Disclaimer:Transformers belongs to Hasbro, Takara, etc . The only thing in this that belongs to me is Arcee's sister.
"Optimus, have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?" Ratchet asked Optimus through the comlink.
"Unicron is power incarnate, and you the last of the Primes, shall perish," each of the representatives of Unicron said together.
"I take that as a yes," Ratchet remarked, "We are on our way."
Ratchet, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee and Chromette immediately began to run to the portal.
"Negative. Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants me, Ratchet," Optimus told him as he activated his blasters and battle mask, "This fight must be mine alone."
Unicron's representatives began to crumble into piles of rock as shots fired from Optimus hit them and shattered them completely. Some fell easily and only required one shot on Optimus' behalf to take them out. Others, however, didn't fall as easily and required more than one shot.
A representative came up from behind him, Optimus felt him and threw the representative away, another representative appeared in front of him and he shot him before jumping onto a small cliff, retracted one of his blasters and deployed his sword to stab a representative on the cliff and threw him away, before jumping to another cliff to shoot more representatives.
he jumped high over a cliff with a Unicron representative standing upon it and shot at a weak point of said cliff. With only a few shots, the cliff fell along with the Unicron representatives standing on top of it. Optimus landed on a rock nearby and began shooting at approaching representatives. He then got tackled by one of them from the side, causing him to fall onto another cliff trapping him at a wall.
As Optimus was about to shoot the representative that tackled him, the representative began to beat him a few times before getting shot by the Prime. Optimus shot another approaching representative and stood up and shoot representative jumping down from above, he replaced one of his blasters with his sword and sliced it in half and shooting it with his blaster. A representative then attacked him from behind and another one gave him an uppercut, knocking him backwards and stabbed one of the Unicron representatives approaching him and swung it off the cliff. More representatives jumped from in front of him and behind him from above, he began to shoot at the ones in front of him. He was then clobbered from behind and was taken hostage, they began to pull at him to rip him apart, he widened his optics with fear.
As another Unicron representative approached him, a Ground Bridge portal opened, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee and Chromette came through shooting at the representative. Arcee transformed before jumping towards the representatives and kicked one of them away, Bumblebee used his blaster on one of the Unicron representatives that held Optimus captive and Arcee got the other one holding their leader captive, Bulkhead then did the same with his wrecking ball mace, Chromette saw one above and shot it alongside with Bulkhead as the representative approached them, Optimus then stood up and kicked one approaching him and began shooting at more before deactivating his blaster and threw one approaching him from behind and ran away as another representative jumped to where he was standing and Bumblebee, Arcee and Chromette began shooting the representative, Bumblebee kicked itt in the face, two more appeared in front of them, knocking Arcee on her stomach while Bumblebee jumped backwards as Chromette began shooting at them, while Optimus grabbed one of the Unicron representatives and threw him away, before turning to the one behind him, deployed him sword and stabbed the representative with his sword before retracting it.
"Did Ratchet not relay my command?" Optimus asked them, "Return to base."
"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, Disciple of Primus," all of the Unicron representatives said together.
"Optimus, you're unicron's target," Arcee said, "Maybe you should consider returning to base."
"She's right, Optimus, you really should return to base, while we fight then for you," Chromette said.
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth. Even our base's shielding would only cloak my position for so long," Optimus explained to the twins, "I will not put others at risk."
"Then fall back and let us take the lead," Bulkhead suggested, "Just this once."
"Please! Listen to reason!" Ratchet pleaded on his comlink from the base, "If you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet."
"Very well," Optimus decided and the autobots went in front of him.
"Let's move," Arcee said taking the lead, she jumped up to a cliff above and began shooting the representative standing there, Chromette followed her, Bumblebee then followed suit, Optimus and Bulkhead then jumped up to the same cliff, they began firing at the representatives as they ran across the cliff, Arcee jumped onto a cliff above her, Bumblebee grabbed the edge of the cliff before jumping away, the edge of the cliff then formed into another manifestation of Unicron and Optimus drove through it in his alternate mode before transforming back to his robot form and ran across another cliff with Bulkhead.
Arcee, Chromette and Bumblebee were firing their blasters at representatives of Unicron that surround them on another cliff, as they destroyed them, Optimus and Bulkhead jumped onto the cliff and the fie autobots transformed, evading and driving through the manifestations of the chaos bringer and soon a large rock face collapsed and formed into a giant manifestation of Unicron, bigger than the rest.
The Autobots used their brakes before transforming into their robot forms, Bumblebee then buzzed, asking if this giant manifestation was unicron.
"No, not Unicron himself, but another of his manifestations," Optimus answered.
"If we can't beat Unicron and we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Bulkhead asked.
"All we can do," Optimus answered, "Neutralise his vessels as they appear, until we find a way to destroy him, without destroying the very Earth upon which we walk." He activated his blasters and began to shoot at him as he ran towards him.
Meanwhile, Bulkhead and Bumblebee transformed into their vehicular modes and raced ahead. Unicron saw his enemies attacking him on the ground and began to step forward. Bumblebee and Bulkhead transformed behind him and began shooting at his legs. However, this Unicron is larger and stronger than the others were. This one wasn't about to die that easy. The Unicron turned around when he felt the sensations similar to a bee sting on his legs. When they felt Unicron's eyes on them, Bulkhead and Bumblebee immediately began to retreat from their attack. Unicron ran his bladed hand along the ground, heading towards the two. No matter how hard they tried, Bumblebee and Bulkhead couldn't outrun him. They felt sharp pain on their backs as Unicron knocked them off of the ground. After flying for several feet, they landed roughly on the ground. Unable to fight.
Arcee and Chromette both began to shoot at him, on his arm, running around him. Feeling that Unicron was about to attack them, Arcee and Chromette both transformed into their alternate modes and tried desperately to race away from an impending attack. However, they both couldn't escape. Unicron slapped them at once and they were sent flying. The twins grunted in pain as they landed roughly on the ground and transformed. Eventually, she skidded to a stop. near each other.
Optimus continued running towards Unicron, shooting at him, his firepower was stronger than before.
"Sword," Unicron said as he sent rocks pelting towards Optimus by just hitting the ground below. Optimus danced around, trying to avoid the raining rocks ready to crush him. The first two, he successfully avoided. The third rock, however, hit him head on. When they heard the crash, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee and Chromette raised their heads. They gasped when they saw their fearless leader trapped underneath rocks. They couldn't believe their eyes.
Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Chromette got up and began to shoot at the Chaos Bringer's feet as the giant manifestation of Unicron approached Optimus as the prime moved some rocks out of the way, unblocking his vision and he saw the foot of Unicron's representative looming above him.
"I am this world's past and its future," Unicron's manifestation said as the representative lift his foot up, "And as of this moment..."
"No!" Arcee cried as she watched from where she and her sister were.
"...All Primes are simply past," Unicron finished but before he was able to stomp the prime with his manifestation's foot, his representative was getting shot at from behind before crumbling down, destroying the manifestation as it fell on its back before disintegrating.
Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Chromette deactivated their blasters as Arcee approached them and walked in front of them, Bumblebee buzzed to Bulkhead, Arcee and Chromette figuring that one of them fired those shots that defeated the manifestation of Unicron.
"Wasn't me," Arcee denied.
"Nor me," Chromette said.
"Me neither," Bulkhead echoed.
"Ratchet," Arcee said, touching her comlink.
"What is it? What happened?" Ratchet asked on the comlik.
"I happened."
Uh-oh, they all thought. They recognized that booming voice anywhere. And no. This time, it's not Unicron. He's actually down for the count this time. This time it was Megatron.
They saw him standing on top of the fallen Unicron. Megatron jumped down off of the fallen Unicron and landed before the four autobots Immediately, they stood ready to fight.
"Megatron?!" Bulkhead exclaimed in surprise and disbelief.
"King 'Con's there too?" Miko gasped.
"He has aligned himself with Unicron," Ratchet sneered.
"Don't be so sure. Megatron just saved Optimus' tailpipe," Arcee said on the comlink, surprising Everyone at the base.
Megatron approached Optimus as the Prime struggled to free himself from the rocks. Megatron charged his fusion cannon as he aimed it at him, immediately Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee and Chromette aimed their blasters at Megatron, when suddenly the Decepticon leader rotated his arm, offering his hand.
Optimus stared at him in confusion...and relief. He thinks he's finally learned the error of his ways and has decided to end the conflict for good. Grateful for the offer, Optimus took Megatron's hand and allowed his enemy to pull him to his feet.
"It is rather ironic, considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark," Megatron recalled.
"That option remains very much in play," Optimus said, dangerously.
"I would expect nothing less. However, I have a proposal. Join me in defeating our shared enemy: Unicron, the Chaos Bringer," Megatron proposed, surprising everyone.
"Ha! Absurd! Unicron is evil incarnate. If Megatron was to take any side why would it be our?" Ratchet demanded in disbelief over the comlink.
"Because, Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet," Optimus explained to Ratchet.
"You know me all too well, Optimus," Megatron smirked.
"You lead an army of 'Cons. Why come to us," Bulkhead asked him.
"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command, the power of a Prime," Megatron explained, gesturing towards Optimus.
"Then I guess we don't need you," Bulkhead scoffed.
"On the contrary, Optimus may be the only one who can defeat unicron, but I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's lifeblood runs through me. Only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements," Megatron retorted, "Optimus, our past alliances: Autobot, Decepticon, no longer matter, not while Unicron lives."
"The past always matters!" Ratchet exclaimed in rage after pounding his fists on the computer.
"A truce between Autobot and Decepticon. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?" Optimus asked.
"Only as long as it's mutually beneficial," Megatron answered.
"And when our proposed shared mission is complete?" Optimus asked, even though he had a feeling that he knew what the answer was.
"I will conquer this Earth...my way," Megatron answered easily.
"Brutal honesty from a Decepticon?" Arcee asked.
"Agreed, sis, if we do agree it could go sour," Chromette said.
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil!" Ratchet continued to argue.
"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken," Megatron warned, "With each passing moment, the bringer of chaos evolves, mutating Earth from the inside out. What we have witnessed until now is but a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will wreak upon your world."
"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron?" Arcee snapped.
"Make no mistake! This time, there will be a planet left for me to rule!" Megatron retorted.
"Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down at the center of the Earth. How are we supposed to get there? Drive?" Bulkhead asked.
"There is only one way," Optimus said, knowing it will piss off Ratchet.
"Absolutely not! Ground Bridging into space or onto moving trains is difficult enough. but plotting a blind jump inside of a sentient being?!" Ratchet snapped, "Besides, direct exposure to that much Dark Energon will debilitate you. You haven't built up an immunity like Megatron has."
"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance," Megatron smirked.
"You can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?" Optimus asked Megatron.
"If you transport us to this planet's core, I can lead you directly into Unicron's spark. The very heart of his darkness," Megatron promised.
"Optimus, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron," Arcee asked.
"Yeah, how are we supposed to defeat him, we don't possess the technology the thirteen had when they fought him," Chromette asked.
"With the Matrix of leadership," he answered the questions Arcee and Chromette asked him.
"What is that?" Fowler asked.
"A vessel of pure energy, the collective wisdom of the primes," Ratchet answered.
"Do we have time for a scavenger hunt?" Jack asked, "I mean, where's Optimus supposed to find this Matrix?"
"Optimus does not need to find it. He carries it within him," Ratchet said, tapping on his chassis where his spark chamber was.
"It was the combined power of the Primes that defeated Unicron so long ago, the very reason he now seeks to destroy you," Megatron told Optimus.
"It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's Spark would return him to Stasis," Optimus said.
"Hold on," Miko said gripping the railing on the catwalk, before making air quotes with her fingers, "'If everything goes right,' Unicron's gonna stay down there?"
"Yeah," Jack said, "Can't we siphon him out somehow?"
"He's not in the Earth's core, Jack. He is the Earth's core," Raf explained on Optimus' behalf.
"Rafael is correct. Tampering with your core could affect the magnetic poles, trigger cataclysmic events we are attempting to remedy. Tragedy, Unicron is your planet's very seed. Always has been and always must be," Ratchet agreed sadly.
Rocks near the Autobots and Megatron began to slide across the ground past them as Unicron began to reform himself. Everyone was beginning to become frustrated. How many more do they have to fight?
"We got another one," Bulkhead said as the rocks that were reforming Unicron began to stand up, while the rocks were still sliding back towards him.
"Ratchet, set a Ground Bridge," Optimus requested and a Ground Bridge Portal appeared in front of the Autobots.
"Wait," Arcee cried, "We're opening up a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?"
"Yeah, Arcee's got a point there," Chromette said, "How do we not know that he'll follow us through the portal?"
"And seriously, he's gonna risk his own spark to save us?" Bulkhead added, causing Megatron to laugh.
"Hardly my nature," Megatron said before looking at the manifestation which has almost fully reformed for a second, "Consider my offer. I shall keep it busy." He transformed into his Cybertronian jet mode and began to shoot at the manifestation, evading Unicron's attacks. Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Arcee and Chromette raced through the portal into their base first. Optimus stopped for a minute. He was considering his offer. And after watching Megatron fight Unicron made his decision easier to make.
But first, he had to talk to the others back at the base.
"No word yet from Lord Megatron?" Airachnid asked disbelief, as the Nemesis was in Earth's orbit "It appears our leader has abandoned us while this world erupts in chaos. I believe we must consider the possibility of a future without Megatron."
Soundwave was not shocked that she said that as she was like Starscream both are power hungry, she was more less trustworthy than Starscream as she would kill her own men or leave her own commanding officers behind just to get what she wants, plus she want to lead the Decepticons and he knew that Megatron would come back despite what the Arachnicon just told him.
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measures. But bringing Megatron here?" Ratchet asked Optimus with disbelief.
"How can you even think about letting that monster near these children after what he did to Raf?" June demanded.
"He will be closely monitored and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more," Opimus promised.
"What's gonna stop the 'Con from calling in an air strike if he knows where you live?" Fowler asked.
"By Ground Bridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates," Optimus reassured them.
"Optimus, what's gonna happen to you when all your Matrix energy is released?" Jack asked him.
"The power within the Matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner," Optimus answered honestly.
"But you have an idea don't you?" He asked.
Optimus didn't answer that question as he was unsure of what will happen but had an idea, but didn't want to tell them and looked at the Ground Bridge tunnel, "Autobots, if humankind is to be saved, I have no choice but to proceed," he said turning around to look at members of Team Prime, "but you do."
Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Arcee and Chromette stood there thinking about the offer. Should they stay behind and let Optimus and Megatron go alone? Or will they go on the adventure of a lifetime with their family? Together, they glanced at Fowler, June, Jack, Miko and Raf standing there as if they were a reminder. That helped most of them make up their minds.
"Well, I don't know about humankind, but I'm willing to do it ," Bulkhead said.
"For Jack," Arcee said.
Bumblebee buzzed a reply, saying 'For Raf.'
"I'll go just to save humanity," Chromette said.
Megatron was still shooting at Unicron's manifestations and destroyed one of their legs just as Optimus contacted him over his comlink.
"Megatron, we are sending transport," Optimus said.
"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, optimus," Megatron complimented before flying backwards to one of the Unicron manifestations, Transformed Into his robot form and with an epic power punch, he punched the manifestation in the face which broke apart, his body soon crumbled afterwards. Megatron flew away in his cybertronian Jet form and transformed as he approached the Autobot Ground Bridge portal in front of him and walked through it, the portal closed as soon as he stepped through it.
"No fair! I've never seen him!" Miko protested as Ratchet guided her away with his hand, "Why do we have to hide?"
"Because I said so," Ratchet told her.
Still sulking, Miko walked away and followed Fowler, Jack, Raf and June out of the room into the entrance hallway. As soon as they were out of the room, they heard the Ground Bridge coming to life. Ratchet immediately joined Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee and Chromette at the portal. Waiting for Megatron to come through. Optimus stood in front of them.
Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee and Chromette activated their blaster and aimed it at Megatron as he came through the portal.
As soon as Megatron walked into the base, there was no turning back. For any of them. As of right now, they were allies. Even if it was temporary. Allied to stop Unicron from destroying Earth.
"So, this is where the magic happens. Quaint," Megatron complimented as he looked around.
Even if they were supposed to hide, the five humans couldn't stop themselves from peeking. Jack and Raf have seen Megatron before. June, Miko and Fowler haven't. Raf began to scrawl at Megatron with intense anger. Obviously, he hasn't gotten over what Megatron did to him.
"Raf!" Jack cries.
"Rafael, no!" June called.
"You!" Raf said as he ran up to Megatron.
"Ah! You're looking much better than the last time we met, little one. Humans, resilient," Megatron remarked as he saw Raf as well as the twins putting themselves between the humans and The Decepticon leader.
"Come on, Raf. He isn't worth it," Jack told Raf as his mother walked him away.
"And you," Megatron said to Jack as he walked away. "I never forget a face. Even that of a human." Jack just looked at him before walking away.
"You double cross anyone, mine is the face you'll never forget. Never!" Miko shouted at Megatron before Fowler grabbed her from behind as Megatron just looked at her with an expression that said 'yeah, whatever.'
"Ratchet, obtain the destination from our guest," Optimus requested. As the humans were leaving the room, Optimus approached them.
"Jack," Optimus started before glancing around nervously and kneeling so he could see him better, "Will you keep something for me?"
"Sure," Jack nodded.
With that, Optimus took out one of his most prized possessions. Normal size, it was about Jack's height. As Optimus' hand with the possession moved closer to Jack, the key shrunk considerably until it was small enough for Jack to hold without struggle. Jack took it into his hand and gazed at it with curiosity.
"What is it?" Jack asked.
"It is the key to the Ground Bridge power supply," Optimus lied.
"Okay, but shouldn't Ratchet have this?" Jack asked him.
"Perhaps. But I've been impressed by how much you have matured since we first met. As such I feel you have earned the responsibility of safeguarding this important device until I return," Optimus answered.
"I won't let you down," Jack said, then Optimus got up and walked away towards the active Ground Bridge portal.
"Locked and ready," Ratchet reported.
The Autobots approaches Megatron who was standing next to the portal, "You first," Arcee said.
"As you wish," Megatron said, bowing.
"You better not try anything," Chromette said.
"Why would I do something like that while we try to save this planet?" He asked her as he walked through the portal.
As Megatron entered the portal, the humans as they re-entered the room, Arcee looked at them, most importantly at Jack, the love of her life, even though she hasn't told him yet. She then walked through the portal.
Chromette, Bulkhead and Bumblebee followed Arcee through the portal next. Unlike Arcee before them, they didn't stop to look back. Because they feared that if they turned back, they would never want to leave the base. Knowing there was a chance that they would never see their base, Ratchet or their human friends again. But they couldn't abandon the others. They just couldn't.
Optimus looked back at everything. The base he had grown to call home for several years or possible decades on Earth. Remembering the adventures he had shared with his friends. Ratchet was staying behind to operate the Ground Bridge to bring them back and their human friends, Jack, Raf, Miko, Special Agent William Fowler and June. He looked away and walked through the portal following the rest of the autobots.
The core was a dark place that looked like a cave interior with structures that looked like that they crisscrossed. No light dared to break the heavy shields. Dull, lifeless greys and purples filled the place. Designed like multiple veins and chambers of a heart and the human body. Various paths flashed a bright purple in time with Unicron's spark beat.
Megatron exited the portal first, followed by Optimus, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee and Chromette immediately followed them. Just glancing at the place alone sent shivers up and down their spines. But they couldn't let their fear control their actions. Not when the future of the Earth depends on them. They can freak out later…When they're done saving the Earth, of course.
"So, how long before Unicron knows we're here?" Arcee asked Megatron nervously.
"Make no mistake. He already does," Megatron answered her question with a sneer.
With those words said, the group continued to walk on through the core. Unicron's spark beats thudded around the group. The vibrations travelling up their bodies. Shaking their frames. Nearly bursting their hearing processors. But they ignored the unpleasant sensations they were beginning to feel. They could worry later.
Unbeknownst to them, a giant optic watches them overhead.
To be continued, next is One shall rise part 3, the season 1 finale and the finale episode on Netflix.