CHAPTER EIGHT
"I don't mean to complain," Swerve said, "but how exactly are we going to find the Circle of Light on a barren planet like this?"
Windblade had to admit that Swerve had a point. Theophany was completely barren and devoid of any settlements. If the Circle of Light was indeed here, it would take ages to find them.
As the eight Autobots began their trek through the desolate landscape, Wing Saber suddenly brought the group to a halt. "I saw someone," he murmured. "Over there, by the mountains."
The others followed his gaze to the jagged mountains that dominated the horizon. Approaching them from that direction was a tall, hooded figure.
"Identify yourself," Wing Saber demanded, raising his dual blades.
"You know me, brother," the stranger said. "It's only been five years."
Wing Saber blinked. "Wing Dagger?"
The figure nodded, pulling his hood back slightly to reveal a visage similar to Wing Saber's but colored in silver rather than gold. "It's been too long."
Wing Saber cracked a grin. "I'll say. Are you the one who summoned me and Windblade?"
Wing Dagger nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately, I was unable to set up a meeting with Dai Atlas, and I must not stay out here long lest the others notice my absence."
Reaching into his cloak, Wing Dagger brought out a small, pointed object and handed it to his brother.
"Bring this to Alpha Trion," he said. "He'll know what to do with it."
"But wait," Windblade said. "What about the Dark Evangelist you told us about?"
"Thankfully, he is not currently a threat, like my initial worry was."
"And what is it that only Dai Atlas can find?" Perceptor asked.
Wing Dagger stared at him, frowning. "I'm afraid I do not know what you are talking about. But if it was something incredibly important, I would know."
Before any of the Autobots could inquire him further, Wing Dagger bid them farewell and turned to head back in the direction he had come, vanishing into the mountains.
"Well," Jolt said after a long silence. "I've just about had it with these awkward moments."
* * *
The ground shook violently with each step Trypticon took. Some Autobots scrambled for cover while others stayed and fought, only to be crushed by the Decepticon beast.
Following Trypticon in his wake, leading the Decepticon ground forces while Starscream commandeered the bombarding aerial forces, Megatron admired the growing wreckage of Iacon. It was a terrible price to pay for him to conquer the planet, but it would be worth it in the end.
"Megatron!"
The Decepticon leader looked up to see Zeta Prime standing on the highest tower of the Metroplex. In his hands, thrust forward, was the Matrix of Leadership.
"You have one last chance to end this madness now," the Prime declared boldly. "If not, then I shall unleash the Matrix and destroy your beast and your forces once and for all."
Megatron smiled mirthlessly in response. "You have piqued my curiosity. Go on, then. Unleash your little trinket."
Zeta Prime narrowed his eyes but complied. He pulled the handles of the Matrix, separating the sphere away from the blue orb of light, and brandished it towards Trypticon.
Nothing happened.
Had the Prime's face not been concealed by his helmet, his mouth would have dropped open in shock.
"What? No!" He tossed the defective Matrix to the ground. "It was a fake! The Matrix never existed! Everything was a lie!"
Megatron smirked. "Such a pity."
Nonchalantly, he raised his fusion cannon at the false Prime and fired. Zeta dodged the blast only to trip and fall off the tower. His descent was quickly interrupted when Trypticon swiftly grabbed him and dangled him over his maw.
"It's a pity that your progressive career must end this way," Megatron said coldly. "However, not everyone can have a dignified end."
With a simple gesture from his master, Trypticon dropped Zeta Prime into his mouth, ending the reign of the seventh Prime.
* * *
Orion Pax awoke in total darkness. That, or his optics had gone that.
Either way, he slowly rose to his feet and carefully stepped forward. His foot instantly came into contact with an object and he picked it up, feeling it and recognizing it as the triangular Mini-Con Matrix.
Orion.
The soft yet bold voice rang in his head. Looking up, he saw a faint blue light slowly illuminating the chamber he was in.
Step forward, the voice said.
Cautiously, Orion did so, approaching the light until he reached its source, which was a golden sphere with silver handles on its side, perched on a pedestal.
The Matrix of Leadership, Orion thought in amazement. He then realized that the golden sphere was missing a piece. And the gap was triangular....
Instinctively, Orion raised the Mini-Con Matrix over the gap and it flew from his hand, inserting itself into the gap. The blue light brightened and the voice spoke again.
Place the Matrix into your chest.
"What?" Orion said aloud. "You don't mean...? I'm not worthy!"
That is not for you to decide. The Matrix has made its choice.
"But there's a prophecy about seven Primes and Zeta is the seventh. I can't-"
Very few prophecies have any truth to them. And even when they do, they can always be interpreted in more than one way. Now, take the Matrix.
Hesitating for only a moment, Orion removed the Matrix from its pedestal and placed it into his opening chest compartment- one which he never realized he had. Instantly, his body shot up from the ground while energy surged throughout it. The voice spoke once more, accompanied by what sounded like multiple others, some which he recognized....
We are Alpha Prime. We are Nova Prime. We are Sentinel Prime. We are those who have advanced the prosperity of Cybertron and its people. You are the one who shall light their darkest hour.
Arise... Optimus Prime.
No comments:
Post a Comment