Transformers: Eradication

Part 34: Rust in Pieces

Splicer and Knockout have been driving far away from the city, and Splicer begins to take note of this. All of a sudden Knockout slams on his breaks and goes in reverse. It seems like he's spotted something of interest.

"Something wrong?"

"On the contrary. I think I found it."

"Found what?"

"The perfect vehicle!"

The perfect vehicle he refers to is a crimson Renault DiZir. This sleek vehicle fits Knockout's personality perfectly, and is highly recommended to looked up after reading along with Dead-end's Marissa B2. Knockout scans the vehicle and backflips high into the air. he transforms mid jump to show off before landing in his new vehicle. He drives in a circle to test out the vehicle's features.

"Listen to that engine purr!"

"Looks good on you!"

The two continue on their way when Splicer notices that Knockout is t aken him further away from the city. Splicer stops to Knockout's dismay.

"Why did you stop?"

"You're trying to evacuate me."

(nervous) "What? No! That is definitely not what I'm doing."

"I know when you're lying, so you better fess up or I'm going back."

Knockout drags his hands across his face and let's out a yell of both frustration and fear.

"Look Starscream is alive!"

Splicer is at first relieved, but Knockout's behavior worries him.

"Why is that bad?"

"He has the Eradicons."

"That experimental combiner group?"

"Yes and I think he got them to work. He's going after Optimus and Megatron."

"We have to warn megatron."

"We can't. I mean it's Starscream. He has to mess this up somehow."

"True... but the way you're acting makes me think he might succeed."

"I'm not sure, but look if he needs help then you can step in. I'm sure he can handle himself, but that isn't the only problem."

"Oh great what now?"

"The Insecticons are free. You need to be careful."

"They're just annoying that's all."

Knockout gets a call from Shockwave requesting his presence.

"Now I have to help Shockwave. Listen, just be careful alright? Let nature run its course for Starscream."

"Fine, but I'm stopping the Insecticons."

"Deal."

Knockout drives back to assist Shockwave where it cuts back to 15 minutes later with Optimus and the Wreckers. The Wreckers have begun their assault on the Driller with Roadbuster's rockers getting its attention. The Driller attacks but Topspin's magnets pulls Leadfoot out of the way of danger. Roadbuster fires rockets into the beast's mouth while Leadfoot's mace bats any nearby tentacles away. Topspin fires every gun he has at the monster but nothing really seems to be putting a dent in it. the creature's attacks get more violent and the Wreckers are barely dodging it. An engine is heard and someone starts climbing up the building and attacks the Wreckers. Knockout is the culprit, and he really poured on the speed when arriving there. He blasts Topspin and zaps Leadfoot with his staff. Roadbuster gets in a chainsaw vs buzzsaw battle but ultimately loses when Knockout ducks down and cuts his knee. With all Wreckers defeated he gloats.

"Oh I miss the days of pounding Autobots like this. It's so much fun!"

His happy time is short-lived when someone shoots him in the chest to incapacitate him. Shockwave looks for the culprit, but he introduces himself by flying into him. It's Optimus and he flies Shockwave into the closest building while the Wreckers recover to fight the Driller. Shockwave headbutts Optimus and rips off his flight gear, tossing it and them both into the nearest top floors of an adjacent building.

"How nice of you to return, Optimus. This saves me the trouble of finding you."

"Call off your beast, Shockwave. This is your only warning."

"It would be illogical for me to listen to a dead man."

"Then you've sealed your own fate."

The Wreckers recover and continue their assault on the Driller Shockwave and Optimus get into another battle. This one is done in a single shot. They open with fisticuffs blocking and countering each attack with a more fierce move. Shockwave does a left swipe by trying to hit Optimus with his gun, Optimus ducks and counters with an uppercut that Shockwave steps back from. Shockwave's right arm whacks Optimus in the thigh and he kicks him back. Shockwave is about to shoot him in the face but Optimus uppercuts the gun to make it shoot the ceiling. Debris falls on Shockwave's head giving time for Optimus to punch him in the eye and claps his hands on the side of his head to disorient him. Optimus gives him a left hook, and Shockwave jumps and steps on Optimus's foot and smashes his hands down on the Prime's head. Optimus stumbles and shoots Shockwave in the knee and gets behind him. He punches him in the back of the head to get him down and puts one arm around his neck. His free hand turns into a brass knuckle and starts punching him hard in the back. After five hits Shockwave reels his head back into Optimus's face to let him go, and while he covers his face Shockwave grabs his arm from behind and throws him over his shoulder to the other side of the room. Unfortunately for Shockwave he threw Optimus right where his flight tech just happened to be located. With the gear reunited with Optimus he points every single weapon at Shockwave, and his eye shrinks from realizing his mistake. Shockwave is blasted out of the building and falls to the floor below. Optimus shoots the floors above Shockwave to cover him in debris, ending the fight.

Now Optimus must turn his attention to the Driller, which has captured the Wreckers. He flies and destroys the tentacles that hold each respective Wrecker while trying to avoid being caught himself. he and the beast have a face-to-face encounter.

"Leave them alone, monster. Your fight is with me."

Back at the wreckage of the ship the Coneheads are beginning to wake up, much to Frenzy's relief.

Thrust: (drowsy) "Oh my aching head."

Dirge: "Oh my what happened?"

Ramjet: "We got ambushed by the Autobots."

Dirge: "How dare they cuff the master of fear!"

Thrust: "And how dare they cuff the master of being in fear!"

Frenzy: "Yeah they got me too."

Ramjet: "That's nice."

Dirge: "These accursed manacles are in here tight. I don't think I can activate my weapons."

Thrust: "Then what are we going to do?"

Ramjet: "We use our heads."

Frenzy: "Seriously?"

Dirge: "For once I agree with you, Ramjet. We need to think outside the box and find a solution."

Ramjet: "No I meant it literally. Just watch."

Ramjet headbutts the shackles around his hands four times and it finally breaks.

Frenzy: "That guy sure has a hard head."

Thrust: "You got that right."

Ramjet repeats the process with the ones around his feet and breaks free.

Dirge: "For once your brutish tactics provided the desired result."

Dirge and Thrust crawl like caterpillars to Ramjet to free them. Frenzy hops over like he's in a potato sack race. Ramjet bashes his skull repeatedly on Dirge's bonds until he is eventually released.

Dirge: "The prospect of freedom is such an underrated concept."

Thrust: "Do me next!"

Ramjet: Starts with the shackles on Thrust's feet and breaks the He suddenly becomes dizzy and needs a break.

Ramjet: "I need a break. That's too much heavy ramming for right now."

Thrust: 'Oh come on I'm only half free!"

Dirge: "Then we'll walk until he feels better."

Frenzy: "What about me?"

Ramjet: "What about you?"

Frenzy: "I'm still shackled."

Thrust: "You're not one of us."

Dirge: "Our loyalty to each other, not some temperamental punk. Now if you'll excuse us we have more important things to do."

Frenzy: "Get back here Squidhead!"

Ramjet headbutts Frenzy to knock him out, and it worsens his headache.

Dirge: "Thank you for that. Now let's go."

Thrust: 'Well you know what I'll just break free myself!"

Thrust headbutts the shackles and knocks himself out. Dirge and Ramjet exchange a disappointed look at their comrade's situation.

Dirge: "He is impossibly pathetic."

Ramjet: "At least you're not the one who has to clean up the mess."

Ramjet drags the pathetic Thrust's body with him as he walks with Dirge through the city. Meanwhile back at Bumblebee's team's situation the brown cloud is now covering a huge part of the sky. Thanks the destruction of Buzzsaw's barricade the human military has been able to move in and combat all the Decepticons. However the airforce is not faring well due to the toxic rust in the sky. Any jet inside is instantly turned to dust, including the human pilots inside. The team on the ground sees the clouds coming in the ground and starting to close in on them.

Ratchet: "Stay close!"

Jolt: "What are we going to do?"

Tailgate: "The only thing we can do: fight."

Bee: Whatever comes out we take them out.

Jazz: "I like the sound of that. Bring it on!"

A large influx of Vehicons appears to combat them. They fire at the Autobots, but they are more than ready for for battle. Jazz and Bumblebee make the first strike with their respective missiles, and Ratchet provides cover fire. Tailgate takes out the stragglers, and if any get past the first defense then he and Jolt take care of them. Jazz takes flight from the gear that detached from Optimus's flight teach. He provides aerial cover and bombards the Vehicon masses. Suddenly something shoots his wing, and at first it seems to be just a hole....but it starts rusting away. Jazz is forced to drop down. and continue fighting. During all of this Ratchet calls Wheeljack and Perceptor and about the rust.

Ratchet: "Guys, we're dealing with some Cosmic Rust. We really need you to come up with a cure."

Wheel: "There hasn't been a cure developed yet.'

Ratchet: "Haven't you been working on one though?"

Perce: "Yes, but there seems to be one ingredient that we just can't seem to pinpoint."

Ratchet: "Then you better find it fast because I got a terrible feeling about this."

The Vehicon horde closes in, and Tailgate goes down after getting shot three times. jolt tries to help him but is shot in the back. Soon Bumblebee and Ratchet are shot and held up, and now Jazz is all that still stands. He puts up a great fight, but suddenly a spike launches itself straight into Jazz's chest and brings him down. The Vehicons stop firing and grab the Autobots, forcing them on their knees. The Autobots are near a surprisingly intact hotdog stand. A figure comes through the rust, and it parts like how Moses parted the red sea. Its Oil Slick, and he is ready to kill them all.

Jolt: "Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks he looked like he was parting a fart."

Ratchet: "Be serious you idiot!"

Deep down Ratchet knew he shouldn't be so harsh to Jolt. He too thought the same thing.

Ratchet: (to himself) "He must never know."

Oil Slick approaches the Autobots to speak. With his barrel of rust he reduces the cloud in the sky to go the ground instead, clearing the air but making a ring around the area they are standing.

Ratchet: (whispering) "Better find that cure soon, guys."

Wheel: "We promise we're trying."

Oil: "Autobots, it is my unfortunate job to inform you that this place will be your grave."

Jazz: "Don't count us out yet, Mr. Head in a Pickle Jar."

Jolt: "Ha! I got that. that was funny!"

Oil: "Using humor to deny the inevitable, how predictable. Are you aware of what Cosmic Rust does to you?"

Ratchet: "Who doesn't?"

Oil: "And do you know where it was created?"

Bee: "Nobody knows. One it day it just... appeared."

Oil: "I am the creator, and I used to be one of you."

Bee: "You were an Autobot?"

Oil: "Yes, but that was a time long past. I was once a small time scientist trying to work on a new biological weapon to fight the Decepticons. The result was Cosmic Rust, but it came at a horrible price. My body became infected after the initial explosion. I feel myself peeling away, crumbling, falling apart. I barely made it to my exosuit, and even then all that remained was my head and my spark. This suit is all I have and yet it's a curse. I walked the streets confused, sick, and suicidal. As fate would have it the Constructicon Mixmaster found me in a drainpipe and took me in. The next thing I knew I was among the top Decepticon scientists. I was praised for my discovery, and my monstrous creation destroyed the very lives that I initially tried to protect. I have tried to come up with a cure but I have had no luck. This container that surrounds my head keeps the effects of the rust at bay. You all take life for granted, focusing more on death and destruction instead of looking to the beauty around you. Oh how I yearn to feel the wind on a hot summer's day, or the sheer cold of the great glaciers. Yes I'd kill for that. Now you all shall feel my loss and despair."

Bee: "You don't have to do this, there is still hope for you."

Oil: (grim) "There is no hope for us, only the end. Consider this an act of kindness because I'm saving you from yourselves."

Ratchet: "Don't do something you'll regret, Oil Slick."

Oil: 'Silence! It doesn't matter, nothing does. Now then who shall I choose first? Ah yes, you will do perfectly."

Oil Slick is referring to Bumblebee. The Decepticon charges the blast from his canister when suddenly Tailgate breaks free and steps in front of him before getting shot down.

Tailgate: "Take me instead. He deserves to live."

Oil: "How noble, but who are you to decide whether we are worth living or not? Regardless I shall accept your sacrifice!"

Oil Slick fires two shots of Cosmic Rust directly into Tailgate's chest. The artist writhes around in pain and sees that he has begun to slowly rust around the spot of the wound.

Bee: "TAILGATE!"

Oil: "And it's your turn."

Oil Slick fires into Bumblebee's chest, and now both Autobots are on the road to death.

Ratchet: (unhinged) "YOU MONSTER!"

Oil: "We are all monsters, but now it's your turn."

Ratchet would have been next had Oil Slick not been distracted from an approaching noise. It's in the sky and he just can't point it out. A missile appears through the clouds and destroys a group of nearby Vehicons. It's Tomahawk to the rescue, and Bumblebee uses the distraction to muster up enough strength to get up and punch Oil Slick in the head so hard his container gets a huge crack on the right side. Tomahawk fires another missile to blast Oil Slick back. The other Autobots uses this distraction to break free and a major battle breaks out. Oil Slick recovers and fires a stream of rust at Tomahawk with the intensity of a flame thrower. He only barely dodges, and Oil Slick fires a spike into the cockpit to take him out of the fight. Ratchet and Jolt fire at Oil Slick, and he fires back with the rust. Ratchet and Jolt leap out of the way while Oil Slick switches the canister to acid. Jolt almost falls in a puddle but is rescued by Jazz. Tailgate is still in great pain and watches two fingers from his left hand fall off. Bumblebee is rusting at a much slower rate and can still fight. Ratchet manages to shoot the barrel of rust out of Oil Slick's hands. At this time the remaining Vehicons with him mobilize and enter the fight. The canister is still in the air and opens up, and pours itself on them. They are covered in so much rust that they all instantly disintegrate. Ratchet calls in to get Perceptor and Wheeljack to work on a possible cure.

Ratchet; "If any of you can hear me Bumblebee and Tailgate are both infected. You better come up with an antidote quick!"

Wheel: "We don't know what to do!"

Perce: "I think I might."

Wheel: "What is it?"

Perce: "I've had a theory that there is nothing on Cybertron to complete the cure. Now that we're on Earth I think the more diverse materials may contain the key ingredient we've been looking for. Ratchet, do you see anything unique near you?"

Ratchet: "There's a hotdog stand next to me."

Wheel: "Good enough. Let's hope it has what we need."

They bridge the stand to their lab and desperately work on a cure. Meanwhile Ratchet gets hit with a spike to the shoulder. Oil Slick is about to strike him but Jazz leaps up and slams down on his head with his staff. It slightly breaks and green smoke floods out of Oil Slick's head. Bumblebee fires a missile to knock him into the ground. he lands near his rust canister. He grabs it and aims it at the spot where it broke and puts a clay like substance to stop the smoke from leaking out. Jazz shoots the canister out of his hands and fights Oil Slick directly. Oil Slick finally unleashes his chain flail. Jazz gets completely dominated in the fight. His martial arts is superior, and the exosuit physical capabilities trumps everything Jazz has. He takes several flail blows to the face. oil Slick claps his hands on Jazz's head and sends an electric charge through it. He nearly kills Jazz, but Jolt gets behind him and slashes him in the back with his whips. It leaves a cut where Jolt struck. Oil Slick grabs Jolt's arm with the flail and pulls him close so he can kick him away. The weakened Bumblebee fires the canister of rust at Oil Slick, and he is covered in a cloud of it. Bumblebee thinks he has won, but his hopes are crushed when Oil Slick comes out unharmed.

Oil: "A well thought out strategy, but my exosuit is immune to all forms of biological warfare, and that includes Cosmic Rust. A good effort, but it won't matter what you do."

Bee: "Then forgive us for still trying!"

Bumblebee and Jolt fight Oil Slick again but aren't doing very well. Meanwhile Ratchet is still on the line with Wheeljack and Perceptor.

Ratchet: "Tell me you have something."

Wheel: "We have some interesting results, but nothing concrete yet. Just hold out a little longer."

Ratchet: "Tailgate doesn't have much longer."

Ratchet is right. Tailgate's left leg has turned to dust, and it's creeping up his lower half. Bumblebee is getting beat on, and the rust gaining more ground on his body weakens him with each passing moment. Oil Slick leaps up to attack but Jolt's whips grab him by the leg and slams him down on the ground. Oil Slick fires spikes at him and he goes down. Bumblebee tries his best but Oil Slick shocks him and slams him on the ground. He grinds his tire on his chest and prepares to smash his face.

Oil: "Farewell Autobot."

Ratchet steps in and tackles Oil Slick, but he is quickly overwhelmed and thrown over his shoulder. Bumblebee throws his ax into the suit's chest, but it does nothing. Oil Slick takes it out and hits Bumblebee square in the face with the flail. Oil Slick fires two more shots of rust into Bumblebee's chest, and another into Tailgate and now they're rusting even faster. Perceptor calls Ratchet back.

Perce: "You won't believe this but we found it."

Wheel: "You're going to get a kick out of what it was."

Ratchet: "Just send it already!"

Oil: "I envy your courage, but now you must all die."

Oil Slick is about to cover Bumblebee in rust, but Tailgate gathers what little strength he has left and picks up his paintbrush and fires the laser straight into Oil Slick's knee. He falls forward, and Bumblebee uses the opportunity to get out his missile launch. Oil Slick is falling near the launcher, and Bumblebee fires. Oil Slick's container gets separated from his body, and the exosuit instantly goes limp, falling to the floor. Oil Slick's head lands on the ground and the container completely shatters. He too is rusting, but even faster than Bumblebee and Tailgate. The cure is bridged to Ratchet, but there is only enough for two. He gives it to Bumblebee and Tailgate. Thankfully Bumblebee wasn't too badly damaged, so the rust just breaks off. Tailgate is a different story butt we'll get to that in a moment. Oil Slick uses his final moments to converse with the Autobots.

Oil: "You found a cure?"

Ratchet: "Yes."

Oil: "Grant a former Autobot a dying wish and tell me what was missing."

Ratchet: "The secret ingredient was ketchup."

Jazz: "For real?"

Jolt: "Looks like it."

Oil: "Human ketchup....I would have never known. I feel ashamed to call myself a scientist. This was a terrible life to live, but I regret nothing."

With that Oil Slick's heads rusts and disintegrates. The Autobots shift their attention to Tailgate, and he is not going to make it. Both of his legs and left arm are gone, and his innards are staying in his body only by a thin thread. It will give way at any moment.

Bee: (pleading) "Come on you can survive this!"

Tailgate: "No, my work here is done. I was always the weakest of you all. An artist has no place in the war."

Bee: "That's not true. Because of you I'm alive. You did that."

Tailgate: "True, but there is nothing more I can do. You must continue the battle."

Bee: "Don't say that!"

Tailgates alright... I've made peace with myself. I just ask that you keep my art with you as a token of our friendship."

Bee: "Of course."

Tailgate: (weakly) "Thank you... now I can... I can.."

Tailgate never could finish his sentence. What was holding his insides snapped, and he just falls apart. Tailgate is no longer with them. The Autobots give a long, quiet moment out of respect for their fallen friend. Ratchet finally breaks the silence.

Ratchet: "You don't look so good, Jazz."

Jazz: "I know, I really took a pounding."

Ratchet: "Go back to The Ark. Perceptor and Wheeljack will take care of you."

Jazz: "Alright, good luck."

Jazz bridges back to the Ark, but back in the city Bee's team is not out the fire yet. Tomahawk rejoins them, but there seems to be something blocking out the sun. It's accompanied by some loud buzzing. The dread grows in their sparks as they know what this means. The Insecticons and their army have finally entered the battle.