Taking the Metro: Part 2
A fanfic by Bill T. Taylor
a.k.a. RedStreak
The hills of Autobot City came alive that fateful dawn. It was a day that would live in infamy for the Autobots….
Masses of buildings pulled themselves together, amassing into a form that loomed over all. Shinning towers retracted, every door, window, and vent slammed shut behind armor plating as giant guns emerged from hidden panels. Giant hands that could crush full-sized yachts stretched out, flexing their joints. Finally, what was once a city stood upright with fists clenched, a dark head with twin crimson towers rose up as the warrior giant, Metroplex, came to life.
“By all of Cybertron,” Kup watched in horror. On Metroplex’s chest, the old Autobot icon flashed purple, morphing into the hideous symbol of the Decepticon.
“Metro…plex….online. Metro…plex…destroy all…Autobots!” Metroplex quickly grabbed the two giant guns still strapped to his feet. With one pull of the trigger, one gun fired the biggest missile imaginable into a crowd of fleeing Autobots. Dozens of ‘bots were flung skyward by the explosion like helpless toys.
“We’ve got to do something!” Silverbolt yelled.
Kup quickly grabbed the Aerialbot’s arm. “No! It’s suicide to go up against Metroplex, even if you unite with the other Aerialbots!”
“Believe me, I know,” Silverbolt admitted, “You just get RedStreak and the other survivors clear out of here! Superion may not be able to bring Metroplex down, but with a little luck, maybe he can knock some sense into him!”
Silverbolt transformed into a Concorde and flew off, blue flames burning behind him. Kup didn’t linger; he went back to the rock pile and got RedStreak to his feet, the young ‘bot staggering weakly. “Come on kid, we’ve gotta roll out!”
“No,” RedStreak tried to say, “Metroplex…Spike…in danger. All…my fault.”
“Whatever!” Kup threw RedStreak straight into the air. In an instant the old veteran transformed into a green truck with a beat-up windshield, RedStreak landing with a thud in his flatbed. His wheels spun momentarily in the desert sand, Kup finally speeding away with a downed Autobot in his care.
Silverbolt flew just overhead of the awakened Metroplex. Using his com-link, he radioed to the other Aerialbots, “Aerialbots! We’ve got to take on Metroplex before he leaves the perimeter of Autobot City! Aerialbots unite!”
In less than the span of a minute four other jets soon joined with the Autobot Concorde in the sky. Of the five, Slingshot, the Harrier Jet, yelled out, “Let’s take this jerk down!” In tandem, the fivesome transformed in formation, Superion taking shape in midair.
Metroplex glanced up at the Gestalt with the smug look only a Decepticon would bear on his faceplate. As Superion hovered there momentarily, he aimed his second cannon of a gun and fired. The missile squealed as it broke the sound barrier, taking four-tenths of a second to strike at Superion.
The missile whizzed beneath Superion’s armpit, the flying robot jerking slightly to his left just before it came at him. Another explosion went off miles away in the atmosphere, but the heat could still be felt on Superion’s back. And that was just the beginning.
The mighty cannons mounted to either side of Metroplex’s shoulders spun into position, their servos whirling loudly. The energy blasts shot out from them like bursts of fire from a Roman candle. Superion flew backwards and forwards and from side to side, desperately avoiding the lethal fireworks.
As he continued to buzz about erratically, Superion grunted, one of the blasts deflecting off his left arm, “This isn’t going to be easy!” Metroplex’s blasts were like flying through a maelstrom, but Superion had the will of five Autobots with him, and was not so easily deterred. Firing up the turbojets in his feet, the mighty flier hurled himself straight at Metroplex.
As Superion flew directly at the Autobots’ former ally, a streak of blue came from the sky. “HALT!” Scourge commanded, transforming between Metroplex and Superion. Glaring at the much larger Superion, Scourge warned, “Fire on Metroplex, or interfere with our plans…and your friend will pay the price!”
On cue, Metroplex’s hanger hatch opened from his chest. Soundwave, the Cassetticons, and a damaged Cyclonus marched out. Still inside Soundwave’s chest compartment was Spike himself. Smirking, Cyclonus stepped beside Soundwave and tapped against the transparent glass, Spike standing inside with a weary look on his face.
“No! You…you...” Superion sighed in frustration, lowering his arms. “Alright, you win Scourge.”
Smiling, Scourge said, “Indeed. Your cooperation on behalf of that flesh creature is much appreciated.” Cocking an eyebrow, Scourge added, “However…we said nothing about Metroplex firing…on you.”
To the left of Metroplex’s head, binary cannons arced up and fired simultaneously. Superion cried out, half his torso plate blasted off as he fell to the ground.
Scourge smiled with delight, and then turned about toward Metroplex’s silver-plated face. “Excellent, Metroplex,” he applauded, “Now, with your foot…STOMP HIM INTO ATOMIC DUST!”
Unable to resist, Metroplex raised up his left foot, looking down on Superion with red eyes. Circuits exposed and wires flailing about with sparks, Superion struggled to glance up. There was little he could do…his primary systems disabled.
“Aerialbots…disengage,” he weakly mumbled. Reflexively Superion broke into Airraid, Fireflight, Skydive, Slingshot, and Silverbolt. The four fighter jets sustained minimal damage, but Silverbolt was thrashed terribly.
“Go…quick!” Silverbolt gasped, falling into stasis lock. His eyes faded to black, his body lifeless.
“We’ve gotta help him!” Skydive immediately said, but above Metroplex’s foot was coming down. He and the other functional Aerialbots ran, Silverbolt left defenseless and alone when two hundred-plus megatons of Metroplex came smashing down. The Aerialbots quivered, watching Metroplex raise and then slam his foot again and again into Silverbolt’s frame, the four of them able to do nothing but hide behind a boulder.
As the sky turned a more hopeful shade of blue with the morning sun’s arrival, the Autobots…or those that survived, gathered at the one place they all knew they could go.
When Kup rode up the old, dusty trail leading to the ruins of the Ark, Ultra Magnus, Arcee, and at least twenty Autobots had gathered there. Everyone had some form of a bruise, scar, or dent in their frames, a few with limbs held together by a few wires while others laid unconscious on the ground in desperate need of repair.
Breaking to a stop, Kup transformed, holding RedStreak in his arms as he looked to Ultra Magnus. “Where’s Rodimus and Springer? Didn’t they make it out with you Magnus?” he asked.
Ultra Magnus shook his head. “Metroplex’s internal defenses were too much for us. Springer and I insisted that we evacuate with the others, but Prime refused to abandon the City…even as the phase blasters aimed at him. I barely made it out myself, but I…fear for what the Decepticons will do to them.”
Arcee looked to Ultra Magnus and Kup with concern. “I know they’ll be alright, but I can’t help but wonder…what turned Metroplex against us?”
A weak gasp sounded from Kup’s arms. The three Autobots glanced down at the mangled frame of RedStreak, the new-comer just barely online. “Metroplex…Spike,” he rambled on, “My fault. Didn’t…suspect…ugh….”
As RedStreak blacked out, Arcee and Ultra Magnus looked to Kup. “He’s been like this since Silverbolt and I found him in a crater. I can’t make a lick of reason what his vocal circuits are trying to say!” said the old soldier.
“He seems to know something about Metroplex though,” Ultra Magnus promptly stated, “Get the medics. Let’s see if we can unscramble his logic chips and find out what happened.”
What few medics that were available were pulled from duty on the more seriously injured Autobots and put to work on RedStreak. First Aid and Blades unbolted his chest plate and began rewelding cracks and servos, RedStreak’s open spark chamber pulsating weakly. Fused circuits were replaced and wires uncrossed. It took the better half of an hour, but the job was finished.
RedStreak’s eyes glowed with a renewed shade of blue as the last bolt in his torso was screwed back in. He jolted back up, shouting, “SPIKE! METROPLEX!”
“Yes, yes,” Arcee said, kneeling beside the repaired ‘bot, “Metroplex, Spike; what happened to them?”
RedStreak slowly realized where he was…and frowned shamefully when he realized Kup and Ultra Magnus were looking down at him. He softly muttered, “I did it. It’s my fault….”
“RedStreak!” Ultra Magnus put a heavy hand on the Autobot’s shoulder, forcefully turning him towards his face. “What happened?”
Nervously, RedStreak managed to reply, “The Decepticons broke into Metroplex’s Brain Vault! I-I-I tried to stop them…but they abducted Spike and then wired this gizmo into the central processing….”
“Wait a millicycle! What were you doing in the Brain Vault?” Kup spoke up.
“I was just trying to find out about Optimus Prime…and thought the Brain Vault would…” RedStreak started to explain.
Two huge blue and white arms lashed out at RedStreak, jerking and slamming him into the rocky mountainside. Ultra Magnus glared at RedStreak, barely able to contain his anger.
“RedStreak,” Ultra Magnus strained, “You…just may have handed the keys to the Earth’s destruction right into Galvatron’s hands…and doomed the lives of countless Autobots and humans by doing it.”
“But Ultra Magnus…I didn’t try to….”
Four figures came lumbering over the treaded path leading up the mountain. The four Autobots eyed them in the midst of Ultra Magnus’ and RedStreak’s quarrel. It was the Aerialbots…four at least…carrying heavy pieces of equipment.
“Aerialbots!” Kup said, rushing over to their side, “What happen….oh dear Primus.”
Ultra Magnus let go of RedStreak, turning his attention elsewhere. “What is it?” he asked.
Airraid, Fireflight, Slingshot, and Skydive all set down their respective pieces of equipment on the ground. Arcee gasped, her eyes on the verge of tearing up. Everyone immediately recognized what it was…or rather who. The wreckage of Silverbolt laid astray in several broken pieces.
RedStreak got to his feet, staring at the remains of a great Autobot. “Silverbolt?” he said, looking down at the Aerialbot’s disembodied head. Linked to the body by only a few stray cables and wires, Silverbolt’s head was smashes, its features distorted and eye sockets empty. What life there once was was now extinguished.
As RedStreak gently lifted it up into his hands, Ultra Magnus turned to the other Aerialbots and asked, “What happened to him?”
“It was bad,” Slingshot answered.
“Metroplex knocked Superion down big-time,” Fireflight elaborated, “We tried to save ‘em, but the ‘cons used Metroplex to smash the cogs out of Silverbolt. Once they moved on…we…salvaged…what was left of him. Dunno if he’s offline or in stasis.”
As RedStreak stared into the hollow eyes of Silverbolt, Ultra Magnus’ shadow loomed over him. “Get a good look at him, RedStreak,” he sternly said, “He’s not the only one. Rodimus Prime…Springer…maybe others. Through your inadvertent actions…you just might have extinguished their sparks.”
The red Autobot just stood there for a minute, the Aerialbots, Kup, Arcee, and Magnus all looking down at him. Silverbolt’s head fell from RedStreak’s hands, clunking against the gravel. The lone Autobot fled, knowing it was all too true.
Hundreds of miles away, just beyond the shores of the American Northwest, wave upon wave crashed against a small, barren isle on the outskirts of the Pacific. The waves grew progressively larger and larger, thrashing and flooding the miniscule island until….
Metroplex emerged from the waves, his huge form visible for miles around as the late afternoon sun glinted off his silver cybertronian plating. His foot stepped upon the isle, the sand sinking slightly beneath his weight.
Once situated near the center of the isle, Metroplex transformed once more. As he settled to the ground his body unfolded, changing from ‘bot to city. Now where there was once a barren isle was a technological wonder laid out.
Cyclonus and Scourge emerged from a hatch in Metroplex’s right shoulder. Soon a large, booming noise filled their ears. From the sky, a large, black object descended, accompanied by a swarm of just visible specks. As it came into view…the black menacing frame of Trypticon, surrounded by an armada of Decepticons, was distinguished in an otherwise blue sky.
Minutes later, Galvatron looked out upon his new base of operation from Trypticon’s main tower. “I never thought I’d live to see the day,” Galvatron gloated, “When Trypticon and Autobot City laid side by side…under my command.”
Galvatron, accompanied by Blastoff, Vortex, and Onslaught, marched from the main ramp of Trypticon onto the open runway leading directly into Metroplex. At the top they met Scourge himself, who stood there with a proud smile on his bearded face.
“Welcome, Galvatron,” Scourge bowed, “Welcome to Autobot…or should I say, Decepticon City?”
“Excellent,” Galvatron repeated over and over again, “Excellent work Scourge. And to think, I doubted your abilities.”
Smug and smooth as ever, Scourge eloquently said to his leader, “Nay…it was your faith in me that ensured this tremendous victory, noble lord.”
“More like dumb luck,” Cyclonus growled, making his presence known.
“SILENCE CYCLONUS!” Galvatron bellowed, firing his gold cannon at the ceiling directly above Cyclonus’ head. With a crash, a section of the ceiling smacked Cyclonus square in the head, knocking him down to the floor, Scourge smirking as he looked upon the Decepticon’s buried frame.
Galvatron turned his attention to more practical matters. “Let us put Metroplex’s facilities to good use. Combaticons, transfer over the Stunticons and Predacons into the Autobot’s repair bay. Once all my Gestalts are at peak operation, we’ll raid this pathetic planet and then Cybertron, forcing Rodimus Prime to submit!”
“Perhaps you can do that to Rodimus…in person,” Scourge grinned.
“What?” Galvatron inquired.
Soon after, Galvatron was escorted to the Brain Vault of Metroplex…where other surprised awaited him. There, chained to one of the walls, were two Autobots…and one human being as well. Frenzy and Rumble stood guard with their weapons ready as Soundwave managed one of the numerous consoles.
Rodimus Prime, his arms hoisted into the air, lifted his head up and saw
Galvatron staring back at him with an evil smile on his face. “At long last,
Prime,” Galvatron said, walking up toward the captive Autobot, “We find
ourselves face to face once again, except this time…I have the distinct
advantage.”
Scowling at Galvatron, Rodimus spoke, “Unicron’s work is still evident on your twisted mind, Galvatron!”
Galvatron growled. “Dare to insult me! Let’s see how bold you are once I’ve ripped the Matrix of Leadership from your shell!” He looked to the two Cassetticon warriors, ordering, “Rumble, Frenzy, open him up!”
“With pleasure, Galvatron!” Rumble complied. He and Frenzy moved in on Rodimus Prime, intent on fulfilling Galvatron’s request. Rumble walked right up, his arms reaching for Rodimus’ chest plate….
WHAM!
Rumble went flying backwards shrieking, Rodimus delivering a swift kick directly at the smaller Cybertronian. Frenzy leaped, clinging onto Rodimus Prime’s head, banging hard against it.
“You’re…not getting the Matrix…from me!” Rodimus swore.
“Soundwave! Assist!” Galvatron commanded. The blue Decepticon stepped up, rushing at Rodimus Prime. Suddenly a green leg stuck out, tripping the giant blue oaf.
“Not on my time Decepticon!” Springer said.
A quarrel ensured, despite Rodimus being enchained. Soundwave unleashed Ratbat and Buzzsaw, the two whirling about, but to no avail. Scourge watched as Galvatron grew more enraged.
“ENOUGH!” Galvatron exploded. Transforming, Galvatron aimed in his cannon form and fired on both Rodimus and his own Decepticons. The blast flung Soundwave, Frenzy, and the other Cassetticons away, knocking everyone out cold including the Autobot. Marching toward Rodimus Prime, Galvatron muttered, “I’ll do it myself!”
Springer saw Galvatron approach and yelled in protest, “NO! YOU CAN’T YOU DECEPTI-BUM!”
“I’ll do as I please!” Galvatron countered. Pushing down on the Autobot icon built into Rodimus’ chest, Galvatron opened the torso cavity. Deep inside, amid a myriad of complex components and wiring, was a radiant light. The blue light of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership illuminated the Brain Vault, Scourge looking on in wonder as Galvatron reached out to it.
“It…is…mine now!”
When his fingertips grazed the ceramic surface of the Matrix, a bolt of energy surged into Galvatron. “YEEEEEAHHHHHHHHH!” he screeched in pain, bolts of electricity enveloping him and Rodimus. The sapphire light of the Matrix grew more and more intense, the Vault brighter and brighter.
Rodimus Prime’s eyes came to life once again. He looked down at Galvatron, the Decepticon still reaching into his chest. “The Matrix was never meant for you, Galvatron,” the Prime explained, “Nor will I allow you or any of the Decepticons to succeed!”
Inside him, the Matrix started to crack open, more and more of its mystic energy spilling out. “I WOULD RATHER DIE,” Rodimus Prime declared, “THAN ALLOW YOU TO USE ME OR ANY OF US TO DESTROY THIS WORLD! AAAAAGGH!”
Galavtron finally let go of the Matrix, falling backwards and skidding several feet across the floor. From Rodimus Prime’s body emanated a growing bubble of fiery yellow energy that grew and grew, threatening to envelope not only Prime but Galvatron, Scourge, and everything else.
“GAH! SCOURGE! CLOSE IT! CLOSE HIM UP NOW DAMMIT!” Galvatron hollered.
Scourge quickly took out his blaster and took aim. He fired twice, then thrice, but each of his blasts was absorbed by the radiant energy of the Matrix. He eyed to his left a shiny open panel, smooth and reflective like a mirror. Scourge glanced between it and Rodimus, then took his shot.
The laser pulse flew from the gun, and then bounced at a sharp angle from the panel, flying toward Rodimus’ side. With a bang, it hit Rodimus Prime’s torso plate. The open plate swung, slamming shut and extinguishing the Matrix’s light. With a soft gasp Rodimus blacked out once again.
Scourge helped Galvatron back up, the Decepticon tyrant grunting, “I…I never suspected Prime could unleash the Matrix and its power so readily.” To Scourge he directly said, “Scourge, I’m putting you personally in charge of Metroplex, as well as keeping out esteemed prisoners company. As for Rodimus and that blasted Matrix, keep him in permanent stasis lock…at least until we can find a safe way to dispose of both!”
“As you will, my lord,” Scourge conceded. He stood guard over the prisoners, secretly watching Galvatron and the other Decepticons leave one by one. Alone, he snickered, “Heh heh. That fool. Galvatron should have destroyed me when I last possessed the Matrix. Now, coupled with the power of Metroplex…I’ll be able to overthrow Galvatron and the other Decepticons…ruling over the galaxy myself! Heh heh heh….”
Secretly, a pair of bitter red eyes watched from behind a corner. A mechanical, purple fist dug deep into the metal wall, shaking angrily. “Enjoy your power, while you can, Scourge,” a familiar deep voice said from afar.
Deep inside the ruins of the Ark, RedStreak lamented over his crimes while the other Autobots outside tried to devise a way to counter Galvatron’s plans. His blue eyes provided the only source of light in those caverns, where rubble and broken consoles lay scattered in pieces.
“I can’t believe myself. What an idiot I am,” he told himself, “I should never have been brought online.”
Not thinking, RedStreak pounded his foot into the floor, still wallowing in self-pity. Beneath his foot, a frayed wire flickered with a single spark. The spark traveled along its length, up to a large and badly damaged console…which slowly began to flicker with renewed life.
The glow of a strange monitor caught RedStreak’s optic sensors. “What the…is that…what I think it is?”
The monitor flickered on and off repeatedly. “Teletran…systems…back-up initiating,” it managed to beep, “Rebooting…auxiliary…data-banks.”
Soon, as RedStreak began to realize, the console of Teletran-1 itself began to boot up after lying for years in disarray. Despite the obvious damage…part of the legendary computer was functional…but barely.
“Uploading personnel files,” Teletran said, its screen flashing on and off. RedStreak approached, watching as images of numerous Autobots of old flashed before his eyes.
“I…I don’t believe it,” he said to himself, “Prowl…Wheeljack…Brawn. They’re…all here.” Reaching out, almost touching the console, he added, “All the greatest warriors…all here.”
Another file came up, and the image that accompanied it made RedStreak’s eyes grow wide. “O-Optimus…Prime.” Teletran-1’s personal file on the leader he never knew. RedStreak took ever byte of data in with wonder and honor. He read the story of his receiving of the Matrix and its eventual passing to Ultra Magnus, of Prime’s life and his death. All the selfless and heroic acts of one Autobot…of a legend RedStreak never knew.
Deep inside the ancient computer…a single wire snapped, aged too many years. The monitor immediately started to fade, Optimus Prime’s face once again becoming that of a ghost. RedStreak touched it, wanting to see him. Then…it all faded to black.
The young Autobot simply stood there, shaking, his arm stretched out in the darkness.
Outside, more and more Autobots were crowding the mountain. Repairs were going more and more slowly even with additional aid. Reinforcements from Cybertron were just arriving, Sky Lynx landing with his wings spread wide.
“Sky Lynx returns!” the Autobot flier declared, landing on four golden claws. From his side emerged the Technobots, all filing up in a straight line.
Kup looked to Ultra Magnus wearily. “This is a risk Magnus, you know it. Pulling Sky Lynx and the Technobots from sentry duty puts Cybertron at risk.”
Ultra Magnus shook his head. “No choice. We need to pull all reinforcements here and now, or else Earth falls right into Galvatron’s clutches.”
“And if Earth falls…Cybertron’s just a beautiful target,” cited Kup.
“Please…don’t remind me,” Ultra Magnus sighed, cupping his face with his hand in exhaustion, “Just tell me when Arcee, Wheelie, and the Dinobots arrive.”
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
The ground shaking heavily, Kup said, “Yup. The Dinobots are here Magnus.”
The monstrous forms of five Dinobots began to loom over the path. Two Cybertronian cars drove up, one pink and the other, slightly smaller, and dull orange. As the Dinobots thundered their way to the top, the cars pulled right up alongside Ultra Magnus. The transparent canopy of the orange car lifted up, a human boy jumping out.
“Ultra Magnus! Kup!” Daniel said, “What’s happened? Where’s my dad?”
As Arcee and Wheelie transformed, Ultra Magnus looked to the female Autobot. “You told him, didn’t you?”
Arcee nodded. “It seemed the right thing to do.”
Daniel, already tearing up, then muttered, “Then it’s true. Metroplex kidnapped him.”
Bending down, Ultra Magnus stated, “It wasn’t Metroplex, Daniel. Scourge and the other Decepticons somehow reprogrammed him…and it’s not just Spike, but Rodimus and Springer. There’s a lot at stake to everyone.”
“I know,” one Autobot said. Emerging from a narrow crevice, RedStreak stepped forward. “It’s my fault…but moping around isn’t going to solve things. I’m here to help, if I can.”
“You!” Daniel yelled angrily. He ran up to RedStreak and began pounding his fists into RedStreak’s leg, wailing on them as hard as his little arms could. “You’re the one who killed my dad! You! You! You!” Daniel was so angry he began to cry.
RedStreak felt ashamed…and rather embarrassed. “I’m…sorry.”
“Sorry not cover your skidplate!” Grimlock yelled. The large tyrannosaurus robot stopped over to the smaller Autobot, growling bitterly. “Everyone…say…we Dinobots stupid...dumb. You stupid-ER for messing with Metroplex. Dumb-ER for letting Decepticons in!”
Another Dinobot snarled. Next the triceratops growled, “Me Slag want to melt your face off for being so dumb! Dinobots…no fool…around!” Already flames hissed from his mouth, heat upon head building up.
“Dinobots, stand down!” Ultra Magnus ordered, but to little avail. Already the five Dinobots were circling around RedStreak, hissing and growling and snarling. Poor RedStreak could only stand there with his back against the rock face.
A giant blue wing swung forward, separating RedStreak from the Dinobots. “Knock it off you metal-heads!” Sky Lynx spoke up, his even larger form imposing before the Dinobots, “RedStreak isn’t the problem, the Decepticons are!”
Quickly an argument among the Autobots began to develop, even stretching to include Ultra Magnus. Arcee, more distant from the fight, took notice of something…or rather sensed something. A subtly quiver in the air growing into a breeze.
Clicking on the side of her head, Arcee’s telescopic visor came down over her eyes. The crimson visor scanned the horizon…and detected something massive. She let out a yelp. “Metroplex!” Upon uttering those words, every Autobot in hearing distance turned. “Metroplex is coming!” she said again.
Ultra Magnus peered out at the horizon, deploying his own telescopic visor. “No, wait,” he said, “It’s…not Metroplex. Not his readings.”
“Then there’s only one other transformer who could generate readings like these,” Arcee quoted.
Ultra Magnus nodded, knowing who it was. “Right. Trypticon.”
In mere minutes the Decepticon behemoth came into view, yellow-green flames blasting from his feet and the base of his tail as he flew towards the mountain. Still over a mile away, the huge giant began his attack, opening his mouth, huge cannons firing.
As rubble began to fly in all directions, Ultra Magnus yelled out, “Autobots! We’re under attack! Everyone scramble for battle!”
In seconds a huge show of transformations happened. The Dinobots transformed into their robotic forms, taking to the air along with Sky Lynx with weapons blazing. The newly-arrived Technobots merged into the mighty Computron, taking point between Trypticon and the Autobot forces. The Protectobots merged once again into Defensor, who readily aided Computron from the ground.
Trypticon’s flight was halted when he met the sheer amount of firepower directed at him. He swung his arms around trying to swat at first the Dinobots and Sky Lynx but then four Aerialbots joined in, enraging the frustrated Decepticon. Further frustrating him were the ground forces amassing against him from below.
RedStreak did not hesitate to join in. He pulled out his own gun and pointed square at Trypticon…not that targeting him was any trouble, but then he noticed the human child standing alone. “Hang on!” he said, rushing beside Daniel, “I’ll make sure you’re okay.”
Daniel didn’t welcome RedStreak so readily. “Ugh! Get away from me!” he yelled, leaping like a bullfrog away from the Autobot.
Sky Lynx swooped in front of Trypticon’s face. “Let’s see how you like this!” he yelled, diving with his legs spread. He zoomed past Trypticon’s snout, his talons ripping into the metal harshly. Although a non-lethal blow, it was enough to set the mighty Trypticon howling.
The Decepticon let loose a barrage of blasts flying in random directions. Numerous blasts struck between Defensor and Computron, others missing the flying Autobots. One however, hit the peak of the mountain and started a huge landslide.
“Look out!” Defensor yelled, trying to blast away at the falling boulders. All too quickly he was enveloped, and Computron too. Ultra Magnus and the others now looked up to see the avalanche upon them.
“Wheelie suggests we fly,” rhymed the smallest Autobot, “Or else Wheelie and company die!”
“For once you make sense to me!” Kup said, transforming into vehicle mode.
“Roll out Autobots!” shouted Ultra Magnus. The large Autobot also transformed, blowing his horns and driving off with Arcee, Wheelie, Kup, and every other Autobot. All save one….
“Daniel! Look out!” RedStreak yelled. The human child started to run, but the avalanche was nearly upon him. RedStreak turned back towards Magnus, yelling, “Wait! Daniel’s still out there!” but already the Autobots were taking leave. “Slag,” RedStreak muttered, the ground already shaking beneath his feet, “It’s moments like this I wish I was a jet instead of a car!”
RedStreak transformed and floored his accelerator. At one-ninety mph he drove up a sharp rock like a ramp, becoming airborne for a few fleeting seconds. He transformed, landing on his feet beside the small human.
“NOOOOOO!” Daniel screamed.
Ultra Magnus heard the screams and put on his breaks. Transforming, he looked back in the direction of the human scream. “Oh no! We forgot Daniel!” he realized. Before he could act he saw a stream of dust, gravel, and rocks pile over RedStreak and Daniel alike, the broad ledge they were on before caught entirely in the massive rock slide.
Without warning a giant shadow loomed over Ultra Magnus. He looked up, Trypticon standing over him with arms spread and weapons aiming toward him. The hatch on Trypticon’s nose opened…Galvatron emerging and laughing like a maniac.
“Hahahaha! First Prime and now you Ultra Magnus…as it was always meant to be! Hahahaha!” Galvatron laughed.
To Be Continued…