When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Staring in disbelief at what they were seeing, both Optimus and Ratchet could only prepare themselves to fight against the undead. They both knew if they turned and ran, Megatron would not hesitate to use the army against humans. But there was no way they were going to run from Megatron, even when he was showing more shameful acts than they thought he could ever do.

"Megatron has desecrated the resting place of our fallen ancestors, and his own," Ratchet said in disgust, narrowing his optics at the undead bots and glancing at Optimus.

"Not even the dead are free from his warmongering," Optimus responded as he armed his canons.

Megatron was thoroughly enjoying this, and he did seem like he was concentrating as his body continued to glow with the dark energon within him. "At last, symbiosis. I can feel it, I possess complete control over army." Megatron sneered in delight, watching both Optimus and Ratchet stand waiting for his army to reach them. "Destroy them!"

Optimus began to fire upon the bots rapidly to destroy them. However, he noticed that when the blasts from his cannons hit the bots, they take damage, but were unaffected by the blasts. It took multiple blasts to even bring down a single bot. After all, they were already dead and had absolutely not spark or feeling left in their husks, just a powerful source that reanimated their bodies.

Even Ratchet saw this, and he was concerned. "Optimus, if our combatants are already deceased, how can we possibly defeat them?"

Acknowledging what Ratchet had said, and observing the struggle to even defeat them, Optimus felt as though the medic had to leave. "Ratchet, retreat! Bridge yourself back to base!"

Ratchet armed himself with his swords, while looking at Optimus like he was crazy. "No, we both promised we would return, Optimus. I am not returning alone. I shall stand with you." He walked forward and stood beside his leader. "You may require a medic when this is over with." Ratchet walked towards the undead bots and began to the slice at the bots. He felt the blades slice through the weakened metal easily, and as he sliced through several within a few seconds, he realized that swords would be the easiest way to stop these bots. He looked at Optimus who was still firing his canons at the bots. "I recommend dissection. The smaller the pieces, the better."

Optimus had taken notice on how quickly Ratchet was able to cut down several of the bots already and glanced at him, transforming his canons to swords. "Sound advice, old friend."

He walked into a bunch of the undead bots and was quick to slice his blades through them and kicked one away. He saw and felt how easily the blades cut through the bodies, and Ratchet had been correct. However, Optimus already noticed his strength felt as though it was being sapped. It wasn't a quick drain of his strength, but he did notice it. But there was absolutely no way that he was going to give up. His processor brought up the memory of Azura asking him if he would come back. Seeing her pouty expression had made him wonder that she had been upset before he left. He did think it was because he had to go on this mission.

He didn't expect it to be this kind of mission. He had assumed he and Ratchet would simply locate the area of dead Cybertronian warriors, but Megatron had returned and was already acting on the plan to raise an army of the undead. Optimus had hoped it wouldn't happen this soon, but he knew Megatron too well. Megatron was right that they have been at this for a long time, which was not something that Optimus was proud of, as he definitely would prefer that there has never been a war in the first place. Even though, without the war, he never would have had Azura.

Despite the fact that Optimus and Ratchet already found an easy way to destroy the bots, Megatron was still grinning. He was extremely proud of the fact that he could raise the dead and control it. "I have mastered dark energon," He said in a gleeful voice, making Optimus glance up at him. "When you fall, Optimus, you too shall join my army. It would be a great pleasure to keep you and your daughter together, even if you are dead."