Chapter Text
It was no surprise that mere minutes after decoding another set of coordinates, the Decepticons were already on their heels. Optimus, along with Arcee, had taken cover from the rampaging gunfire behind a particularly large mossy boulder. Arcee hissed in frustration, having been unable to find a gap in the fire to return her own.
Optimus, while not outright reckless, could afford to return fire, his plating being thicker. He shot occasional glances towards Bumblebee, who was attempting to use the nearby trees as a means of closing distance. He seemed to be contemplating targeting the Decepticons, or making a break for the relic's capsule positioned between the two opposing parties.
“Oh for pit-” Arcee muttered, as a shot deflected off the boulder, barely missing her. “We need to close the distance.”
“Agreed.” Optimus noted, there were too few guns among them for them to keep this up. Especially with potential Decepticon reinforcements on their way.
The only issue was cover, or lack thereof. The treeline was a couple dozen meters away, and it wasn’t particularly dense. Optimus caught sight of Bumblebee again, this time his back against a thick tree. His optics unsure as he met Optimus’. Optimus cast another glance at the relic, which was wide in the open and still partially covered.
“Bee no!” Arcee yelled as the scout made a dash for it.
Optimus could only assume that Bumblebee had followed his line of sight and mistaken his observation of the relic as a suggestion to seize it. Which was most certainly not the case.
With the scout now forcing his hand, Optimus proceeded to push forward, laying down cover fire and hoping his movement would redirect fire from Bumblebee. For the most part it did, the vehicons, terribly reactive, began to target him.
Knockout however had his optics locked on Bee and began to approach while laying down fire.
With his energy reserves less than optimal, and the gunfire burning through them, Optimus targeted him for close combat and with half a dozen strides behind him, planted a fist firmly on the “medic's” chassis, sending him falling back.
Arcee, having used Optimus as a form of cover, began to make quick work of the vehicons before hitting a snag with Breakdown.
“Little help?” A beeping came from behind. Optimus turned to find Bumblebee attempting to tug out the capsule, the lid still buried.
With Breakdown occupied and Knockout still on the ground, Optimus swiftly made his way over, tugging the relic out with a mild struggle.
“What’s in-” Bee started, though swiftly interrupted by an angered prod-wielding Knockout. He jumped out of the way swiftly as Optimus extracted the relic.
Optimus barely had any time to take in the ovular shape of the relic, and the soft glow that came through its panels, before it was knocked out of his servos by a prod turned bludgeon. It was sent flying and landed snugly within a nest of rocks.
So for better or for worse, the relic was durable.
Coincidentally, Arcee came flying through the same direction. Although, based on the landing she was in no shape to retrieve it.
Her sparring partner made himself known shortly after, driving a hammer into his thigh.
“Argh!” Optimus grunted as he took a few steps backwards to recover.
Breakdown merely leered, “What? Did that hurt?” He sneered as he raised his hammer in anticipation of another attack. However, this time being prepared, Optimus made to punch him in the abdomen. The hammer, still on its way up, had left his midsection exposed and the punch connected.
“Oof.”
With Breakdown still keeling from the last strike, Optimus landed a few more in quick succession before Breakdown managed to retreat (stumble) a few steps back.
Optimus’ pursuit fell short as the soft hum of a ground bridge became prevalent behind him and he quickly repositioned himself to the side. Not willing to find himself between Breakdown and the newcomer.
It seems Primus had taken a nap for luck was not on his side, as it was Megatron who stepped through. He took immediate note of Optimus’ dented leg and how he seemed to favour the other.
“Tsk a bit worse for wear librarian ?” He jeered his voice raspy, as if he had fibreglass in his vents, as he charged his cannon. Straight to the point as usual.
Having few options (and fewer ideas), Optimus blindly grabbed a boulder and lobbed it at Megatron. Either it was luck or skill, for the rock sunk cleanly into the mouth of the cannon like a cork. Megatron, having released the shot just at the right time (or wrong time depending on perspective) effectively blew out his cannon with a plume of smoke erupting from it.
He snarled in anger as Optimus let out an observant “hmm” which seemed to tick him off further. His anger was redirected as Arcee stirred in his peripheral. He caught sight of the relic soon after and with Arcee too close to it for comfort, redirected his efforts and bolted for it.
Optimus scrambled swiftly after, not having expected the Warlord to make a mad dash for it. He barely managed to shove his frame into the other before they reached the relic a mere few steps away.
They both found themselves on the floor, having kicked up a considerable dust cloud. Optimus’ audials registered the slink of Megatron’s blade and was all too prepared to return the sentiment. Still on their knees, their blades sprung off one another as they tried to get up while applying equal pressure on the other. They gradually inched closer to the relic, Arcee now further off, keeping Knockout at a distance.
As the relic came into grabbing distance, they both made a mad reach for it. Hoping it would somehow aid them in the fight against the other. Their servos both landed on it simultaneously, grasping into the small holds at the two ends of the relic.
With complete disregard for the durability of the object, they both tugged, as if to say ‘if I can’t have it, none of us can’. To their disbelief, the object unfolded, both ends moving apart as a green glowing centre was revealed. As the light engulfed them, Optimus began to feel lethargic, his pedes still on the floor although he could not feel the Earth…
“Eh?” He faintly heard Megatron emit as reality slipped away.
For once, Optimus agreed with him.