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TRANSFORMERS BEYOND

LEGENDARIUM

Chapter II

The Age of the Primes

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For the longest time since the fall of the Covenant, there was only silence.

Then, after many eons, life reappeared on Cybertron.

Approx. 10 billion stellar cycles ago

Deep within the core of Cybertron, Primus not only used the AllSpark to create his new creations, but also to construct relics that served conduits to its power in order for his Children to reproduce more of their kind. The first relic was the Plasma Energy Chamber, a reservoir of energy to give the new Children of Primus their physical bodies, while Primon's new form of Vector Sigma provided each of them a thinking mind. Next was the Omega Lock, a massive device that can only be activated by the four Omega Keys in order to reawaken Primus's power if anything happened to the AllSpark.

The new Children of Primus would be spawned from great wells of cosmic energy called hot spots, which were spread across the planet's surface, all of them interconnected to the core. Unlike the Covenant, who were digital entities like their creator, nor the Primordials and the Trans-Organics that were technorganic, the Cybertronians, also known as the Transformers, were entirely mechanical, humanoid robots with a variety of shapes and sizes. Each of these new lifeforms would have "sparks," tiny pieces of Primus's lifeforce, which truly made them alive.

Primus designated the first thirteen Cybertronians that he created as great warriors who would unite and lead their leader. With the AllSpark, he forges them by exuding thirteen towering spires of living metal from the surface of Cybertron on its north pole, with each of them glowing an unique polarity of energon. Not only they were constructed from the leftover remnants of the Covenant, they also possessed aspects from Primon and every member of the Guiding Hand (including Unicron and Adaptus) in order to better understand the universe. They were Cybertron's first warriors, tasked with the responsibility to guard Unicron within the planet's core. They were the Children of Primus. They were the first leaders of Cybertron. They were the Thirteen Primes.

The first of the Thirteen is Prima "The First-Made," the very first Cybertronian and leader of the Primes. A pure and valiant warrior, he wielded the mighty Star Saber, a sword unlike any other as legend said that its blade was forged from the heart of a dying star.

The second is Vector Prime "The Interdimensional Traveler," guardian of space and time. Capable of opening and sustaining warp gates to the farthest corners of existence, he is equipped with the Blades of Time: a pair of mystical swords that can open the ways to all dimensions of the multiverse.

The third is A-3 "The Voice of Memory," head recordskeeper of the Primes who was responsible for the preservation of historical events with the Covenant of Primus and the Quill to record the past, present, and future history of Cybertron. He also served as the guardian of Vector Sigma, the only one to bypass its security systems and activate the Master Computer with the mysterious Key to Vector Sigma.

The fourth is Solus Prime "The Builder," the blacksmith of the Primes and the first female Cybertronian. When he created her, Primus gifted her a brain module of unparalleled and unique capabilities, allowing her to utilize the Forge and the Creation Lathe to create many of the Primes' most powerful weapons and artifacts, along with a containment vessel for the AllSpark.

The fifth is Micronus Prime "The Catalyst," first of the Minicons, small Cybertronians that are capable of powerlinxing with their larger cousins to to impart extra abilities or greatly increase their strength. His relic is the Chimera Stone, which allowed him to powerlinx with his siblings to boost their power and also to copy their abilities for a time.

The sixth is Alchemist Prime "The Elemental," mystical master of the elements, upon who was bestowed the Lenses, which allowed him to see further and deeper than anyone than anyone, in both material and spiritual senses. Those who would later be born from his lineage would be the Outliers: Cybertronians who possess remarkable supernatural powers over the physical realm and the astral realm.

Seventh of the Primes is Nexus Prime "The Combiner," first and greatest of all Combiners, large beings who are capable of becoming several smaller beings by breaking themselves apart and then forming back together again. He was able to create more Combiners by unlocking the "combiner gene" in a certain group of Cybertronians thanks to his artifact: the Enigma of Combination, a mercurial instrument of as many shapes and parts as its bearer.

Onyx Prime "The Spiritual Warrior" is the eighth. He was the first Beastformer, Cybertronians who assumed alt-modes that resembled cybernetic animals rather than vehicles and other forms of machinery. A warrior heavily tuned to the spiritual world, he is bestowed with the three-faced Triptych Mask, which allowed him to see into other times and places, thoughts and dreams, and across the gulf of death to the realms beyond.

The ninth is Amalgamous Prime "The Shapeshifter," who wasn't the first Transformer, but was the first to be bestowed the power of transformation by Primus with the first Transformation Cog (T-Cog), which not only allowed him to assume any shape or form he can conceive without limitation, but it will also become the basis for future T-Cogs. His lineage will be the Shifters: Cybertronian shapeshifters as skilled as transformation and adaptation as their progenitor.

The tenth is Quintus Prime "The Experimental Daydreamer," the scientist of the Primes. Primus gifted them a sliver of the AllSpark dubbed the Emberstone, which allowed them to create new lifeforms from inanimate materials. However, not all of their creations were a success, as they created the Quintessons, one of the most feared races in the entire universe, a mistake they had to live with for the rest of their life.

Eleven is Liege Maximo "The Manipulator," strategist and arch-manipulator of the Primes who cared for ensuring his people's prosperity. While his chosen weapons were the toxin-filled Liegan Darts, his most preferred weapon was his silver tongue which he used to sway others in his way of thinking.

Twelfth is Megatronus Prime "The Guardian of Entropy," darkest of all the Primes as he possessed ideas of order enforced with more direct, and sometimes questionable, violent means. Primus intentionally gifted him this mindset in order for him to understand Unicron if the time came for him to battle the Chaos-Bringer or enemies like him. His artifact was a weapon of untold destruction known as the Requiem Blaster, which can draw power from a supernova to destroy any living thing with a single shot, leaving zero chance at the target's survival.

The thirteenth and last Prime is the benevolent Judge of Primus: a lone wanderer whose true name is forever shrouded in mystery, only known to us as The Arisen "The Visionary." As the mediator of the Primes, he served as the voice of reason among his siblings when they quarrel. He was never given an artifact of his own, but he didn't mind this as he preferred to utilize the lesser artifacts such as the Apex Armors: sets of battle armor that enhances the wearer's strength and is impervious to any attack, and the Terminus Blade: a sword that was the Star Saber's only equal and counterforce as it allowed its user to bend reality at their will.

Each member of the Thirteen wielded great cosmic powers as they possessed the abilities to move between dimensions, utilizing sarcophagi that bore each of their sigils as a means to facilitate these quantum jumps.

Before returning into hibernation as Cybertron's core to birth the rest of the Cybertronian race, Primus bestowed the Thirteen Primes a computer program encoded in a crystal core filled with his life-giving powers and wisdom called the Creation Matrix of Leadership, so that he may indirectly help and guide his creations in the future.

After their creation, the Thirteen witness the activation of Cybertron's first twelve hot spots, which birth the first true generation of Transformers. Together, the Primes and their new followers went on a tough pilgrimage across the planet's harsh terrain before stopping somewhere at the western regions of the planet's northern hemisphere, where together they built a titanic fortress made out of shining crystals known as Crystal City to commemorate Primus. As the construction of Crystal City was complete, Prima delivers the Prime Pastoral to his people, where they celebrate the Cybertronians' unification and it's believed that during this Prima held the Creation Matrix in his hand and said, "We are one. This Creation Matrix shall represent our freedom and it shall be the right of all sentient beings."

Approx. 9 billion stellar cycles ago

Sometime after the Thirteen's creation, the first Titans appeared on Cybertron around this time. The Titans were gigantic Cybertronians capable of transforming into colossal starships, fortresses, and even entire cities. All Titans possessed "Titansparks" which spanned multiple planes of existence. It is believed that the Titans originated from the future Cybertronian colony world of Gigantion, said to be the alt-mode of Atlas, god of space and matter. However, there's no evidence to suggest that they actually evolved there. In fact, we in truth don't really know where Titans actually come from. All we have is early historical recordings of the Titans within the Covenant of Primus, with them acting as private vessels and companions for the Thirteen. Each member of the Thirteen won the allegiance of at least one Titan: Prima and Emissary, Vector Prime and Tempo, A-3 and Nemesis, Solus Prime and Caminus, Micronus Prime and Prion, Alchemist Prime and Metrobase, Nexus Prime and Devisiun, Onyx Prime and Chela, Amalgamous Prime and Navitas, Quintus Prime and Quintessa, Liege Maximo and Vigilem, Megatronus Prime and Trypticon, and The Arisen and Metroplex. The other Titans who didn't have a Prime as a partner such as Fortress Maximus, Skorponok, Metrotitan, Grand Maximus, Necrotitan, Lodestar, Croaton, Iaconus, Hydratron, Citadel Secundus, Stormbreak, Magnetar, Glaukopis, Tethys, and Galevader were all grouped together into a massive flotilla to protect Cybertron from any spaceborne threats.

Approx. 7-8 billion stellar cycles ago

The Cybertronians live in contention under the rule of the Thirteen until the distressing revelation that the AllSpark's power was not infinite as it required suitable sources of energy in order to sustain its constant flow of energon. This results in the Cybertronians entering an era of colonization, making their ventures aboard a fleet of Titans, as well as hundreds of smaller colony ships using less efficient skip drivers (an older form of faster-than-light travel). The first colony ships begin settling on Cybertron's four moons Hecate, Artemis, Selene, and Cyberion, setting up first scientific outposts and then mining colonies on their surfaces. At these lunar mines, the Cybertronians create and utilize gigantic machines called Energon Harvesters to mine and convert other energy resources such as solar power and fossil fuels into synthetic forms of energon. With the immense power of the Omega Lock, the Cybertronian colonists cyberformed the moons into mirror images of Cybertron. To help them in their efforts, the Primes and their followers use Vector Sigma and the Plasma Energy Chamber to create two new Cybertronian subgroups: the industrious Constructicons to build and maintain their nascent civilization on Cybertron and the inquisitive Skyraiders to accompany the Primes out into space in search of wonders.

Approx. 5-6 billion stellar cycles ago

The Cybertronians continue their expansion, colonizing most of the celestial bodies within the Hadean System. They first traveled towards the sun, settling on Thrush, Tsathoggua, and barren Dread. Beyond Cybertron, they colonized Belegaer, jewel of the Hadean System, then on the volcanic planet Galleon, the terrestrial world of Thuvia, the wandering moon only known as 221B, the ringed world of Aouda Fogg, and on the moons of the gas giant Thulsa Doom, and even the outermost planetoid, the cold comet Botropolis. Many of these new worlds were cyberformed with the Omega Lock, however, the Thirteen swore to never use it to cyberform a life-bearing world.

Later on, the Cybertronians journeyed outside the Hadean System, encountering numerous primitive alien lifeforms in the neighboring systems, many of whom worship them as gods, others viewing them as teachers and the bringers of civilization. However, they also encounter hostile alien species, with many wars were fought across the cosmos, with Headmasters; combiners between Minicons and normal-sized Cybertronians created by Micronus Prime and Nexus Prime, acting as much of the frontline infantry of the Primes' space armies. Eventually, all further plans of Cybertronians colonization and exploration are halted due to isolationism.

Despite this, they've continued to prosper. These early days were the most peaceful the Cybertronian race would ever experience. Uncorrupted, the first Cybertronians were wholly benevolent. It was a prosperous age of no war, the only strife they knew of was competition with various void-born aliens in and outside the Hadean System, but even that was minimal and no ill will was held or kept. Their shining civilization was humble and small compared to the planet-spanning cities and empires of future eras, but for many eons, Cybertron knew almost perfect harmony, making great advances in education, medicine, and art. It was the closest Cybertron ever came to a true utopia. It was the only age that Primus truly felt joy...

...but sadly, it was not to last.

Approx. 4 billion stellar cycles ago

In Cybertron's core, ever since he was imprisoned by Primus, Unicron tested the limits of his prison, searching for any weaknesses and fighting to break free, but thankfully all of his attempts of escape were stopped by Primus. However, the more the Chaos-Bringer resisted his imprisonment, Primus became more and more weaker. As the strengths of Unicron's prison lessened each meta-cycle, the Thirteen Primes were alerted by their creator about the dire situation. United as one, the Thirteen journeyed to the Ignition Chamber and battled against the Chaos-Bringer, wielding their unique artifacts and complementary powers to keep him imprisoned within Primus. But Unicron was too powerful, and Primus remains well below his full strength. Unicron escapes, in the process tearing a hole in Cybertron's southern hemisphere that would become known in the modern day as the "Unicron Eject Site," and retreats into deep space.

Now free, Unicron immediately began to exact his revenge. Inspired by how he defeated Atlas, Solomus, Gaea, and Mortilus during the Theomachy, along with the Cybertronians' transformation abilities, Unicron psionically entraps himself within a mechanical planet mode, and from there, he is able to master his planetary form, able to transform it even further into a gigantic robot form. With his new body, he travelled across the galaxy and harvested many planets seeded with Dark Energon, consuming and destroying various worlds and the inhabitants that lived on them. Soon, Unicron revived the inhabitants of the worlds he destroyed into former shells of themselves who obeyed his will and his will only-calling them the Unicronians, dark mirrors of Primus's Cybertronians. His new servants were extremely powerful with Dark Energon running through their veins, but Unicron saw that they were nothing but simple-minded beasts fueled by rage, so he sought to create warriors to lead them to victory. The end result were the Blentrons, the dark god's messengers, generals, and heralds who acted as the antithesis of the Thirteen Primes that each of them wielded a significant portion of his dark power.

The Chaos-Bringer was coming, and Primus knew it. But to transform meant the destruction of all those who lived on him, so Primus gave the Thirteen Primes the task to train the unprepared Cybertronian civilians to assist them in the incoming battle, so that together they could fight off Unicron's evil.

Overnight, the Cybertronian civilians were gathered at the Citadel of Light, the capitol building of Crystal City and the Thirteen's residence, to train under the Primes. They split into three natural teams with each led by a certain number of Primes who help in specific battle tactics: "Warriors" (Prima, Vector Prime, Onyx Prime, Amalgamous Prime, and Megatronus Prime), "Strategists" (A-3, Micronus Prime, Quintus Prime, and Liege Maximo), and "Free Agents" capable of direct battle or more subtle/varied attacks (Solus Prime, Alchemist Prime, Nexus Prime, and The Arisen). As years went by, the civilians who were trained under the Thirteen Primes were slowly transformed into mighty warriors and soldiers, becoming known as the Knights of Cybertron, a legendary order of powerful warriors with their warrior-priest armies and fleets of Titans pledged to defend Cybertron under their Primes. Prima would bestow the title of Grandmaster of the Knights to a humble warrior who trained under him named Autonomous Maximus. A giant among giants, Autonomous Maximus towered over all Cybertronians, even the tallest Titans such as Fortress Maximus, always in near silence and in the depths of his thoughts.

Thankfully, Unicron's return wasn't immediate as he was far, far away from Cybertron, giving the Primes enough time to prepare. For the next 49 years, the Thirteen Primes lived in relative peace, training and preparing their people for combat under the guidance and watchful presence of Vector Sigma.

On the 50th year, Unicron returned...

He came down upon Cybertron in his planet form, unleashing endless hordes of his sycophantic minions. The Blentrons and the Unicronian army brought chaos and death across Cybertron until they were halted by the combined forces of the Thirteen Primes and the Knights of Cybertron. He was forced to stop his attack when he saw that the Thirteen leading the Knights against his dark acolytes, with his armies decimated in the initial assault.

Surprised and outraged by the defiant of these lesser beings, Unicron transformed into his robot mode and walked upon Cybertron's surface, causing untold death and destruction with every step. The Primes and the Knights directly attacked the enormous Chaos-Bringer, but all of their attacks were repelled by Unicron's defenses and during the battle, A-3's Titan Nemesis was destroyed when he sacrificed himself to protect his comrades from one of the Chaos-Bringer's attacks. The battle then proved to be far more hellish and terrible than they had imagined in all their training, as Unicron unleashed his Dark Energon aura upon the Thirteen and the Knights of Cybertron. Unicron's mere presence crushed all their hopes and dreams nearly drowning their sparks in despair and darkness. Everyone, even the most powerful of the Primes, began to accept their inevitable defeat...

...but then, there was hope. Soon, a comforting aura began to envelop the Thirteen and the Knights of Cybertron and acted as a strong shield against the endless Dark Energon aura waves coming off of Unicron. As they all rose from the ground, the Primes and the Knights turned to see that it was The Arisen, saying the motivational words "Till all are one," who reassured them and rekindled their hope, allowing them to keep fighting, shocking the Chaos-Bringer who saw all of this happening from afar.

As the reinvigorated Cybertronians continued to their battle, Megatronus Prime fires the Requiem Blaster in full power at Unicron, temporarily stunning the Chaos-Bringer at where he stood. Taking advantage of this brief vulnerability, The Arisen led a group of Knights entered the Dark God's body, while the other Primes continued the fight against Unicron outside. Within the Chaos-Bringer's interior, the Knights of Cybertron fought through Unicron's antibodies for miles, up his leg and torso until they finally reached his spark chamber. There, the Arisen unleashed the full power of the Creation Matrix of Leadership directly into Unicron's Anti-Spark, destroying most of his body and forcing the Chaos-Bringer to retreat from Cybertron. The Knights of Cybertron flew back down to Cybertron's surface as a heavily-damaged Unicron began to slowly drift away from the Hadean System and into the void, seemingly never to be seen again...

In the aftermath of the great battle, the Cybertronians celebrated their victory over the Chaos-Bringer, but it wasn't without cost. There were many grave injuries and great losses. But worse each of them had been tainted with a touch of darkness by their closeness to Unicron.

Nothing would ever be the same again...