CHAPTER ELEVEN
Trypticon stood over the fallen Metroplex, poised to end the ancient Titan's life. His mouth opened as his primary cannon charged up. If Metroplex was to die here and now, then the Autobots would be ridden of what little hope they had.
Suddenly, he froze. Through his peripheral vision, he took notice of the conflict between Megatron and an Autobot on the Interstate Bridge. The latter stood over the former, ready to execute him.
Something deep within Trypticon stirred. Memories flooded into his mind like an uncontrollable wave. Optronix storming onto the bridge... firing his fusion cannon... declaring himself ruler of the Decepticons...
Trypticon then let out a low growl. Forgetting his fight with Metroplex, he turned towards the Interstate Bridge....
* * *
As Optimus Prime weighed his options- to execute his brother here and now or to let him go and spread more terror- the choice was quickly taken out of his hands as a large shadow fell over them. He and Megatron both turned to see Trypticon towering over them.
"Trypticon!" Megatron bellowed as he got to his feet. "Have you finished the Metroplex?"
"No," Trypticon growled. "I have more pressing matters to attend to."
"What? I am your lord and master! You cannot defy me!"
"Like you did me, Optronix?"
Megatron's eyes widened at the mention of his previous name, which Trypticon had never been informed of. Before either he or Optimus could react, Trypticon swung his tail and tore the Interstate Bridge from its supports, sending the two brothers flying. As they landed roughly onto the ground, the Decepticon beast roared and lunged towards Megatron with his open maw, prepared to devour the Decepticon leader as he had Zeta Prime.
Before he could act out on his rage however, Trypticon was suddenly grabbed from behind by Metroplex, who had gotten back to his feet.
"No harm shall come to the true Prime," the Titan said coldly.
Trypticon roared and swung around to face Metroplex. Just as he was about to attack, the beast suddenly seized up while energy began to crackle through him. His orange optics flickered before losing their color, and his massive body slowly fell to the ground. Once it had landed, everything on the battlefield was still and silent.
Optimus Prime stared at the fallen Trypticon in shock before turning to Megatron, who was merely scowling.
"I suppose some beasts were not meant to be unleashed," the Decepticon leader muttered. Rising to his feet, he glanced between Optimus, Metroplex, and his remaining forces, before finally sighing.
"Consider this battle over, Optimus Prime," he said, speaking the name in a spiteful tone. "You have won today, but it will not end here. There will be another time."
Optimus nodded, his face devoid of expression. "And we will be waiting."
Snarling, Megatron turned on his heels and barked at his men to return to the Nemesis. After throwing Optimus and the Autobots one last glare, he followed them and in short time, the Decepticon forces had left Cybertron.
Once the warships had all left, the Autobots all turned to stare in awe at Optimus Prime and Metroplex.
"Orion?" Ultra Magnus said, breaking the silence. "Is that you?"
"Yes," Optimus murmured. "Though I am no longer Orion Pax. I am Optimus Prime." As he said this, Optimus opened his chest compartment to reveal the glowing Matrix of Leadership.
"So, I guess that prophecy was kind of true," said Ironhide, accompanied by Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Mirage, and Beta Maxx. "Beta did find the real Matrix, but not so he could become Prime."
"It's just as well," Beta Maxx said. "From what I've heard of you, Orion -- Optimus -- you are far better suited to lead than I am."
"I would like to disagree," Optimus said. "But I suppose the choice is out of my hands."
"I'm sure you will prove to be a great leader," Ultra Magnus said, placing a reassuring hand on Optimus' shoulder. "Certainly better than Zeta, at least."
Optimus smirked behind his mouthplate. "I never would have expect someone such as you say something like that."
Ultra Magnus cleared his ventilation system. "Yes, well, I've been meaning to say that for a while now."
"So what do we do now, er, boss-bot?" asked Bumblebee.
"Start cleaning up Iacon, for starters," Optimus said. "We may not be able to restore it to its former glory, but we can at least make it somewhat better than this."
"What about Trypticon's corpse there?" Jazz asked.
"I shall dispose of Trypticon personally," Metroplex said. "Would the Rust Sea suffice?"
"I say you take him straight into the sun," muttered Kup. "But if ya' can't handle the heat, then..."
"Take him to the planet Dread and leave him there for the shrikebats to feed on," Optimus said. "If he ever wakes up again, he probably won't have enough of a body left to move."
Metroplex nodded and picked up Trypticon's body before activating the thrusters on his back and blasting off into the sky. The Autobots down below watched him leave before setting off to repair their ruined city.
* * *
I still function.
The spark of Trannis awoke in the shell of Trypticon. He could not move or feel, but could see the Titan carrying him clearly. Metroplex no doubt knew that he was still alive, but also knew that the former Decepticon leader could do nothing to show it.
It was just as well, Trannis thought. He was far away now from his primary objective: to kill Megatron.
But don't worry, Megatron. Even if it takes decades, centuries, or a millennia,, I will find you and-
Suddenly, Metroplex froze. Trannis glanced up at him in bemusement and became even more puzzled when the Titan released him.
"Must find the Knights."
And in a flash, he was gone, leaving the body of Trypticon to drift out aimlessly in space.
EPILOGUE
"Darn," Swerve said as he, Windblade, Perceptor, and the others surveyed the ruins of Iacon while disembarking from Wing Saber's ship. "We missed out on all the fun."
"Got that right," muttered Ironhide as he carried a piece of rubble pass them. "Feel free to give us a hand, if you've got any."
Chromia promptly took the piece of rubble from Ironhide, tossed it to the ground, and stomped on it until it was nothing but pebbles.
Ironhide let out an impressed whistle. "Wow. Can you teach me that trick?"
Chromia grinned. "Sure thing."
As she and most of the others set off to work, Wing Saber turned to Windblade, eying the blade his brother Wing Dagger had given them.
"I take it you're gonna find Alpha Trion and give that to him?" he asked.
"What else am I supposed to do with it?" Windblade snapped. "Play darts with it?"
Ignoring Wing Saber's stammering response, Windblade converted to her jet mode and flew through the damaged city until she came across Alpha Trion speaking with his Mini-Con counterpart Beta Maxx. As she transformed and landed before him, the old historian turned to her and smiled.
"Hello there, young Autobot," he said. "Shouldn't you be helping in the reconstruction?"
Windblade said nothing and instead handed him the bladed object. Alpha Trion's optics widened at the sight.
"Where and how did you gt this?" he demanded as he took it.
"A member of the Circle of Light gave it to me," Windblade said. "He said that you would know what to do with it."
Alpha Trion slowly nodded. "Yes, I do. Thank you, miss..."
"Windblade," she answered, smiling as she turned to leave. "And don't mention it."
* * *
Ignoring the typical babble of the Decepticon medic as they repaired him, Megatron stared off into space. The only thing that currently passed through his head was the name he had come to despise above all others: Optimus Prime.
Although he had initially portrayed indifference towards Orion Pax's adoption of the name, he slowly started to feel spite towards it. Part of it was jealousy over Orion taking it for himself, but most of it was the dread and grief it would no doubt bring him in times to come. And since Orion was, after all, his "counterpart" as Autobot leader, they would be encountering each other several times as the war went on.
The moment the medic finished repairing his fusion cannon arm, Megatron wrenched it free from the doctor's tender car and proceeded to crush their head with his hand. Rising from his command chair, he scowled as the Nemesis approached New Kaon, the Decepticon capital.
The days of our brotherhood are over, Optimus Prime. From this day forward, and until one of us falls, we shall wage our eternal war. And I promise you, "brother," I shall walk over your cold, offline husk to claim victory.
It shall forever be between you and me.
* * *
As the gleaming star of Hadean brought forth a new dawn over Iacon, Optimus Prime stood on the precipice of a small cliff on the outskirts of the city, watching the sunrise.
"I suppose war cannot destroy all beauty."
Optimus turned to see Alpha Trion walking towards him, with Beta Maxx hovering at his side. The Autobot leader smiled behind his mouthplate.
"It seems so," he said. "But if war continues to distract us from such beauties, it matters little in the end."
Alpha Trion smiled as he stood besides Optimus. "Remember to keep your hopes up," he said. "Keep up the optimism that is in your name. With all of the duties you now have as a leader, you're going to need it now more than ever."
Optimus sighed. "Why did the Matrix have to choose me though? Why not someone with actual leadership experience like Ultra Magnus or Thunderclash... or even you?"
The Autobot sage placed an arm on his shoulder. "It chose you because of the very fact that you did not want it."
Optimus gave him a puzzled look. "What?"
"Even the best of us deep down craves power, and the Matrix embodies that power. So who better to wield it than someone who desires to use it only to bring peace?"
As Optimus pondered on his words, both Autobots turned to watch the rising sun.
"Troubled times are drawing near and rough roads fast approach you, Optimus Prime. Ultimately, only you will be able to guide yourself through them."
With that, Alpha Trion and his Mini-Con companion turned to leave, and Optimus Prime stood alone to watch the rising dawn.
END OF BOOK II: DAWN OF THE AUTOBOTS
No comments:
Post a Comment