"Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path. It's a prism… of endless possibility… where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities… creating alternate worlds from the ones you know. I am Vector Prime. I am your guide through these vast new realities. Follow me. "
In the universe you know, Smokescreen and Jackson Darby were witnesses to Megatron finding the Star Saber. Smokescreen then foolishly rushed alone to retrieve my brother Prima's weapon, leaving the boy to warn Ratchet about their discovery. But Jackson was attacked by an insecticon and had to escape long enough for the autobots to rescue him. Optimus then retrieved the Star Saber and pushed back the Decepticons.But what would have happened if the insecticon successfully captured Jackson ? This is where our story begins.
"Ratchet, I need you to get Optimus and the others to my location as fast as possible. Smokescreen has gone for the relic, something called a Star Saber and Megatron's here." Jack informed.
"Did you just say the Star Saber Jack?!" Ratchet shouted in disbelief.
But before Jack could answer, the sound of snarling was heard and a large shadow seem to be cast over him. Turning around quickly, Jack was confronted with the fact that he now stood in front of an Insecticon. The bug bot gave a loud shriek while also trying to swipe at him. Jumping out of the way, Jack closed his phone and made a run for it between the Insecticon's legs only to be grabbed by its large claws.
Struggling to break free, Jack knew that it was pointless as the Insecticon was both much larger and also stronger. As the Insecticon walked out of the forest and towards the large open area, more specifically towards Megatron, Jack saw that Smokescreen was being held down by two Vehicons while a third was aiming his blaster at Smokescreen's head." Ah, Jackson Darby. It has been a while, boy. " Megatron stated
" You mean since Optimus recovered his memories and gave you the beatdown of a lifetime ? " Jack snarked, defiantly staring at the leader of the Decepticons.
Megatron gave a cruel laugh. "you have spirit, Jack. But you should not show too much, or your little Autobot friend here is dead." He threatened.
"You think I'm afraid of you, bucket head! When Optimus finds us, you'll be running scared!" Smokescreen goaded.
"Optimus doesn't know you're here?" Megatron asked, before gaining a cruel smile, his shark like teeth showing. "This is a rare opportunity, Decepticons. We have ourselves two prisoners that the Autobots value." Megatron said. "However, our problem with the relic still eludes us."
"Ha! As if you could wield the Star Saber! Only a Prime can wield that sword, and you're not a Prime." Smokescreen taunted before being hit on the back of his head, hard.
"Yes, or maybe one chosen by a Prime." Megatron stated, staring at Jack intently. "Bring him here."
The Insecticon that was holding Jack, brought him forward before dropping Jack on Megatron's open hand. Once he was on his hand however, Jack quickly jumped on the rocks and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Unfortunately, he forgot just how large these Decepticons were, and with just three simple steps, the same Insecticon that had grabbed him before stood in his way.
"I would stop right there if I were you, Jack." Megatron threatened.
Turning, Jack glared at Megatron and his forces. "I'm not helping you get that Star Saber!" Jack said
" You will. That is, if you value the Autobot's life." Megatron said as the Vehicon that was pointing his blaster at Smokescreen, powered it up.
"Wait! Wait!" Jack shouted, holding both his hands up. " You win, I'll do it."
"Good." Megatron said. "Now, step towards the Saber and no tricks." He ordered, all the while keeping both his optics on him.
Jack nodded his head and walked towards the Star Saber, which seemed to be embedded into the rock all the way to the hilt. As he walked foreword, Jack glanced over at Smokescreen and saw the Autobot look at him in worry. Giving Smokescreen a small smile and a nod to reassure him, Jack focused back on the sword, while also hoping for Optimus and the others to arrive.
Not to long after he had that thought did the sounds of blaster fire sound out around them. As everyone turned to look at where the noise was coming from, they saw Optimus, along with Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee running towards them, blasters firing. Using this distraction, Smokescreen managed to free himself and join the fight in kicking Decepticon tailpipe when Megatron's voice rang throughout the area, stopping everyone in their tracks.
"ENOUGH!" Megatron roared. "If you Autobots value the life of your human pet, then I suggest you surrender." He threatened as the Autobots and Jack suddenly notice that Megatron was aiming his cannon where Jack was currently standing.
As Optimus stared hard at Megatron, who simply gave him a cold smirk, Optimus lowered his weapons to the ground before transforming them back into his hands. "Autobots. Stand down." He ordered.
Arcee sighed in relief as she as well as Bulkhead and Bumblebee also lowered their weapons.
"Ah Optimus, you are so predictable. Your love for these humans disgust me, but I know just how much they mean to you. Especially him." Megatron taunted.
Optimus did not fall for his taunting, as he never did. "Megatron." Optimus' voice sounded out, controlled but with just the hint of anger within, something that Megatron noticed. "What is it that you want?" he asked.
Megatron chuckled. "I want many things Optimus. This world. All the Energon hidden within. Your head and Jack's corpse for trophies. But I think I will settle for what is right in front of me right now, and that is the Star Saber. I believe you know just how powerful a weapon such as the Star Saber can be when wielded by a Prime, something that I will not let happen. So a trade. The boy. For the Star Saber." Megatron offered.
While Megatron was monologuing, Jack tried to make a break for it, hoping that since Megatron was not looking at him he could run to safety and not put the Autobots in anymore danger. Unfortunately, that plan did not go so well, for as soon as Jack started running, Megatron had fired his cannon, as he had noticed that the boy was trying to escape. The blast did not hit jack at all, but rather right in front of him, causing the explosion of fire, rock and dirt to send Jack flying backwards. The explosion causing the rocks to slice at his skin and the fire to burn him in multiple places while the dirt blinded him.
His back landed on the hard rock right above the Star Saber with a thud before falling forwards right onto the Saber, before sliding off and his back slamming onto the hard ground with a sickening thud. All of this happening in less than a minute, as everyone stared at Jack's body in shock as a small pool of blood slowly pooled around him.
"Jack!" Arcee cried out, running towards her partner.
Megatron did nothing to stop her, for he was enjoying the look of despair on her face.
Smokescreen could only watch with guilt. It was his fault that Jack was captured, in the first place. If only he had waited for backup.
"Primus, what have I done ? " He whispered
Arcee kneeled down and could do nothing more to save Jack. She was living Tailgate's death again. She hugged Jack against her, not caring anymore if everyone saw her crying.
" Something that went unnoticed by anyone was when Jack fell onto the Star Saber, some of his blood had touched what little of the blade was sticking out causing the Star Saber to react strongly to it. It was said in legends that the Star Saber was forged by Solus Prime and that only a Prime or one chosen to become one was able to wield the Star Saber. When Optimus gave the Key to Vector Sigma, not only did Jack leave an imprint upon the Key but also upon Primus himself, who had left a piece of himself in the Key as well as the Matrix. And when Primus had seen young Jack walk upon his body to restore Optimus' lost memories, he saw the same qualities as he saw in Orion Pax, all those millennia ago."
"The Star Saber was also said to be able wield the power of the Matrix, that however was a misconception. The Star Saber did not have the ability to wield the power of the Matrix, but rather was connected to it as Primus also placed a small part of himself within the sword at Solus' behest. Therefore when Jack's blood had dropped onto the Star Saber, it left an imprint more powerful than the Key as the sword was now connected to Jack on a much deeper level, making it in all essence, his. And while Optimus would still be able to use the sword as it was intended, the blade would only really respond to its new owner, Jackson Thomas Darby."
And so with a massive crack, the sound reminding everyone of the sound of a thunderclap, the mountain that the sword was attached to was split in two. The sword hovered in place as the blade of the Star Saber glowed a bright blue, lighting the clearing even more in the fading light as night approached. As the glow continued, the sword let out a pulse of pure energy that caused everyone to stumble back.
The Star Saber, knowing that its owner's life was quickly fading, shifted and transformed as it began to shrink until it was the size of a normal human sword before slowly floating down hilt first. Suddenly a hand shot up and grabbed the hilt of the floating sword as everyone stared in amazement as Jack's injuries seemed to heal instantly, leaving no trace of evidence. Jack's body floated upwards until his feet was about an inch from the ground before he stopped floating and was standing on his own two feet. Jack's eyes opened and everyone could see that Jack's eyes seemed to hold some kind of power within them. As Jack lowered his arm down, Jack took a look at the sword he was holding onto and, as if someone was nudging him in small ways, guiding him even, he thrust the sword upwards.
With a great crash and a clap of thunder, a lightning bolt struck where Jack was. As soon as the smoke cleared, where once Jack Darby stood in his grey long sleeved t-shirt, jeans and shoes, now stood Jack Darby, wielding the Star Saber while wearing a form fitting black long sleeved body glove that covered him from his feet to his fingertips, stopping only halfway up his neck. On top of the body glove were various parts of armour coloured in silver, with strips of blue.
The armour was both form fitting but also gave the wearer the protection they needed while also allowing for full range of movement unimpeded. On the right side of the chest of Jack's armour was the insignia of the Autobots emblazed in gold. Also on his back was a magnetic clamp where the Star Saber would be sheathed when not in use.
( picture the magiktech Armor from Trollhunters, Rise of the titans )
Jack looked down at himself, looking at his new armour. He expected to feel the weight of it, only to feel nothing, as if it wasn't there at all. Turning his head, Jack stared at the Star Saver in his hand as the blade continued to glow.
"Decepticons! Kill the Autobots and the boy! I want that sword!" Megatron ordered.
At once, the Autobots began firing at the Decepticons, while at the same Insecticon from before tried to make a grab at him. As the Insecticon lumbered towards him, shrieking at the same time; Jack jumped into the air, augmented by the suit, and brought his sword down upon his opponent, slicing through it like a hot knife through butter.
Everyone stopped what they were doing as they saw the two halves of the Insecticon fall to the ground. They were all shocked at what Jack had just done, seeing none of them thought that such a thing could be possible.
"WHAT!" Megatron cried out, optics wide and mouth hanging open.
Jack, who turned to a trio of Decepticons who were firing at the Autobots from the distance, slashed the sword in an arc. As the sword made its swing an arc of pure energy escaped the blade and headed straight towards the trio. Said arc was wide enough that it cut through the first to with ease, while leaving a fatal gash on the last Vehicon going from its left shoulder all the way down to its waist.
With a roar of anger Megatron fires three consecutive blasts from his cannon at Jack, who shocked everyone once again as he simply sliced through them with ease.
"Decepticons." Megatron growled. "Retreat." He said as a GroundBridge opened up behind him and he tans through, his forces following soon after.
As the Nemesis turned to retreat, Jack, not wanting them to go without one last gift, sent another arc of energy, this one five times bigger and three times longer towards the engines of the warship. The entire warship veered off course when the arc hit its engines, sending the ship losing altitude quickly before it regained its flight capabilities and flying faster than before.
As the Nemesis soon became a speck in the now night sky, Jack sheathed the Star Saber onto his back before turning to the Autobots behind him. Every single one of them looked at him in open shock, even Optimus!
Arcee rushed towards Jack and hugged him.
" Please Jack, promise me you'll never go in a mission without me anymore. I was so worried and I thought I lost you. " she begged him, so relieved he was alive.
" I promise Arcee. No more pulling a Miko. " Jack promised, hugging her back.
Optimus seemed to shake himself out of his shock as he requested a GroundBridge. Not soon after, said GroundBridge appeared, and Optimus ordered for the Autobots and Jack to go through.
( at the base )
They returned and Ratchet picked Jack up and scanned him, to see if he was all right.
"What the heck was that? I saw it with my own optics!" Smokescreen said and repeated the same movement Jack performed when he attacked the Nemesis with the Star Saber, looking out with a dreaming expression. "But I still don't believe it!"
Arcee had it with him and his antics.
" You know what I don't believe ?! That after everything you've been told, you still decided to ignore direct orders and acted on your own, again ! And worse, you put Jack in danger when you decided to fight alone against an army ! "
" Disregard for safety, anyone's safety, will not be tolerated! Do you understand?" Optimus demanded, to show his own impatience with Smokescreen.
" Fully, Sir. " Smokescreen said
Optimus then turned towards Jack, who was sitting on Ratchet's operation table.
" Jackson, my friend, why did you followed Smokescreen ? " Optimus asked
" I'm sorry Optimus, I only followed him to make sure you would be warned about the Saber. I even told him to wait for you but he didn't listened to me and rushed headfirst. " Jack answered, making Arcee glare at Smoke.
Optimus sighed. " I understand, Jack. But Smokescreen will be confined in our base for the time being, until he learns his lesson."
" Hum, not to be that bot, but how could Jack hold that saber ? " Bulkhead asked
" Because only a Prime, or one chosen by a prime, can wield it. " Ratchet answered " And since Optimus choose Jack to wield the Key to Vector Sigma, it is safe to say that Jack can also wield the Star Saber."
Suddenly, the Saber glowed to life and Optimus and Jack were like mesmerized by it.
" What seems to be a tragedy can become a blessing in disguise. Jackson didn't know it yet but his true Destiny was only beginning. "