C158(1)

"These are not just a few cars!"

Batman's voice was calm as he turned to Lennox and the others. "Friendly reminder, step back a bit to avoid any accidental injuries."

"Accidental injuries?"

Before Lennox could fully grasp the meaning of Batman's words, Epps and the others behind him had already started moving, quickly retreating to safety.

"What?" Lennox stared at Epps in disbelief, not expecting him to react so fast.

"Lanny, didn't you hear Batman? Step back!" Epps barked.

Lennox, still confused, silently followed him.

"Idol, huh?" Epps joked as he cast an excited glance at Batman.

"Epps," Lennox muttered, gritting his teeth, "didn't you just tell me earlier that you preferred cyborg?"

"That was before cyborg saved us!" Epps replied matter-of-factly.

"Cyborg saved you, but now you suddenly like Batman more? What's the deal?" Lennox pressed.

Epps shrugged. "Batman just feels… more approachable."

"Approachable?" Lennox looked at Batman skeptically. He didn't see it.

As a special operations team captain who had faced countless dangerous missions, Lennox had encountered his fair share of terrifying opponents—and usually, he'd come out on top. 

But with Batman, he felt something different.

The moment he locked eyes with the Dark Knight, a chilling realization hit him: if Batman were his opponent, he wouldn't survive past the first second.

It was an eerie, indescribable feeling, one that sent shivers down his spine.

BOOM!

The sound of metal shifting snapped Lennox out of his thoughts.

Before his eyes, the cars began to transform, their metallic bodies contorting and rearranging until they stood upright as towering robots.

"What the—?!"

Lennox could hardly believe what he was seeing. Among the transforming machines, the largest was a red robot formed from the Western Star truck. The others varied in size but were all imposing, towering like mountains over the humans.

"What are these things?"

He was stunned, more so than when he had first encountered the mechanical scorpion. The scene unfolding before him felt utterly alien—otherworldly.

His gaze flicked to the frozen NBE-ONE. The pieces started to fall into place.

"NBE! So this is real. There really are NBEs!" Lennox whispered in awe. He realized this wasn't just an isolated incident. This was an alien war, and Earth was nothing more than an unwilling battlefield.

Humans were merely collateral damage.

Suddenly, his eyes widened in alarm.

Something terrible was happening.

The frost encasing NBE-ONE was beginning to melt.

Because Starscream and the other Decepticons had severed all internal power lines—cables, networks, and everything in between—the base's systems had failed. Only emergency lighting and minimal backup power remained operational.

But that wasn't the main issue.

The crucial machine responsible for maintaining the frost on NBE-ONE's body had lost power and had completely stopped functioning.

As a result, the frost was melting, and NBE-ONE—Megatron—was beginning to wake from his deep sleep.

This wasn't what Starscream wanted.

Once the frost fully melted, Megatron could regain consciousness on his own.

"Not good!"

Optimus Prime's voice echoed across the space as he too noticed the melting frost.

He understood immediately—Megatron's liberation was imminent.

After two thousand years of dormancy, Megatron's mind would have been trapped in a deep, dream-like state. Upon waking, his fury and power would be uncontrollable.

Optimus Prime knew he couldn't stop Megatron from waking, but he had to act fast.

Turning to Batman, his tone became low and resolute. "Go. Get the AllSpark. Leave this to us."

His eyes burned with determination.

"Until you retrieve the AllSpark, I promise you—no Decepticon will interfere."

Optimus Prime's words echoed with resolve, but they were soon answered by a deafening roar that shook the base.

From the center of the room came the thunderous voice of Megatron, newly awakened from his deep sleep.

"I AM MEGATRON!"

CRACK!

His red eyes ignited with a menacing glow. As his massive frame began to stir, every joint in his body moved with mechanical precision. 

The remnants of ice clinging to his frame shattered instantly, scattering like shards of glass.

Megatron had fallen into slumber centuries ago when an unexpected gravitational anomaly near the North Pole had disrupted his systems mid-flight. He crashed, unconscious, into the icy wasteland, where the Arctic cold encased him in a frozen prison.

It wasn't until the early 20th century that Captain Witwicky discovered his frozen form and, after an arduous effort, transported him to the United States, still encased in ice.

Humans feared what lay beneath the frozen surface. To them, Megatron was both a sealed demon and a scientific marvel. Researchers had derived countless modern technologies from his alien design, crediting him as a harbinger of technological advancement.

But their fear had been justified. They understood one crucial fact: the ice was the key to his dormancy. As long as it remained intact, Megatron would stay trapped in his deep sleep.

That is, until now.

With the ice finally melted, Megatron's consciousness surged back into his towering frame.

His glowing red eyes scanned the room, locking instantly onto Optimus Prime. A chilling, guttural laugh escaped him.

"Old friend," he rumbled, his voice deep and resonant, yet laced with a lawless, malevolent undertone. "Seeing you the moment I awaken… it warms me to my core."

Optimus Prime stood tall, unflinching.

Meanwhile, Starscream rushed to Megatron's side, dropping to one knee in a display of subservience.

"Megatron, you honor us with your return!" he exclaimed, his tone dripping with sycophantic fervor. "I live only to serve you!"

Brawl quickly joined in, standing shoulder to shoulder with Starscream. "Yes, Lord Megatron. Your return signals a new dawn for the Decepticons!"

The pair looked like the ultimate sycophantic duo, desperate to curry favor.

Megatron's gaze shifted, landing on Blackout, who stood slightly apart from the others. Blackout's metallic face twisted into a stunned expression.

What?! I was here first!

Blackout' thoughts raced. 'That's not what you two were saying earlier!'

"Blackout," Megatron rumbled, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.

Blackout's tension evaporated. Megatron had called his name. That was all that mattered.

"Prepare for battle."

"Yes, Lord Megatron!" Blackout barked, his grievances forgotten as he eagerly shifted into combat mode.

The air inside the base grew electric as the two sides squared off.

Autobot camp: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz, and Ratchet.

Decepticon camp: Megatron, Starscream, Brawl, Blackout, and Scorponok.

Each side matched perfectly, one against one.

Megatron's gaze turned inward for a moment. "I can feel it," he muttered, a sinister excitement coloring his tone. "The AllSpark… its power is close."

Then, his eyes snapped back to his old rival.

"Optimus Prime," he said, his voice lowering to a dangerous growl, "are you ready to lose?"

Megatron's fists clenched with a metallic crunch. "Cybertron will rise again—under my rule. The universe bends to my will. And this planet… it will be no different."

Optimus Prime met his words with icy defiance.

"I will never let your vision become reality."

With a sharp motion, a broad sword extended from Optimus Prime's right arm.

The gesture was unmistakable—a call to battle.

The tension that had filled the base like a coiled spring exploded into action.

"Autobots, attack!"

As Optimus Prime charged toward Megatron, his team moved in unison. Bumblebee, Ironhide, Jazz, and Ratchet each locked onto their opponents.

The war between Autobots and Decepticons had reignited, and the fight for Earth began anew.

….

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