Monday, January 6, 2014

The Transformers, Issue 42: Coming of the Swarm, Chapter Eight

THE LAST STAND, PART I: THE SWARM
   (On Cybertron, the Autobots are struggling to fend off the Cybertronian Empire while Jhiaxus' Death Cannon prepares to fire at Cybertron)

   Jetfire: Optimus, they're charging up that "death cannon"! We'll be destroyed for sure!

   Optimus Prime: Trailbreaker, this is Optimus! Set up as many force fields as you can!

   Trailbreaker: I'll try, Optimus!

   (As force fields begin to surround Cybertron- don't ask me how Trailbreaker can manage that- the Death Cannon prepares to fire)

   Jhiaxus: On the count of five. Five... four... three... two...

   Mystery Figure (elsewhere): JHIAXUS!

   Jhiaxus: One.

   (The Death Cannon fires, decimating several parts of Cybertron.)

   Ironhide: Jetfire! Let's go!

   Sunstreaker: Yeah, we can't do anything!

   Jetfire: ...Fine. Autobots, retreat.

   (At the Science Tower, which is protected by a force field)

   Optimus Prime (video screen): Perceptor, begin a world-wide evacuation!

   Perceptor: Right! Wheeljack, have all current Omega Sentinels in ship mode!

   Wheeljack: On it. Trailbreaker, keep that shield up!

   Trailbreaker: Do you think I have any other choice?!

   Prowl: Bumblebee, Jazz, stay here. I'll help Wheeljack.

   Jazz: Yo, you okay, 'Bee?

   (We flash back to 4.5 million years ago, where Bumblebee is part of a team of Autobots with Cliffjumper, Glyph, and others of his body-type)

   Cliffjumper: Bumblebee, some help here!

   Soundwave: Frenzy, Rumble, eject. Operation: Interference.

   Cliffjumper: Hubcap, hurry up with that comm call!

   Hubcap: Those punks are really distracting!

   Rumble: You mean this is?! (Punches the ground with his piledrivers)

   Cliffjumper: All right; Tap-Out, Hubcap, help me out! Bumblebee, stay here with Wasp and Glyph and wait for Goldbug's team!

   Soundwave: Blitzwing, fire at the communications tower.

   Wasp: No, you don't!

   (Blitzwing transforms and dispatches Wasp with his blaster cannon)

   Bumblebee: Wasp!

   Soundwave: Ferak, destroy the Autobots.

   Ferak: Heh! (He transforms from his jet mode and lands in front of Bumblebee and Glyph) Aww, does the little boy want to play?

   Bumblebee: Glyph, stay back!

   Ferak: Aww! The little boy wants to protect his girlfriend! Heh-heh... (flips out a pair of shoulder cannons) ...in your dreams.

   (He fires at Bumblebee, blasting his arm off, and then shoots at Glyph, blasting her face (!) off)

   Bumblebee: GLYPH!

   Ferak: HA HA HA! (Optimus Prime drives towards him) Slag.

   (Optimus Prime transforms and slices Ferak down the middle with his axe. Soundwave calls a retreat and Optimus sends Ratchet to aid Glyph)

   Bumblebee: Glyph... I'm sorry.

   (Back in the present, the Death Cannon continues to fire at Cybertron)

   Jhiaxus: At last... I have done something Nova Prime couldn't! I have conquered Cybertron!

   Mystery Figure: No, you haven't.

   Jhiaxus: Eh? Who are you?!

   Mystery Figure: You don't remember me? I was your master once... almost like a father.

   Jhiaxus: No....

   Mystery Figure: Still doesn't ring a bell? How about one word: Expansion.

   Jhiaxus: No... you're... you're DEAD!

   Mystery Figure: Heh... and perhaps I still am. But I will forever be... Nova Prime.

   (On Cybertron, Iacon is pretty much in ruins, save for the Science Tower protected by Trailbreaker)

   Rodimus Prime: It's hopeless, Optimus.

   Optimus Prime: No, Rodimus, it's n-

   Rodimus Prime: Optimus, there's no other way. Omega Supreme and Fortress Maximus aren't holding up well, and Trailbreaker's shields won't last long.

   Optimus Prime: Rodimus... if you think it is your destiny... and it is what you think is right... then I won't stop you. You are, after all, the Prime.

   (Meanwhile, in the Mirror Universe, Omega Doom is wreaking havoc. Still.)

   SG Omega Doom: Doom... doom shall consume... all!

   SG Starscream: Megatron, we've got to do something!

   SG Megatron: I know. Scorponok, you know what to do.

   SG Scorponok: Yup. (And by that, Megatron means for Scorponok to go confront Doom. Cool.)

   (Back in the Prime Reality....)

   Trailbreaker: I... c-can't hold this shield... for long!

   Jazz: Hang in there, Trailbreaker!

   Perceptor: Hot Spot, see if you can clear the fire!

   Hot Spot: We can't! It's spreading everyone!

   (At that moment, Blurr runs in)

   Blurr (talking really fast): RodimusPrime'sgonnasacraficehimself!

   (Perceptor and co. look at him in bemusement. Then Grimlock walks in)

   Grimlock: Me Grimlock just Rodimus Prime telling everyone he's gonna kill himself!

   Perceptor and co.: Ohhhh... WHAT?!

   (At the Death Cannon...)

   Jhiaxus: N-Nova Prime?! H-how did you-?

   Nova Prime: I would like to think my friend here for that [ie. "Mystery Figure's Master"]. Though he couldn't fully reanimate me... it's good enough.

   Jhiaxus: So... what do you want from me?!

   Nova Prime: Oh... nothing much. Except revenge!

   (Back on Cybertron)

   Hot Spot: Inferno, help me out! Hot Spot to HQ; it seems the fires are starting to calm down.

   Perceptor: No wonder... the giant ship has ceased fire.

   Sideswipe (?): Rodimus, it's a false-

   Rodimus Prime: No...

   Hot Spot: What is it, sir? (A giant green creature appears) Huh?!

   The Swarm (to Rodimus): Ah... you must be the Prime. My master sent me to destroy any Primes that live to this day. So I shall start... with you! And destroy you I shall!

   (So... he eats Rodimus! But then, the Swarm explodes! And this somehow transports Rodimus to the Death Cannon!)

   Rodimus Prime: Jhiaxus! This madness must end!

   Jhiaxus: And you're accusing me for...?

   (Rodimus totally punches him)

   Rodimus Prime: First, Atha Prime. (Then he shoots Nova Prime) Then Nova and the Fallen. (Then he punches Rook and Mindset) Then Unicron, then Violen Jiger! And now... you. I shall end this once and for all!

   Jhiaxus: I don't think so. You see, the Hub is powered by the Liege Maximo. He is the Ultimate Evil. And evil can never be destroyed for good.

   Rodimus Prime: Watch me. (He pulls out the Matrix of Leadership from his chest)

   Nova Prime's Master: The Matrix? Ha! The Liege Maximo is immune to the Matrix, for he is one of the Thirteen who carried its power.

   Rodimus Prime: Who said I was aiming it at him? (He then opens the Matrix and plunges its central orb into the floor beneath their feet)

   Nova Prime's Master: WHAT?! You idiot! We could all die!

   Rodimus Prime: Duh.

   Nova Prime's Master: ...Oh, Primus preserve me....

   (And so the Death Cannon explodes! With everyone on it! The Cybertronian Empire is no more! The Autobots cheer in celebration! WOO-HOO!)

   Axiom Trion: Everyone, settle down. Optimus Prime has a few words.

   Optimus Prime: While I am pleased that this threat has been eradicated... our victory is bittersweet. We have lost a great warrior and leader. But Rodimus Prime's sacrifice will not be in vain... we shall honor him, just as we've done to others.

   Autobots: FOR RODIMUS PRIME!

   ???: Nice speech, Prime... though I've heard better.

   (The Autobots turn to see Megatron and the Decepticons standing before them)

   Megatron: Prepare yourself, Optimus Prime. I am back.

   To be concluded
FEATURED CHARACTERS
   Autobots: Axiom Trion, Blurr, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Fortress Maximus, Glyph, Grimlock, Hot Spot, Hubcap, Inferno, Ironhide, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, Optimus Prime, Perceptor, Prowl, Ratchet, Rodimus Prime, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Wasp, Wheeljack
   Decepticons: Blitzwing, Ferak, Frenzy, Megatron, Rumble, Soundwave, Thunderwing
   Evil Autobots: Omega Doom
   Good Decepticons: Megatron, Scorponok, Starscream
   Cybertronian Empire: Jhiaxus, Liege Maximo, Mindset, Rook, The Swarm
   Others: Nova Prime, Nova Prime's Master/Companion

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