A/N: My many thanks to all that reviewed. And as a personal disclaimer, I have been putting in the 's to distinguish between the scenes, but for some reason ff.net keeps taking them out. I've tried many different ways of changing this, but hopefully it will work this time. Keep your fingers crossed. This may get ugly.
A/N: before I go I wanted to say to Constructicon's, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll mention it to the real writers when I go to BotCon this summer. Two more weeks to go! And one last side note, when I play ice hockey they call me Bonecrusher'.
The Warrior is the Child
By this insane little elf who just graduated college that we all know as Elfy
Chapter 2
Dinobot caught up with Megatron and he silently watched him destroy the mountain peak, with Rampage's help. It was in this moment that Dinobot realized his folly and regretted his previous actions. Megatron's power was now limitless, so long as he had the golden disk, but that too could be mitigated.
Dinobot turned and activated his com to notify Optimus Primal of the dire circumstances they now faced. Optimus replied promptly, "Optimus here."
Dinobot opened his mouth to speak, but Tarantulus blasted him from behind before he could make a verbal conformation with his leader. "Shouldn't take your eyes off a spider. They tend to be venomous," Tarantulus sneered mockingly before he laughed maniacally.
"But they still SQUASH!" Dinobot's optics flared to life and he blasted a large boulder free from above Tarantulus. The enormous rock fell and landed on the spider squishing him instantly. Dinobot struggled to his feet and replied to Optimus' frantic calls. Tarantulus' legs twitched spastically behind Dinobot and from under the boulder.
/ page break/ because ff.net won't let me have the 's
Megatron stood overlooking the valley with Death Striker to his left and E.O. on his right. "Destroy this valley and everything in it! The human race will never have existed!"
The three evil leaders smiled diabolically as the Predicon ranks destroyed the valley, as they were commanded.
"I love the smell of burning forests in the afternoon," Death Striker sneered.
"Ah, yes, and the death of these insignificant annoying organisms brings a sense of warmth to one's spark," commented Megatron.
"I love it when you talk destruction, Megatron."
"Not now dear. You can praise my many talents later."
"As you wish, Megatron."
E.O. glared at the pair and carnage below in silence. Death Striker was still throwing daggers at her with her optics, but it did not matter much to E.O. She had already devised a plan with Megatron to destroy the female Predicon. It was fortunate for the two of them that she was also oblivious of the plan. Megatron had known about all her exploits on Cybertron, but this last one was too much for him to bear. He had given her one last chance to repent for her actions, which she had refused, and now it was up to him to terminate her, even if she was the mother of their three obnoxious spawn.
"Megatron, can I have a word with you in private?" E.O. inquired, having enough of the sickening display of false devotion.
"Of course dear sister. Excuse us dear."
/ page break /
Fall back and wait for back up.
"Negative. My honor has been challenged. The future is not fixed. My choices are my own. And yet, how ironic, for I now find I have no choice at all. I am a warrior let the battle be joined." With his heroic speech finished Dinobot deactivated his com and turned to the burning valley below. The early anthropoids were running for their lives, frightened by the flames and noises produced by the Predacon weapons. Dinobot knew that he had to stop this monstrosity before Megatron destroyed time itself. After all, the quintisons had tried and almost succeeded.
"Daddy?"
Dinobot spun around to find Razor Claw teetering on the edge of the valley. "Razor Claw, don't move."
"Don't go, you will die."
Dinobot moved his oldest daughter to safety as he spoke encouraging words. "I am a warrior, it is my duty to die in battle, honorably."
"Please don't leave me." Razor Claw hugged his legs. "Megatron is the true threat."
"He is." Dinobot nodded his head. "I now must avenge myself. You may come to realize this in time that all a warrior has is his honor. I have lost mine by dishonoring the Maximals, in so doing I dishonored you and your brother and sister. May this battle end Megatron's tyranny and bring honor to my name once more. If I die, then I die as any true warrior with honor. For now I have found a cause worth fighting and dying for." Dinobot looked up from his daughter and down to the inferno below. Deep inside him he knew that Megatron's rule was about to come to an end, and that he was the only one to save every earth creature and Cybertronian now and forever. He left Razor Claw sobbing at the valley crest as he jumped into the fray below.
/ page break /
"Megatron!" Death Striker called with alarm. "We have a problem."
"What is it now?" Megatron grumbled.
"Come and see for yourself."
Megatron approached the edge and peered into the valley below. Dinobot had just finished slicing Inferno down the middle and used his sparking body as a shield when Blackarachinia shot at him. He then used Inferno's gun to shoot Blackarachnia before blasting Inferno's head off. He jumped from the ledge he had battled the first two Predacon's and used his shield as a helicopter to float down to the next terrace, all the while using Inferno's gun to blast Rampage. Waspinator, with the help of one of Death Strikers troops, blasted both Dinobot's weapon and shield from his hands. Dinobot fell the remaining way to the floor of the forest and managed to squash Waspinator. Dinobot destroyed Death Striker's troop as Rampage turned his cannon barrel upon Dinobot. Seeing that he was in mortal danger, and not caring what the crab did, Dinobot shoved Waspinotor's useless carcass into the end of the barrel, seconds before the insane transformer opened fire. The back blast sidelined Rampage for the rest of the battle and caused one hell of a headache for Waspinator.
Megatron smiled to himself at the sight he beheld. "One lonely turncoat, battling on against impossible odds I'm almost touched." Megatron wiped away a mock tear from his cheek. "Fortunately such moments pass quickly. Quickstrike, scrap him." Death Striker nodded to her second in command and he and Quickstrike jumped into the fray calling out a battle cry as they went. Megatron ignored the added fighter, but instead mused further. "And just to tilt the odds even further coming ladies." Megatron turned from his visual to prepare himself for the final confrontation. Death Striker sauntered after him leaving E.O. to watch Dinobot fight a loosing battle despite the damage he had acquired. Hang on Dinobot. Don't die just yet. I haven't said my goodbye yet.
"E.O!" Megatron bellowed. "What is keeping you?"
"Just enjoying the view, Megatron."
"Admire the scenery later, we have work to do."
"Yes, Megatron, we do." E.O. let a slight smile part her lips. Dinobot is mine Megatron, not yours.
E.O and the others did not notice Razor Claw climbing down the vertical wall on the opposite side of the valley. Her tiny frame moved nimbly and silently down the deep ravine. She slipped once, but was able to keep her hold onto the rocky ledge. She was determined to save her father from himself.
/ page break /
Lanceldrone, Death Strikers second in command, inflicted major damage to Dinobot's primary structure when he had rammed him with his mace and cudgel. Dinobot was fortunate that the Predacon misstepped on a branch and he was able to disarm and dismember him. But he still had to deal with Quickstrike. Dinobot faced off against Quickstrike on the valley floor, after recycling' Lanceldrone.
"What's a warrior without weapons?" Quickstrike taunted.
"A warrior still." Dinobot stood and bashed the fuzor into the ground using his fists as a deadly weapon.
"Daddy!"
Dinobot's optics flared half with anger and half with surprise. "How did you get here?!" Dinobot demanded of his daughter.
"Let me help," Razor Claw begged, holding up her tiny sword. The forest fires flames reflected their dance, giving off the impression that the sword was alive with fire.
"Go home, you are too young for battle."
"I can help. We can defeat Megatron together. Let me help."
"Bah! You cannot see. How can you fight?"
"Daddy, please."
"Listen Megatron."
"Hmm my ears are burning yes why, Dinobot! What a delightful surprise. Let's see, where are we now? Uh I have the golden disk, I have the power to change the future and the only remaining obstacle in my path to unimaginable glory is yourself. Exhausted, damaged beyond recovery Defeated!"
"Not just yet!"
"Ah, ah, ah, one more step and it's raining bits of early anthropoid, yes." Megatron revealed his ace in the whole, thus forcing Dinobot to lower his head and bow to him. Dinobot could not endanger the life of an innocent in his battle for revenge, the Maximal's had taught him that.
"Oh how positively Maximal of you. You were weakened before you started Dinobot. Weakened by compassion." Megatron activated his gun and prepared to kill his ape like prisoner.
"Daddy!"
"What?!" Megatron growled. "What is she doing here?" Megatron turned to E.O. for an answer.
"Razor Claw, get out of there!"
"Mamma? Where are you?"
"Razor Claw come to me. Follow my voice."
"Destroy them, Megatron!" Death Striker ordered, her voice trembling on the verge of hysterics.
"Patience my dear, patience."
Razor Claw stepped towards E.O. and straight into the line of fire.
"Now Megatron, destroy him!"
"He's mine!" E.O. barked. "Only I will take pleasure in destroying Dinobot."
Razor Claw's steps faltered at her mother's words. "No, mamma."
"Razor Claw, come to me."
"No."
"Do not disobey me!" E.O.'s anger began to rise. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. Her plan was beginning to backfire and she couldn't let that happen, especially when Razor Claw was in danger.
Dinobot placed his hand on Razor Claw's shoulder, drawing her protectively away from the line of fire and back behind him. "Here I am Megatron, come and get me."
Megatron laughed. "Oh come, Dinobot, do you think I'm that foolish. Even I'm not compelled to harm the child. Ironic that you defend the product of a prison rape."
"The child is innocent, as are the humans, let them go."
"In exchange for what?"
"Let her go, Dinobot!" E.O. demanded.
"E.O, stay out of this!"
"You stay out of this, Megatron, this no longer concerns you. I want my daughter back. Give her to me!" E.O marched forward, clawing at the air. Megatron moved quickly and grabbed his sister by her arm, pulling her back. "Let me go!"
"Stay out of this, E.O. before you get hurt."
"Let me go!" E.O struggled with all her might to free herself from Megatron's iron grip.
"Mamma!" Razor Claw ran out from behind Dinobot.
"No!" Dinobot pushed her to the side and challenged Megatron one last time. "Face me, Megatron!"
Megatron reactivated his gun while he continued to struggle with E.O. and pointed it at the anthropoid prisoner. Dinobot dove forward, grabbed a stick with his hands and rolled forward, landing in a fighting stance in front of Megatron. He removed Megatron's hands from E.O. before beating him relentlessly with the stick. Megatron was thrown off balance momentarily but he recovered quickly and he slugged Dinobot, sending him to the ground face first at his feet.
Megatron laughed as he brushed himself off. "Oh really, Dinobot, a stick. Against a transmetal. Huh, I think not."
Dinobot's internal computer spoke, "Final warning, power failing, jeopardy extreme, repeat extreme."
"Do it, Megatron, finish him!" Death Striker urged earnestly.
"Get up you useless scrap heap!" E.O. growled at Dinobot. "Get up!"
Megatron looked at his sister, confused. What was he hearing? Had she, or was she routing for the enemy? Didn't she want Dinobot to die? What treachery was this? Dinobot struggled to his elbows, fighting to remain conscious.
Megatron had plenty of time to question E.O. once Dinobot was taken care of, so he turned and mocked his former friend and ally. "Oh please, face it Dinobot, your old technology. Obsolete. Huh, what can you possibly do?" Megatron powered his cannon, yet again, and pointed it at Dinobot, ready to fire.
Dinobot looked at his daughter as he realized how to defeat Megatron. "Improvise!" Dinobot, stick in hand, slammed the piece of wood against a rock, thus creating a powerful weapon and the first stone tool. Dinobot rushed Megatron again, attacking with his makeshift cudgel.
All Megatron could do was back away and exclaim incoherently.
"Go Daddy!" Razor Claw cheered.
Dinobot knocked the golden disk free before Megatron fell over backwards. (Silly Meggy, your suppose to stay on your feet not your back.) Death Striker stepped forward grabbed Dinobot's head and kneed him square in the face. Dinobot fell backwards as Razor Claw lifted the golden disk onto its side.
"Give me that!" Death Striker threatened Razor Claw.
"Leave her alone," E.O. growled.
"Get out of my way, E.O."
"You will not harm my daughter."
"Destroy it!" Dinobot commanded Razor Claw. "Do it NOW!"
"NO!" Death Striker reached for the disk as Razor Claw powered up her optical lasers. As the power enveloped her optical sensors her optics shimmered in a teal glow. "Stop!" Death Striker shrieked. Razor Claw blew the golden disk into shards and sent everyone, including herself, flying from the sight of impact.
"Why you little troublesome sprite. This is the last time you will interfere with my plans. Prepare to meet the matrix!"
Razor Claw looked up at the fuming femme from where she lay on the ground. Megatron was still out of it, and E.O. was a few yards away in a pile of forest debris. Knowing that there was no one to stop Death Striker, Razor Claw's fear grew to unimaginable levels, keeping her pinned to the spot. Death Striker liked what she saw, fear and immobilization. She pulled out her awesome battle bow and powered it up. "Die Razor FLAW!"
Dinobot reached out, grabbed Razor Claw and used his body to shield her from the impending blast. Death Striker saw his sudden movements and smiled sinisterly. The startling revelation was better then what she had hopped for, she would kill two birds, raptors actually, with one blow. (Did you know that raptor means bird of prey?) Death Striker released her weapon at the pair.
"NO!"
E.O's and Death Striker's cries echoed one another as E.O. prevented the onslaught to reach its intended target. E.O. fell at Death Striker's feet, void of motion.
"Death Striker! What have you done?" Megatron raged pulling himself onto his knees.
"She got in my way," Death Striker said nonchalantly.
"E.O E.O, get up. E.O?" Megatron rolled his fallen sister over. Her optics were wide and void of luminescence. She ceased to breathe and her spark had been destroyed as Death Strikers volley ripped through her chest plate. "E.O, no! Look at what you've done!" Megatron accused Death Striker.
"She got what was coming to her. Now for them," Death Striker leveled her weapon at Dinobot and Razor Claw once more. She pulled back the trigger lock on her cross bow and prepared to fire again.
"No you fool!" Megatron smacked the weapon away. Her arrow flew off into the clouds and came down hitting Waspinator, blowing his leg off and into hundreds of tiny pieces.
"How dare you!"
"You killed my sister."
"As I said before, she deserved to die."
"You have no right to judge another, especially not her."
"I do as I please."
"You will answer for this, Death Striker. E.O's death will not go unpunished." Megatron looked down at the body he held in his arms. "E.O."
"I'm beginning to think that she was more then just your sister," Death Striker glared.
Megatron looked up at her with contempt. How dare you think that we were more! She was my sister and a powerful asset to my cause. She never once had forsaken me, unlike you.
Razor Claw's voice woke Megatron from his thoughts. "Daddy? Mamma?"
"Be still," Dinobot growled.
"Mamma?"
"What about her?" Death Striker pointed at Razor Claw.
"You will not harm my niece," Megatron proclaimed, standing up holding E.O.
"She must die."
"Not today."
"But it's Optimus."
Megatron looked up to sky and saw the Maximal leader flying toward his position. "So close. I was soo clllloooooossssssseeeeeee!" Megatron dropped E.O's empty shell and flew away bellowing with rage, leaving Dinobot dying on the forest floor.
To be continued in Chapter 3