18

"For spark's sake, Stalk! I needed that sparkplug five minutes ago!" Ratchet roared across the base. The white and silver femme raced out of the hall, her arms filled with scrap metal.

She laid it at the med-bot's feet and glared at him, "Sorry your high and clunkiness."

"Don't back-talk me!" Ratchet warned. "Or I'll smack you around until your circuits spin." He flipped his hand, transforming it into blowtorch.

Blurr raced around the base, arranging things so some 'bots wouldn't step on them. Bulkhead and Grimlock were both helping to haul heavy pieces of metal, and Grimlock was welding large pieces of metal together with his fire breath. Strike and Mirage were grabbing pieces of metal and holding them for Ratchet or Grimlock to weld. They were also there to do whatever else. Stalk and Ratchet were rubbing each other the wrong way fast, but both of them, oddly, seemed to enjoy it as well.

"Are we close?" Strike asked, holding two larger pieces together for him to weld.

Ratchet wheeled himself out from under it and sighed, "I think so." He paused for a moment, then, "Yes, Jazz?" He listened, and then cursed. "They're being attacked by Decepticons!"

"What?"

"Grimlock kill Decepticons!" the large dino-bot stepped forward and crushed a cylindrical piece of metal.

"Grimlock, I needed that!" Ratchet bellowed. The dino-bot cringed and mumbled an apology. Ratchet picked up the crushed piece of metal and sighed, "This was to be the core of the ground bridge, and I'm still not done with the frame!" He turned, "Stalk, I need you to rebuild this. I trust you, you know what to do. Blurr, Strike, help her." All three of them saluted, and Stalk took the core, walked to the other side of the room, and began grabbing pieces of scrap metal she needed.

Suddenly, a crash pierced their audio receptors. Ratchet turned in horror to see that the control unit to the ground bridge had collapsed. Ratchet clenched his hands, walked over to the wall, and punched it with all his might. The stone crumbled to dust where he had touched it. "Slag it all to Unicron!" The room fell silent.

He then spun around, his optics flaming. "Bulkhead, you're with me at the control center. Blurr, I need you too. Mirage, you know how to build a space bridge tunnel. Get Grimlock to help you." Everyone nodded. "We don't have much time, 'bots. Hurry!"

"Let's do this!" Strike said. "Our friends need us. Let's show those Decepticons whose boss!" The band of Autobots shouted in approval went to work.

"Autobots, attack!" Optimus roared. The two factions raced towards each other with incredible speed. Some jets were already in the air for the Decepticons, but the Autobots had no one.

Optimus Prime unsheathed his arm swords as he headed for Megatron. The Decepticon leader veered to the left and was instantly replaced by Starscream. The Decepticon lieutenant was thrust upward by an uppercut from Prime, and landed on top of Sideways. The battle had begun.

Soundwave had managed to wake a bunch of Decepticon drones from stasis, and about six of them, along with Ravage and Rumble, were surrounding Ironhide and Prowl. Prowl and Ironhide were protecting the humans, and Kiara was hunched over the Allspark, glaring at the Decepticons. The drones advanced, and Ironhide let loose with a stream of machine gun fire. Drones fell and drones ducked. Prowl hit Rumble with both of his ninja stars, and the con collapsed onto one knee. Ravage jumped at the ninja-bot, but Prowl was able to evade the mini-con. He grabbed his ninja stars just as Ravage jumped on him again.

Jazz and Arcee were fighting back to back. Blitzwing, Starscream and Cruellock were closing in on them. "Why did we leave or best fighters at base?" Arcee whispered. "They're about an hour away."

"What?" Jazz retorted, "I'm not a good fighter?"

Arcee looked at the ground and fell silent.

"Enough talk," tough Blitzwing growled. "More breaking your limbs."

Arcee came up, grabbed his head, and gave Blitzwing a hard knee to the chin. Blitzwing's heads spun, landing on crazy-face. "Why you little-" he transformed into a tank and shot at her. She dodged a couple shots and jumped onto his cannon, pulling it backwards.

Jazz was hitting Cruellock fast in sensitive places on his armor while also trying to avoid Starscream. He was doing pretty well until Starscream caught him with a punch to the jaw. Jazz reeled back, and the two came towards him. "Arcee!" he called desperately, holding out his hands. Arcee jumped off and grabbed Jazz's outstretched hands. He swung her in a circle, and she gave Starscream a kick in the face that sent him flying back. She hit Cruellock in the leg, and he teetered for a moment. Jazz brought her around in one more circle, flung his hands upward, and let go. Arcee flew high, came down hard, and hit Cruellock in the head, crumpling the leg she had hit. She landed gracefully, and gave Jazz a solid high five. They quickly jumped opposite ways, though, as Blitzwing fired at them.

"Prime!" Skidplate called as he blocked Wolfstrider's wicked claws. He was right next to the Autobot leader, who was beating down on Sideways and Soundwave with his extendable ax. "We need more help. Where are the others?"

"If I know Ratchet, on their way," Prime answered, hitting Sideways' legs out from under him. The silver con collapsed and tried to scramble away, and Soundwave had completely disappeared.

"We need more help," Skidplate placed a well aimed kick into Wolfstrider's chest, and she staggered back.

"You think I don't know that?" Optimus smacked a drone in the back of the head and sliced him down the middle. "Ratchet is doing his be-" Prime was cut off as he was tackled from behind.

"Prime!" Skidplate yelled as his leader fell. His legs were swept out from under him and he collapsed onto the ground. A foot planted itself on his back, and Wolfstrider's voice came close to his head.

"Don't worry about your leader," she hissed. "Megatron is taking good care of him."

"Megatron!" Skidplate struggled under his opponent's foot.

"Pity," Wolfstrider tapped her claws on his forehead, "I wanted a calmer toy."

"Eat my fumes, Decepticreep!" Skidplate challenged.

Wolfstrider's face came close to his own, a wolfish smile on her face, "I'd like to see you try."

Optimus Prime was hit from behind, and faintly heard Skidplate scream. He was flipped over by a firm hand, and a large silver foot planted itself on his chest. "Megatron," he hissed, "always one for a blow beneath the belt."

A face appeared above the leg. "You know me too well, Optimus," he hissed. His sword hung by his side. "It's going to be so fulfilling to see the light die in your eyes," he cradled his sword. "Don't worry; I'm going to make this as slow and painful as possible." Megatron lowered his sword towards Prime's neck. Optimus braced for the pain about to come.