CHAPTER 55
The Battle of Dallas: Part 1

Fear pumped through Mark's veins like blood, tears long ago drying in his eyes. The chain that secured his handcuffs together had been wrapped around the headboard of the bed in his "room", making his arms constantly above his head. The guards came in every so often, some taking glee in tormenting him, of feeling his flesh, and, for some, dissect and study him But Coulton wouldn't allow that, noting that Galvatron didn't like his pets to be touched, or otherwise played with by anyone else. Mark closed his eyes, the Autobots had still not been heard from, maybe he was wrong. Maybe they wouldn't find him to be worth the trouble of going through another Chicago. Not for the kid whose dad had helped make any of this possible.

No one was coming, he convinced himself. Hound and the others were probably long gone by now. "Mark..." Mark's head shot up, speak of the devil, was that the bond. "Mark, can you hear me? Please, sparklin' say something..."

"Dad?" Mark replied through their bond, relief sweeping over him. "Aw, man dad. I was so scared, I thought..."

"It's alright, son, I know you're scared," Hound's voice came through loud and clear as he sent a soothing feeling through the bond. "Don't worry, kiddo. We're comin' for ye, all of us," Mark's eyes lit up at that. "Well, we're here to save Dallas too. But I'll be slagged if our number one priority at the moment ain't making sure you're okay," Mark felt a wave of relief hit him. "Can you tell me where they took you, son? Even if it's just a minor description, we need to know where we're going if we're gonna break you free."

Mark tried to remember details of the tower he'd been taken to. It was hard to remember thanks to all the fear, but he did his best. He tried to turn over slightly, and look outside the window. He could barely see the exterior but began. "It's giant, like this huge tower thing... I'm right in the center of town I think, but I can't really tell," Mark shook his head slowly. "I-I don't remember anything else. I've seen the inside of this bedroom too long, I can barely see out the window."

"That's okay, kiddo, that's good." Hound soothed him tenderly. "I'm going to break contact, but not because we want to. Only because we can't let the Decepticons get any indication of foul play," Mark blinked, unsure of what that meant. "Just hang in there a little longer, kiddo. We're coming for ye, and I'll tear down any Decepticon that stands in my way."

Mark didn't reply, but now sighed and felt tears of relief fill his eyes. Hound was coming for him, they all were. They were going to fight their way through Dallas, but they were not just going to leave him there. His eyes shot up as the door was once again thrown open and a Pretender stepped inside. "If you try anything, I have orders to take you dead or alive," The mech spoke coldly.

As he approached, he carefully began to unlock the handcuffs as Mark groaned in pain. It took a moment to get his hands to go at his sides, but once he did, the pretender gripped his arm and dragged him out of the bedroom. Again, Coulton waited in the den, holding a glass of high grade. "What now?" Mark grunted. "Aren't you done screwing around with me yet?" He questioned.

"Now, now, let's not be hostile about this," Coulton turned around. "I sent you to your room in hope that you would stop being so defiant. But of course, I suppose I should have known better," He sighed, shaking his head as he approached Mark. "Lucky for you, I'm not the one that wants to talk." He commented, pointing towards an elevator near the door. "Get moving, or, well, you know the drill by now."

Mark clenched his fists but did as he was told as Coulton led him into the elevator. They traveled up slowly for what seemed like hours, but he knew was only seconds until the door opened up to the roof. Where Galvatron, who Mark guessed had scaled the building, stood. "So you finally decided to show your ugly face," Mark chuckled, looking up at Galvatron. "What do you want?"

"Don't talk to your master like that," He felt Coulton slam his fist into the thick of his back, making him fall to his knees. "If you continue to disrespect him, I will personally cut your vocal chords-."

"Shut up, Coulton," Galvatron told him coldly. "You've already beaten and bruised my trophy enough. And no more harm comes to him unless it is at my hands," Mark trembled slightly as Galvatron moved a talon forward, and ran it along his cheek. "I see you have realized you have reason to be afraid, fleshling. So you are a wise one then." He then added. "Come forward."

Mark knew he had no choice, simply standing to his feet. He approached the tyrant slowly, and he quickly pushed him forward towards the edge. Mark tried to avert his gaze, realizing that the city was now nearly in ruin. Prisoners were being taken, resistance being executed, and entire city blocks reduced to dust and ash. "See this? This is my proof to you that your defiance is worthless," Mark gulped slightly at Galvatron's words. "You say to Coulton that the Autobots will come for you. But how could they when they are too cowardly to come for these innocents?"

"You're crazy," Mark shook his head. "Why are you doing this?"

"Survival of the fittest," Galvatron noted, he looked at Mark. "You should be honored, when the rest of the world falls to me, they will need a leader. And as my chosen trophy, and pet," He began rather cooly. "You will hold that position."

"I won't work for you," Mark shook his head. "I'm an Autobot, and I always will be," Galvatron's smirk faded. "So, without ANY due respect Galvatron? Go burn in that pit of yours!"

Have you ever been slapped by the index finger of a giant robot? Mark had, and he was lucky Galvatron belittled his strength enough that he wouldn't kill him. After a moment, he began to move down to the surface of the roof and approach when someone shouted for him over his com link. "What do you mean the humans have brought a gift of good will?" Galvatron hissed as Mark struggled to get to his feet. "... Keep them there, I need to see this for myself."

"What's going on?" Coulton asked.

"The humans have decided to hand over the Autobots," Galvatron sneered. "It would seem they really are tired of this. Enough so that their own comrades are willing to give them to me," He looked at Mark. "Now whatever will you do? My little pet," He snickered.

"It could be a trap," Coulton replied cooly. "This is too easy."

"If it is, we will deal with them, and the boy accordingly," Galvatron told Coulton cooly. "For now, however, I will believe it is a sign of human stupidity," He stated. "Such dumb creatures, the humans," He explained. "They should know by now they all will die with the Autobots for their defiance," He added with a sneer.

With this, Galvatron made a giant bound for a smaller building, which to Mark's surprise, he seemed to land on. The boy groaned as Coulton began to approach, revealing a gun from his pocket. "C'mon, my little friend," He stated, pointing the gun for him. "Time to be a part of our plans on a much larger scale," He began.

"Not a chance," Mark growled.

With the sharpest kick he could muster, he kicked out at Coulton's leg. The mech toppled over, and Mark grabbed the handgun in the process, turning it on Coulton. Pointing it at him, his eyes narrowed. "You have to be kidding me," Coulton sneered. "You honestly are the dumbest human I have ever met," He added rather harshly.

"I never learn," Mark shrugged. "I guess you could say it's my strong suit."

"Or the thing that will get you killed."

Mark blinked a bit, but soon realized what he meant at the loud thud of a landing mech. Though his helm had been crushed inward, Cyclonus had arrived, online, and armed with his deadly blades. "Oh I love it when the prisoners rebel," Mark turned, aiming the gun at Cyclonus. "What are you going to do? Shoot me, little human?" Mark shook his head, backing up. "You're an idiot if you think you can get out of there, armed with nothing but a handgun."

Mark's eyes shot up searching the air for something, anything. And that's when he spotted it, barely visible through the clouds, but the figure was still visible. A two headed, giant, metal pterodactyl. Strafe! Mark thought in relief, for once, thankful for the fact that the Dinobots would not be carrying a normal Autobot energy signature.

As he stared up at Cyclonus, he could only hope that whatever was going on, they knew what they were doing. But for now, he had to keep them believing nothing was coming. And so, dropping the gun, he looked up at Cyclonus who grabbed him from the ground, and held him up close. "'Atta boy," Cyclonus chuckled. "Was that so hard?"

Mark prayed inwardly that the Autobots would hurry as Cyclonus began to run his claws along his side. His optics filled with malice, and, furthermore, with glee. It was a look that even Mark didn't like the look of as Cyclonus put him on the ground, and he prepared for whatever was coming next.

...

The "Trojan horse" that the Autobots had built was just big enough to hold them all. And yet, still cramped enough that it seemed like the prison they were trying to make it out to be. As he leaned against the far back corner, Hound was silent, his optics looking along his Autobot comrades. They all looked nervous, and quite frankly, he didn't blame them. This could be the end, they were so outnumbered, and to say the least if they couldn't kill the Decepticons now... "Y'know, before we do this, I want to say something," He began calmly. "If we all go down doing this? It was a heck of an honor to fight alongside ye."

Crosshairs, who was to his immediate right, gave a small fist bump. The look in his optics said it all: he was very doubtful they would win. At least with these, rather grim odds. "Yeah, if I'm gonna go offline today, I'm glad it will be alongside all of ye," He took a deep breath. "But we can hope that hacker femme of Mark's is really as good as she says. If she can create that big a diversion then we might stand a chance." He shook his head. "I mean, hacking the entire power grid of a city is a pit of a feat."

Hound thought of Alexis, who had gone into the city ahead of time under Mirage's cloak. It was all riding on the two of them creating the massive power surge to the grid of the city now. If they could create a distraction long enough, it would be all they needed to create enough chaos to catch the Decepticons by surprise. Or so they hoped. "If I don't make it out," Hound muttered, looking at Crosshairs. "And you do? Tell Mark, I'm sorry."

To the side, he felt Optimus's hand fall upon him now. "You will see him again, Hound," He told him with as calm and gentle a voice as he could manage. "We will not die here today," He added. "No matter the odds." He then echoed. "And if we do somehow fall, it was an honor serving alongside all of you," He added for good measure, with everyone replying with the same statement.

As the transport they created came to a stop, everyone stiffened. Hound prepared his nearest, and biggest gun, frowning quietly as outside, they heard a familiar voice: Galvatron. "Humankind never ceases to amaze me," Galvatron hissed. "You would hand over your own comrades, and for what?" He questioned. "As an apology for your defiance?"

"A gift of goodwill from our government," Lennox began from outside as Optimus peeked through the single, barred window. "I assure you, Lord Galvatron, we are here to make peace with the Decepticons. You won, you crippled NEST, and frankly, the President is tired of this crap," He then added. "All we ask in return for this is your mercy."

Galvatron seemed to think it over quietly, peering down at Lennox. For a moment, it was not clear whether he was buying this. But slowly, he approached Lennox. "I thank your president for the "gift"," Galvatron growled. "But give me a reason I should grant any of you MERCY? Did you grant any to my mechs? Mechs who were good people?" Crosshairs scoffed at that, Galvatron was clearly lying through his denta now for the sake of making a spectacle. "Mechs with families, and-."

"Lord Galvatron, we never-."

"Shut up," Galvatron snarled. "We accept this gift. But we do not accept your apologies," Before Optimus knew what was happening, several vehicons began to approach them. "Round them all up, bring them to the execution line. And allow me the first shot," He sneered a bit. "The rest of you, get the Autobots out of the transport. We shall deal with them in a more public setting."

Panic rose over the Autobots, realizing that nothing had happened. They would open the container and notice the missing Dinobots, they would notice the fact that Mirage was missing too. "Come on, sheila," Crosshairs muttered.

"Any time now," Hound agreed.

And just as a vehicon had approached the door, all of Dallas went crazy. They could all hear shouts of surprise as all around them, electricity, and electronics inside what buildings remained began to go crazy. Optimus smirked, his optics flashing eagerly. They had succeeded, or rather, Alexis and Mirage had. "What is the meaning of this!?" Galvatron shouted amongst it all. "What is all this infernal racket!?"

When the first vehicon went down, Optimus drew out his gun, gripping it tightly. "AUTOBOTS, ROLL OUT!"

The "locked' steel door at the front of their "cage" was smashed open. And before Galvatron could even properly react, the Autobots opened fire, shooting down multiple vehicons, whom went down without standing much of a chance. "You fools! The spy!" Galvatron looked around the Autobots that were flooding out. "Where the slag is the spy, MIRAGE!?"

"With a young hacker friend of ours," Optimus spoke calmly. "I believe you've bore witness to her handiwork."

Galvatron snarled staring around, he could now see the mech, sans cloak, tearing down the streets of Dallas, off to who knows where. He turned, and slammed his fist towards Optimus, who drew his sword, and swung violently. "You're a moron, Prime," Megatron snarked. "You had a sneak attack for less than a moment, and you may have gotten your TROOPS inside easily."

"We also got a much-needed distraction," Optimus began, swinging as he clashed his blade violently into Galvatron's armor. "Or are you missing something, Galvatron?" He questioned rather cooly.

Galvatron's optics widened as he stared around, noting that even in the chaos a team was missing. The Dinobots, the ones with the flyer, the biggest of the Autobots themselves. The ones with the ancient nearly unreadable energy signatures. "Get the slag off of that building!" Galvatron shouted over the comm link. "Move the trump card now! Use him as a fragging shield if you have to!"

Hearing the order, Hound double timed his charge through the battlezone. Avoiding NEST soldiers, who had now joined the fight as well, and tearing through several vehicons. We're coming baby boy. Hound thought as his processor went to Mark. Just hang in there.

And with the Battle of Dallas being waged around him, his processor could think of nothing else.

...

A/N: And so begins the long final battle in this story! :D Hope you enjoyed the start, I tried to make it as epic as I could. :D