My first Transformers fic! I happen to be a huge Transformers fan/nerd, and in celebration of one of my favorite concepts of the brand getting a new update, I wrote this. And that concept is Shattered Glass, which is getting new toys and a new story. So I thought I'd do this! A new reality of Shattered Glass, where the Cybertronians planned to leave for Earth, but freak space weather and entering the Plait Expanse prevented the launch of the Ark and Nemesis.
This story is a firm oneshot (I literally have no other ideas for this so don't start begging), and is partially based on Unite Warriors comic "Decepticon Dark Commander Grand Scourge." Check out the TFWiki page for what that is. Enjoy!
Cybertron. A distant planet in the Milky Way, populated with life. But not life like you and me. Robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities… or what is now left of those cities. Like humans, Cybertronians wage war. But this current civil war has been raging for centuries, started by a single, power-hungry mech. He craved more power, so he backstabbed his way to high society and recruited other like-minded Cybertronians. Eventually a resistance arose to combat the mad mech's ambitions. To this day, Megatron and the Decepticons wage their battles to destroy the evil forces of the maniacal Optimus Prime and his Autobots!
Near a single fuel dump on Cybertron, a force of Autobots and Decepticons are locked in combat, most notably Megatron and Optimus Prime battling, purple axe against orange mace. Megatron grunted as the mad Prime's axe bit into his left arm's armor, but he got a swing from his mace on Optimus, cracking his windshield.
Optimus snarled. "You'll pay for that, Megatron!" he yelled, drawing his ion blaster for a single, point-blank shot. At the last second, Megatron raised his fusion cannon and fired at the exact same moment as Optimus, the blasts hitting each other and sending the fighters flying.
Megatron fired his thrusters before he crashed, giving himself more control over his landing. Optimus Prime, on the other hand, landed on his back and grunted. The purple-and-grey mechanoid got up, and laughed to himself. "There's the fight! I can see why you enjoyed the gladiatorial pits so much," he told Megatron. The white Decepticon leader grunted lightly. "Those days are behind me. I became a mathematician because of that," Megatron replied. "But I still retained my skills to defeat you!"
Prime laughed. "Really? I admire your delusions, Megatron. But you are mistaken. Superion!" he called. A giant Transformer landed next to him, a plane combiner in gray, dark red, yellow, white and blue. "Yes! Crush this puny Decepticon!" Superion declared before descending in crazed laughter.
"Menasor!" Megatron called in desperation as Superion leveled his titanic rifle at Megatron. Before the fatal shot was fired, a sword blade blocked the laser, as a second combiner made of cars lumbered to his leader. Menasor, in his usual white, red, gray, black and orange, grinned at Megatron. "Don't worry, sir! I'm more than equipped to handle my airborne counterpart!" he said before throwing a punch at Superion.
Menasor's fist slammed into Superion's abdomen, sending the aerial combiner back. Right as Menasor drew his sword, Superion started firing blindly at Menasor, forcing him to deflect each shot with his sword.
"You're just like me, in a way," Prime mocked. "I create a superweapon, you respond with one. And you claim to be better." Megatron growled. "I will do anything to ensure that Cybertronians will have the freedom that is their right!" The two leaders launched themselves into combat again, mace against axe.
Before either weapon could connect, a portal opened beside Megatron and Optimus Prime. The two leaders skidded to a halt, examining the swirling vortex of purple and green. A moment later, a black, red and yellow jet Cybertronian flew through the portal, captivating both Megatron and Optimus, then transformed in mid-air and landed. The Cybertronian rose.
"Unbelievable…" Megatron said in wonder. Optimus Prime squinted, confused for the first time in many cycles. "You look like… Scattershot?" he questioned the Cybertronian. The Cybertronian chuckled once, then leveled a massive cannon at the Prime. "Perhaps," he replied, then blasted Optimus point-blank. The Prime went flying back, landing in a heap of scrap metal.
"Who are you, stranger?" Megatron asked cautiously. The Cybertronian scoffed. "What does it matter to you?" he asked in return, then aimed his gun. Megatron raised his hands in surrender, and the Cybertronian smirked. "If you must know, you may refer to me as Grand Springer. I was sent here by my master, Primus the Order-Bringer, to retrieve one of the artifacts of his past. The Matrix of Conquest."
"But… the Matrix is a myth!" Megatron protested. Grand Springer laughed. "A myth is truth lost to time. I would get out of the way. You are not my target. He is," the Cybertronian replied, pointing to Optimus Prime, who was digging himself out of the scrap.
Optimus growled. "Superion, destroy this interloper! Destroy the Decepticons! Destroy anything that isn't me!" he ordered. Superion was more than happy to oblige, laughing as he leapt at Grand Springer, who merely aimed his cannon at the torso of the combiner and fired. Superion took the hit and fell, splitting into his components.
"The Panegyric Blaster," Grand Springer mused. "My master was generous to let me keep it as my own as I hunt down the relics. Foolish Megatronus for betraying his brothers in arms."
Meanwhile, the Aerialbots helped themselves to their feet, with a certain gray-and-red Harrier jet, upon noticing his fallen black-and-purple leader, smirked. "Aerialbots! Silverbolt has fallen! I, Slingshot, am now your leader!" Slingshot announced. Fireflight, a blue-and-white F-4 Phantom mech, shrieked. "I knew you planned this! I knew it! You all called me crazy, but I'm not crazy!" he rambled. Air Raid, a dark red F-15 Eagle, groaned. "We're doomed," he said simply.
Skydive, a yellow-and-purple F-16 Falcon mech, slapped the two moaning and groaning Aerialbots. "Quit your whining and let's win this! I want to rub it in everyone else's face!" he yelled. Slingshot smirked again. "Excellent! Now, follow me!" Slingshot declared, then screamed as a low-power shot hit his armor. Silverbolt, a purple-and-black Concorde mech, rose. "Slingshot, you insufferable skidplate!" he boomed. "I'm not dead, and I think you remember the last time you challenged me for leadership!"
Slingshot glared defiantly at his abusive commander. "Which is exactly why I want command! I want your power, so I can put you in your place!" he yelled back. A chuckle came from behind them, as Grand Springer noticed the Aerialbots. "Interesting," he commented. "I'll take that for myself now, if you don't mind." The villainous Transformer quickly pulled a whitish-gray object with a pink core from another portal, and, after weighing it in his hand, shone pink light over the four limb Aerialbots. The light grew in intensity, the four Aerialbots screamed in agony, Megatron and Optimus shielded their optics, and Menasor ground his teeth, waiting for a fight.
When the light faded, a new combiner was formed. The four Aerialbots were locked into limb sockets on Grand Springer's body, now transformed into a torso, the strange artifact on his giant chest, a new head based on the relic hunter's own atop his shoulders. The two leaders and Menasor stepped back, clearly on edge. Grand Springer laughed, his voice deepened. "Witness Grand Springer Hyper Mode! Courtesy of the Enigma of Assimilation, another relic my master granted me," he said, leveling the Panegyric Blaster at Optimus Prime. Prime, however, was prepared. "Powerglide, attack!" he ordered.
A blue A-10 Warthog came swooping out of a cloud, blasting Grand Springer with his weapons. "I hate flying!" Powerglide complained, then yelped as Grand Springer grabbed him by his tailfin. "And I hate mosquitoes," the combiner replied, washing Powerglide in pink light from the Enigma. Powerglide contorted into a new gun for the titanic combiner, his engines becoming barrels and missile racks extending from his arms.
"Well, time for a little fun," Grand Springer said as he combined Powerglide's new form with the Panegyric Blaster and aimed at Optimus Prime. Before he could fire, Menasor slashed at the evil combiner and Megatron tackled Optimus. The Prime roared in fury as he and Megatron rolled. "Get off!"
"Prime, you must realize that you are in danger! For once look past your insanity and accept that you will die if you do not help me stop Grand Springer!" Megatron yelled as he rose. Optimus growled, but considered his options. After a moment of thinking, he sighed. "Fine." Optimus swatted away Megatron's hand and the offer to help him up.
"Do not think this means we are friends," Optimus warned. "The moment he is finished, I will gut you." Megatron hung his head. "I expected nothing less, Prime."
The two leaders turned to face the combiners fighting in front of them, and Megatron gasped when Grand Springer ripped Wildrider from Menasor's leg and crushed the white Ferrari under his foot. A yell of fury erupted from Megatron when the rest of Menasor fell, and this fury only increased when he heard Optimus mutter something about poor construction under his breath. Megatron barely cared at that point as he fired round after round from his fusion cannon at Primus's relic hunter, only stopping when he noticed the other Stunticons crawling to get away from Grand Springer.
"Devastator! I need a medic!" Megatron yelled to a towering white-and-red combiner. Devastator nodded, then slammed his fist into Volcanicus, the green, purple, and grey combiner staggering back before Devastator let Dinoking into the fray. Luckily for the Stunticons, the arguably more stable Liokaiser and Thunder Mayhem had taken on Grand Springer.
Devastator split into his component parts, then the Constructicons picked up the damaged Stunticons. "Soundwave, we need a bridge back to base!" Megatron yelled into his comms. A whirr came from the other end. "Chillax, Mega-dude! Sir Soundwave has got this! Portalling back C- and S-cons now!" Soundwave replied. Megatron breathed a sigh of relief when the injured Stunticons were off the battlefield.
"Now what?" Megatron wondered. Optimus grunted. "Get me to that Enigma. I have a plan," he said, then pressed a finger to his comms. "Ironhide, Sunstreaker, Mirage, Prowl, converge on my position!" he ordered. Megatron reluctantly transformed to his jet mode. Optimus raised an eyebrow. "I thought you turned into a tank," he muttered as he climbed on top of the jet.
"I'm a triple changer now," Megatron replied as he flew Optimus to Grand Springer's chest. The mad Prime energized his purple axe, and with a mighty roar, he chopped the Enigma of Assimilation from Grand Springer's chest. The combiner roared and tried to reclaim his artifact, but he was beaten back by Liokaiser and Thunder Mayhem's furious attacks.
"Drop me!" Optimus yelled to Megatron. Megatron growled slightly under his breath, but obliged, dropping Prime to the ground. Right above four of his troops. Optimus cackled as he used the Enigma's power to merge himself, Ironhide, Sunstreaker, Mirage, and Prowl into a new combiner.
"I am Optimus Maximus!" the giant declared as he rushed Grand Springer. Liokaiser and Thunder Mayhem, upon noticing Maximus, leapt aside, allowing Optimus Maximus to unleash a furious assault on Grand Springer.
Both sides stopped and watched the fight in horror, as Optimus Maximus tore Grand Springer's Panegyric Blaster from him and broke it over his knee, then repeatedly punched Grand Springer in the midsection. The relic hunter tried to fight back, but he couldn't get a strike against the mad combiner. A few minutes later, Grand Springer fell to his knees, coughing up energon as Optimus Maximus loomed over him.
"You picked the wrong Prime," Optimus Maximus declared, then slammed his hand on Grand Springer's face. "Now give me your face!" He ripped off the relic hunter's face, leaving a skull-like impression on the combiner, before ripping out the head. Grand Springer Hyper Mode collapsed, dead, and the Aerialbot limbs he stole disconnected from the body, transforming back to their regular selves.
Optimus Maximus stomped Grand Springer's corpse, roaring in furious triumph. "Let this be a lesson to all!" he declared. "I will destroy anyone who stands in my way, be they Autobot, Decepticon, Underbase, or demigod!" Megatron paid little mind to his foe's declaration, as he and all the other combatants stared towards the sky in slack-jawed horror. Optimus Maximus noticed the battlefield's silence, then turned to see what they were staring at. His own jaw went slack.
An image of a purple Autobot symbol filled the sky, lightning crackling around it, the eyes glowing red with hate. "All children of my children's children," the face said, its voice booming across the planet. "Bickering. Whining. Endlessly skirmishing. You are all playthings. But now, be awoken, for the Order-Bringer has stirred." The face shone with purple light, a beam of the light striking the ground. A black, green and orange mechanoid stepped from the beam, a hemisphere on his back, cannons over his shoulders and on his arms, shells on his legs. The mech was easily as tall as a Titan. "God walks among you now," he announced.
"Primus…" Megatron gasped. The creator-god of the Transformers laughed a booming laugh. "You know who I am, Decepticon," Primus acknowledged. "Then you know what I am capable of." Primus extended his hand, and tendrils of metal ripped from the ground, pulling the Panegyric Blaster, the Enigma of Assimilation, and the body of Grand Springer down into the depths of Cybertron. The titanic Transformer turned his attention to Optimus Maximus. "Know this, false Prime. I cannot tear the Matrix from you, for I have no physical form in this instance. If I were truly awake, I would transform and tear your pathetic excuse for a chassis open to get my artifact."
"I found the Matrix!" Maximus yelled at Primus. "It called to me! I am its rightful bearer! I am a god!" Primus merely waved his hand. "Go check your sanity," Primus replied. "I am no psychiatrist, but I would suggest you have some kind of identity sickness."
Primus's form flickered, and he grunted. "Enjoy your time remaining while you can, Transformers. For when I truly awaken, you will wish my servant had slaughtered you all," he declared ominously, then descended to an evil laugh to rival Optimus's. The light faded, and Primus with it.
For a moment, no one moved until Optimus Maximus separated into his component parts. "Autobots!" Prime commanded, his voice sounding slightly unsure. "Return to Iacon! That is an order!" Megatron noticed the Autobots seemed hesitant, but they obliged with their liege's command, transforming and beginning the voyage back to Iacon.
Megatron stood silent for a moment longer when a crackling came over his comms. "Mega-dude? Come in, Megatron. This is Soundwave," Soundwave said. Megatron felt his ember grow hollow as he pressed a finger to his comms. "Soundwave," Megatron said. "We need a groundbridge." Soundwave's voice briefly cut out as he fiddled with controls, then a swirling green portal opened. "Remember: no combiners in the base when they're big. Windsweeper already complained about having to raise the roof when you upgraded to a triple changer."
"Wheeljack, report," Optimus ordered. The mad scientist chuckled as he took readings from his leader and the other four Autobots he combined with. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen," Wheeljack said, his side extensions flashing orange along with his words. "The Enigma's energy not only allowed you to combine, it reformatted you into forms best suited for combination. Even better, that energy is a part of you now, my liege. Optimus Maximus will live again."
"Excellent," the mad Prime replied. "That form will be a useful asset against Primus and his forces." Wheeljack realized what he was going to say next was likely going to get him exiled again, or worse, ridiculed. "Uh, my liege. You intend to defeat Primus? In simplest terms, God? Perhaps you should check with Froid, or… what's his name? Blue, black, eyebrows? Ring? No, Rung!" Wheeljack yelped when Optimus grabbed him by the arm. "My plans will not be deterred by anyone attempting to analyze my sanity," he hissed. "But I have a use for you. I want every Autobot granted a portion of this power so I can have an army of combiners. Or a new set of limbs in case I need them."
At that moment, the medbay doors slid open and Slingshot came flying in. Silverbolt, flanked by the other Aerialbots, glowered at the treacherous 'bot. Optimus whirled to Silverbolt. "What is going on here?" he growled, his voice low. Silverbolt sneered back. "Punishing my opportunistic underling," he replied. "Today was the fifth time this week he attempted to betray me! And now he's going to pay."
Optimus stroked his chin a moment. "Wheeljack, I have an… idea," he said, then turned to Silverbolt. "The Autobot Code states that treachery is only acceptable if it is successful. Your underling has failed five times… so kill him."
"What?" Slingshot and Silverbolt exclaimed. Prime placed a hand on the Aerialbot leader's shoulder. "He can be replaced, and Superion will be even better," Optimus promised, then left the medbay. Silverbolt grinned and leveled his rifle at Slingshot, then turned his head to the other Aerialbots. "You can cannibalize him for parts if you help finish him off," he said.
"Guys, guys, let's talk about this!" Slingshot exclaimed when the other four aimed their guns at him. "Fireflight, old buddy, old pal! Come on! We're great arms!" The only response he got was a dark chuckle from Fireflight as he cocked his gun. Slingshot was about to draw his own gun on the other Aerialbots when six missiles shot right through his ember, killing him instantly. The other Aerialbots whirled as the one who killed Slingshot strode into the medbay.
"Alpha Bravo reporting for duty, commander Silverbolt," the helicopter said as he knelt down by Slingshot's corpse, recoloring himself to look like his victim. Silverbolt smirked. "Welcome to the team, Alpha Bravo. I have a feeling Superion will be stronger than ever."
Right after the Decepticons returned to base, Megatron pushed past Soundwave, Starscream, Bombshell, and Damus to get to the medbay. When he finally reached the stark white room, the mood was grim. While the other four Stunticons were on their feet and seemed functional, Wildrider's vibrant white paint job was starting to undergo aggressive depigmentation. Scrapper turned to Megatron. "I'm sorry, Commander," he said. "Wildrider won't make it. His T-cog is mangled, his fuel pump is ruptured, and his spark is fading too fast. It's a wonder he even survived this long." Megatron nodded grimly. "I understand. May I speak with him?"
Scrapper nodded. "There isn't much to say," he replied. Megatron rushed to the berth with Wildrider, who was surrounded by his comrades, his commander Motormaster holding his hand. His optics brightened a little when he saw Megatron. "Commander…" he said weakly. "Thank you… a chance… at freedom." Megatron took Wildrider's other hand. "Your sacrifice won't be in vain," he promised. Wildrider smiled weakly, then turned his gaze to Motormaster. "Boss… tell Offroad… ready… take my place. 'Til all are… one."
The light faded from Wildrider's optics, and Motormaster let out a guttural yell as one of his trusted friends faded to the Afterspark. Megatron put a hand on Motormaster's shoulder. "His sacrifice won't be in vain, old friend," he promised. Motormaster sighed. "I know. It's just that Menasor will never be the same without Wildrider. And the fact that Offroad is going to have to be rebuilt to function properly as a limb… it's going to be tough."
"Perhaps not," a voice said from behind. Megatron and the Stunticons turned to see Starscream in the doorway, a datapad in his hand and an eager expression on his face. "I managed to get a sample of the Enigma's energy, and if I can manage to find a way to duplicate it, we can use it to not only add Offroad to Menasor, but help create new combiners, or improve existing ones."
Megatron smiled. "Excellent, Starscream! But before you put this plan into action, run a few more tests to ensure the Enigma's energy is safe. We don't want a repeat of… you know who," he whispered to the jet. Starscream nodded. "He was… a bit of a problem."
"Please excuse me, everyone. I need time to myself," Megatron said. The assembled Decepticons all made room for Megatron as he left the medbay and headed to his private quarters. Megatron never wanted anything too opulent in his office, but someone had snuck an energon fountain and a CR hot tub into the room. He sighed as he looked upon the gifts. Did he appreciate the thought? Of course. Would he use them? No.
Megatron sank into the chair behind his desk, looking at what had been brought to him. A report from Soundwave's Recordicons regarding intelligence, a reminder from Bombshell for psych-evals, a request from Deathsaurus to explore what could be a lost colony world for potential allies against the Autobots, and another copy of Damus's manifesto for Megatron to look over.
Megatron felt an ache grow in his head. The pain was so intense, it forced him to close his eyes. When he opened them, he was in space, looking at a massive blue, yellow and white planet with a single ring and two horns in front of a maw. Megatron immediately knew what - or who - he was looking at. "Unicron."
"That is correct, my child," Unicron answered, his voice booming. Megatron looked around. "Where are we?" he asked. Unicron seemed to chuckle. "In the mindscape, the place where all intelligent thinkers eventually end up. I summoned you here to warn you. Primus's plan is going to wipe out everything he does not deem worthy and orderly. That includes any Transformer who does not follow his will."
"I swear, Unicron, we will not allow Primus's plan to unfold," Megatron replied. Unicron sighed. "Unfortunately, it is more complicated than that. He knows that I am the only force that can stop him, just like in the past, when I trapped us both in asteroids. Primus became a metal world, and I became one in retaliation. Eventually, he created his children, the Thirteen, to serve him and destroy me."
"But Megatronus realized the error and sided with you, instead," Megatron persisted. Unicron seemed to nod. "Indeed, I gained an ally in Megatronus and his Panegyric Blaster. It also seemed that Liege Maximo had discovered the truth and was trying to free his siblings from Primus's lies. But Prima slew him, and then Megatronus. Luckily, Megatronus had done his deed, unleashing information creep on the remaining Thirteen, who subsequently forgot me and their mission. They perished after contracting a disease from a world they had razed in Primus's name."
"What should we do, then?" Megatron asked. Unicron sighed. "There are two options. Either relocate and use a new world as a base to defeat the Autobots and Primus, or slay the false Prime before the Matrix overwhelms him and turns him into Primus's next vessel."
"Grand Springer was a decoy," Megatron realized. Unicron hmphed. "These are the only two options with real success. Unless... you were to find me, and I could grant you a Matrix to combat Primus with. The Matrix of Leadership."
Megatron stroked his chin. "I need time to think about this," he said. "If I do accept your offer, I will come with some troops to receive the Matrix." Unicron was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Very well. I will tell you this, though. The Matrix will only allow me to speak with you and empower you for a short period of time. Unlike Primus, I am not as adept at reformatting Cybertronians to fulfill my plans. I may, perhaps, lend some of my own creations to aid you."
Megatron nodded. "Thank you, Unicron." A pain grew behind his optics again, and Megatron was back in his office. He began to feel the immense weight of the situation come down on his shoulders. Megatron pinched the bridge of his nose and began to think.
Cybertron could be devastated if Primus awakens, he thought. Leaving us without a homeworld nor a way to stop Optimus Prime and the Autobots. If Unicron's plan only leaves Primus dead, but still in planet mode… We might still have the mythical Omega Terminus, so life could begin again…
After hours of thinking, Megatron made his decision. Pressing the intercom on his desk, he said, "Soundwave, send Astrotrain, Scourge, and Cyclonus to the briefing room. Tell Scourge to bring a couple of Sweeps. Tell Starscream he'll be in charge when I'm gone."
A chatter came from the other end of the comms. "Where?" Megatron repeated, then gazed out of the window. "I think I made a deal with a deity. A way to save our planet. Perhaps the only way."
Mostly everyone is based on their Shattered Glass color schemes with any relevant toys (for example, the New Shattered Glass Megatron and Optimus, who gets reformatted into a body like his Combiner Wars one). Grand Springer is partially based on Cybertron Wing Saber's colors, Menasor, Superion, and their components have their personalities swapped (with the exception of Slingshot, who has G1 Starscream's). Liokaiser and Thunder Mayhem are in Road Caesar and Wreckage colors, respectively. Dinoking is in Monstructor's colors, and Devastator is in red and white. Oh, and Damus is in G1 Prowl colors. Thought I'd help clear it up :)
So, ask questions, leave a review, and as always, stay safe, healthy, and don't eat Dark Energon, kids. Otherwise Robo-Satan will use your body as a puppet.