Epiphany: A moment of sudden revelation.
Setting: Lost Light, 24. After Chromedome and Rewind walk Rung to his rooms to create the matrixes.
The mech known now as both Rung and Primus grasped their hands, and clasped them together. "Chromedome, Rewind… you are both so lucky to have found one another. You need to learn to forgive yourselves, and just be happy." The lithe orange god turned away from them, opening the door to his rooms. Before he even had a chance to close the door, the mnemosurgeon caught sight of a mech spying on them from a few feet away.
"What are you doing?" Chromedome asked, his gaze focusing on the newcomer. He was one of the Scavengers; a mech by the name of Misfire, if he remembered correctly.
"Why are you spying on us?" Rewind demanded, putting his hands on his hips. "Are you planning to hurt Rung?"
The Decepticon peeking around the corner gave a visible twitch, his red optics darting away from the group. "I'm not here to hurt Primus, I just…" His servos clenched and unclenched nervously as he stepped forward into the hallway, his hesitant gaze flickering up to focus Rung, who was now facing him. "You're going to create matrixes? Twelve of them? That's… that's really dangerous — even for you," Misfire stated, his voice strangely concerned.
To Chromedome and Rewind's surprise, Rung only smiled in response. Striding past the bonded pair, he came to a stop in front of the flier, and rested a servo on his shoulder. "Thank you for your concern. It means a great deal to me, Miserion," the psychiatrist said.
"You… you remember me?" the Decepticon asked, tilting his head curiously.
"Yes. Though, to be honest, there is much I do not yet remember. But I remember you and your brothers. And I remember — him," Rung sighed, shaking his head.
"You can self-heal, so I shouldn't be worried, but what if… what if you can't heal from this? What if it's too much, even for you? The others will be — HE will be very upset," Misfire whispered, which was a very strange thing for a mech as boisterous as him to do.
"I know. I'm sure HE would prefer that I just allow events to take their course, but you know I can't do that. If I do not help them win this battle, the false Primus will target other planets. It may even target Cybertron and Earth someday. HE will simply have to understand that this is necessary," Rung insisted. Unexpectedly, he wrapped his skinny arms around the much larger Decepticon, and pulled him into a hug.
"Are you recording this?" Chromedome questioned his Conjunx Endura.
"Of course, I am. Primus Rung is hugging a Decepticon," Rewind answered back, just as amazed as his bonded was. As they watched, Rung leaned up to whisper something to the flier. The Decepticon's crimson optics widened in amazement.
"Are you sure?" the Scavenger asked, as Rung stepped back to smile up at him.
"Yes, Miserion. I think it's finally time," the ancient mech exclaimed, before turning away. "Now, I have a duty to my people. I hope we will see each other again soon." Nodding, the Decepticon turned and fled back the way he came, leaving the three Autobots alone in the hallway.
"What did you ask him to do?" Rewind couldn't help asking.
Rung just shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't tell you. Not yet. All will be as it should be… very, very soon."
The battle might have been won, but the danger was not over yet. Resettling back on the Lost Light, the crew received yet another unexpected set of guests in the form of Lockdown's ship. But rather than his usual crew of Decepticons, there appeared to be only two other mechs with him.
"MOVE!"
Correction, three other mechs. Lockdown, Swindle, and the third unknown mech parted to reveal a skinny, blue-armored mech that looked so similar to their lost psychiatrist/god that they almost thought he'd self-healed while they weren't looking. Red optics glared through the crowd, searching for one flier in particular.
"MISERION!"
Misfire flinched, his wings lowering nervously. Glancing around at his crew-mates, and his new friend Swerve, it was clear that he wasn't looking forward to answering the strange mech's call.
"Miserion!" the mech called again, his tone as cold as ice. "If you do not come down here, THIS INSTANT, I will have Defunctron send your new friends to an early grave, one by one."
The flier's wings shot up, and he quickly dove off the balcony, transforming the moment he hit the open air. Shooting down, he transformed again, landing a few steps away from the dangerous group.
"You called us here for a reason," the skinny mech snarled, striding up to the flier. Raising a servo, he grabbed the Decepticon's chest-plates, and yanked him down until they were optic to optic. "Where… is… HE?"
A full-bodied shudder when through the flier. "He's gone! There was an evil Primus from another universe, and he had to create twelve matrixes at once, and he said you'd just have to understand that it was necessary for the good of the universe, and…" Misfire rushed to say, only to receive another yank on his armor to shut him up.
"Are you telling me that PRIMUS is dead?" the lithe mech snarled, his crimson optics flashing.
"I think so. I checked his chambers when they went in to get the matrixes, and he wasn't there." Misfire's head drooped. "There was just… dust."
"You have no idea how tempted I am to destroy you right now," the Rung-lookalike snapped, but he released the flier, and allowed him to take a step back. "But that would not solve the problem. Besides, you can't help being as you are. Adaptus betrayed Primus, so it was only natural that one of you would betray me."
"But Unicron, I didn't betray you… I mean, I don't think I did," Misfire answered honestly.
"Stop talking. If I wanted an intelligent conversation, I would talk to Defunctron. Fall in line, and do not forget who your master is," the smaller mech ordered. As Misfire rushed to stand nervously next to the mech now known as Defunctron, Lockdown stepped forward.
"Do you want us to kill them all? We may need your help to do so, Lord Unicron," the heavily-armored mech insisted, his gaze surveying the crowded room.
"No, Inmutron. Killing them will not bring HIM back. If he died here, then he will likely return. I presume his Guiding Hand are all dead, as well," Unicron stated, clenching his servos behind his back. He gave off the aura of a dictator surveying his unruly kingdom.
"I personally took care of Mortilus myself, Lord Unicron," Defunctron answered smoothly.
"Yes, so you've claimed. Do NOT act without my authority again," the dark lord growled, his optics focused on the flame-armored mech now striding toward him from the center doorway. A pace behind the young Prime were Ultra Magnus and Megatron himself.
"HEY! Tiny guy that looks like Rung! You'd better have a good reason for boarding our ship," Rodimus stated, coming to a stop directly in front of the mech.
"You are one of Primus' chosen, and yet you allowed him to sacrifice himself for you. I consider that an unforgivable offense," the little mech asserted, holding his ground.
"You're not some kind of religious fanatic, are you? Rung CHOSE to make the matrixes. I'm sorry he's dead, but he was also really, really old," Rodimus attempted to explain.
"He was as old as I am, and his spark will live on beyond the death of your entire race, as will my own," the blue mech informed him.
"Um, Rodimus," Misfire said, his optics darting to the lithe mech in front of him, then back to the prime. "This guy is Unicron. Like, THE Unicron," the flier stage-whispered.
"Unicron? Huh… I thought you'd be taller," said Rodimus, studying the red-opticed mech before him.
"Rodimus, please try not to insult the god of destruction," Megatron groaned, rubbing his helm.
"What does that make all of you, then?" the prime asked, turning his attention to the three mechs, and Misfire, behind the skinny god.
"Just as Primus split himself into the members of the Guiding Hand, Unicron chose to divide himself, as well. We are the Destructive Fist!" Defunctron exclaimed, gesturing to Lockdown and Swindle. After a moment of hesitation, he gestured to Misfire, as well.
"Hi, everyone!" Misfire announced, smiling cheerfully. The other members of the Destructive Fist gave him a deadpan stare.
"Yeah, we don't really get him either," Swindle grumbled loudly.
Note: Primus split himself into 5 mechs, all with names ending in 'us.' So all of Unicron's mechs have names that end with 'on' or 'ron.' Next chapter, Misfire is going to give us his backstory, and reveal Defunctron's identity. In the words of Fulcrum, "We're all doomed."
The original names of the members of the Destructive Fist in this AU are as follows:
Misfire's original name was to be Confusion (from latin: Confusio. Meaning: chaos, disorder, confusion), but it didn't feel right to me. So he is now Miserion (Mizer-ee-on) (a play on Misery).
Swindle: Fraudon (from latin: Fraudo. Meaning: cheat, defraud, swindle)
Lockdown: Inmutron (from latin: Inmutatio. Meaning: change, modification, substitution)
You'll just have to wait for Defunctron's big reveal, but cookies to anyone that figured out who he is!