Book V
     "Dark Times, Part II"

     Chapter XXI
     "Betrayal"


     Optimus drove slowly, he wasn't
in a hurry.  Even if none of the
others chose to stay, he was going to
stay and do whatever he could to stop
Megatron.  None of them had any
obligation to save this planet.  But
Optimus knew that he did.
     When Optimus arrived at the
Volcano, Megatron, Nightbird, and
Soundwave were waiting for him.
     Optimus transformed.  He saw the
smug look on Megatron's face.  He
thought he'd won.  For now, he had. 
"The codes Megatron", said Optimus.
     "Not even a hello", said
Nightbird with a smirk.
     "As I promised Optimus", said
Megatron.  Megatron tossed Optimus
Prime a data pad.
     Optimus took out a small
communicator.  "You won't mind if I
contact Cybertron and make sure these
codes work, will you", said Optimus.
     "Don't you trust me?", asked
Megatron.
     "In a word, no."
     Megatron chuckled, and nodded to
Soundwave, who produced a small
communicator of his own, and spoke
into it.  "This is Soundwave.  drop
the jamming field around Cybertron."
     Optimus activated his
communicator.  "This is Optimus Prime
to Cybertron, do you read me."
     "Cybertron here", came Rodimus
Prime's voice.
     "Rodimus, I guess you've been
filled in on the situation by now",
said Optimus.
     "Yes, I have."
     "Good.  Has Spike's shuttle
arrived yet", asked Optimus.
     "It just arrived, why do you
ask."
     "Just wanted to be sure they
made it safely.  I am transmitting
the codes now", said Optimus.  He
connected the data pad to the
communicator.
     "Codes received", said Rodimus. 
"I'm entering them into the bombs
now."
     There was a moment of silence. 
Optimus was getting nervous.
     "The codes worked.  Blurr and
Kup get to keep their heads", said
Rodimus.
     "Excellent, Optimus out." 
Optimus closed the channel.
     "You'll be leaving now I trust",
said Megatron.
     "Omega Supreme is waiting for me
back at Autobot City", said Optimus.
     Optimus Prime turned to leave.
     "So", began Megatron, "how does
it feel to lose."
     Optimus knew Megatron was just
trying to goad him into a fight.  The
three of them would probably
overpower him before he could get off
a shot.  As much as he wanted to tear
Megatron apart right then and there,
he knew he had to put his personal
feelings aside.  Optimus turned
around, and walked toward Megatron. 
He walked right up to him, and stood
only inches from him.
     "Revel in your victory Megatron. 
If you think this is over, you are
sorely mistaken.  There will be
another time Megatron.  I promise you
that.  You will pay for what you have
done to the people of this planet. 
You will pay."
     "Big words Optimus Prime, but
can you back them up", said Megatron.
     "I guess you'll have to wait and
see, Megatron", said Optimus.  "Per
our agreement, we will be leaving
within the hour."  Optimus Prime
turned around, transformed, and
headed for Autobot City.
     Megatron turned to Soundwave. 
"Well, my old friend, we now have an
energy rich base of operations from
which to launch our conquest of
Cybertron, and the Universe."
     Soundwave smiled.  "Shall I
order the Xformers to attack Autobot
City and destroy the remaining
Autobots", said Soundwave.
     "No", said Megatron.
     Soundwave and Nightbird looked
at him, alarmed by this unexpected
command.
     "You mean you are not going to
attack", said Nightbird.
     "Of course I want them to
attack, but tell them to wait until
Optimus Prime arrives.  I want him to
be with them when they die", said
Megatron.
     "Excellent", said Nightbird. 
They'll never expect it.
     "Megatron", began Soundwave, "if
I may ask, why did you keep your
agreement with Optimus Prime this
long?  Had we attacked yesterday, we
could have destroyed several shuttles
full of wounded Autobots."
     "It's simple", began Megatron. 
"Optimus Prime has been expecting me
to betray our agreement all along. 
He won't be expecting us to attack at
this point, and when he is dead, that
fool Rodimus Prime will be in command
of Cybertron, and we'll retake
Cybertron easily."
     "A brilliant plan Megatron, but
what about Starscream", said
Soundwave.
     "I'm not worried about him.  He
commands a small force of traitors,
he can't hope to keep them together
enough to do us any real damage."