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No. 32950
>>32949
-DEX-STARR, TINKERBELLE, AND OPTIMUS PRIME-
Laserfire suddenly rained on both sides of the truck as Optimus Prime drove through a city street thick with dry brown buildings and cafes. Optimus swerved, turning around mid-skid, and the cab door flew open. "Go! Quickly!"
As Dex-Starr leapt out of the truck cab with Tinkerbelle on his back, Optimus unfolded once again into his towering humanoid form. "Show yourself!"
"PRIME!" a raspy voice intoned, and from the roof of the tallest building on the street, another huge robot leapt down - silver and black armored, with a gigantic cannon attached to its right arm. Its feet embedded in the road as it landed with a force the size of an instant earthquake.
"Megatron," Optimus said.
Megatron sneered at Dex-Starr and Tinkerbelle. "Escorting housepets, Prime? You'll do anything to suck up to the humans."
"If it's a fight you want, Megatron," Prime said, "you'll get it!" His arm reached up for the battle rifle holstered on his back.
Megatron laughed. Even his laugh was rotten and rough. "It seems like you've forgotten to bring your troops, Prime! Fortunately...I didn't make that same mistake."
He raised a hand, and suddenly more robots emerged from hiding places, a multitude of different designs and weapons. "Decepticons...ATTACK!"
***
When Derek was five, he told his mom that he wanted to be an astronaut. As he got older, he let that idea go. Kids said that all the time - they wanted to be an astronaut or a doctor or the president. It was just a thing kids do.
This was the fourth time Derek looked back the Earth behind him.
"I never dreamed I would be able to do this," Derek said. The energy of the Indigo Tribe wrapped around him as he flew with the other Lanterns in space. Their own auras gave them protection from the vaccum as well.
"My friend Hal always wanted to be an astronaut, you know," Kyle said. "He didn't get into the program, but...well, let's just say he got the next best thing."
Derek looked at Serenity. She had just wiped the blood from her mouth, though it wouldn't be long before it began trickling down her lips again. "Gorgeous," she said. Still one word, but it was a quiet one. Looked like she would remain calm as long as Derek remained by her side.
"Anyway." Kyle turned back around and began flying, and as Derek and Serenity followed, the stars streaked by. "We're almost at the rendevous point. We're just lucky Saint Walker is in this sector right now. He'll remove the red ring, I'll catch Serenity, and then I'll take you both home."
"Thanks, Kyle," said Derek.
"Just part of the job. Now let's..."
Kyle suddenly turned around, pointing his fist at the Earth. "...something's coming."
"Who is it?" Derek asked, tightening the grip around his staff.
"...an Orange Lantern."
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