Chapter 38: Confrontation
The Autobot Commander and Raccoon approach the Throne room. The Commander is determined. He has fought Megatron many times, but he was certain this time would be the last. The Raccoon on the other hand, really isn't trying to show it to his comrade, but inside, he is extremely nervous and even scared, on the verge of slight tears. Clockwerk to his knowledge is currently the most powerful he has ever been. There is a real good chance he could be killed by him. Still, he is relieved that his best friends and the woman he loves will be safe. Despite his hidden emotions, the Prime knows how he's feeling.
Optimus: I can tell this will be the biggest challenge of your life. I have felt the same way many times before, but conquered whatever fear I had in that moment.
What he says gives Sly a bit of confidence, but not too much, then a question comes to his mind.
Sly: You two have had many encounters and fights for a very, very long time. Equally matched in strength. What I'm asking is….(Raises voice) how have you not killed Megatron yet!?
Prime is silent. Sly is about to raise his voice at him for a real answer, but before he can, the two turn round a corner. They were finally in the humongous Throne room. It has a long distance, but at the other end, Megatron stands up out of his throne. Clockwerk right at this side.
Megatron: (Yells) OPTIMUS PRIME!
Optimus: (Yells) MEGATRON!
Clockwerk: Sly Cooper.
Sly: (Nervously) Uuuhh…..Clockwerk!
Optimus: We have had many battles, but I guarantee you, this time, I am NOT holding back! You will be destroyed! One shall stan-!
Megatron: (Interrupts) Yes. Yes. Yes. "One shall fall". It is basically your catchphrase at this point but you are right this time. One shall fall…..but it will not be me… I have conspired with my new second to make this final battle more interesting.
Clockwerk: I duel with you Optimus Prime and Megatron catches Cooper and cripples him. By then we switch opponents and finally take our adversaries out for good.
Megatron: If Clockwerk strikes you down, I know you are the type of bot who will always get up for one last fight, so you will have to fight both of us and I will kill the last Prime…..for good!
Clockwerk: What!? That was not part of the plan!
Megatron: Trust me, you will finally fulfill your ambition. CLOCKWERK, ATTACK!
Clockwerk transforms from owl to robot mode, pulling out his sword while charging towards Prime. In addition to his Energon axe, Prime tracts his Enegron arm blade out and the two start to duel. Sly sees Megatron eye to eye from a long distance away. He is giving the most evilest grin imaginable.
Megatron: I will give you a twenty second head start, Cooper.
Optimus: (Yells) SLY! RUN!
Wanting to fight, but still terrified for his life, Sly runs as fast as he can out of the room and through the halls. After twenty seconds, Megatron gives his word and starts chasing him. He can't seem to find him while slowly walking through and quickly observes the hallway and various rooms. Keep in mind, the halls and rooms have a lot of boxes and pipes to hide and climb up on. He is shooting his fusion cannon everywhere he suspects. but hasn't gotten a hit. Sly is trying his damndest not to be seen. This was like one of his usual thief missions when he is being chased, except this time is the most life-threatening because if he is caught, he is dead. After a while, in an attempt to get him out, Megatron tries taunting him.
Megatron: You know Cooper, Clockwerk told me he killed your family members one by one, but at the same time, he says it was not easy and that they were smarter than they looked. No wonder they rivaled with him for the title of Master Thief. I see absolutely none of that in you. You are a coward. A weakling. An absolute waste of your heritage.
Sly is a bit enraged by his comments, but tries his best to stay absolutely quiet and hides behind a huge box but then…..
Carm: (Whispers) Psst! Sly!
Sly: (Whispers a bit higher) CARMELITA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!? GET OUT!
Carm: (Whispers) No! Nosotros estamos en esto juntos!
Sly: (Whispers) Get out of here now!
Megatron hears some whispering behind a box. The two behind it hear a transformation and then a slight charging noise. One of them can only say one word
Sly: Run.
They use their exo-suit enhanced speed to nearly avoid Megatron's blast while he is in his tank mode. The tyrant tank tries blasting them several times more, but they keep avoiding until one blast impact causes Carmelita to stumble to the ground.
Sly: (Screams) Carmelita!
Carm: (Groans)
Megatron quickly transforms, paces up to them and picks up Carmelita. She is terrified for her life.
Sly: (Yells) LET HER GO!
Carm: (Screams)
Megatron: It seems the tables have turned. Hmmmmm. Yeeeeeesssss. Let me ask you, if you consider yourself a Master Thief, how about you attempt to steal her from me!?
Megatron devilishly grins, Sly gives a huge scowl. Back in the Throne room at the same time, Prime and Clockwerk are in a fierce duel while conversing.
Clockwerk: Do you not remember me, Optimus Prime?
Optimus: Should I?
Clockwerk: I was one of the first in Megatron's army of Decepticons. A great thief and excellent spy for Autobot intel. But I was lost for a very long time on Earth.
Optimus: I was younger back then. We may have fought, but I do not remember because at that time, I saw all Decepticons as the exact same.
Clockwerk: Hmph. Rude! Either way, it is such an honor to duel with a Prime.
Optimus: You cannot take down a raccoon and really expect yourself to win against me?!
Clockwerk: (Yells) I KILLED DOZENS! Killing Coopers who dared challenge me in my expert skill kept me occupied for centuries! My hate and rage is what kept me immortal!
He is dealing a good amount of hits while Prime has a bit less damage.
Optimus: Until it did not!
Clockwerk: My single defeat is all in the past. I was offline for sometime, but thankfully my former superior found me and now I am at his side. More powerful than ever. Ready to finally vanquish and exterminate all you Autobots and then dominate this weak, pathetic planet!
They continue to duel. It seems Clockwerk is somewhat getting the upper hand, or at least Prime is acting weak to make him think that. Back with Sly and Megatron.
Megatron: It is your choice Cooper. Surrender to me and I take you to die at Clockwerk's claws or I crush your beloved in my bare hand!
He very slightly tightens his huge metallic hand on Carmelita, who starts groaning and screaming in pain. Sly just decides to hold up his arms, admitting defeat.
Sly: (Screams in absolute tears) I GIVE UP! I SURRENDER! JUST PLEASE….put…. her…down!
Megatron thinks for a moment.
Megatron: You know, there is a reason we are called Decepticons. Before you accept your fate, she will as well!
Sly: (Screams) NO!
But before he can crush her in his hand, small rapid blasts of energy hit his back, stunning him and causing to drop her. Luckily, Carmelita is in her Exo-suit which makes her sustain little fall damage.
Megatron: AAAAHHH!...those small blasts to my back…they feel…familiar…
He angrily turns his back to see no one in the halls, but knows a certain familiar backstabber is around here somewhere and his priority immediately changes on the dime as he runs the other way.
Megatron: (Yells his loudest) STARSCREAM!
The two soulmates embrace and cry together in relief. After a while, Sly just wants to set things straight.
Sly: You have to get out of here! NOW!
Carm:...No.
Sly: You almost got crushed to death by Megatron and you don't want to leave this Hellhole!?
Carm: No…..you're right…..let's leave….
Sly: (Sighs) I should leave to fight Clockwerk another day…but at the same time…..I feel bad leaving Optimus to fight both of them.
Carm: I think he's been through worse, but he can take it. By the way, on our way out, we should find a way to free the others.
Sly: (Nervously laughs) Sorry….about…..that…..
Carm would usually give him a negative expression right now, but doesn't considering what had just happened. As they walk through the halls, they hear a familiar voice and dart their heads to a doorway next to them.
?: Hello Ringtail.
Sly/Carm: Starscream!?
Starscream: I knew what happened that freed us was embarrassing to you, especially you, Carmelita and I thought I owed you one. BUT ONLY ONE!
Sly: (In tears) Thank you….so much…
Carm: You should leave…..Megatron is very pissed right now….. again….(sighs)... thank you so much!
Starscream: Trust me. I know how to finally settle my score with Megatron once and for all very soon.
Sly: Whatever. Good luck with that.
The Seeker runs to the throne room where Optimus and Clockwerk are still fighting. While the two are distracted, he sneaks over and climbs the ladder up to a catwalk high up. Up there is the control panel for the Spacebridge inside the same room. He prays to Primus that no one sees him up there and when the right time comes…let's just say he's planning and hoping for both Clockwerk, Optimus Prime and especially Megatron to be sent to certain doom.
Sly and Carmelita are walking slowly through the halls. After their near death experience, they just want to gather their friends and leave this battle, hoping that their Autobot comrades will win, maybe understand and forgive them for fleeing. Sly really at this point wants to ask Carmelita if she's really thought of his potential lover double life with her that he proposed, but knows now is not the most appropriate time.
