Transformers Prime: Miami
Chapter 18: The Battle of Miami (Part 3)
(Five Hours earlier)
Club Essex was one of the higher end clubs in the South Beach; It was a classy joint nestled in-between a Cuban Coffee café and a Cigar shop. All three were owned by the same man, Jonelle "Pookie" Adams. Pookie knew the game to running a bisnuess in Miami; He had his fingers in all the pies so to speak. He raised himself up from running in the gangs as a youth to building a sizable empire in the City of Magic. He liked the finer things in life, Fine brandy, Fine Women, and he was never too far from a good caviar. As much as he dealt in a respectable bisnuess he also had his shares in no so respectable bisnuess actions.
He was a man who knew everyone and knew how to get anything; He was also one of Detective Carlo's most trusted contacts, even though she felt she needed a good shower after she left his establishment.
She sighed as she entered the nightclub, even at five o' clock the place was hopping.
She made her way past the tables at the front, past the bar, straight to the stairs that led to the VIP section. She was stopped by a big burley doorman in a shiny grey suit. She raised her arms as she knew the procedure. He started to frisk her down from top to bottom, and then worked his way back up. It was when his hand brushed on the inside of her thigh that she took offense. Grabbing him by his large ear and twisting, the pain immediately told him his search was done.
"Tiny!" A voice called from the top of the stairs "That's why you only frisk her once!, Carlo! Get yo ass up here!"
Verity made her was up the red velvet covered stairway into the personal VIP lounge of Pookie, It was adored with various silk curtains, had a personal bar with bartender. White leather couches were lined all over and a huge 80 in Flat Screen tv that was playing Sportscenter. In the middle of it all was Pookie holding a goblet filled halfway with Cognac. He was quite the character to see, He wore a fine white suit with gold cufflinks, black shirt with a white tie, His hair was close cut with a wave of jericurl . He had a small bushy mustache and his skin was a light Carmel color. He had very fair skin for a person of African American descent.
"You'll have to excuse Tiny, He's new and we're still house training him. It looks like he passed Verity 101 with all his fingers still intact!" He chuckled.
"He does that again I'll twist something else of his off!" She growled.
Pookie snapped his fingers "Are you doing your usual?"
"Now while im on the job, you know that."
"Yeah but you AIN'T on the job am I right Miss get myself suspended cause I shot a chump in the foot?" He teased "What he do to piss you off? Cause I know you aint that bad of a shot!"
Verity could feel a vein throbbing in her head as she was reminded once again Miko's sparkling performance in her body. Had Miko been in her body another week, Verity was sure she was going to wind up being grilled for a psych evaluation, and for some reason everyone in her Vice department started calling her "Fruit loops"!
"Let's just say I was PMS'ing ok!" She snapped.
Pookie raised up his hands in a mocking surrender manner " Ok OK! " A scantily clad female waitress came to them with a silver platter carrying a milkshake that was lit a fire on top." Then I INSIST you take this!"
Verity grinned a little as she took her Sambuca milkshake, It was a milkshake made with Milk, Rum,Sambuca,Khalua and Vodka. She blew out the small fire atop and took a long sip. It hit her in all the right spots.
"So I know you didn't come here to get felt up and to drink my milkshakes, what can I do you for?" Pookie asked as they went and took a seat on the couch overlooking the dance floor.
"I can cut to the chase too, something serious is going down and I need to know what and who the players are." Verity grilled.
"Word is the head of the Jamaicans got toasted in a meeting of all the major players in Miami. Some new crew is in town and they are looking to make an impact. Rounded up all the heads of the Lieutenants, Literally as in they found their heads of the Jamaicans, the Mexicans, Cuban and the Columbians. So the leaders got to the meeting and were given an ultimatum, Join them or die. That was three days ago, considering they were given a deadline of 72 hours to make up their mind…" He stopped as he let Verity fill in the blanks.
"That means it's going down tonight….." She said grimly.
"Same shit, you decide how to flush it." Pookie said sipping his cognac.
Verity kicked back the rest of her milkshake as she knew it was going to be one hell of a night. "
Later that night…
Optimus Prime led the Autobots as they made their way through the streets of Miami, High above Green Light navigated through the night sky, She climbed high in the air so she could scan the city and any energon readings.
"Optimus! I'm reading three energon signals emanating 6 miles northeast of you, it's in the neighborhood of West Flager! "She reported. "I'm getting closer to give you a visual!"
"Optimus, West Flager is home to a major Cuban gang!" Sunstreaker warned.
"I realize that Sunstreaker, even though they may be of a criminal element, they still need our protection!" Optimus said .as they turned the corner.
"I realize that Prime, just warning you they may not care if they are being rescued and they might as well fire on anything large and made of metal!" Sunstreaker retorted.
Green light moved ahead she could see three Cybertroanians already transformed and laying fire exploding cars and shooting into buildings. Fires were lit all around them.
"I see three trashing the neighborhood!" Green light said as she flew closer, she then saw they destroyed the three connecting bridges that lead into West Flager, effectively delaying any arrival or Police fire or Auotbot. "They knocked out the roads, you're going to be delayed if you have to hike it through that reservoir!"
"We need to get there as soon as possible; we have to find a new route there!" Optimus said as he led Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Sunstreaker.
Green light knew Prime was right and was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense and an urgency to do something. "Find the route Prime; I'm going to buy your time!" She said as she hit her thrusters and began to engage the enemy.
Launching herself forward she targeted the rouge Autobots and fired a lobby of missile at them. That got their attentions as her ordinance found their marks. The explosions knocked tow forward and the third one back, she targeted that one and transformed in the air as she landed on him with such a force her drove him harder into the concrete. Leaping back she pulled out her dual sabers that formed her helicopter blades.
He got up as he spat out some energon, He wasn't just big, he was enormous. He had the colors of orange black and red. What stood out the most about his was he had the face of a robotic lion attached to his chest plate. Green Light took a defensive stance as images of repressed memories flashed back in her mind. She saw three images of battle scenes. The first was of the Decepticon before her rising up a ravaged Autobot by his neck, then was the image of the same Decpeticon transforming into a lion, and the final one was his team combining into one massive Decepticon robot, and one name whispered in her mind, Predaking.
"Razorclaw, "Green light hissed "You're a Predacon!"
"My reputation precedes me, " He spoke in an elegant and cold tone " I assure you, everything you have heard about me is true.."
He then leapt forward and transformed in a large robotic Lion, It growled as its sharp claws flared out and he pounced at Green Light. The nimble helicopter dodged out of the way and stood up to ready a fighting stance. From behind her the Autobots known as Skids and Tracks stopped what they were doing to attack Green Light, But Razor claw leapt and covered the distance between them and Green light,
"No! " He growled "She is mine!, Get to the airport!"
The Two Ex-Autobots backed away as they transformed and headed out of the area, Green Light transformed into her helicopter mode as she started to gain a higher ground. She was stopped as Razorclaw leapt up on a car and then leapt high in the air, catching Green Lights back rotor with his claw. She spun out of control as she transformed back into her robot mode and onto the ground. Green Light transformed and attacked with her dual swords. Blocking every strike Razorclaw spun and sent a kick that sent Green Light flying. He growled leapt and then pounced on Green Light. She gasped as he landed on top of her. He was heavy and trying to claw at her.
She struggled against his grip as she thought quickly and activated her helicopter lights. They shone brightly in his eyes as he was forced to retreat. Seeing an opportunity she transformed back into her helicopter mode and hovered above him as she fired her twin Gatling guns on him. Razorclaw grunted in discomfort as he transformed into his vehicle mode, a black and orange 20 12 Cadillac Escalade. He drove off just as Optimus Prime and the others arrived on scene.
She transformed into her robot mode holding her swords that were dripping with Razorclaws Energon. Her gripped tightened as the buzz of her first battle wore off slowly.
"Girly girl!" Sunstreaker said "Did you just hold off three bad bots on your own?"
Green light paused before finally looking at him and answering "I got better things to do tonight than die! , Optimus I heard them say they are en route to the Airport!
Optimus nodded as he could hear police and fire vehicles centering on their position, already three neighborhoods were attacked, He would not let a fourth fall.
"Request permission to scout a head OPtimus." Green Light asked
"Granted, but Green Light do not engage the enemy again, you may not be as fortunate next time." He warned.
Green Light spat out some energon and nodded, transforming she transformed and flew into the night sky.
"She has some brass bearings, that one!" Bulkhead said fairly impressed.
"Yeah , " Sunstreaker said " And she didn't used to before!"
Sunstreaker then noticed a puzzled look in the eyes of Optimus, He knew that look from the many battle on Cybertron. It was a look of deep contemplation. He knew Optimus wasn't one to idle on wasteful thoughts.
"Optimus, is something on your mind?" Sunstreaker asked.
"What Green Light said, " Optimus said while looking up at the night sky " Springer used to say that very thing.."
Green Light flew to a cruising altitude of 8,000 feet; she followed the energon signatures that left the neighborhood. She could register three energon signatures leaving the neighborhood of Liberty City, She keyed into the radio chatter to hear that it was one of the two neighborhoods that were first hit in the attacks.
"Optimus, I am picking up Police and Fire transmissions, West Flager , Liberty City and Little Havana were hit simultaneously, Whoever they were hunting they got them.." She said gravely.
"Almost everyone "Prowl radioed in " Verity and I were able to fend off the attack in Little Havana, I took down Dead End , but Swindle got away. " In the background Verity could be heard breathing through wet coughs.
"What is wrong with Verity?" Optimus asked with concern in his voice.
"Dead End made a grab for me, I think he cracked a rib or two but I'm ok." She said
"If your hurt Verity I want you to report to a hospital immediately!" Optimus ordered.
"With all due respect Prime, I'm a Miami cop, this is the type of knocks I signed up for, and as long as these renegades are trashing my city I'm in this fight till the end!" Verity said with almost certain resolve in her voice.
"Don't try it Optimus, You know how she gets when she sets her mind to something." Prowl said defending his partner's decision.
"Optimus! "Green Light cut in "I'm reporting several signatures converging on Miami International Airport! , Looks like they save that neighborhood for last!"
"Give us a direct path, we will intercept!"
Miami International Airport
The Autobots sped toward the fence line that separated the Airport from the Neighborhood. Their sensors were picking up at least five Energon signals converging fast, It was a matter of who would reach the neighborhood that was home to the Dominican gangs. Verity listened to the radio chatter , The mayor of Miami had already declared the four neighborhoods a disaster area, a fire and police worked fast to secure the site. Many eye witnesses were inconclusive as there were reports of an explosion to a plane crash, and even one or two about aliens attacking. Prowl raced behind Optimus as the other Autobots were in line and were about five minutes out from the fight. He was concerned about his partner Verity, She looked a little green around the gills so to speak as she loaded up her clips and her shotgun.
"Verity" He said "Are you going to be in this fight?"
Verity caught a few breaths before speaking "You know better than to ask me that, I'm more worried about April." She said as thoughts of April being tortured burned in her mind "Call Mirage, I have to know their status."
"Mirage," Prowl called out " Mirage come in" There was nothing but white noise that came over his communicator.
"Knowing him he forgot to turn it on…."Prowl said knowing full well it was a bullshit answer.
Verity said nothing as she pushed the worry back and focused on the fight on hand.
The Autobots raced and followed the sound of laser fire and explosions. They saw five Cybertronians both Autobots and Deceptions, laying waste to the streets of Airport West. Already fires began to grow behind them as they began to engulf the palm trees. The fire began to light up the night sky.
"Autobots! Transform and engage!" Optimus ordered as he, Sunstreaker, Bulkhead,Bumblebee and Prowl all transformed and began to fight the enemy. Bulkhead and Bumblebee started to fight Tracks and Skids, as Razor claw didn't hesitate to pounce on Optimus , Optimus struggled against the weight of the gigantic robot lion. Prowl started to fight Rumble as they traded blow after blow.
As Sunstreker transformed he felt himself being tackled and fall off the edge of the ravine to the edge of the waters below, He saw he was being attacked by a familiar robot figure, He reconized her to be Chromia, Arcee's sister. He raised his arms to dodge her attacks, as they came fast and hard. He waited for the right opportunity before he caught her leg and used his size against her. He swung her around by the leg and tossed her in the reservoir, He chuckled as she began to splash furiously.
"Yeah honey, cool off!" He gloated as he failed to see the punch thrown at him, It fast and hard enough to knock him to the ground, He looked up to in time to see a large footstep on his chest to pin him down. He looked up and saw the last person he thought he would see.
"Good to see you again Brother…." Sideswipe grinned evilly.
"Sideswipe! What in the spark are you doing here! Are you behind this!" Sunstreaker yelled.
Sideswiped stomped his foot down on his chest hard, and kicked him to the edge of the reservoir. "Yes on both counts brother! I'm glad I have you here, it give us a chance to talk! "He said as he proceeded to beat his own brother with his robotic fists.
Green Light picked her target carefully and then dove down hard, Razorclaw pounded Optimus by hitting him across the face with his fists enclosed in one another, but as Optimus fell green light transformed and crashed on top of him, Razorclaw flew back and sat up, spitting energon from his mouth he chuckled.
"I was hoping you arrived, we have unfinished bisnuess!" He growled as he transformed into hi lion mode, she took out one sward and dodged his attack as she swung with her word and grazed his back. Sparks flew as her sword connected with his chasse.
As soon as Prowl transformed Swindle was on top of him, he attacked him as his back was turned, Verity moved aside and began to fire her shotgun at swindle's knees, Prowl picked him up and threw him to the ground,
"You ain;t talking your way out of this con!" Prowl said as he began to pound his face in.
Bulkhead and tracks exchanged fire as Bumblbee and skids faced off, It was a warzone as Autbots now had the attention of the Renegades, Little did they know that sideswipe and Sunstreaker were engage into a hand to hand combat not that far away from the battle, Sideswipe held Sunstreaker in a choke hold. Streaker struggled against the strength of his brother as he tried to find a way out of his grip.
"What I'm doing here is important! And I want you by my side Streaker!" Sideswipe said. "You have to join me Sunstreaker, this town will be ours regardless of what happens tonight, and I want you by my side!, Don't make me rip out your spark!"
Susntreaker got a good position of his legs and used his weight to flip Sideswipe from under him and tossed his to the side, Chromia got out of the water and began to use her blades against Sunstreaker, She cut him across the chest and belly as she kicked him hard to the ground,
"Stop!" Sideswipe ordered as he held his ear, "Copy that, I have this, you got get Delilah!" He ordered Chromia
Chormia glared at him coldly, before finally spitting some energon at sideswipe and transforming to leave the fight.
Sideswipe kicked Sunstreaker over, and stood over him. Susntreaker tried to gain his bearings as his brother stood over him. "Wh_What happened to you!" he coughed. "What happened to Thessia?"
"You were lied to, Sunstreaker. I wasn't on Thessia. I was on Ord Sama, Energon supplies were depleted so they sent a team of Autobots to recover the Energon stored on that planet. They also sent the Decepticons too. What began as a small skirmish turned into hell Sunstreaker. They weapons we deployed ended up destroying Ord Sama's two moons. Before we knew it the planet was about to fall into a black hole, and out leader abandoned us. A few of us made a choice leave the war or die."
He pulled out a hologram of him, Sunstreaker and several Autobots. He gazed at it forlornly "We are the only ones left of that crew, they died in that concflict. They died trying to get us off the forsaken planet. In the end I gathered and led what Autobots and Decepticons wanted to survive. We found a way off the planet and let our leaders think we died. "He clicked it off and looked at his brother "We learned that there is no PONIT to this war brother!, The only way to survive to the throw off the vestiges of Autobot and Decepticon! , Throw away what they made for us to be separated! We decided to come come here and take over this rock! Don't you see Sunstreaker! We could be Gods here!, and we will be Gods! The humans do need us, but not be friends with them; they need us to rule them!"
Sideswipe pulled out his gun and tossed it at the feet of his brother; he turned his back on him. "Your move Sunstreaker…."
Tracks wasn't pleased with this plan so far, He only agreed to join Sideswipe at first because he was his only way off a planet that was about to be destroyed. He even went along with his attacks on the various outposts of the Decepticons and Autobots, to get the precious energon they needed to survive. It was only after they came to Earth and he learned of what Sideswipe really had in store for the planet and the humans that he began to question his place here.
Tracks only wanted to look good and enjoy his life as an Autobot. He hated the war but at the same time he was loyal to the Autobots and to the Primes. He hated that now he was facing off against Optimus Prime and he hated it even more that humans were being hurt and killed as a result of Sideswipes vision of survival. He saw Rumble a Decepticon he didn't like at first but was slowly starting to grow on him being pummeled by Bulkhead, He could see other renegades in fights with the Autobots, this fight was now getting out of hand. He looked off to the side to see the fires around him. He looked off into the distance to see the fires were now growing toward human buildings. He could see small humans, known as children evacuating the building and getting into cars in an effort to escape the fires. What stuck out the most n his optics were the look of fear and despair on the faces of the human children.
Whatever the building was it housed a lot of human children because they were leaving by the droves. They were frightened and some were crying.
"D-Did I cause this?" He asked himself. "I never wanted to hurt anyone…."
"Tracks! Tracks!" Rumble cried out as tracks saw he held bumblebee by the throat, " I can't hold him much longer! Shoot him! Shoot him!"
Tracks had an easy shot at bumblebee, with his rifle he could shoot him in the face and end his spark, Buklhead was knocked out and no one could help bumblebee.
"What are you waiting for!" Rumble yelled "Take the shot!"
Tracks then threw down his rifle "No! No more!" He shouted as he transformed and drove off from the site. Bumblebee kicked off rumble and blasted him with his arm guns. Rumble gargled and sputtered as the blast tore apart his frame. He stopped moving as his spark left him.
Razorclaw saw he was short two members of his team, "Skids! Retreat to the airport!" He called out as he and Skids transformed and tore through the fence into the Airport. "Sideswipe! We're moving to the airfield!"
"Time to initiate phase two, Delilah is en route, I'll meet you at the airfield. " Sideswipe said "Go on and wake him up, Let him deal with the Autobots.
Optimus and the Autobots transformed and pursued the two Renegades into the airport. "Autobots! We have to stop them before they cause any damage to the airfield or any flights!" Optimus ordered.
The Autobots reached the outer edge of the Airport, there at the farthest abandoned hanger; they followed Razorclaw and Skids as they reached the Renegade leader. Sideswipe merely smiled as he held his hands up, Optimus and the Autobots transformed and aimed their guns at them. Optimus recognized the leader immediately.
"Sideswipe!, What do you think you're doing? Are you leading these Renegades?" He demanded to know.
"Optimus, it's good to see you again." Sideswipe said calmly "You've made too much trouble for me already, Taking out two of my soldiers puts a cramp in my plans. "
"Why have you betrayed the Autobots?" Optimus asked getting to the point.
What happened to your squad leader, Jazz?"
"Oh Jazz!, "Sideswipe said mocking concern " You see I had to relieve him of his command, you see he wanted to stay on a planet that was about to be engulfed into a black hole and didn't agree with my plan to escape the planet with the Decepticons. So I had no choice but to tear his spark from him. "
Sideswipe stared at Optimus coldly "When we left we abandoned your war and the Autobots, We chose to no longer be what you wanted us to be. So Optimus I'm personally here to tell you, your time on this planet is now over. We are taking over, now normally this is the part where I make an impassionate plea for you to join us, but you and I know that would be waste of time, so Instead there is what we're going to do, you take two of mine, I take one of yours…"
Then from behind Sideswipe Sunstreaker race and jumped over his brother, as he did Sunstreaker transformed and threw a red energon grenade at Optimus. Optimus barely shielded his face as the grenade exploded and knocked him far back into Bulkhead. Bumblbee saw what Sunstreaker had done and beeped what obviously was .
"Susntreaker! what in Primus is going on!"
"Sunstreaker!" Green Light yelled "What are you doing!"
"I'm changing the game Girly-girl!" Sunstreaker said coldly
Sunstreaker then started firing on the Autobots, as the Renegades followed suit and began to fire on the Autobots.
"Verity!" Prowl screamed "get to cover now!"
Verity raced to hide behind a stack of crates, as Prowl raced to pick up Optimus. Optimus grumbled as he was knocked out temporarily. Bulkhead and Bumblebee did their best to provide Prowl and Optimus cover fire.
"Susntreaker…" Optimus said weakly
"Something tells me he's playing for the other team Optimus!" Prowl said as he got Optimus to the cover by Verity.
"I knew Sunstreaker, would go off the cuff but I never figured him for a traitor!" Verity yelled as she fired her shotgun.
"Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are brothers! "Prowl said reviving Optimus " I guess Energon is thicker than oil!"
Optimus stood up slowly as the effects of the blast began to wear off " Sunstreaker , this isn't like him!" he said
Sideswipe called back him troops "Let's go, Razorclaw, is he here?"
Soon something from high up in the night sky flew down to earth, it lead a fiery smoky trail behind it as it crashed into the far end of the large hanger. The explosion rocked the hanger and destroyed some of the planes that were in dock in the hangar. From the smoking wreckage a large Autobot arose, He growled and grumbled as he walked and stomped toward the Renegade.
"Always on time " Sideswipe said " Grimlock, crush the Autobots, leave none alive."
Grimlock grumbled as he took his time in walking toward the Autobots, in the explosions a 747 airliner was pushed against the opening the of the hangar creating a obstacle for Grimlock to get out. Normally this would be a problem for any 2o ft tall robot, but Grimlock was 3o ft tall. He went to the wreckage and tore open a path with his hands..
"Negative Elita-one!" Optimus said "You are to avoid the airport!,
"What's going on?" Elita-one demanded to know
"We are under heavy assault and Sunstreaker has been compromised! "
"What do you mean by that?"Elita growled " Optimus answer me!"
"Elita this is Prowl!, Sunstreaker has switched sides to join his brother Sideswipe who turns out is the leader of this motley crew of renegades!" Prowl said as he saw the fuselage of the 747 being ripped apart in two and a huge Autobot emerging from the fire.
"In Primus names…" Prowl whispered
"Optimus is that who I think it is?" Bulkhead said as he saw the large Autobot then transform into a huge metallic tyrannosaurus rex, he roared as smoke and fire billowed from his mouth.
"It's Grimlock….." Optimus said "Autbots! Destroy Grimlock!"
Elita one heard Optimus through the radio " Grimlock….." she whispered " OPTIMUS DON'T!" She screamed.
NEXT TIME: The battle of Miami reaches it's conclusion as Sideswipe forces Elita-one's hand. The battle with Grimlock will prove to have surprising results as the true shape of Sideswipes master plan will take shape, and it will all accumulate in a painful sacrifice that Elita-One will have to make in order to save Optimus, but will it be too late to save her?
A/N : Thanks for bearing with me through this writers block, I will try to update the next part much quicker!