The Spark of Cybertron

Bound By Blood

The sound of the blasters charging up was the last thing, Optimus wanted to hear as he quickly ducked behind the formation of rocks for cover. Decepticon vehicons were all over the energon mine. From the intel they had received, it was supposed to be abandoned, yet here it is, occupied by the Decepticons.

Fusion plasma crashed against the rubble of boulder stones as other Autobots joined the Prime's side. "What's the plan?" Bulkhead asked before returning shots to the vehicons with his cannon.

Optimus made a glance back to the mine's entryway. They needed that energon and they needed it fast. "I shall draw their fire away from you." He answered, "Flank them around the other side."

Arcee nodded in an understanding as she and Bulkhead headed their way behind coverage whilst the Prime willed himself to turn into vehicle mode. Optimus drifted onto his left, sweeping a few Cons to their feet to gain their attention. Immediately plasma fire rained down in his direction and swiftly Optimus rolled out the way, transforming back to robotic form. He aimed back with his blasters, firing away only to see Arcee and Bulkhead doing the same in their flank.

The visible confusion of the Decepticons was clear from their sheer panic by the multiple shots and blasts coming from the front and back of them. It was only a matter of time before all of them were finished off by the attack. Once the last of them had fallen, Optimus signalled the others to him. Entering the mine, the energon crates were easily found by a large pile at one corner.

"Gather the energon and contact Ratchet to prepare a ground bridge." Optimus commanded, "I shall scout ahead." He remarked, moving up and deeper inside the cavern.

Arcee gave a questioning look to Bulkhead who just shrugged helplessly before proceeding to carry the order that Prime had given.

Miner equipment such as massive machine drillers laid over the place as Optimus walked on further. The draft air of the mine blew through gently whilst the loneliness of it all echoed by. Primus, how much longer shall we have to fight in this war? Fighting our own race? Fighting over energon just to survive?

Staring along the energon ores that glowed with life, Optimus knew the answer to his own questions but longed for a different outcome. This war had a tragic and complex beginning, will its ending be the same as well? There was already too much lost to the battle. Cybertron, dead. Friends and allies, scattered across the universe or killed in action. So many had perished in both sides.

Stars, he didn't even get a choice in it either. Being a Prime was something that changed his life. A choice made by the high council on Cybertron. A choice that was vouched by Alpha Trion. Optimus was the name that they chosen for him and they all relied on him just as Megatron and Ariel did once.

What was that human saying again? Destiny is a gift. But it is also a curse.

On that statement, Optimus would have to agreed with it for what a heavy burden it was, that of being a Prime. The last Prime. Cybertron was a weight on his shoulders and now Earth was too. So how much longer did he have to carry it any longer?

The sound of a ground bridge opening interrupted the Prime's thoughts and immediately he took cover by one of drill machines.

"My liege, all the dark energon has been harvested from this mine." A red Decepticon said, walking through the portal with no trouble, "Starscream has spared no expense to wipe it all clean to make up the errors that he made."

Optimus risked a more open peek as he tilted forward to the side and there he saw what expected. The Decepticon leader coming out of the ground bridge held bad news already but the sound of dark energon was a grave one.

"Indeed, Knockout." Megatron remarked as he cradled a dark energon crystal on one hand, "But if we are to defeat the Autobots with such a weapon, we must be prepare to take this into our own hands." He sneered.

A speck of anger had trigger in Optimus' chest as he slightly clenched his fists, watching Megatron closely. Perhaps he could forgive, knowing the reason why the Decepticon leader did what he had to do to Ora. But he couldn't forget it.

"My lord?" Knockout raised brow, "I don't understand."

Megatron turned his gaze away from the medic bot whilst he walked on a little further, "With blood of Unicron, I would be able to create an army of undead back on Cybertron." He paused momentarily, returning a look onto Knockout, "But I must test it for myself. A burial ground of a battle isn't too far from this mine."

"Have you lost your circuits?" Knockout incredulously questioned before humbling himself hastily, clearing his throat, "I mean...with respect, my liege...Our research to the dark energon has not prove that theory yet. If we had more time to experiment more, I could-" He stopped as his eyes widened by the horror that he saw, "Lord Megatron!"

On the other hand, Optimus held the same reaction of disbelief. It was there that the Decepticon leader had consumed the properties of the dark energon as Megatron forcibly impaled his spark chamber with it himself. Amethyst light flares glowed all over his silver plating, his eyes maddened with blind hysteria as he screamed.

By the Allspark, Megatronus, what have you done?

And that was just the dark tragedy of it. Optimus knew. How much longer did he have to carry on this war? Until all are one.