The Life of a Commander (TFP)

Chapter 3

"Optimus Prime! What a surprise!" Megatron said. "I certainly wasn't expecting you to be here when Nightstrike called the ship for backup. Speaking of backup, where is your scout? I was told he was here originally."

I grinned. "My liege, I'm honored to tell you that I had the pleasure of landing a direct hit straight to his chassis." I said this as I walked over to him.

He rubbed my back affectionately, which I was sure he didn't do to any of his other soldiers. "You have done well, Nightstrike." We all watched as the Autobots watched us curiously, unsure of what to make of Megatron and my physical exchange. Even Knockout was confused, but he showed it very discreetly.

"Bumblebee's condition is none of your concern," Prime declared.

"How right you are. But be that as it may, I didn't come here for an energon party. Decepticons attack!" Megatron immediately began to battle the Autobot leader head-on. Knockout brought out his energon staff and began to twirl it quickly as he ran at the green one, Bulkhead.

I saw Arcee run at me from the edge of my peripheral vision. I shot her down with one quick blast to her chassis, just like I did to Bumblebee. She probably wasn't dead. It's not like I cared. She was a glitch.

All battle ceased as all optics fell on the blue femme. Their optics then looked up at my blaster, which I hadn't moved out of firing position.

I smirked, "I do suggest that you leave, Autobots. I have my blaster set to kill."

You didn't have to remove Prime's faceplate to tell he was enraged.

"Bulkhead, take Arcee back to base. I will return momentarily."

A groundbridge appeared next to the femme. Bulkhead picked her up and carried her through. It closed seconds later.

Optimus stepped away from Megatron and faced me. My liege ordered the other Decepticons back to the ship before he stepped to the side to watch the coming battle.

I got into a fighting position and let no fear show on my face. In reality, I was terrified. I was about to face the leader of the Autobots, a Prime, in a knock down drag out fight, and Megatron was just going to let it happen. He may have wanted me to prove myself, but this was going too far.

Before I finished mentally preparing myself, Optimus let out a battle cry and charged at me. I held his fists away from me, pushing against him with all of my might. I immediately knew that my strength wouldn't be able to hold him back. I only had a few seconds. Sure enough, my arms gave out and I went flying back, creating a rut in the ground.

I got back up quickly and brushed off the pain. Next thing I knew, he came at me with a sword. I jumped out of the way, but he was able to shallowly slice into my side. I grimaced.

"Nightstrike, I must return to the ship. There are complications. I trust you will be able to handle things here."

"O-of course, my liege."

He transformed and flew away, leaving me to deal with the angry Prime. Thankfully, he didn't notice the energon seeping from my side that now dripped to the floor.

I knew I wouldn't last much longer, and it was only a matter of time before I went into stasis lock from losing too much energon.

Prime wanted to fight dirty? Alright. Two could play at that game. Fighting dirty was a Decepticon's specialty.

I readied myself and saw that Optimus was studying me, calculating my next move. I was done playing defense.

I shot him in the center of his chassis, but that wasn't enough to do anything to a Prime. I ran and jumped behind him, quickly spinning around and placing a long, curved cut on his back with my arm blades.

He grunted. I hadn't done any real damage, but he had to me. I knew I was down for the count as I sank to my knees, the loss of energon finally taking its toll. I fell, face first into the dirt.

I saw Prime's feet as he walked towards me, my vision becoming blurry. He turned me over and studied the damage he had done to me. A blanket of blacked washed over me as he called his vase.

"Prepare the medical bay and open the ground bridge. Hide the children. I'm bringing a prisoner."

. . . No . . . Mega- . . . -tron . . .

Lightsout.