a hero's sacrifice one shall stand one shall fall

Story by saberwolf on SoFurry

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how does one kill a hero i ask you? i dont mean in the literal sense of the word not entirely anyway. i would say you would have to destroy that which is more preciouse to the hero then his beliefs. more preciouse to him then even his honor or his ver soul as it were. the person he loves i would think. it could be a relative with whom he has a close bond with in the family or it could be his girl friends or his bride to be. kill that person and you would destroy him as a man you would have crushed his spiret as a hero i would think and the fight would be half way won. a hero's call to action, a hero's sacrifice and a hero's final moments answere that question in a way. it was primes compassion in life that gave him his strength and his humanity as it were. it would also prove to be his greatest weakness.

i believe these 3 stories tell the events they cover from the moive more truthfully then the movie did itself.

a hero's sacrifice

back at autobot city the slag has just gone beyond hitting the fan. this is total destruction to the point that any autobots alive in this war would almost envy the dead as Blurr ran between three windows, firing his blaster faster than most Decepticons could react. "We got Decepticons at the gate, Decepticons in the air, Decepticons inside the wall, Decepticons, Decepticons, Decepticons!" he swore.

If we shoot' em off the wall, then they're still in the air,if we shoot' em out of the air,then they're still at the gate, and where does that leaves us no Where, that's where!" Megatron's elite force lined up outside the main building, planning their assault on the Autobots inside. When the battle had started, Wheeljack, Sideswipe red alert and Windcharger had barricaded themselves in the room that housed the large missile launcher. Wheeljack, Hoist and Perceptor had only put together the launcher the week before, though it had been mostly Wheeljack's design. Therefore, many of the kinks had not been worked out yet. None of them had expected an attack this soon. So the engineer had grabbed the first two Autobots he'd seen and bee-lined it for the launcher room, instructing the other two to keep watch while he hurried to get the launcher and its missiles fully functional.

Sideswipe could hear the sounds of battle outside and was itching to go out and start kicking some 'Con skidplate; he was a warrior after all. For that same reason he knew he couldn't leave the other two. Wheeljack was only an engineer and Windcharger just a little Minibot. If any Decepticons got into the room, they wouldn't have much of a chance of defending themselves. Which was why Sideswipe stayed, crouching beside Wheeljack, while Windcharger stayed by the door. The engineer was muttering all sorts of cusses and curses under his breath in ancient Autobot, the panels on either side of his head flashing brightly. Sideswipe was mildly amused. He had never heard the engineer use those words before and didn't even know until that moment that Wheeljack knew them. If only Prime knew, he thought wryly. "That's it! I've got it!" Wheeljack yelled triumphantly. Wheeljack and Sideswipe leapt to their feet as the two Decepticon triple-changers - Astrotrain and Blitzwing - appeared in the doorway, lasers on each arm firing at full power. Sideswipe took three hits: one in the left elbow and two in the side.

"Look out Sideswipe!" Red Alert yelled as he shoved him behind the missile launcher just as the triple-changers fired off shots in quick succession. The security agent took them all. Sideswipe looked up to see his riddled body come crashing down on top of him. Rage burned through all of the red mech's systems as he pulled himself out from under Red Alert's body, ignoring the pain that coursed from his arm and side. As he got to his feet, he summoned his entire arsenal of weaponry and dashed out after the two Decepticons. He hunted all over the City for them, ignoring orders from Ultra Magnus, Kup or any other Autobot in a position of authority. Springer ran into the abandoned battlestation, Arcee just behind . "DON'T JUST STAND THERE! C"MON!" Wheeljack roared at his fellow Autobots. Windcharger covered the entrance as Springer and Arcee ran in. "Now that we're inside, what do we do?" Springer called frantically. "This way!" Wheeljack yelled. "I've built a launcher over here." Another explosion rocked Autobot City. "In Here!" Wheeljack called. "C'mon!" Windcharger yelled, nearly tripping over the bodies of other fallen Autobots.

Wheeljack ran in, and took another shot out the window. Starscream saw Bombshell get hit, turned and fired in that direction. Wheeljack looked up to see a blast of energy coming his way. It was the last thing he saw. Arcee turned around and screamed when she saw Wheeljacks shattered body fall to the ground. Windcharger turned toward the scream and gasped. "Great! Now what?" Springer murmured as he tried to line up the City's arsenal on the other side of the wall. I don't - AAGGGHHH" Windchargers comment was interrupted by a scream as a laser blew through his torso. Springer turned and saw Skywarp laughing maniacally as he flew away. He turned with a murderous intent in his eye, and fired 12 shots at the retreating Seeker. All 12 hit and Skywarp fell to the ground. Springer turned and ran in, as Arcee dragged Windchargers body in. A few seconds later, the fire in Windchargers eyes died. Arcee struggled trying to drag the shattered bodies of Wheeljack and Windcharger towards the rooms far wall The female Autobot looked to be in shock as she placed Windcharger's lifeless body beside that of Wheeljack. She placed a hand over what humans would call her heart. Springer glanced at the bodies sadly as he tried to push aside the death and carnage as he called to her over his shoulder.

"Come on, Arcee, He yelled, we've gotta get this launcher into place," he said. "Megatron's making his big push, and we've gotta --uhnh!--push back!" the triple-changer groaned, trying to shove the huge missile launcher across the floor. Arcee took a last look at her fellow Autobots lying dead just inside the door, then went to lend her strength to Springer's efforts as Kup, HotRod and Daniel ran into the room and together they began to move the massive missile launcher into position. "Keep at it, Springer, my boy, help's at hand!" said Kup "Together now!" Kup strained his steel muscles along with Springer and Arcee, HotRod joining them as the launcher finally began to slide. Daniel tried to help too, pushing with all his might as the Autobots positioned the launcher in line with an open window. The five of them pushed the launcher into place. Springer glanced at his friend's bodies. It would take a miracle to save Autobot City now. Arcee looked at HotRod out of the corner of her optic sensor. "I was afraid you'd be trapped outside the city!" Arcee whispered, her voice strained as she helped her comrades as she pushed. HotRod broke his concentration for a split instant to answer, trying to sound cavalier "Uhnh!--Hey," Hot Rod boasted, "I wasn't worried for a microsecond." "Then, you probably didn't understand the situation." Arcee shot back to Springer glanced at his friend's bodies. It would take a miracle to save Autobot City now. "That did it," Kup said, seeing that the launcher's nose faced out the open viewport. Daniel struggled his way up a giant ladder to look out at the situation. Megatron and his warriors were just outside.

The boy's eyes widened with fear as he saw Megatron and the Constructicons, and he knew what the six Decepticons were about to do. Megatron confirmed Daniel's fears as he shouted commands to his deadly troops, the evil leader nearly in a froth with his lust for conquest. "Constructicons, merge for the kill!" Megatron ordered, Daniel paled. "Kup, Hot Rod, look!" he yelled, pointing across the compound as Kup ran to see what had frightened the young human Kup ran to the window and watched as the six Constructicons merged into one giant robot. "Devastator," he whispered. hoping their efforts had not been too late as he watched the Constructicons unite to form the huge, menacing super-robot, Scrapper and Mixmaster were first, doubling over to raise twin pillars to the sky. Longhaul than drove into the air, shifting as he did, landing on top of the two, Hook followed, twisting in midair, coming to a rest on the growing structure with a loud clang. Bonecrusher and Scavenger were last. Sprouting forearms, flying through the air as if suspended from strings, the two locked on to the shoulders of the golem simultaneously, then from nowhere a head arose shielded red eyes, a sharply sculptured face. And an expression of arrogant superiority announcing the arrival of the engine of destruction called Devastator.

"Prepare for extermination!" came Devastator's booming voice, made up of all the Constructicons speaking in unison, the voice craggy and jagged like a landslide. A gun turret swung to find a target as the City's defenses tried to menace the behemoth, but Devastator started ripping into the remote blaster, destroying it as he crushed it in his fingers like a giant swatting a fly. With a screech of metal, the turret exploded with a cloud of corrosive vapor, but the superheated smoke didn't phase the hulking monster for more than an instant as He began to pound on the walls of Autobot city, denting it severely. As he continued tearing away at the armored walls while Megatron, Starscream, and Dirge line up behind Devastator, firing into the city, ready to follow Devastator in when he has torn the wall open. Megatron watched with glee as his troops went across the compound to pry apart another building, the Decepticons cheering as Devastator wrenched free a huge piece of sheetmetal, but the Autobots were finally ready to press their counter-attack. Springer took a heavy explosive from the armory, hoping that the answer to Devastator's destruction lay in the rocket he held in his hands.

"I've got better things to do tonight than die," he snarled, loading the explosive into the launcher and pulling the trigger. The rocket soared through the air toward Devastator, but Springer's aim fell short of the huge Decepticon and hit its fellow troops on the ground below instead. Soundwave flew through the air as another rocket was pulled back and launched, It sailed towards Devastator, its explosion eliminating him from view as another round of torpedoes explode knocking the others aside. The rest of the elite force scattering as the explosion rocked the fortress, but the Autobot's attack was short-lived As the smoke cleared, Devastator ripped the armor plating from the wall. Ignoring two more blasts, as Devastator hurled the sheet of metal through the wall of the launcher room. HotRod scooped up Daniel as he and his friends retreated as it destroyed the battlestation. the battle raged on throughout the city as night began to fall. Elsewhere on Earth, attacks by the Stunticons and Combaticons prevented the Autobot teams of the Aerialbots and the Protectobots from returning to fight, and an attack on the Autobot's Ark prevented Omega Supreme from appearing. All things considered, it was a brilliant strategy. Autobot City's defensive measures were not prepared for the Decepticon blitzkrieg, and the Autobots were unable to deal with Devastator, who seemed unaffected by the lasers of the defensives formations as he ripped them apart. Entrenched Autobots fought valiantly against the numerically superior Decepticon forces, but it was only due to Autobot City's strong walls, and maybe divine providence, that they held off their aggressors through the night.

As the sun rose over Autobot City, Smoke, fire, and debris filled the sky as earlier in the battle the core building began to come crashing down from a well placed blast of Megatrons fusion cannon and already weakened form the seekers constant assault and the Insecticons eating away at its ground supports from the inside as metal and steel and skeletal brace work covered the streets for thousands of feet. It sounded as if a volcano had exploded as the building collapsed while the missiles continued to sing through the air, smashing and crashing into buildings and streets in front of the Autobot freedom fighters. Missiles and photon blasts soared across the pitch black sky, ripping through the armored buildings like they were so much tin foil streaming trails of black smoke behind. The missiles spiraled towards the ground, smashing at high speeds into the central metallic flooring of the courtyard, overheating and igniteing the armored shielding protecting the energon fuel lines sending explosion after explosion ripping across the ground. If devastation were music, Starscreams battalion had just created an orchestra of destruction. metalloAsphalt and concrete became debris in the sky, raining down upon the closely lined buildings. Fire poured out from the sky as well, like a nuclear bomb blast falling to the Earth and igniting the earth defense force like leaves on a tree and melting some of the external sheets of armor metal on the autobot warriors. Windows shattered as missiles streaked by or, in some cases, crashed through the buildings, exploding, sending tons of metal debris falling to the streets.

The first wave of Megatron's onslaught left a three-mile radius of debris and destruction as fires continued to blaze across the city. There were very few human survivors. Tracer fire and lasers lit Autobot City like a macabre festival as the battle lasted into the early morning and Many a brave Autobot and human warrior died during that long, dark night, laser fire exchanged and answered with violet and orange bolts streaming across the City, striking metallic flooring building shielding living metal and flesh Early in the battle, the Decepticons assaulted Metroplex, the sentient battlestation attached to Autobot City, and destroyed his transformation cog, preventing him from winning the battle against the Decepticons by transforming to his gargantuan robot form. tracks and raul were stationed their gaurding the cog as they were the only 2 the autobots and the earth defense force could spare at the time and they went down fighting together as brothers in arms for the autobot cause together to safe gaurd metroplex's transformation cog though they were on deaths's doorstep due to being overwhelmed in both strength and number by the triple threat reflector and 4 new insecticon warriors they had managed to take them with them as tracks ignited his self destruct and raul used a photon grenade in what would be their final blaze of glory. Once the destruction had ceased, the silence was eerie. The only sound to be made was that of the raging fires and toppling structures around the autobot and human survivors. there were no automatic safety gaurds - most of them had been destroyed in the two onslaughts caused from Starscream's assaults. The human staff werent even trying to rally a final stand, most of the earth defense force had been vaporized in the fury of the fire attack the decepticons unleashed earlier. The devastation and destruction brought on by them made Hiroshima and Nagasaki look like mere battle skirmishes. At least during the two atomic attacks during World War II, there had been some survivors.

Megatron took a step forward, crushing bricks and metal piping beneath his foot. He made his way through the debris he had caused to the last location he spotted Ultra Magnus. He ignored the countless human bodies beneath his feet as he made his way across the mound of rubble. His optics couldn't pierce the smoke, but if they could, they would have noted the spot at which the survivors were hiding waiting to face their final moments Megatron surveyed the smoking ruin of the fortress in triumph, his advantage was clear. "Their defenses are broken," he screamed. "let the slaughter begin!" He raised his cannon to lend his firepower as Devastator began to rip apart the command center,.Devastator ripped into the walls, and the main attack began. Decepticon after Decepticon poured into the breached walls, and the tide of the battle turned heavily into their favor. Megatron, his fusion cannon raised to eliminate a weakened wall, was interrupted by the sound of a spacecraft nearing the city. A glitter in the sky caught his attention, and he became furious as he realized that it was an Autobot shuttle. Blaster's distress call had gotten through, Megatron scowled to himself, but his fury only renewed his determination to see the Autobots dead before the day was over He looked up in time to see an Autobot vessel swoop down from the sky.

Inside the Autobot vessel, Optimus Prime and Sunstreaker brought the spacecraft around directly over the city, and the sight that met their optics was one they hoped they'd never see. Destruction was no stranger to Optimus, however, so he put his sorrow aside as he turned to the Dinobots, the five primordial robots were the only ones created on Earth by the late Wheeljack. Optimus Prime, Sunstreaker, Hound, and the Dinobots prepared for battle. Optimus turned to Grimlock. "Dinobots," Optimus ordered, "destroy Devastator!" and the Dinobots obeyed without a second thought Grimlock, the leader of the Dinobots, let out an eager growl."Me Grimlock love challenge!" the leader of the team snarled, his grammar befitting his child-like mentality as each one dropped through an access port. The Dinobots soared across the blue morning sky, blasting in unison as they fly in wedge formation. Their wings providing just enough lift to keep them from plummeting like rocks. "Dinobots, transform!" Grimlock shouted, changing into a giant robotic Tyrannosaurus. He put his clawed feet forward, intending to catch Devastator by surprise.

The Dinobots obeyed their squadron leader, the metal dinosaurs making Devastator stop and gape like an idiot as the Constructicon gestalt watched the five Dinobots dive through the air towards them. Swinging into action as the Dinobots rained down from the sky, Just at the right moment Devastator raised his leg and aimed a kick at Grimlock in mid-flight that sent the tyrannosaurus flying, then turned his attention to Sludge, the brontosaurus, and putting his fists together, he slammed Sludge, who had just landed, knocking the dullest of the Dinobots off of his feet as He picked him up, no easy feat, he raised the Dinobot off his feet until Sludge's feet were waving helplesly in the air above the Decepticon's head and tossed him away His advantage was only momentary, That left him open to an attack by Slag, the triceratops, who slammed the huge Decepticon back into a wall and knocked him flat. Swoop dropped in, preparing to launch his missiles, Furious, Devastator pulled down a pile of debris on Swoop as the pterodactyl tried to dive in on the action, but got caught in a debris rain where Devastator had hit the wall, and with a roar of pain, Swoop was buried and fell to the ground.

Sunstreaker guided the Autobot shuttle in for an easy landing on the edge of Autobot City. He and Hound followed Optimus onto the pad itself. The Autobot leader surveyed the damage grimly. Watching from the landing pad, Optimus felt a rush of righteous anger flood his circuits. With his troops dying and destroyed everywhere he looked, the fortress he had helped build reduced to ruins, Prime knew there was only one thing to do, and that the fate of his friends lay in his own two hands. Wishing there was any way but the one he resigned himself to, Prime thought back over his long career of successes and setbacks, and his databanks turned up only one solution; this battle must be the last one, the final stage of a war he had dedicated himself to ending. Somehow, Prime knew that this battle was to be set apart from just another skirmish, and he looked across the scarred tarmac to pick his target.

"It's a trap," said Sunstreaker to Optimus, knowing what's on his mind. "You KNOW it is." "I know," said Optimus ."He wants you to go to him, for one last battle," said Hound. "He'll take the fight to the brink of destruction."I know, and you know as well--there's only one way this war can end. "Megatron must be stopped...no matter the cost". he said his voice like the rumble of a thunderstorm on the horizon, his demeanor was that of a determined general. fully prepared to die for his cause. The Decepticon leader stands a hundred yards away, vanishing and reappearing with the shifting waves of generic Decepticons that charge back and forth. "Optimus Prime sees Megatron from afar as the battle becomes so savage that Megatron himself takes a hand in it by leading his Decepticons in the slaughter, and he is enraged.

For so many years, so many deaths--it has always been the two of us, locked in combat. Megatron the enemy of peace, who desired only conquest, war, and subjugation how many more innocent lives must be sacrificed to his insane ambitions? How many more good friends must give up their lives to bring an end to his tyranny? "There's only one way to end it this time," He thinks to himself. "Maybe the way it always should have been--him and me. Thoughts rush through Prime's neural net, He couldn't recall exactly when he snapped, he just remembers that everything he had been holding back since that day he and his 2 friends had been gunned down in cold blood by Megatron as youths had suddenly burst through, like a dam that breaks from immense water pressure on the other side. His spark, once filled with the morals and virtues of any of the greatest of holy men who had ever lived over the years, was now filled with hate, anger, and vengeance. the time had come for Optimus to embrace that which he would always be, a true warrior at heart.

The time has come for me to call fourth the strength of the deep personal anger I have carried for all these years. If I am to defend all that I hold dear in life. if this is how my life must end so that peace and freedom can exist, if this is how I must meet my fate so that my friends and comrades can go on living then so be it. I will face my end as a warrior of honor, with faith in the great creator, the strength of my moral convictions, and the will to see it through to the end, this is for you my beloved Elita... I shall avenge your death with my own. Suddenly all that mattered was that those responsible - Megatron, Starscream and the Decepticons - be punished for their crimes. And Optimus Prime elected himself judge, jury, and executioner. this is it, the final battle. "Long ago, I made a promise to keep Earth safe. I will not fail it now." He thought as he transformed, parts folding and rearranging as his hands retract into his arms to form headlights as his shoulders fold behind his back his body changing and reconfiguring as living metal flows and contracts, his arms fold into his waist and his head sinks down into his chest to be sealed by the roof hatch as his legs shorten and his feet fold and rotate into place to become the undercarriage just behind the cab section as wheels simultaneously fold out from his lower legs and waist as it expands to become the bumper section just beneath the grill plating to finish primes transformation to his kens worth Coe axle style freight liner Mac truck vehicle form as his trailer materializes out of subspace to lock on to the mounting piece as Optimus drove across the landing pad to the bridge, the waterfalls of the dam below it throwing diamond sparkles of water on his windshield.

With a pang of sadness, he remembered how Grapple, the peace-loving engineering genius of Cybertron, had presented him with the plans for the dam, making Autobot City self-powering. Now Grapple, along with many others of his faithful friends, would be remembered as heroes of this war, and their memories gave Prime the courage and strength he sought in this, the Autobots' most desperate hour as he continued to accelerate well past the safety limets speed wise as he continued on towards the heart of the city. Deep in Autobot City, Megatron led his troops towards another vulnerable area, killing Autobots and causing general mayhem along the way. He rushed into a building, not noticing the red semi that came flying around the corner doing 150 mph with an ungodly sqwheul of tires that sounded like the unoiled hub of hell itself as Prime came roaring up behind them fire spewing out of his exhaust pipes as he began moving in behind them.

Turning on to the plaza where Megatron had made his battleground, Thrust, one of Megatron's air warriors, did notice as Optimus headed straight for him as he turned in surprise at the roar of Prime's engine directly behind him His reflection in Prime's grille came closer and closer, paralyzing the stunned Decepticon until the charging rig hit him with a huge ringing clang, he feels one of the seekers, Thrust he recognizes him, bounce off of his grill. The maroon Seeker went flying head over heels into the air. Shrapnel, who hadn't gotten a break since the battle began, started running away as Prime caught up and turned hard to the left as he sideswiped him sending the Insecticon flying behind Prime as he slammed against the side of primes trailer, the impact causing his blaster to go flying out of his hand as Prime ran over him with his back tires. Bliztwing was running as fast as his legs could carry him as he made a last second dash and just barely leapt out of the way as Prime roared by causing the commando to get knocked for a loop by the windstream as Prime charges headlong like a power backer at Thundercracker, Ramjet, Kickback, Bombshell, and Soundwave The other Decepticons in the group scattered as Prime chased them around the curve, then stood in terrified awe as their stinging laser blasts skidded harmlessly across Prime's plating.

Their blasts only served to spur the Autobot leader on as Prime transformed as they kept firing laser blast after laser blast at machine gun rate.. But Prime takes the hits and ignites his thrusters with a thought, he was feeling prime and he is going to win or die trying. Nothing will stand in my way this is one battle I'm going to win, even if it kills me he thought. "Part of him knew it was suicide. That same part didn't care. Which was better, to survive while your dream is ground into the dirt or to go down fighting for a belief that you know in your heart to be pure and true, to run away and live your life as a coward while everything that is good and decent is destroyed or to go on fighting for freedom no matter how insurmountable the odds? Optimus didn't want to imagine a future without the freedom he had devoted himself to defending, the beliefs that his fellow Autobots had died fighting for. Now his friends were dead, had died fighting for that cause, the cause to bring peace and freedom to the universe was falling before his eyes. Under attack by an evil that could be compared to every tyrant, warlord and would be world conqueror that ever existed in human history, an evil even worse then the nazi mad man Adolf Hitler could ever hope to be, He has to take megatron down once and for all or die trying.

Optimus transformed with a roar fire exploding from his undercarriage as he launched himself into the air with a growl of effort as the normally earthbound Transformer broke the bonds of gravity, Prime vaulted in a spectacular display of athleticism, as he summoned his laser rifle from his subspace compartment from behind his back in a over head movement picking off Thundercracker, Soundwave, and Kickback from overhead with trademark precision . Prime managed to land on his feet, his steel boots making divots in the plaza's plating, and his rifle thudded hollowly again and again as he took on all comers and takes out Ramjet and bomshell. Then Prime stopped indulging his trigger finger and turned to face his oldest and most deadly adversary--a maniacal Transformer with an unending thirst for power and domination, a war criminal who violated every law of honor Prime held dear--and now a murderer that had sent both Autobots and Decepticons alike to their graves. For the first time in his life, Prime began to truly hate megatron, but he knew that now was not the time to pursue that hatred, or he would become like the very one he must destroy

He rushed into the building that Megatron had just entered. Megatron, who had been trying to break through a sealed corridor, turned as he heard footsteps behind him, expecting Soundwave to be behind him.. The sunlight streamed past someone standing in the shattered doorway, hiding the features in shadow, but then he saw the bright blue optics shining through the darkness, and fell back a step as Prime moved closer. His eyes were burning with rage, anger, hate, malice, and sorrow. So many mixed emotions, so many ways in his mind these events could have been avoided, so many things that could have been said between the two of them, so many ways things could have changed for the better. In his heart he could almost forgive megatron for his crimes. But for this there was no amount of mercy to give, no way to make amends existed for this, for these sins there was no forgiveness only judgment.

All that he had to live for in life had been destroyed. His life was over. He had nothing left to lose. I have nothing left in life, you've taken everything away from me, Megatron." He thought silently to himself. "You've taken my friends, my comrades, my beloved, and my home from me. here and now, you will pay in full this day for your crimes against humanity and cybertron. you will pay for all of your sins this day, the day of retribution has come . Prime was more terrible than Megatron had ever seen, and he was almost the conscience the Decepticon commander never had almost, but not quite, as Megatron's evil leer returned, visions of Prime lying dead at his feet giving him back his ruthlessness. His optics widened in shock and surprise. "Prime," Megatron hissed, like a cobra ready to strike. "One shall stand, one shall fall," Prime said to his life long enemy his voice ringing in the small space as he takes his stand. Megatron clenched his fist, then thrust it to the side in a gesture of throwing something of value to the wind.

"Why throw away your life so recklessly?" his eyes blazing with hatred as he asked his adversary, finally voicing the one question that he had always wanted to pose to Prime, trying to figure out what drove the Autobot to a life of servitude to an unreachable ideal. Megatron had always considered life something to be conquered, not spent trying to transcend into some ethereal state of chivalry. Not that I care, Megatron says to himself as he thinks of what he will do once he finally has Optimus out of the way, the Autobots will scatter and be easy prey, Earth will be mine as Cybertron already is he thinks to himself. Dirge takes a sneaky leap at Prime who sensed the sneak attack and lashes out at the seeker with his arm behind his back , stiff arms him with a shuddering clank, than pile drives him head first into the rocky ground letting him crumple and fall as the seeker blacks out and loses consciousness. The shadows changed, playing over the angles of Prime's hull. "That's a question you should ask yourself, Megatron," .he rumbled, as he returned to glare at megatron straight in the eye his optics narrowing as he readied himself for the first strike.

The Autobots calm demeanor in this situation proves to infuriate Megatron, how can he be like this when he is about to face his certain demise? Megatron asks himself as he began to level his fusion cannon at Prime. That fool staring at me with his ice cold sapphire gaze. Before it was hard, as in all battles, but now it just made him look plain evil. Almost as though he has risen from the inferno itself. His fists are trembling in rage, as are his viewable facial features, grimacing, he was having his own war. For what, though? Megatron thought as an odd earth saying came unbidden to his mind at that moment. A man who's lost everything is a man with nothing to lose. So he wants to avenge the loss of alita then, he thought as he pulled it back in a last-minute change of plans.

"No! Megatron fumed "I'll crush you with my bare hands!" he shouted, Megatron charges forward, his red optics glowing violently as the Decepticon commander leapt for Prime knocking him outside of the building once more as they dent the walls on the way outside causing the electrical panels inside to short circuit surrounding the two combatants in an fiery nimbus of electricity. The two rivals skidded across the metal plaza, electricity sizzling in the air as their hulls scraped against the plates, Below them Hot Rod and Kup pause to the sounds of the two commanders engaged in a rough battle. but one Autobot could not simply stand by and watch for another moment more. Hot Rod gets up where he can see what is going on, with Kup right behind him as he tried to catch his young friend but Hot Rod proved to be too fast "I've got to help Prime!" The overzealous youth yells, breaking away from his friend and taking the steps up to the plaza two at a time, then concealing himself behind some debris to wait for his chance .

"Stay away, lad!" he warned "that's Prime's fight!" Kup yells after him, thinking this kid needs a few lessons in when to stay out of a fight pounded into him, Hot Rod did not retreat from his place near the pair. Optimus recovered quickly from the slam by Megatron as Megatron attempts to kick Prime in the throat. Prime catches his foot twists it and hurls his opponent backwards into a nearby wall. Megatron grabbed a spear like shard of metal from the area and brandishing it in one hand like a spear thrower from the Olympic games of ancient Rome he hurled it at the Autobot leader with all his strength relying on his inherent instinct to fight dirty. Rushing headlong at his enemy, Optimus was too late to see the deadly projectile, The spike hit Optimus in his left torso and pain bit deep into Prime's side as the shard of steel pierced his hull, but he bore the agony without a word as he tries to ignores the brief burst of pain in his side as the projectile imbeds itself into his midsection gouging out metal and electronics Prime twisted to avoid a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon. as Megatron and Prime continued to struggle in an awesome show of power,. Megatron says nothing, smiling with his thoughts of final triumph. He then fired his fusion cannon, missing Prime by mere centimeters. He leveled the cannon again, only to misfire as Prime slammed him into a wall with a powerful fist that proved Megatron had a glass jaw. The blow knocked Megatron's cannon from his arm. Megatron's thoughts are jarred back to the battle as Optimus catches him across the face with an uppercut that has such force behind it that megatron is sent flying into the air and hits his head against the bottom of an overhanging abutment and is sent crashing down to the ground as he staggers onto his feet in an attempt to avoid falling on his aft. Megatron steadies himself for a second to let the inertia drain away as he tries to avoid blacking out for a second. talk about getting hit so hard that your brain/cpu is actually bouncing off the inside of your head. Fortunately for the Decepticon, his hesitation doesn't cost him too much.

Prime winces slightly as he withdrew the shard out, leaving a gaping point of entry Energon began to seep from the grievous wound. Groping for a weapon, Megatron stealthly slips a laser dagger from his boot, igniting it and the treacherous Decepticon deepened the wound in Prime's side, stricking Prime's wounded torso which spews electricity. Prime grasped his side, feeling the energy leak away. The Autobot commander clutches his side in pain, and backs off swiftly, trying to stall slightly to allow for his internals to adjust to the damage as he stumbled back to the edge of a sharp drop off. He backed off, Megatron forcing Prime to the edge of the building seizing the window of opportunity Prime's pain had opened as he leapt in for the killing blow, his giant chassis silhouetted against the blazing sun. Megatron came swooping down out of the sun, but his titanium faceplate met with Prime's iron fist as the Autobot clocked him wth a tremendous uppercut catching the descending tyrant and halting the killing blow. The Decepticon flopped like a ragdoll on his back as Prime sprung away from the precipice Megatron dropped his weapon, sweeping his feet out to trip the Autobot. Optimus leapt over Megatron's sweep kick Megatron, though his audio sensors were ringing and his head was on fire from Prime's punishing blow, lifted his knees and bracing his hands against the plaza floor he lifted himself into the air and pushed Prime up and away from him, catching the Autobot leader's chin with his heels. Prime flew across the plaza, skidding to a stop near a heap of rubble. The Decepticon leapt for Optimus, catching him before he could recover.

"I'll rip out your optics!" he growled through clenched dental plates, steel claws reaching for Optimus's face, as he tried to claw his fingers and rip Primes eyes out of his head. the Decepticon's hand swaying dangerously close to Prime's face. fingers mere micro-inches away from gouging out Prime's unblinking sapphire sensors. They grapple in a see-sawing test of strength which Optimus wins through Summoning a burst of strength, Optimus took the advantage, slamming the battle-weary Decepticon leader to the ground at An angle that sends him skidding face first through the rubble to a slow stop. HotRod watched as Prime and Megatron wrestled and swayed, each trying to seek out the weaknesses of the other. I've screwed up so many times, maybe this will be my chance to show everyone I'm not just a punk, he thought, watching with trepidation, but hope flared under his chestplate as Prime threw Megatron headfirst across the plaza in an amazing show of strength. Trepidation turned to triumph as Megatron lay still, but Hot Rod's yell of victory seemed to stick in his vocorder.

Megatron is in more pain than he could ever have imagined. Kup ran to the top of a pile of rubble, the rest of the Autobots scrambling after him. Kup cheered his leader like he was fresh from Vector Sigma itself. "Finish him off Prime, do it now!" he snarled, upraised fists clenched in preamble to the victory that had been too long in coming. Despite the pain the movement caused him, Prime bent to retrieve his rifle Optimus picked up his blaster rifle, forgotten in the early moments of their struggle. The sun glittered on the polished barrel as he leveled it at the fallen warlord and took aim at the crippled Decepticon.. Megatron struggled to get to his feet but all he could manage was to get onto his hands and knees because of the pain and physical exhaustion. his oxygen intake had become shallow and labored, his hull cracked and dented where he had scraped across the steel plates of the street, but even as he turned around to look into the looming barrel of Prime's gun, his evil brain module churned out a deadly solution to his problem. Megatron regained his senses, scanning quickly for a way to escape his predicament as he stares down the barrel of Optimus' rifle, Megatron's optics catch the glint of a discarded a laser gun lying hidden underneath a ripped chunk of metal rock. His calculating mind immediately lets him know what to do He begs Adopting an expression of fear, Megatron stretched a scuffed hand out to Optimus in supplication.

"No more, Optimus Prime!" he cried, feigning defeat and raising a hand in protest. "Grant me mercy, I beg of you!" he cried, throwing Autobots and Decepticons into confusion. Not lowering his rifle, Optimus' optics narrowed as he listened to Megatron's cry. Hot Rod saw the object of Megatron's desires as he ran up beside the Decepticon leader unobserved by either fighter. He'd be damned if he'd see Megatron play a dirty trick like this. Prime's optics dimmed and narrowed further. His voice was incredulous, tinged with pity as he trained his sights on the cowering Decepticon. Optimus sounds almost disgusted at the same time, as he shows no signs of backing down. "You, who are without mercy, now plead for it? I thought you were made of sterner stuff." Said Prime his voice stern almost menacing. Megatron suddenly makes a move for the gun, which Hot Rod's optics manage to see. His entire attention is on Megatron as he lunges for him,

"No you don't, Megatron!" Hot Rod yelled, leaping for the larger Decepticon. Megatron grabbed the Autobot and the gun, letting the former struggle vainly against him and cold fear ripped through him as Megatron's superior size and strength overcame him. "Out of the way, Hot Rod!" Prime ordered, his barrel swaying as Megatron and Hot Rod struggled, but he knew it was too late. his cannon wavering, Megatron smiled as the Decepticon wrenched Hot Rod into submission, one powerful forearm catching the young Autobot underneath the chin, gripping him tightly as he used HotRod for a living shield. Megatron knew that Prime would never shoot if it would put the young Autobot in danger, and he used it to his advantage as HotRod tried in vain to squirm free . Megatron fired into Prime's wounded torso area. Even though Megatron had overpowered the young Autobot pride filled his chestplate at Hot Rod's bravery even as he saw the deadly purple bolts fly from his enemy's concealed weapon. The last image Prime saw before the bolts made contact was HotRod's brilliant blue optics, shimmering as if they held unshed tears and pink smoke erupted from the blast wound, as his waste filters had become damaged.

"Fall! Fall!" he growled , as he fired again, and again as small explosions ripped through prime's body in undiscribable agony as his filters ignited and incinerated themselves from within as Megatron continued pouring laser energy into Optimus's now flaming torso wound. Another pierced the Autobot leader through much like the one that had claimed Ironhide and Ratchet. Optimus did as commanded. Fighting to stay alert, as he knows this would be his last battle. Battle lust filled Megatron's optics as he threw the young Autobot to the side like a rag doll. Megatron grinned a wicked grin that spread over His cracked faceplate as Optimus, chest heaving, struggled to his knees despite wave after wave of excruciating pain. Megatron leered at his mortally wounded opponent. "I would have waited an eternity for this," "It's over, Prime." Crawl slave! on your knees! he gloated as he kept the gun trained on the Autobot leader despite being heavily damaged himself.

Optimus struggled to his knees, balling his hands together for a final act of defiance as he gathers his remaining strength. Optimus looked up at his age-old nemesis, gasping for breath as his injuries robbed his system of the oxygen it needed to combust energon. Silence spread like a stifling blanket over the battlefield, Prime's horrible gurgling wheeze the only sound echoing across the tarmac. Optimus Prime looked into the eyes of the enemy. He knew that he was the only one that could stop this carnage. He called on the last of his strength for one final blow. he knew he could do it, he could take the monster down optimus was an autobot for whom the word surrender truly had no meaning. The fire like will of determination was burning deep inside him begging to be released like the throttle handle to a power generator bent on overload but after that he would be spent and it would be over for him. I'm gonna have to finish this now if I ever want to finish this at all, for elita, for primus, for the autobot code let there be peace. he thought to himself Then the heroic Autobot gathered all his strength for one word.

"N... never!" he cried, gasping painfully, Linking his fists together, Prime swung his joined hands at the Decepticon symbol on Megatron's chest and made contact, as he opens up on megatron from point blank range slamming both fists into Megatron in a full circle round house punch as he bashes in Megatron's torso casing. Fracturing the sides which split , spilling wires, fuses, lights, circuitry Sparks fly from the many wounds and his battered armor leaks energon freely, then suddenly... the ground is gone and he finds himself falling and too weak to fly. as the Decepticon leader went flying over the edge of the building, striking other ledges The impacts against more outcroppings of rock add to Megatron's damage, each resounding crunching noise, robbing him of energy and racking his being with pain as armor is sheared off by hard rocks before he finally crashed to the city street below Finally he lands hard on the ground below, and shakes trying to move, but his systems seem to be rebelling against him, how dare they.

meanwhile on the cliff Optimus regains his footing and stands tall, armor damaged and bearing heavy wounds, Prime stands, silent vigil over the torn wasteland, His thoughts are almost those of someone in shock, 'is he really gone this time' he asks himself while making sure that Megatron had fallen suddenly prime collapsed on the cliff's edge and his knees gave way as vertigo overcame him. Prime tried to get to his feet and return to his own army--maybe Wheeljack could--no, Wheeljack was dead, Prime thought through a haze of pain, although it seemed his old mechanic friend beckoned from a distance He attempted to stand only to fall over onto his side. He knew that there was not much time left to him as he attempted to steady himself on one hand. The advancing form melted into that of Hot Rod, As he stooped there he felt two hands come from nowhere to help him Hot Rod held his leader gently, and a look of blame and self-loathing filling his face. Prime tries to rise but collapses to the side and starts shaking uncontrollably like a certain boxer who's gone the distance over the years and has taken one too many blows to the head while pushing his body beyond it's limits.

Optimus," he cried, "forgive me." the young one whispered, his voice almost a sob as he put his arm around his mentor's shaking shoulders. Hot Rod helped Optimus into a sitting position against a nearby wall. "Help, somebody please help", shouted Hot Rod! Below the sorrowing Hot Rod, Starscream and the other Decepticons gathered in a semi-circle around the body of their broken leader Megatron lay barely conscious on the street, Decepticons gathered around Megatron in horror, electricity escaping from innumerable small wounds. Starscream leers as he stood over his commander. A look of sheer pride dominating his face seeing that now, this time, HIS time has come. With an evil smirk playing about his face, Starscream addressed his oblivious overlord. "How do you feel, mighty Megatron?" he taunted in a sarcastic filled voice of false sympathy. He kicks his fallen leader in the side, more a gesture of humiliation than one to damage him further. Megatron wants to tear him apart right now, but all he can muster is a mechanic groan as he tries to get his systems to cooperate.

He lay there, his armor crumpled, his body destroyed. A look in his optics of pure helplessness, one Soundwave had never seen before. Megatron was a killer, and he would have obliterated Starscream in an instant if he had the body to do it, in that one moment. But he didn't. Prime looked over the edge to see Starscream as he kicked Megatron's lifeless form. Prime then knew that this battle was over. Megatron is weakly clutching at Starscream's hand. "Enshrine me" he gasped. Starscream dropped Megatron's hand coldly. "Take this scrap to Cybertron". Disgusted, Starscream turned to assume his duties as second-in command, which were to organize the troops if the leader became incapacitated. "Astrotrain," he ordered, "transform and get us out of here!"Megatron was unsurprised at the betrayal, but he could do nothing to stop him, not even to play along. Unbeknownst to Starscream, a tiny sign of life came from Megatron as his former minions ran for cover. "Uhhhnn...don't leave me, Soundwave," he groaned, He could barely mutter the words through his damaged voice processor, barely able to raise his shattered head to plead with his most faithful officer as he called out to the one Decepticon he could trust above all others.

Megatron knew that if he could trust one member of his troops with his life, he could trust Soundwave. Starscream kicked him when he was down. The poor Decepticon. Granted this was the same Cybertronian who had been locked in mortal combat against Optimus Prime moments ago. The same Cybertronian who held Hot Rod hostage while he took advantage of Prime's mercy to destroy him. The same Cybertronian who commited thousands amongst thousands of crimes against the Transformer race as we knew it. But looking at him downed, with Starscream standing above him...Megatron truly looked as if he was not the bad guy. Starscream has decided to leave our defenseless leader for the Autobots to take him. They would capture him, Imprison him. Lock him up and throw away the key. Or worse, execute him. Now, Megatron had not quite been the nicest of Cybertronians, to Starscream, or to any of the other Decepticons. But he *was* still our leader and my only friend in life...and that still meant I had to help him.

I could not ignore the plea. Soundwave thought, as he kneeled faithfully by his fallen leader. "As you command, Megatron." Soundwave intoned quietly, determined to do his leader honor until the very end. Beaten and broken, Soundwave cares not that Megatron's condition is so bad, this is his leader and the greatest hope for the Decepticon empire, without him what is left for the Decepticon cause? That fool Starscream; better to be lead by a terran microwave. He gathers up Megatron, taking care to do so without damaging him further, Astrotrain comes on to the scene and has sustained battle burns and laser scars on his warrior form. Astrotrain Transformed to his locomotive form and rolls through a crowd of Decepticons crushing many under his wheels as he makes his way to Starscream. The Decepticons ran to him, some barely functioning, others carrying fallen comrades. Ramjet, Thrust, Dirge, the Constructions, and Soundwave run towards Astrotrain. Rumble dodged behind two of the larger Autobots, grabbing Megatron's fusion cannon from the rubble of battle. scurrying behind with the Decepticon leader's fusion cannon in his arms. He fell into step behind Soundwave, who carried their fallen leader into Astrotrain'scramped confines Starscream is to distracted with his thoughts to notice Soundwave carrying Megatron in amidst parting shots. After a quick scan, Soundwave sets down the fallen leader and stands vigil over him, inwardly pleased to see his tapes already on board. Frenzy and Rumble are already in his compartment. Laserbeak and Buzzsaw perch up high and out of the way, their attentive optics catching everything. Ratbat hangs not far from them, a bit laser burned. Ravage comes limping in a bit ragged and waisted from his fight with steel jaw Arcee paused between blasts of her laser pistol.

"The Decepticons are retreating!" she cried. Kup's optics brightened. Watching the Decepticons turn tail and run, Kup and Arcee exchanged joyful glances "Prime did it," he said, "he turned the tide!" Starscream, not even checking to see if all were accounted for, strode into Astrotrain's cargo bay Starscream is the first to board, of course, followed by a very injured group of Insecticons, which he can't even tell if they are the real thing or not, and doesn't really care. He just wants off this miserable little mudball and back on Cybertron where HE can take control. . "Astrotrain, take off!" he cried. With a rumble of afterburners, Astrotrain did as he was bade, leaving the wreckage of another battle far behind as Soundwave begins attempting some minor repairs on Megatron, he scans over the remainder of his 'children' and beckons them to him and into his tape deck so that they might not be accidently harmed.. There's a light feeling of upwards movement, then the familiar sounds of Astrotrain transforming into shuttle mode As the locomotive charged down the rubble-strewn streets of Autobot city, transforming into a large space shuttle and disappearing into the sky. Across the ruined city, Autobots lowered their weapons. Thanks to Optimus Prime, they had won the day. in the years to come a few witnesses will tell of the incredible damage and casualties that resulted from this final confrontation. others will remember this as the day that the emporer of destruction was finally defeated, but most will remember this sad day as the day the greatest most heroic autobot that ever lived --finally fell