The road into Rushville was a river of flowing steel. A long, armored military convoy tore through the shadow of an overpass, sirens wailing.
Thanks to Bumblebee's data bursts, Captain Lennox was now fully aware of the arrival of Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobot strike team.
"Whew... thank god we didn't run into those Decepticons on the open road," Lennox muttered. He stood in the turret of a light armored vehicle, his hands locked onto the spade grips of a .50 cal. As the city skyline loomed ahead, he felt a momentary spark of relief.
He glanced back at the red-and-blue Peterbilt semi trailing the convoy. It was still hard to wrap his head around: giant mechanical aliens divided into two factions—one fighting for justice, the other for total tyranny. It was like a summer blockbuster come to life, but with real blood and twisted metal.
In the yellow Camaro shielded at the center of the column, Sam looked out the window. "Mikaela, don't worry. We're almost there. We'll be safe in the city."
Sam tried to shove the humming AllSpark into the back seat, but an accidental glance at the side mirror made his blood run cold.
"That police car! It's the police car!"
"What?" Mikaela jumped, nearly climbing over Sam to peer out the window.
A few hundred yards back, weaving through the civilian traffic with its lights flashing, was a Saleen S281. On its rear quarter panel, the numbers 643 were unmistakable. It was accelerating, cutting off cars to close the gap.
"Sam, it's the Decepticon!"
Sam and Mikaela weren't the only ones who noticed. A burst of Cybertronian static crackled across the Autobots' internal comms.
[Autobots, focus. Decepticons are moving in. Prepare for engagement!]
[Ironhide: Acknowledged.]
[Jazz: Locked and loaded.]
[Ratchet: Standing by.]
The Autobot team tightened their formation around the Camaro, maintaining speed while boxing out the surrounding traffic.
On the highway, Barricade lunged left and right, forcing cars off the road. Right behind him, a massive, tan-colored Buffalo mine-protected vehicle—Bonecrusher—roared with mechanical fury.
Less than a hundred meters from the convoy, Bonecrusher suddenly surged past Barricade. He deployed his massive mine-clearing claw, using it like a giant scythe to hurl civilian cars into the air like toys.
"Help!"
"My God, what is that thing?"
"Call 911!"
Screaming drivers slammed on their brakes, causing a massive pile-up behind the Decepticons. Only Lennox's convoy and the Autobots kept moving forward.
Bonecrusher, now unhindered, tore through the asphalt. He shifted into his humanoid form while still maintaining eighty miles per hour, his wheeled feet grinding into the road. With a guttural roar, he swiped an armored transport aside like a fly.
"Faster! Get us into the city!" Lennox yelled into his radio. Their mission was to protect the Cube, not fight a war of attrition on a highway.
Bonecrusher ignored the humans, focusing his burning red optics on the Peterbilt at the rear. "Die, Autobot!"
Optimus Prime had no choice. He shifted, his massive frame expanding and unfolding as he skidded across the highway. Before he could even settle into a defensive stance, the sheer momentum of Bonecrusher slammed into him.
The two titans rolled off the elevated highway, crushing parked cars and shattering concrete barriers as they tumbled into a construction zone.
"Decepticon scum!"
Optimus surged to his feet. His right hand balled into a massive fist, glowing with the heat of his Spark. He drove a punch straight into Bonecrusher's head.
CRACK.
Bonecrusher's skull disintegrated. He didn't even have time to scream before his spark went dark and his massive frame collapsed into the dirt.
Up in the sky, Skygnaw watched the execution and felt a chill run through his circuits. He pulled up, increasing his flight altitude.
He had to admit, Bonecrusher had courage. A High-Class warrior charging a Leader-Class titan like Optimus? That wasn't just bravery; it was a death wish.
Following Starscream's orders, Skygnaw had left the dam to support Barricade, only to witness one of their own getting his head caved in. It was a brutal blow to Decepticon morale. Brawl was slowing down, and Barricade had seemingly vanished into the side streets.
Tactical retreat is the better part of valor, Skygnaw decided. He wasn't about to get 'Bonecrushed.'
In the Camaro, Sam watched the highway through the rear window and let out a shaky cheer. "Yes! Optimus took him out!"
Mikaela breathed a sigh of relief, though her eyes remained wide with terror. "Sam, the damage they're doing... if they follow us into the city..."
Bonecrusher's death was a warning, but the war didn't stop.
The convoy, minus Prime, successfully breached the Rushville city limits. Skygnaw circled above, watching the Autobots disappear into the concrete canyons. He had no intention of diving in solo.
Blackout was hovering nearby, apparently sharing the same sentiment.
Why isn't Megatron here yet? Skygnaw wondered. When they left Hoover Dam, the Leader hadn't followed. Starscream hadn't asked questions, so Skygnaw had kept his intake shut.
Just as he was pondering their next move, a high-priority transmission hit his comms module.
[I am Starscream. Lord Megatron has arrived. All Decepticons, converge on my position!]
A moment later, a massive Cybertronian jet shrieked across the sky, the roar of its engines shattering windows for blocks.
Skygnaw felt a jolt of adrenaline. The "vanguard" skirmish was over. The real war for the AllSpark was beginning.
He watched Blackout bank hard toward the city center. Skygnaw followed, keeping a safe distance behind the heavy hitter. He caught a glimpse of Optimus Prime, alone and far behind the convoy, rushing to catch up. Skygnaw ignored him.
He followed Blackout into the heart of the Rushville business district.
High above the intersection, Megatron and Starscream were already perched on the rooftops of two opposing skyscrapers, looking down like gargoyles of cold steel.
On the broad city street below, Lennox's men had set up a perimeter. There were about forty soldiers, rifles raised, guarding every entrance to the intersection.
Lennox stepped out of a pawn shop, only to see the Autobots—including Bumblebee—shifting into their robot forms.
"Hey! What's happening?" Lennox shouted, running to Bumblebee's side. "Bee, what's the word?"
Bumblebee deployed his plasma cannon, aiming it toward the rooftops. Ironhide and Jazz did the same, their weapons humming. Even Ratchet, the medic, drew a specialized ray-gun.
"It's Megatron," a radio clip hissed through the air. "They are here."
"Megatron? Where?"
"Above you," Ironhide grunted.
Lennox looked up. Standing atop the tallest building was a silver nightmare—the monster from the cryo-vault. Megatron. On the building opposite him stood a slightly smaller, grey-scaled jet-former.
Before Lennox could process the threat, the rhythmic thrum of rotors echoed. A Pave Hawk and a Pave Low helicopter descended, landing on adjacent rooftops and shifting into their massive humanoid shapes.
"Dammit..." Lennox hissed.
Four Decepticons. High ground. They were caught in a kill-zone.
Skygnaw looked down from his rooftop, scanning the Autobot line. He knew the stats. Ratchet was a High-Class warrior, but the other three were Elites.
It was a stalemate on paper, but they had Megatron.
Megatron raised a massive claw, pointing it at the humans and Autobots below. His voice was a thunderous rumble that shook the street.
"Autobots! Surrender the Spark!"
"And you... insects," Megatron's optics landed on the soldiers. "You who dared to imprison me for a century. Hand over the Cube, and I may consider sparing your wretched lives. I might even offer you a chance to serve me!"
"Is that right, Mr. Megatron?" Lennox shouted back, his voice strained but defiant. "Tell me, what's your health plan like for slaves?"
He ducked back toward Epps. "Here. Take this shortwave radio. When the Air Force arrives, use it to guide them in."
Epps looked at the bulky, ancient device. "This looks like a relic from a yard sale, Will. Where'd you find this?"
"It's a pawn shop special. It's the only thing that works without a network."
"Will, wait," Epps called out as Lennox turned back to the line. "How do I use this thing?"
"Like a radio, Epps! Just like a radio!" Lennox yelled over his shoulder. "The range is garbage—less than thirty miles. You wait until the planes are right on top of us!"
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