression when his ship exploded right in front of him."
"Preferably with him inside it," Bulkhead said. "Too bad he's down there."
The rest of the flight was in silence, which allowed Arcee to reorganize her thoughts for the mission. Soon, their target came into view, and the sight of the massive ship didn't ease her worries. It reminded her of plenty of bad memories from a different ship—memories she didn't want to relive.
She felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. When Arcee looked, she saw Cliffjumper giving her a reassuring nod and a confident smile.
"It's not like the last time," he said.
She nodded then stared ahead, her mind beginning to analyze weak points and possible escape routes. The Knight Ship would be virtually unguarded, but there's also a high chance that they had to fight against reinforcements still waiting inside. They had to make this quick before that happened.
"Where do you want me to park?" Wheeljack asked.
Arcee searched for a moment. "There." She pointed to one of the Knight Ship's stabilizers. It was tall and wide enough to hide the Jackhammer.
They flew toward it, alert for any enemy fire. Thankfully, none came. And they landed safely on the back of the ship. Wheeljack engaged the Jackhammer's magnets, attaching it to the Knight Ship like a parasite. As he powered down the systems, but not the engines, he swiveled in his seat and smirked.
"Well, let's get this party started."
===HttE===
Getting inside was surprisingly easy, and it was that that made Arcee worry.
The dark corridors were silent, unnaturally so. When they first infiltrated this before, there was a lot of foot traffic, and they would encounter enemy patrols every ten minutes. Strange sounds would often echo down the halls. But there was none of that now, except the eerie silence. It was like a tomb.
"I don't like this," Brawn muttered, and even that was loud. "It was not this quiet before."
"You and me both, little guy." Wheeljack's optics darted around, looking at every shadowy corner with vigilance. "Feels like a trap."
"Knowing those spiders, I'm sure this is their work." Arcee could feel it; the unnerving sensation of being watched. They knew they were coming.
"Should we abort?" Mirage said. Out of all of them, he was the least concerned; he could just hide if he wanted to. The fragger.
Arcee considered doing just that for a second. There were too many unknowns at this point. But they were already here. She shook her head. "No. We continue the mission and complete at least one of our primary objectives. Preferably disabling the Groundbridge."
As they reached a junction, they split up. Bulkhead and Wheeljack went for the hangar. Mirage and Brawn took the hallway leading to the Groundbridge, leaving Arcee alone with her new partner.
"Feels too long, huh?" Cliffjumper said. Being the largest, he took the lead, his blasters already primed. "It's been what, one Earth year?"
She snorted. "Yes, especially with you yapping."
"I don't yap, Cee. I just talk… a lot. But hey, that's how I control my nervousness."
"Oh, so the great Cliffjumper can actually feel nervous. That's new."
"Heh. Even the greatest warriors feel nervous, y'know."
She smiled, despite rolling her optics at him. She had missed this banter of theirs during a mission, and it did alleviate some of her fears. Not much, but enough that she could properly focus on navigating the twisting routes that led to the bridge.
There were still no guards, or even a patrol, which was disconcerting. But when Bulkhead called in to tell her that he and Wheeljack had to neutralize a few sentries on their way to the hangar, she relaxed. As odd as it sounded, she found it relieving that they had to fight. It meant that this was not an elaborate trap the twins had set up.
There was a bend in the hallway. Cliffjumper held up a hand and crept to the wall, peering around the corner. Arcee stood behind him, ready to charge any moment.
"Two ugly sentries," he said, pulling back as he spoke. "Both armed with energon rifles."
Arcee didn't lower her blasters as she met his gaze. She smiled. "The usual?"
"The usual," Cliffjumper replied with a grin.
His blasters retracted, revealing his hands as he raised them and stepped out of the shadows. Arcee watched as the guards looked on in shock, and aimed their rifles at him as he steadily approached. "Hey, how did you get here?" one of them said.
His hands still raised, Cliffjumper said, "Oh, sorry. I got lost. Damn! This ship is just too big. Hey, can either of you show me the way to—"
Arcee burst out of hiding. The guards didn't even have time to react. Two quick and precise shots punctured a smoldering hole through their heads. Before their bodies could collapse and make a sound, Cliffjumper sprinted and caught them.
He grunted. "Ugh! These guys are heavy. A little help, please."
They quickly laid the deactivated forms on the floor. Arcee scanned the hallways for any patrols, but they were alone. She glanced at the door. Cliffjumper was already fiddling at the security console. After a minute, he said, "Uh, looks like we need a hand print."
Arcee blinked and looked down at one of the guards. A robust mech, probably from Kaon judging by his size. His hand was twice the size of hers, but there was a chink in his wrist armor where a blade could slice through easily.
She raised her right arm, and a curved blade extended. A swift strike severed the Con's hand, which Cliffjumper hefted with a little difficulty. He pressed it on the scanner, and the door hissed.
Arcee crouched low on one knee, her blasters leveled in front of her, while Cliffjumper swiftly entered. The spacious bridge was empty, but the consoles and screens were all running. And yet that feeling of being watched was stronger here. She rose to her feet and strode next to Cliff, tapping his right foot lightly with her left. The silent communication was understood, and Cliff shifted his stance.
"Well, we're in luck. The Cons seemed to have abandoned their posts." His voice, uncharacteristically loud, echoed in the bridge.
And just as expected, Arcee heard the sound of something wet and sticky coming after her.
She and Cliffjumper quickly rolled away. Not a moment too soon, for the floor where they had been seconds before was now covered in webs. Two lithe figures dropped from the ceiling, their spider-like appendages reflecting the light in a malevolent gleam.
"Look who's here," Airachnid purred. "My, my, Arcee. You never learn, don't you? And you even brought along your partner with you."
Hidden behind a console, Arcee said, "What can I say? I'm dedicated to killing you." She glanced around, but her partner was gone. Where in the Pit is Cliff?
"Ah, but I won't kill you." Airachnid's footsteps sounded near, but Arcee couldn't peer out of her hiding place without being seen. "I'm just going to… rip you APART!"
There was the sound of crashing. A console flew past Arcee, smashing into the nearest wall. She blinked. "You do realize that Megatron would not like you destroying the ship's equipment, right?"
Airachnid chuckled. "Oh, equipment can be easily replaced. Besides, they are really outdated. Megatron is outdated too, you know. And the Decepticons need a new leader. One who is…"
"More unstable?" Arcee suggested. Taking a risk, she peeked over the console and saw her archenemy facing away from her. Blackarachnia prowled the aisle fifty feet away, humming cheerfully. Arcee did a quick scan and found her partner crouched next to a table beside the communications module. Without wasting a second, she moved to another console and ducked behind it.
"I will take that as a compliment." The sound of Airachnid's footsteps receded slightly. "Found him yet, sister?"
"Nope," Blackarachnia replied. "But it's fine. I always love to play hide and seek."
The bridge was large enough for thirty mechs to fit inside, as needed by a star ship of this scale. Even so, it was not large enough when two murderous twins were scouring the area. Sooner or later, Arcee knew, they would find her, or Cliffjumper.
He was directly across from her, about eighty paces. Airachnid and Blackarachnia stood between them, completely unaware, or outright faking ignorance. Whatever the case, they had the femme Cons in a crossfire. It was dangerous; Arcee didn't think that the two would fall that easily, and there was the chance that this was all a ruse. But they were running out of time. They had to act soon.
And so she stood, exposing herself. The twins turned in her direction, startled, until a grin spread across Airachnid's face. Her sister sauntered next to her with a hungry expression.
"Getting bold, are we?" Airachnid said. "You think you could save your partner this time by acting as bait?"
"I think she wants to play with us," Blackarachnia said, her fangs bared in a devious smile. "Don't worry, sweetie. We'll play with you. And we'll make sure it will feel… good."
Arcee shuddered at that. She was sure that her definition of 'play' involved excruciating pain. Nevertheless, she kept her composure. "Okay, first, I'm not into another femme. And second," she smirked as Cliffjumper silently rose from his hiding spot, "I'm not the bait. I'm the distraction."
Cliffjumper's blasters roared. Compressed energon salvos blasted straight toward the twins, even as Arcee unleashed her own barrage. The twins tried to dodge, but a shot struck Blackarachnia right in the chest, hurling her against the far wall. Her wails filled the bridge as she smashed on a screen, and tumbled to the floor. It didn't kill her—Arcee knew she had survived far worse—but she was struggling to her feet.
While one of the twins was still incapacitated, Arcee moved, firing at Airachnid while Cliffjumper inserted a data stick at the communications module—Red Alert's virus program. With any luck, it would shut down the ship's systems and prevent the Cons from communicating with their ground forces.
Airachnid weaved through Arcee's barrage, leaping from one console to another. Her face was set in a terrifying snarl, her optics bright red with fury. She shot a webbing, but Arcee rolled to the side and continued in a sprint, parallel to her.
When Airachnid reached a wall, she vaulted backward and planted her feet on it. She launched herself at Arcee, spinning around her blaster fire. And Arcee scowled. She would never avoid Airachnid in time. She retracted her blasters then swept her arms, unsheathing her blades just as the spider slammed into her.
They rolled across the floor, grappling and struggling against each other. One of Airachnid's appendages nearly pierced through Arcee's helm, but she twisted at the last second and it stabbed the floor. She swung her right arm, severing the bladed edge, but Airachnid still had too many of them. Four pierced both of her legs, immobilizing her. Another one punctured her right shoulder, drawing energon. The last two hovered over her head and spark chamber, respectively.
Airachnid ran one of her hands across Arcee's waist, caressing it. "You know, I would really love to keep you alive. But you've caused us so much trouble already. I can't let you—"
A module slammed into her, knocking her away. Arcee quickly rose to her feet.
"The feeling's mutual," Cliffjumper said, tearing another module from the floor and hurling it across the room. Airachnid avoided it, hissing.
Arcee dashed past him, and he followed. Alarms were blaring, alerting the ship of their presence. They had to get back to the Jackhammer soon.
"Bulkhead to Arcee. Hangar's all clear. We've disabled the launching mechanisms. You guys okay in there?"
"No!" Arcee shot a Con in the face. "We've planted the virus, but enemies are pursuing us. Rendezvous at Point B!"
"This is Mirage. We've completed the mission. We're heading for you. Just hang—"
"We can take care of ourselves! Get to the Jackhammer and prepare for immediate launch!"
She cut off her comm link. It would just distract her, and she needed to focus on straining her receptors for any hint of the twins' approach. "Cliff, are we still being chased?"
He caught up with her, shaking his head. "I think we lost them."
As they rounded a corner, a huge hammer nearly crushed Arcee's head. Fortunately, her small size saved her. But Cliffjumper was not too lucky. The hammer rammed into his chest, throwing him against the wall with enough force to shatter it. He spat energon as he crumpled to the floor.
"Cliff!" she shouted, weaving out of the hammer's range. She looked back and saw the mech wielding it, twice her size. Next to him stood a smaller one, a shock stick in hand.
"Why, hello there, darling," Knockout said with a smirk. "Going somewhere?"
"Going nowhere," Breakdown chuckled. He charged.
We're dead, Arcee thought grimly. But giving up and dying here was not part of her bucket list. She ducked under the swing and slashed, gouging a shallow gash in Breakdown's thigh armor. It didn't seem to faze him at all. The Con swept a hand, intent on grabbing her by the neck.
Arcee slid under him, then leapt backwards until she balanced on his shoulder. Breakdown tried to grab her, but she was jumping again, going for Knockout. Startled, the Decepticon CMO jabbed at her with his shock stick. Arcee moved to the side at the last second, and the end struck Breakdown in the chest.
He roared in pain. Knockout cursed, but before he could pull back, Arcee sent a swift punch at his annoying face, and he crumpled to the floor.
She grabbed the shock stick and turned up the intensity. Breakdown's roar grew into a scream, and he sagged into the wall, writhing and thrashing. As much as Arcee wanted to keep it going, she knew they couldn't stay long. She wrenched away the stick, turned it off, and smashed the handle into the side of the Con's head. Breakdown collapsed to the floor.
Footsteps echoed along the hallway. Arcee spun, still gripping the crackling shock stick, then lowered it at the sight of Bulkhead and Wheeljack gaping at the scene. "I told you both to rendezvous at Point B," she growled.
"Point B is swarming with Cons, Team Leader." Wheeljack's mask retracted, revealing his grin. "Looks like you've been busy."
"Very busy." Arcee dropped the stick and strode to Cliffjumper. "But enough of this. Bulk, you carry Cliff. Jackie, you take point."
"Yes, ma'am."
They quickly fled down the hallways, past several rooms of storage, and finally up the stairs that led to the deck of the ship. A squadron awaited them, but neither of the twins were present, so Wheeljack threw a grenade and they scattered for cover, and Arcee's group rushed past them.
"Good thing I always kept a dud for situations like this," Wheeljack said.
"Well, you might want to throw a real one this time." Arcee glanced over her shoulder. The squadron was already regrouping, leveling their weapons at the escaping Autobots.
In response, Wheeljack pulled another one from his waist and casually hurled it back without looking. They dashed along the deck. Further ahead, Brawn waved an arm urgently. The Jackhammer hovered behind him, its forward-facing cannons swiveling in their direction.
Seconds later, an explosion rocked the deck. But they kept going, hurrying up the ramp and into the belly of the ship. Bulkhead laid Cliffjumper on the floor, and he stirred. "Wha' happen'?" he mumbled.
"We're leaving," Arcee said as Brawn entered last and the ramp closed. She hurried to the cockpit, where Wheeljack and Mirage were pulling onto the controls, causing the ship to lift off. Below them, a pair of femmes watched their rapid ascent. Arcee stared at Airachnid, relishing at her furious expression. It would not be the last time they would see each other, she knew.
And the next time, Arcee would make sure to end the spider's life. For good.
===HttE===
Steelbane swung the Star Saber, and the enemy before him was cut in half. Another one who tried to take advantage of his momentary distraction met the same fate. And he searched for his next target until his optics landed on Scourge.
With a growl, he charged after the traitor, who wielded a sword and the Skyboom Shield, battling Stormreign and the others. The Grandmasters had long engaged Predaking on the ground, but Steelbane didn't want their assistance this time. This was between the Apprentices alone.
Scourge saw him first, and smiled. He smiled despite three of the strongest Knights dueling him, raining a flurry of blows that he blocked with the Skyboom Shield. He smiled as he pushed them back with it, staggering all three, before catching Skullitron in the chest, driving his sword straight toward his spark chamber. The lancer looked in shock for a moment, then dropped his spear and collapsed lifelessly on the ground as Scourge pulled free.
Steelbane roared, as did Stormreign and Dragonicus. The two remaining Knights re-engaged Scourge, their rage-fueled attacks driving him further back, away from the Omega Lock.
As Steelbane drew near, he leapt the rest of the way and landed behind Scourge. It went unnoticed by the dark Knight, and he was quick to whirl around, raising his shield to block the Star Saber. As he did, Stormreign and Dragonicus lunged forward, intent on impaling him from either side.
And yet Scourge still smiled. The air around him crackled, and a menacing aura erupted from him. The purple lines snaking around his body flared brightly. Steelbane felt an icy chill in his spark and, for a moment, he thought of dropping the Star Saber and fleeing. But the sword in his hand grew warm, banishing the chill, and with renewed resolve, he battered the shielkd with a rain of blows. Whatever Scourge was doing had to be stopped.
The traitor seemed surprised at his onslaught, and his smile widened. The air around them exploded, and the shockwave threw everything for yards. Steelbane held on to the Star Saber tightly as he hurtled in the air before rolling and coming to a stop, planting the sword on the grass. He looked up, and his spark nearly stopped as the voices reached his receptors.
Stormreign and Dragonicus lay on the ground, writhing and screaming against a web of purple lightning that erupted from Scourge's right hand. Even as Steelbane watched, several tendrils lifted Dragonicus in the air, like phantasmal arms grabbing his limbs. And with a clench of Scourge's hand, the blue knight exploded in a shower of charred metal and energon.
Steelbane charged, yelling incoherently. A madness took him—the madness of pain, and grief, and rage. He swung, and a blast of energy shot forth from the Star Saber, cutting a gaping jagged line across the ground. It sped toward Scourge, a shining arc of pure light, until it struck a globe of purple energy, dispelling it around the traitor.
And still, Steelbane charged. He swung at the barrier once, twice, three times in quick succession. It held, but he was not deterred. Rage and sorrow fueled his attacks, mixed with the burning desire to avenge his fallen brethren. Another blow shook the ground, and a crack formed on the shell. The smile on Scourge's face faded. Steelbane swung again.
The barrier shattered, forcing Scourge to take a step backwards as Steelbane lunged. He blocked the first strike, but Steelbane spun to the side, aiming for his shin. Scourge lowered the Skyboom Shield, protecting his legs, and Steelbane changed direction at the last second and swung upward.
Scourge recoiled, and the Star Saber grazed the left side of his head, nearly cutting across his left optic. He snarled and rammed Steelbane with the golden shield while he slashed with his sword. Steelbane blocked it even as he stumbled backwards. The Skyboom Shield's unique properties made it perfect for both defense and offense.
He parried a thrust from Scourge, then danced past a swing and counterattacked with a stab. Scourge deflected it, and soon they were trading blows. Steelbane poured every ounce of his fury into each strike, parrying and slashing. But while he wielded the strongest weapon of their race, his skill was still far inferior to Scourge.
Nevertheless, he kept going, kept driving him into the defense. Until at last, Scourge's sword splintered from the stress of combat, and he was left with only the shield. Steelbane lunged, but Scourge dropped the Skyboom Shield, letting him pierced his shoulder.
For a moment, they stared at each other while the battle raged around them. What happened? Why did Scourge allow himself to be defeated?
And then he laughed, a chilling rumble that seemingly froze the energon flowing through Steelbane. A swift kick loosened his grip on the sword, sending him rolling to the ground with a gasp. No!
Scourge pulled the Star Saber free, spilling Dark Energon on the ground. He gazed at the shining blade for a second. "Thousands of years I longed to hold this, and now it's in my grasp. But after everything, I just realized how insignificant this is compared to the power I now wield."
And then he tossed it away, as one would when discarding a useless weapon. Steelbane watched it fly out of sight, landing in the darkness before it was obscured by the confusion of battle—a battle they were already losing.
"Look," Scourge pointed toward Megatron, fighting against the Autobot commander, sword against hammer. The warlord was drawing close to the Omega Lock, which was slowly transforming into its true form as it sensed the four Omega Keys. The stones collapsed and shifted, becoming four mighty pillars that supported a gigantic disc, crackling with energon.
"We promised him victory," Scourge said, "and now he's almost within reach of it. If you've only seen what we could not, my dear friend, perhaps you could have reveled alongside us in triumph."
Steelbane shook his head. "I cannot rejoice while you destroy a planet."
"On the contrary," Scourge said with a dark chuckle, "we are not destroying a planet. We are forming a new one. Unfortunately, you and the others will be long dead before you witness our grea—"
He gasped just as a sword impaled him through the spark chamber. His optics darkened, and his body fell as Stormreign slid his sword free out of Scourge's chest. He smiled weakly at Steelbane, holding a limp arm, and hobbled towards him.
But something was terribly wrong, and dread clutched at Steelbane's spark. Stormreign froze too. He looked back, gripping his sword. Scourge was rising to his feet despite the gaping hole in his chest, which soon closed, as if it had never been there. He groaned, joints cracking. "I never thought that getting skewered by a sword right in the spark would hurt this bad," he mused. "I will surely avoid it next time."
Steelbane's optics widened. He is alive. He definitely saw the life leaving Scourge, saw his optics dimmed. But he was standing. He was alive. Primus save us! What kind of abomination did he become?
"How?" Stormreign asked weakly. And Steelbane knew that his captain was in the last vestige of his strength.
"Dark Energon," Scourge answered with a cold smile. "It can do wonders, even to a dead one. It can also create weapons." His right arm lashed out, and it seemed like it had stretched, a ghostly clawed appendage made of pure energy.
There was a crunch, and a shower of energon. Steelbane bowed his head as Stormreign's spark chamber burst out of his chest, clutched in the monstrous hand of the one he once called his brother. Steelbane couldn't bear to watch the grisly scene, and yet he forced himself to look, and to remember how Stormreign died at the hands of this monster. And as his captain's lifeless body fell to the blue-stained grass, much like how Scourge fell only minutes ago, Steelbane howled his grief, the loudest among the Apprentices who had witnessed the tragedy.
And it was soon drowned out by Grimlock's roar.
===HttE===
Cade had seen a Cybertronian's rage before. It was terrifying, especially when it came from a Prime. He had seen how they, much like humans, could succumb to the pull of unrestrained violence, disregarding all their principles for the sake of avenging their fallen. And it was an ugly sight, one he had hoped he would never have to see again.
But this… This was madness—the madness of sorrow and fury. The rage that had now consumed the Knights was like an unstoppable storm, so frightening that even the Decepticons quailed and stopped their assault for a moment. It was enough to make Megatron pause mid-swing against Ultra Magnus and watched in abject terror.
Cade saw Grimlock leaping after Predaking, who had been winning against the Grandmasters at that point, and smashing his mace against the dragon's head. He saw the other three converging on the dragon, and they were like mindless beasts, tearing and hacking and pounding at him. Scorn nearly tore off a leg before Predaking kicked him, until Strafe slashed at his tail and severed most of it completely, leaving a three-meter stump. One of the dragon's horns shattered from Grimlock and Slag's incessant hammering, and Cade could have sworn that Predaking looked startled and confused for a moment, before his visage turned cautious.
And with a blast of fire, the dragon kept the Grandmasters at bay then leapt to the sky, flapping his mighty wings, disappearing on the brightening horizon.
But he was not the only one who had taken to the sky. Cyclonus, after an intense battle with Sky Lynx, Darksteel, and the twins, transformed into his dragon form and soared away, bleeding from various wounds.
And yet the Knights were not done. As one, they turned to Scourge, eyes blazing with murderous intent, and charged after him. The traitor glanced at Megatron who, Cade realized, was heading for the Omega Lock while the rest were distracted. The warlord screamed, "Stop them!"
Chaos erupted. Ultra Magnus pursued Megatron, while the Decepticons surged with desperation. Scourge hesitated, then joined Cyclonus in the air, heading for parts unknown. But Cade didn't wait for them to come down. He had to help the Autobots win the battle.
It was a losing battle earlier, with Ultra Magnus arriving minutes ago to confront Megatron. The Orion's energon shield was down, and all the Aerialbots were engaged in a dogfight to defend the ship—six flyers against over thirty. The lines of the TRF and British army were broken after Bruticus and the human mercenaries charged through, and they were now locked in a struggle against the combiner's force alongside the Protectobots. Cade couldn't see Bumblebee anywhere among the gigantic bodies around him.
But the Knights turned the tide, and the Decepticon army began to waver. Cade saw Shatter and Dropkick pulling Thundercracker away as the Wreckers laid down covering fire, tearing through his squadron like paper machê. The trio soon launched to the sky, though Blitzwing remained to intercept Ultra Magnus until a swift swing of the hammer hurled him out of sight. During a break, Cade caught a glimpse of Bumblebee grappling with Barricade, but he quickly lost sight of them again in the confusion.
A glimmer caught his attention. The Star Saber lay on a pile of grass, buried under a tank which must have been thrown in the ensuing chaos. It seemed no one had seen it, or even gave it a passing glance; everyone was too preoccupied with trying to survive while killing their enemies.
He glanced toward Megatron, and to his horror, the Decepticon warlord was moving through the Omega Lock, inserting the Omega Keys in the control panel. A line of Decepticons formed behind him, keeping Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers from breaking through. They were too few, and the Autobots were easily pushing them back. But Megatron was simply buying time.
And then a beam shot out of the Omega Lock, bright blue, piercing the dawning sky. Tendrils of lightning writhed around the structure, and one struck the ground, and up rose a jagged pillar of metal.
"Mine! ALL MINE!" Megatron roared. "THE BIRTH OF A NEW CYBERTRON!"
At last, Cade understood. Megatron was not intending to destroy the Earth out of some insane bout of vengeance. Nor was he even planning to restore Cybertron. He was going to transform Earth into his world, one made of metal. And already he was starting to do it, as more pillars rose on the land.
"The Star Saber!" someone shouted. It sounded like Slag. "We need the sword! Find it!"
Cade immediately took off in that direction, weaving past the towering mechs, friend and foe alike. A Con tried to intercept him, but Hound barreled through and slammed into the mech. Ahead, Prowl and Drift took turns against Blitzwing, driving him. Prowl turned briefly to look and shouted, "Cade!"
But Cade kept going, dashing beneath them, avoiding a blast that nearly threw him off balance. In the sky, the Jackhammer flew, and its crew leapt to join the fray. And he still kept going, until at last the sword lay before him, a massive weapon that only one human had ever wielded—his ancestor, Cael.
As if driven by a silent thought, Cade held out his right arm, and the Star Saber shone. It began to shift, its metal retracting and collapsing. The blade grew short, shrinking. And the hilt contracted to a size that would fit a human's hand. Until at last, the Star Saber was a five-foot long of gleaming metal, no different than the swords of the knights from Viviane and Burton's history lessons.
He picked it up. It was warm in his hands, and light. Incredibly light. He could have wielded it with only one hand.
A crash. Ultra Magnus had finally broken through the line of Decepticons, and he was now battling Megatron once more. But it didn't matter. The Decepticons had won. The Earth would soon become a world of metal and machines.
Ultra Magnus shouted, "Destroy it!"
Cade froze, unsure if he had heard him correctly. But the Autobot commander repeated it, calling his name as he swung his hammer at Megatron. "Cade, destroy it!"
Megatron took the blow, letting it hit his left arm before he moved to the side, grabbed Ultra Magnus by the neck, and threw him toward Cade. He landed not twenty feet away, groaning. Cade took a step toward him, but Ultra Magnus shook his head and said, "No, don't worry about me. Cade, you have to destroy the Omega Lock if we are to save your planet."
Save his planet. Not theirs. Save Earth, not Cybertron, as the Autobots had always done ever since they arrived here. Cade knew what that meant. The Omega Lock was the only device left that could restore Cybertron. But destroying that would forever doom the Cybertronian race into a nomadic life, one where they would always be refugees.
And all because they would rather save a world who had repaid their sacrifices with contempt and hatred.
Cade's hands trembled, even as Megatron charged at him. Ultra Magnus rose and tackled the deranged warlord to the ground, where they grappled ferociously. Megatron tried to aim his fusion cannon at Cade, but Ultra Magnus grabbed onto it and tore the cannon away before using it as a makeshift club to bash Megatron in the head. The warlord raised the Requiem Blaster next, but Ultra Magnus's hand shot forward and pinned it to the ground.
"Cade, do it!"
"I… I can't," Cade said at last, his throat tightening. Tessa. He should be doing it for Tessa. He should be saving the world she lived in. But if that world always shunned its heroes, what was the point? Why do they keep saving people if, in the end, heroes would be left abandoned and blamed for the deaths and destruction that they had always wanted to prevent?
"No, you don't understand. Cade, listen to me." He paused for a moment as he sent a swift punch into Megatron's face, stunning the warlord for a moment. "Cade, Optimus told me to defend Earth no matter the cost. Our race is dying, and there's no hope left for us. Not without the All Spark. Even if we restore Cybertron, we will still die. But yours, Cade, you can still save your race and your world. We can still save humanity and our home."
Home. Family. The things that mattered, the things that Cade wanted to protect. His honor, both as a Custodian and as a human being.
Overhead, the sky slowly turned pink, and the horizon brightened as the first rays of the sun ushered in a new day—a new day for his home and family. And so Cade Yeager raised the Star Saber above his head, where it shone with a dazzling radiance. He swung down.
"NO!" Megatron screamed.
An arc of pure energy sped toward the Omega Lock. Humans, Autobots and Decepticons threw themselves out of the way, where it made a huge gash in the grassy field, before it collided with one of the Lock's pillars in a tremendous boom. The clashing energy shook the ground, and for a moment, the Omega Lock seemed to resist the Star Saber's power. And then a crack along one of the pillars grew, slowly at first, snaking from its base and branching off into tiny fissures. And then with a loud peal of thunder, the Omega Lock erupted into a shower of metal.
Everyone scattered, fleeing to safety. A few Cons were crushed by the falling debris, never to rise again. Blitzwing flew at once, along with several of the surviving flyers. But Megatron rose and barreled straight toward Cade, bellowing fiercely. Ultra Magnus reached out to grab a foot. He missed, and the warlord raised his sword over Cade. Staring up at him defiantly, Cade readied himself for the blow.
A shadow loomed. Grimlock's hand shot forward, grasping Megatron in the leg. The warlord dropped his sword with a snarl, which soon grew into a panicked scream as the Grandmaster pulled his arm as far back as he could and swung it forward. And Megatron hurtled into the sky like a comet, before transforming into his flight mode among the clouds and vanishing up the atmosphere.
It acted like a signal, and soon the Decepticons wavered, broke their lines, and finally retreated. Cade saw a battered Barricade driving off at his maximum speed, trailed by a dozen warriors. The Combaticons disassembled, and a Groundbridge bloomed to receive them, while the surviving human mercenaries beat a hasty retreat.
Ultra Magnus shouted, "The Knight Ship. Don't let it escape! Silverbolt, take all the flyers and help the humans secure it." In the sky, a squadron of the British Royal Air Force roared past, heading for the fleeing ship.
The battlefield was eerily silent, a far cry from the chaos it had not two minutes Lennox started barking orders. There were too many injured, and the casualties were harrowing. Some had died from the collapsing Omega Lock, unable to escape the falling debris.
Cade stared at the Star Saber in his hands, still shining, ever beautiful. Now two humans had wielded it, both to protect what they held dear. He didn't know if it was the right choice, until he saw them—the Autobots, some of the TRF and British soldiers, even Santos and Lennox—gazing at him with expressions of gratitude.
Grimlock lumbered forward, and Cade looked up in surprise as the towering Knight of Cybertron planted his fist into his spark, an act mirrored by the other Knights as he spoke.
"Honor to the end."
===HttE===
One month later…
"You guys are leaving?"
"We have to, Cade. Our traitorous brothers are still out there, and we need to find them before they return to cause more chaos."
Steelbane was right, Cade knew. But he was still saddened by the fact that all the Knights would really be leaving Earth. He had grown fond of them, especially Sky Lynx, and he would miss their stories and lessons.
He glanced at the field ahead where the Knight Ship sat still, its ramps lowered. From what he had heard, the Autobots found it abandoned a few days after the Battle of Stonehenge, as it was now being called. No one knew where the Decepticons went, and the Knights, Autobots, and the soon-to-be restructured TRF had spent almost a day scouring the ship for any clues as to what had happened to them. It seemed they had just vanished.
He shook his head despite the feeling of unease. Whatever the Cons' plans were, they wouldn't dare make a move for a long time. Not with the defeat they had suffered.
"Don't worry, Cade," Steelbane said, as if sensing his mood. "You and the others will be fine. And we won't be gone for long."
"I know." He smiled, eyes scanning the rest of the Knights boarding the ship. It would be a long journey, and they might not see each other for a very long time. "You'll find him, right? Ultra Magnus said he's still out there, along with the rest." Traveling the stars, searching for that threat that Ultra Magnus had warned Cade and the others about, during the briefing three weeks ago. Just remembering it sent a shiver in his spine.
"Yes. The Star Saber is a powerful weapon, and it should prove useful for everyone who remains here. But its true potential cannot be unlocked without a Prime. We must find Optimus Prime and the rest of my order if we are to combat the darkness that is approaching."
They stood silent for a moment, watching the others carry the supplies. "And Burton?" Cade asked.
The Knight's tone took on a somber note. "I've said my farewells, but I know we'll meet again. Soon."
"That's.. good, I suppose." And then Slag called, and they both knew it was time. Steelbane knelt in front of him, extending a finger. With a smile, Cade touched it. It was the closest thing they would get to shaking hands.
"I won't say goodbye," Steelbane said, optics brighter than usual. "We'll see each other again. I promise."
And then he finally rose, and Cade watched him strode up the ramps, where the ship finally welcomed him. It rose slowly, and as it pointed to the sky, Cade smiled again. It was funny, seeing it soared away. Funny because the first time he had seen the Knight Ship, he hated it for taking away Tessa. But now he wished it would return, or that he could join its crew on a voyage into space.
He stayed there for what seemed like hours, just gazing at the blue sky where it had finally vanished. Until a car honked.
"Yes, Bee. I know I'm late." Cade checked his watch. 9:45. He still had about thirty minutes left. After one last look at the drifting clouds, he turned on his heels and climbed inside the gleaming Camaro.
"We've been waiting for twenty minutes, you know," the girl at the back said. Next to her, a diminutive Autobot chirped.
"Chihuahua."
"Shut it, Izzy. You too, Saweeks." But he was smiling.
The drive was smooth and uninterrupted, though Cade had to fend off an overly talkative Izzy the rest of the way. When the endless flatlands gave way to the suburbs, and finally into tall buildings and verdant parks, only then did the girl grow quiet. It should be an unusual experience for her, as much as it was to Cade, to be able to see a clean and bustling city again after living in the ruins of Chicago for a good deal of her life. And later, in a junkyard.
Two turns, followed by a short drive to a park. As they drew nearer, Cade felt all the tension in his shoulders melting away. Bumblebee stopped, and they all got out.
His eyes soon found her, sitting on a gray picnic blanket, reading a book. She was not too far from where they had parked, and it was probably on purpose. When she looked up, the eyes that looked so much like her mother widened. Dropping the book, she quickly rose.
"Dad!"
Cade smiled, even as he held back the tears threatening to spill from his own eyes. Tessa soon tackled him into a hug, and for several seconds that he didn't bother to count, he savored the feeling of her in his arms.
When she broke away, Tessa was grinning. "You're late."
"By about five minutes." He heard the shuffle of feet, and they both turned to see Izzy standing there rather awkwardly.
"Um, hi. I'm Izabella. Izzy for short," she said. Beside her, Sqweeks looked at Tessa with curiosity. "And this is Sqweeks."
"He's so cute! Dad told me a lot about you." Tessa smiled, looking at her after rubbing Sqweeks on the top of his head, who closed his optics and sighed. "How do you feel having an older sister?"
Izzy shrugged. "I don't know. I've never had one." She scrunched her face. "Who's your favorite singer?"
"Taylor Swift."
The girl brightened at that. "We'll definitely get along just fine." She looked at Cade. "But I'm not going to call you Dad, just so we're clear."
His eyebrows rose. Izzy's adoption papers came just last week, which he had immediately signed. Of course, he was not expecting her to call him "Dad" anytime soon. "Yeah? You know, I'm a really strict father and that kind of attitude will not work with me."
Tessa was giggling. "I can guarantee that."
"I still won't," Izzy said with a huff.
"All right," Tessa said. "What are you going to call him, then?"
Izzy smirked. "Legend."
And so the two laughed, while Cade snorted and watched them, a warm feeling in his heart.
At last, he was home.
Five years. That's how long it took me to finish this fanfic—one of my first ones, and the one that also helped me become a novelist. Honor to the End is actually the second version of another fanfic I've posted, a rewrite. You guys can check it out in my profile, it's titled Transformers 5: Faces of Darkness, and it contains several elements that are seen in this story and will be seen in the sequels. Of course, the Last Knight film has become the basis for this rewrite instead.
I will not be answering reviews for the previous chapter nor for this one, and I will not be making commentaries for the scenes here in the final chapter since, like before, I want to let the readers interpret it as they like.
Regarding the sequel, it's not just a sequel but also a prequel since the story happens before and during HttE. So expect many characters that showed up here to also appear there. It already has a title, which you'll find out right at the very end of the chapter. As for the story, it will be told mainly in Optimus's POV. I wanted it to be more of a character-driven story, so I think it won't be as long as HttE.
Which brings me to my next point. I'll be taking a 4 or 5-month break from writing fanfics to focus on my own original stories, and also my work as an editor and other personal matters. I've been neglecting a lot of stuff lately because I've been focused on this fic, though it's really worth it, so I have a lot of backlogs to finish. And during the break, I'll be outlining the two sequels, and maybe write a third of the first one, so that it will be quite easy for me to post regular updates. One reason why the later chapters of HttE took too long to write is because I revised many ideas from what I had originally planned, but I want to change that for the rest of the trilogy.
With that said, I will also rewrite HttE. Not extensively, but I will be rewriting the prose and maybe expand some scenes because I feel like the writing quality is inconsistent, especially if we compare the first few chapters to the last ones. I also need to make sure the timeline makes sense considering that this story is, as I've said before, the start of a massive crossover fic. And some of the references here might not be logical if the timeline doesn't align with the other stories I've planned. So I'll be rewriting this, and if you decide to go reread the fic sometime around October or November and find the chapters missing, most likely it's because I'm re-uploading the chapters.
Finally, thank you all so much for the support! Honor to the End may not be the best fanfic in the fandom—there are certainly a lot better stories out there—but I'm still glad that I get to write it and that there are some who enjoy my writing.
A bit of a shameless plug. If you guys really do enjoy my writing, you can check out my original novel, The Reaper of Iremia, which is available on Amazon Kindle as an ebook. It's also available in the Philippines as a paperback, but I'm not sure if the publishing company ships overseas. In any case, it is a fantasy adventure with lots of magic and some thriller elements. Faeries, wolf-like humanoids, and magic swords. You can also reach me on my Facebook author page, Kenneth Villa - Author, where you can find out the latest news about my writing journey.
Once again, thank you for sticking through until the final chapter of Honor to the End. There's one last scene I've kept in reserve, which you can read directly after this author's note. And it pretty much explains what to expect for the sequels. But for now, this is the end.
Until next time!
He was defeated, humiliated. Again. And Optimus Prime was not even the one to do it. No, it was a mere insect wielding artifacts that were his race's by right.
A human.
"You two said this power would give me victory!" He turned to the beings behind him, who had followed him to this barren, red planet. The nerve of them! "You said I would be unstoppable!"
"We also said how it is up to you how to use that power," Cyclonus commented dryly. "Clearly, you need more… practice."
Megatron snarled, raising the Requiem Blaster and aiming it at his spark. Scourge stepped between them. "Do not lecture me, Knight. I could end you where you stand."
"Enough," Scourge said. "We are not here to fight you, Megatron. Our deal is still not over."
With a growl, Megatron lowered his cannon. He knew it was a mistake agreeing to these two fools, no matter what the High Priestess had said about their usefulness. They were not; they fled every time the Autobots were winning. He should have killed them right after receiving the power of Dark Energon.
"We promised you power. Victory," Scourge continued. "In return, you promised us Gaea. And yet Gaea still lives."
"She wouldn't have if you had remained to fight!" A tendril of purple lightning burst from his right hand, striking the red ground behind him. "But no. You turned your back on me. And so the deal is off. I will never work with you anymore."
The two Knights exchanged looks. "That would not be wise," Scourge said softly.
Megatron laughed. Now the fools dare to threaten him? Him, the most powerful warrior in their race. HIM, who could blast them back to the Well of AllSparks with his newfound powers. "You do not tell me what to do, Scourge. No one tells me what to do."
Scourge tilted his head, and Cyclonus grew quiet. How unusual. "Of course. We won't tell you what to do, Megatron." He suddenly smiled and knelt to one knee, as did Cyclonus. A gesture of reverence fit for a ruler.
"Oh? You think doing that will quell my fury?" Megatron asked, sneering.
"Oh, but we are not kneeling for you, Megatron." Scourge bowed his head. "Master, as promised, the vessel has been prepared."
"What—" And then Megatron felt it; a sheer presence, enveloping him like a hand. His body froze, and a chill entered his spark. Fear, the likes of which he had never known, not even in the presence of the Fallen, gripped him like a vice.
A voice boomed in his head. Do not think my Heralds will cower to your incompetence, nor will they bow. They bow to no one but ME.
Who are you? Megatron demanded inside his head, even as he was rapidly losing functions of his systems. Worse, the Dark Energon flowing inside him burned like lava. How dare you enter my mind!
How dare you speak to me, slave! I will tell you my name, so that you remember it in your death. And the voice shattered whatever resistance Megatron had left. And then he knew who the voice belonged to, even as his entire body shifted into a form fit for him. Fit for a god. For he was no longer Megatron. He was—
He roared to the sky, and the air exploded in a storm of purple lightning.
"I AM UNICRON!"
To be continued in Who We Are