PROLOGUE
Metascan Alpha, Cycle 8714
“Are you sure this will be enough to contain them?”
“I am offended that you think otherwise, Optronix of Tarn,” replied the large-headed leader of the Logicons. “If we were not certain of our plan, we would have never executed it.”
Optronix frowned behind his mouthplate but did not argue further with the Logicon. He directed his attention back to the twin spires that protruded from the rocky terrain of Metascan Alpha. It was hard to believe that such ordinary-looking constructions were all that were needed to contain the four destructive beings that Optronix and his Autobots had been fighting for the past year. If at the beginning of the campaign someone were to have told him that that would have been the solution to everything, he would have laughed in their face.
Still, a part of him doubted that such a prison would hold for long. But if the Logicons had faith in their creation, then he was in no place to argue. Besides, Sentinel Prime wanted him back on Cybertron as soon as possible; this campaign he had waged had already stretched Prime’s patience to its limit and there was point in making a big deal out of a non-issue.
Changing tact, Optronix said, “Do you have any idea what exactly these… creatures were? In all my years, I have never experienced a threat quite like them — mechanical or otherwise.”
The Logicon bobbed its balloon-shaped head to look up at him. “You presume that we hold such knowledge.”
“Forgive me. I merely assumed as much since you knew how to distract them long enough to activate the spires and force them into the dimensional portal. It gives me the impression that you’ve encountered these Destructons before.”
The Logicon seemed to hesitate in his response. “We do have experience in facing their threats before, correct,” he eventually said.
“What do you know about them?”
“From what my people have gathered, we know that all four of the Destructons hail from a different world, each one created by a separate race. The serpentine Medusa, as she is known, was created by the Intruder Empire, intended to entertain them with her beauty and grace. The hulking Bruton was created by the Lunartix, originally doomed to a life of servitude. And Psychokhan was once a gladiator fighter belonging to the Symbions, until he was liberated by the same individual who rescued the other two.”
“Lord Imperious,” Optronix said grimly.
The Logicon nodded. “Of the four, we have the least information on the one who calls himself Lord Imperious Delirious. We know not where he came from or why he had sought those three specifically. I suppose we should grateful that he did not seek any more members, seeing as how difficult it was to contain these four alone.”
“We can agree on that,” Optronix said, regarding the dormant spires with a look of distaste and, though he would not admit it, fear. “Hopefully, we won’t ever have to worry about them again.”
The Logicon bowed his bulbous head. “For the sake of the universe, I hope so as well, Optronix of Tarn.”
Metascan Alpha, Cycle 9816
A lone mechanical figure stood in the same spot Optronix once had over a thousand years ago, gazing upon the same twin spires. At their command, the twin spires glowed to life as a beam of energy passed between them. The ground trembled as the beam of energy started to shift and expand, purple energy crackling all around as it opened up like a bleeding wound. The figure took a few steps back from the widening portal, being careful not to step on the corpse of the Logicon they had just killed moments before.
In a matter of minutes, the work of a thousand years was undone and the four Destructons stood once more on solid ground, having not existed in this reality for a good millennium. After taking a moment to process their newfound liberation and assess their current location, the Destructons shifted their attention to the mechanical being standing before them.
“And to who do we owe this unexpected yet welcome release?” asked Lord Imperious Delirious, leader of the Destructons.
“I come here on behalf of the Grand Architect,” said the being. “I was informed that you would be familiar with that name.”
“Indeed I am,” Lord Imperious said, eying the stranger carefully. “And you would be?”
“My name is Avalon. I serve as a liaison for both the Grand Architect and the Quintesson Pan Galactic Co-Prosperity Sphere.”
“The Quintessons, you say? It sounds like you serve some very powerful individuals.”
Avalon inclined his head. “Indeed. I am humbled to be in the service of such powers. And it is because of those powers that be that I am here, freeing you from your millennium-long imprisonment.”
“For what purpose?” asked Lord Imperious. “And why wait so long to free us?”
“The Grand Architect is accelerating his plans to not only prevent the coming of the Beast, but to also reclaim control of Cybertron. The Quintessons have lost both Unicron and their primary servant Quintus Prime, and have thus agreed to help the Grand Architect facilitate his agenda.”
“Is that right? Desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose.” Lord Imperious stepped closer towards Avalon, his arms behind his back. “But that still does not answer either of my questions: Why are we needed, and why now of all times?”
“I was told that you were the one who first informed the Grand Architect of the Beast’s impending arrival,” Avalon replied evenly. “He is hoping that you will help guide him while taking the critical steps necessary to prevent this arrival.”
Lord Imperious chuckled. “I respect him for his honesty, then. For someone who calls himself the Grand Architect, he is at least humble enough to admit when he is unable to do things alone. I admire that in an individual.”
Medusa slithered up beside him, her forked tongue darting across her teeth as she spoke. “What is it that this Grand Architect requires of us?”
“For the meantime, he simply wants you to help his agents allocate resources needed for the plan,” said Avalon. “You will find many of these aboard Decepticon Worldsweepers that have crashed on various worlds across the galaxy.”
“We are not errand mules!” growled Psychokhan, rearing on his hind legs. “We are bringers of destruction! Such manual labor is beneath us!”
Lord Imperious raised a placating hand. “Now, now. There is some wisdom to this. It would not do us well to make ourselves known so soon; I’m sure the Cybertronians would not take the news of the Destructons having returned favorably. Besides, it may give us some time to dabble in some… personal interests of ours. We have a thousand years to catch up on, after all.”
“Anything you can do for my superiors will be greatly appreciated,” Avalon said, bowing his head in reverence. “We are greatly honored to be working with such notorious beings such as the Destructons.”
“Oh, please,” Lord Imperious said, a grin splitting across his face. “The honor is all ours.”
Metascan Alpha, now
Lord Imperious stood once more before the twin spires that had once contained him and his kin for so many years. The mere sight of them made him want to reduce them to nothing more than ash, ensuring that he would never suffer that fate ever again. But that would have to wait. He still had a use for them, ironically enough.
Behind him stood the emissary of his masters, the Vok. A pair of violet-armored wings created an imposing silhouette that shadowed him. When the emissary spoke, his voice sounded like a chorus of gods chanting from the heavens.
“You understand your mission,” said the vessel by the name of Tigerhawk.
“I have understood it for nearly a year now,” Lord Imperious replied, tempering his patience. “I have simply needed to make the necessary preparations.”
“The paradox must be destroyed. His mere existence stands in the way of complete order.”
These were all things Lord Imperious knew but he did not say as much, lest he be punished for insolence. Instead, he simply said, “So it shall be done.”
Satisfied with this response, Tigerhawk used his reality-warping abilities to teleport himself away. As soon as he was gone, Lord Imperious turned to face the spot he had vacated before lifting his head up to the sky, gazing at the stars glittering above him. So many had already been extinguished by the Cybertronians and their destructive conflict. Today, he would make sure that no more stars would be killed. Today, he would bring their murderer to justice.
“Prepare yourself, Megatron,” Lord Imperious called out to the stars. “Your retribution awaits.”
INSTRUMENTS OF DESTRUCTION
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