*****************
In the back streets of Char, in a seedy bar (is there any other kind for the Decepticons?), the Infiltration team sat at a table with many cubes of high grade Energon and other assorted intoxicating beverages as well; word got out that all the work on Cybertron was their doing so they were the tost of the bar: everything was free, and that included the extra under the counter services at the bar; Nightflight had already disappeared with three members of said service committee and as his team mates toasted him; Counter Strike was continually looking over his shoulder
"Boss; is something the matter?" Nitron Charge asked
"Yeah, you could say that" he replied
Dead Centre grabbed the nearest hooker and put her on his knee and then looked his leader in the eye
"I know what it is: sir, I will be frank; you need to grab one of these fine examples of Cybertanium ass and go up stairs, and have the bunk up of your life" he said, motioning to the well endowed hookers draping themselves over the other team members
"He's right sir, after the display of skill and the perfect mission of your life; I think a joining with one or more members of the opposite sex is in order" Slipstream slurred and buried his face in the assets of the nearest femme
"Come on CS, at least show one of these fine ladies why you are the big man on Char" Nitron Charge said
Counter Strike said nothing and looked over his shoulder at the door frame again as if expecting an Autobot raiding party to jump in and kill them all: he knew that the Autobots had infiltrators as good as him: not better, if there were better ones then he and the others wouldn't have gotten off Cybertron alive
"I'm just tired Nitron Charge, nothing a recharge won't cure" he joked and deciding why not, grabbed a femme and headed upstairs.
The team spent the night getting absolutely whacked and shagging anything they got their hands on (except each other): Counter Strike even had a marvellous shot of Slipstream trying to hump a drink machine while he was drunk: that was going on the notice board.
Galvatron was almost skipping when he intercepted a long range transmission saying the Optimus Prime had fallen into a coma: he didn't care why just that it had happened. And now he marched towards the cell where Sharon was kept to deliver the news in person: he loved seeing people of any kind become emotionally devastated. He entered the cell to see the girl was eating the food that had been provided (even Galvatron wasn't stupid enough to starve useful hostages)
"Well my dear, it seems your father has fallen ill" he said with sadistic glee
"Is it fatal?" Sharon asked, worrying about Optimus Prime because she knew of his fragile mental state
"I sincerely hope so" Galvatron added and laughed insanely as he left
Sharon hugged her knees to her chest and prayed that Optimus Prime was all right: he had slowly begun to deteriorate emotionally over the past few years with the crap he had been heaped with: and because of his position, he couldn't go and get totally rat arsed with his mates if he felt like it, and only she knew of his secret passion for singing and other small things he could not share with anyone, not even his best friends, if not brothers; Rodimus and Magnus.
[Please be okay dad, they need you, and I need you] she prayed before sobbing to herself
*********************
In the Matrix, Optimus was talking with the Dark Prime
"So, you are the fabled warrior of our race" he said and looked the spectre up and down
"Not much to look at, are you" Optimus said
Dark Prime smiled
"I'm built from you, don't forget that" he said slyly
"I guess you want to know why I came here" he said to Optimus, making the normally unflappable leader rear back in surprise
"Yes, I would like to know" Optimus answered
Dark Prime faced his host and began speaking in his deep voice
"Optimus Prime, it is time for you to die" Dark Prime usually got this part out of the way first
To his surprise, Optimus didn't start panicking and ask why like some before him had done
"Is that so, well, it would seem that this time fate has decided to let me go peacefully" Optimus said
"Indeed. However, Galvatron's time is almost up as well, and it is my sworn duty to send him to the maker before you die" Dark Prime now knelt and looked Optimus in the eyes:
In the eyes of the leader, Dark Prime saw only fatigue and sorrow and pain; Galvatron had stolen what little love and joy Prime truly had left when his men took Sharon: and Dark Prime knew that Prime was weary and needed to rest now, but this time he could not let his people to resurrect him again: it was time for Optimus Prime to die and stay dead.
[And besides, he has someone waiting for him] Dark Prime looked deep into the Matrix and saw Elita 1 waiting for Prime
"You and I will bring this conflict to an end, Optimus Prime. Once and for all" he held his hand out to Prime
Optimus looked at him for a minute: he knew that the Dark Prime appeared every thousand years or so and since he had been a Prime for 9 million years, he figured that he was going be the next one for the Dark Prime to take. He had expected a grim reaper of sorts, but what he got was a warrior soul looking to fulfil his host's last request: an end to the war
Optimus Prime extended his hand and took the Dark Prime's hand. A feeling of ease then passed through his body and he fell into a deep sleep.
On the outside however, the transformation to Dark Prime was nearly completed, all that was needed was the Matrix and he would awaken once more. Dark Prime was now in control of Optimus's body and his optics flickered on and he got up and after a few tentative steps, gained his balance and equilibrium
"Okay, I need a shuttle" he said to himself and began to scan the city for the nearest dock
"Found it" he said to himself
Dark Prime was about to walk out of the door when he realised that a larger version of Optimus Prime that was jet black with Cybertronian glyphs all over his body and a large broad sword on his back
[Hmm, a bit of discretion is needed here] he surmised and phased himself out
Dark Prime was possessed of many powers that he had gained over the years from all the other Primes: one of them was the ability to literally phase out to another dimension and thus rendering him immune from all laws of physics and science in the previous one. This allowed him to walk through walls and floors at will.
Quickly and quietly Dark Prime made his way to Rodimus's quarters where the acting leader was sleeping after a gruelling day at work trying to get Sharon back. Smiling, Dark Prime went over and saw that the Matrix was still in Rodimus's chest
"Forgive me young one, but I must borrow this" he said and phasing back to the plane of Cybertron, he used his powers to open Rodimus's chest and remove the Matrix
Rodimus gasped but a swift punch from Dark Prime's powerful fist was enough to stop him waking up. Opening his own chest compartment he secured the Matrix before he left on his mission. Dark Prime exited the building and flew up into the air, leaving the planet far behind, with a single thought on his mind
Revenge
**************************
Rodimus awoke to his buzzer being violently pushed
"I'm coming" he yelled out and went to the door
Kup, Magnus, Ratchet and Springer were standing before him
"Rodimus; Optimus's body is gone" Ratchet said
"Then I wasn't dreaming" Rodimus gasped and opened his chest compartment: sure enough the Matrix was gone
Kup and Magnus went into frenzy as they realised the Matrix had been stolen and hit the alarms to alert the Autobots that their most sacred object was missing. Rodimus was calm however and looked out a widow that faced the general direction of Char: he'd dispatched Undercover and his team to the area to find the Decepticons who infiltrated Cybertron and took Sharon.
[I have a feeling that all they going to find of Counter Strike and his team are a few cracked chassis and fuel spots] Rodimus thought as he remembered all he read about Dark Prime
He turned to Kup who had been calling his name for almost a full minute to get his attention
"Well, who do you think took the Matrix, Rodimus?" Kup asked
"I know exactly who has it, and where it and he, are" he answered calmly
"Well don't stand on ceremony Rodimus, where is it?" Magnus asked
"It is on Char, inside the chest of Dark Prime" he said, stunning all but one of his listeners
"But Rodimus, Dark Prime is only a legend" Kup said
Before more could be said, Streetwise came up and handed a data pad to Magnus: he was shaking like a leaf in a wind
"Streetwise, what's wrong?" Kup asked
"Watch the video on that pad, and you tell me" he answered, then he transformed and sped off
"What the hell was that all about?" Magnus wondered and played the recording: seconds later, he too was shaking a bit
"Rodimus, I take it back" Kup said after watching the recording
It was Dark Prime on his escape from the medical wing that was playing. Now there was no doubt that the Decepticons were about to be delivered a serious blow, little did they know how serious it would be
****************************
Counter Strike and his team were now back at their headquarters and were relaxing in a more subtle way, playing a game of Chess, although a human game, lots of Transformers of both allegiances had picked up that the game was a challenge of wits and tested the mind: and Transformers loved anything that tested their minds.
"Check" Nightflight said to Slipstream
"Damn you" his opponent cursed and thought for a while
Counter Strike was reading on the couch, Dead Centre and Nitron Charge were cleaning their weapons in their respective rooms. A knock at their door disrupted the peaceful atmosphere however
"I got it guys, keep chilling" Dead Centre said and jogged through the hallway to the door
He opened the door and saw a large black Transformer before him with a cloak and sword
"What can I do you for big fella?" Dead Centre asked
"Is this the base of the Infiltrator Counter Strike and his team?" the stranger asked
"The one and only: who are you and why are you here?" Dead Centre enquired
The unknown Transformer's eyes lit up a ghastly red. The next thing Dead Centre knew was a searing pain in his chest and seeing error messages stream past his optics telling him of major damage: then he saw the robot holding something: his Energon pump
"I'm your Messenger of Death and I'm here to kill you" Dark Prime said and entered, dropping the pump and closing the door behind him.
Nightflight and Slipstream heard their friend die and quickly took positions at either side of the doorframe, EMP weapons at the ready to give the sorry sucker who came through that door the most painful death imaginable. Counter Strike was behind a table with his rifle; beside him was Nitron Charge, an RPG in hand. They waited tensely for their enemy
[Come on sucker] Counter Strike thought
He hit them before they knew what was up: Dark Prime came through one wall, his elbow blade reversed so he could thrust it forward and he did: right into Slipstream's chest, then he yanked his arm upwards and cut the upper body and head of his enemy in two.
Then with a lightning quick pivot, he swung himself around and used the other blade to decapitate Nightflight. Dark Prime phased himself and dropped through the floor before Nitron Charge and Counter Strike could fire off a volley
"Sweet Primus we gotta get out of here" Nitron Charge said
"I'm with you" his leader replied
Before they could run though, Dark Prime popped up in front of them and blasted Nitron Charge with some kind of energy from his hands, almost liquefying the other robot; it left stains on the wall. The only one left now was Counter Strike
"So, you're the infamous Counter Strike" he mocked and advanced on the terrified infiltrator
"And who are you?" Counter Strike spat
"Well, if you want to die with piece of mind; I am the Dark Prime" he replied
Counter Strike saw that one of Nitron Charge's Energon bombs had survived and rolled over to him. So as quick as he could, he grabbed it, primed it and slapped it onto Dark Prime and dived behind something. A large explosion rocked the base: no doubt alerting the rest of the Decepticons to the situation
[Eat that slag for brains] he thought and looked up: what he saw chilled his Energon and froze his CPU
Dark Prime was still standing, his red eyes glowing brightly in the smoke; they took on such a shape and tinge that it came across as a smirk
"For that, I'm going to make your demise more painful than before" he said and his eyes glowed brighter
Counter Strike found himself pinned to the wall first by the powers of his now obviously more powerful adversary and then by strips of metal. His eyes widened as Dark Prime drew his sword. It then dawned on him what was about to happen
Dark Prime slashed the abdomen of Counter Strike in an X shape first and then again to create an 8 pointed star shape. The blade of the sword cut through many vital systems and mechanisms, but the infiltrator was still alive to feel the pain
Dark Prime grew a more malicious look and cleanly cut Counter Strike in two, the bottom half flopping forward to hang pathetically. Dark Prime cleaned his sword blade and sheathed it again and walked out of the base. To most warriors on both sides, such an attack would be mentally devastating but to Dark Prime, it was as if it was a normal raid
"That takes care of them, now for target number 2: Sharon, once I get her off this wretched planet, I can go after Galvatron" he said to himself and flew towards her bio energy signature
************************
It didn't take him very long to find the prison she was in; it was guarded by a single Decepticon; a seeker. Dark Prime made short work of him by slicing downwards, neatly slicing the seeker in two. He then made his way to the cell and ripped the door off its hinges: the girl had been sedated and as a result did not hear her rescuer come in.
"I must send her back to Cybertron" he said to himself and gently placed her in a capsule similar to the one Counter Strike put her in when he took her
Dark Prime then utilised another of his powers and created a wormhole, a power he gained from Aros Prime, a leader almost 150 million years old. Although with Aros Prime the power sent him mad and killed him, Dark Prime was able to wield it perfectly
"Goodbye little one" he said and sent the capsule through the wormhole
**************************
The wormhole had opened up in Magnus's quarters where both he and Rodimus were talking: they were to say the least quite surprised when the capsule clanked onto the desk between them. Rodimus nearly tore it open to make sure the girl was alright: she was still breathing and he scanned her DNA; it was Sharon all right
"Magnus, round up every troop within a hundred miles: we're going to Char" he said and lifted Sharon into his cargo compartment
"Why, what's on Char?" Magnus asked
"Dark Prime, and the end to a war" he answered
*************************
Dark Prime smiled as he saw the girl was safe
[She is safe Optimus Prime; may I have full control now?], he asked
[Yes] was his answer, and with that, Optimus Prime died, and went to the Matrix to be with the one he loved
Then Dark Prime's chest shot open and the Matrix created a column of light that broke the roof of the cell block he was in. Then the Matrix itself shot up wards: Dark Prime's head opened and the Matrix slotted itself in: he was complete. He fell to the floor for a second but soon got up and felt all the power of the Matrix and it's beared flowing through him
"It is time Galvatron for you to answer for your sins" he said and let his power flow
A bright blue aura, most likely the work of the Matrix surrounded him as he walked from the cells towards his final quarry
Galvatron