Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIX, Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

--Cybertron--

    It was over.

    Ultra Magnus allowed his gun to fall from his hand. He could hardly believe it, even as he stared at the empty space where the form of Unicron had once been. After all the death and despair they had gone through, it was finally over.

    All around him, everyone broke out into cheers and in that blissful moment, factions became a things of the past. Autobots patted Decepticons on the back, Maximals pulled Circle of Light members into hugs, Velocitronians gave high-fives to Junkions. For the first time in eons, all Transformers were united as one.

    "'Till all are one!"

    As everyone chanted those words, Ultra Magnus felt a hard slap on his back. He looked over to see Kup standing next to him, battle-worn but still happily chewing on a piece of scrap.

    "Now that's what I call a light show."

    Ultra Magnus wanted to smile at the veteran's words but found himself unable to for some reason. It didn't take long for him to deduce that reason. "You know what this means, Kup?" he said with a sigh. 

    Kup frowned. "Prime...."

    "He's gone. I know we've been able to manage without him before, but now... it's going to be even more difficult."

    Kup opened his mouth to say something but was cut off when Clocker came running up to them.

    "Um, sirs?" the young Velocitronian said. "You need to come to Metroplex. There's... something you've gotta see."

* * *

    "I swear to Primus, if I ever see another crazy portal again...."

    Ginrai ignored Outrigger's remarks as watched with a gobsmacked expression as Optimus Prime, Nightbeat, and Hardhead emerged from a portal in Cyclonus' chest. Once the three Autobots had fully stepped out, Ginrai deactivated the ray shield to the captive Herald's cell.

    "Now that is what I call a dramatic entrance."

    Optimus let out a weary sigh. "I've just about had my fill of them today."

    At that moment, Ultra Magnus came running into the room with Kup and Clocker. "Prime?" Magnus said in astonishment. "By the AllSpark, you're alive!"

    "I certainly am, but incredibly tired."

    "We all saw Unicron blow up," Kup said. "We thought you had gone with him." The veteran suddenly squinted his optics at him. "Wait, wasn't Megatron with you?"

    Optimus sighed heavily. "I have a long story to tell you all."

--The next day--

    "All together now!"

    "But the 'Bots don't want me / And the 'Cons don't want me / And the Circle don't want me / And I'm a lonely Cybertronian!"

    Swerve could not describe how elated he felt at seeing his bar aboard the Lost Light be so... busy. Not only were nearly all of his crewmates there, and Autobots and Decepticons were singing their sparks out, but there was one Autobot in particular that he never though he'd see step through the door.

    "Oh. My. Spark." He quickly nudged Riptide, who was helping out at the counter. "Do-- do you see who's here?"

    Riptide followed his gaze towards a sleek mech in blue and silver. "You mean Blurr?"

    Swerve nodded eagerly. "You have no idea how much of a fan I am of him. I've got his autograph, I've got his picture taken... I've even got his hailing frequency!"

    "Uh-huh," Riptide said, clearly disinterest. "So, what, you gonna say hi to him?"

    "Yeah, I'll wave him over. HEY, BUDDY!" Swerve jumped up and down as he waved his hand excitedly. "REMEMBER ME? IT'S SWERVE!"

    Blurr looked in his direction and shot him a weird look before returning to the conversation he was having with Arcee.

    Swerve did not relent. "COME ON! DON'T TELL ME YOU'VE FORGOTTEN YOUR BIGGEST FAN! WE WERE GONNA OPEN A BAR TOGETHER, RIGHT?"

    The Autobot racer did not pay him any further heed.

    Swerve sighed dejectedly, his shoulders sagging. ""I'm sure he'll come over eventually...."

    "Sure," Riptide grunted. "He's probably just making his rounds--"

    The Hydrobot was suddenly cut off by the sound of something rolling quickly through the corridor just outside the bar. All of the patrons looked to see Ambulon running past with a mobile repair bay, which Tailgate was spread out upon. Following him were First Aid and Glyph, both with anxious expressions.

    "Huh," Riptide said. "Wonder what that was all about."

    He turned to look at Swerve only to see the bartender rushing out the door to follow the medics.

--Hours earlier--

    "How did you manage to get a hold of this?"

    "Found it among Galvatron's parts after Hardhead and I exited the portal," Nightbeat said to Optimus. "No idea how he got a hold of it."

    The two Autobots stood on an antique turbo-powered lift that took them into the depths of Cybertron. Optimus had been lead to it by accessing data hidden on the Key to Vector Sigma, which Nightbeat had recently given him.

    "So, this Vector Sigma thing... it's supposed to be able to gather all of the AllSpark fragments?" Nightbeat asked.

    "That is my hope, yes," Optimus said. "I do not know for certain."

    "How come you never tried it in the first place?"

    "I asked Alpha Trion about it actually, right before we left Cybertron, and he simply told me that it simply wasn't the right time to disturb Vector Sigma; that it would only awaken for us when the turmoil had truly stopped and we were considered worthy."

    Nightbeat snorted. "See, that's exactly why I never bought into that kind of stuff. All this faux-enigmatic scrap...."

    As the lift continued to descent, the detective then said quietly, "So... Megatron turned out to be the savior of us all."

    Optimus simply nodded.

    "Does it bother you at all? That he was the one the Matrix chose and not you?"

    Optimus hesitated before answering. "To be honest, Nightbeat, I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to feel. I do find it hard to believe that someone like Megatron ended up being 'the hero.' But at the same time...."

    The Autobot leader fell silent for a moment. Nightbeat patiently waited for him to continue.

    "But at the same time, I feel like I should have expected it. Before he became Megatron, I fully expected Optronix to become the next Prime; he was just fit for the role. And right before he died... it felt like a small part of the Optronix I knew had reemerged, so I was content in giving him the Matrix."

    Optimus finished off with a shrug. "In the end, of course, when it comes down to it... you have to ask yourself, 'Does it really matter?' Megatron's sacrifice has brought forth a union between Transformers that I've never seen in my entire life."

    Nightbeat nodded in agreement. "And hey, look on the bright side; if this Vector Sigma thing goes well, then you can still say that you've had a hand in bringing about a new golden age."

    Optimus smiled though his optics. "Very true, Nightbeat. Very true."

    The lift eventually touched ground and the two Autobots stepped off of it, walking up to a large door. In its center was a keyhole, shaped exactly to fit the Key to Vector Sigma. Optimus inserted the key and the door slide open to reveal a large chamber. In the center of it was a giant golden orb which radiated like a sun.

    Approaching the orb, Optimus inserted the key again into it and it instantly came to life.

    "I am Vector Sigma," it said in a booming voice. "Before Cybertron was, I was. Who reactivates me?"

    "Greetings, Vector Sigma," Optimus said. "I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. I come to you with good news... and bad. Unicron has been vanquished, but Cybertron is in a desperate state, and we have many with mortal wounds, some which even our best medics can not repair."

    "What would you have me do?" Vector Sigma asked.

    "I ask you to reconstitute the AllSpark. It has been broken into several shards and it would take years to gather them all. Then, would you be able to heal those who have fallen but can still be saved?"

    The ancient entity was silent for a moment. Then, it spoke.

    "By the will of the Prime... it shall be done."

*  *  *

    It was like watching a miracle in progress.

    First, blue shards had begun to swarm through Cybertron's sky from different directions, eventually culminating into a shining blue orb. It then bathed the ground in energy and in short time, metal formations began to spring forth from the ground (anyone with a religious mindset would have called it an act of Primus).

    Then, upon a summons from Optimus, all of the medics began rushing their injured to the Vector Sigma chamber, where the golden orb of myth revitalized those with mortal wounds, Tailgate among them, before returning to its eternal slumber.

    Many found it all too good to be true: Unicron vanquished, Cybertron restored, and peace all around. Quite a few cynics were skeptical on whether or not it was all some cruel joke, but Optimus was quick to assuage such doubts.

    He stood before them all, everyone anticipating a speech from him. Looking upon them all, seeing the diversity in factions, forms, and functions, he was almost unsure of what to say. He knew that the peace and unity he was seeing now would not be permanent; in fact, it would be near impossible after all of the many years of war and conflict they had been through.

    As such, all he said was this: "Let history remember this day as the first of the Third Golden Age. Let this victory see to our unity. Let this day be forever marked as a turning point in our race's history. Let us all stand as one. 'Till all are one!"

    The crowd echoed him, and all across the planet, their voices could be heard.

    Challenges would lay ahead; that they all knew. But right now, all that mattered was the promised dawn.

TO BE CONCLUDED