Apocalypse Rising
Series: Children of Primus, part 3 of 3
by Phantom


Chapter Three

One hour.

One hour until Unicron arrived.

One hour until their destruction.

Megatron watched Optimus Prime make his rounds, kneeling and speaking to the individuals that looked the most dispirited or afraid. Every time they seemed encouraged by his simple yet powerful words. Optimus had a charisma that made him a very popular and beloved figure. Even the Decepticons were swayed by his words. They were all frightened and needed something to believe in. Optimus Prime gave them that faith and the belief that they would prevail. But Megatron had seen the fear in Prime's own optics and knew that even the mighty Autobot leader did not believe they would survive.

Rodimus was nowhere in sight. Megatron turned to follow as Optimus slipped out of the large room. He wondered where either of them could be going at such a critical juncture. To his surprise, Optimus led him to the small prayer shrine to Primus inside Iacon. Rodimus looked up as his friend entered, his features creased in fear and worry. Optimus knelt beside him and wordlessly folded him into a hug. Rodimus hugged back, understanding that Optimus needed the affection as much as he did. Megatron looked away. This was not meant for him to see.

When the embrace ended, Rodimus turned back to his fervent prayers. Optimus began the ritual before prayer by prostrating himself before the altar, then sat with his legs folded underneath him, head bent, hands resting on his knees. Both Autobot leaders began to chant an ancient supplication to Primus. Megatron could not pin down Roddy's accent at all, but Optimus' had an undeniably Iaconian flavor. He could scarcely believe this. He hadn't pegged either Prime as being particularly religious, but then again, they had met their god face-to-face not so long ago. Could their prayers manage to do some good? What could it hurt, after all?

Megatron warily entered the prayer chamber and awkwardly underwent the short ritual. Kneeling on the floor, he began to recite the archaic prayers that he had been taught as a newling. He had not prayed in many, many millions of years. He had cursed Primus, turned his back on the light god as being a deity uncaring of the fate of his people. He was surprised, however, to find that the words came back to him easily.

Rodimus and Optimus paused briefly when Megatron began to recite his own prayer. It was nothing like they had heard before, completely different from their deeply ingrained supplications. A Decepticon prayer?! Could it be that they had their own separate way of appealing to their god? The prayer used different syntax and wording that was definitely Decepticon in origin. The Autobot smiled at each other faintly. Who could have imagined?

After nearly an hour of their mingled prayers, they each faltered and fell silent, wrapped up in their own private thoughts. Would all of their hard, tireless work over the past few months do any good at all? Rodimus, for once, could not find a single joke to crack. Um, are you guys as scared as I am? he said in a small voice.

Optimus looked at him solemnly, as impassive as ever. I am, he said softly, patting his shoulder. There's nothing wrong with being afraid, Roddy. We just can't let fear stand in our way of doing what needs to be done. Rodimus gave him a smile. At least they would be facing this together.

Megatron looked at them both. Okay, fine. This has got me spooked too. I'm hardly looking forward to seeing Unicron again. But if I can get a little payback in, I can die happy. Both Autobots nodded, recognizing his admission but not discussing it further to avoid shaming him.

After a long moment of silence, Optimus spoke. I don't know if any of us will survive this. I just wanted you both to know that I will be proud to fight and, if so fated, die by your side. He put his hand out, side down. Roddy gave him an understanding smile and placed his hand atop Prime's. After a second's hesitation, Megatron added his hand to the pile. They were united in intent and purpose. Whatever fate held in store for them, they would face it together.

Just then a pain raced through Rodimus' chest and he yanked his hand away, clutching at his chestplate. Optimus hissed and clapped both hands over his own chest, feeling the same stabbing pain. Megatron groaned, rubbing at his own chest. A warning! Before their communicators crackled to life, they knew. Unicron was here.

* * * * *

No one has the answer but one thing is true
You've got to turn on evil when it's coming after you
You gotta face it down and when it tries to hide
You gotta go in after it and never be denied
-- Let's Roll – Neil Young


The first thing Megatron noticed when he reached his soldiers was how dark it was. At first he thought that there had been a power failure. Then he saw. There was a massive shadow across the entire planet, blocking out the light that came from the distant, tiny sun.

Primus help us! came a shocked, tremulous voice. Cyclonus stood at his side, gaping at the apparition in horror.

Optimus and Rodimus stopped short just before crashing into them. They could not manage to utter a sound. It was so impossibly big, even huger than they had speculated! How could they fight that?!

Unicron had chosen his new form well. Grimlock had told them about how the tiny creature, Primacron, had bragged that he had built Unicron. Such a claim was ludicrous, but it was not beyond belief that the inventor had at least designed and constructed the Chaos-Bringer's previous body shell. Now Unicron had been left to his own devices. He had selected the form of a massive green and white dragon, with many serrated-looking scales. The tail alone looked big enough to wrap around half the planet! It towered above Cybertron, its jaws slavering hungrily.

Megatron's arm shook as he aimed his fusion cannon. Die, Unicron! he raged. I will have my revenge!

The giant body quivered with laughter, the shock waves deafening Primus' creations. The blast tore through its underbelly, but it barely seemed to feel it. You seek to hurt me! he roared with laughter. Little bug! You are mine!

The Decepticon leader roared as he felt Unicron's mental pressing in on his mind. Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps seemed to have similar problems. Megatron howled. I am no longer yours! You cannot control me again! He began firing indiscriminately. As if on signal, weapons of all types and sizes opened up on the lurking behemoth. They could at least go down fighting!

Unicron opened his massive mouth, breathing out a giant plume of white-hot fire. The conflagration raced toward the planet, melting through several levels, taking several hapless robots with it. The planet's giant guns fired multiple times, the barrels turning white with the heat. Large chunks were torn from the monster, but the damage was only superficial. It would take much, much more to stop the Chaos Bringer.

Optimus managed to gather his wits together. He was sincerely glad that he had been dead the last time this had happened. Fortress Maximus! Trypticon! Attack! This would be the first time that Fort Max would be going into battle since the death of Spike. Prime just hoped that the Headmaster could function with the modifications that made Cerebros alone his Headmaster component. Arcee had been doing reasonably well without Daniel – his exosuit having been permanently restored as her head – though she still suffered through occasional bouts of depression. The human Headmasters had not benefited from prolonged longevity from binary bonding the way the Nebulans had.

Megatron echoed Prime's command. All combiner teams! Merge and attack!

Ultra Magnus and Cyclonus were also busy positioning their troops. Attack pattern delta! the Autobot Major-General ordered. Buy them some time! The aerial and ground forces quickly mobilized in the prearranged pattern, giving the gestalt teams time to form up. Bruticus, Menosaur, Abominus and Predaking, the most feral and bloodthirsty combiners, lost no time in launching themselves at Unicron. Menosaur swung his giant sword at Unicron's elongated neck while Bruticus and Predaking tried to tear chunks out of his underbelly. Computron hung back slightly, trusting the other forces to cover him as he calculated the best angle of attack and the areas that would be the most vulnerable. Superion, Defensor and Devastator, being somewhat calmer, did not attack as fiercely but had more success and avoided injury more easily. The sight of so many enormous Transformers attacking at once was impressive, but Unicron shrugged them off as if they were nothing but pesky insects. Menosaur de-merged rather abruptly when the abdomen area that was Motormaster was severely damaged. The others pressed on, but his absence was severely felt. The Sweeps attacked desperately. Scourge had been gravely injured by the blast of Unicron's fire-breath and they were determined to avenge him. Angry at his rebellious creations, Unicron opened his mouth and used the very same fire breath to melt them into oblivion.

At a prearranged signal, the air shimmered, revealing three large spacecraft. They simultaneously began to fire on Unicron. Cloaking technology that had been, according to Megatron, donated by the Romulans to the Decepticons, had helped to hide the battleships until the critical moment. They may not make much difference in the long run, but at least it was a tactical advantage that Unicron had been unaware of. In this battle, they needed every advantage they could get.

Optimus Prime! the dragon called. The elder Autobot leader felt his fluids run cold. Stop this farce! Surrender to me, and I will grant you the precious oblivion that you have wanted for so long. You will know true peace. You will be reunited with those that you love. Is that not your wish?

N—no! No! Optimus exclaimed. How did Unicron know such things? How could he know his innermost thoughts? I am not ready to die! I am not ready to surrender our entire race to destruction! I will enter the Matrix and rejoin my friends when it is my destiny, and not a moment before. I will never give in to your will, you bastard! It felt good to swear at this abomination. You murderer! You killed Alita! I will not allow you to harm another creature as long as I live!

As you wish. A blistering beam of green energy fired from Unicron's jade optic. Megatron pulled him out of the way before he could be incinerated. Optimus managed to raise his rifle and fire. The shot burned a small hole in Unicron's side, but the creature barely noticed. The Chaos-Bringer began to laugh and laugh. The sound was terrible, and all that could hear it instantly wished they would go deaf. His giant tail smacked the planet, creating a large dent and flattening several warriors.

Rodimus cried. What's happening to him? Is he falling apart?

It did indeed seem as if Unicron was falling to pieces. The truth, however, became all too apparent. The chunks that fell away transformed into robots the size of a gestalt, each eerily resembling the old Unicron in robot form that they all feared. Roughly thirty fell to the planet, with more on the way, where they began their deadly business of eradicating the Cybertronians. It seemed that this battle was personal.

Fall back! Magnus roared. Protect the generators! We need the power for the main guns!

Megatron bent over, gasping, as a burning in his chest began. His hand reached to clutch at the pain, but as he reached out, his hand caught hold of something. A sword hilt! He pulled, and the Sword of Primus emerged from his chest cavity. At last, something they could really fight with!

Ha! Unicron, face me! he growled, lunging at the nearest robot. It flinched away from the blade as if pained by its very sight. Megatron sliced through it easily and headed for the next one. Inspired by the appearance of the sword, the Alliance members increased their counterattack, pressing the advantage. They soon discovered that Unicron had made a gross tactical error. While the mini-Unicrons were undoubtedly powerful and fierce, they made more vulnerable targets. The demonic warriors were meant to overrun the opposing warriors, but the Cybertronians found it much easier to fight something that was closer to their size. Megatron had a much butter chance of reaching the smaller Unicron clones than he would have attacking the giant dragon in space. With a mental command, Unicron recalled his components, ordering them to reform. During the rather lengthy reformation process, the united Cybertronians were able to score some rather critical hits. All too soon, however, Unicron had resumed his dragon mode, albeit now pockmarked and singed. Several components were missing, having been destroyed or too incapacitated to remerge. Still the behemoth managed to fire several devastating blasts with his optics, scarring the landscape and destroying quite a number of their soldiers.

Megatron caressed the flat of the sword blade thoughtfully. The archaic Cybertronian symbols seemed to glow and felt warm to the touch. He'd have to get very close indeed to use the sword. There might be another way, however, to injure the dark god. He stowed the mystical sword in his subspace pocket for safekeeping. Optimus Prime! he called. Get ready! He then transformed into his much smaller Earthen gun mode, shrinking many times in size but not in power. Optimus caught him neatly. Megatron lay perfectly still in Prime's strong grasp, opening long-unused receptors throughout his body. Energy flooded through him, energy that was so powerful that he thought it would tear him apart! Energies that were drawn directly from the heart of a black hole, energy powerful enough to hurt a god itself. It would not be enough to destroy Unicron, but it certainly would do some damage! When he thought that he would simply be torn asunder, Megatron released the furious energy through his gun barrel, ripping a blistering path straight for the Chaos Bringer. Unicron actually screamed as it tore through his metallic hide clear to the other side. Fluids and gases vented into space, which was becoming littered with debris from the injury. Megatron was weak now so very weak. That one shot had drained him beyond belief, but he knew that Unicron was still mobile. He opened his circuits once again, drawing in the searing energy, then fired it once more at Unicron's underbelly. The energy was not as plentiful or as strong this time, but it was enough to tear through delicate circuitry and hydraulics. Unicron roared in anger. His body was crippled! It simply wasn't possible! He had been dealt a mighty blow by one of his own 'creations'!

Megatron transformed back to root mode and swayed on his feet. Optimus caught him and supported him with one arm, seeing that the Decepticon was too weak to stand on his own. Megatron drew the sword from subspace and held it at the ready. Now, Optimus! The Matrix, now!

With his free hand, Optimus opened his chest casing and withdrew the Matrix. Its light was still dazzling but pitifully weak compared to its strength before the Hate Plague. Rodimus hurried to his side. Megatron managed to hold himself up against Optimus as each Prime took a handle of the Matrix. Light our darkest hour! they chorused as they pulled, opening the Matrix casing, allowing the searing bright light to burst free. It streaked unerringly for Unicron, striking where Megatron's blasts had already torn through. The dragon's body glowed an eerie bluish-white as Unicron howled in unbelievable pain. The sound was even more chilling than his previous laughter. His entire structure seemed to swell with the energy, then exploded outward. The planet was filled with cheering Cybertronians. They had won!

A chuckle reached them. They froze, their laughter dying abruptly. What was that? Surely Unicron had not survived!

In space, a small dot was visible. It came closer and closer until it hovered just feet above Cybertron's surface. It was a familiar figure indeed, but the laughter coming from its mouth was not the customary screech. Instead, Unicron's bass tones rumbled its entire small frame.

Megatron roared. What is the meaning of this? How dare you help Unicron!

I don't think that's Starscream at all! Rodimus exclaimed. Unicron made Starscream a new body, but Starscream betrayed him. Unicron must have taken it back and used it for his own purposes. Starscream's spark is long gone. That's how Unicron was able to escape from the husk of his head! He used the body he built for Starscream!

I killed Starscream once before! I can do so again! Megatron growled. He held the sword aloft and charged the possessed robot. merely laughed and shot a beam of dark energy from his hand. Megatron collapsed to his knees, trying to use the sword to deflect it without success. He was already so weak, it was all he could do to try to roll out of the way.

You can never destroy me! Unicron roared from his tiny body. You can destroy my corporeal form all you like. The only one that can truly destroy me is Primus! You have no hope! Dark energy lanced out in all directions, hitting Autobots and Decepticons randomly. Cyclonus cried out as his Nebulan Targetmaster was hit. Andromeda was hit square in the chest. She fell backwards, optics flickering unsteadily. Her scream of pain echoed across the battlefield.

Ani! No, no! You'll pay for that, Unicron! By Primus himself, I swear you'll pay! Optimus held aloft the Matrix, opening it once more. The small amount of energy coalesced around his body, protecting him, but did not move to strike at the possessed body of Starscream. Prime looked at the Matrix in consternation. What was going on?

Megatron groaned and lurched to his knees, holding the sword high. He would die on his feet like a warrior! He would not let Unicron get the best of him!

Rodimus had a crazy urge just then. He knew it was a move that could well be suicidal, but he had learned long ago to trust his instincts. Trusting the others to cover his back, he knelt in the middle of the battlefield and began to recite the supplication to Primus.

Unicron screamed in rage, preparing another blast of dark energy. Optimus Prime and Megatron looked at Rodimus as if he'd gone mad but did not question him. They quickly added their voices to his prayers. And, astonishingly, the Matrix energy that had wrapped itself around Optimus uncurled and reached for Rodimus Prime. The sword that Megatron held also emitted a similar type of energy in a tight band, also lancing toward the younger Autobot leader. Rodimus still knelt, oblivious to everything but his prayers. The two beams of energy surrounded him and braided themselves together until they melded as one. Rodimus' form glowed with the energy, and then a change began to take place. He began to shake violently as Matrix energy poured from every seam in his armor, his optics glowing powerfully. He cried out, but not in pain. Optimus gasped, feeling an incredible ecstasy overcome him through the link, unlike any emotion that he had felt before. My god! he whispered, not realizing just how prophetic those words were. The prophecy was true. When Autobot and Decepticon stood as one and united the Sword and the Matrix, a true miracle would indeed occur.



Unicron shrieked. Not you! You're trapped in the Matrix! You cannot escape!!!

Rodimus Prime smiled. It was his body, his mouth that smiled, but the voice that spoke was much deeper and powerful, carrying the wisdom of the ages. You have underestimated me, Unicron. You are my responsibility, and it is time that I took care of you. You have threatened the universe time and time again with destruction. I have had enough. It's time I put a stop to you, once and for all.

Primus! DIE! Unicron pulled a ball and chain seemingly out of nowhere, lashing out at the possessed Rodimus. The light god easily ducked the swinging spiked ball. He reached out and plucked his ancient weapon from Megatron's numb hand. Optimus closed the Matrix reflexively. He knew that his role was finished.

Primus struck out with his engraved sword, catching Unicron on the shoulder. The Chaos-Bringer hissed and landed a blow on Primus' side. The two gods battled for several minutes in their commandeered bodies. The light god soon realized that his planet and his people were both in danger of being destroyed. He and Unicron might have small, mortal bodies, but their strength and energy were still godlike and could easily wipe out everything. Primus turned and flew off into the depths of space with Unicron chasing right behind.

The assembled Cybertronians had difficulty seeing the combatants, even with their optics on maximum power. The enormous amount of energy, however, was nearly blinding, as light clashed with dark in a colossal struggle. It was plain to see how destructive both gods could be. Primus and Unicron were evenly matched, even in their new forms, and every blow that was landed by one was quickly reciprocated by the other. Primus realized with growing horror that the body he occupied was quickly becoming weakened. Unicron seemed to find it funny that he had taken on the form of one of Primus' creations, but it was mercifully an empty shell. Primus did not have the luxury of abusing his assumed form, however, for it was still occupied by his child's spark. He could not risk the life of Rodimus Prime, his very own son!

A desperate plot formed in the mind of the light god. Turning tail, he streaked to the far end of this solar system. Unicron followed close on his heels, laughing all the way. Stand and fight! he sneered. Or have you become a coward these past eons?

Primus said nothing, making a mad dash for his destination. If only this would work! The entire universe hung in the balance. It was all up to him now.

Unicron was so busy gloating that he did not notice the growing gravitational forces until it was too late. A black hole, the very one that Megatron had tapped into, had seized both of their corporeal bodies and was inexorably drawing them into its center. You fool! You'll destroy us both! the Chaos-Bringer raged, struggling to get free of his possessed body. Primus bound him to it effortlessly, dragging them both deeper, into the eye. Their perceptions were twisted and their bodies stretched beyond endurance by the unbelievable forces within the black hole. Finally, there was an explosion, and all was silent.


end of Chapter Three