CHAPTER TEN
--Cybertron--
Megatron winced as Knock Out applied a laser scalpel to one of his wounds but did not lash out at the medic like he normally would. Instead, he simply continued to stare out the opening of his makeshift shelter.
He was still unsure whether today had either been a victory or a defeat. Galvatron had came within inches of killing him only to be stopped by an unexplained interference, which caused the old warrior great pain and extinguished the stars for the briefest of seconds. When the lights had come back on, the Heralds were gone and the Chaos Bringer of legend could be seen in the sky.
It all felt somewhat anti-climatic... but at the same time, he knew it was far from over.
He heard the clanking of footsteps just as Barricade appeared in the entrance. Behind him were Skywarp and Thundercracker, dragging along a third one of their model. By the gray and red armor plating, Megatron immediately knew who it was.
"Starscream." The Decepticon leader's fingers dug grooves into the slab of metal he was sitting on.
"We found him near the mines," Barricade said as the Seekers dumped their exiled brother onto the ground. "Would you like us to execute him for you?"
"No. Leave him to me."
Taking their cue, Barricade, Knock Out, and the two Seekers walked away, leaving Megatron alone with Starscream. As the exiled Decepticon staggered to his feet, Megatron slowly rose to tower over him.
"I certainly admire your audacity to show your wretched face again," Megatron growled.
Starscream bristled from the scathing remark. "Ah, yes, my liege. I have... always been known for being bold."
"The question is, though: why?"
Starscream hesitated before speaking. "To... redeem myself. In your eyes."
"And how do you intend on doing that?"
"I can get the other Decepticons back on your side--"
"After seeing how well the Decepticons fared under your rule, I have reason to doubt that," Megatron snapped.
"Please, my liege, let me finish," the Seeker pleaded. "I have a plan-- it doesn't necessarily involve words, but rather... deception."
Megatron crossed his arms. "And why should I trust you that it will work?"
"Because if it doesn't," Starscream murmured, "I will gladly allow you to obliterate me."
Megatron mulled over this for a moment, considering whether it would be best to simply destroy Starscream right here and now, and save him the grief. Eventually, however, he instead gave the Seeker a curt nod.
"Very well. Let us try your plan."
Starscream nodded eagerly. "I will not disappoint you, my liege."
"Pray that you don't."
--Gigantion--
"Nautica says she's found some parts left behind by the natives to fix the Lost Light's engine," Elita-One told Optimus as the two of them, along with Minimus Ambus, walked through one of Metroplex's corridors. "She thinks we'll be able to take off in a few hours."
"And we've already locked up Pharma, Lockdown, and his goons in the brig," Minimus said.
"Very good," Optimus said. "Perceptor just commed me a few minutes ago. He says he's found Metroplex's brain module and is trying to awaken him."
"I still wonder how and why he ended up here," Minimus murmured.
"Let us hope he has our answers."
As the Autobots turned the corner, Elita glanced at Optimus. "And what about Star Saber?"
Prime was silent for a moment before speaking. "I've spoken with him and I do believe his change of spark is genuine. Tyrest had deceived him into thinking what they were doing was for the greater good and had no idea about... Unicron."
"Is he trustworthy, then?" Minimus asked.
"That remains to be seen. We will definitely keep an eye on him."
The three of them soon reached the chamber which contained Metroplex's brain module. Waiting inside was Perceptor, who was studying the component.
"I can't say I'm an expert on brains," the scientist said. "I'm not sure if there's supposed to be an on-off switch or what."
"Couldn't Chromedome use his mnemosurgery skills on it?" Elita asked.
"I asked him, but he said he wasn't feeling up to the task of entering an ancient Titan's mind."
"Allow me to try," Optimus said, stepping forward. "After all, it was I who awakened him on Cybertron."
Once Perceptor had stepped aside, Optimus moved up to the brain module and pressed his hands against it. Instantly, the chamber was enlighten by a blue light.
"Metroplex... heeds you call, Optimus Prime," a booming voice said, thought it sounded weaker than the last time Optimus heard it.
"Metroplex, are you all right?" the Autobot leader asked. "How did you come to be here?"
"Energon... depleted. Severely... wounded. Cannot recall... everything."
"Is there anyway we can replenish you? We seem to have a major threat looming over us."
"Yes... I have sensed his presence. Only known way... to recharge me... is to use the AllSpark."
"Unfortunately, it's been broken up, and we've only managed to find three shards," Optimus said. "Is there one here on Gigantion?"
"Yes, but... it would not be enough. I... do have the power to summon all of the shards and... reform the AllSpark. But it might take... all of my life force."
"Thus making it a moot point," Optimus muttered.
"Not... quite. Even at full strength, I would be... no used against... the Chaos Bringer. I am... willing to sacrifice myself."
Optimus considered the options for a moment. Either outcome would do them little good; Metroplex was too weak to take on Unicron, and the AllSpark's primary purpose was to restore Cybertron, not prevent it from certain doom.
Finally, he came to a decision. "There is no need for that, my friend. Do you have enough energon to transform?"
"Only to my space carrier form," Metroplex said. "And if I do so, I will end up in permanent stasis lock."
Optimus hesitated before nodding. "Make it so, then."
The blue light vanished and the chamber rumbled as the city started to change shape....
Optimus hesitated before nodding. "Make it so, then."
The blue light vanished and the chamber rumbled as the city started to change shape....
* * *
"Well, it's that time of day again," Nautica said as she stepped onto the Lost Light's bridge. "Good news-bad news time, that is."
Elita sighed. "Give me the bad."
"Shock and Ore are dead. They got meshed into the hyper-drive somehow when we activated it, which is why things went all screwy. No hope in getting them out."
"And the good?"
Nautica dusted off her hands. "We're all set and ready for take off."
"Great. Optimus and his team are taking Metroplex back to Earth to pick up the remaining Autobots there. We'll then rendezvous with all of the other Autobots out there at Combatron."
As she settled herself into the command chair, Elita watched through the viewport as Metroplex launched off into hyperspace with Optimus Prime and his Autobots on board. At the pilot controls, Windblade visibly relaxed about being away from the ex-Decepticon Drift, though Elita felt slightly perturbed about being separated from Prime so soon after having been reunited.
Nonetheless, she quickly pushed aside such feelings and gave Windblade the order to make the jump to hyperspace.
EPILOGUE
It had been a long time since Galvatron last knelt to someone. Here on this desolate moon that orbited the Chaos Bringer's celestial form, he and the other Heralds were equal in their role as servants of Unicron.
Standing before them was the orange-armored mech through which Unicron spoke to them, known only as the Avatar. In days long since past, he had been an Autobot in the service of Nova Prime; now he was little more than an extension of Unicron's will.
"You have pleased me greatly," the Chaos Bringer said through the Avatar. "At last, after countless eons, I have been freed of the Void which has long confined me."
"Only in your greatest interest, Supreme One," Galvatron said humbly. "We live only to serve you."
"That you do," Unicron said. "Now, the real work begins. I am a great distance away from Cybertron; thus, it will take me some time to reach it... enough time for the Autobots to prepare a strike against me."
"Have no fear, Supreme One," Straxus said. "We shall see to it that the Autobots are of no disturbance."
"Excellent." The Avatar intertwined his clawed fingers. "Now then... let us bring forth the darkest hour."
END OF BOOK V: PRELUDE TO CHAOS
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