The atmosphere in the cave was tense. Bokkun really wished Optimus, Ratchet, and Prowl didn’t bring Amy with them. Still, he needed allies. “Nice to finally meet you,” he greeted.
“And you, Bokkun,” returned Optimus. “If I understand it correctly, you have the means to bring Sonic back?”
“Right here,” replied Bokkun as he presented Sonic’s Memory Chip.
“What do you wish in return?” asked Optimus.
“Only that you restore Sonic as quickly as possible,” answered Bokkun.
“Your optics dart to Amy a lot,” observed Ratchet. “Uneasy with her around?”
“Last time we met,” gulped Bokkun, “it wasn’t on good terms.”
“I still owe you a hammering!” snarled Amy.
“Save it,” urged Optimus. He turned back to Bokkun. “What about the Emeralds?”
“I have them here,” replied Bokkun as he presented the Emeralds he had. The Autobots then presented theirs.
“All that’s left,” mused Optimus, “is to retrieve the last two from Megatron.”
“Somehow, I doubt he’s going to make that task easy,” sighed Bokkun. “With Eggman providing troops and with their technology to make the troops better, Megatron will stop at nothing to get ours.”
“And I doubt they’ll just appear out of thin air,” muttered Amy.
“Hang on,” called Bokkun as he heard something. “Do you guys hear that?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” replied Optimus. It was metal on stone, with a running rhythm. “Who in the universe…?” asked Optimus before Cyber-Sonic came into view. He tripped when he approached the groups. “…Sonic?” asked Optimus. Cyber-Sonic picked himself up.
“Optimus, please, help me!” he pleaded as he presented the last two Chaos Emeralds.
“What in…why?!” Optimus asked.
“I heard the broadcast!” answered Cyber-Sonic. “I looked deep into Eggman’s database! I need help! Please!”
“…Well, this is a start,” mused Optimus.
“And, with no one around,” cheered Bokkun, “we can install his memory chip here and now!” At that point, a Ground Bridge opened.
“I didn’t ask for one,” gulped Optimus.
“Anything else you want to say?” asked Amy as she glared at Bokkun.
“Not really,” replied Bokkun, feeling foolish for jinxing the situation.
“Weapons out,” urged Optimus. Good thing he said that, Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave, Metal Sonic, and Eggman came through the Ground Bridge.
“The Emeralds! Hand them over!” demanded Megatron.
“Come and get them!” taunted Optimus.
“I intend to!” replied Megatron. “Decepticons, ATTACK!”
“Defend Sonic at all costs!” ordered Optimus. The fight was a brutal one! Optimus kept Megatron off of everyone’s backs.
“Cyber-Sonic will fall!” snarled Megatron as he fired on Optimus. “Your failure here will drive everyone to despair!”
“Shoot my aft!” challenged Optimus.
“I’m trying to! Hold still!” snarled Megatron as he fired. He was too busy with Optimus that he didn’t see a certain pink, hammer-wielding Hedgehog jump onto his shoulder. He DID feel her boots land on him and hesitated for just a second, all the timing Amy needed. She swung her hammer into his helmet repeatedly, causing an echo.
“WORD! TO! THE! WISE!” Amy said with every strike. “WEARING! AN! ECHO! CHAMBER! ON! YOUR! HEAD! ISN’T! VERY! SMART!” Megatron then managed to grab Amy and slammed her against the cave wall, still maintaining his grip.
“That! Hurt!” snarled Megatron. “I ought to tear your head off for that!”
“I can’t let that happen!” called a robotic voice. Megatron turned his head to see Cyber-Sonic in a ready stance.
“Why should you care?” he asked. “You are not organic.”
“Maybe,” replied Cyber-Sonic, “or maybe it’s another deception. But, I do know this: my sympathies lie with the Autobots and YOU are not one of them!” He leapt at Megatron’s head but was tackled aside by Metal Sonic. Optimus got Megatron to release Amy and the two continued their battle. Meanwhile, Cyber-Sonic was knocked to the floor of the cave and Metal stood over him.
“Whatever passes for your heart may be in the right place,” taunted Metal as he kicked Cyber-Sonic, “but you have years to regain before you can ever stand your ground against me! A moment that, sadly, will never come for you!”
“GET OFF OF HIM!” shouted a voice. Bocoe then crashed into Metal and got into a battle with him. Bokkun arrived and showed the memory chip to Cyber-Sonic.
“Are you…certain I am worthy?” asked Cyber-Sonic.
“You have no idea,” replied Bokkun. “Open your head.” Cyber-Sonic complied and a panel slid upwards to reveal a slot for the chip. Bokkun plugged it in and a progress bar appeared in Cyber-Sonic’s eyes. “Of course it’ll take time,” muttered Bokkun, “why not?”
“GET AWAY FROM HIM, TRAITOR!” shouted Eggman as he used a new mech to toss Bokkun aside. He then got the mech to raise its claw, about to bring it on Cyber-Sonic’s head. Then…it happened. Cyber-Sonic moved at an advanced speed from underneath the claw to standing on top. His optics flashed green as a big fat smirk crossed his mouth.
“Come on, Egg-breath!” laughed Cyber-Sonic. “Step it up a bit!” The inflection and cocky attitude had proved one thing, a result good for the Autobots.
“YOU FOOL, EGGMAN!!” roared Megatron.
“That’s unfortunate,” mused Shockwave.
“HE’S BACK!” cried Amy. “SONIC’S BACK!”
“Praise the Primordial Program!” cheered Optimus.
“YOU BLUE PEST!” shouted Eggman as he slammed his other claw onto the one Sonic WAS standing on. The claws smashed apart.
“You’re too slow!” taunted Sonic. He spin-dashed the mech and it toppled. “And Megatron, I owe you for roboticizing me!”
“I guess,” snarled Megatron, “if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!” He then got an idea. “You idiots brought your Emeralds, correct?”
“…No!” gasped Optimus. “BY PRIMUS, NO!”
“Shockwave told me about her experience of her anger and rage and hatred being poured into the Emeralds,” explained Megatron. “Let’s see what happens when I pour more positive emotions into them. Start recording, Shockwave!”
“Doing so now,” reported Shockwave as she tossed Prowl aside. Then, the Emeralds orbited Megatron.
“Fun isn’t something to consider while trying to bring order,” he taunted, “but dreams of the end result put a smile on my face!” All of a sudden, his body and armor went golden and his optics blazed a deep red.
“Oh…Primus!” breathed Optimus. Megatron then went on the offensive and fired a dozen Chaos Spears. Everyone scattered as Megatron fired again and again.
“So, THIS is what going mad with power feels like!” laughed Megatron. “Oh, PRIMUS, I’m loving this!” He turned to the battered Sonic. “Would you like to choose which limb I sever from you, or shall I surprise you?”
“Are you sure you still want to do this?” quizzed Sonic. “You’ve got a lot of power now, and I’d hate for you to waste it.”
“You’re just talking to save your aft!” dismissed Megatron. “What sort of fool do you think I am?!”
“Do you really want the answer to that?” asked Sonic.
“Hey, Sonic!” called Optimus. “I’ll take my turn now!”
“You’ve played with me for long enough!” snapped Megatron. “It’s Sonic’s turn!”
“Besides,” protested Sonic, “you’re only jumping in because you see his weakness too!”
“My…what?” quizzed Megatron, taken aback.
“It’s not affecting you yet, but it’s about to!” laughed Optimus. Amy caught on.
“Aha!” she realized. “Someone’s not looking after himself!” Now Megatron was concerned, so he activated a function built into all Cybertronians.
“Diagnostics. My systems only,” he told his onboard computer. The read-out didn’t please him. “WHAT?! IMPOSSIBLE!”
“Your new Super Form is burning through more Energon than your body can give,” confirmed Optimus. “You should have treated it like it was your first time using your Battle Frame. Speaking of which, Optimus Prime: SUPER MODE!” The trailer appeared and changed to allow Optimus to jump in. Soon, he charged at Megatron and started punching. Megatron kept blocking, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Prime, there’s only one way to get Megatron back to normal,” called Sonic as the Emeralds orbited him.
“Not again!” protested Optimus. “We can’t afford another Emerald hunt!”
“STOP THAT HEDGEHOG!” shouted Megatron. Starscream rushed at Sonic as his currently metal skin turned gold. Sonic then flew towards the cave roof.
“These things need to be hidden again!” declared Sonic. “Chaos Control!” The Emeralds then glowed before leaving the cave and taking the Super Forms with them. As his steel took its familiar grey color, Megatron dropped to his knees, his Energon reserves at a critical low.
“Well, well, well,” taunted Optimus as he went back into normal robot mode, “what do we have here? Megatron, after another failure!”
“Keep running that mouth of yours,” snarled Megatron. “It will be your undoing!” He then raised his Fusion Cannon and aimed it at Sonic! “GOODBYE, RAT!” He fired.
“Nice try!” laughed Sonic as he dodged. The shot hit the cave floor and a blue light came from the crack that got brighter and brighter.
“…Uh oh!” gulped Optimus.
“Uh oh?” asked Sonic.
“Ironhide described that kind of light vividly!” explained Optimus. Eggman and the Decepticons realized what was going on.
“There was a deep Energon vein!” revealed Shockwave. “That’s why we didn’t short out so quickly!”
“And my shot just hit it!” gulped Megatron. “It’s destabilizing!”
“What’s that mean?!” cried Bokkun.
“IT’S GONNA BLOW!” shouted Amy.
“Teletraan,” called Optimus, “we need a…!” A Ground Bridge opened.
“That’s ours!” confirmed Ratchet.
“Everyone, fall back!” ordered Optimus. Another Ground Bridge then opened.
“That one’s ours!” Soundwave called to his team.
“Decepticons, retreat!” commanded Megatron. Eggman and Metal followed the Cons as Sonic joined the Autobots. Optimus covered his allies’ retreat as Bokkun joined them.
“This time,” called Optimus, “Sonic’s with us!” Megatron glared as both leaders went into their respective Ground Bridges. As they closed, the cave blew up, scattering rock everywhere.
“HOLY HELL!” swore a RAAT soldier.
“Nothing holy about that place,” remarked Josie, “or what happened.”
“Should we assume they’re…?” asked another soldier.
“No, they have the technology to get out of that,” argued Josie. “Move out, we’re going home. I’m not risking a fight right now. We’re too small.” The soldiers obeyed and they retreated home, but Josie Beller couldn’t resist looking back and making an oath. “But, machines, if you think we WON’T meet on the battlefield soon, you’re wrong. This is only the beginning! So swears Josie Beller, Circuit Breaker!”