3. Race

~Megatron is angry with Optimus Prime and a competition to settle things was agreed~

Megatron, leader of the Deceptions, didn't know what to make of the letters he had been receiving for the past few weeks. Optimus Prime had written to him, reprimanding him for his cruel and selfish desire for world domination and how he was disrespecting the Autobots. None of this mattered to the mighty Megatron for it merely felt that Optimus was praising him.

But the final letter took the cake, as it was in there that Optimus Prime called him a cantankerous old man. Megatron crumpled up the letter with ferocity as his eyes glowed red.

'Insult ME, will he?' Megatron said.

'What's wrong, Megatron?' Starscream asked.

'Prime insulted me. He called me an old man,' Megatron clenched a hand.

'Why, that's precisely what I would…I mean, how absolutely tragic. That's just rude. Tsk, tsk, we should do something,' Starscream smiled.

'Of course we should!' Megatron said as he rose from his seat. 'Oh…my aching back…anyway what was I saying? Oh yes, I propose a challenge, a composition between the Autobots and us.'

'You mean competition,'

'That's what I said,' Megatron snapped. 'And if the Autobots lose, I shall call Prime an old cantankerous fool. How's that for diabolical? Hehehahaha.'

'But, but what if the Autobots win?' Starscream asked.

'Shut up. Stop asking stupid questions, Starscream. Get some paper and write down whatever I say.'

Later, at the Autobots base, Optimus Prime was mulling over a letter that Megatron had sent him.

'What's the matter, Optimus?' Cliffjumper wondered when he saw the leader of the Autobots was looking extremely thoughtful.

'Hmm, Megatron is proposing a competition between us and his Decepticons,' Optimus said.

'All right, let's go!' Cliffjumper flexed his arms.

'I'm coming too!' Bumblebee said. 'So where are we going?'

Ratchet cleared his throat deliberately. 'I think, the immediate question is why this proposal all of a sudden and what kind of a competition is it?'

Cliffjumper looked a little less excited now. 'Oh okay, that makes sense.'

'So, what's going on, Optimus?' Prowl asked.

'Megatron is demanding a race against us,' Optimus said. 'His Decepticons will compete with us and when they win…'quote' I will get to call you an old man, Prime!' 'unquote'.'

'Heck, if he wants to call you an old man, he doesn't need a race for that,' Ironhide said. 'Ratchet calls you an old man all the time,'

'Megatron's up to something,' Prowl rubbed his chin. 'He never learns. I think his helmet is too small for his head anyway. It's probably crushing his brain and preventing him from thinking properly.'

'Yeah, he really doesn't use his brains a lot,' Ironhide agreed. 'No wait, that's Starscream.'

'So what do you decide, Optimus?' Ratchet wondered. 'What has Megatron suggested?'

Optimus Prime looked at the letter again. 'A race: four of us against four of them.'

'Hm, I smell a rat,' Prowl said.

'Really? What's it like?' Bumblebee wondered.

'No, Bumblebee, it's an expression used by earth people to mean something suspicious.'

'Oh ok,' Bumblebee said, 'You're a good teacher, Prowl,'

'I'm writing back to Megatron,' Optimus Prime said. 'We'll agree to this race provided that it's by foot so they can't cheat us by flying,'

'That's a good one, Prime,' Ironhide agreed.

'Then I'll need a bigger room,' Ratchet said.

'How come?' Prowl asked.

'Because…with you lot joining the race, I'll be busy repairing you when you get back. When it's anything with the Decepticons, it's bound to get rough,' Ratchet said as he crossed the arms. 'Now that reminds me, I ought to get my tools organized.'

'Hm, you know what,' Bumblebee said. 'I smell a rat.'

'No, Bumblebee, it's not like that,' Prowl told him.

'Okay, but I'm telling you, I smell something, I just don't know what it is,' Bumblebee smiled and gave a Prowl a thumbs up who sighed.

A few days later, a most fascinating sight could be seen in a great forest, as both Autobots and Decepticons gathered for the big race.

Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave and Thundercracker represented their faction while Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper represented theirs.

'You go, Optimus!' Prowl cheered from the sideline.

'Shut up, Autobot,' Starscream said, waving a fist.

'Don't waste your energy, Starscream,' Megatron chided. 'You'll need it for the race.'

'Are we racing yet?' Bumblebee wondered.

'No, not yet…and what's that thing around your neck?' Ironhide pointed.

'It's a chain of four leaf clovers,' Bumblebee beamed. 'Prowl said humans use it for good luck.'

'You look mighty ridiculous with that,' Ironhide grunted.

'Hey, don't insult the four leaf clovers,' Bumblebee said.

'Actually, I was insulting you…'

'Oh, ok, no wonder I smell a rat,' Bumblebee said.

'This isn't fair, Megatron,' Prowl suddenly said. 'You've got more than four Decepticons on your side.'

'What are you talking about, you fool?' Megatron asked.

'Heh, heh, the mighty Autobot tactician can't count,' Thundercracker teased.

'Stand down, Thundercracker and don't make a fool of yourself which you so often do,' Megatron said.

'I mean, Soundwave carries a few Decepticons in him,' Prowl reasoned. 'His minions are always with him so he doesn't exactly count as one Decepticon.'

'What? That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard,' Starscream said.

'Well, I'll be. I didn't think of that,' Cliffjumper said.

'Autobots…afraid,' Soundwave said. 'Decepticons will triumph.'

'It's ok,' Optimus said. 'We'll let it go.'

Prowl started to protest. 'But-'

'We'll let it go provided that Soundwave competes fairly and keeps his minions out of the race,' Optimus Prime said. 'If he were to use any one of them, the Decepticons would be disqualified immediately and the Autobots will take the victory. How about that, Megatron?'

Megatron narrowed his eyes. 'Very well, it shall be so. What does it matter anyway? I will win.'

'You mean us, we will win,' Starscream corrected.

Megatron's eyes glowed red. 'No, Starscream.'

'Yee! He's scary,' Thundercracker grabbed Soundwave's arm.

'All right,' Skywarp said as he started to read from a piece of paper. 'The race will commence soon. All Transformers are to follow those red flags that are so thoughtfully placed by a few boy scouts we threatened last week. The red flags mark the route of the race as agreed upon by both sides. To be fair, no Autobot or Decepticon participating in this race are allowed to transform and there will be no hitting, fighting, brawling, beating or whacking, Hey, who wrote this anyway? It's full of spelling mistakes. I mean…uh…so enjoy the race and be happy…Man, I hate my job.'

'Everyone in position, please!' Prowl announced.

'That's Prowl. He's my friend,' Bumblebee said to Starscream who was getting ready beside him.

Starscream sighed. 'Ask me again if I care, you bumbling bee. Go on, just ask me.'

'On your mark,' Prowl raised the green flag in his hand. 'GO!'

The race was on as Autobots and Decepticons took off. For once, Prowl and Skywarp decided to cooperate. They brought out foldable chairs and sat down to relax with their binoculars.

'Well, there they go, What a bunch of buffoons,' Skywarp shook his head.

'Yeah, and now they've got the Autobots against them,' Prowl said.

The competition through the forest was very engaging as the Autobots aimed to win the race, and the Decepticons devising various ways of deception in their own evil minds.

'Wow, Cliffjumper, look at you go!' Bumblebee cheered his fellow team-mate on as the small, feisty red Autobot was in the lead.

'Watch me beat the Decepti-creeps, Bumblebee!' Cliffjumper threw a spontaneous thumbs-up as he ran ahead.

'Did somebody just call us creeps?' Starscream scowled as he lagged behind Ironhide.

'You do have the face of one, Starscream,' Megatron couldn't resist a dig at his second-in-command.

Thundercracker looked suddenly thoughtful. 'I believed the Autobot said 'creeps', Mighty Megatron. He didn't use the singular noun. Therefore, it would mean that you are also a creep.'

'Shut up, Thundercracker, before I pummel you flat,' Megatron growled.

'Come on, we can win this!' Ironhide tried to encourage his team-mates as Bumblebee and Optimus Prime were taken over by Soundwave and Starscream.

They followed the red flags and came to a part of the forest with a running brook.

'Hey, this is nice!' Bumblebee said cheerfully.

'This is no time for sightseeing!' Ironhide said, turning his head back to motion the small Autobot forward.

'What's the matter, Prime?' Megatron sneered as the leader of the Autobots was slowing down. 'You're already tired?'

'No, Megatron, I'm just pacing myself,' Prime said in a wise tone.

'Face it, Prime. You're getting too old for this.'

'If you think it'll only be too soon when you'll call me old, think again, Megatron.'

Thundercracker nodded. 'I do believe both of you are old. I think the real question is who's older.'

'Sometimes, I think it's my destiny to incinerate you into a pile of worthless dust, Thundercracker.' Megatron's eyes glowed red again dangerously.

'I'm winning! I'm winning!' Starscream was making a ton of noise as he was up ahead now, just a few metres behind Cliffjumper. 'I'm ahead of you, Lord Megatron. I'm supreme!'

'He's nuts,' Ironhide said.

'Come on, four leaf clovers, we can do this,' Bumblebee started to pick up his speed.

'You're nuts too,' Ironhide said as the small yellow Autobot caught up to him. 'What are you doing talking to the four leaf clovers?'

'They're my friends,' Bumblebee beamed. 'I've even given them names.'

'I wish someone would beat me unconscious,' Ironhide muttered.

After the brook, Cliffjumper was still way ahead of the pack. The Autobot was determined to win the race for himself and the Autobots. Starscream was in the second place, followed by Soundwave who was just a short distance in front of Ironhide and Bumblebee.

Suddenly Ironhide gave a cry. He had been struck by a branch, which threw him back, causing him to hit a rock.

'Ironhide!' Bumblebee was at once, concerned for his friend.

'Come on, Bumblebee,' Optimus Prime hustled the yellow Autobot, gathering him along to keep his place in the race. 'We can't stop now.'

'Did you see that? Something hit Ironhide,' Bumblebee said.

'It's called a tree, you foolish Autobot,' Megatron replied. 'It's one of the most pathetic life-forms here on Earth, after you.'

'Then where do you stand?' Bumblebee wondered.

'I'm all-mighty, I stand at the top!'

'Then how come you're behind Starscream right now?' Bumblebee asked.

As the situation dawned on him, Megatron growled at the sight of his downright annoying second-in-command acting with great vanity in front of him. 'I'm going to get you for this, Starscream. No one upstages me!'

As he spoke, Megatron quickened his pace. Bumblebee watched in awe as the large robot moved ahead. Optimus Prime's performance was quite commendable too as his long legs carried him well, earning him a place beside Megatron now and Bumblebee found himself in last place alongside Thundercracker.

'You know, I'm not really a runner. I'm a flyer,' Thundercracker complained.

'Then why did you join the race?' Bumblebee was curious.

'It's my ego. I can't stand being left out,' Thundercracker paused shortly as he glanced over at the Autobot. 'Hey, isn't there something different about you?'

Bumblebee cocked his head as he kept his pace with Thundercracker. 'Is it my hair?'

'You don't have hair,' Thundercracker exclaimed.

'Oh no. Where did it all go?' Bumblebee touched his head innocently.

'You never had hair, you bumbling idiot.'

But before Bumblebee could say anymore, a large boulder rolled down the side of a slope and pinned him.

'Ahhh…!' he cried.

'Bumblebee, are you all right?' Optimus Prime called back, upon seeing his friend in trouble.

'Go on, Optimus. I'll be fine,' Bumblebee reassured as he tried to move the boulder

A nagging sense of suspicion started to prick at Optimus Prime. Two of his Autobots were down, leaving only the other two Autobots, including himself, to complete with the Decepticons. He looked over at Megatron; the Decepticon leader was smiling.

'What are you up to, Megatron?' he asked, not trusting him one bit.

'Whatever are you babbling about, Prime?' Megatron sneered. 'Your brains must be fried by the sun. You're not making any sense.'

'Don't worry, Optimus!' Cliffjumper shouted from in front of the pack. He ran up a rough track that was marked by a red flag. 'I'm going to win for all of us.'

'Says who?' Starscream cut in. 'I'm going to win!'

'Victory will be mine, Starscream,' Megatron demanded. 'Fall back now. You have no right to be in front of me, you imbecile.'

'Ha! It's not my fault you're an old man, Megatron.'

Megatron's eyes suddenly flashed red as cold realization hit him. 'You!' he thundered. 'You wrote that letter, Starscream.'

The Seeker smiled cunningly. 'That's right, Mighty Megatron,' he said in a sarcastic tone. 'That was simply one of my many diabolical plans to get you out of the way so that I can be the true leader of the Decepticons.'

'If I don't blast you into a million pieces, Starscream, my name isn't Megatron.' The enraged Decepticon leader raised his fusion canon and fired at his second-in-command.

'Megatron!' Optimus Prime protested.

'Race is off, Prime. I never thought I would say this, but you're not the one I am going after this time,' Megatron rasped. 'Soundwave, call off your minions.'

Soundwave stopped running and obeyed his leader. 'Ravage, Laserbeak, return,' he commanded in his monotone voice as a cat- and bird-like robot appeared from behind the trees and folded themselves into Soundwave's chest.

'What the-' Cliffjumper halted and turned around, pointing an accusing finger. 'You were cheating, Megatron. You had this planned all along, didn't you?'

'You've made a good point for once in your miserable life, Autobot,' Megatron said. 'I've asked Soundwave to set his minions up way before the race started. Our plan was simple – to squash you and your fellow team mates one by one with secret ambushes so that the Decepticons will triumph.'

'Decepti-creeps!' Cliffjumper was furious and he lunged at Starscream, who tried to fight him off.

'Now look what you've done, Megatron, you old fool!' Starscream cursed. 'You've ruined everything!'

'I'll show you what 'ruin' means, Starscream, when I get my hands on you,' Megatron promised as he started firing his fusion canon again. The blast missed Starscream as he moved away from harm, dragging Cliffjumper with him. But he barely had time to react when Optimus Prime dealt a strong blow to his face and he had to release Cliffjumper.

'Come on, Cliffjumper,' Optimus Prime picked up his fellow Autobot quickly. 'We're leaving. We're going back for Ironhide and Bumblebee.'

'But I'm all ready to beat up some Decepticons,' Cliffjumper said, suddenly doing sit-ups on the ground. He stopped when he heard Starscream crying out and saw that Megatron had caught him at last.

'Well, it was fun, while it lasted,' Cliffjumper said woefully and shrugged. 'Do you think we'll get to see Starscream again?' he asked as Megatron lifted the Seeker above his head and threw him down the cliff before laughing out loud with gusto.

'Well, I wouldn't miss him,' Optimus Prime said and smiled.

~END~