A World Jumper

Grimly, he put away the readout and returned to the clash at hand. He could not be everywhere at once. The fight with Sideways was in hand and had been appropriately proscribed, but if Demolisher broke out of the containment area in the industrial zone, even at this hour of the night it would be difficult to keep the encounter under wraps in spite of the cautions that had been imposed on the local media. If anyone could keep the ongoing firefight under control, it was Epps. At the moment, however, the sergeant was more concerned with avoiding the cloud of flying shrapnel that surrounded the other fleeing Decepticon. Some of it was a consequence of the fast-moving enemy's own heavy fire, while the rest was being generated by the clutch of Eagle gunships that were pouring fire on the target from above. Their shells did not appear to be having much effect on the heavily armored Decepticon.

As Epps looked on, trying to shoot and maintain cover at the same time, Demolisher leaped up onto an empty rail trestle. Did the Decepticon realize that the tracks offered a direct route not only out of the industrial zone but the quarantine area as well? If so, they needed to stop him, and stop him fast. Ducking back behind cover, Epps pulled his own battlefield com unit. "He's found the rail access! Chopper fire's not slowing him enough and those of us on the ground might as well be throwing spitwads! We need something heavy over here!" Fortunately, "heavy" was already on its way.

For such a big aircraft, the C-17 was surprisingly maneuverable. The few citizens out and about in the darkness who saw it come over low and slow paid it no special heed. Low-flying military and cargo aircraft were constantly shuttling in and out of the great city's airports at altitudes that would never be tolerated elsewhere. They ignored the big jet's thunder and went about their business. Doubtless it was coming in for a landing to disgorge some special cargo. None of them had any idea just how special. As the massive rear cargo door opened, exposing the interior of the aircraft to the gleaming lights of the city below, the jumpmaster checked his safety harness as he edged toward the windswept opening. He was waiting for control confirmation from his pilot. The instant he received word, he turned and yelled. "Drop zone—go, go, go!"

It did not bother him that there was no one else in the expansive cargo hold to hear the command. That is, no other human. Certainly there was no driver in the cab of the gleaming blue, flame-decorated semitruck that roared past him and out of the hold. As the truck plunged grillfirst toward the ground below, it began to change in midair. Three oversize parachutes popped open, each bearing a symbol familiar only to a select coterie of humans —and to the autonomous robotic life-forms it identified. Landing softly, Optimus Prime immediately shifted back to his terrestrial guise to charge off in pursuit of the fleeing Demolisher. He did not even need to utilize his own perceptors to locate the ferocious Decepticon. All that was necessary was to lock in on the flock of choppers that were pouring fire, most of it futile, into a far corner of the industrial complex.

With every exit seemingly blocked and Autobots as well as hordes of irritating humans in pursuit, Demolisher searched for a possible way out. One presented itself in the form of an overpass. Leaving the train tracks, the massive Decepticon pivoted on a single massive wheel and flipped end-over-end to land on another roadway. As he rolled toward the city proper and potential freedom, the huge metal wheels that provided his terrestrial appellation crushed car after unlucky car.

As the chopper approached the highway, Lennox and his team saw the massive Decepticon, Demolisher, barreling down the road, crushing cars beneath his massive treads. Each step sent a shudder through the ground, and vehicles were tossed aside like toys in his wake.

"Cut him off!" Lennox yelled to the pilot over the roar of the engines.

The pilot gave a sharp nod, banking the chopper and veering directly to a distance and flying right into Demolisher's path.

As they touched down a safe distance away, Lennox and Epps quickly leaped out, hauling the hefty Plasmic Discharge Rifle—Alexander's latest innovation—between them. The sleek, advanced weapon thrummed with energy, its futuristic design a stark contrast to the gritty surroundings.

"Come on!" Lennox barked, urgency lacing his tone as they set the weapon down. "We've got to get this thing online before that walking tank gets here!"

Epps, crouching beside him and working frantically to assemble the rifle's components, muttered under his breath, "Yeah, just set up a highly advanced weapon while a giant murderous robot barrels toward us. Fantastic idea."

Lennox shot him a look, half-amused but all business. "Just keep it steady, Epps. We only get one shot at this."

Lennox sets the Plasmic Discharge Rifle on the tripod stand, the mechanical clamps secure it in place with Epps help, ensuring stability for precise aiming. With practiced efficiency, Epps nserts three plasma magazines into the designated slots on the rifle, each one clicking into position smoothly.

As the rifle powers up, a low whirring sound fills the air, indicating the activation of its electromagnetic systems.

The whir of energy building up inside the weapon mixed with the distant thunder of Demolisher's approach, every second bringing the monstrous Decepticon closer.

Lennox's hands deftly adjust the rifle scopes and sights, fine-tuning the aim for optimal targeting. The digital display on the scope confirms that the weapon is now fully charged, ready to unleash its devastating power.

Lennox steadied his breathing, eyes locked onto the massive form of Demolisher in the distance. With a firm grip on the trigger, he paused, drawing in a steadying breath as he lined up his shot. His focus was unwavering, each heartbeat slowing to a precise rhythm. With a calculated flick, the muzzle of his high-powered rifle rotated, adjusting to the ideal angle. Then, with a decisive squeeze of the trigger, a surge of brilliant blue plasma erupted from the barrel.

The plasma blast streaked through the air, trailing a faint blue glow as it cut through the battlefield haze. A crackling boom echoed, accompanied by a dense cloud of smoke, and the rifle kicked back hard against Lennox's shoulder, evidence of the raw, controlled power behind the shot.

The blast struck Demolisher directly in the chest, a shockwave reverberating through his massive frame. The impact sent him stumbling backward, his armor splintering and cracking as a large chunk of metal was blasted away, exposing sparking wires and shattered circuits beneath. The Decepticon roared in pain, his movements suddenly jerky and sluggish.

Epps punched the air, his face lighting up with excitement. "Whoa, it's a direct hit!" he shouted, his voice barely containing his exhilaration as he watched the impact tear into Demolisher's armor.

Lennox, still gripping the rifle, stood frozen for a moment, his gaze locked on the smoking crater in the Decepticon's chest. He shook his head slowly, muttering to himself, half in disbelief, "Yeah… the kid really did make something great."

The weight of the weapon in his hands, the power he'd just unleashed—he could hardly believe it. They were holding technology beyond anything they'd ever dreamed, and it was working.

At that moment, Optimus Prime arrived, his towering form moving with calculated precision and power. His optics zeroed in on the injured Decepticon, and without hesitation, he charged. As Demolisher struggled to regain his footing, Optimus closed the distance, each step shaking the ground. In one fluid motion, he deployed his energon blade, its edges glowing fiercely as he swung down at the vulnerable sections of Demolisher's armor. The battlefield resounded with the clash of metal as Optimus launched a relentless assault, his strikes swift and unyielding, determined to put an end to the Decepticon's rampage.

Ironhide arrived next. Sliding beneath the Decepticon's massive frame, the venerable warrior took out one of his foe's wheels even as he grabbed on to the wildly swinging, hardfighting enemy. Assailed from both sides by a pair of Autobots, even a Decepticon as powerful as Demolisher had only a slim chance of escape. When those two Autobots were Ironhide and Optimus Prime, he had no chance at all.

Wobbling from side to side as he fought to maintain his balance while fighting back, Demolisher finally collapsed under the relentless dual attack. He crashed to a halt on his side, then made a few final useless thrusts upward until his spark flickered for the last time. Ready to shoot or lash out again should it prove necessary to strike one more blow, Optimus came closer. There wasn't much left of Demolisher's face. The rest of him had been reduced to scrap by the two Autobots' unrelenting assault. Gazing up at the one who had vanquished him, no longer able to shoot or strike back physically, Demolisher's last act of defiance took the form of sputtering, barely intelligible, and ultimately cryptic words. "This is not your planet to rule … The Fallen—the Fallen … shall rise … again …"