Chapter 9

A/N: hey guys! I'm back. Happy to be writing, I've some slag going on that's been a real pain. But hey, this gets my mind off that. Also, I wanna wish Emerald Lantern's owner Sil Vathura 98 a very happy birthday! :)

Anyways, I just own the story and an OC or two, nothing else is mine otherwise.

/comms/

Telepathy/flashback

"Bumblebee talking. "

Autobot Base, January 11, 16:26MDT

"Captain Atom? Optimus? Do you read?" Ratchet called typing on the monitor. Not getting an answer the medic grit his teeth. "Something's blocking their signal."

"So, if Prime's out of contact, what are we going to do about that?" Superman said pointing to the signal currently flying across the Pacific Ocean towards Siberia.

"Who knows, this guy fought the Original Primes," Bulkhead murmured, "he has to be insanely powerful."

"Our biggest concern should be his destination," Bumblebee pointed out. "If he ends up in a populated area, I don't even want to imagine the number of casualties. We'd be talking millions."

"So we'll have to lure him to a desolate place," Batman agreed, "and deal with him there."

"So what's the plan?"

Ratchet turned to face them all, "When Megatron forced me to work on that monstrosity's weapons, I managed to find a major flaw. Thunderwing's weapons, armor, even spark, are entirely composed of dark energon. I can build a device that can dampen his internal power and weaken him. Bumblebee, you'll have to tap into your…abilities. If you are using them even for a few minutes, I have no doubt that he'll sense it, and come looking for you."

"So, now that we have that, where exactly are we going to take him?" Emerald questioned.

-.-

Iceland, 22:33UCT

Bumblebee lied on the roof of his car waiting as everyone else stood nearby. It had been almost an hour since he called Thunderwing, and so far, there'd been no sign of the titan. What if he'd been right earlier? What if Thunderwing didn't listen to him because he wasn't a pure Dark Prime?

A small thrum in his chest made the teen stand right up. Looking around, Bumblebee had just enough time to jump as blast fire reigned down on him and the others. The sound of a transformation echoed and the ground shook as Megatron landed, towering above them.

"Yeah, sure Bumblebee, use your Dark Prime side! What could possibly go wrong?! Uh, I dunno, how about calling the wrong one?!" he grumbled to himself.

"Ok, 'Bee we get it, bad plan!" Emerald reluctantly agreed raising her fists.

"The Justice League," Megatron sneered as his red gaze flickered between all of them, "and your little sidekicks. I'll admit, you aren't the ones I expected to find here, but who am I to turn away an opportunity. I came here to kill an enemy, and I got one." Raising his cannon, the Lanterns raised a shield together, gritting their teeth as cracks started to form with each blast. Apparently, it was not breaking fast enough for Megatron. With a loud battle cry, he charged forwards, pulling out his sword and slicing through the shield narrowly missing Hal and Guy.

Superman flew forwards, ramming Megatron's torso and causing the titanic mech to fall back. Moving into a somersault as he fell, the Lord of the Decepticons grabbed Superman and began squeezing. "Your skin may be invulnerable Kryptonian, but not even you can avoid being crushed like the worm you are."

Superboy growled and leapt at Megatron, punching the sadist in the faceplate and sending him stumbling back. Meanwhile, Bulkhead and Arcee forced Megatron's hand open, helping Clark out. Seeing his brother was free, Conner jumped back, raising his fists ready to fight the ticked off warlord.

"BUCKET HEAD!" Emerald screamed and Megatron turned, effectively getting bulldozed buy…Conner wasn't sure what it was but it looked like a cross between a lizard and a bug.

Cannon fire erupted from the ground and Emerald just barely put up a shield before the blasts hit her, slamming her into a large rock formation. From up above, Hawkman and Hawkwoman dove down, brandishing their maces. Megatron's hand shot out, grabbing Hawkman and tossed him into the Lanterns. Hawkwoman's mace slammed on the helmet, the sound of metal colliding echoing over the battlefield.

However, she barely made a dent.

"A good effort," Megatron grinned, slashing up and cutting the surprised woman's wing as she flew up. "But not good enough."

Flash ran out from his hiding spot, scooping Hawkwoman out of danger as Megatron swung down and a groundbridge opened behind the fearsome warlord. It as then a red and blue semi sped out and barreled Megatron over. The truck transformed and Optimus stood up.

"You're alive!"

"Sorry we couldn't get here sooner," Captain Atom apologized.

"Evacuate the wounded, I will handle Megatron," Optimus ordered.

"Optimus," Megatron growled standing up, "you're more persistent than rust."

"I will never stop till you are defeated Megatron."

"Empty words Prime," Megatron snarled firing his cannon. Prime rolled out of the way and charged forwards, pulling out his own sword. Their blades clashed. Bringing knee up, Prime kneed Megatron in the torso before spinning around and kicking him.

Megatron fell to the ground, dust flying up in his wake. Prime's fist swung down to punch him, when Megatron grabbed his arm, kicking up and hurling him over onto his back.

/Uh, Dad, Thunderwing's almost here!/

"I understand," he nodded grappling with Megatron again. "Megatron, I warned you about siding with Thunderwing, you only have yourself to blame."

His opponent growled, attempting to stab him with his sword. Grabbing the sword arm, Optimus flipped around and slammed Megatron down on the ground in front of him. Prime's blade pierced the ground where the warlord had been a moment ago. Megatron had gotten up and was now attempting to skewer him again. Transforming, Prime drove back out of reach, weaving between the incoming cannon shots.

Flashing his headlights, Megatron's brows furrowed before Wonder Woman hit him from behind. Her lasso wrapped around his wrist and she used her strength to toss him into the air. Captain Atom flew above, blasting him with a burst of energy sending him flying right onto Emerald's train track.

Getting up, Megatron's optics widened as a green train hurtled at him, ramming into him and dragging him all along the track as various explosives were thrown from both sides. Falling off the end of the track, he bounced like a ping pong ball between the various lanterns before transforming, leaving their little game. A red tornado moved towards him and Megatron flipped over shooting up into the sky. Once out of range of the tornado below and the lightning above, he let gravity do its work, letting him drop towards the ground, firing his blasters at the infernal Earthlings below. Chuckling to himself as they scattered, he flew down at Optimus, picking up speed. Optimus started his own engine, driving forwards and transforming on the ground, sliding under Megatron's vehicle as it flew above him. Punching the underside, the vehicle flipped through the air transforming mid air and landing in a crouch, energon leaking profusely from the various dents and gashes in his frame.

"I'll give you one chance Megatron," Optimus spoke, "Surrender, and I will spare your life."

"PRIME!" Arcee shouted and all heads turned up as the massive frame of Thunderwing flew above.

The faceplate opened, and a torrent of violet fire shot out and behind them one of the nearby volcanoes erupted. The blast wave threw everyone back, nearly knocking some into rivers of magma flowing down.

"Flash, Martian Manhunter, Rocket, Miss Martian, Guy, John, and Hal, go make sure any possible nearby settlements are evacuated!" Captain Atom ordered. "Red Tornado, try to redirect the smoke and ash!"

"OPTIMUS PRIME! HOLDER OF THE MATRIX! AT THE COMMAND OF MY MASTER, YOUR DESTRUCTION IS AT HAND!" the massive beast shouted his landing shaking the very ground.

Of those who remained, heads turned to Bumblebee. "I didn't tell him to do that!" he exclaimed holding his hands up. Blue-violet's flickered back to their massive enemy and 'Bee swung into his car, transforming along with Arcee and Bulkhead.

As Prime fought with Thunderwing, those of the League members assigned to the battle remaining raced down to help. Energon blasts rose up hitting the beast as the Autobots raced ahead. Red beams of Superman's heat vision and Captain Atom's attacks could be seen coming from above.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Thunderwing snarled, breathing fire into the sky. While he was distracted, a green hammer hit under his jaw, knocking the Knight back into the lava. Raising his blaster, violet fireballs shot out of the cannon rapid-fire as Thunderwing stood up.

Superman tackled Conner out of the way as Emerald landed, making a shield to block the others as the Autobots blocked the large brunt of the blows with their own armor. When the rapid fire ended, they split off, diving themselves. Arcee and Bulkhead took the left, firing at Thunderwing's cannon in an effort to disable it. Bumblebee joined his father, vaulting over the cannon on the ground and shooting as soon as he landed.

Thunderwing roared, raising his hand to smack the ground, nodding at each other, Superman and Superboy jumped punching the arm and forcing the titan to step back or fall. Catching Conner, Clark flew back as Thunderwing charged up his cannon which was soon miss-aimed by a well-timed attack from Emerald, effectively knocking it off his arm.

Leaving just one cannon to go.

His arm hit the ground again and Prime and Bumblebee wasted no time, going at it with their swords, till smoke began to rise from the cannon. They broke it, finally.

Thunderwing, did not share their joy. "I AM NO LONGER TRAPPED IN ROCK, WEAK AND SHACKLED! I WILL TEAR YOU APART MOLECULE BY MOLECULE!"

"I'M HERE!" Ratchet called racing out of the groundbridge with Wasp in tow. "I didn't have time to build a strong device so a made a weaker one. In order for it to work, it has to be inside Thunderwing's armor when it goes off, that should at least get him out of the suit, and onto an even playing field."

Batman nodded, taking the device and waving to Superman. The Man of Steel flew down spotting the device and Wasp. "What's the plan?"

"You're currently the fastest one here with Flash out checking for civilians. We need you to get Wasp close enough to deliver the device, the others will buy you time."

The girl shrunk down, grabbing ahold of the weapon and sitting on Superman's hand. "Prime, are you cool with this?"

/What about the Atom?/

"He can't fly to transport the weapon in sir," Wasp spoke. "I can. I'll be in and out before it goes off."

/Very well. Make it quick, we'll cover for you as long as we can!/

"Hold on," Superman warned. Wasp yelped as he blasted off into the air, holding onto his finger and the device for dear life as he flew at breakneck speeds through the ash and smoke. She could make out the forms of Captain Atom and Emerald clearing the way above as the others attacked from below. Thunderwing's fist slammed on the ground and even from the air she could feel the shockwave that blasted Bulkhead and Arcee back. Optimus and Bumblebee stood their ground, moving quickly to avoid one keeping the monster's attention for too long. Closer to where she arrived, she could see Plastic Man wrapped around a rock and holding onto Captain Marvel as Superboy loaded boulders on him and pulled back, using him as a slingshot to attack from a distance.

Flying around from behind, she nodded to Superman who released her from his grip. Holding onto the device, she dove down, letting herself freefall for a few seconds before spreading her wings. Flying under the arm, of the great titan, she flew into the vents, and dragged the device inside. Following the heat vents, she could see the terrifying form of the Cybertronian driving. Setting the device inside, she hoped it was close enough because she needed to leave. Flying out, she yelped as Superman flew by, catching her again.

And while Wasp wasn't fond of the whole damsel in distress gig, she didn't mind getting as far away from that bomb as possible.

"This ends now!" Thunderwing rumbled. Raising his fist, they all stared as a blue light emerged from the chest plates. "What…What is this? I'm—I'm losing power?!" Thunderwing's massive claws shook the ground as he tried to support himself. The chest plate opened and the armored form hopped out, his violet eyes glowing with fury. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS INSOLENCE!"

Pulling out a great axe, Thunderwing charged forwards. Jumping into the air, he landed on Prime, and forced his chestplates open. Reaching in, he grabbed Optimus by his throat throwing Prime to the ground, he dropped down forcing Prime to roll out of the way as the axe cleaved the ground where he'd been. With his free hand, Thunderwing thrust it forwards, fire erupting from his palm in a column almost as big as his dragon breath.

Bumblebee drove forwards, opening his door and basically scooping his father in as they sped out of the way of the fiery rope. Skidding to a stop, Optimus quickly ruffled his sons hair before rolling out of the car as Bumblebee drove forwards, crashing right into Thunderwing from the side. The once great Knight bounced over the hood of the car, landing in a heap on the ground as Bumblebee sped away.

Bulkhead then rolled in and ran over the man. He just didn't get away fast enough. Thunderwing grabbed the SUV's bumper, spinning around, Thunderwing tossed it through the air in the direction of the Plastic Man slingshot.

Blasts from Captain Atom, Superman, and Emerald rained down from above. The man scoffed, the attacks of these weakling barely stung. Opening his mouth, he roared as fire erupted, flying up towards the trio.

Optimus tackled him from the side, sending both of them rolling. Getting up opposite each other blue eyes met burning violet. "Is that the best you can do?" Thunderwing's haunting voice echoed a malicious grin splitting his face.

Clashing again, Optimus parried with one blade and sliced at his opponent's arms. Dark energon spurted out and Thunderwing growled, spinning around and slamming the staff end of his axe into Prime's gut knocking him back.

"I will crush you!" Optimus rolled back out of the way as Thunderwing's fist slammed down, shaking the ground and forming large cracks.

Firing his blaster, Thunderwing cried out as several shots hit his head. Throwing a fireball, Optimus grunted as it slammed into him blasting him back. Getting up, Prime was punched by Thunderwing, before ducking down as the axe swung over his head. He was kneed in the gut, rolling back as Thunderwing continued to press forwards.

Violet fire began to roll off his frame, and Thunderwing's eyes glowed through the ash of the volcano. I will not be defeated by a Prime. I will use every once of power in my being to destroy the Matrix!"

Blue fire began to emerge along Optimus' body. "You want the Matrix so badly? Here it is."

The two flaming figures collided, the resulting shockwave shaking the ground. Optimus swung his sword, cutting across Thunderwing's abdomen. The Knight of Unicron growled, swinging his axe and slamming it into the side of Prime's head, knocking his helmet off. Using the momentum of the punch, Prime placed his hands on the ground and cartwheel-kicked the axe out of Thunderwing's hands.

They both swung their fists, hitting each other at the same time. Sliding back, they charged each other again. Prime slid under the Knight's larger reach and firing several blasts right at his chest. Glancing up, Optimus pushed Thunderwing back as violet fire began to build in his mouth. Forming a shield, the violet flames rolled off. Once they stopped, Optimus dropped the shield and began firing running closer as he did so. Ducking under a sloppy swing, Optimus drew his sword as stabbed it into Thunderwing's chest.

Dark energon bubbled past the ancient Knight's lips. Coughing up energon, his mouth opened again and Prime yanked his blade out as Thunderwing released a final fiery column. Stumbling back, the ground holding him and his weapon up gave way and both fell into the lava below. Destroying any trace of the Fallen's General.

-.-

Mt. Justice, January 26 00:10EST

Several groups of Leaguers stood on the shores of the hidden bay of the Cave, all speaking privately with those close to them.

"I wish I could go with you," Cassie sighed standing in front of Wonder Woman.

"I doubt your mother would approve," Diana scolded lightly, before moving to rest a hand on her protégé's shoulder, "and only the six of us who stand accuse need take this odyssey. Though Hawkman insists on accompanying his spouse, and Icon will act as our advocate for it seems he is familiar with intergalactic trial law."

"You're sure this is necessary? It seems a little soon after the Thunderwing fiasco," Captain Atom questioned John.

"The Guardians of Oa seem to think so, they sent Hal, Guy, and Erica ahead to make sure the so-called High Court of Rhimbor will know we come in peace. And know we expect a fair trial."

"How long will you be gone?" Conner asked.

"However long it takes to clear our names Con-El," Clark reassured putting a hand on his shoulder, "but we will be back little brother."

"I'll miss you," M'gaan said hugging her uncle.

"And I you M'gaan, oh, perhaps you can water the plants at my apartment while I am gone?"

"Be careful alright," Nightwing said.

"I was about to say the same thing to you three," Batman replied. "I fear we leave the more dangerous task here on Earth."

"We'll manage."

Off to the side, Bumblebee and Optimus stood watching. "How do you think their chances are? They expect a fair trial on Rhimbor. You know how that system is."

"I am aware Bumblebee," Optimus spoke, "but be assured that they will receive such treatment."

'Bee raised an eyebrow, "You're having the fleet escort them for a reason, aren't you? Intimidation?"

Optimus glanced at his son before looking back towards the accused, "Knowing how the justice system of Rhimbor is, I have given your mother permission to do what she believes is necessary to prove their innocence for a crime they did not commit. As they say here on Earth: Better for a guilty man to go free than for an innocent one to be sent to jail. Ratchet is currently transmitting our obtained evidence data to the Ark for the defense."

"Mom's gonna have a lot of fun with this," 'Bee sighed as his father nodded in agreement.

Optimus reached up, touching his comms before nodding. Stepping forwards, he cleared his throat, gaining the attention of those gathered. "Has the ship arrived?" John questioned.

Prime nodded, "The Ark, the Graviton, the Axalon, the Hyperion, and the Steelhaven have just entered orbit around Jupiter."

"Five warships?" Superman questioned.

"With the Nemesis back in the system, the commanders aren't leaving anything to chance. You'll rendezvous on the Ark. After that they'll regroup with the rest of the fleet and escort you to Rhimbor to receive a fair trial."

"The whole fleet?" Robin muttered.

"Like Emerald said, it's a violent system," 'Bee shrugged. "The 'Cons have ships in the area, Megatron might order an assassination attempt if he learned your location."

"Time to go," John said as they all gathered.

"May the gods be with you all," Diana said as the green dome surrounded them. It transformed into a jet-like construct, lifting off the ground and flying up into space to meet up with the Autobot warships waiting.