Optimus got into a fighting stance as all of Unicron's avatar bodies had him surrounded and outnumbered.
"Optimus, have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?" Ratchet asked on the com-link.
"Unicron is power incarnated. And you, the last of the Primes, shall perish!" All of the Unicrons stated.
"I take that as a yes." Ratchet said after hearing everything from the base.
"Don't worry, Prime, we're on our way to back you up." Jazz informed.
"Negative, Jazz. Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants me." Optimus replied before bringing out his blasters. "This fight must be mine alone."
The Autobot leader began shooting down Unicron's avatars as they started to charge at him. He managed to block two attacks from a pair of avatars and blasted them before leaping down from his position. Optimus then stabbed an avatar with his blade and tossed it away before moving to other cliffside platforms and taking down some more avatars, making one of the cliffs collapse in the process. But then, one of the avatars tackled Optimus into the other side of the canyon and struck him two times with his weapon, only for the Autobot leader to then shoot him away. Optimus managed to take down two more avatars that slid down the cliff, but then another one smacked him into another one and then struck him to the ground before the Autobot leader quickly stabbed an avatar in the face and tossed it away. But then, Optimus got surrounded by even more avatars and two of them knocked him down before grabbing both his arms to keep him restrained.
One of the avatars prepared to end Optimus' life, but then he was shot down by a couple of blasts and Optimus looked to his left to see Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee,drift,hot rod,blurr,skyfire,hulk,chromia,Cliffjumper, Wheeljack,Jazz,starfire,Riku,goku rushing out of a Ground Bridge with their blasters firing at all the Unicron avatars.
"Fire in the hole!" Wheeljack yelled before tossing his grenade at some avatars, making them all explode once it went off.
Arcee and Jazz drove forward in their vehicle modes and then leaped off the platform before transforming again and kicking two Unicron avatars away from Optimus. The other Bots soon arrived and they knocked all of the avatars down while Optimus quickly recovered and assisted Bulkhead,goku,aja,starfire and Cliffjumper in shooting some incoming enemies. He tossed one avatar away as Arcee, Bumblebee,drift,hot rod,blurr,skyfire,hulk,chromia,Cliffjumper,Jazz,starfire,Riku,goku and Wheeljack were having trouble blasting another one before he managed to knock it back and then used his blade to deactivate another avatar.
"Did Ratchet not relay my command?" Optimus asked rhetorically. "Return to base."
"Sorry, Optimus, but we're not gonna do that." Cliffjumper replied, shooting a Unicron avatar in the head.
"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus!" The Unicrons announced as they began closing in on the Autobots.
"Optimus, you're Unicron's target." Arcee reminded, firing at the avatars with her team. "Maybe you should consider returning to base?"
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth. Even our base's shielding would only cloak my position for so long." Optimus explained. "I will not put others at risk."
"Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once." Bulkhead protested.
"We might be able to find ourselves another leader, but none of them are more amazing than you." Wheeljack told his leader. "You're the only one who can take down the Big U and help us keep fighting against the Cons."
"Please listen to reason. If you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet." Ratchet said on the com-link.
"We want to help out just like you guys, but our magic and chakra would be absolutely ineffective against a Cybertronian god that has Dark Energon for blood." Luz added from beside him. "You need to stay alive, Optimus."
"Very well." Optimus said as he now realised his team was right.
The Autobots and others circled around their Optimus and kept firing at the Unicron avatars to make sure they wouldn't get near him.
"Let's move!" Arcee stated before they all began to run their way through the canyon, shooting down any Unicron avatars that got in their way.
The Autobots kept on using their own skills to leap on the platforms and take down the avatars, with Optimus ramming straight through one in his vehicle form and Jazz tossing another away with his energy grapple. They soon made it out of the canyon and transformed, ramming right through some of the avatars and leaving them as piles of rubble. Just when it looked like they were in the clear, a mountain in front of them suddenly fell apart and emerging out of it was a Unicron avatar that was about the size of a ginormous skyscraper, causing Team Prime to immediately transform as they looked up at the giant Cybertronian god that stood before them.
"Sweet Solus Prime." Jazz whispered in awe.
"Is that the real Unicron?" Bumblebee asked.
"No, not Unicron himself, but another of his manifestations." Optimus answered.
"If we can't beat Unicron and we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Bulkhead questioned.
"All we can do is neutralise his vessels as they appear, until we find a way to destroy him without destroying the very Earth upon which we walk." Optimus said before bringing out his blasters.
The giant Unicron avatar began walking towards the Autobots as they all charged at him. Optimus fired his blasters at the giant avatar as Bumblebee,drift,hot rod,blurr,skyfire,chromia,Bulkhead,chromia,Cliffjumper,Jazz,Wheeljack and Jazz transformed and drove right under the giant before transforming again and firing their blasters at his right leg along with hulk,chromia,starfire,Riku,goku . However, the giant Unicron wasn't affected by these blasts and he dragged his large javelin-like hand across the ground, swatting the Autobots and other away. The giant Unicron them turned towards chromia,Arcee and Cliffjumper, who were firing their blasters at him and quickly transformed in an attempt to get clear. But the giant Unicron was still able to hit them both and they transformed while crashing against the ground. Optimus charged right at the giant Unicron and fired his blaster at him as he was now the only Autobot standing.
"Fool!" The giant Unicron said before he tossed some large chunks of the Earth towards Optimus, making them all crash ontop of him.
Bulkhead,Bumblebee,drift,hot rod,blurr,skyfire,chromia,Wheeljack,Jazz hulk,chromia,Cliffjumper,Jazz,starfire,Riku,goku recovered and were shocked to see Optimus pinned down as Unicron was slowly approaching him. They got back up and fired their blasters at the giant Unicron, but he didn't bother to turn around as Optimus was attempting to free himself from the rock pile in a weakened state. But then, he saw the giant Unicron standing right over him and preparing to lower his foot down onto the Autobot leader.
"I am this world's past and it's future." The giant Unicron declared. "And as of this moment…"
"No!" Arcee yelled.
"Optimus!" Cliffjumper called out worriedly.
"All Primes are simply past." The giant Unicron said, until he was suddenly shot by a barrage of laser blasts in his head that made him fall back and break apart into a large pile of rocks.
The Autobots looked towards the remains of the giant Unicron and wondered who had destroyed it.
"Did one of you guys do that?" Bumblebee asked.
"Wasn't me." Arcee replied.
"Or me." Cliffjumper added.
"Me neither." Bulkhead said.
no us hulk said as his shock their in agreement.
"That totally wasn't my doing." Wheeljack admitted.
"Same with me." Jazz said.
not me hot rod said.
"Ratchet." Arcee called on the com-link.
"What is it? What happened?" Ratchet asked.
"I happened!" A familiar voice stated.
The Autobots looked at the top of the large stone pile and were very astonished to see who had emerged on it before he leaped right off.
"Megatron!" Cliffjumper exclaimed before he and the others got into a fighting stance, preparing to have a battle with the Decepticon leader.
back at the base.
"The Decepticon head-honcho is there, too?" Willow asked in surprise as she, her friends, Ratchet, coulson and Camila heard everything in the base.
"He has aligned himself with Unicron." Ratchet stated.
"Don't be so sure. Megatron just saved Optimus' tailpipe." Arcee replied, much to their surprise.
"Wait, he did?" Luz questioned.
Back with the others
As Optimus managed to crawl out of the rock pile that had him pinned, he then saw Megatron standing over him and aiming his cannon at his life-long enemy. The Autobots immediately aimed their blasters in an attempt to shoot the Decepticon leader away, but then Megatron lowered his weapon and offered his hand out to Optimus. The Autobot leader accepted his hand and Megatron helped him back on his feet.
"Is is rather ironic, considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my Spark." Megatron reminded.
"That opinion remains very much in play." Optimus replied as he got up-close and personal with his old foe.
"I would expect nothing less. However, I have a proposal. Join me in defeating our shared enemy, Unicron the Chaos Bringer." Megatron offered, much to the Autobots' surprise.
"Ha! Absurd! Unicron is evil incarnated!" Ratchet stated, not wanting to hear Megatron out. "If Megatron was to take any side, why would it be ours?"
"Because Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet." Optimus replied.
"You know me all too well, Optimus." Megatron complemented.
"You lead an army of Cons. Why come to us?" Bulkhead questioned.
"Because this particular endeavour requires something beyond the realm of my command. The power of a Prime." Megatron said, gesturing to Optimus.
"Heh, then I guess we don't need you." Wheeljack replied while crossing his arms.
"On the contrary. Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron, but I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's lifeblood flows through me, only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements." Megatron explained. "Optimus, our past alliances, Autobot, Decepticon, no longer matter. Not while Unicron lives."
Back at the base
.
Hearing this, Ratchet slammed his fist on the main console.
"The past always matters!" Ratchet argued.
"Don't forget, he nearly killed me!" Gus added.
back with the others.
"A truce between Autobots and Decepticons. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?" Optimus asked.
"Only as long as it is mutually beneficial." Megatron answered.
"And, when our proposed shared mission is complete?" Optimus questioned.
"I will conquer this Earth. My way." Megatron told him.
"Brutal honesty from a Decepticon?" Arcee asked quietly.
"Sounds about just right to me." Jazz said.
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil." Ratchet retorted.
"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? These foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron is yet to fully awaken. With each passing moment, the Bringer of Chaos evolves, mutating Earth from the inside out." Megatron explained. "What we have witnessed until now is but a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will wreak upon your world."
"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron?" Cliffjumper asked rhetorically.
"Make no mistake! This time, there will be a planet left for me to rule." Megatron vowed.
"Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down at the center of the Earth." Bulkhead reminded. "How are we supposed to get there? Drive?
"There is only one way." Optimus said, but his solution to get to the Earth's core wasn't exactly a good one.
"Absolutely not!" Ratchet stated sternly. "Ground Bridging into space or on a moving train is difficult enough, but plotting a blind jump inside of a sentient being?! Besides, direct exposure to that much Dark Energon will debilitate you! You haven't built up an immunity like Megatron has!"
"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance." Megatron commented.
"You can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?" Optimus asked.
"If you transport us to this planet's core, I can lead you directly into Unicron's Spark. The very heart of his darkness." Megatron offered.
"Optimus, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?" Arcee asked.
Optimus looked at Megatron, who slightly nodded to him as they both knew the only way to defeat Unicron.
"With the Matrix of Leadership." Optimus said.
back at the base
"Matrix of Leadership?" Vee repeated.
"What is that?" Coulson asked.
"A vessel of pure energy. The collective wisdom of the Primes." Ratchet answered.
"Do we even have time to look for it?" Amity asked. "I mean, where's Optimus supposed to find this Matrix?"
"Optimus does not need to find it. He carries it within him." Ratchet said, tapping on his chest.
"And you all decided to tell us this, now?" Hunter questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"It's like you Autobots have a hobby of keeping secrets." Willow muttered.
Back with the others.
"It was the combined power of the Primes that defeated Unicron so long." Megatron said as he approached Optimus. "The very reason he now seeks to destroy you."
"It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's Spark would return him to stasis." Optimus theorised.
Back at the base.
"Hold on. If everything goes according to plan, Unicron is just going to stay down there?" Gus asked.
"Yeah, can't we just siphon him out or just wipe him from existence?" Amity questioned.
"He's not in the Earth's core, guys. He is the Earth's core." Luz told them.
"Luz is correct." Ratchet agreed. "Tampering with the planet's core could effect the magnetic pull, trigger the very cataclysmic events we are attempting to remediate. Tragically, Unicron is this world's very seed. Always has been and always must be."
Back at the base.
Suddenly, the Autobots and Megatron started to notice some rocks moving towards the giant stone pile and another giant Unicron avatar began rising up from it.
"We've got another one!" Jazz announced worriedly.
"Ratchet, send a Ground Bridge." Optimus ordered.
As the Autobots shielded themselves from the powerful wind, a Ground Bridge then showed up right next to them.
"Wait, we're opening up a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?" Arcee asked in disbelief.
"And seriously, he's gonna risk his own Spark to save us?" Wheeljack questioned, causing the Decepticon leader to laugh in response.
"Hardly my nature!" Megatron replied before he looked up at the giant Unicron. "Consider my offer. I shall keep it busy."
He then transformed into his Cybertronian jet form and flew towards the giant Unicron while firing his blasters at it, causing the humungous avatar to swipe around at him as he avoided them. The Autobots quickly took this opportunity to run into the Ground Bridge and make it back to base so they could discuss Megatron's proposal.
Meanwhile on the nemesis
the Nemesis was currently flying above the Earth's orbit as Airachnid was watching over Soundwave at one of the terminals.
"No word yet from Lord Megatron?" Airachnid asked, earning complete silence from Soundwave. "It appears our leader has abandoned us while this world erupts in chaos."
"What do you think we should do then, Commander?" Thundercracker questioned as he and Skywarp were listening in from the other side of the main deck.
"Simple, Thundercracker. I believe we must consider the possibility of a future… without Megatron." Airachnid said, smirking to herself.
"What do you think she's up to?" Skywarp asked his partner quietly.
"I'm not sure, but I don't think Soundwave is going to approve of it." Thundercracker admitted as he gestured to the communication Decepticon, who was staring at Airachnid in a suspicious way.
At the Autobot base,
Optimus had come to a decision on what must happen and not everyone was on board with it.
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measures, but bringing Megatron here?!" Ratchet asked in disbelief.
"Why would you even think about letting that monstruo in this place after what he did to Gus?" Camila questioned, placing her hands on the illusionist witch boy's shoulders.
"He will be closely monitored and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more." Optimus reassured.
"What's gonna stop the Con from calling in an air strike if he knows where you live?" Coulson asked.
"Agent coulson's right. He could just give a quick call to his friends and then all of the Decepticons would be attacking us." Willow admitted, sounding a little bit concerned.
"By Ground Bridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates." Optimus explained.
"That makes sense." Vee said in agreement.
"Optimus, what's going to happen to you when all your Matrix energy is released?" Luz asked.
"The power of the Matrix has not previously been utilised in this particular manner." Optimus admitted as he turned away from everyone.
"But you have an idea, don't you?" Hunter questioned hopefully.
"You always have an idea." Gus added.
Optimus was silent for a little bit before he decided to give one last wise sentence to his team.
"Autobots, if humankind is to be saved, I have no choice but to proceed. But you do." Optimus told them.
Arcee,drift,Bulkhead,chromia,blurr,hot rod,skyfire,chromia,grimelock,windblade,Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack and Jazz didn't say anything as they were all in deep thought, while the Hexside Squad looked at their Autobot Guardians as they hoped they would make the right decision.
"Well, I don't know about humankind, but I'm willing to do it. For Willow." Bulkhead said.
"For Gus." Wheeljack said.
"For Luz." Arcee said.
"For Amity." Cliffjumper said.
"For Hunter." Bumblebee said.
"For Vee." Jazz said.
"For Apollo."drift said.
"For Anne."blurr said.
"For Sasha."grimlock said.
"For Kim."Chromia said.
"For Maria."hot rod said.
"For my new team." Skyfire said.
The realm defenders gave them kind smiles in response, happy to hear they were willing to save Earth from Unicron's awakening just for them.
"Thanks, you guys." Luz replied in gratefulness.
At the same time
Megatron was still fighting against the giant Unicron avatar as he once again fired his blasters at it. However, two more giant avatars were revealed to have joined the battle and they attempted to hit Megatron as he flew all around them. The Decepticon leader managed to blast one of the giant avatar's legs and made a huge amount of rocks fall down from it, making the towering manifestation got on one knee.
"Megatron, we are sending transport." Optimus informed on the com-link.
"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Optimus." Megatron replied before he flew towards one of the giant Unicrons and then punched it in the face.
The resulting impact made the giant Unicron shatter apart and it's rocky pieces collapse onto the ground. Megatron transformed and he landed in front of an open Ground Bridge before walking into it, causing it to close before the other two giant Unicrons could get close.
Back at base.
"Come on, I've never even seen Megatron. Why do we have to hide?" Willow asked in complaint as she, her friends, coulson and Camila were walking towards the entrance of the vault room.
"Because I said so." Ratchet answered.
Just then, the Ground Bridge activated and all of the Autobots got in front of it to wait for their guest of honour. When Megatron appeared at the end and slowly walked into the base, the Autobots brought out their blasters just in case he might do something bad.
"So, this is where the magic happens." Megatron said, looking around the base. "Quaint."
The realm defenders,coulson,Camila and the other heroes were watching from their hiding area as Gus looked at Megatron with an angry glare before rushing up to him.
"Gus!" Luz whispered shockingly.
"Don't!" Camila stated.
"Come back!" Amity said in worridness.
Megatron then noticed Gus approaching him, as well as the other organic allies of the Autobots.
"You…" Gus growled angrily before Hunter quickly grabbed him.
"Ah." Megatron said as Arcee and Jazz quickly got between them. "You're looking much better than the last time we met, little one. Witches, resilient even without their so-called magic."
"Come on, Gus. He's not worth it." Luz said as Gus begrudgingly walked away with Hunter and Camila.
"And you." Megatron told Luz, making her stop in her tracks. "I never forget a face. Even that of a human."
Luz turned around to face Megatron with an unfazed glare.
"Good to know." Luz replied before she walked away.
you go near them at all I'm gonna smash your head into bowling ball hulk said growling.
"and If you double-cross anyone, I'll make sure mine is the last face you'll see! You hear me?!" Willow shouted sternly, causing Hunter and coulson to quickly hold her back as Megatron was unamused.
"Ratchet, obtain the destination coordinates from our guest." Optimus instructed.
Megatron then walked towards the Ground Bridge controls with Ratchet, while the other Autobots still had their blasters aimed at the Decepticon leader. Luz was following the others into the vault, until a certain Autobot approached her from behind.
"Luz." Optimus said, making the Hispanic girl turn around to see him as he kneeled down to her. "Will you keep something for me?"
"Of course, Optimus." Luz answered.
Optimus then revealed an unfamiliar Cybertronian object and it shifted itself into a smaller size. He lowered it down to Luz and she grabbed it.
"What is it?" Luz asked.
"It is… the key to the Ground Bridge power supply." Optimus said.
"Then, shouldn't Ratchet be holding it?" Luz questioned.
"Perhaps, but I have been impressed by all of the noble things you did while in the Boiling Isles and other worlds, as well as how much you've grown since the day we met." Optimus explained. "From what Arcee told me, you faced greater powers to protect those who care about you in while you were in another world, you corrected all of your mistakes, you stood up for Willow and Gus when they felt unwanted, you helped Amity change into a better person, you protested Hunter when he was in direct danger, and you helped the other heroes of your world and others. All of these acts could only be done by a being with a pure heart. As such, I can think of no one more worthy than you to be entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding this important device, until I return."
Luz looked at the device she was holding while sinking everything that Optimus said to her, knowing that all of those things she did were indeed pure to her heart.
"Okay, Optimus. I won't let you down." Luz said with a smile.
Optimus stood up and nodded to the Hispanic girl before walking off to join the others. With the coordinates he needed now in the Ground Bridge controls, Ratchet activated the Ground Bridge.
"Locked and ready." Ratchet said.
The Autobots began walking towards the Ground Bridge, but halted in front of Megatron.
"You first." Cliffjumper told him.
"As you wish." Megatron replied with a bow before walking into the green vortex.
As the Autobots began following him in, Optimus looked back at his allies as they all had slightly worried expressions, hoping that Team Prime would be successful in saving Earth. Optimus then walked into the Ground Bridge and vanished on the other side.
"I hope they stop Unicron." Vee muttered worriedly.
"I'm sure they will, Vee." Luz reassured.
At the other side of the Ground Bridge
the Autobots and Megatron walked out of it and found themselves in a giant chamber that was filled with long platforms and circular objects with purple lightings on them, meaning that it was all powered by Dark Energon. They could also hear a heartbeat in this big area.
"Boy, this sure is a creepy place." Jazz commented.
"This is what the center of Earth looks like?" Wheeljack asked. "I can't wait to tell Gus about it. He'd wanna share this with his witch buddies."
"So, how long before Unicron knows we're here?" Arcee questioned.
"Make no mistake, he already does." Megatron replied darkly before he and the Autobots began advancing to where Unicron's Spark was located.
But then, the scene shifted towards the very top of the chamber and some parts of it moved away to reveal a ginormous Cybertronian eye. Unicron's eye. And it was watching the ones who seek to destroy the Bringer of Chaos