Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews. Another insight into a seemingly uncharacteristic reaction. I had planned to do Ironhide and Sideswipe facing the Dreads as well as several other earlier scenes. I had not planned to post so quickly again but this would not leave me alone. Why would Optimus, the gentle leader, give a harsh order and watch as three wreckers rip a Decepticon apart and not interfere? This chapter is darker as it deals with the terrible battle and killing in the Chicago siege. Hence why the rating jumped up. It will go no higher. And I do not have a beta. Any mistakes are mine. Warning: Mention of character deaths, human deaths, intense battle and some angst. Please review and let me know what you think, Layra aka hummergrey.

OPTIMUS AND "WE WILL KILL THEM ALL"

I roll through the outer edges of Chicago's east side, grieving. The sorrow dampens the edge of my fury but cannot quench it. It is not a berserker rage or hate but more pure. A driving purpose to protect, to save and finish this. A Prime attribute is the control of emotions, able to act when others would react. Mine is hard won after thousands of years of combat. I miss the days of leading the science division, creating instead of destroying. When Megatron rose to power and declared war, I rose to become Prime and accept my destiny. I have regrets that the war has spread to earth but I will not falter. There is no struggle within me as I sense in the others. They are eager for battle, a fiery way to ease the grief, the Wreckers especially.

The betrayal of Sentinel cuts deep but not to failure. I told them who to trust and his betrayal of me is not the worse. He betrayed the very idea he proclaimed to fight for. Gods? Gods are only as powerful as their acts. Our fabled Unicron, the planet destroyer, devastating all in his path was once worshiped as the dark god. Primus, the first Prime defeated him, exiling him to the bitterness of space. Every Prime after him has sworn an oath to protect and encourage life, acknowledging our mortality as we name a successor Prime. Sentinel is no longer a Prime, following the dark path of destruction.

I slow, rolling around an upended burning vehicle, thermal scans confirming it is only a vehicle, no bodies. Unbidden memories of Cybertron rise in my processor. The destruction of Praxis, once the city state known for its arts and science. But there is a difference. One I can see without the terrible confirmation of data as a charred human skull crunches beneath my trailer wheels. This city had no warning. No protection. They were never given a deadline before the attack, no clan council proclaiming their defiance as the army waited outside.

::Prime, there are youngling remains:: Ratchet comms me, his crankiness gone, replaced by a weariness. The loss of Ironhide is still too fresh. Friends since the start of the war, they have relied on each other in battle for eons. Normally he would be third back, following Ironhide as he rolled behind me. Now Ratchet is next to last, the space immediately behind my trailer empty.

::They have broke the most ancient of our agreements. Non combatants are not to be targeted:: I agree.

::Aye, the penalty is instant offlining following proof of their crimes:: Leadfoot joins the signal, his red and white armored form following close behind Ratchet's. His extensive weapon arrays can cover them both if necessary.

::Proof? It's everywhere you look!:: Roadbuster argues. His tenacity is his strength and though his words are few they hold a powerful truth.

::I say shoot everything that moves and let Primus sort it out:: Topspin argues.

::Our way is not their way. Cross fire kills as does friendly fire. We brought this war to the humans. I will not willingly add to their loss:: I remind them.

::You are right. We follow the one for whom the Matrix shines:: Leadfoot states, quoting the oldest of Wrecker oaths.

The reverence in his tone giving me hope. It is very well I will lose my life this day. I cannot defeat Sentinel and Megatron together, I know that. But I will try with the last drop of energon in me to succeed. Sam needs protection that I may not be there to provide. Bumblebee, though valiant and a brave fighter lacks the mercilessness of a killer. The wreckers hold nothing back in protecting a Prime.

That is the reason I ordered them to stay at the NASA base. Not for fear of what they might do among the human population or blowing our barely concealed attempts to hide but for my sake. As bodyguards to the Primes, they remained loyal when the rest of the army followed Megatron in his defection. They fought the fierce battles, willing sacrificing their sparks to save mine. On earth, Ironhide fulfilled their function as bodyguard and protector with understanding. He knew when to protect and when to back off. The wreckers would have outnumbered me, spending more time arguing about keeping me safe than allowing me to do what is needed.

::The Matrix has shined for Sam. If I should fall in battle, I charge you to fulfill your duty to the boy:: I inform them gravely. Their sudden swerving motions as they roll tell me they understand.

My visual battle display winks to life, identifying the swooping motions of a gun ship. It has sighted prey on the ground. I increase speed, pushing, ramming a bus to the side. These are the worst of the Decepticons. Any bot wanting to escape or follow different orders had. They were the ones that transformed, disappearing among earth made vehicles and into human cities. These? They control the gun ships seeing who they are shooting. Fleeing humans. Enough have died today. Time to even the score.

My engine stutters for a brief second as I detect a faint Allspark power flare. Sam! He is ahead with others of his kind and in the path of the gunship. I cannot hear them, even from this distance but I see Sam's body posture, one of uncertainty. He is alone so I can only surmise his mate Carly is still trapped within the city.

Epps speaks and I can imagine his counsel. A trained soldier, he knows the fight cannot be won with the weapons they carry. Then the ship plummets. Seconds until it is in my targeting range and I cannot warn Sam in time.

"Whoa! Incoming!" A soldier yells as the first blast strikes.

I watch helpless as a shatter wave wipes out a row of fleeing humans as though they never existed.

::Wreckers, with me. Disable the ship but do not destroy. Do not let the pilot escape, jam all frequencies. Rest of you, find cover:: I order.

The sounds of my transformation are hidden in the sounds of the hover engines. My largest gun transforms into place on my arm, the shells dropping into the chamber from subspace. I watch as the ship turret swings down and around, the wings glaring as it hovers over Sam and Epps lying on the ground. For once their small size is a protection. I fire, hitting the back wing as the Wreckers join me, the weapons of their alt modes deadly.

I stride closer, dropping the shell casing. Normally I would store it back into subspace but not today. If I live to tomorrow it will be a minor chore to collect it at a later date. If not, it will not matter.

::The pilot is alive:: Leadfoot warns as sparks fly and the Decepticon struggles in the narrow cockpit.

::He fired at the human Prime! His spark is forfeit:: Topspin's message is overlaid with his near lust for battle. I have heard it many times over the vorns and each time I pray to never hear it again.

::On Prime's command:: Roadbuster sends.

"We will kill them all," I affirm verbally. There can be no hesitation. Ironhide and Sideswipe offered the Dreads a chance to escape and they pulled hidden weapons. Sentinel shot Ironhide in the back with a weapon forbidden since the earliest days of the war. I should have realized, should have known when Sentinel woke and attacked me. His primary protocols labeled me an enemy and I ignored it, pretending the energon deprivation to be the cause. His refusal to take the matrix, knowing it would recognize the evil he had become. There are no more excuses, no more chances to let the enemy escape to return and do further harm. We know who we fight and they will grant us no measure, no reprieve.

"Wreckers, kill it!"

"This is going to hurt!"

"A lot!"

I can only stand there and watch as the wreckers attack the downed pilot. They are fulfilling their most basic purpose, to protect. I ordered their actions, knowing this could happen. But I never expected it so quickly. I will not turn away or interfere. I owe the humans killed seconds ago that much. It is justice, but feels more like vengeance.

"Your leaders will now understand Decepticons will never leave your planet alone. And we needed them to believe we had gone. In the name of freedom we take the battle to them," I state. I can see the horror in Sam's eyes as the parts fly but then his expression changes. He understands and has the same resolve. To end this. And something more. He is truly glad to see me. Not as a war leader or a rescuer but his friend.

Bumblebee races closer, his path blocked by debris. Ever the spirited youngling, he transforms, rolling to dump inertia to slow and crouch in his bipedal mode before the boy. He hesitates, letting Sam react first. I listen as Sam protests, having seen our 'deaths' and the wreckers explanations. Later I will comfort Sam, telling him I understood we were monitored at the launching pad but not now. We are in a city besieged and we must learn what the Decepticons plan. I may never understand the why of their actions, only be the one to stop the destruction.