This will be the last chapter that plays completely in the year 1986. That means another arc is over soon. This chapter will also contain, for example, the back story of the Autobot Cronus. That will lead to a large revelation in the end of the chapter.
Chapter 15
A group Autobots had assembled next to the burning town. Until a minute ago all of them were trying to help the humans who were still somewhere inside the city limits, trapped by the flames.
The most of them, like the Protectobots, were still doing this, but a few were by now standing around Optimus and the two newcomers.
Then they had received a call for help, a call from a Autobot who shouldn´t even be on the planet.
Hotrod was confirmed to be still on Cybertron.
"Optimus, he was not only on Cybertron, Hotrod was one of the group present when we left", Elita told them.
xxxxxxx
9 hours earlier, Cybertron
"The space-bridge is ready now. We have intercepted the signal of the Decepticons", Kup stated.
Seven robots were assembled in a secret Autobot resistance hideout, standing around a space bridge. Ultra Magnus the leader of the Autobots on Cybertron, Elita one the leader of the female Autobots, the veteran Kup, the young Autobots Hotrod and Blurr, Roadbuster and the recently returned exile Cronus.
The resistance had months earlier spied out the space-bridge design from the Decepticons and were so able to built their own model. They then connected it with the Decepticon system to access their bridge on Earth.
Elita One and Cronus were about to leave. They were bringing Optimus and his crew a warning.
"I still wish we could sent more soldiers with you, but we need everybody here right now", Ultra Magnus said to them.
"We will be enough", Cronus assured them. "All we need to do is contact Optimus´s group and warn them. We two are enough for this."
"He is right Magnus, Optimus and the others will help us. You need every Bot here to fight the Decepticons", Elita told him.
"Yes, we will be enough", Cronus said, looking at Elita.
"Good, anyway, be careful", Magnus advised them, "and good luck."
The two Autobots entered the space-bridge and the transfer was started.
xxxxxxx
Earth, present
"You say, you can tell us more about this Autobot?" Optimus Prime asked Cronus, a Transformer who had just arrived on Earth, together with Elita One.
"Yes, it is connected with the reason why I came here."
"How did you came back anyway? Last time we heard of you, you left Cybertron with twelve other Autobots, seven million years ago and now you are suddenly back", Ironhide commented.
"Cronus, what happened to the other twelve?" Optimus asked him.
"The others", Cronus replied. He hesitated for a moment. "As you know, we left around 7.000.000 years back, to get away from the war and start anew somewhere. But it shouldn´t have been."
His look became distant for a moment, as if he remembered something that happened a long time ago. Then he met Prime´s eyes again.
"We traveled through several star systems, but as we reached a unknown sector we were attacked without warning by an superior alien force. They left nobody alive."
"The others are all dead", Optimus repeated sadly. It were 12 more Autobots to a already unimaginable long list.
"Yes, I only escaped because of my special ability. As you know I am able to transfer myself into another hyperspace dimension."
Optimus knew that all to well. This was often confused with the very similar teleportation, which for example the Decepticon Skywarp possessed.
"In that way I survived. Everybody besides me was gone so I phased out of this reality for a short time and then back. But I was lost in space.
A long time later, I am not even sure how long I have been drifting in stasis mode through the emptiness, I landed on a planet inhabited by a friendly species. For some time, lived there", he continued his explanations.
"On that planet, I came in contact with a mysterious and very dangerous device, a machine that was created by a very old and very powerful race called the Vok, a species that is long extinct by now. This device had originally been found in the ruins of a old settlement of that race on the planet I was living on. The current natives kept it hidden in a safe location. But then, several months ago, it vanished."
"What kind of a machine is that?" Optimus asked him.
"To put it simple, a time-machine, a immense powerful one and that also explains how your Autobot Hotrod can be at two places at once."
"He is a time traveler", Prowl pointed out.
"Probably", Cronus admitted, "we can not be completely sure of course. But then there is a great chance that the time-machine is in the hands of the Decepticons."
"Okay, then we need a plan to get it away from them", Optimus decided, "and we need to rescue that Autobot. First we had to help the humans that were still left in the town, then we need a exact strategy what to do."
Cronus looked at him uneasy for a moment.
"Optimus, there is no time, we have to act now. Because there is one thing I haven´t told you yet. There is someone else who is after the device too, a creature with the name Cabal." He paused.
"I guess you know that name."
For a moment Optimus didn´t move, he did nothing. He just stood there at the mention of this name and looked at Cronus.
"We have to go", Optimus told the other Autobots, "now", he said. "Protectobots, you Ratchet and Perceptor stay here and help the humans. Help from headquarters will arrive soon."
"Yes Optimus", Hotspot replied.
"And Grimlock, that was good work", Optimus commented the Dinobot leader.
"Told you so, the Autobots can do nothing without us Dinobots fighting for them", Grimlock replied sarcastically.
"If you say so" Optimus told him similar sarcastically. "We will have to fight right again Grimlock."
He looked at the troops that were left for him, the Dinobots, Prowl, Ironhide, Jazz, Hound, Mirage, Bumblebee, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Brawn, Bluestreak, Elita and Cronus. Before they reached the Decepticon base they would meet up with Omega Supreme and the Airialbots. That had to be enough.
Wheeljack, Hoist, Beachcomber and Grapple would come here and help with the relief efforts.
"Autobots, transform and roll", he ordered.
They all transformed and started in the direction Hotrod´s coordinates told them.
xxxxxxx
Several miles away Soundwave and Skywarp were doing emergency repairs on their leader. It wasn´t a good place for it and they were lacking the equipment, but for the moment it had to be enough.
They saw that Megatron was starting to regain conscience.
"Soundwave", Megatron recognized him, "what happened?"
"Starscream took command and ordered to destroy the city."
"We got you out before everything was leveled", Skywarp told him.
"I understand. Soundwave, we will return to base and order the Constructicons back. Maybe we will need them."
"Yes Megatron, as soon as you are ready to move."
xxxxxxx
The Autobot convoy was moving over the highways of Oregon in direction of the Rocky Mountains.
Cronus had been one of the lost ones. One of the Autobots who had left Cybertron to escape the war. He had once been a important officer of the Autobot army before he made the decision to leave.
But the truth was, not everybody of the Autobots was happy to see him again. One of them was Prowl and as far as it came to him he had good reason for it.
Prowl was driving next to Optimus and he was closing up to him.
"Optimus, we have to talk."
"What is it Prowl?"
"Do you see the weak points in Cronus story?"
"Weak points?"
"Inconsistencies, holes, logic flaws, whatever you want to call them.
First of if this Hotrod is a time traveler, how comes it that the time travel device has gone missing here, in this period? It should have vanished where ever this Autobot came from. And second what happened then with the time travel-device of this time."
"I am aware of all of this Prowl, I am sure we will find some answers."
"I would feel better if we had this answers before we run into battle Optimus."
"I know Prowl, but we have to act now."
Prowl realized that Optimus was using the exactly same words as Cronus earlier.
"If Cabal is involved into this we have no time to loose", Optimus said.
They had known each other for millions of years and Prowl could seldom remember a time were Prime had sounded that worried.
"You have read the reports about him."
"Yes I have heard about it, one reason more not to loose our heads", Prowl claimed.
"You don´t trust Cronus right?"
"I have reasons for that and you know it."
xxxxxxx
Cybertron: city Altiphex, 7.000.000 years ago
A dozen Autobots were ripped apart by the fire of Decepticon air-units. In exchange the defense guns shot two seekers who exploded into bursts of shrapnell.
Ground-troops of both sides were shooting at each other. A tank form Decepticon fired at a Autobot whose chest was completely blown apart.
Shockwave, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust and 20 other seekers were bombing the city from above. The battle raged on for hours as the capital of the sector was being overrun by Decepticon troops.
And then finally it was over.
The Decepticons had won. They had turned the entire city into a wasteland.
Over 200 Autobots and 60 Decepticons were lying dead between the remains.
In other words it was a clear victory for the Decepticons.
At the borders of the city a group of five Autobots were gathered. Between them were three shackled Decepticons, kneeing on the ground. They were captured ground forces.
Cronus was the leader of this group. He was standing behind one of the prisoners.
Mounted on his underarm was a large plasma cannon. He took aim and shot the prisoner in the head.
Then he stepped behind the next robot and killed him in the same way. Before he could aim at the last one however another group of Autobots came in, racing in vehicle form.
Their leader transformed, it was Prowl.
"Cronus, what do you think you are doing here? You have no right to execute prisoners", he yelled at the other robot.
"No right? Have you seen what they have done here?"
"I know Cronus, I know how many of us died here, but that still doesn´t give you the right to murder helpless captives."
"You have seen how many of us are dead. There has to be a balance between our losses and theirs", Cronus said. "Or our side has already as good as lost", he added to his statement.
"What you are doing here", Prowl told him angrily, "is a grave violation of the Autobot code, beside that it is cold blooded murder, you will stop this now and I will have to report what you did here to Prime."
"Do what you have to do", he answered simply.
xxxxxxx
Oregon, present
"I know about this incident Prowl", Optimus reminded him.
"Yes? I know about it too Prime and somehow I could even understand it if he had simply done it because of the lost battle and the many Autobots that died this day. But in fact there had even been other questionable actions he was involved in. This one was only the last of an entire line."
"Cronus had lost his way during this last years when he was in the war. The eons of fighting do that to a mech. He had realized his mistake and left the fighting because of it."
"Or he just didn´t want to stand trial and take the responsibilities for his actions. If he stayed he would have landed before a martial court, he would have probably anyway if it hadn´t been for his great connections", Prowl commented.
"You should not forget what Cronus had all done for us. Without his help Megatron might have conquered the galaxy by now", Optimus reminded him.
"And that gives him the right to break the law?"
"No, it certainly does not. But Cronus was a war hero, that should be accounted."
"Yes it should have, in his judgement, if he had ever actually faced trial", Prowl pointed out.
"Cronus had given up his rank and his position and had gone into exile. In some sense he had chosen his own judgement. He had given up everything he once had."
"That is only a glorifying way to say that he had to answer to nobody for his actions. This is always the point where corruption starts and you know it. He is a war criminal who got away and now he just comes back and is once again with our troops, no questions asked."
Optimus was silent for a few seconds.
"Maybe we haven´t acted correctly back then, it was in the middle of the war and we needed a fast solution, one that doesn´t disrupt our war efforts. Cronus had offered to leave the Autobots and Cybertron and we have taken it."
"And now he is back."
"Yes."
xxxxxxx
Decepticon base, Rocky Mountains
Starscream had opened the storage room were the time-travel device was being held.
He took the small pyramid in his hands and looked at it and smiled.
"Now this belongs to me and with some luck the leadership of the Decepticons too", he said quietly.
"Megatron won´t like this", Ramjet, who was standing next to him, commented.
"Megatron is either dead or at least unable to make decisions right now. I am taking over."
With some luck he might have died in the middle of the bombed town, Starscream thought and even if Megatron had survived, Starscream would have already found out all the secrets of this machine before he would be repaired.
xxxxxxx
"Optimus", Cronus addressed the Autobot leader, "I want to say that I am sorry. I have made a lot of mistakes and I know it. I am here to correct this mistakes."
"That is good Cronus."
"Thank you Optimus", the other Autobot replied.
They had arrived at the foot of the mountain what the Decepticon base was built at. From the ground they could see the outside walls of the base that were digged into the side of the mountainside.
"Are Omega Supreme and the Airialbots here yet?" Optimus asked.
"We will be there in a minute", came Silverbolts answer over com.
"Good, Autobots transform." Optimus gave the order and they all changed into robot-mode.
"Hotrod, do you hear me?" He tried to call the one they were looking for.
"Yes, I hear you Optimus.
"Good, hurry, the Decepticons could locate us every second."
The giant rocket form of Omega Supreme, flanked by the five Airialbots was descending from the sky. He transformed into his robot form and landed next to the other Autobots.
The Airialbots staid in the air where they had for the moment the beast tactical use.
xxx
Inside the Decepticons had actually already located their approaching enemies.
"Starscream, the Autobots are outside", Thrust called him.
"Damn, they must have followed us", the Air Commander snarled angrily. This was the last thing he needed now.
"Or our prisoner had called them", Thundercracker remarked.
The first thing they found out when they came back was that their prisoner had escaped and a group of very dazed Decepticons who had stated that the Autobot had somehow been freed. But they also claimed that he wasn´t alone, that someone else had been there, someone who took them all out with an energy impulse.
It didn´t matter right now, he had the time-machine, the machine was more important. He would keep it in his hands during the battle. He couldn´t let it out of sight.
"Decepticons attack", he shouted.
xxx
A few moments after the Autobots had arrived a flame colored sports-car came racing out of the forest. A few meters before them it transformed into a robot.
"Optimus, it is good to see you", the robot greeted him.
"Hotrod", he replied.
"I am sorry that I have to get you into this, but I had no choice. The Decepticons have a device that we need back."
"I know Hotrod."
In that moment the Decepticons attacked. Laser blasts were raining down at the Autobots before they fired back.
Grimlock and his team transformed into their dinosaur forms. The Airialbots were engaging the seekers.
Combaticons and Stunticons were forming the super-robots Bruticus and Menasor.
Omega Supreme opened fire on the two combiner giants and was shot by them in reverse.
Parts of the forest had caught fire. The valley between the mountains was turned into a battlefield.
xxxxxxx
From one of the mountain peeks close by Cabal was watching the battle, back in his adopted robot body. He didn´t let Hotrod know that he could take this form too, yet.
It was all going according to plan. Manipulating Starscream´s mind was a move that had played out.
His powers had decreased over the eons, since Optimus Prime and Megatron had left him behind on a dead world. But it was still enough, he could still take influence.
Neither the Autobots or the Decepticons knew that he was the one controlling their reality.
xxxxxxx
A combination of hits and shots from Omega Supreme and Bruticus, who had taken prior damage in the last battle, was falling apart into his components.
Menasor attacked and stroke Omega with his energon sword. The blade sliced his armor from his stomach to the shoulder and caused a deep wound.
Thrust was hit by a stray-shot and forced to land. The Aerialbots had formed Superion by now.
Starscream was standing aside, watching the battle. The time-machine was still in his hands. It was too important.
"Optimus, Starscream has the device", Hotrod called out. He had seen the small pyramid-shaped object in the seeker´s hands. The two Autobots were closing up on the Air Commander.
"No, it belongs to me", Starscream shouted. He knew this machine would be his key to the universe, his way to even greater power.
Little did he knew that it was actually the being on the mountain next to him that was planting this thoughts into him.
Starscream looked at the battle. Superion and Menasaur were now struggling with each other. The remaining Decepticons were trying to hold the rest of the Autobots off, but it was obvious that they were outnumbered and hopelessly outmatched.
They were losing the battle. He was about to loose everything. That couldn´t be.
"No." Starscream was screaming and firing his guns at the Autobot leader and the time-traveler.
Optimus aimed his rifle, fired and hit Starscream in the shoulder. Hotrod transformed into his sports-car mode and simply run the distracted Air Commander over. He took the time-travel device.
"I have it Optimus", he called out.
Then the Autobots were attacked from above. Superion was shot in the back and fell to his knees.
Devastator, and Astrotrain were flying in and joining the fight. Another hit from Menasor forced Superion to separate. Omega Supreme had now stood up again and attacked Devastator.
As a upgraded guardian model Omega had one of the greatest fire powers on Cybertron. Two shots that he fired from his main weapon were enough to cause serious damage to Devastator´s armor. Physically however the wounded super-robot was not much of a match for the gestalt. A single shot from Devastators eye-lasers was enough to rip open Omega Supreme´s slice wound and damage his inner circuity.
From one moment to the next the situation had completely turned around.
xxx
Starscream saw three other robots landing next to him, Soundwave, Skywarp and Megatron. The Decepticon leader was supported by the other two. He was still clearly heavily damaged. Alone the fact that he had accepted help, even if it was only to a small agree, proved that he had to be in a very bad state.
This would have been the perfect chance to get rid of him once and for all. If it hadn´t been for the fact that two other warriors were backing him up.
Both, Soundwave and Skywarp had their weapons lifted. Megatron himself had his fusion gun aimed at him.
"I see you are not very happy to have me back Starscream", he exclaimed.
"Megatron, I…"
"You have hoped that I would die in this little inferno you have caused right?"
"Megatron, I have never…"
"Destroying an settlement full of weak organics only to get me, yes that is exactly on your level", he pointed out, "and as usual you have failed."
Starscream´s expression became dark. He frowned. Megatron was humiliating him again.
"Have you something to say Starscream?"
"The Autobots, they have the time-machine."
Megatron glared at his second in command. His anger had even grown.
"You are really an idiot Starscream."
xxx
The Dinobots had now started a combined attack on Devastator, assisting the damaged Omega Supreme. After a short time, the Constructicon combiner went down under their fire.
Cronus was standing at the side of the struggle. He was watching the course of the battle. The most warriors of both sides had been damaged, more or less serious. Many had already been from the last fight.
They didn´t have time for repairs or refueling, all of them were low on energon.
Both sides had decimated each other, perfect.
This was the ideal situation. He had told Optimus Prime the truth, he had made a mistake.
And he planed correct it.
After all those years his time had finally come, he would triumph.
Cronus stepped forward. With a well aimed shot he brought Soundwave´s cassette Buzzaw down. The bird was injured but functional.
Elita One was standing directly before him. She was shooting at a few of the Decepticon jets.
He smiled. After all this time the hiding was over. The children of Primus would now finally see who he truly was.
"Autobots, Decepticons", he called out, so loud that everyones attention was on him, "look at me."
It was finally at the time, the time for him to show his true face. Finally it would all be his. He started to laugh.
Cronus entire body began to glow. Then it began to change. Form, structure and consistence of his entire construction were reforming.
The Autobots and the Decepticons watched unbelieving at what was happening. This wasn´t a normal transformation, none like they had ever known it. His body seemed to be reconstructing itself on a molecular level.
After a few seconds Cronus appearance had completely changed. He was now taller, in the size of Optimus Prime or Ultra Magnus. His armor was now completely in colors black and red. He seemed larger in every way, sleeker, more dangerous and far more powerful.
His optics were now not longer blue but red, like a Decepticon´s, but on his body was nowhere a emblem to see.
What was still the same was his battle staff, which he was holding in his left hand.
On his right underarm he was now carrying a large cannon, somehow like Megatron did it but of a different style. It was old, ancient looking, just like his staff weapon.
Without a warning he shot Elita One in the back. The plasma blast ripped a deep wound, her internal mechanics were burned.
Then Cronus lifted his staff and stabbed the female Autobot with his full strength. The weapon went through her already damaged body and stuck out of her chest.
The being who was once Cronus lifted her impaled form up and through it aside.
None of the Transformers had moved, too surprised and shocked by the sudden event.
"No", Optimus cried out. He wanted to run to the point where Elita had fell, but the robot stood in his way.
"Cronus", he said this name, angry, questioning.
"Cronus like you know him had never existed Optimus, a name that I took, one of many over the eras. I am one of the first Transformers, one of the original thirteen creations of Primus. Until I turned away from him to the force that is truly moving the universe", he explained.
"The name I am truly known under is The Fallen."
xxxxxxx
Cybertron, years in the future
The Decepticon Cyclonus was entering the main hall. His leader Galvatron was sitting on his throne, flanked by Sweeps.
"Cyclonus, come in. Tell me, how is the situation?"
"We have taken the city. The Autobots are either dead or fleeing."
"That means Cybertron and Earth are ours."
"Yes my lord."
"Ours, ours, no not ours, his", Galvatron murmured.
"My lord?"
"Silence", Galvatron snarled. "Rodimus Prime is dead. We got rid of him. We are free of him. Ultra Magnus is still out there. He is still on the run. Find him, send all troops after him. Bring me Ultra Magnus head."
"Yes my lord."