EPISODE VIII: THE END?
�This is it, Autobots,� Ultra Magnus said. The shuttles they were using as cover were not holding out, and there were casualties everywhere. The Aerialbots had attempted an air assault, but were thwarted. Computron had been disengaged by the collective threats of Scorponok and Devastator, and Fortress Maximus was not called in before the radio was destroyed.
All was lost. Ultra Magnus wished it wasn�t going to end this way, but he knew that hope was lost. Rodimus Prime must have been set up, and Optimus Prime was either oblivious or dead. It was the end of the Autobots: the Decepticons had finally won the war.
Suddenly, dawn broke on Charr. The planet�s star rose in the sky like the sun of the Sol system on Earth�it shined upon the battlefield with a brilliant light. And, just as if the miracle the Autobots had been praying for came true, with the dawn came aerial fire against the Decepticons. It was too bright to see where this fire was originating from, but the Autobots did not care. The Decepticons fired blindly at their unseen adversary, but to no avail. Two large concussion missiles followed, and each hit Devastator, disengaging the gestalt. Chaos was occurring on the Decepticon front.
Scorponok, however, had seen enough. The monstrous Headmaster launched into the air to engage its foe, only to be knocked to the ground by Fortress Maximus.
�NOW, NOW,� said the Autobot Headmaster. �I THINK IT�S TIME THAT WE EVEN THIS UP A BIT.� It connected with a punch that sent the Decepticon�s greatest weapon flying.
By now, the Autobots could see their friend: the same shuttle that they had seen leave Earth days ago. Hope had been restored; their miracle had come. Their greatest friend, leader and ally stepped forth from the doors as it opened.
�Autobots!� Optimus Prime cried. �Transform, and roll out!�
Every Autobot cheered in unison as they watched Prime transform and begin to drive forward. Ultra Magnus grinned, and was the first to follow suit, joined soon by the rest who were standing. They drove straight for the scattering Decepticon line. The few soldiers that did fire, it seemed as if Optimus Prime was impervious to everything they fired. It was as if the Autobot commander wasn�t really living: he was a vengeful phantom that could not be brought down.
In a matter of minutes the battle was over. The Decepticons fled from the battle site as the Autobots cheered in victory. Only Optimus Prime did not join them. He was still thinking about Elita-1, about how she was still afflicted. About how Rodimus, who had nearly died from his encounter with Galvatron and Megatron. It was a victory�but at what cost?
Marissa looked on with mixed feelings. Along with her parents, the ninja Snake-Eyes, and Scarlett, she stood on the beach watching the massive explosion that certainly took the lives of Cobra Commander and Duke. Although she was overjoyed to finally see Cobra�s demise come to an absolute finale, it was heart wrenching to look at Scarlett. She had collapsed when the explosion came, not bothering to hold back her tears. Snake-Eyes put his hand on her shoulder, hoping to console her. It didn�t do much good: even Flint had a tear running down his cheek. Lady-Jaye closed her eyes and said a prayer.
Marissa felt horrible. She looked back at the destruction: there were still explosions occurring, probably due to the Commander�s stockpile of weapons. Then something caught her eye, a movement. She left her group and ran toward the flames.
�Marissa!� Lady Jaye yelled. Commander Faireborne ignored her. She ran as hard as she could, knowing that she had seen something. The heat became more intense as she approached the devastation, but she finally was able to see what she had noticed.
It was Duke! The Joe was lying face down, trying to crawl away from the fire. Marissa noticed the trail coming from bushes nearby, he had escaped but was seriously injured. Calling upon strength she didn�t know she had, the EDC commander lifted Duke over her shoulders in a fireman carry, and began running back to shore.
The others had no idea what Marissa had been doing, and Flint had followed her. When they met up, he suddenly realized that his daughter wasn�t acting irrational. He helped her carry Duke back to the beachhead. They laid Duke down and examined his wounds.
Duke was banged up, but otherwise fine. They made a tourniquet for his leg that was bleeding, and all his burns were minimal. He opened his eyes to look into his wife�s face.
�Shana�� he said. He lifted his hand and stroked her face. �Thank God you got out.�
Scarlett was crying joyfully as she held his hand to her cheek. �Me? Conrad, I thought I lost you.�
�Ha!� Duke managed a weak laugh. �I�ve been through tougher.�
�Perhaps,� Scarlett said, smiling. �But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I�m going to have to break your legs.� She was joking, but only a little.
They kissed and embraced, as the other Joes and Marissa looked on and smiled.
It was a sunny day at the United Nations buildings as the GI Joe members received their commendations from Commander Marissa Faireborne of the Earth Defense Command. Each received the EDC/UN Medal of Honor for their bravery and success in defeating Cobra Commander�s forces from the inside, crippling his army forever and saving the EDC commander from her prison.
�Conrad Hauser.� Duke stepped forward to Commander Faireborne and received his medal. She smiled and thanked him for all he had done.
He winked and said, �No, Commander, thank you for saving my life. If it hadn�t been for you, my wife and son might not have me today. I appreciate it.�
�We�ll call it even,� Marissa said. Duke walked back to his family.
The Autobots were even in attendance. Optimus Prime watched as the brave humans received their honors. It had been so long since he had been to Earth, he almost forgot how brave mankind could be under stressful circumstances. After the ceremony was over, he approached the Hauser family to offer his congratulations.
Duke smiled. �Optimus Prime, I do believe?�
The Autobot commander nodded. �And you must be the one everyone calls Duke. I�ve heard a lot about you over the years, funny how we�ve never met.�
�You�d think we�d have crossed paths before,� Duke replied. �Optimus Prime, I would like you to meet my wife, Shana, and our son Joseph.�
�It�s an honor, Mrs. Hauser,� Optimus said warmly. �And your son looks like he inherited all the best traits from both parents.�
�Thank you, Mr. Prime,� Scarlett said. �Hopefully more common sense from me, though.� She added with a laugh.
�Please, call me Optimus,� came the reply. �So, what�s next for you three?�
�Well, we plan on retiring once and for all,� Duke said. �Raise our son, live a life that�s less complicated. I understand that your war with the Decepticons has reached a sort of climax?�
�Yes and no,� Optimus said. �They are all but defeated, yet I don�t think it will take long for them to return.�
�Do you have any loved ones?� Scarlett asked, but was elbowed by Duke.
�Honey, he�s a robot, I�m sure they don�t live like humans.�
There was a profound sadness in Optimus Prime�s eyes. �Well, actually Duke, I do have a female counterpart, Elita-1. Transformers do have genders, however we do not mate or procreate. Elita-1 was a victim of this most recent battle, and I�m afraid she may not recover.�
�Oh God,� Scarlett said. �I�m so sorry, I didn�t mean��
�No, it is fine. Actually, our scientists are doing everything we can to help her. It looks rather grim. I still hold some hope, though.�
�If you don�t mind me asking, what happened exactly?� Duke asked.
�To be honest, I don�t have the slightest idea,� Optimus answered. �She was suddenly revived, yet somehow someone had warped her mind into someone she wasn�t. Although she was able to assert control for a short period, it was too difficult. She did mention Cobra Commander�who I believe you two defeated.�
�Of course!� Scarlett exclaimed. �I think that Marissa mentioned that Cobra Commander had said offhand that he had performed some kind of mind warp to an Autobot, Elita-1 must have been the one! He must have been able to download her essence into some sort of synthoid material, and reworked her mind.�
�You know about that?�
�Well,� replied Duke, �we have seen it done before. I�m sure that was how Megatron was able to reassert himself in his own body. We might know someone who could help��
Optimus Prime waited patiently outside the medical center on Cybertron. Duke and Scarlett had been true to their word, they had Marissa contact an old friend: Carl �Doc� Greer. He had been a medic in the GI Joe corps, and was familiar with Cobra�s synthoid procedures.
While he waited, Optimus gazed at the stars. He knew now that he could never see them, never explore or escape; even with Elita-1. There was a job to be done on Cybertron and Earth. He could never escape his sworn duty to protect the life of all innocent beings, at any cost.
The sky was so peaceful though. He desperately wished that this were the end, that he could live on a world not threatened by violence or tyranny. He wished that Earth would remain peaceful and not suffer any of the same threats. He wished that he could live his days like he did before he became Optimus Prime�the days of�
�Orion Pax,� came a familiar voice behind him.
There were few that knew Optimus by that name, and he turned to face Elita-1.
�Ariel!� His face was a mix of disbelief and joy. �It worked!�
He ran to her and the two lovers embraced. �Is it really you?� Optimus asked.
�Yes, I�m fine now,� Elita-1 said, smiling warmly. �Dr. Greer was able to help restore me, finding trace singularity of my old personality that had asserted itself earlier. I guess I was able to keep some kind of hold over my actions.�
�I�ve always believed you were that strong,� Optimus said. �Look, Elita�I�m sorry I wasn�t there to keep you from being kidnapped. I spent all that time in the Vector Sigma chamber, guarding you, and left when I should have��
�Optimus!� Elita-1 interrupted. �Shut up and hold me.�
Hot Rod came out of the lab to see Optimus Prime and Elita-1 properly reunited. He smiled and decided to give the two their privacy. Turning around, he walked in to the lab.
�Thank you, Dr. Greer,� Hot Rod said. �You have no idea what this means to us.�
�It was my pleasure,� Doc said. �Believe me, it�s worth it when you see two people as happy as that. Plus I feel like I had to do my part in defeating Cobra, in some manner.� He added, smiling.
�Well, I�ll get you back to Earth, then,� Hot Rod said. He transformed. �Hop in and I�ll get you to the shuttles.�
Doc got into the vehicle, and they drove off.
Charr: the Decepticons laid in complete and utter defeat. Scourge and the Sweeps had left with Cyclonus to locate Megatron and Galvatron, while the rest gathered together near the beaten Scorponok. They began to become annoyed, and started feuding with each other over who was responsible for the loss. Their victories that were being promised were not being achieved: and they began to hold their leadership responsible.
Finally, the scouts had returned with their commanders. Megatron was carried into the cave, screaming about how he was going to make Optimus Prime pay. Galvatron was missing an arm and was unmoving. The sight was becoming more proof to the Decepticons that they needed new leadership: Megatron and Galvatron�s �full proof plan� had backfired, Optimus Prime had returned and was at maximum power. Rodimus Prime was not even destroyed, even though both Decepticon commanders had cornered him on J�Asik. Perhaps leadership was the problem�
�Merry Christmas!�
The Fairebornes walked into the Hauser household, greeting Conrad and Shana. It had been three months since the events with Cobra had occurred, and all were recovered. General Hawk had gone home to his family, and Snake-Eyes had gone back to Japan. They all had promised to keep in touch. Rumor had it that Snake-Eyes had found a love interest in Okinawa, however, the ninja refused to comment on anything.
Flint, Lady Jaye, Marissa, Duke, and Scarlett had all agreed to meet on Christmas, hoping that it would become an annual event. After they had all settled in with some hot cups of cider, they began to talk.
�So how are things at the Command, Marissa?� Duke asked.
�They�re going excellent, actually,� she replied. �Morale is at an all time high, and we feel that we could take on anything at this point.�
�Where�s little Joey?� Flint asked.
�Oh, he�s upstairs sleeping, Dashiell,� Scarlett said. �We got him up early this morning to enjoy Christmas, but I think it was too much for him.�
They continued to share pleasant conversation: about day-to-day activities and their social lives. Cobra was behind them, and it would be forever. After a bit, Duke excused himself to go check on Joey.
�Well, Alison, I think we can look forward to our Golden Years,� Flint said, looking at Lady Jaye. �Finally.�
�Don�t hold your breath yet, Dashiell,� she replied. �That daughter of ours may call us back in: we may have done too good of a job.�
�Oh Mom,� Marissa said, smiling. �I wouldn�t want you around anyway. Harder to meet guys with you around at my office.�
They all laughed.
Upstairs, Duke was looking at his son sleeping peacefully. Next to the crib was a photo of his brother, at his commissioning.
�Well, Falcon�I did it,� he said.
�What did you say, Conrad?�
Duke turned to see Scarlett walking in. �Nothing, Shana. What�re you doing up here?�
�Just wondering how our little guy is doing,� she said. Scarlett noticed the picture of Falcon. �It�s finally over.�
�No,� Duke said, putting his arms around Scarlett. �It�s just beginning.�
Conrad Hauser then kissed his beautiful wife Shana, thanking God that all had become right in the world.
THE END