- FLAMES OF BATTLE -

 

With the Allspark inside him, Megatron swooped above the ruins of Europe. He had ravaged the United States, ploughing through the armies of the fleshlings, shrugging off their nuclear weapons even as the world slipped into chaos as his Decepticons made coordinated strikes on the major cities of the world. He had devastated the human metropoli along the eastern seaboard before flying east, landing in Portugal. The full might of the European Union did not even scratch him. His Fusion Cannon, now renamed ‘Dominion’ by him personally, levelled most of the countries in several shots. Even he was astonished at the might that the Allspark had granted his weapons.
How many people had he killed? His processors itched to calculate, but he was not interested in statistics.
A blast from several intercontinental ballistic missiles suddenly collided into him. He grunted as explosions rocked his body. Without further thought, he transformed from his jet mode, his wings keeping him aloft while he scanned the area for attackers.
Down there. He could see the pathetic silo where the humans housed their desperate last measures.
It was a pity he would not even use .00000000000001 percent of his power to slap aside these so-called weapons.
‘Toys,’ he snarled, activating Dominion. The targeted laser blast rocketed down, down, down, into the city silo. A flash of light. Moments later, a mushroom cloud emerged. The smoke cleared, and nothing was left. The humans had been reduced to atomic dust.
I am omnipotent.
But then again, he had only fought against the puny humans so far. They would have died anyway, even if he engaged them at only ten percent of his life force. He had to be wary of what the Autobots had concoted during his absence. He felt grateful for having kept his Cybertronian jet mode. It was faster than any pathetic machinery these humans could throw at him. It was armed to the teeth and capable of interstellar space travel. His new Allspark-infused armour also gave him an endless supply of energy. He could fly for eternity if he so wished.
Oh, Prime, my dear brother. If only you could understand. You will know why the Allspark is rightfully mine.
Megatron sent a transmission to his warriors. ‘Decepticons, spread out and find the children! Wreckage, begin construction of Requiem. The weapon must be able to destroy Autobot technology! I want the armada ready to attack the Autobots’ headquarters! Once Starscream has found it,’ he added impatiently. ‘Blackout! I brought you back from the dead with my power, now return your master’s goodwill and provide Brawl with support when he retrieves the human children.’
‘Yes, my Lord. Blackout over.’
Megatron soared on, descending upon Moscow, trampling into the Kremlin, reducing it to ruins with his two feet. smiling as the human jets and tanks screamed towards him. ‘The whole Earth has gone mad,’ he murmured, deploying his Cybertron Class ‘Slaughter’ Chain Whip. His rocket claw, Reaver, could wait. The insanity was yet to reach a climax.
‘Rightfully so,’ he crowed, as he smashed Slaughter into the tanks, sending them hurtling into the jets.

*

CELESTIAL headquarters

‘They’re on the move.’ The Autobots crowded around Ratchet as he spoke. Teletraan-5 beeped, relaying Signal Flare and Strongarm’s data to the CELESTIAL supercomputer.
‘I’ve picked up a new signal.’ Ratchet paused, pressing several controls while Emily, Tom, Michael, Franky and Sora flocked around him. ‘The Decepticons are on the move again, and it seems that many humans have been killed in their latest attacks. America, Europe, Asia – these continents have been reduced to veritable rubble by Megatron single-handedly. He truly is seeking vengeance.’
For the first time, Prime appeared truly frustrated. ‘Why can’t we ever keep up with their movements, even with a spy team as good as ours?’ he wondered aloud. He was met with silence as Arcee and Bumblebee stared at him. Ratchet blinked, and the children looked sad. Taken aback by his own anger, Prime excused himself. He lumbered off into the next room, the recharging chamber, leaving the perplexed Autobots to converse amongst themselves.
Michiko followed him. ‘Convoy, why should you be so upset at yourself?’ she asked, as the door slid shut behind them. ‘From what you’ve told me, it’s natural that sometimes it is just too much bad news. And much of the world is under attack already even as we talk – ’ she lowered her head sadly. ‘Of course it’s terrible news.’
Prime smiled and sat beside her, towering over her small body. ‘As the Supreme Commander, I must bear the burden of all Autobots, at all costs. To do so ungracefully is to violate a key principle of Autobot leadership.’
‘There may be others who can help him bear the burden,’ she suggested.
Prime shook his head. ‘The burden is mine alone to bear.’
In a rare display of sarcasm, Michiko said, ‘Then why don’t you leave the Autobot team and fight alone? A lot less people to share responsibility with.’
Prime blinked, then smiled. ‘A human child’s commonsense is really intelligent.’ Encouraged, he returned to the main chamber. The Autobots looked at him expectantly but apprehensively. Prime smiled and and apologized to the group. ‘I shouldn’t have let loose. I’ll work out this new problem, don’t worry.’
Ironhide gruffly dismissed it. ‘Apologies are for incompetent leaders.’ Arcee crossed her arms and waited for Prime to say more, inciting a giggle from Michiko. Jazz was about to crack a joke when Ratchet and Bumblebee turned to Teletraan-2.
‘Optimus! There’s a new signal from Cybertron. Several Autobots from other planets have finally received the transmission from Arcee. Override, the warriors from Velocitron! Gigantron has also responded! They can finally report to Earth now. Metroplex sends his greetings to you.’
‘This means that Fleet V shall be reinforced with a new army, alongside Jetfire’s aerial armada.’
‘At not a better time too,’ said Ratchet. ‘Megatron’s advance gorws ever closer.’
Prime slumped back, relieved and silently jubilant.
Michiko touched Prime’s hand. ‘As long as there is someone who one can call a friend, there is never any need for despair.’

*

As the meeting dispersed, Arcee and Michiko remained, lazily lounging in the conference hall of CELESTIAL headquarters. The human girl sat on a tall stool made for her especially – the smallest computer screen in the room was at least ten times larger than its human counterpart. She tapped her fingers on the humongous table. ‘Does Convoy ever talk about things other than saving the world and stopping Megatron?’
‘Sometimes.’
‘You’re hiding something from me,’ pointed Michiko out suspiciously.
‘No I’m not,’ protested Arcee, holding up her hands. ‘Optimus is Optimus. You should know that by now, Michiko-chan.’
Michiko pouted. She sighed, fiddling at the large table. ‘How does it feel to be surrounded by men, Arcee?’ she asked suddenly.
‘Sexy,’ replied the Autobot. Michiko looked bewilderedly at her, and she laughed. ‘Sorry. It’s not just me, though. Chromia’s one you haven’t met, yet. Elita-One’s a veteran, more than I am. She and Prime used to…’ she put a finger to her mouth. ‘You know.’
Michiko’s jaw dropped. ‘Are they still going out?’
‘Don’t think so.’
‘Is Convoy interested in anyone these days?’ squealed Michiko.
‘Well, Velocitron’s leader, Override, is quite the imperious one. As a commander she’s pretty much at square one with Optimus. I’d say that he likes that. I’m not sure if their relationship is more than just a simple alliance between two leaders.’ Arcee shook her head. ‘Don’t get into these messy things, little sister. And I’m really not unique. I’m young compared some of the older cookies around here anyway. It’s just that we lose track of the time that we have experienced. Everything passes so slowly when you can refuel and be rebuilt.’
‘It’s been a long time since you’ve been home, haven’t you?’
‘During that time Cybertron was a paradise, we spent our time in leisure and friendship. And when Lord Megatron was our friend, he was really our friend.’ She looked down. ‘He was loved by everyone.’
‘You speak his name as if he still commands some respect in you,’ said Michiko.
Arcee shrugged, drawing closer and picking up Michiko in her arms. ‘It’s true. He inspired fear, awe, reverence, and near-worship when he was our Lord High Protector. Now, he inspires only terror and hatred.’ She paused. ‘We all loved him. And many of us still regret that he’s not with us. But he has killed to many for us to ever forgive him.’
‘What about Ironhide?’ asked Michiko quietly.
‘What about him?’ shot back Arcee defensively.
‘You said he still blames himself for some planet called Kaiba-5?’
‘Secrets of grumpy old Autobots,’ muttered Arcee. ‘It’s never any of our business, is it?’
‘But it’s more than that, you know. I’ve noticed the way you look at him. Whenever he’s not looking. Whenever he speaks to you, I dunno… you seem more activated, so to speak,’ she added, noticing Arcee’s chagrined expression. ‘But come on, it’s so obvious to anyone.’
Arcee turned away, but the words that followed were inevitable.
‘You’re deeply in love with him, onee-san.’
Before she could respond, her comlink bleeped. She picked it up. ‘Yeah?’
‘It’s Ironhide.’
‘Hi,’ said Arcee quickly, her voice brightening. ‘What do you need, coach?’ Michiko, still in her arms, rolled her eyes.
‘Operation Reconstruction is about to reach completion. Arcee, you will join Bumblebee to repulse the mobilizing Decepticons. Brawl and Blackout seem to be enroute from Megatron’s orders.’
‘How do you know Megatron is back?’
‘Several major cities around the world have been completely destroyed. We suspect it is because of Megatron. London and several other cities seem to have been destroyed in a nuclear explosion – I think the humans tried to get rid of Megatron that way. But even that desperate move’s not working.
‘We are now entering the final phase of Fleet V’s operations. The commander of the infantry is here. We are now ready to go on the offensive. You will follow him to the battle, and report back to me afterwards. Ironhide out.’
‘Who?’ she muttered to herself, as the comlink went dead.
‘Why, me of course.’ said a completely unfamiliar, but instantly recognisable, voice. Arcee turned in astonishment. The doors to the chamber had slid open, and a slightly shorter robot stood before her, toes tapping lightly on the cold floor. ‘Can’t go without your squadron commander, can ya?’
It was him. The shining visor, the commander’s helmet, the agile frame… everything seemed to stop in time. ‘J… Jazz?!’
‘That’s me,’ smirked the Autobot lieutenant, somersaulting into the air and landing smoothly closer before Arcee. ‘Second-in-command of Fleet V, at your service, my lady,’ he said, extending his hand.
Arcee slapped it away. ‘The boys told me you were dead,’ she blurted, setting Michiko down, who smiled up at Jazz.
She liked him.
‘So I was. What about it? Groovy never dies. Who’s the little one?’ said Jazz, getting down on one knee. Unlike the first time he landed on Earth, he was now repainted like a race car now, courtesy of the Witwickys, and he seemed even more outspoken and show-off than before. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Michiko,’ replied the girl shyly.
‘Why did you…’
‘Get a new look? For the ladies,’ crowed Jazz, spreading his arms and admiring himself. ‘Hey, Bumblebee! This lady likes me!’ he said, pointing at the small human girl.
Bumblebee emerged from beyond the door. ‘This so-called lady is friendly to everyone. All the Autobots love her.’ He went down on one knee, and Michiko jumped into his waiting palm, smiling. ‘Where’s Optimus?’
‘Should be here soon, considering our satellites have picked up movement towards our base.’
Bumblebee looked up in concern. ‘I see. Are they scouts, drones, or armies?’
‘No. They seem to be either recon or search and retrieve, but they can’t be taken lightly – the readings are off the chart. Clearly they are massive bodies. Arcee. You and Bumblebee have been assigned under my command. All the land forces of the Autobot fleets have been assigned under me.’
‘How have the ranks been reshuffled?’
‘Not much. I am leading the land forces, Ratchet is commanding CELESTIAL, and as of now Jetfire is in command of the air force.’
‘You know I don’t listen to anyone except my coach,’ said Arcee flatly.
‘You ain’t got no say in the matter, lady,’ smirked Jazz. ‘Bear with it, yo? I’m Optimus’s choice for a reason. Don’t you worry.’ He looked up. ‘I’ll lead the Autobot infantry to victory.’
Shots could be heard outside. A tank turret, several heat-seeking missiles, and swathe of bullets and lasers. ‘Already, huh? That brute’s got some real firepower.’
‘It’s not just the tank. Blackout’s here too. They’ve been sent by Megatron to shell the base and get the children we rescued from the orphanage.’
‘That, and they want to kill us all, maybe,’ said Arcee, rolling her optics. Jazz was about bite back with his own comment when the lights flickered. ‘Blackout’s damn EMP discharge attack. It’s more powerful than before; it might’ve been upgraded.’
‘We can’t let them get anywhere near this base.’ Bumblebee pressed the transmission trigger on Teletraan-5. ‘All human personnel, withdraw into Code Orange Bunkers. Intruders detected, confirmed Decepticons.’
‘Well, looks like we got a fight to win,’ said Jazz, his visor sliding into its armoured mode. ‘Troops – we roll, now.’

*

Brawl getting close to CELESTIAL thingy. Need to take back small fleshlings. Need to crush Autobots.
Lots of drones trying to hit Brawl. Brawl kick and stomp and blast and eat. Stupid Longarm troops. Longarm drones no match for Brawl.
Brawl crush them good. They come all over Brawl. Big bright light near Blackout. Must be big base of Autobots.
Brawl blast another annoying drone. Eat him. Must eat and crush.
Brawl getting angry. Brawl will stomp.
Three robots coming to me. Time to finish off these annoying Longarm drones. Time to attack.
Brawl crush puny small Autobots.

*

As Brawl and Blackout approached the base, a docking bay opened, and a detachment of Longarm pickup truck drones rumbled out, transforming and shooting their lasers at the two Decepticons. They retaliated, and the blast from Brawl’s turret was more than enough to blow apart the Autobot formation. The dock stayed open, as the Camaro, Solstice and Cybertronian motorbike throttled out, skidding only before the rolling tank. Sand and dust whirled around them even as the forcefield around CELESTIAL base activated, deflecting Blackout’s EMP attacks and missiles.
‘Here he comes!’ Brawl moved towards them, his massive tank form casting a shadow over the three smaller Autobots. The Pontiac rolled before the Camaro, and they transformed. The elite infantry rolled past Brawl and stopped behind him, transforming as they leaped into the air, drawing their weapons and somersaulting into battle formation – Jazz leading, with Arcee and Bumblebee completing a triangular position. ‘Cybertron Defence Formation!’ Bumblebee fired his cannons while Arcee flanked Brawl, shooting several arrows into him. Jazz charged, drawing Illuminator. But Brawl anticipated his move and swung wildly, batting Jazz aside. Jazz landed lightly on two feet, smirking. ‘Not that easy, big one.’ He lunged, thrusting his sword at Brawl.
Brawl’s claw met Jazz’s weapon. Brawl was stronger, and he throttled Jazz into the ground. Bumblebee and Arcee reloaded their weapons. ‘I’m okay,’ called their commander. Jazz looked upwards at the Decepticon, who towered over him. ‘You’re Megatron’s brute, aren’t ya? So weak that he needs his own nanny, does he?’
Oh, it felt good to be insulting Decepticons again. He gestured towards Bumblebee, and they fired together. The firepower hurled into Brawl, and he toppled, shocked. A mighty crash resonated through the Egyptian desert.
Boom. From above, Blackout transformed and smashed aside the remaining Longarm drones with his Wingblade Chopper. They were so light they flew several yards and crashed into the side of the base. He spun around, slicing into pieces another drone that tried to attack him. ‘Hmm,’ muttered Jazz. ‘This could be a problem.’ Still holding Illuminator, he drew his Quagma Cannon, firing several shots at Blackout. The Decepticon lunged at him, only to be shot at multiple times by Arcee’s Lunar Mirage. Jazz rolled away from a blast of Brawl’s turret, backing off and firing at the tank monster. Bumblebee had drawn his blade, jumping onto the transforming Blackout and thrusting his weapon into a section of the cargo holding. Blackout wavered grabbing Bumblebee, hurling him away while roaring in pain. He activated his Cybertronian missile turrets –
‘Gotcha!’ cried Jazz, throwing Illuminator upwards. It jammed between Blackout’s armour, and it exploded, triggering a chain reaction within Blackout. The Decepticon bodyguard howled in pain and frustration and transformed back into his massive helicopter mode, flying away.
Suddenly Brawl scrambled back up and swiped at Arcee, downing her. He fired his lasers, missiles, tank turret, and railgun at her face. Finally, he raised his arm, and his Inferno cannon fired four rounds into her head.
Jazz roared. ‘NO!’
‘Arcee!’ cried Bumblebee. ‘Noooo!!’
Her optics wide in shock, Arcee felt the world go out in a blaze of light.

*

Ten years before the battle of Tyger Pax

‘It’s no good,’ growled Arcee in frustration. ‘Lunar Mirage is useless.’ She sighed in frustration, sitting down on the hard metal ground and tossing her new crossbow aside. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have constructed this self-made weapon. It’s a piece of – ’
‘Don’t say that,’ said Ironhide disapprovingly. ‘You did well. It just requires some fine-tuning, and it should be fine.’
They had been practicing on an abandoned racetrack long abandoned after Megatron’s troops had razed it to the ground. She had just finished modifying an old weapon into a new Spark-fueled weapon, similar to Ironhide’s. She called it Lunar Mirage, but it was not working – it was inefficient, constantly missed its mark, and worst of all, its missiles fizzled in mid-flight, the payload insufficient to power itself.
‘Give it more time,’ said Ironhide, sitting down beside her. ‘I like how you chose to construct your own weapon. That’s how I started off with these cannons. Centuries of upgrades have led to my current ones too.’
‘Really?’ she mumbled.
‘Yeah. It’s all about knowing what you’re good at and doing it well. Be patient,’ said Ironhide. ‘In time, you will fight alongside champions like Bumblebee and veterans like Ultra Magnus. Don’t be worried. You’re already doing really well.’
‘Thanks for taking the extra time, coach,’ she said, looking down at the ground. ‘I think this’ll mean I can get better at this sooner.’
Ironhide smiled. ‘You’ll make a great fighter. You’ll make us all proud. You’ll make me proud.’

*

Her optics narrowed in concentration, Arcee felt the world go out in a blaze of light as she fired Lunar Mirage. The Energon spilled from her weapon, regathering and locking onto Brawl even as her crossbow converted to Buckler mode and deflected all of Brawl’s attacks. She gritted her metal processors as explosions rocked the ground everywhere around her. Missiles and lasers blasted around her, surrounding the battlefield in smoke and flames and shrapnel. Brawl roared in surprise, staggering back. ‘Now,’ said Jazz, reloading his Quagma Cannon. ‘Let’s trash Decepticon metal.’ He leaped upwards and hurled himself downwards. ‘Go, go, go!’ roared Jazz, somersaulting away from Brawl’s turret blast. Bumblebee ignited his Energon blade and thrust upwards at Brawl. Brawl’s cannon shot at Bumblebee, and the yellow warrior skidded aside, shooting back. Another explosion, and Brawl reeled, his weapons systems damaged. Both his gattling guns were hanging precariously off his smoking armour, and his turret was singed. His claws had been destroyed, and his railgun had been sliced in half by Bumblebee’s sword.
‘Time to end this,’ growled Arcee, reloading. ‘Let’s go.’
The three Autobots aimed their weapons at Brawl. He slumped forward, attempting one final all-out firing of his missiles. ‘One – ’
The artillery came. Brawl drew up his cannon turret, his arm sizzling from the damage. ‘Two – ’
‘Three – FIRE!’ Jazz’s Quagmar Cannon fired first, followed up by Bumblebee’s blaster and Arcee’s Mirage Colloid Crossbow. The three projectiles screamed towards Brawl, passing his missiles. Another shot –
‘Go, GO, GO!!!’ roared Jazz, flipping upwards and firing his final round of ion-fueled projectiles at Brawl. Bumblebee followed through, and Arcee skidded along the ground beside the reeling Decepticon, launching an Energon arrow into Brawl’s chest point-blank.
Boom. Circuits sizzled as Brawl howled, his body punctured and destroyed, and fell to the ground, his Spark silent – for now. Whether he was silenced forever, they did not know.
Bumblebee looked down at the fallen warrior. ‘Is it over?’
‘We’re far from done,’ he muttered, as Arcee rose from one knee and converted her crossbow back into her defensive buckler.
She looked up at the sky, the triumph of Lunar Mirage surging through her circuits. The absence of alarms sounding from the CELESTIAL base was telling of their victory. ‘Ironhide…’
‘Ready to report to Optimus?’ called Bumblebee, breaking into her thoughts.
‘Let’s roll, team,’ said Jazz, transforming. Bumblebee and Arcee followed suit, and they headed back to CELESTIAL headquarters.