CHAPTER SEVEN
"Man the turrets!" Cannonball barked out to the crew of the Tidal Wave. "Bring up the deflector shields! Show no mercy!"
"What do you think we're trying to do?" snapped Backslash.
Cannonball reprimanded the green and orange mech by cuffing him on the back of the head. "Give me attitude like that again and I'll be showin' you the plank," he snarled. "Concentrate all fire on the Decepticon warship!"
While the crew carried out their orders, Cannonball returned to the bridge and found Thundertron sharpening his sword, his red eyes filled with fury.
"Er, what are you doing, captain?" the first mate tentatively asked.
"Preparing myself," the Star Seeker captain growled. "Optimus Prime is down there, and I intend to take his spark."
"How can you be sure the Prime is down there?"
"Why else would Megatron be here of all places, on a worthless planet such as Junkion?" Thundertron snarled. "The Prime is down there, and I will kill him."
"What about the Decepticons?"
"You take the helm and handle them," Thundertron said, rising from his command chair. "I have more pressing matters to attend to."
* * *
"Slaggin' Decepticon punks," Ironhide muttered as he fired his arm cannons at the attacking Decepticons. "Of all times they could attack us, they had to pick now!"
"Looks like it's not just them with a bone to pick with us," Arcee muttered, pointing at the large ship that was firing at both the Nemesis and the Autobots down below.
"Fabulous," Cliffjumper said sarcastically. "As if our day wasn't going swell enough."
"Chins up, everyone!" chirped a Junkion named Arclight as he skewered a Seeker with his spear. "It could be worse! We could be facing the Grand Poobah!"
Cliffjumper gave him an odd look while he shot down a Vehicon flyer before saying, "I'm not even going to ask."
* * *
"Crikey! These fliers are tough new models, aren't they?" said Pinion as the old Junkion drove an axe through a Seeker, slicing the Decepticon in half lengthwise.
Optimus Prime winced slightly at the carnage. Although these Junkions acted friendly enough, they were absolutely brutal when it came to combat. Even the Wreckers rarely used such savage tactics, which Wreck-Gar and his friends were openly using.
Momentarily distracted by the butchery, Optimus did not notice the Seeker Thundercracker flying up to him from behind until the blue-armored flier unleashed a massive sonic boom that sent Optimus, Wreck-Gar, and nearby Junkions flying off their feet. Quickly recovering, Wreck-Gar got up and brandished his saw-bladed axe, scowling.
"I've got a funny feeling you don't love me anymore," the Junkion leader said. "So how about I return the favor?"
"Wait, Wreck-Gar!" Optimus cried, moving to stop him. "There's no need for this careless violence!"
Wreck-Gar turned to him and looked ready to retort until Thundercracker released another sonic blast, once again disorienting the two leaders. As he tried to stay on his feet, Optimus Prime saw the blue Seeker raise his arm-mounted null-rays at him, preparing to shoot. Suddenly, a look of surprise crossed Thundercracker's face and the Decepticon transformed and took off.
Confused by this, Optimus turned to find what the Seeker had seen: a mechanical, blue and white lion charging across the battlefield towards the Autobot leader himself. Optimus barely had enough time to ready his axe as the lion jumped up and lunged at him, sending them both toppling to the ground.
* * *
"Lord Megatron, I have found Optimus Prime."
Even as the Nemesis shuddered from the Star Seekers' attack, a cruel grin spread across Megatron's face. "Where is he?"
"There megamiles south of our position," Soundwave replied. "He seems to be facing off with Thundertron."
Megatron's grin was quickly replaced by a scowl. "That blasted cable-rat thinks he can steal my glory?" he growled as he brandished his mace. "We shall see about that."
As he headed for the Nemesis' hangar, he barked to Soundwave, "Operate things from here. If anyone needs me, I'll be tearing Optimus Prime apart down there."
Soundwave stoically watched him leave through his visor. "As you command, Lord Megatron."
* * *
With Shearbolt and the Autobots' attention on other things, Axer scrambled out of the Ark's engine rooms and into the fray. Avoiding as much of the battle as he could, the false Junkion activated his communicator.
"It worked, Lockdown, just like I said. Optimus Prime is ripe for the taking."
"Huh," his fellow bounty hunter replied. "Was it really that easy?"
Axer frowned. "Well, I was relying a lot on chance and whatever info Makeshift gave me. But that doesn't matter now; Optimus Prime is right here, right now..."
His optics widened slightly. "And caught in a three-way battle with Megatron and some other bloke."
"Hm. Complicates things slightly, doesn't it?"
Before Axer could respond, a familiar voice called out, "Oi, Axer!"
The Decepticon bounty hunter turned around to see Shearbolt, an axe in one hand and a dead Vehicon in the other.
"Shouldn't you be helping us fight these invaders?" the Junkion asked. "Otherwise, you're absolutely useless: you can't use a welding torch, you can't replace an engine, you can't even fight-"
"Shearbolt," Axer said sharply, "I would really appreciate some peace and quiet."
"Peace and quiet?" Shearbolt laughed harshly, gesturing widely to the battle at hand. "You'd have to get off planet to get some peace and quiet."
"And that's exactly what I intend to do."
Moving quickly, Axer converted his arm into an axe and lunged at Shearbolt, decapitating the Junkion with one swift stroke before impaling him with it through the torso, ensuring that the Junkion would not be able to repair himself for some time.
Now then, Axer thought as he turned to a specific pile of rubble, it's time to make a few improvisations.
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