CHAPTER ONE
--Luna 2, Cycle 9315 (500 years ago)--
"Let's go to Luna Two, you said. It'll be fine, you said."
"Well, how was I supposed to know it was going to be a war zone by the time we got here?" Anode retorted, narrowly avoiding the falling husk of a Lunabot as a Decepticon Cybernought shot it down.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Lug, attached to the green bi-plane's underside in the form of a gray block. "Maybe the fact that we're in the middle of a war?!"
"Oh, hush." Weaving her way through the battlefield, Anode spotted an unoccupied trench down below and made a bee-line for it. Lug detached from her as the both of them transformed, landing in the trench just in time to avoid a massive laser beam fired in their direction.
"This is so not worth the effort," Lug muttered under her breath.
"At least we're getting paid for this," Anode said. "Say what you will about Techy; least he treats his clients well, unlike some people I know."
Lug glanced at her. "Still bitter about that job on Rikev-Har?"
"I swear, if I ever see that Hoss guy again--"
Suddenly, there was the sound of thrusters as a large space shuttle shot over them, splitting in two and converting into a pair of animals which promptly attacked the Cybernought. Seconds later, another shuttle flew in and transformed, landing in front of the two explorers.
"You guys shouldn't be here," the Lunabot grunted. "I thought all the civilians had been evacuated."
"Oh, we're not civilians," Anode said. "We're--"
"Then what are you? Reinforcements? Enemies? I don't see any badges on you. Are you Autobots or Decepticons?"
"Neither. We're geologists-slash-adventurers who like getting into trouble." Anode ignored the face Lug was making at her and continued. "We were sent here by our current employer to find a rare piece of--"
"Commander!" A red and white Lunabot came running up to the three of them, blasting away a Decepticon with his gun. "Blast Master and Phaser have spotted the Warriors Elite!"
The commander frowned. "The Warriors Elite? As in all five of them?"
The Lunabot nodded. "Overlord, Killmaster, even Sixshot... they're all here."
"Strange. They almost never act together as a unit; last time I can think of was Hell's Point. Thunderwing must've given them a very good reason...."
The commander glanced back at Anode and Lug before turning back to the Lunabot. "Get these two to safety. I'll radio Sky Lynx -- if he's not too busy -- and tell him that--"
"Look out below!"
All four bots looked up to see a massive shape blotting out the sun. Everyone on the battlefield scrambled for cover as Killmaster brandished his wand and aimed it at the ground. As the Lunabot and his commander took off in a hurry, Lug tugged on Anode's wing.
"Come on, let's go," she urged her partner.
"I just noticed something," Anode murmured, digging deep into the trench. "I think it's the thing."
"Oh, come on! You can't seriously still be concerned about a stupid piece of--"
"A-ha!" Anode pulled her arm free, holding up a small, uniquely shaped piece of metal. "Got it!"
Up above, Killmaster fired his wand and the entire world went white.
--Luna 2, now--
"Come on then. You said you had a good reason for summoning me here."
Standing on the highest of Metrotitan's towers, Thunderwing turned around to see a tall blue metal figure standing before him. The Decepticon warlord had his large white arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
Thunderwing inclined his head as he regarded Overlord. "You got here rather quickly. I was expecting you to take your time."
Overlord shrugged. "I wasn't doing anything else. Megatron's been rather elusive for me."
Thunderwing smirked. "Still on that vendetta of yours, are you?"
Overlord blinked, visibly caught off-guard by Thunderwing's knowledge. He quickly hid his surprise. "Yes, of course I am. I am not one who gives up easily."
"Then it would please you to know that you needn't look any further."
Overlord raised an optic ridge, uncrossing his arms as he straightened up. "Pardon?"
Thunderwing nodded to the sky. "Give it a minute. It should be here soon."
Overlord gave him a quizzical look before turning to face the sky. At first, he did not see anything but the stars that lit the night. Then, as if the very fabric of space was being torn apart, there was an ear-splitting sound and a giant sphere came into view.
For the first time in 9.3 thousand years, Luna 1 had returned to Cybertron's orbit.
--Luna 1--
"There! I see them!"
As Alpha Bravo flew the Lost Light towards the waving Brainstorm and Chromedome, Elita-One raised a hand to her comm. "They're all yours, Skids. Go get them."
Beneath the ship, Skids departed on a M.A.R.B. platform and hovered over to the pair. As Elita watched him work on retrieving the two, Convoy stepped up from behind her. When he spoke, his voice caught her off-guard with how... familiar it sounded.
"Is that everyone?"
Elita shuttered her optics, not wanting to face the clone. "We're still missing Whirl -- or rather, the Vehicon that used to be Whirl. Cyclonus is insistent on finding him, but we can't risk everything to save someone who is, effectively, already gone."
"And the Primes? Any sign of them?"
"No. But then again, I haven't really been looking." Elita cast an aside glance at the clone. "No offense, but they don't exactly take priority over the bot you're a clone of."
Convoy sighed as he looked away. "Elita... I'm not a clone."
"Oh, so it's just a coincidence that you look like Optimus only in blue?"
"I mean... more or less." Convoy looked back to Elita, meeting her confused gaze. "You've heard of Primus apotheosis, yes?"
"Yes." Elita eyed him carefully. "Are you saying you're a victim?"
"No." Convoy chuckled slightly. "I'm saying Optimus is."
All went quiet on the bridge. Alpha Bravo cast a glance over his shoulder while Elita stared skeptically at Convoy.
"Are you telling me you've never wondered why a face like Optimus Prime's is so distinguishable?" Convoy went on. "Even before, Nova, Guardian and even Sentinel for a time wore a faceplate as part of their 'heroic' image. Who do you think they got it from?"
Elita frowned. "Are you saying...?"
"My name is not Convoy. When I was first forged, I was given the name Delta Magnus. But when my city fell to dark forces, I arose from the ashes a new bot -- a Prime -- and joined the alliance of Crystal City as their thirteenth member, to serve as a mediator between the united factions.
"I am the Arisen, Elita-One. And you and your crew are going to do exactly as I say."
PRIMACY
Finale: Never Break the Chain
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