Chapter 5

Walking through the midst of the Nemesis Army, deranged optics staring blankly at him with their gaping mouths and twisted expressions, must have been the most frightening – yet surreal – sensation that Hot Rod had ever experienced. At any moment, he imagined several drones suddenly jumping at him, grabbing him and then tearing him to pieces, and he couldn't help but wonder whether this invitation hadn't been a trick, so that Nemesis Prime could make an example of him as a warning to others to stay out of his way.

But his imaginings did not come to pass. Instead, he found himself reaching the base of the tower, and then proceeded to climb up its slender, tall structure. He paused for only a moment to look back at the other Autobots before continuing further, and did not stop again until he'd reached the top.

He slowly stepped up onto the thin walkway, keeping his gaze on Nemesis, who looked back at him with steady, determined optics. "Nemesis Prime," he uttered, looking up at the antenna that was emitting a high energy beam directly into space. "Whatever it is you're trying to achieve, there's probably a better way to do it. Let us help… and turn off the transmitter."

The Nemesis slowly looked up at the antenna as if the sole purpose of his existence was to guard it with his life. "This is the only way," he said simply in response.

"The only way… the only way… to do what?" Hot Rod asked tentatively, but Nemesis did not elaborate, so he repeated his query, this time with more determination. "Nemesis, what exactly is it that you are trying to do?"

The larger mech faced the cadet, standing tall and resolute. Then he focused his attention upon the ground below and slowly surveyed all the Autobots who stood looking back up at them, waiting with bated breath. "The First of our kind is near to all who call upon him in truth!" he called out in a voice loud enough so that all those below could hear him, lifting his arms in emphasis. "He fulfils the desire of all those who fear him, yet also hears their plea and saves them! For the word of Primus is our salvation, and his works are true!" He turned back to look up at the antenna again as he continued speaking, though this time only Hot Rod could hear him. "Primus spoke to our predecessors through the prophetic wisdom of all the Primes that have come before, but in these last days he shall speak and make himself known to us, just as he has appointed Nemesis Prime, the rightful bearer of the Matrix, to be the heir of all things!"

A long moment passed as Hot Rod attempted to make sense of the Nemesis' cryptic words. "Wait, I've heard that before," he began, and repeated to himself, "The word of Primus is our salvation… the word of Primus… is our salvation… but in these last days? In these last days he shall speak and make himself known to us…" He looked up at Nemesis as realization hit him, his optics wide. "I know what that is! You're – you're reciting from the scriptural texts – from the Covenant of Primus! Aren't you?"

Nemesis did not respond, but Hot Rod could tell that he was right. Still, it did not explain what, exactly, Nemesis Prime was attempting to do, though he knew he was getting closer to finding out; if he said the right thing, asked the right question, the Prime just might reveal his plan to him.

"The word of Primus," Hot Rod repeated to himself. "The word of– wait, that's it, isn't?" He looked up at the antenna, the powerful blue beam being emitted from its tip disappearing out of sight into the darkness of space. "Of course! You're trying to contact Primus, aren't you? The First of our kind is near to all who call upon him in truth."

The Nemesis turned to look at him again, repeating the sacred scriptures once more. "The First of our kind is near to all who call upon him in truth."

As Nemesis spoke, Hot Rod repeated the words along with him, "The First of our kind is near to all who call upon him in truth… He fulfills the desire of all those who fear him, yet also hears their plea and saves them."

Nemesis slowly nodded, satisfaction glinting in his optics. "Yes. Once Primus has heard my call and has revealed himself to me, the prophecy shall be fulfilled and I, alone, shall defeat our enemies and rule all of Cybertron!"

Alpha Trion was one of the few Autobots who had known Sentinel Prime since before he became Prime, and hence was also one of the few who was aware of the Prime's affiliations with Megatron. So, when he approached the Decepticon leader just outside the Command Center, he did not need to introduce himself, nor did he find himself in fear of the intimidating group of Decepticons, who all stood resolutely by their leader. "Megatron, I must apologize for Sentinel. Perhaps he has not been himself lately – or, indeed, for quite a while."

Megatron did not seem surprised by the Autobot elder's regretful admission. "I can assure you, Alpha Trion, that he has not changed at all."

Sentinel Prime was nowhere in sight. The two cadets who were with Alpha Trion, Sprocket and Powerflash, looked at the Decepticon with curiosity as the elder turned to speak to them in a low voice, whilst gently guiding them away. "Please, allow us a little privacy. This is a delicate matter, and it will be best that I speak to them alone." The cadets shrugged dismissively and respectfully moved away to give the elder his requested privacy, who then returned his attention to the Decepticons. "Erm, yes, well… be that as it may, he shall put us all at great risk if something is not done to stop him, I am afraid." Alpha Trion drew in a deep cycle of air. As much as he disliked speaking or doing anything against Sentinel's wishes, he knew that something needed to be done. "He believes that he can stop Nemesis Prime by force… however, any such confrontation will only cause him to turn his army of monsters against us all."

The words that Alpha Trion had spoken rang true. "That would not be unlike him," Megatron replied in agreement, and paused momentarily in thought. "Not to mention the payoff from such a battle would give Straxus the perfect opportunity."

"Yes, yes, indeed," Alpha Trion agreed, "and with our energy reserves running low we would not recover from it."

"Ah, so you are aware, then?" Megatron queried him.

Alpha Trion nodded emphatically. "Oh, yes, yes. Why, I have been aware of a growing shortage for some time. I have tried to warn Autobot Command many times… but they won't listen."

The Decepticons listened attentively, watching quietly as the peculiar Autobot senior shared with them his fears and concerns. "Would you also happen to be aware of the fastest way to shut down that transmission tower," Megatron finally said, indicating to the east, "whilst also initiating a sector-wide blackout?"

Alpha Trion thought for a moment, as he started to catch on to the plan that the Decepticon leader had in mind. "Well, yes, yes of course – the control hub." Megatron did not say anything further, but instead waited for Alpha Trion to continue. "Ah, but unfortunately I do not have the proper authorization to access it," he explained, optics downcast, though his disappointment was short-lived.

"I have the authorization required to access the control hub," Shockwave informed him.

Alpha Trion looked up to acknowledge the large, purple Decepticon who had spoken, and nodded in relief.

"Very well," Megatron said, before turning to his team of Decepticons. "Starscream, take your team and go to the tower, make sure the situation does not get out of hand. Stop Sentinel by force, if you have to, and be prepared for Straxus to make a surprise appearance. The rest of us will meet you there shortly."

Starscream nodded and gave his leader a smug smile. "It will be my pleasure, Megatron." Then he transformed and took to the air, as his fellow seekers, as well as Blitzwing, followed his lead.

As he watched the jets disappear beyond the nearest structure, Alpha Trion turned to the remainder of the Decepticons. "We do not have much time. Quickly, this way," he said, waving them forward in the direction of the Command Center.

After Nemesis' incredible announcement of his plans to take control of Cybertron, Hot Rod was left understandably speechless. In the most unthreatening manner he could display, he climbed back down the tower with the promise that he would soon return. Nemesis did not try to stop him, but simply allowed him to leave as he wished, all the while keeping control of his army of drones so that the path through them remained clear for him.

"Well, what happened up there?" Blaster quickly intercepted him, but all he received was an uncertain look from his friend. "Hot Rod?"

The cadet approached the waiting Autobots, and took a deep cycle of air as he tried to find the right words to explain what he'd just learned. "Sir," he began. Prowl and Kup both gave him concerned looks as they waited for him to continue. "Ah, it's… the news isn't good." As the rest of the Autobots crowded around them, he elaborated. "Optronix – no… I mean Nemesis Prime… he thinks he's the chosen one, to rule Cyberton."

Kup gave him a quizzical look. "Chosen by whom? Straxus?"

Hot Rod glanced back up uncomfortably at Nemesis, who stood atop the tower waiting for his call to their Creator to be answered. After a few moments of awkward silence, he looked back at Kup in earnest, shaking his head. "No. Primus."

"Primus?" Kup repeated in disbelief, as several of the Autobots uttered sounds of surprise and alarm. "What do you mean, lad?"

"Yeah, he thinks that Primus will answer his call and then reveal himself. He thinks he's the one who's destined to defeat all our enemies," Hot Rod explained.

After several more kliks, Prowl finally spoke, though his voice was subdued. "I don't understand. How does he think he can contact Primus?"

"See that?" Hot Rod pointed emphatically up at the antenna, and the powerful beam that was being emitted from it into space. "That's how."

Trailbreaker, who stood behind Prowl, spoke up, his optics wide beneath his visor. "You can't be serious?" Hot Rod gave him a blank expression in response. "But that's never going to work," he added, stating the obvious. "Even if Primus actually exists somewhere out there in the universe, it would take a miracle for that transmission beam to reach its target."

"And an even bigger miracle if it's to do so within the next several hundred vorns," Ricochet added.

"Why, that's right," Ironhide said. "Sounds to me like that Nemesis Prime has a few transistors missing in his cranial circuits." Then he clenched his fists, lowering his voice. "Can't we just take him out? I say we do it now, before he even knows what hit him."

"That would be an imprudent move," Prowl rebuked him. "Not to mention reckless. There's no telling how the drones would react."

Hot Rod looked at the red Autobot in consternation. "That's still Optronix up there!" he exclaimed angrily, pointing back up at the Nemesis. "We can't just bombard him to scrap and then hope he's still functional afterwards!"

"I never quite said it that way–" Ironhide defended.

"No – but you sure meant it that way, didn't you?" Hot Rod challenged, and then glanced expectantly at the others. They could see that he was obviously distraught.

"All right, let's just all calm down," Prowl interjected, motioning with his hands, and then directed his gaze at Hot Rod. "Hot Rod… you've spoken to him. You know as well as I do that Optronix may never return to us–"

Hot Rod shook his head in strong objection, refusing to give up on his friend. "No! He's still in there somewhere! Please, he's gotta be. We've got to at least try!"

"Hot Rod." This time it was Kup who spoke, wanting to console him, trying to make the cadet see reason. "Sometimes things like this happen. We lose those we love. It's something that one day, you're going to have to come to terms with if you're going to be serving as an officer of the Autobot army for any length of time."

Hot Rod stared back at him, shaking his head in defiance. "No," he whispered, and then again, more loudly, "No. Not like this. I won't give up on him!"

Then Blaster stepped up, standing beside his friend to face the senior officers. "I won't either."

Though the two cadets were naïve and inexperienced, Prowl could see the glimmer of hope in their optics, and the stubborn determination that wouldn't let them go. "Weren't you a cadet, once?" he asked Kup in a low voice, before returning his attention to the two under his charge. "We've still got to find a way to shut down that tower… and, if we can find a way to safely remove the Matrix from Nemesis Prime, there may be a chance that Optronix will be saved."

Immense gratitude came over Hot Rod and Blaster exhaled in visible relief; at least Prowl was willing to give Optronix a chance. But their elation quickly turned to surprise, as they caught sight of who had suddenly arrived to join them. Alerted, Prowl turned to see who it was, and the rest of the gathered Autobots did the same.

"Well, now that I'm back, I think it's time we put an end to that ridiculous exhibition," Sentinel declared, his tone forceful and impatient as he looked up towards the top of the communications tower. "Prowl, Kup: destroy that antenna, and seize Nemesis Prime."