Disclaimer: Hey, I got a new chapter ready to go. Damn, I've kind of been on fire lately, but I probably shouldn't let it go to my head. The last thing I want to be like those jerks in Hollywood.
As usual, I don't anything from Transformers.
Chapter XX
Optimus Prime and Primal stood shoulder to shoulder in the face of the presence of Unicron. What made this encounter so unnerving was the fact that the Chaos Bringer stood wearing the face and body of Hotrod, Optimus Prime's one-time successor. His body was twisted and misshapen to more fit the visage of Unicron, and it made the very Spark of Optimus pulsate with both sadness and anger. Primal glanced back at the Allspark, knowing Unicron had every ill intention to take it and potentially corrupt or destroy it. Unicron started to step forward slowly, as if he were stalking the two leaders. They stood their ground all the same, making clear their intention to defend the Allspark.
"Optimus Prime, last of the Thirteen." Unicron sneered at Optimus.
"Unicron, what have you done to Hotrod?" Optimus Prime snapped.
"What I've done to your ally is nothing compared to what you shall suffer if you deny me. I offer only this one chance; give me the Allspark." Unicron demanded.
"So that you might taint it and Cybertron with you evil, like you've clearly done to Hotrod? You will commit no such atrocity as long I function, Unicron." Optimus Prime declared as he tightened his grip on the hilt of the Star Saber.
Unicron's green optics began to glow as brightly as the Allspark itself and declared, "So, you have chosen death... so shall it be."
Then Unicron unleashed an optical blast directly at Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime brought up the Star Saber, ready to deflect the blast. Out of the blue, Primal jumped into the path of the beam, which struck him directly in the chassis. The impact of the blast flung Primal passed Optimus Prime and down into the Well, leaving Optimus Prime staring in shock. Unicron formed his right arm into a spiked weapon and started his approach. Optimus Prime, enraged at the actions of the Chaos Bringer, charged forward full speed ahead. Unicron instantly matched the speed of Optimus Prime, and then the two collided. Optimus Prime was slightly faster and he had the momentum, which he used to drop Unicron down. Unicron was quick to recover and he was already upright, just as Optimus Prime charged forward.
Optimus Prime brought the Star Saber overhead and brought it back down, forcing Unicron to block the coming blow. "You are going to pay for life you've taken, Unicron." Optimus claimed with a rage never before witnessed.
"You shall not stop me, Optimus Prime. None shall stand in my way this time." Unicron replied before pushing Optimus back.
Optimus recovered from being pushed away and then rushed forward again, meeting Unicron directly. Their weapons slammed together and sent a shower of sparks flying. What followed was a flurry of attacks, an intense trade of slashes and swipes as their weapons crashed against each other. Quick and sudden thrusts were mixed with dodges and parries from each of them, and neither could gain the immediate advantage. That joined when Optimus Prime drove his balled-up fist into the face of Unicron. He inwardly regretted doing so upon remembering that it was Hotrod's face that Unicron was wearing. This wasn't the time hold back. Optimus Prime knew that he couldn't hold back, not with the universe's very existence at stake.
Pressing his attack, Optimus Prime sent a series of attacks ranging from slashes, jabs and swipes. Unicron managed to instantly deflect the attacks before eventually finding an opening. He swung his spiked weapon and it connected with the Star Saber when Optimus blocked the attack. Unicron fired an optical blast that struck the space near Optimus Prime's feet. Having rolled away from the blast, Optimus righted himself and quickly drew his rifle. He fired a shot that Unicron managed to sidestep before the Chaos Bringer fired another optical blast. Optimus Prime launched himself into the air and flew right at Unicron. He took a wild swipe at Unicron, but Unicron leapt right over Optimus and grabbed his legs.
Optimus Prime fell down hard and had little time to recover before Unicron unleashed another optical blast. There wasn't enough time to completely avoid the blast, and Optimus Prime was dropped to his back again. The Star Saber fell from his hands and he was struggling to get back up. Unicron stuck toward Optimus, stopping briefly to glance at the Allspark where it stood. He'd get to that soon enough, but first, he needed to dispose of the Prime. Standing over the fallen Prime and with his spiked weapon drawn back, Unicron prepared to deliver the killing blow.
"How pathetic the Line of Primes has become in my absence." Unicron sneered.
"You may destroy me, Unicron, but other will rise up to defeat your tyranny." Optimus claimed.
"Let them try so that I shall destroy them all." Unicron declared before bring his weapon straight down... right into the blade of the Star Saber.
Primal was standing with the Star Saber in hand, blocking Unicron's attack and then pushing him back. "Not as long as I'm here, Unicron."
Optimus Prime looked at the younger Maximal, who offered his hand to him. Taking the aid and standing up, Optimus Prime said, "You should've escaped, Primal, regrouped with the others."
"Yeah, but you have a habit of sacrificing yourself. It might be about time to break that habit." Primal replied before he prepared to fight alongside Optimus.
Unicron recovered enough to face down the two leaders and he said, "You... follower of Prime. You too shall face your ultimate doom for standing against me."
"Something tells me it'll be worth it." Primal claimed.
Unicron started to stalked forward once again, declaring, "Then proceed... on your way to oblivion."
Windblade, Sideswipe and Cerebros drew closer to the giant tower that they could only assume was a part of Fortress Maximus. It was at the moment that Windblade asked, "So... what do I do now?"
"Why're you asking us? You're the City Speaker." Sideswipe said.
"But I've never done this before." Windblade claimed.
"You were able to the voice of Metroplex back on Earth, Windblade, somewhat instinctively, I might add." Cerebros stated.
"Instinctively? That was more or less by accident. How am I supposed to actively communicate with a dormant titan? Or... maybe it wasn't instinctive." Windblade said.
"How so?" Cerebros asked.
"When I 'heard' Metroplex the first time, it wasn't really with my audio receiver. It sounded more like it was in my head, like a form of telepathy." Windblade explained, an air of confusion still in her tone.
"Hm, perhaps you need to enter a subconscious state, almost like a sleep mode if you will." Cerebros reasoned.
"Would that even work, Cerebros?" Sideswipe asked.
"Either way, we need to make it fast before Skorponok and Unicron wipe us all out," Windblade stated before she started to make her move. "That means I've got to wake Fortress Maximus right now."
Sideswipe grabbed hold of Windblade's hand to stop her and he asked, "Windblade, you sure about this?"
Windblade looked back Sideswipe and replied, "I've been looking for a purpose ever since I joined the Autobots, Sideswipe. This might be it."
Sideswipe release his grip on Windblade and took a step back. Windblade had a look of trepidation on her face but she took flight all the same. She flew up toward the apex of the tower, afforded a view of Cybertron's metallic surface. Windblade looked down and she could barely make out the figures of Sideswipe and Cerebros below. Knowing that time was limited, Windblade hovered toward the tower until she was within reach of it. She was close enough to fire a blast on it if she wanted, but that wasn't what she intended to do in the least. Windblade then found herself hesitating, unsure of what was to be done. She thought back to what Cerebros stated, that she possibly needed to be in a subconscious state. Deciding that it was now or never, Windblade dimmed her optics and focused. Then the effect seemed as instantaneous as anything Windblade could imagine.
((Windblade lit up her optics and she began to see images that seemed to be in a constant shift. The imaged appeared to resemble runes of a seemingly unreadable language. The runes were unreadable if they were being witnessed by a Human, but Windblade was able to determine that the they were actually Cybertronian. She was able to make out every rune even as they were shifting to quickly for any other living being to decipher. It didn't take long for Windblade to realize that she wasn't even on Cybertron anymore. She was in some other plain of existence that almost defied reality as a whole, and she also had the sense that she was being closely watched.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?" a booming but oddly welcoming voice spoke.
"My name is Windblade. I'm a native of the Cybertronian colony world of Caminus... and I am a City Speaker."
"I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, WINDBLADE OF CAMINUS. I HAVE ASKED YOU WHY YOU HAVE COME HERE." the voice said, sounding like it was coming from everywhere and nowhere.
Windblade quickly came to realize she was actually speaking to Fortress Maximus himself. "I've... I've come to ask you for your help. Cybertron is on the verge of destruction and you're the only hope we have to prevent it from happening."
"YOU CAME TO ME BECAUSE YOU WISH ME TO TAKE UP ARMS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EONS. BUT I CANNOT DO AS YOU ASK." Fortress Maximus replied.
Windblade spent the whole time looking for the source of the voice and she asked, "Why? You're a part of this planet. You fought in the Great War."
"I DID, AND IT WAS MY CHOICE TO NEVER FIGHT AGAIN EVEN AS CYBERTRON WAS NEARLY DISMEMBERED BY THE GREAT UNMAKER HIMSELF." Fortress Maximus stated.
"If you know about Unicron then you know what kind of danger we're facing now," Windblade surmised. "Unicron is back and he wants to wipe out all life in the universe, starting with Cybertron. He has control of a titan that's rampaging across the planet as we speak. Please, Fortress Maximus. You have to help us."))
Sideswipe and Cerebros could do nothing at the moment save for look up at Windblade. "What's she doing? She's just hovering up there." Sideswipe said.
"I believe Windblade is communicating with Fortress Maximus. More accurately, she's speaking to a city." Cerebros surmised.
Sideswipe was already too frustrated to know what Cerebros was even implying, but his thoughts were interrupted the sound of heavy footsteps. Cerebros was already hearing the same noise. The two Autobots slowly started turning around to face the source of the noise. The damaged and misshapen husk of Piranhacon was lurching forward and let out a gargled scream of rage. Then he tried to wipe out Cerebros straight away. Sideswipe quickly tackled Cerebros out of the way, and then swiftly recovered to open fire on Piranhacon. The wounded and enraged beast roared in outrage and took to bringing down one of its arms, slamming the very space where Sideswipe and Cerebros stood. Sideswipe and Cerebros was able to move out of the way and tried to fight back against Piranhacon was lurching after them.
Looking back up and Windblade, Sideswipe could only shout, "Wake up, Windblade!"
((Windblade could still hear and see what was happening even as she remained in her bizarre dreamscape. "Do you see what going on, Maximus? My friends need help, and Cybertron needs you."
"DO WHAT MUST BE DONE, WINDBLADE. HERE, I SHALL REMAIN IN SLUMBER." Fortress Maximus stated.
Windblade couldn't believe what she was hearing and said, "You can't be serious. The entire universe hangs in the balance and you'd rather sleep through all of it?"
"I HAVE VOWED NEVER TO SENTINEL PRIME HIMSELF THAT I WOULD NEVER FIGHT AGAIN. I MUST STAND BY MY VOW." Maximus claimed.
Windblade was growing so impatient before she stated, "Maybe Blitzwing was right. Maybe, you really are a coward."
For a moment, Fortress Maximus was silent an Windblade thought she might have overextended herself. Then Maximus replied, "TELL ME; IS IT COWARDICE TO WISH ONLY FOR PEACE?"
"Honestly, I think it's cowardice to not fight for peace." Windblade stated.
"MUST I FORCE TO DO THAT WHICH HATE MOST IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT WHICH I MOST DESIRE? WHY DO YOU THIS OF ME?"
Windblade measured her next words as carefully as possible, and then she replied, "Optimus Prime is asking. I never met Sentinel Prime but I do know that Optimus is his successor, and right now, he needs you, Maximus. We all need you."
Windblade was then met with silence. Fortress Maximus seemed to just vanish despite not even being physically present. Windblade was left alone... and then she heard Sideswipe's voice. He was calling to her and she knew there was trouble.))
Windblade woke up from her apparent slumber just in time to see Sideswipe and Cerebros in battle against Piranhacon. How that monster was still online after Dinobot mauled it, Windblade didn't know. There was no time to wonder, and Windblade bolted right down toward Piranhacon. Piranhacon noticed the City Speaker's rapid approach and fired a volley of shots. Windblade managed to avoid the shots and drew her energon sword. Diving down and low, she flew passed the giant and sliced its right leg. Piranhacon dropped to knee and Sideswipe saw his opening. He fired his shoulder-mounter rocket launcher and the projectile struck Piranhacon dead center in the chassis, blowing off pieces of its frame. Windblade flew up and hovered overhead, and then she fired her wing turbines. The ensuing dual bursts landed and pushed Piranhacon back, but he still recovered and knocked Windblade out of the air.
Windblade hit the surface hard and Sideswipe and Cerebros rushed to her aid. Piranhacon had more damage done to him but he continued his rampage. The trio stood against the monster, ready to fight and potentially die. Then, all parties felt a massive tremor from below. Piranhacon looked around and bellowed in anger, while Sideswipe, Cerebros and Windblade looked around in confusion. They heard the creaking of metal and it sounded as though it was coming from directly behind the Autobots, and they looked back in complete astonishment. Piranhacon looked at what the Autobots were seeing and growled in anger at the sight of two enormous gun implements emerging from beneath the planet's surface. The giant guns shifted down and were seemingly acting on their own, taking aim at Piranhacon.
Piranhacon roared an animalistic scream and leaped up into the air, and the guns followed his movements. They fired a massive beam of white light, and Piranhacon was engulfed. Within seconds of being hit by the beam, Piranhacon was completely vaporized and nothing was left of him but ashes. The beam ceased as quickly as it appeared and the gun implements lowered back down. The Autobots were left in stunned silence, each of them exchanging wary glances and unable to explain anything of what they witnessed.
"Okay, what just happened?" Sideswipe asked.
As another tremor began, this one bigger than the first, Cerebros replied, "I have a feeling that we're about to find out."
Windblade launched into the air again to get a better view, but even she couldn't believe what she was seeing as the massive tower started to... transform. "It... It's him."
Starscream flew in from above and unleashed a volley of missiles, all of which striking Skorponok across his massive chassis. Skorponok retaliated by taking a mighty swipe at the Decepticon, forcing him to bank out of the way and the last moment. The massive titan deployed shoulder-mounted gun implements and fired several of his own volley, forcing Starscream to bank again. It still allowed for Shockwave to fly into the fray and fire a laser shot to the visored face of Skorponok. Skorponok took a step back but still continued to fire his guns, missing Shockwave. It was then that Megatron came in and unleashed a rapid-fire hit and run assault. Sporponok took a swing at Megatron and missed him completely.
Down below, Predaking was viciously slashing away at the feet of the titan. Skorponok was aware and tried to kick Predaking away, but the combiner managed to avoid the kick as it came. At the same time, Blackarachnia was busy shielding Giga and Mega from the chaos. Nearby, Arkeville was trying to escape even though his hover chair was damaged. Back in the sky above, Megatron fired another blast from his fusion cannon that caught Skorponok across the face. Starscream followed up with another volley of missiles, and then he quickly transformed and fire a blast from his Null Rays. The blasts barely did anything to slow Skorponok down, and the Decepticons quickly regrouped.
"We've barely even dented this thing." Starscream said.
"I hope you're not intending to retreat, Starscream, so soon after being brought back online." Megatron replied.
Before Starscream could reply, Shockwave said, "Lord Megatron, I am detecting a vessel approaching."
In the distance, the Alchemor was on its way to the fight. Skorponok saw the ship coming and fired his shoulder cannons. The Alchemor was able to bank out of the way and eventually flew overhead of the titan. The hatch lowered and the Wreckers jumped out, followed closely by Blitzwing and Breakaway. Drift was in freefall and had his sword drawn. Once he was close enough, he drove the blade into Skorponok's armor and scraped open a gash. Bulkhead came down and slammed his mace into the armor, even though all each hit left was a vague depression. Airazor flew in her jet form with Roulette riding, and the sniper fired several shots at Skorponok's face, and Breakaway followed suit with his own barrage of rockets. Blitzwing was in his jet form and fired a volley of rockets that landed on Skorponok's chassis. He transformed to his tank form and fired another shot just as soon as he hit surface.
The Alchemor itself fired its own weapons at the titan, again barely causing the titan to flinch. At that point, the Decepticons joined in the fight. Still, Skorponok wasn't going down. He continued to fight on and managed to fire his cannons in the path of the Alchemor, striking its underside. Smoke instantly started billowing from the ship and it went down. Onboard the ship, Metal Hawk did everything he could to keep the ship level as it rapidly descended toward the Cybertron's surface, and the rest of the Maximals braced for impact. The Alchemor eventually hit the planet's surface hard but didn't explode.
Flying overhead, Breakaway shouted, "The Alchemor's down."
"Breakaway, it's Afterburner. We're okay, just keeping fighting that titan."
"This is Scattershot. Anyone reading me?"
Scattershot, this is Breakaway. The Alchemor just crashed landed in the middle of a war zone. They need help ASAP."
"We're on our way." Scattershot replied.
Skorponok let a mighty roar that seemed to shake the planet itself before declaring, "IS THERE NONE WHO CAN CHALLENGE SKORPONOK?"
Just as soon as Skorponok bellowed his challenge, a mighty tremor was felt across the surface of Cybertron. The fighting stopped and the Autobots and Decepticons were left in a state of confusion as to what was happening. It couldn't have been Skorponok since he was standing dead center of the battlefield. Still airborne, Megatron didn't know what was causing the tremor and didn't care as he wanted to fight on. That was until he looked off into the distance. Starscream looked to where Megatron was looking and he couldn't help being shocked, while Shockwave showed no such emotion. Breakaway, Airazor and Roulette looked to where the Decepticons were looking and froze in surprise, as did the groups down on the surface.
Something was moved across the surface and it was big, and seemingly getting bigger as it approached. It appeared to be some kind of mobile battle station. The station deployed two large gun implements and fired, striking Skorponok right in the chassis and actually dropping him to the surface with a thundering crash. The battle station stopped short of the fallen titan and a large ramp lowered. Sideswipe drove down the ramp while Cerebros was seen jumping from the station itself and Windblade was seen flying across the sky.
Then the station started to shift and change while Skorponok started to get back up. The lower half of the station transformed in a pair of massive legs and the upper half reformed into a torse and a pair of arms. Two giant fists emerged from the arm and soon after, a head appeared atop the torso. All parties concerned, Autobot and Decepticon alike, looked up at what could only be another titan, while Skorponok appeared nonplussed by the new arrival. Then the new arrival made a booming declaration.
"SKORPONOK, PREPARE TO FACE... FORTRESS MAXIMUS."
Author's Note: Another chapter finished. YAY! Yes, boys and girls... he's finally awakened. Stay tuned for more and don't forget to leave a review. Peace Out.
