Ch. 36
The seeker took a step back. Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea. Maybe he should have just stayed with the 'Bots outside. Frag, he should've never offered to come at all.
The minor details of a face began to show through the spark and a glare stared down at the three of them, "Megatron, I am disappointed in you," a booming voice echoed, "not only did you lead the disciple of Primus to me, but you allowed the abomination to follow with you!"
Starscream shrunk back. Abomination?
Megatron glanced at the seeker, "Starscream? Merely my second-in-command. His curiosity in seeing you vanquished is only one of his many flaws, though hardly worthy of the title 'abomination'."
Optimus glanced at Starscream as well, confused, then back at the spark. He stepped forward, the energy from the orb weighing on him heavily as he prepared to unleash the power of the Matrix within him. A great wave of light and energy swung out hard from the spark, slamming into the Prime and causing him to fall. The energy hit Megatron, the warlord's optics glowing a bright purple.
Starscream whimpered as he prepared for the energy to effect him in some way but frowned as it passed through him harmlessly. He looked himself over then up at the spark when Unicron scowled audibly.
"Abomination!" he shouted, the chamber rattling, "Your existence is an offense to all of those who know of my power!"
Starscream frowned, "Why am I the abomination?! Shouldn't that be Prime?! Since he carries the Matrix and is-"
"Silence!" the spark roared, his attention turning to Megatron.
The warlord stood, almost stumbling, and his gladiatorial blade unsheathed as he approached Optimus. The seeker's optics widened and he grabbed Megatron's arm, trying to pull him back. He could hear the mech growling as he fought to regain control of himself, even as his arm rose up to deliver a fatal blow to the weakened Optimus.
But Megatron grabbed his own servo, transforming his blade away, and shouted up at the spark, "Megatron is commanded by no one!"
Starscream let out a sigh of relief then cried out when Megatron stepped back, throwing him aside, and grabbed at his helm as he screamed. The spark glowed brightly and a terrible quake shook the chamber, sending the seeker to the ground. Starscream watched as the warlord looked painfully upward then went limp as his systems shut down. Just ahead, Optimus was fighting to find the strength to stand.
"Matrix of Leadership," he called out, "I call upon you!"
The seeker snarled. Now was the time to put his plan into action.
"Optimus, stop!" he shouted, his chest plate opening just enough so he could reach in, pulling out a strange looking device, "It's not good enough! It won't stop him!"
Unicron roared loudly, "I cannot be stopped! I will not be stopped!"
Starscream ran passed the Prime, device in hand, as Megatron's limp chassis suddenly stood, the glow of dark energon consuming him.
"You cannot defeat me, disciple of Primus!" Unicron shouted through Megatron's voice, "Nor can the abomination that flees from both Pit and Allspark! I have transcended physical being! By my will alone, all upon this world shall fall into chaos!"
The seeker ran harder, his jet engine burning to life to give him a boost as he activated the device in his servo and charged with all his might as he threw it at the glowing spark, a small blue glow flying through the air and into the center of Unicron himself.
Optimus's optics widened as he stood weakly, "By the Allspark..."
Starscream didn't have time to look at his handiwork. He skidded to a halt and doubled back to the Prime, grabbing his servo to pull him away as they tackled into Megatron's possessed chassis, the three falling as the device detonated loudly. Unicron screamed as his spark was engulfed and the explosion threw the Cybertronians back. Starscream's wings picked up a gust from the blast and he was wrenched from the ground and thrown into the wall some distance away, the seeker falling unconscious. The area settled and the quakes stopped. Unicron's spark was gone.
Optimus weakly moved to get to Starscream and fell, the dark energon having taken its toll. He tried again, a growl emanating from his throat, but paused when he heard Megatron behind him pick himself up and chuckle.
"Teamwork. Hmph."
The warlord walked passed the Prime slowly, smirking, "You'll have to excuse my manners, Optimus," he laughed, picking up Starscream's limp chassis, "but my second and I have many things to discuss. Mainly about my plans for the future."
A bridge opened up and Megatron walked to it, cackling, "Until next time, Prime!"
Optimus roared and stumbled to his peds, running after the warlord. But he was too late. The bridge closed and he fell to his knees, panting tiredly.
Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead rushed into the chamber and to Optimus's side, all of them looking around the room in confusion.
Arcee gently took the Prime's arm, "Optimus. What happened? Where are they?"
Optimus shook his helm, sighing heavily, "Megatron... has taken Starscream... and Starscream... used the Spark Extractor to extinguish Unicron's spark."
Megatron walked onto the command deck with a sneer.
Knockout smirked as he crossed his arms, "Lord Megatron, it's good to see you back in one piece."
The warlord stepped aside to let someone else in and the red mech had all but prepared for who he saw. He had expected to see the bulky red build of Optimus Prime, to be known as Orion Pax. Not...
"Decepticons!" Megatron roared, holding up the cuffed servos of his prisoner, "We welcome back into our ranks my second-in-command, Starscream!"
Breakdown and Knockout couldn't hide their looks of surprise, but Megatron was too distracted to notice. When Unicron had taken over his chassis, he had come to see what the transcended spark had seen, what he knew. Why Starscream to the Chaos Bringer was nothing but an abomination. Why he had said he fled both Pit and Allspark. Why when Megatron and Optimus both fell from the power of the dark energon, Starscream had been left standing. Unicron had feared this power and had been unable to stop it. Megatron did not yet know how to harness this power, this gift, but he knew one thing: it was a waste to let Starscream keep it for much longer.