My childhood in the 80's and early 90's was filled like most children with He-man, Transfromers, Ninja Turtles, and Thundercats to name a few. I've devoured every version of my childhood favorites with relish as they've been updated. Some have hit the mark while others did not. Now that I have a chance to write putting out my own stories I look forward to leaving my mark on some of these franchises. The live action Transformers movies missed the mark by a large margen, I hope to fix some of that with my take on them. I will be using the live action movies as a base for this universe. I do not own Transformers or any of the established characters. Any original characters are mine and subject to approval for use.

Transformers Unlimited: More Than Meets the Eye

Cybertron - Then

Sand filled the air as the wind raged about The Sea of Rust. It was a desolate place, patched with broken and decaying buildings poking out of the sand dunes that had taken over the landscape. It was a place devoid of life, even the scavengers avoided the place. He stood looking about the surroundings with a sneer coming to his face. It was the perfect place to hide for one who didn't want to be found. The winds were constantly blowing reshaping the landscape minute by minute.

He continued to walk deeper into the desert. Sand whipped at his optic sensors and assaulted his audio receptors with the grating sound of sand against his metal body. It would require a long soak in an oil bath to get all the sand out of his joints once he returned to his base. It was important though that he get to where he was headed. He had received information that was important and needed to report it himself. Pausing momentarily again he glanced about his surroundings once more. It was imperative he make sure he wasn't being followed. If his secret was found out it could compromise the whole cause he had been fighting for.

There was no other sound then the constant noise from sand blasting against the buildings, breaking them down. The sun beat down causing temperatures to soar and light to reflect causing a blinding light to almost overload his optic sensors. The Sea of Rust was truly a place from hell. He raised his hand to block the sand from blowing in his sensors as he pushed ahead. Walking down a long abandoned road buildings raising on both sides he neared his destination. Standing in front of him was a very dilapidated building, a husk, really nothing remaining but a wall and the metal framework.

He stepped into the structure and headed towards the back corner. Reaching down and into the sand that covered the floor, he pulled with all his strength. His body tensed with the effort and then there was a grinding sound as the sand fell away and the secret door swung upwards. Sand fell down the dark hole that now stood exposed. A ladder lead down into the pit and the metal figure lowered himself and began to climb.

The air was dry, a smell of decay hung in the stagnant air. It was always the same when he came, one would think he was used to it by now, yet it always made him flinch in disgust. It was only temporary, he reminded himself, a necessary evil for the time being. One day his kind would no longer be required to hide, they would rule and cause all others to submit. As he climbed lower the light that came in from the open hatch faded into blackness.

He reached the bottom of the ladder and stood now in pitch blackness. His optic sensors adjusted to the darkness causing his surroundings to take on a greenish glow. The walls about him were covered in carvings. As he took a moment he could see the history of his world carved on the wall. The whole history could be found here, from the rumored creation until the rise of the Cybertronian council. Once these halls and the building above had been a grand museum, a place for all Cybertronian's to learn their history. That was until the devastation that had leveled it caused the surrounding area to become a desert.

His world was seeing another war ravage its surface, it was appalling but necessary. How could he stand by and watch the suffering of his people as those in power regulated what each bot could or couldn't do? He had spent his time in the gladiatorial pits fighting for the entertainment of others, to be used and then discarded once he stopped functioning. That was no life, that was the life of a slave, and Megatron refused to stay a slave.

He had scavenged any books he could find, any data files he could get his hands on. He had taught himself the history of his world. There were a few older bots he had gained knowledge from, latching on to all he could. His mind had been opened and once it was open he could no longer live as he did. When he had started the uprising it had ignited a fire that could not be contained. Now he stood as the leader of the faction called Decepticons, a name given by the council to shame them to make them look evil. Instead the name had become a rallying cry, something they embraced and took as their own

He had heard rumors about a hidden power in The Sea of Rust shortly after his uprising. That was what had brought him here the first time. Days had passed as he searched and nothing had revealed itself. It was when he was about to give up his quest that it had happened. Its secret revealed. Now he made his way to where it waited.

Down hallways he walked, the only sound was of his metal feet reverberating off of the stone. The glyphs beside him starting to come to an end. They were showing the gathering of the first council. As he approached the doors he could see the etching of the first council upon them. How fitting that this is where it should be. He pushed the doors and they swung upon with ease. The already thick air seemed thicker in this chamber.

On the far wall set a replica of the chairs the council sat in, the middle was larger as that was where the speaker for the council would sit. Here however his master sat perched. The Fallen, he was called, one of the rumored first thirteen Primes. He had been forgotten, as much of the early history had. The thirteen regulated to legends and rumors, stories to be told and admired, nothing more. Megatron knew better now.

Coming forward into the chamber he reached the middle and took one knee bowing his head. A subtle hand gesture was his cue to look up and report.

"We have found it my master. We know where the cube is," the growl in his voice was intense and proud.

The Fallen leaned forward, "Do the Autobots share this knowledge?"

"No, they think it lost still. They are setting up expeditions to go in search of it," he replied.

"Good. You will see to its retrieval yourself Megatron. Do not fail or our cause is lost," with that The Fallen motioned with his hand in dismissal. Megatron stood and turned to leave. One day he would no longer need The Fallen, until then he would continue to play the submissive serf.