Book VI
     "Dark Times, Part III"

     Chapter XXXI
     "Escape"


     Optimus Prime, Springer,
Blitzwing, and Onslaught spent most
of the night going over the data
Ravage had brought them.
     "I think we can come up with a
plan, now that we have this
additional data", said Springer.
     "I agree", said Blitzwing.  "We
may be able to use this address by
Megatron to our advantage..."
     Before Blitzwing could continue,
the alarms began to sound.  Optimus
activated his communicator.  "Hound,
what's wrong", said Optimus.
     "We have a Decepticon attack
force coming in fast", came Hound's
voice.
     "How many", asked Optimus.
     "To many to tell from these
readings."
     "Are you sure they are headed
for us", asked Onslaught.
     "Must be, their course is too
precise to be coincidence", said
Hound.
     "What's their ETA", asked
Blitzwing.
     "About six minutes", said Hound.
     "Call back the patrols, I want
everyone to the escape tunnel
entrance in four minutes."
     Optimus closed the channel, and
they headed for the tunnel.
     "What's happening asked
Astrotrain when they reached the
tunnel entrance."
     "Megatron's found us", said
Blitzwing.
     "What about the holo shield",
asked Skyquake.  "It was working
perfectly."
     "We can't worry about that now",
said Optimus.
     A moment later, the Autobots,
the Decepticons, and the Thing were
ready to make their escape.  All of
them, but one.
     "Where's Swindle", asked Optimus
Prime.
     "I think we've been betrayed",
said Blitzwing.
     "Everyone down the tunnel, we
can be gone before they defeat our
automatic defenses", said Optimus.
     As they headed down the tunnel,
Optimus Prime noticed that the
Constructicons were not with them. 
Optimus stopped and turned around. 
He saw them back at the opening of
the tunnel.
     "Scrapper", what are you doing",
called Optimus.
     "We're going to buy the rest of
you some time to escape", called
Scrapper.
     "No, come with us, we can out
run them", called Optimus.  Optimus
began to run towards them.
     Scrapper aimed his gun at the
top of the tunnel.  Optimus stopped. 
"Get going Optimus.  We'll hold them
off."
     Scrapper fired at the top of the
cave, bringing the ceiling down, and
cutting them off.
     Optimus could do nothing to get
to them.  He turned around and headed
down the tunnel.  Would he now have
to add Decepticon lives to his
conscious?  He put the thought out of
his mind, he had other things to deal
with now.


     A moment after the Autobots and
their Decepticon allies left the
base, Megatron's Decepticons
descended on the base.  The Automatic
defense systems kicked in, but held
them off for only a few moments. 
Then, Megatron, followed by
Soundwave, and the remaining four
Xformers headed for the opening of
the cave, it's holo shield
deactivated by Swindle.
     "I want them alive", called
Megatron to his troops as he walked
towards the cave.  "Preferably."
     At that moment, the
Constructicons ran out of the cave. 
"Constructicons, unite", said
Scrapper.  A moment later, they
combined into the mighty Devestator.
     "Prepare for destruction
Megatron", said Devestator. 
Devestator swung a mighty fist at
Megatron, but Megatron moved just in
time to avoid the blow.
     "Destroy the traitor", said
Megatron to the Xformers.
     Spider, Wolverine, and Cyclops
sent barrage after barrage at the
Mighty Devestator.  Devestator could
not hold his balance against the
assault.  He crashed to the ground,
separating into his six component
parts.  It was over quickly.  The
Xformers quickly destroyed the
Constructicons one by one, until only
Scrapper remained alive.
     Megatron walked over to
Scrapper's dying body, and picked him
up by the neck.  "Why did you betray
me", asked Megatron.
     Scrapper used his last remaining
spark of energy to tell him.  "For
the glory of the First Circle", said
Scrapper.  His eyes dimmed, and he
was gone.
     Megatron raised Scrappers
lifeless body over his head, and
smashed it into the ground.
     At that moment, Swindle came
running out of the base.  "Megatron,
they are trying to escape through a
tunnel at the back of the cave."
     "Xformers, Decepticons, after
them.  "Soundwave, stay with me",
ordered Megatron.  The Xformers,
followed by thirty Decepticon
warriors entered the cave.
     Swindle approached Megatron. 
"So, Megatron, I'm happy I could help
you out."
     "Are you now", said Megatron.
     "I think it's time we discussed
my compensation", said Swindle.
     "Of course it is", said
Megatron.  Megatron walked over to
him, and put a hand on his shoulder. 
"You've done well Swindle, and you're
going to get exactly what you
deserve."  Megatron put his hands
around Swindle's neck, and began to
squeeze.  He lifted him off the
ground.
     "Megat...pleas...", begged
Swindle, but it was not going to do
him any good.
     Megatron squeezed tighter, until
Swindle's neck collapsed, and
Megatron held Swindle's head in his
hands.  He dropped Swindle's head,
and stepped on it.  It crackled with
energy, and hissed as it was crushed.
     "Consider your self rewarded",
said Megatron.  "Soundwave, you heard
what Scrapper said?"
     "Yes, I did."
     "I'm afraid my dismissal of the
First Circle was a mistake.  I want
you to find out who their leader is",
said Megatron.
     "I will try, Megatron, but as
before, I am sure it is a closely
guarded secret."
     "Do not fail me Soundwave.  The
traitors must be found."


     "Well", began Uatu, "Things have
certainly taken an interesting turn. 
The First Circle is a revelation the
likes of which this world of the
Transformers has never seen.  You may
be wondering what happened to the
First Circle in the Transformers
Universe you know.  After Galvatron
banished Blitzwing [Five Faces of
Darkness, Part V] from the
Decepticons, the First Circles ranks
began to dissolve without Blitzwing. 
But that's not important here.  The
Transformers of this Universe are
coming to a crossroads, and the fate
of the Universe will depend on what
is to come.  Optimus Prime has been
left with another burden, the
revelation of Megatron's true origin,
and his relationship to him.  Only
time will tell what will come of
this."