Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga III, Chapter Nine and Epilogue

   EDITED 12/17/2014 Changed Protihex to Sistex regarding new info from MTMTE #36

CHAPTER NINE

   With a groan, Orion slowly returned to consciousness and saw a familiar face standing over him. "Ratchet?" he murmured. "What... how did you get here?"

   "You can thank Beta Maxx for that," Ratchet said, gesturing to Alpha Trion's Mini-Con companion. "First Aid and Fixit got here first and saved your spark from going out. Then I got here to patch you up."

   "Alpha Trion," Orion said weakly. "Is he...?"

   "He'll be fine," Ratchet said. "You were worse off than he was, believe it or not."

   Orion struggled to sit up. "Optronix. He's-"

   Ratchet gently pushed him back down. "I know. Beta Maxx told me what happened. Almost every Autobot who knows about it and is capable of fighting has gone down to the Metroplex to stop him."

   Orion sighed. "Why would he do this, Ratchet?"

   The doctor merely shook his head. "I don't know...."

*  *  *

   Sentinel Prime winced as he collided into a wall. Quickly regathered his senses as Megatron fired his fusion cannon, dodging the blast of energy that emitted from it. The Grand Imperium was in chaos; Autobots and Decepticons clashed this way and that; the surviving High Council members fled from the scene; lifeless corpses littered the once-spotless floors.

   Gripping his Primax Blade, Sentinel glared at his once and former heir. "You must end this, Optronix. Or is peace no longer your goal suddenly?"

   "Conflict is necessary to bring prosperity," Megatron growled. "Not unlike the war you fought against Trannis and his Decepticons."

   "And yet here, the Decepticons follow you," Sentinel retorted. "How, again, are you the hero of this story?"

   Megatron barked out a bitter laugh. "Hero? This isn't the realization of some protoform tale, Sentinel. Those who win wars are always declared as heroes." The barrel of his fusion cannon began to glow as he aimed it at Sentinel. "And I, of course, plan to be the victor of this one."

   As he fired his weapon, Sentinel dropped down and rolled, coming up towards Megatron's abdomen. He then thrust his blade forward, grazing his opponent's side. Megatron let out a snarl as he swung his own blade, nearly cleaving off Sentinel's head had the Prime not dodged in time. Before he could attack again, Sentinel was sent sprawling back against the wall as Megatron had fired his fusion cannon again.

   "Pathetic, really, for such an experienced warrior," the Decepticons leader said. "I was hoping that this would be a fight to be remembered for eons to come." He made a disapproving snort as he readied his cannon for the final blow. "I might as well make this as worthwhile as possible."

   Megatron then aimed his cannon and fired.

*  *  *

   When Orion and Ratchet had finally reached the Metroplex, the Grand Imperium was already in ruins.

   Protectobots surrounded the ancient structure, putting out fires and preventing any bystanders from going beyond perimeter lines. All Orion could do was stand there and watch. Through a hole in the Grand Imperium's wall, he could see members of the Elite Guard, Dynobots, and Wreckers fighting against Seekers and Combaticons.

   Then, it happened.

   An explosion rocked the tower, creating a charred opening. From it fell an indiscernible shape. It landed on to the Metroplex's roof before continuing to slide all the way down to the ground. When it completed its descent, the gathered crowd let out anguished gasps.

   It was the lifeless body of Sentinel Prime.

   As the crowd began to cry in panic, Orion peeled his gaze away from the Prime's mutilated corpse and saw his brother standing in the opening through which Sentinel had been thrown.

   "Attention, Cybertronians one and all!" Optronix bellowed. "Your age of anarchy is over! Sentinel Prime is dead, and with him the legacy of the Primes! Now, kneel before Megatron!"

   Several bots cringed at the sound of the condemned name of The Fallen, despite it being slightly altered. Orion, however, merely stared at whom he once called brother. 

   Megatron glared at his audience. "What are you waiting for? I said kneel!"

   When no one budged, Megatron aimed his arm cannon and fired at a bot behind Orion, killing them. Others screamed in terror and did as told, dropping to their knees. A smug expression crossed Megatron's face.

   "That's more like it." However, when his gaze fell onto the still-standing Orion, his face contorted into a scowl. "Did you not hear me, brother? I said kneel."

   "I hear you loud and clear," Orion snapped. "That doesn't mean I'm going to oblige your ridiculous commands."

   Megatron sneered. "Ridiculous, he says. How absurd."

   "More absurd than you declaring yourself a tyrant?"

   The former Autobot tapped his chin before grinning. "Not really."

   He then aimed his fusion cannon at his brother and was about to fire it when a silver blade suddenly jutted from his shoulder, nearly severing his arm from its socket. Crying out in agony, Megatron turned to see Sentinel Prime- alive and well- standing behind him.

   "Call it paranoia or whatnot," Sentinel muttered. "But a Prime must always be prepared."

   Megatron's eyes flickered to the "corpse" of Sentinel. Realizing that it was merely a facesimile construct, he bellowed out in fury and grabbed the end of Sentinel's blade, forcing it out of his shoulder. He then slammed his elbow into the Prime's midsection and sent him plummeting out of the Grand Imperium. The crowd below scattered as Sentinel Prime made a rough landing, though he quickly got back to his feet and turned to face Megatron again.

   Still clutching his wounded shoulder, the Decepticon leader descended from the tower and lumbered towards the old Prime. "Disgraceful," he spat. "Using trickery and deception to beat one's opponent... I would not expect such practice from a Prime who claims to be as wise as the stars."

   Sentinel Prime snorted. "You are a Deception. Is deception not part of your very name?"

   Megatron smirked. "Point taken."

   Dropping to his knees, the ex-Autobot began to convert into an armored tank. Before Sentinel Prime could move, a blast of energy fired from the cannon's barrel, sending the Autobot leader flying into the building opposite of the Metroplex. As the Prime struggled to recover, Megatron returned to his robot mode and fired his weapon repeatedly at Sentinel's fallen form, not stopping until the old warrior had ceased function.

   A mirthless smile of satisfaction crossing his face, Megatron turned to the terrified witnesses of the battle and said, "Would anyone else attempt to fill in his shoes?"

   His response came in the form of a blaster shot pointblank to his face. Recoiling from the attack, Megatron scowled as he looked up to see Ultra Magnus and other Autobots standing before him, weapons at the ready.

   "I stand corrected." Into a communicator on his arm, Megatron said, "Soundwave, open up a Ground Bridge for New Kaon. We've made our scene."

   A green portal sprouted to life behind him and the Decepticons began to move through it from the Grand Imperium. Upon becoming the last one to enter, Megatron cast one last glance at Orion before entering the Ground Bridge. When it closed, Orion Pax knew then that his brother had indeed died on that day months ago....

EPILOGUE

   The bird had vanished.

   Mindset cautiously set his tools down. The one known as Buzzsaw was nowhere to be found. Was he- dare he thought- home-free? His spark beating faster than usual, Mindset turned around and dashed out of the Black Room and out into the dreary scenery of Kaon. Converting into his tank mode, he had thought himself finally free.

   Until a large metal foot slammed into him.

   Sent sprawling back, Mindset returned to his robot form and looked up at the large mech that stood before him.

   "You the one they call Mindset?" it asked.

   Mindset slowly nodded, unsure of what to say.

   "Shockwave brought you here, didn't he?"

   Again, he nodded.

   "Well, as it turns out, he and the other 'Cons have gone back to their little abode at New Kaon, so your services here aren't really required."

   Mindset felt a wave of elation wash across his face. "Oh, thank Primus. You have no idea-"

   "Yeah, I know," the mech interjected. "I'd hate to be away from the action too."

   Before Mindset could protest, the mech grabbed him and slung him over his shoulders. The brute then spoke into a comlink built into his left arm. "Hailstorm to Torment. I've got our genius. Expect me back in a few cycles."

   Ending the connection, Hailstorm then grinned at Mindset. "You ain't out of job yet, brother. The war's only just started."

*  *  *

   "...Sentinel Prime's death, the remaining members of the High Council have selected Zeta of Sistex to lead us in the war effort, bestowing him the name of Zeta Prime," the news report was saying.

   Seated beside two of his comrades within Fortress Maximus' lobby room, Kup let out a sigh. "Zeta, eh? Hope he doesn't get killed while preening himself."

   Warpath grunted. "Could have at least picked Magnus. Wouldn't be the first time one of his house carried around the Matrix for a bit."

   "Hey, did you two hear about the new guy?" asked Wing Saber.

   Kup said nothing but Warpath tilted his head intrigued. "No. What about 'em?"

   "They say he's Optronix's younger brother. Think he'll turn out as bad as he is?"

   "If he saw just what exactly his brother did today, I kinda doubt it," Kup said. "What's his name?"

   "Orion Pax. Means peaceful hunter or something."

   "Wouldn't all of us be peaceful hunters?" Warpath asked. "I mean, even I wouldn't mind some rest after a while."

   Kup smirked as he leaned back in his seat. "Well, I suppose we could consider him our poster boy. Someone to inspire hope and... optimism."

   Because Primus knows we need it now.

*  *  *

   From the observation desk of his warship, Lord Trannis admired the progress being made to his up-and-coming weapons of mass destruction: Trypticon.

   Ever since it had been established as a fortress in the days of the Great War, Trypticon Prison had always been intended to resemble its mythical namesake so that it would strike fear in those on which it would be unleashed. Unfortunately, the construction had been slightly delayed by the capture of several Constructicons, but Trannis knew that they would manage without them.

   His attention towards his pet project was diverted when the entrance to bridge opened and his brightest and strongest student walked in, followed by Air Commander Starscream and the spy Soundwave.

   "Ah, Optronix," Trannis said as he turned to face the ex-Autobot. "You have done well. Sentinel Prime is dead and war has started again."

   Optronix said nothing, his face stoic.

   "I was actually just reading a report about the attack," Trannis went on. "Megatron, you called yourself, after one of the Thirteen. Intriguing, I must say."

   "Indeed," Megatron said bitterly. "I trust you are not offended by it."

   Trannis laughed. "Of course not. However, I think it would only be appropriate to adopt the name once you've ascended to the rank of leadership, which you have so far failed to do."

   "I beg to differ."

   Trannis blinked and turned around to face his pupil only to receive a fusion cannon blast to his abdomen. Lurching forward, he dropped to his knees and began coughing up energon.

   "I have already ascended."

   The warlord looked up at Megatron and scowled. "Do you really think... they'll follow your lead?"

   Megatron smirked. "Of course they will. I am young where you are out-dated. I am clover where you are insolent."

   "Clever my actuator," Trannis spat. "If it weren't for me, you would never have gotten this far. Without me, you'll get nowhere. You won't win, Optronix."

   "It's Megatron now." The once and former student pressed the barrel of his arm cannon against his former master's head. "And I just might."

   And with hardly a whimper, Megatron's ascension had begun.

END OF BOOK I: MEGATRON RISING