CHAPTER NINE
--Autobot City--
"Through the GroundBridge, everyone! Let's go!"
Jetfire watched as Autobots, Decepticons, and Maximals alike all raced into the green portal. He and Ironhide were holding off the attacking Predacons and Insecticons, though neither force seemed particularly interested in trying to pursue them. It was almost as if this had been their intended outcome from the start.
"Fraggin' bugs are chasin' us out of our own city," Ironhide muttered.
"That certainly seems to be their goal," Jetfire said. Scanning the mob of retreating bots, he spotted the Maximals Rhinox and Rattrap charging through the swarm of Insecticons. Calling their names, Jetfire waved them over. "Guys! The portal is this way!"
"We haven't found Leo Prime yet!" Rhinox hollered back.
"There's no time!" Ironhide said. "He's probably already gone through! Now move your afts!"
Reluctantly, the two Maximals went through. After them was Stormshot, followed by the Dinobots. Soon, only Jetfire, Ironhide, and Wheeljack were left.
"Has anyone seen Ultra Magnus yet?" Jetfire asked.
"Still fightin' with Rodimus, I think," Ironhide grunted.
"Right. You two go on through. I'll--"
"Stop. Not you too. Bad enough Prime and Magnus share this attitude. If we lost you as well, then who's gonna lead us?"
Jetfire looked at him. "...I was going to say I'll go find Windblade. I didn't see her among the others."
"Oh." Ironhide stepped away. "Right. Carry on then."
"In any case, if something does befall me, I'm leaving you in charge."
"Eh? Why me?"
"Because you're one of the only bots with all his screws tightened." With that, Jetfire transformed and flew back into the city. Wheeljack crossed his arms as he watched the flier go.
"I just know that was directed at me...."
* * *
Windblade's sword bounced uselessly off of Thunderwing's armor. Red eyes glared at her as she continued to attack him, delivering strike upon strike. Eventually, the revived Decepticon acted as he grabbed her out of the air.
"Enough."
He then threw her to the side, sending her crashing into the wall. He then advanced towards Metrotitan's brain module, which Doomshot was standing in front of.
"Ah, a Titan Master," Thunderwing said, regarding the small robot with a hint of curiosity. "I didn't think any of you were still around."
Doomshot stared back at him defiantly. "I'm not afraid of you."
Thunderwing chuckled. "You have no reason to be. I am the Prime. I am the future."
"No!" Windblade staggered back onto her feet. "You are not the Prime! Just because you carry the Matrix doesn't mean--"
"Metrotitan," Thunderwing growled, "please remove her."
Just as the Cityspeaker readied for another attack, she was gone in a flash of light. Thunderwing then returned his attention to Doomshot and grinned.
"Now then... let us see what you can do for me."
* * *
"That was remarkably easy."
The corrupted Rodimus said nothing in response to the Predacon's statement as he stood over the defeated Ultra Magnus. Pieces of the City Commander's armor lay scattered across the city, including his helmet, leaving Minimus Ambus' face exposed.
Gnashteeth glanced up at Rodimus, waiting for him to deliver the final blow. "Well? Are you going to do the honors?"
Still Rodimus did not act, staring back at Magnus. A moment passed as the latter began to smile, realization dawning on him.
"You can't do it," he croaked. "You can't bring yourself to kill me."
Gnashteeth snorted. "If that's the case, then Thunderwing should have found a better prospect for his 'Dark Matrix.' Here, allow me."
The Predacon stepped towards Magnus only to be flung back by an arc of purple lightning. Rodimus then turned back to Magnus, hands still crackling with energy.
"Can't... resist," the corrupted Autobot groaned. "Dark Energon... too strong."
"Fight it, Rodimus!" Magnus implored him. "You are stronger than it!"
Rodimus growled as he clutched his head, falling to his knees. With some effort, Ultra Magnus began to get back to his feet.
"I know you don't have it in you to kill me--"
"But I do."
Rodimus' optics went wide in horror as Ultra Magnus' chest was blown open from behind. As Minimus proceeded to scream in pain, a corrosive matter seeped from his wound, causing his armor to quickly decay and crumble. Minimus' face became fixed in a permanent open cry of agony as his entire body -- inside and out -- seized up and fell away becoming little more than dust.
As the last vestiges of Ultra Magnus were blown away by the wind, Nemesis Primal stepped in to take his place, carrying a large smoking gun.
"I'm glad I didn't waste that shot on Magmatron," the beast warrior chuckled. "I've been wanting to do that for a while."
Rodimus simply sat there and glowered as Nemesis put away his weapon, still laughing.
"And thus ends both the House of Ambus and the House of Magnus. A two for one. Sometimes I impress myself."
Ignoring Rodimus' persistent glares, Nemesis converted to his beast mode and began to stride away.
"Best get a move on, my friend. Our work has just begun."
* * *
Jetfire had seen it all with his very optics, yet no matter how many times he processed it, he still could not believe it.
Ultra Magnus was dead.
There was no coming from this one. This was no Fast-Folding Sun or zero point. There were no pieces to weld back together. There was nothing left. Like a dream, he was gone.
Jetfire remained where he hovered, watching as the Predacons regrouped. He was brought back to reality as Wheeljack's voice crackled through his comm.
"Jetfire? It's Wheeljack. We found Windblade. Or rather, she found us. So, uh...."
"Right," Jetfire replied, barely paying attention. "I'm on my way."
Ultimately, there was no point in remaining here any longer. There was no body to mourn over, nor was there any point in confronting the perpetrators. It was over. They had fought their battle and lost. Nothing more could be said or done.
Once Jetfire and the others had gone through the GroundBridge, not a single Autobot remained in Autobot City.
* * *
Beyond the city's premises, a solitary lion roamed the deserted fields, his path illuminated by the moon. He felt no remorse in abandoning his fellow Maximals. It was a large price to pay, but it would be worth it in the end. At least, that was what he told himself.
He would find the Talisman. The Matrix would be his.
And he would finally, truly, become Prime.
TO BE CONTINUED
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