Toy Soldiers
Ten minutes later, outside the Ark...
The four remaining Stunticons surrounded G1 Megatron, the memory of their fallen leader Motormaster the driving force behind their hatred. They were hungry for revenge not out of loyalty to Motormaster, but rather because it was a convenient excuse for battle. Wildrider, a well-known and much feared terrorist, held his scattershot gun tight and ready to unload its barrage of laser beams. Drag Strip and Dead End, both warriors with a mean streak a mile long, rubbed their hands together in anticipation of hand-to-hand combat. The fourth and final Stunticon, Breakdown, addressed their target. His innocent sounding function as scout gave no hint of the destruction he was capable of unleashing. His trademarked aura of paranoia was not present. "We are the Stunticons. You killed our commander... prepare to die."
The former Decepticon leader laughed loudly at their statement. "You're no threat to me," G1 Megatron stated. "You're nothing but fodder!" He raised his fusion cannon and released a massive blast, engulfing Wildrider in a wave of pain. As his body slumped to the ground, G1 Megatron roared in delight. "Who's next?"
Bluestreak, an Autobot gunner, and Cliffjumper, a mini-bot warrior known for his blind bravery, entered into a showdown with the trio consisting of Dark Scream, Slapper, and Gas Skunk. For a moment, it appeared the threesome would finally meet their doom. Fate, however, stepped in on their behalf. Sky-Byte, with his powerful Tsunami Blaster, took the two Autobots down, nailing them from behind. The Tsunami Blaster, located in the middle of Sky-Byte's chest, was a powerful corrosive beam that attacked the armor at a base level, causing instant rusting and disintegration. The Autobots never saw it coming.
Drag Strip activated his gravito-gun and put an end to G1 Megatron's over-confidence. The weapon, one of only a few ever made, affected the response of gravity on its target. It could cause the target to simply float away, render the target immobile, or even cause the target to tear itself apart due to competing pressures. The third option was the one activated, and G1 Megatron began to scream in agony. Drag Strip and the other remaining Stunticons found pleasure in the noise. "It appears that you're next," Drag Strip smiled.
He didn't see it happen. Even if he had, it wouldn't have changed the end result. He was too busy trying not to die himself, and wouldn't have been able to help his friend. Still, Cheetor felt a combination of guilt and extreme sadness surge through his body. His leader had been slain. "Big bot," he whispered. He turned and looked around him, searching for faces he knew. His search turned up only a handful, among them the tough and rugged Rhinox. But there were far more at his feet than there was standing, including the twisted and crushed body of Rattrap. He returned his gaze high atop the hill, quietly cursing BW Megatron and praying for Optimus Primal simultaneously.
For a brief moment, Cheetor contemplated laying down his weapon and simply waiting to die. A quick encounter with Black Arachnia, a former Predacon that had joined the Maximal cause, snapped Cheetor out of his depression. He found strength in her courage and forced himself to continue on. Several minutes later, Cheetor joined the ranks of the many others that had lost their lives. But he went down fighting, as every true hero does.
In another section of the battle, Rodimus Prime had just disposed of Decepticon jets Windsheer and Skyfire, both of which belonged in another universe. He heard G1 Megatron's screams, and stood watching, debating momentarily what action to take. He aimed his weapon in their general direction and remembered his earlier conversation with Ultra Magnus. He could simply allow the Stunticons to continue their torture until G1 Megatron ceased to function. Or he could be the one to end his life by simply firing off a shot from where he stood. True, it would be quicker than the long, drawn out assault that was currently in action, but it would give him a personal measure of revenge.
In the end, Rodimus Prime acted like the leader he was, fired his weapon at Drag Strip instead, and ended the ordeal. G1 Megatron regained his composure and exchanged respectful nods with Rodimus. Moments later, Dead End and Breakdown joined the rest of their teammates in the void.
The fight was not going well for the Autobots and Maximals. For every enemy they eliminated, two of their own also fell. Even the fabled Omega Supreme, forever referred to as the Autobots last line of defense, was put down by the massive firepower displayed against him. The sight of watching the giant tumble in defeat sent a dark revelation throughout the remaining Autobot-Maximal forces. If the powerful Omega Supreme could not withstand the onslaught, what chance did they have themselves?
G1 Megatron, revitalized by seeing those he despised fall at his own hands, looked out across the sea of machines and hunted his next opponent. He spotted him high on a hill, overlooking the battle from a comfortable distance. At his feet, he noticed the broken body of Optimus Primal. With his circuits full of rage, G1 Megatron made his way towards his futuristic namesake.
Beachcomber, a small blue mini-bot that transformed into a dune buggy, sought shelter from behind the motionless body of Ironhide. The former security officer had taken a direct hit trying to protect the geologist from a ground assault launched by the Constructicons. Upon seeing Ironhide fall, the green colored builders turned their attention elsewhere and forgot about their initial target. Beachcomber, best described as an Autobot hippie due to his laid back nature, closed his optics and tried to find a better place within the darkness.
Hours earlier, he had befriended an alternative universe Autobot, Tow-Line, well-known for towing any and every vehicle illegally parked in his city. He considered it a noble duty and did it with great dedication! The two had little in common, but both appreciated the gentler things in life. Beachcomber envisioned himself and his off-line friend enjoying an inviting conversation overlooking some natural wonder, perhaps the Grand Canyon. The peace-loving geologist never moved from his position. He never opened his optics to take one last look around. In the midst of beautiful scenery in the deepest corners of his mind, Beachcomber was incinerated by a random act of violence.
Two of the most vile and brutal Transformers that ever functioned stared hard at one another, anxious for the coming battle. The name of Megatron was not the only thing both had in common. Both were full of hatred, void of true compassion, and each hungered for total dominance. Absolute power was something they both sought, and neither allowed anything to distance them from their ultimate goal. In another lifetime, in any other situation, the two warriors would've made every attempt to use the other as a pawn. A pawn to help further their own agenda. No matter how temporary, under a different set of circumstances, they could have been allies.
But on this day, there could be no false gestures of friendship. Both knew the finality of the hour, and only one would walk away from this showdown. "Not the way you expected it to end, is it?" BW Megatron smiled. His body was screaming for action, his circuits roaring with energy. "Don't worry, though. It'll be over soon, yesss."
G1 Megatron didn't respond verbally, instead choosing to attack his slightly smaller adversary with a violent rage. His hands reached out and found BW Megatron's neck, which he proceeded to squeeze with all his might. The advantage gained by the surprise attack was not maintained, as BW Megatron wrestled free from the grip and fought back. They traded blows and each gained the upper hand several times. But in the end, the old-school madman stood victorious.
While BW Megatron lay injured on the ground, G1 Megatron took a few steps back and raised his fusion cannon. "You're a pathetic impostor, undeserving of the name Megatron!" He felt the power building inside his legendary weapon, and offered one last statement before destroying his opponent. "I grow sick being in the presence of such a wretched imitation." The flames from BW Megatron's burning mass reflected off G1 Megatron's optics. The victory would be short-lived, however.
A voice called out from behind him, somewhat hidden by the shadows and swirls of smoke. "And I grow tired of being reminded of what I once was." As G1 Megatron turned to face his addresser, a blast of refined energy rocked his form and sent him crashing down. Galvatron, the future version of G1 Megatron, glared down upon the remains of his own personal ghost, and started to laugh maniacally.
end of chapter 26
A/N: There's a nod to "The Princess Bride" at the start of the chapter; it's my wife's favorite movie... The BW Megatron/G1 Megatron/ Galvatron scene was one of the more fun showdowns to work on.