My heart has joined the thousands, for my friend stopped running today.

~

Optimus and the other deflated in relief when the Omega Lock shut down. Though they all knew that this wasn't the full victory, they still had a warlord to defeat, but this was a great weight off of their shoulder pads. The Prime watched as Bumblebee sighed soundlessly, while Ratchet did the same, turning around calmly and nodding his helm. Optimus returned the nod, once again becoming serious and all business. Next came the hardest part of all.

Next he had to snuff the spark of Megatron. 

"Bumblebee," he ordered in one word, his light blue optics looking down to the scout. Bumblebee looked up at him solemnly and nodded once. 

Ratchet caught up to the scout quickly as the yellow and black mech began to head out, despite the medic's limp. Optimus hurriedly followed, surprised at Ratchet's speed. He narrowed his optics when Ratchet placed a servo on Bumblebee's shoulder plate and looked into his wide purple optics. The two of them seemed to have a silent conversation, one that made Optimus' spark worry about what it was, before Bumblebee finally shook his helm. Ratchet opened his derma to protest against whatever it was about, but the scout placed his servo over Ratchet's and gently pulled it off his shoulder plate. His optics turned apologetic and sad as he slowly pushed the medic back behind him, leaving Ratchet stunned and unable to speak. Optimus quickly realized that, once again, Ratchet was putting himself before the others. The Prime admired that, but at a time like this, it worried him. He wanted them all to make it out alive.

"Ratchet," the red and blue mech said quietly, this time placing his own servo on the old doctor's shoulder plate. "Bumblebee is the scout, and the only one who knows where Megatron is at the moment. It is wise if we allow him to proceed first."

The medic again opened his derma to reply, but this time cut himself off, sighing and nodding his helm. The scout perked up slightly, seeming a bit more like his old adorable self, and turned hurriedly, his pedesteps almost completely silent as he quickly waved for them to follow. Ratchet sighed again and did so, keeping a good distance but also making sure he was close enough to step in. Optimus was right behind his old friend as they exited the room and snuck through the hall. They passed a few doors before Bumblebee quickly held up his clenched servo, his gaze narrowing at the bend in the hall a bit farther away. Optimus nearly flinched when he heard the unmistakable sound of another Vehicon division heading there way, most likely on scheduled patrol. Each of the Autobots tensed, Optimus lifting his blaster, which was starting to get heavy in his grasp, Ratchet drawing his blade while his mangled servo reluctantly hovered over the gun at his hip, and Bumblebee taking out both blasters quickly. 

When the first Vehicon rounded the corner, Optimus made the first shot and hit him straight in the helm. The others didn't hesitate to follow suit, charging the others as they followed the first. The Prime couldn't help but think back to when he and the Autobots never hit first. Mercy had always been a priority of the his, but now it was like it was never there. Optimus' spark clenched, but he tried not to think about it. This was war, and this was the final battle. It would be bloody, yet there was no way they could hold back now. 

When they finished, the last of them crumpling to the floor after being shot in the chest chassis by the scout, Optimus lowered his blaster and stared at the offlined Decepticons littering the floor. His processor flashed to that thought, the one he was trying the hardest not to dwell upon. 

He was going to have to do this to Megatron. 

Why was it, after everything and despite his roaring hate and frustration for the mech, he was still afraid, still upset, about doing this?

"We heard a-"

Optimus jumped as two more blaster shots echoed through the hall, turning sharply just as two bodies began to crumple to the floor behind him. Blank optics of Vehicons stared into his, their chassis' smoking. The Prime blinked in shock and turned again, looking to the scout. Bumblebee looked as surprised as he was, looking around in shock. Both sets of optics rested on Ratchet, who was still holding out the gun with a hard glare. Once it powered down, he pulled it back and looked it over, almost like he was surprised with himself as well. 

"I think I'm starting to like this thing," he muttered before hooking it back to his hip and looking back up at the others. He raised an optic ridge at their shocked and amused expressions, before waving it off and motioning for Bumblebee to take the lead. "We'd better hurry," he said simply. 

The scout still looked a little amused as he nodded his helm, hurrying forward and motioning for them to follow quickly. His jagged and excited movements indicated that they were close. Optimus was extremely relieved to see that the one he considered his own returning to his old self little by little. His optics glanced over to Ratchet as they followed Bumblebee through the hall; he wondered if maybe, once this was all over, that they could, too. Things would never be the same, but with time, maybe they could grow back to the mech's they once were. 

Bumblebee stopped just before a door, turning his helm and looking at the two mech's that were following him. They also paused, both getting a little confused to why he would stop now. Megatron was beyond that door; they could feel it, and they were both itching to get at him. The scout turned completely around and held up his servos above his helm. His purple optics bore into them long and hard, like he was trying to communicate by looking into them.

"Bumblebee," Optimus said slowly and as quietly as possible. "What are you saying?" He began to wonder why he wasn't just telling them, but stopped himself. He had no idea what the scout had been through while they had been gone, and it wasn't something to bring up now. 

Ratchet raised an optic ridge, waiting for Bumblebee to reply, but quickly seemed to realize after a few moments. "Are you going to act as if we captured you?" he asked with a bit of a crack in his voice. 

Bumblebee narrowed his optics and shook his helm, lowering his servos and pointing at then both of them. His blasters appeared and he held them at their helms. The two of them jumped, but he put them away a second later and rose his servos above his helm again. It took the two of them a bit longer to figure it out, but they caught on about the same time.

"You want us as if we have been captured," Ratchet said first, raising his optic ridges in surprise at how well thought out that was. 

Optimus was also impressed, nodding his helm. "A wise choice of action. Megatron is not aware that you have taken our side. This will give us an element of surprise."

Ratchet began to lift his servos above his helm, but paused. "And what of our weapons?" he asked skeptically. "Megatron will figure something is up if we still have them on us."

Bumblebee held out his servos, then pointed to his backside and then his hip. The two of them didn't completely understand, but reluctantly handed him their blasters. The young mech smiled a little, hooking Ratchet's gun to his hip while placing the blaster on his back, hooking it to a feature that he held on his backstrut. Optimus and Ratchet both realized the plan and nodded, smiles entering both of their faceplates as well. They both rose their servos above their helms as Bumblebee went around them and took out his blasters and raised it at their helms once more, this time from behind.

Ratchet stared straight ahead for a moment before he closed his optic, still smiling a little. "After this, it's over."

Optimus closed his optics as well as his grin grew slightly. "Yes, old friend. We can start anew."

<I'm just happy that I get a chance to be with you two again,> the scout said quietly, a smile in his cracked and warbled voice as well. 

The two older bots smiled. That was the second time he had spoken since they had met him again; it was still broken, but it was a miracle to them. Optimus opened his optics first and took a step.

"Autobots," he said as quietly as he could. "Roll out."

Ratchet opened his optic and grinned brighter, capturing the moment before he took a deep vent. "Let's go," he muttered, matching Optimus' pace as they began to head towards the door.

Bumblebee only nodded. 

Then the door opened.

And there he was.

The silver titan had his back to them, his servos clasped behind his backside as he looked out into the space on the other side of the ship. He stiffened when he heard them come in, turning slowly. Both of the older Autobots were surprised to see that he had a long, ugly scar up his faceplate, cutting across his derma and right optic, though it still functioned, and farther up his helm. Optimus wondered where that scar had come from, but kept that to himself and focused on looking furious with him. Which wasn't too hard. 

"Ah, the remains of Team Prime," Megatron said slowly, a dark grin rising to his derma. "Ironic, that you are all here at this time."

Optimus and Ratchet both bit back their glossa as their glares grew harder as they glowered at the Decepticon leader. Bumblebee remained steely, his purple optics sliding over to Megatron dully. He looked as blank and dead as he had before.

Megatron's gaze darkened as he narrowed his optics at the medic. "I never got to repay you for this, doctor," he growled, gesturing to the scar along his faceplate. 

Optimus tried to hold back his surprise, looking to the white and orange mech. Ratchet scoffed a little. "You scar my family, I scar you," he spat, but Bumblebee raised the power of his blaster and Ratchet once again bit his glossa.

Megatron chuckled. "And yet it seems you will no longer be able to do so, now that you are at my mercy." He raised his cannon, and Ratchet's optic widened as he starred into the glowing barrel of the gun.

Bumblebee jumped, reaching for Ratchet's blaster quickly, but like a flash of lightning, Megatron swung his arm to the side and a loud blast blew the scout back. Bumblebee screamed in pain as he was hit, falling back and rolling at the force of the impact. The other Autobots' optics widened and they turned sharply, losing their guard immediately. Megatron laughed maniacally. 

"You really think I wouldn't know the real reason you're here?!" he sneered, stopping to brag. "Bumblebee shares the same essence as me; there is nothing he could hide from me!"

The scout looked hurt and betrayed as he glared at the warlord in pain. Ratchet stared at him shakily, before quickly turning around, crying out in rage again and swinging his blade at him. Megatron was just as quick raising his arm to block the blade with his fusion cannon. Once the blade hit, he threw his arm back, sending the medic off balance, and kicked him hard in the abdomen. Ratchet choked as he stumbled backward, falling to the floor and coughing up Energon quickly. 

<Ratchet!!> Bumblebee screamed from where he was struggling to sit up. He whirred a roar of fury and kicked Optimus' blaster with all his might, sending it flying across the floor and hitting the Prime's pedes. 

Optimus had watched in horror as Ratchet was struck, his spark stopping when his old friend ejected Energon from his mouth. Then he felt something heavy hit his pede after a scream from the scout. His optics flashed to the blaster below him, and a moment later he had picked it up and was racing towards Megatron, shouting out his own battle cry. 

"You dare hurt my family?!" he couldn't help but roar, the pain and anguish he had been holding back for so long finally rushing free like a tidal wave. He shot the warlord several times, causing the silver titan to stumble, and then slammed his side into him. 

Megatron let out a cry as he fell backwards, but didn't allow himself to be taken out so easily. As he hit the floor, he raised his fusion cannon and shot at the Prime. The blast only hit his shoulder plate, which was extremely lucky considering how close he was to the fusion cannon, but it was enough to send him stumbling back. Spots danced at his vision as he tripped over his own pedes and painfully collided with the floor as well. Megatron shook his helm quickly and stood. While the Prime was still dazed, he moved towards him, his blade unsheathing and raised.

"Oh, I dare, Optimus," he hissed, his red optics darker than he had ever seen them before. "Once you are gone, there will be no one to stop me from offlining every last Autobot in this universe!" He raised the blade high above his head. 

Bumblebee cried out in his broken voice again, getting up despite the pain in his chassis and charging the warlord. Just as Megatron was about to swing the blade down into Optimus' spark chamber, the scout tackled him from the front, sending the both of them backwards, but the silver titan didn't fall. He roared like an angry animal, taking the scout by his helm and throwing him away like he was nothing. 

"No one will stop me!!" Megatron screamed, his optics shaking as pure unbridled rage rolled off of him, and his words sounded like thunder cracks. "I AM UNSTOPABLE!!" 

"Optimus, no!" Ratchet shouted, fear rushing out of him.

Megatron's helm turned sharply back to the Prime. Optimus was still clutching his shoulder, but he seemed to weak to get up at the moment. The warlord went over menacingly and once again raised his sword. Optimus' optics widened as he looked at his former friend from so long ago. His life and all his battles flashed before him as betrayal rang into his spark, despite the fact that the two of them had been at each others throats for ages. The light blue optics squeezed shut as the sword rushed down. 

The sound of metal grinding through metal and a spark chamber echoed through the whole room and in everyone's processors.

There was no pain. Optimus opened his optics and blinked in surprise. His chest chassis covered in spilled Energon, staining his red and blue finish until it matched the color of their lifeblood. 

But there was no wound.

His chest chassis, his spark chamber, they were both intact.

The Energon wasn't his.

Optimus looked up sharply, his optics like saucers as fear rolled over him and nausea fell into his chest. 

Above him, Ratchet was doubling over, the long, sharp sword completely stabbed through his chest chassis. Energon poured from the wound like a blue waterfall, and some leaked from the corners of his derma as well. His topaz optic was wide and shaking as he looked into Optimus' faceplate in shock. Megatron was behind him, his optics also wide with surprise, not expecting to have missed his target. Ratchet finally heaved a strangled vent, gurgling Energon, as he slowly reached up and grabbed the end of the blade with his servos, like he was trying to take it out. Megatron blinked, still shocked, before his gaze hardened and he pulled the blade out sharply, stepping back when the Energon splattered over him. Ratchet gasped, his body moving with the blade as it was forcefully tugged out, before his optic rolled back into his helm and he collapsed onto the floor with a gurgling choke of Energon, a lake of his lifeblood leaking out from under him. 

Optimus could only watch.

He couldn't speak. It was like his voice was gone. 

Tears filled and spilled out of his optics as he stared at his oldest and closest friend laying on the floor limply. The Energon glinted in his vision, like it was taunting him.

It was too late.

He was gone.

Ratchet was gone.

Megatron had just murdered him.

Megatron had just murdered him.

No.

No.

No.

NO.

NO.

"NO!!" he screamed, his voice returning to him and blasting like a Predacon roar. 

Megatron flinched, his optics going wide when he saw the Prime get to his pedes. 

Never before had the warlord felt that strong of a sense of fear than he had at that moment. Optimus was now an avenging lion, a beast that could no longer be stopped. 

It was in that moment, as he stared into Optimus' flaring red optics, that he knew he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

He was done for.

"MEGATRON!!" Optimus bellowed like a storm, charging at him with both blades at the ready. 

Megatron had no time to react as one of them pierced his chest chassis, missing his spark chamber, but still sending fire up his chassis. The warlord choked and jumped back, pulling himself away from the blade and clutching it. He was a second from counter attacking, but when he looked into those blood red optics again, he froze solid. 

He couldn't do it.

He'd turned him into a monster worse than himself.

"YOU MURDERED HIM!!" the Prime howled, running towards him again. As he charged, he bent down, not missing a beat, and snatched up his blaster. His optics flashed hatred as he pulled out his blade and raised his blaster.

DIE.

He pulled the trigger.

BAM

The blast hit the warlord in the spark chamber, sending purple sparks all over the air. The infuriated Prime then flew the blade into his spark chamber a millisecond later as well. Megatron choked as his red optics widened, flickering as the life was drained out of him. He looked at the Prime again, his derma twitching as fear glinted in his optics. He gasped one last time as Optimus harshly pulled the blade out of his chest chassis, like he had to Ratchet, and then fell lifeless to the floor.

It was over.

Megatron was dead. 

Optimus had won.

But it came with a cost.

A price that Optimus had prayed would never happen again.

The red in his optics washed away to blue as he looked down at the lifeless chassis of his old friend. He had always felt a tad responsible for what Megatron had become; whatever chance of his gladiator friend returning to him was gone now. Regret and sadness flooded into the same optics that had looked at the warlord with hatred only moments before. He bent down, placing a servo over the blank optics to close them so he looked more peaceful.

"Goodbye, Megatronus," he whispered only loud enough for him to hear.

Then he stood, turning his back and letting his friend forever rest. His tear filled optics fell over to where Ratchet was. Bumblebee was over him, having rolled him onto his back in a state of panic and was desperately trying to revive him. Optimus' spark fell to the floor as he slowly walked over. 

Bumblebee looked up, his own wide purple optics filled with coolant as well. <He's still breathing! He's still alive!> he sobbed, his servos gently resting on the medic's chest chassis. 

Optimus quickly bent down, his optics getting wider as he placed a servo on his old friend's chest chassis as well, staining the metal with the leaking Energon. His vent hitched when Ratchet coughed weakly, his one good optic fluttering halfway open and sliding over to Optimus slowly. Optimus choked back a sob when he saw that his usual bright optic was so dim it was nearly gray.

Ratchet was alive.

But he was dying.

"Ratchet..," the Prime choked, pausing when his voice cracked. He lowered his servo to Ratchet's own and gripped it tightly, looking at him sadly. "Why..?"

<He saved you...> Bumblebee whispered, his cracked voice even harder to understand in his sorrow.

Ratchet coughed again, sputtering a bit of Energon before desperately taking vents. "Of course... I did..," he said weakly, his voice barely above a strained whisper. "I... couldn't... stand idly by... and allow... you to... the last of the Primes... to be offlined-" He was cut short by his own coughs.

Optimus grasped his servo tighter and tensed while Bumblebee began to sob, his entire chassis shaking. "Old friend... it's not to late. We could save you.."

Ratchet shook his helm as he gasped for vent. "No... no, you can't.. I'm done.. this is.. it for me.."

Optimus squeezed his optics shut and tears fell. "Ratchet..."

The medic squeezed the Prime's servo gently as he coughed once weakly. "It's okay.. it's okay... I'm glad... that we... were able to be... together... one more time before I go.."

Bumblebee sobbed more, though now the noise was gone, like it had been before. He bent over and hugged Ratchet around the shoulder plate and neck cables. The medic winced but didn't protest, closing his optic and venting heavily, though he hardly seemed to be able to do it at all. Optimus cried silently for a few minutes, allowing himself these moments to mourn his oldest and best friend. Finally, Ratchet's vent hitched and he squeezed Optimus' servo tighter. 

"Optimus," he whispered weakly, opening his optic again slightly and looking at him. "Tell her... I'm sorry... I can't come back just yet..."

The Prime wiped his optics and nodded once, taking even vents to try and calm himself down. "I will." Bumblebee lifted his helm as he said this, a little confused, but his gaze fell back to the dying doctor a second later.

"Good," Ratchet exvented, the corners of his derma lifting up as he closed his optic and relaxed. "One more thing...."

Optimus grasped the medic's servo a little tighter, saying he was listening. He was afraid of speaking anymore, his voice shaky and wavering in sorrow. 

"Cybertron...," Ratchet heaved. "Only you... can lead... it.. back to.. the way it... was.. please.. save our home.." He coughed again, Energon leaking from the corners of his derma.

Optimus sighed and nodded his helm sadly. "I promise. I will protect our home no matter the outcome."

<You'll see, Ratchet,> Bumblebee sniffed, snuggling closer to the doctor. <You'll be a hero...>

"Thank... you..," Ratchet sighed. "You both mean... very much to me.."

Optimus' spark stopped short when Ratchet's chassis went slack. The medic heaved one last faint vent, and then he was gone. Bumblebee felt him go and erupted into more sobs that couldn't be heard, his cracked voice failing him completely. The Prime exvented shakily, tears falling from his optics again. He let them flow. He let himself mourn. He leaned down and gently pressed his forehelm against his old friend's cold one. 

"Thank you for everything, old friend," he whispered, closing his optics for a moment. "Now rest in peace."

Optimus opened his optics, picking himself up and standing up. He looked down at the hysterical scout, clinging to the medic like he was holding on for dear life. The little mech was terrified and greif had fallen on him like a cliff. The Prime looked at them sadly, wishing his friend one last goodbye before looking out into the space outside the ship. His spark calmed for a moment and his optics relaxed slightly. There was a peace.

But there would never be a complete peace within his spark now.

The war was over. 

The Autobots had won the battle that had raged on for centuries.

But Optimus would never see it as a true victory. 

Because he had lost almost everything he cared about.

Cliffjumper. 

Arcee.

Wheeljack.

Smokescreen.

Bulkhead.

Ultra Magnus.

Jack.

Miko.

Raf.

Agent Folwer.

Ratchet.

I'll miss you.

But I will make Cybertron right again.

For you.

I am so sorry.

I love you.

Goodbye.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My heart had joined the thousands, for my friend stopped running today. (Thanks @multifandom-doctor this line was perfect for this chapter.)

This is the last chapter of Endpoint. It took me a very long time to write. Almost all day.

I know this probably made you sad. Believe me, I cried a little.

I will have a epilogue out sometime next week. Hopefully it will leave you on a bit of a more cheerful note.

Thank you to all of those who have faithfully read through this book. I hope you have loved every bit of it, despite that it really tugs at the heart strings.

I'mma go enter it into the WATTIES now.

Thank you. 

*waves*