Not much to say! Please enjoy the ride! I did while writing it!

Colonel Lennox

The alarm sounded waking the men and women under my command. The entire make shift barracks the Autobots provided for the regiment lit up instantly and came to life. I remained where I was allowing my officers to handle getting the troops in order just so I could enjoy a small cup of coffee.

I had already been up and my gear was ready. I only slept a couple of hours. I usually did just before a battle. So I sat quietly in the dining area waiting, pondering about how this battle could determine the fate of humanity.

While the Autobots have been valiant and honorable in their fight to protect us and Earth from the Decepticons there were those in my Government who feared that if an all out war broke out on the planet life as we know it would cease to be. I for one trusted our alien friends. I knew, having heard it myself, that Optimus would never let that happen. If necessary he'd take his Autobots elsewhere to fight the Decepticons.

I pray that we're able to take Megatron down in this battle. I know it would be a boost to the Autobot's confidence. I noticed immediately upon landing on the base that because Optimus was dying, their morale is very low. They may not say it. But I see it in their faces. I can hear it in their voices.

Bottom line…I just hope us humans can make a difference today to help our friends.

"Morning Will."

"Sir…good morning," I greeted quickly rising to my feet. I was very surprised to see Mr. Keller up so early. Actually, it looked like the man never went to bed. His suit looked a little wrinkled.

"Sit down. I'm not your superior officer."

"Of course, Sir," I smiled as he headed straight for the freshly made coffee. "Did you get any sleep?"

"No, I couldn't. I spent the majority of the night with Kacey and then just lay in my room for a couple of hours. I was too anxious to sleep."

"Those soldier instincts don't go away do they?" I chuckled. "I only had a couple hours rest my self. I had a feeling something was coming and couldn't relax either."

He smiled kindly before taking a long drink of his coffee. He, like many of us that knew Kacey, was worried for the kid and her father. In fact, all of us who volunteered for this assignment had a deep respect for the Autobot leader. My wife calls him a gentle giant. I just smiled at her for I know he's a fierce warrior who'd do anything in his power to protect his people and mine.

How his people need him now. I even miss seeing the big guy walking confidently around. I even miss Kacey. I haven't gotten the chance to go visit her yet.

"How is Kacey, Sir?"

"Her condition is…" he started then paused, gathering himself. "She's not doing well. They said that she using her bond to give her father energy to help fight the virus within his body. Don't ask me how. They don't even know how she's able to do it. But whatever she's doing is slowly draining her energy."

"Well I still don't know that much about their bond thing either but I do know that Kacey loves her father very much. I know she'd do anything to save him. She's told me as much when I bring my daughter and son to visit."

"Yes, the bond between father and daughter is very strong. Perhaps too strong."

"Lennox, Hound is here to escort you to the command center for the briefing," one of my officers said.

"Thanks. I'll be right there," I replied. As I got to my feet I drank down the last of my coffee and grabbed my gear. "Sir, I would feel more comfortable if you allowed me to assign a couple of troops to you."

"Forget it, Colonel. If the Decepticons penetrate the base it's not going to matter one bit. Beside's I'll be in a secure section of the base, far from the battle. You just concentrate on your troops and giving the Decepticons hell."

"I'll do that, Sir," I grinned. "Oh…Kacey will pull through. I know she'll make the right choice when it comes to it. She's one smart kid. And she'd never abandon her people."

What I said made him smile. I think he needed to hear it too. He like many of my officers that had worked closely with the Autobots watched Kacey grow up over the years. She was one of the kindest, most sincere beings I've had the privilege of calling my friend.

"Your men seem as anxious for battle as we do," Hound said as I approached him.

I glanced at Autobot after Autobot as they ran by.

"Are the 'Cons that close?" I asked.

"We have time, these mechs are responsible for making sure the civilians and younglings are safely evacuated to a secure location on the base."

Hound suddenly reached down and grabbed a rather small Autobot that was running by. I immediately recognized him having seen him many, many times when I visited.

"Leo, you are going the wrong direction," Hound said, holding Kacey's youngest brother up before him.

"But I want to fight! Those fragging 'Cons need to pay for what they did to my dad and my sister!"

"No," Hound said. "It's much too dangerous. Besides, you don't have any armor to protect you."

"But I can shoot a weapon. I have good aim."

"One day you will be fighting out there with the rest of us," Hound smiled kindly. "For now…"

"LEO!"

I turned to see another you Autobot running towards us. He too had no armor and seemed rather young but was at least twice Leo's size.

"Mom's going to blow a fuse if you don't get your aft back with the other younglings."

"You're not with them," Leo countered.

"Cause I came after your puny aft. I'll take him Hound," the young bot said, one hand reaching up.

"Thank you, Orion."

"You're Colonel Lennox, right?" Leo asked as he was placed on the ground. His older brother grabbing onto his hand.

"That's correct."

"Are the humans here to fight with us?"

"That's the plan," I smiled. "I'll make sure to kick some Decepticon ass for your dad and sister."

"Well, I doubt your foot can reach a Decepticon's aft but I appreciate the gesture," Leo said making Orion roll his optics.

"Come on lugnut! Before we get in trouble," Orion said, pulling Leo along.

"They seem like good kids," I commented as they hurried away.

"They're just like their father, especially Leo," Hound said sadly and then transformed. The driver's door opened and I climbed in. "Leo even looks like Optimus when he was a youngling."

"Yeah, Kacey told me that once before when I first saw him as a baby," I said. "She was so proud as she held him."

"Yes, she always was," he replied sadly.

"We'll do everything in our power to protect them," I told him. "I promise."

Leo

It'd been a while since the alarms stopped. Thank Primus they were annoying to my audio receptors. Autobot and human alike were still busy running to and fro. They were even too busy to notice that I'd left my caretakers again. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get away alone this time.

"No, Orion…this way!"

"You've seen enough! We need to get back to the safe zone."

"We still have time," I insisted, tugging Orion in the direction I wanted to go.

It wasn't like he had much choice. I was going and if he insisted on holding my hand then he was going with me. If he didn't want to go for fear of getting in trouble then he could just let go of my hand.

"The alarms stopped," he said. "Why?"

"ALL NON-COMBATANT PERSONNELL. PLEASE EVACUATE TO THE SAFE ZONE. YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO COMPLY BEFORE THE BLAST DOORS ARE LOWERED."

I heard the announcement over the PA system but ignored it. I only had one thought on my processor and was determined to see it through.

"Leo!" Orion yelped.

"I hear them!" I shouted pulling my brother into a cubby hole.

We hid there and waited. Suddenly half a dozen Autobots raced by with their human cargo. As soon as the last one zoomed by I left our hiding place.

"Come on, it's all clear," I whispered to Orion.

For once he didn't give me any slag and just followed me. Together we ran close to the wall down the hallway. At a junction I stopped. Orion bumped into me, not stopping in time.

"Sorry," he winced.

"It's ok," I said quietly then peered around the corner.

I saw Prowl, Magnus and Ironhide heading this way. Instinctively I pressed myself against the wall and did the same to my brother by holding him back with my arm.

"What about Megatron?" Ironhide asked. "That fragger has to pay for what he did to Optimus."

"Now is not the time to act irrationally," Prowl said calmly. "We cannot afford to attack him out of revenge. We must use our processors."

"Besides, none of us can handle him one on one," Magnus said as they walked by us.

Orion and I held our breaths!

"Correct," Prowl said as they all turned and walked quickly down the hall away from us. "However, I think if the three of us work together we can take Megatron down or at least disable him enough to make the 'Cons retreat."

"Prowl, just tell me what to shoot at and I'll blow it way!" Ironhide grumbled.

Their voices faded as they moved even further away. When they turned a far corner I moved to go after them.

"Leo!"

"Got back and stay with Ariel then! But I have to do this," I insisted and then took of running.

I knew I was young and that I was too small. But I had to do something to help the Autobots. I know it my spark that if Kacey were here she'd do something too. And since she or father weren't here and Orion and Ariel weren't fighters then the responsibility fell to me.

Orion

I watched Leo disappear around the same corner Prowl, Magnus and Ironhide went. With all the Autobots getting ready for battle in combination with Leo's size he'd probably go unnoticed. Still, as the next eldest he was my responsibility.

Only before I moved to go after him I heard Ratchet shouting for Moonracer. Peeking around the corner I saw her running but coming to a stop. Ratchet was quick to catch up to her.

"Ratchet, you should be in the Med bay working with the others!"

"I was but I had to see you!"

"Have…have you…"

"Not yet. The human Maggie came up with a new theory. Wheeljack was rather excited about it too. But I'm not sure this one will pan out either. Jack gets excited about everything new."

"Then you need to get your aft back there."

"I will. I needed to see you before you headed out. Please, be careful out there," he said, taking her into his arms. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"You're not going to lose me," she replied, caressing his face affectionately. "I'm not going to let our younglings grow up without their mother. I can't have them both being irritable and cranky when they've matured."

He laughed softly and then kissed her. I took that as my opportunity to head off to find my brother. I ran as fast as I could and peered around the corner where Leo had gone. I was greeted by an empty hallway.

"Frag…Leo where are you?" I muttered to myself.

Heavy footstep and voices from behind made me duck into a room with an open door. The lights in it were off so I wasn't afraid of being seen. Two mechs were approaching. Two I didn't recognize. But then again, there were a lot I didn't recognize. I wasn't like Kacey or Leo exploring the base. I stayed in my room, reading or playing.

"I'm telling you, Prime is dead."

I gasped upon hearing such news. My father was dead? Why didn't I feel anything in my spark? Maybe because I could barely feel him as it was so I didn't feel him die.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I didn't. I figured it out."

"If he's dead why haven't they had a ceremony of morning or announced our new Prime."

"Because our new Prime is just a youngling. Would you follow some kid's orders? Frag no. That's why Prowl is calling the shots. He's not going to take orders from some femme!"

Tears burned angrily in my optics. No one talks about my sister like that! Only I couldn't tell them how I felt. I needed to remain hidden and find Leo. He needed to know that dad was dead.

"I heard she's really smart and has transformation powers better than any of us."

"It's probably all exaggerated. Come on, she's Optimus Prime's kid. Of course they're going to embellish her abilities a bit."

"I think you're wrong. We've only been here a week. I was talking with Bluestreak the other day…"

"Bluestreak…that guy don't know when to shut up. I wouldn't believe him anyway. He talks to hear the sound of his own voice. Who knows what's fact or fiction with him."

"You're wrong! Bluestreak is my friend. And our Prime is not dead!"

"Am I wrong? Then where is our beloved leader? I haven't seen him in three days. If he was injured old Ratchet would have fixed him by now. I'm telling you Optimus Prime is dead! And we're so fragged when the Decepticons get here."

"Why are you being so pessimistic?"

"I'm not. I'm just being realistic."

"You're an aft."

Their voices faded away and I sat there, holding my legs against my chest crying. What that aft said did make sense. Ratchet was the best. He would have repaired my father by now.

A few minutes later I was still crying when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up through teary optics to see my brother.

"Dad's dead," I said.

"No he's not. I saw him a short while ago in the med bay. He's still sick is all."

"Then why can't I feel him anymore?"

"Kacey told me they put dad into stasis so that it would give them time to find a cure for his illness. Stasis is like a really, really deep recharge. Even your spark goes into recharge. Besides, if you concentrate hard enough you can still feel him."

"I just really miss him," I wailed.

"Me too," he said hugging me. "Now come on. I found a vent that will take us to the shuttle bay. I think you're still small enough that you'd fit."

With my little brother's help I gathered myself onto my feet. Leo was half my size. But his spark had more spirit than mine. And he always had more confidence that I did. So I followed him…I always did.

"What were you doing following me anyway?" he asked as we hurried.

"As the next eldest it's my responsibility to look after the family, including you."

""Thanks for coming with me," he smiled.

"You are my brother Leo. Brothers always stick together," I smiled back.

"Ah, so you've learned a few things from Sunny and Sides too!"

"Unfortunately."

"Here it is," he said coming to a stop. Together we pulled the cover off of the vent. "It runs the full length of the lab section of the base and straight to the shuttle bay."

"And just what do you two lugnuts think you're going to do when you get there?!"

I shouted in surprise when the voice that was NOT my little brother spoke. Luckily, Leo was quick to cover my mouth and muffle my scream.

"Sneaky femme!" Leo hissed at our sister.

Ariel

"What the frag are you doing here?"

"Language Leo! I was concerned as Orion was taking too long!" I said, glaring at my twin. "Were you crying?"

"Lay off him," Leo growled.

'What happened?' I asked Orion over our bond. 'I could sense you're very upset.'

'I'm fine. I just miss dad.'

'Me too.'

Orion reached his long arms around me and held me. I returned the gesture. Our bond was closer that it was with Leo or Kacey. We always knew when the other was desperate for comforting.

"Where's you other half?" Leo asked with a smirk when we parted.

"I made Galen stay behind. And you still haven't answered my question."

"I'm going to see what I can do to help," Leo said and then turned to enter the vent.

"Do you have a screw loose in that processor of yours?!" I exclaimed grabbing hold of his arm.

"You don't have to come. But I need to do this. It's…it's what Kacey would do."

"What happened to Kacey? You wouldn't tell us," I said.

"They don't know. That's what Red said. I think she's helping dad though. Now I have to go."

I watched helplessly as Leo crawled into the vent and disappeared into the darkness. I knew nothing I could say would stop him. I could feel how much he was hurting.

"Well, we can't let him go alone," I sighed, grabbing my brother's hand.

Orion appeared shocked by my statement. He had every right to be. I'd never suggest anything as crazy as this. However, Leo was my baby brother. And during times of crisis family must stick together.

"I'll go in and you follow, make sure to pull the door closed," I told Orion. "And stop gawking. You were going to go with him too. Besides, someone rational needs to look after you two. Now let's go."

'Leo, wait up. We're coming,' I quickly said over our bond.

First I felt his gratitude over our bond and then his love.

'You're welcome you little lugnut,' I said affectionately to him.

'Let's talk over our bond,' Leo suggested to Orion and I. 'Our voices can travel the full length of the vent.'

'How do you know that?' Orion asked.

'Kacey told me. She and Nitro used to use the vent to play tricks on Wheeljack when he was in the shuttle bay. It also makes a good escape route when Ratchet's chasing you down for a maintenance exam!'

Orion giggled. I shook my head recalling that day when Leo decided he didn't want his maintenance exam done. Since we were all scheduled to have it done, Ratchet was our caretaker for the day. He looked so funny trying to bend down and grab Leo. And even funnier was when he lost balance and fell down after Leo ran between his legs!

'Leo you're diabolical!' I chuckled.

'Thanks! I try my best!'

We traveled in silence after that. It wasn't until we were three quarters of the way there when I heard and felt a sound I had never hear before. A loud rumbling echo reverberated within the vent was heading straight for us. I literally felt the metal beneath my hands and feet faintly tremble. The tremble grew stronger as the sound got closer.

My spark was racing with fear when the sound was nearly upon us. Not thinking I lurched forward and grabbed onto Leo for protection. I felt Orion's body surrounding my other side. Odd that he didn't seem afraid like I was.

'It's a concussion blast wave,' he said. 'It will pass us in a moment but will not harm us.'

'They must have taken a direct hit to the shuttle bay,' Leo said, his hand, caressing my back. 'Possible the door was blown off.'

Before I could say anything I felt a wave of heat wash over us. The sound was deafening. The vibrations were jarring.

'Leo, we should go back!' I wept over our bond.

'I cannot. Orion, perhaps…'

'I going with you brother.'

'Ariel?' Leo said my name, implying a question.

'I'll come.'

With that said we moved on at a faster pace. And as we got closer to the other side I could hear the shouting, the screams, the explosions, the sounds of metal colliding with metal. In a word…chaos.

When we reached the opening that's exactly what it looked like. I saw Red Alerting running from one bot to the next. Moonracer never far behind him. She even stopped one time to fire her laser rifle, providing cover as he tended to an injured Autobot.

'It's a triage,' I said after a few moments.

"For frags sake! Hold them back!" a mech shouted. It was Hound. I'd recognize his voice anywhere. "Air support is here in thirty seconds! Trailbreaker, throw up your shield as discussed! We can't let the 'Cons into the base!"

"Hurry!" Leo whispered, grabbing my hand.

I grabbed Orion's and the three of us filed out of the vent hiding behind a few weapon's crates. Each of us kept poking our heads up to see. We had the perfect view.

Autobot against Decepticon in a fierce firefight!

"Duck!" Leo shouted, yanking us down.

A small ball of fire exploded of the wall after a stray shot hit it. A few hot sparks hit us yet we looked back up again to watch. Despite how terrified the three of us were we had to see!

"TRAILBREAKER NOW!" Hound shouted from his position just a few feet from us.

Suddenly a dark grey armored mech jumped up in the middle of all the laser fire. A yellow light flashed up and extended out the length of the shuttle bay door. Outside the ground exploded. Dirty spewed up against the force-shield. I could feel the ground shake beneath us.

Explosion after explosion sounded. The ground shook so hard I felt it to my core. I covered my audio receptors as the sound roared to an explosive climax. After a few moments the sound faded. The ground was still. And finally the dust settled. Trailbreaker dropped his force-shield dropped and half a dozen Autobots charged outside.

"'The fraggers are retreating!" someone shouted and the entire shuttle bay roared excitedly.

"That was just the initial wave," Hound muttered. "They'll be back. Red, try to move the critically wounded into the hallway and out of the shuttle bay."

"Trying that as we speak!"

"Did you see that…a Decepticon lost his head and it bounced off the force-shield," Leo giggled.

I smacked Leo hard. Here he was laughing and I was scared out of my wits!

"What the frag?!"

The three of us gasped simultaneously! Our mouths wide open and optics locked on Hound as he marched over towards us.

"Your mother is going to kill the three of you if she finds you here!" he snapped. "You…"

"RED!!!!! GET OVER HERE!!!!"

We all turned to see Ironhide racing in carrying a red armored mech in his arms. He quickly knelt down laying the mech on the floor and waited for the medic.

"Magnus," Leo swallowed hard, his optics as wide as they could be.

It was Magnus. I cover my mouth with my hand. I had never seen so much energon all over a mechanism. I didn't even know how Leo could recognize the mech.

Red came over fast and knelt down beside Magnus, his hands moving as quickly as possible. It was then that I noticed where all the energon was coming from.

"I can stop the bleeding. Where's his leg?" Red asked, not looking up from his work.

"That fragger Megatron ripped it off!" Ironhide growled, rising to his feet. "Take care of him. I'll be back."

"Where are you going?" Hound asked.

"Someone needs to get Magnus' leg back! May as well be me."

"Ironhide!" Hound shouted but it was too late. The black mech disappeared out the door. "Bluestreak!"

"Yes, Sir," the blue mech said, falling back to where we were.

"Take these three to Ratchet's office and lock them inside. I'm not going to take any chances with Optimus' younglings. And get Ratchet. I fear Red needs a hand with the wounded. We can't risk losing so many Autobots."

"Understood, Sir."

"And you three will stay there. I will be by after the battle to collect you and inform your mother of what you did."

"We understand," Leo said for the three of us.

"You need to think long and hard about the consequence of what might have been. What if something had happened to you? How would your mother feel? Hmm?"

The three of us hung our heads. Leo actually started crying he felt so bad. Hound lifted him up and held him close for a moment.

"Blue, take them," he said, handing Leo over to the blue mech.

Bluestreak pick up Orion and I, carrying us out after that. I held onto him, crying, not knowing what else to do. I wish father were here to make things all better. He always seemed to make things better.

"Don't cry little ones. Everything will be alright. You'll see," he cooed to us. "We Autobots always find away to overcome even in our darkest moments."

"Kacey said you were always optimistic, Blue," Leo said, tears welling up in his optics. "I wish she was here now."

"Shh, it's ok Leo. Kacey is one tough Autobot. She'll pull through just like your father will."

"How can you know that?" I curiously asked.

"I just do," he seriously said.

I wasn't sure if I believed him or not. Not after seeing what happened in the shuttle bay. From what Leo told me, Ultra Magnus was our best warrior, next to father. If the Decepticons took him down what chance did the others have?

"Oh…hey Ratchet!" Bluestreak suddenly shouted.

I turned to see the rapidly approaching CMO.

"Not now! Busy!" he shouted sprinting past us.

We all watched run by and not even give us a glance.

"The old bot can move fast when he really wants to," Bluestreak chuckled. "Guess they must have called him."

"Roller!" Leo suddenly shouted pointing down the hallway were Ratchet had disappeared.

But like Ratchet, only much faster, Roller sped by us and turned into the med bay.

Chormia

All I heard was Prowl screaming 'Ironhide no' and that was enough for me to lose my focus. Luckily the tree I was near took the brunt of the laser fire and I was able to see why Prowl was so adamant.

My love was like a mad wrecking ball racing towards Megatron. To my surprise he actually caught the Decepticon leader by surprise and was able to tackle him down to the ground. Not far behind was Prowl. Not one for being shy about a fight I moved to go help as well.

"You're not going anywhere!" a femme's voice growled from behind me.

Before I could turn to face my attacker I was tackled from behind, my face smashed into the hard icy ground. My head was yanked back and then smashed down hard again this time dazing me.

"You're her friend…I never forget an energy signature!" the femme snarled into my audio receptor. "Any friend of hers is a dead one!"

"GET AWAY FROM HER, THUNDERBLAST!" Elita yelled and the weight on my back was gone a moment later.

Looking up in a haze to see what was going on. I saw Elita and a Decepticon femme in a vicious fight. Fingers raked against armor causing sparks to fly. Feet kicked hard denting the others armor. They growled, grunted and wrestled until Elita was flung hard to the ground with Thunderblast grinning over her.

"How does it feel losing one you love? Did it hurt your spark the way mine hurt when you killed my brother?!" the Decepticon femme asked pointing her weapon at my friend.

Before I could even get up or before Elita could answer two colorful streaks of red and orange blew by attacking Thunderblast. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, despite being goofballs, were excellent front line warriors and made quick work of incapacitating her.

"You ok?" a mech said, his hand appearing before my face.

"Thanks, Bumblebee," I said as he helped me to my feet. My attention returned to Ironhide since Elita was now ok. He was back up on his feet. Both him and Prowl were busy with Megatron.

"Wait! You're injured!"

"It's only a scratch," I said, smacking his hand away. I shook my head to shake of the grogginess.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Elita asked after she came over.

"I could ask the same of you," I countered.

"I'm fine," Elita answered.

"Think Megatron would be pissed at us for kicking his femme's aft?!" Sunny asked, grinning.

A loud roar echoed across the battlefield.

"I take that as a yes," Sides replied.

"Ratchet!" Bumblebee shouted. "Great…check on Chromia, she's injured."

"I'm fine!" I growled making the yellow bot cringe.

"No time anyway! Where's Prowl?" the CMO asked.

All of us turned towards the last direction we'd seen Prowl. Ironhide was down on the ground again. And Prowl…well Megatron had just hurled our second in command through the air.

"Let's go guys!" Bumblebee shouted as he ran off.

Sunny and Sides chased after him. The three of them were heading straight for Megatron. Ratchet and Elita started running towards the area where it'd look like Prowl was going to crash land. I went straight for Ironhide who was struggling to get to his feet.

"Hide…"

"I'm ok," he huffed out, using me to hold himself up. "We can't do it, Mia. Prowl's battle plan was perfectly sound. Only we're missing on vital component…Optimus."

"Shh, we're holding our own," I cooed to him, feeling the utter sadness within him through our bond.

"Optimus was our foundation, the glue the held us together. Through the will of his spark alone we were inspired to fight beyond our capabilites."

"There is still hope…you just have to believe."

"Hope?" he questioned looking deeply into my optics. "Kacey was our hope. Hope that our future was secure even if Optimus went down. With both of them dying…what hope is there? Who will make us believe in ourselves?"

"Our sparklings," I answered through my tears. "Because if we fail in this battle we fail them. And I for one am not going to let a fraggin 'Con get their grimy fingers on my sparklings! Now, do I need to pull that stubborn head out of your aft to get you going?"

"No, Ma'am," he smirked, priming up his cannons. "Let's do this."

"This is Prowl, fall back! Everyone fall back to! Even you Ironhide…that's an order!"

Ironhide growled. He was ready to really hand it to the 'Cons.

"We'd better go," he said, grabbing my hand.

"Hide, what is it?" I asked.

"I don't know. Prowl's not talking."

"HIDE!" Sunny screamed.

We both turned. Ironhide took off running, cannons firing. Megatron was standing over Bumblebee ready to crush the scout with his massive foot.

Megatron

I ordered two of my most trusted officers to tend to Thunderblast while I continued to battle. No way was I leaving this fight for my femme even though I loved her deeply. Perhaps if she were dying the maybe I'd spare a moment. Otherwise my place was on the battlefield. The war and my eventual reign over the universe were more important than a femme or even my son.

With that in mind, I easily tossed aside the three Autobots that came at me. Not one of them posed a serious threat to me. However, I was going to make sure to offline Bumblebee this time. He was an annoying pest that kept me from acquiring the All Spark back on Cybertron. I knew how much he meant to all the Autobots, especially my brother. His death would be an added bonus to that of my brother's today!

However, before I could smash him into tiny bits with my foot Ironhide's cannon fire grazed of the size of my helm, distracting me. I roared and immediately whirling my mace towards him obliterating the cannon on his right arm. The mech howled in pain when one of his favorite weapons exploded in a ball of fire.

I laughed when the big mech fell.

I couldn't help it.

The Autobots were nothing without their beloved leader! Even now they worked quickly to gather their wounded and retreat like the cowards they all really were. I graciously allowed them this brief reprieve for it would be their last.

"That's it…RUN!" I shouted at them. "Enjoy the last few moments of your miserable existence while you can!"

I turned to my Decepticons and was greeted by a triumphant deafening cheer!

"ALL HAIL MEGATRON!!" many of them shouted which lead to more cheers.

"Soundwave, order our troops to cease fire and prepare for a final assault."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Is there anyone in universe who would stand against me?"

"No, Lord Megatron!" they all answered, fists raised high into the air.

"IS THERE ONE AMONGST YOU THAT WILL CHALLENGE ME?" I shouted at the cliff face, my voice echoing. I grinned looking at all the smoldering corpses on the battlefield at the cliff's base. Thick smoke wafted over them as a cold wind blew over the landscape. "IS THERE ONE WHO WILL CHALLENGE THE MIGHT OF MEGATRON?!"

Silence.

Nothing but silence.

I grinned, turning back to my troops. I wasn't expecting an answer. I was simply enjoying this moment. A moment I'd been waiting for. Finally, my place as ruler of the universe would be solidified!

"I will challenge you, Megatron!"

I whirled around at the all too familiar sound of that baritone voice. My optics narrowed, scanning the thick smoke and not seeing anything. My audio receptors however could hear the heavy footfalls marching slowly, getting closer and closer until finally the massive mech emerged. My processor nearly glitched in disbelief at what my optics were seeing.

"Optimus!" I gasped.

So, what did you think of that?! Ha, I loved writing it! I hope you loved reading it!