A bonus chapter, meant to take place between chapters 5 and 6. Wrote it up so that events of future chapters don't feel too out of nowhere...
INTERLUDE
The Battlestar
“I understand if you think what I’m telling you makes me sound just a bit crazy…”
Star Convoy, the Autobot commander once known as Optimus Prime, smiled behind his faceplate as his optics shone brightly at his successor. “Rodimus, after all that we’ve been through in the last three years, I think all of us have had to go just a little crazy in order to adapt to the world around us.”
Rodimus Prime chuckled in response. The two Autobot commanders stood in Optimus’ personal quarters aboard the Battlestar, the vessel which for the last several months had been used by Star Convoy’s team in their mission to aid worlds that had been affected by the Grand Architect’s forces the previous year. Optimus and his crew had just finished rendering aid to Caminus when Rodimus had contacted them and asked to speak with Optimus in person. At first, Optimus was worried that something had happened on Cybertron, but Rodimus quickly assured him that everything there was fine.
What he had to say instead was far more mystifying than it was concerning.
“How long ago did you start having these visions?” Optimus asked.
“Not long after Primal returned with the Matrix from the other universe,” Rodimus replied. “At first I thought my processor was just acting funny during stasis lock, and even Ratchet thought the same when I had him run a diagnostic scan on me. But then it became more frequent, and they all had to do with either one of us or a past Prime or something related to the Matrix. A week or so ago, I decided to test a hypothesis and removed the Matrix from my chest chamber, putting it somewhere safe. The next three nights during my recharge sessions, I didn’t have any sort of weird visions or dreams.”
“Interesting.” Optimus raised a hand to his chin. “I’m trying to recall if I experienced anything like that when I held the Matrix. Are you sure it has nothing to do when… the Grand Architect had it in his possession?” He could not bring himself to speak the name of Primus; even after nearly a year, it felt so strange to know that Primus was both real and nothing at all like the legends had portrayed him.
Rodimus frowned. “I’m not completely certain. The thought did cross my mind, but the fact that it didn’t start until after Primal came here with the Matrix from the alternate universe… I don’t know, I feel that it’s connected.”
“Have you spoken to Primal yet?”
“No. I was actually hoping you could drop me off on Earth so I could, so long as it’s along the way.”
“Certainly. I’ll contact Sky Garry and have him set a course.” Optimus then paused before asking, “Out of curiosity, what have your visions shown regarding you or me?”
Rodimus rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Well, the most recent one I had… the one that prompted me to reach out to you… it showed you on some planet fighting Megatron.”
“Well, that’s not exactly out of the ordinary.”
“Right, except you were in your current body.” Rodimus motioned to Optimus’ Star Convoy armor. “And Megatron was in a new body as well, one I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him in. And I think the rest of your crew was there as well.”
Optimus frowned. “You believe it might be a premonition?”
Rodimus shook his head. “I don’t know what I believe right now, but I feel it’s worth mentioning anyway.” The younger Prime paused as well, looking as if he was considering something. “There was also another one in which… well, it didn’t involve either of us, but it had something to do with a planet. Some place called Metascan?”
Optimus blinked, taken aback. “Metascan Alpha?”
“Yeah.” Rodimus tilted his head. “You’ve been there?”
“No,” Optimus murmured. “But I know someone who has. Megatron, back when he was known as Optronix, defeated the Destructons there, sealing them away with the help of the Logicons.”
Rodimus’ optics went wide. “Wait… Megatron’s been to Metascan Alpha?”
“Surely you’ve read up on the Destructon conflict….”
“No, no, I have. But if two of my visions both have something to do with Megatron, directly or indirectly… don’t you think that could be a sign?”
Optimus arched an optic ridge at him. “You are the Matrix bearer, my friend. The call is yours to make.”
Rodimus grimaced as he seemed to consider his options. After a moment, he asked, “Is Metascan Alpha far from here?”
Optimus thought for a moment. “By my calculations, it’s on the edge of the northern quadrant. Quite a ways away from here or Earth.”
“Even so… I think it’s a detour worth making. We know Megatron and his forces are still at large, as are the Destructons. I know your crew isn’t a strong enough force to combat either of them if we cross paths with them… but if we can at least scout out the region, we might be able to prepare for whatever is to come… if these visions are indeed premonitions of the future.”
Optimus nodded. “I believe that is a sound plan. I shall contact the bridge and have them set a course. Whatever is to come, we will be ready.”
No comments:
Post a Comment