"All right!" cries Buster, taking charge. "We take the straightforward route. Those fortress doors are just standing there waiting for us."

"Let's hope that luck is on our side," says Beachcomber nervously.

The Autobots speed the rest of the way to the Decepticons' fortress. "Ready?" Optimus Prime asks when the Autobots are arranged in orderly rows in front of the evil hideout. "Prepare to attack the fortress!" he cries. "Transform!"

The Autobots transform into their robot mode and silently close ranks. Beachcomber stands in front of the massive double doors hidden in the cliff. They slide apart…

Even though the fortress doors are wide open, Beachcomber doesn't move. He stares through the doors into the gloomy fortress. Then he turns to the waiting ranks of Autobots. "This is crazy," he says. "We shouldn't be fighting! Violence only leads to more violence!"

"Oh, no," groans Optimus Prime. "This is no time for an antiwar speech, Beachcomber. We've got to—"

"Drop your weapons!" booms a voice from within the dark depths of the fortress. "Every one of you stay where you are." It's Megatron. "We've got you covered with a mind-boggling arsenal of weapons!"

Of course, the Autobots aren't about to give up their guns and be taken prisoner without a struggle. They fire madly as the evil robots pour out the door of the fortress.

But the Decepticons are on familiar turf. Pretty soon, the Autobots are all either scrap metal or they've been taken prisoner.

"Well," Megatron says, turning to Thrust, "it looks like Evil has triumphed over Good yet again. The Destruction Beam should make contact shortly and then Rumble will send the city a few groundwaves to finish the job. Come," he says with an insane smile. "It's a lovely day to observe an earthquake."

The Decepticons go to Megatron's private observatory, where they watch Center City disappear in a colorful blue and purple cloud.

"This is only the beginning," Megatron declares. "When we turn the Destruction Beam on New York City, Peking, and Moscow, they'll crumble more beautifully!"

Whoever thought the end of the world would be a death-filled show for an alien robot gone haywire…?

The End
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