Chapter Text
(In Central Egypt)
Two huge greatswords clashed as the two equally large faction leaders battled each other. Optimus Prime was clutching a gaping wound in his side where his opponent had caught him off guard, though Megatron did not have the upper hand.
The Decepticon warlord was blinded by the Dark Energon that he had been using to strengthen himself, not considering the downside to using the blood of Unicron. The silver ex-gladiator just swung his sword around wildly, not caring who he hit in his rage.
The two leaders were given a wide berth by the others, who were busy fighting amongst themselves. Optimus distantly heard Smokescreen and his twin brother, the sniper Bluestreak, swerving around Starscream, who was shrieking loudly at the Vehicons about one thing and trying to keep his shots aimed at any Autobot he saw.
Keeping his mind on his own fight, the blue and red Prime saw Megatron faltering, his energy draining from his wild, erratic movements. Optimus saw his chance and charged, knocking his brother off his pedes and making his way to the strange machine that the two factions were fighting over.
He saw the Decepticons’ cycloptic scientist, Shockwave, trying to work on the device while also fending off Ratchet. The two mechs struggled to gain the upper hand on the other, while Optimus approached from the other direction. Shockwave’s back was to the Prime, so only Ratchet could see his friend attempt to destroy the machine. Unfortunately, not everyone was unaware of the Prime’s motives.
Predaking, from his spot above the battleground, saw the Prime run towards the device and towards Shockwave. Protective anger flared in Predaking’s spark at the thought of harm coming to his Creator from being stabbed in the back, so he transformed into his draconic beast mode and dove. Optimus heard the cry of the Predacon as the beast reached for him, so the Autobot raised his sword and was about to thrust it into the machine.
But just as Prime’s sword hit the machine, three mere seconds, three nanoklicks before Predaking reached him, a gold and cyan Spacebridge opened and engulfed those nearest to it. The light blinded every Cybertronian on the battlefield, but when the light died down, everyone had the same expression of shock and horror on their faceplates (this list excluded Shockwave and Soundwave, although it was obvious from their body language that they were feeling the same thing).
Two irregular burn marks on the floor were all that remained of Optimus and Megatron. The machine itself was also destroyed, but both factions were too numb-minded to remember it or why they were fighting over it. Starscream, for the first time in his lifecycle, spoke so softly, almost no one heard him.
“Decepticons, retreat.”
The effect was slow, but instantaneous once it started. The Vehicons and all other Decepticons turned and fled back to the awaiting Nemesis, leaving the shocked Autobots to stand limply and gaze at the spot where they last saw their leader.
Finally, in a voice as soft as Starscream’s had been, Ultra Magnus said, “Autobots, retreat.” Everyone, even Wheeljack, obeyed and Ratchet called for Raf to send a Groundbridge. Both factions withdrew to their bases, pondering where their leaders could have gone.