Category: Transformers: Mobian Chronicles (Arc 23: Seeds of the Future)

Thundercracker was led to the grave site by Optimus and Megatron. They showed off the ghosts and Thundercracker became scared. “Is that what this is?!” he gulped. “You’re bent on showing me my sins?! A trial?!”

“Let’s get one thing out of the way,” replied Firestar’s ghost, “you ran me through with your sword. You made my parents grieve.”

“It’s a little late for sorry now, isn’t it?!”

“It is…but not for atonement.”

“…You really think I CAN atone for what I did?! I’ve tried every path, but there’s no chance of me escaping the Pit for killing a child!”

“Then train a new generation of Seekers,” directed Firestar. “A generation that blends both Autobot AND Decepticons together. …Before that, though, you need to defeat the one who planted the idea in your head during that fight.” Thundercracker arched an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that someone projected their will into you, forced you to think about killing me, then just watched as you did so.” Thundercracker’s optics flickered, then they widened in disbelief.

“…Starscream?”

“Starscream. He made you into his puppet. Now’s a good time to cut your strings and destroy him!”

“Starscream…Starscream! …STAAARRRSCREEAAAM!” Thundercracker then held his sword to the sky. “I say this pledge to all witnesses! Death to Starscream for his crimes!”

“Death to Starscream!” repeated Optimus, Megatron, and the ghosts.

“Good hunting, Thundercracker of the Seekers,” bid Firestar as she and her parents then faded.

“If you need help, you need merely ask,” offered Megatron.

“I’m gonna hold you to that, Sir,” replied Thundercracker.

---

A week had finally passed. Everyone had mastered their super forms and were ready to board the starships on course for the Galactic Council. As everyone was getting ready to board the ships, Optimus and Megatron stood by the teleport pads, facing each other. They then stepped forward. After staring at each other for a few seconds, they moved their hands towards the other and clasped their opposite’s hand. “TO THE UNITY!” called the two leaders.

“TO THE UNITY!” cheered the crowd.

“With this historic handshake,” continued Optimus, “I, Optimus Prime, pledge to both Autobots and Decepticons to fight together! Even if the Council won’t listen to us, we shall prevail to bring peace and harmony to the universe!”

“And to annihilate Primacron’s warped creations!” continued Megatron.

---

Kong Primal looked to Waspinator as the crowd boarded the ships. “I meant to ask, who’s leading you guys now that Saurion’s gone?” he asked.

“…It’zzz Terrorzzzaur,” replied Waspinator as he looked to Terrorsaur. “Tarantulazzz fled back to Animatrozzz to hide with refugeezzz.”

“What about you?”

“…Terrorzzzaur is Wazzzpinator’zzz friend…but not commander. No Predacon izzz! Wazzzpinator zzzick of being evil! Zzzick of being Predacon! And Wazzzpinator ezzzpecially zzzick of getting blown to ZZZCRAP ALL THE TIME! Zzzo, Wazzzpinator QUITZZZ Predaconzzz!”

“…You’re more than welcome to join the Maximals.”

“Go on,” urged Terrorsaur as he approached them.

“…Terrorzzzaur’zzz…okay with Wazzzpinator…leaving?”

“Let’s be honest, you don’t exactly like the Predacon side and only stayed because I was the only Predacon friend you had. Hopefully, you can make more among the Maximals.” Waspinator’s lower lip trembled behind his mandibles, then he burst into tears as he hugged Terrorsaur! “HEY!”

“WAZZZPINATOR ZZZO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT!” sobbed Waspinator. “WAZZZPINATOR GONNA MIZZZ TERRORZZZAUR!”

“…Um…there, there!” stumbled Terrorsaur as he awkwardly patted his friend’s back.

---

Meanwhile, Ransack looked at Override. Override grinned. “Hey, put her there, buddy!” She held her hand out for a shake. Ransack looked to Crumplezone who just shrugged. He then took Override’s hand and shook it.

“I’m only doing this,” he explained, “because we got a greater enemy.”

---

“I can’t believe I’m fighting for harmony!” complained Brawl. “What a load of bunk! I’m a lean, mean, conquering machine!”

“I gotta work with this guy?” muttered Afterburner to himself. “I’m not so sure about this.” Brawl heard that!

“Hey, put it on mute, soldier! The one thing I can’t stand is a smart-mouthed Technobot!”

---

“Well, Sonic, looks like we gotta work together again,” muttered Eggman. “How many times is that? Seven?”

“Eight. Remember the Unicron Games?”

“I remember, I still think it was seven.”

“…Weird, I thought it was eight. …Must have been a dream. I thought we both fought in Soleanna.”

“And you died, but came back to life by the Princess kissing you?”

“…You had the same dream too?!”

---

“I suppose we’re on the same side,” Morgane grunted to Merlin.

“For how long?” asked the wizard.

“…Until either our deaths or until we return to Mobius in victory against Starscream’s forces.” Merlin nodded sagely.

“I can work with that.”

---

“All right, everyone!” called Optimus to the crowd. “It’s time to get down to business!”

“All hands, report to your ships!” directed Megatron. “Set course for the Galactic Council Space Station!” Everyone then lined up and followed their leaders through the transporter beams.

---

Optimus made his way to the Ark’s bridge and looked around again. “Here we go again,” he muttered.

“Sir?” asked Goldbug.

“I’m just getting a little déjà vu. Some time ago, we left this planet to pursue a threat. Now, here we are, leaving Mobius to pursue a threat.”

“The only difference is that the threat is a divine one instead of a mortal one.” Optimus smirked as he turned to the rest of the bridge.

“Ordinarily, I would request someone to play the opening music for the original Star Trek, but we’re pressed for time. No splitting infinitives today.”

“Fleet reports ready,” called Prowl.

“Course laid in, Sir,” reported Cliffjumper. Optimus sat down.

“All ships to the Council Station, maximum warp,” he ordered.

“Maximum warp, aye, Sir.”

---

“The fleet’s moving off,” called Ravage.

“We bring up the rear,” replied Megatron. “Collective warp signature?”

“Warp 12.2,” Strika read from her console. “We’ll get to the Council Station in an hour.”

“Excellent.”

“Last ship’s spinning up its engines,” reported Ravage.

“Spin ours up and get us out of here.” Ravage obeyed and the Nemesis-A followed the fleet.

---

Starscream’s War-world entered Mobian space about an hour later after the fleet arrived. Starscream grinned wickedly as he could as he thought about the prospect of destroying the planet and all traces of the Prime. The boy was too nosy for his tastes. “Skywarp, scan for the Matrix,” he ordered.

“You got it!” replied Skywarp. He keyed in a command. “Scans underway and…FOUND HIM! HE’S BY THE MOON BASE!”

“Oh, how foolish of him! Deathsaurus, report!”

“I’ve got a torpedo ready, my Lord,” replied Deathsaurus.

“Ready another. The first one will destroy Prime as we want. Use the second one to destroy the base.”

“Readying second torpedo…done!”

“Fire one!” Deathsaurus fired the torpedo at the area where “Prime” was. It exploded on the moon’s surface.

“…Readings are still consistent,” reported Skywarp, shocking everyone.

“It should have killed him!” remarked Sunstorm. Skywarp checked his instruments, then his optics widened in horror.

“That wasn’t the Prime! It was a device masking the anti-matter residue in this area! He’s nowhere in the solar system! …He created false readings!” Starscream’s optics widened.

“…Deathsaurus, send a team down to the base! Download whatever data you can!”

“On our way!” Deathsaurus took a team, and they flew down to the base. They were offered no resistance. The team then got all the data they needed.

“Deathsaurus,” Starscream called over the comms, “do you have Prime’s location?”

“I have data…concerning a combined effort against us!” reported Deathsaurus.

---

“Calculating residue trail!” called Skywarp.

“Deathsaurus, return to the War-world!” ordered Starscream.

“…I don’t believe it!” breathed Skywarp.

“What? What is it?!”

“They’re heading towards the Galactic Council Space Station!”

“…They’re going to plead their case!”

“…Orders, Starscream?”

“Pursuit course! Maximum speed!”

“No!” came Primus’ voice in their heads. “Make your way to Voksphere.”

“…Voksphere, why?!”

“They will, in all likelihood, try to awaken your organic cousins and Gaia’s mothers. Do hurry to Voksphere. Unicron, Tornedron, and I will meet you there.” The mental call ended.

“That’s bad!” gulped Skywarp. “If they do, Primus and Unicron will be recombined, and we’ll be hosed!”

“Lay in a course for Voksphere!” ordered Starscream. “Maximum speed!” The War-world then turned and left Mobius’ solar system in a hurry.

Once Megatron retrieved Soundwave and his crew, they returned to Mobius and all the fighters, Transformers and organics alike, gathered with the seven Chaos Emeralds nearby. Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow, Megatron, and Optimus then took the stage and faced their current students. “Well, everyone,” began Sonic, “I never thought I’d see the day, but today’s the first day of Chaos Emerald training. It’s time everyone got a Super form.”

“With the threat of Tornedron and the fact that the Emeralds were a Vok creation in the first place,” continued Knuckles, “we need to be able to use them against Starscream’s forces.”

“Now, for those who were unsure, since we were banned from having a seat,” called Optimus, “don’t panic. Earthia managed to co-sign my Omega Request. We’re allowed to plead our case and debate alongside the rest of the Council. So, with all that, let’s get to it. We now have a week before we meet the Galactic Council.”

“Now, the use of the Emeralds doesn’t come from strength,” lectured Shadow, “it comes from a thought, a happy thought. Now, I know that for some of you, myself included, it’s a challenge, but there ARE happy thoughts inside our minds. Now, close your eyes everyone.” Everyone obeyed.

“We don’t expect any of you to get it on the first try,” remarked Megatron. “In fact, it would be a miracle if you do.”

“Now, imagine a ball of light,” instructed Knuckles. “It can be whatever color you want. That ball…is the very energy of the Emeralds. See that ball! You can grasp it! Each and every one of you will be granted all sorts of powers once you grasp that ball. Forget everything. Don’t bring up the fact that we’re about to fight Starscream’s side. Think on nothing but that ball. Next, think of the one thing that makes you happy, the thing that makes you very, VERY happy! Now, place that happiness within the ball, and release it through yourself!” The whole audience was trying to do as instructed.

“…Did it work?” asked Rattrap.

“…No,” sighed Shadow. “There must be a step-”

“HOLY-!” cried out Topaz. Everyone looked at her and goggled.

“…Sweet Primus, it’s a miracle!” whispered Optimus. Topaz was hovering near Crankcase’s head (much to his terror), her eyes were amber, her hair was golden, and a gold aura surrounded her! Optimus dashed towards her. “Topaz, what were you thinking of?!” he asked. “It could help us all!”

“I…I just…” stammered Topaz as she powered down, making the Chaos Emeralds fly, only for Gaia to catch them and recharge them instantly, “I just thought of…home! Mobius!” Optimus smacked his forehead.

“Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?! It’s so simple! It’s how I got it!” He returned to the stage as Knuckles began the lecture again.

“Okay, we’re gonna try again,” he said. “Only, this time, think of home! Your home! Every happy thought that makes you think of home, whether it be Cybertron, Mobius, or Nebulos, wherever you came from! Now, close your eyes.” Everyone did so. “Now, concentrate! Forget everything except what we’re all hearing now! …Now, imagine a ball of light, whatever color you see. Now…think of…home! Think of Animatros, Nebulos, Velocitron, wherever you came from! Now, take that thought, put it into the ball of light, and release it through yourself!” Everyone tried again. Their teachers grinned as they saw the results.

“Open your eyes,” chuckled Optimus. Everyone did so and were stunned! Everyone, organic and metallic, was golden and surrounded by a gold aura! …All except Knuckles. His was…a lighter shade of his usual fur color.

“…So that’s why you don’t usually turn Super,” snarked Shadow.

“What?” asked Knuckles.

“I guess real men DO wear pink.” Knuckles got the hint and snarled.

“It’s not pink! It’s a radiant magenta!”

“There’s nothing wrong with pink,” assured Amy as she finished examining her now golden quills.

“You and Arcee are pink! I turn magenta!”

“Everyone, let’s not argue of what does and doesn’t constitute pink,” chuckled Optimus. “We all managed to tap into the Emeralds…and learned that Gaia can recharge them in an instant.”

“I always could, but I dared not, should Unicron decide he needed them,” remarked Gaia.

“Well, in any case, we all learned how to get a super form and…Dr. Eggman, what happened to you?”

“What do you…?” Eggman looked down to see that his rotund shape had altered. Instead of being obese, he was muscular. As he examined himself, he grinned.

“OH YEAH! I SHOULD HAVE CUT TO THE CHASE YEARS AGO!” he cackled. “Gyms, you’re nothing more than a bush-league sweatshop!”

“Okay, that’s enough!” called Gaia. She snapped her fingers, and everyone went back to normal.

“Aw!” protested Eggman. Gaia gathered up the Emeralds.

“We’ll return here tomorrow and learn more skills,” called Megatron. “Right now, get some rest.” The crowd dispersed. Megatron then noticed Optimus heading off somewhere.

---

Optimus arrived at Ironhide and Chromia’s grave markers. He knelt by them. “Hey Ironhide, hey Chromia. …Yeah, I’m back, though I don’t have good news. …I don’t know if you noticed, but we’ve put aside our differences again.” Optimus then heard footsteps and turned to see Megatron approaching.

“Talking to Ironhide and Chromia?” he asked.

“Yeah, just about to tell them-”

“About the truth of our Gods?” asked a voice. The two bots stared at each other, then turned, then promptly yelped in surprise as transparent version of Ironhide, Chromia, and a young femme with earth motorcycle kibble stood by the grave markers.

“I must be seeing things!” gulped Optimus.

“If you’re seeing things, so am I!” muttered Megatron.

“Gaia granted us permission,” assured Ironhide’s ghost. “We learned about Primacron and his experiment when we died.”

“It’s good to see that you’re banding together,” sighed Chromia happily. The young femme just glared at Megatron.

“Megatronus,” she greeted.

“…Firestar,” returned Megatron.

“That’s Firestar?!” asked Optimus. Firestar’s face became more pleasant when she saw Optimus.

“And you’re the bot that gave Mom and Dad some sanity after my death,” she replied. She held her hand out for a shake. Optimus accepted and was surprised he could touch her.

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

“No doubt.”

“Optimus, Megatron,” Ironhide cut in, “we can’t do much because we’re dead, but there IS a way for you to beat Primus and Unicron!”

“There is?!” asked Megatron.

“You need to recombine Primus and Unicron into Primacron,” elaborated Chromia. “Tornedron also can’t absorb Chaos energy. To recombine Primus and Unicron, you must awaken Gaia’s mothers and her half-siblings. Once he’s gone and Primacron is one again, only then can you defeat him!”

“So, we need the Vok’s help,” muttered Megatron. He then looked to Optimus. “There IS something we need to do, Optimus.”

“Oh?” asked Optimus.

“Something that will unite us in our common goal against Primacron.” Megatron then pulled out an elaborate, empty container.

“…The Rite of Oneness?”

“The very same. We must not rest until Primacron’s machinations are undone.”

“…Then let’s get to it. Ironhide, Chromia, Firestar, can we avail upon you to be witnesses?”

“The dead are witnesses to every time someone’s performed the Rite of Oneness,” replied Chromia.

“But yes, we will,” Firestar finally answered. Optimus and Megatron took opposite sides of the container, then held their right pointer and middle fingers on their left wrists.

“I, Megatron, the one who suggested this ritual, proclaim the following vow: neither of us shall rest until Primacron’s twisted plans are undone permanently and Primacron and his armies are removed from the universe!”

“I, Optimus Prime, the one who agreed to this ritual, repeat the vow: neither of us shall rest until Primacron’s twisted plans are undone permanently and Primacron and his armies are removed from the universe!” They then removed their fingers from their wrists and opened a slot in them, then they held their wrists over the container, letting their innermost Energon flow out.

“To symbolize the strength of our agreement,” announced both bots, “we each contribute a portion of our most precious bodily substance, our fuel, our innermost Energon, and let our contributions mix and join as one!” They closed their wrists and pressed a button that ignited the fuel. “Now, with this sacrifice, so shall our bond be sealed! Whosoever breaks the bond gives his life in forfeit according to Cybertronian law!”

“And we serve as witness to your vow,” called Firestar. “Now, I need to see Thundercracker.”

“…Why meet your killer?” asked Megatron.

“Because he needs to know how much of him really was behind my death.”

On a Worldsweeper-class vessel, Shockwave’s old ship, the Enigma, Misfire was narrating to himself. “I wish I could say I was surprised, but…it was only a matter of time before we turned on each other. Our crew consists of Autotroopers and full-fledged Decepticons. War or not, shooting and killing each other’s what we do best. That said, I didn’t think things would fall apart as quickly as they did after Gaia brought us back…or as violently!” He shot someone who rounded a corner. The person, Rumble, then fell. “Whatever bonds we forged over the past few months were burnt the moment the first shot was fired. …Can you burn bonds?” He stepped over Soundwave’s body. “Soundwave, at least, tried to restore order. When he was killed (and Primus, was that messy), all Pit broke loose and I can’t help but feel…Of course, you can! ‘Burn bonds!’ It’s a saying! People say it! FOCUS, Misfire! You’re fighting for your life! …Misfire. Really weird when you say your own name in your head. MISfire. MisFIRE. …SHATTER! You SHATTER bonds, you don’t BURN bonds! Who in the Pit BURNS bonds?!” He then spotted an Aero-type Autotrooper. “Aero-379, the first to fall. Still can’t believe he didn’t get back up. All of which means there’s just the two of us left. Me and-”

“WACKYY-BLADES!” (SPINISTER!) shouted Spinister as he barreled towards Misfire and decked him in the face. Misfire readjusted his jaw and glared at Spinister.

“You just shouted out your own name, you Pinhead!”

“Twirl! In the mouse’s church!” (Yes! To confuse you!)

“Yeah?! Well, confuse THIS!” Misfire then headbutted Spinister in the chest and pushed him into the wall.

“Beetles don’t like peoples!” (That doesn’t make any sense either!) Spinister then kicked Misfire away. “Fishhook!” (Enough!) Misfire then sprawled out on the floor. He tried to pick himself up, but Spinister’s gun was right at his head. “The worms are in my head! They dress up in socks, Toehole!” (I would have waited an eternity for this! It’s over, Misfire!) Misfire simply smiled.

“…Yeah, fair enough.” A shot then rang throughout the ship and Misfire…stared at the dart that attached to his forehead via magnetism.

“Flappy bir…MOON BUCKETS! THE HAMMERS OF MY TROUSERS SMASH PILLOWS! KEEP YOUR GEESE IN THE SUN!” (What the…CRANKCASE! THAT WAS MY SHOT! YOU’RE NOT EVEN PLAYING!) complained Spinister as Crankcase twirled his gun.

“True,” replied the grumpy Decepticon, “but I can’t listen to someone else’s party without wanting to mess with their holo-displays.”

“If anyone’s hacked off,” grunted Misfire as the “corpses” stood up and brushed the mag-darts off themselves, “it should be me! I really thought I had this one in the bag!”

“Flies buzz in your scalp. Make honey as you parade through skirts.” (You get distracted too easily. You bring the voices in your head out in the open.) replied Spinister.

“They’re called ‘Thoughts’,” grumbled Crankcase. “Let me know if you ever have one. Although, you’ll probably try and shoot it out your brain.” Spinister arched an eyebrow. “…That’s where thoughts live.”

“Bloop, dancing puffercows.” (Yeah, like squirrels.)

“…Yeeeaaah.”

“I think Spinister’s referring to your self-narration,” remarked Aero-379 as he got a particularly massive dart off his where-the-sun-don’t-shine. “Whenever we play Shoot Shoot Bang Bang, you-”

“HEY!” snapped Crankcase. “I copyrighted the name! You have to pay me whenever you say it or invent your own!”

“…Whenever we play Mr. Grumpy Head Wound Toting Decepticon Doesn’t Understand How Trademarks Work, you always narrate to yourself aloud and gaze into the distance.” As Crankcase prepared to strangle the Autotrooper, Misfire gazed off into the distance.

“Aero-379’s right,” he remarked. “I DID have a peculiar habit of-”

“See?! You’re proving my point here!”

“Um, dudes?” called Soundwave as he approached the group. “I just did a headcount and found myself asking why you’re all here!”

“A question I ask myself every day,” grunted Crankcase.

“Dude, there’s no one at the helm! Why aren’t you piloting this boat?!”

“Oh, chill the Pit out! This crate flies itself!”

“And successfully navigates itself away from black holes?!” Crankcase opened his mouth to argue further. Nothing came out. His eyebrows then raised up in fear, then everyone else realized what Soundwave was saying! They dashed towards the bridge and manned their stations to escape the black hole.

“Pools swim for markers!” (Engaging warp drive!) called Spinister.

“Altering heading for 279 Mark 301!” reported Crankcase.

“Guys, warp engines aren’t responding!” yelped Flywheels.

“Activate shields!” called Soundwave. “Use the ones pointing towards the black hole to push us away from the gravitational well!”

“Activating shields!” replied Ratbat. “Intensifying areas aimed at the black hole! …Damn! Shields are unable to push us away!” Just then, the ship lurched.

“…Magic plants the fish in the desert!” (A ship’s locked on to us with a tractor beam!) reported Spinister.

“Can you identify it?!” asked Soundwave. Spinister checked his console.

“…Pebbles swim with moths in the lake, meowing at the sunset!” (I can’t get a clear reading, they’re cloaked somehow!)

“I guess visuals are out of the question,” grunted Crankcase.

“We’re moving away from the black hole!” cheered Flywheels.

“We just escaped the gravity well!” reported Ratbat. “Our shields are now pushing us away!” Soundwave sighed in relief.

“We’re on impulse power now,” called Crankcase.

“All stop,” ordered Soundwave. “Rumble, try and send thanks to our mystery saviors.”

“Got it,” replied Rumble. He opened a comms channel and sent their thanks. “…The ship wants to decloak to explain their intentions,” he answered back.

“On screen.” Rumble activated the screen and a ship shimmered into view. Everyone’s optics flickered in confusion.

“Home has hearts of iron, and coal burns pink,” (It’s Cybertronian, but I don’t recognize the design.) remarked Spinister.

“Run a Spark check,” Soundwave ordered Misfire.

“Running Spark check.” Misfire waited a few seconds, then his optics went wide. “Spark signature match found! It’s Megatron’s!”

“Red alert!” Soundwave called in his monotone voice and deployed his battle mask. The alarms sounded and the crew resumed their stations. “Target weapons at their engines!”

“They’re hailing us!” called Rumble.

“Open channel.” Megatron’s face then appeared. Everyone arched an eyebrow. “…Current appearance looks…robust,” remarked Soundwave.

“I thought I’d try a new look after defeating Unicron,” explained Megatron. “Soundwave, I know we didn’t part ways on the best of terms, but we need your help. It concerns our Gods.”

“Vector Sigma’s story: known to us. It is the current reason why we are adrift, doing odd jobs to survive.”

“I’m afraid the situation’s worse than you realize. Starscream’s after our collective head for daring to find out. We’re trying to get the Galactic Council on our side, but we need options.”

“Leave you lot alone for one minute, and look what happens,” remarked Misfire. “Everything’s gone to pot!”

“Soundwave, the Decepticons need you back something fierce! You need a way to defeat Starscream as much as we do!” Soundwave simply stared at Megatron. After a few seconds, he then lowered his battle-mask.

“Why should I take orders from you again? You almost set the D.J.D. on me before Deadlock took them.”

“Because what Starscream is planning is more dangerous than anything I could concoct. Soundwave, we must put aside our differences and work together. If and when we win, we can go our separate ways once more and no one will pursue you. You have my word.”

“…Fine, we’ll go with you.”

“Soundwave!” yelped Crankcase.

“One condition!” continued Soundwave. “You promise us that no one takes our head as we visit Cybertron during our travels!”

“Of course,” assured Megatron.

“Then let’s get going.” The call ended. “Crankcase, follow Megatron’s ship.”

“…Aye, Sir,” grunted Crankcase. The two ships then left that sector of space.

On a moon orbiting a blue and green planet, there was a base. The base once housed multiple Decepticons, now it housed Eggacons, the Combaticons, Morgane, and Dr. Eggman. Eggman and Morgaine were snuggling in the command chair within the base’s main command center, just enjoying each other’s company. After returning from Cybertron, Eggman and Morgaine tied the knot and did everything they could to make the lives below feel like Hell. Though, the Autobot forces below were putting a damper on the Eggman Empire’s plans, so they decided that a little break was needed. “…What should we attempt to conquer next?” mused Eggman. Morgane thought it over for a few seconds.

“…You know, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to see Adabat.”

“Ah, get some old Southeast Asian ideas?”

“Something along those lines.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go! Computer, inform the Combati-” Onslaught then ran into the command center in a panicked state.

“The sky! A portal! Danger! All sorts of-!”

“ONSLAUGHT ROBOTNIK!” snapped Eggman. Onslaught then stood to attention. “My boy, rushing in here in a panic is ill-becoming of a soldier. Now, explain to me, calmly, what’s going on.” Onslaught drew in a breath before explaining.

“A Space Bridge Portal opened near us!”

“WHAT?!” Eggman and Morgane abandoned the seat and checked the readings. “That’s almost inside our defense perimeter! Red alert! Raise shields and arm weapons!” The alarms rang throughout the base, the Combaticons took their battle stations, and the Decimator, Revenge, and Whale Shark left the hangars and combined into the Fatal Consequence. The Cybertronian fleet then poured out of the Space Bridge portal before it closed.

“Autobots, too?!” asked Brawl as he saw the Ark.

“Wha?” asked Eggman. “Why are both sides coming out at the same time?! And what’s that ship right there?!” Eggman pointed to the new Decepticon Flagship. “Where’s the Nemesis?! …Unless it was-”

“Doc, the new vessel’s hailing us,” reported Swindle.

“Put it through!” Megatron’s face then appeared.

“Apologies for startling you,” he greeted, “but there’s a matter that Optimus and I must take care of as soon as possible on Mobius.”

“Oh no, you don’t!” snapped Eggman. “I won’t suffer Decepticons, or Predacons, or-or Vroomacons, or whatever the heck subgroups you brought! I’ve had it with the Transformers and I’m going to see their immediate destruction!”

“Sounds like you and Starscream are competing for that goal.” Eggman blinked.

“…He’s trying to destroy…isn’t he a Transformer?”

“A Transformer that predates us, according to Vector Sigma. Look, why don’t we all meet with the Queen and Gaia and explain the whole thing?”

“…Fine, I’ll entertain the story for now.”

---

Gaia looked towards the sky as she stood outside the Autobot base. She sighed as she felt the wind blow past her. “Such life,” she whispered to herself. “And such a blend of magic and science! …They may surpass…hm?” She then saw people shimmering into existence. She blinked as she saw them. “Optimus? …Megatron? …Sonic? …Eggman?” Her eyes widened as she saw the last person. “VECTOR SIGMA?!”

“Greetings, Half-sister Gaia,” replied Vector Sigma.

“Wait, how did you-?!” Gaia then looked at Optimus and Megatron. “…You know your origins.”

“And our race’s ultimate fate once one side obliterates the other,” remarked Megatron.

“We need to talk to Aleena and inform her of the situation,” urged Optimus.

“…T-AI, did you get all that?” Gaia asked over a communicator.

“Aleena’s been informed and she’s on her way,” replied T-AI.

“Excellent. We have a story to discuss.”

---

Aleena, Merlin, Sonic, Eggman, Morgane, Gaia, Vector Sigma, Optimus, and Megatron sat around the conference table and Vector Sigma and Gaia told them the events leading up to Primus and Unicron. “So, you can see how dangerous the situation is,” said Gaia as she finished the tale. Eggman looked over his glasses.

“This is all a very interesting story, but…why am I listening to it?” he asked. Optimus and Megatron winced as they looked at each other. Sonic decided to speak for them.

“The instant they found out,” he explained, “Starscream told Tornedron to go to Cybertron. Unicron had also gotten back to his old body and munched on a planet and its people before he made his way to Cybertron.”

“And we have reason to believe,” continued Vector Sigma, “that they will destroy any world that was touched by the Transformers’ original conflict.” That made Eggman worry.

“…What?!”

“They want a blank slate so they could restart the experiment anew,” elaborated Gaia.

“Are you telling me,” hissed Eggman, “that there are people out there that intend to destroy this planet and one of them knows its strengths and weaknesses?!” The silence answered his question. “…You know, the Metarex had a spy within the Black Block Consortia! I read the intelligence reports on the off-chance I wanted to conquer the universe! Megatron cured me of that, but I still ask you this: do you have any idea what kind of response this will provoke from the Consortia and their employers, the Galactic Council?!”

“They’ll probably want to conduct a siege-defense strategy for any vulnerable worlds,” remarked Optimus. “We understand that, but any strategies like that would have to be a joint operation between us and the Consortia.”

“Come on, Optimus! Even in the small amount of research I did on them, the Council and Consortia won’t be interested in any joint operations! They won’t believe your story about the Vok or their Goddesses or some rogue scientist that split himself into YOUR Gods! They will assume that the modern Transformers created Tornedron, and they will respond accordingly!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Megatron.

“It means that they will seize this opportunity to eliminate Cybertron and its allies and colonies! They’ll send fleets to glass any worlds allied with you lot, whether they fly Autobot or Decepticon colors!” At that point, Vector Sigma stood up.

“We will cooperate in a coordinated assault on Starscream’s forces,” he hissed, “but we will NOT allow our allies to suffer because of us!”

“Of course not,” agreed Eggman. “So Cybertron and its allies will send their own fleets to protect their own, but, eventually, the two sides will meet, tensions will rise, nerves will fray, and someone on either side will make the tiniest, fatal mistake!”

“And a war bloodier than our own,” remarked Megatron, “will erupt and destroy both sides, making it easier for Tornedron to mop up the remains.”

“It’s not a thought I relish, Megatron.”

“Neither do we,” growled Optimus as he put his head on his joined-together hands.

“That’s why we must plead our case to the Galactic Council before that conflict even starts,” declared Aleena.

“Well, unless I mistake what Megatron told me once upon a time, the Transformers are forbidden from speaking to the Council. So, I don’t see how we can prevent this war from beginning.”

“We have an ally and a way to make our case,” explained Optimus. “Cosmo’s mother, Earthia, has a seat on the Council. In fact, the Seedrians are one of the Founding Members of the Council. If Cosmo could persuade Earthia to co-sign an omega level request, we can speak to the Council and debate alongside them.”

“You better hope the Council is receptive to your case,” warned Eggman. “Because if they’re not, then we’re all finished.”

“I’ve already told Cosmo, and she’s talking to her mother. I’d say we have a good chance. In the meantime, we need someone to help coordinate communications if we decide to go to war against Starscream’s fleet.”

“I’ll take the Nemesis-A to Soundwave’s position,” offered Megatron.

“…He’s not gonna be in a listening mood with you around,” remarked Optimus.

“No, but he will listen to my case at least.”

“Scorponok, how go the Space Bridge repairs?” Megatron asked the Metrotitan.

“Swimmingly, my Lord, especially with the Gigantians’ help. I severely underestimated Metroplex and his people.”

“How soon can we begin evacuations?”

“Within the mega-cycle.”

“Excellent! Keep up the good work!”

“Will do!” Megatron then headed off to meet with the rest of the Decepticons in christening the new Decepticon ship. He hopped onto a teleporter pad and was beamed into the ship’s bridge. It was certainly more spacious than the Nemesis. Thundercracker, Shockwave, Strika, Waspinator, and Ransack stood by. Megatron then took up a bottle of Engex.

“Decepticons, we lost a magnificent ship,” he began, “but we gained a new one. However, much like our previous one, this ship is more than engines and weapons and computers. It’s our home as we journey through the stars and fight against Starscream’s forces. If we treat it right, it will always take us home. With that,” he raised the bottle, “I hereby christen this ship DWS-4120-A, the newest ship to carry the name…Nemesis!” He smashed the bottle on the wall and it broke. Everyone clapped after that. Just then, Ravage came onto the bridge.

“Lord Megatron, the Space Bridge is complete,” he reported. Thundercracker whistled.

“That was fast,” he remarked.

“Are the evacuation ships being boarded?” asked Megatron.

“They were already boarded while the Space Bridge was being rebuilt, my Lord,” replied Ravage. “We’re ready to go at your discretion.”

“Has Optimus been informed?”

“Metroplex already reported the news to him.”

“…Then it’s time to stop stalling and evacuate Cybertron. I trust we know the first planet?”

“Gigantion, because it’s the closest.”

“Good. Set the Space Bridge for Gigantion.” Ravage saluted, then gave the necessary orders.

---

The massive starships housing Cybertronian refugees hovered in the air as the Space Bridge opened a portal to Gigantion. The first three were waved through. Once all three went through the portal, it closed as the coordinates changed to Velocitron. The portal reopened and four ships went through. The coordinates were then changed to Animatros and allowed four ships through, then three to Nebulos, and the last two were set for Mobius. As the last two went through, the Cybertronian fleet, led by the Ark and the new Nemesis, were set to follow them when… “Optimus!” called Cliffjumper on the Ark. “Up in the sky!” A golden cloud of light was approaching.

“Tornedron!” whispered Optimus in fear. Just then, Galen appeared on the Ark’s bridge via a teleport beam. “Galen, wha-?!”

“That wasn’t me!” yelped Galen. “Fortress did that!”

“The Metrotitans are hailing the fleet!” called Prowl. “Audio only!”

“Put it through!” The four Metrotitans then appeared.

“Galen, if you’re receiving this,” began Fortress, “it means I don’t want you to come with me on this as it’s a suicide mission.”

“With Tornedron in our sights, we can’t allow any of you to die at Tornedron’s whim,” continued Scorponok.

“Once the fleet is through, we’re closing it so we can fight Tornedron head on,” supplied Metroplex.

“We’re aware that we can’t destroy him,” rumbled Trypticon, “but we CAN slow him down so you all can make your case to the Galactic Council.”

“Galen, live well and keep your fellow Nebulans safe,” wished Fortress. “You honored Cerebros and I with your friendship.”

“Quickmix, it is my honor and privilege to name you the new Megalo Convoy,” bid Metroplex. “Lead our planet wisely.”

“Decepticons, I know our relationship was rocky,” continued Scorponok, “but being small DID give me a new perspective. To you, my fellow Predacons, I wish you success in your new partnership with the Maximals.”

“And Lord Megatron, if you’re thinking of telling me to come with you,” finished Trypticon, “I’m sorry, but I must disobey. I was foolish enough to follow Starscream’s orders, so I must atone. Lead the Decepticons well.” The call then ended.

---

Metroplex keyed in a command on his massive wrist computer and the Cybertronian fleet then went through the portal on automatic. Once they were through, the portal shut down and the Metrotitans looked to the sky. “Never thought I’d be fighting side-by-side with Autobots,” muttered Trypticon.

“What about side-by-side with fellow Metrotitans?” asked Metroplex. Trypticon looked to his Autobot rival, then smiled as much as his lizard-like mouth would allow.

“Yeah, I can work with that.” Tornedron then hovered over the Metrotitans and the face of a corporeal Vok appeared in the cloud.

“Where are your people?!” demanded Tornedron.

“Beyond your reach!” snarled Scorponok.

“Nothing is beyond Tornedron’s reach!”

“Tornedron!” called Fortress. “I demand that you leave this planet and surrender to us immediately!”

“You cannot make demands of ME!” Tornedron then shrank down and made itself into the image of a massive, winged-lizard the size of a Metrotitan! The Metrotitans then pulled out their Cyber Keys.

“Never thought I’d use this again,” muttered Metroplex. He then looked to his comrades, then they flicked their Keys to the sky and summoned energy from their Sparks.

“CYBER KEY POWER!” they all shouted as they fired their energies into the Keys. The Keys then entered the slots on their backsides, then turned, unlocking their arsenals. Fortress raised his hands so the guns tucked away in his hips could swing out. Scorponok’s tail stinger and shoulder weapons leveled themselves at Tornedron, Metroplex’s shoulders deployed twin-barreled guns, and a set of shoulder cannons swung up from Trypticon’s back while a massive cannon sprouted from between his optics. They all leveled their guns at Tornedron.

“FIRE!” shouted Fortress Maximus. The four fired their weapons, but Tornedron simply absorbed the energy and grew bigger. It then grabbed the four in one clawed fist and drained them of their energy, thus extinguishing their Sparks. It then released its grip and the four Metrotitans fell, offline and gunmetal-gray. Tornedron then smirked as it looked at the corpses. It returned to its cloud form just as Unicron appeared.

“Termination sequence has-” Tornedron was then assaulted with a mental attack.

“FOOL!” roared Unicron. “YOU LET THEM ESCAPE! THE METROTITANS WERE NOTHING MORE THAN A DISTRACTION!”

“ENOUGH!” boomed a voice. Tornedron’s torture then stopped, and it recovered as Unicron pointed his maw at the equator.

“So, you’ve finally awakened, Primus!” he growled. As the voice spoke, lights from inside Cybertron’s Sonic Canyons glowed.

“Yes, I am awake,” replied the voice, Primus. “And Starscream and his fellows are still within the area. Vector Sigma has informed the Transformers of our combined past, so we must go to Voksphere.”

“I am still unable to consume Voksphere!”

“Tornedron will, once we alter him a bit.” Starscream’s War-world then appeared between all three beings.

“My Lords, if we are to achieve any victory,” he called over the comms, “we MUST destroy the Transformers! They’re sure to gather allies!”

“Tornedron will follow you to them,” ordered Primus.

“Rendezvous with us once they are gone,” commanded Unicron.

“At once, My Lords,” replied Starscream. The War-world and Tornedron then headed off.

“Vector Sigma’s right,” Optimus said to Megatron. “We can’t live like this anymore. This will be the perfect basis to form a new era of peace on Cybertron!”

“Half of that,” remarked Megatron, “involves going against our Gods!”

“You will have my help, and Gaia’s help, it seems,” offered Vector Sigma. “Believe it or not, I’ve already recreated my old body. My mind is still linked to the supercomputer I became, but I can walk as freely as you now. Watch.” A tube then popped up out of the floor and opened to reveal Vector Sigma’s corporeal Vok body. The body then turned and smiled, proving that Vector Sigma was back. “And the Key told me about what happened after I unbricked the Matrix for you, Optimus. So, you met Gaia and she became the sole Goddess of Mobius! I must see her again.” Just then, something dropped from the ceiling.

“…Oh, yeah, kinda forgot about Starscream following us,” mumbled Optimus. Starscream was livid and Vector Sigma was in disbelief.

“You led him HERE?!” wailed Vector Sigma.

“Give me a break! He was trying to keep us out!”

“And that little broadcast is the reason why!” snarled Starscream. “Thanks to you, I have exactly ZERO Metrotitans! All four of them are currently trying to squish my people!”

“Starscream, hold up, there’s one loose thread here,” remarked Megatron. “Not exactly important, but I thought Skywarp was the Autobot Scientist Spanner once and lost his wife and child during Zeta Prime’s rule.”

“That was nothing more than one of his sob stories to throw his enemies off guard!”

“If you saw the broadcast,” urged Vector Sigma, “then you should know that I didn’t exactly have a choice here!”

“You had EVERY choice, Vector Sigma! You could have stayed silent! Instead, you told them everything!”

“I meant no harm! To you OR the Arti-Voks’ successors, the modern Transformers!”

“Too late! Your broadcast has contaminated the project! The harm has been done! That which does not adhere to Primacron’s will…shall become VOID!”

“No! Wait!” pleaded Optimus. “We can do this experiment WITHOUT killing-!”

“I’m not interested! Neither are Primacron’s halves! This experiment will be sterilized!”

“You can’t do that! We’re living creatures like anyone else in the universe! You, with all your power, even you have no right!”

“I have no choice! Letting light and dark blend together is more dangerous than you know!” Starscream then activated his comms. “Skywarp, the project’s off! We need to start again! Signal Tornedron! Tell him to begin termination sequence!”

“At once, Starscream,” replied Skywarp. Starscream then transformed and flew through the hole in the ceiling.

“Oh no, you don’t!” snarled Optimus. He, Megatron, and Vector Sigma then flew upwards and gave chase. Megatron fired at Starscream’s thrusters, making him fall.

---

“Starscream?!” Skywarp called over the comms as all the Arti-Voks ran for the War-world. “Starscream, come in! …Strago!”

“What is it?!” asked Sunstorm.

“I lost communications with Starscream! Unicron’s back in his old body and is on his way, according to recent readings!”

---

Back with Optimus and Megatron’s forces, including the Metrotitans, they were still stumbling around after Vector Sigma’s broadcast. “He…he…” mumbled Ratchet.

“He did what was necessary,” replied Prowl. “Optimus and Megatron can’t order another prolonged battle, not with our survival at stake.”

“So, Vector Sigma took it upon himself to destroy our faith?! Prowl, we needed that!”

“None of us were the ones who reawakened Vector Sigma fully,” remarked Shockwave. “Is it really our place to be angry with him?”

“It most certainly IS! Th-There HAD to have been another way!”

“It’s not that simple, Ratchet!” boomed Fortress. “There was an unknown threat hanging over our heads! Vector Sigma saved our lives by making us aware of Tornedron!”

“WHAT ABOUT OUR BELIEFS?! All of our struggles and Energon spilled and…countless sacrifices…only for some schmuck from a dead species to tell us that even our demigods…were nothing more than lab rats…TO BE EXTERMINATED ONCE OUR GODS’ EXPERIMENT WAS OVER?!”

“Right decision or wrong, what’s done is done,” replied Prowl. “But we have another problem now. The War-world already sent out a signal into space, most likely to Tornedron. And if intelligence reports are right, Unicron’s back in his old body and is on his way here.”

“Meaning we’re not safe on Cybertron anymore,” called Megatron’s voice. He, Optimus, and Vector Sigma approached the crowd after going through the door during Ratchet’s breakdown. The two leaders looked at the sullen faces. “…Autobots, Decepticons,” began Megatron, “my faith in Primus was just as shattered as yours when Vector Sigma told us the truth about our war. I will admit, I feel as if the Gods spat on the sacrifices I’ve made, but I intend to prove to them how much of a mistake that was!”

“He speaks for me,” called Optimus. “Au…no, Transformers of all factions, we face a threat to our very existence! Rest assured; we WILL survive this crisis! But, to ensure the safety of our people, we have no choice but to temporarily evacuate Cybertron!”

“Velocitron is opening its borders to all Cybertronian refugees!” called Override.

“So will Animatros!” confirmed Kong Primal.

“As will Gigantion!” rumbled Metroplex.

“And Nebulos will be happy to assist you!” announced Llyra.

“Mobius has long been used to Transformers,” said Sonic, “so I personally don’t see why we can’t host any refugees. Just…just don’t fight amongst yourselves.”

“They won’t,” assured Megatron.

“Then the first step,” remarked Optimus, “is to rebuild the Space Bridge.”

“Leave that to me!” called Scorponok. “With others helping me, we’ll have that Space Bridge fixed in no time!”

“And I will prepare Cybertron’s defenses!” offered Trypticon. “With other engineers helping me, we won’t need to use Primus as a battery!”

“I can help it so that the defenses wire up to only my computer interface!” called Vector Sigma.

“Lord Megatron!” Thundercracker ran up to the group. “Lord Megatron, Saurion stole the Nemesis!”

“WHAT?!”

“He took a few crewmates with him! Lugnut, Dirt Boss, Mole Dive, and Thunderblast! They abandoned us!” Megatron drew in a breath, then sighed.

“Let them go for now,” he ordered. “We’ll hunt them down in due course. In the meantime, we must find another flagship.”

“I have something that may help us in that regard,” offered Shockwave, “and give us a little more firepower than the Nemesis could offer.” As Scorponok and Trypticon led their teams to their respective assignments, Shockwave led Megatron and Optimus to a secret hangar…which was a surprise, given that the hangar was so large. The ship itself was three times the size of the Nemesis, had a tall bridge tower, a bow shaped like a hand opened as if it were reaching for something, and massive engines powering the warp field generators on its wings.

“I’ve never seen such a design before!” breathed Megatron. “What is it?!”

“The often talked about but never confirmed Kaon-class vessel,” replied Shockwave. “Officially, it’s classified as a Decepticon Heavy Transport. That was just something to confuse Autobot intelligence. In reality, the Kaon-class vessel is a warship with a cloaking device, nothing more, nothing less.”

“A cloaking device?” asked Optimus. “No wonder the project was abandoned. The Galactic Council outlawed cloaking devices while our war was raging.”

“That ban was simply the official reason,” corrected Shockwave. “You see, five years before the ban, we began exploring the possibility of building a new class of starship. This ship would have minimal families, minimal science labs, minimal luxuries of all kinds. It was designed for one purpose only: to fight and defeat the Go-bots. The namesake of the class, the Kaon, was the prototype, the first ship in what would have been the Worldsweeper-class’s replacement.”

“So, what happened?” asked Optimus. “Where IS the Kaon anyway?”

“Optimus is right, I don’t see the registry number,” remarked Megatron.

“The Kaon was scrapped a while ago, but I kept this particular vessel when the project was abandoned, thanks to the Go-bot threat becoming less urgent. Also, some design flaws cropped up during the Kaon’s shakedown cruise.”

“What sort of design flaws?” asked Megatron.

“You, Optimus, and the engineers will have complete access to the ship evaluation reports, my Lord, but to put it simply, it’s overpowered and over gunned for a ship its size. During battle drills, it nearly tore itself apart when the engines were tested at full capacity.”

“And you think this should be the new flagship of the Decepticon fleet?!”

“With engineers at my side, we should be able to shore up the design flaws before Tornedron gets here.”

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to work on it while it’s going through space,” remarked Optimus. “I’m requesting that Cybertron be represented on the Galactic Council. While you were talking, Shockwave, I received a Council Report that Unicron had devoured Quintessa before departing for Cybertron, making the crew of one ship the last Quintessons. It’s an all-male crew, regretfully, and they don’t have enough resources to colonize a new world. I’m going to offer them the hand of friendship and help them take revenge on Unicron…and present what we’ve learned to the Council, asking them for help in the process.”

“Optimus, there is NO way the Council will listen to us!” argued Megatron.

“They will if I issue an Omega level request.”

“…You really think the universe is at stake?”

“If Starscream gets his way, then yeah. The truth is, if we don’t stop them, Primus and Unicron will use creations that are would never know peace and would give them the readout they’ve been looking for and thus bringing the universe to only one element.”

“…Very well. In the meantime, I’ll have a few ground forces hunt for Starscream. If he reunites with his forces, they’ll escape Cybertron and make it easier for them to survive Tornedron’s wrath.”

“I’ll send some soldiers with yours. It’s time to test if they’re willing to put aside their differences for a greater threat once more.”

“N-no. No!” remarked Optimus as Starscream helped Primacron create Skywarp and Sunstorm. “Starscream’s old, but he’s not THAT old!”

“Optimus is right,” agreed Megatron. “He never revealed his age, but body-dating places him to be, at least, twice my age.”

“Funny what bodily regeneration can do for a bot, hm?” chuckled Vector Sigma. While they were talking, Starscream and Primacron created the entire War-world Crew.

“So, what, they picked up their leader during the Unicron Games?” asked Optimus. Starscream then touched Sunstorm and the two were enveloped in a bright light. The light died and only Starscream remained.

“So THAT’S how Sunstorm became a part of Starscream,” remarked Megatron.

“And that’s not all of them,” replied Vector Sigma. “His creatures became bigger and bigger until finally…” a yellow cloud of light then formed, “he created Tornedron, a cloud of living energy that, like a cannibal, feeds on energy, leaving suns dark and planets inert, blank slates to do with as he pleases! He unleashed Tornedron on two worlds, once inhabited, now drained so he could construct his greatest creations. Thanks to a vision, I warned Lux, Umbra, and Gaia, and we stormed his lab with a team of police. This was the first time I had ever seen my mothers and step-sister so angry…and they were rightfully angry!” The scene changed to Primacron typing in a command on his computer until the door was torn down by the Vok Police and their Goddesses. Lux, Umbra, and Gaia were in vaguely humanoid shapes, respectively composed of light, dark, and green energy clouds.

“Primacron, you’re under arrest!” shouted Lux.

“You dared pursue experiments and spells that separate light and dark when you should be using them both!” growled Umbra.

“You disrupt the balance with your experiments!” snarled Gaia.

“…Vector Sigma found out, didn’t he?” sighed Primacron.

“Come quietly, Primacron,” ordered Lux. “You will receive a fair trial.”

“I somehow doubt that. Arti-Voks, break them!” Starscream and his troops then attacked the Vok while Primacron did battle with his Goddesses and Vector Sigma.

“Our battle was long and fierce, nearly tearing Voksphere apart,” relayed Vector Sigma, “but, in the end, we lost.” Primacron was thrown near a console, then he pressed a button and all the people of Voksphere, Goddesses included, quickly turned to stone, save for Vector Sigma and Primacron and his creations. “I tried everything to stop him, but the Arti-Voks’ transformation abilities proved too much for me.”

“Since you can no longer stop me,” Primacron taunted the past Vector Sigma, “I might as well tell you what the experiment will achieve. I intend to see which will win, light or darkness. I will split myself in two, one being a creator of light, the other a dark destroyer, and use them to figure out what is ultimately the dominant force. My creator half will send soldiers to stop my dark half while the destroyer will corrupt other soldiers to fight for him. If that initial battle ends in a stalemate, then the soldiers that spawn from my light half will fight against one another and be the new representatives of darkness. Once the fight results in one side being totally obliterated, then Starscream shall recombine my halves and tell me the results. Then I will kill either Lux or Umbra and turn the universe to the survivor’s element. If both sides make peace before readout, Tornedron will wipe the slate clean, and my halves will try again.”

“As long as I breathe, you won’t win!” challenged Past Vector Sigma.

“Bold of you to assume you will exist in a form…with lungs!” Primacron then fired a laser at Vector Sigma and turned him into energy. He then encased the energy in a gold multi-faceted sphere.”

“So that’s how you became the greatest supercomputer,” mused Optimus. “I’m…sorry that happened.”

“Hold on, two halves?” asked Megatron. The scene played on as Primacron keyed in a command on the console. Soon, two giant, planet-sized beings appeared within Voksphere’s solar system. Both had metal wings, but one was skeletal in appearance. One looked to be a wise sage while the other looked like the devil. Optimus and Megatron recognized the shapes.

“Primus!” gasped Optimus as he pointed to the sage-person.

“And Unicron!” breathed Megatron as he pointed to the devil. Primacron then gathered light and darkness in each hand, then fired them into Primus and Unicron’s bodies. He faded from existence, and once he did, Primus and Unicron’s optics flashed online and they locked their gazes on one another, their faces contorting in rage before they charged at each other and fought. “So, Primus and Unicron…were once a Vok known as Primacron?!” asked Megatron.

“Yes…yes, I’m afraid so,” confirmed Vector Sigma.

“…Wait, I met Gaia,” remarked Optimus. “It was after the Unicron Games. If she was turned to stone like Lux and Umbra…”

“She is a Nature Goddess,” replied Vector Sigma. “Stone is part of her specialty.” Gaia broke out of her stone prison and then thrust her hand into the ground. She strained, trying to free the Vok. “Regretfully, the initial petrification drained Gaia’s energy, so she only broke out after the Thirteen defeated Unicron.” Gaia then looked up and flew out of Voksphere’s atmosphere. “Eaten up by revenge, she sought the two halves of Primacron, but was only able to find Unicron. As she dueled him and imprisoned him, along with herself, within a stone sphere, she managed to find my consciousness and told me to find receptive Sparks who could handle the truth and rally everyone to fight against Primacron’s halves and the Arti-Voks. So, I began my search…and found two. Once you entered my chamber, I broadcasted this entire tale across Cybertron. Everyone now knows why they were fighting an endless war, both sides were nothing more than aspects of Primacron’s twisted ideals, the Autobots representing light and the Decepticons representing darkness.”

“…So, that’s it?” asked Megatron, downcast at what his life entailed. “I fought on both sides…only to hear that my sacrifices were meaningless?”

“Don’t take all the grief,” mumbled Optimus. “I was just as bad by staying on my side.”

“But now, you can change that fate!” urged Vector Sigma as the projection faded and revealed the Vector Sigma Chamber. “You, my receptive Sparks, can turn the Transformers into something more than machines fighting against machines! Right now, your forces are going after Starscream and his siblings!”

---

Unfortunately, it wasn’t just Cybertron that heard the news. While he was in transwarp, Unicron saw everything through his mental link to Primus. He heard about Vector Sigma telling Optimus and Megatron about the experiment and their fate. He roared in frustration and changed course, searching for Tornedron.

“For a long time,” continued Vector Sigma as the story played out in front of them, “we simply swirled around Voksphere and drifted among the stars. But we felt like we were missing something. As we drifted, we observed life going about its business and several species constructing vessels that allowed them to roam the stars as we did. We became jealous of their ability to create and their means of doing so. We almost destroyed them out of rage. It took Lux and Umbra 0.9 seconds to realize they could optimize our abilities by giving us corporeal forms. Regrettably, or not, depending on how you look at it, this meant we couldn’t be energy beings anymore.” Lux and Umbra then announced their plan to the Early Vok.

“We have seen life build and change,” explained Lux, “but we became jealous.”

“So, we shall alter ourselves,” supplied Umbra. “We shall allow Voksphere to make life and we shall live as each animal until there is a new form that can make starships.”

“We shall obtain the ability to create!” cheered an Early Vok.

“Exactly!” confirmed Lux. “We shall live out the entire evolutionary chain!”

“And live out the entire evolutionary chain, we did,” continued Vector Sigma. “We were each animal, each plant, went through each extinction level event, and then…we became the form you see me using now.” The scene rapidly went through evolution as Voksphere became a jungle-world with great mountains. The Vok ended up in forms like Vector Sigma’s avatar. “Lux and Umbra, on the other hand, had different forms.” While the Vok were monkey-like, Lux and Umbra were more like humans. Lux became a dark-skinned woman with white hair, Autobot blue eyes, and wore an outfit of white and light-blues while Umbra was pale-skinned, had black hair and Decepticon red eyes, and wore an outfit of black and dark-purples. “As we grew and constructed many magnificent creations, Lux and Umbra guided us and interacted with us.” Lux and Umbra were playing with Vok children, building and shopping with Vok adults, teaching the Vok their new abilities over magic, and worshipping alongside them. “Voksphere became a techno-magical marvel and paradise…”

“I’m sensing a ‘but’ coming,” muttered Megatron.

“You sense correctly, for there was a serpent in that paradise.” A Vok wearing a helmet with a transparent face-shield walked through the streets of Voksphere with his head down.

“Who’s he?” asked Optimus.

“That being is known as Primacron,” explained Vector Sigma. “He was a brilliant scientist and mage, responsible for various creations. As his powers grew, so too did his ambitions!” Primacron entered a laboratory and went to work on seven small jewels and one large one. He and his associates keyed in several commands in their respective consoles, then the machine the jewels were wired to engulfed them in a bright light. The light lasted for half a minute until it died. Once it did and the Vok could see, they gasped as the jewels glowed in brilliant lights. The small ones were colored green, red, yellow, white, blue, cyan, and purple while the large one was green.

“Wait, are those…?!” gasped Optimus.

“Yes,” confirmed Vector Sigma. “The Seven Chaos Emeralds and their Master Emerald.”

“So, they predate Cybertron, interesting,” mused Megatron.

“While the Emeralds were created,” continued Vector Sigma, “Lux and Umbra decided to make an experiment of their own.” Umbra approached Lux in the forest.

“You are sure of this?” she asked her light paramour.

“Beyond all doubt,” replied Lux. The two then embraced each other, then kissed, then light and shadow were inserted into the ground beneath them. The two forces then went along a path and then came out of the ground as a plant. The plant grew to their height and changed its shape until it formed a woman Optimus knew.

“GAIA!” he yelped. “THAT’S GAIA!”

“Indeed, Gaia, the daughter of Lux and Umbra.” Gaia then ran towards her mothers and hugged them. “Gaia was the first, yet only new deity we worshipped. She oversaw nature and balance. As such, she could use both light and darkness freely, teaching us how to do the same.” Gaia settled into life on Voksphere and interacted with the Vok just like her mothers. “However, her birth was not looked favorably by Primacron. He never understood nature, nor did he think it was good to blend light and dark. He hated Gaia and so continued his work. He believed in only the purity of steel, hating even the flesh he inhabited. His creations were always centered around conflict, until I, as the Oracle of the Vok and as Primacron’s assistant, could not bear to help him any longer.” Another Vector Sigma argued with Primacron over the topic.

“I cannot allow this to continue, Primacron!” snapped Past Vector Sigma. “What you are doing is wrong!”

“You were foolish back in the day, Vector Sigma,” replied Primacron, “but this?! You would halt my ambitions just to keep light and dark blended?! When a bartender mixes something, then leaves it alone, do the respective ingriedients not settle and separate?!”

“Lux and Umbra have stayed together, and it has worked out well these past millennia!”

“They cannot stay together forever! The universe has things separate for a reason! The elements are pure for a reason!”

“Well, I no longer want any part in your mad schemes! I quit!” Past Vector Sigma stormed out of the building.

“I was so eaten up with rage,” continued Present-day Vector Sigma, “that I failed to learn of more of his creations. He had created artificial Vok!” The scene changed to Primacron guiding a laser like a pen on a massive cube. Optimus and Megatron then realized what the cube was.

“By the Allspark!” breathed Megatron.

“Megatron, I think that IS the Allspark!” gulped Optimus.

“Primacron created the Allspark?!” Megatron asked Vector Sigma.

“Where does Primus fit into this?!” asked Optimus.

“You shall see as the story unfolds,” replied Vector Sigma. “Primacron had created the Allspark by binding the life energy Lux, Umbra, and Gaia constantly exuded to a single vessel and carving runes into it to dictate what the vessel would do with the energy. He then used it to create his first artificial Vok, a being that could change shape despite having a physical form!” The assembly line under the Allspark then finished up a robot. Primacron threw a switch and the Allspark shot energy into the robot. The robot convulsed, then it started screaming. As it screamed, colors flowed onto it.

“Yes! YES!” cheered Primacron. “Energy just like our very souls now exists in a mechanical life-form!” The energy flow then stopped once Primacron threw the switch again. The robot then looked at Primacron. “Yes! My success! My son! You are the first of a new, pure form of Vok! Your screams of victory shall echo throughout the stars!” Megatron goggled as he recognized the body.

“I don’t believe it!” he roared. “STARSCREAM!” The lights of the flashback then confirmed that it WAS Starscream Primacron had built.

Optimus and Megatron woke up in a black void. They looked around, missing each other at first and thinking their optics were offline, then they spotted each other. “Where are we?” asked Megatron.

“I wish I knew,” replied Optimus.

“You are in a simulation of the void before stars,” explained a voice. The two bots turned to see a humanoid creature in black and white robes approach them. The face was that of a monkey’s, the hands had four digits instead of five, and it looked male. He wore a gold multi-faceted sphere on a chain around his neck. The creature grinned as Optimus and Megatron’s optics widened.

“Vector Sigma?” asked Optimus.

“I am,” replied the creature. “This is what I once was.”

“You were a monkey?” scoffed Megatron.

“Vok, actually.” Megatron took a while to realize what Vector Sigma said.

“…Vok?”

“Hold on, THE Vok?” asked Optimus. “I thought they were an energy-based race.”

“I thought they were a myth.”

“We are no myth,” replied Vector Sigma. “We once had no physical form you could comprehend, so, for the sake of your understanding, I will mark them with the images of your data-trax on us.” It was then that they all heard what sounded like someone weeping.

“Who’s that?!” asked Optimus.

“She had no name until we gave her one,” replied Vector Sigma. “She is the void around us. We gave her the name…Umbra.”

“…You called her Shadow?”

“That’s what she was. This is where our tale of long ago begins.”

“I’ve always been a sucker for long-ago tales!”

“Then permit me to tell it. Before the universe began, Umbra constantly wept her shadowy tears. She was alone, with no one to talk to. Because of that, she went mad with grief and loneliness. As she wept, nothing was created.” Just then, a second weeper was heard. A light then floated through the void. “It was then that a new being arrived on its lonely journey. Like Umbra, this being wept at being the only one of her kind. We gave her the name of Lux.” The collective weeping was then replaced with sniffling as Lux stopped. “The two then found each other and began to ask one another questions.”

“Who are you?” asked one woman’s voice.

“I have no name,” replied another. “You?”

“I also have no name,” answered the first. “What are you?”

“I believe I am…Light. You?”

“I think I am…Darkness.”

“Why are you sad?”

“I am alone.”

“As am I.”

“You have no one like you? I am sorry.”

“Are you just as cursed?”

“I am. No one is Darkness like me.”

“…Perhaps, we alone don’t need others like us to no longer feel lonely.”

“You wish to be with me?”

“You seem to understand my pain. Would you let me be with you?”

“…I see no reason to refuse.” Just then, an explosion occurred between them.

“That,” Vector Sigma chuckled to the startled bots, “was the result of beings of Light and Darkness touching each other. Look now at the results.” The void was soon filled with stars.

“So beautiful!” breathed Umbra. There was now a distinct ball of shadow roughly the same size as the ball of light Lux was. “We made this!”

“Light and Dark work best together!” The two beings then laughed in joy and danced near each other.

“Okay, so their contact was the catalyst for the Big Bang that birthed the universe,” remarked Megatron. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“The story is not over yet, Young Megatron,” replied Vector Sigma. As Lux and Umbra danced, their energies created new shapes, floating skulls with glowing eyes. “That is what we once were before we became solid.”

“…Rather creepy,” muttered Optimus. The Early Vok then came to Lux and Umbra.

“You have birthed us directly,” spoke one of the Early Vok. “Who are you?”

“…We…have no name,” replied Lux.

“We were so overjoyed in making this universe,” continued Umbra, “that we never named ourselves.”

“Would you like us to name you?” asked another.

“Yes, please!”

“Lady of Light, you shall be Lux.”

“I am Lux, then!”

“Lady of Darkness, you shall be Umbra.”

“I am Umbra!” Lux, Umbra, and the Early Vok then journeyed through the stars.

“As we wandered the universe,” explained Vector Sigma, “we soon found life that existed in various states! They were all single-formed, unlike us, so our Mothers decided to help us all understand life…by creating a home, Voksphere.”

---

A cube with purple energy thrashing inside it drifted throughout the cosmos. It then got caught in a planet’s gravity. The planet was metal with a massive pit at the equator and a curved claw at each side along the equator. Sensor spikes then made up the rest of the equator and a ring surrounded the planet, connected at the northern and southern poles and at the equator. The cube then fell into the planet’s atmosphere and crashed at the northern pole. The cube split open, and the energy then flowed all over the planet. It then faded, then lights switched on all over the planet as a light slowly came out of the pit. It then moved and turned its sights towards a misshapen world. It looked almost like a skull with its jaw open and surrounded by rings sprouting out of it.

---

This was Quintessa, home-world of the Quintessons. In the Citadel of Judgement, a Quintesson Judge was brought before a tribunal of his fellows. He stood on a platform over a pit of liquid swarming with Sharkticons. “Judge Deliberata,” boomed a two-faced Bailiff, “you are accused of theft of various artefacts. How do you plead?”

“Necessarily guilty,” replied Deliberata as he spoke through his face of Wisdom/Bitterness.

“Explain why you committed your crime,” ordered one of the Tribunal Members through her face of Judgement/Doubt.

“My dear Tribunal members,” began Deliberata, “the artefacts in question were holy relics that needed to be observed by the public. Rogue Sharkticons had stolen them previously, so I needed to sell them back to the church.”

“Have you any proof?” asked another member of the Tribunal with the same face as his colleague.

“There should be camera footage of me fighting off the Rogue Sharkticons, then drawing up a seller’s tablet on the artefacts.”

“The footage has been found,” reported the Bailiff.

“Play it,” ordered the last Tribunal Member through his face of Wisdom/Bitterness. The footage played on a screen and was exactly as Deliberata described. The female Quintesson then turned to her face of Laughter/War and spoke to her fellow Tribunal Members.

“It is clear that Deliberata has a family to feed,” she remarked.

“Then why not simply wait for the reward to come to him?!” demanded her colleague through his face of Wrath. The last one held up his hands for quiet.

“Has the Imperial Magistrate reached a verdict?” asked the Bailiff.

“I have,” replied the last member through his face of Laughter/War.

“Guilty or innocent?” The Imperial Magistrate’s turned to his face of Wisdom/Bitterness as he declared his verdict.

“Guilty, but necessary as Deliberata proclaims. The reward would have come too late. Deliberata, you are to continue your sale of the artefacts to the Church.”

“Your judgement is wisdom incarnate, my Magis-!” Deliberata’s praise was cut off as the entire planet shook. The unfortunate quakes made Deliberata fall into the Sharkticon pit, giving them a much-needed meal.

“What is happening?!” demanded the female Tribunal member through her face of Wrath.

“Magistrates! Up in the sky! Look! It’s Unicron!” wailed the Bailiff as he pointed to the sky. There, coming closer to Quintessa, was the strange planet the cube had reactivated. This was Unicron in his original alt-mode!

“THE SHIPS!” called the Imperial Magistrate through his face of Death. “GET TO THE SHIPS! IT’S OUR ONLY CHANCE! EVACUATE QUINTESSA!” Unicron then fired a beam of light onto Quintessa’s surface, forcing everyone, man, woman, and child, to their knees before they could get to the ships. His maw opened, and his horns dug into the misshapen planet. He then activated a tractor beam that brought everything and everyone into his maw. Soon, Quintessa broke apart and the remaining fragments entered Unicron. Quintessa and its main populace were now gone. Unicron then turned around, following the feeling of the Matrix, and recognizing the coordinates.

“So, it has returned to Primus,” rumbled Unicron to himself. “Optimus. For a time, I considered sparing your wretched little planet, Cybertron. But now, you shall witness…ITS DISMEMBERMENT!” Unicron then set a course for Cybertron and entered transwarp.

A dark tunnel stretched on and kept curving downwards. However, nothing was quiet. A steady, controlled, rhythmic thud of metal against metal echoed throughout the tunnel walls. The tunnel had SOME light, but only enough to see immediately ahead, not any further than that. A figure then rounded a corner. It was a humanoid shape, but it wasn’t made of flesh. No, it was a creature of steel, a robotic organism. A purple symbol glowed on its as its red optics scanned the area constantly. Its hand went along the wall as its face kept its focused look up. If one could shine a good-enough light on the robot, one could tell that it was colored a dark purple and had a gray helmet. This robot led an army of others like itself, correction, HIMself. This robot was the terrifying Lord of the Decepticon Faction, Megatron! “Sweet Primus, this is taking forever!” Megatron grumbled to himself. “Really should have sent scouts ahead. …Nah, I didn’t have the time. Although, by the time I get there, the Solstice will have already passed and the information I need will be lost!” He then heard something. “…A truck engine?” Irritation then crossed his face as he sighed. “Because, of COURSE, he would follow me!” He turned around to see a futuristic semi-truck barreling towards him. “Optimus!” he snarled as he deployed concealed fusion cannons from his forearms. He fired at the semi, but it took the shots quite well. The driver, a male, blue Mobian Hedgehog, had a determined look on his face. He then vanished and the truck became a robot! The truck-bot, Optimus Prime, then brought two battle axes out, one in each hand, and continued his charge at Megatron. Megatron brought out his mace and swung it at Optimus. Optimus ran up the tunnel wall and across the ceiling to get behind Megatron, then he swung his axe into Megatron’s back. Megatron then grunted in pain before he swung his mace again. This time, the main chain wrapped around Optimus’ arm. He tried to pull Optimus towards him so he could score a blow, but Optimus tugged back.

“Give it up, Megatron!” snarled Optimus. “You can’t win!”

“Yes, I can! Quite easily!” replied Megatron. He then cracked his mace like a whip and sent Optimus into the ceiling. The chain then disentangled itself from Optimus’ arm as he fell to the floor again. Megatron rushed at Optimus and decked him in the face, sending him backwards a good few feet. “Those secrets are MINE!”

“They stay locked in Vector Sigma!” retorted Optimus.

“And YOU, brother, are becoming an irritant!”

“This coming from a wannabe Decepticon!” screeched a voice. Optimus and Megatron turned to see Starscream behind them.

“Ah, the traitor!” growled Megatron. “Tell me, what’s your plan in keeping me out of the Vector Sigma Chamber?”

“Not this time! I’m not saying anything!” snarled Starscream. He then looked all around the walls. “Can you not hear them?! Their tiny feet tinkling inside the walls?! Their jaws ready to rend steel?! Their demands for metal to help grow their hive?!” It was then that everyone heard the tinkling sound Starscream was talking about. Starscream smirked. “Feeding time!” Scraplets then ate their way through the walls. Optimus shrieked as he and Megatron fired on the bugs while they advanced on the two bots. They ran for their lives. “NO! STOP THEM!” Starscream ordered the Scraplet horde. The Scraplets then chased after the two bots.

---

“SINCE WHEN DOES ANY BOT HAVE CONTROL OVER SCRAPLETS?!” cried Optimus as he and Megatron ran.

“STOP TALKING AND KEEP RUNNING!” shouted Megatron.

“I GOT A BETTER IDEA! DRIVE!” Optimus transformed and sped ahead.

“…I guess I fly in my case.” Megatron transformed to his jet mode and flew ahead of Optimus. “Enjoy the teeth!”

“You creep! I’ll get you for that!” Optimus then put his Scraplephobia aside and focused on Megatron. Just then, they hit a roadblock! The tunnel ahead of them had collapsed. “Oh, sweet Primus!” The bots transformed and looked behind them to see the army of Scraplets advancing on them. Just then, there was a sound of metal creaking. The two bots looked below their feet and saw cracks in the floor. The Scraplets paid no attention and advanced. That was when the floor gave way. The bots and Scraplets fell through twenty layers before hitting solid ground. The Scraplets were inoperative as the two bots picked themselves up. The area was dark, with only a few lights in the floor. The lights indicated a path.

“Now where could they possibly lead?” mused Megatron. Optimus made a mad dash following the lights. “Oh no, you DON’T!” Megatron ran after him, firing his right fusion cannon. Just then, a wall of fire erupted in front of them. The sudden light blinded them. “Okay, something wants us to stay away!” growled Megatron. Optimus inched forward. “Optimus, what are you doing?! You maniac! Even Wizards of the Red Order run AWAY from fire not under their control, not TOWARDS it!” Optimus held his hand near the fire, then his fear was replaced with confusion.

“…Why aren’t I getting burned?” he asked. Megatron’s optics flickered, then he inched towards the fire wall. He held his hand out, then felt only a buzz, not a burn.

“That’s odd,” he muttered. “That kind of buzz only happens…when a holo-form is online!”

“A hologram!” realized Optimus. “It’s a hologram!” The fire then vanished and a giant ring appeared, twice the size of a Space Bridge. It had a picture of the cosmos as water balls floated out. Just then, a multi-faceted gold sphere appeared. “Vector Sigma!” whispered the young Prime.

“Correct,” replied the sphere. “I am Vector Sigma. After Primus was, before Cybertron was, I was. Welcome to my chamber, Optimus and Megatron. I see you seek answers about my remarks on Animatros.” Optimus and Megatron looked at each other in surprise.

“You heard the bit about the seeds of the future?!” yelped Optimus.

“Were you the one who beamed it into my head?!” demanded Megatron.

“He wasn’t,” replied Vector Sigma. “I did it through the Matrix and the Key.”

“…The Key?” asked Megatron. “Vector Sigma, the Key was lost.”

“Actually, Ironhide tripped over it during the early battles of this current war,” corrected Optimus. “It’s how I unbricked my connection to the Matrix before the Unicron Games.”

“You require more information,” continued Vector Sigma. Just then, a terminal popped out of the ground between it and the two bots. It had three slots, shaped like Megatron’s Badge, the Matrix, and the Key. “Please insert these objects into the terminal, and you shall receive the answers as to why the Transformers were initially created.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Megatron. “We were created because Primus made us all.”

“But why did he do that?” replied Vector Sigma. Megatron had to admit he didn’t have an answer. “The Key, the Matrix, and the Badge, please. You BOTH must learn to end this war and change your eventual fate.”

“…Work together with him again?” muttered Megatron. “Primus, help me.” Megatron took the badge out and put it into the terminal, then Optimus took the Matrix out, took the Key out of the Matrix, put the Matrix into its slot, then put the Key into its keyhole and turned it. A bright light then filled the Chamber and made everyone vanish in it.