The Transformers- The Search for Omega Supreme
Chapter 1
It had been a bout of relative peace to the Autobots, for a time. Their enemies, the evil Decepticons had seemingly gone into hiding after their last defeat, and because of this, the atmosphere in the Autobots' base, the Ark had become more jovial and relaxed than it had been in recent memory, with most of the Autobot crew taking the time to savour the peace by enjoying themselves as much as possible. For some, it meant learning more about their foster home, the planet Earth, and for others it meant rediscovering old sports and activities that had been all the rage during the time that the Autobots left their home planet, Cybertron.
But on this certain evening, which the Autobot communications expert, Blaster had noted to be a Tuesday, he felt the relaxed atmosphere become tense for a short time, for while enjoying his own favourite Earthen pastime, listening to what was called 'rock music' in the Ark's control room, he found himself at the end of Optimus Prime's wrath after the Autobot leader strode through the control room.
"Blaster, decrease the volume of that noise!" Optimus Prime bellowed, causing the dancing Blaster to trip and fall to the ground in surprise.
"Aw, hey, Optimus!" Blaster replied sadly as he picked himself up off the floor. "I was just having a little fun. You should try rockin' out sometime. It'll take all that stress out of your circuits!"
"Right now, no amount of...ruckus will relieve the stress which flows through my systems. May I remind you that you share the Ark with other Autobots, so please, keep it down."
"You're the boss." Blaster quietly responded.
Optimus Prime watched Blaster slowly turn around to face the control console of Teletran-1, and with the press of a button, the rock music video Blaster had just been watching and listening to, flickered off the screen. Silence filled the room while an uncomfortable silence was shared between Blaster and Optimus Prime, until the Autobot leader bowed his head slightly, then he sighed.
"Blaster, I apologize. I didn't mean to snap at you." Optimus Prime humbly announced. "But I have things on my mind, and your music pushed me a bit too far. I am sorry."
With that, Optimus Prime continued on his way through the control room, before he exited it to walk down the long corridor of the Ark that led to the exit, which would take him to the surrounding area outside of the dormant volcano the Autobots lived in. When Prime had finally left, the large Jetfire strode into the control room, having heard Optimus Prime and Blaster's small altercation.
"Now, that was a surprise." Jetfire noted.
"You're telling me, man." The now glum Blaster said in reply. "Man, he's never exploded on me that bad before, for playing my tunes. I knew he wasn't a fan of rock music, but wow!"
"Optimus has been tense all day." Jetfire remarked. "I passed him earlier today, and he seemed tense. In fact, everyone has been saying it. As soon as he rose this morning from his recharge, he went straight to his office and made it clear to those in the control room this morning that he wasn't to be disturbed. The first time he's left his office all day is just now when he got you."
"Man, what's he got to be worried about?" Blaster asked with a frown. "Those buzz killin' Decepticons haven't been around for weeks. This should be like one big spring break, y'know?"
"Spring...break?" Jetfire asked, his optical visor flashing with a blink. "No, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. What is this 'spring break'?"
"A bunch of young humans get together, then go to the beach to overload on those fluids they drink," Blaster explained. "I dunno why they do it, but they listen to rockin' music and party all day. I saw it on MTV! We could do with something like that to shake the big guy loose."
"Most of that just went over my head," Jetfire replied. "But the point is, Optimus is right enough to be worried. If the Decepticons are quiet, you have to wonder what kind of schemes they could be planning and preparing to drop on the unsuspecting Earth. We must be vigilant, Blaster."
"You dudes can be vigilant all the time if you want, but I'll take everything in moderation." Blaster replied.
He then transformed into his alternate form as a boombox, and dropped down onto the control console of Teletran-1. A button clicked on the front of his boombox form, just under the cassette slot, after which Jetfire could hear faint sounds of music coming from Blaster's internal system.
"I'm gonna rock out in private, I guess," Blaster then said. "I don't wanna make anymore Autobots sore at me."
Jetfire looked to Blaster for a moment, then his gaze traveled to the path Optimus Prime followed upon his exit. He then looked back to Blaster, raising his hand in a wave as he prepared to leave.
"Enjoy your music, Blaster. Maybe I can find out what's bothering Optimus."
"It's all good, man." Blaster replied while Jetfire watched the red and yellow boombox slightly swaying back and fourth, enjoying his music.
Jetfire then left Blaster, where he walked off through the large, crippled spacecraft, the Ark. Because of his much larger than average size, Jetfire usually found himself having to hunch his head towards his chest as he walked around the Autobots' base, due to the fact the Ark was never built to accommodate his height. When Jetfire found himself stepping from the metallic floor of the wrecked spacecraft to allow his feet to treat on solid earth, Jetfire was thankful to lift his head, ultimately standing fully upright as he looked around to see night had fallen. Crickets chirped while Jetfire continued to use his robotic vision to see the night covered terrain as clear as if it was daylight, when he spotted Optimus Prime standing not far from the Ark's entrance. Quietly, the large Autobot air guardian walked towards Optimus Prime, stopping behind him as he towered over his leader whose head was tilted up. Currently, Optimus Prime was looking towards the full moon which seemed to shine down brightly upon him like a bright spotlight. His tension was still very much visible to Jetfire, who pondered for a moment whether to actually to speak to Optimus Prime, or whether to just leave him alone. He decided on the former course.
"I believe the Earthlings say, 'a penny for your thoughts?'" Jetfire asked.
Optimus Prime, slightly startled, turned his head and, meeting Jetfire's torso, then tilted his head back and looked up to the large Autobots' face. Jetfire was one of the very few Autobots who was taller than himself.
"Oh, Jetfire." Optimus sighed peacefully upon recognizing his friend. "I didn't hear you approach."
"Yes, I could tell." Jetfire replied. "You seem lost in a world of your own right now, Optimus. Forgive me if I am prying, but the other Autobots and I have noticed that you have seemed troubled all day. I have always believed a problem shared is easier to cope with than a problem that is burdened by a single Autobot...Even if it is the Autobot leader who is facing the problem."
"Leadership is a burden I would not wish upon many," said Optimus Prime. "The worries and responsibilities that come with it can sometimes be too much for a single person..." Prime paused for a moment, before he then continued. "The Decepticons have been quiet- almost too quiet. I have not known Megatron to sit quietly for so long without making some kind of move, whether it be big or small. He hasn't even sent the Decepticon jets out on an energy raid."
"That cannot be the only reason you seem troubled." Jetfire quickly quipped. "I have known you for a long time, Optimus, and I doubt Megatron's lack of activity would cause you to become so tense. I have never witnessed you snap at an Autobot as harshly as you did to Blaster for something off the battlefield."
Once again, Optimus Prime stood silent, before he turned his head back to look up at the full moon for a second time, where he narrowed his eyes. He had never been one to openly share his problems or to vent his frustrations to the Autobots under his command, as that would be shouldering his problems onto them, which he knew was poor leadership. But despite that, he sensed that Jetfire wasn't going to leave until Optimus opened up to him and revealed his problems. With that, Optimus Prime decided to finally share the load that his current concerns were putting on his strong shoulders.
"Very well, Jetfire, I shall share my concern with you," Optimus Prime began. "You are aware of the purpose of the Ark's maiden voyage into space all those millions of years ago, correct?"
"Yes." Jetfire answered. "You set out to look for new sources of energy to replenish the Autobots and restore Cybertron."
"Yes, that's one of the reasons the Ark was launched." Optimus Prime then said, to which Jetfire's visor flashed.
"One of the reasons?" Jetfire echoed, to which Optimus Prime nodded.
"Allow me to start from the beginning," Optimus Prime began. "As you are a relatively new soldier, you weren't functional during the time I am about to tell you about. It was some time before the Ark was launched. The gigantic spacecraft which we had built to search the galaxies for new sources of energy was in fact a back up plan if our original creation went wrong...Which it did."
"What are you referring to?" Jetfire asked.
"As Autobot leader, my authority is absolute in regards to the Autobot people, but I still receive orders directly from the council of elders," Optimus Prime explained. "While the Ark was being constructed by the majority of our Autobot engineers and scientists like Wheeljack, I oversaw another project at the very same time. Hidden in mystery, a team that was sworn to secrecy created an Autobot of titanic proportions. With an alternate form as a large space rocket and battle station, he was to be our method of transportation from Cybertron, and double as our last line of defense against the Decepticon armies- if the situation became dire enough. His name was Omega Supreme."
"What happened to him?" Jetfire asked, now fully immersed in Optimus Prime's story.
"The council of elders decreed that if I, and some of my highest ranking Autobots were to fly into deep space, then Omega Supreme was required to undergo a test flight to make sure our flight was a safe one. We prepared for his launch date, and it soon came, under the strictest confidentiality, but unfortunately, even the council of elders was not beyond the Decepticons' reach. A single Decepticon commander had managed to hack through our most guarded networks and learned of Omega Supreme's existence, and on the day of the test flight, he invaded the launch zone with all intentions of turning Omega Supreme against us."
"So what happened?" Came the question.
"The Decepticon almost got his way. Fortunately, as we came under attack, I gave Omega Supreme the order to launch, and he did so. The Decepticon flew after him, and we took to the air to stop him, which we did when we shot him down...but not before he was able to launch a heavy attack on Omega Supreme. Because of his attack, we lost what was to be our trump card in this war. With Omega Supreme, the council of elders and I were confident that we would soon triumph, but sadly, Omega Supreme roared out of control into the darkness of space, and was lost forever...Until, that is, while on our voyage on the Ark, Teletran-1 picked up an energy signal that, while unknown to the Autobots, I knew all too well. I ordered our flight pattern to coincide with tracing it, and I was sure we would find it, when once again we were attacked. This time, is was by Megatron and his Decepticon crew that crashed on Earth with us, and so, I was never able to determine the exact location of Omega Supreme."
"What became of the Decepticon who attacked Omega Supreme?" Asked Jetfire, who was becoming more interested by the second.
"That is unknown," Optimus Prime replied. "Thankfully, he has never been heard from again. He shared much the same fate as Omega Supreme and became lost in space after the incident."
"But...Why has this only began to plague your mind now?"
"In the privacy of my quarters, I have continued with an ongoing search, using maps and star charts," Optimus Prime explained. "Based on the last set of co-ordinates that the Ark was following, and my own calculations, I have finally come to the conclusion that Omega Supreme may be here, somewhere on the planet Earth."
Upon hearing this revelation, Jetfire's visor once again flashed, this time with excitement. He took a step closer towards Optimus Prime with his fists clenched in anticipation.
"Then we should not wait," Jetfire announced. "If this Omega Supreme is as powerful as you say he is, we should look for him."
"Negative." Optimus Prime announced with a shake of his head, causing Jetfire to become confused.
"But why? I don't understand." Jetfire stated.
" I always had my concerns about recovering Omega Supreme. He is an Autobot so gigantic and powerful that, while he would be a great asset to us, I shudder at the thought of what would happen if his power was turned against us. Especially here on Earth. It is a scenario I have struggled with personally. The attempt was made once to turn him against us, it could easily happen again."
"Optimus, look at the situation scientifically for a moment," Jetfire said. "This giant of an Autobot may lie here on the Earth. Sooner or later, he will be discovered whether it is by us, the Decepticons or even the humans. Even if it were possible for the Decepticons to turn him against us, obviously they would have problems doing that if they found him first. If we can recover him without the Decepticons knowing, then we could end this struggle, possibly forever. I respect your reluctance out of fear of the consequences, but think of the positives that could come of it!"
Optimus Prime continued to look up at the large glowing moon, even after Jetfire had finished his argument for the search for Omega Supreme. The two halves of his conscious wrestled each other deep inside of him. On the one hand, Optimus was somewhat waiting for someone to tell in confidence, to hear just what Jetfire had told him...but then again, Optimus couldn't help but picture a worse case scenario, with that being what might happen if Megatron had the chance to use Omega Supreme against him, his Autobots or perhaps even worse, the Earth and the humans on it. After a few moments more of pondering, Optimus Prime slowly turned and looked to Jetfire.
"Everything I have told you this evening is to remain in the strictest of confidence." Optimus Prime said in no uncertain terms. "I shall call a meeting with all available Autobots at dawn tomorrow. I shall put it to them, and if the majority votes for or against searching for the long lost Autobot, then we shall act accordingly."
"Prime, I give you my word as an Autobot that I won't breathe a word of what you told me." Jetfire replied, giving his leader a salute after his answer.
"Very well. Until tomorrow then, let us rest, for a long venture may be ahead of us, Jetfire"
Jetfire saluted to Optimus Prime in response, before he proceeded to turn on his heel. He began to walk back towards the Ark, leaving Optimus Prime alone in the moonlight, that is, until Optimus Prime's voice caught his attention.
"Oh, and Jetfire?"
"Yes, Optimus?" Jetfire asked as he stopped and looked back to his leader.
"Thank you for your time."
Night had passed peacefully. The morning sun eventually began to rise from the horizon, signaling that dawn had arrived, and that a new day was beginning. Inside the Ark, most of the Autobots who were not posted to a night guarding shift were awoken from their recharge beds then ordered to the counsel room on immediate order of Optimus Prime. Inaudible chatter echoed throughout the large room as dozens of Autobots talked with each other over why Optimus Prime would call such a large meeting to order. Meanwhile, Jetfire, the only Autobot who knew of why the event was taking place stayed true to his word. The large supersonic jet remained silent at the very back of the room, towering above all the other seated Autobots before him.
Finally, the door to the counsel room opened, which caused the excited chatter to quickly cease after Optimus Prime entered. The Autobot walked past his Autobot, only stopping to his place at the head of the room.
"Good morning, Autobots." Optimus Prime said in a greeting. "I thank you for ending your nightly recharge so early, therefore I shall not mince my words and instead get to the point. Autobots, I have not always been fully open with you. During our maiden voyage in the Ark, one of our reasons for leaving Cybertron was to look for energon, that is true enough. However, what I failed to share with you is that another part of the reason we left Cybertron was to look for another of our own. An Autobot known as Omega Supreme."
The Autobots began to all murmur amongst themselves for a few moments, until the edgy Red Alert stood from his seat. Raising an arm, he pointed accusingly towards Optimus Prime.
"Why has it taken you so long to tell us about this, hm?" He asked. "As your soldiers, surely we should have known about this sooner. Why keep it to yourself? What do you have to hide?!"
Optimus Prime looked directly at Red Alert, who was coaxed into sitting back down by his only real friend, Inferno. Most of the Autobots disliked Red Alert due to his paranoia, swiftness to accuse others of conspiracy and general fear of their doom. However, Optimus Prime respected Red Alert's question for knew he that Red Alert only had the Autobots' best interests at heart.
"That is a fair question, Red Alert." Optimus Prime nodded. "The reason I have never shared this information with you before is because Omega Supreme is an Autobot built for war. He has been lost for eons, and even though I suspect he could be here, I have been reluctant to find him, due to the fact he is a war machine. I have always felt if the Decepticons ever discovered him, or even if we found him and he was turned against us, the results could be devastating- not just for us, but for the humans we vowed to protect."
Another Autobot stood as Optimus Prime finished his explanation. This time, it was the smaller Autobot, Warpath, who was conspicuous by the large tank barrel that protruded from his chest.
"Zowie, if this Omega Supreme can, blowie!, be a war machine then we should get him up and running to work for us. Kablam!"
"Yeah. Y'know, Warpath's always had a screw loose," another Autobot, Powerglide began, "but I think he's right. We could end this war sooner with this Omega Supreme on board. We'd be coo-coo to not find him."
"That is why I called this meeting today." Optimus Prime replied, now addressing the entire room once more. "I wish to put it you, Autobots. Finding Omega Supreme is not a task that should be taken lightly, as there may very well be consequences to his revival in the future. Therefore, I will ask for a show of hands. Who votes that we recover Omega Supreme?"
Optimus Prime looked from his position at the head of the room to see that immediately, all the Autobots in the room rose a hand each into the air, before they then lowered them.
"I suppose that eliminates the need for me to ask for anyone who is against the notion." Optimus Prime said. "Very well, the search for Omega Supreme shall commence soon. Perceptor," Optimus continued, looking to the Autobot scientist, near the right of the room, "I need to talk to you right away for what methods we can put in place to search for him. As for the rest of you, thank you for your time. I will be calling on a certain number of you when we are ready to begin the expedition. Meeting adjourned."
Slowly, the Autobots all rose from their seats before they began to leave the counsel room. Last to leave the room were Optimus Prime, Perceptor and Jetfire, who began to discuss ideas of a tool or device that may help track down Omega Supreme on such a broad world.
As the door to the counsel room slid to a close, there came the slight sound of chirping before a small grasshopper hovered down from one of the large beams on the ceiling of the Ark. The grasshopper continued to hover, then flew through a crack in the counsel room door. Buzzing through the Ark, the grasshopper was paid no mind to, so it remained undetected as it flew through the Autobots' base, past the exit where it flew out into the morning sky. It continued to fly higher and higher in the sky, when the sun suddenly shone down upon it, causing the sun's light to reflect off it. This grasshopper was no ordinary grasshopper as it was made of metal. The metallic grasshopper suddenly grew one hundred times over before it revealed itself as Kickback, the Insecticon espionage specialist. He transformed from his grasshopper form to his robot mode in mid flight, where he chuckled deviously while rubbing his hands together.
"Heh, heh, heh. What a tasty tid bit of information," Kickback said to himself. "But it won't be as tasty as the energon Megatron will reward me with when I tell him about this 'Omega Supreme'!"
It was the early afternoon when the Insecticon, Kickback found his way to the mountain in which the Decepticons had converted to their main base of operations on Earth. The Insecticons had their own base in the jungles of Peru, so when Kickback arrived, he was greeted by a less than hospitable welcome by Thrust and Dirge, two of Megatron's Decepticon jet warriors. Keeping their weapons trained on the smaller Insecticon, they took him to Megatron, where the Decepticon leader sat menacingly in his large chair in the center of the control room.
"So, when I leave my window open, an Insecticon comes buzzing in." Megatron surmised with a glare to the usually treacherous Kickback. "You had better have a good reason for coming here, Kickback. Your past exploits have done nothing to make me welcome you here."
"Oh mighty Megatron, I have a great reason for being here!" Kickback announced. "I bring you news of the Autobots' latest plans. Plans that involve a weapon that they believe will turn the war to their favour!"
With a new found interest, Megatron sat up in his chair, to pay close attention to Kickback's recital of the Autobots' meeting, with Thrust and Dirge keeping their weapons aimed towards the Insecticon at all times, with Kickback was currently on his knees before the mighty Decepticon leader. When he was done with his explanation, Megatron rubbed his metallic chin in thought.
"Hmm. Omega Supreme...I have never heard of this Omega Supreme." Megatron thought aloud. He then looked towards Soundwave, who was sat at the Decepticons main computer.
"Soundwave, do you have information on an 'Omega Supreme'?"
"Negative." Soundwave answered.
"How interesting." Megatron announced. "So, Optimus Prime has a war machine hidden on this planet, does he? This is truly important information."
"Yes indeed," Kickback agreed as he stood to his feet. "Information that should be paid for, yes?"
Before Kickback could realize it, Megatron stood from his chair reaching out with a large hand, that gripped Kickback tightly by the throat. Megatron glared towards the much smaller Kickback as he lifted him from the floor, snatching Kickback up to allow the Insecticons' gaze up to meet his own.
"You dare come before me and then proposition me for energon?!" Megatron snarled, knowing what Kickback wanted.
"Ack, but Megatron!" Kickback choked. "I only seek to serve you, and serving you requires nourishment..."
With another snarl, Megatron dropped Kickback to the floor. Then, he took an energon chip from a compartment on his hip before he discarded with the pink chip of fuel, which landed onto the fallen Kickback's chest.
"Be grateful that is what you receive, instead of becoming molten metal at my hands." Megatron said coldly. "This Omega Supreme seems too important to pass up. When the Autobots find a way of tracking the war machine down, we shall be ready. Kickback, return to the Autobots' base and keep watch of their plans and movements. Inform us when they are ready to move out and find this Omega Supreme, for when they do, I think I shall gladly take it!"
For the next few days, the focus of the Autobots' energies were put to finding a way to narrow their search for Omega Supreme. Optimus Prime placed Perceptor and Jetfire as the heads of the project. For several days, the pair had shut themselves in Wheeljack's workshop, much to the frustration of the Autobot's mad professor, until eventually, Perceptor and Jetfire called for Optimus Prime one morning. Upon hearing the request for an audience, the Autobot leader eagerly walked through the Ark until he reached Wheeljack's workshop. Perceptor and Jetfire waiting for him as they stood in front of a large work table in the center of the room.
"Do you have news for me?" Optimus Prime asked, to which the Autobots nodded in answer.
"Most certainly, Optimus." Perceptor announced to the Autobot leader. "This invention will aid you in the search for Omega Supreme. Allow us to show you."
Perceptor and Jetfire separated from beside each other so that they could allowOptimus Prime a look down on the work table. With a slight frown, Optimus Prime was slightly puzzled to see Blaster sit up from the table, who waved to his leader.
"Gentlemen, I am...puzzled." Optimus Prime said. "This is Blaster. I thought you said you built some kind of device."
"Blaster is part of the device." Jetfire explained. "His transmitter is able to send and receive signals for over four thousand miles. Perceptor and I have built a microchip that is able to pick up the faintest Autobot energy signal, and also pick up the alloy you told us Omega Supreme is made from. Blaster's transmitter will help boost the signal that the microchip will send out, and Blaster will be able to pinpoint Omega Supreme's position."
"Just like some kind of rockin' bloodhound." Said Blaster with a thumbs up.
"So, no matter where in the world Omega Supreme is, we will find him, since Blaster will be able to go anywhere." Perceptor finished.
"Good work," praised a pleased Optimus Prime. "In that case, let's not waste time. I will put together a search team that will best help you recover Omega Supreme. As this is your invention, I wish for you two to be in charge of the expedition."
Optimus Prime turned, then he headed for the door to leave Wheeljack's workshop, with Perceptor, Blaster and Jetfire following behind him. As the door began to close from their exit, the group failed to notice a small insect buzz a few paces behind them, as it flew through the closing door, where it quickly followed them back to the command center of the Ark.
So as not to be seen, Kickback buzzed up high into the air, before he perched on the top of a rock face that had torn through the Autobots' shuttle all those years ago when the Ark crashed. He watched as Optimus Prime introduced Jetfire and Perceptor to the rest of the team whom he thought would be best suited to the mission. There was Twin Twist, who when transformed into his alternate form as a drill tank, would be best for any digging the Autobots would need to do to recover Omega Supreme. Then, there was Skids, the Autobot theoretician. Optimus Prime thought that Skids would be useful to the group as he would be able to best think of how the Autobots would be able to recover Omega Supreme, whatever the situation. Finally, there was Smokescreen who rounded off the party as an extra pair of hands to aid in the recovery process. His ability to emit thick clouds of smoke when transformed into his alternate sports car form would work well if the Autobots needed to work in concealment.
"I have the utmost confidence that you will succeed." Optimus Prime announced as the search team began to prepare for their departure. "Just remember, if you need anything, I am but a radio call away."
"Heh, don't sweat it." Blaster said to Optimus Prime. "We're just going treasure hunting, no big deal. It's not like the Decepticrumbs know about this."
"Nevertheless, be careful." Optimus Prime said as a reminder to the team. "If you encounter trouble, I want you to notify me. Good luck, to all of you."
With that, Kickback watched to see the search team exit the Ark, still concealed by his ability to be as small as a real insect. Kickback hopped off from his perch then quickly followed the group outside of the Ark, where Jetfire transformed into his sonic jet mode. Transforming to their own alternate modes, the Autobots entered Jetfire's cargo compartment, except for Blaster and Perceptor who sat in Jetfire's cockpit in their alternate forms as a boombox and microscope. With all Autobots ready, Jetfire took off into the sky with a roar of his engines, which was followed an explosion from his powerful afterburners. Still unseen, Kickback watched the gigantic sonic jet climb high into the air until it disappeared from sight.