Transformers: World War
Chapter Soundtrack:
Purity of Heart-Steve Jablonsky
Cybertron.
The Spire. Near what would become modern day Iacon.
One year after the unification war.
Nova Prime stepped across the ruins of Cybertron's greatest stronghold. His optics wide, his sword held tightly as he looked out at the devastation.
Smoke filled the air. Fires rose from what had once been the grandest structure on the planet's surface.
"What has happened here?" He asked, his faceplate partially hiding his shock. "What could possibly do such a thing?"
The dead lay all around.
Nova's allies walked at his side as he passed by the corpses.
He heard roaring in the distance, and the soldiers all looked up, swords at the ready.
"Nova! I found Micronus!" Solus Prime exclaimed, the femme rushing toward a fallen column.
Nova ran to her side, and they looked down, to see a partially crushed mech, buried beneath the debris.
His optics flickering.
"Micronus! Who...what is responsible for this?!" Nova demanded.
Micronus Prime looked up at them, and tried to speak, his voicebox fizzling.
"Save your strength. We can help you, we'll get you clear..." Solus assured the small mech.
Micronus shook his head sadly.
"I...I have little time..." he whispered. "It was...Trypticon..." he wheezed.
Nova's optics widened.
"Trypticon? Why? He would never attack his masters!"
"He has been...corrupted..." Micronus wheezed. "His Spark tainted by...Unicron."
The mechs optics offlined, and his frame dulled.
Nova turned, optics wide, to look at Solus.
"Unicron? He has taken our Titan?"
"Sir!" One of his scout's shouted, standing atop the spire ruins. "It's him! It's Trypticon!"
Nova climbed up the ruins, hearing the devastation before he saw it.
As he arrived atop the ridge, he saw the massive creature, unleashing laser blasts from his maw, and incinerating the settlement below them. His massive feet stomped down, crushing entire lines of houses, and tearing into the ground.
"Mournsong..." Nova said breathlessly, his shoulders slumping as he saw the village destroyed. "Trypticon, what has become of you?"
A flying beast soared towards them, losing altitude and changing shape as it approached.
Onyx Prime.
"It's too late for them." He stated, the beast transforming up in front of them,. "Mournsong is lost. But we must stop the spawn of Unicron. Now."
"He was our finest Titan..." Solus began.
"And now he is but a tool of Unicron." Onyx spat. "He cannot be redeemed. He can only be contained. We cannot allow him to destroy our world."
Nova Prime paused, then turned to his soldiers. His optics seeking out one of them in particular.
"Alpha Trion. Step forward." He commanded.
From within the group of armored soldiers, a red and purple mech emerged.
His metal beard shimmering from the flames that danced around them.
"What is it that you need, my Prime?" He asked.
"What I ask of you now, I would never ask under any other circumstance." Nova replied, stepping forward. "But Unicron has unleashed a monster, and it must be stopped. I require your Titan."
Alpha Trion's optics sank, and he let out a sigh. But slowly he nodded.
"I understand. But i require the matrix to summon him."
Nova Prime folded away his sword, then opened his own chestplate.
To reveal the bright blue light of the matrix of leadership.
He removed it with care, and handed it to Alpha Trion.
Trion held it with both hands, then raised it above his head. He cleared his throat.
"METROPLEX! TITAN GUARDIAN OF THE SANDS OF RUST! ARISE, AND SERVE CYBERTRON!" He boomed.
The soldiers looked around anxiously.
The ground began to shake, and they quickly moved to steady themselves.
Nova, Solus and Onyx stood at the ready.
As a massive form rose up above them, white and black.
An ancient autobot symbol etched into its side.
"Metroplex!" Nova Prime called.
The massive titan slowed, then changed form, landing behind the soldiers, with a force that shook the ruins of the Spire, and knocked some of the soldiers over.
"I am here, Prime." Metroplex boomed. "What do you require?"
Nova looked back across, at the burning horizon.
Mournhold was gone. Flames and debris remained. The screams had stopped.
"A darkness has been cast across our land. Unicron has played his hand, and sent a messenger of destruction. He has taken your brother, Trypticon, and corrupted his spark."
Metroplex looked up at the horizon, and his optics widened.
"What has...my brother done?" He asked as he looked at the ruins.
"That creature is no longer your brother, Metroplex. I am sorry." Solus Prime offered. "He directly threatens our world now."
Metroplex's massive optics narrowed.
"I...understand. I shall protect Cybertron from Unicron's plague." He said, standing straight, and walking over the ruins of the spire, toward the ruins.
And toward Trypticon, who was now making his way toward other settlements.
"We ride with Metroplex!" Nova commanded. "Move, autobots!"
The soldiers changed form, as did the Primes, Onyx jumping up into his bird form, and soaring above the convoy, as they charged after the mad Titan.
"TRYPTICON!" Metroplex shouted, his voice alone loud enough to shake Cybertron's foundation.
The massive grey Titan turned, optic slits a bright purple, and he let out a roar, as he charged at Metroplex.
The ground cracked as the two massive creatures met in combat.
The blows shook the planet to its core. The two titans massive fists crashing against each other.
Trypticon opened his maw, a purple laser emitting from it, but Metroplex shoved his face to the side, and he blasted the ground, tearing the surface of Cybertron open, and sending massive shelves of metal flying.
Nova Prime watched in a mix of awe and horror.
"Primus will judge us for what has happened here today." Solus warned. "This is a harbinger of doom. You and I both know it."
Nova sighed, as he watched the titans clash.
"We must put our faith in Metroplex. End the spread of darkness."
"It won't end here, Nova." Solus said worriedly. "It's never that simple. Especially with Unicron."
Metroplex lifted Trypticon up, and slammed him against the ground, then began beating down on him.
Over and over. Sending masses of debris off the fallen Titan with each planet shaking punch.
"Keep him down!" Onyx shouted, firing bolts of laser fire at Trypticon, as he tried to recover.
"FOR CYBERTRON!" Nova shouted, pointing his sword at the creature.
The soldiers roared as they charged in behind him.
Metroplex pounded down on Trypticon again, the mech's purple optics flickering.
"You...have disgraced us all, brother." Metroplex said sadly, as he reared his fist back.
Trypticon looked weakly up at him, massive optics still flickering. He tried to summon a laser blast from his maw, but it sparked. He was too weak now.
Instead he tilted his head back. And he began to laugh.
A horrid, deafening laugh.
A laugh that was not his own.
Metroplex gritted his teeth, then brought his fist forth.
And knocked the Titan into stasis.
The massive creature went limp, and Metroplex's massive shoulders fell.
He took no pleasure in any of this. He said a silent prayer for his brother, as the soldiers gathered below.
As they began to celebrate, he turned and walked away.
"You have done your world a service, Metroplex!" Nova shouted.
Metroplex did not reply. He merely continued to walk toward the sea of rust.
Solus looked up at the fallen, unconscious form of Trypticon.
"He still lives, Nova. What do we do with him?" She asked.
Nova exchanged glances with Onyx Prime, then with Alpha Trion.
Then he turned back to Solus.
"We drain him of his energon. And seal him away. Forever. Ensure he never threatens our world again."
Solus looked at the devastation around them, then nodded.
"It shall be done."
Several Eons later
Iacon.
Hours after the fall of Megatron, and the Citadel.
Optimus stood at the podium, atop Metroplex's base form.
Looking down at the throng of both supporters and critics beneath him.
These weren't just Iaconians. Cybertronians from all around the planet had journeyed here to see the official ceremony for the new Prime.
The autobots stood in formation around Optimus. Sunstreaker was prodding Sideswipe repeatedly, as Optimus began to speak.
"What do you think that one turns into?" Sunstreaker asked, gesturing toward a large, bulbous mech.
"A wrecking ball." Sideswipe replied, and Sunstreaker wrinkled his face to sustain his laughter.
"Okay. Guy with the goggles. Orange. Some purple on him. Looks shifty." Sunstreaker said, shaking his hip toward the mech.
"Oh that's definitely a traffic cone if I've ever seen one." Sideswipe replied.
"Alright. Purple guy. Lookin at us. Seems a bit confused. Old guy." Sunstreaker said, refusing to gesture for fear of arousing the mechs suspicions.
"That's obviously Primus." Sideswipe replied. "Congratulations, we were in the afterspark all along."
A pink hand planted itself firmly on each mech's shoulder.
"Not yet boyos. But if you don't shut up, you'll be in the afterspark before the end of this speech." Arcee hissed under her breath.
"...dark times are ahead. Our energon crisis is very real, and it is only a matter of months until planetary energon production begins to stagnate." Optimus stated. "But do not fear, citizens. We shall get through this, as we always have. Cybertron is in good hands."
Jazz looked over at the despondent Mirage, who stood slack jawed, face looking straight ahead.
"You good?" He asked.
"Good as I can be." Mirage replied.
Jazz nodded, giving the mech a supportive pat on the shoulder.
Ironhide stood on his other side, and seeing the mech's barely contained sadness, he pulled the mech a little closer.
"We'll get through it, buddy."
"I know." Mirage replied. "Loss is something we should get used to. I have to be honest with you Ironhide, I wish I could cloak myself right now. I don't like all these optics being on me right now."
"To any decepticons who are hearing this speech, or witnessing it in person...know this. The war is over. We have won. Do the right thing. Abandon your badges, and your tainted cause, and resume your normal lives. There will be no prejudice against you for acts committed during the fighting. On this, I solemnly swear." Optimus said, as he looked out across the faces. "And to those of you without faction, those who were onlookers to this devastating war...know this. I am well aware of the reputation the Primacy has. And I will not stand up here and make the false promises of my predecessor...instead, I intend to show you, through my actions, and my leadership...that I will not make the same mistakes as Zeta Prime."
He bowed his head, and looked down at the courtyard in front of Metroplex. The site of the majority of the fighting.
And at the circle of rust on the ground.
And his thoughts turned to Trailbreaker.
"I...would like to have a moment of silence at this time...to honor absent friends we lost during this terrible conflict."
There was a moment of unbearable silence, and Mirage bowed his head.
Feeling emotions overwhelm him.
He turned around, looking up at Optimus's platform, making optic contact with him.
"Can I please...?" He asked, desperation in his optics.
Optimus nodded.
"Go."
Mirage squeezed the button and with a flickering, the grieving mech vanished.
Optimus let out a sigh, as the moment of silence passed.
"Till all are one." He declared.
The crowd echoed the sentiment back to him.
Soundtrack:
Fortunate Son by CCR
One year later:
The skies above the sea of rust.
An autobot shuttle. Optimus Prime stared out of the window, watching the rust swirl around outside.
He had his ion blaster in his hand, clutched tightly.
Ironhide stood behind him. Cleaning his rifle. Sideswipe and the rookie, Brawn, on the other side.
An angry little mech. Just a couple feet taller than Bumblebee, the green and yellow mech was a special level of angry.
He punched his fists together excitedly, while Arcee stood next to Optimus, watching the group.
"He's got a way with words, that one." She noted.
Optimus chuckled lightly.
"I have yet to hear him speak."
"Lucky you." Arcee replied, looking at the screen. She opened the comm link.
"Prowl, got any information for us before the drop?"
"Copy that. It appears as though Glibax is taking a pounding right now."
"We just shipped new energon refineries to them." Optimus recalled.
"Indeed. So you can guess why the cons are giving them a hard time. Local intelligence says they're taking over the town and going building by building, looking for energon."
Optimus nodded, gripping his blaster tighter.
"Thank you Prowl. Does local intelligence have any information on whether Megatron is there?"
There was a pause.
"Just some small timers." Prowl replied. "Still no Megatron sighting."
"It's been over a year now." Ironhide remarked. "Maybe ya scared him straight."
"Yeah. Sure." Optimus replied sarcastically. "Thank you Prowl. Keep in touch."
"So...Glibax then?" A voice inside the shuttle rang out. "Are we going for intimidation or stealth?"
Optimus smirked, as he patted the walls of the shuttle.
"Intimidation. It's your lucky day, Sky Lynx."
"Much obliged, Prime." Sky Lynx replied, and the shuttle shook.
As outside, wings unfolded out of the shuttle, and four legs lowered.
The cockpit of the shuttle extended outward, a long neck stretching out, the nosecone opening to reveal sharp teeth.
Sky Lynx shook and sneezed as the rust got in his nasal ridge.
"Primus, I could do without this rust. Optimus, when we get back may I have...?"
"A bubble bath, yes." Optimus replied. "You asked already." He turned and pressed the button on the wall.
The door to Sky Lynx's stomach cabin slid open, and Optimus looked down at the town below.
"Alright. Enough talking." Brawn grumbled, standing up and pounding his fists together. "Let's crack some heads."
"I love this kid." Ironhide remarked, with a smirk, as the autobots crowded by the door.
"As soon as we drop, neutralize them as quickly as possible. Protecting the townsfolk is our primary objective." Optimus commanded.
"Understood, Optimus." Sky Lynx replied.
Optimus charged ahead and leaped, plummeting straight down, the other autobots jumping down after him.
He felt the wind whipping at his faceplate as he dropped straight down, toward the small town.
He landed hard, and raised his narrowed optics.
Immediately seeing decepticons standing around, in surprise, as they ran around the village, firing their rifles.
"You get one chance." Optimus stated, raising his blaster, as with 4 thunks, the other autobots landed behind him, their guns pointed as well.
"Surrender."
The decepticons turned, and dove for cover, firing at the group.
"Well. We did give them a chance." Arcee said with a shrug, as Optimus deployed his energon axe, and charged.
"Autobots! Take them down!"
The neutrals were screaming and running as laser fire tore into the homes.
"Find the energon already!" A green mech shouted, firing his rifle into the air. "It's here! It has to be!"
Skyquake. Decepticon renegade.
"I don't care how many homes we have to search! It's here!"
There was a screech as Sky Lynx came soaring overhead, firing lasers from his mouth.
A decepticon in front of Skyquake was blasted apart, and the green mech dove for the ground.
"What the slag?!" He demanded.
"Boss!" A decepticon called. "Autobots are here!"
"Yeah I figured that!" Skyquake replied, hurling parts of his dead comrade out of his way.
"It's worse, Sir. Optimus Prime is leading them." The decepticon reported.
Skyquake's optics widened.
"What?!"
There was a blast, as a grenade tore though a group of raggedy looking decepticons.
Skyquake turned, and watched a small, angry looking mech roar in, smashing headfirst into one of his soldiers, and driving him against a building, then beating down on him with mighty little fists.
"You let em know, Brawn!" Ironhide shouted, turning and blasting a con with his shotgun.
"Nah. Nah, I'm not getting paid enough for this." A decepticon said, shaking his head and changing form.
"What? Get back here you coward!" Skyquake shouted, as the mech rumbled away.
He turned, and glared as Optimus came into view.
Tearing a large decepticon mech apart with his energon axe.
Skyquake let out a roar of frustration, and stormed into one of the buildings.
He grabbed a mech that was huddled next to a recharge slab, and pressed his gun against the neutral's head.
"Come with me." He snarled, dragging him through the front door.
One step outside revealed to the unlucky decepticon that he had already lost.
The remaining decepticons had fled. The autobots stood in formation around the center of the town.
"Oh look at that." Arcee muttered, gesturing to Skyquake. "Optimus!"
Optimus turned his attention to the decepticon, and raised his ion blaster.
"Oh no you don't!" Skyquake shouted, pressing his gun against the neutral's head. "You even think about pulling that trigger, and the nail loses his head! I'm not playing!"
Optimus narrowed his optics.
"Let him go, and lower your weapon." Optimus commanded. "And you will not be harmed."
"Yeah, Alright guy." Skyquake replied with a laugh. "And what about the energon?"
"There will be ample energon in Garrus-9." Optimus replied sternly. "Stand down. Now. This is over."
Skyquake shook his head.
"Oh no, Prime. You have no idea. This war ain't even close to over. Now, here's what's gonna happen. This guy is coming with m..."
There was a shot, and Skyquake's neck snapped back, as a laser bolt cut through his forehead, blasting out his brain module.
The neutral shook, as the decepticon slumped dead to the ground behind him.
Ironhide stood, rifle smoking. He turned and looked up at Optimus.
"You hesitated." He said with a disappointed look. "You can't do that. You're a Prime. And whether you think it is or it ain't, this is still a war."
Optimus glanced silently back at him, lost for words.
"Are you okay?" Sideswipe asked, walking up to the neutral.
He nodded wordlessly, and Sideswipe walked him back into his house.
Optimus stared at the dead mech on the ground.
He firmly nodded, collecting his thoughts.
"Of course. You're right." He said, nodding to Ironhide. "Get a repair team out here, to fix the city." He said, watching as Sky Lynx came soaring down, and landed before them.
"Geez. I could get used to this." Brawn said with a smile, as he climbed up the ramp, into the space dragon.
"I certainly am, little one." Sky Lynx replied, looking at him upside down with his long, craned neck, and giving him a slight bump.
"Hey, watch it guy!" Brawn snapped, giving him a look.
"Don't call him little." Arcee whispered. "He's sensitive."
Optimus watched them go into the shuttle.
And he opened his chest plate, pulling the matrix out.
And holding it in his hands. Staring at it, as his mind raced.
Something was wrong.
"Hey Optimus! You coming?" Sideswipe called, as he walked toward the shuttle mech.
"Of course." Optimus replied, putting the matrix back into his chest. He turned and rejoined the others.