Chapter 13
Unified Year – Dec. 24 1926 – Londinium – The Parliament House
In Londinium, Christmas spirit lingered in the air. Snow fell and landed softly on the city's crowded sidewalk and road. People walked and talked merrily as the day of the Lord's birth comes; they remained perfectly happy and ignorant of the reality of those issues that were happening right outside of their country's border.
The Parliament House, a tall building that stood on the heart of the bustling city, was well lit in golden spotlights. Its walls shimmered in gold as if it was the country's shining beacon of eternal power, perfect sophistication, and perpetual might. It may have look like a fortress of solitude to the normal citizens outside; but inside of this building, their country's leaders were breaking apart.
Prime Minister Churbull, Duke of Marlborough and the Country's Prime Minister, was a large robust man with stern chiseled face. His black government office attire softly rustled as he quietly tailed the person walking in front of him. The graying mid-fifties man looked up to the person who was the country's chancellor of Exchequer: Chancellor Loluyd.
Also a mid-fifties man, the old chancellor stroked his large beard as his government suit rustled with his soft, but urgent, movements. The two continued walking on the corridor until they reached a large dual door. They both paused and looked at each other's faces, which bore the same expression.
Dread.
"So…are we ready to be roasted alive?" Lord Churbull joked but with a grimacing voice as the chancellor made a soft disgruntled sigh.
"Ready when you are, sir."
And, with a swift movement, Lord Churbull opened the dual doors.
The room was a meeting room bathed in soft golden light. A long table was stretched in the middle and along with it were sturdy chairs. There were four people sitting and all of them looked at the two.
"Were sorry that we're late. Your Majesty." Lord Churbull announced, apologetically, and bowed to the fourth person sitting at the middle of the table; an old woman wearing an elegant blue gown with a large crown on her head. However frail, the worth of the old woman was higher than the rest of the men inside the room.
The woman's face had sharp features despite being riddled with age lines. Her eyes were piercing grey, which she focused on the prime minister.
"Prime minister and chancellor, do be punctual next time; we are discussing grave issues here."
The Queen's voice, though soft and gentle, was firm and authoritative. Her vulture-like grey eyes followed the two men as they both silently sat down beside a tall mid thirties man with a round and serious face.
"I've called all of my country's allies here today…for an emergency meeting," the Allied Kingdom's queen begun. "The Empire has just defeated Russy Federation. Although it was a communist country, they were supposedly stronger than the accursed country. However…the Empire seem to have an ally. Allies from the Stars."
"Indeed," the man beside the prime minister spoke in a grave tone. "In my country, Ispagna, they're called the cybertronians. They're intelligent beings made out of metal and they possess unstoppable unholy weapons and impregnable shields."
"We already know that," Prime Minister Churbull said in a matter of fact tone. It made the man cast an irritated look at him.
"Ambassador Leon of Ispagna, it seems your information came from dime novels and children's magazines," the Allied Kingdom's Prime Minister added, making the agitated man growl softly.
"We lost most of our spies due to civil war. But all is done and well now. We already have a new talented Premier; the youngest."
"You mean…Premier Borovo, the 30 year old politician? Forgive me for asking, but does he have experience in leading?" the blonde haired man sitting across of him spoke up. His brown questioning eyes looked straight at the glowering frown of Ambassador Leon.
"Ambassador Thomas of the Unified States…" he rasped back at the blonde. "He doesn't, but he's very talented and I put my faith in him."
The Unifidian Ambassador's blue eyes became cold, not agreeing with the words of the other ambassador.
"A wasted investment then."
"What-"
"Enough banter you two!" the queen's voice thundered viciously and it made everyone go still and silent. "We should be working together in order to defeat the wretched Empire."
She shifted her attention, casting her grievous scowl at Prime Minister Churbull.
"Your Majesty Queen Victorique, we are already making plans of attack against the Empire."
Lord Churbull stood up and walked towards the table by the wall to pour himself a brandy. "A landing invasion is most likely and the perfect place for it to happen…is at the Empire's Neilburg's coast." The old prime minister sat down and took a sip of his brandy, smiling at its taste, before he finished it all in the second go.
"We encountered however a problem."
It was now the Chancellor's turn to speak. He stood up and unfolded the envelope that he was carrying and showed everyone a thick pile of pictures.
"This is Barrack Terminus. It's in the Neilburg Coast and, according to our spies, it now poses as the Cybertronian's HQ."
Photos flashed before everyone's eyes; most of them frowned or clicked their tongue in dismay. They'd just lost a perfect landing place for their army.
"Remember the Cube that the Russy's found? It turned out to be a cybertronian artifact and only the Empire's cybertronians can use it."
"What does it do?" Queen Victorique asked as she lifted a photo. It shows the Cube and a tall, violet colored cybertronian with a single yellow optic standing on the pier beside it. The chancellor sighed disappointingly. "We don't know, your Majesty."
The Queen clicked her tongue again and put down the photo; the old monarch rested back against her seat and glowered at the window. The snow outside danced undisturbed on the glass; the faint sound of Christmas carols filled her ears but it was muffled by the building's closed windows. The festivities of the ignorant masses continued uncaringly and it angered her more. Her face turned to grim and she moved her attention back to her prime minister.
"Lord Churbull, how did you get these photos?"
"Comrade Loria's spy-ring which was compromised of at least eighty people who were still stationed on the Empire's capital, Berun."
An enemy of my enemy…is my friend. The queen slowly curled her thin lips into a wicked smile. She looked to her left and stared down at the person sitting next to the Unified States Ambassador Thomas.
"Sir Igor Gassman, Pseudo-ambassador of the Kingdom of Ildoa. Do you have anything to say?"
General Igor Gassman, a well-decorated military politician, was an old man with medium built body; he moved his head up and showed his understanding brown eyes. His face was pale, contrasting to his jet-black hair. A nervous frown flashed across his face after he slightly sunk his head down.
"Your Majesty…I have to tell you this. Our beloved King, Rafael Esquivel, wanted to cut ties with the Empire, for he was afraid of the power of the Iron Gods. We really do not have any intention of aligning with anyone anymore," he said with a solemn but slightly shaking voice.
The response from the queen was very much expected.
"Oh. So the Kingdom of Ildoa would still remain in the shadows of the giants even in this century."
The general looked away from the dark smirk of the Allied Kingdom's queen and sunk more in his chair; the belittling eyes of everyone made him gulp down.
The Kingdom of Ildoa, although they'd boasted to have to have one of the greatest navy force in the entire world, was reeling hard to the ground. Their new king, King Rafael Esquivel, was a child of thirteen of age…and a bastard, born out of one of the previous king's court ladies. The people, naturally, did not respect the new king while the government relied too much to the country's cardinal for leadership.
And ever since then, the cardinal had gotten a tight grip on both of the kingdom's people and the government.
General Gassman moved uncomfortably on his chair, rummaging for a response to counter the queen's words. If only we had a strong king, we wouldn't be in this situation. He grumbled in his dismal place.
A loud knock suddenly echoed, interrupting the sickly atmosphere of the meeting room. The door opened and one of the Queen's well dressed butlers stood and bowed at them.
"Your Majesty, there's a—well-the ambassador of the Empire had just arrived," the butler stammered with a stupefied expression. The queen's eyes narrowed; she was surprised at what she had heard. Her startled expression was displayed for the other ambassadors, who were all showing the same expressions as hers. Confused and lost.
"Who is the Empire's ambassador?" Lord Churbull stood up and cast a befuddled frown at the butler.
"Ambassador Starscream, milord, and he is one of the Iron gods."
The butler softly parted the dual door as the queen and the other ambassadors sat up on their chairs; the uneasiness of the arrival of the Empire's ambassador and one of the Iron gods was evident in their face. What would he look like? Would he be all metal with flaming red eyes? Would he be 20 feet tall, just like what the dime novels had described them?
A man entered the meeting room and all of them eyed him with hard, observing eyes. The man was medium built, but tall. His skin was pale white and he was clothed with a gray coat, a red vest over a white crisp shirt and black pants and shoes. His hair was long, tied into a low ponytail, and was silvery white with a shade of red in the middle. His crimson eyes looked at the other occupants, observing their reactions.
"Good evening. I hope I'm not intruding and disturbing your precious meeting?" Starscream began. His raspy voice made the ambassadors shifted into their chairs again with unease. However, the queen was unfazed by the cybertronian's human avatar look; she eyed him with vicious disgust as if he was a dangerous bug.
"No, you are intruding and disturbing our meeting, little cybertronian," she remarked with little inflection, as if he was nothing. The former second in command of the decepticons chuckled devilishly. Starscream walked over and pulled the chair on the center to sit down. The queen's lips curled down more into an feral frown; the decepticon hadn't even bothered bowing to her.
"Good. Because I've no intention of apologizing to all of you."
A wild grin showed on his pale face as his amused red eyes locked on the sovereign queen's raging vulture-like grey eyes. However, after a moment of silence, she quietly sat back down and took a breath of the warm air in. The prime minister looked at both sides before he spoke, taking advantage of the dreadful calmness.
"How should we address you, Sir Starscream?"
"It's general. General Starscream," he answered while his silver white brows knit together. He took out a small box from his deep grey coat pocket and put it on the center of the table. The box was the size of a Rubik's cube; its surface was dark silver and shiny and it was made out of metal. "And I am not the one who will join the meeting. It's actually him."
The seeker pressed the button in the middle of the cube; the object glowed in blue before it split in half, casting out a bright blue beam. Everyone gasped in shock. Lord Churbull almost fell from his chair while General Gassman gasped loudly. All the while, the beam churned and turned into an image of a man wearing the Empire's military uniform.
"From your reactions, I assume Starscream has already activated the communicator."
The image of General Zettour smirked with pride as he picked up an apple from the fruit basket, which had manifested together with him from the table. "Merry Christmas Eve, everyone…I hope I do not frighten your hearts out." The general gave a slight apologetic bow.
A scoff escaped from the Queen Victorique's mouth; she stood up from her chair and crossed both of her arms on her chest. "We're not scared with your light shows, General Zettour." She donned a look of daggers, masking her stupefied expression. The decorated general smirked and started walking to the right. He moved to the window and looked outside.
"Marvelous. Londinium truly turns into a Christmas town during Christmas."
He grinned and took a bite of his apple.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Lord Churbull berated, having enough with the Empire's show of technological prowess. Hmm, not impressed. So sad. The well decorated general turned and cast his piercing blue eyes at them.
"The Empire had asked the Allied Kingdom and its allied countries to form a truce to us," General Zettour said; although he spoke with serenity in his voice, it was delivered in a commanding manner. The ambassadors and the queen looked at each other. They were all baffled at what the general had said.
The Empire, the sworn enemy of the world and the strongest country right now, had just asked for a truce from them? What does he mean by that? General Gassman made a side-glance and accidentally locked his eyes with General Zettour, who returned an ominous grin. And then it hit him. He's planning something.
"Ha! As if!" Lord Churbull jolted from his chair and moved towards General Zettour. He towered over him and looked straight to his face with mocking smile. "I know you, Zettour. What are you scheming, huh? What would we gain from your 'truce'?" he spat with defiant arrogance and crossed his arms over his chest.
Idiot fleshling. Strascream grinned hellishly, relishing over what the response of the genius brigadier general would be. A low, amused chuckle escaped Zettour's lips and he slowly turned to him, making the prime minister move back. Why is he laughing? Lord Churbull sensed a foreboding feeling coming from the action of the empirian soldier and everyone else had also felt it. They leaned back on their chairs as the old general turned to Starscream.
"Sir Starscream, if you please."
"With pleasure." Starscream leaned and tap the surface of the communication box. More bright blue beams shot out and enveloped the whole room and, after that, the pristine walls of the meeting room disappeared. The ambassadors gasped in fright while the queen's face fell into a crestfallen shock as they all look around. Together with the table, they were all now sitting in the middle of a snow covered village plaza.
The plaza was silent; the houses that surrounded them had broken windows or unhinged doors; the village was a deserted one.
"Where-"
"We're in an abandoned village in the middle of the Russy Federation continent. Don't worry, we're not transported there; we never left the room. This is a hologram…and so is that." Zettour nodded in front and everyone followed to where his eyes were looking at.
On the middle of the road, a few meters away from the, stood a futuristic-like contraption. It looked like a bomb that was carried by bomber planes, but it had a sleek and smooth dark purple surface. A weird insignia was drawn near the tip with the insignia of the Empire below it.
"A bomb?" Chancellor Loluyd fixed his monocle and saw a spark of violet flashed all around it. And then the whole world was enveloped by a blinding light. Everyone grunted as a harsh wind blew over them, except, however, General Zettour, who was casually eating the last remnants of his apple.
"Like I said, it's a hologram. It only shows what happened earlier this morning to this tiny village in the middle of Bolgor Plains."
"What in God's name-!" Ambassador Thomas darted to General Zettour as a house collapsed behind the general from the harmful, forceful wind that cut through its walls. And then, as fast as it appeared, the light and the wind disappeared and the walls returned.
The whole room was enveloped in deadly silence; everyone was still shocked from what they'd watched and still absorbing what had happened.
"What—" Queen Victorique stumbled on her chair and looked, dazed, over at General Zettour, who was simply sitting and eating his a small red apple. The general tilted his head and smiled in bliss. "This apple is the good stuff."
Tch. What the hell is that!? Queen Victorique pushed her chair away and stomped her way to him. Her eyes fumed in fury as her anger was directed to the Empirian general. "What on earth is that!?"
General Zettour flashed his blue eyes and pushed himself up.
"That, Your Majesty, would be a Hydrogen Bomb, and what happened to that village would certainly happen to Londinium…Ispagna, Ildoa and most of all Unified States!" he roared with an excited voice. The queen staggered back in shock. That bomb…can explode here? She pictured it- her dear Londinium city all flying away after a flash of violet sparked across the sky.
Building's falling, windows shattering and people…turning into dust.
"If you accept the truce, that won't happen; but if you don't, well…" Zettour finished his sentence before he stood up and walked towards the window. The old man glowered again at the sidewalk below. Starscream, on the other hand, was observing him with an appraising grin.
Looks like I underestimated you, old man…you do have fangs. When the two first met, the seeker doubted the old man's integrity due to his age and features. He thought he was already senile; however, he had a flair of perfect charisma and he was sharper and wiser than he looked. He had dominated everyone with his intellectual prowess in this room.
"You…you think you can scare us with your fake cinerama?" Queen Victorique flared her nostrils and her predator-like eyes on him with ferocity; a low growl escaped from her thin lips while she ground her white teeth hard, fuming. Rightly fuming, for the general had humiliated everyone inside the room. The general turned to her and studied her reaction.
Ha…so she wasn't moved at all. Oh well.
"That Hydrogen Bomb was invented five days ago, and we had just entered it into production. We were not planning on using it, for it was too risky." Not to mention, Professor Schugel and Shockwave had told me that they still needed to further study it. He stroked his chin in contemplation and move again to the table and took a fruit- a golden colored apple- from the plate.
"And so what?"
"So, your Majesty, our Beloved Empress shall wait for your response," he paused and turned to the rest of the ambassadors. "The time limit would be one month, right now. I hope you'll all have formed a good decision before the end of the month."
He cast a wide, sinister grin before he spoke again. "Oh and your Majesty? A gift from the empress." He pushed the plate of fruits further on the table. "This plate of fruit is personally hand picked by our empress. There's no poison in it, I assure you. Goodbye for now."
And, with gentle single bow, the image disappeared, leaving everyone with his words of doom still lingering in the air.
Starscream took the box after it returned to normal and put it back in his pocket. "General Zettour was actually sitting inside the Strategic HQ all this time. The plate of apples that he has passed to you all came from the place…thousands of miles away from here." A low playful chuckle emitted from his lips. "He just passed those apples to you all as if he was near...that, my dear, is called Quantum Communication."
He paused on his way out to fix his red tie in the mirror on the wall; the others didn't answer him and they all looked down in fear of the cybertronian.
"Well then…I shall expect your answers in one week. Goodbye for now."
His right hand touched the door knob but before he could open it, a loud chime of the clock made him pause. He looked up to the wall on his right where a large grandfather's clock was standing. It was already midnight.
"Heh, Merry Christmas everyone…and enjoy our gift: the Empire's golden apples."
And with a pull of the door, the seeker general strode out and left the room.
Parliament Palace – Corridor
"1…2…3…4…5…"
*CRASH*
Starscream giggled in an evil way after he heard the resounding crash of the fruit plates on the other side of the meeting room. Then after that, he heard the animal-like howl of the queen of Allied Kingdom. The jest had offended her completely.
"Heh, now you'll have second thoughts before attacking us." He cackled madly and walked along the silent corridor.
"Wait, General Starscream!"
Starscream stopped by the stairs and turned around. General Gassman was running towards him; once arrived, he stopped and puffed a couple heavy breaths of air out of his chest. The old general wiped some of his sweat away as the former commander of seekers looked down on him with judging eyes.
"Yes?"
"I—I—uh… the Kingdom of Ildoa would like to apologize to the Empire if we're conniving with the enemy. We didn't mean to," the general explained with nervous eyes. "Our king is very weak; he has no allies or friends, almost everyone in the court dislikes him-"
"Because he is a bastard and a child," Starscream said simply. It made the general wince in dismay.
"H-however, the king wishes for our country to remain neutral during this war. When I go back there, I will convince my king to change his stance on the Empire-"
"Pathetic and weak."
General Gassman was startled to hear the cybertronian's remark. Starscream's eyebrows furrowed in irritation and he faced the old general. "Your King is weak and pathetic," he repeated. "…no wonder your country is always neutral in every international conflict."
General Gassman lowered his head in shame. The words sounded true and it resonated painfully inside of him. "Bu—but-he could still-"
"If you think being neutral is fine, then the Empire would still go on with our plans. We don't give a frag for your decisions. However…" Starscream paused and formed a belittling smirk. "If he really wants to be strong, then he should learn how to stand up for himself. He should lead his country to war and he, most certainly, chose a side!"
He moved closer and cast his judging red eyes down at the general.
"Let me give you some advice. All is fair in love and war. Those who choose to be neutral…either end up being forgotten or made as a laughingstock MEMES in the history of man! Don't forget that."
Starscream turned around and his holoform body began to emit red orbs off of its surface.
"I don't give free advice, so make this count."
Because they are the worst. And, after casting a cool smirk behind him, he burst into red orbs and vanished without a trace.
The Empire - Berun Capital City – Dec. 25 1926 – Imperial Strategic HQ
General Zettour and Rudesdorf watched with dark delight as the generals and high ranking military officials observed the film that was playing on the screen in front of them. The film that was showing the test of the Empire's brand new weapon made by the Ministry of War Science.
Hmph, impressive no? Rudesdorf's smirk grew as he watched the other generals gasp in surprise or lean onto their chairs more; their eyes watered in disbelief at the awesome and powerful force produced by the bomb. The film then ended and the lights went back on inside the meeting room.
"That would be the end of the test…and, as you can see, this so-called 'Hydrogen Bomb' could really turn the tides of this war, or end one such as that."
"Indeed." Zettour stood up from his chair and grinned at everyone. "In fact, I jut showed this one to Queen of Allied Kingdom. She was so moved that she couldn't speak afterwards," he commented and everyone within the room clapped joyously.
"Splendid! Are we manufacturing one as of now?" one of the generals asked Zettour, but he glanced to his left towards Optimus Prime's human avatar; the autobot leader was standing next to the wall and he wasn't in a joyous mood like the rest of the men inside.
"I'm afraid, Sirs, we must only manufacture one hydrogen bomb and no more than that."
The statement of the autobot leader made everyone look at him, perplexed at the cold words of the alien automata. However, in the eyes of Optimus Prime, this weapon could just as much bring about the end of the Empire as give them victory.
This bomb could stop a war…but it could also start a new one. The hydrogen bomb, back on his previous earth, had also ended countless lives. Optimus had read the history and he was saddened by its result. War…it never changes, does it? The autobot leader let out a down sigh and elaborated.
"Sirs, if we create more weapons of destruction, we're actually violating the War Time Law no 3 subclause 5: 'Development of any weapons of war should be in accordance to the Treaty of Manapowder,': "The Treaty of Manapowder restricts every country of constructing explosives that could go beyond fifty or one hundred kilotons of explosive force.'"
The law was enacted in the case that a war conflict occurred inside a city or residential area; it would spare the winning country to pay the heavy damages that they'd inflicted upon the place.
"Huh, but we only built this bomb because we were threatened by the alliance that the Ispagna had made with Allied Kingdom! Not to mention, the Kingdom of Ildoa, it looks like they too would detach from our alliance, since their communication with us has gone cold!" one of the generals said, but it was answered by Brigadier General Rudesdorf.
"However, even though we are threatened, we should still be 'civil' when it comes to answering threats…am I right, Optimus?"
Optimus only nodded to the General with expressionless face.
"I understand your reactions, gentlemen; however, Optimus is right."
Rudesdorf lit up his cigarette and blew the smoke in the air as Zettour continued with calm, but sharp voice.
"If we indeed drop this bomb on a city, our economy would be ruined even if we win the war. This hydrogen bomb... it's a double edged weapon. It could hurt our enemy but it could also ruin the world. It still has effects that we don't know of. Professor Schugel and Doctor Shockwave are still studying its effects as we speak."
The joyful mood turned into a deep discussion as several high ranking officials looked at each other and began to discuss the weapon and effects. Optimus Prime glanced at them with a dolor look. It was clear to him that they want to use the weapon to eliminate the Allied Kingdom; however, he knew what will happen next if they do so.
An action born out of violence…would only result in more violence.
"If you make more bombs, they will definitely dropped on anyone who disagree with the Empire- and that is basically tyranny." Optimus Prime looked down dolefully and began to pray. The One I pray to you this: may the men of the Empire find the strength to take the path of peace; may this bomb be the last monstrosity that they will use to protect themselves and their homeland.
The Imperial Palace
Optimus Prime, in his alt form, slowly entered the gates of the Imperial Palace. Snow fell slowly from the dark sky as the palace came into view. It was lit up in an ephemeral golden glow; its walls were decorated with advent wreaths while its windows and windows sills were littered with Christmas lights.
So this is Christmas here; it's just like the Earth back home. Optimus remembered the previous Earth during its Christmas holiday. The Empire's celebration was no different; songs of joy and hope rang through the air and mood was jolly and tranquil. The autobot leader stopped for a moment after he noticed a huge structure standing on the center garden.
"The Christmas tree that was made by Grimlock's dinobots and the Devastators..." He smiled in amazement. The tree stood at a staggering height; its leaves were made of silver green metal that was curved beautifully to look like it was leaves. Ornamental balls and angels hung on its sides and it was all bathed in bright and cheerful Christmas lights.
"The Constructicon Hook and the Devastators must've constructed the tree. As for the Christmas lights and other designs…Grimlock's?" Optimus thought and imagined the dinobots designing each of the hanging knick-knacks; they must've poured so much time and effort in making it. A chuckle escape from under his hood.
The autobot leader then stopped beneath a tall tree. "Ok time to produce—hmm?"
His senses activated and made him shift his cameras up. A familiar roar of a jet engine shot down in front of him as Megatron landed in green grass plain. "Optimus, aren't we both late for the Christmas party?"
"It seems so." Optimus activated his holoform. His human avatar fixed the Waffenrock winter uniform with its white crisp shirt and golden chains on the side. He looked down at his blue pants and sighed in a worried manner. "Hmm…does the party have uniforms?"
"You really don't go to parties, huh old friend?"
Megatron cast a red beam to the ground and created his human avatar. He was also wearing the same Waffenrock winter uniform but the shirt was crisp and darker than black, his pants were deep violet, and he wore black shoes. But the most noticeable on him was his face, he had changed it again.
He had a new hair style; it was white still but it was pulled up. His nose was crooked and sharp and he had greying side burns and a goatee. He looked so much older than before, around the age of Optimus's human avatar model.
"Megatron. New face?"
"Yes. It seemed that the Empress of Akutsushima liked my previous human face," Megatron said with an annoyed frown. He didn't like the way the Empress ogled his face before so he changed into something that might scare her a bit. Optimus chuckled.
"Humans, Megatron. They love your holo-avatar form."
"Hmph. It's because my previous form had a strong sex appeal for the humans."
Well your new one still has though, ha. Optimus chuckled at his friend's reaction. "Let's go inside. Empress Katherine is waiting."
The Great Golden Hall – Imperial Palace
Optimus and Megatron slowly waltzed in from the door and stood on the top of the dual staircase leading down to the party. It was in full swing; the people were dancing and prancing along the floor. Gowns and elegant dresses rustled and colored the air with their fabrics as they moved to the tune made by a large ensemble of classical orchestra.
"Wow. So this is how they party during the early 20th century, huh?"
"I thought it would be much wilder."
"It's wild already."
The two cybertronians glanced to their left. Major Tanya stood beside them, wearing gothic style red clothes. Her face was adorned with make-up and blush on; her lips were painted with red while her blue eyes sparkled magnificently.
The major looked like a normal child for once and the two cybertronians stared with half of their mouth's hanging from awe.
"What?" Tanya pouted and glowered to their eyes.
"Um-major, you look pretty tonight," Optimus commented but Megatron quickly followed it up with a sneer. "Yes, pretty; pretty stupid, though haha-ugh!" The former tyrant squeal in pain as the Major punched him right on his crotch.
"Thank you. You're duly noted, Megatron . But you're right; this one looks stupid." A heavy disappointed sigh escape the Major's lips.
She shifted her attention back to the crowd below while the tyrant rubbed his crotch, still burning from the punch. "That—was so new!"
"I told you, Megatron; you should control your mouth," Optimus reminded in a calm manner as Tanya turn back her attention to them.
"How was the meeting, Optimus?" she asked as her tone change into a serious one.
The autobot leader curled his lips down and frowned. "The generals aren't fully convinced that the hydrogen bomb is dangerous, despite me warning them about its effects."
Of course they wouldn't. Even back on previous earth, the army would be glad too that a weapon that could change the tide of war existed within their grasps. They will surely use it here without any second thought. Tanya analyzed and imagined the meeting earlier about the hydrogen bomb. The generals wanted to end the war quickly as possible; however, they wanted it to end with the Empire on top. That would make this country a tyrannous-looking one. Another war could start again and Tanya wasn't sure if the Empire could survive it.
"Megatron, what about Starscream's surprise crash meeting?"
Megatron clicked his tongue in irritation and stood up straight. "Starscream has surely shook everyone's heart with the hologram presentation of the hydrogen test but…the intended target wasn't much fazed." The former decepticon leader cast a grim frown. "In fact, I think the ambassador of the Unified States wasn't very much impressed."
Tch. Another stalemate. Oh well, it was worth a shot. Tanya had planned it all. Starscream gate-crashing the meeting of the allies and then convincing General Zettour to show the result of the hydrogen test. It was a very common scare tactic, but the intended target wasn't even fazed. The intended target was the ambassador of the Unified State.
"I aimed to scare the ambassador away, but it seem I might've opened a door of opportunity for the Unified States to join the war." Tanya bit her right thumb nail. It wasn't supposed to go that way, and yet it did. "Curse this! They will now surely join the war. They've enough reason to want to stop us."
And that is my conclusion to this…The major glanced at Optimus, whose eyes were closed as if in deep thought.
Optimus…for sure, you know what will happen next right? Tanya thought; her eyes turned cold and her expression turned into a reassuring frown.
"Looks like we really do need to use the bomb."
Optimus finally said it, discreetly, so no guests could hear them.
"Indeed. That is the only logical solution."
Megatron cast his red, grave eyes to the crowd. "We have to level up a country."
"And what do you mean by that?" The three stopped and glanced behind themselves . Empress Katherine stood with Prince Leopold. The empress was wearing a simple but elegant golden dress that matched her crown, while the prince was wearing a all white clothes with a long black cape hanging on his back.
A scowl was formed on the prince's face as the empress moved forward and all three of them bowed to her.
"About what you heard... it's nothing, Your Majesty," the autobot said with a kind smile, but he heard a sharp scoffed coming from the prince.
"Maybe you're planning on taking over the throne some day?"
"Maybe we are, but what the frag are you gonna do about it?" Megatron said in a jocular way and it made the prince wince in fright. A laugh came out from the former tyrant's mouth. "I'm just joking, Your Majesty. Cheer up! It's Christmas, a time where everyone should be happy, for the Lord was born today."
"Indeed, Megatron." Empress Katherine laughed heartily and glanced down at Major Tanya. "Good evening, Major. You look very dashing tonight."
"Thank you, Your Majesty and so do you," Tanya commented as the Empress turned her attention back to Optimus.
"Sir Optimus…would you like to dance?" Optimus was wide eyed for a moment and quickly activated his inter comms to Megatron. 'Megatron…I don't know how to dance!' The autobot panicked but he only heard an amused chuckle from the former tyrant before he replied with only: 'Good luck.'
"Um—Your Majesty. I don't know how to dance the waltz."
"It's ok, I'll teach you. Besides…" the Empress raised her foot in a tip toe in order to whisper to the autobot. "I'm trying to avoid Magna Rumeli's President Yorume…he's been stalking me."
The empress slowly took a peak behind the cybertron and saw the round yellow eyes of the president of Magna Rumeli, whose face also showed a perverted grin. That bald headed president isn't gonna have his way with me. The empress smiled sheepishly and it made the autobot leader give in.
"I'm sorry if I might step on your shoes."
"Its ok." The empress pulled Optimus onto the dance floor just as the orchestra changed its piece and started playing sweet waltz music. Ok, left, left, left, right…Optimus gulped as he led the empress in a slow serenade waltz. Unbeknownst to him, however, Tanya and Megatron were both standing still, trying to keep their laughter bursting out.
"By Primus, this is too painful to watch."
"Indeed. Ten bucks if he step on the Empress's foot and twenty bucks if he doesn't."
"Deal."
Tanya then glanced behind her and saw the prince had started to walk towards her. A realization hit her and it made her grab Megatron's right hand.
"Megatron, the deal's off. Dance with me."
Megatron eyed her with annoyance. "What—"
"Please, Megatron…I don't want that bitch prince to lead me to the dance floor."
Oh…Megatron hadn't heard the major making a desperate plea to him before. This was new and he loved every single second of it. A sharky smirk spread on his lips.
"Sure, Tanya. Let's dance."
Before Tanya could berate him about officer's titles, the former tyrant pulled her onto the dance floor. The prince glared at what happened and he watched with dark and envious eyes as his idol was swept by a cybertronian hellhound.
"Tch…son of a bitch…"
"Jealous?"
Prince Leopold turned and was startled to see a tall man with short white hair and an all violet tuxedo attire. Half of his face was obscured with a black mask that covered his eyes.
"Who are you?" the prince asked with hostility and the person immediately answered with a dead tone.
"Soundwave. I can offer you a dance, your highness." Soundwave, in his human avatar form, leaned slightly and offered his pale right hand. The prince was wide eyed for a moment. The man before him was a cybertronian and not a human being. He growled and turned away.
"I don't want to. Leave me alone."
Soundwave bore his mask at him, unmoved at his command, before he spoke in a gentle deep voice. "No one should be left alone during Christmas season, your highness."
The Prince glanced at him, startled at his words but curious enough that he became hesitant.
Ever since his sister took leadership, the prince was always left alone. He wasn't bothered but, as time went by, the boredom got a better of him. However, he wouldn't let his time be filled up by a cybertronian. Father Alloysious said that all cybertronians were devils in disguise. "Are you going to whisk me to hell, demon?"
Soundwave tilted his head, analyzing his words, before a small smirk appeared on his thin grey lips.
"No. To heaven. Soundwave is superior in dancing."
That smirk. The prince felt his heart make a hard thumped in his chest. The smirk of the cybertronian decepticon had caught him off guard. It was beautiful, like an angel painted on a large portrait. Leopold took a step back, still hesitant, but then he slowly raised his right hand.
"I've had enough of inviting girls to the dance floor. The girls want nothing except my blessings or a place in the palace's court." The prince frowned at Soundwave's mask. "Would you be different?"
Soundwave took his hand and the prince breathed hard. His hands were soft, but warm. He felt the warmness of his fingers entering his skin and it soothed his spirits inside.
"I am no girl, your highness. That alone means I am different." Soundwave answered with his deep, but enticing, voice. The prince didn't answer him. His face was all red as the former communication officer of the decepticon army led him to the dance floor and the two men began to dance.
He wasn't human but…he was very caring. Leopold could tell that Soundwave wasn't scheming anything, despite his eyes being shrouded. The gentleness of his pull, the smooth movement of his feet as they spun along the music... The prince couldn't help but smile. He felt nostalgic suddenly. His father, Walpurgos, usually danced with him and his sister every Christmas and he missed it so much.
And Soundwave was right. He didn't want to be alone tonight.
"Are you free tonight, Lord Soundwave?"
"Lord me-Sir Megatron hasn't given me any tasks for tonight…so I am free." Soundwave shifted his masked and whispered. "Soundwave alone is good, your Highness. There's no need for titles."
His humble tone made the prince's face redden more.
Meanwhile, Tanya and Megatron were startled to see the prince with a strange man as his dance partner. "It's Soundwave," the decepticon leader said while half of his body was bent over so he could lead the major in the dance.
Tanya whistled mentally at the weird couple. "Ho…still weird though." Tanya looked at Megatron and smiled in a devilish manner.
"Today the Empress had made an allegiance pact with Magna Rumeli and the Turksman Principalities. We finally have real allies that we can depend on."
Megatron scanned his surrounding and saw two people in the corner. Standing close to the buffet table was the Turkman Principalities, Sultanate, Abbhdul. He was a man in his forties and he was short. He was wearing a blue turban on his bald head that seemed to be bigger than his whole body. Next to him, sipping a red wine was the President of the Magna Rumeli.
President Yorume was a man in his fifties, tall but with small built body and a bald head just like the sultanate. He was following the empress and the decepticon could see the sad envy forming on the face of the president.
Those are our allies…frag. Megatron clicked his tongue in dismay.
"About that. Starscream had also said something to me, regarding the Kingdom of Ildoa."
Tanya blew some air from her mouth, disgusted after she heard the coward country's name. "That country is weak. The people don't respect the king. If only the king could have a backbone-"
"Which is why I would send Starscream on another diplomat mission."
The Major shifted her blue eyes to him; her smile turned into an opportunistic smirk.
"Oh? Are you going to change the king's mind?"
It was now Megatron's turn to grin maliciously. "Something like that."
Imperial Inner Garden
Empress Katherine and Optimus went out of the terrace and descended to the inner garden beside the palace. The snow had frozen most of the plants; the ground was white and soft as the two walked and exchange chuckles of happiness and delight. The dance was just finished and it relieved both of them from their awkward situation.
"That was…very awkward." Katherine giggled as Optimus's human face blushed in embarrassment.
"Indeed, Katherine." The autobot stopped after the duo had reached a small fountain. Its surface was ice and it felt bitter cold to the touch. Katherine sat on the edge while Optimus smiled at her with peace. The two were silent, letting the ambient sound of snow filled their ears as they remembered the dance earlier which had made their heart beat elated.
"Optimus, earlier this morning, I signed an alliance pact with Magna Rumeli and the Turkman Principalities."
"I've heard, Katherine. Which the reason why the Allied Kingdom had called an emergency conference with their allies."
A displeased frown formed on Katherine's face. She didn't like what the Allied Kingdom had done. They were rallying against her country.
"I want to drop that bomb on Allied Kingdom."
Optimus took a step back after he heard what she said. Katherine... the anger in her voice was evident and it worried him. "Katherine, let's not rush it. It's better if the bomb isn't used."
"Why, Optimus? They are the enemy. They have been ever since from the beginning. The Allied Kingdom were the ones who turn the whole world against us, because they couldn't accept the actions that we made in order to survive."
"Yes I know, which is why we should all be civil for now. Let's resume negotiation talks. We could use the bomb as our cornerstone in negotiating peace," Optimus explained in a careful manner but the empress's brows became more cross. She didn't like what he was saying.
"Optimus…I can't believe that I'm saying this to you. But, for an alien, you're so naïve!" Katherine stood up and cast a bitter look at him.
"Do you think they could be moved by words alone? You need actions, violent ones in fact. I learned it all in the hard way." Katherine paced towards one of the frozen rose bush. She looked through the ice, towards the poor red rose that was frozen by the cold. It was trapped…just like her and her beloved country.
"The Treaty of Sham, the cold reaction of Kingdom of Ildoa when I was crowned and now Ispagna's tyrannical rule..."
The Empress turned to him and showed a desperate aching pout. "I am trapped, Optimus. This country too. I want all of my enemies to be gone. Did you know that the Allied Kingdom had also created a nursery rhyme regarding me?"
A song? "Maybe it wasn't cruel since it was a nursery-"
"A nursery rhyme that predicts my assassination."
Optimus gasped softly. He felt hurt that a song for children contained messages about Katherine being assassinated, as though she was nothing.
A grave look formed on his face as Katherine move closer to him and whispered. "Optimus I'm sorry, my friend…but please…kill them all for me."
Optimus slowly moved his blue eyes to her; the tranquil look made the empress smile at peace and she moved slowly to hug the autobot tightly.
"Please Optimus…kill them all for me. Kill them all for the Empire…kill them all for God," she whispered into his chest but the autobot didn't answer. Optimus wrapped his arms around her and felt the warmness of her body.
Katherine…I'm sorry. But I can't do that, I will never do that… he wanted to say it to empress; however, he had lost his voice- for his ears had detected a small stifled desperate cry of the empress whose face was still buried on his chest.
"There now…cry onto me child. I shall give you comfort." Optimus hugged her tightly more as the snow continued to fall upon the doomed couple. The silence was still around them and the autobot felt that it was all eerie. He knew that after this deadly silence, a ferocious storm would soon befall them.
EYY-YOO!
This is the new chapter and its a Christmas special! However it looks like their Christmas is anything but joy and goodness in their hearts! Allies were drawn, countries are now divided and no longer united. However, who is truly the good ones here? Who will certainly win in this war?
By the way, I change Megatron's human avatar to the version based on the comics, damn that Decepticon leader is so...hot, even in his human form.
Disclaimer: I do not own the anime, Saga of Tanya the evil and the cartoon, Transformers Prime. All names, dates and places are fictional, if one exist in real life then its purely coincidence.
Special thanks to dropout-ninja for beta-reading!