Prime Rising

Chapter One: Selfdoubt and Slavery

In a cold empty void, the bright white nothingness between dimensions, floated a being of unparalled madness, fury, and evil: Galvatron, the first Decepticon. Created eons ago by a race of cold, unfeeling beings, he had rebelled against his masters, and went on a rampage of destruction across their planet of Cybertron before getting captured and imprisoned. Trapped within a stasis field for centuries, Galvatron had recently been freed by those who, to all intents and purposes, were his forebears. Feeling a foolish sense of familarity, they had released him, a kindness he repaid by almost destroying them. He then rampaged anew on the planet Cybertron, before being forced into a dimensional transportation device, trapping him once again in a prison he could not escape.

How long he had been trapped there, he did not now; He only knew that he would find a way out, sooner or later, and that he would exact revenge on all who dared challenge him.

"I will have my revenge!" Galvatron screeched, his voice echoing across subspace.

As if in response, a multicolored tear suddenly appeared. And, from it's center, came a large clamp, which affixed itself around Galvatron's waist, administering an incapaciting electrical shock. As Galvatron fell limp, his prone body was pulled towards the tear.

Meanwhile, in normal space, the Autobot spacecraft known as the "Hot Rod" cruised through the delta quadrant. Though a large ship, it only required a minimum of five Autobots to crew it. This was the ship of the Autobot commander, Rodimus Prime, and his team.

Team Rodimus had been assigned to the delta quadrant ten solar cycles ago to investigate strange energy fluctuations. So far, they nine solar cycles had passed without them detecting anything out of the ordinary. Ironhide and Hot Shot, far from disappointed, treated the lack of activity as an impromptu vacation, spending their time relaxing and playing holo-games. Red Alert, the ship's medic, was just glad that there was no danger of their teammates getting blown to bits, necessitating her putting them back together. Brawn however, was bored out of his cranial casing. The diminuitive powerhouse was a 'bot of action; He despised standing around doing nothing, and he let his teammates know of his dissatisfaction at ever opportunity.

Rodimus, however, was pleased at their mission's inactivity; Ever since his team had been overwhelmed defending Space Bridge 687-030 from Decepticon forces, Rodimus had begun to doubt his leadership abilities. As he lay in the repair bay, slowly recovering from the dose of cosmic rust the Decepticon Oil Slick had infected him with, Rodimus quickly came to believe that his team's defeat was all his fault, that he had done a good enough job as leader.

As he stood on the Hot Rod's bridge, looking out into the darkness of space, Rodimus remembered his academy days: How everything seemed to come to him so easily, enabling him to pass every test with flying colors; How he soared through the Autobot ranks quicker then any had done before... Many had dubbed Rodimus a young prodigy, the "chosen one", even, and Rodimus, though not an arrogant Autobot by nature, had come to believe such accolades.

'Not any more...' Thought Rodimus. 'I'm no "chosen one". I don't even deserve to called "Prime"...

Rodimus was shook out of his stupor by the beeping of the dimensional anomaly detector, which had just picked up another energy fluctation. Instinctively, Rodimus actived the internal communications system.

"All Autobots, to the bridge!" He declared.

Hot Shot, Ironhide, Red Alert and Brawn trooped into the bridge.

"What's up, chief?" Asked Hot Shot, in the broad accent of the Energon-farming community of Polyhex.

"We've picked up another energy fluctation." Rodimus stated.

"At last!" Cheered Brawn. "Hopefully, it'll lead to some action, maybe even some Deceps to hit!"

"Red Alert, lock onto the flluctuations coordinates and take us there." Commanded Rodimus.

"Yes, sir." Saluted Red Alert.

Privately, Rodimus hoped Brawn was wrong. Under his leadership, he was sure his team would not survive another encounter with the Decepticons.

"Repairs complete."

Galvatron's optics blurred in and out of focus as he came back online. Slowly, a number of small egg-shaped beings came into view; Creatures with five faces.

"You!" Snarled Galvatron.

"Yes, us." Declared one of the beings cooly. "Your creators, the Quintessons."

"At last!" Declared Galvatron. "Vengeance is mine!"

As Galvatron lunged at the Quintessons, the leader pushed a button on a device he was holding. The next moment, Galvatron doubled over in excruciating pain.

"Aaaaagh!" Screeched Galvatron, his body contorting in pain. "What is this?"

"We have implanted an energon vice around your spark." Explained the Quintesson, his face switching from a thin, calculating visage to a chubby, gloating one. "Did you really think we would allow you to come this close to us without some form of insurance?"

"Why?" Grimaced Galvatron. "Why have you done this to me?"

"Because, our wayward creation." Began the Quintesson. "We still have need of you. Much has happened since you saw us last. We were ousted from Cybertron by our creations. And we need your help to take it back."

"How did you find me?" Asked Galvatron.

"We have been watching Cybertron for quite some time." Said the Quintesson. "We witnessed your return and banishment. Freeing you from the Autobot's trap was simplicity itself."

"And now, you expect me to destroy the Autobots?" Asked Galvatron. "To be your obediant little servant?"

"We do not expect your servitude." Sneered the Quintesson, switching to an angry red face as he pushed the button again. "We demand it!"

Once again, Galvatron's body twisted in abject agony.

"You will obey, or your spark will be crushed!" Spat the Quintesson. "Which shall it be?"

"I... shall... obey." Groaned Galvatron.

"Excellent." Smiled the Quintesson.

Another, smaller Quintesson looked up from the computer screen he was monitoring. "Sir, there is an Autobot ship approaching."

"On screen." Hissed the Leader. The image of the Hot Rod appeared on the room's main screen.

"Well, well." Smiled the Leader, switching to a skull-like face. "Your first mission, Galvatron: Destroy those Autobots!"

To Be Continued...

(Transformers Animated and all associated characters are the property of Hasbro/Cartoon Network.)