Chapter 4
Cybertron in the year 2005, Iacon outlands Autobot resistance
"You know," Roadbuster pointed out, "if anybody else told me what you just did, I would not have believed a single word of it."
Ultra Magnus had just informed him about the entire story how he got here.
They were still sitting inside a ruin, somewhere in the outlands of Iacon.
It had been a hard decision on his part to tell Roadbuster the entire truth. Even at the risk of him not believing him and being thought to be crazy. But he had to.
There was after all another Ultra Magnus on Earth right now, taking over as leader right now after Optimus died and he will be replaced by Rodimus in a few days.
And if it came out that there were two of him around he would certainly be accused of trying to infiltrate the Autobots and posing as their leader.
Better committed as insane than being shot for being a spy, he thought to himself.
"But you, I simply have to believe you," Roadbuster continued.
"Because I told you over 20 things only the real Ultra Magnus could have known... and you know at the same time that I…" he pointed at himself, "am right now just taking over as Autobot Leader in Autobot city."
"Yes," Roadbuster replied simply.
"That means I can not be a Decepticon impostor or the local Magnus who had lost his mind. So what is left what I can be?
"A time-traveler," Roadbuster answered him, "or a very dangerous individual," he added. "You are allowed to stay here but you will be put under guard the entire time."
"I understand," Magnus responded. "I don´t hold it against you that you are cautious. And thank you."
In that moment Topspin run in. "Roabuster!" He called out. "We are receiving a distress call from Moonbase 1."
The resistance base-commander stood up and followed the other Autobot.
Ultra Magnus staid. He could imaging what that call was about.
He had received the same message once before, allthough on Earth, not here.
Unicron had been sighted.
xxxxxxx
Cybertron in the year 2005, Decepticon headquarter sector Polyphex
Galvatron was just having a briefing with the two Decepticon officers Soundwave and Shockwave.
This two had been Megatron´s third in commands. Shockwave as his placeholder on Cybertron and Soundwave as his direct adjutant and right hand.
Cyclonus and Scourge were standing beside him, a sign of authority. Galvatron was securing his leadership.
He contacted all officers and let them swear loyalty. This two should help to hold the discipline upright.
During the entire conversation Galvatron had not a single time directly revered to his past life as Megatron. But he showed several times knowledge that only their old leader could have and let them made their own conclusions.
xxx
Cyclonus looked at them. Both of them were Decepticon loyalists like himself.
Soundwave´s loyalty however seemed to have it´s limits. The stoic Decepticon had done nothing as Megatron and the others were thrown overboard.
Had he simply feared for his own live? Had Soundwave actually believed the story that they didn´t have enough fuel to reach Cybertron with them? Or had he thought the others would kill him if he tried to stop them?
Cyclonus didn´t really blame Soundwave or any of the others that they were willing to sacrifice them. Confusion, fear, panic and exhaustion that was the situation.
Who he blamed was Astrotrain. He made space flights on a regular basis if the fuel wasn´t enough to reach Cybertron, he should have realized that right at the start and not when they were somewhere in deep space.
Or he had been collaborating with Starscreamfrom the start?
Astrotrain was either dangerously incompetent or Starscream´s accomplice.
Cyclonus would have liked to let that idiot make flights to Earth and back till he would fall apart. But he had more important things to do.
Another thing that made him angry was that they were left to die like that. Simply thrown in space to perish from deenergizing.
Couldn´t they at least shoot them themselves? Give them an end with some dignity?
But then, he told himself, you would be really dead right now. It was ironic.
He asked himself how Skywarp would have reacted. Would he have Megatron let been thrown overboard?
Honestly Skywarp would have probably rather been shot in the process.
Yes - he would have done something and failed.
But he Cyclonus would not. He would do everything to never come into that situation again in the first place.
The talk Galvatron had with the other two officers was nearly over.
"Shockwave you are not needed here anymore. Return to your post," the Decepticon leader told the one eyed robot.
"As you wish... Galvatron," Shockwave answered and left.
The administrator of Cybertron, Cyclonus remembered, was one of Megatron´s most loyal followers. And once one of his most feared warriors.
Through millions of years of taking care of the planet and routine works he became however, in Skywarp´s and now Cyclonus eyes, something of a bureaucrat.
In his opinion this was a terrible waste of a great potential. Even if it was a source of good jokes, a part of him thought.
"Soundwave stay here," Galvatron ordered him. "There is something I want to talk to you about."
Cyclonus could imagine what that was. But he wasn´t sure if he trusted Soundwave completely after what happened in Astrotrain´s shuttle-mode.
In that moment a Sweep came running in. Cyclonus recognized him as Sweep 2, built from a Kickback-Insecticon.
Even he was not completely sure if it had been the real one or one of the few sets sets of sentient Clones the Insecticons had created in the last years.
"Galvatron. There is something you need to see," he said to them.
The Sweep looked really distracted by something. When they came out and saw what was happening he understood why.
Unicron was attacking one of Cybertron´s moons. And it looked as if he was swallowing it completely.
All present, except the reformed Decepticons who had already seen it before, were overwhelmed by the sight of this being alone.
Unicron looked like he... or it came out of someone´s nightmare... a planet-body made of metal, like Cyberton, with a gigantic maw in it´s center and giant claw like fangs that right now were digging into the moon.
xxx
Meanwhile on the moon itself, too far away to be seen by the Decepticons, a few Autobots were fleeing for their lives.
Two of them lost their hold - two warriors previusly from the Cybertron resistance, who had neverbeen on Earth - were sucked into the maw and were lost.
Jazz and Cliffjumper on the other hand were able to board a shuttle and start.
The Autobot Gears was still standing on the moon. He was normally not a very joyous type but as he saw that at least his friends were able to leave this moon, he had to smile.
All around him the moon was breaking apart.
He knew this was his end but he was happy that at least the others had a chance to escape. Then he as well was being swallowed.
xxx
On Cybertron the Decepticons watched as the moon was ripped to pieces and eaten by the monstrosity over them.
Galvatron however was furious. This moon was part of his home-world and his empire and Unicron thought he could simply destroy it?
Even if Unicron had forced him to agree to his `terms´, that was never part of it.
Did Unicron really think he would destroy the Matrix for him when he was at the same time destroying parts of his planet?
"How do you dare Unicron," Galvatron called out. He was standing on the podium where Starscream was holding his coronation earlier.
"Cybertron and all his moons belong to me."
Right after he said this once again a stinging pain shot through his head. The agony was incredible.
The other Decepticons saw that he was holding his head in obvious pain.
Scourge looked at him and said, somewhat cryptic,
"Remember - we belong to him."
At the moment he had said this words Scourge asked himself since when he actually thought like that.
The pain increased. Galvatron lost his balance and fell from the stairs.
"I will obey Unicron," he finally brought out. In that moment the pain ended.
"Decepticons to Earth," he ordered.
Cyclonus had watched the entire scene with disgust. It was time to do something.
xxxxxxx
Earth in the year 1986
A number of Autobots were standing in a small town in California.
The scientists Wheeljack and Perceptor, Optimus Prime, Prowl and Ratchet the chief medic were examining the rests of a local super-market that was blown up by a Decepticon today.
One of the citizens was with them and explaining the situation.
"You say a Autobot came to this town and was then attacked by a Jet that transformed into another Transformer and captured?" Optimus Prime asked.
"Yes," the man told him. "The jet came and shot him. When he wasn´t winning against the robot, he started firing into the town. The first shot had blown up the super-market. As the jet fired again the robot shot the missile down. But then the jet shot him in the back."
That sounded very much like an Autobot, Optimus thought.
"But that was still not enough," the human explained. "He came back up again. But then their leader - this Megatron - suddenly appeared and shot him once again. That time the robot staid down."
"The jet. What did he looked like?" he asked.
"It was a silver F15," another man informed him. "I am the mayor", he introduced himself.
The Autobots looked at each other. They knew who that had been - Starscream.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, mayor. I only wish it was under better circumstances," Optimus replied.
"Can you tell us what the other robot looked like? Are you sure it was really an Autobot?" Wheeljack asked.
"He was about as tall as him", the first man said, pointing at Optimus, "he had a paint-job that looked like orange and yellow flames and transformed into some kind of large futuristic looking car and he had a red emblem on his breast."
None of the Autobots knew someone who looked like that, but he was obviously one of them.
"Everything speaks for the fact that this is truly an Autobot. We don´t know who he is or how he came here, but we should try to rescue him," Optimus declared.
"I hope you are able to save this robot," the mayor told him. "He was protecting our town and captured because of it."
"We will do our best," Optimus assured him.
"Optimus, originally we came here to research the strange energy readings that were coming from this area. And now we are finding out that a new Autobot who nobody knows showed up in the same area. I think it is highly possible that both are connected," Perceptor explained.
"That is a interesting theory Perceptor. But we should now concentrate on finding this robot."
The Autobot scientist put a scanner out.
"As I thought. The source of the energy has moved. It is now somewhere in the rocky mountains. I am convinced there we will find our robot," he told Optimus with a smile.
xxxxxxx
Temporary Decepticon base in the Rocky Mountains
Megatron and Starscream were watching as Soundwave examined the device they had gotten from the mysterious Autobot.
On the other side of the room stood Rodimus in energon-chains, guarded by Thundercracker and Skywarp.
Megatron addressed him.
"Tell me Autobot - what is that? How does that device work? Who are you and where do you came from?"
"Well - good. What I know, I can tell you with good conscience," the Autobot replied. "I have just found this device myself. When I came close to it, it suddenly started to work and send me here."
Giving Megatron that information couldn´t do any harm.
"Soundwave?" Megatron asked.
The Communication specialist was able to read many variants of waves, including the thoughts of Transformers. In short he could read minds.
Soundwave started to scan him.
"He is telling the truth Megatron," the Decepticon confirmed.
"But that doesn´t mean he is telling the whole truth," Megatron pointed out.
"Continue with the mind-scan."
"Unnecesarry," Soundwave replied.
"What - why?"
"Machine language of that device is cybertronian. I can simply read how it works," he explained.
"What? That is completely impossible," Rodimus said now flabbergasted.
Why should an alien device have cybertronian as it´s language? Unless it was not really alien at all.
"Ah - so you have really no idea how this device works. You had not even time to examine it closely before we caught you. Too bad," Megatron told him mockingly.
Rodimus first priority had been to find other Autobots when he landed here. He had no idea that he was stranded in another time. Otherwise he would have taken a look at the pyramid first to see if maybe it could send him back.
But on the other side, he didn´t knew how dangerous the damned thing was and didn't want to risk it.
He thought he was on a peaceful planet full of allies. Instead he was in a era where the war was still going on and he was running in a hostile Con first. And now the alien device he had with him was in the hands of the Decepticons.
And if the technology was written in cybertronian they could easily figure out how it works.
But if it was, that would mean the pyramid was build by Transformers or at least meant to be used by them. That didn´t made the slightest sense. This technology was completely alien.
Nothing he had seem pointed in the slightest bit to a cybertronian heritage. So why by the Matrix was the machine code written in cybertronian?
"Bring him to his cell", Megatron said to Thundercracker and Skywarp. "Maybe we will still have use for him." The two seekers brought Rodimus away.
"And?" He asked Soundwave. "What have you found out so far?"
"Device seems to be capable to send objects to another point in time... andalso to another place in space instantly, without any time difference", Soundwave said in his emotionless voice.
"Like a space-bridge?"
"Yes - only more sophisticated. More effective."
"Very good Soundwave." Megatron knew such a technology could be the key to winning the war and conquering the universe.
He could send troops and materials to every point in space, to every time. If he could control and replicate it.
"I hope you don´t forget who found this useful source of knowledge in the first place Megatron," Starscream pointed in.
"Oh. You don´t need to fear Starscream. None of your `Efforts´ will be forgotten," the Decepticon leader assured him.
xxxxxxx
Cybertron in the year 2005, Decepticon flagship on the way to Earth
"You know Scourge - that beard makes you look somewhat strange. That and the wings, a bit creepy, don´t you think?"
Cyclonus was uneasy about his friends latest behavior. How he said that they belonged to Unicron.
Thought Scourge really like that? Had he given up their freedom so easily? Or was it something else?
He could feel it in the background of his mind, like a voice that is constantly ordering him to - kill, destroy, obey. Unicron had done something with their programing. He was sure of it. That was also the real reason Galvatron was talking to Soundwave.
Had Scourge lost himself? His past incarnation would have talked with Thundercracker and made a few jokes. He hoped to get a reaction out of him. To see if his true self was still there.
"You know Cyclonus - a Second in Command should act like one and not make fun of his subordinates," Scourge countered.
Cyclonus smiled, that was the reaction he had hoped for.
"Don´t worry. Your new look seems to become a fashion trend really fast," he said to him while they were entering a room were the three Sweeps were now nearly finished creating a fourth one.
Their leader was standing next to them, overseeing the cloning process.
"You see mighty Galvatron our clone ability is still intact and was even improved in many ways," Sweep 1 told him.
Like their Insecticon `ancestors´, the sweeps were able to create new copies of themselves, given enough raw materials.
The Insecticons were able to create mindless drones from rubble in a matter of seconds. Over time it became also possible to create sentient clones. That on the other hand was taking a longer time.
With the Sweeps on the other hand all clones were automatically fully sentient.
The creation of a new Sweep took just over one day.
But was that a `gift´ from Unicron or an concealed attempt to create an new endless army of fighters for himself?
They saw how the new Decepticon was activated. His eyes glow for a moment and he started to move.
Galvatron was curious. This was the first Unicron designed Transformer who was not reformated from someone else.
"Who are you and what is your purpose?" he asked the newly created robot.
"I am a Sweep. My purpose is to serve you Lord Galvatron."
Good so far, Cyclonus thought to himself. We will see how well this one will operate in the future.
And so thought Galvatron.
"Cyclonus, Scourge - I want to talk to both of you." They both followed Galvatron to his new quarters on the flagship.
"I am sure you have noticed something unusual since our reformation," he came right to the point.
"Yes mighty Galvatron," both of them answered.
He started to explain.
"I have let Soundwave confirm something for me. Unicron have placed a aggressive viral programing in our systems. This program is now influencing our minds."
"To what goal?" Cyclonus asked.
"We are not sure. But as far as we know it increases our aggressions and decrease the independent thinking. And of course it is brainwashing us to be loyal to him," Galvatron said with a lot of disdain.
"It is changing us into his puppets," Cyclonus stated.
"No - I belong to nobody." He looked at Scourge. "You may be a coward and surrender yourself to that abomination, but I certainly won´t."
"But how?" the Sweep leader asked. "You have seen what Unicron can do. What he can do if we try to resist. He is watching us the entire time. What can we do against him?"
Galvatron smiled.
"I have a plan," he told them.
He showed them a small device he had been holding in a fan in his desk.
"This is my new time-displacement controller," Galvatron explained. "You are right Scourge, as long as we are here Unicron can watch every move we make. So we will time jump into the past."
"A time-machine?" Scourge asked him.
"It is much higher developed than our old time travel equipment. It is based on the technology we got from that Autobot Hotrod 19 years ago. This one works more accurate than the old one´s and we won´t have any problems with it."
Then Galvatron activated a hologram that showed something that looked like a giant gun.
"What you see here is a pulse laser. We will go back 20 years in the past. We will build this on Earth´s moon. There it will stay, undisturbed for the next 20 years... untill now.
It is being charged with sun energy. After this 20 years it will have enough fire power to destroy even Unicron. In the moment we time jump back into the present the weapon will be fired and destroy our so called master. We will be free and Cybertron will be ours again."
Scourge smiled now. "A brilliant plan Galvatron."
"We will start when we are halfway to Earth," their leader informed them.
They were about to leave as Galvatron spoke again.
"Cyclonus, Scourge have you seen something, during the reformation, Unicron´s mind?" he inquired.
"Yes mighty Galvatron," Cyclonus answered him.
He had seen it and knew exactly what his commander was talking about.
"He wins energy by eating worlds. But that is not the real reason he does it," Cyclonus stated.
"Yes - I have seen it as well," Galvatron confirmed his memories, "his thoughts, for a small moment. He wants to destroy everything. He had changed others like us to serve his goals," he told them.
"We have no reason to believe that he will spare us, even if we destroy the Matrix for him. Others have trusted him and lost everything. I am Galvatron, I won´t put myself under the mercy of that creature."
"Unicron must be destroyed," Cyclonus pointed out.
"Yes," Galvatron said.
xxxxxxx
Alien Pyramid in Earth orbit in the year 2019
"Can you do anything to bring them back Perceptor?" Optimus Prime asked him.
"I will try," the Autobot scientist replied as he stood on the terminals of the mysterious Pyramid.
"That is impossible", Perceptor suddenly said.
"What is it?" Kup asked.
"The machine code of this device, it is written in cybertronian. I can easily read it, I can use the machine."
"What? but that means…" Kup was perplexed.
"We can later wonder about that Kup. Perceptor, can you bring them back?" Optimus wanted to know.
"It shouldn´t be hard after I found out how everything works.
xxxxxxx
Cybertron in the year 2005 - Iacon outlands Autobot resistance
Ultra Magnus was sitting in a room in the small Autobot-resistance base in Iacon. He was thinking about the consequences of him being here.
If he should get involved or if he should try to stay out the past.
Alone the fact that he was here could change anything, he thought to himself.
xxxxxxx
Earth orbit in the year 2019
"I understand it now", said Perceptor.
"You know how the machine works?" Optimus asked him.
"Not only that. I think I can already locate Ultra Magnus. This Machine is using of course using a wormhole to travel through time and space. The process is just more sophisticated and better controlled than any I have ever seen before."
"Can you try to bring him back?" Optimus wanted to know.
"Yes I think I can open a gate to do it. Shall I try now?"
"Yes," Optimus replied.
xxxxxxx
In the year 2005, Decepticon flagship on the way to earth
Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge were standing on the deck. They stood close enough that the time displacement controller could grasp all three of them.
"Are you ready? I activate now," Galvatron told them.
A large energy sphere - the opening of the wormhole - appeared and was about to swallow them.
But then it became unstable and started to fluctuate.
"There is something wrong," he called out. "I have interference."
xxxxxxx
Earth orbit in the year 2019
"What do you mean you have interference?" Kup shouted at Perceptor.
"It is as if in the past a second wormhole was opening that is now interacting with ours. It is becoming unstable."
The energy sphere that was generated by the machine a minute before started to fluctuate and then suddenly it disappeared.
"The gate has collapsed," Perceptor said.
"Could have something happened to Magnus?" Optimus asked.
"Unlikely," the scientist answered. "The gate wasn´t even fuly open before it went out."
"Continue your work Perceptor. We will try again when we are sure that something like that won´t happen again."
xxxxxxx
Cybertron, somewhere in the past
Three Decepticons had just appeared out of nowhere.
"Where are we?" Cyclonus asked.
"This is definitely Cybertron, not Earth," Galvatron said. "Scourge give me a exact date."
"As you wish." The Sweep leader had the best sensors in the galaxy. With a few looks he could cartography the entire area and, even more important, the star constellations.
He lifted off into the sky. After a minute he came back.
"I am not absolutely sure," he told them, "but I think we must be in the first years of the war. Shortly after the Golden Age. We are around 9.000.000 years in the past."