Author's Note: In this chapter there will be plenty of OOCness for Sixshot. I don't know much about Sixshot, so you can consider this version of Sixshot to be my own variation, rather than me mangling the original character. This chapter will probably be fairly long. The planet of Lysandron and its people are my own creations, so don't think I'm borrowing from someone else. And yes, I know, the title is strange. It spontaneously popped out of my head.
Disclaimer: As stated above, Lysandron is my creation. Ultra Rodimus belongs to me. You know the rest.
Transformation
Chapter 6: Clash of the Titans
Weeks after the battle on Cybertron, the last of the wounded Decepticons was fully repaired and ready for battle. They were eager for a rematch against the Autobots, and ready to deal out some revenge.
Galvatron had spent the weeks planning (gasp!) what they would do next. Cyclonus had aided in the planning and briefing the others about what they would do. Sixshot had spent the time honing his skills and making certain he was ready to take on a Prime. The various Primes had gained the well-deserved reputation as being stronger and harder to kill than a normal robot. Sixshot believed that the young, inexperienced Prime would be easier to pick off than any of his predecessors, but he still made sure he was in top fighting condition for the coming battle.
Finally, they were ready.
Galvatron called the Decepticons together and made a speech, one that had been drafted for him by Cyclonus. "You all have been briefed on your parts in the coming battle. I expect you all to follow orders and not take matters into your own hands. If everything goes according to plan, the Prime will be crushed, the Autobots conquered, and Cybertron ours for the taking. Then we will spread our influence to the rest of the galaxy! We will rule the universe!"
The crowd erupted into cheering and yelling. The Decepticons were thirsty for blood, and the conquests they were destined for.
"We go to Lysandron!"
The Decepticons piled into Astrotrain and into their ships and launched into space.
Lysandron was mainly a water planet. It had numerous land masses, of which only two were large enough to call continents. The rest were islands that varied in size from only five or so miles across to hundreds of miles in diameter. The planet was populated by an aqueous race of reptilian bipeds. They resembled large lizards that walked on their hind legs, with spiky crests that ran down their necks, beginning between and just above their eyes. The males had short horns over their eyes. They had thick tails that were almost useless on land, but helped propel them through the water. Their hands were slightly webbed, and they had short claws, the remnants of their reptilian ancestry. The Lysandronians were a peaceful people, skilled artists, but not too technologically advanced.
Which made them the perfect targets for the Decepticons.
The Decepticons struck the larger of the two continents, wiping out entire villages. When they reached a real city, Galvatron issued his orders.
"Round them up, but don't kill them! They're the bait! Let one remain loose long enough to call the Autobots for help!"
The roundup went quickly. The distress call was sent. The Decepticons settled back to wait.
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Cybertron, Iacon City:
In the weeks since the death of Rodimus Prime and his rebirth as Ultra Rodimus Prime, (his name was shortened to just Ultra Rodimus; they decided that his full name was just too much of a mouthful) the scientists had run scan after scan, test after test, comparing notes and running even more tests. Ultra Rodimus had put up with them patiently, as curious as they were about the secrets of his new body. Finally, after weeks of work, they were ready to report their findings.
The command group assembled in the meeting room. Perceptor and First Aid were already there, sorting their notes. They waited patiently for the commanders to settle before beginning their report.
"Our tests have revealed much surprising information," First Aid began. "First, Ultra Rodimus's internal structure has very little to no resemblance to Rodimus Prime's. All his circuit pathways and internal systems are completely different. His skeletal structure is also very different. To us, it looks like he was taken completely apart and overhauled, then rebuilt as a completely different bot."
"And what is there in him that distantly resembles Rodimus?" Kup asked.
"The only things that were not changed are his personality core and laser core. They were left alone."
"That makes sense. Changing them changes his entire personality."
"Also, his armor is made up of an alloy that no one has ever heard of before." Perceptor turned on the wall monitor, showing the assembled commanders a highly complex molecule. "It is as if his armor was taken apart at the molecular level and altered, then put back together. This new alloy is much stronger than the alloys we use. It is resistant to everything we've thrown at it. This alloy would be very useful, if we could ever find out how to manufacture it."
"His neural network and sensor net are also far more complex than they used to be," First Aid said, changing the display. "There are circuits we've never seen before, and every system has been upgraded and enlarged. His entire internal structure has become incredibly complex."
"What about his eyes and hair?" Jazz wanted to know. "No other Transformer has hair, or eyes like that."
"His hair, as far as we can tell, has no specific purpose. We don't know what it's for."
"It might be for appearance," Spike pointed out. "His build is more humanoid than robotic. Humans have hair. Perhaps he has it only to complete the appearance. Or perhaps we just don't know enough about it yet. Some of the materials that make up his hair can conduct electric currents."
"That may be," First Aid acknowledged. "We'll have to wait and see. We also did a thorough scan of his eyes. They are constructed like human eyes, but the pupils serve as focusing lenses for magnification, and as the bases for several types of advanced sensors. His eyes can perform more separate functions than ours can."
"We were curious about his stripes, so we ran tests on them as well," Perceptor jumped in. "Each one is wired with conductors and receptors. At first we were wondering what purpose they might serve. Then we realized that his stripes are for camouflage. With their current colors, that would be impossible. So he was given the ability to change the color of his stripes by conducting certain amounts of charge through them."
All eyes turned to Ultra Rodimus. He smiled and demonstrated. His stripes became an eye-hurting clash of neon green and glow-in-the-dark orange. Then he changed the colors so that each stripe was a different color of the rainbow.
"Interesting effect," Kup noted, blinking.
"Is he a Transformer?" Springer asked.
"Yes, he is. Our theory is that when he transforms, he shifts most of his current form into subspace and replaces it with a new form. His slender body shape can accommodate any number of alternate modes. He may be a triple changer, or a multi-changer. We won't know until we see him transform."
Just then, sirens began to scream, and Blaster received an incoming distress call.
"The Decepticons have attacked Lysandron!"
"All Autobots, prepare for battle!" Ultra Rodimus ordered. "Assemble at the spaceport!"
Within minutes, a swarm of battle-ready Autobots descended on the starport, pouring into the three battle cruisers. The three ships lifted off and headed full-speed for Lysandron.
Lysandron:
"Galvatron, Autobot battleships detected," Soundwave reported.
"Excellent," Galvatron gloated. He glanced at Sixshot. "Are you ready?"
Sixshot grinned cruelly. "Yes."
The three shuttles descended through Lysandron's atmosphere, their hulls glowing from the friction. They aimed right for the Decepticons. Once they landed, the Autobots came flooding out, but were stopped short when the Decepticons aimed their weapons at the helpless Lysandronians.
"Stop right there, Autobots," Galvatron cackled. "Or we shoot them."
"What is your business here?" Ultra Rodimus snarled. "They are no threat to you!"
"Of course not! They're the bait to lure you here!"
The Autobots growled angrily. They didn't like helpless life-forms being used as bait.
Sixshot stepped forward. "Prime of the Autobots!"
Ultra Rodimus raised his head and stared down at the Deceticon. "The name's Ultra Rodimus, Decepti-slime."
The Decepticons growled at the insult, but Sixshot only laughed. "Allow me to intrduce myself. I am Sixshot."
A shudder ran through the Autobot ranks. Ultra Rodimus turned toward Kup, keeping one eye on Sixshot. "Kup?"
"Sixshot is a murderous monster," Kup told him. "He has six forms, and no one has ever survived an encounter with him. He is utterly ruthless and cruel. Rumor has it that he collects trophies from his victims. Everyone he's torn apart has been missing parts, usually their heads."
"And now he's looking to collect a trophy from me." Ultra Rodimus turned back to Sixshot. "Sorry, pal. This time I'll collect a trophy of my own!"
"I challenge you to a duel," Sixshot announced. "Just you and me. No interference."
"Accepted."
Sixshot smiled cruelly and transformed into his armored carrier form, charging the Autobot leader. Ultra Rodimus transformed into a massive 18-wheeler and floored the accelerator. The two charged headlong at each other.
"They're going to collide!"
At the last moment, Ultra Rodimus hit the brakes and swerved hard to the right. He skidded seemingly out of control, but the maneuver did what he wanted. His heavy trailer swung around, smashing into Sixshot and flipping him over.
With a growl, Sixshot returned to robot mode.
Ultra Rodimus transformed, putting his hands on his hips. "You gotta do better than that."
Sixshot snarled at him and transformed into his starfighter mode, taking to the skies. He intended to blast the Autobot from above.
"I think not!" Ultra Rodimus took a running jump and transformed into a sleek, powerful fighter jet. It vaguely resembled a human CF-18, but it was larger, more aerodynamic, and had more firepower. Sixshot shot past him, firing at Ultra Rodimus's underside. A lucky shot sent Ultra Rodimus into a spin, and he crashed into the ocean.
"He's gonna regret that!" Ultra Rodimus transformed again, dove deep, and powered his way to the surface.
Sixshot was circling triumphantly when the water became choppy below. There was total silence as everyone watched to see what would happen next.
The water erupted.
"Is that a shark?" Nosecone demanded.
The creature was a metal shark, bearing Ultra Rodimus's unique stripes. It leaped out of the water and transformed back into a jet. Two well-placed shots hit the startled Sixshot and grounded him.
"Go Prime!" the Autobots cheered.
"How many forms does this guy have?!" Sixshot muttered to himself. He transformed into his ramming-tank mode. Ultra Rodimus strafed him from above, blowing out Sixshot's treads and punching holes in his sides. Both returned to their robot modes.
Sixshot's optics blazed with mad intensity. He was furious. The Autobot Prime had countered his every move! "I swear I'll destroy you! No one can stand against me!"
Ultra Rodimus yawned. "Are you through blowing hot air?"
With a scream of rage, Sixshot transformed into his fourth mode, a huge jet-propelled laser pistol. Before he could orient on Ultra Rodimus, he found himself trapped in thick bonds, unable to move and slowly being crushed. Confused, he looked up and saw that Ultra Rodimus had unveiled yet another animal-based alternate mode. He'd transformed into a massive snake, and held Sixshot in his powerful coils. The huge head hung over Sixshot as Ultra Rodimus began to constrict, tightening his coils, crushing the trapped Decepticon. At the last moment, Sixshot returned to robot form and escaped that death grip.
Both of them were cut and bleeding in dozens of places. Both were tiring. But neither was willing to back down. They were in a fight to the death. Only the death of one of them would end the fight.
Sixshot transformed into his fifth mode, a wolf-like creature. He charged Ultra Rodimus, and found himself facing a behemoth of striped metal and snapping jaws. Ultra Rodimus had taken on the form of a massive dinosaur, and his powerful jaws were ready to snap shut on Sixshot. The Decepticon dodged, sinking his teeth into Ultra Rodimus's leg. The Autobot bellowed in agony and snapped at him. Again Sixshot dodged, this time ripping Ultra Rodimus's underbelly open. Ultra Rodimus screamed and jumped, spinning around in mid-jump. His thick tail caught Sixshot squarely in the ribs and flung him a dozen meters away.
Sensing victory, Sixshot scrambled to all four feet and threw himself at Ultra Rodimus, bloodstained jaws open to tear out his throat.
Something clamped shut on his forelegs. Sixshot was about to bite off the restraints when something hit him in the back. Something sharp penetrated Sixshot's armor, digging deep into his back. Then terrible pain spread outward from the site of the puncture.
The restraints opened, dropping Sixshot to the ground. He blinked and looked at his enemy.
Ultra Rodimus had transformed again. A huge scorpion stood over the dying Decepticon, claws snapping, tail raised over his back. Sixshot looked at that tail and instantly knew what had happened.
Scorpions were poisonous. Ultra Rodimus had gotten Sixshot with his sting, injecting a lethal dose of venom. The poison was slowly killing Sixshot.
"Do me a favor," Sixshot gasped out, and the scorpion edged closer to listen. "Give me a clean death, a warrior's death."
The scorpion waved a claw in acknowledgment. Then Ultra Rodimus transformed back to robot, carrying his huge battleaxe. He swung it back, then brought it down in a powerful blow, neatly severing Sixshot's neck at the base. The Decepticon shuddered once and died.
Ultra Rodimus leaned on the shaft of his axe, panting heavily. He felt so tired. Blood was pouring out of shot wounds and slash marks and bite marks. He was losing fluids at a steady rate. Instead of walking away, he reached down to pick up the severed head. Then he forced himself to straighten, ignoring the pain that tore through his body, and held the head high.
The Autobots cheered. The Decepticons shifted nervously. Ultra Rodimus turned toward them, raising his axe, and they decided that enough was enough. They ran.
Ultra Rodimus collapsed.
Magnus sprinted to his side, lifting him off the ground. First Aid was next to arrive. He whipped out a scanner and ran it over Ultra Rodimus.
"Bad. We have to get him back to Cybertron."
Magnus took the axe, grunting in surprise at the weight. Then he tried to take the severed wolf-head, but Ultra Rodimus had a death grip on it, even unconscious, so Magnus was forced to leave it alone. Then he and several others gently carried the young Prime to the waiting shuttles.
On Cybertron, it took hours to repair each of Ultra Rodimus's numerous wounds. He still refused to let go of Sixshot's head, no matter how Magnus tried to pry it loose.
"My guess is that he considers it a trophy of his greatest battle," Spike commented from the top of the monitor. "He won the right to keep it."
"What will he do with it?"
"Who knows? But I suspect it'll end up mounted on the wall of either his office or his quarters."
"Oh."
While Ultra Rodimus was out cold, First Aid took the opportunity to begin a scan of his various alternate modes. Once Ultra Rodimus was awake and moving around, First Aid had him transform into each of his alternate modes and ran detailed tests on each one. When he finished, he was ready to explain the results.
To be continued...
If you want to know what his alternate modes are and find out the purpose of each one, let me know and I'll get the next chapter up soon!