Disclaimer: Wow, another chapter already. I guess my new method of writing these things is paying off. Anyway, here is the latest chapter of the story so I'm hoping you enjoy.
I don't own the rights to Transformers.
EDIT: I'm re-uploading this chapter due to a potential glitch in the previous upload.
Chapter XIX
A series of a computers within the main base of Iacon all seemed to go off at once, alerting the Autobots who'd been stationed there up to that point. Cliffjumper was the first to reach the primary console while Perceptor and Outback were only a few steps behind him. Outback aided Cliffjumper in trying to determine what was causing such a commotion. It wasn't long after that Scattershot, Lightspeed and Strafe approach the the console as well. Naturally, Rattletrap was the last to approach. Despite his prior reservations, he too was also on a separate console. He and Perceptor noticed a grid on the largest screen, and the readouts on said screen were fluctuating madly.
"So, anyone wanna take a guess on what's causin' the racket?" Rattletrap said.
"What it is, it's got to be something extremely serious." Cliffjumper replied.
"The energy output is off the charts. I've never seen anything like this except for Trypticon." Perceptor claimed.
"You think that monster's still functional after all this time?" Cliffjumper asked.
"There's no way in the Pit, not since Metroplex literally ripped Trypticon's head off and chucked him into Earth's Pacific Ocean." Outback said.
"No, it's not Trypticon. The power output is irregular and apparently not of Cybertronian origin," Perceptor explained. "There are other energy signatures, much smaller and more familiar."
"Let me guess; Decepticons." Rattletrap said.
Scattershot approached the console where Outback was sitting and asked, "Any chance for a clear picture?"
Outback worked the console and the big screen produced a wall of white noise and static. Then it cleared up just enough to show the image of a massive bipedal robot swinging around a pair of claw-like appendages. In additions, the familiar images of Decepticons were show attacking the robot. Lightspeed and Strafe flanked each side of Scattershot. They were quickly able to make out both Megatron and Shockwave, but the identity of the third Decepticon escaped them. Cliffjumper, Outback and Perceptor however recognized the third Decepticon to be Starscream. Rattletrap reared his head into the proceedings and felt the lubricant drain from his gyros.
"Oh, so that's the big giant robot stompin' 'round the planet." he nervously quipped.
Before he could reply, Scattershot received a call from Afterburner. "Yo, Scattershot, are you there?"
"It's good to hear from you again, Afterburner. What's going on?" Scattershot replied.
"We've got Brainstorm and Sari and we're on our way up to the surface, but I think something happening up top." Afterburner replied back.
Scattershot took another look at the screen before he said, "I'll explain everything once we meet up. In the meantime, mark your location. We're on our way."
Without a moment's hesitation, the Technobots headed off. Left with the Autobots, Rattletrap mused, "Yep, we're all gonna die."
The Terminus closed in on the massive energy signal. Lockdown was trying to piece together the details surrounding the origins of the signal, knowing only that Arkeville had gone in the same direction. Considering that he'd been cheated out of his payment, Lockdown's focus was clear. But the bounty hunter wasn't prepared for what he eventually saw through the main view port of his ship.
A towering robot rose up from the surface of Cybertron, larger than the Seacons whenever they combined. Lockdown had to lean forward in his chair just to get a better look at the hulking machine. It dawned on him that he was witnessing the rising of a titan. Lockdown wasn't a believer in the existence of titans or the Thirteen Primes or even of Primus or Unicron. The sight of this titan rising from the surface of the planet might've just changed his mind.
"Well, that's something you don't see every decca cycle." Lockdown mused to himself.
He then noticed several smaller objects flying around the titan and peppering it with beams of light. Lockdown was quick to determine that they were Decepticons. He chuckled at the sight, again musing how long it had been since he had even the slightest interaction with any of them. His real priority was Arkeville and getting what he was owed for his work. The mad Human/cyborg scientist and his pet project headed in exactly the direction of where the titan was currently located. Lockdown wasn't about to turn and bolt away, not when he was owed a sum. As far as the titan was concerned, Lockdown couldn't have cared less.
In his beast form, Cheetor was thrown down to the metallic ground hard by the recently combined Piranhacon. He managed to get back onto his four legs and ready to pounce once more, while Piranhacon lumbered toward him. Before Piranahcon could get any closer, Tigatron jumped on his back in his beast form while Dark Steel and Night Scream flew overhead. They attacked with a collective attack of shrill screams that immobilized Piranhacon for a few moments. This gave Rhinox and Sky-Byte a chance to attack. Sky-Byte went high, blasting Piranhacon in the face with a laser blast. Rhinox charged forward in his beast form and tackled the combiner. Piranhacon fell forward and face-planted the surface, and Cheetor made his move while letting an almost feral scream.
Coming in close, Cheetor dug his claws into the face and shoulder of Piranhacon. Still gripping the combiner's back, Tigatron dug his teeth into the metal and ripped a chuck out. Piranhacon let out a bellow of protest before he threw Tigatron off and then swiped Cheetor away. Rhinox and Sky-Byte charged into the fray again, but Piranhacon swatted them away. Dark Steel and Night Scream tried their hands and they too were tossed aside. Piranhacon returned to an upright position and bellowed even louder before deploying a large gun. He fired a multitude of small rockets and sent the Maximals scattering every which way.
The Maximals managed to regroup for a moment but quickly scattered to avoid another volley of rockets. Piranhacon went on a tear, stalking the Maximals before something struck him from behind. Turning to take second shot to the chassis, he roared at the appearance of Afterburner, Nosecone and Brainstorm coming out from below the planet's surface. In his vehicle form, Afterburner drove circles around the larger machine while Brainstorm and Nosecone took precision shots at him. Meanwhile, the Maximals all transformed back to robot mode and regrouped.
"Who're those bots?" Night Scream asked.
Dark Steel replied, "Friends."
Before Night Scream could inquired further, they group heard a booming noise from above. Those closest to the sound assumed it might have been the titan ship again, but it was instead the Alchemor. The ship closed in and fired its guns at Piranhacon, causing the combiner to bellow in rage. The ship then flew overhead while opening its lower hatch, and Dinobot leapt out forward with his sword in hand. He landed on the combiner's shoulder and buried his sword into the steel. Piranhacon howled in anger and Dinobot shrieked back in response. Metal Hawk jumped from the ship next, transforming for the first time into his namesake of a robotic hawk. He flew in and slashed at Piranhacon's face with his talons. The ship eventually landed and the rest of the Autobots joined the Maximals.
In unison, the two teams opened fire on Piranhacon while Dinobots clung to the combiner's shoulder and repeated stabbed him. Outnumbered and outgunned, Piranhacon started to back away. Each step backwards brought the combiner closer to the edge without realizing it. Metal Hawk took one last slash at Piranhacon's face before Piranhacon swatted him away. Dinobot wasn't even close to finish, repeatedly stabbing at the combiner before he was finally caught. Piranhacon threw Dinobot down, but Dinobot was quick to recover and shot at the combiner's knees. Piranhacon finally went down, and Dinobot thrust his sword directly through his face. Then he unleashed a secret weapon in the form of a concentrated optical blast and point-blank range, which tore right through Piranhacon's chassis.
"Consider this retribution for the demise my brethren," Dinobot said before removing his sword and then kicking Piranhacon off the edge where he would vanish in the abyss below. "And, Lockdown is next."
With that scuffle finished, Metal Hawk flew in to meet with his fellow Maximals. "Everyone okay?"
"We're alright, Metal Hawk. Where's Primal?" Rhinox asked.
"He went with Optimus Prime to, I guess, reconnect the Allspark to Cybertron's core," Metal Hawk replied before he caught sight of Sky-Byte. "What's he still doing here?"
Rhinox stepped between Metal Hawk and Sky-Byte and said, "Sky-Byte's with us, Metal Hawk. He helped free us from that Arkeville guy."
"Whoa, whoa, wait a nanosecond. Arkeville's alive?" Sideswipe said in surprise.
"We're guessing you know him. Apparently, he's the one who built us." Cheetor claimed.
Arcee repeated, "Built? What do you mean by that?"
"Arkeville made this clear that he's the one who created us as a means of getting revenge against the Transformers for his problems." Night Scream claimed.
"He also claimed to be the one behind the Pretenders, like Stella Holley... and me." Sari added with angst in her tone.
"Whoa, Sari is that you?" Spike asked.
Sari appeared through the hatch in Brainstorm's head. "Yeah, and it's a long story."
"I think it's a story we should table for a later time. Unicron still has control of Skorponok and we have to put an end to this madness." Zarak stated.
"And you are?" Brainstorm asked.
Reluctantly, Zarak replied, "I'm the one who built the titan that destroy your city on Earth. I'm the one who must atone. But we first need to wake Fortress Maximus."
"No. I have to wake him," Windblade declared, and she started to wander around seemingly aimlessly. "He's here; I can hear him. I can't really explain it but I can hear him just like I could hear Metroplex back on Earth."
"I must admit, it's fascinating that you can hear a titan that's been so long in slumber." Cerebros said.
"As fascinating as it all seems, we still have to deal with Unicron and Skorponok," Drift stated. "Everybody back on the ship and let's get going."
Like clockwork, The Autobots and Maximals started boarding the Alchemor with the exception of Windblade. Sideswipe noticed and said, "Windblade, c'mon. We've got to get moving."
Windblade turned back to Sideswipe and replied, "I can't go, Sideswipe. Fortress Maximus is right here and we need to wake him up."
"We've got to go, Sideswipe." Drift called out.
"You heard that, right? Let's go, Windblade." Sideswipe said.
"No," Windblade said in defiance. "If I really am a City Speaker, then I have wake him. Cybertron needs Fortress Maximus."
Sideswipe was visibly reluctant to leave Windblade behind, but he relented and said, "Then I'm staying too."
"As am I," Cerebros said. "I'm no fighter anyway, and I wish to see the revival of Fortress Maximus for myself."
Sideswipe turned toward Drift, who was still standing on the ramp leading into the ship. "Drift, take the ship and find Skorponok. Keep that thing distracted for long as you can."
"What about you?" Drift asked.
"We'll catch up once we get Fort Max up and running," Sideswipe replied, but then quietly added, "I hope..."
Drift was tempted to rush off the ship and force his three friends to board, but he thought better of it and now wasn't the time to argue. Left with no choice, he headed into the ship as it was taking off. The Alchemor was soon airborne and hovering overhead of Sideswipe, Windblade and Cerebros before it jetted away. Left behind, the trio looked upon the massive tower that stood before them and started toward it. They were unsure of what to expect, but now wasn't the time to have any doubt of what was to come. Unbeknownst to them, Piranhacon, heavily damaged but somehow still functional, was clawing his way back up from the abyss.
Optimus Prime and Primal continued their travel across the skies of Cybertron toward the exact location of the Well of Sparks. Primal had a firm grip on the Allspark itself, managing to avoid dropping it since leaving the Alchemor. Optimus Prime was leading the way to supposed Well, staying as focus on the task at hand as possible given everything that had happened up to that point. After a considerably long travel, the two leaders were able to locate their destination. They began their final approach to the Well of Sparks, a massive hole in the planet's surface surrounded by a series of pillars. Primal could only marvel at the sight of the great Well, for this was in fact the first time he'd ever seen it with his own optics. Conversely, Optimus Prime maintained his focus and made his approach toward the surface. Primal was quick to follow.
The pair landed at near the edge of the hole, and Primal set the Allspark aside. He approached toward the edge and looked down into the hole. He could only see what seemed like a bottomless pit. How such a massive hole could exist on the surface of Cybertron and escape anyone's notice left the young Maximal in a state astonishment. Optimus Prime in the meantime, examined the Allspark more closely. Strangely, the Matrix of Leadership inside of his frame reacted to the Allspark. There was some understanding on Optimus Prime's part, since the Matrix was essentially a small portion of the Allspark itself. Optimus dimmed his optics at that point, and Primal noticed the Prime's odd behavior.
Curious, Primal asked, "Optimus, are you okay?"
"I can hear them, Primal. I can hear the Sparks of the Cybertronians who had long since joined the Allspark... including Elita One." Optimus Prime claimed as his optic relit.
Primal was both confused and intrigued as he looked back down into the Well. "So, we connect the Allspark to the core of the planet and then what?"
"The core will absorb the pure, the untainted energy of the Allspark and hopefully, it will lead to the revitalization of Cybertron." Optimus Prime stated.
"It has to be direct contact, doesn't it? That would mean that whoever connect the Allspark to the core potentially isn't coming back," Primal deduced, and Optimus merely looked back at him. "You knew this and you didn't tell the others."
Before Optimus Prime could say anything more, he felt the Matrix pulsating in his chassis. He looked off into the distance from where a presence approaching. It was something dark and twisted, and it had the most ill intent imaginable. Optimus Prime knew what and who was coming. He turned back toward Primal and rushed to him.
"It's Unicron. He's heading this way." Optimus said.
Primal didn't hesitate and drew his swords. "What are we waiting for? I say we take the fight to him here and now."
"No. Unicron cannot be allowed to obtain the Allspark. Primal, you need to return to your Maximals as quickly as possible. I will connect the Allspark to the core." Optimus Prime said.
"But you'll die, Optimus." Primal pointed.
To Primal's surprise, Optimus Prime handed him the Matrix. "If it is my fate to die in order to restore Cybertron, then so be it. The Cybertronian race needs someone to lead them against Unicron."
Primal shook his head in denial and said, "I can't replace you, Optimus. I'm not the leader that you are."
"You are far more than capable of leading our race, Primal. I trust you, so you must trust in yourself." Optimus Prime said.
Primal was so unsure of what to do that he couldn't even speak out in protest. Looking at the Matrix as Optimus Prime held it, he realized how he clearly had little choice. Primal reached his hands out and took the Matrix. A bright blue flash of light shot forth and nearly engulfed the two leaders. Then the light faded as quickly as it came. Exchanging a glance with Optimus Prime, he opened a compartment in his chassis and placed the Matrix into the empty space. Primal's optics flickered and pulsated. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before. He didn't have time to describe the feeling.
The faint roar of a vehicle motor was approaching, but it sounded warped and twisted. Optimus Prime knew it was Unicron and he readied himself for the inevitable. Primal took a stand beside the Autobot leader. Optimus Prime drew the Star Saber while Primal readied his shoulder cannons and drew his dual swords. Both stood in front of the Allspark and waited for the arrival of the Chaos Bringer. In the distance, a demented and misshapen vehicle sped across the metallic surface like a demon out of the Pit of oblivion. It closed in on the location of the two leaders and the source of the overwhelming surge of energy. In time, the vehicle arrived and transformed into the demonic visage of Unicron himself.
Unicron stood across from Optimus Prime and Primal, both of them looking on in shock. Then Unicron said, "So, the Prime returns."
"Optimus?" Primal murmured with trepidation in his voice.
Unicron looked toward the Allspark and his sickening green optics pulsated. "Optimus Prime, I have come for the Allspark so that I may erase it from existence... and you with it."
But it seemed as if Optimus Prime hadn't ever registered the words of Unicron, because he actually saw a fallen friend standing before him. Hotrod... what has Unicron done to you.
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. I won't go into the details and I'll let you all decide for yourselves. Do leave a review and I'll be back with yet another chapter. Peace out!
In Memory Of
Sean Connery
1930-2020
