"Optimus, have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?" Ratchet asked. "Unicron is power incarnate, and you, the last of the Primes, shall perish!" The clones chanted.
"I take that as a yes. We are on our way." Ratchet said. "Negative. Unicron can not be defeated by sheer force. He wants me, Ratchet. This fight must be mine alone." Optimus pointed his cannons and shot at the avatars.
He lept into the air while shooting the clones. He stabbed one and shot more but was rammed down to the lower level by another clone. They hit him, but Optimus shot them off. He stabbed another avatar in its face. But the clones were beginning to overwhelm him.
Optimus was sure he was gonna die, but then a Ground-Bridge portal opened, and Bulkhead, Cyclonus, Arcee, Jetfire, Chromia, and Bumblebee came out and shot the clones. Cyclonus transformed into his fighter jet mode and fired his gatling gun at the clone pinning Optimus.
Chromia and Bumblebee shot a manifestation down, and another landed on Chromia, making Cyclonus angry. "Get off my Spark-Mate!" He roared and fired a missile at the avatar, destroying it. Optimus picked a clone up and tossed it away, then stabbed another.
"Did Ratchet not relay my command? Return to base!" Optimus ordered. "Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus!" The clones chanted.
"Optimus, you're Unicron's target. Maybe you should consider returning to base." Arcee said. "These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth. Even our bases shielding would only cloak my position for so long. I will not put others at risk." Optimus said.
"Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once." Bulkhead said. "Please listen to reason, if you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet." Ratchet said. "Very well." Optimus said. "Let's move!" Arcee yelled.
They ran through the canyon while shooting and stabbing the avatars. Jetfire transformed into an SR-71 Blackbird and helped Cyclonus kill the avatars. The other Autobots soon transformed and rammed into the manifestations, and they all emerged away.
Then, the mountain began to fall apart. The Autobots, including the flyers, transformed and were met by a huge clone of Unicron. Bee buzzed at Optimus. "No, not Unicron himself. But another of his manifestations." Optimus said.
"If we can't beat Unicron and we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Chromia asked. "All we can do, neutralize his vessels as they appear, until we find a way to destroy him without destroying the very Earth upon which we walk." Optimus said.
Bee and Bulkhead transformed and drove behind Unicron, transformed again and shot him. Unicron dragged a weapon into the ground and knocked the Autobots away. Cyclonus and Jetfire shot missiles at him, but he wacked them away. Arcee shot and transformed, but Unicron hit her, sending her flying into Chromia.
Optimus desperately shot at the titan who said, "Fool!" He hit the ground, sending rocks flying at Optimus.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee recovered and shot at Unicron again.
Optimus desperately tried to free himself. "I am this world's past and its future, and as of this moment -" Unicron started as he raised his foot. "No!" Arcee cried. "All Primes are simply past!" Before Unicron could flatten Optimus, a stream of purple ice magic hit him from behind, causing him to turn into ice. The clone was then shot in the helm, making it fall apart.
Bee buzzed in confusion. "Wasn't me." Arcee said. "Nor any of us." Cyclonus added. "Ratchet?" Arcee asked. "What is it? What happened?" Ratchet asked. "I happened!" A voice boomed. There standing on the frozen clone of Unicron was Megatron.
The warlord lept off the crumbled remains. "Megatron?!" Cyclonus asked in disbelief. "King 'Con's there too?" Miko asked.
"He has aligned himself with Unicron!" Ratchet said. "Don't be so sure. Megatron just saved Optimus' tailpipe." Arcee said over the intercom.
Megatron approached Optimus and created an ice dagger. The Autobots pointed their weapons, but then Megatron dropped the dagger and offered a servo. Optimus cautiously took it. "It is rather ironic considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately trying to extinguish my Spark." Megatron said.
"That option remains very much in play." Optimus said. "I would expect nothing less. However, I have a proposal. Join me in defeating our shared enemy Unicron, The Chaos Bringer." Megatron proposed.
"Ha! Absurd! Unicron is evil incarnate! If Megatron was to take any side, why would it be ours?" Ratchet asked. "Because Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet." Optimus answered. "You know me all too well, Optimus." Megatron said.
"You lead an army of 'Cons, and took some of Elsa's magic. Wny come to us?" Bulkhead asked. "Because this endeavor requires something beyond the realm of my command, the power of a Prime." Megatron said. "I guess we don't need you." Bulkhead 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 lifeblood runs through me, only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements." Megatron said.
"If that's true, Elsa has Dark Energon running through her as well. Can't she take us to Unicron?" Cyclonus asked. "That is true indeed, but Optimus would not put a child at risk. Even if she can anticipate Unicron's movements. Optimus, our past alliances, Autobot, Decepticon, no longer matters. Not while Unicron lives." Megatron said.
Ratchet slammed his servo onto the monitor.
"The past always matters!" He said angrily. "A truce between Autobot and Decepticon? How long do you expect us to believe that will last?" Optimus asked. "Only as long as is mutually beneficial." Megatron said. "And when our proposed shared mission is complete?" Optimus asked.
"I will conquer this Earth my way." Megatron said. "Brutal honest from a Decepticon." Arcee said. "Aligning with the lesser side of two evils is still siding with evil!" Ratchet said. "Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? 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. Whay we have witnessed until now has been a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will wreak upon your world." Megatron said.
"Like your quest of power destroyed Cybertron?" Chromia asked. "Make no mistake. This time, there will be a planet left for me to rule." Megatron remarked.
"Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down at the center of the Earth. How are we supposed to get there? Drive?" Bulkhead asked. "There is only one way." Optimus said. "Absolutely not! Ground-Bridging into space or on to moving trains is difficult enough, but plotting a blind jump inside of a sentient being?! Besides, exposure to that much Dark Energon will debilitate you. You haven't built up an immunity like Megatron has. Nor do you have magic like Elsa!" Ratchet roared.
"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!" Megatron said.
"Optimus, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?" Cyclonus asked. Optimus and Megatron shared a look. "With the Matrix of Leadership." Optimus said.
"What is that?" Agent Fowler asked. "A vessel of pure energy, the collective wisdom of the Primes." Ratchet answered.
"Do we have time for a scavenger hunt? I mean, where's Optimus supposed to find this Matrix?" Jack asked. "Optimus does not need to find it. He carries it within him." Ratchet said.
"It was the combined power of the Primes that defeated Unicron so long ago. The very reason he seeks to destroy you." Megatron said. "It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's Spark would return him to Stasis." Optimus said.
"Hold on. If everything goes right, Unicron's gonna stay down there?" Miko asked. "Yeah, can't we just siphon him out somehow?" Jack agreed. "That won't work, Jackie. I can feel Unicron like Megatron. Unicron is the core of the planet." Elsa said.
"Elsa is correct. Tampering with your core could affect the magnetic poles, trigger the very cataclysmic events we are attempting to remedy. Tragically, Unicron is your planet's very seed. Always has been and always must be." Ratchet said.
Rocks began to move around the Autobots, and the Dark Energon ice fell off the defeated avatar, allowing it to reform. "We got another!" Jetfire said.
"Ratchet, send a Ground-Bridge." Optimus ordered. A portal opened. "Wait, we're opening up a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?" Chromia asked. "And seriously, he's gonna risk his own Spark to save us?" Bulkhead asked.
Megatron laughed at that and said, "Hardly my nature! Consider my offer. I shall keep it busy." Megatron transformed and attacked the manifestation, allowing the Autobots to escape.
The Nemesis hovered high above the Earth. Dozens of hurricanes could be seen in the atmosphere. "No word yet from Lord Megatron. It appears our leader has abandoned us, while this world erupts in chaos. I believe we must consider the possibility of a future without Megatron." Airachnid smiled evilly.
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measures, but bringing Megatron here?" Ratchet fumed. "How can you even think about letting that monster near these children after what he did to Raf and Anna?" June asked. "He will be closely monitored, and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more." Optimus replied.
"What's going to stop the 'Con from calling in an airstrike if he knows where you live?" Agent Fowler asked. "By Ground-Bridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates." Optimus said. "Optimus, what's gonna happen to you when all your Matrix energy is released?" Jack asked.
"The power within the Matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner." Optimus said. "But, you have an idea, right?" Elsa asked.
"Autobots, if humankind is to be saved,.I have no choice but to proceed. But, you do." Optimus said as he stepoed in front of the Ground-Bridge. "Well, I don't know about humankind, but I'm willing to do it for Miko." Bulkhead said. "For Chromia." Cyclonus said. "For everyone." Jetfire said. "For Jack, Elsa, and Anna." Arcee said. Bee buzzed 'For Raf.'
Megatron was having a lot of fun. He trapped a Unicron avatar in ice, and managed to blow another one's leg off. "Megatron, we are sending transport." Optimus said. "You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Optimus." Megatron turned around, transformed, and his servo met an avatar's face, destroying it. Megatron transformed to escape being crushed.
He transformed next to the fallen clone, and stepped through the Ground-Bridge.
Miko dug her feet into the ground. "No fair, I've never seen him! Why do we have to hide?" She asked. "Because I said so." Ratchet said. Miko followed the other humans into the hallway as the Ground-Bridge opened.
The Autobots stood behind Optimus as Lord Megatron stepped through. Each step raising the tension. "So, this is where the magic happens? Quaint." The warlord said sarcastically as he observed the base.
Anna and Raf glared hatefully at Megatron, then ran out of their hiding place. "Raf, Anna!" Elsa loudly whispered. "Kids, no!" June said. The warlord saw the young kids run to him. "You..." Raf grumbled. "You monster!" Anna yelled. "Ah, you're both looking much better than the last time we met, little ones. Humans. Resilient." Megatron said.
"Come on, guys. He ain't worth it." Jack said. "I enjoy using the powers I took from you, Elsa." Megatron said. Elsa glared at him and said, "You try anything, and I'll freeze you." She threatened, then walked away. "And you, I never forget a face. Even that of a human." Megatron said to Jack. Jack ignored him and walked away. "You double-cross anyone, mine is the face you'll never forget! NEVER!" Miko screamed at Megatron.
Agent Fowler pulled Miko away. "Ratchet, obtain the destination coordinates from our guest." Optimus said. Megatron joined Ratchet, as Optimus approached Jack and Elsa. "Jack, Elsa." He said. He kneeled down to the humans and said, "Will you keep something for me?"
"Sure." Jack said. Optimus presented two massive chips which shrunk themselves for the kids to carry. "What are they?" Elsa inquired. "They are the keys to the Ground-Bridge power supply." Optimus said. "Okay, but shouldn't Ratchet have these?" Jack asked. "Perhaps. But I've been impressed by how much you both have matured since we first met. As such, I feel you both have earned the responsibility of safeguarding these important devices until I return." Optimus said.
"We won't let you down." Elsa said. Her eyes then flashed purple for a sec and returned to normal, she stumbled a little. "Elsa, are you okay?" Optimus asked. "I-I'm fine." Elsa said.
Optimus joined the Autobots and Megatron. "Locked and ready." Ratchet said. Chromia glared at Megatron. "You first." She said. "As you wish." Megatron said while mockingly bowing.
The Autobots stepped through, one by one, with Optimus as the last. He took one last look at the humans before entering. "Hey, where'd Elsa go?" Anna asked. "Huh? She was just here." June said. Elsa was nowhere to be seen. "I think I know. Unicron must be influencing her to follow them." Ratchet said. "Can you bridge her back?" Agent Fowler asked.
Ratchet tried, but the system failed. "Too late. The levels of active Dark Energon in the core is scrambling the signal." Ratchet said. "Oh, no." Jack muttered.
Deep within the core of Earth, Megatron, Optimus, Jetfire, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Chromia, Cyclonus, and Arcee appeared. "Optimus, help!" Cried a young voice from behind. A shocked Optimus turned around and found Elsa standing there, while gripping her head. Her eyes bright purple. "Get out of my head!" She cried.
"Elsa!" Optimus gently picked her up, and she finally stopped thrashing. "What happened? How'd she get here?" Cyclonus asked. "I heard a voice tell me to follow you, then kill you, Optimus. I told it no, then it hurt me." Elsa panted. "Unicron is influencing her easier than me. She has a weaker will, Optimus. Keep an eye out." Megatron said.
"Ratchet, open the Ground-Bridge." Optimus said and was met with static. "The active Dark Energon here is scrambling the signal. We were lucky to have entered in the first place without the signal being disrupted." Megatron said.
Seeing no other option, Optimus put Elsa on his shoulder. "So, how long until Unicron knows we're here?" Chromia asked. "Make no mistake. He already does." Elsa said. Megatron secretly smiled.
The heroes walked throughout the core to find Unicron's Anti-Spark. High above them, a green and purple eye started moving around and landed on them.
To be continued...