Chapter 11: Never Say Die

Malka's Home, 19:00 pm…

Code Red drove up and transformed to find Shockshot stood there, eyeing him solemnly.

"I don't see any Decepticons." Code Red said. "Where are they?"

"They're close." Shockshot assured Code Red. "If you were here, you'd have been able to hear them coming."

Code Red scowled. "Where's Malka and the others?"

"Right here." Came a voice as Malka himself came down from where his den was.

Code Red's optics narrowed in confusion. "I'd have thought you'd have hidden with the rest of your pride." He said.

Malka shook his head. "A king's duty is to protect his people." Malka said. "I may not be much use in combat, but I can call out places where the Decepticons may make a breakthrough."

Code Red nodded understanding. "Are Kion and the Lion Guard safe?" He asked.

Malka nodded. "Tama is with them. I've told her to take them back to Pride Rock if the battle fails to end in our favour. Hopefully, one of you survives to escort them. Uaminifu is hopefully talking to Simba as we speak, telling him to remain here in order to take Kion and the Lion Guard away whilst Tama returns to me."

Code Red folded his arms. "Simba's got Kiara with him." He said. "If this battle goes sideways, she and Kion are my main priority."

"I understand." Malka said.

The two stood in silence before Malka went on to say:

"Thank you. For remaining here to defend my home. There are those who would seek only to preserve themselves and leave us to our fate, but you… you're the type of warrior every warrior should strive to be."

Code Red looked at Malka. "I'm an Autobot, Malka. Protecting life is in the job description." He made to say something else, but froze as a familiar voice bellowed:

"DECEPTICONS! BEGIN OUR ASSAULT!"

Soon after, the sound of roaring car engines filled the air, coming closer with every second.

Adopting a defensive position, Code Red shouted: "HERE THEY COME!"

The moment he shouted that, several Decepticons burst onto the scene, transforming and opening fire on the Autobots.

Immediately returning fire, Code Red downed several Vehicons.

But as if the Vehicons were a Hydra, twice as many took their place, forcing Code Red behind cover with concentrated fire.

Shockshot was not easily bowed, unleashing a woeful barrage on the Vehicons stood before him with a fearsome battle cry. Between his dual X18 Scrapmakers, arm-mounted Riot Cannons and a shoulder mounted missile launcher, numerous Vehicons fell under his onslaught.

As if reacting to this threat, a trio of Vehicons ceased fire and instead charged Shockshot outright, as if intending to beat him to death with their fists.

Shockshot almost smirked at this, and reached behind his back, drawing a fearsome looking axe that he soon put to use, cleaving the first Vehicon in two with one slash. Spinning his axe, Shockshot slammed it down onto the second Vehicon's head, splitting it in two. Ripping his axe free, Shockshot beheaded the third Vehicon, putting away his axe before resuming fire.

Code Red saw this and, feeling a sense of inspiration, leapt out of cover and downed two Vehicons in his vicinity, manifesting his arm blade and beheading the third Vehicon, and stabbing the fourth one through the spark. Drawing his sword and manifesting his shield, Code Red quickly backdropped a fifth Vehicon over his head, pressing forward and beheading the sixth Vehicon, doing similar with a seventh. Repelling several Vehicon attacks with his shield, Code Red smashed an eighth Vehicon aside, decapitating a ninth Vehicon shortly thereafter. Parrying the attack of a tenth, whom had drawn a sword, Code Red slashed off its right leg, and partially cut it in two as it fell. Cutting the head off of a eleventh Vehicon, Code Red caught a glimpse of a twelfth making a move to attack. Reacting quickly, Code Red spun around, introducing the Decepticon drone's face to his shield, knocking the Vehicon over. Moving closer, Code Red drove his sword down, piercing the Vehicon through the spark and pinning them to the floor.

Seeing more Vehicons coming forward, Code Red let go of his sword and manifested his Path Blasters once again, bathing the Vehicons in laser fire. "Focus your fire on the walls!" Code Red shouted above the din. "We can cut their reinforcements off and force them to find a different way in!"

The Autobots moved to obey, and after a few concentrated shots, the walls surrounding the entrance collapsed, crushing a few Vehicons and cutting off any more from entering Malka's courtyard.

The Vehicons currently in the courtyard were swiftly dealt with, and for the first time in a few minutes, the courtyard was quiet.

Bombast took this moment to remark: "Well that was easy."

"Do not be so confident, boy." Shockshot grunted. "That was merely the first wave. There will certainly be more."

"Firstly, don't call me 'boy' like I'm some inexperienced rookie." Bombast said. "Secondly, I said it was easy, because that was how easy it was to beat those guys once we cut off their backup."

"Bombast's right." Frontline said. "If we keep this up, we can definitely win this."

"Still, Shockshot's warning bears some logic to it." Overclock said. "I calculate a more than ninety percent chance the Decepticons will look to resume their assault, albeit from a different avenue."

"Well, did you calculate our possibility of winning this thing?" Doubletake asked. "Because if you haven't, cut the yammering and do it already."

"Thankfully for you, I already did. There is a forty percent chance we will succeed in defending this position." Overclock replied.

"Well, whatever the case, I'd like to increase that chance." Code Red said. "Dig in and get ready for a second assault."

"Um, Code Red;" Malka called out. "You might want to look up."

Code Red looked up and swore under his breath.

Coming down were a squadron of aerial Vehicons, prepared to attack.

"INCOMING!" Code Red shouted as he dived for cover, followed suit by the other Autobots.

The moment they did, the Vehicons opened fire, peppering the ground with plasma blasts. A few missiles struck the ground, but no Autobots.

The first to rise was Shockshot, who rapidly manifested his weapons and returned fire, managing to shoot down three of the five aerial Vehicons that had attacked.

These were soon finished off, and the two surviving aerial Vehicons flew away in retreat.

Code Red rose to his feet, looking to Malka. "Thanks for the heads up, Malka."

Malka nodded, before his eyes narrowed. "Do you hear that?" He asked.

Code Red fell silent as he listened to the area around him. It wasn't long before he heard a dull whirring in the air. One that was growing progressively louder.

Code Red realised what it was immediately, looking to his comrades. "They're drilling holes in the walls around us!"

As if on cue, the walls around them burst open to reveal a pair of sinister looking drill mechanisms, piloted by Vehicons.

"Shoot the drivers!" Code Red shouted as the drilling vehicles completely entered the courtyard, allowing more Vehicons to start pouring in. "And plug those fucking holes!" With this, he opened fire on the Vehicons coming in from both sides, briefly remembering a human film he'd seen where a character had done something similar, albeit whilst shouting intelligibly.

Immediately taking his commander's orders into account, Overclock turned on the drill machine driver closest to him and, manifesting his Quantum Laser Rifle, fired it straight at the Vehicon, slowing them down enough to allow him to manifest his Razer Rocket Launcher and fire on them, blasting their head into smithereens. Seeing that there were several Vehicons moving closer to him, Overclock retracted his rocket launcher and powered up his Urayan Energy Gloves and smashed the first Vehicon he saw square in the jaw, feeling the energy drained from the Vehicon's spark chamber powering his own spark. Kicking that Vehicon back, Overclock once again manifested his rifle and fired at every Vehicon closest to him, making them slower. Again manifesting his rocket launcher, Overclock fired straight at them, sending them and many Vehicons around them straight to the scrapheap. Using the opening this provided him with, Overclock took aim at the hole nearest to him, but before he could do anything, he was tackled to the floor by something big. Kicking himself free, Overclock found himself face-to-face with an Insecticon.

The towering fiend screeched at Overclock and moved to attack, but stopped in its tracks as an axe buried itself in the Insecticon's chest.

Shockshot stepped in, ripping his axe free and beheading the Insecticon. Looking at Overclock, Shockshot said: "Do not just stand there! Fight!"

Shaking himself free of his stupor, Overclock immediately manifested his Quantum Laser Rifle and fired at a line of Vehicons that had just come from the hole he'd been about to shoot. Quickly sprouting his rocket launcher, he rendered these Vehicons into scrap metal as well. As he made to once again fire on the hole he was nearest to, a Decepticon appeared almost out of nowhere directly in front of him: Shadowstreak.

Overclock attempted to level his rocket launcher at Shadowstreak, but the Decepticon assassin was too fast, batting the weapon aside before extending his arm blade and driving it hard into Overclock's spark.

Ripping it free, Shadowstreak watched Overclock sink to his knees, saying: "Crossfire sends his regards." Before shooting him in the face.

With Code Red…

Hearing the blast, Code Red turned to see Shadowstreak standing over Overclock's headless corpse. "Overclock!" He shouted, levelling his Path Blaster at Shadowstreak.

The Decepticon assassin just laughed and vanished in front of Code Red, clearly already plotting his next strike.

Clenching his fists angrily, Code Red shouted: "Fuck!" Turning to the nearest Vehicon, Code Red jammed one of his Path Blasters underneath said Vehicon's chin, shooting it at point blank range and leaving the Vehicon minus a head. Levelling his Path Blaster at a second and third Vehicon, Code Red blasted both through the spark. Switching out his right hand Path Blaster for his arm blade, Code Red sunk it deep into a Vehicon's spark, blasting it away with the Path Blaster he was currently using with his left hand. Turning his Path Blaster onto a cluster of Vehicons that was coming towards him on his left flank, shooting a pair of them before stepping closer and engaging the other five with his arm blade. Slashing one in half and stabbing another through the spark, Code Red ripped his blade free, and in the same motion, beheaded the third. Rolling backwards to gain some separation from the final two, Code Red blasted the fourth through the head with his Path Blaster and bisected the fifth into two separate halves from their shoulder to their hip.

Pausing a moment to collect himself, Code Red turned the moment he heard Malka's voice:

"Code Red! They're drilling through the blockage you made in the main entrance!"

Code Red looked to see that what Malka was saying was true.

Another drill had burst through the formerly blocked main entrance, and more Vehicons were coming through.

Of the Autobots, Bombast was the first to engage, letting out a defiant bellow as he leapt towards the incoming Vehicons, tossing a grenade at the drilling vehicle and hurling a set of mines in front of him. Watching as the first wave of Vehicons through the now reopened main entrance detonated as they passed his mines, Bombast let out a triumphant bellow.

The next Vehicon through the hole was met with a brutal right hook from Bombast, and the second one was kicked away. A third received a vicious combination and was pummelled into scrap. Bombast soon shouted: "You'll do fucking nothing, you bastards!"

As he said this, a loud blast rang out, and Bombast sunk to his knees, staring at the hole in his chest, along with slowly spreading rust.

"I certainly can, though." Shadowstreak said as he materialised again.

With Code Red…

Code Red gritted his teeth before straight up charging Shadowstreak, who stood ready to meet Code Red.

Lashing out with a kick, Code Red found it blocked. Pressing his attack, Code Red swung at Shadowstreak with a hard overhand left, finding his next attack, a right hook to the gut, similarly blocked.

Shadowstreak seized this moment to smash Code Red in the face with a right hook, blocking Code Red's attempt at a knee strike and punishing him for the attempt with a vicious headbutt.

Recovering quickly, Code Red manifested his Path Blaster and charged Shadowstreak, who charged him in return with a raised Payload Laser Rifle.

They both met in the middle, each attempting to shoot the other with their respective weapons, and each failing numerous times.

That was, until Shadowstreak made the mistake of violently shoving Code Red's weapon aside, hoping to shoot the former Wrecker in the back. Code Red was too quick though, and spun around, lashing out with a savage heel kick that temporarily disoriented Shadowstreak so that Code Red could complete his rotation, levelling his blaster at Shadowstreak.

Grabbing the weapon and pushing it aside, Shadowstreak aimed his laser rifle at Code Red, finding that attempt at attack thwarted as Code Red knocked aside Megatron's rifle, aiming his blaster at Megatron once more. Knocking it upwards, Shadowstreak once more aimed his cannon at the former Wrecker.

Code Red quickly did the same, too fast to notice that the barrel of his Path Blaster was directly facing Shadowstreak's laser rifle, and vice versa. Unable to turn back, both fired their weapons.

The resulting explosion was enough to send Code Red and Shadowstreak flying away from each other, with both combatants hitting the floor beneath them with considerable force.

Of the pair, Code Red was the first to his feet, immediately opening fire on the Vehicons still pouring through the newly reopened main entrance.

Seeing this, Shadowstreak made to sneak behind Code Red, engaging his arm blade. But before he could, he was grabbed from behind and hurled away, finding himself faced with Shockshot.

"No harm shall come by your hand any more, Decepticon!" Shockshot bellowed as he raised his axe.

Ducking the swipe, Shadowstreak said: "You don't have a choice!" before he disappeared once again.

Shockshot stood there dumbfounded before finding himself joined by Code Red.

"We're going to need to fall back." Code Red said. "This position's no longer defensible."

"I agree." Shockshot said. "I will cover your retreat."

Nodding, Code Red looked to Frontline and Doubletake. "Frontline! Fall back! Shockshot's covering our retreat!"

"Falling back? Really?" Doubletake inquired.

"Stop moaning, Doubletake!" Frontline said before looking to Malka. "Come on!" He shouted.

Malka nodded sadly before taking one last look at his home. Then, he bounded down the walkway, just as a stray blast from a Vehicon collapsed his den.

Linking up with Frontline, Doubletake and Malka, Code Red said: "Know anywhere we can fortify again?"

Malka nodded. "We can make our stand at the back entrance to this cave network. I heard you posted two other Autobots there."

Code Red nodded. "Wheeljack and Bulkhead. They can bolster us up."

Looking to Shockshot, Code Red shouted: "We're falling back to the back entrance! Meet us there if you can!"

"Acknowledged. Now get moving!" Shockshot shouted.

Code Red nodded before transforming into Police Interceptor Mode. "Get in." He told Malka.

Malka obliged, as Doubletake and Frontline transformed. Together, they raced into the caves, towards their next line of defence.

Several minutes later, the back entrance…

"Red! Frontline! Where's Shockshot and the others?" Bulkhead inquired as Code Red , Doubletake and Frontline emerged.

Pausing to let out Malka, Code Red transformed, as did Frontline and Doubletake. "Bombast and Overclock are dead." Code Red said. "Shockshot's covering our retreat."

"We're falling back?" Wheeljack asked.

"No." Code Red said. "We're making our stand here. If we fail here, then we fall back to Pride Rock." Looking to Malka, Code Red said: "Find Tama and the Lion Guard and get them to Simba. If all else fails, you can all fall back to Pride Rock."

Malka nodded and obliged, running off towards where Code Red figured was where Tama and the Lion Guard were hiding.

Shockshot soon joined them, clearly battered from holding back the Decepticons. "They're coming." He said, drawing his axe.

Drawing his sword, Code Red said: "Then we shall hold them here." Just as the first Vehicon came into view.

Spinning his sword, Code Red stepped forward, beheading them in an instant.

A second came soon after, meeting the same end as the first.

Manifesting his shield, Code Red stepped back and blocked a barrage of blaster fire from the emerging Vehicons, a cover fire as more of them burst out from the darkness of the cave.

Shockshot was quick to join Code Red, ducking a laser shot before beheading a Vehicon with his axe. Manifesting a shield of his own, Shockshot drove the edge of it into a Vehicon's face, knocking them down. Spinning his axe, Shockshot swung it down onto the Vehicon, the result of which sprayed liquid Energon over his body.

Frontline also joined the fun, reaching behind his back for a massive Warhammer that he soon put to use, swinging it hard into a Vehicon's chest cavity, caving it in somewhat and sending the Vehicon flying back. Frontline next swung at another nearby Vehicon, smashing the right half of its head in and rendering it inoperative. Spinning his hammer and raising it overhead, brought it down heavily onto another Vehicon not far in front, completely crushing their head. Seeing that he had sufficient space, Frontline brought out his ranged weapon of choice: A massive minigun. Opening fire, Frontline watched as the majority of the Vehicons filing out of the cave network were reduced to scrap.

Doubletake flitted in and out of the other Autobots' field of vision, coming into view to take out one of the stray Vehicons who had not fallen victim to Frontline's barrage and was not being dealt with before moving on to his next target.

Code Red had to admit: Doubletake was good. By the time he had been seen, the Decepticon he was targeting was already dead, and Doubletake was moving on to the next target.

Seeing a straggler, Code Red stepped in and slashed them in two via the waist, stabbing a second straggler through the spark. Letting both fall to the floor, Code Red sheathed his weapons before manifesting both of his Path Blasters, opening fire on the emerging horde of Decepticons.

Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Shockshot and Doubletake all joined in, firing on the horde of Vehicons trying to emerge from the cave network.

For the first time since the battle began, Code Red began to feel like he was in control. That the tide of the battle had turned in the favour of him and his fellow Autobots. He felt like they could win.

However, before he could voice his feelings, a familiar howl from above drew his attention: Just as an Insecticon smashed into him, sending him sprawling. Two more soon joined it.

With Shockshot and the others…

Scowling, Shockshot broke off and attacked one of the Insecticons, tackling it to the ground from behind in an effort to back Code Red up.

"Looks like it's just us four now, boys!" Wheeljack said as he fired on the Vehicons alongside Bulkhead, Doubletake and Frontline.

As this was happening, Shockshot found himself battling two of the three Insections that were attacking Code Red while Code Red himself engaged one on its own.

Backing away from it, Code Red manifested one of his Path Blasters and opened fire on it, hoping to slow the fiend down.

This did nothing, instead made the Insecticon angrier as it charged Code Red, tackling him into a nearby tree, uprooting it. The Insecticon backed away, seemingly preparing to deal a deathblow to Code Red.

Code Red rolled away before this could be dealt, rushing the Insecticon and performing a step-up roundhouse kick to the fiend's jaw, following up with a running shotgun dropkick that sent the Insecticon sprawling.

This was not for long, though; as the Insecticon soon charged Code Red again.

Seeing the uprooted tree, Code Red remembered back to his first fight with an Insecticon. Grabbing the tree, Code Red swung it hard at the Insecticon, smashing it across the face hard. Watching it stagger away, Code Red seized the opening, drawing his sword and charging the Insecticon, slashing hard at it just as the Insecticon seemed to recover.

It wasn't long before the Insecticon's head was rolling on the floor, joined thereafter by its headless carcass.

Code Red looked now to Shockshot, who was still battling two other Insecticons. Rushing over, Code Red leapt up into the air and stabbed down with his sword, stabbing one of the Insecticons through the back; not to mention the spark. Tearing the blade free, Code Red back-flipped off of the now dead Insecticon, watching as Shockshot now easily dispatched the other Insecticon.

The pair shared a nod of respect before more insectoid shrieking drew their attention:

Looking over at their fellows, they saw that a pair of Insecticons had attacked Bulkhead and Wheeljack, leaving just Doubletake and Frontline holding the Vehicons back.

Code Red and Shockshot moved to assist their comrades, but just as they reached them, a loud sniper shot rang out, and Frontline's now partially headless corpse crashed to the floor.

Code Red barely had time to register this development before Shadowstreak appeared from the shadows, lowering a sniper.

"Decepticons! Their defences are broken. Kill them all!" He shouted.

At this point, the Vehicons, no longer pinned down by a hail of fire from the Autobots, began pouring out of the tunnel in droves, too quickly for anyone to contain them.

Code Red sighed as he realised what had to be done: "Autobots, retreat!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Doubletake shouted.

Code Red ignored Doubletake's complaint, turning to Shockshot and Bulkhead, the latter of whom had defeated his Insecticon. "Shockshot, Bulkhead, draw their fire and keep them off of us." To Wheeljack, Code Red shouted: "Get out of here and find a safe place to bridge back to Autobot HQ. Let Optimus know what's happened."

Wheeljack nodded, transformed, and sped away to Primus-knew-where.

Turning now to Doubletake, Code Red's optics widened to see him having engaged Shadowstreak. "Doubletake! Get out of there!"

"I'm not leaving!" Doubletake shouted. "You get out of here! I'll help Bulkhead and Shockshot hold back the Decepticons!"

Code Red scowled as he debated remaining with his comrades and falling alongside them in battle, as he would have hoped. But then an image of Kiara flashed through his mind, and he sighed.

"Go, Commander. When next we meet, let it be at Pride Rock." Shockshot said before he and Bulkhead began backing away, raining fire on the Vehicons firing on them.

Reluctantly, Code Red nodded. "Wreck 'n' Rule, Shockshot." He said before transforming and speeding away, heading for the border between Malka's home and the Pride Lands.

With Doubletake…

Doubletake grunted as Shadowstreak's forward kick sent him staggering back, composing himself and readying for Shadowstreak's next attack.

Shadowstreak threw a pair of hooks, one right, one left, both of which were dodged by Doubletake.

Seizing the advantage, Doubletake landed a kick to Shadowstreak's midsection, connecting with a front kick to the chest, following up with two super-kicks, one to Shadowstreak's chest, the second to his face, which sent Shadowstreak staggering back. Finally, Doubletake spun around, landing a fierce spinning heel kick to Shadowstreak's jaw, causing Shadowstreak to stagger a little to the side, knocking him into a nearby tree.

Pressing his attack, Doubletake blocked an attempt by Shadowstreak to counter him with a series of open palm strikes to the Decepticon assassin's chest, attempting an overhand left.

Catching this, Shadowstreak locked Doubletake's left arm into the crook of his right, catching Doubletake's attempt at an overhand right hook in a similar manner. Headbutting Doubletake twice, Shadowstreak then blocked an attempt to double him over with a knee. Breaking the lock he had trapped Doubletake's arms in, Shadowstreak lashed out with a fierce straight right hand punch to Doubletake's face, sending the Autobot staggering backwards.

Dodging Doubeltake's overhead left hook, Shadowstreak trapped Doubletake again, only this time, he manifested his arm blade and drove it hard into Doubletake's flank.

Groaning in pain, Doubletake pushed Shadowstreak away and attempted to attack again, but Shadowstreak was too fast, grabbing Doubletake's arm, extending it out and slashing upwards, severing the limb completely.

Leaving no room for error, Shadowstreak retracted his blade, manifested his laser rifle, and shot Doubletake in the chest.

Dropping to his knees, Doubletake looked up at Shadowstreak with a rare loathing. "Y-You will n-never catch Code Red." Doubletake growled defiantly.

"I know." Shadowstreak said. "Which is why I'm not going after him." With that, he raised his laser rifle again, this time firing at Doubletake's head, killing him instantly. Retracting his rifle, Shadowstreak merely transformed and sped back into the cave. He had orders to wait there.

The Border between the Pride Lands and Malka's home, 20:00 pm…

It wasn't long before Kiara heard the sound of a car engine blaring through the air. Perking up, her face lit up the moment she saw the familiar black and white vehicle that served as Code Red's alternate mode speeding across the bridge marking the border. "He's here!" She shouted.

Simba looked up to see Code Red, clearly showing signs of having been in combat, driving up and transforming. The moment his eyes met Code Red's optics, Simba sighed, knowing precisely what had happened. He had lost. Looking to Malka, Simba made to say something, but decided not to. He imagined Malka would not be best pleased with losing his home.

Kiara broke the silence. "Are you alright?" She asked.

Code Red frowned. "I'll live." He said. "But Bombast, Frontline and Overclock are dead."

"What about the rest of the Autobots?" Kion inquired.

Code Red shrugged. "Wheeljack's gone back to Autobot base to tell Optimus what's happened, Shockshot and Bulkhead are drawing the Vehicons away to cover my retreat, and Doubletake is making sure I don't have Shadowstreak on our tail." Looking to Malka and Tama, Code Red sighed. "I'm sorry, Malka. I won't make excuses for losing, since you probably don't want to hear any."

"You don't have to." Malka said. "As I told you, my pride have more than one home in the mountains. While it is true that the home we lost was my ancestral home, those can be reclaimed, and rebuilt. My real home is with my family. Wherever they are is where home is."

Code Red nodded. "Your daughter's probably waiting for you, and it's likely she's worried sick." He said. "You'd best go to your family. And your pride. They need you guys more than ever."

Malka nodded. "I hope we shall meet again, Code Red. This time on the fields of victory." With that, Malka and Tama made their way away from the assembled group and over the bridge.

Looking to Simba, Kiara, Kion and the Lion Guard, Code Red said: "Now all that's left to do is get-" The sound of a cannon firing silenced him, followed by a loud explosion.

"TAMA!" Malka roared, his voice burning with anguish.

Spinning around, Code Red immediately saw the reason why:

Standing on the other side of the narrow bridge, was Crossfire.

Clenching his fists, Code Red looked towards Simba, Kiara, Kion and the Lion Guard, all of whom were watching him with wide eyes. "Wait here." He said, before turning to face Crossfire, who had now brandished a new weapon: An ugly looking double ended scythe, which had a blade on both ends.

Taking a deep breath, Code Red reached behind his back, drawing his sword and holding it in front of him, allowing his battle mask to slide over his mouth and nose as he began moving towards Crossfire.

"You've been busy." Crossfire remarked offhandedly as Code Red approached, gesturing towards Code Red's battle worn chassis.

"I'll have been even busier when I take your fucking head!" Code Red snarled before spinning his sword and slashing at Crossfire's head.

Crossfire raised his scythe to block the blow with ease, pushing Code Red away and slashing at him with the other end of the scythe.

Parrying the attack, Code Red quickly moved to block an attack from the lower end of Crossfire's scythe, almost slashing wildly to parry Crossfire's attempt at an overhead slash. Backing away, Code Red leapt back to avoid a sweeping attack by Crossfire, stepping in to block a blow that would have caught him in the back.

Using his superior strength to force Code Red's sword down, Crossfire used the opening to elbow Code Red hard in the face, knocking the former Wrecker back.

Code Red briefly caught sight of Simba, Kiara, Kion and the Lion Guard watching from the other side of the bridge before spinning around and parrying Crossfire's attempt to cut him in half, their blades instead slicing a nearby tree in half.

Spinning around, Crossfire simultaneously knocked Code Red's sword aside whilst bashing him with the middle of his scythe, knocking Code Red backwards into a nearby tree. Raising his scythe to finish off Code Red, Crossfire paused as he heard a voice shout:

"Decepticon!"

Turning to the owner, Crossfire recognised the lion as the mate of the lioness he had just killed. Deciding one more wouldn't hurt, Crossfire made several steps towards the lion, preparing to deal it a deathblow.

But as his stroke fell, a familiar sword blade rose up to block the attack.

Code Red pushed Crossfire's scythe away, and turned to face his foe.

"Do you like my new weapon?" Crossfire asked, gesturing to his scythe. "I had it made specifically for removing your head. I'll make sure it has a place in my trophy room."

"I'll settle for keeping my head, thanks." Code Red said as he attacked.

With Simba, Kiara, Kion and the Lion Guard…

"Malka!" Simba called out over the din of Code Red and Crossfire's duel. "You need to get out of here!"

Malka's eyes met Simba's for a moment, and in that moment, Simba felt every fiber of pain and anguish Malka was feeling at the loss of Tama. It was a feeling Simba prayed he never would have to experience for himself for a long, long time to come. But Malka nodded, and turned, giving a nod to Simba before running away into the night.

Simba turned now to Kiara, and made to say something, but fell silent as he saw how wide Kiara's eyes were.

She was watching Code Red and Crossfire crossing blades over and over again, keeping track of every move made by both belligerents.

Simba knew why she was watching so fervently, and why there was such obvious fear being projected from her eyes. He remembered the nightmare Kiara had experienced three days before, what seemed like a lifetime ago, now. He knew Kiara was clearly terrified that Code Red would not walk away from this duel to the death alive.

He looked to Kion, who was similarly transfixed, albeit not as fervently as his sister. "Kion?" Simba said.

Kion looked at his father immediately. "What is it, dad?" He asked.

Simba looked at Kiara briefly before looking to Kion again. "If Code Red loses," he whispered, "we need to run immediately. Crossfire won't stop with Code Red."

"Code Red won't lose, dad." Kion whispered in return. "Have some faith."

Simba looked towards Code Red and Crossfire, then to Kiara, then back to Kion, and nodded. "You're right." Simba said. "I shouldn't be worried. This isn't the first time Code Red's fought Crossfire. He's beaten him once. I have a feeling he can do it again."

Kiara listened to this small snippet, but kept her attention solely focused on the duel in front of her: Every slash. Every parry. Every block, every jab and every movement in the duel. She was well aware that any move from either Code Red or Crossfire could end the duel in either 'bot's favour. She had seen it happen before, when Code Red had duelled Crossfire atop Crossfire's flagship.

She watched as Code Red attacked wherever he might consider Crossfire to be vulnerable, only to have Crossfire thwart him at every turn, his new weapon obviously one he took great pleasure in using to his advantage.

Her heart caught in her throat the moment Code Red made an attempt to attack, only for Crossfire to parry it, and knock Code Red's sword straight out of his hand.

With Code Red…

Code Red immediately ducked Crossfire's next attack, narrowly avoiding the second, rolling back and rushing for his sword, reaching for it and grabbing it once again. He did not fail to notice Kiara breath an obvious sigh of relief at that.

Crossfire gave Code Red an annoyed look and attacked immediately, spinning his scythe and slashing at Code Red with a sweeping attack, using the reach of his scythe to obtain distance between himself and Code Red.

Parrying the blow, Code Red rolled forward to meet Crossfire head on once again, stabbing at his foe's lower abdomen, hoping to strike there and slash upwards.

Crossfire was too quick though, and slapped Code Red's sword away, lashing out with a knee strike that would catch Code Red in the jaw and leave him ripe for a coup de grace.

Code Red narrowly rolled to the side, dodging the blow. Rising to his feet, Code Red parried a slash meant to cut him in two and blocked another that would have left a large hole in his head. Pushing the scythe down, Code Red raised his sword to behead Crossfire, but was thwarted as Crossfire smashed in in the face with a left hook. Staggering back, Code Red managed to block another attack, this time meant to behead him, only to realise that was a feint, narrowly blocking the other blow, also meant to behead him.

Crossfire put all of his strength behind that one end, pushing Code Red's sword down to the ground.

Knowing he was on the verge of losing, Code Red turned his head to face Simba, Kiara, Kion and the Lion Guard, and shouted one word: "RUN!"

Immediately, Simba turned and rushed away, followed suit by Kion and the Lion Guard.

Only Kiara remained where she was, eyes wide with absolute terror.

Turning now to Crossfire once again, Code Red pulled his blade out from beneath the lower end of Crossfire's scythe, but before he could do anything, Code Red felt the other end being smashed into his face, knocking him back.

Seizing the opening this granted him, Crossfire spun his scythe and slashed towards Code Red's now exposed neck with a triumphant cry.

Only for Code Red to block it once again, having recovered. Pushing that strike away, Code Red parried an overhead slash, then moved to block a slash at his legs, realising too late that it was a feint.

Crossfire's real strike knocked Code Red's sword out of his hand yet again.

With Kiara…

The sound of Code Red's sword sinking into the ground mere inches from where she was snapped Kiara out of her stupor, startling her and making her jump back in alarm. Realising she no longer had her attention on the duel between Code Red and Crossfire, she turned to them, only to wish that she hadn't.

Crossfire was slashing Code Red across the chest over and over and over again, every time doing it at a different angle.

The sounds of Crossfire's scythe cutting into Code Red was enough to make Kiara look away, fighting back tears. No…

Finally though, she heard something different from the sound of a slash. Something worse: The sound of Code Red grunting in quite obvious pain.

Forcing herself to look, she gasped.

Crossfire had stabbed one of the blades in his scythe through Code Red's back, and was currently lifting him into the air, essentially impaling Code Red.

This can't be happening, this can't be happening… That same phrase repeated itself over and over in Kiara's mind as she shook her head in disbelief while her heart pounded so hard against her ribcage it threatened to smash right through and her blood ran so cold in her veins it felt like she was frozen there.

After what felt like an eternity, Crossfire lowered Code Red, yanking his scythe free and sheathing it. As if he was taunting Code Red, Crossfire said: "I think these lands belong to me, now."

Code Red looked up, and his optics met Kiara's eyes. In those eyes Code Red saw a multitude of emotions; none of them good. Desperation, fear and horror were but three of said emotions. Looking towards Simba, who was farther away, a result of him having heeded Code Red's order to run, Code Red saw a terrified father horrified at what his two children were seeing.

Finally, Code Red sighted Kion, who looked like he was trying to keep things together, but was on the verge of tears himself.

Nala's voice echoed through Code Red's processors with a familiar revelation:

"Kion considers you his hero, Code Red. He may not show it all the time, but he idolises you."

Code Red took this to heart, and allowed the expressions of his friends to harden his spark. Addressing Crossfire, Code Red said: "Not if I can help it." Engaging his arm blade, he forced himself to his feet and stabbed hard at Crossfire with a defiant roar.

Kiara's breath caught in her throat the moment she heard Crossfire grunt, and her face brightened at the thought that maybe, just maybe, Code Red had gotten one last wind to finally stab and kill Crossfire, rendering her nightmare as just a dream and nothing that she needed to worry about in the first place.

Kion's eyes widened, and he debated moving closer, but apprehension kept him in place. He prayed that his eyes were not deceiving him, and that Code Red had actually stabbed Crossfire through the spark.

Simba let himself breathe again as he imagined Code Red ripping his blade free any second now, and finishing off Crossfire. Crossfire couldn't have possibly seen that coming, could he?

Neither Code Red nor Crossfire made any movement that suggested that this was the case. It was as if they were frozen in place, neither moving nor speaking, like the moment had rendered both Transformers and those around them incapable of speech.

The silence that ensued leeched off of any sound that entered the area. Even the slightest hint of a bird chirping or leaves rattling was soon swallowed by the black hole that called itself silence.

Everything else was almost non-existent. The only thing that seemed to matter was the two Transformers that had not moved an inch since Code Red had risen to his feet and lunged at Crossfire with his arm blade, and the three lions watching the scene with bated breath, watching fervently to see what was to come.

All of this was broken the moment that Crossfire said two words:

"Bad move."

Revealing that he had caught Code Red's blade mid-thrust, Crossfire forcibly pulled Code Red's arm-blade to one side, so much so that the blade itself snapped. With a triumphant roar, Crossfire spun the blade so that it was facing downwards, and drove it deep into Code Red's shoulder.

Code Red let out a loud grunt of pain, staggering back in shock.

Kiara immediately gasped, while her mind repeated the same thing over and over: No, no, no, no, no, no…

Crossfire waited until Code Red's optics were on him once again.

And then he manifested his Riot Cannon and blasted Code Red straight through the chest.

"NO!" Kiara screamed at the top of her lungs.

Code Red sank to his knees, looking up at Crossfire once more.

Crossfire gave his rival a sadistic smile before simply raising a leg and gently kicking Code Red over, watching as Code Red's body fell into the river below.