CHAPTER ONE
--Approx. 30 years ago--
"Captain? We have a problem."
Domitius Major broke his gaze from the blue-green world that lay ahead of the Axalon, shifting his optics to the silver-plated bot seated in front of him. "What is it, Centurion?"
"I'm getting these strange energy readings from the cargo hold."
"Are you sure it's not just the energon on the planet? Onyx did warn us--"
"No." Centurion shook his head, leaning over his console. "It's definitely coming from us. I think... I think it might be--"
"Captain!" A nearby screen lit up, displaying the face of a panicked crew member. "We're having major difficulties with the device! It's glowing and crackling with energy!"
"Stay calm, Auxilia," Domitius said. "Do everything you can to keep it stable while I--"
"Captain, I've lost control of the ship!" the pilot cried as the Axalon rumbled. "Something's pulling us in!"
"Pulling us into what?"
"I don't know! Towards the planet or something!"
"Stabilize the engines!" Domitius ordered. "Divert all power to--"
"It's too late!" Centurion exclaimed. "We're going down!"
The crew all shielded their optics as a bright light engulfed the viewport, energy crackling all around the ship. Once their vision had returned, they saw that they were suddenly on a crash-course for the blue-green world, which had inexplicably become covered in white.
"Cyclops, pull us out!" Domitius barked.
"I can't! Nothing's responding!"
Left without options, Domitius could only watch as the Axalon rapidly approached its intended destination, heading straight for an icy tomb....
--20,000 years ago--
"Fascinating."
The ice cracked beneath Shockwave's feet as he stepped through the wreckage of the Axalon. Several members of the crew laid scattered, either dead or in stasis. He had shot down their ship thinking them to be Autobots... but he could see now that that was not the case. Judging by their animal-like armor, they had to be beast-formers; colonists from Animatron, perhaps?
Stepping over a small silver bot, Shockwave approached the ship's main computer. While he was able to access it, he quickly discovered that most of the data had been corrupted or lost in the crash. There was little to no indication on what the mysterious device they had been carrying was, or why they had been inexplicably flung twenty-thousand years into the past.
Still... he supposed he could salvage something from all of this. After all, he had plenty of time to do so; one of the benefits of flying an experimental Transwarp cruiser like his was that no one had to notice he was gone. He could leave at any point and arrive at the same point he had left.
Yes, he thought to himself as he surveyed the deactivated crew of the Axalon. This could prove to be very illuminating.
--Present day--
"Captain? We have a problem."
Primal Major kept his optics locked on the once-lush green world that lay ahead of the Axalon, now rendered a desolate brown rock with virtually no indication that it had ever been inhabited.
"Yes, Cheetor," Primal muttered. "I can see that."
"Well, this sure was an excitin' adventure," groused Rattrap. "We pick up some space-hikers -- a dozen of which can't speak normally -- and come all the way to Eukaris just ta' find it dead." The Maximal rat kicked back in his seat and rested his feet on his station. "Sounds pretty typical, if ya ask me."
"Nobody did," Rhinox grunted, shoving Rattrap's legs away. "In any case, whoever did this had to have been after the ore themselves. Why else would they have come to Eukaris?"
"A very good question," Primal said. "If only there was a way to find the answer."
"For the love of Primus, leave me alone!"
A crash sounded in the distance. Seconds later, a box-shaped robot sped onto the bridge, waving his clamp-like arms frantically.
"Isn't there an airlock you can toss these guys out of?" Fistfight cried. "They keep trying to pry me open!"
"Give us one good reason why that'd be a bad thing," Rattrap replied.
Behind the Decepticon walked in the cheerful Junkion leader Wreck-Gar, followed by an irritated Depth Charge. In Wreck-Gar's hands was a makeshift container which held a pulsating green spark. The Junkion grinned broadly as he proudly displayed the small glowing orb.
"Time is running out! Find a body to put your baby spark in today! Call now and we'll throw in a bonus--"
"Shut up," Depth Charge grunted, shouldering past Wreck-Gar. "You're better off throwing that spark into a black hole, so that it can never wreak havoc again."
"So tell me if I'm getting this straight," Primal said, nodding to the green spark. "That's Protoform X?"
"Yes," Depth Charge said grimly. "I thought I had killed him back on Luna One, but when Delta Magnus used the Void Scepter on me... rather than kill me, it somehow transferred X's spark into my body. Which is probably how I was able to survive when Luna One blew up."
"Whatever the case, I don't want it in my body!" Fistfight said. "Just keep away from me, you freaks!"
"Everyone settle down," Primal ordered. "We need to get word out to the others. If what we're seeing here is any indication of what we're up against, then we need to warn them before it's too late."
"In the meantime, where do we go from here?" Cheetor asked. "Do we just go back to Cybertron and twiddle our thumbs?"
"We're not too far from Earth," Rhinox noted. "Perhaps we can provide them with assistance for the coming threat."
"Eh, I like Cheetor's idea better," Rattrap said. "Can we put it to a vote or somethin'?"
"Shut up, Rattrap," Primal snapped. "Earth it is then. Cheetor, go ahead and plot a course. Rhinox, send a warning out to the other Colony Teams."
As the Maximals got to work, Fistfight clicked his claws together anxiously. "So, uh... is there anything I can do? Preferably something that keeps me away from these Junkion creeps."
"You can take inventory in the cargo bay," Rhinox suggested.
"That's where they're hanging out!"
"Oh. Well, then, I guess that leaves the airlock available."
Fistfight threw his arms up in defeat. "I'm doomed."
* * *
Light years away, a claw-shaped vessel came into the vicinity of planet Earth. The commander of the ship observed the blue-green world with a keen optic as his crew dutifully reported to him.
"Transwarp jump was a success, captain," Scorponaut said. "All systems are stable."
"Excellent," Gnashteeth said, his pearl white grin glowing in the darkness. "Time?"
"09:04:55," snarled Dinobot. "Our time of departure was 08:04:55. We have jumped ahead exactly one mega-cycle."
"Most impressive. I suppose I was wrong to doubt you, Tarantulas."
The arachnid Predacon cackled from his station. "My time in the Secret Order has given me a thorough understanding of transwarp technology. Shockwave especially was kind enough to make his notes accessible."
"Your studies have certainly paid off," Gnashteeth said.
Terrorsaur wrinkled his face in disgust. "You still smell like dead Autobot though. Seriously, what were you doing in that Wrecker's head?"
"Just tying up some loose ends," Tarantulas replied before breaking out into another fit of laughter.
"Yes, and speaking of loose ends...." Gnashteeth leaned forward in his seat. "Take us planetward, Waspinator. It is time I retrieve what I've been seeking for decades. Yessss."
The green Predacon buzzed as he piloted the refurbished Darksyde towards Earth. "Ohh. Waspinator haz bad feeling about thizzz...."
DISTANT STARS
Part 3: The Unspoken Truth
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