Transformers Regenerated: Origins - Towards Peace

TOWARDS PEACE

--New Kaon, 1,000 Years Ago--

    Fight and die.

    He winced from the pain, still reeling from his fight with Clench. He was aware that the Decepticons had ruthless fighters, but he had never known how ruthless they could be.

    Fight and die.

    Energon still leaked from his wound. He had been told a medic would be seeing him shortly, but having already met one of them, he dreaded the experience.

    Fight and die.

    "It always hurts the most when you're finished."

    Optronix craned his head to the other occupant of his cell. Due to the scarce light in the room, he could not make out much detail of the mech, other than that he was old and falling apart. His red optics were dim but still visible.

    "And you would be an expert on that?" Optronix replied bitterly.

    The mech chortled though it came out as more of a laugh. "I've fought in those arenas, kid. I know what they're like."

    Optronix simply grunted at that.

    A long bout of silence followed. His cellmate then said, "You're the one everyone's been talking about, aren't you? Trannis' apprentice."

    "It's not a title I relish," Optronix muttered.

    The old mech grunted. "Ah, but any Decepticon worth their metal would kill for it. And they would succeed."

    "Let them have it, then. I'd rather die than be one of you."

    "Is that what you want then? To go down as Optronix, the heir apparent Prime, who died as a coward?"

    Optronix gritted his teeth. "I'm not a coward."

    "Then prove it," his cellmate said darkly. "Go back out there and prove me wrong."

    Optronix opened his mouth to retort until he heard the sound of metal footsteps; Flatline was approaching. Having no time for an argument, he instead said, "Who are you?"

    "Terminus," was the reply. "I am your end point."

*  *  *

    Clench stood before him once again, weapons brandished and exhaust puffing from his grill-shaped mouth. Optronix was considerably less well-armed than him, having only a battle mace and a crudely-made shield for defense. But his new-found determination from his talk with Terminus was sure to accommodate that.

    "Ready to die, Autobot?" Clench baited him.

    Optronix did not respond. Even at the Autobot Academy, he had been told to avoid making taunts and witty quips. It rarely did anyone good.

    "No last words, eh? Fine by me." Clench charged with a battle cry as he fired the gun built into his right arm. Optronix raised his shield to deflect the shots, though the shield was immediately reduced to scraps. Left with only his mace, Optronix lunged towards his opponent.

    No sooner had he swung his mace was he sent sprawling across the arena, much to the excitement of the crowd. Their jeers did nothing to damage his resolve, however. Instead, he picked himself up, gripping his weapon tighter, and charged again.

*  *  *

    "Fight and die. Fight and die."

    "Found your mantra, have you?" Terminus said dryly.

    Optronix ignored him as he completed his two-hundredth pushup. He then began converting to and from his alternate mode, still repeating the phrase.

    "You're adapting rather well to the Decepticon lifestyle," Terminus went on. "At first I thought your parts would be decorating the arena in no time, but seeing as you have taken down Clench and Scorponok so far-- two of Trannis' strongest warriors-- I seem to have been proven wrong."

    Optronix said nothing until he had finished his transform-ups. Then, returning to his feet, he looked at his frail cellmate. "Who is the most strongest warrior in the arena?"

    "That title is currently held by Overlord," Terminus said, bitterness lacing his voice. "A title he took from me. Dozens have fallen to him and nearly everyone fears him-- even Trannis is wary of him."

    Optronix smirked. "All the more reason for me to defeat him."

*  *  *

    "You have to admit, he is skilled."

    Trannis did not respond, watching impassively as Optronix thrashed Overlord about in the arena below. Mildly taken aback by the silence, Zardak turned to his fellow warlord with a raised optic ridge.

    "Are you not pleased? He is your protege, after all." 

    "That may be so, Zardak," Trannis replied. "But he has become too skilled for my liking. If he remains loyal to me, then I will not worry too much. But if he develops the slightest sign of rebellion, he will have to be removed."

    "Would you like me to have my warriors keep watch over him?"

    "Yes, do that. At the same time, I will have Soundwave monitor him as well." Trannis folded his hands behind his back. "He has betrayed his loyalties once. I will not be surprised if he does so again."

*  *  *

    "They are watching you."

    Battered and bruised yet triumphant from his fight with Overlord, Optronix stopped upon entering his cell to stare at Terminus. "What?"

    "Trannis has sent out assassins and spies to watch you, waiting for you to take a wrong step."

    "How do you know?"

    "I've seen them around here, planting cameras and listening devices. They didn't pay me any heed given my... condition."

    "But now that you've told me, won't they come after you now?"

    Terminus let out a harsh laugh, coughing up energon. "Ah, but I've only done what they wanted. Trannis wants you to know. He wants you looking over your shoulder. He wants to see you afraid."

    Optronix thought this over for a moment before smiling cunningly. "Then I shall give him what he wants."

*  *  *

    Trannis kept his eyes glued to the multiple monitors before him, each one connected to the optical sensors of Soundwave, his minions, and Zardak's assassins. Optronix appeared in nearly each and every one of them as the spied followed him through the Decepticon fortress as he headed back for his cell, having just completed another match.

    At first, Optronix did not seem to notice any of the mechs following him. Suddenly, the former Autobot stopped in his tracks to look over his shoulder, making direct eye contact with the assassin known as Darklight.

    "Do you fear death?" Optronix asked quietly.

    Darklight said nothing as he slowly approached his target, unsheathing a sharp blade.

    "Allow me to rephrase the question, then." Suddenly, Optronix was upon the assassin, pinning him down with his knee while wrapping a hand around Darklight's neck. "Do you fear me?"

    Before Darklight could muster any sort of reaction, the viewscreen connected to him dissolved into static. Trannis then watched, impassive as ever, as the other spies fell to Optronix's wrath. Maul, Umbra, Raze-- all of Zardak's warriors went offline one by one. Soon, only Soundwave and his minions remained, and it wasn't long before the spy was at Optronix's mercy as well.

    Looking straight into Soundwave's visor, Optronix growled, "I know you can hear me, Trannis. I want you to know something; if I wanted to take the Decepticon throne from you, we would not be playing this little game. Oh, there may be a time when I will seek to usurp you, but right now, I have no such desire to be a true Decepticon, nor a true Autobot."

    Trannis sneered. "What are you then?" he asked, conveying his query through Soundwave.

    Optronix flashed a savage grin. "I am the nightmare you created. I am the beast under your leash. I am he who has fallen."

    "Do you expect me to be scared, Optronix?"

    "No, Trannis. I just want you to watch your back."

    And with that, the last monitor went out.

*  *  *

    "Impressive display," Terminus said once Optronix had recounted everything to him. "A little much on the acting, but impressive nonetheless."

    Optronix smirked. "I'll admit that boasting is not my strongest suit, but that's simply another thing to learn about being a Decepticon."

    Terminus nodded silently before saying, "You know, you remind of a legend. The tale of the Fallen."

    "I have heard of it," Optronix murmured.

    "It's not an exact match, I know, but you have without question fallen from grace. You are no longer the heroic warrior you once were."

    "True. I have considered the similarities of our stories... which is part of the reason why I have decided to take on a new name."

    "Is that so?" Terminus said. "And what shall you be known from now on?"

    "Megatron." The fallen Autobot turned to his mentor with a menacing glare, gripping his mace. "And I am your end point."

END OF INTERLUDE II: ORIGINS