CHAPTER ONE
--From the Keening Texts--
In the beginning, there was one.
The First Light stood forth on the miracle planet he himself had been birthed from. Within minutes of his own creation, the First Light felt a nest of sparks within him and in a blinding light one became five:
Primus, Light-giver and life-giver;
Mortilus, Death-bringer;
Solomus, Wisdom Incarnate;
Epistemus, Knowledge Personified;
and Adaptus, Blessed with an Infinity of Shapes.
Together, the Guiding Hand with a single gesture brought forth the first generation of Transformers and guided Cybertron into its First Golden Age. Their work fulfilled, the gods withdrew... save for one.
Unsatisfied with just Cybertron, Mortilus sought to expand his reach to the cosmos. When he began using one of Cybertron's moons as staging grounds for his macabre devices, the other four were forced to intervene. Thus began the God War.
Many fell to Mortilus' wrath, including his brothers. Both Adaptus and Epistemus were reduced to their bare components, while Solomus was sealed within a crystalline prison. Weakened by their loss, Primus used the last of his energy to banish Luna 1 to the depths of space, destroying Mortilus in the process. He then transferred his remaining essence into Vector Sigma, a casket he had fashioned for himself.
Over the next several eons, the Guiding Hand would persist as ideas before reforming their entities in the Afterspark, where they would greet their children once all had become one.
--The Lost Light--
"That's not how I remember it."
Drift glanced at Cyclonus as he nursed his can of engex, sitting in Swerve's for the first time in over a year. "It's from the Keening Texts," he said to the ex-Herald. "As translated from Beta Trion of the First Day Primitives."
Cyclonus scowled. "I know. But that's not how the Clavis Aurea told of the tale. For starters, the Guiding Hand never withdrew from Cybertron; their rule was remote, but ever-present. Second of all, Luna One was torn out of Cybertron's orbit long before Mortilus met his fate. Thirdly--"
"Look, the Keening Texts are the most wide-spread and well-known account of the Guiding Hand," Drift protested. "The Clavis Aurea, with all due respect, was a more... exclusive order. Very few today are known to have been a member. Plus, by the time I came online, they had all but disbanded."
"Clavis Aurea or not, I think the whole Guiding Hand thing is bunk," said Scoop, sitting between the two. "In my eyes, everything ties back to Primus. Why else would the title of Prime be derived from his name in lieu of the other four 'gods?'"
"Well, I doubt anyone would want to be named after Mortilus," Drift muttered. "But even then, Amalgamous Prime was said to be a believer of Adaptus. And the Matrix, made from Solomus' prison, was integrated into Prima's sword."
"Either way, the Primes were at least real," Scoop retorted. "We have proof of that on this very ship. What evidence is there that Solomus or Epistemus ever existed?"
Drift opened his mouth to argue but stopped when his messenger pinged. After sparing a moment to read it, he finished off his engex and rose from his seat.
"That was Star Saber. He says we'll be nearing Caminus soon."
Scoop grunted. "Convenient timing. Maybe you'll have a proper comeback ready by the time you get to the bridge."
Drift simply gave him a look before leaving the bar. Once he was gone, Scoop shifted in his seat until he was facing Cyclonus. He watched the ex-Herald carefully, looking him up and down while the purple warrior avoided eye contact with him.
After a tense silence, Scoop finally spoke. "You believe in the Primes, don't you?"
Cyclonus said nothing, staring into space as if the orange bot didn't even exist.
"I know you must. You served one. Nova Prime, right?"
Cyclonus tightened his grip around his oil can. "What is the purpose of this conversation?"
"I'm just trying to get a read on you. You used to be a Herald of Unicron, yeah?"
At this, Cyclonus turned and met Scoop's gaze, red optics blazing. Scoop was unfazed, glaring back at him with equal ire.
"I just don't understand how someone who once worshiped the Uncreator could call himself a true follower of--"
Scoop gagged as Cyclonus' hands found their way around his neck. Immediately, other patrons were on their feet while Swerve's reprogrammed bouncer accosted Cyclonus from behind, placing a large gold hand on his shoulder.
"Ten."
"I knew one of these days he'd snap," remarked a nearby Autobot, training their weapons on Cyclonus. "S'was only a matter of time."
Realizing what he was doing, Cyclonus immediately released Scoop. The ex-Wrecker stepped back as he massaged his neck before waving the other bots off.
"I'm fine. We're fine. Just a bit too much engex in the system, that's all." He gave Cyclonus one last glare before looking away. "Let him be."
After a moment, the Autobots and Ten backed away, although they continued to eye Cyclonus warily. Unable to take any more, the former Herald promptly turned on his heel and stormed out of the bar.
* * *
"Caminus."
The name sounded so alien when Vector Prime spoke it. Indeed, he had not heard it in well over nine thousand years after the Primes and Titans had all gone their separate ways. While Vector had not known for certain where Caminus had departed to after Solus' death, he had been pretty certain that the Titan had gone to a small world which Solus had already chosen to be her colony. Since she had perished before her plans could come to fruition, Caminus must have settled the world himself and fulfilled her dream.
The results certainly showed.
"It's beautiful," he murmured to himself, gazing in awe at Caminus' vibrant sheen, coated in pristine silver and sparkling crystal. It evoked dreams Vector once had of Cybertron, of what he and the Primes hoped to have built had they not turned against one another. It merely came to prove that others had succeeded where the Thirteen had failed....
Vector Prime was broken from his reverie when a hand fell on his shoulder. The ancient Prime looked over to see Star Saber standing next to him.
"Hey," the red and blue bot said carefully. "Are you doing all right?"
"I'm fine," Vector said, quickly composing himself. "It's just... I've never actually been to any of my fellow Primes' colonies. In all my travels, I've for the most part avoided contact with my fellow Cybertronians."
Star Saber nodded. "I see. Did you not have a colony of your own to watch over?"
"If I do, I don't believe I've made contact with it. Very few of our colonies were ever personally settled by the Prime in question. In fact, I know of only Onyx successfully establishing his."
"Well, maybe one day we can seek out your world and you can make up for your absence," Star Saber said. "In any case... are you ready to head down with us?"
Vector smirked. "I'm not sure 'ready' is the proper word. Perhaps 'apprehensive' would be more appropriate."
Star Saber chuckled. "Knowing this crew and the luck we have? You'd probably be on to something."
DISTANT STARS
Part 2: Light the Way
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