The sound of blaster fire echoed through the metallic hallways of the Nemesis, sharp and jarring against the otherwise oppressive silence. The Autobots pushed forward, their movements synchronized but driven by urgency. Megatron's towering figure loomed ahead, his every step a declaration of dominance as the Decepticon leader prepared to tear through them all.
Optimus Prime's voice rang out, steady and authoritative, cutting through the clamor of blaster fire and clanging metal. "Stay focused, team! We cannot afford to lose ground now."
Bumblebee's blasters fired in rapid succession, each shot a well-aimed streak of energy that lit up the corridor. He darted through the chaos with speed and agility, using his compact form to his advantage. His blasters hummed with power, but Megatron's fusion cannon retaliated with terrifying force. Each shot Megatron fired sent a tremor through the walls, the intense power forcing the Autobots to scramble for cover.
"I've had enough of this!" Megatron growled, his voice a low rumble. His optics locked onto Bulkhead, who was charging forward, his wrecking ball swinging in a powerful arc. Megatron swung his cannon with lethal precision, firing just as Bulkhead lunged. The blast was narrowly avoided, but the shockwave sent Bulkhead tumbling to the ground, his massive frame crashing heavily against the floor.
"Bulkhead!" Arcee called out, her own blaster drawn and firing rapidly to cover her comrade. She shifted position swiftly, trying to divert Megatron's attention from the fallen Autobot. "Get up, Bulkhead!" she shouted, though it was clear her words were as much for herself as for him.
Bulkhead groaned, shaking his head to clear the disorientation, his heavy frame rising slowly. The scene played out like an endless cycle—the Autobots pushing against Megatron's overwhelming power. Each exchange was brutal, Megatron's fusion cannon sending shockwaves through the ship.
The sound of explosions and clashing metal from further down the hall told them that the Vehicons were still closing in, their numbers seemingly endless. "We need to push through!" Optimus ordered, determination in his voice as he advanced toward Megatron. His energon blade gleamed faintly in the dim lighting as he stepped into range, ready to face the Decepticon leader head-on.
The two leaders met with a deafening crash, their optics locked in a battle of wills. Optimus swung his energon blade, but Megatron was ready, his fusion cannon deflecting the strike with ease. "You're playing right into my hands, Prime," Megatron sneered, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "You think you're saving your precious human? You'll never get the chance."
Optimus remained unfazed, his optics glowing with the unwavering resolve he had carried through countless battles. "Your arrogance will be your downfall, Megatron."
Bumblebee, refusing to fall behind, darted forward again. His blasters fired quickly, each blast intended to keep Megatron off balance. His movements were sharp, focused, but Megatron was quick to retaliate. A well-aimed shot from the fusion cannon sent Bumblebee diving for cover behind a large support beam, narrowly escaping the blast's destructive radius.
"Stay sharp, Bumblebee!" Arcee called, her voice strained as she continued to fire. She ducked and rolled, her movements fluid, her focus sharp. Worry for Anna weighed heavily on her, but there was no time to dwell on that. The battle raged on, and each moment spent distracted could cost them everything.
Bulkhead swung his wrecking ball again, his massive arms propelling the weapon forward with tremendous force. This time, Megatron sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his laughter echoing through the hall like a cruel mockery. "Is that the best you've got, Autobot?" he taunted, the sound of his amusement grating against the Autobots' determination.
"Don't get cocky, Megatron," Bulkhead grunted, adjusting his stance as he prepared for another strike.
Optimus Prime, ever the strategist, moved in. His energon blade glowed fiercely as he advanced on Megatron. "This ends now, Megatron," he declared, his voice filled with determination. "Surrender Anna, and we'll spare your ship."
Megatron's sneer deepened into a growl. "I have no intention of surrendering anything, Prime. Especially not her."
With a roar, Megatron surged forward, his cannon firing once more, sending the Autobots scattering in all directions. Optimus ducked beneath the blast, his energon blade slashing at Megatron's side, but the Decepticon leader parried the strike effortlessly, swatting Optimus away with a dismissive swipe.
"Is that all, Prime?" Megatron mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "I expected more from the great Autobot leader."
Optimus, undeterred, rose once more. "We will find her, Megatron. And when we do, you will answer for your crimes."
As Optimus braced himself for the next wave of attacks, the tension in the air was palpable. Time was running out. And somewhere deeper within the Nemesis, Anna's fate hung in the balance, uncertain and frail.
Meanwhile, back in the medbay, the atmosphere was tense. Knock Out hovered over Anna's unconscious form, his optics flicking between her vitals and the screens displaying the data from the experiment. The room hummed with the faint sound of energon pumps and monitors, a steady reminder of the precarious situation.
Knock Out's servos moved deftly, adjusting dials and inputs on the machinery connected to Anna. He muttered to himself, his tone laced with irritation. "Of all the ridiculous schemes Megatron could come up with... turning a human into a hybrid. Brilliant, really."
He paused, his optics lingering on Anna. Her pale face and shallow breathing stirred something in him—something he wasn't ready to admit. He sighed and shook his head. "What am I doing?"
Leaning closer to the console, Knock Out tapped a few buttons, subtly altering the parameters of the experiment. The changes were minor, nearly imperceptible to anyone who might review the logs later. He reduced the energon dosage by a fraction, just enough to slow the process without raising alarms.
"Megatron doesn't need to know everything," he muttered, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Besides, it's not like he'll notice right away."
He straightened, casting a wary glance at the door. The Autobots were getting closer; he could feel it. The distant echoes of their battle were growing louder, and it was only a matter of time before they breached the medbay. Even Megatron, as ruthless and skilled as he was, could only keep them back for so long. Not while they were determined enough to blast their way into a heavily armed warship just to save her. Knock Out tapped a few more keys, adding another layer of encryption to the data logs. If Megatron demanded an update, he'd have enough plausible deniability to stall for time.
As Anna remained unconscious, her condition teetering on the edge, Knock Out's thoughts flickered back to their past encounters. Starscream's mocking words echoed in his mind, but they did little to deter him now. Anna was in his care, and despite the tension between them, he wasn't going to let her die. At least, not without trying.
His optics returned to Anna, and for a moment, his expression softened. "Stay with me, Annabelle," he said quietly, almost as if she could hear him. "I'm not doing this just to keep my plating intact, you know."
A sudden noise from outside the medbay door caught his attention. He stiffened, his optics narrowing. Was it the Autobots, closing in? Had even just one of them made it past Megatron? Or was it someone else, coming to check his progress? Before he could investigate, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Knock Out's grip tightened on the control panel. Time was running out, and he knew that soon, Anna's fate would be in the hands of the Autobots- or worse, Megatron.