Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers.

Desperate Measures

Chapter Seven: The First of Many

Optimus Prime was trapped in chaos. Servants frantically rushed through the lobby, all manner of collectible items piled up in their arms. If he had known where they were going, Optimus probably would have offered to help, so frightened did they look.

As the leader of the Autobots ventured further into the vast estate, the voice of his quarry could be heard echoing from a higher level.

"No, that trophy goes with the rifle I used to win it. This trophy goes in that crate."

He slowly made his way up the grand stairway before him when a small servant-bot whizzed into his path.

"Can I help you, sir?"

"Yes. I'm here to see Mirage."

"Is it an emergency?"

"Not yet, but-"

"Then I am afraid you will have to leave."

"It won't take long."

"Be that as it may, sir, I'm afraid the Master is very busy at the moment, and cannot be disturbed."

Optimus crossed his arms and sighed, covering his face with his hand. "Tell him that Optimus Prime is here to see him." He seldom liked using his name to get what he wanted, but there were times that it was necessary.

The servant bot continued on, nonplussed by the revelation of Optimus' identity.

"I'm afraid I cannot interrupt him at the moment, sir. You will have to come back later."

Prime's chest seemed to inflate as he fixed the robot with a heavily restrained glare. "I can't come back later. I have to speak to him now."

"And to what is it pertaining, may I ask?"

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say."

"Then I am afraid that our business here is concluded. Good day, sir."

It made to gently push Optimus away, but the towering red Autobot didn't budge. "I'm not leaving until I talk to Mirage."

"Will I have to call security?"

"Not if you let me talk to Mirage."

The two stared at one another, attempting to beat the other down. Unfortunately for the servant-bot, there were few that could receive an 'Optimus Prime glare' and survive unscathed.

"I'll just get him for you."

The robot quickly turned and went up the stairs, perhaps a little faster than was required. He was gone for all but a few astroseconds before a disgruntled Mirage poked his head out of one of the doors on the floor above Optimus.

"Ah, it is Optimus Prime. And what can I do for you?"

"I have something to talk to you about."

"Yes?"

Optimus looked around uncomfortably. "Can we discuss this in private?"

"Look, I really am quite busy. Can you just give me a summary?"

"No. This is important."

"If this is about joining up, you already know the answer."

"It isn't." Optimus unfolded his arms. "Trust me."

The noblemech above him stared at Optimus for a few moments.

"All right," he sighed. "But not for long. I need everything valuable out of here before the Decepticons get here."

Prime was silent for a moment. "Let's talk, Mirage."

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His optics flickered to life.

With a collective gasp, the Constructicons backed away from the operating table.

Megatron sat up and swung his legs around. He looked around the room, a deep frown creasing his features.

"What… has happened in my absence?"

They all shuffled from one foot to the other, none wanting to tell their leader about the activities of his chosen second in command.

A mighty black hand leapt out and grabbed Hook by the neck, pulling him close.

"What… has… happened?"

The panicking Constructicon stammered out the truth, and Megatron dropped him to the ground.

Without another word, the Decepticon leader got to his feet and left the med bay, ignoring the protestations of Scrapper, and his claims that he wasn't 'fully healed' yet.

Only one thing was on Megatron's mind.

And it began with an 'S'.

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"I'm in rather a bind here, Prime, so if you don't mind getting to the point…?"

Optimus nodded, his attention unaffected by his lavish surroundings. Other Autobots would have gaped in wonder at the luxury around them. They would have shot Mirage looks both envious and jealous.

But not Optimus Prime. His mind never faltered when he was after something.

Not that Mirage thought the Autobot leader would have been interested in such things if this was a leisurely visit.

"Why the rush, Mirage?"

"You have heard about the battle at Polyhex, haven't you? I don't intend to be around when they reach Iacon."

"There's still Uraya, Mirage."

The noble mech cocked an optic ridge. "And you really think that battle will go any differently?"

"Yes," Prime replied quickly, without hesitation. Too quickly.

"I see. Well, I'm afraid I don't have your optimism, Prime."

Prime changed tactics. "I'm here to ask you to come on an exploration mission."

Mirage almost laughed. "An exploration mission? To where?"

"Deep space."

"The Energon shortage?"

Optimus nodded.

"I see. And why do you think I would want to come?"

Prime sighed, weary. "There's nothing I can say to convince you to come on this mission. Nothing that differs from what I told you when I asked you to join the Autobot army."

"And you think my answer may have changed in the meantime, is that it?"

"Basically."

Mirage sighed, although his wasn't weary like Optimus'. It was tinged with sadness.

"And I'm afraid my answer is still no."

The kind glow of Optimus' optics became sharp, the change almost imperceptible. "This won't last forever, Mirage."

"What?"

"This," he said, gesturing all around them with a small movement of his hand. His optics were locked on Mirage's the entire time. "It's all temporary."

"Until I set up somewhere else, I suppose it is, yes."

"And what happens when the Decepticons destroy wherever 'somewhere else' is, Mirage? What then? You keep on moving?"

Optimus' tone was far from judgemental. It was halfway between desperation and genuine curiosity.

"Until the war is over, yes."

"What if the war doesn't end? Or arguably worse, what if our mission for Energon fails? What then?"

"I'll find some way to survive."

This time, there was an audible change in Optimus voice. "You're perfectly happy to fade away, is that it? As long as no-one touches you or your possessions, the rest of the world be hanged?"

Mirage didn't reply. He had never been on the receiving end of an Optimus Prime rant before. It was a… difficult experience.

"You haven't changed since I first met you. Unwilling to help your planet or your people, and for a reason that I have never been able to ascertain. Do you know what my comrades in arms call you?"

The noble mech dumbly shook his head.

"Coward."

Prime let that one word sink in before continuing on.

"I never believed it myself. I always thought that there was something else. But perhaps they're right."

"I'm no coward, Prime." He blurted it out without thinking.

The kindness in Optimus' optics and posture returned. "Then tell me why, Mirage. If I understood, then perhaps I would allow you to live in peace."

"I-"

"Sir?"

Mirage looked over at the servant-bot that had just entered the room.

"Yes?"

"Where would you like the holo-medal you won for the 18925th turbo fox hunt?"

The blue and white mech glanced over at Prime, who was watching him expectantly. Mirage got to his feet.

"I'll come up and take a look. Goodbye, Prime."

The Autobot leader gave him a passing glance as he left. "Goodbye, Mirage."

His communicator beeped, and Optimus brought his arm up, mentally lifting the cover over the vidscreen in his forearm.

"Prime."

"It's Ultra Magnus. The Decepticons are here. The battle has begun."

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Ironhide scrunched up his face.

"Oh! Now that is the most disgustingly sticky piece a'-"

Jazz shot him a look over his shoulder. "Would you quiet down? We're never gonna find him if you keep stoppin' for every little thing you step on."

"Ah'm just sayin'… it's disgusting, is all."

"And that's fine. But could you save the complainin' for later?"

"Fine."

"Good."

Jazz returned to his searching through the ravaged wasteland, vowing to never again be by himself with Ironhide.

"It's jus-"

"Ssshhhhh!"

"Don't you tell me to shush, ah'll-"

Jazz looked over at him. "Wasn't me, man."

"Oh. Then who-?"

A dark green arm waved at them. "Over here!" The words were whispered so gently, Ironhide's audio receptors barely picked them up.

Slowly, the two Autobots made their way over to their final recruit. It had been a long mission, and Ironhide was looking forward to at least a little bit of rest before they went into space.

Hopefully.

The green mech was hunched behind a large outcropping of metal, peering over the top cautiously.

Jazz and Ironhide looked over the top with similar caution, both wondering what inspired it in their new friend.

"Would you look at that…" he whispered to his two visitors. "It must have flown in from some other planet," he said, pointing at the creature before them that resembled a bird, although the proportions were all wrong.

"What is it?" Ironhide asked far too loudly, and the creature fled, disappearing into the night sky.

A glare was his only answer, and Jazz tried to fight back his smirk. He stepped forward, hand outstretched.

"How ya doin'? The name's Jazz."

After an extended angry look at Ironhide, the Autobot relaxed and turned his attention to the black and white mech.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Hound."

Ironhide barged through with his usual subtlety. "We're runnin' out of time, so ah'll cut to the chase. We're puttin' together an exploration mission into outer space to look for more Energon. You in?"

Hound seemed reluctant to talk to the elder mech at first, but then seemed to process the offer.

Ironhide's communicator beeped.

"Yeah?"

Optimus' visage appeared on the small screen. "Ironhide. Is Jazz with you?"

"Yup. We're jus' talking to our last recruit now."

"And?"

Ironhide and Jazz looked up at Hound.

"And?"

He smiled an easy smile. "A chance to explore something other than this floating rust bucket? Any time."

Ironhide looked down at his communicator. "You catch that?"

"I did. And not a moment too soon."

"Uraya?" Jazz asked.

"Yes. Gather the crew together and meet me at the Iacon launching bay. It's time for a trial run."

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A laser blast sailed over his head, and Kup ducked as it exploded behind him, sending chunks of debris bouncing around him and off his battle hardened chassis. Setting his jaw, he leapt to his feet, fired off a few shots, and then ducked again.

The battle wasn't going well.

"Big surprise," he muttered, inserting a new cartridge into his blaster.

"What's that?" Springer asked, looking the other way.

"Nothin', Springer. Just talking about how well the battle's goin'."

"Oh. The usual. Gotcha."

The triple changer hopped to his feet and moved to another part of the trench, keeping his head down. Kup gnawed his lip components together, irritated at being dismissed.

So what if he was complaining? He was allowed to complain. He-

Another explosion ripped open the ground behind Kup, the force of the blast sending him into the air. He landed with a crash in the middle of the battlefield.

Using honed reflexes, Kup was on his feet in an instant, deftly dodging laser fire and returning blasts of his own as he desperately searched around for more cover.

Purple lightning caught him in his ankle unit, sending him crashing to the ground. The familiar hydraulic whirring and clicking of a transformation sounded behind him, and he looked over his shoulder to see Dirge approaching him, arm cannon raised to deliver the final attack.

He smirked.

A laser blast hit the Conehead dead in the center of his chest, sending him sprawling.

"Move, you broken down pile a' scrap!"

Kup leapt to his feet at the sound of the familiar voice, and ran towards the trench, now protected by a new barrage of cover fire.

He leapt into the trench and was greeted by the ugliest and most familiar face he had seen in a long time.

"Trust you to be getting in more trouble than anyone else."

"At least I was here, old timer."

"Who you callin' old timer?"

Kup just smiled at Ironhide, glad to have some reinforcements. "Prime here too?"

The red mech nodded. "The whole crew's here."

Prowl ran between the two, laser rifle in hand. "Fight now, talk later!"

Another explosion rocked the trench, and Decepticons spilled into the Autobot encampment held behind it.

The battle began in earnest.

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Prowl fired off some shots at Octane as he charged at him in his Cybertronian tanker mode. The triple changer showed little signs of stopping, ignoring the deep gashes being caused by Prowl's pinpoint accuracy. A black and white blur slammed into Octane's side, tipping him over and forcing him to transform into robot mode.

Jazz himself transformed into robot mode in a stylish flip, landing on his feet with the flair of a dancer.

With a snarl, Octane charged forward, swinging his fist at the smirking Autobot. Jazz sidestepped and turned, slapping the Decepticon on the back and sending him off balance and onto his front.

Octane got to his feet and turned to face Jazz, his red optics now seething with rage.

"I'll teach you to-"

A blast from Prowl's laser rifle silenced him.

Jazz gave him a grateful nod. "Thanks." He pulled his blaster from subspace.

Prowl tilted his head to the side, confused. "If you had a blaster, why didn't you just shoot him?"

A grin was his reply. "Where's the fun in that?"

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Thundercracker sneered at the pitiful display before him. Skywarp snickered from where he stood beside his comrade.

"This is what Optimus Prime sends against us in battle? Minibots?"

"Why you lousy-" Cliffjumper leapt at him.

With a dismissive sweep of his arm, Thundercracker knocked the 'Bot aside. Skywarp cackled in glee.

"Ha! Battle and a show!"

"Hey! Guys!"

The two turned to face Bumblebee.

"And what're you gonna do?"

"Distract ya."

"Huh?"

The two were barraged by metal debris, each piece bigger than the last. They took to the air and transformed, flying straight up and looping around until they could make a strafing run on Windcharger, who had been hiding behind a magnetised sheet of metal. Skywarp fired, blowing up the sheet of metal and sending the Minibot to the ground behind him.

While they were at it, they fired on Bumblebee, burying him under debris. Satisfied, the two transformed back into robot mode and landed.

"Ha. Scratch two little pains in the aft," Skywarp sneered.

"Why don't you try that with me?" A mighty voice boomed, and the two turned in fear to face Brawn. Their fear quickly turned to smugness.

"Oh, come on. Are you here to distract us as well?"

"Nope. I'm here to kick your afts."

He leapt up and kicked Skywarp in the face, knocking him onto his back. Gears and Huffer leapt from their hiding places onto him, pummelling him senseless. Brawn threw Thundercracker over his shoulder with ease, sending him crashing into a wall.

"Oh, this is ridiculous!" Thundercracker yelled from his upside down position. "I'm getting out of here!" He turned himself upright, transformed, and took to the air.

Skywarp quickly followed, barely managing to teleport away from the beating Huffer and Gears were administrating.

Brawn snorted.

"Wimps."

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Blitzwing swing his fist at Hound, only for it to go through him. He reeled back, alarmed.

"Holograms…" he muttered.

"Oops, wrong one. I'm over here."

The triple changer turned and attacked the Hound behind him. He went straight through him, too.

"Oh, my mistake. I'm over here."

"Or is that here?"

"Here?"

"Maybe here?"

"Heck, even I'm not sure anymore. Could you check?"

With a roar of frustration, Blitzwing transformed into a Cybertronian tank, completely decimating the area around him with laser blasts.

Breathing heavily out of his exhaust vent, Blitzwing transformed back into robot mode. A hand tapped him on the shoulder.

"Still didn't get me."

He whipped around and grabbed Hound by the neck, grinning maliciously.

"I got you now, though."

"Maybe… but then again, maybe not."

Ultra Magnus swung Blitzwing around and delivered a sharp punch to his jaw, hurling him across the battleground and into stasis lock. Hound gave him a quick salute.

"Thanks, chief."

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"Hey, Skywarp!"

"Yeah?"

"Check it out! Autobot brothers!"

"Ooo, where? Let's kick their afts!"

"Just what I was thinking. They look like real pushovers, too."

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Starscream scowled. "What is Astrotrain doing? He can't manoeuvre like that!"

Soundwave looked over at him. "But you can."

"Shut up, Soundwave. And get down there! Megatron may have coddled you, but I intend to make you earn your keep!"

The communications officer nigh on glared at the Air Commander before flying into the battle field, his hand poised over his eject button to release his 'children'.

Reflector tapped Starscream on the shoulder.

"Starscream! Starscream!"

"I'm busy, Reflector! Tell me later!"

"It's important!"

"As important as this?"

"Well-"

"Then it can wait!"

"But-"

"I said later!"

A different voice responded.

"STARSCREAM!"

He almost discharged upon hearing the enraged voice. He looked at Reflector.

"Megatron's here? MEGATRON? AND YOU DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO TELL ME?"

An impossibly heavy black hand clamped down on his shoulder, crushing it in a vicelike grip. Starscream yelled out in pain and fell to his knees.

"Megatron, I-!"

"Silence!"

The Decepticon leader tossed him aside, and glared down at Reflector. All three of his components were shaking. He shoved an angry finger in Starscream's direction.

"Put a blaster to his head. If he moves, kill him."

Reflector continued to shake on the spot.

"What are you waiting for?"

He leapt to it, running over to Starscream as fast as his legs could take him.

Megatron turned to the battlefield, disgusted.

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Thundercracker and Skywarp screamed in agony, slamming their hands down on the ground. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe lay on top of them, bending their Decepticon prey's arms and legs at impossible angles.

"We give up, we give up!"

Sunstreaker snorted, looking over at Sideswipe.

"I hope any aliens we come across are better then these guys."

"Yeah, no joke. I was almost falling into recharge mode during that fight."

Optimus Prime ran past them, his focus firmly on getting back to the front line.

He paused.

Surely he didn't see what he thought he just did. He backtracked and looked at the two cautiously, thinking it some Decepticon trap at first.

Sideswipe spotted him and gave him a cheery wave. "Hey! We're on your team!"

Sunstreaker barely acknowledged him, more content to continue torturing his captive.

Optimus almost said something, but then decided against it.

He would have to talk to Ironhide and Jazz.

He continued on his way, only to be stopped by a blaster pressed against his neck.

"Drop it."

Optimus slowly dropped the rifle. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe couldn't see him. He was on his own. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed the identity of his assailant as Ramjet, his smirk unsurprising.

"Now get moving." He chuckled. "Just think, the great Optimu-"

A single loud clang interrupted his rant, followed by the noise of him crashing to the ground.

Optimus turned around to face… nothing. He smiled, relieved.

"Good to see you, Mirage."

"Or not, as the case may be." The outline of a yellow box appeared in front of Optimus, giving way to the visage of the blue and white noblemech. "I told you I wasn't a coward."

Optimus Prime put his hand on Mirage's shoulder. "That was never in question, Mirage." He scooped up his rifle and nodded in the direction of the battlefield. "Come on. There's still a lot of work to do."

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(A/N: Hope everybody had some Happy Holidays. They certainly gave me a boost where my writing is concerned. Or maybe it was reading IDW's 'Infiltration' Transformers book, I don't know. :P

Anyway, reviews are great!

P.S. Hhgbh gets as many cookies as desired for beta-ing.

P.P.S. The new trailer for the Transformers movie is fantastic, in my opinion. So Optimus has flames, big whoop.)