Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Ten & Epilogue

CHAPTER TEN

--Earth--

    "I take it things didn't go so well?"

    His systems returning online, Ratchet awoke to find himself in the medibay, laying on a repair slab. How ironic, he thought.

    Looking up to meet Wheeljack's gaze, the medic said, "No, they didn't. We got captured, Soundwave mutinied, the 'Cons invaded Cybertron, Prime and Megatron fell through a portal, then we did the same."

    "Ah. So business as usual?"

    Ratchet simply grunted as he got off the repair slab. He then looked to see Bumblebee and the others laying nearby, awake but still struggling to comprehend what had just happened. He felt the same way; everything had been going well until the tables were turned. Now Optimus Prime was missing-- again-- and the Decepticons had overrun Cybertron. Not a good way to start the day.

    Turning back to Wheeljack, Ratchet said, "I take it Jazz and Prowl are running things now?"

    Wheeljack nodded. "There's been talk about reviving the rest of the Ark crew and maybe even bringing the ship back online."

    Ratchet frowned. "That's a lot to hope for, especially now of all times."

    Wheeljack rested a hand on the doctor's shoulder. "Hey, don't get all pessimistic on me now; that's Huffer's job. We'll get through this."

    The medic sighed. "I'm going to hold you to that."

--Cybertron--

    Never in his life did Kup ever envision himself sitting in the command chair of a starship, let alone one like the Steelhaven, the jewel of the Autobot fleet.

    I shouldn't be sitting here, he kept telling himself. Ultra Magnus should be in this seat, not me. What am I doing here?

    The veteran sighed heavily to himself, knowing that there was no denying it; Ultra Magnus was dead, and for good this time. This was no Fast-Folding Sun or zero point or K-Class bombing. Ultra Magnus, the law-abiding, "immortal" peace-keeper was dead.

    It should've been me, he kept telling himself. I should have been the one who blew up. Why do I have to outlive everyone?

    That was the thing about war: one could be as healthy as a turbofox one day and die of disintegration the next. Because of this, a mech forged at the end of the Headmaster Wars could still be kicking while someone built a century ago would be gone and forgotten by now.

    Why must fate be so slaggin' cruel?

    "Sir?" Kup snapped out of his reverie and looked towards Wing Saber, who sat at the ship's controls. "The Xantium's taken off. Shall we go?"

    Kup gave the word with a simple nod. In seconds, the Steelhaven's engines roared to life and disembarked from Cybertron fro the last time.

*  *  *

    "All of the dissenters have left, Lord Galvatron," Scourge informed his superior, who sat atop a makeshift throne made from scrap. "Shall we commence the hunt?"

    "No," Galvatron replied. "Not yet. Give them some time to scatter. It will make things more interesting."

    Scourge smiled ruthlessly in agreement before walking off. Shortly after he had left, a purple mech-- heavily battered and injured-- strode up to the seated Herald of Unicron, his single optic cracked and sparking.

    "Ah, Shockwave!" Galvatron rose from his throne and approached the one-eyed Decepticon. "Thank you for agreeing to meet me."

    Shockwave regarded him coldly. "I would have preferred if you had waited until after Flatline had finished my repairs."

    "There will be plenty of time for that," Galvatron said with a heartless laugh, draping an arm across Shockwave's shoulders. "Look around you! Cybertron is ours! Not a single Autobot in sight-- well, save for those who had a change of heart."

    "An empty victory, my lord. All I see is a wasteland."

    Galvatron chuckled darkly. "I know that single eye of yours gives you depth perception problems, Shockwave, but I didn't think it also gave you a narrow mind."

    He gestured widely to the barren landscape. "Think of this as a clean slate. From here, we can start anew; we can build a new society, forge a new world. All in time for the Reunification."

    Shockwave slowly shook his head. "It won't be the same. It can never be the same."

    His smile fading, Galvatron removed his arm from the Decepticon's shoulders and stepped behind him. "You imagined a different outcome?"

    "In a way, yes. I wanted things to return to how they were in Nova's time. No war, no tyranny, no prejudice--"

    "Such things have always been with us, regardless of whoever was Prime. There's never been a perfect world... but we can make one."

    "How so? By creating an empire built upon tyranny and chaos? You will be suffering revolts before too long."

    Galvatron narrowed his crimson optics, speaking in a grave voice. "Have some faith Shockwave. With the gods on our side, we can quell any opposition and our empire will soon be able to withhold anything thrown against it. Remember, to change is to thrive...."

    Shockwave was too slow to realize where Galvatron was going with this conversation. By then, it was too late. As he looked down at the blade now jutting from his midsection, he heard Galvatron speak one last time before slipping into oblivion.

    "To stagnate is to die."

--Space--

    Silence reigned among the former crew of the Voyager. During the scramble to evacuate Cybertron, they had run into four other Autobots, who crewed a massive ship called the Lost Light. Since Elita and her team needed a ship, and the Lost Light had recently lost its captain, they quickly joined up and fled from their burning homeworld.

    As the ship wandered aimlessly through space, Elita watched the stars twinkle through the viewport. She had set out to find Optimus Prime amongst the vastness of space and had so far made little to no progress. Instead, a series of unfortunate events had folded out before her eyes.

    Any hope she had was now dangling by a thread. Only her burning determination kept it from breaking.

    "Yo, captain."

    Elita glanced at Shock, the Lost Light's communications officer. He sat next to his near-identical brother Ore, who was glued to his own screen.

    "We're picking up a signal," the red Duobot said. "Looks like a hitchhiker."

    In space? Elita sighed. "We don't have time to pickup every wayward 'bot along the way."

    "They're using an Autobot hailing frequency," Ore said. "Could be someone who missed their ride."

    Elita considered for a moment before saying, "All right, bring them in."

    Windblade brought the ship to a halt while Strongarm and her new crewmates Riptide and Nautica went to open the entrance port. Greeting them was a broadly-built Autobot in blue and red.

    "Hey, it's Wall-Crasher!" Swerve excitedly ran up to greet the newcomer. "Those were some sweet moves you pulled on Gorlam Prime! Who are you? An ex-Wrecker? An Elite Guardsman? A Primal Vanguard veteran?"

    "My name is Skids, and I'm a theoretician," the Autobot said bluntly.

    Swerve visibly deflated. "Oh. That's cool, I guess...."

    Elita walked up and pushed the Minibot aside before offering Skids her hand. "Welcome to the Lost Light, Skids. Did you give that Rollbar punk what was coming for him?"

    He shrugged as he shook her hand. "I'm not really sure, to be honest. What with everything that's happened so far."

    After scanning the rather unremarkable ship's interior with his optics, Skids rubbed the back of his neck.

    "So, uh, got any energon?"

EPILOGUE

    We are Prima.

    The voice, quiet and indefinable, was carried lightly across the wind, whistling into his ear.

    We are Alpha Prime.

    His vision clouded by darkness, he pulled himself to his feet. The ground screamed with each step he took.

    We are Nova Prime.

    His vision finally cleared to reveal the most eldritch, surreal scenery he had ever seen.

    We are Sentinel Prime.

    Optimus sighed. It was going to be one of those days.

    We are one.

--Cybertron--

    Megatron gasped in exhaustion as he let his writing utensil drop from his hand and onto the floor. The joints in his hand stiffened and became impossible to move, but it no longer mattered. It was done.

    On the large canvas before him was his handiwork; a so-called "peace treaty" declaring the end of the Second Great War and the beginning of a new era. He had hated every second of writing it, for he had been forced to against his will, and the events which he had detailed had not turned out as he had planned.

    However, the choice had been taken out of his hand, robbed by the one Decepticon he had trusted above others... and now stood before him.

    After reading what Megatron had written, Soundwave then turned to face his former leader, staring him straight in the eyes. 

    "Say it."

    Megatron sneered. "Not on your life."

    A jolt of energy surged through his systems, causing excruciating pain.

    "Say it," Soundwave repeated, more forceful this time.

    "All... hail... Galvatron."

    Another jolt. "Louder."

    "All hail Galvatron!"

    Another jolt. "Louder."

    "All hail Galvatron!"

    Another jolt.

    "ALL HAIL GALVATRON!"

    The chanting, thick with spite and venom, went on well into the night.

END OF BOOK IV: PLANETFALL

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

--The Voyager--

     "This isn't my idea of a welcoming party."

    Indeed, the sight of a thousand Decepticon ships was not what Elita had been expecting when the Voyager returned to Cybertron. She quickly maneuvered the ship to evade firepower from an Orbital Assault Carrier.

    "Brainstorm, I'm going to ask something dangerous and life-risking of you," she then called to the Autobot inventor.

    "When you're in my line of work, stuff like that comes natural," Brainstorm said.

    "I want you to pilot the ship."

    Brainstorm arched an optic ridge. "That's it?"

    "And crash it."

    "And?"

    "And make it explode."

    "And?"

    Elita rolled her eyes. "And make it keep exploding until there's nothing left to explode."

    Brainstorm cracked his knuckles. "Give me fifteen minutes."

--Cybertron--

    "What in the name of Primus is going on?!"

    No one answered Warpath's exclamation for they were just as shocked as he was. The battle had come to a standstill as the sky was torn apart by a fiery rift. As lightning struck at random around it, six figures-- large and imposing-- emerged from it.

    "Someone hit me so I can wake up," Wing Saber muttered.

    Kup, still reeling from the explosion Ultra Magnus had caused, shook his head. "This is no nightmare, lad. This is real."

    "Rightfully so."

    The six figures touched ground, while the rift closed behind them. One of them, a winged mech in violet and black, stepped forward. Kup's jaw immediately dropped.

    "Galvatron?!" he exclaimed.

    The ancient warrior regard him coldly. "Kup. I'm surprised to see you still functioning."

    "Likewise," the veteran Autobot grunted. "We all thought you had died; you, Nova Prime, Cyclonus...."

    Galvatron smirked. "Obviously, such word of our demise was... greatly exaggerated."

    Abruptly, emerging from the crowd of combatants was a tan and brown Decepticon. Kup recognized him as Dropshot, whom he had encountered on Styx nearly a millennia ago. Dropshot pointed at one of the newcomers; a stocky mech in navy blue and gold.

    "Lord Straxus! What are you doing here? Didn't Megatron send you and the other warlords away?"

    "Megatron no longer has any authority," Straxus said coldly. "The new regime has arrived."

    Dropshot roared in protest as he charged towards the former warlord. Galvatron casually raised his arm cannon and fired. The Decepticon's body disintegrated before everyone's optics, leaving behind no indication that he had ever existed in the first place.

    "Should anyone here present know of any reason that this regime should not be brought to power as ordained by the Primal Pantheon," Galvatron said, "speak now or forever hold your peace."

    Not a single Autobot or Decepticon dared to speak or move. Galvatron smirked in satisfaction.

    "In that case, allow me to clear any uncertainty: we are the Heralds of Unicron; the harbingers of chaos; the gamemasters of war. For several millennia we have stood behind the scenes, watching events unfold while pulling the strings. Now the day of reckoning has come.

    "Contrary to what you may think, we worship Primus as much we do Unicron, his long-reviled equal. But what you seemed to have forgotten is that, in the beginning, Primus and Unicron were once a single entity; order and chaos co-existing in harmony.

    "Of course, such an existence was a disastrous one, and thus order and chaos were divided so that the universe could survive. But since your war, which has spread across the galaxy-- and perhaps has repercussions beyond-- has since threatened that survival, the two must become one again."

    Galvatron pointed a metal finger at the gathered crowd. "You have a choice: either you pledge your allegiance to us so that we may restore eternal harmony, or you don't. And if you choose the latter, then you will all be hunted down and eliminated so as to not disrupt the plan.

    "Step forward now if it is your desire to follow the will of the gods."

    No one moved at first. Then, several Decepticons stepped forward, followed by a few Autobots. In moments, right before Kup's optics, enemy lines vanished as members of both factions knelt before their new, self-proclaimed overlords. In the end, most of the Decepticons had pledged their loyalty to Galvatron, while a majority of the Autobots stood by, wary of these proceedings.

    Galvatron smiled heartlessly. "The people have spoken. Now then, let us--"

    The ancient warrior was cut off by the roar of engines. All heads looked up to see a blue and white light freighter shooting down straight from the sky, while ten figures dropped from it.

    Galvatron simply sneered at the vessel as he fired his arm cannon at it.

*  *  *

    "Thank Primus for autopilots, 'cause there's no way  I was gonna risk my life like that," Brainstorm muttered as he watched the Voyager's destruction at Galvatron's hands.

    Clinging onto him while he was in jet mode were Elita-One, Nightbeat, Chromedome, and Strongarm, while Windblade carried Rewind, Glyph, Swerve, and Tailgate. The two Autobot fliers gently lowered their teammates to the ground before transforming to robot mode.

    "So, now what?" Rewind asked, surveying the featureless metal planes that had once been Iacon. "Cybertron is scrapped, the 'Cons seem to have won... what are we going to do?"

    Silence was all that answered him.

--The Nemesis--

    "So... that's it?" Skywarp was as astonished as anyone by what had just happened. "We've won?"

    "Provided that the Autobots do not attempt a futile rebellion, yes." Soundwave tilted his head to face Barricade. "Inform the fleet that the invasion has ended. Prepare to land."

    While Barricade went to work, Blackout said, "But what about Lord Megatron? He can't miss out on this!"

    "You will be seeing Megatron again," Soundwave replied. "He was needed elsewhere to perform work required to make this victory more... assured."

    Knock Out looked skeptical about this statement. "What kind of work?"

    Soundwave's visor gleamed as the sun began to emerge on the horizon; a new dawn to mark the beginning of this new age.

    "You shall see the results of it soon enough."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

--Luna 2--

    Skids was rarely ever angry. Usually when something of frustration came up, he took it in stride or laughed it off. Not so here. As his fists collided in Rollbar's face, there was no denying that he was angry.

    "Come now! Is this any way to treat your prisoners?" Rollbar's mocking tone only infuriated Skids further. He seized the white mech by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

    "It's the best way to treat you," Skids said through gritted dental plates.

    Rollbar choked out a laugh. "Really? And what would your superiors think of your actions right now?"

    "I don't see them here, do you? What they don't know can't hurt them."

    He then punched Rollbar hard in the face before dropping him to the ground and kicking his fallen form. In response, Rollbar simply laughed.

    "Enlighten me, please," he said in between chuckles. "What have I done to deserve this?"

    Skids glared at him with baleful optics. "Fifty years ago."

    Rollbar smirked. "And? What, did I miss out on your Forging Day?"

    The Autobot agent clenched his fists. "You framed me. For a murder I did not commit."

    "What about it?" Rollbar sneered. "Didn't they prove your innocence and put the bounty on me after that?"

    "Clearing my name did nothing to heal the wounds you dealt me." He then proceeded to repeatedly kick the white mech, punctuating each one with his spiteful words. "You tarnished my reputation. You ruined my life. This. Is. Payback!"

    Suddenly, before Skids could deliver what would have been the finishing blow, Rollbar grabbed his leg and yanked on it, bringing him down. In an instant, Rollbar was back on his feet, having turned the tables.

    "That's enough." The former Autobot's voice had lost all sense of its sick humor. It was almost as if it was no longer his voice. "It's been fun playing with you, but I am needed elsewhere."

    "Oh, don't tell me that you let me capture you and beat the scrap out of you! That just totally suck the fun out of it!"

    Rollbar sneered at him in contempt. "I'm sorry to ruin your day. Then again, it's only just the start of it."

    Just as Skids got back to his feet, Rollbar was gone in a flash of light. In the sky above, Cybertron burned....

--Cybertron--

    "General Shockwave? General Shockwave!"

    Slipstream nearly shrieked into her communicator. It was not that she cared for the one-eyed mech's survival-- he could burn in the Pit for all she cared. But his logical thinking and strategic mind were key to winning this battle, even if the Autobots' defeat was certain.

    Turning to the ship's communications officer, Slipstream ordered, "Get me through to Lord Megatron."

    In moments, a visage appeared on the viewscreen, but it was not that of the Decepticon leader.

    "Soundwave?" Slipstream exclaimed, incredulous. "Get me Megatron, now!"

    "I am afraid Lord Megatron is currently indisposed," Soundwave replied. "I am currently in command of the Nemesis and thus the Decepticon fleet."

    Slipstream fumed. "You?! You're not even a general! What kind of slag are you--"

    "Lieutenant, I highly suggest that you get off the line this minute if your sole intention is to waste my time."

    The Seeker gritted her teeth before saying, "We've lost contact with Shockwave."

    "How unfortunate. I suppose this leave you in charge of his forces, General."

    Slipstream's optics dilated. General?

    "Carry on the assault," Soundwave went on. "For the glory of the Decepticons."

    With that, he vanished from the viewscreen, leaving Slipstream in a stunned silence.

--Nemesis--

    "Great, he's already handing out promotions," Knock Out said sardonically. "Think I can get myself made Chief Scientist?"

    His comments fell on dead audio sensors as his fellow Decepticons mulled on recent events. Lugnut and Blackout were visibly fuming at the disappearance of Megatron, Skywarp looked fearful, Barricade and Thundercracker seemed uncertain, Blitzwing was being his usual self, and Brawl was apathetic as always.

    As usual, it's up to me to be the responsible one. Stepping forward, Knock Out cleared his vocal processor to get Soundwave's attention.

    "Excuse me, er, commander, but are we just going to stand around and watch you play Fullstasis with the world, or are we going to actually make ourselves useful?"

    "You are free to participate in the battle," Soundwave said in his typical monotone.

    "What about the Autobots?" Barricade asked. "Don't you need someone to keep an optic on--"

    Before he could finish, Soundwave flicked his hand and sent the captured Autobot falling through a portal, just like he had done to Megatron and Optimus Prime.

    Once they were gone, Blitzwing switched to his Random face. "I guess they should have called you 'Handwave' instead! Ha ha ha!"

    Knock Out huffed. "Is there any normal 'bot on this ship?" he muttered to himself.

--Cybertron--

    The explosion could have been seen from afar. It was bright enough to distract everyone from fighting, even if just for a moment. No one knew for certain what it meant, but a few had an idea or two. None of them hopeful.

    As he pulled his sword out of a Vehicon's chest, Springer surveyed the battlefield. The first few waves of Decepticons had been dealt with, but more were on their way, toting weapons large than themselves.

    "We have to fall back," he said to the other Wreckers, who had all regrouped. "We're running low on ammo and-- Scattorshot, what's our body count?"

    Scattorshot grimaced as he brought up a readout on his HUD. "Five: Scoop, Leadfoot, Topspin, Twin Twist, and Fastfix."

    "Five casualties in more or less an hour." Springer shook his head in despair. "A record I didn't want to make. Let's move."

    He transformed to his armored car form and the others followed suit without complaint. When Autobots as gritty and resolute like Whirl and Roadbuster were rendered silent by the despair they were facing, one knew that this battle was unlike any they had faced before (though Simanzi came close).

    And the clock was still ticking.

*  *  *

    "Generals!" Dreadwing rushed to the newly-formed crater created by the explosion. His optical sensors were still adjusting from the bright light that had briefly obstructed his vision, but he could still tell that the Pit went deeper than any on Cybertron.

    Reaching the threshold of the crater, Dreadwing looked down to see Shockwave, Obsidian, and Strika at the very bottom, alive but badly injured.

    "Mudflap, let's get them out!" Dreadwing called.

    The large Decepticon crane came forward and began lowering its hook. Dreadwing and two other Decepticons-- Terradive and Treadshot-- then jumped down into the pit to assist their superiors.

    As he helped Obsidian up, Terradive said, "Where's the Autobot?"

    "It would appear... he took the worst of... the blast," Obsidian said, his damaged vocal processor sputtering. "Not sure... what he was... trying to accomplish."

    "No doubt trying to take a few highly-ranked Decepticons down with him," Strika grunted, shakily standing on two ravaged legs while Treadshot supported her. "He failed, obviously."

    "When Ultra Magnus is concerned, I wouldn't go too far," Shockwave said, his single optics dangling from his face.

    "Well, with him out of the picture, our victory is assured," Dreadwing said confidently. "Right?"

    Before Shockwave could answer, the sky was suddenly torn asunder and death rained down upon them....

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

--Cybertron--

    "Autobot down! Repeat: Autobot down! We need a medic over here!"

    Even as he said these words, Springer knew it would be no use. Leadfoot was leaking energon badly; by the time a medic reached him, he would be too far gone.

    Nearby, Roadbuster was unloading all of his ammo at approaching Eradicons. In the air, Whirl and Sandstorm were in a dogfight with Seekers. Topspin, Twin Twist, and Fastfix had already fallen; Springer doubted they would be rising again.

    As he pulled Leadfoot away behind cover, Springer called into his communicator. "Scoop, Scattorshot! What is your status?"

    "Decepticons got us pinned!" Scattorshot replied, static accompanying his voice. "--Fighters inbound. Not sure-- we can hold them--"

    The connection went dead. In Springer's arms, Leadfoot did the same. And to think, the battle had only just begun....

*  *  *

    Ultra Magnus dove for cover as a ray of plasma came his way. Charging up his gun, he turned around and fired it pointblank into his Decepticon opponent's face, blowing their head clean off. Before he could even think of reveling in his victory, another Decepticon-- much larger than the first-- pushed their way forward with a huge gatling gun.

    "There's always a bigger gun," Magnus muttered to himself as he dodged the incoming bullets.

    "I would like one right about now," Kup muttered, joining him as he discarded his empty blaster rifle. "I'm all out of juice. Got any spares on ya'?"

    "I've got a blaster pistol, but it's only got one bullet left."

    "I can make it worth five."

    Magnus handed him the gun and the Autobot veteran instantly turned around and fired its last remaining bullet. It lodged into the Decepticon's single optic, effectively rendering him blind. Startled by his sudden loss of vision, the 'Con spun around while still firing his gatling gun, and mowed down four of his comrades. A fifth one shot him in the chest before he could do any more damage.

    Magnus gave Kup an appraising look. "You need to teach me that trick some day."

    Kup grunted as he tossed the now-useless gun aside. "You think we're even gonna live to see the next sunrise, kid? You're more optimistic than I give you credit for."

*  *  *

    "We have Ultra Magnus and the old guy pinned, general. Shall I execute them myself?"

    Lumbering across the battlefield, dragging the remains of a barely-functioning Autobot behind her, Strika answered her communicator. "No, Dreadwing," she growled. "As I told you, Ultra Magnus is to be executed by either Shockwave, myself, or another general. Just keep him there until one of us arrives."

    There was a hint of doubt in Dreadwing's voice when he responded. "Er, with all due respect, general... are you serious? I mean... he's right here. We've got him cornered. I could easily blast his head to bits." 

    "Consider this, Dreadwing: how do you think it will go down in the history records? 'Ultra Magnus, High Commander of the Elite Guard, a legend among Autobots, slain by a lowly Decepticon soldier.' It doesn't exactly have much flare to it, wouldn't you agree?"

    "Well, yes, general, but--"

    "Enough," Strika said sharply. "Just keep him there until I or someone of higher ranking than you arrives." She then cut off the connection, not wanting to hear the soldier's groveling response.

    Releasing the battered Autobot in her clutches, Strika casually aimed a plasma cannon at him and finished him off. She then turned to her lieutenant, the Combaticon leader Onslaught.

    "Take command of the ground assault from here. I need to go make history."

--The Nemesis--

    Cybertron was on fire.

    Soundwave had the ship's angle altered so that Optimus could get a better look, not hat he desired one. Any repairs made to Cybertron in the past century were being undone, torn asunder by the Decepticon's assault. Building were consumed by flames, leaving behind no hint they had been there to begin with.

    Anger and despair battled for dominance within him. In the end, all he could muster was a glare in Megatron's direction.

    "This is what you wanted. Are you proud of yourself?"

    Megatron did not answer him. For the first time in a thousand years, Optimus saw his brother look downcast. His optics were glued to the metal floor, deep in contemplation. Was he actually beginning to regret his actions? Or was he simply devising schemes to retake his operation from Soundwave?

    Before he could ponder any further on the matter, Soundwave's monotonic voice brought Optimus back to reality.

    "I am afraid we no longer have time to witness this historical moment. You two are needed elsewhere."

    Megatron lifted his gaze to him and sneered. "What possible use are we now that everything we've fought for is crumbling?"

    Soundwave said nothing. Instead, he made a strange gesture with his hand, causing a portal to open beneath the two leaders. They fell through, screaming as they went....

--Cybertron--

    "They've stopped firing." It had taken a moment for Ultra Magnus to realize this, prepared for death as he was.

    "Good, 'cause I'm all out of things to throw at 'em." Kup dared to peek over their cover. The Decepticons were still standing there, weapons at the ready but not firing them.

    "No idea what they're waitin' for," he muttered as he sat back down. "They've got us cornered, with no ammo and a measly piece of metal coverin' us. Are they waitin' for somethin' or--"

    His answer came in the form of a violet Cybertronian ship roaring across the sky. Accompanying it was a spindly, dark teal fighter with dual propellers. Down below, a purple and gold assault tank was joining the Decepticon forces already present.

    "Oh, you have got to be slagging me," Magnus muttered.

    The vehicles transformed, assuming the forms of Shockwave, Obsidian, and Strika; three of Megatron's most fearsome generals. One of the Decepticons gathered, a burly flier in blue, saluted them.

    "We have Ultra Magnus right where you want him, generals. Ripe for the slaughtering."

    "Good work, Dreadwing," said Obsidian, hovering over the ground instead of utilizing any legs. "Now then, who shall do the honors?"

    "This is no time to draw light prods, Obsidian," Shockwave said coldly. "Let us simply get this over with."

    Magnus heard the Decepticons beginning to approach. Heaving out a sigh, he said to Kup, "Get out of here."

    "I ain't leavin' ya', kid."

    "You are. That's an order."

    The veteran looked as if he was about to argue but seemed to decided against it, knowing it would be no use. With a solemn look, he transformed into his alt mode and drove off.

    Ultra Magnus then rose to his feet and turned in time to see Shockwave standing before him, arm cannon aimed.

    "So this is what it comes down to. This is how the immortal Ultra Magnus meets his end."

    "It would seem so," Magnus said as he clenched his fist and the world exploded.

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

--The Nemesis--

    The pain had finally stopped. The shock of energy had ceased pulsing through his body.

    Falling out of the torture device he had been restrained to, Starscream struggled to pickup his bearings. Rising shakily to his feet, the Seeker saw that Knock Out, his assigned torturer, was nowhere to be seen, nor were the two Vehicons standing guard.

     Limping to the door, he opened it and peeked out down the corridor. No sign of activity on either side. That was odd; usually there were Vehicons regularly patrolling the entire ship. Had he just been forgotten about?

    He thought about returning to the bridge but then stopped to reconsider. If he dared show his face to Megatron, the Decepticon leader would simply give him an even worse punishment than what he had already endured. He would find nothing on this ship but death.

    After double checking to make sure the coast was clear, Starscream sprinted for the hangar.

*  *  *

    "This is mutiny!" Megatron bellowed, now restrained by stasis cuffs and placed alongside the Autobots. "How dare you betray me! How dare any of you betray me!"

    The other Decepticons merely looked from him to Soundwave, who now stood at the Nemesis' helm. Having seen how easily the communications officer had taken out Megatron, whom they had all seen as the most powerful of Decepticons, none of them wished to take on Soundwave.

    "Traitors!" Megatron continued to scream. "All of you!"

    "Serves you right after betraying us, Optronix," Ironhide spat at him.

    Megatron gritted his dental plates, unable to lash out at the Autobot. Optimus simply gave him a sidelong glance, carrying of mix of pity and grim satisfaction with it.

    Soundwave stood there in total silence for a long moment. Then, rather suddenly, six holographic figures materialized before him, their appearances hidden by shadow.

    "You have done well, Soundwave," the center figure said. His voice struck Optimus as very familiar. "I promise you that your services will be repaid."

    "Repayment is unnecessary, Lord Galvatron," Soundwave said. "Seeing our plan come to fruition is enough."

    "You certainly are a mech with simple tastes, Soundwave," said a second hologram. "Have you succeeded in capturing Optimus Prime and Megatron?"

    "Yes, Jhiaxus. Both of them are restrained here on the Nemesis' bridge."

    "Good work," the one identified as Galvatron said. "Keep them there while the Decepticons carry out their invasion. Then, when the time is right, we will make ourselves fully known. Until then, enjoy the show."

    Soundwave bowed. "As you command, Lord Galvatron."

    At that, the six holograms vanished as quickly as they had appeared. Megatron appeared too flabbergasted by all of this to speak, allowing Optimus to question the communications officer himself.

    "That was Galvatron?" he said. "I thought he perished with the original Ark."

    "The Ark's crew never perished," Soundwave said. "They have functioned to this day. And today, they shall make their final voyage."

--Gorlam Prime--

    "They sure are taking their own sweet time in there," Brainstorm muttered, glancing towards the door to the council chambers.

    Strongarm visibly bristled as she carried her axe in her hands. "Is there anything stopping us from  bringing the doors down and shooting at everything?"

    "Our dignity?" Chromedome offered.

    "I think we should wait," Glyph said. "Imagine if we burst in there, guns ablaze, all because we don't fully trust Sentinel Prime just because he's not dead, and it turns out to be a big misunderstanding."

    Brainstorm shrugged. "I fail to see the downsides of that."

    Suddenly, the doors opened and the crew turned to see Elita, Windblade, and Nightbeat being pushed out by imposing figures. None of them looked like Sentinel Prime and the violet one in the lead had a Decepticon symbol emboldened on their chest.

    Strongarm roared in fury as she charged towards the strangers, axe held high over her head. Before she could even reach them, a large mech in green and black lunged forward and tackled her to the ground, pinning her there.

    The violet mech snorted in derision. "Autobots. Impetuous to the last."

    His voice struck all of the Autobots as familiar; disturbingly so. "S-Sentinel Prime?" Glyph stammered.

    He smiled mirthlessly. "Not anymore. Today, you shall know me as Galvatron."

    "Galvatron?" Rewind was astonished. "Nova Prime's first lieutenant? But... but you're an Autobot."

    "In the days when no other factions existed, yes. But after countless thousands of years, a change in ideology becomes necessary. After all, to stagnate is to die."

    "What are you going to do to us?" Elite said bitterly.

    Galvatron chuckled. "Why, nothing at all. You hardly pose a threat to us, and if we didn't want you to know of our existence, Nightbeat here would not have led you here."

    The others glared daggers at Nightbeat, who held up his hands defensively. "Guys, I had no idea, really--"

    "He really didn't," said a hunched-over mech with wings and orange armor plating. "He was our sleeper agent, made just for an occasion such as this."

    "Indeed," Galvatron said. "Now then, you are all free to leave Gorlam Prime and spread the word of our coming. The universe needs to be prepared for its new conquerors. Rollbar!"

    At once, the white and violet mech came forward, bowing before Galvatron. "What is thy bidding?"

    "Return these Autobots to Velocitron and--"

    Before he could finish, the wall behind Rollbar suddenly exploded and a blue and red bot came crashing through. He collided into Rollbar and pinned the mech to the ground, aiming a gun at his forehead.

    "Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt-- except maybe this guy!" the stranger shouted theatrically.

    The Autobots stared at him in bewilderment while Galvatron simply looked wryly amused.

    "And to what do we owe such a visit?" he said sardonically.

    The blue mech pointed angrily at Rollbar. "This bot right here. I'm here to kill him."

    "What?!" Rollbar exclaimed. "Skids, buddy, it's me! Rollbar! Your part--"

    Skids silenced him with a hard backhand. "Not anymore. Not after what you've done."

    Rollbar looked up at Galvatron pleadingly. "My liege, please! Don't let him--!"

    Before he could finish his sentence, he and Skids vanished in a flash of light, leaving the Autobots and Heralds in a stunned silence. After a long bout of it, Galvatron turned to another one of his followers, a blue and white mech with cape-like wings.

    "I believe we've had enough guests, don't you, Scourge?"

    The Herald of Unicron nodded before waving a hand over Elita and her crew, sending them falling through a portal.

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Five

   EDITED 5/17/2015 Took out mention of Gravitas.

CHAPTER FIVE

--Gorlam Prime--

    "Show me your identification."

    The large gray mech had a strong grip on Skids' arm, to the point of creating small dents in it. The Autobot did not so much as flinch, instead raising his gaze to meet the brute's.

    "You don't need to see my identification."

    The mech tightened his grip. "What do ya' mean I don't? Do you not have security regulations where you're from?"

    "Oh, no, we have those." Skids grinned mischievously. "I just never had a need for them."

    Then, with the brute still holding onto him, Skids jumped and flipped himself over the mech's head. He then brought out a gun and fired a dart from it. This caused the brute's optics to go dim before releasing his hold on Skids and dropping to the ground, deactivated.

    After looking around to make sure no one had witnessed the spectacle, Skids made his way towards Watchguard Tower.

*  *  *

    "What?!" Elita was aghast as she stared at Sentinel Prime. "Y-you mean you wanted the Decepticons to start the war again?"

    Sentinel smiled, though it lacked any track of mirth. "It's what needed to be done. It was was only viable option to bring Cybertron to a weakened enough state. The first war between our factions wasn't enough; the Tyrest Accord bought the Decepticons enough time to gather their full strength."

    "This is the biggest load of scrap I've ever heard," Windblade snapped. "Why would you deliberately turn Cybertron into a weakened planet?"

    "In time you will see." Rising from his seat, Sentinel turned to the councilors. "And I do believe that time has come, hasn't it, my friends?"

    The other councilors merely nodded their heads.

    Elita gave Sentinel a suspicious look. "Time for what?"

    "For the veil to be lifted."

--The Nemesis--

    Optimus Prime was at Death's door.

    Or at least, he had been. As the barrel of Megatron's fusion cannon glowed, he thought that death was an absolute certainty. He closed his eyes as he braced himself for the end. He did not welcome his demise, but he was prepared for it.

    A gunshot went off. He felt nothing.

    When he opened his eyes, he was expecting to be in a featureless plane, one of the most common depictions of the afterlife. Instead, he saw that he was still on the Nemesis' bridge. The fusion cannon had ceased glowing, but it was not smoking from the barrel as if it had gone off. He was still alive.

    Shock was plastered on Megatron's face, but it slowly contorted into anger. He then spun around to confront the one who had fired the shot, which had gone straight into his back without inflicting any injury.

    Standing there, away from his station, gun in hand, red visor gleaming, was Soundwave.

    A tumult of emotions raged through Megatron; anger, confusion... betrayal.

    "Soundwave," he growled through gritted teeth. "What... is the meaning of this?"

    Unmoving, Soundwave stared at him straight in the optic. "You shall not kill Optimus Prime."

    Megatron's mouth fell agape. "And why shouldn't I? Who are you to give me orders?"

    "We need him alive. As well as you."

    "'We?' Who is this 'we?'" Megatron launched himself towards Soundwave, seizing the comm. officer by the throat and pinning him against his own monitor. "What secrets have you been hiding from me?! Your leader?! Tell me!"

    He thrashed Soundwave as he said this. His former follower remained stoic as ever.

    "You are not my leader," he said coldly.

    Megatron's optics widened. "What--?"

    Before he knew it, the tables had been turned. Faster than even the naked optic could follow, Megatron was suddenly the one being pinned down, lying face down on the floor. Standing over him triumphantly was Soundwave, whose relaxed body language suggested that he had performed fare more difficult fears than this in the past.

    Everyone on the bridge stood by and watched on in shock. Even the eternally loyal Lugnut did not dare trifle with the one who had felled his glorious leader.

    Once he was sure that no one would challenge him, Soundwave put himself through to all Decepticon channels.

    "All forces: commence the invasion."

--Cybertron--

    "Decepticon ships inbound." Wing Saber gave the other Autobots a grim look as he brought out a pair of swords. "This is it, everyone."

    Ultra Magnus grimaced as he readied his weapons. All around him, others were doing the same; Springer and his Wreckers were loading up their guns, the Aerialbots were already preparing to fly out... it was just like the Decepticons' previous invasion, which had led to the false peace that was now ending.

    He knew full well that no peace would come as a result of this.

    As the other Autobots looked to him expectantly, Magnus gave out his last command. "Roll out."

*  *  *

    So this is what victory feels like.

    Standing on the bridge of his flagship-- a replacement of the one he had lost over a century ago-- Shockwave studied the world of Cybertron as the fleet of Decepticon ships descended upon it. This was hardly the outcome he had been expecting; after everything they had been through, were the Autobots that willing to throw away their lives so recklessly?

    Of course, he wasn't one to complain.

    "The fleet is awaiting your orders."

    Shockwave turned his single-eyed gaze to Slipstream. Although the Seeker's expression was neutral as always, he could see the lust for battle burning in her optics.

    Decepticon savagery at its finest.

    Then, with a nod, he gave the order.

--Gorlam Prime--

    Windblade had her sword out, holding it in a defensive position. Elita and Nightbeat were also reaching for their weapons. Sentinel Prime merely looked on in mild amusement.

    "What are you planning?" Elita demanded. "What's this all about?"

    Sentinel laughed harshly. "This is about what is necessary. This is about what needs to be done, for the sake of the Cybertronian race."

    "What do you even call yourselves?" Nightbeat asked. "You're not Autobots, you're not Decepticons. What are you?"

    Sentinel did not reply. One by one the councilors rose to their feet... and shifted before their eyes, assuming completely different appearances. Then, Sentinel Prime did the same: crimson armor become violet; his cape-like back panels became wings. Helmet antenna became horns, and blue optics became scarlet.

    No longer did Sentinel Prime stand before them. Instead, an ancient warrior long thought dead loomed over them.

    "We are the Heralds of Unicron," he said coldly. "And our day of reckoning has come."

    All three Autobots backed away, startled by the mention of the Chaos Bringer's forbidden name.

    The mech who once called himself Sentinel Prime smiled ruthlessly at them. "And you may call me Galvatron. After all, it will be the name you shall be worshiping from here on out."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIV, Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

--Gorlam Prime--

    The Council of Ancients resided in a circular chamber located at the highest point of Watchguard Tower. The five councilors sat on daises that hovered high up in the air, while Sentinel Prime stood at a golden podium that loomed over those who stood before it, providing him a regal and imposing aura.

    Elita stood before the former Autobot leader, with Windblade and Nightbeat at her side while the others waited just outside the council chambers. Leaning across his podium, Sentinel Prime stared Elita in the eye, his own optics twinkling in a mysterious manner.

    "So then, what do you want answered?"

    "How are you still alive?" Elita demanded.

    Sentinel chuckled lightly. "Was I ever dead to begin with?"

    "We all saw you die," Nightbeat said. "Whether it was there in person or on a viewscreen, the whole world witnessed it."

    Sentinel smiled slightly as he leaned back in his seat. "I was never on Cybertron to begin with."

    All three Autobots stared at him incredulously. "What?!"

    "I had optics on the Decepticons. I knew they were planning an assassination, so I left for Gorlam Prime a few months early."

    "Wait," Windblade said quietly. "You knew the Decepticons were planning to start the war again? Why didn't you try to stop them?"

    Sentinel chuckled again. "Because that's exactly what we wanted them to do."

--Cybertron--

    The weight of the entire world was on Ultra Magnus' shoulders.

    Lives were hanging in the balance. On one end were those of Optimus Prime and Alpha Trion, two beings that every Autobot looked up to. On the other were the lives of Cybertron's entire population. Did he dare try to save both, or would he end up sacrificing them all in the process?

    The clock was ticking.

    I don't know how Prime does it, he thought to himself. All the hard choices he had to make... did he ever make one he regretted for life?

    As he looked upon the city of Iacon through his office window, he sensed the approach of someone from behind. By the sound of joints creaking, he could easily tell who it was.

    With a sigh, Ultra Magnus said, "Before you ask me, Kup, I can tell you right now: I have no idea what I'm going to do."

    Kup grunted as he leaned against a wall. "We could attack their New Kaon."

    "We lack the resources to do that and they would likely execute Prime and Trion the moment we did that." Magnus shook his head as he turned to face the Autobot veteran. "I was never meant to be in this sort of position. I'm... I'm just a soldier."

    "Now you're sounding pathetic," Kup said sharply, spitting out a loose screw. "Put yourself in Prime's boots. Would he sacrifice Cybertron just 'cause the 'Cons had a gun to his head?"

    "No...."

    "And if you were the one 'bout to be executed, would you want Prime to sacrifice Cybertron for your sake."

    "Of course not. But the Decepticons will try to take Cybertron either way--"

    "And are you gonna let 'em?" Kup stormed up to Magnus and jabbed a metal finger in his chest. "This is our home, soldier. Are we gonna fight for it or not?"

    Magnus stared down at the cyan-colored veteran, mulling over his words. Finally, in a grave voice, he said, "Yes, we are. Because that's what Prime would want." Heaving out a sigh, he added, "Get me through to Megatron."

--The Nemesis--

    "Lord Megatron, transmission from Cybertron."

    Megatron chuckled darkly, throwing an offside glance towards Optimus. "I wonder what the verdict is. Put it through, Soundwave."

    The communications officer acknowledged the order and brought up the visage of Ultra Magnus on the viewscreen.

    "Ah, the surrogate Prime," Megatron said with a twisted smile. "How does it feel to be given the same level of respect as--"

    "Can it, Megatron," Magnus snapped. "I have your answer."

    The Decepticon leader waved an airy hand. "Out with it then."

    Ultra Magnus took a deep breath before saying, "In the name of the Autobot Commonwealth, and for the sake of the Cybertronian race itself... we refuse to give control of Cybertron to the Decepticons."

    Megatron shifted in his seat; this was not the answer he had been expecting. "You do realize that your leader's life is at stake here, don't you?"

    "I do," Magnus murmured. "This was hardly an easy decision to make. But I know Prime would not want us to sacrifice our home for his sake. This is what he would have done." He then stared coldly at Megatron. "Give us liberty... or give us death."

    Snarling in rage, Megatron blasted the viewscreen with his fusion cannon. He then whirled to face Optimus, aiming his weapon as his face contorted in fury.

    "How does it feel, Prime, to have you own men turn on you?"

    "They aren't turning on me," Optimus said defiantly. "They are doing what's right. This war isn't about me."

    "It's always been about you!" Megatron bellowed. "You're the hero everyone looks up to! You're the warrior everyone aspires to be! You're the one Autobot who's managed to interfere with all of my plans!"

    His optics narrowed into slits. "But you won't interfere with this one. The age of Primes shall finally come to an end." The barrel of his fusion cannon glowed as it charged up. "Let the reign of the Decepticons begin."

--New Kaon--

    "Well, that is an interesting turn of events," Tarn mused aloud as Ultra Magnus' response was broadcast across all Decepticon channels. "I never would have thought the Autobots would give up on their idols so easily." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Not that I'm one to complain."

    He and the rest of the Decepticon Justice Division turned to face their solitary captive: Alpha Trion, restrained to Kaon's electric chair form. Above and behind him, sealed in a cylindrical container, was the sage's Mini-Con companion, Beta Maxx. The diminutive Autobot pounded on the glass walls of his prison.

    Eager to get to work, Tarn turned to face the hovering cameras that were ready to depict Alpha Trion's upcoming demise.

    "Your leaders have spoken!" he boomed to those watching. "Say farewell to the Autobot you have known for eons. His death shall mark the end of the old age and the beginning of the new."

    He punctuated his statement by charging up his double-barreled arm cannon.

    "Do not bother shielding your eyes. You'll be seeing more of this as the day goes by."