TRANSFORMERS PRIME: ODYSSEY
Chapter IV - The Brood
OPEN ON:
INT. OUTPOST EIGHT - NIGHT
The joint Autobot/Decepticon task force make their final
stand as the blast doors are assaulted by the Insecticon
swarm. The rhythmic pounding and bloodthirsty shrieks
continue...until they are replaced by muffled crashes,
explosions, howls of panic, and then an eerie silence...
...followed by a monstrous roar of triumph. The only sounds
that linger are the tremors of massive footfalls headed
away from the base. The defenders let out a sigh of relief.
HIJACK
What was that?
KNOCKOUT
(foreboding)
It seems there are fouler things
than Insecticons in the deep places
of Cybertron.
SMOKESCREEN
Can we get a visual?
Knockout rushes to a computer terminal and brings up an
exterior security cam feed. The depot is littered with
Insecticon corpses, all charred or mangled, but no sign of
the monstrous creatures that killed them.
ARCEE
Whatever it was, it's gone now.
SMOKESCREEN
I want a sit-rep. What've we got?
Knockout brings up a damage report program on the computer
screen, littered with error prompts.
KNOCKOUT
Most of the equipment here's
trashed, including the transmitter.
We won't be phoning home any time
soon.
SMOKESCREEN
(to the troops)
Let's get a repair team on the roof.
I also want sentries posted at every
entrance. The rest of you, power
down and conserve your energon.
We'll take shifts. It's going to be
a long night...
LATER
A team of troopers work on repairing the transmitter array
on the roof of the Outpost.
On the interior side, a squad of soldiers stand watch
outside the blast doors. Arcee is one of them, already
yawning with fatigue. Hijack approaches her.
HIJACK
Boss says your shift's up. Time to
relieve you.
ARCEE
I'd feel more relieved if you stayed
inside.
HIJACK
Come on. You don't want Smokescreen
chewing us out again, do you? I
mean, of all bots, right?
Arcee lets out a tired chuckle.
ARCEE
Alright, I'll power down for a few
microcycles. But stay where I can
see you.
Hijack nods. With some reluctance, Arce paces just inside
the blast doors and sits leaning against an inlet ramp
alongside the other sleeping troopers.
She watches as Hijack makes his rounds outside, struggling
to keep her optics open. Eventually, she succumbs to sleep.
Outside all seems quiet. Then suddenly, a loud clang
pierces the darkness.
TROOPERS
What was that?
Who's there?
While the other troopers are distracted by the sound,
several clawed hands reach out and drag Hijack into the
darkness.
One of the hands covers his mouth, muffling his cries for
help.
SKYLYNX
Hush, surface dweller. Do not
struggle. We mean you no harm.
The predacons Skylynx and Darksteel drag him further into
the dark forest of struts and conduits, coming to rest
under a massive spar.
SKYLYNX (cont'd)
Do you see, brother? Does he not
bear the scent of a lab-born?
Darksteel hovers over Hijack, sniffing like a curious
animal.
DARKSTEEL
Hmm...Vaguely. Are you sure he's-?
PREDAKING
What is the meaning of this?!
The Predacons turn to see their leader, Predaking, perched
on the spires above them with a disapproving scowl.
SKYLYNX
Er-forgive us, my king. We were
merely curious about this surface-
dweller.
DARKSTEEL
We thought he might be lab-born,
like us.
PREDAKING
In the future, you will indulge any
curiosities at my command, not at
your whim!
SKYLYNX
(bowing)
Yes, master.
Predaking leaps down from his perch and motions for Skylynx
to let Hijack speak.
PREDAKING
We have no quarrel with you surface-
dweller, but that does not mean you
are safe. Who are you? What brings
you here...? Speak!
HIJACK
(stammering)
Er, uhm-Special Agent Jackson
Darby. Alias: Hijack, your...
majesty? My friends and I are on a
mission to the Core. That's all I'm
at liberty to say.
Predaking circles Hijack, sniffing him curiously.
PREDAKING
Is it true what my companions say?
Were you created in Shockwave's
laboratory, like us?
HIJACK
Uhm, not quite, no. Not by Shockwave
at least. Although, I guess you
could say I was made in a lab on
Earth.
PREDAKING
Earth...
He lets the word hang in the air with a note of nostalgia.
PREDAKING (cont'd)
(reflective)
It is strange how wistful I am for
that little planet...despite the
tortures I endured there. Cybertron
has not quite felt like home to our
kind...
HIJACK
Have the returning Autobots
ostracized you?
DARKSTEEL
They find us...unsavory.
SKYLYNX
The feeling's mutual.
PREDAKING
Either way, we find the underworld
more to our liking. Though life in
depths has not been without its
aggravations.
Predaking plucks a severed Insecticon mandible out of his
armor.
HIJACK
The Insecticons...
ARCEE
(in the distance)
JACK?!
Hijack turns, hearing the echo of Arcee's worried calls.
PREDAKING
Go back to your leaders. Tell them
we wish to parlay.
EXT. OUTPOST EIGHT
Hijack comes sprinting out of the darkness to meet Arcee
and Smokescreen. Arcee collides with him in a relieved hug,
almost trembling with worry.
ARCEE
Don't scare me like that again!
SMOKESCREEN
Where were you?!
HIJACK
Let's just say I've made some new
friends...
He gestures behind him, where they see the Predaking and
his entourage emerge from the shadows.
INT. OUTPOST EIGHT, CIC - MORNING
A holographic map of Cybertron's interior is projected over
a table. A sharp talon comes into focus, pointing at a node
near the core.
PREDAKING
There. They are building a hive,
siphoning Energon and Cybermatter
from the core. My brothers and I
have continually harassed their
efforts, but for every drone we
slay, two more replace it by the
next rotation.
SMOKESCREEN
At that rate there will be enough of
those freaks to overrun the outpost
before our reinforcements arrive...
unless we join forces and take them
head on!
KNOCKOUT
Please tell me you're not serious!
SMOKESCREEN
If we're not dead there, we're dead
here. It's the only chance we have.
ARCEE
Airachnid's there, isn't she? She
has to be the one leading them.
PREDAKING
We have only seen drones, but they
are too coordinated not to have a
Queen.
She gives the hologram a simmering glare.
ARCEE
Let's do it. Let's wipe that
parasite from the surface of
Cybertron forever.
The troopers all cheer and rattle their blasters. The
Predacons growl in agreement.
KNOCKOUT
Buuuut, won't you need someone to
stay behind and watch the base while
you're gone?
SMOKESCREEN
*sigh* True enough. Someone's got to
link up with our reinforcements when
they get here.
ARCEE
You're staying too, Jack.
HIJACK
Oh, not this again! I can do this!
If you just give me-
ARCEE
(desperate)
Jack, please!
Hijack pauses, disarmed by the yearning look in her optics.
ARCEE (cont'd)
There will be other times to prove
yourself, I promise. Right now I
need you to be someone I can come
home to.
He finally relents with a heavy sigh.
HIJACK
Alright, Arcee. I'll stay...For you.
The Predacons shuffle around awkwardly.
PREDAKING
Then it is decided. Gather your
forces and we will march on the
hive.
The Predacons and troopers all leave, preparing to
mobilize. Arcee gives Hijack a grateful hug before joining
them. He watches wistfully as they transform into vehicle
or beast mode and motor off into the darkness.
KNOCKOUT
(celebrating)
Oh, yeah! Escaped the jaws of death
once again!
Knockout holds out his hand for a high-five. Hijack groans.
CUT TO:
EXT. INSECTICON HIVE
A mountainous structure resembling a termite mound juts
from Cybertron's inner frame. It thrums with the beating
wings and chatter of Insecticons.
INT. QUEEN'S CHAMBER
A slimy ovipositor hangs from the ceiling of a grand
chamber, depositing eggs on a conveyor belt. Attached to it
is Airachnid, addressing the throngs of Insecticons nestled
in the alcoves honeycombing the walls.
AIRACHNID
(meditative)
I can feel your presence. I've heard
you nagging at the back of my mind...
yet eluding me. You have the answers
I seek. I can feel it. What are you?
The Insecticons all respond in unison, a chorus of
gravelly, croaking voices.
HIVE MIND
We are Legion.
AIRACHNID
(frustrated)
Quit being so cryptic. You have a
voice now. Never have there been
more Insecticons in one place. Use
them as your conduit. Be of one mind
and answer me.
HIVE MIND
More are required before we will be
whole again. We are Legion.
AIRACHNID
A Legion of what?
A lone Insecticon scout enters the chamber.
INSECTICON SCOUT
My lady. Forgive my disturbance. Our
scouts have detected interlopers.
AIRACHNID
*scoff* The Predacons again? They
grow more tiresome by the cycle...
INSECTICON SCOUT
They are joined by a sizable force
of surface-dwellers, my lady.
AIRACHNID
(delighted)
Ah, Arcee! Finally! I knew you would
come to me.
(to the
Insecticons)
Let us prepare to receive our
guests, my children!
The multitudes of drones detach from the ceiling and swarm
out of the chamber, whooping and shrieking with excitement.
EXT. INSECTICON HIVE
The Predacons and Autobots emerge from a tunnel overlooking
the hive. It is eerily silent.
SMOKESCREEN
It's massive.
ARCEE
And growing.
(to Predaking)
So what's our approach? Stealth?
PREDAKING
If it is this quiet, they already
know we are here. I suggest a two
pronged assault. One in the front,
one from the air.
Predaking transforms into his dragon beast mode and allows
Arcee to clamber onto his back. Smokescreen nods and leads
his troops in a frontal assault while the Predacons fly
over the hive.
INT. HIVE ATRIUM
A swarm of Insecticons clamber across the chamber walls.
They gather at the lip of the main entrance, waiting in
ambush.
To their surprise, a shadow passes over them. Looking up,
they see the Predacons crashing through the sky-light and
bathing them in flame.
Smokescreen's forces come crashing through the main
entrance unimpeded and join the onslaught. Losing numbers
rapidly, the Insecticons retreat further into the hive.
PREDAKING (cont'd)
Yes! Flee vermin! We are the apex
predators!
ARCEE
Let's not celebrate just yet...
They turn their attention to the tunnels leading deeper
into the hive. The soldiers form up and follow the
Predacons in. Behind them, one of the Insecticon corpses
stirs.
It's mandibles open like a hinge, a set of pharyngeal jaws
snaking out, hungering for energon.
CUT TO:
INT. OUTPOST EIGHT - DAY
Hijack anxiously paces the length of the observation deck
while Knockout mans the comm station.
KNOCKOUT
High Command? Come in, High Command!
This is Knockout of Task Force Four,
requesting immediate assistance.
AUTOBOT COMM OFFICER (COMMS)
*static* Task fo—*static*
Respondi—*static* What is your
status, Task Force Four?
KNOCKOUT
Thank Primus! We've encountered
heavy Insecticon resistance. A whole
hive of them! We need immediate
reinforcements-or a really big
flyswatter.
AUTOBOT COMM OFFICER (COMMS)
Understood, Task Force Four. We'll
dispatch a brigade to your position.
It may be some time before they are
mobilized.
KNOCKOUT
Keep us posted. Knockout's over and
out!
Knockout terminates the line and reclines back in his chair
with a contented sigh.
KNOCKOUT (cont'd)
Ahhh. Now we just have to sit back
and wait for the cavalry to arrive!
HIJACK
Yeah, great! Some heroes we are.
KNOCKOUT
Oh don't look so glum, chum. Heroics
are overrated.
HIJACK
(flustered)
And they call you an Autobot, while
I'm busting my skid-plate just
trying to pass for a Cybertronian.
KNOCKOUT
Well even the Autobots have enough
martyrs. "They too serve who stand
and wait".
HIJACK
(dejected)
Great. Now you sound like Arcee too.
Knockout swivels his chair a bit, his roguish expression
becoming more sympathetic.
KNOCKOUT
You know. Having a bot looking out
for you isn't the worst thing in the
world.
HIJACK
You'd know?
KNOCKOUT
Just...enjoy it while it lasts.
HIJACK
However long that is...
Just then, the outpost is rocked by a tremor. They leap to
their feet, blasters drawn. A high-pitched shriek echoes
off the walls of the Well as the tremors continue.
KNOCKOUT
More Insecticons?!
The tremors grow more violent when, suddenly, a giant
insectoid face drops down into view of the window. Knockout
cries in panic as they both let loose several blaster
shots.
They only manage to score the windows, the face behind them
letting off a startled bleat. It's not an Insecticon, its
facial features looking more bovine and docile.
KNOCKOUT (cont'd)
Whoa! Wait, wait!
(relieved)
False alarm. It's just an energon
worm.
HIJACK
A what?!
The creature blinks and lets off another confused, bleating
cry before continuing to crawl down the surface of the
overhang. It resembles a giant caterpillar, its fleshy body
segmented between metal plates.
KNOCKOUT
They're silicon-based animals that
form a part of Cybertron's natural
immuno-defense system. I'm surprised
we haven't seen more of them by now,
actually...
They pace up to the window to see another worm crawling on
the roof of the base. They both release bundles of tendril-
like appendages from their mouths that emit welding arcs,
helping them repair the damage to the base's
superstructure.
KNOCKOUT (cont'd)
(pitying)
Oh, poor things. Looks like the
Insecticons haven't been kind to
them. That must be why.
He points to where their bodies brandish deep gashes, score-
marks or missing antennae.
A moment later, the command console frantically blips with
an incoming distress cal. Knockout rushes back to answer
it, opening video-feeds from the body cams of the troopers.
ARCEE (COMMS)
Knockout! Tell me those
reinforcements are on their way!
INT. INSECTICON HIVE, QUEEN'S GRAND CHAMBER
The troopers frantically blast away at waves of lurching
zombie Terrorcons.
TERRORCONS
En-ner-gon...En-ner-gon...
The Predacons are faring no better, being mobbed by
Insecticon parasites trying to dig their bladed proboscis
into their necks.
INT. OUTPOST EIGHT
KNOCKOUT
Terrorcons?! Arcee, aim for their
spark chambers! And whatever you do,
don't let them bite you!
HIJACK
You've seen these things before?
KNOCKOUT
(stammering)
Er-uhm...Mmhmm...
INT. INSECTICON HIVE, QUEEN'S GRAND CHAMBER
Arcee desperately fends off an Insecticon parasite trying
to infect her. She kicks its head away and blasts it in the
neck point-blank. She then barrel rolls under its chest and
finishes it off with a blast to its spark chamber.
In that time, more Terrorcon zombies begin swarming her.
Predaking releases one last defiant stream of flame as he
is buried beneath a pile of Insecticon parasites and
infected.
INT. OUTPOST EIGHT
Hijack and Knockout watch in horror as the scene transpires
before the video-feed abruptly cuts to static.
HIJACK
That's it! No more standing around.
We've got to do something!
KNOCKOUT
Do what? You saw it! They're dead
already!
(haunted)
...No worse...undead...
HIJACK
(suspicious)
You sure know a lot about these
things.
Knockout swivels in his chair with a guilty expression,
reluctantly coming clean.
KNOCKOUT
Ehrm...Once upon a time, Starscream
and I might've...whipped up a super
soldier program for Megatron that
went off the rails...Long story.
HIJACK
So you made these things?!
KNOCKOUT
-Co-authored!
HIJACK
Whatever! Didn't you make a cure or
something?
KNOCKOUT
Even if I did, I don't have the
equipment to synthesize it! Face it,
we've just got to...
(ashamed)
...cut our losses and run.
Knockout turns away and busies himself packing his
equipment. Hijack is stunned with disbelief.
HIJACK
*scoff* So much for redemption then,
huh? This is your fault!
KNOCKOUT
Hey, I didn't know the Insecticons
had been infected. And it was
Starscream's idea to toy with dark
energon. Not mine!
HIJACK
Then you're two of a kind. Just a
couple of sleazy Decepticon bottom-
feeders!
KNOCKOUT
(venomous)
And you'd know, being a lowly
organic! A human, pretending at
being one of us!
HIJACK
Well if you're kind are so much
better then act like it and take
some responsibility!
Knockout scoffs and storms off. Despairing, Hijack paces up
to the observation gallery, pressing his head to the cold
glass. His dejected gaze wanders over the Energon worms,
still busily repairing the outpost.
He lights up with an idea.
HIJACK (cont'd)
Wait, Knockout. You said the
Terrorcons were made with dark
energon...?
CUT TO:
INT. INSECTICON HIVE, QUEEN'S GRAND CHAMBER
An unconscious Arcee is tangled in a cocoon of spider-silk.
She slowly rouses to see herself dangling from the rafters
of Airachnid's lair, surrounded by other cocoons.
She then looks down to see the zombified Predacons sparring
for the amusement of the gathered Insecticons.
AIRACHNID
Sleep well, dear?
Airachnid clambers over to Arcee, taunting her with a wry
grin.
AIRACHNID (cont'd)
-And no, you haven't been infected.
I want you lucid for the lesson I'm
about to teach...
ARCEE
"Lesson"?
AIRACHNID
I know all about your new partner-
"Hijack", was it...?
Arcee's face betrays a hint of alarm. Airachnid chuckles.
AIRACHNID (cont'd)
Poor Arcee. You just never learn...
Airachnid then turns one of the nearby cocoons with her
claw. Smokescreen is tangled in it, barely conscious.
ARCEE
(struggling)
Smokescreen? Don't you touch him!
AIRACHNID
Bad things happen to bots you call
"partner".
She unhinges her mandibles and sinks her pharyngeal jaw
into Smokescreen's neck.
ARCEE
NO! YOU SCRAP-EATING BOTTOM FEEDER!
Smokescreen groans in pain as Airachnid slowly drains his
energon. His features grow more withered until he finally
becomes a Terrorcon.
SMOKESCREEN
I...I'm so weak...Energon...I need
energon!
Airachnid wipes her maw and titters at Arcee's dismay.
AIRACHNID
Don't worry. Hijack will succumb
even more slowly.
ARCEE
You won't get the chance! An army's
on it's way to stamp you out!
AIRACHNID
(casual)
Oh, I know.
Airachnid snaps her claws and Knockout's distress signal
plays over loudspeakers.
KNOCKOUT (O.S)
*static* High Command? Come in, High
Command! This is Knockout of Task
Force Four, requesting immediate
assistance. *static*
AIRACHNID
By the time they arrive, that
outpost will be rubble.
(to her
Insecticons)
And we will have the numbers to
stamp them out!
The Insecticons roar with approval.
But before they can finish celebrating, a small tremor
rocks the chamber. The Insecticons look around, confused.
The tremors grow louder, until finally an energon worm
bursts into the chamber.
HIJACK
YEEHAWWW!
KNOCKOUT
Yipee-ki-yay, Insecticon freaks!
Hijack and Knockout are riding its back, blasting away.
AIRACHNID
WHAT?!
They are joined as another energon worm bursts in, and then
another. The massive beasts slither into the room,
flattening the Insecticons and wrestling the zombified
Predacons.
One of the worms then attacks Airachnid's ovipositor,
dislodging her from it.
AIRACHNID (cont'd)
*screams in pain* No! Get away from
that, you filthy-!
Another worm cuts Arcee and Smokescreen's cocoons from the
cieling and deposits them on the floor. Hijack arrives to
burn away the webbing with his blaster.
HIJACK
Sorry, Arcee. I'm just not a stay-at-
home robot.
Arcee gives him a beaming smile. He's almost cut through
her webs when Airachnid leaps from the rafters, tackling
him to the floor.
AIRACHNID
Pleased to meet you, Hijack! Good of
you to save me the trouble of
hunting...you...down.
Airachnid struggles to pin Hijack to the floor and puncture
his neck with her pharyngeal jaw. He manages to seize it in
his fist and rit out of her throat.
AIRACHNID (cont'd)
*shrieking in pain*
HIJACK
I was never much for French-kissing!
Arcee then bursts out of her cocoon and knocks Airachnid
away with a flying kick.
ARCEE
This is for Tailgate!
Knockout sneaks up behind Airachnid and slices off several
of her legs with his surgical saw.
KNOCKOUT
And this is for Breakdown!
Airachnid collapses to the ground, howling in agony.
Hearing her cries, the remaining Insecticons break off from
their fight and surround their Queen.
Instead of fighting, they grab Airachnid and transform into
beetles, carrying her away.
AIRACHNID
(deranged)
NO! NO! PUT ME DOWN! I WANT THEIR
SPARKS! GAAAAGH!
The Insecticons blast a hole in the ceiling and make their
escape into the underworld.
Meanwhile, the fighting draws to a close with the
Insecticons and Terrorcons all demolished and the zombified
Predacons pinned underneath the energon worms' girth.
KNOCKOUT
(to Hijack)
So you were telling me about a plan?
Hijack approaches the zombified Smokescreen, still
thrashing around in his cocoon.
HIJACK
A human friend of mine was once
poisoned by dark energon. We cured
him by exposing him to an equal
amount of pure energon-
KNOCKOUT
(pondering)
-Thereby cancelling out Unicron's
anti-spark.
(shrugging)
Well, it's worth a shot.
The energon worms nod in agreement and begin regurgitating
a slurry of liquid energon over the captive Predacons.
Smokescreen is covered in the deluge as well.
KNOCKOUT (cont'd)
(repulsed)
Oh, grody!
The energon seeps into every pore and pulses with blue
light, slowly scouring away the purple pall of the dark
energon.
Smokescreen's crazed lust for energon fades as Knockout
helps him out of the cocoon.
Predaking snarls with disgust.
PREDAKING
Revolting!
(to the worm)
You! Creature! Clean this mess at
once!
The energon worm eagerly licks his carapace, bleating with
affection.
CROSSFADE TO:
INT. CORE OF CYBERTRON
The energon worms slink into a cavernous chamber, followed
by the Predacons and surface-worlders.
KNOCKOUT
Oh, finally. I wasn't enthused to be
trailing their back ends after
seeing what came out their front.
HIJACK
So, this is it? The Core of
Cybertron?
He is awed by the sight of the massive sphere suspended in
the chamber. As they all bask in its glow, a flock of wisps
emerge from its depths and float down to them.
The wisps coalesce into several groups of apparitions. The
shades of Optimus Prime and Alpha Trion manifest and beckon
Smokescreen. Breakdown happily waves at Knockout. Tailgate
and Cliffjumper smile at Arcee.
The three Autobots wordlessly rush up to the shades of
their fallen comrades, saluting, warmly hugging, or
embracing and weeping with joy, respectively.
The Predacons are surrounded by the ghosts of their lab-
born brethren; those terminated in their cloning vats
before their life cycles had begun. Skylynx and Darksteel
excitedly prance and frolic with them.
A final pair of shades manifest in front of Jack. They
include Prowl and a skinny blue Autobot.
HIJACK (cont'd)
...Are you Prowl?
Prowl's shade nods and smiles.
HIJACK (cont'd)
(humbled)
...Thank you. It's because of your
sacrifice that I have a chance to
continue fighting for my friends...
PROWL
Make it count, soldier.
Both Autobots stand at attention and salute him. He mirrors
their gesture. Prowl then motions over his soldier.
PROWL (cont'd)
The big man wants to talk. Don't
worry. We put in a good word for
you.
Prowl and Bluestreak then turn back into wisps and zip back
into the core. Hijack steels himself to approach the core
when Predaking paces up to him.
PREDAKING
A moment, lab-brother. Might I join
you? I too wish to speak with The
Creator.
HIJACK
Be my guest.
They both transform into their alt-modes and make the
journey to the core, a deceptively long distance. They
finally reach the end of the trackway, arriving before the
massive floating sphere.
A voice emanates from it, gentle yet powerful.
PRIMUS
Jackson Darby...Come closer...
Jack obligingly steps forward, somewhat intimidated.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
I have seen what you have done for
my children...
The air around him fills with scintillating energy, showing
him his past deeds in service to the Transformers. Fighting
MECH, helping the Autobots navigate Earth, traveling to
Cybertron to reactivate Vector Sigma.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
Aiding their efforts, often at your
peril. Risking your spark to protect
theirs. My friend, you are an
Autobot in spirit if not in body.
You honor me...
Hijack smiles, vindicated.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
...So why do I sense despair in your
heart?
He ponders a moment before answering.
HIJACK
Ever since I met the Autobots, their
world has seemed so vast to me. The
distances they travel through space,
the eons of time they live through.
Whatever my achievements, I couldn't
presume to be one of them just by
slipping into a new body like a bath-
robe...I'm still only human...
The core pauses and then replies:
PRIMUS
Allow me to confide in you a secret
even many of my people do not know...
I made them in the mold of organic
life-in the image of beings like
you.
HIJACK
(astonished)
You made them...look like us!
PRIMUS
(good humored)
I wasn't terribly original. I wanted
my creations to experience the
cosmos through the lens of
individuality as organic beings do,
but with the longevity and
versatility of machine life. In
hindsight, I might have spoiled
them.
They both chuckle.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
Too many of them have forgotten the
joy in living a brief, but full
life. Perhaps you can remind them...
The air fills with tendrils of glowing energy that gently
lift Hijack's body into the air. He looks around with fear
that slowly turns to wonder.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
Jack...See through our eyes so we
might see through yours...
The surface of Jack's body dissolves into liquid metal,
remolding itself, changing...transforming...
His vehicon face-mask melts away, becoming a metallic echo
of his human features. The muted gray palette of his body
becomes suffused with vibrant ocean blues and sunset
oranges.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
Rise, Hijack. Adopted son of
Cybertron!
He is placed back on his feet as he marvels his new form.
ARCEE
*wolf whistle* Primus sure can cook.
He turns to see Arcee pacing toward him, smiling fondly.
They stride toward each other, embracing and kissing
passionately. It seems like a ages before they break away.
Cheers erupt from behind them as they are joined in
celebration by Knockout and Smokescreen. They lift Hijack
on their shoulders and carry him away.
Predaking and his entourage are left in silence, watching
the display of joy with a touch of forlornness.
PRIMUS
You wished an audience, Great King
of the Predacons?
Predaking approaches the core and bows his head.
PREDAKING
Great Primus...so many on this world
have the privilege to know they are
your creations. But my existence is
a puzzle. My brothers and I were
made to be weapons wielded by a
tyrant. Now that we have broken
free...we are lost...without
purpose.
PRIMUS
If a purpose is what you ask of me,
it is the one thing I cannot grant
you. No Cybertronian since the
Primes has been created with an
ordainment from me. You are not so
alone in your plight as you might
think.
PREDAKING
We cannot help but feel alone on
this world. It's plains of burnished
steel feel lonely, it's depths cold
and empty. Forgive my impertinence,
Great One...but I can feel deep in
my spark that there is somewhere we
are meant to be...yet are not.
PRIMUS
I understand.
A holographic image appears before them, depicting a female
Transformer in the shape of a centaur with Pegasus wings.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
Behold the creator of your race. My
daughter, Onyx Prime.
Another image appears beside her, a beautiful green planet
covered in lush foliage.
PRIMUS (cont'd)
When your kind went extinct on
Cybertron, she took what few of you
remained to this lush world far way.
The image shrinks to fit in Predaking's claws. Skylynx and
Darksteel marvel at it.
SKYLYNX
It's beautiful!
DARKSTEEL
There are more of our brothers
there?
PRIMUS
Yes. They might help you find your
way.
Predaking's features grow resolute, looking forward with a
renewed sense of purpose.
PREDAKING
My brothers. It is time to return
home.
TO BE
CONTINUED...