Niave

Chapter 3: The Power for the Human

Megatron snarled, storming into the Nemesis through a groundbridge. Starscream followed timidly at his heels.

"Soundwave. Where is the source now?" he demanded.

Soundwave was silent for a moment before reopening a groundbridge to Jasper, Nevada. Megatron wasted no time in following the trail. The human woman was a fool, thinking that there was anywhere on Earth she could hide the staff from him.

Megatron landed and stopped, his sneer growing ever more vicious at the sight before him.

Optimus stepped over Lila and the staff protectively, staring down at Megatron, his optics narrowed.

"Megatron, stand down," he ordered cautiously.

Starscream landed at Megatron's side, followed by Breakdown and several vehicons. Behind Optimus, the other four Autobots stepped through the groundbridge, pointing their blasters at the cons.

Megatron scowled. "Hand over the staff, Optimus. You don't have the resources to fight me."

"Wanna bet?" Cliffjumper smirked.

Megatron stepped forward, causing the Autobots to tense as he stood close to Optimus, staring into the Prime's optics.

"You can't win."

Optimus unsheathed his blade. "Fighting for the righr cause is victory in of itself."

"So be it."

And the battle begun.

Optimus was thrown backward as Megatron attempted to wrestle him to the ground. Their teams charged, blasters buzzing, servos transforming, and all hell broke loose.

Beneath it all, Lila yelped, clutching the staff and ducking down as Optimus nearly crushed her. Megatron followed. She looked around in panic before taking off, darting around all of the battling cybertronians and trying to get to safety.

There were giant robots trying to kill each other all around her and blasts of blue energy flying through the air. Bodies hit the ground left and right, making it shake and tremble. Lila stumbled, falling to her hands and knees more than once.

The staff slipped from her grasp and Lila scrambled forward on her hands and knees, grasping it tightly.

Instantly a bright blue light expanded from it, covering the entire area. Every bot instantly froze, as if the very energon inside of them refused to move.

Lila looked around cautiously and stood up, holding the staff timidly. The entire battlefield had gone still, and none of the bots moved at all. A few energon blasts were still airborne.

Before she could comprehend the situation, they were all released from the staff's hold. Megatron took a step away from Optimus, venting deeply as he looked at his enemies.

"Soundwave," he growled, "we require a groundbridge."

One of the swirling blue portals opened again and the Decepticons filed through, but Optimus and Megatron never lost eye contact.

They knew each other too well.

Megatron suddenly transformed, flying straight at Lila, whose eyes widened. She stumbled back, but her attempts were made in vain; the warlord was too fast.

"No!"

Optimus raised his blaster, shooting at him. Megatron transformed just enough to scoop Lila into his alternative mode and then he shot into the groundbridge.

It shut behind him.

Megatron flew all the way to the control bridge where his throne rested, his speed knocking over vehicons in the hallways. The Decepticon transformed when he reached the towering chair and dropped Lila into it.