And here we are, the final act in the opening of arc 3. Special shoutout to Monkey D. Conan for leaving the 100th review on Beast Wars Prime! Fair warning, after today I go back to my previous update schedule of roughly once a month. For now, however, enjoy the story.
Inside Fortress Maximus, Miko watched as Ratchet and Arcee moved like someone had hit Fastforward on an old video cassette. When what looked like a bubble of energy spread from Heinrads' clock around Optimus, Ratchet, and Arcee, they'd frozen for a moment before they sped up. Ratchet was a blur as he moved around, occasionally stopping and reexamining his work.
A sudden cracking caught her attention as Jack bit back a scream. Looking down, she saw that her boyfriend was still mutating. In the brief moments after the time bubble went up Jacks' body seemed to elongate, the cracking being his bones breaking and healing to enable the change. Thirty minutes couldn't pass soon enough for either of them.
"Don't worry Jackrabbit." She whispered. "We'll get you through this."
"What are you doing?" Smokescreen asked, drawing Mikos' attention towards Rattrap who was standing by the computer.
"Phase two." The other time traveling Maximal replied simply. "Rattrap, Maximize!"
Miko watched with some disgust as Rattraps' rat tail lifted from his spine and plugged into a data port on the computer, connecting his brain at the back of his head directly to the computer. His hat slid down, becoming something like a glass catchers' mask with computer code passing across it. Seconds later the computer display seemed to change screens so fast that it was becoming as much of a blur as Optimus' surgery.
"I'm trying to use Fort Maxs' communications system to hack into a government spy satellite." Rattrap explained. "That way, we can figure out what's going on topside."
"You can do that with your mind?" Smokescreen asked.
"Yeah." Rattrap replied. "Older tech takes a while though, and Teletraan-2 is almost a billion years old." He bit out. "I'll get there though."
"And done!" Raf exclaimed.
Smokescreen and Miko looked over at the still unconscious Bumblebee. Most of the gashes to his body had been repaired with Rafs' CR pulse, however his head was a different story. While most of the burnt mesh had been cut away and the remainder healed as best as he could, was still considerable scarring left behind. To say nothing of the fact that most of his armor plating would need to be replaced or reinforced.
"He'll be all right then?" Smokescreen asked.
"He's stable." Raf answered. "He can rest for a while until Ratchet can finish repairing him." He walked over to the berth Jack and Miko were on and climbed onto it. The table groaned a little as he sat down next to Jack and Miko. "Now however, we need to help Jack."
"Right." Miko agreed. "Do you think combining will help?" She asked, remembering her earlier suggestion.
"I think so." Raf replied. "Magnaboss can hold more than one spark, and the energy in doing so might just help Jack with whatever's happening to him."
"No." Jack groaned. "Too risky." He panted. "I only need to hold it for." He was cut off by a sharp knock to the head.
"Now isn't the time to be a hero, Jack." Miko hissed at him. "Even Optimus has the other bots to help him when he needs it." She added, taking his unchanged hand. "And right now, you need our help."
"Never thought I'd say this about Miko, but she's right." Ignoring the femmes' dirty look, Raf grasped Jacks' larger blue hand. The trio then glowed a bright white as they began to combine. The energy of the process combining with the energy of the Matrix to complete Jacks' transformation.
In the void between life and death, Optimus Prime felt little more than pain. He didn't regret it though, if his sacrifice meant that the Maximals survived, then he could go to the afterspark with a clean conscience. Just as when he stayed behind at the base to ensure the others got away. At least he made sure the children were saved this time.
Suddenly, he felt something pull at him. At first, he resisted, if he was meant to die today, then let it be. However, he heard a familiar voice calling to him. And this time, it wasn't Alpha Trion.
"Come on Optimus, please."
Surprised, he allowed himself to be tethered to Jack. Time seemed to blur around him as he connected with the spark of his Maximal friend. His optics widened in both shock and recognition. No, it isn't just Jack. Jack was never just Jack. Optimus felt the urge to laugh at himself for not realizing it before.
He then felt two more presences near them.
"Now isn't the time to be a hero, Jack. Even Optimus has the other bots to help him when he needs it."
"Never thought I'd say this about Miko, but she's right."
Sensing Miko and Rafael, he reached out to them as well and experienced an even greater shock. Had Optimus been capable of it, he'd have been laughing heartily. Pushing this new knowledge about the three aside for the moment, he allowed himself to be pulled into the same hivemind as them. He couldn't help thinking, however, that there always was more to those three than meets the eye.
The light of the Maximals combination shined for several moments before fading away, leaving Magnaboss curled up on the berth. Looking at them, Smokescreen couldn't help noticing that they looked different. While their overall look hadn't changed much save a chain gun on each forearm and the positioning of the wings on the shoulder, Magnaboss' torso had changed considerably.
Their abdomen was silvery muscle with blue on either side and their chest was red. The biggest change, however, was the sparks in it. A fourth white spark shined in the center of the chest while the burgundy, yellow and blue ones were arranged around it in a circle.
Smokescreen crept over to them. "Magnaboss?" He asked. "Are you feeling, okay?"
The Maximal combiner breathed deep before getting off the berth. "In a word?" They spoke, Optimus' voice joining the other three. "Prime." They finished, standing tall.
"Woah." Smokescreen whispered.
"Got it!" Rattrap exclaimed as the computer screen switched over to an aerial view of where Unit-E was. "It took a while but, eh I got there eventually."
"Can you zoom in?" Magnaboss asked.
"Sure, no problem." Rattrap answered. He was unfazed by Magnaboss' new appearance. He'd seen it before.
As the image enlarged, they saw June being led towards Galvatron before Fowler charged him with almost comically large muscles. Realizing the danger, Magnaboss knew they had to act. They turned back to Smokescreen.
"Have Ratchet finish repairing Bumblebee after the time bubble breaks." They ordered as they turned to leave.
"What about you?" Smokescreen asked.
"It's time for us to transform." The wings draped over their shoulders shifted and unfurled into a flight rig, a mouth plate like Optimus' own slid into place. "And roll out." With that they charged out the door and returned to the cavern they'd awoken in.
Activating their flight rig, Magnaboss took off towards the collapsed part of the cavern ceiling. Flying through it, they paused to see just how little of the Lost Light was left. Only the outermost edge of the ship was untouched, the rest was rubble or molten slag. They shook their head, no time to mourn now, not when they were needed.
Flying up to the cavern ceiling, Magnaboss fired their chain guns and blasted a hole through the weakened bedrock. Flying through the newly created hole, they took in the scene before them. Depthcharge (when did he get here?) was sprawled out in front of Kumara and Survive who were being held by the Predacons. Galvatron had his cannon aimed at Kumaras' head but lowered it in shock at the sight of them.
Inside Magnaboss' now expanded hivemind, Optimus suggested that they'd need something a little stronger than their usual broadsword. The others quickly agreed to the suggestion as Magnaboss held their hand up and focused on the Star Saber. The weapon in question appeared in a flash of burgundy light from its' resting place in the wreckage of the Lost Light. Placing a hand upon the blade, they watched as it shrank down to a size that Magnaboss could wield.
Taking the Star Saber, Magnaboss landed heavily between Galvatron and the other Maximals, scattering their Predacon captors in the process. Their entire descent, they kept the sword trained on Galvatron.
"Galvatron." They spoke. "One shall stand, one shall fall."
Overcoming his momentary shock, Galvatron sneered at the newcomer. "Well." He began. "It appears we have a new 'Maximum Magnaboss' to deal with." Glancing down at their chest, he recognized who the fourth spark must belong to. "And carrying Primes' spark as well. All the easier for me to finish what I started. Yes."
"No Galvatron." Magnaboss replied as their wings folded back over their shoulders. "This ends here and now." Feeling Kumara, Survive and Depthcharge form up on them, Magnaboss thrust the Star Saber forward.
"Maximals, MAXIMIZE!"
"Predacons, TERRORIZE!"
Meanwhile, back inside Fortress Maximus, Rattrap and Smokescreen watched as Magnaboss and the Maximals engaged Galvatron and the Predacons.
"Woah." Smokescreen whispered as he watched Galvatron block the Star Saber with his shield. "Talk about unleashing the beast."
"More like unleashing the Beast Wars." Rattrap added as Survive managed to shoot Terrorsaur in the wing, grounding him. "All this happened before my time, so it's kinda new to me and Rad too."
"Speaking of." Smokescreen said looking closer at Rattrap. "Were you created like the other Maximals, or?"
"Nah, me n' Heinrad are Generation 2 Maximals." Rattrap supplied. "We were born, not made."
"So, who are?" Smokescreen was cut off as Heinrads' time bubble burst and Arcee and Ratchet returned to normal time.
"Okay, surgery complete, and successful." Ratchet began in an almost cheerful tone. "Now let's get Jack over here so he can return." He stopped, noticing that Jack was gone. "Where the pit is everyone?" he asked, noticing Raf and Miko were gone too.
"Uhm, Ratchet." Arcee called, drawing his attention to the monitor.
Looking at the screen Ratchet saw the upgraded Magnaboss use the Star Saber to absorb a blast from Galvatrons' cannon before firing it back at him. "What in Primus' name are those three thinking?"
"Rattrap, what happened?" Heinrad asked, having transformed back into beast mode after using so much energy holding the time bubble.
"More like four, they combined to help un, er Jack hold Optimus' spark." Rattrap began. Hopefully no one noticed his little slip up. "Then they saw the others about to be killed and took off."
Arcee picked up the tired tanuki and looked at Ratchet. "You said we're inside one of the titans, right?" Arcee asked. "Is there any way we can wake up Maximus? Get him in the fight?"
Ratchet looked at Rattrap. Titan physiology was well outside his scope of practice. "Any ideas?"
Rattrap shook his head. "I already looked." He answered, the video feed shrank into a corner as the monitor shifted between several screens at high speed. "From what I can tell, the T-cog is fine, and his memories are intact, but the big guy's essentially brain dead and I can't run his bot mode remotely."
"How could that happen?" Ratchet asked.
"Well from what I've been able to access through Teletraan." He replied. "Someone landed a lucky shot that hit him in the head." Rattraps' eyes widened when he checked Fortress Maximus' chronometer. He never got to look at Fort Maxs' data before Unicron awoke. "According to this he drifted for millions of years before crash landing here on Earth about 65 million years ago."
Arcee looked skeptical. "You mean Fortress Maximus was the meteor that."
"Wiped out the dinosaurs, yes." Rattrap confirmed as he pulled up a map. "It looks like he hit the Gulf of Mexico at an angle and lost momentum here. This cavern is just what's left of the trench he made on impact."
"Well, that's well and good." Ratchet interrupted. "But it doesn't help us now."
"Maybe it can." Heinrad argued, still in Arcees' arms. "Rattrap, are Maximus' thrustors and weapons systems still operational at least?"
"Yeah, why?" He asked.
"Can you use Teletraan-2 to operate those remotely, instead of the whole body?" This caused everyone's' optics and eyes to widen.
"Yeah, but it'll take a few minutes." Rattrap replied as he twisted his tail to interface with the ancient computer. "Backup will be online in five." He affirmed after a few moments
Ratchet nodded before looking back at the battle. "Bring back that spark in one piece you three, or this will have all been for nothing."
"In the meantime, Doc." Smokescreen interrupted. "You have another patient to help." He said indicating Bumblebee who was still in stasis lock.
Looking at Bumblebee, Ratchet nodded. "Right." He said looking at Bumblebees' head. "I can't do anything for the scars, but I should be able to craft a replacement helm from the Insecticon one. His armor though."
He looked around the med bay and saw a large container of golden liquid. His optics widened. "Electrum!" He whispered excitedly. He turned back to Bumblebee. "Hmm. You might just be due for a new paint job soldier." With that he picked up the Insecticon helm and got to work.
Back on the surface, Magnaboss and Galvatron were facing off while Depthcharge, Kumara and Survive kept the other Decepticons and Predacons from interfering.
Galvatron was fuming. How had his perfect plan gone so pear shaped? He dodged left to avoid Magnaboss taking his head off and fired his cannon at the combiner. His frustration only grew as they absorbed the blast with the Star Saber and sent it back at him.
"Predacons, attend your master!" He called.
"We are presently engaging the enemy, my queen!" Infernus called as he traded blows with Survive alongside Iguanus. The Maximals' enhanced musculature was proving to be an even match for the two Predacons.
"Then where are the Vehicons?" Galvatron yelled as Waspinator attempted to divebomb Magnaboss in jet mode. The attack was thwarted however when Kumara hit the flyer with a web ball in the face, causing him to crash land.
Tarantulas ended up supplying the answer. "With how many we've lost, I've been recalling the few that are left via the space bridge. I'll send one for you in a moment so we can fire the Nemesis' weapons to finish them."
Looking around and seeing Terrorsaur be blasted backwards by Depthcharge, Galvatron grimaced. Curse this troop shortage! "Very well, I think I have a better idea though." As much as he wanted to finish 'Maximum Magnaboss' personally, he didn't have the element of surprise or superior numbers right now. To say nothing of the malfunctioning Dark Matrix. He did however, have a bargaining chip.
Spinning to avoid Magnaboss, Galvatron took to the air and hovered over the other Predacons. "Tarantulas, send the space bridge to my coordinates for the Predacons, then bring all weapons online." He grinned evilly at the Maximals as the bridge opened behind him. "I believe several thousand hostages shall be sufficient. Yes."
As the Predacons and a few of the remaining Vehicons left through the portal, Galvatron gave Tarantulas the order. "Target the nearby town with the primary fusion cannon and lock all remaining weapons on the Maximals!" He yelled as he took off back towards the Nemesis, which was now locked onto the town of Jasper.
"No Galvatron!" Magnaboss called.
"Yes Magnaboss." Galvatron taunted, turning to look down on them. "Now, the four of you will stay still for your execution like good little heroes. Otherwise, I will have Tarantulas destroy the human settlement. Yes." He threatened.
"Get in close to us." Magnaboss whispered. Kumara, Survive and Depthcharge each put a hand on Magnaboss, Depthcharge having picked up his severed fin after fighting Terrorsaur.
"Tarantulas, open fire." Galvatron ordered and watched with glee as missiles and laser blasts began to rain down towards the group. As the initial explosions began, no one noticed the burgundy flash a split second before detonation.
Once the explosions ceased, Galvatron looked at the severely scarred landscape beneath him. "Ah, one good thing I can say about Megatron, he liked his artillery big and plentiful." He smirked. "Now where was I, oh yes wanton destruction. Good for the spark I always say."
Galvatron turned towards the direction of Jasper. "Tarantulas." He began. "You may ahh!" He screamed as a series of chain gun blasts hit him in the side. Turning towards the source of the fire, he saw Magnaboss flying at him at full speed.
"How many times do I have to kill these freaks!" He yelled in exasperation. "Change target to Magnaboss and." He was cut off as Magnaboss fired an energy wave from the Star Saber towards him. Diving out of the way, Galvatron realized too late that it wasn't him the combiner was aiming at.
There was a single large explosion from the Nemesis followed by a couple of smaller ones. "Sir, that last attack disabled our weapons systems." Tarantulas reported over the comms.
"No matter." Galvatron bit out. "I shall end this myself, once and for." He was cut off by a loud rumbling sound. An equally loud cracking noise drew his attention to the ground beneath him. "What in the name of?"
Emerging from the ground was a fortress the size of the Nemesis. First a tower, then the main body, finally the entirety of the fortress emerged from the Earth, suspended in the air by thrusters underneath it.
Galvatrons optics widened almost comically "No." He whispered as the fortress moved and landed on more solid ground. "This, this cannot be." The lost titan was here on Earth and was now set against him. Across the large titan various cannons and laser turrets were emerging, all with one target, the Nemesis.
"Hey boss bot." Rattraps' voice called over the comms. "You call for some backup? Cause we're ready when you are." Nodding, Magnaboss pointed the Star Saber at the Nemesis.
"Fortress Maximus, open fire!"
"No!" Galvatron yelled as volleys of laser fire and cannon blasts soared over him and pummeled the Nemesis. Tarantulas got the shields up after a couple seconds, but the damage was already done. Smoke was now billowing from several sections of the ship, and it was listing slightly to the left.
"Lord Galvatron!" Tarantulas yelled. "We have significant damage to several key systems. We cannot take another barrage like that."
"Retreat, Tarantulas. I shall join you momentarily." Turning to Magnaboss he glowered. "You have won this day, Maximals, but this is not the end of the war, no." He transformed into his dragon mode. "So close, I was SO CLOSE!" He bellowed as he flew after the Nemesis.
Seeing the warship fade away into the distance, Magnaboss flew back over to the cave they left June, Fowler and Depthcharge.
June stepped up to them and put a hand on their chest. "I thought you were." She whispered, fighting back tears.
"We are all safe and sound now." They replied, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"To say nothing of getting a new base of operations." Fowler threw in. He had no idea how they were going to explain all this now.
"I have so many questions." Depthcharge stated, looking at the titan that until now, had been a legend to him. "Where do we go from here."
"For now, we regroup." Magnaboss began as they picked up the severed fin and held it against where it'd been severed. Holding their other hand up to the cut a pulse of light emanated from their hand, reattaching the fin to Depthcharge. "And return some precious cargo." They added, looking down at the white spark in their chest.
Arriving back in the Med Bay with the other Maximals, Magnaboss set the Star Saber down on a berth.
Ratchet walked over to them. "We've managed to stabilize Optimus' body." He began. "But it'll be some time before he's fighting fit again."
Magnaboss shook their head. "Not necessary doctor, we have a plan for that." With that, Magnaboss turned back to the berth with the Star Saber on it. Holding a hand over the empty part of the berth, they focused on the first thing they needed. Moments later Solus Primes' forge hammer appeared with a clang.
"Oh, right, you kids weren't here for that." Ratchet muttered. "But the Forge Hammer is powerless now that its energy has been depleted." He explained.
"Perhaps." Magnaboss admitted. "However, we've had an idea on how to recharge it." Holding their hand up again, Micronus Primes' Chimera Stone appeared in their hand. "We can use power from the Matrix to give it a charge with this, but first."
They repeated the process three more times. When Magnaboss was finished, they had retrieved Nexus Primes' Enigma of Combination as well as the Polarity gauntlet and the Apex Armor. Picking up the Chimera stone, they walked over to the Forge Hammer. "Now we are ready."
Placing the Chimera Stone against the Forge Hammer, the assembled group watched in amazement as Magnaboss' middle spark glowed brightly. A beam of light then lanced from the spark into the Chimera Stone which began to glow too. Moments later, the turbines on the Forge Hammer began to spin anew. Picking up speed the blades became a blur.
Trading the stone for the hammer, Magnaboss walked over to Optimus Primes' partially restored body. Standing over it, they willed what they wanted to do towards the Forge, causing it to spin even faster. Moments later, a beam of energy connected Optimus' spark and his body as he moved back into it. Lifting the Forge Hammer, Optimus' idea still in mind, they swung down on his chest. This caused a burst of blindingly bright light that restored and changed Optimus Primes' body while completing the transfer and forcing Magnaboss to separate.
As the light died, it was an all-new Optimus Prime that climbed up off the berth. His new body seemed to combine the best elements of his previous two. His chest was reminiscent of his original body while his arms and legs were a perfect restoration of his previous upgrade. The biggest change however, was on his abdomen. Just beneath his chest, was a silver white lion's head with a golden mane, seemingly in honor of the Maximal who saved his life.
"Optimus?" Ratchet began, stepping towards his commander.
"Yes, old friend." Optimus answered. "I am back." He then surprised everyone by transforming into his modified vehicle mode. Like his bot mode, it seemed to encompass the best of both forms. A semi-truck formed by his chest with the lions' head taking the place of the grill with his arms and legs becoming a trailer like his upgraded body.
"And I am transformed." He added, shocking everyone as the lions' mouth moved when speaking.
The shock continued as the nose of the cab split and unfolded, revealing an equally silvery white Maximal sized lion. Standing on his four new paws, Optimus leapt down to the ground and transformed again. Soon, standing in the lions' place was a Maximal version of Optimus Prime.
His lion hind legs became the lower legs of his Maximal bot mode while most of his upper legs, chest and torso were nearly identical to his larger body. His lion head was now on his right shoulder with his tail hanging down from the left and the forelegs resting on his back. Most interesting was that a Maximal insignia was on display upon his left shoulder as the Autobot one was on his waist.
"Woah." Arcee breathed.
"Hold still Optimus." Ratchet ordered. He quickly ran a handheld scanner over Optimus' new form. Looking at the readout, Ratchets' optics went wide. "Optimus, from what I can tell you now have a hybrid body as well as your original one. This version of you is essentially a Cybertronian super hybrid."
Optimus nodded as he turned to the Maximals. "Yes, thanks to the help of the." He cut himself off as he looked at the group, at Jack in particular. "I see I'm not the only one who's changed." He added, drawing everyone's attention to them.
While Miko and Rafael were unchanged, the time holding Optimus' spark and the Matrix of leadership had changed Jack considerably. Instead of the thin lithe legs he had before, they were now thick and armored with clawed lion paws for feet. The main trunk of his body had thickened up a bit while his arms gained a few shades more muscle to them. The biggest change, however, was his colors. Whereas before he was blue and grayish white, he now had a coloration like Optimus Primes' own red and blue with what would be his beast modes' mane being the only remainder of his original white color.
June looked at her son. "Jack? You look so." She trailed off, not knowing how to voice her thoughts on her sons' impressive physical changes. She wasn't the only one.
"Miko, you're drooling." Arcee pointed out in a teasing tone.
"No I'm not." She replied, quickly wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth. She liked how ripped Jack looked now.
Arcee snorted a bit. "Nice look partner. I wonder what it did for your beast mode?"
Looking down at his new body, Jack transformed. Falling forward as his chest expanded into his beast modes' head, he felt panels seemingly extend outward to give his body a more durable look than before. What now stood was a mostly blue lion with red plating around his upper front legs and chest topped with a white mane and golden claws.
"Hang on." Miko called as she went over to Jack. Reaching under his mane she began to scratch his head and neck. "Come on, come on." She whispered.
"Miko, what are you?" Junes' question was cut off as a loud rumbling purr echoed through the med bay. Miko pumped her fist while Jack looked down as a few of their onlookers started snickering.
"Yes!"
"Ratchet?" Raf asked, noticing that they were one patient short. "Where's Bee?"
Ratchet sighed. "He's back online, but I think he needs to adjust to the modifications I had to make."
"Where is he?" Raf asked again.
Ratchet pointed to a door across the bay. "He's in there." He answered. "I think he might need some consoling after what he went through." Nodding, Raf headed to the door, intent on comforting his partner.
In the corner of the room, Heinrad and Rattrap were in a hushed conversation.
"I don't get it." Rattrap whispered. "Prime's still alive, so how come we're still here?"
"I, I don't know." Heinrad whispered back. "Maybe with our timeline gone we've got nothing to go back to?" He said in a way that was more of a question than a statement.
"Either way." June added, having slipped away from the others. "I'd like to talk to you two." She said to the wide-eyed time travelers.
"About what Kumara." Heinrad asked.
"You can drop the codenames." She replied a little exasperatedly. "A mother knows her children." After checking to make sure they wouldn't be overheard, June smirked at the subtly panicking twosome. "Or grandchildren, in this case."
"Mrs. Darby." Rattrap began.
"Don't even try it Mr. Raider." She whispered. "I don't know if anyone's told you this, but you have your fathers' eyes, and your mothers face." She added softly, seeing the young Maximal panicking. "And your tough guy act Is eerily similar to Vinces own. Even with that fake accent you tried to throw us off with."
"You, you know who our?" Heinrad began before he was cut off.
"You act a lot like my son, even if you do look a lot like my grandpa Jack when he was young." June added. "However, I know what a Tanuki is, and It just screams of your mother." She smiled. "You're Jack and Mikos' son as much as he is Vince and Sierras'." She finished nodding at Rattrap.
"Okay." Rattrap began with a sigh. "You got us. My full name is Garrison Edmund Raider, after my grandfathers. Otherwise, I go by Rattrap." Nodding, June turned to Heinrad.
"And while Heinrad may be my codename, my true name is Kibo Orion Darby." Heinrad admitted to his biological grandmother. It was weird that he was only now meeting her for the first time. "My first name means hope in Japanese and Orion came from."
"Optimus." June supplied. It made sense. "Was the future really that bad?" She asked, a little afraid of the answer. She had a feeling that she was originally meant to die from Galvatrons' cannon today.
"Aside from uncle Raf." Heinrad (Kibo) began, indicating the current Raf walking across the med bay. "We were all that was left of the Autobots or Maximals after Unicron awoke. Saving Optimus should prevent that."
"You gonna tell our parents who we are?" Rattrap (Garrison) asked. He was surprised when June wrapped them both in a hug.
"No." June answered. "I'll let you two tell them in your own time. However, if you need anything." She smiled as they hugged her back. "Grandma June is here to help." While she was hoping it'd be a bit longer before she was a grandmother, she wasn't about to turn away family.
"Its' how our parents always refered to you." Rattrap replied, causing June to smile harder.
"What's going on mom?" Jack asked, coming up to the trio.
"I'm just thanking and getting to know our new friends." June lied. As much as she didn't want to lie, she promised she'd keep their secret for now.
"Oh." Jack said as he walked up to them and offered a hand to each of them. "In that case, thank you, for saving us all." He smiled as the two newcomers shook his hands.
"Are you two going back to the future?" Miko asked. "Can we come with you? I so want to meet my future self!" She added excitedly.
"Actually." Heinrad began, fighting the urge to hug his mother.
"We think our timeline's gone." Rattrap interjected, seeing his cousins' struggle. "There's nothing for us to go back to now that Optimus is gonna live. Now we just have to keep it that way for the next umpteen years." He gave a sigh. "Sheesh, no problem."
"Rattrap." Optimus began, startling them. "Is correct." Transforming back into his beast mode, he recombined with his larger body and transformed again. "While the battle today is won, the war is not. Galvatron will be back."
He turned to Ratchet. "I know the titans had space bridges inside each of them." Optimus began. "We need to locate the one inside Maximus and regroup."
Ratchet looked up from the Med Bay computer. "Go, I'll have Teletraan-2 begin activating it, I just sent you the location."
"Ratchet?" Optimus asked with a raised brow.
"Let me just finish shutting things down here and check on my patient." He added. Nodding towards the door Raf and Bumblebee were behind.
"Very well." Optimus responded. "We shall head there now." He turned to the new Maximals. "Heinrad, Rattrap, thank you both for saving our lives, and welcome to Unit-E and the Maximals." With that he walked out, most of the other Autobots and Maximals following him.
Arcee however, hung back. "Ratchet, I saw those scans of Optimus and Jack." She began. "Why didn't you tell them?"
"Because I'm not blind." Ratchet bit out. "Yes, I could have told Optimus that he and Jack now share CNA. However, I've also seen how Optimus looks at June when she isn't looking."
"What?" Arcee asked. This was news to her.
Ratchet sighed. "I knew him before he was a Prime, and I haven't seen Optimus look at anyone like that since Elita-1 died."
"Who's Elita-1?"
"When Optimus was still Orion Pax, there were only a handful of people he was close to." Ratchet began. "Elita-1 was almost as close to him as Megatron back then, albeit in a different way." He sighed. "Close enough that he was considering asking her to become Conjunx Endura."
"Woah." Arcee responded breathlessly. She never knew Optimus was that close to anyone. "What happened to her?"
Ratchet sighed. "She died trying to help evacuate Six Lasers over Cybertron during one of the Decepticons initial raids. One of the rides collapsed on her, and I went to her funeral with Optimus." He looked at Arcee. "Between Megatron becoming his enemy and Elitas' death, Optimus threw himself entirely into his leadership role."
"Considering he turned a joke I tried to make into an inspirational speech, I'm not surprised." Arcee added.
"Exactly." Ratchet continued. "Him showing any interest in anyone is the closest he's come to being something other than a leader in a very long time. If I tell him that he and Jack are now, in human terms, father and son."
"Optimus will try to become closer to his mother out of duty, rather than his own interest, thereby negating his progress." Arcee added. "I'm surprised he hasn't seen Rung about any of this."
"Are you kidding?" Ratchet scoffed as he walked out of the Med Bay. "I can barely get Optimus to sit through his own medical evaluations."
"Bumblebee?" Raf whispered into the room. "Are you okay."
"I've been better." Came Bees' strained voice replied from the back corner of the room. Walking over to him, Raf saw Bumblebee sitting down on a crate looking down at his feet, a dented reflective surface in front of him. Looking at his now gold colored partner, he could see why he was acting this way. While he'd seen Bees' face after finishing the surgery, the overall effect on his appearance was still jarring.
With very little mesh left undamaged, Bumblebee's face had lost most of its definition to the point that his face was gaunt and covered in burn scars. The helm around his head was different too. Instead of the yellow helm that'd been crushed in Galvatrons' jaws, a dark blue one made from an Insecticons' head with a pair stumpy pair of horns adorning the top of it gave his partner a more menacing look than he had before, something that belied his usual nature.
"At least you can still speak and transform." Raf replied, trying to be upbeat.
"Yeah, thanks." Bee replied bitterly. "First my voice, then my T-cog, now my face. What else do I have left to lose."
Anger filled Rafs' being as the emotions from the events of the last few hours finally caught up with him. "Us!" He yelled, startling him. "When I became a Maximal, I lost my family, my humanity, and my freedom!" He turned away from his stunned partner, breathing heavily. "Telling me that you saw me as a brother really helped me after my family." He trailed off, fighting back tears.
Feeling guilty, Bumblebee stood up before placing a hand on Rafs' shoulder, wincing slightly as the Maximal flinched at the contact. "Raf, I, I'm sorry."
Raf took a calming breath. "I hope so, I don't like you when you're bitter." He replied, composing himself again.
Bee looked down. "Neither do I. Honestly though, between the new look and a near death experience, I don't feel like myself anymore. I feel, I feel like a different, me." He looked at his warped reflection again. "With the Electrum in my armor and the Insecticon parts I, I look like a gold bug."
Raf turned around and hugged his partner and adoptive brother around his chest. "Regardless of how you look, you're still my brother...Goldbug." Snorting, his partner leaned back and looked at him
"Goldbug huh?" He chuckled. He activated his new helm, a silver mouth plate and blue visor moved into position, covering his scarred face. The effect was instant, he looked more like a cool older brother than a brooding menace. "Guess I'll just have to roll with it."
Kneeling, newly rechristened Goldbug hugged his brother again. "Thank you." He whispered.
A few hours later, Optimus, Rodimus, Utra Magnus and Fowler were gathered in a conference room inside Fortress Maximus. Using Maximus' decidedly primitive spacebridge, they were able to recover the various away teams. Unfortunately, it could only connect to another spacebridge and not create freestanding portals. Fortunately, the spacebridge on Cybertron where the Lost Light crew had evacuated to was capable of it and allowed them to call the away teams to Cybertron before bringing them back to Earth.
While he would have to upgrade their new/old spacebridge with the Forge Hammer and have a meeting about the now restored Cybertron, they had bigger problems at that moment.
In front of them was a tablet that had online videos of both the attacks around the country and of the Nemesis hovering over and destroying Unit-E. Another video showed satellite images of Fortress Maximus rising out of the Earth and the battle between Maximum Magnaboss and Galvatron as well as Optimus sacrifice to save them. Already there were conspiracy theories and rumors of an imminent alien invasion circling the internet.
"It's official then." Ultra Magnus began. "The rules of engagement have changed."
"Unfortunately, yes." Optimus replied. "With his deception, Galvatron has forced our conflict out into the open, however both sides are now on the back foot."
"We had prepared for this possibility." Fowler said looking at the three. "And it didn't hurt that Rodimus and his team was caught on video protecting the United Nations building from those con knockoffs."
"Hence why I'd like for Rodimus to serve as our ambassador to the United Nations."
"Sir." Rodimus began. "With all due respect, you're our leader. Shouldn't you be the one to."
"Rodimus." Optimus interrupted. "While I will make our initial speech to the world, you must remember I am a military commander." He looked at the now former ship captain. "You however have shown the ability to be an effective negotiator and diplomat. I have every confidence that you'll be able to maintain relations between our peoples and Earths' effectively." He smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "You've come a long way from being Hot Rod of Nyon."
Rodimus looked at Optimus for several moments before nodding. "Very well, I will act as diplomat for the Autobots, and Cybertron. Although I have to ask, what about the Maximals?"
Optimus looked at him. "After todays' events, I am fully convinced that Jackson, Miko and Rafael can lead the Maximals with minimal oversight. Although I will continue to dispatch them alongside additional units as a precaution."
"Certainly, more capable than some bots." Magnus muttered.
Nodding at the three bots, Fowler turned to Prime and Magnus. "Then we know what we need to do."
(Two days later)
Stepping out of the shadow and up to the podium in front of Fortress Maximus, Optimus Prime looked at the assembled press and delegates from across the globe. He couldn't help thinking of when he and Megatron had addressed the Senate on Cybertron. Hopefully, this address will end better. Seeing Ultra Magnus and Rodimus on one side of the podium and the Maximals on the other, Optimus steeled himself and started to speak.
"People of Earth." He began. "I am Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots, and of the planet Cybertron. Millions of years ago, our planet descended into a civil war that had rendered our planet uninhabitable. To allow it to heal, we left Cybertron with our enemies the Decepticons in hot pursuit."
"Some sixty-five million years ago, our city ship Fortress Maximus was gunned down over this world by the Decepticons and crashed, causing a great extinction." He continued, using the cover story that had been agreed upon by both him and the United States government. "We spent most of the intervening years in a form of hibernation until a scant few decades ago."
"At that time, we awoke, and after replicating various vehicles and machinery with our natural abilities, we began to explore this strange new world, deciding live amongst you in peace." Optimus spoke. This was mostly the truth, they had been active on earth since the 1980's. "While we do not interfere with your species natural growth and development, we will protect this world form greater threats." He paused as a few camera flashes went off.
Now came the cover story. "Unfortunately, our continued existence was recently discovered by the Decepticons, and they made the attempt to finish what they'd started as seen in the videos taken a few days ago." Optimus continued. "Fortunately, we were able to route them with the aid of a group of volunteers who years ago agreed to become hybrid beings to assist us." He said, indicating the Maximals. He didn't want to lie, but he still had to protect them from certain groups and individuals of ill intent.
"To all those listening." Optimus continued. "Both here and across this world, know this. We are here, and we are ready to help." He looked directly at the cameras and gestured to Fortress Maximus. "And as such, we now greet humanity with open arms." He held his arms out in welcome and paused a moment for dramatic effect.
"We thank the people of Earth for their hospitality. And we bid you all welcome, to Autobot City."
Meanwhile, beneath the Pacific Ocean, the Nemesis had set down and was undergoing repairs after the onslaught from Fortress Maximus. Thankfully they were able to use the shields to make the ship watertight before submerging. While most of the remaining Vehicons and Predacons were running about to complete the repairs, there was one who was more interested in having a discussion with his physician.
"Ah, Tarantulas, so good of you to join me." Galvatron sneered at the Predacon scientist. The treacherous arachnid had been dodging him since the ship had arrived at its watery resting site.
"Well, you know how it is." Tarantulas replied. "Places to go, repairs to do."
"I sent for you the moment we set down." Galvatron began. "There is a problem with the Chaos Matrix, and you've been avoiding me."
Tarantulas looked at him. "What seems to be the problem?" He asked nonchalantly.
"The problem." Galvatron began. "Is that the chaos cybermatter that was supposed to shield me from Unicrons' influence has a flaw in it. He has already entered my mind once and my Matrix must be removed and repaired to prevent a reoccurrence."
"Oh, well there's you're problem right there." Tarantulas laughed. "I lied. The chaos cybermatter was never meant to shield you from Unicron, but to conduct his power."
"WHAT!" Galvatron screamed.
Tarantulas cackled gleefully. "The boss has big plans for you."
"INDEEED." Came Unicrons' voice. The world around him and Tarantulas blurred before fading to black again.
"I DESIRE TO FREE MYSELF FROM MY PRESENT STATE." Unicron began as he loomed over them. "TO DO THIS HOWEVER, OPTIMUS PRIME AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM MUST DIE, AND YOU, MY SERVANT SHALL DO THIS FOR ME."
"I am no one's servant!" Galvatron bellowed up at Unicrons towering form.
"Ohh, bad move." Tarantulas laughed.
"MUST WE GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, MY ANTI-PRIME!" Unicron bellowed as pain wracked Galvatrons' frame. "YOU ARE ORDERED TO DESTROY OPTIMUS PRIME, AND IN RETURN I SHALL ALLOW YOU TO RULE OVER CYBERTRON, UNTO THE END OF TIME." Namely until he destroyed Primus after everything else in the universe, but Galvatron needn't know that yet.
"I don't have the forces." Galvatron gasped as the pain left him. "My troops are severely depleted."
"TARANTULAS SHALL BOLSTER YOUR CURRENT FORCES WHILE I SEEK OUT NEW ONES FOR YOU, AND I SUGGEST YOU DO THE SAME." Unicron responded. "NOW GO!" With that the world faded back into being.
Tarantulas laughed. "Oh, we are going to have a grand time working together." He threw his head back and cackled as Galvatron wondered just what he'd gotten himself into.
A/N- And scene. Told you all that Dark Matrix would come back to bite him in the butt. Now, explanations.
Hybrid Optimus Prime is essentially a Prime verse take on the Powermaster Optimus Prime of the 80's while his Maximal form is a carbon copy of Lio convoy/Leo Prime from Beast Wars II. I wanted to give Optimus the best of both worlds in this universe.
Ironically, I discovered Jacks' new body while doing research about Cheetor. The new Leobolt is an Optimus Prime pallet swap of the Alpha Trizer toy, also known as Thundertron in the Transformers Prime toy line albeit with a different head sculpt.
I had planned to take the Goldbug route with Bumblebee since I started planning this fic. I wish that we got more Goldbug outside of Shattered Glass. His design is based on the Generations Goldfire toy with a head similar to G1 Goldbug.
As to Heinrad and Rattrap, I will explain more of their now nonexistent timeline in the coming chapters. Mainly as they work to keep it nonexistent.
If I don't have a new chapter by the end of this month, I will definitely have one next month. I shall see you all next time, and until then, fav, follow and review.
Next time: Evil reinforcements and greetings from a doomed future. See you then.