MONACUS
The Following Story is set within the G1 cartoon continuity during Season three
Prologue
The planet Monacus - Two Months Ago...
Blaster fire erupts in all directions. Slizardo takes cover behind an overturned poker table.
The Grand Gambling Emporium is engulfed in flame. Patrons, criminals and fugitives scramble in all directions. The night sky blazes, but all draws to a standstill as a lone voice cuts through the chaos.
"Silence!" Deathzaras has arrived...
Chapter 1: Imitation Life
Chaar - 2006
"Hey, it's Doublepunch isn't it?" Runabout jocundly inquires.
"It's Counterpunch." Counterpunch coldly corrects.
"Yeah, well, whatever. Galvatron wants to see you."
Counterpunch's cool blue chrome glints in the red glow of the Chaarian sawn as he broodingly walks away without a word.
"Jerk." Runabout mutters under his breath.
"You called for me?" Counterpunch enters Galvatron's throne room.
"Ah yes, Counterpunch, just who I wanted to see, such a coincidence!" Galvatron chuckles.
"But you sent for me?" Counterpunch is confused.
"I did no such thing. Do not contradict me!" Galvatron foams. Counterpunch is taken aback.
"Now, if there will be no further interruptions; I have summoned you here today to assign you a task, most important to further the Decepticon cause. It has come to my attention that several weeks ago, a Decepticon crime-lord took control of the planet Monacus." Galvatron explains pensively.
"Monacus, the gambling world?"
"Yes, that's the one."
"Well that's a good thing isn't it?" Counterpunch grows impatient with Galvatron's ravings.
"No my friend, it is not! This Decepticon crime-lord is a renegade, beholden to none! Monacus is one of my main sources of finances, weapons and energon. That greedy spawn of Quintessa is hogging it all! Years ago Megatron set up an alliance between Monacus and the Decepticons, now it lies in tatters!" Galvatron tosses a medical droid into the wall as he wails.
"But you are Megatron, right?" Counterpunch grows more perplexed by the second.
"I am." Galvatron answers impatiently.
"Right. So what do you want from me?"
"Infiltrate Monacus, my spy, and bring me the head of Deathzaras! He is sitting like a bloody Earth drogon on a pile of my gold!" Galvatron bursts with rage.
"You mean Dragon?"
"No - I - Do - Not!" Galvatron picks up the remains of the medical droid and repeatedly smashes it against the wall.
As night falls, Counterpunch silently slips away from the Decepticon camp. He transforms into vehicle mode and drives onward for several minutes through the harsh Chaarian terrain until he reaches his place of meditation. Checking he is alone, Counterpunch enters the ruins of an ancient and once grand city. Amongst its abandoned buildings he finds peace.
In a second, Counterpunch has transformed into his true Autobot form.
"This is Punch, Magnus can you hear me?"
"Keep talking, what news?" Ultra Magnus asks.
"Well, apart from that Galvatron has continued to demonstrate himself as anarchy incarnate, I have heard of trouble on Monacus. A Decepticon crime-lord has taken over the planet and is amassing arms and profit for himself." Punch explains.
"What is his name?" Ultra Magnus asks thoughtfully.
"It was only mentioned once, Deathsaurus or something like that."
"Hmm... the name sounds familiar; I shall consult Perceptor."
"Galvatron isn't happy about this, and I am being sent to infiltrate the planet. I assume I will be aided at some point, but Autobot assistance would be requested. If we can liberate Monacus before Galvatron retains control, we can eliminate one of the Decepticons major power mushrooms. Just another way to bring down their war machine." Punch adds.
Suddenly a wave of paranoia sweeps over Punch, he is unable to shake the feeling that someone is watching.
"I will keep you updated, Punch out, commence radio silence." Punch hurriedly ends the conversation as he reverts back into his Decepticon alias.
Cybertron
Rodimus Prime paces around the upper-most atrium of the Trion Astronomy Tower. The tower has always been his place of though and reflection, where he can get away, albeit briefly, from the stresses of leadership. At the current moment he has no time for relaxation however. Last cycle Perceptor regretfully informed him of the identity of the Decepticon, or more aptly Ex-Decepticon, engine of destruction known as Deathzaras. As soon as Rodimus heard the name of the crime-lord, he felt a chill right down in the core of the Matrix. The accumulated wisdom of the Matrix knew this terror; his blade had pierced the sparks of many an ancient Autobot. Perceptor spoke of Deathzaras as a first generation combat robot produced by the Quintessons. The Quintessons forged him as the ultimate exemplar of robotic ambassador destruction. Potentially, he remains the oldest Decepticon in existence.
After being missing and presumed dead for six millennia, he shall not be easy t defeat. Rodimus considered all of this with the knowledge that within the next cycle he would have to address the assembled Autobots with his combat plan.
If only Optimus were here, he thought to himself as he exited the tower, making his way to Iacon square, where the Autobots eagerly awaiting him. Attempting to hide all signs of anxiety from his face he walked calmly up the enormous steps onto the stage. He avoided eye contacts with his fellows as he walked, though he could feel their eyes piercing him as he stepped forward. In an instant he cast all his doubts to the wayside, as his mouth opened.
"Autobots. There is no time to spare. Deathzaras, a long lost, ancient and powerful Decepticon is now ruling over the planet Monacus as a malevolent tyrant. All communications from the gambling world have ceased. We have no idea what he is up to, though or reconnaissance has informed us Galvatron is also attempting to stop him. For this reason we must move swiftly, today I call forward an Autobot strike team to capture the despot. Who's ready for some action?"
Monacus
Reflector apprehensively knocks faintly upon the towering door.
"Enter!" Booms a deep voice, it is in a way, jovial, but a darkness lies upon his words.
Anxiously Reflector enters, with his head looking down upon the lavish Monaconion carpet.
"What progress?" Deathzaras rumbles, he sits upon the former throne of Lord Gyconi.
"The population has been pacified, the quarantine is planet wide and the Ratbat is due to arrive in the next few cycles. If that is all you wish for, I shall take my leave." Reflector hurries his words as he nervously makes for the door.
"Wait. I am not done with you yet." Deathzaras smiles.
"I have someone I'd like you to meet." Deathzaras begins to chuckle.
As reflector turns, he begins to shake; he cannot believe his optics. Stepping out from beside Deathzaras is a hulking and spindly figure. His expression is one of twisted amusement. His grey metal is freshly polished, his arm mounted fusion cannon glints in the rooms artificial light. Something is wrong, something is different; his helmet is jet black rather than the grey Reflector is all too familiar with. But there is no other way to rationalize what he is seeing.
"But you're - you're dead." Reflector whimpers.
"Test your weaponry my friend, kill the worm." Deathzaras eagerly encourages.
The new comer raises his fusion cannon and sends a compressed blast of energy through Reflector, completely disintegrating his cowering form.
Stepping forward, the new comer, looks at his cannon; admiring its handiwork.
At the right hand of Deathzaras stands the robotic anti-thesis of creation.
Megatron has returned...
