Chapter two – Burn

Optimus felt himself forced to the ground by a force for the sky and after his processor caught up with the happenings he saw the Decepticons Second in Command lying on him, readying his Nullrays.

Reacting on instinct Prime rolled them over and forced the Nullrays away from him before he raised himself up enough to hit the seeker. A sharp cry let him know that he had succeeded in surprising his enemy and he jumped up and away. A voice behind him made Optimus whirl around.

"Hold him, Starscream!" Megatron's voice broke through the haze that had overtaken Starscream's processor from the hit he had taken to the head.

"As you wish, Lord Megatron." As always the title carried a certain tone with it that made Megatron boil with anger and Starscream knew that he would pay for his insolence later.

Standing up both Decepticons advanced on the Autobot leader and just as Megatron prepared to fire Ironhide came storming at them at caught him in the chest.

Starscream didn't stop his advance and soon he was engaged in a ground battle with Prime. A ground battle…something every flier avoided at all costs and here he was trying to remain in one piece when he should just take off.

Prime grabbed both his wrists in a sudden move and threw him in the air where a sudden sharp pain made Starscream cry out in disbelieve.

His cry was echoed by two voices all over the battle when his trine mates felt the searing pain. Skywarp warped over to his falling trine leader and caught him before he could crash into the ground and take even more damage.

Optimus whirled around and saw Ironhide on the ground with Megatron pinning him down, his cannon was still smoking from the released blast. Disbelieve made Optimus ask, "Why, Megatron? He is one of your soldiers…"

Laughing cruelly Megatron replied, "He is a pest that I just got rid off!" The silver mech peered down at the pinned warrior and hurled him up with a hand curled around his throat, "And I'll enjoy making you scream, weakling!" Megatron laughed when Ironhide struggled in his grip before he leaned in and licked his glossa over Ironhide's own mouth.

Optimus trembled in fury at the abuse Ironhide had to suffer and swore to himself that his brother would pay for this.

Megatron looked up at Optimus and saw the fury in those blue optics. Wanting to torment him even more Megatron calmly broke Ironhide's arms, bending them behind his own back before letting go of the warrior.

"Stay where you are, I'll come back for you!" Megatron smirked evilly at the downed Bot before he turned his attention to Skywarp and Thundercracker. "You two leave the damn traitor and attack Prime!" His command fell on deaf audios as the two seekers didn't move from their position.

Skywarp remained sitting with Starscream in his arms while Thundercracker stood protectively over them. Both didn't even bother looking at Megatron.

Seething with anger Megatron advanced on them when his way was blocked by not only Prime but the others as well. Just now did he see that his army had stopped fighting as well and was regarding him in disbelieve and disdain.

Fixing his third in command he shouted, "Soundwave! I didn't order you to stop fighting!"

"No, Lord Megatron, you did not." But the black mech didn't make a move to continue the fight as he tightened his hold on Cyclonus who struggled to obey Megatron.

Optimus turned his gaze to the Decepticons and saw almost all of them were focussed on the seekers on the ground. The other seekers whined and he could see them trembling in need to go over to the command trine and their fallen commander.

Quickly making a decision Optimus said, "Don't shoot the seekers! They will move over to the others!" The words had barely left him when Thrust, Ramjet and Dirge darted over to Thundercracker, reaching him just as he started trembling and crumbles to the ground.

"TRAITORS! All of you will die painfully for this!" Megatron's fury was a palpable thing as he fired shots at the group of seekers huddling together around Starscream.

But this time the shots didn't reach their target as Soundwave jumped in the way. The screeching of his creations was the last thing the communications officer heard before darkness caught up to him.

"SOUNDWAVE!" Blaster's shout made the Autobots whirl around as they saw him crumble to the ground, optics flickering before dying out. Ratchet rushed over to him and quickly checked him for injuries. Finding none he connected with Blaster's processor and gasped in disbelieve at the bond he found there. A bond, he apparently shared with a certain Decepticon.

"He is okay; it's just the pain he received over his bond with Soundwave." Ratchet grinned at the disbelieving stares he received before the gazes turned to Soundwave and his creations Frenzy, Rumble, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ravage now sitting with him.

Megatron saw that his army had turned on him and decided to retreat for now. Jumping up into the air he transformed and flew away. Cyclonus, Astrotrain, Blitzwing and Octane followed him.

Optimus sighed in relief when the tension dissipated. He returned to the present when Ratchet rushed over to the fallen Ironhide and looked on in worry when First Aid made his way over to Soundwave, just to encounter the snarling cassettes.

A soothing voice called them off, "It's okay now, sparklings. Let First Aid do his job." Blaster's voice was weak but at least he was online again. Sudden movement was the only warning the Autobots got before all cassettes save Ravage barrelled over to Blaster and started chirping worriedly at him.

Smiling gently Blaster took hold of his Sparklings, soothing them over the bond they shared with each other.

A sob interrupted the silence that had fallen over the remaining Autobots and Decepticons.

"STARSCREAM!!!"

tbc