Chapter 21
The Two Teachers
Optimus opened his optics, looking around to see where he was.
"What has happened? Who has brought me here?" He asked.
"I did." Stripes spoke up after a few seconds. "I am Stripes, the son of Primus. I'm sure you are wondering how you have been brought here. Let me explain. We must be swift, because time is short…"
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"I see." Optimus said. "So Unicron has awakened, his heralds are in pursuit of you, and we need to teach you the art of combat so you can defeat Unicron's heralds, and then Unicron himself."
"Yep." Stripes said. "It's a rather dicey and dire situation right now, Optimus Prime."
At that moment, there was an explosion from the level above. Bits of debris and dust rained down upon them all!
"I think your brothers have tracked us down, Sideways." Stripes said. "Let's roll out, people!"
Everyone then transformed into their vehicle modes, and bolted for the passage to Cybertron's surface! Shortly after they emerged, they saw Unicron's heralds, on schedule! Swindle was using his sweeps drones to dive-bomb them, making room for Galvatron to close in in his jet mode!
Megatron, Soundwave, and Starscream charged at Galvatron, firing with vigor as Wheeljack, Shockwave, and Bulkhead providing covering fire! "Stripes! Get out of here with Prime and the others! We'll contact you and meet up later!"
"Are you sure?! Galvatron is an improved version of yourself, Megatron! It's highly likely-"
"Don't argue! Run!" Megatron snapped, firing a cluster of missiles at his doppelganger!
"You heard him! Time to peel out and make a break for it!" Sideways led the path in the escape, with Stripes right on his tail, followed by Razor and Cross at his sides, Mia taking her place in the middle with Bumblebee, Arcee, Ratchet, and Knockout while Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Alpha Trion, and Primus brought up the flank! They drove between multiple derelict skyscrapers as they made their escape, darting in and out of narrow building passages and alleyways, quickly losing their pursuers, as the sweeps drones could not maneuver fast or precise enough to pursue them!
After losing the tailing sweeps drones, they all got onto a highway and sped back towards the Nemesis as fast as they could go!
"I see that Unicron has been busy reaping chaos while I've been gone, even though we captured his anti-spark and locked it away…" Optimus noted.
"I honestly think that what you locked away was only a portion of his anti-spark." Stripes said. "The rest of it must still be on Earth, with the rest of his body that remains there. I just hope Megatron and his group get out of that jam okay! I want to begin my training as soon as possible! I'm tired of running..."