AN: "Darkness Rising, part 5"... I had no idea I could write this much in so little time. I had one hell of a time with this project and if you liked it please leave a REVIEW so I can know this story has a future. I wanted to go through all the episodes but I need to know people actually like my ideas.
The next day everyone gathered after a good recharge to hear what the Autobot leader's plans were on how they would stop the threatening invasion of the Decepticon army. They'd certainly be going against a numerous army of devout Vehicons backed by none other than Megatron himself, not to mention the presence of both Soundwave and Starscream.
Ratchet, working from the specs Mayhem had brought, managed to locate the exact place where the construction should reside, but it did not inspire him with confidence. The medbot gathered up his courage turned to the team Prime leader to deliver the not-so-good news. "Optimus, I've pinpointed the location of Megatron's spacebridge… high in Earth's orbit."
"And out of our reach." Noted the Prime
"But not ours." Offered Silverbot.
It was true, every single one of the Makers had the capability of flight, save for Doomsday and Radical, but they alone wouldn't be enough to deter both the invading Terrorcon army and living one from conquering Earth. Optimus alone had eons of invaluable experience and the rest of the Autobots had fought though the war for Cybertron. The Makers were only the supporting cavalry while the Autobots were the real deal to fight against the Decepticon threat.
"While your thought is correct I will not allow you to venture into space alone. This is far too grave for you to handle on your own."
"Well, then, let's just groundbridge there." Mayhem stated, what to her, was the obvious. They could bridge just to anywhere on Earth, why not extend a little more and go to the outer atmospheric layers?
The medbot turned to the heavy-duty seeker and did his best not to blow a gasket. Did she not know what groundbridge meant? "The groundbridge has limited range. Stretched all the way into orbit its vortex could snap and scatter us to the stars." He even spread out his arms for emphasis on how badly the maneuver could go. "But I suppose for seekers it would not be that big of a deal."
"I could help." Doomsday raised her servo. "Give me enough time and parts and I could try to extend the range to make the trip safer."
"We do not have the time you ask for. Since Megatron is likely already in transit I'm afraid we must take the risk." Optimus turned to the offlined bridge and began heading forward. "Reaching the spacebridge first is our only means of stopping him. Autobots and Makers, prepare for departure."
With his leader's orders in place Ratchet reluctantly input the necessary set of coordinates and pulled the lever to take the team to other side of Earth's atmosphere. He watched the green vortex come to life and wished he could do something else to help his comrades besides remaining at the base and hoping for the best to happen.
"Doomsday, you stay behind with Radical and Ratchet." Solarflare put a hand on the Forger's shoulder and looked her in the optics. "Your lack of alt-mode could endanger you but if there is any hardware problem with the bridge you may be our only hope in the event things go sour."
"Please come back." Said Doomsday as she clung to her friend's frame in a spur-of-the-moment hug. "And keep an optic on Mayhem." She whispered.
"We'll all come back." Solarflare returned the Forger's gesture. "And you don't have to tell me." Reluctantly the Makers parted and waved their goodbyes. They hoped for the best but in their experiences wishing did not always equal guaranteeing a favorable outcome.
"Be safe everyone!" Radical smiled confidently at both Makers and Autobots. He wanted badly to go with them but with useless wings and a small frame it was obvious how he was not suited for that type of mission.
Mayhem bumped her shoulder with Bulkhead's in a friendly manner to get his attention and grinned when he looked at her. "This time I won't have to throw myself at you."
"And you should never do it again." The wrecker warned but he knew she was joking. Maybe the seeker really was growing onto him despite his past experiences with flyer types. He certainly would pick her any day of the week instead of any treacherous Decepticon, that was for sure.
"Optimus, if leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans I will never forgive you." Ratchet warned the Prime but they both knew the warning came from a place of worry. It could very well be the last time they ever saw each other. After all they'd went through together he still couldn't accept a scenario where they'd have to say their final goodbyes.
"Until we meet again, old friend." Optimus didn't even turn to acknowledge the medbot's words, not wanting to let him see the worry that was also reflected in his optics. He would do his best to return once more but he was also willing to sacrifice his all for the good of mankind and his team.
"Autobots roll out!" "Makers take off!" Both leaders gave their orders and all eight Cybertronians transformed to their alt-modes, accelerating into the groundbridge right behind the mech and femme.
During their short stay inside the swirling green vortex all the bots noticed how it seemed to almost shake with the strain it was under to hold up but none said anything, choosing to focus on the exit. All of them were going at top speed so the seekers were the first to enter the boundless space frontier, just short of the Decepticon's spacebridge, shortly followed by the grounders.
"Everyone, transform and gravitize." Ordered the Prime.
They all returned to bipedal mode and adhered to the spacebridge though electromagnetic field in the soles of their pedes to the massive structure floating not far from Earth. Everyone landed safely, save by the poor wrecker who looked very uncomfortable from the view.
"Don't look down. Or up. Or left." Bulkhead repeated to himself while deciding which direction to focus on. When he noticed everyone looking behind him the green bot did the same only to face a fast approaching Nemesis that stopped shy of the spacebridge. Scrap. He definitely didn't like the view on that side either.
"You stormed that?!" Silverbot exclaimed to Mayhem but got response. For once she was speechless at the prospect of a fight.
"So, Megatron's packing enough dark energon to raise Cybertron's dead?" Asked Arcee. She didn't doubt the warlord would do something so out there, so crazy that it could have only have been born from a warped mind but still…
"And since we don't possess ready means of disabling the spacebridge," The Autobot leader onlined his weapons, prompting the other seven bots to do the same. "nothing gets in or out." He commanded.
The bots waited for the oncoming attack but nothing happened. Silence reined without a single shot fired from the large vessel. They shifted on their pedes with anticipation and yet the battle would not start no matter what. What were the Decepticons up to?
"Well? What are they waiting for?" Arcee asked the Autobot leader what everyone was thinking, gesturing with her blasters at the Nemesis. They possibly couldn't have missed the whole team arriving, so why hadn't they activated the bridge?
Optimus zoomed in on the ship, searching for any evidence on why their enemies refused to activate their construction, and noticed a missing satellite dish where a pile of cables laid disconnected. "It appears the Decepticons have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigation system."
"The handiwork of our impulsive seeker, I assume?" Airachnid looked at Mayhem with a smirk. That little unauthorized trip had actually helped them in the long run. The heavy-duty femme really was lucky in all of her blunderings and half-assed plans. Almost like a blessing disguised as a curse.
"Nope!" The heavy-duty seeker smiled and nodded to Bulkhead. "His."
"Great job, Bulkhead." Praised Optimus. "Without the dish Megatron will be unable to aim the spacebridge at Cybertron."
Back at the base the three bots that were left behind huddled around the console listening in to the conversation. Ratchet defiantly occupied all the space in front of the controls while Doomsday and Radical watched from the sidelines.
"You'd think they'd know where their own planet is." Radical found it weird a mere satellite dish gone missing had been the best way to delay the Decepticons.
Ratchet scoffed. "They do. But since Cybertron is many lightyears away to reach their target their aim must be astronomically precise."
"If Megatron went through the trouble of rendezvousing with his spacebridge he must have an alternate targeting system. A remote one." Optimus' voice came though the speakers.
"Hmph. From what I know of Earth's technology I doubt there exists a single radio-telescope dish on this planet powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron."
"What about a whole bunch of length radio-telescope dishes?" Radical had connected himself to one of the smaller computers and showed images of the facility on the screen. "Like the Giant Sized array in Texas?"
"Zip it! This is not child's play!" The medbot towered over the sparkling and made a motion for him to shut up. How could someone so young even know better than him?!
Doomsday forcefully pulled Ratchet back and grabbed him by his armor to look him in the optics with annoyance. "So you trust Radical to watch over the bridge but not to point out flaws in your thinking? Some jerk you are!" She was close to snarling and the medbot had to remind himself that beneath the 'fun and weird' modded look was a dangerous femme.
"Good thinking, Rad." The Autobot leader praised the younger bot's thinking. "Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the array's staff to the security hazard."
The Forger let go of Ratchet and straightened herself. "Good luck with that. The poor human left here with more than a mild case of dehydration. It's gonna take a while for him to even say anything coherent, let alone go back to defending his country or yelling out orders."
Radical had ignored his Carrier's actions, more annoyed than concerned, and tried hacking into the system but with no results. "Weird. I can't get past the array's firewalls. Usually I can get into any human defense systems."
"You? You actually think you could keep the Decepticons out?" Ratchet had his doubts but was unwilling to let them be known so… strongly that time around. Making an enemy out of a Forget over a sparkling was not something he fancied doing at the moment. Or ever.
"Sure! But I'd have to get in first."
"What if you went all the way in? Like, inside the building in?" Doomsday offered.
"Easy, I could log onto their internal network on the other side of the firewall."
"The risk is too great, the Decepticons will be there. Perhaps even on site." The Prime had already endangered the lives of many adult Cybertronians but the life of a sparkling was not something he was willing to risk so simply.
"You're conveniently forgetting a certain someone." The Forger huffed. She'd been underestimated enough in her past life on Cybertron to have grown tired of it during the first handful of times it had happened. "Do not equate having an alt-mode to knowing how to fight because I will wipe the floor with your aft when you come back just to prove my point."
The other side went quiet for a few moments before Optimus responded. "Very well. If you think you can keep your sparkling safe-"
"I know I can." She would always value his life over hers, without doubt or questions to it.
"Then go forward, Doomsday."
Inside the Nemesis the Decepticon warlord waited with barely contained glee at the thought of raising his new Terrorcon army and invading the pathetic planet known as Earth. He would enslave those who were not killed, or perhaps just go all the way and eliminate all organic life for easier resource gathering. Ah, so many entertaining options, he mused.
Megatron chuckled darkly at the sight of other Makers accompanying his long-time rival. "Optimus never disappoints." Then he turned to his SIC with a scowl. "Unlike you Starscream."
The seeker took an involuntary step back at the poisonous way his name was spoken but quickly regained his composure. "No need for concern, master. Soundwave is locking onto Cybertron's coordinates per my instructions." He looked leaned to the side to observe them Prime displayed on the monitor alongside four new Cybertronians, seekers on top of all things. Where on the literal Earth had Optimus found winged allies? "Surely Lord Megatron, the Autobots are up to something."
Megatron got up close to the cowering seeker, using his taller stature to inflict the uneasy and fear he enjoyed receiving from his SIC. "Really, Starscream?" He received a forced smile that sickened his dark energon-infested spark and turned to is console, banging his servo onto the speaker button to alert his troops. "Crush them! Leave the white and green seeker to me!"
Starscream said nothing, unwilling to further irritate his already enraged superior, but silently wondered why his leader had singled out the one bot. Anyway, that though didn't last long however, quickly being replaced by the resentment of having been pushed and kicked around for so long. Oh, how he wished the old ex-gladiator would just simply vanish…
Bulkhead looked at the several Vehicons that had left the Nemesis and were flying straight towards them. The Decepticons were finally attacking and he was itching for a good fight. "Here comes the welcoming committee."
The eight Cybertronians steeled themselves and when the shots started raining down on them the retribution was even greater, with every one of them fighting not only for their survival but for that of their comrades as well. Shots exchanged with many drones getting taken down by the large team when they attempted to land but even more prevailed, getting up close and personal with the Autobots and Makers.
Optimus and Bumblebee took the more classical approach to the fight, using their blasters at long range or crushing their enemies' helms on the floor with their bare servos. Still they prioritized taking down all the airborne drones, leaving the ones who'd already landed away from them to the rest of the team.
Bulkhead and Mayhem exchanged their blasters for more destructive weapons and smashed their way through any drone unlucky enough to attempt to take them down, although the femme did it with a little too much glee than needed. She'd never been in a real fight, the closest would be the training she'd received back at the Maker district, at her insistence, and she'd be damned if they lost to that Unicron worshipping bootleg…
Arcee and Solarflare traded their weapons as well but for their blades and rapiers respectively. Due to their smaller size and agility it was no trouble moving with lightning speed across the battlefield, even with lower gravity, and stab their way through the Decepticons ranks with ease. The two-wheeler had the most experience in the fighting field but the seeker hadn't let herself forget the training she'd gotten from Lariat. She was determined to make her teacher proud, even if unsure if the older femme was alive after so long.
Airachnid was the wild card, the unexpected. Her unusual frame and spider alt-mode allowed her to constantly keep moving and the extra appendages were as deadly as they were swift. Those who were not stabbed got shot by her blasters or even webbed then ended with one of the two previous options or, if they managed to get too close, with their visors melted off by her acidic touch. The accident had left her with lasting scars but she wouldn't let her past traumas hinder her from protecting those who took her in and gave her a new lease on life. She'd tear through the entire Decepticon army before she let anything happen to her friends.
Silverbot, unlike all the others, did not use weapons. He had blasters like everyone else but, compared to his more personal method, they were inefficient. All he had to do was take a swipe with his claws to deal incapacitating or even deadly blows and, if the Vehicons still managed to get up, he could easily crush their helms in his servos with just a squeeze. His frame, just like his Sire's, was made to last so no blaster caused even so much caused a dent and there was only one thing missing to complete the look, something that he's always been reluctant to use. Victory's sword.
Doomsday and Radical slowly exited the bridge, as if a portal on the outside of a government base wouldn't attract any attention, and headed towards the entrance of the facility. The base could have went unnoticed if not for the giant satellite dishes that went on for quite a few miles. If there was a way to locate Cybertron the Giant Size Array was definitely the number one contender for the challenge.
The Forger used her clawed finger to poke out the lock on the door and pushed it open, making a motion to her son to enter. "Mind the wings." She said with amusement. If it wasn't for the pressing danger their little break-in could have made for an interesting field trip.
"Thanks, mom. Flare would have a fit if I even scratched the paintjob." Radical gave a smile and went in as silently as an alien robot could. He didn't wave back as he disappeared into a corner, he knew he'd see her again in a couple of minutes.
The small bot walked around the hallways, silently cursing his loud footsteps in such a quiet environment, and opened every door on his way to try and locate a decent computer through which to access the satellites' controls. There seemed to be no type of security around and although it made his job easier, made him wonder where all the humans were. After a few more doors he managed to locate a computer still running in a darkened room and, without bothering to turn on the lights to avoid any extra attention, connected himself and sat on the floor (the chair would only break under his weight, no matter how comfortable it looked).
"Hey, mom, everything calm in your end? I found a computer and I'm logging onto the server."
Doomsday had decided to sit on the ground with her back to the wall when no one had come to do a security check or whatever they did on that base. "Sure is. You'd have figured security would be tight in a place like this." Not a single armed guard or even a regular guard seemed to be around those parts. Was the base not that important to the humans?
"I'm in…" Radical cheered through the comm link but then realized something else was happening. He wasn't the only one in the system. "And so are the Decepticons. The specs Mayhem brought are right here."
"But you can stop them, right?"
"In theory. But first let me store them, I can transfer them to an external storage unit later." He put away the spacebridge diagrams in a spare part of his processor for temporary files. It wasn't advisable to do that but he had no human USB devices on him at the moment. "They're trying to sync onto the dishes, but I can sync to them."
"Won't they know someone is interfering with their plan?" Doomsday worried. If the Cons came for her son she'd never forgive herself for allowing something bad to happen to him.
"Well, yeah, but even if the Decepticons see that I'm in the system they won't know where I am. Now, let's dance, boys."
Radical tapped away on his keypad with a smile at being able to participate in what was supposed to be a final, grand battle against the Decepticon army. He'd wanted to be helpful and finally his small size had come to an advantage. However, both he and his Carrier were so focused on looking out for humans that they failed to realize their enemies could have had the same though on doing the job in person. Like the silent and deadly spymaster on the other side of the wall using one of his tentacles to directly access the server.
In orbit the spacebridge moved alongside the satellite dishes on the base, almost throwing off-balance the confused bots. The Decepticons' plans seemed to be already in progress after all.
"What just happened?" Airachnid had to steady herself after almost losing her footing alongside the rest of the team. Looking at her pedes she saw the Vehicon she'd just knocked down was still alive and attempting to get up, so it was only a matter of using one of her spidery limbs to go right through his processor. Much better.
Optimus looked at the blue planet, worried about both sparkling and Carrier he'd sent on a mission to the human satellite base. "The Decepticons are locking onto Cybertron."
"What are those two doing, then?" The spider-femme stabbed another Vehicon coming straight at her. Those were some annoying bugs that couldn't just stay down
While the fighting bots' sparks raced with dread at the thought of the portal to Cybertron opening on the Nemesis the emotion was an entirely different one.
Excitement at the prospect of finally dominating over the Autobots and claiming Cybertron for the Decepticon cause reined throughout the spark of Megatron. He would finally achieve what he was deserving of ever since he'd began the movement back on Cybertron to abolish the caste system. They'd refused to make him Prime so he would take that title by force and show all those condescending Autobots who was indeed the superior fighter.
Starscream worked the console panel with his leader breathing down his neck cables with every key stroke. They were close to having the definite upper hand and yet he still felt every involuntary twitch beneath the gaze of the bigger mech. "Lord Megatron, the spacebridge is ready for activation!"
"Finally." The Decepticon warlord had grown tired of waiting. While watching the Autobots struggle against his troops proved to be entertaining he still had goals to accomplish. Once they'd won he would take his time and savor the victory he deserved.
When SIC tried to engage their bridge nothing happened. His optics widened and he pushed the button again and again in panic. Why wasn't their bridge working?!
"Starscream, what is happening?"
The panicked seeker stammered in fear before contacting their silent soldier. He would not suffer for the failing of another! "Soundwave, what is happening?!"!"
Back on Earth the Decepticon surveillance officer heard the grating screeching of the SIC and felt the urge to physically silence the seeker for good, like many times in the past, but suppressed the unneeded emotions as always.
With quick internal motions, Soundwave searched though the base's security footage and found a sparkling, of all things, interfering with their operations. Curious. He hadn't seen a youngling since the war had begun, the death tolls hitting the ones who couldn't defend themselves the hardest, and much less a seekerlet out of all things. Somewhere deep in his spark, where some remainder of his stronger emotions still resided, he felt the urge to protect one of the last remainders of innocence, of oblivion to all that was darks that happened back in Cybertron. He'd promised himself not to only take a vow of silence until Decepticon rule was achieved and the remnants of the cast system abolished, but also to try and protect the young and defenseless and teach them of the bright future Megatron had promised. A future where the oppressed miners like themselves would reign above those who'd oppressed them.
While Soundwave pondered what to do with the intruder on the Decepticon's plans, outside Doomsday watched the satellite dishes return to their initial position.
The femme cheered at her son's brilliant qualities as an expert in all manner of software. "Great job, Rad! But, what happens when the Cons realize someone's messing with the system?" She certainly did not want to endanger him further. One thing was her recklessly putting herself in harm way but with her son was another totally different matter.
"Don't worry, it's only virtual combat. Like an online game. They're all the way up there while I'm here with you for backup." Radical reassured his Carrier while he kept typing away.
Unfortunately, he was so focused on his cyber counterattack that he didn't notice the surveillance camera in the room had moved a while back or the metal tentacle push the door open silently until it gently gabbed him, lifting him up in the air and away from the computer, forcefully disconnecting his wrist cable from the machine.
"Gah! What the-?! Let go of me!"
The slithering appendage did not show any signs of wanting to let go of sparkling, but the small bot had a trick up his metaphorical sleeve. He pulled a small patch from his subspace and stuck it onto the offending purple tentacle, numbing the claw at the tip and getting it to let him go and quickly retreat back to where it had come from.
But where had the sudden attack via tentacle had come from?
"Rad, what happened?!" Doomsday, having heard her son scream through the comm link, was on her pedes faster than a lighting bolt and ready to tear the whole base down. She would not let him get hurt under her watch!
"Something just-" The mech gathered his wits but, when he looked at the screen, noticed the satellite dishes were locked onto Cybertron once more.
As quickly as he'd reacted to the attack, Radical reconnected himself to the network and typed away at his keypad with a sense of urgency, but that time they did not budge, no matter what he did. Looking back he found the tentacle was likely gone for good and made the connection.
"Uh-oh. This isn't good. You're not going to like what I have to tell you…"
Outside, the Forger heard an engine and looked overhead to see a sleek jet take off into the atmosphere. It certainly wasn't one of them, so there was only one option left. A really bad one.
"Frag that! I just saw a Con take off, are you alright?" If her sweetspark said no she would plow right through the concrete walls like they were made out of paper.
"Yeah…" Radical had abandoned the room he'd used to access the network and went down the hallway and through a big set of doors, hoping to find the origin of the surprise attack, only to find the control unit and its hard line cut. "But he cut off the only way we had to move the dishes. They're locked on for good."
There was nothing else anyone could do from down below. Now, it was up to the others to try and find a way to stop the imminent invasion via the spacebridge before they were up to their neck cables in Terrorcons.
Up above, among the stars, the bridge activated with a bright blue glow, startling the Autobot and Maker warriors. It seemed Radical had only managed to hold back Megatron's plans and not to put a stop to them.
The energy pulsing through the gigantic constructions could be felt through their whole frames, but nothing could have prepared them to see a huge cluster of dark energon crystals being launched from the ship, soar above their helms, and go through to the other side of the vortex.
It had already begun and they were too late to stop the fallen warrior from awakening from their slumber.
"No! Optimus, I'm so sorry!" Solarflare lamented as she gazed at the blue vortex above their helms. They'd just dispatched all the Vehicons only to have their small victory tarnished by a bigger failure. "I thought they could do it, Radical was good but not enough to stop this madness."
"Arise my legions!" Megatron shouted from his place on top of the Nemesis and, even though the opposing bots could not hear him, a chill rang though their very essences.
Autobots and Makers gathered up to look into the portal, waiting for the inevitable to happen. It was far too easy to picture the purple crystals crash onto their once vibrant planet, now a mere shell of what it once had been, and taint the remains of fallen warriors with Unicron's blood, causing them to once more fight in the war that had extinguished their sparks for the first time.
"Optimus!" Ratchet, having been rejoined by Doomsday and Radical, reported while looking at a frightening diagram with blinking dots converging onto the spacebridge. "I'm registering a rapidly expanding mass in their spacebridge vortex. One with a peculiar energy signature."
"Dark energon." The Prime concluded. "Ratchet, we must destroy the spacebridge. There's enough live energon coursing through it to achieve detonation, but we lack the firepower to ignite it." With some reservations he revealed the plan B he'd devised in case the dark energon managed it across to Cybertron. Energon was easily combustible and, with the amount they were likely blowing up, they should be able to stop the invasion.
The medbot though for a brief moment, carefully pondering his knowledge, before giving a reply. "If I knew how the spacebridge was engineered I might find a way of accomplishing that feat."
Radical, having heard the exchange, was fast to connect his wrist cable himself to the console and downloading the schematics he'd stolen. It had been dangerous but the reward had made the risk he took worth it.
"Good enough for you?" He smiled.
To Ratchet's surprise the schematics for the Decepticon spacebridge came on screen. Quickly running through them he began devising a plan that, although theoretically could work, would be extremely dangerous and close-cutting. An explosion that size would take out anyone caught in it and he'd seen enough teammates fall throughout the war to allow any more casualties.
Contemplating the situation they had on hand, Ratchet finally made his decision. "Optimus, I must say, the spacebridge is our sole hope of ever returning to Cybertron. Are you certain its destruction is the only option?"
"I am afraid so." Was the Prime's unhesitant response.
"Then, by all means, let us light our darkest hour!"
Doomsday smiled. "Be careful, I can see your mad scientist side showing."
"Everyone, take your positions and follow Ratchet's lead." Optimus ordered to the bots, who complied at once, and turned to the incoming Decepticon leader flying in their direction. "While I make my stand."
Once again the two Cybertronians would clash. Fate was indeed curious, they'd started as friends who fought for the same thing, abolishing the caste system and liberating the ones it oppressed, but, once the tile of Prime came about, a rift had opened between the two mechs and divided them into opposite sides that would clash foe eons to come. Optimus hoped his friend was still somewhere to be found but, deep down, knew that was not the case, Megatronus having long perished to the call of the darkness in his spark.
Megatron landed with a display of force and took in the sigh of the fleeing bots. They did well in knowing they could not face the power of Unicron, but his interest laid in only one of them. Her. "Your fellow Autobots are wise Optimus, they know when to retreat. Although, I must say, I have no idea where you pulled the Makers from, so bravo, but they will not save you from annihilation."
"We hold no illusions about engaging your army, Megatron. But I might derail its objective. By removing its head." The Prime drew his blade to illustrate his resolve. He would not back down until victory was certain.
At the sound of those words the Decepticon leader laughed. "Highly unlikely, Optimus, as I am infused with their very might."
"One shall stand, one shall fall."
Megatron let out a cry at the words of his opponent, drew his blade as well, and launched himself in a brutal relentless attack. Blades clashed against each other and armor as well, both mechs being evenly matched, even after being at war with the other for so long.
The two giants clashed in a combat of forces and will, neither willing to back down at such a crucial moment. Their battle went on for what seemed eons, once more time seeming irrelevant to the two forces of each side, but at one point someone had to gain the upper hand and, unfortunately, the Autobot had been the one to suffer.
With a well-aimed swing Megatron sliced through the Optimus' blade and took advantage of his enemy's surprise to punch him, knocking him into the air, and then grabbing his pede and repeatedly slam him painfully into the metal ground. He was about to deliver the finishing blow, a mercy killing in his opinion, when a pest decided to interrupt his moment.
"Master." Came the SIC's voice through the comm
"Starscream. WHAT IS IT?!" Why was that fool interrupting him when he was about to achieve a long-awaited goal?!
"I do wish to question your all-seeing wisdom but I believe the Autobots and their new arrivals are up to something again. Beneath your bridge this time."
With a slow-blooming grin, the Decepticon Lord gazed at his fallen opponent. "Ah, misdirection, Optimus. You'd have made a fine Decepticon." Megatron once more raised his blade to finally extinguish his enemy's spark but Optimus blocked the blade with what was left of his broken one.
"I chose my side." The Autobot leader struggled against the impact before diverting the blade away and onlining his blaster, shooting the Decepticon at close range and, with the lack of gravity, away and almost into the portal.
A barrage of shots prevented Megatron from regaining his footing and he decided it would be best to turn into his alt-mode and fly to the underside of his bridge. "Starscream, my army approaches. Rendezvous with the spacebridge for the pickup." There were some pests he needed to exterminate.
Back at the base Radical was doing his job as fast as possible, typing away at the keypad and watching the schematics run on the screen. He'd finally located the piece Ratchet instructed him to look for among the plans. This time he would show what he was capable of and help them win this fight!
"Ratchet, we're in position." Arcee commed in, waiting on the instructions
"Arcee, pay close attention. I need you all to locate the flow generator and follow the line to the energon pump. There should be a valve." Instructed the medbot.
The two wheeler followed the line transporting the energon right up to a conglomerate of parts and what looked like what she'd been told to locate. Stranding confidently forward she knelt down to take a closer look. Without a doubt it was indeed the correct part.
"I see it." She pressed a nearby button to eject the top part for her to be able to grip it.
"Good, to turn all that power against itself all you need do is reverse the current."
Arcee grabbed the handles and twisted, putting all her strength into it, and, although taking her all to twist the part, and successfully reversed the flow, prompting a chain of blue parks to spread across the pipeline.
"Got it, current reversed." She backed away from the machinery and knew what would be coming next.
"Woohoo! We did it!" Cheered Doomsday.
"I'll ready the groundbridge." With that Ratchet went to insert the coordinates and hoped the machine would be able to handle the stress at least once more.
The seven bots were close to celebrating their successful mission to put a halt on the Decepticon's plans and were more than ready to leave when an awfully familiar Decepticon jet showed up out of nowhere and opened fire on the bots. They drew their blasters and returned the shots, doing their all to attempt and keep Megatron at bay, when one of their enemy's shots hit Arcee on the chest, causing her to lose her grip onto the spacebridge and begin floating away with her loss of consciousness.
"Arcee!" Silverbot screamed at the femme drifting at the mercy of space's lack of gravity getting further and further away.
The triple-changer ran up and managed to grab the injured femme's arm and held her close to his chest. He looked over to see parts of the bridge collapsing and Megatron heading into the vortex, attempting to salvage his army. Tough luck! Silverbot made a motion for everyone to retreat towards the edge and ran alongside them to where a groundbridge should be opening for them soon.
Solarflare had done her best to keep the distance, but she could still feel the weight of her actions from long ago, feeling herself freeze up and unable to do anything while he fired down on the team. She counted herself lucky the hateful mech had left right away but not before he'd caused some damage. Just like that time so long ago. No! That was not the time to agonize over something done so long ago. Fleeing with the others she attempted to clear her processor of those memories, both cherished and cursed.
Optimus soon joined the fleeing Autobots and Makers making their way to safety, glad to know everyone would be able to flee before the explosion occurred. "Optimus, the groundbridge is ready and waiting." Ratchet came in though the comm.
"Autobots and Makers, jump!" Shouted the Prime as they neared the end of their path.
With a last stretch they all jumped over the edge into the swirling vortex, their bridge closing behind them and leaving the doomed Decepticon leader behind.
Megatron watched as all his work came crashing down, his army just shy from joining his ranks still inside the collapsing spacebridge. He turned around to find… nothing. That backstabbing idiotic seeker had disobeyed his orders!
"Starscream, where is my ship?!" He bellowed into his comm.
Inside the retreating vessel, the SIC, surrounded by warning sirens, was panicking and staring at the controls. When the Autobots were involved, especially Optimus Prime, the plans almost always tended to go the wrong way and he'd preemptively not moved the vessel closer to the spacebridge in fear of such an ending to their machinations.
"We would never make it, lord Megatron. Don't be a fool and take flight and retreat!" The seeker shouted back at his master, unwilling to endanger the whole Nemesis on a maneuver that would certainly doom them all.
Megatron closed his comm and stared at the army of Terrorcons he'd risen come closer to him. "My legion." He whispered.
It was all coming together. His unending work to gather all that dark energon and resurrect an army that would bow without question to his every word could not be domed such easily! He was Megatron, former top gladiator of the darkest Pits of Kaon and he'd risen to power with words alone, amassing a following that would declare war on the Council when he'd ordered them to. This was not how it all was supposed to end!
The spacebridge began exploding around him and he could not stay still while his dreams of conquest were once gain foiled by Optimus Prime.
"NO!" The warlord attempted closer to the portal but, in his spark, he knew he was was doomed.
A massive blue explosion lit up the area, taking the army and Decepticon leader with it, rocking the giant spaceship heading back to Earth with the surviving forces.
On the inside of the retreating vessel, the Decepticon army mourned the loss of their once great leader and, not a moment too soon, they were called to the bridge for an announcement. Without a lord to command them something had to be done. They were still at war with the Autobots and needed someone to take the command of their forces.
"Decepticons, it is with deep sorrow that I note for the log: Megatron's spark has been extinguished." Starscream spoke with sorrow in front of the troops for their offlined leader, but then stood up straight with a dangerous gleam in his optics as he turned around to address a more important issue. "All hail Starscream."
Finally it was his turn to take control of the Decepticon forces and instill a new rule that would surely be remembered for the ages to come. His lifelong dream had come to fruition at last and he'd prevail where his predecessor had failed. The conquest of Earth and elimination of the Autobots.
At the base the three bots looked expectantly at the open groundbridge, sparks about to break out of their casings with how fast they were beating. With every moment that passed and no one came through a little twinge of hope died within them but they refused to cave in so soon to despair.
They'd survived so far, separated from their loved ones by a catastrophic war, scattered to the galaxies far and wide beyond their home planet, and hope would be the last to die!
"Do you think they're…?" Rad had allowed his Carrier to pick him up and hold him with his back to her chest while they waited for their friends to come through. He stared at the green vortex, worried about who'd come back worse for the wear.
Ratchet looked at his wrist display. "Eight life signals… one very faint." He noted. Could it be that Megatron had finally managed to…?
When the situation began to darken footsteps were heard at last and Optimus was the first to come through, easing Ratchet's worries, followed by Bulkhead and Bumblebee. A somber Silverbot came next, carrying the injured Arcee, and finally Solarflare, Mayhem and Airachnid showed up, allowing the portal to close behind them.
The triple-changer stared at the femme in his arms along with the others. He didn't want to believe it could end like that, it just couldn't. No one said a work but when the femme moved in the mech's arms and let out pained groans they all let out a sigh in relief.
Arcee slowly opened her optics and smiled at Silverbot. "Still holding me for that ride, I see."
"You're worse than Mayhem." He pushed back the urge to cry with relief as enough energon had been spilled already. He passed the femme onto Ratchet's arms with reluctancy.
"Hey!" Said seeker let out a protest and poked her glossa out with a grin.
"And Megatron?" Ratchet asked Optimus while he took the injured two-wheeler in his arms with care.
"Not even he could have survived ground zero." Responded the Prime.
At those words Doomsday set Radical down and launched herself into the arms of her longtime friend with a joyous cheer. "Flare, did you hear?! He's finally offlined!"
Airachnid put her arm around the femme's shoulders in a one-armed hug. "How's about that for a welcome to the team gift?"
Solarflare laughed wholeheartedly but soon after began crying as well. She wiped the energon tears and embraced her friends. "Couldn't have asked for a better one." She then looked at the Autobot leader without parting from the hug. "I'm sorry for my tone yesterday. But don't think I'll ever tell you the rest of the story. It's in the past now… everything is."
"All in due time, Solarflare." Optimus hadn't resigned to settling for the information she'd relied but he wouldn't pry. "Without a means of leaving this world we Autobots take strength in the bonds we forged with you all. Makers are warriors both in body and in spirit and I fully acknowledge you as full members of our team, even if remaining a different faction."
The Decepticons would still be after them, all of them that time around, and they would fight back with everything they had. With Megatron gone their ranks would be in a disarray but it was likely Starscream would assume the position left empty without too much protest. Regardless of what happened with their strengths put together Autobots and Makers would come out victorious.
"Alright! Time to break out the high-grade, we need to celebrate!" Mayhem put her arms up and cheered, causing everyone to laugh. "Whoa!" The femme felt herself being grabbed from behind and her pedes leaving the ground.
Silverbot lifted his sister up in his hug and gave her his widest smile. "Yes, we do."