This was my favorite chapter to write so far, where the Alliance meets the Autobots! I hope you all enjoy it too...
CT7567Rules: Seeing how the Autobots and Decepticons have just arrived on Elorin, I like to think they retained their alternate modes from Cybertron prior to their exodus, like in the TWFC and TFOC games. As for what those alternate modes actually look like, I just provide a general description and leave the rest up to the reader's imagination. Lastly, I believe that since human weapons can hurt the cons, Jak's eco powers would be just as effective.
Hope that answers all your questions, glad to hear from you again!
Ch7: More Than Meets the Eye
The yellow robot stood just outside the shielding it had sensed emitting from the structure. He had tracked the humans he had previously encountered here in hopes to extend his leader's wishes to them. He just hoped he made a good enough impression by saving them from Barricade.
His comm came alive, "Bumblebee, come in do you read?" His leader's voice echoed in the comm built into his head.
'Loud and clear Optimus! Did you get my message?'
"We did, and well done on your success. Though I'm contacting you to inform you that we are approaching the planet's atmosphere, and will be landing shortly."
'Really, right now? What about me delivering your initial message?'
"Now that the Decepticons have been confirmed to have made contact on the planet, I'm afraid we must now do the same to keep ahead. I will give the natives my offer in person myself. Lead them to these coordinates I am sending you, we will rendezvous then."
Bumblebee thought on his new orders for a moment before replying, 'Will do. See you and everybody soon Prime.'
"Likewise." With that, the call ended, and just in the nick of time. Out of the edge of Bumblebee's 'eyes', he saw a giant winged figure flying toward him. He magnified his vision, and hummed in awe of what he saw.
Calidan aka Eagle was contemplating how to handle his first one on one conversation with this alien robot. He knew he had to handle this one better than his past first encounters, as his life and many others depended on it. Though the earlier conversation prior to taking flight reminded him why he was best for the job.
...FLASHBACK 5 min ago…
"How do you wanna handle this sir?" Striker asked Torn as he remained closest to the console, with everyone still quiet standing behind him. Torn appeared to be lost in thought, prompting others including Jak and Ashelin to address him…"General?...Torn?"
"Everyone please! I'm thinking," he said, holding out a hand and silencing them again.
Taking proactive action, Calidan then asked, "permission to suggest something sir?"
Torn eyed Cal sternly as the others watched, hoping their personal feud wouldn't rear its ugly head right now. Fortunately, Torn's professionalism shelved his disagreement with Cal as they spoke like soldiers.
"Very well, lay it on me officer."
"Sir, I've seen this thing up close already and it's also seen me, and from what I've deduced, it intended no harm to us. That being said, with your permission I can fly over and attempt to see if I can communicate with it on level ground."
"You're gonna try and talk to the robot?" Torn asked, raising an eye.
"It's already tried talking to us Torn," Jak said seeing Cal's reasoning, "it's already proven that it's sentient, we just need proof now that it's on our side. Cal can be the one to find out."
Torn agreed, but also had to figure out something else, "valid point Jak, but why him and not you? You were there too, and something like this should be handled by a leading Commander."
Everyone present heard the unspoken insult toward Cal's status as a new recruit. Cal let out a few deep breaths to alleviate the angst that he felt just now. Fortunately, he kept his cool and was prepared to answer, "...because I can understand it."
Everyone turned back to Cal in surprise as he continued, "when it talked to us, it spoke in an abnormal way, except somehow, I was able to interpret every word. Don't ask me how, because I don't know how, I just know that I did."
Astonished looks were spread amongst the group of dual worlds, and Jak finished by confirming what Cal had told him earlier, "it's true."
Torn had decided he heard enough, and gave permission(reluctantly) for Eagle to fly out and make contact. Everyone watched as Cal walked to the edge of the platform and engaged his Eagle pack before taking off.
...FLASHBACK END...
Calidan came in for a landing and set down in front of the robot in a bracing position. The robot watched in further awe as the wings folded back into the pack as Cal stood up to look the robot in the eyes, making sure he was in clear view of the Headquarters camera. On the other side, all the humans and dragons together watched the confrontation take place on screen.
Calidan spoke first, "hello there. Can you understand me?"
The robot nodded back, nonverbally saying yes.
Calidan asked next, "can you speak?"
The robot dropped its shoulders somewhat, before putting his hand up to his throat, and pointed at it while shaking his head. He also talked back to the human in the binary beeping he used before. Like before, Cal discovered he could understand it, although this translation wasn't as encouraging as the last one.
"You…you lost your voice? So, that's why you speak like this?"
The robot nodded back in a sad manner. It was clear that this conversation was uncomfortable for the extraterrestrial, so Cal switched topics, "okay, so that other robot from before, was he a rival or an enemy of yours?"
His nods and binary beeps confirmed that question too. Calidan finally asked the big question, with the whole audience in the base awaiting the answer, "why have you come here?"
'To fight off my enemies, and to bring you to my friends,' Bumblebee answered as he engaged his transformation back into his hovercraft mode. The transformation process shocked Cal enough to step back a few feet, and everyone at the base on the other side of the screen who saw it from a distance gasped in surprise. The alien robot had two forms?!
"Woah! You can do that?!" Cal exclaimed.
Bumblebee answered the young human who apparently could understand him, 'Yup, we all can. All your questions and more will be answered, just gather your friends and follow me, and we'll meet up with mine.'
The yellow transformed robot turned around and drove away, making Cal regain his senses and turned around to face the base. With a hand gesture, he gave the signal to follow them before deploying his wing pack. Eagle took to the sky to follow the alien vehicle that was speeding away.
Having seen Calidan's signal through the screen, Torn gave the order, "Jak, get everyone into your flyer and follow them! Striker, get two of your men over here and we'll fly out as well. Spyro, Cynder, you and the rest of your group are free to follow us, as many you wish."
"I'll stay," Charvo volunteered, "One Realm guardian should remain here, and I'm too old to follow at a fast pace anyway."
His fellow kin nodded and the senior guardian gave Sephpyr some quick encouragement prior to departure. Charvo stood alongside Hunter, Onin, Packer, Seem and Sig as they watched the 2 Freedom Cats and Dragon group fly off together to pursue the strange alien transforming robot that had appeared on their doorstep.
At a far end of the mountain range that led to Union Alliance Headquarters, a massive vessel emerged from the clouds while approaching a break in the mountains where it intended to land discreetly, hopefully away from any prying eyes. The vessel was a solid gold-yellow color marked with red face-like insignias on both wings, with a shape resembling a giant arrowhead with two giant propulsion engines on either side of its main body, and three smaller ones in between. It was easily ten times larger than any aircraft made by humans. Upon its descent, the vessel's boosters turned themselves over and repositioned themselves so that their jets were aiming toward the ground, slowing its approach.
Within a few minutes, the vessel had reached the planet's terra firma, and upon extending four anchor legs from its underbelly, made its first landing on this foreign planet. The whirring sound of a disengaging cylinder was followed by a descending ramp from below the ship. Only once the ramp reached the end and set down on the dirt did the group inside start walking out. Large metal feet attached to large metal bodies started walking down the ramp one by one, setting their first legs on the planet's surface. Observing their new surroundings, one of the mechanical beings with red armor voiced his opinion.
"So, this is Elorin? Huh, not bad I guess," he said.
"Really? You guess?" questioned one that had a female voice.
"Just saying I've seen worse," it answered back.
"Right, and what credentials do you have to accurately judge a planet?" His white and red striped helmsman counterpart questioned.
"It's called having opinions bro, we're at least entitled to that," it answered back with a hint of smugness.
One with a gruff voice cut into their conversation somewhat irritated, "enough, remember why we are here, the Cons have made this planet their next target, and we can't let that happen."
Another one that sounded older spoke like a doctor as it looked at the scanner built into its arm, "I've picked up Bumblebee's life signature several clicks out, he's heading for the rendezvous point."
Their leader finally spoke up, "then it's time to go link up with him, and meet the natives of this planet. Does everyone have their alternate mode ready?" He received nods of acknowledgement from everyone, before he gave his order of engagement…
"Good…Autobots, transform and roll out!"
All six robots transformed into their alternate transportation modes, and with their leader at the head, drove off into the mountain range heading for the rendezvous point with their scout, and the Union Alliance.
The yellow vehicle continued on its way through the Haven mountain range, surprisingly navigating its way through the uneven terrain very well. The whole Union Alliance party followed it via the air. In the lead was Eagle still, now closely followed by the whole dragon group, starting with Spyro and Cynder, and then the guardians, with the acolytes right behind them. Bringing up the rear were two Freedom Cats following the dragons, with Jak piloting one while accompanied by Daxter, Keira, Samos, and Ashelin. Torn was flying in the second piloted by Striker, and two additional Freedom troopers who rode along in the turret hole. Everyone within the Alliance group kept a visual eye on their transforming escort as the yellow hovercraft made its way to a clearing.
It then pulled up in front of a rocky outcrop at the base of a mountain, and stopped. Seeing it pull over, Eagle descended and landed a few feet away from the transforming robot before he retracted his wings. The dragons landed behind him all the same, with all the acolytes, save for Sephpyr, standing by their respective mentors. Sephpyr merely stood behind Spyro and Cynder as they stood behind Calidan. The two Freedom Cats descended and landed themselves, a few yards left of their visiting friends. Everyone had dismounted from their flyers before they realized they had more company.
Illuminating from the rocky outcrop were lights that appeared to be breaking through the gaps in the landscape. The Alliance's attention was grabbed tighter when the sounds of running engines followed the lights, echoing through the terrain. The source of the apparitions was eventually shown, as six more vehicles emerged from a break in the outcrop and rolled toward them. The Freedom troopers immediately brought up their firearms and prepared to take aim before Torn halted them with a hand signal, determined to see what this was all about.
As they lowered their weapons, the yellow vehicle pulled off to the far left side of the approaching group, where they pulled up in a line in front of Cal, Jak, and the others. From left to right after the yellow hovercraft was a large black truck like vehicle, a hot blue motorbike with a streamlined design, a heavy duty red and blue truck in the middle, an orange and white box-shaped vehicle, a full red vehicle with a sporty streamline appearance, and a white with red stripes racing vehicle on the far-right end. The appearance of these vehicles aroused curiosity from the humans, being unfamiliar with any of these designs, yet astonished the dragons as a whole. Jak, Spyro, Calidan, and all their friends took a full scope of the vehicles before the unthinkable happened.
SHIFT...CLINK...WHIIIRRR
The red and blue truck in front of them began transforming, standing up as it continued shifting its parts to resemble a robot like the other one, only much bigger.
"By the ancestors," Terrador gasped.
"By the precursors," Samos whispered.
Everyone else, human and dragon, young and old shared in the shock as the robot stood up on its hind legs, revealing a head with a silver humanoid face covered by a blue helmet with two nodes. It appeared to have a battle mask which retracted to show its face, resembling a man, with the same shining blue eyes as the yellow robot before it. The organics surprise escalated as the other six vehicles transformed into their robotic forms as well, and soon they were all standing in a line in the same positions facing the Union Alliance group, until the large red and blue robot in the center squatted down to face a wide-eyed Calidan.
"Are you the human known as Calidan? Officer of the Elorin Union Alliance?" the robot asked in an authoritative baritone voice, not unlike Terrador's. The sight of a giant talking transforming robot finally did it for Daxter, who fainted while falling off Jak's shoulder behind him.
Cynder whispered to Spyro, "how did he know his name?" A bewildered shrug was her response.
Calidan finally took a breath to answer, "yes."
The robot then turned to his Alliance group behind him, "which of you are the ones called Jak and Spyro?"
The shock fell among the rest of them, with Cyril and Volteer whispering to themselves, "it knows Spyro too?" and Torn and Ashelin whispering, "how can it know Jak?" Sensing their discomfort, the robot said something to hopefully appease them.
"I assure you we mean no harm, we merely wish to talk," the robot said. Something in the robot's voice made them believe it, and the two aforementioned heroes stepped on opposite sides of Calidan.
"That's us," said Jak on the right.
"I'm Spyro," said Spyro on the left.
"Greetings," the robot finally began introductions, "my name is Optimus Prime. My comrades and I are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron."
"But we prefer to be called Autobots," the orange white robot added.
"Autobots?" Calidan questioned, still in awe.
"That explains the vehicle looks," Striker whispered to the troopers who meekly nodded.
"In all my years, I've never seen anything like this," Samos said, still amazed.
"I concur, my friend," Terrador added standing right next to him.
"Never seen anything like us huh?" their attention was diverted to the white robot with red stripes on the right end, "well get used to it, hah! because you'll never see anything of the like ever again, yeah!" He appeared to breakdance slightly with his feet, baffling them. Daxter finally came around, only to wake up to the bizarre sight of a dancing robot.
"What's with fancy feet here?" Torn asked, raising an eye.
"Ah yes, allow me to start full introductions," Optimus said, gesturing to the dancing Autobot, "starting with my first lieutenant, designation Jazz."
"Yeah! You know what fellas? This looks like a cool place to kick it, ho!" Jazz finished his routine by squatting on a rock.
Daxter was confused, and only after jumping back on Jak's shoulder did he ask, "how can he talk like that?"
"We've learned your world's languages and customs through the Global Information Network," said Optimus. The red robot next to Jazz stepped up next.
"Don't worry about him, he's my best bro, so I know how to keep him in line," he said.
"Ha! You wish Swipe!" Jazz pointed at him.
"To continue, our combat specialist, designation Sideswipe," Optimus introduced the red one.
"I can dance too, except my partners don't get back up, unless I let them," Sideswipe said while unveiling a sword from his arm.
"Huh, cocky much?" Jak asked Spyro and Cal who nodded next to him.
The black robot stepped up next to introduce himself, spinning some exposed guns on his arms as he did so, Optimus acknowledged, "my weapons specialist, Ironhide."
Pointing his guns he imposed on them, "you punks feeling lucky?"
"Easy Ironhide," Optimus dismissed.
"Just kidding, I just wanted to show off my cannons," Ironhide replied, holding up his arms.
"Hehe, I like this one," Torn chuckled.
"Of course you would," mocked Ashelin.
The blue motorbike bot smacked Ironhide on his shoulder, before speaking in a feminine voice, "ease up on the triggers old man, you're scaring them."
"Ooh a little intimidation never hurt anybody little lady," Ironhide replied.
"Lady?" Cynder asked while standing next to Spyro, with both of them smirking with amusement that there were different genders even amongst alien robots.
Optimus introduced her, "this is our spymaster, designation Arcee."
"In other words, you'll never see me coming, even after it's over," Arcee added.
"Heh, I like this one," Cynder said with a chuckle.
Spyro rolled his eyes and said, "of course you would."
"Unbelievable," Cyril gasped aloud as his fellow guardians and all the acolytes were still speechless, including Zaxto whose jaw remained dropped. Meanwhile Optimus continued introducing the Autobots as he turned to the orange-white one on his left patting him on the shoulder, "our medical officer, Ratchet."
Ratchet appeared to give two deep sniffs before saying, "I smell high octane levels in the air Optimus. This place reeks with the stench of war."
"Tell us something we don't know," Daxter mumbled whereas everybody else grimaced with irritation from the hurtful yet accurate comment from the Autobot medic.
To maintain a light and friendly atmosphere, Optimus finished by introducing Cal and Jak's rescuer, "you've already met our top scout, Bumblebee."
Bumblebee, the yellow Autobot was dancing a moonwalk before stepping up to the two humans he had first come across.
"Bumblebee huh?" Cal asked Optimus before turning to Bumblebee, "you saved our lives."
"Thank you," Jak added.
'Anytime friends, a scout's duty is to protect, serve, and carry.'
Bumblebee's binary statement made sense to his fellow Autobots, but came out as beeping and bopping to everybody else, except for Cal. The Alliance group were confused as to why he couldn't speak the same language as the rest of his kind.
"Hmm, very perplexing," Volteer commented with a chin scratch, that Zaxto matched, "indeed master."
"What's with the beeping? Why can't he talk like the rest of you?" Daxter finally asked.
"His vocal processor was damaged in battle," Ratchet explained before doing a scan on Bumblebee's throat with his arm, the red laser faded away before he concluded, "I'm still working on him."
With the Autobot introductions complete, Keira finally stepped up from behind Jak, Cal, and Spyro to ask the big question, "why are you here?"
"To give you a warning," Optimus said, "we have strong reason to believe that our enemy, Megatron, has now allied with your enemies."
"Megatron?" asked Calidan.
"Our enemies?!" gasped Spyro.
Seeing how they needed further information, Optimus obliged by activating a projection from his eyes, which enveloped the whole area surrounding the ensemble. A whole new setting that appeared to be made of metal, and clearly alien in nature was constructed around them. The detail of the hologram astonished them all, especially the dragons. Although the Autobots looked at it with solemn sadness.
"Amazing, and I thought Ignitus's projections were astonishing," commented Volteer.
"Sure beats a holograph," added Torn.
"What is this place?" Spyro asked.
Optimus heard their comments and questions and illustrated, "our home planet Cybertron was once a powerful empire, peaceful and just. Until the day when we were betrayed by the Decepticons, and their leader Megatron. In a time before we were divided into Autobots and Decepticons, we lived in harmony, until Megatron allowed his pride and lust for power to divide us."
An image of Megatron standing on a Cybertron cliff was finally shown off to their right side, aiming his arm cannon into the distance with an ugly snarl. The Union Alliance could only shiver, the look on his face was as evil as Optimus's was kind. Behind him, they saw silhouettes of other giant robots slowly emerge, including one with wings jetted from its back, one with a screen for a face, and one with a single glaring red eye, no doubt some of Megatron's Decepticons.
"Megatron sought the power of the Allspark, our life source, with the twisted idea of using it to create a new world in his image. After his last failed attempt to retrieve it, it was hidden beyond reach. Enraged, he and his Decepticon followers waged war on all opposing him, forcing us to fight enemies who were once our brothers. After millenia of battle, the war ultimately consumed our planet, shutting down its core, ceasing its production of energon, the lifeblood of all Cybertronians. Without it, we would be lifeless husks."
The images changed to show the brutal battles of the War of Cybertron, which the humans and dragons watched in utter horror and sadness. They saw how valiantly the Autobots defended their posts, and even their injured soldiers, and how various Decepticons slaughtered them like sheep. The final image was a full picture of Cybertron itself, a giant metal planet with a blue glowing core, before the glow faded away, indicating the planet was now dead. The hologram faded away as the Union Alliance stood still taking in the amazing yet tragic story that the projections had illustrated. A global civil war that left an entire planet barren? It sounded as awful as either the metalheads or the dark makers draining a planet dry.
"Your entire planet was enveloped in war and drained dry? That's...that's awful," said Spyro, he and his fellow dragons sympathized with the Autobots, remembering the fate of their original planet.
"Yeah, and now we're without a home, running on the last quantities of Energon we scavenged from Cybertron before evacuating," said Ironhide.
"How much do you have left?" Keira asked with concern.
"Not enough for long," Arcee answered, "though as we just found out and have now told you, that's not our only problem now."
"You mean Megatron?" Cal asked, slowly realizing the seriousness of the current matter.
"Yes, despite my unwillingness to believe it, Megatron has recently made a new ally, from within your galaxy," said Ratchet.
"Malefor," Spyro seethed, realizing who could be the only candidate.
"Yes, that was the name we intercepted. So you are familiar with him, young Spyro?" Optimus asked.
"Unfortunately yes," Spyro answered bitterly.
"We all are in fact," Cynder added with spite.
"Well, now we know where he's been," said Cyril.
"In a way it makes sense, since losing his former ally here on Elorin, he's now found another," Terrador added.
"I'm afraid the situation is more complicated than that," Optimus cut in, "besides your Malefor, Megatron has gained an additional ally from this planet as well, and all three of them are set on coming here."
The Alliance group went wide-eyed hearing that, especially Jak who said, "Three? And one of them from here?! But who else could be crazy enough to…no…NO WAY!" Jak came to an unfortunate truth, "It can't be! Errol is dead! I know, I destroyed him myself!"
Optimus sighed before he verified, "then I'm afraid he tricked you, for Errol is the other name we received in our intercepted transmissions."
The shock escalated among the organics, until Daxter voiced out everyone's opinion, "seriously...WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KILL THIS GUY?!"
"More than blowing him to pieces apparently!" Spyro exclaimed, who shared in everyone's disbelief that Errol had survived being destroyed not only once, but twice!
"We know we bring ill tidings, and on behalf of the Autobots I offer our deepest apologies that it had to come with our first meeting. But know this Union Alliance, you need not face this opposition by yourselves. If you will have us, we offer to stand with you," said Optimus Prime with his fellow Autobots standing tall in a line in front of them.
All the seniors and youth of the Union Alliance force looked at the Autobot's expressions. Although each had their own uniqueness to them, they each showed resolve and had no trace of dishonesty among them. Especially from the one called Optimus Prime.
Torn finally spoke on his world's behalf, "consider it pending."
In an area of distant space, two alien warships were currently on course for their next destination, Elorin. One was the Dark Maker mothership where Errol had previously returned to, and the other was the Decepticon warship Nemesis. The two separate factions of Dark Makers and Decepticons, now allied, had come to an uneasy agreement to journey there at the same time. One, to ensure everyone was on board with the invasion plans for the planet, and two, to ensure no one of either party would be scheming behind each other's backs.
Given that the heads of this new 'communion' were traitors to their races in their own way, it would be foolish to believe that trust was the backbone of this new dark group. If anything, it was a matter of convenience that they decided to work together, all for the intended purpose of wiping out their conjoined enemies. However, as an apparent act of good faith amongst each other, the three dark leaders had given a name to their new tribunal soon after they came to an agreement in the Nemesis hold…the 'Maleficence'.
Needless to say, it was Malefor's own suggestion, much to the cringing distaste of Megatron and Errol that he would give a name fitting his own. While gratifying his colossal ego was a given, Malefor swayed them with the fact that the name carried meaning for all of them. One thing was clear among the three dark leaders despite their differing races, they all clearly shared in the divine traits of malice and deceit against their enemies…at least in their own twisted minds.
Malefor even said himself, "gentlemen, while we command our own forces individually, we cannot ignore the similarities that we clearly share amongst each other. One of them being a burning hatred of our own particular enemies, including your Autobots Megatron, who will no doubt eventually join with Spyro's puny little Elorin Alliance to oppose us, if they haven't already. So if these self proclaimed 'defenders' all choose to defy us so foolishly with their pitiful Alliance, then we will show them what a combined force of Maleficence can do."
Malefor's comment of sophistry quelled any further arguments, besides it wasn't like they could think of anything better. Names aside, there were more important matters to address, including staying one step ahead of the Ark that was currently on its way to the same planet. Knowing Optimus Prime better than anyone aboard, Megatron knew he would send a scout to scope the planet out before they made contact, and he knew he must do the same.
Megatron dispatched Barricade to Elorin using the coordinates the emergency beacon was projecting from, after being verified by Errol earlier in the Nemesis that those very coordinates were the destination of his former planet's position. Unknown to all of them, those same coordinates had been intercepted by the Autobot spy drone, and were given to Bumblebee prior to his journey to said planet. Both had made touchdown at nearly the same time, however Barricade's report planet side stated that the Autobot had beat him here, much to his master's distaste.
Realizing the Autobots were now one step ahead of him, Megatron ordered the Nemesis into hyperspace to reach Elorin as soon as possible. By extension, Errol did the same from the Dark Maker mothership, with Starscream reluctantly aboard with him, as ordered by his master. Megatron watched from the bridge as the hyperspace tunnel in front of them passed by, with Soundwave on his left and Malefor on his right.
His personal vendettas aside, Malefor couldn't help but be intrigued by the hyperspace phenomenon, "truly fascinating, to be able to traverse thousands of miles in a single instant, I doubt even the ancestors themselves could have imagined such a feat."
Megatron chuckled, "Nice to know you're impressed Malefor, but I assure you, this only scratches the surface of what Decepticon engineering is capable of."
The Dark Master snorted, "don't get too proud Megatron, for as impressive as this is, you have yet to witness the true might of a dragon, as I stated earlier."
"Is that a challenge?" Megatron sinisterly asked, turning toward the dark dragon.
"Perhaps," Malefor replied, "the question is, are you up for it?" His eyes darkly gleamed as if he were daring him.
Megatron kept a glare before saying, "hmph, as endearing as it sounds, I suggest we shelve any lingering competitions until our arrival. If what Barricade confirmed is accurate, and an Autobot has made contact with Elorin already, then Optimus Prime is never far behind."
"I take it he is the leader of these Autobots?" Malefor asked.
"Correct," Megatron answered.
"I guess then that you know this 'Optimus Prime' very well?" Malefor curiously questioned.
"Indeed, for we have quite the history, predating the War for Cybertron itself," Megatron said before he went into a monologue about his past, illustrating the history with his old friend before he became his greatest enemy. "Long before the Autobots and Decepticons existed, I had already made a name for myself as a gladiator in the pits of Kaon. However, despite my deeds earning the respect and recognition I deserved, I knew I could accomplish far more. Cybertron was on the verge of an uprising, I sensed it from the crowds, how inequality was slowly spreading among the populace, and how its cache system was slowly ruining our way of life. So I amassed a large group of loyal followers from Kaon to my calling, many of which are here today on this ship right now, like Soundwave."
Megatron turned to his comm officer on the left who heard his master, but kept to his duty as he calmly worked the ship's navigation. Malefor merely turned their way, listening to every word as Megatron continued, "although my exploits reached far beyond Kaon, in fact they reached all the way to Cybertron's capital city, Iacon, where I met a young clerk from its fabled Hall of Records, Orion Pax. Orion had heard my proclamations and supported them, for through his own study of our planet's history, he knew he had the evidence to back up my presumptions of this rising tide. We began mutually collaborating in the hopes that we could create a new system for our people, in order to bring Cybertron into a new age of equality for all, together."
"Eventually, we approached Cybertron's High Council, where I finally gave them my vision for the future, one where I would stand at the head, as the new Prime of the next Golden Age, and the lingering inequality would be stamped out, wherever it lurked. Unfortunately, Orion didn't share in my 'methods' of ruling out this lingering threat, and instead usurped me of my greatest moment, stealing away the High Council's favor with his so-called peaceful proclamations. Realizing that my friend and greatest ally had turned against me, I severed all ties, and I, along with my followers, took matters into our own hands."
"Since the Council dissuaded my grand vision as a deceitful delusion of grandeur, we took it as a sign of honor, for if speaking the truth is deception, then we were gladly guilty. From then on, the Decepticons were born, and we vowed to bring our homeworld back into the glory it was at the beginning of the Golden Age, and annihilate anyone who stood in our way. Naturally, the High Council opposed us, and formed their own little militia whom they named Autobots, and so, the War for Cybertron began."
"Fascinating," Malefor commented, "though one question remains, what does this 'Orion Pax', have to do with the one called Optimus Prime?"
Megatron turned to the dark dragon and said point blank, "Orion…is Optimus Prime." For a rare moment, Malefor looked surprised. Seeing how he had the four-legged fleshling's attention again, Megatron resumed, "you see Malefor, being a Prime is more than just a title, it is the highest position of power a Cybertronian can achieve, given only to those who are worthy of the legendary Matrix of Leadership. An honor that was unjustly robbed from me!"
Malefor kept quiet as Megatron concluded, "since the council would not give me the Matrix, I vowed to take it by any means necessary, no matter how long the battles would rage on. For eons the war lasted, during which I searched for any signs of the Matrix's location, since its true resting place was shrouded in myth and rumor. Unfortunately, for the second time, Orion robbed me of my moment, and through some miraculous means, obtained the Matrix, transforming him into the one who would become my greatest eternal foe, Optimus, the last of the Primes."
Malefor slowly digested everything he had just heard, from the beginning of the War of Cybertron to the birth of Optimus, who had surprisingly once been Megatron's friend, in a different life.
"So this war you've spoken of, one that has cost your people your own planet, has been spent with you fighting against your former friend who took away the power you sought for yourself? Hehehehehehe," Malefor asked with a chuckle.
"Do you find the reasons for our war and exodus amusing, four legs?" Megatron seethed.
"Not really, it's just I've never met anyone or anything to rival my own taste for power, until now," Malefor commented. Megatron held a bewildered look, but just scoffed before turning his attention ahead, thinking that Malefor had made his own deluded statement, but kept his opinion to himself. It was one thing to say they had similar traits of character, but the thought of an organic being, even one called the Dark Master, was equal in conquest to the Lord of the Decepticons? It was ridiculous, detestable even!
The sound of an opening door behind them caused the two dark leaders to turn around and see two new Decepticons enter the bridge. One was a red robot slightly taller than the drones, and his body appeared to be styled like a luxury sports car. The other was the exact opposite, for he was large, almost twice as tall as the red robot, and his exterior was a dirty green and built like a literal tank with claw-like hands.
"My lord we received your message," the red Con said with a slight bow as he and his bulky counterpart approached their master.
"I see that Knockout, though I don't recall summoning you to the bridge as part of it," Megatron answered the identified Decepticon.
Knockout gestured to his assistant before answering, "Brawl and I wished to see for ourselves if it was true. Have we really not only come across sentient organic lifeforms, but allied with them?"
Malefor addressed the new faces to him with a scowl, "is it really so surprising to you walking metal cans that an organic lifeform is capable of intelligence? Or are your minds more limited than I first perceived?"
The bulky one, Brawl, growled at the dark dragon before shouting with a lunge, "you slimy organic filth! I'll show you limited!...RAARRGH!"
"BRAWL!...Stand…Down," Megatron declared without restraint. The threatening tone of his master made Brawl cringe back, just like Starscream. By extension, Knockout seemed pretty shaken up too, while Malefor watched complacently to see how this would play out.
"Gasp…Forgive me master…but he insulted us right to our faces!" Brawl replied, pointing a clawed finger at the dark dragon.
"Malefor is a newcomer amongst our kind, and as such, has much to learn about us," Megatron explained, which in turn made the Dark Master grumble. Megatron continued, "and while this may be unorthodox to our usual manners in such cases, as of today, Malefor and his compatriot are indeed new allies to our cause."
"Really?" Knockout asked in a curious tone, "and what could any organic have to offer the mighty Decepticons?"
"Knowledge of this galaxy for starters, Red one," Malefor answered him, "as for what else, you'll just have to wait and see."
"Hmph, how droll, and the name is Knockout you four-legged cretin, or if you prefer, your Doctor of Doom," Knockout said while extending his hand saw blade.
Malefor's surprise was instantaneous from the intimidation, and merely threw back with a snarl, "and the name is Malefor to you 'doctor', or if you prefer, the Dark Master."
"Huff! There's only one master around here, and that's Lord Megatron!" said Brawl.
"Maybe to you Decepticons, but not to the Maleficence," Malefor replied. His clarification further confused the Con duo who turned to their master who merely replied, "don't ask."
Megatron then walked up to the group as a whole, forcing the two Cons to stand at attention, before he continued explaining, "just know that Malefor will indeed be a valuable ally during our time here, and any and all disagreements involving him are ordered to be brought to me alone, am I clear?"
"Yes Lord…Understood master," Brawl and Knockout said simultaneously.
"That being said, I guess I should finish what was already started," Megatron said turning to Malefor, "as he's already stated, Knockout is our resident doctor and the Decepticon chief medic. His colleague Brawl, is our weapons and artillery expert, who also functions as Knockout's assistant."
Introductions finished, Malefor dryly said, "hmph, a privilege."
"I'm sure," Knockout responded in the same tone with Brawl merely grunting.
Malefor then asked Megatron, "with Soundwave and Starscream already accounted for, are there any other subordinates of yours I've yet to meet?"
"Just one," Megatron answered, "though I would prefer we wait for Errol to rejoin us prior to that, once we reach Elorin."
Aboard the Dark Maker mothership, they had deployed their own subspace drive to keep in pace with the Nemesis in hyperdrive in front of them. Both warships had no problem in directing course toward Elorin in their own way, for Errol it was natural given the knowledge he retained from his old humanity, and the Decepticon emergency beacon continued to give the Nemesis a clear trajectory. However, the trip was far from pleasant for the human pariah standing on the bridge, given the rantings of his passenger behind him…
"Uggghhh…Agh!...I cannot believe I am forced to babysit a bunch of organics aboard this atrocity!" Starscream vented with arm gestures.
Errol turned around to glare at the lieutenant, "keep in mind 'commander', this organic can hear every word you are saying!"
Starscream declared, "do you really think I give a scrap?! I honestly will never understand why fleshlings like you even still exist! You do after all rot and die faster than anything else, and all it takes to end one of you, is just one little squeeze." He finished clenching his fist. Needless to say his comment caused instigation within all the Dark Makers on the bridge, shaking their quills in intimidation which finally made Starscream silence himself.
Errol turned around to address the smart mouthed Con in a threatening manner, "and all it takes to end one of you, is a shot through the heart, among many other soft spots. Remember Starscream, you are the guest aboard this ship, not me. Organic or otherwise, we are far from powerless against you. But if you still have doubts, perhaps I should give you a personal demonstration of what your battalion experienced during your little 'test'?" He unsheathed his dark eco blade from his left arm in an act of intimidation.
It worked, as Starscream threw up his arms in mock surrender, "uhh…no no, that won't be necessary."
Errol smirked in amusement at his clear cowardice, yet said before retracting his blade, "wise choice."
Starscream regained his composure as Errol returned to face the front screen and the Dark Makers troopers resumed their posts. He restarted his ranting saying, "besides, I'm not here for personal convenience, I'm here on orders of my Lord Megatron, just to ensure everyone present is on board with the collaborated plan, and that no one gets any…funny ideas."
Errol merely scoffed and said, "the door swings both ways Starscream, and also keep in mind that you're aboard my ship now, and nothing happens in here without my knowing, action or word."
Starscream's eyes widened enough to be noticed by the former human. He had heard those words once before, by Megatron himself, the first time he had been heard uttering whispers of overthrowing his master to take his place as leader of the Decepticons. He was of course harshly reprimanded for it, and spent weeks recovering in the medical wing before he returned to his post as First Lieutenant, although he was kept on a much closer watch from then on. Seeing the clear discomfort on Starscream's face, Errol smirked before he commented.
"Ah, it seems I have either made my point, or hit another soft spot. Either way works for me, now just sit back in silence, and enjoy the flight."
Starscream seethed at the Dark Maker Leader, knowing that he could easily squash him like the bug he was, but strongly refrained from doing so. He knew he would not only be reprimanded by Megatron again, but the Dark Makers could swarm him and tear him to pieces if he even attempted. Neither outcome was one he wished for, so he just kept quiet.
Suddenly, a signal beep came from a screen on the side of the wall, gaining their attention…
"What is that?" Starscream asked.
"Something new has been detected," Errol answered as he walked closer to interpret the message that was being displayed in the Dark Maker text.
"Well now, it appears our ship's calibrations per your master's instructions were most helpful, the Ark's energy signature has been detected, and is now saved into our data core."
"What?! It cannot be!" Starscream gasped at what he was seeing on the screen.
His shock confused Errol, "What are you talking about? Of course it is! You provided the parameters yourself…"
"Not that!" Starscream interrupted, pointing at the screen, "THIS!...this language…it's Cybertronian!"
"WHAT?!" Errol shouted in disbelief.
"Why in the world is a Cybertronian script being displayed on your ship?!" Starscream yelled.
"What nonsense are you babbling?!" A stupified Errol retorted, "this is the dialect of the Dark Makers, adopted from their inferior Precursor predecessors!"
"Ridiculous! I'm telling you that this message is written in the old Cybertronian style, clear and precise!" Starscream clarified before bending down and extending his arm out to point to the small Cybertronian symbols etched into his armor, "see for yourself."
Errol moved to look closer, and was more than surprised to see that the alien symbols burned into the Decepticon's body were almost an exact match to the Dark Maker dialect he was reading before! "That's…impossible."
Starscream resumed his questioning, "so…care to explain now?"
Errol was silent for a moment before he gave the most fitting answer he could think of, "it appears this uniting of our forces has given more than we expected…a lost revelation none of us were aware of, until now."
A solemn silence fell amongst them, attempting to make sense of what they had just learned, until Starscream received a call from his master…
"...Starscream…"
"Oh! Yes master?" Starscream asked quickly, putting a finger to his helm.
Megatron answered, "We will arrive at Elorin in less than a klik, make sure you and Errol are ready to return to our bridge when we do."
The full cast of Autobots and Decepticons have been revealed...save for one each, and both will be shown the next chapter. Nonetheless I hope you enjoyed the Alliance meeting the Autobots, its always an epic scene when the Autobots are first introduced, in any storyline or crossover. See you next time!