Megatron rose, the last pieces of chain clattering to the ground around him. “Now, Prime… shall we try this again?”

“Hraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Megatron braced himself, but the force of Prime’s mad rush still sent him sprawling backwards. “You can’t stop me, Megatron!” Prime growled as he grappled with his adversary. “You are weakened, wingless, and ultimately doomed!”

“I don’t have to stop you, Prime,” Megatron smirked. “I only have to keep you here awhile longer!”

“Fool!” Prime wrenched one hand free and smashed his fist into Megatron’s midsection, freeing the Decepticon commander to do the same. Megatron’s fist made the greater impact. Prime clutched his midsection, dropping to one knee, trying to keep upright with his free hand. “I can… kill you with time to spare.”

“You’ve many skills, but time travel isn’t one of them.” Megatron smiled. “Check your chronometer… the launch window is OOF fading! You’ll never make it back in time, neither of us will!” He got both hands free and brought them down hard into Prime’s back, forcing the Autobot leader to the floor, but not before Megatron’s knee rushed up to meet his chest, cracking his windshield.

Prime coughed and spat as he pulled himself to his knees with a shudder. “Your mewling crew of weaklings will never leave you behind!”

“Unlike you, Prime, I can trust my mechs! They will follow the Ark, whether or not I’m aboard!” As if on automatic, Megatron spun, catching Ricochet in the middle of a sneak attack. His elbow smashed into Ricochet’s face, arms jerking down to wrest Nightstick from the stumbling Autobot’s hand. “And without you, your mercenary crew will tear each other apart!” Megatron stood over his foe, aiming the pilfered pistol at Prime’s head. He chuckled as he watched Prime’s body shudder with rage. “Face it… it’s over, Prime!”

“Never!” Prime howled, swinging upward, both fists clenched tight.

Megatron merely back-stepped, effortlessly avoiding Prime’s furious blow. The Autobot leader staggered into a clumsy spin that ended with his faceplate smacking against the floor.

“As your own minion would say… ‘Smooth, tool,’” Megatron grinned, re-aiming the weapon.

Without warning, Megatron’s arm jerked up, and the pulse beam blazed into the high ceiling. Autobot and Decepticon alike scattered as the beam split into multiple shots that bounced madly off wall and floor.

“What’s going on?! I can’t control my arm!” Megatron’s limb swung wide, squeezing off another shot that only narrowly missed Rampage.

Ricochet looked up and laughed, despite his cracked visor and missing teeth. “You think those two glitches I hired could hit th’ broad side of Broadside without help?! Shee-ock no! Them Targetmasters aim themselves by patchin’ into yo’ arm’s motor control! An’ they coded to only respond to their partner’s energy signature… otherwise, they take over the arm completely!”

Prime had gotten to his feet, watching Megatron intently. “I appear to have underestimated you, Ricochet…”

“Ain’t no thing, my liege. You wan Megs t’ blow his own core processer out? Jus’ say th’ word!”

“Oh, no. He is mine. You stole one of my weapons, Megatron… fair is fair.” Prime grunted as he lifted Megatron’s drone-tank, attaching it to his forearm and activating the neutronic blade. Kicking Rampage out of his way, he charged Megatron with a scream of unbridled fury…



- Do Over