Transformers Regenerated: Prime Wars X, Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

--Over 800 years in the future--

    "Captain? For you."

    The captain of the Axiom made a sound akin to a sigh, turning to face the crew member. "Is it Blix again? Please tell me it's not Blix. I can only take so much from him."

    "No, captain. It's Pox."

    "Oh, even better," the captain said dryly. "I wonder what it is this time. Another anti-virus package? More visual modules? I already rejected their request for a French maid outfit."

    The crew member stifled a laugh. "Um, no, captain, nothing of the sort. Shall I put them on?"

    "Go on. They're still better company than Blix."

    The officer complied and in minutes Pox was projecting before the captain. The holographic avatar bore the appearance of what was known as a "surfer dude", complete with long sandy hair, sunglasses, swim trunks, and an overly long and completely unnecessary surfboard.

    "Dude!" Pox said in greeting. "How's it hanging?"

    "I'm having an unspectacular day right now, Pox," the captain replied. "Please make this worth my time."

    "Not to worry, dude! I've just got a rockin' call from our good friend Dion!"

    "Dion? Wasn't he sent back to retrieve Megatron?"

    "Correct-o-mundo!" Pox pumped their fist in the air. "He's finally gotten back to us! And he's found Megs!"

    "Finally. I was starting to worry he had made himself comfortable in the past again. Never send someone back home if you expect them to come straight back to you."

    "Um... right," Pox murmured, adjusting their shades.

    There was a moment of silence. The captain shifted slightly, studying Pox.

    "So... when is he coming back?"

    "Uh, that's the problem," Pox said. "He can't. He needs someone to pick him up."

    "And what do you expect me to do about it?"

    "The Axiom has a Transwarp drive, doesn't it?"

    "Do you seriously expect me to bring the Axiom and its crew of thousands all they way back through time without causing a -- what do you call it? -- a butterfly effect?"

    "Relax, we won't have to stay long. We'll just pick up Dion and Megs and be on our way."

    "And if we encounter resistance?"

    Pox frowned. "I'm... I'm sure Dion will have isolated him away from any potential trouble."

    The captain let out another sigh. It still needed some work. "I don't know, Pox. It's extremely risky."

    "Let me put it this way: Dion is friends with WALL-E and EVE."

    "I know."

    Pox pulled down their shades, revealing pearl blue eyes. "Really good friends."

    "I am aware--"

    "Like, they literally made him their kid's godfather."

    "I get it, Pox." The captain spun around to the viewport and made another disgruntled sound. This one sounded more genuine. "What year?"

    Pox raised an eyebrow. "Eh?"

    "What year is Dion in?"

    "Oh." The avatar grinned. "2015."

    "Activate the Transwarp drive," the captain ordered. "We have a tyrant to arrest."

--Now--

    "How many?"

    "Captain?" the bridge officer responded.

    "How many Cybertronians are down there?"

    The officer looked over the scanner. "Uh... a lot."

    "Give me a number. Words do nothing for me."

    "Over two hundred, at least. Might be closer to three hundred. It's hard to tell."

    The captain glanced at Pox, who had their eyes behind their shades. "So much for isolating him."

    "This is bogus, man," Pox murmured. "Surely Dion would know better. This screws everything up."

    "Well, so long as we keep physical contact to a minimum, we shouldn't be too badly off." The captain turned to another crew member. "Patch us through to Dion."

    In moments, the viewscreen was covered with Dion's face. The Autobot offered the captain a very weak smile.

    "Um, hey, AUTO. Glad you could make it."

    "Dion." The captain of the Axiom rotated his wheeled frame as he affixed his scarlet gaze on the Cybertronian. "We have a lot to discuss. But first: Megatron."

    Dion rubbed the back of his head. "Um, yeah, about that...."

    "Don't tell me you don't have him...."

    "No, no, he's here. He's just... in stasis right now."

    "No matter. We can simply beam the both of you on board."

    "It's... not quite that simple," Dion murmured.

    "What do you mean?" AUTO asked. "Is there something you're not telling us?"

    "Do... do you mind if I put someone else on? I feel that I can't properly explain this without him."

    Before AUTO could answer, Pox said, "Go ahead."

    The autopilot glared at the A.I. and was about to reprimand them until he saw a new face join Dion's on the viewscreen. It was one AUTO had been made familiar with thanks to the history records; one that was just as well-known and remembered as Megatron's.

    "Optimus Prime." AUTO's single optic dimmed as he regarded the famous Autobot leader. "Very well, Dion. You have my attention. Please, explain."

*  *  *

    "He actually took my advice."

    Ratchet glanced at Nightbeat as he stood over the pod containing Roller. "Pardon?"

    "Before we left Necroworld the last time we were here, I gave Censere the briefcase, telling him to put it to good use." Nightbeat gestured at the numerous stasis pods containing bots that had been thought dead or lost. "Evidently, he did as I asked."

    "Did he now?" Ratchet raised an optical ridge. "Because I'm seeing a lot of bots who honestly should have stayed MIA."

    Nightbeat shrugged. "I'll admit I should have been less broad in my request. At least we know he wasn't discriminatory."

    "In any case, they're all going to be locked up here for a while," Ratchet said. "It seems the bots Censere rescued suffered side-effects from the temporal displacement. That's why he placed them in these stasis pods."

    "Any idea as to when they'll be back online?"

    Ratchet shook his head. "Could be anywhere from a few days to a month. It might even vary from bot to bot." He raised a hand to cut off Nightbeat from speaking. "And before you ask: no, we can't remove the pods from here. They're all part of the fortress' structure."

    "So what do we do with them once they wake up?" Nightbeat asked. "I mean, the Autobots will be simple enough, but the 'Cons and even some neutrals? I mean, I guess we could use Megatron...."

    "I'll take to Prime about it. In the meantime...." Ratchet glanced at him. "I know you can't ask him yourself now... but have you been able to get the answers you were after? About the Primes?"

    Nightbeat grinned. "Rewind's going through his database as we speak. He says he'll compile everything he can find and give it to me on a data slug."

    Ratchet nodded. "All right. I mean, it's not like I care about that kind of stuff, but as long as you get what you were--"

    "Nightbeat! Nightbeat!"

    Both bots turned to see Rewind run up to them, waving a data slug in his hand. Scooting to a halt, he handed it to Nightbeat, practically bounding on his feet.

    "I did it! I found everything I could. A lot of it doesn't go into much detail, but even on the surface, it's... it's...."

    "What?" Nightbeat asked, taking the slug. "What is it?"

    "It's beyond words. It reveals that everything we've known for the past seven thousand years has been one giant lie. Everything you know... is wrong."

THE GREATER GOOD

Part 3: The Stains of Time

The Transformers, Issue 80: Final Conflict, Chapter Seven

CORRUPTED DYNASTY, PART 1

    (The Autobots all stare in shock as the traitorous Rodimus Prime looms over the dying Armorfist)

    Armorfist: Rodimus... you... you can't have joined the Decepticons.

    Rodimus Prime: I already have. (He takes out Armorfist's eye, causing Skids (who's... never shown up until now) to attack)

    Skids: No!

    Rodimus Prime: Ah, Skids. (He blasts off his arm) I'm truly sorry it must end like this.

    Optimus Minor: It doesn't need to.

    Rodimus Prime: Really? What else did you have in mind? Shockwave has a plan that'll surely bring an end to Unicron and this war.

    Optimus Minor: And how does killing your fellow Autobots solve this?

    Rodimus Prime: We mustn't have any witnesses. (He then blasts a hole in the base) Now for that space bridge. (Armorfists lunges at him only to be blown away for good) I never did like your type. And now that I have what I need. (He transforms and drives off) So long, brothers. [so uh about that "no witnesses" part...]

    Optimus Minor: Armorfist... I'm sorry.

    Blurr: With Rodimus gone, there's no hope, no hope at all.

    Optimus Minor: I'm sorry, father... I'm sorry I've failed you.

    (After a brief, pointless flashback to "Baby Optimus", we find the Decepticons at their camp)

    Megastorm: The Dread have not returned yet, Shockwave. I thought Rodimus Prime would be here by now.

    Shockwave: He is coming, Megastorm.

    Rodimus Prime: I'm already here. The others got in the way. And unfortunately, your Dreads didn't make it.

    Shockwave: Welcome, Rodimus Prime.

    Megastorm: Wait, he's actually working with us?! Willingly?!

    Shockwave: Yes. I had found out Rodimus Prime survived when he teleported on Cybertron. We made a truce and a deal so we could save Cybertron. [I'm not quite clear when this would've taken place since we just saw Shockwave moping around after or just before Rodimus showed up]

    Rodimus Prime: And now the time has come. (He joins the space bridge with the others) The circle is now complete. The process will take a while, but so long as the Autobots do not interfere... Cybertron shall be ours.

    (Elsewhere in space, we find Nova Prime monologing. Ho boy)

    Nova Prime: What legacy did I leave behind when I left Cybertron? How did my successor, Zeta Prime -- these days known as Nominus -- turn Cybertron into what it is now?

    Alpha Prime, of course, was perhaps the greatest, for without him, none of us would be here.

    Virtus Prime was believed by many to have been Prima's son. His death left Cybertron in disarray.

    Galaxy Prime attempted to bring our society back together, but failed to do so.

    It wasn't until Guardian Prime became our leader did a new age of peace reach Cybertron. Alas, it was doomed to end eventually.

    When the Destrons struck, it was I who defeated them. I then left Cybertron to carry out my plan.

    It all makes sense... as the Primes went on after my leave, they became more corrupt, with only Optimus as an exception [aw he really does like him] but even he didn't see what was needed.

    Thus it's up to me to bring back peace to Cybertron... or else we're all doomed!

    (Back on Earth, the Autobots mourn over Armorfist)

    Wheeljack: I still can't find the Wreckers' signal.

    Prowl: Keep trying, Wheeljack. They must be somewhere out there.

    Optimus Minor: Why couldn't I save him...?

    Prowl: It's not your fault, Optimus. You didn't know Rodimus would turn. Besides, we need a leader now...

    Optimus Minor: I'm sure you'd be a great one.

    Prowl: Heh. I only fill in sometimes. No, you're the leader we need.

    Optimus Minor: But--

    Prowl: Who lead Team Orion to Velocitron and Earth? Who helped defeat Shockwave in that alternate universe? [I'm sure anyone could've done those things] We need you, Optimus. You're our last hope. [but what do i know]

    (Within Unicron, Starscream tries to find a way to escape while Alpha Q taunts him. He eventually blasts his way out and flies over to Earth, where he follows the space bridge beam to the Decepticon camp)

    Starscream: Oh. Hello, Shockwave.

    Shockwave: Greetings, Starscream.

    Cyclonus: Starscream! You betrayed us and Megatron! (He lunges only to be socked in the face)

    Starscream: Yes, I did. But that was years ago, and besides, Megatron's dead. Can't we forgive and forget?

    Shockwave: While I doubt Cyclonus will forgive you, I never truly cared about Megatron either.

    Starscream: I take it then I'm with you lame'os again....

    (Meanwhile, the Wreckers are driving around)

    Springer: See anything, Whirl?

    Whirl: Nothing yet... wait, I'm picking up Decepticon signatures. It's Bludgeon!

    Bludgeon: Well, Banzai-Tron, I think it's time you made yourself useful.

    Banzai-Tron: Prepare to meet your fate, Autobots!

    Roadbuster: Bring it, Decepti-Punk!

    Banzai-Tron: With pleasure-- (then he gets shot in the face!)

    ???: Gee, of all the cheesy exchanges... that was pretty lame.

    (Oh hey it's Drift, Arcee, and uh Road Rocket. Um... yay?)

    To be continued

FEATURED CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Arcee, Armorfist, Blurr, Bumblebee, Drift, Ironhide, Optimus Minor, Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ratchet, Road Rocket, Roadbuster, Rodimus Prime, Sideswipe, Skids, Springer, Topspin, Twin Twist, Wheeljack, Whirl

    Decepticons: Banzai-Tron, Bludgeon, Cyclonus, Megastorm, Scourge, Shockwave, Soundwave, Starscream

    Others: Alpha Quintesson, Nova Prime

Transformers Regenerated: Kick Start My Heart

TALES OF THE DISAPPEARED:

KICK START MY HEART

Cycle 9351, during the Siege of Massunstrad

    "I'm fine."

    "You're not. Stop saying stupid stuff."

    Kickstart exhaled through the vents of her mouthplate, an act which really hurt her chest. Her entire body spasmed, calmed only by the gentle touch of the bot crouched next to her.

    "Try not to do that, okay?"

    Kickstart stared at her partner through her cracked visor. "If only that were so easy."

    A soft smile graced beautiful blue lips. "Just hang in there, okay? Meltdown will be here soon."

    "Whirlwind...." Kickstart's voice crackled when she spoke. It became filled with more static with each word. "In case I don't make it--"

    "Shut up. You'll be fine."

    "But I need to tell you--"

    She was cut off by the blare of sirens. A yellow rescue vehicle came rolling across the battlefield, unfolding into an animated mech.

    "I'm here! Nobody panic!" Seeing Kickstart, Meltdown quickly got to repairing her. "How are we doing? You feeling all right?"

    Kickstart's only response was a blast of static.

    "I hear ya." Meltdown glanced at Whirlwind. "We've just brought down the outer wall. Prime is making the push to Megatron's compound."

    Whirlwind nodded as she stood up. "Great. I'll go join them." She glanced at Kickstart and winked at her. "Take care, Kicks. Try not to give Meltdown too much trouble."

    Kickstart simply watched as the green jet transformed and flew off to join the others.

*  *  *

    "She's fading again! Fetch me those cables, Triage!"

    Kickstart's body jolted as her systems booted back up. Her vision was blurry but she could make out Meltdown standing over her. Her audio receptors were still ringing, but she could make out most of what he was saying.

    "Still at 75 percent. I don't understand...."

    "I'm checking her files," another doctor said. "It says here she was constructed cold in Polyhex circa 8263."

    "What does that have to do with anything?"

    "That was a year after Governor Ratbat curtailed fuel sources for Con Facilities in Polyhex. As a result, all bots produced from that point on were built with weak, low-yield sparks. That's probably why we can't get her to full power."

    "So what do we do then?" Meltdown asked. "I'm not letting anyone die on my watch."

    "We'd need someone with a compatible spark type to properly reboot her. I don't know of anyone here with a Ferrum-positive--"

    "I do." Through her bleary vision, Kickstart saw a familiar green figure come into view. "Hook me up."

    "You're injured, Whilwind. I can't--"

    "It's just a dent, Triage. She's a lot worse off. Come on. Hook me up."

    Before she could process what was happening, Kickstart was jolted again, this time coming to full strength. As Meltdown unhooked the cables from her spark, she turned her head oping to see Whirlwind but Triage blocked her view, preventing her from seeing the green beauty that had saved her life.

*  *  *

    She should have listened. She should have stayed at the medbay. She shouldn't have gone back out.

    It had worked, of course. She and her team had been able to free Optimus Prime from the antimatter chamber Megatron had trapped him in. It simply came at the cost of everyone on her team dying.

    With great effort, she pushed Heavyfoot's body off of her and hobbled to her feet. Gray corpses of Autobots and Decepticons alike littered the abandoned compound. The sight of dried up fuel told her that the battle had long since finished. She wondered who had won.

    Limping out of the deactivated antimatter chamber, she stepped over the body of a winged female. Her spark skipped a pulse until she saw the Decepticon insignia on their broken wing. Exhaling in relief, she continued onto the compound's entrance, its door long since ripped away by the Dynobots.

    Stepping out into the moonlit night, she was greeted with the sight of even more bodies, most of them Decepticons. The Autobots must had already picked up their dead. Clearly they hadn't gone much further than what remained of the outer wall. Maybe they would come back for her....

    A cold wind brushed over her. Silence was all that graced her audio sensors.

    She tried accessing her comm but could not get a signal. Maybe they had gone to the other side of the planet. Maybe the 'Cons had gotten pushed back. She definitely did not want to consider the alternative. They wouldn't have abandoned her.

    Would they?

    Minutes passed. Then hours. She tried calling again. Nothing.

    She repeated this process for the next ten hours. Slowly, she was forced to come to the harrowing realization.

    She was never going to see Whirlwind again. She would never hear her voice or see her smile. She would never be able to thank her for saving her life or tell her how she really felt.

    If only she had just let her speak.

    "Take my hand."

    Kickstart yelled out at the sudden appearance of the spindly, cape-wearing robot that materialized before her. Losing her balance, she fell off her feet and plunged into darkness.

FIN

Transformers Regenerated: Prime Wars IX, Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

--Necroworld--

    "So. What's your count?"

    Crankcase glanced at Misfire, sitting next to him in the shadow of the latter's statue. "What?"

    "Come on, don't be coy." Misfire smirked. "I saw you counting over there. How many flowers does Crankcase of Scowlex have?"

    The Triggercon sneered. "I wasn't counting--"

    "Can I guess? I wanna guess. Is it in the double digits? Triple?"

    "Shut up--"

    "198. That's my guess," Misfire said. "Am I warm? Cold?"

    Crankcase huffed as he crossed his arms. "396."

    "Whoa, nice!" Misfire grinned proudly. "I've got over a thousand."

    "Shove it up your aft."

    "I'm not sure that would be--"

    "Hey, guys!" Fulcrum waved to them from where he stood on an empty plinth. "We've got more company!"

    "Oh joy!" Misfire exclaimed, looking up to see a large white ship fly towards the fortress. "I wonder if they're here to kill us too!"

    "Doubt it," Crankcase grunted. "Looks like an Autobot ship."

    "How can you tell?" Fulcrum asked.

    "No obvious guns. Boring colors. It just screams Autobot."

    "Hey, Fulcrum, you posing for your statue?" Misfire called over to his fellow Scavenger. "If you are, make sure Spinister has his chisel. Last time he lost it and had to use his finger. Poor guy had to buy a new middle finger."

    "Nah, I already found mine," Fulcrum said, jumping off the plinth. "Besides, this one's already got a name on it."

    "Oh, yeah? What's it say?"

    Fulcrum scratched his head as he read the plaque. "Huh. That is one unwieldy name. I've never even heard of Celestica Tetracornacapria."

*  *  *

    "Will he be all right?"

    "He'll live," Ratchet said, studying his scanner. "The Matrix still has some juice left in it; so long as it's still glowing, so will he."

    "And Cyclonus?"

    "Velocity has him in stasis lock. No way of telling if Galvatron will emerge from him again or if the Matrix erased that part from him."

    Optimus Prime sighed as he lay on his repair berth. "I'm still not sure what happened. When I came to, all of Galvatronus' components had disconnected and Megatron was in critical condition. I'm not sure if what he did 'killed' Galvatronus or simply disconnected him."

    Ratchet shrugged. "I'm no expert on that subject. You're the Prime, not me."

    "He's the one with the Matrix...."

    "There's no way in the Pit am I considering him my Prime."

    Optimus exvented as he rolled his head to the ceiling. The Necrobot certainly had an interesting taste in architecture; the blue sky was as vivid through the glass ceiling as outside.

    "You said the Titan vanished?" he then asked the medic.

    "Yup," Ratchet replied, adjusting Megatron's life support systems. "One minute it was crashing towards the planet, the next...."

    "The next...?"

    "I refuse to use the 'word' Rodimus used to describe the phenomenon. It's not even a word, just... an onomatopoeia."

    "Was it plif?"

    Ratchet stared at Optimus in bemusement. "How did you--"

    "I used to say it in my academy days," Optimus said. "Kup once made me do a hundred transformations for it. Never said it since."

    Ratchet shook his head. "You know, it honestly scares me how much you two are alike sometimes."

    "You mean me and Rodimus?" Optimus asked.

    "Yeah." Ratchet glanced at Megatron. "That too."

*  *  *

    "Anything?"

    "No sign of him, general," reported the Decepticon Seeker -- formerly aligned to the Secret Order -- as she landed before the awaiting Strika, Obsidian, and Ultra Magnus. "We'll keep searching, but I doubt we'll find him."

    "Her," Magnus corrected. "Delta Magnus is... not quite who she seems."

    "Indeed," Obsidian muttered. "I remember serving with a Powerdrive at the Battle of Iacon. She had been in my division of the Primal Vanguard but resigned shortly after the First Great War."

    "It's very possible that she's no longer on Necroworld," Ultra Magnus went on. "If her armor's anything like mine, it will have a recall trigger that can take her back to whoever holds the source signal. Tyrest had mine... Primus knows where her's is."

    "Regardless, continue your search, Tempest," Strika said to the Seeker. "We can not risk allowing him -- her -- to strike again with our guard down."

    "Tarantulas is also missing," Obsidian said while Tempest took off. "Have you seen him since landing here, Strika?"

    "His ship did not rejoin us after the Labyrinth was dismantled," his consort replied. "Darkstar thinks he's gone to Animatron. He had been adamant about choosing that planet as our new location rather than Necroworld, but Quickswitch and Delta overruled him."

    "So that's three masterminds unaccounted for," Magnus muttered. "Shockwave, Delta, Tarantulas... one can only wonder what they're planning next."

    "That still leaves us," Obsidian said, glancing pointedly at the Autobot. "How are we going to proceed from here? Do we go back to Cybertron and warn them about Shockwave?"

    "We should wait until Prime and Megatron recover. I'm not comfortable in making decisions without their counsel."

    "Even Megatron's?" Strika asked.

    Ultra Magnus did not answer her.

*  *  *

    "...So that's how your friends at Carcer are doing. No idea about Ultra Trion, but... yeah."

    Sentinel Major continued to stare at the sky as he and Rodimus stood on top of the Lost Light, looking over the crowd of Autobots, Decepticons, and whatnot mingling about. Seeing Galvatron still had him shaken... and learning of Magmatron's current status certainly did not help.

    "And one of your crew is still being held captive?" he asked quietly.

    "Yeah." Rodimus rubbed his neck. "I want to rescue him -- of course I do -- but Carcer could be anywhere in the galaxy and--"

    "That's not his name."

    Rodimus glanced at him. "Eh?"

    "Carcer... that's just an alias. Short for incarceration. His real name is Vigilem."

    "Oh."

    "He's the Titan of Liege Maximo."

    "Oh." Rodimus blinked as he processed this. "...Wait, what?!"

    "It's a long story -- and Magmatron doesn't know that I know." Sentinel let out a sigh. "I realize I have a lot to explain... but I want to save it until I can see Optimus Prime."

    Rodimus slowly nodded as he stared at the would-be Prime. "Yeah... that's probably for the best. I will admit, this past month... it's been a doozie."

    "A what?"

    "Never mind." Rodimus waved a dismissive hand. He then looked up to see a turquoise jet flying towards them. "Brainstorm?"

    A very nervous-looking Brainstorm transformed and landed next to his captain. "You're going to be mad at me."

    Rodimus frowned. "What--?"

    "Look, I meant well, okay? I honestly did. It's just that... when you're in the heat of the moment, you do things you regret later. Like kissing that bot you think looks cute. Or opening a box that says very plainly 'Do Not Op-'"

    "Brainstorm," Rodimus interjected curtly. "What did you do?"

    His question was answered by the sudden appearance of a massive ship in the sky. The large silver vessel bore a winged emblem on its side as well as its very name: Axiom. As the Axiom descended towards the ground, a loud voice emitted from it via speaker. 

    "Megatron of Tarn, in the name of the Galactic Alliance, under Section 20, subsection 8 of the New Earth Accords, you are under arrest."

    Between this and the vulgarities Rodimus was shouting at Brainstorm, Sentinel really wished that, just for once, he understood what was going on.

TO BE CONTINUED

Transformers Regenerated: Prime Wars IX, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

--Mothership--

    "Megatron, please tell me you didn't do anything to Hydra to get ourselves free."

    Megatron grunted as he slammed a Vehicon into the wall. "Would you even believe me if I said I didn't?"

    Optimus Prime said nothing as he took a deactivated Vehicon's hand and placed it on the scanner in the wall. He was denied access again and he tossed the trooper aside.

    "Hand me another one."

    Megatron peeled the Vehicon he was fighting off the wall and pushed him over to Optimus. "Are you sure they're in here?"

    "I saw them being taken here while I was being taken to my cell," Optimus said as he planted the Vehicon's hand onto the scanner. "Shockwave went in as well, so be prepared for--"

    The scanner lit green and the door slid open. Releasing the Vehicon, Optimus straightened up and stared into the room to see...

    "...Nothing."

    "What?!" Megatron stormed forward and pushed Optimus aside. Indeed, the room had very little of note, save for a lone table and scattered supplies. The former Decepticon leader gritted his teeth. "You must have been mistaken."

    "No." Both leaders glanced at each other before looking down at the Vehicon that had opened the door. He rose weakly from the floor, his cracked visor regarding them balefully. "They were in there. Just not anymore."

    "You mean they've left?" Optimus asked.

    "You don't see them, do you?"

    Megatron snarled and grabbed the Vehicon by the neck, hoisting him off his feet. "Where are they now?!"

    "Hell if I know," the Vehicon grunted out. "That Soundwave clone opened his portal and he and Shockwave went through it."

    "Did they take anyone else with them?" Optimus asked.

    "Yeah. A femme and some scary looking bot."

    Optimus sighed. "Then we're too late. They're out of reach now."

    "Indeed," Megatron said before throwing the Vehicon into the wall. The trooper did not get up again. "There's nothing for us here then. We should leave before--"

    Suddenly, the entire ship shook violently as everything went dark. Both leaders reached for something to grab onto but, in the darkness, found nothing and they tumbled to the floor....

--The Lost Light--

    "Whoa, whoa, whoa! We're back in business!"

    Rodimus straightened up in his seat as Blaster and Mainframe worked frantically at their stations. "You mean we're in control again?"

    "Yes!" Blaster beamed. "Communications are back online!"

    "We're out of the stasis field they put us in," Mainframe reported. "Everything's running smoothly."

    "Awesome!" Rodimus pumped his fist in triumph. "And what about that Titan? Where's she--"

    "Uh, about that," Mainframe said. "By the looks of it, it's lost all power and is on a crash course for Necroworld."

    Rodimus' excitement quickly turned to dread. "Where the others are?"

    "Yes."

    "And Prime and Megs are still...."

    "Yes."

    "Well what are we waiting for?!" Rodimus cried out. "Full speed ahead!"

    "We don't have control of Metrotitan though," Mainframe said. "Just the Lost--"

    "I don't care! We still have to do something! Just go!"

    Pressured by their captain, the bridge crew started up the engines and soon the Lost Light was taking off from Metrotitan and flying towards the Mothership.

--Mothership--

    Megatron wasn't sure how he had managed it, but Optimus was able to find a hatch that led them out onto the Titan's surface. As they emerged into the coldness of space -- a coldness that was gradually growing warm -- it didn't take long to assess the situation.

    "We're crashing," Optimus murmured.

    "How very perceptive, brother," Megatron grunted. Rising up, he prepared to transform to his jet mode. "You aren't heavy, are you?"

    Optimus looked at him. "What?"

    "I suppose it doesn't matter when we're in space, but--"

    "Megatron, we can't leave just yet!" Optimus protested. "Hydra and Magnum are still--"

    "We can't save them, Prime," Megatron snarled. "They've brought this upon themselves. Let them pay for their mistakes."

    "But they're--"

    "They're what? Our caretakers?" Megatron sneered at him. "Are you seriously still that attached to them? Even after all this time?"

    "I care about the people who are important to me," Optimus replied.

    "You care about everyone."

    "Is that so wrong?"

    Megatron threw his hands up. "There it is. The same vapid, self-righteous scrap that I've been hearing from you for over a thousand years. When will you give it up, Prime? When will you realize the universe does not share your optimistic appraisal?"

    Optimus shrugged. "Probably never. You of all people should know that by now, Megatron."

    Megatron opened his mouth to retort but could not find the proper words. He stared at Prime, wondering if maybe -- just maybe -- he had been going about all this wrong all this time. Maybe there was something to consider about his brother's view.

    After all, Matrix or not, Optimus was still Prime instead of him. He had succeeded where Sentinel and Zeta failed. Maybe there was a reason for that....

    Megatron was broken from his contemplation when the Mothership began to enter Necroworld's atmosphere, causing things to become hotter. He quickly converted to his jet mode and Optimus clung onto him as the two took off from the crashing Titan.

    As they flew away, Megatron spotted the Lost Light flying towards them. Kicking on his thrusters, he advanced towards the ship. Maybe if they were quick, they could stop the Titan from crushing those below.

    Because they were in space, Megatron did not hear the combiner fly up from behind them.

    Because they were in space, Megatron had no control when the combiner swung a hand at them and sent him spiraling into the blackness.

*  *  *

    Optimus cried out as he was grabbed unexpectedly by the combiner. Shooting straight over the Lost Light, the gestalt flew for Metrotitan. Upon entering the Titan's gravity field, Optimus was thrown onto the ground as his assailant towered over him.

    "You have no idea how good that felt," the combiner growled.

    Optimus froze in the midst of rising. That voice... it can't be.

    "Galvatron?" he murmured, staring up at the gestalt.

    A harsh laugh rumbled from the monster's mouth. "It's Galvatronus now. But yes, it is I. Miss me?"

    "But..." Optimus groaned as he got to his feet. "But you're dead."

    "Well yes, I am, technically. I tasked my fellow Heralds in making preparations should I perish." Galvatronus grinned wickedly. "Clearly they've succeeded in that regard."

    Optimus narrowed his optics as he realized that all four of Galvatronus' limbs bore resemblance to Autobots he had served with: Hound, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Smokescreen....

    Galvatronus seemed to notice his consternation as he let out another cackle. "Oh, I'm sorry. Has my choice of components offended you? My apologies."

    Without warning, he picked up Optimus in one swift swoop and threw him back into the ground.

    "Dear me!" the gestalt guffawed. "Such insubordinate behavior! In my day, an act like that would have earned swift execution." He bore down on Optimus again, casting a shadow over the battered Prime. "Are you like that, Optimus 'Prime?' Are you like the Primes of old? Or are you just a spineless pretender?"

    "He's neither."

    Snarling, Galvatronus turned to see Megatron, in robot mode, flying towards him. Adorning his right arm was an impromptu cannon made from the wings of his alt mode, crackling with energy.

    "He's better."

    Aiming his weapon, Megatron fired at the gestalt, scoring a large dent in its chest. Roaring in anger, Galvatronus lumbered forward and grabbed at the Decepticon, only for him to fly out of reach.

    "Don't think I've forgotten what you did to me!" Galvatronus bellowed. "I remember our last confrontation vividly!"

    "Good," Megatron said. "Then you'll remember this."

    He fired again; this time, he aimed for the gestalt's left arm connection, severing the joint and freeing Trailbreaker from his forced configuration.

    Howling with fury, Galvatronus lunged again, kicking on his back thrusters. Megatron attempted to fly away only to be caught in the combiner's grip. Galvatronus then flung him back down and the Decepticon joined his brother on the ground.

    "I tire of this game," Galvatronus rumbled, returning to loom over the pair. "It's time that the Age of Primes ended."

    Groaning, Megatron reached up to his chest and pulled it open. The Matrix of Leadership glowed brightly within.

    Galvatronus raised his remaining fist. "Any last words, Optimus Prime?"

    "Prime..." Megatron reached over to his brother. "The Matrix. Take it. Now."

    "Nothing?" Galvatronus sniffed. "So be it."

    "Prime?" Megatron shook Optimus. The Autobot leader did not stir. "Optimus! Answer me!"

    The fist came down. Megatron had no time to think as he, Optimus, and Galvatronus were all consumed by a giant flash of light.

The Transformers, Issue 79: Final Conflict, Chapter Six

THE FALLEN HERO

    (Within Unicron, Cliffjumper and Beachcomber watch as Starscream and Sideways duke it out)

    Sideways: You're lucky you have no further use, Starscream... because this would have been a lot more painful!

    Starscream: Like I'd feel it at all. 

    (He lunges at Sideways just as Sideways throws a fire ball. There's a big explosion and Sideways is left looking... worse for wear while 'Screamer is unscathed)

    Sideways: Ack! W-well played, S-Starscream. P-perhaps I misjudged you....

    Starscream: Yes, you did. Now proceed on your way to oblivion. [lol '86 movie refs for the winz!!1!]

    (Anyway, he blasts Sideways to pieces (RIP). He then notices Cliff' and Beachcomber)

    Starscream: Ah, two Autobots. (He blasts Beachcomber apart while Cliffjumper drives away towards a green portal that appeared out of nowhere) Running away are you, Autobot?!

    (Cliffjumper goes through the portal and we never see him again. Also, Beachcomber is dead. Rest in Pepperonis, man)

    (On Earth, the Autobots are spying on the Decepticon camp)

    Bumblebee: This is Bumblebee to Wheeljack. Do you copy?

    Wheeljack: Clear as water, 'Bee.

    Bumblebee: The 'Cons are building a circle of space bridges. Suspicious, eh?

    Wheeljack: More suspicious than Unicron drinking tea. [...okay then]

    Bumblebee: Sideswipe, are you picking up anything?

    Sideswipe: Hang on. (He extends a radar dish, allowing them to overhear the 'Cons)

    Generic 'Con: Soundwave, all the space bridges are up.

    Soundwave: Negative. The last one is in the hands of the Autobots. However, Crankcase and the Dreads are tracking down Rodimus Prime.

    Bumblebee: That's not good.

    Sideswipe: Didn't know we had a space bridge.

    Wheeljack: Yeah... I sorta stole some stuff when we left Cybertron.

    Sideswipe: Nice goin'.

    Bumblebee: Come one! We have to save Prime!

    (They get to the highway, where Rodimus and Optimus are being followed by three black SUVs)

    Bumblebee: Rodimus! The Decepticons are after you!

    Rodimus Prime: Uh, 'Bee....

    (One of the SUVs transforms into Hatchet. Mirage transforms and hooks onto him and yeah it's just the highway battle from DOTM I'm so original)

    (Bumblebee and Sideswipe go all MechTech and chase around with Crankcase and Crowbar while Mirage kills Hatchet. Yeah, it's like I didn't even try to be original.)

    (Meanwhile, deep in space, Nova Prime floats around with Monstructor)

    Nova Prime: Here's where I found the Fallen... where I found my destiny... which was all ruined by the ones who claimed to be my brethren. Did they not want our race to become the supremacy of the universe? Did they not want everyone to bow before use? Did they not want us to rule? We were gods once, Monstructor. All of us... but now they call us machines.

    (Back on Earth, the Autobots get back to base, where Armorfist joins Sideswipe in taking on the remaining two Dreads)

    Sideswipe: Whoa. Looks like a little Mexican stand-off we've got here. [Whoa. Looks like a little lack of creativity we've got here]

    Armorfist: Weapons down.

    Sideswipe: And we'll let you escape with your dignity.

    (The Dreads drop their weapons... but wait! Crowbar has a spike thingy! He throws it at Ironhide Armorfist but Sideswipe stabs him through the face while Armorfist blows up Crankcase!)

    Armorfist: Boom.

    (They then meet up with the others. Gee, I wonder what's gonna happen next)

    Bumblebee: Wheeljack, we have to move!

    Wheeljack: Why?

    Bumblebee: The 'Cons are after Rodimus! He's the key to their plans!

    Rodimus Prime: Indeed I am. What you must understand, my Autobot brothers, is that we were never going to win the war. For the sake of our planet's survival, a deal had to be made... with Shockwave.

    (He then shoots Armorfist through the chest. Wow, I didn't see that coming)

    Rodimus Prime: I'm sorry, brothers....

    Armorfist: Rodimus... why? [Because DOTM, that's why]

    To be continued

FEATURED CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Armorfist, Beachcomber, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Mirage, Optimus Minor, Rodimus Prime, Sideswipe, Wheeljack

    Decepticons: Crankcase, Crowbar, Hatchet, Laserbeak, Soundwave

    Others: Monstructor, Nova Prime, Sideways, Starscream

Transformers Regenerated: Prime Wars IX, Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

--Necroworld--

    "Sentinel." Delta Magnus regarded the would-be Prime who still had his gun trained on her. "Fancy seeing you here."

    "I don't want any trouble," Sentinel said. "I just want someone to explain to me what's going on."

    "Gladly," Delta said. "Just lower your gun and I'll tell you everything."

    Sentinel did not budge. "Why did you kidnap me?"

    "I wasn't the only who did that," Delta said, glancing at Obsidian.

    The Decepticon general glared back. "I was following your orders. You said we needed him to further develop the Headmaster program."

    "The Headmaster program?" Sentinel raised an optic at Delta. "You were... how did you know I was a Headmaster?"

    "I'm sorry, what?" Krok commented, looking confused.

    Delta ignored him as she stared at Sentinel. "We had our sources. The Headmaster program, like the combiner operation, was an attempt to return our race to its roots; to bring the minorities back into the majority."

    "What purpose does that serve?" Sentinel asked. "What possible end are you hoping to achieve by bringing back combiners and Headmasters?"

    "Because, like you, Infinitus, I too serve a Prime."

    Sentinel stepped back in shock. Krok and Flamewar stared at Delta in astonishment; even Obsidian seemed taken aback.

    "What?" Sentinel murmured. "You... you serve a Prime? One of the first?"

    "What, you thought I was going to say you?" Delta let out a mirthless laugh. "You're not the only herald still around today, Infinitus. This entire operation -- all of this -- was in preparation for the return of the Primes."

    "You said it was to bring Cybertron back to its Golden Age!" Obsidian snapped.

    "That too. The two go hand in hand more often than not. After all, did Cybertron not flourish under the Thirteen?"

    "You mean before they started killing each other?" Flamewar muttered.

    "Yes, well, this time there will only be one; that being whoever stands triumphant over the others." Delta Magnus smirked. "My money is on my Prime, of course."

    "I don't believe any of this," Krok said. "You're either joking or really, really delusional."

    "Hey, Obsidian!" Misfire called from his statue. "I see your girlfriend!"

    The others all turned to see a large violet tank rolling towards them from the same direction Delta Magnus had come from. While Obsidian looked elated to see his consort again, Delta Magnus frowned in consternation.

    "I thought I ordered you to stay at the fortress," Delta said as Strika converted to robot mode.

    "You did," the Decepticon general growled as she stormed up to Magnus, matching the Autobot in size. "But I don't take orders from enemies."

    With that, she threw her fist into Delta's face, disorienting the Autobot. A well aimed kick sent her to the ground and Strika kept her in place with her foot.

    "What..." Delta sputtered out energon. "What do you think you're doing?"

    "The Necrobot's vidcams have audio as well as footage," Strika said, gesturing at the small camera drones that floated near the fortress. "We all heard your little revelation. And believe me, a lot of us are none too happy to learn that we've been deceived like this."

    Delta Magnus snorted. "Doesn't matter. There's nothing any of you can do about it."

    "Says who?" Strika huffed.

    The Autobot grinned. "Says my friend."

    In the distance, there was the sound of metal colliding. Sentinel and the Decepticons all turned to see a massive gestalt storming towards them, a maniacal grin on its face....

*  *  *

    "No offense, but I'm getting a lot of mixed messages from you guys."

    Burn Out ignored Skids as she removed his stasis cuffs. Nearby, other bots did the same for Getaway, Whirl, and Nightbeat. Minimus had also been released, albeit sans his Magnus Armor. Skids wondered where he had been, as he had not been among the rest of them after they had been captured.

    Swiftly moving back to the main computer, Burn Out spoke to the white and red Decepticon stationed there. "Please tell me she gave him hell."

    "Well, she socked him good," Exhaust replied, chewing on a cy-gar. "But, ah, Delta just pulled his wild card."

    "Galvatronus." Burn Out's shoulders sagged upon seeing the gestalt on the viewscreen; the same gestalt that was comprised of Cyclonus and the rest of Ultra Magnus' team. "Brilliant. Just brilliant."

    "I'm sorry, but just what the Pit is going on?" Getaway asked. "Why are you suddenly chummy with us? Not that I'm complaining, mind you..."

    Exhaust removed his cy-gar and puffed out a small cloud of smoke. "Delta Magnus just showed his true colors. Apparently he's been usin' Hydra's vision for his own agenda."

    "Meaning...?" Nightbeat inquired.

    "Meaning all along we were pawns of someone else's game," Burn Out explained. "When the whole point of all this was to have a Cybertron without oppression, without...." 

    She trailed off, giving Skids the opportunity to chime in.

    "No offense -- again -- but after seeing what you guys have done, I find that very hard to believe and, dare I say, hypocritical."

    Burn Out sighed, looking down at her feet. "Maybe you're right. I admit, a lot of us have turned a blind eye to a lot of what Delta and the others have done. I've tried to convince myself that it's for the greater good. But now that I know the truth--"

    "You've realized that you're all idiots," Whirl said. "Awesome. Now then, about that combiner."

    "It's hopeless," said Exhaust. "We can't match strength like that. You'd need an Omega Supreme or somethin' to tackle him."

    Skids looked over to Minimus. "I know it's probably pointless to ask, but do you still have that Maximus armor Brainstorm made you?"

    "It's on the Lost Light in pieces," Minimus dully replied. He didn't seem to be all there, which was unlike him. "Pardon me, but..."

    Burn Out turned to look at him. "What? What is it?"

    "Well, I was just wondering...." Minimus glanced around the room. "If someone could help me get a door open."

*  *  *

    Sentinel stared in both awe and horror at the monstrosity that loomed over him. It had been thousands of years since he had last seen a combiner. After his master's apparent death, the art of combination had been thought lost. To see one again after all these years was a miracle if nothing else.

    But this gestalt... he recognized its face. It was his face. The Darklander. Herald of Megatronus.

    Galvatron.

    The combiner stared back at him and smiled. It recognized him, he was sure of it. But how... how could he still be alive?

    "Hello, Infinitus," Galvatronus said. "It's been too long."

    Sentinel found himself unable to move, despite every part of him wanting to. The monster spoke again and this time, Sentinel realized it was speaking in his mind.

    "My fight is not with you. We both know I could easily crush you with a single step."

    Sentinel said nothing. He did not want to acknowledge the monster's existence.

    "I know that your master is still alive, as is mine," Galvatronus went on. "The other Primes are also on the rise again. Onyx. Liege Maximo. We are not the only ones in this fight."

    Maybe if he closed his eyes, he would finally wake up.

    "But... we don't have to take part."

    Sentinel's head snapped up against his will and he was forced to stare into the demon's eyes.

    "Who says we have to serve them? They already failed once... what makes you think they'll triumph this time?"

    Sentinel didn't want to hear it. He wanted to wake up.

    "I think the Age of Primes has reached its end. It is time for a new era to begin."

    "Galvatronus?" Delta Magnus was looking up at the combiner in confusion. "What are you doing?"

    The monster's face twisted into a sick grin. Its optics glowed with evil.

    "The Age... of Galvatron!"

    With that, the gestalt ignited a pair of thrusters on its back and shot up towards the sky, headed for the Mothership...