Hey, everyone! I'm back with chapter 29. I know I said I was almost done with my TFA chapter, but I feel like I need to take a step back from it for a while or else I'll overthink it too much. I will try and have it up soon as I can, but no promises. Anyway, here is One Shall Rise Part 2. It's a short chapter, but I hope you still like it.
Transformers Prime: The Medic's Assistant
Chapter 29: One Shall Rise (part 2)
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Prime
(Autobot Base)
"Unicron is powerful, and you, the last of the Primes, shall perish."
"...I think that's a yes," Stormracer said.
"We are on our way," Ratchet said.
"Negative," Optimus said, "Unicron cannot be defeated by shear force. He wants me, Ratchet. This fight must be mine alone." The call was then cut, leaving the others worried.
"We can't just let him face Unicron on his own," Bumblebee bleeped.
"I agree," Arcee said, "he may be a Prime, but he's not invincible. I'm going over there."
"Ditto," Bulkhead said.
"Same here," Bumblebee bleeped.
Soon as Ratchet activated the groundbridge, the three rushed through the portal to aid their leader. The medic, assistant, and humans listened in through the commlink unit as they heard the bots firing their blasters.
"Did Ratchet not relay my command?" Optimus asked sternly through the other end, "return to base."
"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus," the multiple Unicrons said.
"Optimus, you are Unicron's target," Arcee said, "you should consider returning to base."
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth," the Prime argued, "even our base's shielding would only cloak me for so long. I will not leave others at risk."
"Then fall back and let us take the lead," Bulkhead said, "just this once."
"Please listen to reason," Ratchet said, "if you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet."
After a pause, Optimus said, "very well."
"Let's move," Arcee ordered.
More fire power was heard before the commlink turned off, leaving the others wondering what was happening over there.
"Will they be okay?" Raf asked.
"Don't worry, Raf," Stormracer told him, "they got this."
"But they've never faced anything like this," Sierra said.
"That may be true," Ratchet said, "but Optimus and the others are willing to do whatever it takes to protect this world. Even from Unicron."
"Do the bots even have a plan?" Fowler asked.
"They'll think of something," Stormracer said, "they always do."
"Is there anything we can do?" Jack asked.
Ratchet vented. "All we can do right now is wait."
After a long while, Arcee contacted the base. "Ratchet?!"
Ratchet immediately answered. "What is it?" he asked, "what happened?"
"I happened!"
Everyone was surprised soon as they heard Megatron's voice coming through.
"Megatron!" Bulkhead said.
"King Cons there too?!" Miko asked.
Ratchet frowned. "He has aligned himself with Unicron."
"Don't bet on it," Arcee said, "Megatron just saved Optimus' tailpipe."
This surprised everyone even more.
"Say what now?" Stormracer asked.
"You heard me," the two wheeler said.
"It is rather ironic, considering our last encounter," Megatron said, talking to Optimus, "If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark."
"That option remains very much in play," the Prime told him.
"I would expect nothing less. However, I have a proposal. Join me in defeating our shared enemy, Unicron the Chaos Bringer."
Ratchet let out a laugh. "Ha! Absurd. Unicron is evil incarnate. If Megatron was to take any side, why would it be ours?"
"Because Megatron's pride would not allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet," Optimus answered.
"You know me all to well, Optimus," Megatron said.
"You lead an army of cons," Bulkhead said, "why come to us?"
"Because this particular endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command," the decepticon leader said, "the power of a Prime."
"Ha! So we don't need you," the green bot said.
"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 life blood runs through me, so only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements. Optimus, our past alliances, Autobots, Decepticons, no longer matter. Not while Unicron lives."
Ratchet slammed his fist down on the computer console. "The past always matters!" he exclaimed.
"A truce between Autobot and Decepticon," Optimus said, "how long do you expect us to believe that will last?"
"Only as long as its mutually beneficial," Megatron said.
"And when our supposed shared mission is complete?"
"I will conquer this world. My way."
"Brutal honesty from a Decepticon?" Arcee asked.
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil," Ratchet said.
"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron?" Megatron asked, "those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken. With each passing moment, the bringer of chaos evolves, mutating Earth from the inside out. What we have witnessed until now is a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will reek upon this world."
"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron?" Arcee asked angrily.
"Make no mistake!" Megatron said, "this time there will be a planet left for me to rule."
"Even if we agree, Unicron is all the way down in the center of the Earth," Bulkhead said, "how are we suppose to get there, drive?"
"There is only one way," Optimus said.
"Absolutely not!" Ratchet argued, "groundbridging into space, or on a moving train is difficult enough. But plotting a blind jump inside a sentient being?! Besides, direct exposer to that much dark energon will debilitate you. You haven't build up an immunity like Megatron has."
"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance," Megatron said.
"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."
"Optimus, even if we do survive the jump, how are we suppose to stop Megatron?" Arcee asked.
There was a slight pause. "With the Matrix of Leadership," the Prime said.
"What is that?" Fowler asked.
"A vessel of pure energy," Ratchet told him, "the collective wisdom of the Primes."
"Do we even have time for a scavenger hunt?" Jack asked, "I mean, where's Optimus suppose to find this matrix?"
"Optimus does not need to find it," the medic said, "he carries it within him."
"It was the combined power of the Primes that defeated Unicron long ago," Megatron said, "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 said.
"Hold on," Miko said, "if everything goes right, Unicrons gonna stay down there?"
"Can't we syphon him out or something?" Sierra asked.
"He's not in the Earth's core, Sierra," Raf said, "he is the Earth's core."
"Rafs right," Stormracer said, "if we tamper with the core, it could affect the magnetic poles and trigger the events we're trying to stop."
"Tragically, Unicron is your planet's very seed," Ratchet said, "always has been, and always must."
Just then they heard a loud sound coming from the other end.
"What's happening?" Sierra asked.
"We got another one," Bulkhead said.
"Ratchet, send a groundbridge," the Prime ordered.
"Wait, we're opening up a direct path to our base with Megatron standing right there?" Arcee asked.
"And seriously, he's going to risk his own spark to save us?" Bulkhead asked.
Megatron laughed. "Hardly my nature. Consider my offer. I shall keep it busy."
The bots made their way through the ground bridge and back to base, not looking too happy. Optimus then explained the plan to everyone, though there was one part of it they especially did not like.
"I know desperate times call for desperate measures," Ratchet said, "but bringing Megatron here?"
"How can you even think of bringing that monster here after what he did to Raf?" June asked angrily.
"He will be closely monitored and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey," Optimus said, "not one moment more."
"What's gonna stop the con from calling in an airstrike if he knows where you live?" Fowler asked.
"By groundbridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates," the Prime told him.
"Optimus," Jack said, "what's gonna happen to you when all your matrix energy is released?"
"The power of the matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner," he said.
"But you have an idea, don't you?"
Optimus didn't answer him as he went quiet for a second. He then looked at the others. "Autobots, if humankind is to be saved, I have no choice but to proceed. But you do."
Bulkhead, Arcee, and Bumblebee looked over at their human friends. It didn't take long for them to make their decisions.
"Well, I don't know about human kind," Bulkhead said, "but I'm willing to do it. For Miko."
"For Jack," Arcee said.
"For Raf," Bumblebee bleeped.
Stormracer looked at Sierra, the teal bot wanting to do her part for her human friend.
Ratchet looked at his assistant, already knowing what she's thinking. "You're not going with them," he said, "not this time."
"There has to be something I can do to help," she said.
"And there is," Optimus said to her, "remain here and watch over our human friends."
Looking at the humans, Stormracer looked back at Optimus and nodded.
The Prime then walked over to the computer and contacted Megatron. "Megatron, we are sending transport."
"You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Optimus," the decepticon leader replied.
Ratchet looked at the humans. "All of you need to leave the room."
"What?!" Miko exclaimed.
"You can hide in the hallway, but don't come in until Megatron leaves," the medic said as he had the humans move down the platform and towards the hall. He had to scoot Miko forward as she tried to push back.
"No fair, I've never seen him!" she whined, "why do we have to hide?"
"Because I said so," Ratchet said. Miko frowned as she and the others made their way into the hallway.
Stormracer looked at the groundbridge and let out a vent.
"You okay?" Bumblebee asked her.
"Yeah," she said, "its just the last time I saw Megatron, he stowed away in my mind and took control over me."
"If you're not comfortable, maybe you should join the humans," the scout suggested.
"I'll be fine," the assistant said, giving him an assuring smile, "besides, he's not that scary."
The groundbridge was then activated. Their weapons out and ready, the bots watched as Megatron made his way through the portal and into the base.
The warlord stopped and looked around. "So, this is where the magic happens," he said, "quaint."
Seeing Megatron standing there, Rafael angrily ran back into the room.
"Raf!" Jack exclaimed as he and the others chased after him.
The bots and Megatron looked over to see the humans running towards them.
"You...!" Raf went to say as Jack caught up and stopped him.
"Ah, you're looking much better than the last time we met, little one," Megatron said to the younger boy, "humans... resilient."
"Come on, Raf," Jack said, holding his friend back, "he isn't worth it."
Calming down, Raf turned around and walked back with June, Jack following behind.
"And you," Megatron said to Jack, making the boy stop, "I never forget a face, even that of a human."
Jack looked at him and frowned before continuing to walk away.
Sierra glared at Megatron and gave him a "humph" before turning around and walking off with the others.
Miko angrily faced him. "You double-cross anyone, my face will be the one you'll never forget!" she exclaimed, "NEVER!"
Agent Fowler had to grab Miko and drag her away as she tried to break free.
The humans making their way back, Optimus looked at the medic. "Ratchet, obtain the destination coordinates from our guest."
Ratchet, Megatron and the others made their way over to the groundbridge controls. While Megatron gave the coordinates, Stormracer glanced over to see Optimus stepping into the hallway, thinking he was most likely going to talk to the humans. She brought her focus back to the warlord as she lifted her EMP up higher.
Noticing her in the corner of his optic, Megatron glanced over and let out a slight chuckle. "An EMP generator. Cute."
Stormracer frowned as she kept her weapon on him.
Soon as the coordinates were set, the bots and Megatron made their way to the bridge as Optimus walked back into the room.
"Locked and ready," Ratchet said as he activated the groundbridge.
Arcee glared at Megatron. "You first."
Megatron gave her a slight bow. "As you wish." Turning around, he walked through the portal with the others following behind. The humans made their way back into the room to watch their friends leave on their mission. Optimus looked back at them, Ratchet, and Stormracer before stepping through the bridge himself. Watching the portal close behind the autobot leader, Stormracer and the others made their way over to the computer, knowing all they can do is wait. And pray.
And that was chapter 29! I know, Stormracer isn't taking part in any of the action, and I did think about it. I just felt it made more sense for her to stay behind with Ratchet and the humans. But I do promise she will take part in the fight during Orion Pax. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and hopefully I will update again soon. One more chapter and then we're in Season 2! Yay! Until next time! God bless!