Disclaimer: I'm still here and I ain't going anywhere! I guess I really shouldn't be surprised by how few reviews this story has gotten so far, being that it's a written version of a 1986 movie. No biggie; I'm not gonna complain. Anyway, I don't own the rights to Transformers. Thankfully, neither does Michael Bay!

Chapter IV

Autobot City; Oregon Mountains
15:48 hrs.

A silver semi-cab towing a red and blue vehicle transport rolled through the die-cast laden roads of a city under siege. At its right was a fast moving light and dark blue hover car, and at its left was a pink sport car. A green attack helicopter hovered above the unusual group of vehicles even as gunfire and explosions rained down around them. The vehicles reached a clearing, where there was only the presence of an oversized red and black stethoscope. The devise had its scope pointed upward at the oncoming army of robots. The convoy of vehicles stopped short and all of them transformed into their respective bipedal form. The stethoscope did much the same and joined the group of Autobots, stopping right in from of the tallest one.

"Perceptor, what's the situation?" asked the red and blue Autobot.

"Ultra Magnus, I've completed a cursory evaluation of Decepticon capability versus our own." Perceptor informed.

"And?"

"All results indicate a significant tactical deficiently for our side." Perceptor concluded.

Ultra Magnus, who was never one for details, quickly asked, "Any chance that I can get that in English?"

Before Magnus could receive his answer, the sound of an afterburner was heard from above. The Autobots looked up just in time to spot Thrust flying right toward them. The Autobots Springer and Blur stepped out front and fired on the oncoming Seeker. The shots missed their mark and Thrust quickly fired back. The Autobots barely dodged out of the way just in time as the shot impacted the ground, triggering an explosion. Springer climbed to his knees as did Magnus, while Perceptor, Blur and the female Autobot Arcee recovered.

"I think he means we're outnumbered." Springer stated.

Ultra Magnus reached a nearby console and press several buttons. "This is Autobot City Commander Ultra Magnus calling Autobot Headquarters. If there's anyone reading me, please respond!"

Magnus waited for a response, and the familiar voice of Trailbreaker sounded. "This is Trailbreaker."

"We're pinned down at headquarters and under some heavy bashing from Bruticus and Menasor," Trailbreaker informed. "Superion and Defensor are trying to hold off the 'cons."

Trailbreaker could hear heavy metal slamming against itself from outside the base. Bruticus and Menasor battled Defensor and Superion head to head in vicious combat. They were all evenly matched, beating each other relentlessly and double teaming whenever the chance arose. Still, it didn't seem like Defensor and Superion were making much headway against their Decepticon counterparts.

"We're doing what we can to stay alive, but don't expect reinforcements anytime soon." Trailbreaker said.

Magnus sighed in frustration, "Roger that, Trailbreaker. Just hold the fort as best you can. See if you can get in contact with Omega Supreme."

"Roger that, Ultra Magnus! Trailbreaker over and out."

As soon as Magnus ended the transmission, Arcee asked, "So what's the plan, Magnus?"

"We're passed the point of preparation already. Arcee and Springer, you two transform the city to battle station mode," Magnus turned to Perceptor. "Perceptor, you go meet up with Blaster and Wheeljack in the communication tower. Tell them to send a request to Optimus Prime for reinforcements."

Blur, the fastest Autobot of the group, wasn't about to be left out of the loop. "What-about-me-Magnus? What-can-I-do? What-should-I-do-to-help? I-can-help-I-wanna-help. Tell-me-what-I-can-do-help. What-about-me?"

On instinct, or the Autobot equivalent of instinct, Ultra Magnus put his hands up and said, "First of all, Blur; slow your speech to about a thousand words a minute. And second; you can help me round up any other Autobots in the city for battle."

Blur saluted and very swiftly stated, "I-can-do-that-no-problem-whatsoever. You-can-count-on-me Ultra-Magnus. Nobody-can-get-the-job-done-faster-than-I-can."

"Same goes for your yammering, Blur!" Springer exclaimed.

"Cut the chatter, Autobots," Magnus ordered. "We all have our assignments, so let's get it done."

With that, Ultra Magnus and Blur transformed into their respective vehicle forms and raced away. Perceptor hitched a ride on Magnus' trailer before the giant transport sped off. The blue hover car followed, leaving behind a series of after images. Only Springer and Arcee remained when they heard what sounded like thunder passing overhead. They gazed up at a small squad of Decepticon Seekers passing by before dispersing.

"We won't last long just standing around, Arcee," Springer stated. "Let's get the city up to speed."

Arcee nodded but then looked out passed the city parameter. "Wait, Springer! I think I see Hotrod and Kup coming down from the mountains."

Springer joined Arcee and looked toward where she was looking. He was also to make out the images of a bright red and orange car and a blue pickup. It was Hotrod and Kup to be sure. Unfortunately, Springer and Arcee could also make out Thundercracker, Skywarp and Ramjet shooting at them. They also spotted Barricade behind them on the road.

"Kup, Hotrod, it's Springer! Can you hear me?"

"We're a little busy at the moment, Springer," Kup responded. "We got Decepticons shooting up our tailpipes."

"Well, you'd better get here fast," Springer said. "We're about to transform the city into battle station mode."

"Do you hear that, Hotrod," Arcee asked. "You'll be trapped outside if you don't make it to the city."

In the mountains well out of range of the city, Hotrod and Kup raced across the road with the three Seekers tailing them in the air and the racer on the road. "Don't wait for us, Arcee," Hotrod urged her. "We'll find a way in if the city's closed off."

"But Hotrod…" Arcee started.

"We'll make it, Arcee," Hotrod stated. "I swear to Primus we will."

Springer quickly approached Arcee and took her arm. "Arcee, we've got to go right now!"

Arcee quickly pulled away from Springer. "No, we can't leave them out there."

"No choice! They'll have to take care of themselves," Springer again took Arcee by the arm. "Come on!"

Having to forget about Hotrod, even for a little while, was difficult for Arcee to do. But she knew it had to be done. So, she followed Springer to the Autobot City transformation center, which was located only half a mile from their position. It wouldn't have taken them that long to reach if they entered vehicle mode, which they did. Arcee entered her sports car mode while Springer transformed into a bright green hover craft mode similar to that of Blur. Springer was inwardly thankful for being a Triple Changer as he and Arcee raced through the city. As the raced, they caught view of Ultra Magnus and Blur racing toward them, with several other Autobots joining them. Among them were Inferno, Red Alert and Tracks as they sped passed Springer and Arcee. Magnus led the squad to the square, where they were eventually joined Powerglide and Warpath and they all transformed.

"Autobots, keep the Decepticons busy while Arcee and Springer get the defenses up and running." Magnus ordered.

Warpath, ever enthusiastic, declared, "Oh yeah, baby, Gonna blow up some 'cons tonight! Gonna make 'em all go KABLAM!"

The less enthusiastic Red Alert stated, "I knew it; we're all going to die."

Inferno stepped up side by side with Red Alert and declared, "Well, if we go down, Red, we go down fighting. And maybe we'll take some 'cons with us."

"That's what worries me, Inferno."

Magnus was about to shut his troops up when Decepticon fire rained down on them. Surprisingly, Dirge and Slipstream were the only Seekers shooting at them. Magnus and company returned fire and even though they missed their mark, they did manage to throw off the Seekers' aim. But then Decepticon reinforcements came in the form of Thrust, and Soundwave. That didn't stop the Autobots from fighting back with every circuit in their bodies. The laser fire went back and forth, until Ultra Magnus scored a direct hit on Thrust's left engine. Thrust spiraled uncontrollably toward the ground and quickly transformed mere seconds before crashing to the ground. Warpath and Inferno tried working together to take down Dirge, until Slipstream intervened and fired on them. She managed to strike Inferno in the shoulder and incapacitate him. Warpath covered Inferno while Red Alert tended to him, missing Slipstream completely but striking Dirge. But then more Decepticon reinforcements arrived in the form of two similarly styled, duel barreled Cybertronian tanks.

Blur concurred what Magnus already knew with a very quick, "Oh-oh! This-is-not-good! Very-oh-so-not-good!"

The dual tanks that were Wreckage and Demolisher opened fire on the Autobot squad, while Starscream led the Decepticons in providing added pressure. Magnus and company returned fire, and Magnus managed to strike Demolisher. Wreckage then opened fire on the first Autobot he saw, which happened to be Red Alert. Warpath quickly jumped in front the blast, which literally cut his chest mounted gun barrel in half. Another blast, this time from Demolisher, scored a direct hit on Warpath, leaving him with a gaping hole similar to the one that felled the ill fated Gears. Red Alert watched in horror as Warpath sank to his knees and then crumpled lifelessly to the ground. It distracted him to the point where Soundwave attempted a shot, but then Powerglide made sure that didn't happen. Then he took aim at Soundwave and managed to get a few shots in, then focused on Starscream. All it really did was piss him off. He took aim and fired again, ultimately sheering off the Autobots' right wing. Powerglide managed to transform but it was all for naught, as Slipstream finished him off. Demolisher and Wreckage returned their collective wrath on the remaining Autobots, in doing so taking out Red Alert and Inferno.

"Autobots, fall back into the city." Ultra Magnus ordered as he, Blur and Tracks escaped back into the city.

Megatron finally arrived on the scene and ordered, "Finish them!" Then his forces were stopped dead by the appearance of a giant, triple barreled cannon.

Deep within the city walls, Springer and Arcee worked frantically to transform the city into battle station mode. The gamble paid off, as the entire city shifted and changed shaped right before the Decepticon invaders. Die-cast walls shifted in different positions. Giant turrets rose high above the city as Decepticons flew in between towers. As expected the turrets began opening fire on any target that crossed their sightings. Springer and then Arcee began racing across the city streets, all the while being spotted by the Decepticons. Megatron sneered at the two Autobots in anger upon realizing that they were the cause of this turn of events.

"Starscream, Slipstream, destroy the Autobot scum."

In arrogance, Starscream declared, "I didn't hear a please!"

Megatron glared menacingly at Starscream, who simply smirked before transforming into his F-15 jet form and diving toward the Autobots. Slipstream transformed into a Cybertronian jet and followed. Springer and Arcee had to move quickly, due to the fact that the walls were literally closing in on them. Add to that the fact that two Decepticon Seekers were closing rapidly on them, and that made for a desperate fight for survival. As if it wasn't desperate enough already! Upon closing some reasonable distance, Starscream and Slipstream opened fire on Springer and Arcee. The two Autobots had to pick up the pace as the path was closing fast, followed by the wall.

"Move, Arcee," Springer shouted. "We've got to get clear of these walls."

"What do you think I'm doing, Springer?" Arcee sarcastically asked.

Starscream closed in further on the duo, even dangerous descending below the walls. "There's no way out, Auto-fools!"

Ultimately, Springer and Arcee proved Starscream wrong and just barely manage to escape into another area. Starscream transformed right then and there. In a cruel twist of irony, he found himself about to be trapped inside the closing walls. In desperation, Starscream launched himself into the sky as fast as his thrusters to carry him. He almost made it, but his right leg was caught in the die-cast steel. Starscream pulled on his leg as hard as he could without ripping it off but it wouldn't budge. Slipstream transformed in mid air and watched in amusement as Starscream tried to pry himself loose.

"Slipstream, help me!" Starscream pleaded.

Callously, Slipstream mimicked Starscream's previous words to Megatron, "I didn't hear a please! Then, she aimed and fired directly at Starscream's leg.

The shot indeed freed Starscream from his predicament but also left a gaping hole in his leg. "My leg, you scrap metal bitch!"

Megatron looked on with amusement, or lack there of, before spotting several Autobots racing across a bridge toward the one remaining open gate. The Autobots turned out to be Hoist, Huffer and Pipes. Megatron immediately opened fire on the three Autobots with the ruthless intent of blowing them the bridge. Huffer transformed into his bipedal form and fired back, hoping to cover Hoist and Pipes or at the very least bye them time to get clear. It was a simple distraction that saw Huffer score several hits on Megatron, though the shots proved to be more annoying to the Decepticon leader. Regardless, Hoist and Pipes made it inside the city, but Huffer wasn't so fortunate. As he tried to follow, Megatron scored his own, more devastating hits, sending Huffer tumbling off the bridge to the river below. The gate was already closed by the time Megatron refocused on it, and his ranged attacks were met with resistance.

Now fuming, Megatron called out, "Venom, Ransack: breach their defenses!"

As if on cue, two new Insecticons appeared. Ransack appeared in the form of a wasp hovering down from the sky while Venom appeared to resemble a tarantula crawling up from the rocky slopes. As was expected from any insect themed Decepticon, Venom and Ransack began gnawing on the gate. They ripped bit after bit of die cast steel from the gate until all that remained was a gaping hole. As a defense mechanism, the bridge began to retract from the gate, taking Venom with it. Meanwhile, Hotrod and Kup were speeding toward the city when they spotted the Insecticons.

"Scrap, those damn Insecticons are in the way," Kup shouted. "We'll have to find another way in."

"Don't bother," Hotrod shouted back. "Already got a way in! Hang on, Daniel. It's gonna be a little rough!"

"What're you gonna do, Hotrod?" Daniel asked, as he didn't know. But he did know.

Almost immediately after, Kup said, "Oh you're kidding me, kid!"

Hotrod gunned his engine and sped down the trail toward the city, with Kup doing the same and tailing. Inside the bright red vehicle, Daniel braced himself for whatever Hotrod was planning. They weren't alone. The three Decepticon Seekers continued their relentless pursuit from the air, while Barricade followed on the ground. Making matters worse, a hulking black and gray attack helicopter with the Decepticon insignia hovered over the bridge and fired away. Hotrod and Kup picked up speed as Blackout fired on them. Barricade did the same. On the bridge, Venom instinctively threw his front legs up in defense, but it wasn't enough to stop Hotrod. In a flash, Hotrod literally used the Insecticon as a catapult to launch across the widening gap. Ransack, who was hovering in the air, just barely avoided being swatted by the momentarily airborne vehicle. Meanwhile, Kup was also fast approaching and did the exact same thing Hotrod had done. Only with not as much finesse! Kup was catapulted into the air all while crushing Venom beneath his wheels and knocking Ransack out of the sky. Barricade sped up hard and fast. Too fast! He used the already mangle Insecticon as a catapult but he ended up slamming into Blackout. The resultant collision sent both of the them to the ground. Meanwhile, the Seekers closed in but were suddenly forced to ditch. Thundercracker and Ramjet pulled up just in time and rose back toward the sky. Skywarp tried to follow but misjudged his trajectory, and his afterburners grazed the wall. Ultimately, Skywarp crashed landed on the city streets below. Ground side, Barricade and Blackout recovered and Barricade punched his larger cohort in the chassis.

"What in the Pit's wrong with you, Blackout? You let 'em right by you," Barricade chastised Blackout, who simply remained silent. "Say something, you idiot!"

In a single motion, Blackout bashed Barricade right in the face. "You talk too much!" he finally said in a low tone.

Inside the city, Hotrod and Kup transformed as a secondary door closed behind them. "Daniel, you okay?" Hotrod asked.

Daniel was down on a knee catching his breath. "I'm good, Hotrod! but that was insane. Can we do it again?"

"Maybe later!"

"That was pretty stupid, lad! Brave and even a little ingenious, but stupid." Kup reprimanded the younger Autobot.

Hotrod shrugged and stated, "It worked, didn't it?"

Hoist and Pipes appeared and approached the two Autobots. "Kup, Hotrod, are you guys alright?" Pipes asked.

"We're okay, but what about you two?" Kup wondered.

"We're alright, but Huffer didn't make it," Hoist pointed out. "Decepticons are everywhere."

"Duh!" Hotrod exclaimed.

Kup glared at Hotrod before telling Hoist, "Hoist, you and Pipes see if you can rendezvous with Ultra Magnus. We'll see if we can find Springer."

"You got it, Kup," Hoist said. "Good luck!"

"Likewise!" Kup told Pipes and Hoist before they headed off.

Hotrod grabbed Kup by his arm and exclaimed, "What're we waiting for, Kup? We've got to find Arcee and Springer."

"Relax, lad. We'll find them!"

"I sure hope so!" Hotrod said, at the same time thinking to himself, She'd better be alive!

Author's note: Another chapter finished. The most obvious difference between and the movie was what Ultra Magnus and Blur were up to behind the scene. Another difference was the brief mention of the gestalt battle. I'll see about developing that further in the next chapter. Also, we've been introduced to Venom and Ransack. Now, I'm aware that in the toy line, these two were a cicada and a grasshopper. But I chose to make them into a tarantula and a wasp, obviously a reference to their Beast Wars counterpart. Then there's Blur rapid speech, probably the hardest part of the whole chapter, and the city battle isn't as one sided this time.

Anyway, let me know how I'm doing so far.