EDITED 7/21/2017 Since I've decided to make Zeta's name always have been Zeta, I altered a line of dialogue re:his Prime name.
CHAPTER FOUR
Skyquake paced back and forth inside the command center of the Decepticon base on Vehicon. Before him laid a hologram of the system, in which their sensors detected a fleet of Autobot ships nearby. Just sitting there. Doing nothing.
"What are they waiting for?" he muttered to himself. "Are they going to attack us? Is this some kind of ploy?"
"Autobots are not known for deception like we are," said a gruff voice behind him.
Skyquake ignored the source of the voice and instead turned to his lieutenant, Falcon. "Analysis."
"It seems to me that the fleet's capital ship has yet to arrive." Falcon directed Skyquake's attention to the formation of the fleet. "See? There's an empty spot there for a capital ship to fit in perfectly."
Skyquake scratched his head. "What sort of capital ship arrives long after the rest of the fleet?"
Suddenly, he paused, realization beginning to dawn on him. Behind his mouthplate, he started to scowl, seething with anger.
"Thunderclash."
* * *
"This is the enemy," Thunderclash said to the crew of the Vis Vitalis, providing holograms of six Decepticons. "Skyquake and his Predators. They have numbers beyond this, of course, but these six are the ones to watch out for.
"Skyquake, Predator Commander. Cold and calculating and driven by hatred.
"Falcon, Predator Sub-Commander. Pure evil. Not much more to add to that.
"Skydive, Predator Scientist. Also cold and-"
"Hey, I know a Skydive!" said an Autobot in the gathered crowd. "Except he's an Aerialbot. And isn't all magenta."
Thunderclash frowned at the Autobot for the interruption before saying, "Moving on. Snare, Predator Security Chief. Fearless and aloof.
"Talon, Predator Advance Fighter. Vicious, yet not very bright.
"And lastly, Stalker, Predator Communications Officer. Sadistic and loves creating confusion among friends and foes alike."
Thunderclash then turned to address the crew. "You will no doubt encounter these heartless marauders when we land on Vehicon. But have faith, my friends; we will withstand them and retake Vehicon."
The Autobots cheered in assent. Thunderclash grinned in return.
"Then let's kick some tailpipe."
* * *
"That Thunderclash is something, isn't he?"
Orion Pax glanced at Sandstorm as they armed themselves in the Vis Vitalis' armory, preparing for the upcoming battle. "I guess so," he said with a shrug. "I mean, he's pretty old, isn't he? At least as old as Kup."
"Yeah, at least," Sandstorm said. "They say that he carried the Matrix of Leadership during Sentinel Prime's first sabbatical. And that he made Straxus leak himself during the Fifth Battle of Polyhex. And that he gave Delta Magnus the idea to construct Fortress Maximus."
"They say a lot of things, don't they?" Orion remarked.
Sandstorm smirked at him. "Don't believe me? Or are you just jealous?"
"I'm not jealous," Orion said sharply. "I'm just... I'm just not jealous."
"Hey, I don't blame you. Not everyone is cut out to be a leader."
"Yeah," Orion murmured as he picked up his ion cannon. "Not everyone."
* * *
Alpha Trion took in an intake of breath to cool his inner systems as he entered Zeta Prime's office. The room was drastically different than it had been during Sentinel Prime's tenure: gone were the holographic busts of previous Primes, instead replaced by those of Zeta himself; gone were the crystal carvings depicting the historical feats of Nova and Guardian, instead replaced by those of Zeta performing similar but completely fictional actions.
Gone was the honest and modest air of Primes that had long since passed, instead replaced by the pompous aura of a false ruler.
The mech responsible for the overhaul was standing on the other side of the room, staring out a large window to observe the still-glorious city of Iacon. His blue and gold armor gleamed in the sunlight, creating an image that some may have found magnificent.
Unless, of course, they, like Alpha Trion, were aware of his true personality.
"Take a seat, Alpha Trion," Zeta Prime said after a moment of silence, gesturing to a chair placed in front of his desk.
"I'd rather stand, thank you, sir," Alpha Trion replied, placing his hands behind his back. "You wished to see me?"
"Indeed," Zeta turned around to face the ancient historian, his golden face devoid of emotion. "You believe in the Thirteen Primes, do you not?"
"Certainly," Alpha Trion replied. "Do you?"
"I wear the insignia of Vector Prime," Zeta said, gesturing to the vaguely Autobot-shaped symbol near his chest. "I have poured every last drop of innermost energon into commissioning the repair of the Grand Imperium's statue of Prima. I have long studied the teachings of Alchemist and Quintus Prime. Now then, ask me again if I believe in the Thirteen."
Alpha Trion smiled wryly. "I see. In that case, why do you wish to speak me in regards to the Thirteen?"
"You know so much about them." Zeta Prime stepped around his desk and approached the historian. "Not just them, but the artifacts they created. The Chimera Stone, the Triptych Mask, the Star Saber. The Matrix of Leadership."
At this, Zeta came to a stop and the panels of his chest began to shift and pull apart, revealing the Matrix which he carried underneath.
The false Matrix.
"I must ask, Alpha Trion," Zeta Prime said. "Can it light our darkest hour?"
Alpha Trion masked his grim expression. None of the Primes following Nova knew of the truth behind the Matrix which they carried, no doubt to promote the illusion of it being a symbol of hope and perhaps the key to victory. Did he dare break such news to Zeta now? Did he dare ruin the morale that the Autobots currently held?
No. Instead, he worked around an answer that hinted at the truth.
"It... is possible," Alpha Trion lied. "However, Sentinel Prime never found the need to use it against Trannis' Decepticons."
"Perhaps because he was unworthy," Zeta Prime said. "The First Great War lasted two thousand years, Alpha Trion. Do I dare wait just as long, or even longer, just to see a glimmer of hope over the horizon?"
Before Alpha Trion could respond, Zeta Prime closed his chest compartment and returned to the window behind his desk. "The High Council believes that I am the last Prime. You have heard of the prophecy, haven't you? Of the Seven Primes?"
"I may have come across it," Alpha Trion murmured.
"Alpha Prime was the first. Then Galactus. Then Nova, Nominus, Guardian, Sentinel. And now me." Zeta's blue optics gleamed with pride. "I am the seventh Prime. I am the last. And I will restore peace to Cybertron."
Alpha Trion once again attempted to mask his grim face. Only time will tell.
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