Disclaimer: That's more like it. Nice to know I got a few supporters here and there. Could use a few more but beggers can't be choosers. Again, I'm skipping the disclaimer part and getting right into the next chapter.
Chapter VII
Autobot Headquarters
08:15 hrs.
The situation at Autobot Headquarters became far direr as the new day dawned. Defensor was already defeated, having disengaged into the five Protectobots. Superion was still fighting, but it was a losing battle. Bruticus and Menasor repeatedly pounded the Autobot gestalt back and forth between them. Each and every blow found its mark. It didn't matter where the blows landed, as long as it wore Superion down. Superion wouldn't stop fighting and attempted a wild strike at Menasor. He missed and Menasor took hold of him. Bruticus pulled out his big weapon and aimed right at Superion. All that was needed was one big shot. Then a sudden boom came from the distance. Ignoring it, Bruticus refocused his careful aim. Out of nowhere, Bruticus was struck from behind by a heavy blast. From the sky, a large rocket appeared. At its side was a much small red and silver high tech jet. The rocket fired on Bruticus once it was in range, striking the gestalt in the knee joint. The jet ignited its afterburners and sped toward the giant. It fired on Bruticus, striking the giant at varying point of his body. Eventually, the jet caught the giant in his one weak point.
"Bulls-eye!" Skyfire exclaimed as he flew right passed the fallen gestalt.
As was to be expected from past examples, Bruticus disengaged in the five Combaticons components. They tumbled to the ground in random heaps, falling on top of each other. The commotion distracted Menasor long enough for Superion to break free. He flipped the Stunticon giant up and over his head. Menasor landed hard onto the great landscape with a might crash, missing most of the Combaticons save for Brawl. The rest of the group fired on the oncoming rocket, which finally set down to the ground in front of them. A hatch opened and a yellow figure opened fire on the group. From there, Sunstreaker scored a direct hit on Vortex and then Onslaught. Then he jumped toward the ground, transforming in midair and raced passed the Combaticons toward the base. He was unaware that Brawl had recovered and then transformed and followed. Menasor rose to his feet and attempted to face down the rocket, but then rocket transformed into Omega Supreme.
In his own form of speech, Omega declared, "Threat assessment; Menasor, Stunticon gestalt. Recommendation; component disengagement."
Menasor, whose own speech wasn't that much different, motioned to Omega Supreme and simply stated, "Bring it on!"
Sunstreaker raced through the halls of the mountain base in search of Sideswipe. He eventually found his twin brother, along with Beachcomber. Sunstreaker transformed and approached the duo, and then spotted the mangled remains of Trailbreaker. Sideswipe was no worse off. His body was burned and some of the paint was faded, probably from some random explosion. Beachcomber appeared to have his right arm dangling at his side and the gray paint on his torso was faded.
"You two okay?" Sunstreaker asked.
"We'll live, bro," Sideswipe said. "Trailbreaker wasn't so lucky."
"I noticed!"
"Where're those reinforcements?" Beachcomber asked.
"Optimus Prime's got the situation handled in the city, and Omega Supreme's duking it out with Menasor." Sunstreaker informed.
Beachcomber suddenly shot right up. "Look out!" he shouted, moments before being blown in half by the giant tank that was Brawl.
Immediately, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe returned fire on the Combaticon. Brawl transformed to robot mode and fired back on them, forcing the brothers to take cover. The brothers fired back, but their attacks were hardly slowing down Brawl. Then Sunstreaker noticed a severed pipeline nearby, and Brawl was unknowingly approaching it. He alerted Sideswipe to this and acting quickly, the brothers fired on the pipeline and scored a direct hit. The pipeline exploded right in Brawl's face, scorching his right shoulder, torso and face. Blinded, Brawl had no choice but to fall back.
Impressed by his brother's aim, Sunstreaker declare aloud, "That's right! You'd batter run, Decepti-bitch! You don't screw with the Autobot brothers!"
"Hope their doing as well in the city!" Sideswipe said.
"Don't worry, bro," Sunstreaker said. "Prime's got Megatron's number!"
"I hope you're right, Sunstreaker."
Sunstreaker appeared ever confident, but in the back of his mind, he thought, So do I!
Among the ruined walls and rising pillars of smokes of fire, Megatron led his Decepticon forces further into the city. This siege was almost over, and the Autobots were nearly defeated, this much Megatron knew. But as the invaders moved through the city, the sound of a high powered engine alerted them. It was too familiar a sound for Megatron to ignore and he turned toward where the sound originated. The source emerged from a corner as a massive red tractor trailer came racing right for the Decepticons. Knowing full well that Optimus Prime was coming for him, Megatron advanced ahead. The rest of the Decepticons fell behind, and some even turned to spot the big rig driving right at them. Optimus Prime didn't even slow down, instead proceeding to plow right through the Decepticon ranks. Thrust was the first unlucky victim as he tried to launch into the air just as Prime bared down on him. He was indeed launched to be sure, by Prime, up and over the big trailer. Kickback and Bombshell stopped short and fired on the Prime, only to knocked aside. Kickback got the worst of the hit and run. Prime then centered on Blitzwing but the Triple Changer just barely avoided the collision. Ignoring him, Optimus Prime roared on toward the rest of the Decepticons. The invaders stopped and turned back toward the oncoming rig and fired on it. The shots only barely grazed the rig, although the red paint faded where it was struck. Still, Optimus Prime didn't slow down but instead sped up. A set of boosters ignited beneath the rig, launching it into the air. Optimus Prime transformed in mid flight, plasma rifle in hand and ready to rain fire down on the hapless Decepticons.
Among the group, Barricade was quick to exclaim, "We're screwed." With that, he transformed and raced away.
Ignoring the cowardly racer, Optimus Prime fired from up above at the Decepticons. Ramjet was the first to taste the sting on Prime's rifle, being blasted in the chest. Thundercracker was wiped out next, then Soundwave and Bombshell. Optimus Prime landed with both feet on the steel ground and fired away the remaining invaders, making quick work of Dirge and Kickback. An explosion briefly distracted Prime, and he soon spotted two dual barreled tanks coming for him. Demolisher and Wreckage fired heavy shots, but Prime had a much larger gun in his arsenal. The giant trailer that made up the bulk of his vehicle mode transformed into its non-sentient, mobile platform mode. As Demolisher and Wreckage advanced, Prime gave to command and the platform fired its main gun. On instinct, Wreckage transformed and dodged the blast. Demolisher wasn't so quick to do the same. The result of the blast literally sheered his tank form in half.
"That was my buddy," exclaimed a distressed Wreckage.
Intent on avenging his fallen friend, Wreckage attempted a cheap shot from afar but Prime beat him to the punch (so to speak.) Seconds later, Wreckage was blasted and sent flying backward across the field. The situation was going so far, so good for Prime. That was until his mobile platform exploded. Prime gazed toward the sky and spotted the massive helicopter form of Blackout. Undaunted, Prime fired on the helicopter, catching it on its underside. Blackout transformed in midair, landing directly across the field from Prime. The hulking Decepticon unleashed the pieces of his vehicle form that made up the rotor blades, which began spinning rapidly in his right arm. Tossing his plasma rifle aside, Optimus Prime activated his energon axe as Blackout charged. Closing the distance between himself and the Autobot leader, Blackout swung his weapon and missed wildly as Prime hopped back. He swung again and missed as Prime parried to the side, and again as Prime ducked beneath. Prime scored a direct slash to Blackout's abdomen, sparks flying from the wound. Blackout tried to strike back but simply couldn't catch the much faster Optimus. It wasn't long before Optimus Prime found a new opening and sliced off Blackout's arm, rotor blades and all and then grabbed hold the Decepticon's head. In one quick move, Optimus cleaved Blackout's head clean off and allowed the body to crumple to the ground. The severed head bounced nearby.
"I'm taking you down, Prime!" shouted the oncoming vehicle form of Barricade.
Optimus Prime readied himself, waiting for the vehicle to reach him. Barricade closed the distance and was mere centimeters from Prime, who had parried to the right. That was the moment for Prime to strike. Swiftly, Prime cut Barricades wheels out from under him. Barricade shrieked, transformed and utterly crashed and burned into a wall. As Prime righted himself, the giant wasp that was Ransack attempted an attack, only to be cut down. With no Decepticon fodder left to challenge him, Optimus Prime refocused his attention to one thing.
"Megatron!" he shouted.
As if waiting in the wings, Megatron appeared on a platform above his sworn enemy. "Prime!"
"This conflict has gone on for too long," Prime said. "It must end now, with the two of us. Here and now; one shall stand, one shall fall!"
"I agree that this must end, but I must ask you, Prime," Megatron said. "Why throw away your life so recklessly?"
"That's a question you should ask yourself, Megatron." Prime stated with determination.
"Poetic, but no," Megatron snarled. "I'll crush you with my bare hands."
No further banter was exchanged between the leaders of two warring factions. Megatron made the first move, leaping from his perch and toward his rival. Optimus Prime braced himself, and then metal crashed onto metal. The rivals tumbled onto die-cast constructed ground, causing an even louder clang. They tumble over each as they rolled across the ground, each of them trying to gain the early upper hand. Megatron won out and mounted Prime and rammed his steel fist into Prime's face mask. Prime endured and turned over so Megatron was underneath him. He delivered his own heavy hit. Megatron turned back and landed another blow, and then picked up Prime by the shoulders and threw him right over his own. Prime was slammed hard into the steel ground but was back up right away. Megatron charged and threw a wild right hook, then a left one and then a roundhouse. Prime caught the kick and as hard as he managed, lifted and threw Megatron clear across the battle field. The momentum sent Megatron flying, and his body slammed into the ground repeatedly before coming to a sudden stop into a wall.
"Getting slow, Megatron!" exclaimed Optimus Prime.
"I've only just begun, Prime!" Megatron said back, and soon he picked up a fallen steel shard.
Optimus Prime failed to see the shard and charged head long at Megatron. Megatron quickly tossed the shard hard enough that it could've broken the sound barrier. It broke something, that being Prime's left side and became embedded into the steel. A level down from that which Prime and Megatron stood, Hotrod spotted the conflict. He could clearly see Megatron readying his fusion cannon. Hastily, he made his way up the nearest stairway. The other Autobots, Kup, Arcee, Breakaway and Springer were too late to stop him.
"Hotrod, what are you doing?" Arcee asked.
"I've gotta help Optimus!" Hotrod shouted back.
"Don't be stupid, lad," Kup tried in vain to reason with Hotrod. "Stay out of it; that's Prime's fight."
Megatron aimed his fusion cannon straight ahead and fired. The fire missed Optimus Prime completely and dissipated into something. Optimus noticed Megatron trying to recover from the recoil and took the moment to strike. Reigniting his energon axe, the image of Blackout falling to it still fresh in his mind, Optimus Prime charged. Megatron aimed again but Optimus had gotten beneath him. One second later, the cannon was severed and one the ground. Optimus then caught Megatron off guard with an extremely strong punch to the face. Megatron was slammed right back into the wall, which was already marked by the depression of his heavy form. Optimus backed away and quick removed the shard, leaving a puncture wound. Megatron saw a chance to strike with Prime caught up with his wound, and found a displaced energon dagger on the ground. He charged immediately and slashed at Prime, missing the first time but striking the second time. The strike was on the energon axe, causing the melee weapon to become useless, though Prime's hand remained intact. Megatron attacked again, this time slashing at the already open wound of Prime's torso. Prime instinctively reached for the wound which was surging with electricity and leaking oil.
"Hurts, doesn't it, Prime?"
Optimus Prime wasn't about to give Megatron the benefit of an answer. Surprisingly, Megatron tossed the dagger aside and morphed his hand into a glowing purple energon mace. The favorite melee weapon of Megatron, as Optimus Prime had come to learn over the centuries. Optimus Prime staggered back as Megatron swung the chained weapon to and fro. Each swing was meant to force Optimus back further and further toward where the steel ground ended. A pitfall awaited behind him, and Optimus knew it. Megatron knew it. He swung his mace directly for Prime's head, which Prime ducked under. He swung again, each time inching Optimus Prime closer to the edge. Then Megatron swung his mace right into the ground, forcing Optimus Prime to hop backward several inches. As he did, his leg slipped over the side, yet he was just barely able to right himself.
Megatron was relishing this, and all he needed was one last, good, clean shot. "What was it you once said at the outset of this war, Prime? Freedom is the right of all sentient beings," Megatron mocked his ages old nemesis. He spun his mace above his head and said, "Well, feel free to fall before me!"
Leave it to you, Megatron, to let your arrogance dictate your next action. Prime thought, knowing Megatron as well as he did.
Megatron charged head on, as Optimus Prime predicted he would. In a flash, the Autobot leader ducked beneath his Decepticon foe, and surprised him with an energon sword. Megatron didn't expect this, and it cost him. Optimus Prime slashed away, first severely damaging and shorting out the mace, and then slashing at Megatron's upper body. Bits and pieces of die cast steel flew into the air. Optimus Prime then landed as hard and as vicious an uppercut that any Cybertronian, Autobot or Decepticon, living or dead, could manage. The blow landed on Megatron's face, rocking him and throwing him all the way back to level ground. The lack of balance on his part caused Megatron to hit the ground hard. Optimus Prime, ignoring the searing pain of his abdominal wound, charged onward toward the fallen Decepticon leader. From the ground, Megatron tried to trip up Optimus but Optimus rocketed into the air but as he returned to ground, Megatron caught directly with a swift dual kick. The kick met the steel faceplate that had covered Optimus Prime's face for millennia, while also knocking him to the ground. The impact ultimately shattered it, exposing the lower half of Prime's face, scorch marks over the mouth. Not since his days as Orion Pax had his face been fully exposed. Orion Pax. He remembered that life so well. So did the now upright Megatron, seeing as he was responsible for ending that life. Irony became apparent; Megatron destroyed Orion Pax then, and yet was instrumental in creating Optimus Prime, indirectly or not. It was a mistake Megatron intended to rectify right now. He charged and tackled Optimus Prime, yet neither faltered. They entered into a brutal stalemate, a crippling battle of sheer determination. Then it appeared that Megatron would win out, even reaching for Prime's face.
"I'll rip out your optics!" he snarled.
"Not today, Megatron. Not ever!" Optimus Prime snarled back.
With all his might, Optimus Prime drove his knee into Megatron's chassis, and then did the same with his heavy steel fists. Megatron fought back with a series of blows. It was a close quarters battle of wills, with each taking blow after blow but neither faltering. Winning the battle of attrition, Optimus Prime grasped Megatron by his neck and threw him clear across the battle field. Megatron across from Prime, his body scraping across the ground and leaving depressions in his wake before coming to a halt. Optimus Prime sank to a knee, exhausted as was Megatron. Both suffered unimaginable damaged that would've put any lower tiered Cybertronian offline. Regardless, it was Optimus Prime with the advantage. He limped over and recovered his discarded plasma rifle and slowly approached Megatron. Megatron was struggling to rise and caught sight of Prime, half his face scarred from the fall. Prime had his rifle trained on Megatron. One shot was all that was need. Just one shot!
Across from the battlefield, Hotrod watched and waited for his chance to strike. Yet, he had no idea how the battle would unfold in the next several cycles. Nor did he even know how his own actions come into play.
Author's note: Another chapter done, and the battle ends next chapter. Let me know how I'm doing so far.