Disclaimer: I do not have any claim to the Transformers franchise compared to Hasbro as well as those they entrusted to adapt it from comic books to cartoon shows and anything in-between.

[FETS]

A Friend That Endured Time and Space

[FETS]

Having taken his leave from his place of business at the right time he was meant to, Alchemist Prime, otherwise known to Cybertron's current population as Maccadam, ran to where he needed to go to see his old War Titan, Iaconus, rise thanks to Windblade's efforts. Eons ago, he and the citizens he became a part of had hoped that Iaconus's destructive power would not be inflicted on their home planet ever again, but Maccadam knew thanks to his Lenses, his Prime artifact that afforded him a multilayered sight on all situations that had and would occur throughout his life, that Cybertron would one day need the last of the War Titans to save it and the universe itself from annihilation.

And because of the Quintesson invasion, that day had come at last. Even more, it was the same day that Maccadam's Lenses have seen their limit.

"The day I have long foreseen has come," Maccadam said to himself as he observed Iaconus transform from his urban alt-mode into the warrior Cybertron needed and under Windblade's guidance. More seriously, he then added, "Too bad I won't know how it ends."

After a brief moment of witnessing Iaconus using his strength to stomp an Iacon building as Maccadam knew he would, the time had come for the War Titan to lay the attack on the Quintesson-appointed judge of their universe, Starscream himself, and then do battle with a Quintesson-controlled Croaton as soon as the latter was summoned. Maccadam had to admit, seeing the clash between two Titans with his own optics was more impactful than simply foreseeing it, but he had one last duty he needed to do.

As he ran to where the Quintessons kept the majority of his fellow Cybertronians, Autobot and Decepticon alike, Maccadam took a moment to reflect on the many beings he had interacted with throughout his existence, many good, even if they said otherwise, and others evil to their Sparks. While he was disappointed that Starscream had chosen the path of treachery just as Megatron and Dead End apparently chose to desert their home universe to save themselves and begin anew elsewhere in the multiverse, Maccadam also bore witness to the genuine good deeds and friendships of many others from his youngest successor, Optimus Prime, to Bumblebee and Windblade. In fact, seeing the Autobots and Decepticons united in their defense of everything they know gave Maccadam validation that they would eventually find peace after the invasion passed, and he could not resist smiling at the exact time he knew when Optimus, Bumblebee, and Wheeljack had returned from their visit to another universe.

Arriving where he needed to be, with the Autobots and Decepticons imprisoned in force fields and watched over by Quintesson Prosecutors and Sharkticons while Hot Rod and Soundwave were trapped in a Loop, Maccadam quickly got his people's attention saying, "Hello, everyone. I was wondering where you were."

"Maccadam," Shadow Striker was the first to speak in curiosity and then used frustration to hide her concern for the older Cybertronian's safety, "What are you doing?"

"Watch out," Ratchet then exclaimed as he observed the local jailers notice Maccadam. "They'll catch you!"

Even then, Maccadam could not restrain a smile on his faceplate at both his people's concern and how they innocently underestimated how strong he really was. Turning to the Prosecutors and Sharkticons, he then said with confidence, "Well, it's not my fault this won't be a fair fight."

Transforming for the first time in a long time, Maccadam fought the jailers as he heard the captives wince at first and then ultimately cheer as the last Sharkticon was knocked out. Returning back to his regular mode with a broad grin, he laughed saying, "Why you're welcome. It's been my pleasure to serve you. Now let's get you all out of there."

Releasing the Autobots and Decepticons trapped in the force fields, Maccadam allowed them to free Hot Rod and Soundwave from their Loop and then all flee together as he stood back and waited. A part of him honestly hated that things had to end as they were about to, but he knew that somethings were not meant to be fought against. Fate rarely did call at a moment of a sentient being's choosing, after all.

"Mac," he heard Hot Rod's voice exclaim the nickname he and many other younger Cybertronians gave him. Feeling his right arm grabbed, Maccadam turned to Hot Rod with a reassured smile as the Autobot said, "Mac, come on! Let's go!"

"You go," Maccadam gently said to the concerned youth, who he felt had the makings of becoming Optimus's own successor as Prime. "My time has come." It was then time for Iaconus to fire a laser beam at Croaton's energy shield which had deflected it to right where it was meant to go, and Maccadam figured, that he had one last duty to do, after all. "But not yours," he said before pushing Hot Rod far away from him.

"No," Hot Rod shouted in fright, but Maccadam simply opted to continue to stand with a final welcoming smile directed to the former as the laser ultimately reached him.

'I'm sorry, my friends,' he said in his mind, thinking of all the Autobots and Decepticons he would be leaving behind, 'but we'll all be reunited with the Allspark when the time is right.'

[FETS]

Writing about Maccadam/Alchemist Prime's final moments in the Transformers: Cyberverse episode, End of the Universe III, from his point of view seemed like a good idea. I based the title of this one-shot off an earlier quote he said in the show about time and space not ending Bumblebee's friendship with Windblade.

I confess that I probably wrote my one-shot about 2012 Shredder better, but at the same time, this is my first work for 2022, so I suppose some things are to be expected.