Chapter five: Unlikely Alliance
a few hours later, Nevada Desert, near the Autobot,s base
Optimus was standing with his men at the base of the Mesa and awaiting their guests. He was the calmest of the lot, looking serenely in front of him, optics as calm and kind as ever. On his left, Ratchet and Bumblebee were standing, the first with his arms crossed and a neutral, slightly tense expression, his mouthplates a thin line on his face. Bumblebee was fidgeting little and looking warily at the sky for any signs of their 'guests'.
On his right, Arcee was looking downright displeased, a frown on her faceplates, and she a hand firmly put to the gun strapped to her hips. Finally Bulkhead was standing close to the prime, almost as if he had appointed himself his bodyguard for the meeting. None of them, Prime knew, would trust the Decepicons to be fair and were acting accordingly.
"This is a bad idea. Megatron and Ceasefire in the same sentence don't fit. He's up to no good." Arcee finally said, looking up at Optimus with a scowl.
"I know what you are thinking Arcee, and I understands your point of view. However, If we decide to never take a chance and give peace a try, this war will go on forever." The wise Leader replied, his blue optics twinkling in his faceplates.
"But-" The femme started to say, but she was cut off by the sounds of jet engines coming their way.
In the sky, two large flying forms appeared, and it was followed by the sounds of engines on the road, coming their way too. Megatron, Dreadwing, Knockout and Breakdown. When they were close enough they transformed and landed, and the two grounder followed suits. The four of them looked at their Autobots counterparts in tense silence for a few moments, until megatron stepped forward, and said, briskly.
"Prime, there a matter of great importance that I need to discuss with you. This planet itself is in great danger if you decide not to listen to what I have to say."
"We already know that Unicron has risen, we just fought several of his avatars." Optimus replied.
He narrowed his optics as he gazed at his old friend. And saw that he had a few scrapes that were only a few hours old and his chest was slightly dented.
"I'm surprised that Savage isn't here, seeing how that you take him with you everywhere." Arcee commented, hands on her hips.
"He is also the reason I'm here." Megatron said.
**********
Somewhere in the middle of the Nevada Desert, Savage transformed into his robot form and landed gracefully on the ground. He walks to certain spot before stopping and going to a large rock and went to one knee.
"I am here, master." A large, dark portal opened in front of him.
Obediently, he rose to his feet and walked through the portal and it closed behind him. The calmness and stillness of the desert was undisturbed yet again.
Unicron had been waiting for a long time to get back to his brother, and now seemed to be the time. With his little minion wrecking havoc inside the decepticon's ranks, and the Autobots too busy fighting his creations to notice the changes, no one was really up to stopping him.
And he could destroy the Prime. he will do so as soon as he is ready to face off in battle. To face off and destroy. When his little Pet joined him, he looked at him and smirked. "Savage, I have a mission for you my pet. One that you will fulfil to its conclusion."
Savage just nodded and his dull optics stared at his master's dark faceplates. "Yes master. I will do as you say."
"Good. I want you to lure the Autobots at this location, and then blow up the entrance of the cave. Their Prime will be left alone to fight, and I will destroy him." he purred with a dark smirk.
"Yes master. I will do it." Savage replied with a dull, dronish tune. He didn,t felt anything anymore... Like he was already dead inside.
Optimus narrowed his eyes again but Arcee spoke again.
"Savage finally go AWOL? Not that surprised, seeing how he's been stuck in your shadow all these years." The femme commented.
Megatron chose to ignore her then look to his new second in command, who handed him a video data pad. He held it in the palm of his hand and played it.
A small hologram appeared, the camera was heading down a hallway. After a while it stopped and looked back down the hall from where it had come from. A few seconds later, Savage appeared on the screen, a savage look in his eyes, heading straight for the camera. SOme words came out of his mouth, his voice wounded weird, and then with a speed no normal mech could dream to possess, Savage attacked, claws filled the camera's screen, and then a scream that made everyone cringe before it was cut short and static filled the hologram.
"Who was behind the camera?" Optimus asked, a slight shiver down his spinal struts.
"Soundwave." Megatron replied.
"Savage attacked Soundwave?!" Ratchet explained, eyes wide with shock.
"And nearly killed him, he's on life support as we speak." Knockout put in.
There was a long pause, every Autobot looking at each other's looking quite uneasy, they all realized something was awfully wrong and they probably needed to be very cautious. They didn't know what it was, but it had taken over Savage. Optimus, with a solemn, dark expression, was the one to break the silence.
"I can tell that Unicron is behind this as well. It is no coincidence that those two events would happen simultaneously. The Unmaker is up to something."
"Indeed he is, and he's unsing my little brother as a pawn in this! I will get him back, I swear." Megatron retorted, sounding angry and very decided. "No one hurts my little brother and get away with it, not even Unicron!"
"But... Why your brother? I dont quite understands." Arcee piped in looking at the two tall mechs.
"Because he's my brother, fool! He wants to get to me by using him." Megatron snapped, optics narrowing at her.
"hey! I was just asking!" She shot back and looked angry too, hands on the handle of her gun.
until Optimus stepped between the two and lifted his hands to stop the argument and probably avoid a fight. "Now is not the time for petty arguments. It s is time for action. We need to devise a plan to take down unicron and send him back to the Pits."
"I believe what Arcee was trying to say is why Savage? Out of the two of you, you are the strongest, the most powerful." Ratchet put in.
"The reason he chose Savage is because he made a deal with the bringer of chaos." Megatron replied with a heavy sigh.
Everyone including, his own men save for Knockout looked at him with shock filled eyes.
"Why in the name of the All Spark would he do something as ludicrous as that?!" Ratchet nearly shouted.
Optimus was asking himself the same question. "That is... quite a shocking revelation. Do you have any idea why Savage would do something so... rash?"
"No, but it may have something to do with his habit to always wants to save me. He can put himself in a world of trouble just to save my aft...! Megatron replied, sounding both sadened and angry at this thought.
"That's not the most important right now! What matters is to get ourselves rid of Unicron. We'll probably save your brother by doing this, Megatron." ratchet cut in, his arms crossed over his chest, and optics serious and pissed.
Before anyone could say anything else, the ground beneath their feet started to shake and everyone was sent to their knees by the strenght of it. Since the Decepticons looked just as shocked and taken by surprise by this, they certainly had no clue this would happens. Optimus ended up having to dive behind a boulder pulling Arcee and Bee with him. Something was coming out of the ground...
A large crevice opened not far from where they were standing, once open the shaking stopped.
During the quake, Ratchet had been thrown onto Dreadwing now that the shaking had stopped, he found that he was laying atop the blue and yellow seeker.
He lifted his head and found that his face was inches away from Dreadwing's, not only that but his spark was racing, it had nothing to do with the quake.
"Is everyone alright?" Optimus asked.
There was a number of mumbled yeah's that answered him.
However, they didn't had much time to say anything else. From the crevice, a huge form was emergin. Horned head forts, they wings or leathery metal, and spiky body with sharp angles and points all over.
Unicron in all his glory. He was at least 50 stories tall. His purple optics brightened and he looked down upon them all. ratchet felt himself be pull to his feet and behind the large chassis of the flyer in a protective manner. it shocked him somehow, and his spark started racing more. Then Unicron's voice resounded around them, and he had to press his hand to his audio. It was so loud it shook the very Earth.
"Puny insects. You dare think that you can destroy me? It will be you who is going to be destroyed." The dark God's voice was enough to make any mech's plating crawl, and Knockout looked dreadfully pale, holding into breakdown like he was a lifeline, barely able to stand up. The presence was just too overwhelming for him...
Megatron was far more angry then scared. "Where is he, Unicron, where is my brother?!" He demanded.
Unicron simply smiled down at him before replying. "He'll be joining us shortly."
The sound of roaring engines was heard coming from at the crevice. Moments later, a black and silver blur shot out of the crevice.
Hovering several feet above them was none other than Savage, glaring down at them with fiery purple optics.
Every optics turned on the smaller flyer when he appeared. He hovered over them, weapons activated but awaiting his master's command to do anything. His optics fell upon Megatron, and a slight, short expression of sadness and regret crossed his features, before they returned to his anger-filled, scowling expression.
"You shouldn't try to save me Brother. I'm beyond saving now. I'll be dead soon enough anyway..." He finally said, a hint of regret lingering in his voice, but also... relief. Probably at the idea of offlining soon.
Megatron couldn't let his brother under the dark God's rule. he glared at Unicron fearlessly, red optics alight with fire and anger. he was pissed off, and he was not going to lay down, not even for a God. "Whatever you did to him, undo it and release him! You can have me instead anytime, but leave him out of this!" He spat, fists clenched.
Unicron laughed and the sound made the ground shake again, and he looked down upon the Decepticon,s Warlord. "You had your chance, but you disappointed me. I have no use for weakling like you. Savage however..." he purred and used the tip of a large claw to rub the back of the seeker's wings. "He is much more to my taste. He has already done more for e in a short few Earth weeks then you did in Vorns."
Optimus and the Autobots had been watching and listening and the Leader frowned stepping forward. "Unicron, you cannot remains here. You must understands that we have no choice but to fight you. You will be sent back to the Pit in time."
Unicron's optics focused on Optimus, and he scowled at him. "Disciple of Primus, you overestimate your luck. You and everyone following you will be destroyed."
Megatron was hiding it well but the Autobot leader could tell that his old friend was worried for his brother.
"We will get him back, Megatron." Optimus promised.
Unicron simply smirked then used the tip of his claw to stroke the back of his wings again then purred. "Go ahead, my pet. show them what happens when someone challenges me."
Savage shivered at his touch, obeying his master before saying. "As you command, my master."
Megatron was the first to notice that Savage had reverted back to original Cybertronian form. Which meant that he would be faster in his vehicle form. He quickly informed the others of this so they could come up with a plan that didn't involve killing Savage.
With a war cry, Savage transformed into his alt-form, a Cybertronian Tetra-jet, and dived towards the group shooting his laser canons at them. he quickly turned back and came back from another round, and the group scattered, while the flyers transformed as well to retaliate from the air. Dreadwing and Megatron were in the air in an instant, while the Autobots dove for several covers.
"We have to disable him without killing him!" ratchet shouted, ignoring the pang of worry from his spark when the large flyer took flight. "Aim for either wings or thrusters!"
Optimus nodded, and he carried out the command to everyone present. The Autobots all started to aim for the smaller flyer's wings and thrusters, but he was very faster. Faster then he even should... Ratchet wasn't fast enough to avoid being shot in the back when he flew overhead again and he let out a yelp of pain, skidding on the ground before stopping against a boulder. Dreadwing heard the cry, and felt a surge in his spark. Why he was caring for the medic was beyond him, but seeing him in pain was making his energon boil with rage and concern swell in his spark.
Dreadwing broke away from the coming dog fight and was by the medics side in an instant. He helped the autobot to his feet, who was clearly in pain and embarrassed, neither understood why their sparks were acting like this.
Before they could ponder it further, Savage flew past them followed by a Megatron, while the dark God watched amused by what is going on between the two brothers.
Optimus couldn't get a clear shot at either of Savage's thrusters or wings, at least not without hitting Megatron by mistake.
He quickly formulated a plan and informed megatron via com. link.
"Megatron, when I give the word break away from the chase!"
Megatron received the command, and swerved away from the fight when the time was good. Savage was taken aback when Megatron suddenly broke the pursuit, and he swiveled on his wing, trying to see what his brother was up to. But it was when Optimus fired and the shot went right up his left thruster, setting it aflame after it exploded.
Savage screamed in pain and barreled down towards the ground but he managed to transform before he hit it and rolled on the ground to avoid more damage. But he was wounded, and he couldn't fly for tne moment, his left pede seared and blown, the thruster in pieces.
Unicron was not pleased by this development, and he focused his attention on Optimus, optics aflame with anger. "You insolent bug. You think that because you grounded my pet, you have won the battle? You are a fool..."
The ground around Optimus seemed to explode, and the leader found himself trapped by a claw made of stones. He couldn't move an inch, and Unicron still 50 stories tall, walked closer to him, his shadow engulfing him, the air cold and filled with threat and darkness.
Despite his injury, he was back on his feet. Favoring his injured foot, he limped over to his master, punching out Arcee, Bumblebee, even Bulkhead when they tried to stop him. His optics were flaming with purple fire and he bared his fangs, sharper then usual. He really did look demonic then.
"Fools," He growled. "You are not strong nor are you powerful enough to defeat me. Arachnid learned that the hard way."
"They may not be powerful stop you... but I am."
Savage turned just as his brothers fist slammed into his face. H yelped and toppled over, stunned by the strenght of the hit. Megatron really hit hard when he wanted to...
"Knockout, get the cuffs!" Megatron shouted before taking flight to help Prime.
"The line of Primes has grown weak in my absence." Unicron growled in disgust.
Knockout took out the cuffs to quickly slammed them around Savage's wrists. The smaller mech started hissing and trashing like a possessed mech and trailing profanities at the medic, his lover, his creators and everyone else in earshots. But for now he was immobilized.
"Calm down! It's for your own good!" The medic said avoiding a kick from a flailing leg.
Further away, Megatron reached Optimus just as Unicron reached the trapped leader, and started blasting at the rock trapping him, but when he shot off a chunk, another took its place. it was like the rock was an extension of Unicron himself, always regenerating. Impossible to break or destroy. The dark God laughed at their pathetic attempts to free Prime. Bumblebee reached them and joined in the efforts.
"Fools... I will now destroy you prime." He growled and lifted a fist to scoop Prime and the rock he was trapped into in his large palm. He apparently intended to sallow him whole, crushing him to death with his own fangs and tearing him apart this way.
"NO!" Arcee shouted.
Thinking quickly, Megatron took to the sky, flew straight up towards the clouds before going into a free fall. He was falling straight towards the top of dark gods head. With a battle cry of his own, Megatron slammed his fist into the dark gods head, sending shockwaves throughout the giant's body.
Savage let out a cry of shock and of pain as his master shattered like glass.
"Another Unicron look alike?!" Ratchet exclaimed.
Megatron caught Prime's hand before he fell to his death, they landed not far from where Savage sat handcuffed. The flyer laughed diabolically, freaking everybody out who heard it. His body was soon covered in the purple flame, even his optics. When he spoke it was in the dark gods and his own voice, sending chills down their spines.
"Fools! I am not so easily defeated!"
WIth those words, the ground shook again, and the pieces of the shattered Unicron started to reform into smaller versions of the giant. There was at least a hundred of them, all the size of a triplechanger, and they were surrounding the gathered Autobots and Decepticons threateningly. Purple optics were glinting from everywhere around them.
Savage laughed louder, his body flaming with purple fire, his optics burning with the presence of Unicron inside him, and he pulled on his restraints, squirming in such a way he looked like he was going to dislocate something but didn't seem to even feel the pain.
"You are going to die. All of you are going to be destroyed and I will collect your sparks for my own!" He said with a hundred voices from all the Unicron's avatars all around them and Savage himself seemed to be the vessel for them.
All around them, the copies were getting ready to fight them, and they looked like they weren't playing anymore. The time for threat was over, and the Autobots and Decepticons alike were facing their greatest threat ever.
-TBC-