Through Ash and Dust (ROTB)

Chapter 57

Battle Trap remained back from the frontline as Primal attempted lunging at him, though he slammed his fists on several of the other terrorcons instead. Primal growled and pierced his weapon into several terrorcons, and he glanced towards Scourge with narrowed optics. He felt Scourge was a coward for remaining on the bridge and not joining the fight, but he quickly looked away as he punched another terrorcon to the right.

Optimus sliced his sword upwards, slicing a terrorcon in half straight down the middle and punched another terrorcon right behind it. He glanced around briefly to see the other maximals and autobots fighting the terrorcons and sliced another terrorcon near him. He was making sure that none of the others were going down, but as these terrorcons didn't seem to be very strong, he wasn't too worried about it right now.

His mind did go to Saphira and wondered if she was in the tunnel yet. Mirage has not yet joined them in the fight, and he knew that they were still making their way. Regardless, Optimus continued to focus on the fight. He hoped to make his way onto the bridge to distract Scourge, knowing that Scourge was guarding the key right now. But with so many terrorcons bearing down on them at this time, there was no way for them to get to Scourge right now.

Optimus grunts as one terrorcon had lunged and scratched his left arm, and he quickly punched it into the ground and sliced another terrorcon. As he did so, Cheetor jumped beside him, slicing several terrorcons at once and kicking two terrorcons before stabbing them. He was extremely agile, which was unsurprising, given how agile he was in his animal form. The maximal was very focused on the fight, and Optimus ran at several more terrorcons to punch them.

He tackled one of the larger terrorcons, slamming it into the ground and held the terrorcon's abdomen before pulling upward, ripping it in half and throwing it at several of the other terrorcons. He turned and sliced through another terrorcon and glanced around at the battlefield with a low growl. Optimus still could not see Mirage, but he wasn't about to contact him. Scourge was watching intently, and anything that might alert him to their plan was something he was not ready to do.

But as the battle continued, Optimus would hear the sound of a Porsche engine after five minutes and turned his head to see Mirage hitting multiple terrorcons. He was shouting in excitement as he rammed the terrorcons, and Arcee jumped on the back to shoot at the terrorcons while he drove. Optimus smiled, glancing at the bridge for a moment, knowing that Saphira was inside it. He did not know how long it would take for her to reach the antenna, but he knew she would take the time she needed. Especially with Scourge at the bridge.

"Nice of you to finally join the fight, Mirage!" Optimus shouted at the young bot as the Porsche sped closer to him and spun around, hitting another few terrorcons and Arcee jumped off the car as Mirage began to transform. "I might have to take a page out of that, as a truck packs a bigger punch than a Porsche."

Mirage chuckled and slammed his fist in the face of a terrorcon and began to shoot. "No offense, Prime, but you aren't as fast as I am. You might have the strength, but not quite the speed."

Optimus rolled his optics in amusement and punched another terrorcon. "You are right." He glanced at the bridge again and narrowed his optics. "Just remember to be ready if needed, Mirage. The universe depends on us shutting that key down, and we cannot let Scourge stop us."

"I know, Optimus. I am sure you can see where she is right now anyway." Optimus nodded, even though it was only the signal from her ring that he could track. Mirage shouted excitedly as he punched another terrorcon and shot one at point blank. "At least Unicron's not here."

"Yet."

The key was still activated, and the portal would open wide enough for Unicron to pass through. There was not much time left before Unicron would be able to enter, but Optimus was not giving up yet. They were already destroying a lot of the terrorcons with ease, and they would be close enough to reach the bridge, so Optimus had confidence that they would be able to beat Scourge and stop Unicron completely. Without the key in Unicron's possession, he would remain trapped where he is.