First part of the second episode. I enjoyed writing Broken, so I pumped this one out quickly but hopefully well for you all. Enjoy! Transformers: Prime - Fallen "Spare me of the pleasantries, mercenary." Megatron snarled as he extended his sword.* "With pleasure." Stampede began to walk over to Megatron, who immediately charged at him.* Megatron lifted his sword high above his head then brought it down on Stampede's. He smiled as he heard the satisfying clang of metal on metal. But the smile changed to a look of astonishment as he saw that Stampede had blocked the sword with his forearms, with no damage whatsoever. Stampede threw his arms up, disorientating Megatron, then slammed his fist into the Decepticon's gut. Megatron buckled over, but stayed standing. He threw a few punches at Stampede, who countered with his own. Megatron was able to land blows on Stampede, but they didn't faze him at all. Meanwhile Stampede's blows were tiring Megatron quicker than he would have thought possible. Megatron jumped and punched Stampede, but the mercenary blocked and swung his arm into Megatron's legs. He tumbled onto the earth and was pinned down by Stampede. Stampede threw blow after blow into Megatron's face. He stood and waited for Megatron to get back up.* "You are strong, certainly. But strength alone won't get you anywhere in this world." Stampede commented as Megatron got onto his feet.* Megatron roared and charged at Stampede, tackling him to the ground. He began to smash his fists into Stampede's face as he had just done to Megatron. Stampede ignored the blows and smashed his head into Megatron's. Megatron backed off, dazed, and Stampede threw a massive right hook into his side. Megatron collapsed and Stampede kicked him away.* "I expected more a challenge from the infamous gladiator!" Stampede said mockingly.* Megatron didn't reply with words, instead he got up and threw himself at Stampede. Stampede caught Megatron by the throat and slammed him into the ground. He smashed punch after punch into Megatron's face, until his head armour began to break. Megatron was helpless to do anything, the pain had completely overtaken him. Stampede stood back up and watched Megatron crawl across the ground.* "The mighty 'Lord Megatron', finally defeated. No, not defeated." Stampede corrected himself as he picked Megatron up. "Broken!" He ripped Megatron in two, his upper body and lower body separated like a ball joint. Megatron screamed in agony.* Stampede left Megatron writhing in pain on the earth and walked away. Megatron's last sight before the pain overtook him was of Stampede looking back at him, triumphant and terrifying. Then, all was black.* --------------------------------------- The Autobots had only been able to save a dozen humans from the wreckage of Jasper, the rest had either perished in the fires or had refused to leave their loved ones' bodies. The whole town was a wreck, all because of twelve Vehicons. But those were no ordinary Vehicons, they were too powerful and co-ordinated to be from Megatron's forces. Whomever had sent them was possibly an even greater threat than the Decepticons. Optimus tried to think of anyone who could have such strategy on the way back to base, but he was unable to think of anyone. Anyone that lived, at least.* Optimus was at the head of his Autobots on the highway leading out of Jasper. Everyone had picked up three or four human survivors, with the obvious exception of Arcee. So, being at the front meant that Optimus saw the base first. Or rather, what was left of it. The whole mountain had completely caved in, leaving a massive pile of rubble. This was the purpose of the attack on Jasper, Optimus realised with horror. Then he remembered that Ratchet had still been in the base.* "Optimus! What happened?" Bumblebee beeped urgently.* "I do not know, but Ratchet may still be in there." Optimus said angrily.* Arcee gasped and immediately sped up, Wheeljack close on her tail. They headed straight for the base and transformed, leaving the humans standing in confusion on the sand. The two Autobots ran at full speed for the base, screaming Ratchet's name. When they reached the rubble, they fiercely pulled it apart, but there was so much that it would take months, if not years to find the doctor. Wheeljack cursed and slammed his fist into one of the rocks in frustration. The rock split in two, causing the rocks above it to tumble down. Wheeljack dodged and bowed his head in defeat. Optimus placed a hand on the Wrecker's shoulder.* "We will find him Wheeljack." Optimus assured.* "How can you be so sure?" Wheeljack demanded.* "I am not." Optimus admitted sadly.* "Optimus!" Arcee called out from a few dozen metres away. "I've got him!" Optimus and Wheeljack rose and sprinted over to Arcee's position, where she was dragging Ratchet out of the debris that she had pulled out. Bumblebee was moving the rocks to give Ratchet more space. Optimus knelt down and cradled Ratchet once he was clear.* "I'm sorry...Optimus." Ratchet said, his voice barely a whisper. "It's...my fault. Decepticon...attack." "There was nothing you could do, doc. Don't blame yourself!" Wheeljack shouted.* "How many times have I said...don't call me doc.." Ratchet managed a slight smile. He looked back at Optimus. "He left me alive. But the pain...it will never stop...never..." Arcee wiped a tear from her eye and Optimus let one fall. "You will survive, my friend. We can stop it. We can." It sounded like Optimus was assuring himself more than his fellow.* "It would take too long, Optimus. There's only one way." Ratchet accepted. "Wheeljack...take care of everyone. Arcee...Bumblebee...I always admired your courage...even if I didn't show it. Optimus...I'm sorry..." Ratchet closed his eyes, and his spark stopped beating.* The other Autobots bowed their heads and stood in silence for several minutes. Optimus continued to hold Ratchet, gazing into the medic's unseeing eyes.* "He died trying to save us all." Wheeljack said, biting back tears. "If he hadn't tried so hard, he wouldn't have had to give in. We'll never get to thank him."
Thank you! Here's a short little scene with everyone's favourite mercenary doombringer. (not Jetfire, sorry to disappoint) Megatron opened his eyes and gasped in pain as he tried to move. He looked around and it seemed like he was still in the pit. But he was seeing everything from the height that he usually did, impossible without his lower body. He tried to look up and barely succeeded. He was attached to a chain that kept him hung over the pit. Only then did he feel the cold metal wrapped around his neck. Transformers couldn't be hanged, in a fatal way at least. Megatron looked back down and nearly shouted in fear as he came eye-to-eye with Stampede. Stampede smiled slightly then took a step back.* "So how are you enjoying your new home?" Stampede asked.* "What have you done to me?" Megatron shot back, ignoring Stampede's own question.* "I have done what no other could ever hope to achieve. I have broken the 'great' Decepticon leader." Stampede said proudly.* "Why not just kill me then? What's the use in just 'breaking' me?" Megatron demanded.* "You have come close to death before, but thanks to Dark Energon you survived. You weren't in any pain during that time, because the Blood of Unicron kept you strong, even if your body was not. You have never felt true pain." Stampede explained.* "And you have?" Megatron said.* "Yes. In fact, I was once in an everlasting agony. It never stopped, and it still hasn't. But I learnt to keep the pain at bay. I still feel it, every minute of every day. But I turn the agony into anger, the anger into strength and the strength into power." Stampede said.* "What if I could do the same?" Megatron continued questioning.* "Our pain is worlds apart, Megatronus. You are missing your legs. I am missing most of my vital components. My transformation cog, for example. They were all damaged in an accident that should have been fatal." Stampede went on.* "How can you survive?" Megatron asked.* "You ask many questions. In time you'll see." Stampede left Megatron's view and presumably the pit, leaving the leader to think over what he had said.*
Vitals components missing............my god.....Stampede is a WHAT ?! Can he be considered "alive" per say ?
Development for the captain: incoming. Enjoy! The Vehicon captain had watched Megatron and Stampede's whole exchange from the communications room back on the mercenary ship. The captain had always known that Stampede was brutal and at times sadistic, but he never thought he could go that far. The sheer power that his commander had shown stunned the captain. Once Stampede left Megatron, the captain left the communications room and headed for the weapons lab near the rear of the ship. There he hoped to find a friend of his, the only friend he had on the ship. The 'bot's name was Blockade, and he was the only other non-Vehicon on the whole ship, apart from Stampede. Blockade and the captain had joined Stampede's forces after training together for years. In that time, they had become quite close. There was once a third member of their 'group', but the captain and Blockade never spoke about her.* The captain reached the weapons lab and opened the door. Inside, a titanic Transformer was at work on a small device, using surprising delicacy for their size. The Transformer looked up and smiled ever so slightly as he saw who the newcomer was.* "Captain. I haven't seen you in a while." Blockade remarked as he stood up.* "I've been busy, Blockade, I apologise." The captain said as he and Blockade shook hands.* "So what brings you here?" Blockade asked innocently.* "Is it so strange for a friend to want to see a friend?" The captain replied.* "No, it isn't. But I know you." Blockade retorted.* "I have news that I think might be of interest to you." The captain gave in.* "I know about Stampede's fight with Megatron and the Autobot's base." Blockade revealed.* "As I knew you would." The captain said. "My news is far more personal. It's about Raider." "I thought we agreed to never speak of her again." Blockade reminded, then began to tinker with the device he had been working on.* "She's on her way here." The captain said. "I detected her life signal a short while ago, but I was preoccupied until now." "So Raider's coming to Earth?" Blockade said, mostly to himself. "Well, I suppose we'll have to organise a welcome party." "We can't kill her." The captain insisted.* "You can't. I have no problem disposing of traitorous glitches." Blockade pointed out. "Are you forgetting how much she has cost you?" "My body. My reputation." The captain thought back. "My name." "Exactly. She deserves to die." Blockade said.* "I will not kill her, or anyone else. If Stampede doesn't even kill, I must follow his example." The captain said, slightly louder.* "Whatever you say, Captain. Just be warned, last time you didn't kill her, things didn't exactly go your way." Blockade tried his best to persuade the captain, but he knew there was no point.* "When she arrives, I will find her, then subject her to every torture I know. Then you can have her. Deal?" The captain proposed.* "Yes." Blockade agreed.*
Thanks. Time for some Autobots... After the Autobots buried Ratchet, they set out on a search for some shelter. They had found a small valley to serve their needs, but Optimus knew it wouldn't be long before they would have to move on. Whilst the other Autobots were setting up a camp of sorts with the human survivors, Optimus kept a close eye from one of the surrounding mountains. He had tried to contact Agent Fowler several times, all to no avail.* "Optimus, can we talk?" A voice said from behind him. It was Arcee.* "Of course, Arcee." Optimus smiled.* "I just wanted to know...how are we going to come back from this?" Arcee asked, defeated. "We have no base and no medic." "I do not know." Optimus admitted sadly. "But we will find a way, I promise." Arcee was about to reply when a chorus of screams stopped her. She and Optimus turned over to the camp to see several Vehicon squads led by Dreadwing and Soundwave. The Vehicons had the Autobots pinned and the humans trapped. Optimus and Arcee, still trying to comprehend how fast the Decepticons had done it, jumped down and withdrew their weapons.* "Hand him over, Prime, and we will allow your comrades to live." Dreadwing proposed.* "Who's 'him'?" Arcee said, confused.* "Don't play dumb with me, Autobot." Dreadwing advanced. "I don't wish to make this messy, but I will do what is necessary." "Dreadwing, we don't know who you speak of. Explain, and we can avoid any bloodshed." Optimus said calmly.* "I will not explain that which you already know." Dreadwing refused, then charged.* Optimus met Dreadwing, both with their swords raised. They stabbed and slashed furiously at each other, but the other always blocked the blows. Arcee dashed at Soundwave and jumped into the air, her blades extended on her forearms. She brought the blades down onto Soundwave, who lazily blocked and smacked Arcee with his arm. She was sent flying straight into Optimus, resulting in the both of them crashing onto the earth. They quickly recovered and re-engaged their respective foes. Optimus and Dreadwing were still in a stalemate, both unable to better the other. The other pair, however, was extremely one-sided. Despite her best efforts, Arcee was easily defeated by Soundwave. He tossed her unconscious body over to one of the Vehicons, who statis-cuffed her hands together. Soundwave moved to assist Dreadwing, but the other Decepticon refused his help.* "He is mine, Soundwave!" Dreadwing ordered as he parried another slash from Optimus.* "We will tire eventually, Dreadwing. Stop this pointless fight now and we can find a peaceful solution to this!" Optimus desperately shouted.* "Hand over Megatron and I will." Dreadwing shot back. He used Optimus's obvious surprise to land a blow. The Prime groaned as his knee buckled.* "We don't have Megatron! Listen to me!" Optimus pleaded.* "If you don't have Megatron," Dreadwing stood back and sheathed his sword, "then who does?"
Hopefully the last part doesn't disappoint. "Captain, she's just landed."* Blockade was camping out on one of the ridges that was so common in the Nevadan desert. He had tracked the descent of the escape pods and recorded their location, mere miles from the Autobots and Decepticons.* "Good. I'm bridging to your location now." The captain informed.* "Are you bringing any backup?" Blockade said, uninterestedly.* "We are more than a match for her and whomever her comrade is." The captain said from behind Blockade as he exited the ground bridge portal. Blockade pointed out the two pods, crashed into the earth half a mile away.* "The Autobots are on their way. It looks like they've made a truce with the Decepticons." Blockade added.* "Until Stampede finishes with Megatron, we aren't going to get any helpful backup. We need to secure the pods before they arrive." The captain declared.* The two mercenaries jumped off the ridge and transformed mid-air, Blockade into a large truck and the captain into a similar mode. They drove off towards the pods, but both cursed as they saw the Decepticon lieutenant Dreadwing already at the pods, with Soundwave by his side. The mercenaries closed in fast, then ducked behind one of the larger rocks. As they watched, Dreadwing opened the first pod. From inside, a slim female Autobot jumped out. She was taller than most of her kind and more muscular as well. She and Dreadwing exchanged a conversation.* "It would be so easy. One shot, right to the head." Blockade growled as he transformed.* "Not yet. We'll get our chance." The captain insisted as he transformed himself.* Dreadwing and Raider moved over to the second pod. Dreadwing was about to open it when a fist shot out through the plating and into Dreadwing's chest. He was sent flying. The escape pod burst open and the mercenaries both cursed once more as they recognised the Autobot. He was extremely tall and powerful, easily Stampede's size, with massive shoulders and an even more impressive hammer in his hand. The Autobot was red, blue and white, with blue optics and a gruff face.* "Is that?" Blockade began. "Ultra Magnus."
Yes, this is the last part. There will be a third episode, but I want to do another story before I do it.
