Author's Note: This will be the last real chapter of this story, but I will be adding a short epilogue in a few days' time, I hope. Thank you to all those who read and liked this story.
Disclaimer: I only own Ultra Rodimus and Falcon.
Past and Future
Chapter 8: Separating
Optimus Prime stood in the desert sand, staring thoughtfully at the space that had only moments ago been occupied by a raging temporal phenomenon. The time window was gone, and the gentle breeze blew sand through the space it had once been. After a long moment, he turned and walked back into the Ark.
Ratchet eyed him curiously, then turned his attention to the deep handprints left in Prime's neck armor. They were the prints of a bot significantly larger than the Autobot leader, larger and apparently quite a bit stronger. The medic asked a few pointed questions as to the origin of those prints, which clearly hinted that a bot larger than Prime had made an attempt to throttle him, but Prime didn't answer. He was thinking, his mind so far away that he didn't even hear Ratchet's questions.
Once he was back in his own office, he sat at his desk, ignoring the paperwork still waiting for his attention, and stared absently at a point high on the wall. His visitor had given him a lot to think about.
The strange male had been an Autobot, the Autobot leader, Optimus's successor to the position of Matrix-Bearer. He'd been cornered into telling Prime exactly who he was and where he was from. While he hadn't gone into any real detail, deliberately being vague about what was to come, Prime had learned a great deal, possibly more than Ultra Rodimus had thought. Reading between the lines had told Prime much of what hadn't been said, especially concerning his own death. And much about the one who was to take over for him. One detail stuck out in his mind.
Ultra Rodimus had said that he had been designed by Wheeljack, and Optimus had been able to spot telltale signs that marked the inventor's handiwork. That meant that Wheeljack had been working on the young Prime's schematics for a long time but had never gotten the time or resources to build him. The way the Matrix had pulsed in his chest during the telling indicated that it, and therefore Primus, had a great deal to do with why Ultra Rodimus was circuits and steel instead of still being on the drawing board. But how had Wheeljack gotten the idea to design a humanoid Transformer?
Optimus's mind made several connections and a few things fell into place. He reached out and grabbed a large "drawing board", like an oversized datapad but for drawing diagrams instead of writing lists or reports, a pencil equivalent, and began roughly sketching Ultra Rodimus's outline. He only did outlines of Ultra Rodimus's robot form and his various alternate modes, not adding any details that could identify the sketch as being anything other than an idea put on "paper". Then he summoned Wheeljack.
The inventor trotted in. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes." Optimus tapped the edge of the sketching board absently, drawing Wheeljack's attention to the images on its surface. Once he realized what he was seeing his attention was rivetted. He circled the desk to get a better look. "If you were to design a Transformer who looked like a human and yet had several different alternate modes, what would the result be?"
Wheeljack rubbed his chin, mind already hard at work. "Hmm. May I take this?"
"Go ahead."
The inventor snatched up the sketch and vanished out the door.
Prime made a point of checking in with Wheeljack at least once a day. He and the Lancia collaborated on the design, Optimus subtly steering Wheeljack's designs toward what he knew the result would be. The black and white bot gave no signs he realized he was being manipulated. He enthusiastically pounced on every one of Prime's "suggestions" and incorporated it into the schematics. A few of Ultra Rodimus's most visible characteristics Prime was a bit hesitant to point out, not having any explanations for them. Fortunately, Wheeljack came up with them on his own.
"Because of all the machinery that goes with the multiple alternate modes and his weapons systems, he's going to have to be big," the inventor muttered. "A head taller than you, at least."
"Closer to two heads taller," Optimus corrected, leaning over his shoulder. "He's going to need a larger laser core and an extra fuel pump."
Manipulating Wheeljack was turning out to be easier than he'd anticipated. He had a suspicion that the Matrix was getting itself involved, but the relic was quiet on the subject, and every other subject. It had quieted down considerably once Ultra Rodimus had left, leaving him with only the usual background awareness of its presence.
Finally the details of Ultra Rodimus's robot form were hammered out and the schematics were drawn. Wheeljack commented that the new design was more complex than anything he'd ever built, more complex than any other Transformer in history, and that it may take the rest of his lifetime to actually build him. Then they turned their attention to planning his various alternate modes.
The truck form was the easiest to finish. Wheeljack had a lot of fun with the trailer section, an armory and battle platform in one. Optimus hadn't seen the inside of Ultra Rodimus's trailer, but after seeing what Wheeljack had designed he was stuck by a surge of jealousy. His trailer had only one launcher stored inside; Ultra Rodimus had six, of three different types, that could be detached from the main platform and used independently. It also stored enough weapons, both energy and bladed, to outfit the entire Autobot army twice over.
The designing was frequently broken down into occasional chunks, especially after contact with Cybertron was reestablished. More warriors of both factions arrived, Wheeljack had other things to take care of, and he was only able to bring out and work on what had become his and Prime's pet project in the calm periods between crises. The next mode to be fully drawn out was the jet form. Wheeljack, like all Autobots seething about most Autobots not being able to fly, went to great lengths to make Ultra Rodimus's jet form a force to be reckoned with. A late-night viewing of "Star Wars" with some other Autobots gave Wheeljack an idea. Right after the movie was over he raced to his lab and drew up the schematics for what would be Ultra Rodimus's third transform, a starfighter.
After the creation of the Dinobots, Wheeljack set about learning all he could about dinosaurs. He studied the Dinobots to get an idea of their strengths and weaknesses. Once he'd accumulated all the data he needed, he drew up the plans for a dinosaur mode, giving it all the advantages he could think of. He made it fast, strong, agile, arming it with razor-sharp teeth and claws as well as a number of very powerful laser cannons and even a few missile pods.
Jazz, who's wandered into Wheeljack's lab looking for someone to talk to, looked over the finished design and let out a low whistle. "That's not a critter I'd want to get in the way of. That thing looks even more formidable than Grimlock!"
"This Transformer will be able to stomp Grimlock into the ground," Wheeljack replied, looking at the drawings proudly. "It has both great power and is as intelligent as any other Autobot."
"How long would it take you to build it? We need some of that power if we're to last against Megatron."
"I'm not even close to being finished."
The special ops officer shrugged. "Too bad. We need the help." He pulled out the image of the robot form and scanned it curiously. "A humanoid Transformer?"
"Yeah."
Jazz put the sketches down. "Good luck workin' on it, man." He sauntered out.
A study of Earth's wildlife resulted in the finished schematics for the serpent, scorpion, and shark modes. Overhearing a conversation about native American myths provided the inspiration for the thunderbird form. Intrigued by the mythical creature, the inventor dug into the myths and legends of other cultures, choosing creatures that would make workable alternate modes. Optimus blinked at the new designs, recalling that Ultra Rodimus had mentioned having modes not even he had discovered yet.
The designs were finally all finished in the year 2005, just days before the horrific final battle at Autobot City.
Wheeljack's "wings" drooped nearly parallel to his sides as he sat in the Matrix, staring blankly at the curving barrier that was the Matrix's shell. The precious plans lay in his lap, representing a life that would never be. He looked down at then, then tossed them aside.
"Now why did you do that?" Optimus, who'd arrived not too long after Wheeljack had, gathered up the scattered pages and neatly bundled them.
"The bot drawn on those pages will never become a reality," was the dull response.
"What makes you so sure?"
The other bot looked up at him incredulously. "How could he one day exist when I'm in here and the schematics were destroyed?"
A smile lit the older bot's optics. "Anything is possible, my friend."
Wheeljack eyed him for a moment, then took the schematics back and looked them over. Optimus watched him for a moment, then returned to his own vigil.
He watched through Ultra Magnus's eyes, aided by the Matrix, as the survivors of the battle began the lengthy cleanup of their ruined city. It would take a long time to get it repaired. Much of it would need to be completely rebuilt.
Sensing a presence at his side, he turned to see Primus himself standing next to him. The creation god's eyes were glazed, glowing with a faintly panicked light. He obviously sensed something.
"What is it?" Optimus asked.
The god's red and yellow body, very similar to Hot Rod in appearance, shook slightly, getting a faint rattle from his armor. He was clearly unnerved by something.
"What?" Optimus repeated, now alarmed himself. Whatever could frighten a god must be terrible indeed.
Primus blinked as he returned to himself. He looked at the Autobot next to him. "Something I haven't sensed in a very long time, and which I'd hoped never to sense again." His voice was grim. Then his attention was caught by a new arrival.
The newcomer was somewhat faded, as if still somehow tied to his body. His silver-armored form was blurred or translucent around the edges, but he was still recognizable as Megatron.
"What happened to you?" Optimus blurted.
Red optics met his blue. "You don't want to know. I'm just glad to be out of there, and away from him."
"Away from who?"
The Decepticon leader was silent for a moment. "Unicron."
Primus shuddered again, his armor rattling audibly. Then it was his turn to pry for details. He managed to worm out the full tale.
Unicron had changed the dying Megatron into Galvatron, making the reborn Decepticon his servant. Megatron, however, had been too strong-willed and proud to submit to being nothing more than a slave, and during the reformatting part of his spark had torn loose. The rest was under Unicron's control, which explained why Megatron looked like a bad hologram.
When the full tale had been told, Primus's hands clenched into fists and he growled. Both Cybertronians looked at him.
"I assume you are familiar with Unicron," Optimus commented.
"Unfortunately." Primus ground his teeth, producing a metallic squeal as metal scraped on metal and making both sparks wince. "Unicron is my enemy, the dark god of chaos and destruction. For eons beyond counting he and I have fought. I thought him destroyed, but it appears that he has once again managed to survive."
The two Transformers exchanged glances, then turned their attention to what was happening in the outside world.
Galvatron led the Decepticons against the remaining Autobots on Earth, driving them out into space. From there the hunt continued, and the two shuttles were separated. One crashed on a strange-looking metal world. Galvatron ignored it and went after the other. The Autobots managed to gain a reprieve by separating the cargo section of their shuttle and running like hell while it was blown to pieces behind them. They made it to the Planet of Junk, where they tried to repair their crippled craft. They hadn't been there long when the Decepticons found them again. Magnus was destroyed and the Matrix stolen.
Primus caught Magnus's spark before it entered the Matrix, wrapping it in his own power and sending it back to the body. Magnus's time was not yet up. He still had work to do, and, if Optimus's suspicions about the ring Ultra Rodimus wore were right, someone waiting for him.
The Matrix was taken back to Cybertron, where Optimus saw Unicron for the first time.
The planet-sized chaos god radiated evil, so much that Optimus felt ill, Megatron snarled his hatred, and Primus tensed. The other millions of sparks residing inside the Matrix gradually began to notice the aura of pure evil surrounding them, and came to the open side of the crystal in ones and twos to see what was going on. As more and more of them noticed the evil presence, the small groups became steady streams, until the entire population of souls had congregated around the exposed face.
Galvatron attempted to use the Matrix to threaten Unicron. The dark god responded by revealing his true form, a colossal robot looming over the metal world. Turning toward Cybertron, he attacked.
The Decepticons swarmed up to engage him, trying to drive him away or destroy him. They were about as effective as a swarm of gnats attacking an elephant. He brushed them off with contemptuous ease.
The Autobot forces, allied with the Junkions, arrived.
Galvatron had been swallowed by the monster and was lurking somewhere in Unicron's gut, anger seething through him. The souls inside the Matrix were milling about in a panic, not hearing Optimus and Megatron's attempts to get them to calm down. Primus wasn't much help, every bit as worried as the others but able to keep his emotions under control. Even he didn't know what to do; if the Matrix was opened by anyone touched by Unicron it would be corrupted and the souls destroyed.
"Look!" Ironhide pointed.
Facing Galvatron was a young Autobot, his colors of red, orange, and yellow faded to blue and grey in the shadows. His blue optics glowed with determination, but Optimus could see pain and guilt behind it. With a shock he recognized Hot Rod.
Unicron forced Galvatron to attack the youngster. Hot Rod fought back admirably, but he was outmatched by the larger, stronger robot. He was seconds away from being killed by Galvatron when he managed to grab hold of the Matrix. Primus leaped into action.
Galvatron was shoved away by the power burst let loose. Hot Rod rolled to his feet, the glowing Matrix in his hands. Primus immediately began transforming the young bot into a larger, stronger form. For a moment Optimus just stared in puzzlement, then it clicked.
"Hot Rod... Rodimus! Of course!" He sprinted forward and jumped into the energies Primus was using to transform the young Autobot. Primus turned to look at him in surprise, but Optimus ignored him and used the energies to project his voice into the world of the living.
"Arise, Rodimus Prime!"
He knew he'd been heard when the new Prime whispered his name and Galvatron snarled, opening fire. The Matrix went flying. Rodimus glared at his enemy, then lunged. Galvatron was caught by surprise. He tried to fight back, but the new Prime matched his strength and this time had the advantage. Two hard punches stunned the Decepticon long enough for Rodimus to send him through Unicron's hull and out into space, kicking and screaming the whole time.
Rodimus watched him for a moment, then walked over to where the Matrix had fallen and picked it up. The brief delay had given Primus enough time to get the panicking souls to calm down and explain what he wanted them to do. Now all of them waited impatiently, eager to rush out and cause some damage.
Strong hands cradled the relic, its crystal glowing far more brightly than any of its previous bearers had ever seen before. Rodimus set his fingers into the grips, raising the Matrix to chest height. His optics were glowing almost as bright as the crystal itself.
"Now, light our darkest hour!"
He pulled.
The metal shell opened, releasing the souls inside. They burst forth in a wave of light, ripping into anything and everything they could reach. Primus went to take on Unicron while the souls gleefully tore Unicron's physical body apart.
Under the assault, Unicron didn't have a chance. Swamped with pain as his body was ripped to pieces by a vast swarm of pissed off sparks, he was unable to withstand Primus's furious attack. With one final scream the Planet-Eater died.
Rodimus settled into his new role. He was nervous and uncertain, but he handled it well. Magnus, repaired by the Junkions, and Kup served as his mentors and advisors. For months there was peace.
Then the Decepticons, with the now insane Galvatron in the lead, returned.
The battle was savage. For a while it appeared as though the Autobots were gaining the upper hand. Then Rodimus was blown almost in half.
The sparks cried out in alarm as Rodimus crashed to the ground, his entire midsection blown away. He was already beyond the ability of any medic to save his life. The suddenness of the fatal wound and the tidal wave of pain that accompanied it made Primus stagger, spacing out as his chosen's pain crashed over him.
"PRIMUS!"
"What?" Primus snapped out of his trance, still shuddering in shared agony.
A black and gold Autobot, Sentinel Prime, glared at him. "Do something! He can't die!"
Primus blinked. "And just what am I supposed to do?"
"Heal his wounds!" the entire crowd roared at him.
The god looked at Rodimus's dying form, then shook his head sadly. "I am sorry. They are too extensive."
"Then rebuild him!"
"As what?"
The crowd growled, not having an answer. Then Wheeljack remembered the schematics he'd spent so many years drawing and perfecting. He brought them out, looked at them, and the proverbial lightbulb came on. He pushed forward.
"Lend us your power and let us do the work!" he yelled, startling Primus. Wheeljack waved his handful of schematics in the deity's face. "I have the designs right here!"
Primus considered that, weighing the ups and downs, then finally nodded. Stepping aside, he gave them temporary use of his power and let them loose.
A flood of sparks swarmed out of the Matrix, covering the dying robot like ants on spilled soda. They promptly began taking the shattered body apart molecule by molecule, then began breaking down and reassembling the molecules. Using their borrowed power they created the new systems and circuits and everything else Wheeljack had designed, assembling the various parts in the blink of an eye. Most of the critical circuitry had been nearly impossible for a mortal creature to build or calibrate, but with the power of the god of creation they could do anything. While Optimus kept Rodimus's spark from reaching the Matrix, the others completed their work.
Finally they were finished. Optimus sent the spark back to its body, giving him the name Ultra Rodimus. Then he followed the others back to the Matrix.
As the years passed, Primus and Optimus kept an eye on Ultra Rodimus. He never failed to surprise them with his abilities and overall attitude. They were constantly learning something new about him.
Optimus was surprised to discover that Megatron was also watching the young Prime and even more surprised when he found out that Megatron was one of Ultra Rodimus's most enthusiastic supporters. When asked, Megatron explained that Galvatron was nothing more than an embarrassment, shaming the proud Decepticon name. He hated Galvatron with every fiber of his being and would therefore cheer on anyone who could beat the snot out of the twisted mental hospital escapee. Optimus chuckled, agreed, and both returned to watching for what would happen next.
As it turned out, a lot happened. Ultra Rodimus appeared to be a magnet for dimensional crossrips. and any other strange phenomena that could possibly occur to any one person. He took them in stride, never letting anything faze him. Then the time window appeared.
Wheeljack happened to be nearby when Ultra Rodimus ended up in the past, and the startled inventor joined Optimus and Megatron at the Matrix's exposed side. He watched, optics wide, as Ultra Rodimus and Optimus's past self faced off, resulting in Ultra Rodimus revealing exactly who and what he was. Then the light came on. Wheeljack turned to Optimus.
"You knew about him! That's why you had me draw up those schematics!"
Optimus smiled at him. "Yes, I did know. He had to tell me. I promised him that I wouldn't tell anyone, and I kept my promise."
The black and white bot stared at him, but couldn't find anything to say and went back to watching the proceedings. By the time Ultra Rodimus had gotten home a small crowd had gathered around the Matrix's "view screen".
"Well, that was amusing," Megatron commented, stretching and popping several joints. "Especially seeing him literally taking your hide off."
The former Prime shuddered at the memory. "I just hope I'll never have to go through anything like that again. Now sit down and keep your optics open. If the past is any indication, the future is going to be very exciting."
To be continued...
(Blinks) Wow. I wasn't expecting this chapter to be this long. Oh well. I should've split it into 2 chapters, but then it would've taken me another week or two to finish, and this plot bunny has claws. Hope you like this chapter.
Thank you to all of my reviewers for encouraging me to keep on writing. I don't know what I'd do without you. Oh, Fenestrae, has Admin gotten that kink out of their circuits about reviewer responses? I know of authors who still do that, and I'd like to know if it's safe for me to resume answering my reviewers, too.