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Chapter Text

Kranix and Arblus carried the fragile vials across the facility's dark hallways. Artificial light surrounded them on all sides, shadows following both scientists as they moved towards their destination. Metal walls cut the facility off from the rest of the planet Lithone, which they could never be too happy about. Outside was a world of chaos and empty husks, unsuitable for any type of life, organic or inorganic. Every scientist had agreed to let the outside rust, along with anything still functioning out there. The scientists arrived at their destination, the door sliding open to reveal one very ungrateful co-worker. Without a word, they snatched the tray from him.

Out of the corner of his optics, Kranix thought he saw a scalpel float up a little. His worst fears were all but confirmed as the vials floated up to ceiling, the facility's alarms blared out. Kranix grabbed a hinge to anchor himself, opened the room’s tele-screen to the cameras outside. His expression turned blank, the unmistakable visage of the god planet placed within the atmosphere.

The scientists slammed to the ground, gravity returning to its normal space.

“No,” Arblus said behind him in disbelief. “It can’t be! Kranix, it’s Unicron!”

A beam of light hit the planet’s surface, scorching the surface and digging it’s way towards the planet core.

Kranix and Arblus ran outside, unlatching the doors protecting them from the barren wasteland. “The ships! Get to the ships! It’s our only chance!”

The two of them reached the shipyard, the energy from Unicron the sky into a hazy white.

Arblus was too panicked to notice Kranix pull out a blaster and shoot him straight in the chest. He screeched in pain, his circuits melting as he faced the traitorous bot in front of him.

“Kranix…” he croaked out. Smoke emitted from his wounded body.“ Why?”

“This planet is done for. We killed this planet when we decided our research was more important than our people.” Kranix looked like he was on the verge of tears. “Unicron has only come to finish the job, having the mercy to erase us and our sins from this galaxy. If anyone of us is going to survive, it won’t be you.”

Arblus watched as Kranix left him there, dying as he watched his ship fly into the bright white sky. As he laid on the shaking ground, he could only chuckle at his misfortune.“Kranix…”

His laughter became a desperate plead as the light became brighter. “Damn you Kranix!”

Arblus let out one last scream of pain before he and the rest of the planet were dragged off into the AllSpark.

Chapter Text

Laserbeak departed, thrusters roaring to life as they left Decepticon territory. It took a while for the bird-shaped bot to reach the Autobot’s base, stopping to rest inside a weapons factory before reaching the main command center.

Laserbeak stood outside the building window. They hacked into the center’s cameras, and as luck would have it, picked up on some crucial information.

“Ironhide,” said the voice of the tyrant commander of the Autobots, Optimus Prime. “Report to me at once.”

“Same ol’, same ol’,” the cranky bot replied. “It makes my circuits sizzle, seeing all these Decepti-chops smiling on the monitor. Why can’t we just go over there and crush ‘em into pieces?”

“All in due time, old friend,” Optimus replied. “You’ll get your fill of blasting Decepticons soon enough. In the mean time….”

 Optimus continued. “I need you to go on a special run to Autobot City on Earth.”

Ironhide stood up, shaking his fist. “What do you take me for, Prime? Some common grunt?”

“How interesting,” The Autobot commander said, amused. “Speaking out of line? Perhaps I should get Ratchet to come and fix you.”

Laserbeak caught the fear appearing on Ironhide’s face. The bot sat back in his seat, silent.

“We lack the energon cubes to power a full-scale assault!” Prime responded. “If you have any self of self-preservation, you’d prepare to launch the shuttle now.”

Laserbeak caught Ironhide’s muttering, typing the launch codes into the command center. “Your days are numbered now, Decepti-creeps.”

The Autobot got out of his chair. The cranky bot moved out of the base, transforming into his land-vehicle alt-mode and rolling out towards the shuttle site. Laserbeak continued spying on Optimus, the tyrant commander entering into a video call with another one of his cronies.

“Jazz,” he spoke to the large screen in front of him. “Security status.”

The image of the bot loomed over Optimus on the large screen, a visor blocking out all signs of the bot’s optics.

“No signs of Decepticons here, Prime.” Were Laserbeak a less skilled bot, they would’ve chuckled.

“What about Moonbase Two?” Optimus Prime asked.

Laserbeak observed as Jazz turned another comm. “Jazz to Moonbase Two!”

An obnoxious voice responded back. “Bumblebee and Spike here.”

The bot appeared on Optimus’s screen, a cocky grin on his face. Beside him was a human male, around 50 Earth years old, what was considered as “middle aged“ on Earth. The human wore an exosuit, allowing his fleshy body to survive and use Cybertronian technology. In his eyes were lifetimes of regret.

“Speak bug,” Jazz said. “Any Decepticon shenanigans in your area?”

“All clear, Jazz.”

“Ironhide,” the human spoke, his voice shaking. “Tell my son Daniel I miss him.”

“Shut it, human,” Ironhide’s voice came out from his ship’s transmission. “Rest assured, you’ll have all the time in the world to see you’re brat after Megatron’s circuits are floating across the galaxy.”

“Cliffjumper,” Optimus’s voice boomed out. “Start the launch!”

The smaller bot counted down. “Five, four, three, two, one… blastoff!”

The Autobot ship’s thrusters roared to life, blasting into the darkness of space.

“Excellent.” The commander chuckled. “And with just a little energon and a lot of lock, the Decepticons will bend to my will.”

Laserbeak stopped recording. The bot flew back into the abyss of space. Their job was done. Laser beak was coming back to the Decepticon base with vital information, and the bot was keen not to let it go to waste. It would be up to the rest of the Decepticons on what to do with it.

Shockwave watched the skyline, a small glimpse of bird-shaped metal catching the yellow bot’s optic.

“Megatron!” he called out. “Laserbeak has returned!”

Soundwave instinctual put out his forearm for his companion to land on. He moved his free hand to pet the avian espionage bot. “Missed you, buddy.”

Shockwave felt his comrade’s happiness across to room. While the bot no longer had a mouth to smile with, his singular optic lit up with joy. Megatron walked up to the two companions, deciding to pet the bot himself.

“Welcome back, Laserbeak.” He smoothed his rough voice with genuine care. “You never fail to bring a smile onto everyone’s face.”

He turned towards the back of the room. “Unless you’re talking about Starscream’s buffoonery.”

Shockwave heard the Seeker snickering behind him. Megatron turned back to his espionage officer. “Soundwave, play back Laserbeak’s findings.”

The bot saluted the Decepticon leader. “As you command, Megatron.”

Laserbeak transformed into their alt-mode, a type of physical media called a “cassette tape”. They inserting themselves into a compartment inside Soundwave’s chest, transforming into his own alt-mode, a device that resembled the ones humans use to play these “cassettes”. The bot set himself near one of their computer modules, connecting with it as the screen whirred to life, the image of their enemy, Optimus Prime appear. 

“I need you to go on a special run to Autobot City on Earth.” His voice came from the computer speakers. Shivers went down Shockwave’s circuits as he listened to the Autobot commander’s words.

“What do you take me for, Prime?” he saw the Autobot Ironhide respond. “Some common grunt?”

“How interesting. Speaking out of line? Perhaps I should get Ratchet to come and fix you.” Shockwave turned to see Megatron scowling at the screen, watching the Optimus force his subordinate to silence.

“We lack the energon cubes to power a full-scale assault! If you have any self of self-preservation, you’d prepare to launch the shuttle now.”

Shockwave heard Starscream step closer, walking over to look at the screen. Optimus’s voice continued. “And with just a little energon and a luck on our side, the Decepticons will bend to my will.”

The video ended, the Decepticons standing there in silence. Soundwave transformed back into his robot mode, turning his attention to Megatron.

“This is bad, Big M,” the Decepticon espionage officer said. “We’re a pile a scrap if they get as big as a shipment and I think they’ll get!.”

“C’mon, Megatron,” Starscream responded. “There’s got to be a way we can stop them, right?”

“If only it was that simple, Screamo,” Soundwave response. “Autobot City’s the capital of the Autobot cause, as well as a massive source of energon. You’ve seen the sheer amount that can be extracted.”

“We can’t just sit around and do nothing!” Shockwave chimed in.

“Exactly,” Starscream responded, his voice filled with firm resolve. Megatron stood lost in thought while the other two Decepticons turned torwards their Seeker comrade. “Which is why I say we go and take the place for ourselves.”

“Has your brain module short circuited?” Shockwave blew up at the Seeker. “Taking over an entire city?”

“You saw it yourself,” Starscream continued. “The Autobots are sending a shuttle to collect energon. Just because I’m a proper bot doesn’t mean I’m opposed to getting my hands dirty.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Shockwave responded, his one optic moving around like crazy. “You’re talking about taking over an entire city. Are your audio receptors not functional? I know that Autobot City is the crown jewel of their regime, but you can’t just talk about invading an entire city, especially if there’s a risk harming regular citizens, human and bot alike!”

“Well look at you, Mr. Autobot sympathizer!” Starscream mocked.

“Only an Autobot would have such a flagrant disregard for life.”

“Enough.” The two Decepticons went quiet as Megatron spoke. “I don’t want this to devolve into petty arguments.”

The silver bot went quiet. “I’m sorry Shockwave. But Starsceam is right. I, we’ve got to do something about this.”

“Don’t do this, Big M,” Soundwave said. “Autobot City is a fortress, wacked up with weaponry! They’ll blow us to pieces!”

“I know, Soundwave. But I can’t just sit here and not at least put up a fight."

The room went quiet. “As much as I’d hate the admit it, Prime is right. He does have the energon. He does have luck on his side.”

Megatron paused. “But he’s going to need more of it then he could imagine if he wants to take us down.”

The Autobot shuttle drifted in space. Prowl sat over the starboard, overseeing the stars as the ship cruised towards its destination. The console was clear of any asteroids or interruptions otherwise to their destination of Autobot City. Ironhide sat in the opposite side of the spacecraft, still salty about being reprimanded by Prime. The two bots didn’t feel like anything was off.

Oh how they were exceedingly wrong.

A rumbling noise from the back of the shuttle shook the entire spacecraft. Prowl and Ironhide turned around, only for the ship’s hull to blast open, bundles of shining optics staring at them.

“Megatron!” exclaimed Brawn, another member of the Autobot shuttle crew.

“I’m warning you,” Megatron said to him. Starscream and the Decepticon’s combiner team, the Constructicons, beside their leader. “Don’t throw away your life like this. Surrender now.”

Brawn scoffed. “As if I would ever listen to you bozos!”

The Autobot charged at the Decepticons. “Very well. Starscream!”

Megatron’s gears shifted as he transformed into his gun mode. Starscream caught him as the Decepticon leader mass shifting algorithms went into motion, shrinking to a size suitable to be held by Cybetronian hands. The seeker fixed his grip and aimed at the Autobot, firing a blue blast of energy into his left shoulder. Brawn stopped in his tracks, the left side of his body bursting into flame. The Autobot recoiled from the blast’s sheer power, smoke clouding his optics. Brawn lost his footing, tripping and falling down onto the cold shuttle floor. His spark left his body, fried circuits leaving a trail of dark smoke.

Prowl jumped up from his seat, firing a blast at Starscream. The Autobot missed, the blast missing him and one of the Constructicons, Scavenger. The Decepticon barely dodged it, the shuttle wall behind him bursting of flames. The Constructicon raised up his own blaster, shooting and landing a shot that pierced through the Autobot’s chest. Prowl’s optics glowed a violent orange color, his jaw going slack as smoke rose from his mouth. His corpse went limp and fell backwards, crashing onto the metal floor.

Ironhide stood up, the Autobot “medic” Ratchet and him firing a hail of blasterfire at the group of Decepticons. Starscream and the Destructicons quickly dodged into the gaping hole in the shuttle, returning fire, energy frying the Autobot’s circuits. Megatron transformed back into robot mode as their bodies fell to the floor, smoke sizzling out their sparkless remains.

“That was too easy, Starscream.” The Decepticon leader face betrayed his sorrow.

“Much easier than our next objective,” the Seeker replied. The rest of the Decepticons took over the star board as he walked up to Megatron. “Are you okay? This shuttle hasn’t gone far from the Autobot Moonbase. We can launch an attack there is you insi—”

“No.” Megatron said, his voice and optics tense. “Don’t try to fool yourself, Starscream. You’re plan is the best we’ve got. We’ll use this ship to slip through their early warning systems.”

The Decepticon leaders face changed to an expression of uncertainty. “If we take control of Autobot City…”

Megatron let those words linger for awhile. “The Autobots will lose most of their resources. They will have no choice but to surrender, and end this tired war once and for all.”

The Decepticon heard a cackle from under him, looking downward to see Ironhide, the Decepticon still functioning despite his injuries. “Ya truly believe that? We’ve been fighting each other for countless cycles. Do ya seriously think this will be the thing that ends it?”

The bot clung to the Decepticon leader’s leg, and let out a dark, heart, chuckle. “You’re walking to your death and you know it.”

Megatron charged his fusion canon, an evil smile forming on the Ironhide’s face as the Decepticon’s weapon lit up.

“Such villainous nonsense.” Megatron fired, the Autobot reduced to smoke and scrap metal.

Chapter Text

Hot Rod fire, blasts of energy striking the lake as burst of water flew up and splattered back down.

“Fish are sure scared of us today, huh, Danno?” Hot Rod asked. The black and purple Autobot continued firing.

“I guess so,” the human boy replied. The bot looked at his friend’s face. Daniel’s glum expression was killing his mood.

“What’s wrong with you, pipsqueak? I take you to one of the only place where we aren’t under constant surveillance, and you’re still acting like this! Primus, Daniel. It’s like you want to work at the energon refinery all day!”

“It’s not that, Hot Rod,” the boy replied. “I… I just don’t know.”

The bot fired another blast. He swore at there was at least one of them swimming around. The lack on any fish was really getting to him. “Just tell me already, won’t ya?”

“Fine, alright?!” the human boy blew up at him. Daniel sighed. “I miss my dad.”

“That’s what’s got you so riled up?” Hot Rod scoffed, firing another couple blasts. “Listen, Danno. Forget about him already. We Cybertronians don’t have dads, but we still have old bots who fufill the same role.”

He fire another shot, water bursting upwards as the energy collided with the lake. Droplets fell back onto the surface, one dead fish floating up.

“You’re lucky he’s not around. You’re better off without him, trust me.” Hot Rod walked into the lake, grabbing and throwing the fish back to the surface.

“Uh…” Daniel stared at the dead fish. “It’s disgusting!”

“Disgustingly small.” The Autobot walking back to Daniel. “Could’ve sworn they were bigger last time.”

A beeping noise sounded from Daniel’s pocket, the human boy taking out a handheld device.

“Let the fish rot, Hot Rod,” he said excitedly. “A shuttle’s coming. Maybe my…”

Daniel stopped. “I have to see it land!”

Hot Rod watched as the human boy hurriedly ran off. The bot scoffed. “Talk about dull, Daniel.”

He pinched the fish with his fingers, dropping it and punting it back into the lake. Hot Rod ran after Daniel, the human boy hopping onto his hoverboard, its engines bursting to life as it went racing across the mountain range. The boy wasn’t very great at using it, Hot Rod watching as it moved wildly, Daniel barely keeping balance. The board slammed into a rock, launching the human boy into the air, Hot Rod barely catching him before he could fall into the rocky ground.

“Listen to me, Danno. If you wanna ride…” The young Autobot transformed into his car mode, the boy falling into his front seat. “You ride in style!”

Hot Rod raced across the rocky terrain, Daniel watching as the factories of Autobot City came into view, the young Autobot continuing to drive upward. The human boy’s face turned serious. “You missed the viewpoint, idiot!”

“Primus, Daniel.” Hot Rod’s voice reverberated within his car mode. “Why settle for just a peek, when you can see everything from Lookout Mountain?”

How Rod continued to drive onward, spotting a group of Autobots crowding around a barricade. He spotted one particular old bot, his paint job a faded red, blue, and white. Hot Rod revved up his engines.

“Wanna see if the old-timer finally meets Primus?” the young bot asked his human companion. Daniel nodded, a cheeky smile appearing on his face.

Kup turned around as Hot Rod slammed into the barricade, the Autobot security force watching as the delinquent Autobot rammed into him. The old Autobot fell to the ground, getting back up as dirt and dust clouded his optics.

“Turbo revving punk!” Kup growled. “I’ll straighten you out one day.”

The young Autobot drove up to the observation tower. High off sticking it to the old man, he drifted towards the top. Daniel ran out to the viewing station, Hot Rod transforming back into his robot mode shortly after.

“Hot Rod!” the boy exclaimed as he looked through the digital camera. “There’s a hole in the shuttle!”

“What?!” The young Autobot adjusted his sensors, helping his optics zoom in. His circuits sizzled as as he spotted the shuttle, three bots being visible from a hole blasted into one of its sides. He didn’t need to see their insignia's to recognize who, or what they were.

“Decepticons.”

Starscream and Megatron stood on opposite sides at the edge of the hole in the Autobot shuttle.

“Megatron,” the Decepticon Seeker asked. The Earth’s sun cast an eerie light between them. “Are you alright?

“I’ve been thinking, Starscream,” The gray bot seemed adamant on avoiding optic contact with him. “Those Autobots. We… they’re gone now, aren’t they?”

“Yes. Soundwave confirmed that they were offline. You were the one who suggested that we also throw their bodies into space for good measure.
Megatron stood in silence, looking up at his trusted comrade. “Starscream. It’s not often that a Cybetronian thinks of their own mortality. But something feels... off. Those Autobots weren’t nameless grunts. We fought them on the Ark. We fought them when we were reactivated here on Earth. For them to fall so easily...”

“And you’re saying?”

“It feels like a bad omen.”

Starscream was unable to ruminate on Megatron’s words before he heard the sound of blaster fire coming towards them. The Seeker tried looking towards the origin of the blast before one hit his shoulder, knocking him down.

“Starscream!” Megatron yelled. “Are you alright!”

Another blast pierced a hole into the shuttle, flames engulfing the ship’s interior.

“The engine’s been hit!” Soundwave said, running towards them. “We have to get out of here ASAP!”

“Blitzwing! Shrapnel!” Megatron turned towards the triple changer and the Insecticon. “Neutralize any Autobot presence here. We’ll focus on breaching the city.”

“On it sir!” they said in unison.

Megatron looked out the shuttle, staring at the bot down on the ground below. Starscream got up, a nervous look on both of their faces.

“This could all end here, Starscream.” The Decepticon leader spoke to him. “Either this leads to us finally defeating the Autobots for good, or…”

Megatron paused. “We all meet our doom here.”

The Seeker forced a determined look onto his face. “If you’re worried about your life ending here, don’t. I’ll make sure you’ll make it out of here alive. I promise.”

Soundwave walked up to the Decepticon leader. His green bandanna blew in the wind as the bot gave what could be his final salute. Starscream transformed into his jet mode, the Decepticon leader taking his place standing on top of him.

“Decepticons…“ the rest of his comrades transformed. Starscream’s jets roared to life as they flew out the burning shuttle.

“Attack!”

“Have you lost you’re mind, you damn fool?” Kup yelled. Hot Rod continued shooting at the shuttle, a blast hitting the viewing platform

“Attack!” the shrill voice of the Decepticon leader rang out. Hot Rod froze as Megatron aimed his fusion cannon, the earth shaking as he fired at him.

“Daniel!” Hot Rod cried out. He ran over to his human friend, shielding him in his car mode as the platform they stood on crumbled. Hot Rod drove off as it fell beneath his tires, the human boy screaming inside him as they landed on the rocky surface below.

The young Autobot looked around, failing to notice the Decepticons Blitzwing and Schrapnel landing with him in their sights. 

“Say you’re prayers, Autobot.” The triple-changer transformed into his tank mode, setting his sights on Hot Rod. 

“What in the—“ the Decepticon said, as he spotted the human boy in the young bot’s arms. He heard the sounds of someone transforming approach him, turning into the revving of wheels against the rocky floor. Before he knew it, mechanical hands wrapped around his barrel, Blitzwing firing in response to this surprise attack. Hot Rod barely dodged his blast, instead hitting the Decepticon’s comrade Schrapnel, buzzing around behind the young Autobot.

The Insecticon hit a rock before hitting the ground, slamming into Blitzwing, knocking out the both of them. Hot Rod slid down to the old bot, not so pleased to meat his and Daniel’s “savior”.

“Thanks for almost turning me into scrap metal, old timer.” Hot Rod said sarcastically.“

“’Old timer’?” Kup looked at the young bot. “That’s something you’ll never be if you don’t get back to the City.”

The bots turned around as Skywarp appeared above them. The two Autobots took cover as he transformed into his jet mode, raining blaster fire on the rock floor in front of them.

“Save it, Kup,” the young bot snarled. “Let’s burn rubber.”

Kup and Hot Rod transformed into their vehicle modes, the young bot housing Daniel safe inside him. The two Autobots drove as fast as they could towards the sounds of chaotic gunfire, chaotic battle of Autobot City straight ahead.

Perceptor transformed into his scope mode, zooming in on Megatron and his Decepticon forces. The Autobot jolted back into his robot form, the sounds of tires rolling up to him among raining blaster fire. His feet along the metal floor as  large hand wrap around his arm, violently throwing him back down. Perceptor barely got up as a group of four bots detransformed in front of him.
The Autobot scientist was all to familiar with them. There was the hotheaded Springer, the ruthless enforcer of the group and their leader’s right hand. Arcee was quite different, a cold, emotionless assassin who was one of the few female bots to join the ranks. Blurr was the group’s speedster, who’s body count was the most impressive and brutal out of all of them. Their leader, Ultra Magnus, towering over him, the bot twice as large as the Perceptor himself.

“Your report, Perceptor.” he commanded him.

“Ultra Magnus!” His voice faltered. “A-A cursory evaluation of Decepticon capability i-indicates a distinct tactical efficiency.”

Large metal fingers grab his head, the scientist no longer feeling his feet touch the ground.

Magnus’s optics stared into him. “Don’t waste my time.”

“Leave him be, Magnus,” growled Springer. “He’s says we’re outnumbered.”

The bot turned around, shooting his wrist mounted missiles as a Decepticon jet fired at them. Magnus tossed Perceptor aside, thankfully avoiding getting hit by any blaster fire.

The massive bot stood back up, pointing a menacing finger at the group. “Springer. You and Arcee transform Autobot City. Perceptor, tell Blaster to contact Prime. Make sure not to break your circuits om the way there.”

An afterimage came trailing behind him, the Autobot scientist nearly jumping as a Blurr appeared next to him.

“What about me, sir Magnus?” the bot asked, his voice gleeful and violent like a spark of electricity. “I can help. Magnus sir. What about me?”

“Blurr,” Magnus said, his voice slightly amused as opposed to the contempt he had with Perceptor. “I have a special job for you. Prepare Operation Superiority.”

“Absolutely definitely will get right on it, Magnus sir.”

“C’mon Arcee,” Springer said, grabbing Arcee’s wrist as the rest of the Autobots rolled out. “Let’s get this over with so we can blow these Decepticons to pieces.”

Arcee started to move with them before her radio started buzzing.

Someone! She stopped as a voice came through. This is Hot Rod! Me and Kup are being tailed by a Decepticon jet. If someone’s still out there, please! Send backup!

Arcee turned to Springer, her voice devoid of any warmth. “Hot Rod and Kup are still outside the city. They are requesting reinfor—”

“That pile of rust and the useless delinquent?” he interrupted, taking a hold her wrist a second time. “Better off without them.”

Springer dragged her along with him, the entire city changing shape as the two Autobots went around pulling levels and pushed buttons around them. Starscream spotted them as the city transformed into a massive fortress.

“Get back here, Autobot scum!” he yelled out, firing his null rays as he chase them. Megatron lost his balance, falling off his comrade’s jet form. “I won’t let you escape so easily!”

The Autobots barely managed to get inside as metal walls closed behind them. Starscream transformed into his robot mode and landing on the metal floor, looking up as the large hatch started to close on him. A worried expression made it’s way onto his face at the light peaking through, it and his escape path shrinking before his very optics.

He heard Megatron call out to him. “Starscream!”

Chapter Text

Starscream flew up, the ceiling hatch snagging his foot at the last second. Megatron ran up to his friend, desperately pulling at him, a second layer closing in on the two Decepticons.

Starscream looked at his foot, the Decepticon leader giving his friend a nod before transforming into gun mode. The Seeker grabbed onto Megatron, firing his null rays at his foot. He squealed as his limb went numb, rocketing out as the metal hatch closed below him.

“My foot!” Starscream yelled out, smoke trailing from his limb, otherwise unharmed and still attached. The seeker transformed, Megatron turning back into his robot mode as he stood on his friend’s jet form. He watched as the city’s skyscrapers revealed their true forms, a mass of attack towers waiting to shoot at them with the just slightest provocation.
 
Autobots ran into the confines of the transforming fortress, the Decepticon leader shooting his fusion cannon as doors closed behind them. He continued firing, his blasts not even making a dent on the metal in front of him.

“Insecticons!” Megatron yelled out.. “Breach the city’s defenses!”

The Decepticon leader flew off as two bots in their bug forms flew over to the metal door. The Insecticons started chewing through, electricity snapping in their mouths as they crunched on its circuits.

“Bleh. This is disgusting, eh, Schrapnel?” said the Insection with wings and antennae.

The bot with the pincer continued eating through. “Eh. At least it’s light on the electrons, Electron.”

The bridge started retracting from the door, carrying Schrapnel away as two Autobots drove towards it.

“Guess we’re out of luck, punk.” Kup said. “These Insecticons are in your way.”

Wrong,“ Hot Rod responded. ”They’re our way in!“

The young Autobot drove into the Insecticon, jumping off the retracting bridge and into the hole made by them. Kup followed, his tires crushing Schrapnel’s before knocking Electron off, the emergency doors closed behind them.

Blaster fired at the Decepticon attacking his communications tower, the rest of them rampaging all across Autobot City.

“I won’t let you censor my voice, Decepticons!” The Autobot shouted. He fiddled with his control pad as a bot climbed up the hole at the bottom.

“Oh what do you want, Perceptor?” the master of Autobot propaganda asked him. “You’re shaking more than this fortress.”

“Bl-Blaster,” the Autobot scientist said between the sounds of laser fire. “Ultra Magnus sends orders to co-contact Optimus Prime o-on Moonbase One.”

“Wake up your receptors, Perceptor. Maybe you’ll gain a stronger inner frame.” Blaster’s fingers tapped the buttons of his communications pad, the bot transforming into his cassette player mode.

“Optimus Prime? Do you read me? The Decepticon devils are blitzing Autobot City. They’re taking no prisoners, ripping out our circuits and sparks, eating them like the monsters they are! Come here and cleanse these devils from our city!”

The Decepticons ran on the top of a building, firing shots at a nearby attack tower. Soundwave lowered his blaster. “The guy over there is spitting straight bogus!”

Megatron turned his head as his comrade pointed towards the communications tower in the distance. “We can’t let his message reach Prime.  Soundwave, jam that transmission!”

“On it, bossman sir!” Soundwave ran up to the ledge. He pressed a button on his shoulder, his chest opening as he launched his Cassettes la“Let’s go! Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Ratbat. Stop this clown!”

“Optimus Prime,” Blaster broadcasted. “Do you hear me? The Decepticons are eating our sparks! Come here and—”

Rumble and Frenzy ripped off the station’s satellite dish, electricity cracking as they threw it to the ground below. Blaster transformed back into robot mode, looking outside as Soundwave’s Cassettes appeared above him.

“First we crack the shell…” Rumble transformed his arms into pile drivers. “Then we crack the nuts inside!”

Metal slammed into the communication tower’s glass ceiling, the Cassettes breaking in and piling onto Perceptor. Rumble and Ratbat pulled at the Autbot’s head as he yelled out. “Help me, Blaster.”

“Two can play, then.” Blaster pressed a button at his chest, opening as his own Cassettes came out. “Sic’ em!”

The smaller bots started fighting each other, the Autobot scientist still caught in the shuffle. Ravage lunged at Blaster, hissing as beastly bot furiously scratched his face.

“Help me, you fool!” Blaster called out.

“Save yourself!” Perceptor said as he ran between the battling Cassettes.

“This is you’re fault!” the Autobot communications officer yelled at him. “We’re all going to look like burned toaster ovens because of you!”

“Because of me?” Perceptor responded. “You’re Cassettes are more trouble than they’re worth!”

The smaller bots continued their battle, the two Autobots voices unheard by anyone else as they continued to scream at each other.

Blurr quickly sped into the dark warehouse. Light came solely from the bright buttons on the control panel in the center, the red sunset outside barely creeping into the building entrance. He looked toward the five C.R. chambers in from of him.

“Why hellooo, Aerialbots,” Blurr. “Enjoying you’re retirement much?”

The chambers remained silent.

“Oh right,” Blurr said, acting as if he was responding to someone. “You don’t know what’s going on! Well… it’s the Decepticons! Decepticons everywhere. Decepticon at the gates. Decepticons in the air. Decepticons inside the walls. It’s madness, I tell you!”

More silence.

“These Decepticons sure are nasty little bugs. If we beat them at the walls, they’re still in the air. If we shoot them out of the air, they’re still out at our gates! And where does that lead us?”

The Autobot cackled to himself. “Right here.”

Blurr pressed the button in the center, machinery whirring around him. He heard the Aerialbots scream in their chambers, a mess of tortured yells of pain.

“Finally! It was getting a little quiet in here.” Blurr turned away from them, turning back and cracking a smile. “Thanks for offering to sacrifice yourself for the Autobot cause. We need more bots like you guys around.”

The C.R. chambers glowed with red light as he ran out of the building. The Aerialbots’ screams became louder, their voices laying onto each other as their minds merged with each other. Their voices disappeared, the personality’s of the five bots disappearing one by one. They’re screams stopped, replaced by one guttural roar.

Blurr watched from afar as the combiner emerged from the building, the ceiling crumbling to rubble.

“Welcome back, Superion.”

Megatron dodged the Autobot’s cannons, him and his group of Decepticons arriving at the heavily fortified building.

“This is the place, bossman!” Soundwave said to their leader. “Autobot City’s energon refinery is here!”

Springer ran down to the cannon room, the Autobot beginning to push at the heavy weapon. Arcee threw a damaged grunt onto floor, the bot croaking as they landed next to the remains of the scientist Wheeljack.

Springer pushed at the massive machine in front of him. “Arcee! Help me get this cannon in place. Megatron’s making his big push at the energon warehouse, and I intend to push back!”

She looked back to the broken Autobot, fear filling their as she raised her blaster at them.

“Please, don’t.” they pleaded weakly. “I’m still useful—”

The sound of bursting circuits echoed across the room. She walked towards her fellow Autobot, joining Springer as they pushed the cannon. Its tires scraped against the floor as they pushed it forward.

Kup ran into the room, Hot Rod and Daniel following after him. “Keep at it, Springer my boy!”

The old bot turned to the Autobot delinquent. “You’d better make yourself useful, young punk. Either that, or I send you to that pile of scrap over there.”

Hot Rod glared at Kup, joining the rest of them as they moved the cannon into place. Daniel ran up and pushed at it’s treads, his human strength barely mattering in the grand scheme of things.

“I was afraid you’d be trapped outside the city.” Arcee said, turning her optics towards Hot Rod as they pushed the cannon forward.

“Leaving me to rust outside the city with Kup?” the young Autobot said bitterly. He kept attention focused on the cannon. “I wasn’t worried for a microsecond.”

Arcee didn’t catch his sarcasm. “Then it’s likely you failed to understand you’re situation.”

With one last push, the group of Autobots finished putting the cannon into place. Daniel ran across them, his hands grabbing the giant rails on the wall as he climbing upward. The human boy took a peek at the ruined city outside, the red sky cast over him as he spotted Megatron’s group of Decepticons.

“Constructicons!” Megatron yelled out. “Merge and form Devastator!”

Kup climbed up next to Daniel, watching with the human boy as the five Decepticons combined into a one massive bot. Devastator turned towards a nearby tower, it’s massive hand turning it’s blast turret into a blue burst of flames. The gestalt beat it’s hands at the building, each strike causing massive dents to form. Springer placed a bombshell into the cannon, wrapping his fingers around the control stick and fired. The bomb exploded on Devastator’s back, the rest of the Decepticons reeling back.

Devastator, however, was still mostly undamaged. Springer continued firing at it, the combiner tearing at the wall as the bombs hit the floor around the Decepticons.

“We’ve got to get rid of that cannon!” the Seeker yelled as he tried moving out of the bombs’ way.

“That’s the least of our problems, Screamer!” Soundwave pointed above him, a massive gestalt towering above the cannon building.

“Superion?” A shocked expression appeared on the Seeker’s face. 

Devastator ripped off the first layer of the building’s front wall, throwing over his head at the Autobot combiner. Hot Rod grabbed Daniel, the other bots running away as it crashed inside the cannon building.

“I’ve got better things to do tonight than die!” Springer said. They picked up the pace as Superion crushed the ceiling with a giant foot.

Devastator wrestled the enemy combiner, the ground shaking with each step. Megatron motioned to the rest of the Decepticons, running out the way as the giants fought each other.

“Decepticons!” Megatron yelled out. “Devastator is busy handling Superion. Attack their other energon warehouses!”

The group of Decepticons ran off, the battle ramping up its intensity all across the city. The red sky grew darker as blasters firing non-stop, turning into what seemed like a never-ending war zone. Massive bursts of flame and smoke engulfed the city, starting to look like what a human would call “hell on Earth” with each passing second.

The Decepticons had been very lucky this time, slowly clearing the city of any major threats.

Unfortunately, the Autobots had one last trick up their sleeves.

The morning sky was strangely bright as Devastator landed a final blow on Superion. The Autobot combiner fell to the ground with a thud, splitting back into the five Aerialbots laying defeated on the broken floor. Megatron and his group of Decepticons ran up to the building, the bot raising his fusion cannon.

Haunting words creeping into hiss mind like a soft whisper.

You are running out of time.

The Decepticon leader ignore it. “Breach the energon refinery!” Devastator ripped open the building’s walls.

“Destroy their final energon stockpile!” Megatron fired his fusion cannon, his comrades following suit as they blasted the machinery in front of them. A few Decepticons stopped, their faces filling with terror as they looked up at the sky.

“Bossman,” Soundwave called out to the Decepticon leader.

Megatron ignoring him. He continued firing, optics filled with a cold fury blasted the refinery. The haunting words creeping into the his mind.

You are running out of time.

“Bossman.” Soundwave’s voice got more desperate.

The words continued worming themselves into his head.

You are running out of time.

“Bossman!” Soundwave called to him.

You are running out—

“Megatron!” Starscream yelled out. He snapped out of his trance. Megatron looked up, freezing in place as he looked at the sky.

An Autobot ship.

“No.” Soundwave said, his voice devoid of it’s usual dramatics. “My Cassettes—”

“Don’t blame yourself,” Blitzwing cut him off. “We all knew this day would come eventually.”

Megatron steeling his circuits, staring up at the ship. The words slipped their way back into the front of his mind, the Decepticon leader unable to keep the terror from seeping into his face.

You are running out of time.

Chapter Text

Optimus turned towards the ruthless four bots behind him.

“Dinobots!” he commanded from his seat in the shuttle. “Destroy Devastator!”

The largest of the four, their leader shook him fists with delight. “Me Grimlock love carnage!”

The Dinobots jumped out the hatch at the bottom, Grimlock yelling as they dropped in the air. “Dinobots! Transform!”

Devastator delivered as swift kick to their leader’s T-rex alt mode as the Dinobots descended. The combiner curled up their fists and slammed down onto Sludge. Devastator grabbing the brontosaurus, dispatching him with an overhead throw before Snarl rammed the massive bot, into the metal wall with his stegosaurus body. Swoop flew at the Decepticon combiner, taking out the p teranodon down by hitting the building’s supports and trapping the Dinobot in a hail of rubble.

The Autobot shuttle landed on the launchpad, it’s passages staring as it the full extent of the Decepticon’s attack revealed in front of them.

“Damned Primus!” Sunstreaker said, his voice filled with fear, looking at the damage done to Autobot City as their leader walked outside. “This city’s a lost cause, Prime. Perhaps we could… I don’t know, use one of the humans’ bombs.”

“No.” Optimus said, spotting a group of Decepticons running across the ruined buildings above, their leader among them. “He’s here.”

The Autobot leader turned to the Autobot behind Sunstreaker. “Tell city command to ramp up the fighting. I want enough Decepticon circuits to fill entire scrapyard.”

Unlike his fellow shuttle passenger, Hound ’s face stayed calm through it all . “Yes, sir.”

Prime looked back in front of him. “Megatron falls today. No matter the cost. ”

Optimus transformed into his truck mode, his engine roaring as his trailer attaching itself to him. His tires rubbed against the floor before he sped across the bridge into Autobot City. Megatron turned as he saw the Autobot leader making his way towards their location.

“Cover me.” he said, the group of Decepticons stopping in their tracks. “I’m the one he’s after.”

“Bossman, wait!” Soundwave said. Megatron ran off, the rest of the group chasing after him. He blew past Devastator as the combiner dealt a brutal blow to Grimlock, knocking the Dinobot out cold.

Tires screeched behind them as the slower Decepticons turned back, Optimus Prime speeding towards their location. The Autobot leader had no face while in alt mode, but the sight of the purple truck speeding at them was enough to make instill the fear of Primus in a bot. The coneheaded Thrust stared helplessly into Prime’s scarred front grill, reflecting his terrified face back at him as he slammed into him and knocked the Decepticon Seeker high into the air. Shrapnel tried to run before the Autobot truck rammed into the him, his body kicking up a cloud of dust after crashing into the floor.

Blitzwing flew out the Prime’s path of carnage, the remaining Decepticons opening fire, blast after blast hitting the Autobot’s truck mode. He took no visible damage as a roar of flame burst under his front tires, launching him into the air as he transformed back into his robot mode. Optimus Prime tooking out his ion blaster, gliding through the sky and aimed at his first target. One by one, the Autobot shot Ramjet, Thundercracker, and Soundwave, their chests bursting with fire and smoke before falling down on the floor. The Autobot commander’s shook the ground as he landed, continuing where he left off and firing down Dirge and Kickback. Blitzwing knocked Prime down as he flew into the Autobot, the remaining Decepticons joining him as they desperately tried pinning him to the floor.

Devastator tried to stand back up as an Autobot vehicle carrier rolled up. The cars inside drove out, transforming as Ultra Magnus and his thugs revealed themselves. The Autobots raised their weapons, firing into the Decepticon combiner. Missiles hit Devastator’s joints, splitting the combiner back into six bots, falling down to the floor. The Constructicons quickly got up and raised their blasters, firing as they chased the group of Autobots retreated.

Optimus ripped the Decepticons off him, crawling out with his blaster in hand and ran. Waiting in a dark corridor, a falling piece of rubble fell behind Megatron. The Decepticon leader turned, the Autobo’s burning red optics staring into him.

“Prime.” he said, his mortal enemy’s shadow looming across the corridor.

“One shall stand, and one shall fall.” Optimus said, throwing his blaster to the side.

“Why throw away your life so recklessly?” The Decepticon leader asked, raising his fusion cannon slightly.

“That’s a question you should ask yourself, Megatron.”

“No…” The grey bot removed his weapon from his arm, “I’ll crush you with my bare hands!”

The Decepticon leader lunged at Prime, slamming him onto the ground outside.

Springer’s group fired at the Decepticons outside. Hot Rod looked up as blasts of energy raced past him, spotting Optimus and Megatron battle on the building roof.

“What is Prime doing?!” Hound grumbled. “Fighting Megatron hand to hand like this is some game to him!”

Hot Rod dodged another blast, looking back up as he noticed something missing from missing from the Decepticon leader’s arm. A flash of inspiration hit the young Autobot. He turned towards his small human friend. “Stay here, Daniel.”

“See ya later, losers!” Hot Rod said, running towards the stairs next to them. “I’ve gotta go help Prime!”

Kup turned his head, furious. “Stay out of it, you punk! That’s Prime’s fight!”

The two Cybetronian leaders circled each other, waiting for one of them to strike the latter. Megatron made the first move, performing a high kick as the Autobot caught his blow. Prime grabbed his foot, throwing the Decepticon into the ruined wall. Megatron sat back up, the impact knocking down loose debris around him. The grey bot spotted a long jagged piece in front of him, standing up and throwing it like a javelin as Prime charged at him. The object stabbed into his left side, flames bursting from the wound as the Autobot leader recoiled. Megatron got back up, Prime’s burning red optics staring into him with quiet fury. The Autobot leader continued his charge, delivering a powerful punch to Megatron’s face, knocking him back into the wall.

Prime took the time to try and remove the sharp object, only for the Decepticon leader to jump up and grab at it, slashing it out of the Autobot’s body. Electricity crackled from Prime’s open wound, stepping back as he covered his hands over his injury. Megatron flipped his improved weapon to a backhand position, wrapping both hands around it before jumping up to strike. Prime countered, landing an uppercut to the Decepticon’s head and sending him flying backwards. He knocked Megatron’s weapon as he laid prone on the ground, as the Autobot charging at him. Prime jumped before he could sweep his legs, landing a double kick in his face after he landed on the ground. The Cybertronians grappled each other, Megatron’s beaten body struggling to push Prime off him.

Hot Rod ran as the Constructicons chased after the young bot. He escaped into a dark corridor, looking out before spotting a certain someone’s fusion cannon, abandoned on the floor.

“Well look what we have here!” Hot Rod picked the weapon up. “Thank Primus.”

The young bot looked outside for a final time, holding onto the cannon as he ran towards Prime’s location.

Megatron’s strength gave way, the Autobot leader grabbing onto his shoulders and throwing him across the floor. The grey bot struggled to get up, limping as he faced Prime.

“I’ll rip out your optics!!” Megatron yelled. The Autobot leader delivered a kick to the chest, sending him back across the ground.

A bloodthirsty smile appeared across Kup face as he watched their imminent victory. “Finish him off, Prime! Do it now!”

Prime went to grab his discarded blaster. He walked back a few steps, lining his shot as the defeated Decepticon leader looked up at him. The Autobot leader fired, flame bursting across his chest.

“No more, Optimus Prime,” Megatron said weakly. The Decepticon yell out in pain as he fired another blast.

“I surrender!” Megatron pleaded. “I surrender, is that what you want to hear?”

Optimus shot him again. Megatron fell to the floor, forcing himself to lift his head up.

“Please…” the feeble grey bot said. “Spare my Decepticons. Grant them mercy, I beg of you..!”

Prime let out a chuckle. He lowered his gun and started cackling madly, Megatron laid in his spot, confused on why the Autobot acted as if he had told him the funniest joke in all of Cybertron.

“Mercy?” Prime said through his laughter. “The bot who took over Cybertron and razed this city asks for mercy?”

The Autobot leader looked back at Megatron, the grey bot unnerved at the sheer joy on his face. “ You . Who are without mercy. Now plead for it?”

Optimus Prime let out one last laugh. He raised his blaster towards the Decepticon leader. “I though you were made of sterner stuff.”

The sound of a large blast of energy rang across Prime’s audio receptors, a mass of rubble hitting the floor not to far from him. The two Cybertronians turned their heads, Megatron cursing to Primus as he found the source of all this commotion.

An Autobot held his fusion cannon. Not just any Autobot, a young, Autobot punk held his fusion cannon.

Hot Rod yelled awkwardly out to his leader. “Uhh… Hi, Optimus!”

Megatron palmed his head. The young bot cleared his throat as he raised the fusion cannon up to the Decepticon’s head. The grey bot tried to grab it before Hot Rod kicked his chest, sending him back down.

“Oh no you don’t Megatron.” the young bot smirked, turning back to the Autobot leader.

“Get out of the way, Hot Rod. ” Optimus said, treating him like one would a child holding a knife.

“Honest to Primus, let me have this one, will you?!” the young bot snapped. “You see, I consider myself to be somewhat of a poet.”

Hot Rod turned back to the defeated Decepticon. And how poetic is it that this piece of scrap falls to his own weapon?“

Megatron watched as Prime turned his blaster towards the young bot.

"No!“ The Decepticon pushed him out the way. Hot Rod desperately grabbed onto the cannon, his finger pressing the firing button.

Energy blasted into Prime’s side, decimating the lower left part of his upper body. He forced himself forward, limping as dark smoke came out of him. He aimed his blaster Hot Rod, intent on destroying the young punk for good. The young bot stepped back, dropping the fusion cannon, fear spreading across his face.

“Fall…” Megatron crawled towards weapon, grabbing it and standing up, aiming at the injured Autobot leader.

“Fall!”

He fired, a blast of energy reducing Prime’s arm to particles before he could shoot the young bot. The Autobot leader took one last step before falling to the ground.

Megatron stood in place as Prime looked up at him. Hot Rod ran up to him, the Autobot leader barely looking up at the young punk.

“Finish me, you coward…” Optimus weakly stretching his remaining arm at him.

The Decepticon turned away from him before looking at the Autobot leader one final time. “ You . Asking the bot without mercy. Now you plead for it?”

Megatron turned away from him, walking towards edge of the platform. He looked out into the horizon, admiring the beautiful Earth sky.

“I would’ve waited an eternity for this.” Megatron said, feeling the weight of the galaxy lifted itself off his shoulders.

Optimus chuckled, his laughter now coping mechanism as he laid broken and defeated on the floor. “Never…”

The purple bot’s arm gave out, slamming down onto the floor

“We’re coming to your location, Megatron,” Soundwave’s voice came through his comms. “Hang in there, Bossman!”

The grey bot smiled, the first honest to Primus smile he had in a long time. His felt lighter as he stared out at into the distance. He felt like the horizon could swallow him whole, taking him far away. The grey bot let out a cough, his optics shining bittersweet as he down.

“See you in the AllSpark, old friend.”

Energon dropped from Megatron’s mouth onto the floor, his feet giving out as he descended towards the ground below.