Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers or Mass Effect
My Christmas gift to everyone
I wanted to get another update in before the new year, and definitely before we went past forty years of Transformers. Transformers One, the new comic series, Studio Trigger's tribute video and looking at old Transformers IDW panels has inspired me to keep going.
Transform Effect: Rise a Prime
Chapter 34: 40 cycles
Nihlus would have breathed out a sigh of relief, if he didn't know he had entered an entirely new dangerous situation.
"Something I have never understood about the Citadel, they claim to represent every species yet not every species is on the council when you think about it one can only come to the conclusion that the three current representative species no offence considering you are Turian are trying to limit the power other species such as the Volus Hanar Elcor and Human would have and not to mention the appalling treatment or perhaps lack of treatment to the Quarians for a crime only the Asari would truly remember," despite being a flying car, Blur did not stop talking.
It helped to distract Nihlus from the fact that he was inside an Autobot, vulnerable. Blur though seemed more earnest than other people who worked in intelligence though. This was why Nihlus felt he could trust the Autobot, if he stopped talking long enough and drove slow enough for Nihlus to explain his current predicament.
"Blur, what do you think of your leaders?" Nihlus asked.
"Wheeljack and Que are remarkable bots to work with always considerate though Wheeljack's manner could do with some adjustment and Magnus is one of the finest military commanders in the Autobot forces having fought over a thousand battles over his long life," Blur explained.
"Long life," Nihlus hummed.
"And what do you think of your leaders?" Blur asked.
"I don't trust them," the Turian said.
Finally Nihlus had said something that shut Blur up. Taking a chance, the Turian Spectre continued:
"I am not ignorant to the faults in our system of government, and the fault in the characters of our leaders. Shepard has presented them with a credible threat, Saren was accused of leading the attack and he was given the files concerning the attack, a completely incompetent regard for data on the council's part. Then there is the threat of the Reapers, the Geth incursions, human colonies openly attacked and ignored by the council due to unwillingness to provoke the Terminus systems. They believe there is some kind of government within the Terminus system, but the Terminus is a place for criminals and warlords seeking to disappear, they fight amongst themselves whilst we show weakness and disregard for our citizens. At first I thought it was just a flaw in their leadership abilities but now I wonder if it is a deliberate plot. If somehow the council is 'pretending' to be who they are," Nihlus explained.
Blur remained silent and Nihlus wondered if he had made a mistake, regardless they were heading towards danger. There was apparently one person who shared such an intimate relationship with Sha'ira that it would have allowed them to bug her office. The very person who accused the Asari consort of disregarding client information, the former general of the Turian fleet Septimus Oracco.
The void
Convoy looked at the version of himself, or the being that called themselves Optimus Prime. The Autobot took a few steps around him, and like a hologram 'Optimus's' form flickered and he became a new bot entirely. He had the same red and blue armour, but was in a much bulkier form with yellow tips on his boots and silver hands.
"Where am I?" Convoy demanded.
"A crossroads of time and memory," the Autobot's voice was different, yet still conveyed the same feeling of command.
"My circuitry must be fried," Convoy huffed, tapping the side of his head.
"A great deal has been taken from you, Nemesis, Convoy, Orion Pax, Optimus Prime, they are all of you and yet none of you at the same time," the Optimus changed again.
His form was significantly different than the last, far more vehicle than anything Convoy had seen before, based upon the primitive juggernaut trucks of humanity's deep past. The red and blue of his armour formed flames on his chest plate, and the guard across his mouth slid back to reveal a kind of mouth.
"As the human's say, I'll show you mine if you show me yours," the old robot's voice returned, gesturing to Convoy's chest.
Convoy though tightened his fist and took a few steps back, distrustful of the construct. The Optimus smiled and began to open his chest. As he did his form flickered and turned into a taller version of himself with a grey face underneath his helmet. The panels of his armour folded to the side and light shined on his chest. Convoy looked at a blue light at the centre of the bot's chest, covered in gold material with two large handles on either side of it, it looked like the Matrix before it and the bot changed again, the matrix becoming spiky and blade like (in no way resembling the matrix really). Light enveloped Convoy and he shielded his optics. He felt weightless for a moment before experiencing a rush that made his body tense. When the feeling stopped and the light faded, he raised his fists to fight.
The void was gone; instead he was in a desert of some kind. Convoy widened his optics as he saw an exchange of beam fire. He looked closer and saw Autobots and Decepticons, himself and Megatron leading their respective forces. An energy axe stretched out of his counterpart's hand, and Megatron formed an energy mace in his.
"What is this?" Convoy asked.
"This…"
He turned, cautious around the ghostly form of the old Optimus Prime, the Prime-Optimus in a way.
"This was our fate, our war, waged on a planet not our own. This Megatron did not have the depth of suffering and honour that yours does; he embodied evil and evil for the sake of conquest. His Decepticons believed that it was their right to rule over others, to exploit Earth for the sake of Cybertron," Prime explained.
"Shepard's planet," Convoy realised.
"Yes, a constant in the Multiverse, yet one you have yet to encounter, it will impress you," Prime said.
Layers of the world broke down, rising like bits of data being loaded out whilst a new background was loaded in. Optimus and Megatron battled amongst a ruined Autobot city, still on Earth but many of their allies too damaged to fight.
"No more Optimus Prime, have mercy, I beg of you," the Megatron pleaded.
"You who are without mercy now plead for it, I thought you were made of sterner stuff," 'Optimus' said.
Convoy shifted uncomfortably when he saw Megatron reach for a blaster at his feet.
"NO YOU DON'T MEGATRON!" was that Rodimus Convoy saw.
"OUT OF THE WAY HOTROD!"
But the older Prime's warning came too late, using Hot Rod as a human shield, Megatron shot Optimus several times. The scenery shifted to an operating room of some kind. Optimus was on a gurney, with a human child by his arm, surrounded by Hot Rod, Arcee, Kup and Ultra Magnus.
"One day an Autobot will rise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix to light our darkest hour!"
"ARISE RODIMUS PRIME!"
Suddenly, they were inside a new place entirely. Hot Rod, no, Rodimus Prime stood, holding the Matrix high with light shining out of it.
"Now, light our darkest hour," the new Prime said as he pulled the matrix open.
"It was Rodimus, it was always going to be Rodimus then," Convoy said.
"You shouldn't make assumptions, one thing about us Optimus Primes is this, we die yes, but we also return," the ghostly bot seemed to chuckle.
"Now light our darkest hour," Optimus held the matrix, shining its light on an army of Autobots and Decepticons, drowning out the red glow that had consumed them.
But it doesn't end there, it continues in other places. Places that bear your form.
"MASTERFORCE!" Convoy tilted his head as he watched light cover a human.
That human suddenly changed into a suit of armour. Then the human turned into a chip, attaching to a back of a body that resembled Optimus Prime's.
"TRANSFORM! GOD ON!"
"Ginrai, another name we have sometimes gone by," Optimus said.
"What did I just watch?" Convoy muttered, shaking his head.
"Across universes and time we fight, for an ideal that goes beyond mere survival or victory, it goes on even to our Descendents," Optimus said.
They were on Earth again, but an Earth devoid of cities, where primitive humans made stone tools. A purple T-Rex roared, lining up with a giant spider, a scorpion, a Pterodactyl and a wasp. On the other side of the field there stood a gorilla with a cheetah, a giant rat, a rhino and a raptor.
"Optimus Primal Maximise!" the gorilla said, speaking in the same voice the 'Armada-Prime' had spoken in.
He let out a guttural roar as his face folded, becoming a chest plate for his armour. His legs turned, red and white feet popping out of his heels whilst the fur on his shoulders slid apart as armour. The 'Maximal's' head was like Optimus's, the same blue helmet but with a red mouth and eyes.
"Megatron Terrorize!" the T-Rex marched forward, twisting its upper body around, its back opening to reveal a main body with a silver helmeted head and purple face.
His tail became a set of pincers and the T-rex's head remained as a new arm. Both former gorilla and t-Rex clashed and in a flash of lightning they were different, their bodies more metallic, with another flash they were taller, giants clashing. A silhouette of the Prime-Megatron's head appeared over the red dragon Megatron, whilst the ghostly Optimus looked directly over the 'optimal' Optimus. They clashed one final time and the world changed with them. Optimal Optimus bore the face of Megatron, his arms trapped by a huge vine. Primal though was far smaller, his robotic form completely different, technorganic. He ignited rockets on his back and pushed his rival into a dive that led directly to the core of the planet.
"Yes Megatron, we are about to be reformatted," Primal smiled as the bitterest rivals fell to their deaths and light consumed them.
Pinnacle Station
"PRIME! PRIME WAKE UP PRIME! PRIME!" Ironhide yelled, shaking Convoy's unconscious form, even with Springer putting a gun to his head.
"Drop it or we drop you," Jazz said as he and Arcee aimed their blasters at Springer.
"You'll go first," Springer retorted.
Arcee quickly turned, aiming her blasters at the wrecker soldiers.
"We can't hold them off," Shepard said, cooling her rifle as Metalhawk and Thundercracker clashed outside.
"Admiral Ahern, we have a problem," one of the station technicians said.
"We kind of already have a problem but fine what is it?" the admiral asked, walking over to the serviceman's station.
"Energy signature sir, big almost like a mass relay," he said.
"We detect it too, big, big energon surge, it's gotta be a space bridge," Trap said.
"What, who is one this channel?" Ahern demanded.
"Rattrap here, we got no beef with the Wreckers but that doesn't mean we aren't going to stand aside and wait to see who wins," Rattrap said.
"Speak for yourself," Cheetor said, arming his blaster.
He threw one to Demolisher, who took a belt of charges and gave them to Blaster.
"This is Blaster contacting all Wreckers and alliance staff, we've got a space bridge building up which I bet a moon's worth of Energon will be Decepticons, but not the friendly kind," the Autobot communication officer explained.
"Intelligence confirmed: no forces under Megatron's command in area," Soundwave said.
Prowl loaded his blaster, looking to Excellion and Sideswipe.
"Scorponok is scrapped, and I doubt Magmatron would come all this way, so who does that leave?" Prowl asked.
The space bridge opened, the portal flashing as a massive ship came through. It would have cast a shadow over Pinnacle station, easily being just as big as the Citadel.
"Identity confirmed: Devil Z incoming," Soundwave said.
"Don't make us guess, what is the Devil Z and who can we expect?" Shepard asked.
"The Devil Z, slag it, that means Overlord," Springer said.
"Overlord was also a gladiator of the arena, later he was used as a soldier against the Protheans, unlike Megatron though he played ball so that meant a lot of promotions, a lot of fancier toys, by the time the council fell he had the majority of the soldiers on his ship, including two Vehicon generals, Obsidian and Strika," Ironhide explained.
"We're outnumbered and outgunned, we've got no choice but to retreat," Shepard said.
"Admiral, we're being hailed."
"Commander we've got a call coming through the Normandy too," Joker said.
"It's a broadcast signal, both Decepticon and Autobot channels," Blaster said.
The Normandy crew were preparing for battle when the galactic map was replaced by a hologram. It was the same image that appeared on the bridge of the Junkion ship and Pinnacle station. Shepard activated her Omni-tool, projecting the hologram all the crew saw. Springer and Ironhide narrowed their eyes in confusion, looking at a completely different bot sitting on a throne of sorts. Rather than seeing a blue and grey giant, the bot was the size of Convoy and Megatron. Tank tracks formed the shoulders of his armour, most of which was black with some purple plates. A yellow Decepticon symbol was on the purple plate on his belly, whilst his face was covered by a purple mask, one that resembled the Decepticon insignia. He had on his right arm a double barrelled version of Megatron's fusion cannon.
"You're not Overlord," Ironhide said.
"Overlord no longer commands the Devil Z or the Vehicon forces, though his combat prowess and enthusiasm in his job was good, his ambitions were deemed troublesome and unprofessional thus he was punished accordingly," the Decepticon explained.
"Who are we speaking to?" Shepard asked.
"My name Commander Shepard is Tarn," the Decepticon said.
"Like the city on Cybertron?" Cheetor asked out loud.
"I am acting captain of the Devil Z, whilst carrying out my duties as commander of the Decepticon Justice Division," Tarn stated.
"Never heard of a Decepticon that values justice," Prowl muttered.
"Are we to believe that the DJD is some kind of internal affairs of the Decepticon forces?" Shepard asked.
"An accurate description of our duties Commander Shepard," Tarn nodded his head as he spoke.
"You know who I am?"
"Yes Commander Jane Shepard, born on Earth, a small page of time spent in juvenile correctional facilities but no serious charges or criminal convictions. Achieved exemplary test scores at boot camp and officer's training, earning a degree in mechanical engineering and a commendation to a frontier unit. Three disciplinary charges including striking an officer, commendations and medals of valour from missions during the Skylian blitz and the incident on Akuze," Tarn explained.
"Nice to have a fan," Shepard muttered, with Garrus resisting the urge to chuckle.
"Tarn, this is Thundercracker, I'm with Soundwave, we've secured Nemesis Prime," the Seeker said.
"Prime, PRIME!" Tarn's hands shook as he leant forward on his throne. "DO NOT DARE SPEAK TO ME OF A PRIME!" the eloquence of his voice faded as he yelled.
Void
Convoy was floating, looking at a bustling Cybertronian city, most of the buildings were gold, creating an even greater shine. He went onto a track and witnessed so many car and jet transformers racing. But there were two bots smaller than the rest, using limited fuel jet packs to go through the track, clumsily weaving so as to avoid crashes. One was silver with a dark helmet and orange eyes, the other was a familiar combination of red and blue colours.
"If we survive this, I'm gonna kill you!" the silver bot said.
"I accept those terms," the red and blue bot smiled.
"Who are they?" Convoy demanded.
"D-16 and Orion Pax," Prime-Optimus said.
"But who are they?"
There was a flash and Convoy was looking at multiple versions of the same red and blue bot, shot time and time again by an imposing grey robot with his fusion cannon. Convoy fell to his knees, his hands shaking as he gripped his head.
"This, this isn't, Orion is Optimus, ergo I am not Optimus," he said.
"Remember my friend, who you are," Convoy felt Optimus's hands on his shoulders, picking him up off of the floor.
Two versions of Optimus and Megatron flew around an Earth city. Megatron fired his fusion cannon, purple blasts that Optimus batted aside with his electrified hammer. The Decepticon leader swung a pair of swords into the staff of the hammer, going into a deadlock with the Autobot.
"You're a persistent little Autobot," Megatron said.
"My name is…"
The vision faded and the forms of Optimus and Megatron were replaced by Orion and D-16. Orion clumsily climbed out of a container D-16 had put onto a train.
"Digging through ancient data is worth dying for?" D-16 asked.
"Yes it is," Orion grinned, falling onto the floor along with the container.
"I need a new best friend," D-16 groaned.
FLASH
"GALVATRON!"
Optimus and…Galvatron, that was new for Convoy as he watched the other Optimus confront a purple armoured robot in the fiery ruins of an island.
"This is our moment in time, whoever wins shall rule without an equal, for today we decide the future," Optimus explained.
"I loathe you Optimus Prime," Galvatron said.
They both spoke with the same voices as the Optimus and Megatron of the 'beast' era.
FLASH!
The same bots but in different forms stood in a type of arena. Again they spoke with the same voices that Convoy had heard before.
"You're a fool Optimus, you can't hope to defeat me one on one," Galvatron said.
"I wouldn't bet on that, I have right on my side," Optimus said.
"For all the good that'll do," Galvatron laughed.
"Now, prepare to meet your end."
Optimus jumped, a backpack with weapons made from fire truck ladders slammed into his back, whilst fins folded round the sides of his helmet, an a plate covered his mouth.
"Wrong Galvatron, it's your reign of evil that's ending, Optimus Prime SUPER MODE!"
The battle raged across the arena, then across a planet, moving through space. A purple blade appeared in Galvatron's hand, whilst Optimus stood in a pose with a sword. His armour shined gold as he and Galvatron clashed.
As the weapon's met, the vision faded, replaced with one of Optimus and Megatron fighting with swords. The sword Optimus held shined a brilliant blue, whilst Megatron's was blazing with purple fire. They swung their swords together again and again, showing visions of some thin version of Starscream sticking his hand through Cliff Jumper's chest, of Optimus and Megatron fighting stone versions of some kind of giant transformer.
FLASH!
"YOU'RE REAL! YOU'RE REAL AND YOU'RE NOT ME!" a rusty yellow bot looked over D-16 and Orion, amazement and relief in his optics.
"You can call me B-127 or Bee."
FLASH!
"MEGATRON!"
Convoy flinched as some version of Bumblee drove the sword Optimus had fought Megatron with through the Decepticon's chest.
"You took my voice; you will never hurt anyone again!"
FLASH!
"Every single day of my life."
"I can't believe it, I mean I can but, I can't believe it."
Convoy looked curiously at the next scene. Orion, Bee, D-16 and another pink bot were sitting amongst a graveyard of bots.
"You just had to do it didn't you?" D-16 asked.
"Me, what did I do?" Orion asked.
"You just had to go to the surface, had to enter the Iacon five thousand, you just had to break protocol?"
"Who cares about protocol?" Orion asked.
"I care, I care," D-16 said, standing up and walking over to Orion. "Because nothing bad happens when you stay on protocol."
"… has been forcing us to work the mines until our gears strip, and all the while he's been giving the Energon away to our greatest enemies," Orion explained.
Convoy shifted, for some reason he didn't hear what the name Orion had spoken.
"What do you think he's going to do to us when he finds out that we know?" D-16 asked.
"I'm not thinking about what he's going to do, I'm thinking about what we're going to do," Orion said.
"Well that's the whole thing, you're never thinking about anything else, just yourself, fantastic, another Orion Pax master plan, I can't wait to hear this," D-16 remarked, turning around and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Don't you want to stop him?" Orion asked.
"NO I WANT TO KILL HIM!" D-16 yelled, turning around and glaring at Orion.
"I want to put … in chains and march him through the mines so that everyone can see him for the false Prime that he is. I want him to suffer and then to die in darkness," D-16 explained.
FLASH!
"STOP IT! NO MORE!" Convoy yelled.
"History repeats," he raised his head, looking into a dimly lit room.
He looked at an Autobot in red armour, tires between his shoulders and neck; on his chest he had window panels on either side of the curved red panels underneath his head. The bot's head consisted of a familiar blue helmet with a silver mouth plate. There were exhaust pipes on his shoulders, the rest of his armour consisted of white, yellow and blue plates on his legs and arms.
"Optimus?" Convoy whispered.
"For a guard you spend quite a lot of time in the library," someone remarked behind the bot.
"Maybe you should spend more time in here too," the red and blue bot said.
"Oh please," the bot scoffed.
He was a bot with primarily blue armour, with some orange and horn like spikes on his chest plate. Wheels were on his shoulders and boots with the front having parts of a ladder on them. His face was exposed by his helmet, not obscuring the arrogant smirk he wore.
"If you want to go back to clerk work Orion, then go right ahead, leaves more glory for me," the bot said.
"Our job isn't to pursue glory Sentinel; it's to protect the Citizens of Cybertron," Orion said, turning away from the console.
"That's Sentinel Major to you Orion Minor," Sentinel said.
"I hate these new cast rankings, Minor and Miner are too close after all," Orion said.
"His voice," Convoy muttered. "He sounds like me."
"Indeed he does," the vision of Optimus walked around Orion as he and Sentinel walked out of the hall of records.
Convoy followed, shielding his eyes when they got outside. Light shined down on Cybertron, illuminating a bustling city that perfectly reflected the light of Cybertron's sun. There was no darkness, no scorch marks, just Cybertron at its brightest. Convoy looked at this other version of himself driving across the streets of Cybertron, tackling minor offences.
"The artwork is good, but you should hold back on the subject matter," he told a young yellow armoured bot.
"I'm Sari," she said.
"Don't be sorry, try to be better," Orion said.
"No, my name is…look sir, I know there are censorship laws, but certain things are being concealed from us, the people have a right to know," Sari explained.
She looked up at the much taller bot, who looked over the spray painted image of Cybertron's latest entry into the political leader. Megatronnus Magnus, leader of the miner's division and defacto leader of Kaon's defence league. He was the bot who had abolished the barbaric gladiatorial games and turned Kaon into the industrial heart of Cybertron. The artwork specifically showed Megatronnus in white and black armour, specifically a black helmet with blue cannons on his shoulders and a blue flight pack.
'Megatronnus for Prime, rise up!'
"Indeed we do, but you are young, do not be too eager to oppose the government," Orion said.
"Megatronnus is a hero, we all need to be heroes if we're to improve our world," Sari said.
"Indeed, but there is a fine line between being a hero, and being a memory," he said.
A memory, Convoy realised it was a memory.
FLASH!
"What are you doing?" D-16 demanded.
"It's over D, everyone knows."
"SO DO I! HE TOOK EVERYTHING FROM US! He deserves to die can't you see that?"
The brothers were locked in a wrestle, one holding back the other, both with desperation in their optics.
"We're better than this, don't be like…" again the name faded.
D-16 was taken aback by Orion's statement; Convoy looked at the pair, seeing the hope in the optics of the blue and red bot and the growing anger in the grey bot's optics.
"Pax, you need to move out of my way, before I move you myself," D-16 snarled.
"D listen…"
FLASH!
Orion flicked through the rows and rows of data discs, some small card shaped objects. Others were the grander golden discs. He gathered them into his arms like organics did their food cans and moved them over to the projector. Orion shook the dust off of a card disc and injected it into the device. Light constructs appeared in front of Orion, forming the shapes of Cybertronian warriors. First he looked at a bot with organic wings, beast like fans and talons as his feet.
"Onyx Prime, first to possess a beast mode, he tamed the beasts of Cybertron and taught them speech, those who evolved became Maximals, but those who remained savage beasts become Predacons," the machine narrated.
He bit back a chuckle when the projector panned to a smaller bot, silver and green armoured and floating with his legs crossed.
"Micronus Prime, smallest of the Cybertronians, whom created the minicons, those who would aid the Cybertronians to come."
The atmosphere of the room shifted when a purple armoured femme-bot was shown, carrying a hammer.
"Solus Prime, the great inventor who would go onto forge items of great power including the Skyboom shield and requiem blaster, betrayed by the Fallen Megatronnus Prime, warrior whose ambition mocked the sacrifice of Primus."
Orion's optics lit up slightly when he saw the white armoured warrior. The warrior's helmet slightly resembled Orion's and Convoy's. He lifted a glowing sword onto his shoulder.
"Prima Prime, warrior of light, wielder of the Star Sabre and the one who drew back the darkness on its second coming," the machine narrated and Orion promptly pulled the card out.
"Darkness, the darkness, what does that mean?" Orion asked out loud.
"An interest in history from a soldier, impressive," Orion turned to the one who spoke to him.
He was a bot with a head that looked as if it had a wizard like beard. The red and blue bot had armour that flowed like robes.
"Alpha Trion, forgive me sir, I was just…"
"Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it, go on my son," Alpha Trion said.
Orion loaded one of the golden discs, a mural was shown, depicting figures that Orion recognised as the Thirteen Primes. There was a winged figure that was taller than all of the Primes, in fact the mural itself was supposed to represent the entire size of the creature that the Primes fought.
"Unicron," Convoy whispered.
"It says that Primus created the Primes to be protectors of the universe, they spread peace and opportunities for advancement throughout the galaxy. Until they came across a species that lacked could dominate the minds of others, these Leviathans had used other species to advance. The Primes fought against the Leviathans, who created a network of machines that would strike back against our ancestors, who they viewed as rogue machines," Alpha Trion explained.
"But then something spoke to them, or through them, this old word translates to both to and through," Orion said.
"It actually means 'use', something used the Leviathans, 'used to create a darkness, that in tragic irony would…" Alpha stroked his beard as he thought for a moment. "I would say harvest but the more literal translation is 'reap organics.'"
"The darkness that would reap the galaxy," Convoy said.
"The Reapers," he looked behind him and saw the older Optimus Prime.
"This dead zone they resided in is also dark space isn't it?" Convoy asked.
"Language isn't always literal, some is interpretation," the older Prime shifted into the 'Primal' Optimus.
"I don't understand, did Unicron truly create the Reapers, or did he just take control of them when the Leviathans were finished?" Convoy asked.
"They are your memories, does it even particularly matter?" Primal asked.
"Of course it matters, the Leviathans set a precedence for organic and synthetic life, a precedence that even affected the outlook of Cybertronians. Yet where you came from…" Convoy glared as Primal turned into his techorganic form.
"The two became one, synthesis," Primal said.
"A forced reformation, you deprived them of the choice," Convoy said.
"MEGATRON DEPRIVED US OF THE CHOICE!" Primal roared.
"Megatron who in every world, every timeline will remain our enemy," the Prime transformed into a new and fresh look, glaring at Convoy with a snarl on his mouth.
FLASH!
"No, no, no why, WHY DID YOU DO THAT WHY?"
He held Orion's hand, dangling him into an abyss. The colour drained from Orion's armour as he looked up at his brother.
"D, no," he whispered.
D-16 closed his eyes, shaking his head in fear. Orange optics were replaced by red as D-16 looked down at his enemy.
"I'm done saving you!"
"There has to be another way," Convoy said.
"There is no other way," 'Optimus' said, turning into the Earth vehicle version.
Convoy watched as this version, one armed with a plate sliding across his mouth, fought Megatron. He buried his axe in Megatron's head and proceeded to rip it off of Megatron's body, along with his spine.
"All I wanted was to save our home, that is why I betrayed you Optimus," a red armoured bot was kneeling, damaged on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Convoy asked, watching the version of Optimus pick up Megatron's gun.
"You didn't betray me, you betrayed yourself," he said, cocking the gun.
"NO OPTIMUS!" the red armoured bot was shot through the head by Optimus.
Convoy looked at the scene in shock, humans and other Autobots gathered around it as if it was a triumphant moment.
"You executed him," Convoy said.
"Sometimes that is the only way," 'Optimus' said.
"THERE HAS TO BE MORE!" Convoy yelled.
He fell to his knees and slammed his fists into the ground. A new Optimus sliced through Megatron's triple barrelled fusion cannon with an energy axe.
"There has to be another way for this war to end," Convoy seethed.
FLASH!
'Super' Optimus Prime shined gold as he plunged a sword through Galvatron's chest.
"There has to be more to our lives than a repeat of the same cycle again and again, THEIR CYCLE!" Convoy slammed his fist into the floor again.
FLASH!
It was absolute chaos, a human sized, witch like robot was chanting with a staff. A red mark glowed on Megatron's face as he and Optimus locked blades.
"We were brothers once," Megatron said.
"Once," Optimus huffed.
"The Reapers who demand we follow their rule to develop along the lines they dictate and move like lambs to slaughter, forced into a game where the only outcome is the one that proves them RIGHT!" Convoy slammed his fist down again.
FLASH!
Nemesis and Megatronnus slammed their swords together, the crowd roaring above them.
FLASH!
Nemesis walked amongst the wreckage of so many bots. He fell to his knees and looked at his hands, stained with Cybertronian blood.
FLASH!
"Synthesis or destruction, are we really so limited in our OPTIONS!" Convoy yelled, kneeling in the midst of a Beast Wars and then punching the ground again.
FLASH!
"Who are you?" Megatronnus looked at Orion curiously.
"Orion Pax, sorry, Orion Major."
"You don't like the caste system I take it," Megatronnus smiled and Orion chuckled.
"Am I really that easy to read?" he asked.
"The government has made far too many mistakes, now I hear that they're even shutting down our space programs, we have to be aware of what's out there," Megatronnus said.
"Yes, other species we could make first contact with," Orion said.
"Other species that might be a threat to us," Megatronnus said.
FLASH!
"Orion, meet Ariel," Megatronnus smiled politely as the pink bot and Orion shook hands.
"So you are Meg's new friend, it's wonderful to meet you," Ariel said.
"Please don't call me Meg," Megatronnus groaned.
FLASH!
"Welcome to the future of Cybertron," Megatronnus opened his arms, presenting to Orion and Ariel the rookery.
"So many sparklings," Orion muttered.
"A fine project," a bot in brightly colour armoured came into the room, a wide smile across his face.
He was joined by an orange, one eyed bot with claw like hands.
"Megatronnus, meet Senator Shockwave and this is Damus," Orion said.
"You c-can c-call me G-Glitch, e-everyone d-does," the smaller bot said.
"Damus and I intend to campaign within the senate for more rights to be given to Outliers," Shockwave said.
FLASH!
Megatronnus and Orion sat on the edge of Kaon, looking out across at shining Iacon.
"You look like a friend I had," Megatronnus said.
"That friend is gone, he only understood violence, he was wrong," Orion said, not even looking at Megatronnus.
"He was someone who believed that freedom and autonomy was the right of all sentient beings, he was never just about violence, he had strength," Megatronnus explained.
"Strength," Orion scoffed. "In an arena, I'd imagine, strength is what you must have, that and ruthlessness, the only thing you can do is escape from that place so that you can expand your choices. In Iacon we have the choice now," he explained.
"My friend's strength went beyond his ability to fight," Megatronnus banged the floor as he spoke. "He had the strength…to be kind!"
FLASH!
Convoy couldn't make anything out in the darkness. He looked up and saw Orion being held by several guards. His mouth plate was cracked along with marks in his armour. Orion took a few steps forward, looking up at shadowy figures. A winged bot with a double sided blade lingered over Shockwave, the senator was screaming, his hands covering his face. Small pockets of light glowed in the vision, revealing Longarm Prime for a moment and Ultra Magnus. Magnus's armour was different though, the colour scheme was reversed.
"As of today, as of right now, I am laying claim to that name. Henceforth I am an Autobot, and it is Autobots like me who will outlive institutions like this one unless you change your ways," Orion said.
"Sentinel, take him away," Longarm said.
Orion pushed through the guards, despite their grips on his arm. There was determination in his eyes and in every step he took and word he spoke.
"My friend's name was Megatron and he had three questions, three things he believed you should demand to know of any powerful institution…"
But the words became silent to Convoy, who pushed his head into the ground.
"Who am I? What am I? Am I just the creation of a conspiracy, the villain who inspired a rebellion, the coward who ran away, who am I?" he asked.
"You are who your men see, you are who has led them so far, who has inspired even enemies to fight alongside you, you are who they need in any universe…including mine," Convoy looked up into the darkness and saw light.
The light of a red and orange bot with flames on his chest.
"Rodimus," Convoy muttered.
"When you took the name, and the title, people didn't know truth about the Cybertronian council, about the other Primes. You didn't know your past but you knew that being a Prime meant demonstrating…no, embodying certain standards of behaviour, it meant decency, integrity and morality, the kind of things other leaders, myself, Megatron and even your friend Shepard pretend are unfashionable because deep down they scare us. They scare us because we try to live our lives by them but we can't. Well guess what? You have, you do, every choice you've made, your team believes in you, they know who you are. Thanks to you, the word Prime still means decency and integrity and morality. The world will always need a Prime…but only if that Prime is you," Rodimus explained.
The unwavering passion in his voice and eyes made Convoy stand. He looked at his hands, the hands of Nemesis, stained in blood.
"Your men know who you are, who you always have been and will be to them," Megatronnus appeared before him, the bot he knew from the arena.
But Megatronnus changed, into the bot who dared to hope on Cybertron before the Protheans came.
"Tell them who you are!" Megatron said.
"You already have everything you need," the 'original' Optimus appeared in front of him, between Rodimus and Megatron.
"But if you are still doubting yourself, doubting that you are a hero remember this…" Optimus's voice softened as he leant towards Convoy. "If you're going to be a hero, be a real hero; be strong enough to be gentle!"
He then shoved Convoy, who felt himself flying back into the voice. Convoy looked at the images of those who came before him. Different versions of the same bot, and those who he had lost.
"GO! Show them who you are lad," Kup said.
"Deepen your voice and tell them your name!" Cliffjumper said.
He was suddenly standing, looking at his surroundings, the ship. Springer looked at him in shock before raising his rifle.
"Don't move Nemesis," the Wrecker said.
He grabbed Springer's rifle, pulling it back, enough for Ironhide to point his blaster at Springer. But the bot remembered a time he was Orion, a time he had walked into the senate and was asked by a corrupt council what minor bot had dared to come and face them. He said to Springer what he said to them. Fives words that brought silence to a senate, and brought hope to the Autobots.
"My name is Optimus Prime!"
Next Chapter 35: Strong enough
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, it was also meant as a tribute to forty years of Transformers.
Rodimus's speech is based on one from IDW's Transformers Robots in Disguise series during the Dark Cybertron arc. Optimus/Orion's senate confrontation is based on one seen in the 23rd issue I believe of the 2009 series. And the words 'Be strong enough to be gentle' were said to Peter Cullen by his late brother Captain Henry 'Larry' Cullen before he auditioned for Optimus and the advice that shaped how he played Optimus Prime.
We're also of course introduced to Tarn, the rest of the Decepticon Justice Division will also be introduced down the line.