Chapter 30: Lesser of Three Evils
Review Replies
B.E.A.T.N: I love how this arc is going. It's very unique and has an air of intensity to it. Have a great day/night and stay safe.
ThermalsniperN7: We have a nice amount planned for this arc.
Dragon Emperor0: Unique is the goal.
Unity123: Makes me wonder if we will see any crossovers with the other Aligned shows and etc
ThermalsniperN7: Not until Season 2.
Dragon Emperor0: Still trying to decide whether to make them single arcs that set up later spin offs, or if they should be spin offs all together.
Unity123: Being a fan of both Bionicle and Transformers, I love this. Consider the Cybertron games (Dark Spark if you want to stretch it), possibly Go, Rescue Bots (Academy), tie-in comics and books, the video game, Robots in Disguise and the characters from the toy lines we haven't seen. This will make a most interesting story to follow and favorite.
War for Cybertron
Dark Spark Flashback?
Fall of Cybertron
Arms Micron (Mini-Con)
Rescan
Beast Mode
Chapter 1: Bioformers give me inverted Beast Machine vibes.
Chapter 2: I would have gone with Miko anyway.
Chapter 3: The name for the masks are called Kanohi, the ones used being on the level of Great and Legendary. Tiberius' starting mask being Ignika (Life) and Avohkii (Light)
Chapter 5: If Primus and Unicron were able to create bioformers born from their sparks, it makes me imagine if the other members of IDW's Guiding Hand (Adaptus, Solomus, Mortilus and Epistemeus) had similar ideas, if so, my money's on Cody Burns, Russel Clay, Tobio Fuma and Isama Tatewaki.
Their forms (and linking chapters) could have them take on aspects of different Optimus Prime toys from different timelines and colors like with the Primus Vanguard. Skip Shattered Glass... could be its little chapter or arc. Would need a connecting ancestor between grandparent and grandchild (sans Solus, Megatronus, and Thirteenth)
Guiding Hand
Primus: Light
Mortilus: Death
Solomus: Wisdom
Epistemus: Knowledge
Adaptus: Change
Chapter 6: Dreadwing is not going to be happy about this. Also Madame Ruin would have both the Kraakhan and Tryna (Masks of Shadow and Reanimation) There is no mask of death but I'll let it slide.
Chapter 7: The Mask of Creation has no given name, so I'll go with its bearer's names; Artahkha and/or Ekimu. It's no Timmy's Dad scream but it's a close one.
Chapter 8: Would interludes regarding the Polarity Gauntlet and the Shadowzone and flashbacks of the games and books be used as filler
Chapter 9: Got the Convoy reference.
Chapter 12: This is a reference to Helluva Boss Episode 3 and the Toa Inika theme song by the All-American Rejects.
Chapter 15: If were talking about Fast and Furious. Maybe we would see more Prime Artifacts and something original for the Thirteenth, perhaps Primus Golden Spark from the Precursor World or see the rest of the Stunticons besides Breakdown. Can't think of a similar Autobot team.
Artifacts of the Primes
Prima: Star Saber / Matrix of Leadership / Origin Matrix
Vector Prime: Blades of Time (Split into five pieces)
Alpha Trion: Covenant of Primus / The Quill
Solus Prime: Creation Lathe / Forge of Solus Prime (depowered, then destroyed by Predaking)
Micronus Prime: Chimera Stone / Powerlinx (Armada)
Alchemist Prime / Maccadam: The Lenses
Nexus Prime: Chaos Edge / Cyber Calibur / Omni Saber / Emigma of Combination / Combiners
Onyx Prime: Tryptrach Mask:
Amalgamous Prime: Scythe / The Transformation Cog (Amalgam Cog?)
Quintus Prime: Emberstone / New Cybertronians or Terrans
Liege Maximo: Liegian Darts
Megatronus: Requiem Blaster
The Thirteenth: Apex Armor / Terminus Blade (preferrably destroyed)
Chapter 17: It's was going to happen at somepoint, sparkmates being a common term for the phrase, Conjunx Endura.
Chapter 18: Anyone getting any Drift vibes from the cars?
Chapter 19: Can think of some bots and cons from the toyline that would grow active thanks to the Emberstone.
Chapter 22: The Cybertron Alliance or Ancient Transformer Insignia would be my best estimate to the Mechticon emblem (before they're reprogrammed into Decepticons or defect to the Autobots)
Chapter 23: The reincarnation was quite poetic, giving power of primes to not one, but three (four if you count the Thirteenth)
Chapter 24: The Kanohi Hau, the OG mask.
Chapter 25: Considering IDW using Maximals as descentdants of Onyx Prime and living on the colony world of Eukaris, it wouldn't be hard for Transmutate and Airazor to be reformatted into Maximal Bioformers. (Plus Airazor has an Aerialbot counterpart.) The subplot would work as long as a rampaging predacon or one who takes the name of said beast isn't as crazy.
Chapter 26: Beast Hunters would be interesting if more Predacons were added to the mix, or managed to escape Shockwave's lab before it was destroyed, would have Predaking go rogue earlier than normal.
Chapter 27: I do wonder how the events with Thunderwing would play out with Breakdown either dead or defected and Starscream gone rogue.
Chapter 28: IDW's version of Primus could work as Creator's reformatted body as Genesis Prime (Not Rung) Would need a Solus Prime like body for Octavia's Prime for if she is reformtatted. History has a way of repeating itself, first with the two gods, the faction leaders, and now the cousins. And when the more things change, the more they stay the same.
If Orion Pax, Jack and Vector Sigma don't play the same role as in the show and if the shard is lost. I can think of one character whose name rhymes with Genesis that would become active, more so if Megatron is willing to play the role of Liege Maximo and Octavia the role of either Solus or the Fallen.
Sorry if this is quite much. Hope to be of help with outside ideas.
ThermalsniperN7: That is a lot, it's true. I'm amazed you squeezed all that into one review, honestly. We'll comb through these and see what can fit with the narrative.
Dragon Emperor0: I'll be sure to write all this down and keep it for future reference. See guys? This is what we mean by helpful reviews. This man just pulled double duty by giving us full on chapters worth of stuff to add to the story to make it more unique, while also giving us some useful critiques all in one review. This guy went above and beyond. Thank you, sir, you absolute mad lad.
Question Dude: Why are your Godzilla x Bakugan stories gone?!
ThermalsniperN7: We rewrote them due to the old ones not feeling right anymore. I'm sure you already noticed the first one by now.
Dragon Emperor0: It's reposted. Check it out, we are really proud of it.
-Canyon in Jasper Nevada-
"Scrap." Optimus and Creator cursed as they soon found themselves surrounded by carbon copies of Unicron, literally.
"Let us see how your power fares in the face of great numbers!" Cybertornian Satan bellowed as the copies charged.
"Dismantle." Creator intoned as he chopped the air, causing his molecular deconstruction ability to blast apart several of the apparitions in one stroke.
Optimus fired off quick shots from his guns, each blowing off a head from an apparition before mentor and mentee jumped from platform to platform as they ran and gunned. However, no matter how many they took down, more just took their places.
"Trying to get us with a bunch of small fries? How cliché." The first Bioformer yawned as he dodged the attacks of the clones attacking him, and then used Dismantle to obliterate them.
"Do not get cocky, Creator. He could pull something new when we least expect it." Optimus warned his student.
"With his personality? That's possible but highly unlikely." The golden Cybertronian said as he performed a backflip and stabbed a clone through the chest with his glaive before swing kicking another. "Meatheads like him aren't exactly known for their strategic planning or critical thinking." He added, using dismantle against to destroy another wave of clones…
Right as a nearby small mountain started to shake.
"What the–?" The gold plated Bioformer started to ask before a gigantic Unicron apparition appeared. "... How is that supposed to be effective?" He sweatdropped. "… Ya know what? Forget I asked." He added before he and Optimus transformed and began a full retreat.
Unicron, however, had no intent of letting them retreat. He manifested several apparitions and had them all swat at or blast them. It was not easy to withdraw when you had a bunch of giants trying to stop you.
Just when it seemed like the two were about to be scrap metal, a pair of ground bridges opened up and the others came out guns blazing from the base in the first portal, while the others had Mechticons coming out of it!
"What in the galaxy…?" Creator groaned in exertion as the giants were blown apart by some shots from Shellfire.
"I know we're enemies, but we were hoping you'd have a clue as to what's happening." Wingnut told the Autobots in the moment of reprieve they had.
The Autobots were more than a little apprehensive, especially Octavia, who was just about ready to kill the Mechticons on sight.
But ever the pragmatist, Creator stepped forward.
"The apparition you just destroyed was one of Unicron, the Chaos bringer and the twin brother of Primus, creator of the Cybertronians." The Bioformer explained. "His body makes up our planet, and he's made a deal with Megatron to allow him to rule earth so long as he is allowed to destroy myself and Optimus with his own hands." He added.
"You mentioned Unicron before." Shellfire noted, recalling the time Tiberius was in their custody. "Is he actually at the core?" He asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." The gold plated Bioformer sighed in reply.
"Well, that's one giant and catastrophic problem for us to deal with." Transmutate sighed.
"What do you suggest we do then?" Dreadlock questioned as a vehicle recognizable as Swindle drove up, and allowed a familiar looking man with a scar going across the bridge of his nose to step out.
"Cylas!" Octavia growled, lunging at the man in an attempt to attack him, but was quickly stopped by Bee, Bulkhead and Ironhide.
"I know you may not trust me, and I know one of you hates me." He began, glancing at the fuming sound using femme. "But I do implore you to set that aside for now. Both of us can agree that we want Earth to remain as it is." He added.
"Even if we agreed." Arcee pointed out, just as ticked off as Octavia, that the man had the gall to show his face to them. "What's to stop you from trying to take advantage of the situation and take us out in the process?" She questioned.
"Because, miss Arcee, MECH's aim has always been that of knowledge and advancement. Not wars of wanton destruction that leave no spoils for either side of the conflict to salvage—unlike your Decepticon compatriots." Cylas stated. "We're soldiers of tomorrow. Not terrorists." He added.
"Plus, these "natural" disasters are causing problems for MECH." Wingnut picked up. "Even if we wanted to take you out, we wouldn't have the resources for that, anyway. At the end of it all, removing you serves no purpose." He continued.
"Where as a quid pro quo, does." Cylas continued as he faced Optimus. "So what do you say, Optimus Prime? Willing to let bygones be bygones and work towards survival for another tomorrow?" He questioned, which Ratchet overheard.
"Bah! Don't listen to him, Optimus! He's just trying to get your guard down!" The medic barked.
"Even if that were the case, Ratchet, they are the lesser of three evils in the end." Optimus sighed as he looked at Cylas. "Very well. We will figure out a way to Bridge to the core of Earth. Can you get a team ready for when the time comes?" He asked.
"That we can. And as of recently, we may be able to give you a source of the ability to guide your ground bridge to the core." The man nodded as he snapped his fingers, prompting Dreamcatcher to take something from around his waist and toss it to Bulkhead.
That something being the severed head of Madame Ruin's Terrorcon Bioformer lackey and part time living sex toy, Changeling.
"What the–?!" The wrecker yelped in surprise.
"Believe it or not, but you can use what's in his head to plot a path to the core." Dreamcatcher told them.
"And then use it to lead you to Unicron's spark. Clever." Creator nodded. "Fine. You can help us." He stated.
"But one wrong move from any of you, and you're dead." Octavia added.
"Noted." Cylas nodded before he got back into Swindle's car mode. "We'll send a message when the team is ready to move out." He added before he and the Mechticons returned to their base, their Ground Bridge closing not long after.
The Autobots did the same, and moved to regroup.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile, in the Nemesis med bay, Madame Ruin groaned as she finally came out of stasis—noticing that her lips had either been repaired or outright replaced with updated models—and that she was getting dark Energon transfusions.
"What happened while I was out…?" She murmured in confusion.
"It would seem that we have an audience with Unicron to attend to." Megatron said as he stepped into the room. "I received a mental message from him some minutes ago. He's going to direct us to his spark, so he can grant us something to destroy Optimus and the Autobots." He added.
"I do hope I'm in shape by the time we need to make the journey." The dark femme sighed.
"If your care was done well, you do." The Champion of Kaon nodded.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile with the Autobots…
"I know that desperate times call for desperate measures, but—bringing Cylas here?!" Ratchet exclaimed.
"How can you even think about that after what he did to Tiberius?" Serena questioned.
"He will only be here long enough for him to get us to his own base and to the core. Not a moment longer." Optimus stated, brow furrowed.
"I'm still on the fence about having them here for even a second." Mathias sighed.
"I know it stings, having to work with MECH." Tiberius commented. "But we really don't have much of a choice, and we're short on manpower for something like this. We… Need them…" He added before gagging. "Ugh… I nearly threw up saying that…" He groaned.
"I'm just about ready to punch something." Miko growled as she laid Octavius and Yang in their crib—before she grabbed her fiancé by the collar and dragged him down a hallway.
"... Should we be concerned?" Sierra asked with a glance at her boyfriend.
"I think it would be best to let that lie." Jack shivered. Angry Miko was scary.
As he said this, Miko managed to get away from any prying eyes by getting herself and Tiberius hidden in a storage room, and started making out with him.
"T-Trying to blow off steam?" The male Bioformer breathed as they pulled apart for air.
"And ask why the fuck you'd consider working with MECH after what they did to you." The music lover added with a slightly miffed look on her face.
"Believe me, I'm not thrilled about it either." The blonde sighed as he kissed her back, trailing similar pecks down her jawline and her neck to her collarbone. "Change of topic: mind explaining to me why you were looking up 'five signs that you have a breeding kink'?" He whispered, sucking on the nape of the girl's neck.
"B-B-B-Because I've been feeling an itch to have more kids!" Miko gasped in reply. "It's… actually gotten more intense after having the twins." She added with a gasp as he took a hold of her chest.
"What? You wanna start trying for more?" Tiberius asked, kissing her again.
"A-After we s-s-stop Unicron!" The sound Bioformer replied with a gasp as they separated.
Kinda hard to sate your urges when there was a Chaos Bringer fucking up your planet.
"Alright then, we'll pick this up later." The blonde nodded reluctantly as he gave his fiancé one last kiss before they returned to the others.
(Later)
Minutes later, a ground bridge portal opened on the cliff top of the base where everyone was standing, and out of it walked Transyl, Cylas, Christi and Shelby in their human forms.
They were all unarmed, as per their agreement, but the gang was still apprehensive.
Miko snarled as she clenched her fists, just barely managing to resist the urge to walk up to the man and slug him and the people with him.
Tiberius glanced at her and placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping to calm her nerves.
"I take it you're Cylas?" Fowler questioned as the two men stepped towards each other. "Glad to finally meet you face to face. I'm Agent William Fowler, the Autobots' liaison of the US government." The man added.
"Ah yes, Agent Fowler. I remember you. You seem just as competent in person as the few times we've spoken." The leader of MECH nodded, though his words seemed to be more of a backhanded compliment.
"Let's get to business. I've been briefed that you have a way to get to the core in order to stop the global chaos." The agent said.
"And we do, though if what we've heard of Dark Energon is true, then it will be a treacherous venture." The MECH leader nodded in reply.
"Which is why we gave you the severed head of Changeling. It'll look in the direction we need to go to save us some time." Shelby continued.
"Here's hoping that rings true." Tiberius sighed as he stepped towards Cylas. "Oh, and one more thing…" He continued, right before he suddenly sucker punched the ex military man across the jaw, sending him staggering backwards.
"Oof!" The man grunted as his subordinates tensed before he motioned for them to stand down. "I can tell you were waiting a long time to do that since we had you in our custody. In hindsight, I more than deserve it." He admitted.
"Trust me. You deserve more than that." The blonde snapped. "But now's not the time for any of that. We have the most important job on the planet to do." He added, reigning himself in.
"Then let's begin." Cylas stated as he had Transyl open another ground bridge.
Tiberius and Miko assumed their robot forms, while Optimus, Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee joined them. Shelby and Transyl also became Wingnut and Shellfire, while Christi and Cylas stayed with the rest of the Autobots and humans to keep an eye on the planet and Decepticons.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile, Megatron and Madame Ruin were now walking inside a cavern leading to earth's core, the Gladiator of Kaon's connection to Unicron leading them to where the Chaos Bringer wanted them to be.
"It's a little hard to believe that this kind of thing is possible." Ruin remarked, glancing at the Dark Energon veins on the walls. "I never expected anything like this in my whole life." She confessed.
"Nor did I when I first came to Earth." Megatron admitted. "His spark is close, stay in my path. We're nearly there." He told her.
"Got it." The Bioformer nodded.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile, right around this time, the Autobots and their Mechticon companions also entered the Destroyer's spark, Creator leading the way while holding Changeling's head up like a lantern—like Kratos did with Helios' head in God of War 3.
"So this is the center of Earth? Definitely not what we hoped it would be." Shellfire remarked as he looked around.
"How long until Unicron knows we're here?" Wingnut asked as he looked at Creator.
"Oh don't worry about that." The first Bioformer told him in an uncharacteristically calmly nervous tone. "He already does." He added forbiddingly as they entered a cavern.
"That's totally not unnerving…" Octavia gulped.
As they descended into darkness, a blue orb above them started to shift, before it began to move from side to side before zeroing in on a particular spot—like an eyeball.
Unicron was watching.
Dragon Emperor0: That last scene still gives me the creeps every time I see it. Also, tell us what you think of our alternate take on this particular part of the season 1 finale. We'd been pondering it for awhile and we thought this would be the perfect way to bring phase 1 of the MECH subplot full circle before it enters phase 2 in the next season.
ThermalsniperN7: And with Megatron being in Unicron's good graces this time, we had to do something anyway. MECH might be against the Autobots most of the time, but at least they want to keep Earth as it is. They are literally the representation of this chapter's title.
Dragon Emperor0: Additionally, a special shoutout to Unity123, thank you so much for your extra thorough review. You have no idea how much brainstorming time you just saved us by giving us so many ideas to mull over. Seriously, people like you are a godsend to guys like us for which writers block is the bane of our existence. God bless man, and please, keep it coming.
ThermalsniperN7: What he said. Now we have a ton of stuff to consider. Anyway, see you guys next time.