The Power Within - Transformers Prime (2)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kinda a short chapter... sorry all. Hope you still like it though!

[Amanda]

  "And then Smokescreen was just... gone," Arcee recounted from where she sat in the medlab. "Like he turned to dust."

  "Poor kid..." Bulkhead said.

  "Arcee, do not blame yourself," Ratchet said, his tone as close to reassuring as I'd ever heard. "It could have just as easily have been you."

  Arcee looked past him, towards me perched on the platform over the medlab. "Can't you- I don't know- sense something about him?"

  I shook my head. "I tried. I didn't make a strong enough connection with Smokescreen while he was here. There is a flicker, but I can't say for sure what it is."

  The sound of a gun firing up made everyone's attention go to Bulkhead, who said, "Well, I say we go claim a piece of Megatron's miserable metal hide!"

  Bumblebee buzzed in agreement and they both turned to the ground bridge.

  "No," Optimus spoke up for the first time since hearing the news. He was facing the ground bridge already, his back to us. "We have already lost another one of our own today. I will not risk more lives."

  "Optimus-" I knew that tone. It meant he was going to do something selfless that would probably get him killed.

  His expression cut me off as he walked towards the group. "Given what Arcee witnessed, it stands to reason that Megatron now possesses might equal to that of the Star Saber, which means only I have a chance of recovering the Omega Key."

  "The fate of Cybertron rests upon its retrieval," Ratchet commented.

  "Whether Megatron knows it or not," Bulkhead finished.

  I turned to Optimus. "You can't go face Megatron alone! I saw the weapon he has, its made of dark energon. Sure, you may have better sword fighting skills, but that stuff will weaken you!"

  He gave me a long look. "Cybertron's revival is at stake, Amanda. I'm afraid this is a risk I must take. Ratchet, open the ground bridge."

  The medic did and Optimus gave me one last, almost reassuring look before walking through. I was tempted to pull a Miko and run through the bridge after him, but if I did, I'd be in the middle of the battle with nothing but the powers of Cleona, though they were probably enough. Still, I didn't want Optimus to lose, or worse, get hurt, because I was in the way. He also told me to never use my powers in front of a Decepticon unless absolutely necessary. He was afraid they'd try even harder to find me and take me away. So I didn't run into the ground bridge. But another idea popped into my mind. 

  I hurried to the couch, closing my eyes and rubbing my temples. I never tried to start a flash, they usually happened by themselves, but I really needed to know what was going on. I focused on Optimus, the Star Saber and even reached out to the Omega Key, feeling the odd but powerful aura drag me in. Soon, my vision went silver and the flash had begun.

  "Claim your prize, Optimus," Megatron stood behind the Omega Key, which was shoved into the ground. The Prime stood far off, his eyes narrowing as he saw Megatron's new arm. The arm of a fallen Prime from Cybertron. Disgust crossed his face, then anger.

  "By the Allspark, Megatron," He said, voice tight with that anger. "What have you done?"

  Megatron lifted his new arm. "This? I find it affords me certain advantages... such as the use of the Forge of Solus Prime." He hefted his sword, which glowed as though anticipating the fight. "My first creation, fashioned from the very blood of Unicron. I call it the Dark Star Saber- Slayer of Primes, if you will."