CHAPTER THREE
--Luna 2--
The figure walking towards him certainly looked like Optimus Prime. The blue helmet and red chest were dead giveaways. But the legs... those were not Prime's legs, with their black steel sheen. Combining that with the wings on their back and the fusion cannon attached to their right arm, as well as the mere manner in which they carried themselves... it all simply screamed Megatron.
As Overlord pondered at this bizarre amalgamation, Thunderwing spread his arms in greeting to the fusion. "Welcome, Guiltaur. Quintus has certainly outdone herself this time."
Guiltaur said nothing as he came to a halt before the two Decepticons. Steam hissed from his chest as it parted open. Reaching inside, the fusion produced a green spark, which he then presented to Thunderwing.
"Ah, brilliant!" Thunderwing laughed as he took the spark. "Everything is proceeding smoothly."
He began to turn away from Guiltaur only for Overlord to grab him by the shoulder, a sneer etched on his face.
"Mind explaining to me what's going? Why did you even summon me here?"
Thunderwing glared at him. "Unhand me and I will gladly do so rather than obliterate you."
Grunting, Overlord did as told. Thunderwing then turned to face him, holding up the spark.
"This is Optimus Prime."
Overlord raised an optic ridge, glancing at Guiltaur.
Thunderwing chuckled as he shook his head. "Don't mind him. He's just another addition to my army." He then gestured to Luna 1, hanging in the sky. "You see that moon?"
"Yes...?"
"That is Megatron." Thunderwing motioned to the ground they stood on. "This shall be Optimus Prime."
Overlord's face was a rictus of confusion. "What?"
"Cybertron is Primus, yes?" Thunderwing did not wait for a response as he continued. "The moons are Cybertron's sons. Both Optimus Prime and Megatron have carried the Matrix, and thus Primus' spark. Therefore...."
Overlord shook his head. This fool was spouting nonsense. "What are you even trying to achieve?" he spat.
Thunderwing waved a dismissive hand, turning again to leave. "Forget it. A true god is never understood by his subjects."
"A god?!" Overlord laughed in incredulity. "You? A harebrained scientist. Give me a break."
Thunderwing said nothing as he continued to stride away. Undeterred, Overlord went on with his diatribe.
"You haven't changed, Thunderwing! You are as insane as you've ever been. I should've never answered your call, especially after that incident five hundred years ago; in this same spot, even! And you still haven't told me why you need me!"
"Oh, I don't need you," Thunderwing replied. "Just your body."
Overlord opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he saw his own green spark emerge from his mouth... and then nothing.
--The Lost Light--
"No!" Cyclonus struggled against Toxitron's grip as the Wrecker held him in place, thrashing around. "We can't leave! Whirl is still down there!"
"I don't like this anymore than you do," Elita muttered, watching as Convoy commandeered the Lost Light away from Luna 1 and towards Cybertron. "But, unfortunately, he has a point: Cybertron needs our help. Optimus -- and Whirl -- will have to wait."
Cyclonus scowled. "Then just let me get him. The rest of you can go to Cybertron."
"No one is leaving this ship," Convoy called back to him. "We're all in this together."
Cyclonus roared in anger, but Toxitron held him back from lunging forward. Sighing, Elita glanced at the Wrecker.
"Take him to the brig until we reach Cybertron."
Toxitron nodded silently before leaving the bridge with a thrashing Cyclonus. Not long after they had left, Skids arrived with Vector Prime and five bots in tow, the latter all bearing a unifying red-and-blue color scheme.
"Hey, uh, these guys want in on the fun as well," Skids said. "If, uh, it's all the same to you...."
At this, Convoy turned around and nodded curtly to the newcomers. "Vector, Nexus. Glad to have you with us."
"Magnus?" Vector asked. "Is that you?"
"Indeed it is, old friend. I'll admit that my appearance's been slightly altered." Convoy tilted his head. "Where are the others?"
"Megatronus is still with us," Vector said. "He's simply found a vessel of his own to command."
"Oh," said Alpha Bravo. "So that explains the giant Warworld on my scanner."
"And Onyx and Liege?" Convoy asked.
"I imagine they're already headed there," Nexus Prime spoke through his primary component, the former Lost Lighter Cannonspring. "We do not know for certain, of course."
Convoy nodded. "Either way, we can use all the help we can get."
"Yes," Vector murmured. "I just hope no one uses that help against us...."
* * *
"You better not make me regret this," Spacewarp grunted.
"You will be compensated accordingly," the Fallen replied, standing at the helm of the Warworld along with a wary Esmeral and Krok. "Now, give me an estimate."
"At least half a dozen Titans," reported Darkwing. "Two combiners... lots of what look like Overcharges and Vehicons... and Sharkticons. Tons of those guys."
"Is that all?" The one called Nitro Zeus cracked his fist. "I can mop the deck with those guys in a spark-beat."
"God, and I thought Spinister was dumb," muttered Crankcase.
Ignoring the bantering Decepticons, the Fallen simply said, "Full speed to Cybertron. It's by time we finished this."
* * *
The invasion had begun. Infinitus could tell by the sound of all hell breaking loose.
He was able to take solace in the fact that, since Thunderwing's army had its attention focused elsewhere, this allowed him to carry on with his objective. Rushing through the deserted halls, he set his sights on the central chamber up ahead.
He ignored the tired groan of his leg struts as he ran. Sacrificing his larger body had been an unfortunate but necessary price to pay; only in this smaller form could he access his powers as a Titan Master, something he knew he was going to need.
Reaching the door to the chamber, Infinitus pried it open and squeezed himself in. There, in the center of the room, he found what -- or rather, who -- he was looking for.
Cerebros. Or, more accurately, Fortress Maximus' head, though at this point there was little difference. Large, empty optics regarded Infinitus as the Titan Master stepped forward.
"You should not be here," intoned the booming voice of Fortress Maximus.
"Fort-- Cerebros, listen to me," Infinitus said. "You are being controlled -- by who exactly, I don't know. Whether it's Onyx or Quintus or Thunderwing... you have to fight it!"
"My loyalty is without question. I refuse to break it."
"Who do you owe your loyalty to? During the Prime Wars, you served under Nexus Prime, but he's not involved in this. So who could you possibly be answering to?"
"Only our true masters. The Creators, our Makers, the five-faced gods."
Infinitus frowned. "The Quintessons? They're behind all of this?"
"It by his will, he who is made in thy image. Quintus Prime shall lead us all to peace and prosperity."
Infinitus shook his head. "I don't believe this. We can't allow this to happen, Cerebros! You know this isn't right!"
"If you question his will, then you must pay the price of insubordination."
Before Infinitus could say anything, the Titan Master suddenly found himself in excruciating pain as a pair of red beams emitted from Fortress Maximus' eyes....
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