Chapter 18: Prepare to be transformed
"Wow isn't this place just the bees knees?" said Mack.
The buildings of Iacon One were huge, rather than being rectangular skyscrapers like back on Earth all the buildings were spherical in shape while flat on the top, others looked like huge domes.
"This is the city of Iacon one and the capital city of Cybertron, history thousands of millennia old fill the very air and buildings. Much of our scientific research is done in this city." Stated Arcee.
"So when do we gets to the theme park!?" shouted Mater.
"Theme…..Park?" asked Arcee, obviously no such thing existed on Cybertron "We don't have that but we do have the Beta Park not far from here, perhaps you would like to go there first."
Arcee led the Cars crew to the Beta Park, it was in a giant greenhouse supported by massive floodlights, Strange plants inhabited this park plants from different worlds both Organic and Metal.
"It sure is hot in here!" said King panting a bit.
"That's because of the floodlights, we need them to keep the plants alive."
In the middle of the park lay a beautiful looking lake, it shone an aluminous pink.
"What is in that lake?" asked Sally.
"That's an Energon pool, it comes out of the very core of Cybertron itself, just like your hot springs on Earth, just like what Hound told me about. Here Transformers are free to drink or bathe in its healing properties…"
"Oh good I was getting hot in here, time for a dip COWABUNGA!" shouted Mater as he sped full sped and dove into the Energon pool, he frolicked in it, much to the distress of Autobots swimming and drinking from it.
"That vehicle….he's RUSTY!" shouted an Autobot, others who were drinking spat out their Energon as they heard that news.
"Rust? I think I'm gonna puke!" said an Autobot as he vomited out the Energon from his tank, other who were swimming fled as quickly as they could.
"Rust contamination in Energon pool, cleanse immediately!" shouted an alert siren, a group of Autobots all wearing a uniformed paint job equipped with breathing equipment and spray guns rushed forward and sprayed some type of toxic killer into the pool, when they were finished they scanned the surface.
"No rust anomalies detected, Energon pure once again!" said the leader of the group, Arcee was pulling Mater out of the pool by his tow cable.
"That really wasn't smart!" she said annoyed "You must be careful, Rust is considered a dangerous disease to Autobots!"
"You mean, I got cooties!? Oh no Ah knew it, the kids at school were right!" said Mater as he sobbed.
"No Mater cooties don't exist, what she said was you have to be careful around Energon, we don't want you diseasing an entire race." Said Lightning.
"Don't worry though there is a simple preventative." Said Arcee as a small hose ejected from her finger on her right hand, she sprayed some kind of liquid spray on Mater.
"Ahh watch it, it's stinging my eyes!" cried Mater, once Arcee had finished the hose went back into her finger.
"There, I sprayed you with chorostop, it should have killed any infectious rust on your body and it should prevent your body from deteriorating any more."
Mater sparkled in the light, the chrostop now prevented his body from rusting anymore.
"Wow the guys at Rust-eze would kill for that formula!" said Mack.
Arcee turned to see a lot of angry looking Autobots.
"I think its time we left!" she said as she Ushered the Earthlings out.
"Did you find anything Blaster?" Hound was leading his three man sortie behind enemy lines, Blaster transformed into robot mode after he tried listening into Decepticon communications.
"You bet Jack, I just listened to a communication from Soundwave to a Decepticon officer holding Prime, the bad news is the guys holding Prime and Bumblebee are Scourge, the Sweeps and Starscram and his Seekers, a bad bunch to say the least and they're holding them at a major security prison in the Tagon heights."
"Well at least we know where they are now." Hound opened his comm link with Jetfire "Jetfire did you get all that?"
"You bet I did, commencing reconnaissance sorties over the Tagon heights now!" replied Jetfire.
Meanwhile back in Iacon-One:
"This large dome with the crystal roof is the Stellar Galleries, in that building the wisest Transformers gather, accumulating wisdom and knowledge from the past they use mystical methods learned from other planets and our own history to see into the past, present and it is even rumored the future." Said Arcee.
"Wow they can really do that?" asked Lightning.
"Ah don't believe it kid, its all just stories and Legends" as a man of science Doc wasn't so easily convinced.
"I wouldn't be so sure Mr Hudson, behind every story and legend there is a basis of truth" said Arcee "but you're not the only skeptic to think of the elders in that building as old fools. But no-one really knows what goes on in there, very few people have actually seen any Autobot that resides in that building and no one is allowed in, that's why we have Omega Sentinels surrounding the building, so the wisdom the elders collect is obviously very useful to the Autobot cause if they have Omega Sentinels guarding the building."
"I was going to ask who they were, they look a lot like that Omega Supreme guy." Asked King, the Omega Sentinels looked exactly like their Autobot counterpart but instead of yellow they were colored purple.
"Yeah but unlike Omega Supreme, the Sentinels don't have a spark, they're not actual living robots just mindless defense droids who's every action has to be commanded, the ones standing outside of the Stellar galleries are programmed to not let anyone in….."
"Hey, where's Mater?" asked McQueen.
"Shoot ain't you a big fella' even Frank wouldn't dare mess wit' you!" said Mater as he drove around the legs of an Omega Sentinel near the entrance of the Stellar Galleries.
"Halt unidentified life form, state your intentions or face termination, you have two thousand astro seconds to comply!" boomed the Sentinel.
"Stay in a tent or face Tim Nation? What are you talking about?" replied Mater.
"Irrelevant answer, prepare to be destroyed!" and the sentinel aimed his arm cannon at Mater, a dim purple light started to grow bigger in the barrel of the gun hinting it was going to shoot.
"Stand down Omega Sentinel five! Do no harm innocent Earthlings!" It was Omega Supreme, as a sentient guardian he commanded the greatest authority in the sentinels.
"As you command, Commander Supreme." And the sentinel disengaged and returned to standing guard, Arcee stormed over to Mater and again grabbed him by the tow cable.
"You have gotten me into trouble for the last time Mater!" and she yanked him across the bridge away from the Stellar Galleries as he yelled 'Ow' over and over.
"For goodness sake Mater will you stay with the group and keep your tires to yourself? You're going to get us kicked off the planet before we even see it!" said Doc.
"Sorry Mr. Hudson it won't happen again."
The Cars looked up at Omega.
"Gee I thought Optimus and Ultra Magnus were big, but this guy takes the oil cake!" said Mack in wonder.
"Yes Omega is big, but you really should see Metroplex, he's something you got to see to believe in." smiled Arcee.
"Metro-Plex? How big is he?" asked Lightning.
"In Earth size estimates I think somewhere like three and half miles tall."
"THREE AND A HALF MILES TALL!?" the cars shouted.
"Yes, he's the first ever City Transformer, he's currently operating as the Autobots base on the frontlines of the Sonic Canyons." Replied Arcee.
"Woah woah you mean you have Cities that turn into robots?" asked Doc.
"Yes" she replied.
"Amazing" thought Doc.
Back at the Tagon Heights:
"Jetfire, report your findings!"
"Nothing Hound, this prison is a super-fortress. Defences both cover the ground and air, there's a Decepticon compound one click away that can reinforce the area in the event of an attack, there are well over two thousand elite troops defending the outside with possibly more inside, this place is impenetrable!"
"Yes it covers the ground and air, but are they defending the ground beneath them?" smiled Hound.
"What do you mean….ooohhh I get it now, the Technobot Nosecone!"
"Exactly, let's get back to Ultra Magnus and tell him of our findings and our suggestion.
Two long hours passed as Hound, Mirage and Blaster avoided patrols to get back home, Jetfire just flew back in minutes. Once the other three had arrived safely they reported their finding to Ultra Magnus, after UM had analyzed the data he formed an action plan.
"Hound that suggestion of yours is very good, hopefully the Decepticons won't be expecting an attack from underground so get Nosecone here as soon as possible. We will use him to burrow right underneath the prison and enter it from below. Meanwhile Cerebros will lead the Headmasters, Powermasters, throttlebots, and a battalion of assault mechs supported by Sky Lynx and the triple changers Broadside and Sandstorm in a diversionary attack on the Decepticon compound one click away from the prison.
"If my theory is correct, with the base's reinforcements getting attacked, no doubt the prison commander will have to send help, it's all a sort of Vice Versa plan. While Cerebros draws out the Decepticons that's when we go in, we split into groups of two and explore the prison for our comrades."
"What if there are other Autobot prisoners there?" asked Trailbreaker.
"There isn't Trailbreaker, the Decepticons don't take Autobot prisoners unless they're useful to them in a way and Prime being the leader and Bumblebee our chief spy, the Decepticons will make an exception for them, that prison is usually for Decepticon traitors, cowards, thieves and murderers awaiting execution, so we'll have to move fast and aggressively."
While Ultra Magnus laid down his plans, in the very prison they were targeting there was utter blackness, it was so black it was blinding, at least it was to Optimus. For the first time since falling asleep, his optics sprang to life, from Optimus' POV he could see he was in a room.
"This room…..looks very Cybertronian!" he thought.
"Aaahhh I see our guest has finally awoken!" Optimus saw the ugly face of Megatron stare into his optics.
"M-MEGATRON!" shouted Optimus, he tried to move but found he was securely locked on an operating table, his hands and legs bounded by strong metallic locks.
"Don't bother Prime, those are Zitanium locks not even Devastator can break them."
"Where the Frag am I Megatron, how did you take me hostage?"
"Both those pieces of information are confidential, besides you'll be spending a long time here, or should I say a very short time…hehehaha!"
"I know where I am Megatron, the maximum security prison at Tagon Heights, I know because I razed the old prison before myself!"
"Well Optimus if that's the case you scratch my back and I'll knife yours! So as to return the favor I decided to take something from you in exchange for you destroying my old prison!" Megatron smirked as he presented from behind his back the Matrix!
"The Matrix? NO!"
"Hahaha yes Prime it's now mine, the ultimate Autobot weapon is in my hands and with it the power to destroy the Autobots and conquer the universe!"
"What in the universe if your glitch Megatron? You know the Matrix is dead, it's useless!"
"But that is where you're wrong Prime. I know how to use it, at least I know how to reactivate it and once I do I will make it so the Matrix will give birth to legions of Decepticon warriors that will follow my every command!"
"Oh I get it now Megatron, that is why you're so interested in Earth. You plan on using the Matrix to turn the inhabitants of the planet into cannon fodder for your insane cause!"
"Ah very good Optimus! I'll admit it's a very obvious plan but think of it, billions of new Decepticon warriors carrying the flag of our logo over the infinite reaches of the universe; cities fall, armies surrender, conquered planets become our new bases and with each planet we rule we also get the spoils of war through their natural resources!"
"You're insane! There is no way you can reactivate the Matrix you're going delusional in your insanity!"
"Am I Prime; or am I as insane as a Foxtron? And yes I do know of a way to reactivate the Matrix. The regenesis seeds on Earth, which Shockwave planted in Earth long before the Cars race existed, the energy they've collected over the years will no doubt be enough to reactivate the Matrix!"
"You knew about Shockwave's regenesis program? How did you find that out? Did you torture him?"
"Oh no Prime, Shockwave is a very reliable Decepticon, he told me willingly in fact why don't you confirm it yourself Shockwave?" Megatron hinted towards the door and stepped into the room was Shockwave.
"Yes Megatron, our plan went smoothly just as I calculated."
"Shockwave, you told him? YOU TWO TIMING PIECE OF SLAG! I should've known, once a Decepticon always a Decepticon!" shouted Optimus, his memories now ached at the images of the Shockwave he trusted once.
"Oh Prime you look like you're going to cry!" Megatron laughed "You fell for it hook line & sinker, not only did you sacrifice the Matrix to feed me more Energon, you also blindly sacrificed your greatest asset, you were now no longer able to replace losses and soon your fronts started to crumble against Decepticon might. But I'm not going to use the energy collected by the seeds on Earth to reactivate the Matrix no, that would be a waste of Energy. I know another way to do it and its right here on Cybertron!"
Megatron then turned away and headed for the door:
"Shockwave, keep an eye on our guest and extract any important information from his memory that might be of use to us, once your done leave him there till I return, I will enjoy ripping his body hydraulic by hydraulic! Now if you'll excuse me Prime I must leave you, I have to visit an old friend of yours Alpha Trion HAHAHAHAAA!" cackled Megs as he walked away.
"No, NOOOO, SHOCKWAVE YOU RUSTY SON OF A WELDER! You told him about Vector Sigma didn't you? He's going to use Vector Sigma to reawaken the Matrix as a weapon of evil, Why Shockwave?"
"Remember Optimus what I said about Megatron being a power hungry maniac who will no doubt be the cause of the extinction of our species? Well I still mean every bit of it, Megatron is unfit to lead, his under-privileged logic circuitry makes his effectiveness as a military commander questionable and his desires for more power have left us fighting for survival once and no doubt it will happen again.
"Just like you Optimus Prime, Megatron is following into my plans perfectly; I planned everything from the start, you sacrificing the Matrix and your journey to the planet Earth in search for the seeds I told you about, after which Megatron pursued you in hopes of destroying you and just as I calculated you both perished when the strong gravitational forces of the planet pulled both of your ships down to your doom. With Megatron, Starscream and you out of the picture, I became ruler of the Decepticons."
"Is that it Shockwave, you planned treason to kill Megatron and take over?"
"Not exactly Prime for you see, unlike that fool Starscream I don't seek power for personal gain, I get the power because logic dictates it so, logic dictates that I am more suitable as leader of the Decepticons than Megatron was and my calculations were right, during the four million years Megatron was in Stasis Lock I led the Decepticons to great victories, under my leadership we have now conquered three quarters of the planet and have assimilated the once troublesome Mobius system into our Universal Empire, Victory seemed at hand until your Brother Ultra Magnus took command."
"Ultra Magnus? He led the Autobots effectively?"
"Yes Optimus, just like you, your brother is an effective commander, he was able to halt our advances using the geographical terrain to his advantage, however with losses mounting and energy supplies dwindling it will only be a matter of time until Iacon One falls to the Decepticons!"
"What about Megatron, how did you react when you found out Megatron was alive on Earth?"
"Ah that is where you're wrong Optimus, Megatron didn't come back to life by chance no, it was again all a part of my scheme, it was I who traveled to Earth and brought him and his Decepticons back to life."
"You bought Megatron back to life? How does that help you in any way?" asked Optimus baffled.
"You see Optimus, I did travel to Earth to locate and recollect the regenesis seeds, but once I saw the inhabitants of planet Earth, billions of sentient vehicles, I saw an opportunity, an opportunity to expand the Decepticon army by the billions, but to do that I would need the help of Megatron and you Optimus Prime."
"Why would you need the help of Megatron & Me?"
"Despite the numeric advantage of the Decepticon army, our forces are spread thin and widespread, Megatron despite his flaws is a powerful Cybertronian and once I reactivated him and the Decepticons aboard the Nemesis, Megatron believed that I had specifically came to Earth to save him, the fool now thinks I'm one of his most loyal soldiers and it's a ploy I'll take full advantage of."
"What about me, what part do I play in this sick twisted plan?"
"You Optimus are one of the more important pieces, with the aid of Megatron and some Earthling volunteers, we or rather I have the Matrix which you possessed and to get it we needed you alive. Megatron doesn't know this but it was I who reactivated you Optimus and your Autobots but rather than going inside the Ark and reviving each of you and risk a compromise in my plans, I caused a semi-shockwave using my arm gun to create a rock slide, the shockwaves would've been enough to reactivate Teletran-one and as always, my calculations proved correct. But now that we have the Matrix Optimus Prime, you just like Alpha Trion will have served your purpose and will no longer be of any use to me!"
"What about Megatron, you're just going to let him get the Matrix?"
"You won't live long enough to see that Prime, but I will tell you this; during my brief friendship with Alpha Trion, I have learned many things, things which Megatron doesn't know about that I and I alone can use to exploit the Matrix."
"Why Shockwave? What purpose do you seek in becoming the new leader of the Decepticons if it's not for personal gain?"
"Interesting question Optimus, I will tell you this. Despite what Megatron thinks, I serve only one master and that is pure logic! And my Master commands me that I am more fit for leadership, than Megatron."
Suddenly a noise beeped inside the room, a computer console was alerting for Shockwave's attention.
"What is it commander?" asked Shockwave as he pressed a button to begin the conversation with whoever was calling, on the monitor appeared an unknown Decepticon.
"Commander Shockwave sir! Our forces north of us are being attacked heavily by Autobots, they've requested help from us sir!"
"Autobots attacking our relief forces to the North?! How dare they! Send some men from inside the prison but tell the ones manning our defenses outside to stay where they are in case of another attacking force might strike us here, now do it commander!"
"Yes sir Shockwave!"
From outside the Prison above a ridge, Ultra Magnus and his commando squad accompanied by Nosecone watched as Decepticon soldiers left the base to reinforce the area north of their position.
"Good, they're leaving and they're all coming from the inside which means that infiltrating the inside should be that much easier. Hit it Nosecone!"
"Yes sir Ultra Magnus!" said the Technobot as he transformed into a subterranean drilling vehicle, he plowed into the ground and formed a tunnel as the rest of the Autobots transformed into vehicle mode and followed except for Jetfire and Springer, they remained outside to give air support in the escape attempt. (A note here to remind you that except for Nosecone, the Autobots are still in Earth Mode so they still retain their Eyes and mouth on the vehicles)
"Now where was I Prime? Ah yes I was going to dwell into your cranium and see what useful information I might find." And Shockwave armed a sinister looking drill attached to wiring.
Just then however to Shockwave's horror, the ground from beneath his feet moved, as he fell over he saw Nosecone in drill mode followed by Ultra Magnus with Blaster transforming right out of Ultra Magnus' cab.
"Autobots!" Shockwave screamed as he aimed his arm gun but was shot by Blaster first, Shockwave fell, his body glitching and shaking.
"My Electro scrambler ray should keep his circuits overloaded long enough for us to haul tail!" said Blaster, Ultra Magnus transformed back to Robot mode.
"Prime, thank Primus you're still alive!" he said happily as he gripped his brother's hand with his own.
"Yes Ultra Magnus, and thanks to you I still am, now quickly go help Bumblebee, he's in the next room!"
"Do as he says Autobots, Nosecone, Trailbreaker, Jazz, you three go help Bumblebee!" ordered UM and the Autobots did as he told.
"Slag this is Zitanium locks, we'll never get it off!" grunted Ultra Magnus as he tried to rip the locks off.
"Allow me chief!" said Ironhide as he sprayed out of his fingers, liquid Nitrogen, it froze the locks instantly and Ironhide simply smashed them all off with his fist.
"Well done Ironhide!" said Optimus as he stood up free for the first time since his imprisonment.
"Don't mention it Optimus!" replied Ironhide.
Just then Nosecone, Trailbreaker and Jazz walked in with Bumblebee.
"Jeez, I can't believe you guys came out all the way here for little old me!" said 'Bee.
"Yes Bumblebee, no matter which Autobot falls into the hands of the Decepticons we will be there to save them all!" said Ultra Magnus as he patted 'Bee on the shoulder.
"Alright now that we're free we better get out of here, Autobots transform and roll out!" ordered Optimus as he transformed and sped down the tunnel made by nosecone, he was followed shortly by the rest of the group as they sped down the tunnel to freedom. Shockwave still glitching on the floor summoned enough strength to contact Megatron.
"Optimus is escaping…..must…..contact……Megatron!"
Megatron was riding aboard a Decepticon troop ship in an armada of many others.
"Shockwave to Megatron, Shockwave to Megatron come in!"
"What is it Shockwave?" said Megatron "I'm busy!"
"Megatron, a group of Autobot commandos burst into the prison and rescued Optimus and that puny yellow Autobot, they're escaping!"
"They're WHAT!?" roared Megs "How did they escape, that fortress is impenetrable!"
"They came from underground Megatron, they used that Technobot Nosecone to dig their way into here! Ultra Magnus lead the attack himself, he must've ordered the large raid on our forces to the North to draw out our Men from the Prison."
"Wait did you say the Autobots were launching an attack? How many of them are there?" asked Megatron.
"A lot, Sky Lynx, Cerebros and the Headmasters, assault Mechs…"
"Relax Shockwave, that fool Ultra Magnus just sent some of his best troops away from the defense of Iacon One, that means the attack on the city will all be the easier!" smiled Megatron.
"But what about the prisoners?" asked Shockwave.
"Forget about them, they're useless to us now in a few minutes we'll finally have what we have dreamt about for millions of years!" cackled Megs as he stroked the dead Matrix he had bound in a chain so he could wear it like a necklace or medal.
Meanwhile the escaping Autobots were now aboard Jetfire who wasted no time in speeding to safety.
"You did it Ultra Magnus, you lead a brilliant rescue operation. You're a great commander!" said Optimus.
"Yes Prime, but now that your back in Autobot hands you can take leadership once more…"
"Yes while you were successful in rescuing me, I'm afraid Megatron still has the Matrix. I'm afraid all might be lost now."
"No Optimus, it can't be! The Matrix is dead it serves them no use!" said Bumblebee.
"I'm afraid Megatron knows how to bring the Matrix back, to serve his own cruel desires and to do that he is going to Iacon-One, we must alert the city and prepare the defenses!"
"Optimus, I got an urgent message coming from Iacon One!" shouted Jetfire, he opened up a screen panel and an Autobot officer appeared on the screen.
"We need reinforcements, Iacon one is under attack! We were caught completely off guard, we have already taken hundreds of casualties, city is being destroyed, innocents killed I…" the line went dead.
"Oh no" said Optimus "JETFIRE get us to Iacon One on the double!"
"You bet Sir! Going Uber Sonic!" and the Autobot Jet roared ahead.
Back at Iacon One a full on Decepticon assault besieged the City and the Cars were caught right in the middle.
"What's going on?" shouted McQueen as he leaped in fright at all the sounds of explosions and falling buildings.
"The Decepticons, they're attacking!" said Arcee "Quickly you must get shelter, I'm needed on the fronlines!"
"Wait Arcee, its slaughter out there!" said Sally.
"As an Autobot it's my duty to defend our home city, run for the city centre there you'll find safety!"
"Alright, you be careful Arcee"
"You too Sally." And Arcee rushed to the battle while many others ran away from it.
"Attack Decepticons! Destroy EVERYTHING!" shouted Megatron, he was followed by Cyclonus, Scourge, the Sweeps, Starscream and the Skeakers, Soundwave and his entourage of cassettes, the Predacons, Seacons, Terrorcons, Decepticon Headmasters, the Insecticons, other random Decepticon warriors and a vast army of Decepticlones an army of drones built by the Decepticons to serve the Decepticons and backing them up were fleets of aircraft piloted by Decepticon pilots.
"Get the Omega Sentinels out here!" shouted an Autobot commander as his pinned troops desperately tried to fire back at the invaders. The Omega Sentinels left their guard positions at the Stellar Galleries, and commanding them was none other than Omega Supreme.
"Attack, destroy Decepticons!" shouted Omega as he and the eight other Sentinels aimed their arm cannons and with one sweep of their guns destroyed over seventy Decepticons.
"Omega Sentinels! No matter though I have come prepared. BOMBSHELL do it now!" shouted Megatron.
"With pleasure Megatron, megatron," said Bombshell, he transformed into a strange Cybertronian insect, he stealthily flew near the Omega Sentinels and out of the Insect's mouth shot out cerebral circuit contollers, the small seeds easily planted themselves on the heads of the Sentinels, the seeds then planted themselves into the cranium of the Sentinels allowing Bombshell and Megatron to command them.
"Omega Sentinels, destroy the Auobots!" shouted Megatron.
"As you command Megatron." And the Sentinels turned their mighty arsenals on the Autobots, many were killed in an instant as the Sentinels blasted and stepped their way through the frontlines.
"Sentinels stop!" shouted Omega.
"Ah Omega Supreme!" said Megatron "Today you too will fall to the might of Decepticon power, Predacons merge and attack!"
Five dangerous looking vehicles that looked like they were designed to hunt transformed into the Predacons Headstrong, Tantrum, Razorclaw, Rampage & Divebomb and together they merged into Predaking, an awesome looking Decepticon combiner.
"Decepticon fools, Omega has made living on destroying combiners!" said Omega.
"But Predaking not like other combiners, Predaking is supreme and today Omega you will fall prey to me!" replied Predaking.
Predaking charged quite fast like for a robot his size and landed a punch on Omega's chest, but the Autobot didn't even seem phased by it in fact he didn't even move, Omega then grabbed the Decepticon with his clawed arm and lifted him into the air.
"No Predaking, you won't beat Omega with strength alone, use your animalistic instincts, wear him down and swallow him alive!" ordered Megatron.
Predaking then used his almighty clawed hands and hacked at Omega's arm, the Guardian let go trying to let his inner diagnostics repair any serious damage, he tried to land a clubbing blow on PK but the evasive Decepticon dodged it and sensing the momentum was going his way, PK tripped Omega and pinned him to the floor. Predaking then tried to rip off Omega's orange visor protecting his face, the face was Omega's only weakpoint, but Omega was smart, he turned his head 180 degrees, Omega had a tank turret for a head so the other end of his head had a tank gun, it pointed right at PK's face and Omega fired, it ripped into PK head and he backed off allowing Omega to get up.
In the mean time, Lightning and Friends drove for their lives, missiles and bombs landed everywhere, the city was so heavily bombarded that the bridge in front was destroyed.
"Holy cow, the way forward is blocked!" shouted King.
"Man maybe I should've stayed on Earth like the others." Thought Doc.
"Aw man all these bombs are scaring me!" shouted Mater.
"Hold on Mater we'll find a way to safety!" shouted Sally back.
"But what about the Autobots?" asked Lightning.
"Forget it kiddo, did you see all those Decepticons? This is an invasion!" replied Mack.
"He's right McQueen, we stay here and we're dead!" replied Doc.
"Hey look in the sky" said Mater "It looks like an Earth plane!"
It wasn't exactly an Earth plane, it was very Cybertronian but it had eyes and a mouth, it was Jetfire!
"Frag it Optimus, it's an invasion attempt! There are thousands of 'Cons everywhere!" said Jetfire.
"That still isn't going to stop us from fighting, if Iacon one falls then Cybertron is lost! Now lock and load Autobots we're going to war!" and with that Optimus lead the dive out of Jetfire followed by Springer who turned to chopper mode, Jazz, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Trailbreaker, Nosecone, Mirage, Hound and Blaster floated down to Earth on Jetpacks.
"Look its Optimus!" shouted McQueen.
"Well waddayaknow? The son of gun escaped." Thought Doc.
Optimus and his team landed on Autobot lines, Optimus immediately confronted the commander.
"What's the situation commander?"
"Not good Optimus, Megatron has turned the Omega Sentinels against us and we're being overrun by Decepticlones!" an explosion temporarily halted his report "We're being slaughtered!"
"Fall back to the city Autobots and set up fire bases in the buildings, we'll created dozens of crossfire's so the Decepticons will have nowhere to take cover, Artillery platoons, transform and fire, full barrage!" commanded Optimus, several squads of Autobots transformed into various artillery guns, howitzers, rocket launchers and Missile platforms as they rained explosives down on the advancing Decepticons, this allowed Prime and his forces to fall back and set up new defenses.
"They're falling back to the city." Said Doc.
"Which means the fighting will get closer to us!" replied King.
"Earthlings, Earthlings over here!" they head a voice shouting, it was Alpha Trion standing at the doorway of the Stellar Galleries now left undefended "Quickly take shelter in here!" said AT hinting to the doorway.
Another explosion made the cars not think twice, they sped for the Stellar galleries. Once inside AT barricaded the door, to the Cars astonishment the inside of the Galleries was more beautiful than the outside, robed monks sat in a circle around a mysteriously colored Energon pool, it was dark blue in color, representing the color of space and in the pool lights shone through the liquid and they reflected onto the Crystal roof, images of constellations and planets forever changed positions and the robotic monks stared at them without ever moving, surrounding the pool were massive racks of ancient books, scrolls and tablets which explained the mysteries of the universe and more, magical enchanted ways that could prove more effective than Cybertronian science.
"Wow this place is magnificent!" thought Doc.
"As magnificent as the universe itself Doctor Hudson." Replied AT.
"How did you know my name?" asked Doc.
"I know everything about you six; we can see almost everything we want to see in this building."
"So what's so interesting about us?" asked McQueen "Wait what am I saying, everyone knows about Lightning McQueen Ka-chow!"
"Not exactly Ashleigh McQueen." Said Alpha Trion, McQueen suddenly jumped in shock.
"ASHLEIGH McQueen?" asked Sally she then burst out laughing "Is THAT your real Name?" the others couldn't hold it in either, the place erupted with laughter.
"Please my friends, this is no time to be laughing, we must…" suddenly there was a bang at the door, AT seemed to know who was coming.
"Quickly, Hide!" said AT as he pointed out a balcony above them where the cars could hide, the Cars did as ordered, they drove up some stairs and then into a room where a glass window showed everything below and observe they did.
'PHEEEUUMMM!' the distinct noise of Megatron's gun burst the door open, he stepped in with Cyclonus, Soundwave and Starscream.
"The key to Vector Sigma, I WANT it Alpha Trion!"
"Key? I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about!"
"Don't play dumb with me old man, you have it here and I want it now!"
"Is that Megatron? The guy Optimus told us about?" asked King as they all watched from above.
"Oh, THAT key Megatron, its right HERE!" and AT unleashed some kind of lightning magic that struck Megatron. As the leader fell Soundwave was quick to the draw by unleashing Ravage and Lazerbeak, they started tearing into Alpha Trion.
"NO Ravage and Lazerbeak, I want this old fool for myself!" said Megatron.
Lightning and the gang witnessed in horror as Megatron literally ripped AT limb from limb, he howled in pain as sparks and oil flew everywhere, however the monks sitting around the Energon pool continued observing into the pool as if they were watching a great movie as their comrade was being torn to death.
"First your arms then your legs, next will be your head AT if you don't give me the key!"
"Go ahead Megatron, kill me then you'll never find out what you want to know."
"Miserable Autobot, tell our leader or I'll" said Cyclonus readying his weapon.
"No Cyclonus! This Autobot is right, he's too important to die….yet. Alright AT if you don't tell me where the key is I'll raze this building to the ground and all the ancient knowledge you've collected over millenia will be destroyed!"
"Alright Megatron, I yield please don't destroy the Stellar Galleries. The key is hidden within the mystic pool down there" AT pointed to the pool with the monks "My monks will raise it from the abyss for you" Megatron dropped AT and walked down the grand staircase to the pool.
"Monks, give me what I want now!" ordered Megatron.
The Monks lifted their hands in prayer and they chanted something in ancient Cybertronian, the pool which they stared into started churning to life, as if a storm had formed in the small pool like at sea, a light shone from its depths and like the Sword Excalibur, it rose out of the pool floating in mid air.
"The key to Vector Sigma!" said Megatron Anxiously as the key floated right into his hands, it made him believe inside that the key was born for him.
"At long last, the key to unlocking limitless power is in my hands! My destiny is at hand!" laughed Megatron.
"Your Destiny Megatron" said a random monk "is your defeat."
"What did you say Autobot?" said Megatron furiously, the monk stared at him, his face was blackened by his hood except for eerie looking green optics that pierced Megatron's own.
"Your quest for power will be your own undoing Megatron. Primus himself will see to your destruction!" in a burst of anger Megatron shot the monk dead, but the others didn't budge or help their friend, it was as if they knew what was going to happen and they kept staring into the pool.
"Come Decepticons, let us not waste any more time."
"Should we destroy this miserable building anyway great leader?" asked Cyclonus.
"No, we already have wasted enough time here, let us get back to Shockwave, he knows the way to the core of Cybertron. Starscream, you stay here and command our forces, you're the only and I mean ONLY Decepticon here that can command an operation of this scale so do not fail me and remember this is only a raid to keep Optimus busy, no doubt he'll have heroically come to his cities aid after he escaped."
"Yes Megatron, I understand!" said Screamer giving a flimsy salute.
The Decepticons left a badly mauled Alpha Trion to die, after they had left Lightning and friends rushed to his aid.
"Hey are you ok?" asked Mater.
"Fear not my friends, everything you witnessed just now was meant to happen. It was recently foreseen by my monk pupils." Replied AT.
"Then why didn't you try to prevent it? You knew what was going to happen you could've stopped it from happening." Said Mack.
"Yes but to change destiny is to change history forever, everything no matter how grim or wicked it may be must happen for a reason…"
"The Decepticons, they're pushing into the city!" said McQueen as he saw Decepticlones and fighters moving into the city center.
"We're getting Fraggin slaughtered!" shouted an Autobot private.
"Stand your ground Autobots! Reinforcements will be here!" replied Optimus.
"I wouldn't count on it Optimus, I just got word that a second Decepticon attack south of here is blocking our relief force, they're being pounded by artillery and can't move!" shouted Ironhide.
Just then things got worse, Piranacon the merged form of the Seacons and an Omega Sentinel blasted away more Autobot troops and crushed even more under their feet followed by smaller Decepticon assault troopers.
"Ah slag, this may look like the end" Prime thought, he was holding his position fighting for his life in a quickly constructed roadblock supported by Autobot tanks but they were surrounded, the troops defending their flanks fell back and Prime and his troops were quickly surrounded, they were not far from the Stellar Galleries and McQueen could see them fighting on.
"It's Optimus! And he's in trouble." Said McQueen "There must be a way we can help them."
"Don't be a hero kid this isn't your fight!" said King.
"I'm sorry King but it is our fight now, its Earth's fight now have you forgot what the Decepticons did on the highway and at the stadium?"
"You're right McQueen" grunted AT in agony "Megatron has his sights set directly on Earth and he will stop at nothing until he has assimilated it into his empire, for once he gets what he wants Earth will be changed or rather Transformed forever."
And Megatron was about to get what he wanted for in the Core of Cybertron where Vector Sigma lay, a door opened into the room and in stepped Megatron, Soundwave, Shockwave and Cyclonus.
"Here we are Megatron just like I promised!" said Shockwave, Megatron breathed in at the beauty of VS.
"Finally after years of dreaming about it I have finally encountered the super computer which granted us all life, the creation of Primus himself, Vector Sigma! And now with this key I will bring him back to life after probably billions of years in slumber!" Megatron pointed the key at VS, the key shone a bright gold light and so did VS, it hummed to life like the sounds of a thousand computers working at once.
"I am Vector Sigma, who is it that awakens me?" asked the giant golden sphere.
"I Megatron leader of the Decepticons have reactivated you!"
"Why have you reawakened me Megatron?"
"I have reactivated you to give me power Vector Sigma, it is I who now holds the Matrix and I want you to bring it back to life!"
"No you are evil Megatron, your will for power will destroy the universe!"
"Need I remind you Vector Sigma I bought you back online and Cybertronian law decrees that whoever reactivates you, you are to grant them their wish so I am telling you now grant MINE Vector Sigma!"
"Very well Megatron, if it is what the law decrees than I shall perform what is asked of me, what is it you wish for me to grant you?" Megatron then held up the Matrix.
"Fill the Matrix with energy once again, but make it so that it is corrupt, that it will give birth only to Decepticon warriors and destroy Autobots weaklings, fill it with power not compassion so I can destroy worlds at will, make it so that any Decepticon it gives birth to will follow my every command with undying loyalty and prepared to die for the Decepticon cause so that they'll fight until their last drop of Energon is depleted, but most importantly, make the Matrix that it will serve me and only me!"
Vector Sigma glowed white, the entire room filled with an almighty white that anything it touched was turned to black and white. Tendrils of light grabbed the Matrix and poured the power of Vector Sigma into it, the gold casing of the Matrix now turned a sinister chromed black and in the center where there used to be blue light was now purple light, this was the corrupted Matrix!
"There, it is done." Replied VS and he once again entered slumber, the room now returned to its normal coloring, Megatron stood there staring into the very changed Matrix.
"I did it, I DID IT THE MATRIX IS MINE AND MY WEAPON ALONE !" he laughed wickedly.
"I now possess the powers of a god, the ability to create life or destroy it! The Autobots defeat is finally at hand."
"Yo that's nice and all but really you're boring me, you bring us all this way finally promising us our reward and all we do is watch you laugh with some lightshow?" said Chick, little did McQueen know but he and the others weren't the first Earthlings on Cybertron for Megatron had bought Chick and the DRH with him.
"Pathetic inferior, show respect for your leader!" sneered Cyclonus.
"Relax Cyclonus, this Earthling is right it is about time I gave him and his friends the reward they've been deserving of for days now. Alright Chick you and the DRH line up in a straight line."
The five cars did as they were told.
"Alright Earthlings prepare yourselves!" and Megatron bought forth the corrupted Matrix, it split in two and shot the Cars with thundering power and energy….
"Trailbreaker, keep that force field up or we're dead!" commanded Prime, Trailbreaker did so but his shield was being rained upon with lots of ballistics.
"This isn't good you guys, Optimus is going to get killed out there!" harked McQueen "We have to help!"
"There is a way you can help." Said AT.
"How?" asked McQueen impatiently.
"First bring my legs and arms and put them next to my body where they would usually go." The six Earthlings found AT legs and arms, they rested his arms near his shoulders and his legs near his abdomen, suddenly a lot of machinery popped out of AT missing arm and leg joints and they pulled the arms and legs back into place, AT had somehow repaired himself.
"Now that I have my Arms and Legs back follow me." Said Alpha Trio as he hobbled to the Energon pool in the middle of the building, Alpha Trion stepped right into the middle of the pool.
"Please my friends follow me!" he asked again, the five Cars and Mack rolled into the pool, they could feel the bottom it wasn't very deep. But then they still felt themselves sinking, further and further until they were completely under the surface, they could not see anything, it was completely dark. But as soon as they entered the pool they found themselves suddenly inside the core of Cybertron where Vector Sigma lay.
"Whoa, what is that?" asked McQueen.
"It's Beautiful!" said Doc.
"It's the ghostlight!" screamed Mater.
"This is Vector Sigma, a super computer created by Primus to keep Cybertron in orbit and keep our planet alive. However due to the door open over there I fear Megatron beat us here." Said AT coughing.
"Why have you bought us here?" asked Sally.
"Yeah and how did you know all our names?" asked Doc.
"When you visited the Stellar Galleries with Arcee, I and my monks had a vision. A vision involving the six of you, you do not know it yet but you six have greatness ahead of you for you will aid Optimus and the Autobots in their final victory over Megatron and the Decepticons. I tell you this now because I understand you may not want to fight the Decepticons, I can understand that but my vision is never wrong and there is a way you can help the Autobots now, I ask that are you sure you want to go through with this in order to aid your friends?" asked AT.
"Yes, just tell us how we can help!" said McQueen.
"But what can we do, we're just mere cars!" said King.
"That I will show you in a moment, just line up and stand still." Asked AT "Now my friends my death is inevitable so I bid you all farewell!" and the wise Autobot lifted his hand so that he touched Vector Sigma, Electricity vibrated through his body and when it all finished, AT slumped dead on the floor.
The RS crew gasped in horror as the lifeless AT lay there dead, but for some reason they could still hear his voice, he was talking from inside Vector Sigma!
"Alpha Trion? What happened?" asked Lightning.
"I am now at rest in Cybertron's version of heaven my Earth friends, I have merged with Vector Sigma in order to reactivate him. Ask him how you can help the Autobots and once you've finished, please give Optimus my thanks and farewell." And Alpha Trion's voice went silent inside the peace of Vector Sigma.
"I am Vector Sigma, who is it that reactivates me?"
"Err it was Alpha Trion, he gave his life to bring you back online." Said McQueen.
"Yes I understand that, but who is it that speaks with me now?"
"I Lightning McQueen and my friends, Mater, Sally, King, Mack and Doc."
"What is it you want from me?"
"Alpha Trion said there is a way to help the Autobots and you could show us how, at this moment Optimus and his forces are being routed from above."
"There is a way to help the Autobots, but I cannot show you how but I can give you the power to help Optimus Prime, are you willing to do whatever it takes to save him and the Autobots from defeat and/or death?"
"Yes Vector Sigma, they helped us in many ways before but now they need our help if we can give it to them!" said Doc.
"Very well, I will give you the power to help the Autobots, I ask that you please relax and prepare for greatness!"
Vector Sigma again glowed a bright white, rays of light filled the room and then all the beams concentrated on the Cars. They felt warm inside and strong but could feel their insides changing.
"What's going on?" shouted Mater.
"I don't know, I…I feel like I'm, falling apart!" replied Sally.
"No we're not falling apart Sally, we're changing!" replied McQueen, he felt his body splitting into two then three but they were all still somehow connected until the light grew so bright that they couldn't see anymore, but they could still feel this good feeling and they could feel themselves turning into completely different beings…..
Well there you have it the end of this chapter for now ;) sorry to keep you in suspense but I won't leave a preview this time you're going to have to wait until next chapter. But I will say thank you for all your support and the reviews you left I never thought I would get that much and I would like to thank Mekal for his keen interest in this story and for translating this story into French, so if you're from France (or prefer to read in French, you've got to study for school anyway!) then please check his out :