Michael T. Hare

Do you like fanfiction? Well, you have come to the right place. Here is a deleted scene from one of my Transformers crossovers; I wrote it about a year ago in an attempt to add another book to the series. Enjoy!

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Cybertron was silent.

The walls of the buildings were quiet in the hush of the impending battle, and the ground was cracked, revealing the golden energy that pulsed from the planet’s bowels.

“They are coming,” said Optimus, eyeing the gold-green sunset. “We mustn’t let them overtake us.” The Autobot leader readied his blades, ejecting them from his wrists and preparing for a grievous fight.

“There was no leader like Jetfire,” said an Autobot, striding up to Optimus’ side. “What makes you think you can surpass his greatness?”

“Only that I survived The Battle of The Dinobot Kingdom,” replied Optimus, not turning his eyes to the Autobot. “I am sure you all have doubts about whether I can lead you through the darkness Megatron’s elite army has brought upon our ground, but I assure you that, as Jetfire’s apprentice, I will do all I can to lead us to triumph.”

“Do not question his leadership,” said Ratchet, shoving the Autobot aside. “Optimus Prime is a general and always has been. Just because he has never led the resistance doesn’t mean he has no experience dealing with whining allies!”

The Autobot growled and moved aside. “The Matrix of Leadership means power not greatness,” he said. “Jetfire should have found one truly worthy of bearing it.”

“Like yourself, Grindor?” questioned Ratchet.

A giant sound rebounded across Cybertron’s metal surface, shaking the foundation. They had come. The Aquaticons had declared a battle. “Show us your treacherous faces!!” a voice boomed, “before I slice them off!”

“We end this,” said Optimus, beginning to step forward. “Are the strikers in position?”

“They are,” answered Mirage. “I organized them myself; they should be ready for when the Aquaticons charge.”

“Then we fight now,” declared Optimus.

The ground shook with the footfalls of every Cybertronian alive. Undertow led the enemy charge, screaming and shouting orders. Every Autobot crashed into the Aquaticon defenses, ejecting their weapons and detonating their opponents with brutal force.

“They’re already taking us over!!” shouted an Autobot.

Optimus shot down a soldier with his gun, and after transforming his hand back into a blade, he stabbed another through the Spark. “We need to retreat. There’s too many!” A laser struck the Autobot, flinging him into the midst of the fight. Optimus watched as one of his allies died, and anger mixed with sadness filled him.

“You’re a fool!” A giant weapon crashed into Optimus, and the Autobot was flung onto the ground. Another blow was to the exchange, but Optimus trapped the weapon with his feet and twirled his body, stripping his opponent of a weapon. The Aquaticon died the next minute after one of the Autobot general’s lasers had pierced his chest.

Another Autobot cried out as a laser sought his Spark. There was more and more death to follow, and Optimus had never felt more like a failure.

“Stand fast!” cried Ratchet. “Stand fast. We must destroy their forces. There is no other way to freedom!”

It was too late to call a retreat. The sounds of battle would drown out even the loudest sound. Optimus glanced around, trying to see at least one of his friends, but he had lost them. The battle was the most chaotic thing he had ever laid eyes upon. What have I done? Optimus thought shamefully.

“I’ll kill you like I did your master!!” the giant Aquaticon, Undertow, grabbed Optimus by the arm and hurled him to the ground. Optimus began to stand up, but another blow was delivered to the side of his face. The leader’s mouth shield was shattered, and he nearly hit the ground again.

“You’re as weak as he was!!!” he screamed. Undertow pushed Optimus to the ground and lifted his sword to stab him, but Optimus transformed his hand into a gun and wrenched his arm free. He fired a yellow laser at Undertow’s face. The Auquaticon backed away, the ammunition just missing his right eye.

Optimus stood, his body throbbing with pain. Another cry of agony in the distance. “I told you he was a—” A flash of an explosion pierced the sky, and the Autobot didn’t speak again.

“How does it feel, Prime?” asked Undertow, “to know that you led your own people into a massacre. Oh, how it stains your reputation.”

Optimus ejected his blades, his body clanging and sparking with damage.

“I’ll ensure you never see the light of day again!” Undertow swung his blade at Optimus, who rolled under his blow and transformed. The Aquaticon had barely any time to react before Optimus ramped into his feet and sent his enemy sprawling. 

A giant smash followed, and Optimus untransformed, sliding to a stop with a metallic screech. He transformed his hand into a gun and fired a screaming laser at Undertow, who blocked it with his hand, a shower of sparks emitting from the impact.

Optimus then ejected his blads, running toward his opponent when Undertow snatched the Autobot by the throat, lifting him high off the ground so he could look him in the eyes. The Aquaticon’s yellow eyes pierced Optimus’ blue ones. “You fool…” he sneered, squeezing Optimus’ neck. “You are no leader and nobody!” he clenched his fist, and Optimus cried out, “will ever know they can count on you.” He raised his fist, transforming it into a blade and preparing to thrust it into Optimus’ face. “Die, Prime…”

Optimus raised his hand with as much strength as he could muster and blasted Undertow in the eye with his gun. The Aquaticon screamed in agony and backed down, his eye sparking and popping with green electricity. Optimus transformed his hand again and, hoping to make a scene, fired twice more and struck his enemy squarely in the chest.

Many Aquaticons rushed to Undertow’s rescue, who was now bending on one knee, his voice coming out in growls and sneers. His eye was dripping with sparks, and he continued to hold it.

“Retreat!” cried Optimus, aiming the gun again, “or I shall purge your leader into the Allspark!” He said this with as much malice as he could invoke, trying his best to frighten his enemies off.

“I can… fight…” growled Undertow. “I will…” the Aquaticon toppled over with a weak moan and crashed onto the ground.

“We will not retreat,” hissed one of Undertow’s assistants. “Not if our leader doesn’t wish it. Seize him!!!”

Two Aquaticons snatched Optimus by the arms and held him steady with iron strength. “This is the end of the Autobot resistance!” one of them cried. There were two more shouts of pain, and Optimus wondered which one of his friends had died now. It was more than painful to listen to. Every minute there was another cry of agony and sorrow.

“Make him watch…” hissed Undertow. “Make him watch his failure.”

Optimus groaned, trying to break free from the Aquaticon’s hold. “Please,” he begged them. “I made a mistake. Just let us regroup!”

“There will be no regrouping,” growled one of the Aquaticons, punching Optimus in the face. “This is what we’ve wanted for years. A fool who was stupid enough to lead his squad into a massacre. I find it rather laughable that Jetfire would argue with the Prime Council just so that you might be the next to take up the Matrix. Well, he was only a foolish old bot, wasn’t he?”

“Leave him out of this,” murmured Optimus. There was a painful stand as one of the soldiers pressed the tip of a knife against the side of Optimus’ neck. “Speak again, and whatever words you speak will be your last…” the Aquaticon growled.

The battle continued, and the more it did, the more deaths occurred. Scream after scream, cries for help, begs for mercy. It all went on like a terrible nightmare. Finally, as the end drew nearer, many Autobots began to run from the battle, retreating for their lives. Optimus was never more happy to see the sight. He didn’t want victory anymore, not when it cost so many lives.

“We’ve practically won,” said Undertow, his eye devoid of any light. “Except, all I have to do is destroy you. Megatron will be quite pleased, I believe.”

Optimus couldn’t struggle, and he wouldn’t. Perhaps it was better to die than to face the shame he had brought upon his allies. Undertow limped over to Optimus, his blade ready and his face a twisted, bloodthirsty scowl. “This is how you will die, Prime,” he said. “And once I kill you, you will live with this shame forever. You will be a failure for eternity. Mark my words…”