Chapter 11
When Sam had been thirteen and had passed the required tests to earn his trainers license his grandfather had been more than happy to sign the papers that would allow him to become a traveling trainer for a year. When Sam had asked him why the older man had simply smiled at him before handing him a small box. His grandfather had told him why while the older man was escorting him to one of the trainer paths that would lead him to the next town.
"When I was young I travel for a year and your mother traveled for three or four. We travel so that we can build our team and learn. It is during this journey that you will find your pillar and learn to control your empathic abilities with their help."
It hadn't happened however. Three months into his journey he'd gotten word that his grandfather had fallen ill and he'd gone home. His team had been to bigger than it had been when he'd left. In fact the only change that had really come to his team at all had been Mojo evolution into an Arcanine and Alexis's evolution into an Ivysaur.
He'd found no pokémon that he felt were right for his team and no pillar to help him learn how to control his abilities as an empath. When he'd gotten back home his grandfather had been too sick to run the preserve. So Sam had taken up the task of learning everything that he could. His grandfather had help him to learn what he would need to know and had pled Sam's case to the league when they'd worried about the property and the pokémon there.
So Sam had taken the rest of his traveling year and learned what others were willing to teach him. By the time his grandfather had died the League and town counsel had come to an agreement on what to do with both him and his home. He'd get to keep his home and live there by himself provided that he went back to school and kept his grades up. The league would send him small cases to help him earn money and work on his abilities. Sam had accepted what they'd given him as the only option and rose to the challenge as best he could. Five rehab pokémon at a time at most as well as fifteen baby pokémon and fifteen unhatched eggs.
So long as he did his jobs and did them well then the League would leave him to it. He was of course expected to go to the collage that they chose for him and get a proper degree for his work after high school but that was a given. A degree in therapy, both physical and mental, for pokémon would get him better cases than broken bones and light abuse or abandonment cases. So as long as he was a good boy they would take him home away and keep it locked up until they though he'd be able to hand it.
The League knew of his family and of their history, or at least most of it, and they didn't want to take the preserve away from the family that had always owned it and lived there. The wild pokémon there trusted them because they'd always been able to and to pull Sam out and place a stranger there would more than likely cause problems. So Sam had his deal and his home and lived with the things he didn't much care for.
He sucked it up and did what was necessary to keep his home safe like his parents and grandfather had done for years and his ancestors for even longer. He'd protect his home and the pokémon there with everything he had even if it meant that he had to fight a war that wasn't his own.
A monstrous shadow loomed over him as he ran. Ironhide offering protection from anything that wanted to stop his made dash down the length of the street before him. The two of them passed cars. many of them were empty while some had been brushed under big feet or had caught fire. The sharp sound of a pulse blast filled the air moments before Ironhide was struck. The mech was thrown off of his feet and into one of the buildings nearest to him.
And while Lennox's words still range clear in his head his orders had been quite unnecessary. Sam had no intention of stopping. Running was the only thing that he could do to keep both himself and the Allspark in his arms safe. If running was what was going to keep them safe then he'd run until his legs bucked and threw him to the ground. And when that happened he'd get up and run some more.
When an F-22 rocketed down the street behind him to to transform into Starscream and block his way Sam only stopped for a moment. His eyes darted as he looked around him before he started running for a narrower side street. There was more than one way to get where he was going. Behind him Starscream sneered and aimed his weapon before firing. Sam shouted and stumbled as the blast tore into the brick, stone, and asphalt around him. The strike hadn't hit him but it had caused him to stumble and slow slightly.
"You are not gonna get me." Sam repeated to himself as he ran. His nerves finally rattled enough for the old and unbreakable habit to make itself known. From the window of a nearby restaurant terrified people and pokémon watched as the Decepticons tore up the adjacent city block. Even the few trainers that were among the group wouldn't had been able to do much. Their pokémon were trained to fight others of their kind and help defend from other humans. They stood no chance against the metal monstrosities that were tearing apart the city.
To face them would surly mean death. They were momentarily distracted however when a red faced teenager ran by the restaurants window. They watched as he dodged between still cars before falling to the ground as a large foot struck the road next to him. Screams erupted from the terrified group as one of the flattened cars was tossed in their direction. The narrower street and his own small size worked to Sam's advantage as he ran.
Blackout brought his foot down once again just barley missing his small target as the human ran. Sam cringed. He needed to find a place where he could hide so that he could get away from his current pursuer. After he managed that then he'd be able to make his way to the rooftop of the building that Lennox had told him to get to. The big question was: Where?
ooo
On the street that Sam had already left behind the battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron still raged. Neither of them were willing to give up the fight that was raging between them. Megatron snarled at his brother before taking a step back and transforming his arms into one of his favorite weapons. The pulse blast that was fired was strong enough to send Optimus flying backwards down the length of the city street.
Lennox winced as he watched Megatron go after his opponent. He was extremely grateful that he and his men were being virtually ignored by the fighting robots even if it was just for the moment. It gave him time to grab hold of Epps' shirt and get his attention. Lennox spun the other man around and pointed to the building that he'd sent Sam running off to.
"Tell the Black Hawks to meet the kid up on the roof!" Lennox said. There was no need for him to add the unspoken: "If he makes it." Epps nodded and went to work on the CB radio.
"Army Black Hawks request immediate evac for civilian boy carrying precious cargo. Subject headed to highest rooftop in immediate vicinity of area of combat."
Ignored by all those around her except for the down Bumblebee, Mikaela broke the driver's side window out of the toe truck she'd been looking at before Sam had run off with the Allspark in his arms. When she climbed inside she'd been hoping find that the vehicle's owner had left his keys behind. Sadly that wasn't the reality of her situation.
Not that a lack of keys was going to stop her. The piece of concrete that she'd used to break the window worked just a well when it came to getting her to trucks ignition assembly. Agile fingers and teeth were used to strip wires. Not a minute later the truck roared to life around her. Looking over her soldier Mikaela threw the truck into reverse and began backing up.
ooo
The office building that Lennox had directed him to was in the middle of reconstruction. There floor was littered with what ever the constructors had been using the last time they'd been working and so there was no furniture to get in Sam's way as he ran. The elevator, Sam noted with annoyance, was also being worked on so there would be no using it to get to the top of the building faster. So his first option having been taken away from him Sam fell back onto the only other option that was available to him.
The stares. As he bolted up the first flight the building around him shook from the force of the explosions that were going on outside.
"This isn't so bad." Sam whispered to himself as he ran up the stares. It was no worse than being forced to run the bleachers in gym class at school. Sam stumbled as the floor beneath him shook. It shook with good reason for a metal skull had just crashed through the floor surmounted. Dark red eyes followed Sam as he ran up the stares.
A single hand tipped with five claw like fingers tore through the stares before him and Sam was forced to jump to the next landing. When Sam stumbled through the door that led to the rooftop he had a small moment of relieved. The rooftop was empty with only a few stray boxes and other small debriefs to navigate.
Sam's fingers fumbled with the flair and he nearly dropped it before he could try and get it to go off. He was halfway across the roof before he managed to get it to ignite. The bright flare of light that shot from the end was an unmistakable sign. It practically screamed "Here I am!". He was sure that everything with working eyes had seen it.
The Black Hawk that had been alerted to his presence was at the side of the building and waiting for him before the flair had fallen back to the earth below. One of the soldiers riding inside had a foot planted on the skid facing the roof. The arm that wasn't holding on to the chopper was stretched out as far as it would go. "Grab my hand!" he yelled when Sam was close enough. Sam leaned out, the wind blow up by the chopper blades almost caused him to be blinked by his own hair. It also made it harder for him to reach out and grab the soldiers hand.
It seemed like it was an unnaturally long way between him and the the hand he was reaching for even though it wasn't really. In reality Sam should have been more worried about the drop down to the ground below him instead of the distance he had to reach to grab hold of the hand before was careful to keep his balance as he snaked out his own hand. He didn't want to fall or to drop the Allspark. Then the world blew up around him.
Stunned by the sudden explosion Sam toppled backwards and hit the rooftop. Sam struggled to see through the rain of debris that had been a copter just moments before. The F-22 that thundered past him as he stood told him everything that he needed to know. Red optics that were filled with menace locked onto him for a moment before Starscream moved on.
ooo
Lennox watched as the flaming wreckage of the Army Black Hawk spiraled downwards to the ground.
"No." He cringed when it slammed into the street and exploded. Lennox wasn't sure if he wanted to lock back at the flaming wreckage or not. He didn't want to know it he'd just caused not only the deaths of the soldiers on the copter but Sam's death as well.
Closing his eyes briefly Lennox tuned his gaze back towards the wreckage only to find his sight blocked. His eyes met a pair of lenses not threatening but questioning. Lennox pointed towards the end of the street.
"The kid he's up there and he's in trouble." The head of the mech before him followed his finger and gazed at the building. Lennox watched as the mech seemed to consider his option's before he began moving.
ooo
With the battle still raging hot and loud around her Mikaela had no help as she worked. There was also no one to stop what she was doing. She'd already parked the truck and pulled the tow chains from where they'd been stored. Now all she had to do was manage to get Bumblebee hooked up and out of the battle zone. It didn't take as long as she had thought to have all of the chains draped around Bumblebee's torso and shoulders.
There really wasn't that much of a difference between the fenders of cars and trucks and the shoulders of an alien robot. Locating the correct lever and pushing it down caused the chains to draw back and pull taunt. This caused the chains to pull Bumblebee so that he was erect. The loss of his legs however meant that all Bumblebee could really do was hang from the back of the tow truck and do nothing.
The loss of legs also meant that the brightly colored bot could transform and even if he could a Camaro with its back wheels missing wouldn't be any good either. Mikaela took a deep breath and glanced around trying to figure out where exactly she wanted to take the injured Bumblebee. The decision was taken out of her hands however when another shape that was less than friendly appeared at one end of the street.
Devastator had finally managed to recover and rejoin the battle. Mikaela began moving just as the tank fired its first blast and knocked her off of her feet. For a split second Mikaela considered calling on one of her pokémon to help her. The idea died a swift death however. Not even the soldiers pokémon seemed to be strong enough to do a lot of damage to a Decepticon by themselves and while Mikaela had a fire type in Adair and could call upon Nessie for an ice type move neither one would stand a chance against the monster at the end of the street. Mikaela shook her head slightly and tried to recover her senses.
If she didn't succeed then neither she nor Bumblebee would survive. Both of them would be turned into mush and she doubted that she'd be able to last very long if she had to give up her legs. Taking a deep breath Mikaela climbed to her feet and began running for the cab of the tow truck. She slammed to door closed with more force than necessary right after she'd managed to slip into the cab. Her foot found the gas and floored it.
The tires spun for a moment before the truck was moving. Turning the steering wheel beneath her hands Mikaela headed for an empty parking lot that sat between two building and had less traffic for her to navigate through. There was another narrower street on the other side of the parking lot. Mikaela only showed when she came to a crossing because it would have been her luck that someone or something would have darted out in front of her had she kept up the hurried pace she'd started out at. Luck for her nothing appeared to slow her down. It was only once she had slowed that she realized how quiet the city around her had become.
There were no sabot rounds being fired and no robots slamming each other into buildings. The city around her was dead quiet. There was no one to tell her to run away or which way she should go on the street. She could go left or right. It didn't matter which direction she went because it was her choice. A building not too far from where she was sitting shook with the force of a concussion blast. Several choice cuss words ran through her head and she took a moment to utter the worst of them.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel so hard that her fingers were white. Spinning the wheel all the way Mikaela chose her direction and pressed her foot down on the gas pedal. She didn't go east or north but back around the block that she and the injured Bumblebee had just escaped from. She was heading back into battle.
It was time for her to stop running. To stop being shallow and petty and do something. If it meant that she got her self killed then it had at least been her choice and her choice alone.
ooo
Lennox panted as he reattached Tank's pokéball to his belt. His Blastoise had put up a good fight but there were only so many times that he could use Ice Beam and the turtle had finally used up his allotted attacks. Sadly they'd never been able to get close enough for the beams of ice to do much more than slow down their opponent.
Tanks aim was good but the Decepticons were hard to hit and firing at the gaps in their armor hadn't been easy. Most of the pokémon that had been released for the fight had been called back. They had helped slow down the enemy but they weren't doing as much good as the captain had hoped. Their attacks had hit too much armor and not enough of the gaps. Lennox knew that if they had been fighting something they were more familiar with then the battle would have been different. They would have been able to do a lot more damage but they weren't used to fighting the metal monsters and that made all the difference.
Lennox was half tempted to try Dixon or Sydney but he wasn't sure if they'd make much of a difference either. They were faster than Tank by a lot and chances were they would have been able to get a lot closer to the tank than Tank had himself, therefor they wold have been able to do a lot more damage. Lennox shook his head. If they started fighting out in the open again he'd give it a shot but at the moment he'd leave them be.
The building that he and his men were currently hiding in was badly damaged but it was the only option that they'd had. If they wanted to get to another building then they'd have to chance the Decepticon that was looking for them. Lennox took a deep breath before calling over a group of men from Sector Seven.
"We've got three stories here. I want you guys to get to the top floor and try to get a better angle on this thing. We'll keep him busy down here." One of the men nodded at him and turned towards the stares the others following close behind him. As they vanished from sight Lennox took another deep breath and turned towards the rest of the men in the room with him.
ooo
Tires squealed as Mikaela took the last corner that separated her and Bumblebee from the ongoing fight. The two of them had appeared behind the hulking form of Devastator. From where she was parked she could see the forms of soldiers and a few pokémon popping up and down inside one of the buildings.
One team seemed to be distracting the mech while the others would fire at the mech before it could figure out who was doing what. When the chance was given Devastator would fire a pulse blast at the soldiers he could see before they began shooting at him again. The Decepticon gave no indication that he even knew that Mikaela and Bumblebee were behind him. Taking a steadying breath and mentally preparing for what she was about to do Mikaela gripped the wheel and hit the gas pedal. The tow truck did wonders in dragging Bumblebee's legless form down the crowded street. The mech's larger form snapping doors off of abandoned cars as they passed.
"I'll aim if you'll shoot." Mikaela shouted through the broken driver's side window. Angry music blared from speakers that she couldn't see as one of Bumblebee's arms transformed into a cannon.
"Bumblebee, shoot that motherfucker..." Mikaela howled as Devastator grew larger and larger in the tow trucks windshield. If she said anything else her words were drowned out by the sound of Bumblebee's own expertly aimed cannon fire. Not long after the first pulse blast screamed past her a second followed. Both shots slammed into Devastator's back. The Con lurched forwards and slammed into the ground where his monstrous form ruined and smoking.
"Nice shot!" Mikaela yelled out of the broken window. Mikaela had driven for her father before but never had there been anything to shoot at her while she'd been doing it.
ooo
Sam cursed as he looked over the edge of the roof that he was stuck on. Chances were good that the only way he'd be getting off of the roof alive would be if he had a flying type in his team. He did have a flying type but Arrowhead had been left at home with the other members of his team. He hadn't needed her because he could ride on Mojo and so she'd been the one left at home when he needed the extra space for Orion.
"What to do!" Sam asked himself as he let his eyes scan the rooftop around him. There had to be another way down. Preferably one that wouldn't end with him as a splatter on the ground below. Sam's surveying was cut short however when Megatron monstrous form crashed through the roof behind him. The pieces of roof that had been torn from the whole crashed down around both Megatron and Sam. Sam cringed and clutched the Allspark tighter to his chest as Megatron rose up before him.
"Clever little insect" Megatron hissed as his dark red optic's took in Sam's much smaller form. Sam found that he could only stare at the monster before him. There was nothing that he could do and nowhere he could go. And no matter how much he wanted to call on Mojo or Spike to help him he wasn't going to. All the mech before him had to do to end them would be throw them over the side of the building and Sam wouldn't have that.
Besides there wasn't enough room for them to fight on the roof. At least not with Megatron's hulking form blocking off most of the area. Sam watched as a single metal hand reached towards him.
"The Allspark fleshling, give it to me." Sam cringed as he backed up, only stopping when his back hit the edge of the building. Sam's grip on the Allspark tightened until her was sure that the corners of the alien artifact were cutting into the palms of his hands. He didn't dare look down and see if it was true or not.
"No, I'm not giving this to you." Sam said his voice sounding much braver than he himself actually felt.
"I admire your brave words fleshling. Few would dare to tell me no. However words won't do. The Allspark, now." Megatron words were calm and for a moment Sam could see why so many had rallied to the Decepticon Lord's cause. Sam shook his head in denial as his eyes searched for a way out of his current situation.
"No. Never." As soon as the words had left his mouth Sam lunged to the side. Not too far away he could see the looped top of the ladder to the building fore escape. If he could get to it then there was a chance that he could get away. A chance that Megatron wouldn't be able to find him. It was a chance that he was going to take no matter how small the chances of success really were.
ooo
Lennox winched as Kendra let out a pained screech before releasing a Fire Blast into the face of the for that had ahold of her bellowed in pain as he let go of the Blaziken's arm. Kendra jumped backwards and landed several yards away cradling her arm. A red beam of light pulled her back before she could take another lunge at Blackout.
Dixon roared as he let loose another electric attack. The Luxray had been doing his best to help his fellow pokémon distract and damage the Decepticon that they were now facing. Sydney had taken her turn and Lennox had called her back when she'd started having trouble running. Dixon wouldn't be out much longer either. Glass wasn't a good thing to run on when there was nothing covering your feet and Lennox worried about how many shards had gotten stuck in his pokémon's paws.
He didn't want to chance infection because he knew that it would be awhile before he was able to have his pokémon treated. As Lennox moved his gaze fell upon the form of a fallen motorcycle. It was likely that the bike's owner had fled when all the fighting had started. The key to said bike was laying on the ground not five inches from the abandoned vehicle. An idea formed in Lennox's mind at that moment and he preyed to God that it would work.
Lennox turned to yell at Epps as he pushed the bike up so that it was sitting on two wheels and not its side.
"Epps, I'm gonna go home and see my little girl." Epps blinked and snorted.
"Like I'm not gonna do the same? I got a little boy I haven't met yet either ya know." The grin that crossed the soldiers face at the though of his newest kid made Lennox grin in return. The happy moment didn't last long however. They were after all still in the middle of a fight for their very lives.
"Lets bring the rain." Lennox said as he pulled the sabot launcher from his back and rested it against the bike's handlebars before he swung one leg over and gunned the engine. Epps followed Lennox with his eyes as the Captain weaved in and out of flaming wreckage and towards Blackout.
"Nellis Raptors you are cleared hot. Choose your target." Epps said into the CB radio. Having delivered the message Epps proceeded to join the rest of the men and pokémon that were in the area. The needed to find somewhere where they'd be more or less able to burry themselves. A pair of planes came in low and angry at the end of the street.
More importantly they'd didn't transform as they took aim on Blackout's raging form. Blackout stilled for half a moment before turning to face the incoming threat. As he did so he didn't see the lone human buzz underneath him, grab the launcher balanced on handle bars, slid the bike so that he was dragging the ground and take aim. The unseen attack tore into Blackout just as he was about to fire his own weapon at the incoming planes.
The mini sabot rounds tore into the Decepticons body and limbs, melting metal, and leaving behind ugly lesions that spread through the metal. While the wounds themselves were killing blows they were enough to distract Blackout so that the incoming planes could launch their own missiles. Missiles that had been fitted with oversized sabot rounds.
The missiles ripped into the Decepticons tearing off an arm and blowing white hot holes in its chest and torso. Blackout shrieked as he fell forwards. Lennox just barley managed to scramble to his feet before the Decepticon fell to pieces.
ooo
He had to make it to the ladder. If he could just make it to the ladder than there was a slim chance that he'd live to see another day. A huge hand slammed down between him and the ladder cutting off his escape route with an impenetrable wall of metal. Megatron other arm rose and Sam cringed. Where a hand had once been there was now the unmistakable maw of a cannon. It fired once the blast hitting the roof just in front of where Sam was standing. T
he shot had been intended as a warning however there was an unforseen secondary effect. The rooftop beneath Sam's feet crumbled and fell away from Sam's feet. Megatron's shot had been too powerful for the root to handle. There was a split second where Sam was sure that he was just barley standing of the edge of whatever was left of the roof the had been under his feet. This proved to be untrue however as Sam fell backwards and down. Sam was very aware of what was happening to him. He knew that he was falling.
The statues that had decorated the rooftop were falling with him. They were quite pretty and Sam found that he was slightly saddened by the fact that he would only get the chance to see one or two up close before they slammed into the ground below. Closing his eyes so that he could block out the world around him Sam found that he was quite ready to hit the ground. And hit he did. He hit hard and much sooner than he'd expected. In fact Sam realized that he hadn't hit the ground at all. The fact that he'd had the wind knocked out of his lungs was enough to tell him that he was still among the living at least for the moment.
That of course brought about the question of what he had actually his. Cracking his eyes open Sam saw that he had landed in the palm of a giant metal hand. A part of Sam thought that he knew the had that had a hold of him and looking up confirmed that he did indeed know that hands owner. Brown eyes met the bright blue optics of Optimus Prime. The two of them were falling towards the street below together.
A furious roar from above drew their shared attention to the enraged form of the Decepticon Leader just as he jumped over the destroyed edge of the building that Sam had just fallen from. Even if both Sam and Optimus landed in one piece chances were that they would be crushed beneath the massive Decepticon. Holding Sam still against his massive chest Optimus twisted as they fell pulling his gun. The first shot he fired missed but the second struck its intended target and forced Megatron off to the side.
Megatron would hit the ground with them but he wouldn't be landing on them. Extending both legs, Optimus jammed his feet into the side of the building nearest to him. The action wasn't meant to stop their fall but to slow them down so that the impact with the ground wouldn't be as bad as it would have been had they hit while going at full speed.
The action was also meant more for Sam than for Optimus himself. The impact would be more harmful to the human he was holding than it would be for him. When Optimus did finally hit the street the cussion rattled the windows of every nearby building.
ooo
Above Epps' head more F-22's from Nellis cruised low and slow looking for more targets. Looking out from where he and several others had been hiding Epps was more than happy to direct them to one.
"Restricted attack, heading west, main target is mobile." Epps barked into the CB. He was half amazed that the piece of junk was still working after all of the abuse that it had been put through. Having landed on his feet it took Megatron no time at all top recover from his fall from the building that he had jumped from. As he landed Lennox and his soldiers popped out of the holes in the ground where they had been hiding and ambushed Megatron's form with as many mini sabot rounds as they could manage to shoot at the mech. Like with the others that they had fired at the round were far from lethal but more than distracting. Much like insects.
"Laze target!" Lennox yelled. "Move it Epps!"
"The rains coming. Get out your umbrellas!" Epps yelled over the sound of repeat fire from hand held launchers.
ooo
As the dust cleared from the crater where Optimus had landed in the street he took a moment to take in his surrounding before lowering one of his hands and uncurling his fingers. Sam slid off of his fingers arms still wrapped tightly around the Allspark. As soon as his feet hit the ground however Sam stumbled backwards more than a little wobbly from the fall. It was only the support of one of Optimus's finger that kept him from falling over backwards.
"Even though it is not the source of your kind you would give your life to protect the Allspark. Why?" Optimus asked his voice quietly incredulous.
Sam took a step forward and away from the support that Optimus's finger had offered him. There were half a million reasons for why he'd done what he had done but there wasn't time for him to give Optimus the complete list. Besides there was one phrase that his father had been fond of saying when he'd been alive. A saying that had helped lead to the death of both of his parents and would have led to his own death had Optimus not intervened. "No sacrifice, no victory."
Sam said. He even managed to give the mech before him half a smile. He was utterly exhausted and he hurt all over and his head was pounding again but he was alive and he would continue living at least for awhile. Sam tightened his grip on the Allspark just a Megatron cam flying around the nearest building. Megatron slammed into Optimus and Knocked the other robot backwards before he was even able to fully regain his feet.
"The ALLSPARK IS MINE!" Megatron howled. That howl was enough to get Sam's slightly stunned brain back into working order. Though his legs were still slightly shaky Sam turned and managed to run from the renewed struggle. Diving jets unloaded missiles at Megatron's monstrous form in an attempt to slow him down. They only slowed Megatron slightly for he didn't care about the injuries that the humans managed to inflict upon him. All that mattered was the Allspark. The source of life and energon for his people.
And all he had to do in order to have the source was catch the little insect that was trying to flee from him. Megatron bent forward and reached out a single hand in order to grab at the little insect that dared to keep him from what was his. Swinging around in an arch Optimus's leg screamed through the air as Sam ducked underneath it. The kick slammed into Megatron and drove him back but it didn't knock him down. The blow to Megatron was simply meant to be a diversion and not a killing strike.
"Aim the Allspark at my Spark! The merging will overwhelm both and destroy it!" Optimus yelled at Sam. Sam found that he could do nothing more than stand of legs that threatened to give out beneath him and stare at Optimus.
"What about you?" Sam asked. It was a stupid question and Sam knew that it was but he couldn't help but ask it. He hated the idea of other sacrificing their lives when there was no real need for them to do so. And it was clear to him that Optimus hadn;t thought his idea all the way through because Sam knew of a better target for this plan.
"Do it now!" Optimus's voice thundered. Sam shifted on his feet and took a few steps in Optimus's direction even though he had no intention of doing as the Autobot requested.
Megatron however didn't seem to know this and for that Sam was more than immediately assumed that the insect below him was going to fallow his brother's order and drive the Allspark into Optimus's spark. Thinking thus Megatron lunged forwards and towards Sam's form knocking the boy off balance enough that one of his arms brushed against one of the sphere's attached to his belt before he was knocked to the ground.
Neither Megatron nor Sam noticed as the ball bounced twice and burst open releasing the monster that had been trapped within.
"No!" Megatron howled as he reached towards Sam. He wouldn't let the little insect take the Allspark from him. There was a deep snarl and the sound of pounding footsteps before something latched onto the Decepticon's wrist with blazing fangs. Megatron snarled at the pain that flared in his wrist as flames licked and burned at the metal under his armor. Red eyes focused on the animal that had latched onto him before he began trying to shake it off.
After a moment his attempts proved worthwhile and the beast let go landing on his feet a few yards away from the Decepticon Lord. Annoying animal dislodged Megatron turned his attention back towards the Allspark and the human that was holding it. After making sure that Mojo had landed safely Sam was swift to return his attention to Megatron's form.
The Decepticon was still leaning in his direction and looked ready to make another reach for him. This was what Sam was waiting for, for as Megatron stretched out his other arm in an attempt to make a grab at him Sam lunged forward and slammed the Allspark into Megatron's chest right where, he could only assume that, his spark was located. The world around Sam burned white and Sam was fairly certain that he'd have to pull back or be blinded. Only he didn't because just as he was about to move there was a soft weight pressing against him and keeping him facing forward. Mojo.
Sam was sure that he smiled at the Arcanine's presence behind him offering his own support in something that was dead;y important to his master and best friend. Sam's attention however was drawn away from Mojo and back towards the burning form of the Allspark when something reached out and touched his mind. Sam blinked and fought the mad and sudden urge to shiver uncontrollably. He had no idea what had decided to reach out to him but it didn't feel like any human or pokémon that he had ever encountered before. Whatever it was was calm and cool. A being of logic and probabilities.
It made Sam think of Porygon and its evolutions. But it wasn't. This lifeform was something else and if felt grateful. For what Sam didn't know and wasn't sure he wanted to know. Then as soon as it had started it was over and the being that had touched him was gone. As was the Allspark. As Megatron body jerked from the sudden overload of power his optic's searched out the form of the insect that had been foolish enough to not only attack him but to Attack him with the Allspark. His optic's found Sam where he was leaning against Mojo's side panting for breath. Mojo however was snarling up at Megatron towering form as if daring the mech to try touching his trainer. Flames licked at Mojo's teeth as Megatron made to reach forward.
There was no need for the attack to be readied however for before he could even bend down Megatron toppled backwards and lay still. Red optic's dark. In the sky above their heads Starscream let out a shriek of rage before he turned and began fleeing. His destination wasn't anywhere on Earth but somewhere where the humans that tried to follow wouldn't be able to reach him. And for the first time in what seemed like forever quiet descended of the city streets.
ooo
Glen and Maggie each supported one of Keller arms as they walked. The older man had turned his ankle sometime during their fight with Frenzy and hadn't noticed that he'd done it until after the fight was done and over with. The three of them along with a smug Simmons were walking along the road that would take them to a service station near the damn where a med-evac chopper was descending. Simmons was tossing Frenzy's severed head up and down as they went a smile on his face.
"Little memento for my trophy case. You did good ace. There might just be a place for you here if you want it." Simmons said to Maggie as he tossed Frenzy's head to his other hand. "No you, you panic." he added as an after thought as his gaze landed on snorted and gave Simmons a strained grin the looked more like a scowl.
"Get in line, Simmons. She's already on my staff." Keller turned his gaze from Simmons to Maggie. "You wouldn't object a corner office would you? It'll have a few good views and is close to the Pentagon. Or a new car."
Maggie almost snorted at the two men fighting over her and at the offended look that Glen had on his face. "No, sir. Though is there any chance that I could get an advance. I owe my landlord a lot of money."
Keller's smile tightened. "Don't push it."
Maggie cringed slightly and gave the older man a slightly sheepish smile. A pair of army men caught the groups attention as they moved forward to take Keller from Maggie and Glen. The army men helped Keller into the air craft.
They were closely followed by Simmons. Glen let his eyes drift around him for a moment. he and Maggie were alone for the time being and though he was sure that it wouldn't last long Glen had something he had to do before they got on the helicopter.
The task at hand would be harder than rewiring an old computer or sending more while an alien robot tried to kill him. Reaching out Glen took Maggie hand in his own only for the blonde tech to snatch it away. Maggie gave him a look that he wasn't sure he liked before reaching forward and taking his hand in hers.
ooo
Lennox emerged from the wreckage that had at one point earlier that day been a city street. His eyes glanced around at the mixture of soldiers and Sector Seven agents. He wasn't at ease however until his eyes landed on Epps and he was able to make his way over to his friend. The two of them regarded one another for a moment before they smiled. Hands rose and a loud smack echoed throughout the street as the men high-fived each other.
Epps would be complaining again within the hour and Lennox wouldn't begrudge him the right. They'd been through hell and back and had survived. Sure, their lives had changed and they'd lose close allies and valued friends. They still had to break the news of deaths to mothers and wives but at that moment all was right in their world. Neither man knew what was to come and neither one worried about it. Both Lennox and Epps were looking forward to going home and seeing their wives and children. It had been far to long.
Elsewhere, Ironhide and Ratchet wandered up another street in search of their leader. Jazz's lifeless form lay cradled in Ironhide's arms and when they found Optimus and were near he lay the mech on the street. Optimus bent down so the he could examine the lifeless corpse of his friend. Nothing was said between the three living mechs.
There was no need for words of any kind. All of them felt the appropriate words without them actually having to be shared. They shared a moment of silence for the fallen comrade before Optimus turned and made his way over to the lifeless form of the mech that had once been his brother. His brother's body lay crumpled and broken in the bottom of a deep crater.
"You left me no choice brother. For this matter to be dealt with one of us had to end. I was willing to give my life though perhaps it is better that it was yours." Soft footsteps caused Optimus to turn and look down. Sam's eyes locked on to Megatron's still form for a moment before he looked up at Optimus Prime. Sam's steps were still slightly wobbly but he had Mojo to help keep his exhausted body upright.
"What will you do now that the Allspark gone?" he asked. There was an unknowable amount of guilt in Sam's words. Mojo whined low in his throat in response to Sam's distress. Sam knew very well what he had just done. He had damned the transformers to a slow and painful death. There would be no new robots now that the Allspark was gone and there would be no going back home for them.
"We will stay here. At least for the time being. Cybertron is closed to us but I think that there is much that our kinds can learn from each other." Optimus's voice was kind as he spoke to Sam. his words were true however. The small blue planet that they were on now didn't seem like a bad place to stay until they figured out what they were going to do next. There was also much to learn about the humans and pokemon.
It would be enough to keep them busy for quite some time. Besides there was a good chance that Starscream would pop up again to cause trouble and it would be best if they were on planet and ready to take care of him. Yes, there was still much to do.
"I owe you my life, Sam." Optimus said, "I didn't anticipate what you were going to do and thankfully neither did Megatron. Humans do not seem to be the most rational of thinkers but your kind can be creative when it comes to solving a problem. I'm grateful that you it fit to spare me my life." Sam blushed at Optimus's words and raised a hand to scratch at the back of his neck. He didn't feel like he deserved Optimus's praise but he wasn't going to argue with the mech. He was to tired and sore and if the growing awareness of others in his mind was anything to go by they still had a lot to do.
The sound of tires drew his attention to the approaching tow truck. Bumblebee was securely fastened to the back and was being dragged along the ends of his legs striking sparks off of the pavement beneath him. They had a lot of healing to do and maybe when everything was said and done he'd make the offer that was growing in the back of his head to Optimus and his men. They might not have had a planet anymore but he could offer them a home even if it was only temporary.
ooooo
Excuse me while I go and celebrate. I hereby declare this part of the story over. Thanks god now I can fill that empty place in my bookshelf with my Transformers novel. So from now on there will be nothing for me to follow. It'll all be me. I have ideas most of what I want to come next. I just need to get them in order and planned all the way out. The next arc will take place over a period of about six months or so and will end when the Autobots leave and NEST is formed. I tried to out action with pokemon in this chapter but it didn't really work. Eh, I'm not gonna fret about it right now. I still have work to do after all.