"A Fracture in Time - Chapter Two" by Ryley Breen AKA Shadow Master
email : rybreen@theberries.ns.ca
Disclaimer : I just want to state right from the beginning that I do not own any of the characters belonging to the show 'Gargoyles'. They are the property of Buena Vista and Walt Disney Inc. and I am just using them for the purpose of writing an entertaining fanfic. I also do not own any of the characters from the 80's cartoon Transformers nor any other series connected with it. They belong completely to Hasbro and all associated companies to do with as they will with them. Therefore I do not wish to be emailed by the respective lawyers of either of the companies involved with a lawsuit pertaining to copyright infringement. Besides they would not get much money out of me anyway seeing as how I am only a University student on a limited income.
Note : This story is not in anyway connected to my mainstream Gargoyles universe and should not be read as if it were such a fanfic. I wrote this because I am a big fan of both cartoons and was curious to see what would happen if I decided to mix the two together. The idea behind all this, in case you didn't read the explanation in the first chapter, was centered on the Beasties/Beast Wars episode 'Agenda Part 3' and 'Optimal Situation'. In these episodes the Predacon leader Megatron had travelled back to prehistoric Earth with the apparent intention of gathering energon(a fuel source for the transformer race) to start a revolution agains the dominent Maximals. He was followed to this time and place by a crew of Maximals and over the course of the following seasons both factions battled each other in an attempt to claim victory over the other. New characters came and went, the plot was twisted this way and that, but it wasn't until the 'Agenda' series of episodes that Megatron's true intentions were revealed. His true purpose was to discover the location of the Ark holding the Autobots and Decepticons and assasinate the Autobot's leader Optimus Prime. By doing this he intended to alter transformer history so that it was the Decepticons who won the Great War and thus the Predacons would assume the dominant position over the Maximals. In the two specified episodes he succeeded for a brief moment but in the end everything went back to the way it was. I, however, wondered what had happened when time was in flux and in particular what would have happened in the Gargoyles universe during this time. This fanfic is an exploration of that possibility. Now, on with the show.
"A Fracture in Time"Chapter 2
Prologue
Earth, 4 million years ago, the Ark
A storm raged throughout the craft but it was not a storm created by nature but rather a storm created by one malevolant being bent on rewriting history for his own benefit. In this storm the supposed constant of time was being torn and rewoven in a myriad of different ways with each pattern existing for but a fraction of a second before changing into something else. Who is to say what these new patterns entailed or what they could mean for the future? It is impossible to tell what might have been in such a chaotic setting as this, especially when the inhabitants of thise ship are unaware of what is going on and those that did not belong are not certain themselves. Two such beings however are less affected by the temporal storm and stride foreward determined to set things back to they way they were. Flying on metal wings the being who was neither dog nor bird carried his star crossed love across the chamber of the ancient giants towards the controls at the other side. After setting the female warrior down at controls they wasted no time words of encouragement or instructions. Each knew what they had to do and how they were to go about getting it done therefore words were not necessary.
"Auxilary life support on." Black Arachnia said and a second later her optical transmitters shot the command into the appropriate recievers.
In response to this command a panel in the ceiling move to the side and down from the hole it left came a machine that was composed of two parts. One was obviously the device which connected the rest of it back to the main system and went about regulating the operation. The other was more of a handle connected to the first part with a cord connecting the first part to the second and a sort of interface at the other end shaped in a familiar way. Anyway once it had finished lowering from the ceiling Silverbolt wasted no time in unhooking the interface from its resting place. It was difficult even for him to fly with the temporal storm gusting about around him and threatening to undo everything and everyone he cared about. Fortunatly the gallant fuzor didn't know the meaning of the word 'quit' and pressed on until he had successfully plugged the interface into the Autobot insignia on Optimus Prime's shoulder.
"It's...." , Silverbolt said as he pushed the interface into the appropriate slot, "Done!"
Almost as a reward for their valiant efforts the storm seemed to reced as bolts of energy no longer flickered in the air, nor did the wings force him to exert himself in order to maintain position.
"The time storm, it seems to have stablized somewhat." he stated as he looked over to where his love was still operating the console via and energy up-link.
"But 'Big Mac' here is still fading!" , Black Arachnia exclaimed as she ceased what she was doing to look at him and as she did both of them seemed to flicker out of existance for a moment, "Reality is still in flux!"
Before the silver winged knight could reply to that the doors to the command area of the bridge opened up to admit their comrades flying towards them. It relieved the Fuzor that they were alright, for unlike he and Black Arachnia, they had been affected by the storm to a greater degree. With all of them together now they truely had a chance to repair the damage done by Megatron before it got out of control. How that would be accomplished he was not quite certain but he had faith that Optimus would concieve some sort of plan.
"Silverbolt what ... *gasp*" Optimus Primal said in inquiry but was stopped immediately when he gazed upon the answer to his question.
There laying limp with smoke rising from every crack in his face plating was the legendary leader of the Autobots and Primal's namesake. For those that had originally come from Cybertron to prehistoric Earth this was a portent that spoke ill for everything that they had been fighting for up until that moment.
"Well ...that's just prime!" Primal said in disbelief and worry.
"Well, most of him anyways." commented Rattrap and was rewarded with a smack upside the back of the head by Rhinox.
The large Maximal got off his seat on Optimus' jet board and immediately began to work the controls on the console in front of him which was located just below Black Arachnia's energy interface. It took him a few moments but when he finished he came to the same conclusion that the others had when they had first seen the fallen Autobot leader.
"He's our ancestor! We've gotta get him repaired, or we're goners!" exclaimed Cheetor as he looked to those he knew would have the answers
"We'll never make it! His spark is already joining with the creation Matrix" , Rhinox said as he turned to his leader and friend, "With the repair trauma we'll lose it for sure."
Accepting this crucial fact Primal stated "Then we'll have to move it."
"His spark can't exist outside a living body." Rhinox pointed out with dismay.
"I know." Optimus Primal replied as he looked down to the access port to his spark.
With that he flew on his jet-board towards the limp form of a legend to be that was barely holding onto life by a thread. It didn't take a rocket scientist or in Rattrap's case a hair-brained idiot to realise what the big monkey-bot had in mind but even then they had a hard time accepting it.
"What are you *nuts*!? You can't hold to sparks in your body!" Rattrap exclaimed as he looked at 'fearless leader' with a look that questioned the mechanical ape's programming.
"This one has the creation Matrix attached to it, it's too powerful!" Rhinox stated, lending support to his comrade's previous statement.
Briefly the room shook and at the same time all the Maximals and one Predacon shimmered briefly out of existance before returning to a more stable state.
"Like we have a choice?" Optimus said sarcastically as he transformed into his warrior mode.
Not willing to discuss the matter further the commander of the downed Maximal ship Axalon fired the thrusters located in his feet and rose into the air. Even though he knew that this was the only course of action that could be taken he was still nervous about what he was about to attempt. Who wouldn't be? He was about to merge with the spark of the most famous Autobot in history as well as the creation matrix that gave that same legendary leader access to the wizdom of the ages. In times like this it is not uncommon to start having feelings of doubt, about who you are and if you are worthy enough to be doing this. However in the end it comes down to two simple choices: you either do it or you don't do it. Casting all other doubts aside he achieved a hovering position in front of Optimus Prime's chest plate and committed himself to this course of action. Reaching over he activated the energy signature locking mechanism on Prime's chest and watched as the windsheild like chestplates slowly separated as they moved upwards and away from each other. Once they had successfully moved aside there was only one more protective barrier to go before the spark of Optimus Prime and the creation matrix were exposed. Primal did not have to wait long because as soon as the chest plate finished moving the T-shaped compartment opened up and with a brief flash of light the most crucial part of this being was revealed.
It was a sight to see, it was a spark that in terms of componant parts was like any other spark but this one glowed with a brilliance that was unlike any other. It was as if you took a recording of hundreds of different suns and super-imposed them on each other all at once. They all would seem to meld into one single sun image but for those that knew what to look for one could see the distinct characteristics of each sun as clearly as if they were separate. Reaching out Optimus Primal grasped the handles of the matrix's containtment device and removed it from it's resting place in the chest of his namesake. What he held in his hands though was not just the matrix though but the matrix and Optimus Prime's spark as one single field of energy. That is what happened when a person was chosen to bear the creation matrix and become leader of the Autobots. His spark became a part of that vast collection of information and in essence spark and matrix stopped being two separate things by merging together. What made Primal's attempt so tricky was that it was recorded in the ancient Autobot data tracs that only one spark could be merged with the matrix at any one time. To do what he was attempting to do, to merge his spark along with Prime's, was very risky territory in which the results were unknown and the potential price an enigma. Taking a moment to brace himself Primal opened up the hatch that led to his inner workings and moved his own spark into position.
He didn't have to wait long for something to happen because almost instantly the merging process began as a steady beam of golden light linked him with the matrix as the merging process began. It was a experiance unlike any other, all at once images of the past came screaming into his mind with all the subtlety of a freighter and for the briefest of moments he felt as though he actually was all those who came before. It seemed to go on for mega-cycles but then without warning it was done and the aftermath of the process sent a surge through the thrusters in his feet sending him flying. Through the haze of the transformation he could still hear the voices of his comrades as they attended to the tasks that were left for them to do.
"Hurry! Get that repair equipment online!" ordered Rhinox with a definite air of urgency to it.
The rest though became lost in a storm of confusion as his spark began to undergo a transformation along with his body.
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The Ark, Auxilary Communications Room, 4 Million years ago
[Chronal Period achieved. Activating Stasis Lock Neutraliser]
With a start Nightshade was awake once more but it took her a moment to realise that she was buried underneath a pile of storage crates. Shoving them off herself as quickly as possible she got to her feet and inspected her surroundings, looking for anything suspicious that wasn't consistant with the battle she had been involved in. She didn't expect to find anything in here since the battle had mostly taken place in the main command areas and the hallways just outside but she wasn't about to take chances. Once her sensor scans had been completed she walked over to the terminal in the wall of the room and tried to access Teletran-1 so she could confirm that she had awakened at the right time. It took some time to get the information, it appeared that the ship's main computor had taken some damage in the crash. Eventually though, after looking in some obscure places she finally managed to find what she was looking for and nodded in satisfaction as her time and place were confirmed. Apparently Ratchet's little stasis lock neutraliser was a complete success, it had woken her up about four years after the Ark had crashed on Earth. With this little matter taken care of all that was left to do was to check on Optimus and begin to make preparations for a *long* assigment guarding him for the next four million years.
Just then she heard sounds of multiple explosions but rather than coming from outside the ship where she would expect an attack to come from they appeared to be coming from the *command room*! In a flurry of panic Nightshade raced out the door and moved as fast as she could towards the command deck, praying to the Matrix the entire time that she had not failed in her mission. As she turned the last corner she noticed that the door to the command room was open and that only served to increase her concern. According to the file she had read on the Ark's systems they were programmed to seal off every room in the event of a major collision in order to maintain atmospheric pressure. The fact that this was open meant either that the door had malfunctioned during the crash or someone had come along and forced it open. Suddenly she heard voices inside and immediately pressed herself against the wall next to the door so she could covertly listen to what was going on.
"Not in here! Do you understand, take it outside!!" , Came one loud and synthisized voice with a tone of urgency in it, "Rhinox keep those repairs going."
"Ah, I see we have a new Optimal Optimus to deal with" , came a second malevolant and calculating voice, "And carrying Prime's spark as well."
What?! They removed Optimus' spark from his body and actually implanted it into someone!? Nightshade thought to herself as she pulled her particle blasters from subspace.
This was *not* good, not good at all. Optimus' spark was in jepoardy and so was her mission if she was interpreting what was going on correctly. About the only good news was the fact that the Autobot leader's spark was apparently still in one piece and healthy. Which meant that once she had taken care of these motorheads all she had to do was figure out a way to separate Prime's spark from this other transformer and put it back in the right body. Yeah, that was all she had to do and it would be easy since she had virtually no scientific expertise whatsoever to help her do what she proposed. The only option seemed to be to locate the brains behind the whole mergence process and force him to undo what he had done. From what she had heard briefly it seemed that this Rhinox person was a prime candidate for the 'scientist' position but then again he could just be some lackey manning the controls. She let out a quiet growl of frustration at the situation that had been laid out before her, mostly because she knew that her comrades back in the alternate timeline had done everything they could. Her patience wearing thin she decided that the time for waiting was over and that it was time to make her prescence known as well as her intentions.
Stepping out from her hiding place and blocking the only exit Nightshade declared "Alright! Nobody moves or they get sent straight to the scrap heap!"
When she saw what was before her she was almost disbelieving that such small transformers could have assasinated Optimus Prime or so much as scorched his armor. Still from what she could see what they lacked in size they more than made up for in advanced technology. Keeping her particle blasters trained on the entire group she began to scan for the transformer who matched the energy signature she had been told belonged to the assasin. In doing this she completely ignored the looks they were all giving her which ranged from surprise to shock to a look that made it clear that someone's plans had to be revised. It didn't take long as a few cycles later her sensors pinpointed the mini-transformer who had the greatest concentration of the plasma particles that matched the sample she had been given. Bringing both blasters to bear on her target she smiled a vengeful smile as she prepared to terminate the source of her timeline.
"You're slag 'Con!!" she declared as she activating her laser range-finders on the tops of her blasters.
"NO!" exclaimed the largest of the group as he reached out towards her in an attempt to stay her finger from pulling the trigger.
She turned her head to see ask why she shouldn't terminate the spark of the 'Con that had brought forth her horrible future by employing such a dispicable action. That however turned out to be a mistake since her target decided to take full advantage of that distraction by adding one of his own.
"Waspinator! Cover fire, now!" barked the purple faced transformer.
Almost immediately two explosions erupted outside and were followed by what seemed like several more as the entire ship began to shake to a significant degree. Confused as to what was going on she never saw the small assain and his minion fire their weapons at her and thus was unprepared for the assault. It knocked her back into the hallway and temporarily disrupted her visual receptors for a few moments. A few moments was apparently all her nemisis needed as he transformed into a metal tyrannosaurus rex with thrusters on each side.
"This place remains a target Optimus! I will be back!" with that the flying metal lizard apparently flew away down the corridor as she could hear his thrusters as they flew by her and then fade away.
"After him! Don't let him escape!" came the voice that has tried to stop her from terminating the assasain.
It took a few more moments but eventually her optics came back online and she could see that the action had just flown or driven past her in her brief moment of weakness. Growling a bit in frustration she transformed into her veichle mode and burned rubber after them, pushing her engine for every bit of acceleration it could provide. By the time that she had caught up with them they had just about exited the Ark and were making for a small opening in the cave the ship was apparently in. Not wanting her target to get away she deployed mini-gatling guns and began to fire on the metal T-Rex, not particularly caring if some of the other transformers got in her way. Unfortunately the combination of the rocks falling from the ceiling of the cavern and the targetÕs own maneuverability soon made it clear than she wasnÕt going to connect. She soon lost sight of them but once the sounds of explosions began to echo throughout the cavern it wasnÕt hard to figure out that they were trying to seal the entrance to the cavern.
Well thatÕs not going to happen ÔCon! Nightshade thought as she activated the twin missile launchers she had hidden behind her front headlights.
Taking care to not shoot too soon she aimed for a boulder she could see just outside the cavern. She knew that it would be impossible to hit her target from this position but hopefully the shockwave from the blast would hopefully discourage any further attempts to bring the rest of the mountain down around her ears. It took a few moments but finally the falling rocks let up some and she had the opening she required for optimum accuracy. With a popping like discharge she fired two grenades out of each launcher and apparently Primus must have been looking out for her as all four made it to their assigned target. Exploding with a force equivalent to a shipping crate full of TNT the boulder shattered into a million fragments which flew in all directions. Unfortunately it also had the side effect of bringing more debris down on their heads from the cavernÕs ceiling.
ÒHey!! Watch what yer doinÕ!! They donÕt need your help bringing the house down around our ears!!Ó yelled one of the transformers that was riding his friend to the right of her.
Not even bothering to acknowledge these others she immediately accelerated towards the cave entrance. The concussive force of the blast would only stun her target for a few moments and then it would have an oppourtunity to get away. She had to get out there before that happened or she might never complete her mission given the size of this planet. She took a few hits along the way but eventually she made it out of the cave and into the open air. Transforming into her warrior mode she immediately began to scan her surroundings for her target, pulling her particle blasters out as well and setting them to full power. She immediately saw the scorched ground where her grenades had hit and while she didnÕt find her target nearbye she did find another transformer. It was of the same size as the others in the cave but was obviously female in design with a spider theme in her appearance. Judging by where she was laying and the damage NightshadeÕs sensors could pick up it was probable that the transformer had gotten a little too close to her grenades when they went off. The damage was significant but did not look life threatening if she was any judge.
What am I thinking!?! Who cares if this transformer goes offline!?! , she scolded herself as she turned away, My only mission is to terminate the target and protect Optimus Prime until the great awakening. Anything else is none of my concern.
Completing her survey of the surrounding environment it was clear that her target had escaped but not by foot as there were no tracks on the ground. Following that line of thought the only other possibility would be that the target took to the air. Immediately she switched her sensors from terra to aerial and began to scan for exhaust traces and leftover carbon from battle damage. While it was clear that her enemy had escaped the brunt of her blast there was still a high probability that the grenades did some damage. That meant scorched armor and perhaps a few sparking wires and those she could trace without any difficulty. Just then an explosion of rocks erupted from the cave entrance and out came the large transformer she had seen earlier, the one with PrimeÕs spark implanted in him. He was in some sort of car mode though it didnÕt match anything she had ever seen but it was definitely heavily armored. The other transformers soon emerged from the cave entrance as well before running over to the larger one which Nightshade assumed was their commanding officer.
ÒWhereÕs Megatron?Ó the larger one asked once it finished transforming into its warrior mode.
ÒGone but my sensors detect a trail of fuel exhaust heading east.Ó Nightshade replied almost offhand.
ÒTheyÕre headed for our base!!Ó exclaimed the distinctly feline looking one.
ÒWhich means no time to lose!Ó , the large one said, ÒCheetor youÕre with me. Rhinox, Rattrap stay and continue with the repairs.Ó
Without a further word the large one transformed into some sort of air veichle and flew off in the direction she had indicated. Obviously he was some sort of triple-changer since he seemed to have more than one alternate form. Regardless she would be damned if she was going to let him get away that easily. Jumping into the air she transformed into her own flight mode and took off in pursuit. There was no way she was going to let PrimeÕs spark out of her sight and if these mystery transformers want to tag along for the ride than far be it for her to stop them.
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