Book II
     "Acts of Vengeance"

     Chapter VIII
     "Redemption"


     Not far away from where Optimus
Prime and Megatron fought, Nightbird
was busy tying Rodimus, Kup, and
Springer to the main energy storage
chamber.  Then she attached a small
device to the chamber.
     "Well, so long boys.  In about
ten minutes, this place will be just
a memory...as you will be", said
Nightbird.
     "I wouldn't bet on that", came a
voice from behind Nightbird.
     Nightbird turned around drawing
her sword, but Optimus Prime was
ready for her, and blasted her with
his laser rifle.
     Nightbird fell to the ground
unconscious.
     Optimus Prime went over to where
Rodimus, Kup, and Springer were. 
"Optimus Prime to Skyfire.  Land for
an emergency evacuation", said
Optimus into his radio.
     "Understood", said Skyfire.
     "We've got to get out of here",
said Springer.  "That thing could
blow any minute."
     Optimus tried to free them from
the energeon restraints, but it was
no use.  "I can't break them.  Can
you move."
     "No", said Kup.  "The restraints
are shorting out our movement
circuits."
     "Save yourself Optimus", said
Rodimus.
     "Not a chance."  He picked up
Rodimus Prime.  "I'll be right back."
     "We're not going anywhere", said
Kup.
     Optimus hoisted Rodimus onto his
shoulder and ran for the exit.  When
Optimus got outside, Skyfire was just
landing.  Optimus put Rodimus inside,
and went back for the others.


     Megatron flew away from the
power station.  He cursed himself for
letting Optimus get the better of
him.  But it did not matter. 
Nightbird must have had enough time
to set the detonator and get out.  He
stopped to look for Nightbird but she
was nowhere to be seen.  She was
supposed to meet him at this
position.


     Optimus brought out Kup, and
then Springer.
     "Okay Skyfire", said Rodimus,
"take off."
     "No", said Optimus.  "I've got
to get Nightbird.
     "Optimus", said Skyfire, "my
sensors indicate it's going to
explode any second, you haven't
time."
     "As soon as I'm clear, take
off", said Optimus.
     "No Optimus, we won't leave
you", said Skyfire.
     "Take off, that's an order",
said Optimus.  Optimus jumped from
the door, and ran toward the
building.  He heard Skyfire engage
his engines and rocket away behind
him.  As Optimus approached the
building, it exploded. Optimus was
hit with the force of an atomic bomb. 
He lost consciousness instantly.


     Almost a week passed before the
Autobots were able to find Optimus
Prime's body buried in the rubble. 
They had thought they were going to
exhume Optimus's body from the
wreckage, but when they found
Optimus, by some miracle, he was
alive.
     "Optimus.  Optimus, can you hear
me", asked First Aid.
     Optimus opened his eyes.  He was
in sick bay.  "What happened", asked
Optimus groggily.  Rodimus was there.
     Rodimus told him what happened.
     "It's coming back to me.  I went
back in to get Nightbird, and then
the whole place went up right in
front of me", finished Optimus. 
"What happened to Nightbird?"
     "She never had a chance.  She
was in the energy storage chamber
room when it exploded, ground zero. 
We collected what was left of her. 
Hardly enough to fill a shoe box. 
She's gone", finished Rodimus.  "We
figured you were dead too.  I still
can't believe you survived.  It's
good to have you back Optimus", said
Rodimus.
     "Well, since I can't really
remember being gone, I'll have to
take your word for it", said Optimus
with a chuckle.
     "Optimus.  There is one thing I
need to ask you", said Rodimus.
     "What's that?"
     "Why?"
     "Why what Rodimus", said
Optimus.
     "Why did you go back for
Nightbird", said Rodimus.  He knew
very well that Optimus was being
evasive.
     "Oh, that."  Optimus paused. 
"My fight with Megatron has been
personal for a very long time.  It
was personal the day that Orion Pax
died.  But through the millennia, I
have always been able to put that
secondary to our goal of peace.  As
twisted and evil as he is, Megatron
is a Transformer, and as such has
feelings and emotions, as any other
Transformer does.  He loved
Nightbird, though I doubt he would
admit it.  I could have let her die. 
What better revenge for the death of
Elita than the death of the one he
loved.  Remember when I said I would
avenge Elita's death one way or
another?
     "Yes", said Rodimus.
     "Well, for a time, I had even
considered killing Nightbird.  When
Megatron reminded me that you were in
danger, I realized that I was letting
my personal conflict come before my
duty as leader of the Autobots.  At
that moment, I vowed to myself that I
would never let that happen again. 
Megatron once used Elita to get to
me.  If I hadn't tried to save
Nightbird, I would have to ask myself
forever, if I let her die to get
revenge on Megatron.  That would make
me no better than Megatron."
     "What if you had been killed in
that blast", asked Rodimus.  When you
are dead it does not make much
difference, does it?"
     "I would have died at least
knowing that I did not let Megatron
turn me into that which I almost
became.  I almost became someone who
would sacrifice his friends in the
name of vengeance, and use others for
my own gain.  I would have become
Megatron."
     "You'd better get some rest. 
First Aid said it will be weeks
before you are back on your feet",
said Rodimus.
     Rodimus left Optimus.  Optimus
thought a lot about what had
happened, and a lot about Elita.  One
thing he did know now was that he
would be able to lead the Autobots. 
Of that he was sure.


     Megatron sat at a computer in
his base in Northern Canada.  He had
searched the globe several times, and
found no sign of Nightbird.  She was
gone.  She must have died in the
explosion.  He had only just finished
repairing himself.  He had taken
quite a beating battling Optimus.
     Behind him he heard a noise of
metal scraping metal.  He turned
around, jumping from his seat, and
pointed his cannon at the door way
where he had heard the sound.
     "Who's there", demanded
Megatron?  "Show yourself!"
     A figure moved slowly through
the door, using the wall for support.
     "Hello Megatron", said
Nightbird.
     "Nightbird!  I've searched
everywhere for you.  I assumed you
were dead", said Megatron.
     "I almost was.  I need extensive
repairs", said Nightbird.
     "We'll start immediately", said
Megatron.  "Then, I have a plan."
     "A plan", said Nightbird.
     "Yes.  If I can't have this
planet.  I'm going to destroy it."