CHAPTER SEVEN
--Mothership--
"Megatron, please tell me you didn't do anything to Hydra to get ourselves free."
Megatron grunted as he slammed a Vehicon into the wall. "Would you even believe me if I said I didn't?"
Optimus Prime said nothing as he took a deactivated Vehicon's hand and placed it on the scanner in the wall. He was denied access again and he tossed the trooper aside.
"Hand me another one."
Megatron peeled the Vehicon he was fighting off the wall and pushed him over to Optimus. "Are you sure they're in here?"
"I saw them being taken here while I was being taken to my cell," Optimus said as he planted the Vehicon's hand onto the scanner. "Shockwave went in as well, so be prepared for--"
The scanner lit green and the door slid open. Releasing the Vehicon, Optimus straightened up and stared into the room to see...
"...Nothing."
"What?!" Megatron stormed forward and pushed Optimus aside. Indeed, the room had very little of note, save for a lone table and scattered supplies. The former Decepticon leader gritted his teeth. "You must have been mistaken."
"No." Both leaders glanced at each other before looking down at the Vehicon that had opened the door. He rose weakly from the floor, his cracked visor regarding them balefully. "They were in there. Just not anymore."
"You mean they've left?" Optimus asked.
"You don't see them, do you?"
Megatron snarled and grabbed the Vehicon by the neck, hoisting him off his feet. "Where are they now?!"
"Hell if I know," the Vehicon grunted out. "That Soundwave clone opened his portal and he and Shockwave went through it."
"Did they take anyone else with them?" Optimus asked.
"Yeah. A femme and some scary looking bot."
Optimus sighed. "Then we're too late. They're out of reach now."
"Indeed," Megatron said before throwing the Vehicon into the wall. The trooper did not get up again. "There's nothing for us here then. We should leave before--"
Suddenly, the entire ship shook violently as everything went dark. Both leaders reached for something to grab onto but, in the darkness, found nothing and they tumbled to the floor....
--The Lost Light--
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! We're back in business!"
Rodimus straightened up in his seat as Blaster and Mainframe worked frantically at their stations. "You mean we're in control again?"
"Yes!" Blaster beamed. "Communications are back online!"
"We're out of the stasis field they put us in," Mainframe reported. "Everything's running smoothly."
"Awesome!" Rodimus pumped his fist in triumph. "And what about that Titan? Where's she--"
"Uh, about that," Mainframe said. "By the looks of it, it's lost all power and is on a crash course for Necroworld."
Rodimus' excitement quickly turned to dread. "Where the others are?"
"Yes."
"And Prime and Megs are still...."
"Yes."
"Well what are we waiting for?!" Rodimus cried out. "Full speed ahead!"
"We don't have control of Metrotitan though," Mainframe said. "Just the Lost--"
"I don't care! We still have to do something! Just go!"
Pressured by their captain, the bridge crew started up the engines and soon the Lost Light was taking off from Metrotitan and flying towards the Mothership.
--Mothership--
Megatron wasn't sure how he had managed it, but Optimus was able to find a hatch that led them out onto the Titan's surface. As they emerged into the coldness of space -- a coldness that was gradually growing warm -- it didn't take long to assess the situation.
"We're crashing," Optimus murmured.
"How very perceptive, brother," Megatron grunted. Rising up, he prepared to transform to his jet mode. "You aren't heavy, are you?"
Optimus looked at him. "What?"
"I suppose it doesn't matter when we're in space, but--"
"Megatron, we can't leave just yet!" Optimus protested. "Hydra and Magnum are still--"
"We can't save them, Prime," Megatron snarled. "They've brought this upon themselves. Let them pay for their mistakes."
"But they're--"
"They're what? Our caretakers?" Megatron sneered at him. "Are you seriously still that attached to them? Even after all this time?"
"I care about the people who are important to me," Optimus replied.
"You care about everyone."
"Is that so wrong?"
Megatron threw his hands up. "There it is. The same vapid, self-righteous scrap that I've been hearing from you for over a thousand years. When will you give it up, Prime? When will you realize the universe does not share your optimistic appraisal?"
Optimus shrugged. "Probably never. You of all people should know that by now, Megatron."
Megatron opened his mouth to retort but could not find the proper words. He stared at Prime, wondering if maybe -- just maybe -- he had been going about all this wrong all this time. Maybe there was something to consider about his brother's view.
After all, Matrix or not, Optimus was still Prime instead of him. He had succeeded where Sentinel and Zeta failed. Maybe there was a reason for that....
Megatron was broken from his contemplation when the Mothership began to enter Necroworld's atmosphere, causing things to become hotter. He quickly converted to his jet mode and Optimus clung onto him as the two took off from the crashing Titan.
As they flew away, Megatron spotted the Lost Light flying towards them. Kicking on his thrusters, he advanced towards the ship. Maybe if they were quick, they could stop the Titan from crushing those below.
Because they were in space, Megatron did not hear the combiner fly up from behind them.
Because they were in space, Megatron had no control when the combiner swung a hand at them and sent him spiraling into the blackness.
* * *
Optimus cried out as he was grabbed unexpectedly by the combiner. Shooting straight over the Lost Light, the gestalt flew for Metrotitan. Upon entering the Titan's gravity field, Optimus was thrown onto the ground as his assailant towered over him.
"You have no idea how good that felt," the combiner growled.
Optimus froze in the midst of rising. That voice... it can't be.
"Galvatron?" he murmured, staring up at the gestalt.
A harsh laugh rumbled from the monster's mouth. "It's Galvatronus now. But yes, it is I. Miss me?"
"But..." Optimus groaned as he got to his feet. "But you're dead."
"Well yes, I am, technically. I tasked my fellow Heralds in making preparations should I perish." Galvatronus grinned wickedly. "Clearly they've succeeded in that regard."
Optimus narrowed his optics as he realized that all four of Galvatronus' limbs bore resemblance to Autobots he had served with: Hound, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Smokescreen....
Galvatronus seemed to notice his consternation as he let out another cackle. "Oh, I'm sorry. Has my choice of components offended you? My apologies."
Without warning, he picked up Optimus in one swift swoop and threw him back into the ground.
"Dear me!" the gestalt guffawed. "Such insubordinate behavior! In my day, an act like that would have earned swift execution." He bore down on Optimus again, casting a shadow over the battered Prime. "Are you like that, Optimus 'Prime?' Are you like the Primes of old? Or are you just a spineless pretender?"
"He's neither."
Snarling, Galvatronus turned to see Megatron, in robot mode, flying towards him. Adorning his right arm was an impromptu cannon made from the wings of his alt mode, crackling with energy.
"He's better."
Aiming his weapon, Megatron fired at the gestalt, scoring a large dent in its chest. Roaring in anger, Galvatronus lumbered forward and grabbed at the Decepticon, only for him to fly out of reach.
"Don't think I've forgotten what you did to me!" Galvatronus bellowed. "I remember our last confrontation vividly!"
"Good," Megatron said. "Then you'll remember this."
He fired again; this time, he aimed for the gestalt's left arm connection, severing the joint and freeing Trailbreaker from his forced configuration.
Howling with fury, Galvatronus lunged again, kicking on his back thrusters. Megatron attempted to fly away only to be caught in the combiner's grip. Galvatronus then flung him back down and the Decepticon joined his brother on the ground.
"I tire of this game," Galvatronus rumbled, returning to loom over the pair. "It's time that the Age of Primes ended."
Groaning, Megatron reached up to his chest and pulled it open. The Matrix of Leadership glowed brightly within.
Galvatronus raised his remaining fist. "Any last words, Optimus Prime?"
"Prime..." Megatron reached over to his brother. "The Matrix. Take it. Now."
"Nothing?" Galvatronus sniffed. "So be it."
"Prime?" Megatron shook Optimus. The Autobot leader did not stir. "Optimus! Answer me!"
The fist came down. Megatron had no time to think as he, Optimus, and Galvatronus were all consumed by a giant flash of light.
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