Category: Transformers: Mobian Chronicles

Optimus and Megatron were still sitting in their battlefield, clutching their wounds. Megatron finally broke the silence. “Why DID you say ‘Jolan tru’ anyways?”

“It was all I could come up with in the heat of the moment,” replied Optimus. Megatron nodded. Just then, he looked over Optimus’ head.

“…Odd portals there.” Optimus turned as best he could to see two portals in the sky.

“…The Goddesses?”

“Maybe.” The Ark, Nemesis, and Blue Typhoon then left the portals. The portals closed behind them and Sonic, Amy, Tails, Shadow, Maria, Thundercracker, Knock-out, Ratchet, Goldbug, Treadshot, and Windblade shimmered into view thanks to teleporters.

“You two look like scrap!” grunted Ratchet.

“We feel like it,” chuckled Optimus. Ratchet turned to Knock-out.

“Ark’s Repair Bay or Nemesis’?” he asked.

“Ark,” replied Knock-out. Ratchet then activated his comms.

“Ratchet to Ark. Beam me, Optimus, Megatron, and Knock-out directly to the Repair Bay.”

“Acknowledged,” replied Cliffjumper’s voice. The four then vanished in a teleport beam.

The two medics stabilized their respective factions’ leaders and got to work repairing them. “Spark rate on Megatron?” Knock-out asked Swoop.

“Climbing back to normal,” reported Swoop.

“Energon levels on Optimus?” asked Ratchet.

“Still steady.”

“All right then, let’s wake them up.” Ratchet then keyed in a command and Optimus and Megatron’s optics flickered on. They groaned as they came out of stasis lock. “How are you feeling?” asked Ratchet.

“…Bit of a processor-ache,” replied Optimus.

“Same,” remarked Megatron.

“You boys are confined here until you’re fully recovered,” declared Ratchet. “We can’t have you aggravating your wounds now.”

“…Very well,” answered Megatron.

“Ratchet, could Megatron and I have some time alone?” asked Optimus. Ratchet looked to Megatron. The Decepticon Lord nodded, and Ratchet motioned for his fellow medics to leave. Once they were alone, Optimus looked to Megatron. “…You WERE right in a small capacity on that day,” he muttered.

“…What day?” asked Megatron.

“That day on Mobius. The day you told me that you took command of the Decepticons. You mentioned that I ignored the Empties. I won’t make that mistake again.” Megatron allowed a small smirk on his face.

“What’s this? A concession?” His smirk then vanished. “That’s a difficult admission to make. Primes before you would have been humiliated to say that. Other Primes preferred to die than to address the problems that plagued Cybertron. Primes LESSER than you would rather have burned Cybertron before giving a Decepticon any concession.”

“I understand what you were trying to do…but I think the lesson could have been learned without the use of guns, bombs, warships-!”

“Optimus, if you can’t keep that option open, perhaps you ought to go back to the estate you were raised on. How did Q put it? Ah, yes, ‘It’s not safe out there. It’s wonderous with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross…but it’s NOT for the timid.’ …When’s my trial?”

“…A week after we’re cleared. Your charges are that you incited the Decepticons into war, you betrayed the Autobots, and you harmed alien worlds.”

“I abandoned the Autobots.”

“You still had bots among us that considered you a friend. Now they’re baying for your blood. …I’m moving for a prison sentence.”

“You won’t be presiding over my trial?”

“I’m not impartial in this instance. No, I’m a witness.”

“Who’s the judge, then?”

“…Someone from Dendron Beta, that’s all I know. You DO have a defense attorney, and you’re not under any obligation to say anything you think would implicate yourself or others-”

“Optimus, hold on. I want to make sure I heard that right. An ALIEN is going to be presiding over my trial?”

“Our war went beyond Cybertron and her colonies. There’s too much of the galaxy that hates us. They want some closure.”

“And you agreed to that?!”

“It was the price I had to pay to get the Transformers a permanent seat on the Galactic Council and to pick my successor.” Megatron arched an eyebrow.

“Successor?”

“I’m stepping down as the Galaxy Convoy. It’s someone else’s turn.”

“Who are you picking?”

“I was thinking…Earthia. She runs things unofficially, why not make it official?”

“In that case, I wish her luck.”

The trial for Megatron was a rapid one. His defense attorney deliberated well, but, ultimately, the judge deemed him guilty and order Cybertron to keep him under house arrest until he was deemed well enough to rejoin society. During the trial, the Goddesses kept themselves abreast of Cybertron’s bloody history. Vector Sigma spoke with Optimus once the trial ended. “While his actions were deplorable,” he remarked, “Megatron set a series of events into motion, bringing your people’s awareness of your origins to light much sooner than I calculated. Now, perhaps, when Cybertron’s fully fixed up, it might be possible to melt down your weapons. But, for now, for RIGHT now…there’s a lot of angry people out there. Since they’re aware of your attempts to patch things up with one another…” Optimus realized the implications.

“They’re after our heads,” he guessed.

“You can bet on it.” Optimus stood up and looked around the room.

“…Maybe Megatron did the right thing for the wrong reasons.”

“How so?”

Perhaps what the Autobots most needed, what I most needed…was a kick in our arrogance. I thought that, once I became Prime, all the problems would be solved. …But that’s just ignoring the problem in the first place.” The door chime then rang. “Come in.” Prowl poked his head into the room.

“We’re ready,” he reported.

“…Pax Galactica, here we come,” declared Optimus. He and Vector Sigma then left the room and entered the Council Chambers. There were now new delegations from Cybertron, Mobius, and Voksphere. Optimus saw a pad sitting in front of his seat. It was the treaty awaiting his signature.

“Under the terms of this, the Pax Galactica,” it read, “we, the people of Cybertron and all related colonies, hereby agree to make reparations to the worlds and people we have harmed during our war. In return, we will have our seat on the Galactic Council and help guide the galaxy to a brighter future.” Optimus looked at it, then took up the stylus and signed his name. He then held up the pad.

“Let this mark the end of the Cybertronian Wars,” he proclaimed to the Council, “as we march forward to a new age of peace and happiness! ‘Til all are one!”

“‘Til all are one!” chanted the Council. They then applauded for Optimus. Optimus then raised his hand for quiet.

“There IS one thing I need to do first,” he called, “and that is to step down as the Galaxy Convoy. I only took up the mantle during the Primacron Battles. Now, it’s time for me to pass the torch. Given that’s been the unofficial head of the Council so far, I’d say it’s time to make it official. Earthia of Greengate, I hereby name you the new Galaxy Convoy!” Earthia goggled at the proclamation.

“Hold on a minute!” she protested. “That’s too much power, even for me!”

“You’ve held that kind of power in an unofficial capacity,” sang Basso Profundo. “You are the logical choice.”

“Besides,” continued Optimus, “I need to focus on my people, and I can’t do that as the Galaxy Convoy.” Earthia looked around, hoping for some form of dissent. No one said anything.

“…Very well, I accept. But I would like Ultra Magnus to continue his duties as the Enforcer of the Tyrest Accords.”

“I see no issue with that,” replied Optimus. “Congratulations, Earthia, the new Galaxy Convoy!” Everyone clapped at that. Thus began a new age for the galaxy!

On Voksphere, everyone was enjoying the party celebrating their victory over Primacron. Transformers and organics, even Autobots and Decepticons, mixed and matched. Ultra Magnus found himself chatting up a one-eyed Decepticon femme by the name of Clobber, Lugnut’s granddaughter. “That was you?!” laughed Clobber.

“Yeah, not gonna lie, that shade of pink REALLY didn’t sit well with me,” replied Ultra Magnus. “I don’t know why Sentinel thought I would pass as a femme. My falsetto’s terrible and…well…no amount of femme armor would ever help me disguise my masculine traits, if you catch my drift.”

“Yeah, I hear ya.” Ultra Magnus arched an eyebrow at that. Clobber noticed his confusion. “…Not exactly a skinny model here.”

“And?”

“…Fair point. I guess the war never really cared about appearances.”

“Not when you’re stuck in a trench for weeks on end.”

“You ever dug a trench in Zamojin?”

“I did! I swear, my feet were gonna be eaten alive by those morphobots!”

“Morphobots?! Yikes, and I thought the bearbats were bad!”

“You suffered bearbats on Zamojin?! We really DID have it rough there!”

“Well, here’s to never fighting on that planet or any other planet again!” Clobber raised her Energon cube.

“Here, here!”

“So, you guys were all about tyranny?” Umbra asked Soundwave.

“No, no, no, order,” replied the Xitran survivor.

“There’s a pretty thin line there.”

“Okay, yeah, but people want stability in some capacity. I’m sure even you do.”

“Maybe, but I don’t see the value in imposing it.”

“You’re obsessed with a human and his goofy plays, Chopperface!” Rattrap remarked to Slash.

“I suppose an uncultured rodent like you,” Slash bared her dental plates, “would fail to appreciate a literary giant such as William Shakespeare!”

“Oh, come on, that title’s wasted on someone who wrote something for the peasants!”

“…I thought you said you didn’t like him?”

“That don’t mean I didn’t see his plays. I just needed something to study. Let’s look at the farce that was Julius Caesar and I’ll explain why-”

“FARCE?!”

“Yeah, farce! Look, I knew that Brutus was gonna kill Caesar in the first act! I’m surprised Caesar didn’t see it coming until Brutus stabbed him in the Senate!”

“That, Vermin, is what makes it a tragedy! Caesar couldn’t conceive that his best friend would plot to kill him!”

“And that’s why I call it a farce, Bronto-brain! This guy’s supposed to be a leader of the biggest empire in human history and a military genius, but he can’t even see what’s going on right under his nose!”

“So, how long until we go home?” Shadow asked Sonic.

“What’s the matter, Shadow? Can’t loosen up?” snarked Sonic.

“Maria needs to see what’s happened in the 50 years she’s been…away.”

“What’s the hurry? Mobius is still there, from what Gaia said.”

“I’ve had enough of alien worlds and want to get back! Topaz said she had something she wanted to discuss!”

“Well, we’ll get there once the party winds down.” Amy then appeared and hugged Sonic. Instead of squirming away, Sonic simply hugged her back. Shadow simply arched an eyeridge.

Goldbug and Arcee were simply sitting by a lake and relaxing. Arcee rested her head on his shoulder and sighed happily. “You know,” she mused, “it’s nice to get away from things for a while.”

“Yeah. War seems a little impossible now,” agreed Goldbug. The two bots then heard someone clear their throat. They turned to see Thundercracker and Lux. “Thundercracker? What’s going on?”

“Goldbug, may I speak with you and Thundercracker in private?” asked Lux. Goldbug looked to Arcee. She nodded in understanding and Goldbug got up, following Thundercracker and Lux. They made their way to an empty temple the Vok had constructed for the Goddesses. Lux sat at the altar and sighed. “It’s about your respective bosses, you two.”

“What about them?” asked Thundercracker. Lux sighed as she made a ring of light. The ring then projected Optimus and Megatron fighting. The two bots stared in horror.

“They’re not!” begged Goldbug.

“I’m sorry, but they are,” replied Lux.

“NO!” shouted Thundercracker. “WE WERE ENJOYING LIFE TOGETHER!”

“…Maybe we still can,” mused Goldbug.

“There’s no way this won’t get out!”

“Yes, there is. We just need to swear secrecy. Lux, did they say that their fight would represent resuming hostilities?” Lux thought for a moment, then rewound the footage. She grinned when she came upon Megatron’s first declaration.

“The Autobots and Decepticons, as a collective,” explained Megatron, “have put aside their differences, but you and I can’t afford to until we’ve settled our affairs!” Goldbug grinned.

“Then that’s how we proceed,” he declared. “This is just a brother’s quarrel.”

“A DEADLY one!” remarked Thundercracker.

“Not if what I’m hearing is true,” replied Lux. “It looks like they’re only fighting until one is too exhausted to continue. Thundercracker breathed a sigh of relief.

“Lady Lux, I think you just saved Cybertron again.”

“We can’t keep this from our people, though,” sighed Goldbug.

“…No, we can’t.”

The partiers were told of what was happening on Cybertron and that the fight didn’t involve everyone, just Optimus and Megatron. They all came to the collective decision that they would go home once the fight was over. Everyone boarded their ships and waited for the fight to end. It came down to Optimus throwing Megatron into one final building, then collapsing, then the two bots ending their conversation and waiting in silence. “That’s our cue!” called Goldbug over the comms. “Let’s go home and rebuild!”

The Goddesses opened multiple portals to different worlds, the homes of all the species represented in the allied fleet. The ships went to various portals and the Goddesses and Vok waved goodbye. “Bye bye!” called Gaia.

“Visit us!” urged Lux.

“We’ll have an ambassador for the Council!” cheered Umbra. The portals then closed once the fleet left. Umbra sighed happily. Lux then leaned her head onto Umbra’s chest. Umbra blinked, then remembered how much she missed that, so she rested her hin on Lux’s head. They both giggled happily.

“Gaia,” said Lux, “your mother and I need to get…reacquainted, in a manner of speaking.”

“I get it,” replied Gaia. “You two enjoy yourselves.” Lux and Umbra then dashed off to one of their temples. Gaia then looked to the sky. “…I wonder if Mobius will still have me?” she pondered.

Megatron took the opportunity to grab two long blades of metal from the ground and used them as makeshift pincers. He grabbed Optimus by the neck with them and slammed Optimus into the ground repeatedly, causing all sorts of damage around him. Optimus then planted his feet onto the ground and put his arms around the metal. He snapped them, robbing Megatron of his reach, then he drew his axes. He rushed at Megatron and swung them into Megatron’s torso. They only caused some superficial damage, enough for Megatron to activate his mace and bash Optimus in the face. Optimus recovered in time to grab the mace’s chain and yank it away from Megatron. He then rushed at the Decepticon Lord…only to be reminded of his concealed swords in the most painful way possible, a slash from waist to upper torso when Optimus had both his arms out for a twin-strike. Megatron’s slash managed to make Optimus slump to his knees and fall face first on the ground. Megatron stood over Optimus’ body. It didn’t fade to gunmetal gray, nor did his optics fade. Megatron looked at Optimus’ current face and saw one of…defeat. “…No. …No! Oh, no! No! Nuh uh! This can’t be how our fight ends, Prime! For the years we’ve battled, it’s much too anticlimactic! I DEMAND SATISFACTION!”

“…I…wish I could…accommodate you…” replied Optimus. He then gave a small cough.

“Get up! I MUST destroy you properly!” Optimus then picked himself up.

“Don’t…COUNT ON IT!” His face became one of ferocity. Megatron grinned.

“Ah, yes! That’s more like it, Prime! But you have to admit, your Energon levels can’t be all that good!”

“I may be low on energy, but I still have enough to conquer you!” Optimus then slammed a fist into Megatron’s chest. Megatron scoffed.

“Come on, Optimus, you can do better than that!” Megatron swung his own fist, but Optimus caught it. They pushed against each other, then Optimus forced Megatron’s fingers open, locked his own fingers around his opponent’s, and threw him. Megatron was sent flying again and crashed into another building. Megatron ripped a steel pole out from the ground and jabbed it at Optimus. Optimus got out of the way in time, but Megatron kept twirling his makeshift bo and managed to slam it into Optimus’ head. Optimus was kept on the back foot as Megatron advanced. On Megatron’s downswing, Optimus leapt up and walked along the staff so he could kick Megatron in the head! Megatron shook his head as he dropped the staff. Optimus then reactivated one of his axes and swung wildly. Megatron…caught it by the blade. He grinned at his opponent as Optimus tried to bring the axe closer to Megatron’s shoulder. “You know, Shockwave was kind enough to record your last bout with Nemesis Prime after the Unicron Games. What was it you said to him before you threw him onto Korlonium Crystals? ‘I couldn’t have allowed this to end otherwise’?! He then grabbed the axe and buried it into Optimus’ side. Optimus howled in pain, then he gritted his teeth and took Megatron’s staff and buried it into Megatron’s abdomen! Megatron roared as the staff went through him. Such a wound wouldn’t kill a bot, but it WOULD incapacitate them for a good while until they were given first aid. Optimus then held Megatron above his head and bent him in a way that it exacerbated the pain Megatron felt, then he threw Megatron into one more building. Optimus was breathing rapidly as he stood there, then, after a few seconds, he fell to the ground and clutched where the axe still was in his body. It was taking all his willpower to not remove the axe as he didn’t want to make his internal Energon come gushing out. Megatron got his diagnostics report, then chuckled to himself. “Now THAT’S…the old Optimus…I used to know! …But the battle is over. I have…nothing left for you. You defeated me…fair and square!”

“No, Megatron…” replied Optimus, “I think we’ll have to call this one…a draw!”

“No…I’m mech enough to concede…defeat. …I yield.”

“You do realize that…by doing so…you’re gonna suffer…the consequences, right? I’m bound to have you…tried for treason.”

“Yeah, well…them’s the breaks. You…have to admit…we really went at it, huh? Throughout our careers, we’ve been…fairly evenly matched. …You know, I enjoyed every nano-second of it, Optimus!”

“Sorry, but I could never admit to enjoying the battle. However, it WAS a necessary evil to regain peace. Unfortunately, my dreams of never seeing war are gone forever. I only wish that the bots that come after us will eliminate the evils of war from the universe.”

“Hey, don’t leave the next generation of our allies out just yet! They’re gonna shoot for the same goal too!”

“…Yeah, knowing them, they will.” The two bots just sat there, waiting for their people to come home so they could formally end the war.

The two bots got up after the explosion of weapons energy. “OPTIMUS PRIME: SUPER MODE!” shouted Optimus.

“MEGATRON: CONQUEST MODE!” The two bots assumed their super modes and rushed at each other. They locked hands and tried to push the other back. Megatron managed to get the upper hand and threw Optimus over his head.

“TEMPUS!” called Optimus. He then turned transparent and phased through the ground. Megatron then pointed his fusion cannons at the ground.

“That won’t save you, Prime!” he warned. “I could shoot the ground and-!” He didn’t get very far as Optimus shot him from behind. As Megatron fell, Optimus phased through the ground again, then popped up in front of Megatron.

“Jolan tru.” Optimus then grabbed Megatron’s head and pulled him down to the ground. He kept pulling his opponent’s head into the ground. “Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to sleep!” Megatron then fired both his fusion cannons at the ground, forcing Optimus to rise from the ground and solidify again. Optimus then took to the air with Megatron in hot pursuit.

“Now, if I recall your constant nerd sessions, that’s a Romulan greeting! I thought you Trekkies hated the Romulans as much as the Federation!” Optimus didn’t respond, he just threw a few grenades. Megatron flew past them, allowing them to blow up behind him. “Optimus, as much as I like flying around, I do believe it’s time to get back down to earth!”

“Can’t argue there!” Optimus then maneuvered himself above Megatron and dropped himself onto his brother’s back, forcing them down to the ground. Once they hit the surface, Optimus leapt off Megatron and went to his elemental state. Megatron got up, then looked at Optimus. After a few seconds, he grinned.

“Elemental state, I take it? You know, I never got the chance to use mine!” Megatron then powered up. His steel blackened and shadows flowed out of his eyes. “I suppose you can call this form…Megatron: Shadow State!” He then flung his hands at Optimus, making the shadows strike the young Prime. Optimus then managed to get a counter going and made a fiery dome. Megatron scoffed as he fired dark energy beams from his hands. Optimus launched fire from his own to counter the dark streams. Megatron then activated his fusion cannons and fired two hits on Optimus, one at his chest and another on his Super-mode shoulder, right where his vehicle mode’s rear wheels would be. Optimus got up and performed a knife-hand chop, right at Megatron’s shoulder, where the vehicle mode’s thruster jets rested. It got stuck in the space between jets, making Megatron smirk. “You’re all mine!” He fired his jets, making Optimus shout in pain at the burns he was getting. Optimus then made himself ignore the pain and twisted his hand so that he got a grip on the shoulder armor. He then jerked it clean off! “Wha-?!” Megatron didn’t get a chance to finish his query as Optimus smashed his palm into Megatron’s chin. He then kicked him in the face, sending the Decepticon Lord flying. Megatron brought his cannons to bear, but Optimus responded by grabbing the remains of his wheels, setting them on fire, and throwing them right down the barrels of the cannons before they fired. It was too late for Megatron to abort the firing sequence as the cannons fired, exploding, and making the barrels split and spread open like metal flowers. The built-up energy had managed to push Megatron back a good distance, right into the side of a building. The resulting impact forced him out of his combined elemental state and conquest mode. As Megatron sat himself up, he examined the remains of his fusion cannons and smirked. He looked up as Optimus powered down to his base robot state. “And here I thought you weren’t going to defend yourself! Well, I must say it’s good to have you back to your old self again, Prime!” Optimus simply breathed deeply to catch his breath. Megatron simply laughed. “Yes, this reminds me so much of the good old days on Mobius! Hey, remember Emerald Beach when you, Blackarachnia, and Jazz pulled that Toku-Trio nonsense?! Or how about when I had Sonic roboticized?! Ooh! No! I got it! When Eggman got control of the Allspark?! So much conflict, so little time!” Optimus then recalled what Primacron said when he and Megatron were Optronix.

“Over the eons, the Transformers’ proclamations of peace have proved pointless. You must admit, you love the smell of battle.” Optimus looked at his hand, then clenched it as he looked back at Megatron.

“…I’m…sorry…WHAT?!” Megatron’s declaration of hostilities floored Optimus.

“Oh, don’t tell me you expected us to remain partners once Primacron was destroyed, did you?” asked Megatron. “If you did, then you’re more foolish than I gave you credit for. We were created adversaries, Optimus, though not as Primacron intended. The only way our war can truly end is if one of us demonstrates to the other that they have the strength needed to command Cybertron.”

“I see no need to resume our battle, Megatronus!”

“You know you can’t leave this unresolved! Never! If we don’t finish our war, then everything we’ve done in the past, everything we ever fought for, was as pointless as Primacron said! There can only be one vision that rules Cybertron, understand?! And now that Primacron is out of the way, that leaves only you and me! Optimus, you know perfectly well we can never reign as one! Our war shall continue until one of us falls! And I shall be the last one standing after I crush you!” As Megatron spoke, Optimus became increasingly frustrated.

“I can’t believe you want to start this all over again!”

“For your information, Optimus, the only reason I joined you was to crush Primacron after the truth was revealed! And now that he’s gone, it’s time to take care of the other obstacle that stands in my way!”

“No! You’re wrong!” urged Optimus. “Okay, explain why Thundercracker took the word of the ghosts of Ironhide and his family!”

“Because he’s a fool!”

“No, it’s because he’s tired of war like everyone else is!”

“Optimus, I know you’re the youngest out of the three of us Pax brothers, so I’ll explain it in terms you can understand! Yes, I’m tired of war, but there can only be one vision that dominates a civilization! If that involves war, so be it! And, unfortunately for you, Optimus, it’s going to be MY vision that dominates Transformer civilization, right out to the colonies!”

“…Are you saying that taking out Primacron was just a means to an end?!”

“Yes! Now you’re starting to get it! I suppose you could say I used you to further my own lofty career ambitions! But tell me, is it so wrong to set higher standards for oneself? Well, is it?”

“In your case, yes!” Megatron arched an eyebrow at Optimus’ declaration. “You once had lofty career ambitions, but they became mindless and fueled only by your greed! You’ll stop at nothing to get what you want! I should never have become Optronix Prime with you! I’m sick and tired of all this fighting! I thought once Primacron was defeated, things would get back to normal! The normal I once knew! A normal without us at each other’s throats! I know Sonic would say that there’s no good reason for us to fight!” Megatron just smirked.

“This discussion is all very interesting, but you fail to comprehend your own argument. If you remember, didn’t Primacron mention something about our dilemma? It was when he was boasting about his supposed invulnerability, how his old Unicron body was feeding off our hatred? How did he put it? Ah, yes, ‘As long as hatred exists, I shall remain impervious to attack!’ So, if that’s the case, are you telling me that you’re merely suppressing your hatred of me, or do you actually like me again? …ADMIT IT, PRIME!”

“I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots!” Megatron rolled his optics at Optimus’ deflection.

“You never change, do you? Oh, you can deny your hatred for me all you want, brother, but in your Spark, you know the REAL truth! Now, you might want to raise your gun at me, because we have a little, how shall I say, ‘business’ to take care of! Unless you just want to stand there and let me obliterate you.” Optimus simply looked to the ground in shame. There was something in Megatron’s arguments that, sadly, rang true. He DID hate Megatron…but not in the way Megatron thought.

“…Fine.” Optimus then drew his gun and leveled it at Megatron. Megatron grinned.

“Well, it looks like it’s just you and me, Prime!” he chuckled.

“The time for speeches is over, Megatron!” Optimus’ chest then opened. “Let’s end our quarrel right here and right now!” He then took the empty Matrix out of his chest and chucked it over his shoulder. Megatron’s optics flickered in confusion. He then grinned.

“So, you no longer turn back into Orion Pax without the energies of the Matrix, hm? I guess that shot from the Hydra Cannon altered that.”

“Don’t act so surprised OR disappointed! This is exactly what you wanted! I fight you, not as the leader of the Autobots, but as the leader of ALL Transformers!” At that challenge, Megatron adopted his usual scowl!

“If Primacron was inferior to me and I could manipulate the Goddesses’ desires to my own ends, then you don’t have a hope in the Pit of being superior to me, Optimus Prime!” The two bots then fired their respective weapons and engaged in a beam clash! Optimus then sidestepped the beam and rushed at Megatron, driving his knee into his opposite’s face. Megatron fell and Optimus leapt over him before fishing out his Cyber Key. Megatron smirked and retrieved his own. They then flicked the Keys into the air.

“CYBER KEY POWER!” they both invoked. The Keys inserted themselves into their respective slots, then turned. Optimus got his shoulder mounted missile battery from his smokestacks and Megatron activated his twin fusion lancers. There was another beam clash, but it resulted in an explosion that knocked the two warriors off their feet.

Optronix continued his fight with Primacron. Primacron kept out of the way of the Requiem Blaster’s shots. “Look at you!” taunted the renegade Vok. “You have four eyes, yet you can’t shoot straight!”

“Straighter than you!” replied Optronix.

“It doesn’t matter! You’ll still be destroyed!”

“As long as I’m online, I’ll never stop fighting! Let me tell you right now, the Transformers are not fighting merely to give you the results of your twisted experiment!”

“Why DO you fight then?”

“For peace!” Primacron laughed at that.

“Your insolence is amusing, but I grow tired of it now! …But I AM magnanimous, so I’ll make you an offer. You split into your individual components and each of them fights for one aspect. Optimus of Light and Megatron of Darkness. Once one of them is dead, I’ll determine the results of the experiment…and let the Transformers live while I preach that the victorious aspect will be supreme.”

“Not gonna happen!” snarled Optronix. “You’ll just kill the universe more slowly and us along with it!”

“I see you figured out that not even you are immune to my wrath. You can resist my gracious offer, but it will be at your peril if you do! Now, why don’t you accept and fight for my experiment? Then you will witness the universe finally settle things permanently! It IS your destiny.”

“My destiny is to stop you and spread peace throughout the-!”

“Oh, SPARE ME!” Primacron’s statement made Optronix pause. “…Over the eons, the Transformers’ proclamations of peace have proved pointless. You must admit, you love the smell of battle. Even as I speak, I’m still feeding off the rage of that fleet, making me stronger by the second!”

“…What?” Primacron smirked.

“Did you know that the body that once housed the dark half of my soul is equipped with energy syphons? They’re primed to feed off the energy of all emotions centered around anger. Once Primus and Unicron became me again, the syphons in the Unicron body automatically reprogrammed themselves to transfer the energy to me! Go ahead, one free shot!” Primacron then dropped his guard. Optronix took the opportunity and fired the Requiem Blaster at him. The shot only pushed Primacron back before dissipating. Primacron then grinned.

“No!” whispered Optronix.

“That tickled! You see? As long as hatred exists, I shall remain impervious to attack! It’s time Optimus showed me his true colors! Time for him to admit to himself and the universe that, like his brother, he craves war like a Mobian craves oxygen! You hear me in there, Optimus?! It’s useless to deny it any longer!” Just then, Cosmic Sonic appeared. “Ah, and the head of Optimus’ Fanclub arrives!”

“Are you connected to the lab in any way?” asked Cosmic Sonic.

“…Yes, why do you-?”

“You’ve ignored it at your peril.” Primacron’s eyes widened in a panic, and he turned around to see it begin to collapse in on itself!

“NO! STOP IT, YOU STUPID-!”

“Who are you calling stupid? Me or Starscream for killing his brothers and activating the self-destruct while the Fratricide protocols were engaged?” Primacron whirled on Cosmic Sonic.

“YOU IDIOT! YOU RUINED MY LAB!”

“I’d say that’s the smartest thing anyone can do! Optronix! The Hydra Cannon!”

“Right!” replied Optronix. He combined the Three Powers into the Hydra Cannon, then opened his chest and placed the Matrix into it. The crystal inside it looked different, flashing between blue-white and dark-purple! “They blended the Matrix and Badge too?” muttered Optronix.

“HE’S GETTING AWAY!” called Cosmic Sonic. The two then intercepted Primacron and decked him so that he spun towards the black hole. Cosmic Sonic then fired all his energies into the Hydra Cannon. Optronix aimed the Cannon and put a finger on the trigger.

“Cosmic Hydra Cannon…FIRE!” he called. He pulled the trigger and a teal stream of light erupted from the barrel. It hit Primacron and propelled him towards the black hole.

“SOMEONE! ANYONE! HEEEEEEEELLLLLLPPP!” cried Primacron. No help came. Primacron was caught in the black hole’s gravity and pulled in. Meanwhile the stream of light from the Hydra Cannon enveloped the black hole, making it shrink, and shrink, and shrink until…nothing remained. Optronix and Cosmic Sonic panted, then they fell unconscious.

A set of eyes opened slowly, taking in the scene of an open sky and greenery surrounding them. They also noticed artificial constructs of some kind. Just then, a voice was heard by the eyes’ owner. “Ratchet!” called the voice. “He’s waking up!”

“Thank the Matrix!” sighed another voice in relief. The vision focused and the eyes, or rather, optics, saw Knock-out and Ratchet.

“R…Ratchet?” asked the bot. “Wh…where am I?”

“You’re on Voksphere,” explained Ratchet. “You and Megatron did it!”

“Me and…wait, we’re two people again?!” The bot then sat up and examined his hands and body, confirming that he was just Optimus Prime! “Where’s M-?!”

“Megatron and Sonic are already awake,” replied Knock-out. “They’re waiting for you.” Once he was given a clean bill of health, Optimus was led out of the medical area and they headed towards a pavilion where Megatron, Nightbird, Sonic, Amy, and Blackarachnia were talking with the Three Goddesses. Blackarachnia then caught sight of Optimus.

“PRIME!” she squealed happily. She then pounced on him and tackled him to the ground.

“Easy!” called Ratchet. “He’s just been released!”

“It looks like we did it, brother,” remarked Megatron. “We actually committed deicide.”

“And our children,” continued Umbra, “are starting to break Unicron’s old body down to its individual components!”

“…What about Primus?”

“Vector Sigma is replacing Primus’ Spark with something far more efficient,” replied Lux. “Once it’s installed, I’ll be transforming Primus back into Cybertron, then I’m stripping it of any transformation-related gear.”

“I would rather you didn’t, my Lady. Vector Sigma might need that form if the situation calls for it.”

“…You WANT Cybertron to assume robot mode?”

“With Vector Sigma’s head, if that’s all right.”

“…All right.” Lux looked to her wife and child who just shrugged at the young Prime’s peculiarity. Optimus then noticed Sonic’s dour expression.

“…Sonic? You okay?” he asked.

“I just left Starscream to die,” mumbled Sonic. Optimus then realized what was going on.

“It’s callous, yes, but it was either him or…or everything.”

“Maybe, but I don’t wanna be him again. He’s too…cold.”

“If you really want restrictions on Cosmic Sonic,” offered Gaia, “we’d be happy to discuss them with you.”

“To be frank,” mused Umbra, “I rather like the normal version of you. Much more pleasant to be around. Besides, I always wanted to try and smoke you in a race.” Sonic’s ears twitched as a grin crossed his face.

“A race, is it?” he asked, sounding like his old self. As they talked, Optimus noticed something. He opened his chest and pulled out the Matrix…an empty one. Ratchet and Megatron looked at it and Ratchet gasped. Megatron simply arched an eyebrow.

“I supposed that shot from the Hydra Cannon,” he remarked, “drained the Matrix.”

“The Wisdom of the Ages! It’s lost!” whispered Ratchet.

“No, not lost,” replied Optimus. “We’re all a little wiser now.”

“But the Matrix is empty!” Optimus then turned to everyone.

“It’s up to all of us to fill it again, with the wisdom we accumulate from this moment on!”

It took a few days, but Cybertron was back in its usual planet mode and was transported to its old position in the galaxy. The alliance urged Optimus and Megatron to go there first and there was a Space Bridge on Voksphere constructed from parts of Unicron to do so. The alliance would take the long way to their respective homes while Optimus and Megatron reported on the conditions of Cybertron once they explored what they could. Everyone had gathered to see the two leaders off. “Goodbye, guys!” called Sonic. “See you later!”

“You too, Sonic!” replied Optimus. The Space Bridge then opened and Optimus and Megatron transformed before going through.

They arrived through the Space Bridge near Kolkular. They transformed and examined their surroundings. “…Is…is Kolkular supposed to be…golden?” asked Optimus.

“No,” answered Megatron. Optimus then pulled out a tricorder and opened it, taking some scans. “You’re such a nerd,” scoffed Megatron.

“I never had a chance to nerd out during the war. Gimme a break.” Optimus then got his readings and his optics widened. “Axarite!” he yelped.

“What?”

“The city! Pit, the whole planet! Cybertron’s surface is now made of Axarite!”

“Pretty rare metal.”

“And able to withstand any damage! Sweet Pri…Sweet Lux, this is amazing! Megatron, we gotta-!” Optimus’ happy rambling was interrupted by the familiar whine of a fusion cannon being primed. He turned to see Megatron pointing one of his cannons at him! “…Wh-what’s going on here?” asked Optimus.

“The Autobots and Decepticons, as a collective,” explained Megatron, “have put aside their differences, but you and I can’t afford to until we’ve settled our affairs! Draw your gun, Optimus Prime! Our personal war ends today! It’s time to battle!”

“Primacron! On the screen!” yelped Sunstorm. Primacron looked on the screen to see Optronix Prime and Cosmic Sonic landing on the ring surrounding the lab. Primacron ran his hand down his face.

“My creations,” he sighed, “you shouldn’t even THINK the phrase ‘what else can go wrong today?’”

“Who or what are they?!” asked Skywarp. Starscream took a reading.

“The Hedgehog appears to be Sonic with a new power,” he reported, “but I can’t understand the readings of the new Transformer. Judging by his alt-mode kibble, I’d say he turns into a Penjarg.”

“Haven’t seen one of those in a while,” mused Primacron. “Can you run a Spark-check?”

“That’s part of what’s confusing about these readings. I’m getting TWO Sparks.”

“Show me.” Starscream moved to show Primacron the readings. Primacron alter the Spark-check parameters to account for two Sparks. Just then, a match was found with the Sparks. “…I don’t believe it,” he mumbled. Starscream read the report and his optics widened.

“Optimus? …Megatron?”

“Looks like my old Goddesses made them into one being.”

“We have to stop them!”

“Seekers, deal with the rodent. I’ll deal with the bot.”

Cosmic Sonic and Optronix looked around the area. They couldn’t fathom why their arrival wasn’t detected yet. “…Hey, Sonic, after this,” offered Optronix, “you think we could race?”

“I have no time for trivial matters,” grunted Cosmic Sonic.

“…You know, you’re not usually such a jerk.”

“Here they come.” Primacron and the Seekers appeared via a teleport beam.

“…YOU’RE Primacron?” asked Optronix as he looked at the height difference between them.

“Unfortunately for you, yes,” replied Primacron.

“…You know, Megatron’s laughing at the…how did he put it…little wimp who caused so much trouble.”

“If you manage to survive long enough to split in two again, I’ll make more trouble for him AND Optimus…personally!”

“You know, Gaia gave me all the information she could about my beast mode, the Penjarg. An Avian apex predator living on the continent of Darkness. Able to be domesticated…just not me.”

“I’ll just kill you and get it over with. Not even the Goddesses could get to me.” Optronix drew the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield with his upper arms while his lower pair leveled the Requiem Blaster at the renegade Vok.

“I did.”

“You’ve come the closest, but now you’re in my way!”

“Thank you.”

“Didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

“Yes, you did.”

“…Okay, yeah, I did. …But the flirting’s over, sweetheart. Daddy’s had enough now!”

“So have I.” Optronix fired the Requiem Blaster. Primacron swatted the shot away and fired his own magic blasts, barreling towards Optronix. The two flew above the lab, leaving Cosmic Sonic to the Seekers.

“So, willing to take me on?” taunted Starscream.

“…Us, right?” asked Sunstorm.

“Actually, there’s something I need you to do first.” Starscream then fired streams of light right into Skywarp and Sunstorm’s respective Spark Chambers. The two Seekers screamed in agony, then faded to gunmetal gray. Starscream ended the treatment and Cosmic Sonic arched an eyeridge.

“Why?” he asked.

“Call it…survival of the fittest,” replied Starscream.

“You haven’t taken steps to pass on your genes.”

“Not genetic fitness, political fitness. I understand why Primacron wants to make either light or darkness dominant, but killing everything after the experiment’s over? No, I’d like to see the results.”

“That won’t happen! The universe isn’t your playground!”

“It’s been that way since my creation, and it always will be!” Starscream fired, knocking Cosmic Sonic back a bit. Cosmic Sonic then glowed brighter and fired a stream of energy from his hand. The attack did more damage to Starscream. His wings were reduced to metal shards! As he panted in pain while recovering, he stared in horror at the Hedgehog.

“This is only a fraction of the Goddesses’ power.” Cosmic Sonic prepared another attack. “You WON’T survive.”

“You can’t kill me! Heroes have moral codes!”

“I didn’t say I would kill you, but the black hole will.”

“That’s IF you can breach the containment field!” Starscream became more aggressive in his attacks and fired multiple energy spheres at Cosmic Sonic. Cosmic Sonic simply dodged them and shoved Starscream into the lab. “The center!” thought Starscream. “I’ll go for the center! Not even he can survive a black hole!” He dashed deeper into the lab.

“…Perfect,” thought Cosmic Sonic as he followed Starscream. They went deeper and deeper until they arrived in a room that was filled end to end with rubbish. Machines attached to hoses were sucking up the rubbish and sending it to a central chamber that housed a black hole. Starscream was at a console.

“One more step and I set this thing to self-destruct!” he warned. His hand hovered over a button.

“And die with me?” asked Cosmic Sonic.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand, I don’t intend to sacrifice myself! I have a means of escape available to me! I can leave as I wish, and you can’t fly through the lab in time! If you try to just brute-force your way through, it will trigger the destruction sequence immediately!”

“I have a way to get myself out.”

“Lies! Computer, initiate self-destruct! Priority Alpha Red Nine! Vocal command: Starscream Delta One!”

“Self-destruct sequence: online,” reported the computer.

“Computer, initiate escape protocol! Priority Sigma Green Two! Vocal command: Starscream Alpha Nine!”

“Unable to comply. All access codes now restricted.”

“What?! That’s impossible! Computer, initiate escape protocol! Priority Sigma Green Two! Vocal command: Starscream Alpha Nine!”

“Unable to comply. All access codes now restricted.”

“By who?!”

“Fratricide protocols were engaged.”

“Fratricide protocols?! Explain!” A video of Primacron then appeared on a nearby screen.

“Starscream, if you’re seeing this video, then it means the lab detected you killing another Arti-Vok. I cannot begin to express my shame at you committing fratricide, so I will simply make this lab your tomb. In all likelihood, you tried to initiate the self-destruct to hide the evidence. Well, that’s your mistake. In the event of such a situation, only the self-destruct code would be initiated. Once done, all access codes would be wiped, and you would be locked wherever you are. You were my greatest creation, Starscream. I had thought that would make you raise others up to your level. …My mistake. At least die well.” The video then ended. Starscream turned to Cosmic Sonic.

“Sonic, my…friend!” he gulped. “We’ve been impetuous! Surely we can work something out!”

“…I already did,” replied Cosmic Sonic. “Goodbye.” He then snapped his fingers and vanished! Starscream goggled at the callousness Sonic had adopted.

“Self-destruct will commence in thirty seconds,” reported the computer. Starscream just stood there, his brain exhausting all possibilities of escape before finally grasping that this was it for him. His face then contorted into rage as a ten-second countdown appeared on the screen. He turned his head to the ceiling!

“I’ll be back!” he promised to no one in particular. “Even if it takes a thousand years, I’LL BE REVENGED ON YOU ALL!” The black hole’s containment field then ruptured. The black hole then began gobbling up the lab, with Starscream being the first to be sucked in! Starscream, the first Arti-Vok and the last Arti-Vok survivor…was gone forever.