Tag: sonic

The remaining heroes continued through the fortress, trying to get to the center. “How much further?” asked Royal.

“Can’t tell,” sighed Kaitlyn in her Rider persona of Spark. “Dammit, and it’s almost time!”

“We can’t speed up, we can’t slow down,” grumbled Yufantel, “what do we do?!”

“Die!” came a voice. A wall separated the Realmers from the Riders.

“HEY! OPEN UP THERE!” called Arsha.

“Don’t bother, diluter of the bloodline!” snarled the voice. Everyone whirled around to see Intrag with Combatmen.

“Diluter?!” snapped Malnar. “The Emboramii bloodline’s still thick, thank you very much!”

“You mated with Out-realmers! You betray the Emboramii bloodline!”

“By the now mortal Ones, will you shut up about that?!” With that, everyone attacked. Intrag then swung his sword and threw everyone back. He stomped over to Arsha.

“In my day, people like you knew their place under my heel. They didn’t rule anything, they knew their position was as a servant race.”

“Screw…you!” hissed Arsha. Intrag grabbed Arsha by the throat and started squeezing.

“Everyone had best learn their place real quick,” he warned, “or this thing you care about dies!”

“YOU GET OFF MOM NOW!” shouted Geltar. She, Farmee, and Yufantel leapt onto Intrag.

“GET OFF ME, YOU HYBRID WORMS!” he shouted. He threw them off, then jabbed his sword into the ground. The floor then wrapped itself around the three Royana kids. “…The traitor said the Divine Ones were now mortal,” he chuckled. “That means their pathetic rules shackle me no more!” He slammed a fist into Geltar’s ribs, breaking them. He then grabbed Farmee by the hair. “They masquerade as the fiercest dragons of the Realms, but are mere toothless worms!” He slammed Farmee’s head to the floor. He then grabbed Yufantel’s arm. “It is the end of all things. An apocalypse on such an unimaginable scale!”

“Stop!” groaned Yufantel. Intrag then kicked Yufantel’s arm in a way that broke it. She howled in pain. Arsha and her spouses picked themselves up and were stumbling towards Intrag. He simply summoned energy spheres and threw them at the Royals, shocking them and knocking them back down.

“Your time has passed,” he said. “This age was spent in foolish resistance. Now is the dawn of a new era.” He then heard the kids say something in the usual magic language. “…Yes, children, pray to the worms. Pray…as your world ends!” He swung his sword down…then he was knocked back by an energy dome that suddenly surrounded the kids. The three of them were then healed, revitalized, and surrounded by an aura that flashed with all the colors of the Divine Ones. Arsha and Dr. Borg goggled.

“…You passed on the Champion’s Aura to your children?” asked Dr. Borg.

“I thought it was lost forever after we won the Final War,” replied Arsha.

“Champion’s Aura?! IMPOSSIBLE!” argued Intrag. He swung his sword at Yufantel, then she grabbed the sword with her formerly broken arm. Geltar stood up as if her ribs didn’t get broken and Farmee assumed a fighting stance with no wobbling.

“…That sword,” observed Farmee, “the shards that came from its forging were used to make the Talkwen Stone, yes?”

“True, but why talk about that rock?!” snapped Intrag.

“That’s all I wanna know!” cheered Farmee.

“Brother, sister, shall we?” asked Yufantel. The three of them grabbed the sword, then channeled energy through it into Intrag. The energy threw him back into a wall hard. He slid down…and felt something at the edge of his mouth. He touched the affected area, pulled his hand back…and saw that it was blood.

“…Impossible!” he breathed, a nasty thought forming in his mind.

“The Talkwen Stone stole the Divine and Titan mana from our bodies,” recalled Dr. Borg. “It rendered us mortal, giving Arsha enough time to land the killing blow. If a Champion’s Aura could alter the initial materials it came from to render any form of immortality granted by means outside our universe…”

“Bingo!” confirmed Geltar. “It can do the job of rendering a guy mortal and vulnerable to physical attacks!”

“Now’s our chance!” called Malnar. Intrag still had his beastly strength, so he tore down a wall and threw it at the heroes.

“HE’S GETTING AWAY!” called Endea.

“No, he’s NOT!” snarled Glanthel. “I’ve got a scanner lock on him! Follow me! Let’s finish this!” Everyone charged after Intrag.

---

While the fight was going on, Royal and her friends were pounding on the wall. “ARSHA! ARSHA, CAN YOU HEAR-?!” A Dalek gunstick then fired at Royal, making her scream and collapse to the floor. Thanks to her immortality, she wasn’t dead. Emily in her Rider persona of Touché checked Megumi over.

“Your organs are unscrambling themselves,” she said, “but it’s gonna be painful.”

“I’ve noticed!” gasped Royal.

“I just needed to cause pain,” said Ex’s voice as she and her fellows stepped into the room.

“You’re losing, Ex!” snapped Death.

“I think you’ll find I’m still winning, even after all these setbacks!” retorted Ex.

“No more talking! DAI SUPER CHARGE!” shouted Hiro in his Rider persona of Rogue. His armor then changed into its final form and he became Rift while charging at Ex.

“HIRO, NO!” called Royal. Rift charged at Ex with his weapon out, but she side-stepped and fired on him. Rift collapsed in pain.

“As stupid as Igura was,” snarked Ex.

“Oh, come on, Boss!” complained Katie in her Rider persona of Glam. “Let’s just deal with these nitwits quickly!”

“The dame’s right,” agreed Captain Don Shinobi in his Rider persona of Threat.

“Yes, she is,” agreed Ex.

“YOU WON’T WIN!” shouted Spark as she attacked.

“KAITLYN, STOP!” called Royal. But Spark DIDN’T stop. She decked Ex.

“Bah! Insect!” snapped Ex when she recovered. That…was when ten streams of light appeared from nowhere and surrounded Spark. “What the?” asked Ex. The streams of light circled Spark, then floated in front of her and formed a strange device with all the Sources in a circle. It looked like it could fit over her belt!

“…Nothing ventured, nothing gained!” said Spark. She then grabbed the device and slotted it over her belt. She then tapped each Source and then a crown with the Sources appeared on her head with her skirt gaining a long train in the colors of the Sources. Gauntlets appeared with the Sources of Life and Death, then her calves were armored with the Sources of War and Peace. Her shoulders gained pauldrons with the Sources of Pestilence and Health and her torso was adorned with the remaining Sources of Famine, Bounty, Order, and Chaos.

“Primal Spark!” announced the device.

“Wh-What the?!” spluttered Spark. “How did-?!”

“Of course!” breathed Death. “Kaitlyn has always understood that all ten of us are necessary! She uses all of them in her daily life! That’s how she stays sane!”

“It doesn’t matter!” snapped Glam. “I’ll beat her and show her that she made a mistake in resisting me!” Glam charged forward, then Spark slammed her fists into Glam’s torso. The Sources on her gauntlets glowed and projected an energy wave that knocked Glam into a wall. Death then got a notification on her smartwatch and checked it.

“…I don’t believe it!” she whispered.

“What is it?” asked Royal.

“Megumi, your daughter…has made Katie Barker mortal!”

“YOU LIE!” barked Ex.

“She…She doesn’t!” gasped Gi in her Rider persona of Adaptus.

“…I can make the immortal…mortal?!” realized Spark. She then clenched her fists. “Round 2!” She then went on the offensive, dodging enemy attacks. Benjamin, in his Rider persona of Tombstone, fired his gun, but Spark rolled out of the way. She then tested something with just striking with one fist. Nothing happened. “Gotta use both, huh? Makes sense.” She then drove both her fists into Tombstone and rendered him mortal. This went on and on until every single member of the enemy’s army was mortal. “NOW’S OUR CHANCE!” called Spark. She then pressed the crystal in the center of her belt as Rift pushed the wings of his belt down while Royal posed spun the wheel on her belt twice.

“DAI SUPER CHARGE!” She shouted. She became Vortex and spun the wheel again.

“Final Attack!” it announced. The three Riders leapt into the air.

“RIDER PRIMAL SPARK KICK!” called Spark

“RIDER RIFT KICK!”

“RIDER VORTEX KICK!” The energy of the three Rider Kicks caused tremendous feedback when they struck Adaptus, Tombstone, and Erika that it spread out to all enemy Riders. Everyone collapsed, then Death swung her arm scythes. Erika, Captain Don Shinobi, Auriella, Cyber-Priestess Gi, Benjamin, and Phury had expired. Katie and Metaltron, having been merely knocked out of their transformations, groaned and picked themselves up. Katie saw Auriella’s body.

“AURIELLA!” she wailed. She tried waking her up, but it was no good. Metaltron then grabbed Katie. “NO! WE HAVE TO-!”

“WE CAN’T!” argued Metaltron. “WE’VE LOST TOO MANY! WE’LL RESSURECT HER AND OUR FALLEN COMRADES WHEN WE START THE NEW MULTIVERSE! LET’S GO!” She pulled Katie away from the battlefield at high speed.

“QUICK! AFTER HER!” called Spark. The heroes then rushed after the two villains.

Glyph woke up in what looked like outer space, but she certainly felt a floor beneath her. She sat up and tested the floor. It seemed to extend in all directions. There was a bright light directly behind her. “…Scrap,” she mumbled. “We failed.”

“Did you?” asked a motherly voice. It was then that Glyph noticed a noise like a hammer striking an anvil had been in her ears since she woke up. She turned her head to the noise. The source of the noise was a femme at a forge.

“…Prime?” asked Glyph as she picked herself up.

“Which one?” quizzed the femme. Glyph arched an eyebrow at that question. …Her optics widened when she started putting together the clues before her.

“…Sweet Solus Prime!” she gasped.

“I’d hardly call myself sweet,” chuckled the femme as she set her tools down, “but it’s a nice sentiment. Nice to meet you, Glyph Stinger.”

“You can’t be…THE Solus Prime!” said Glyph as she shook Solus’ hand. “I mean, you’re the Prime that created the original Three Powers and she’s…” A horrible thought struck Glyph.

“Gunmetal gray?” finished Solus Prime.

“…Does that mean…I’m also…” Glyph wobbled and almost fell into the light behind her. Solus quickly grabbed her!

“Nope! Nononono! Don’t wanna do that!” she said. “You go into that light now, you really WILL be gunmetal gray!”

“I…I just…I can’t believe this! You’re the greatest smith of all time!” praised Glyph. Solus chuckled.

“I think Vector Sigma said it best once when he and the Matrix fully united. I am she who introduced creation, the very aspect Primacron forgot, to the Transformers. But being a smith works just fine.” Glyph then looked around.

“Where are we?”

“This,” explained Solus, “is the Realm of the Primes.”

“I thought only Primes could enter this place and ordinary bots like me-.”

“Under normal circumstances, you couldn’t come here. But these AREN’T normal circumstances. For the entire multiverse, even.”

“…I…I don’t…have the strength to fix the multiverse.” Solus arched an eyebrow and looked at Glyph. “When I leapt onto Nemesis Prime, all I could think about was avenging Uncle Optimus.”

“Hey, I can relate,” soothed Solus. “I wanted to avenge the murder of my brothers. But unlike you, I attacked the wrong bot. Dragged Megatronus into darkness for no reason and didn’t learn of Liege Maximo’s deception until it was too late.”

“Does that make us as bad as Nemesis?” asked Glyph.

“What?!” laughed Solus. “You been hitting Alchemist Prime’s Engex?!”

“Well, Nemesis wanted to make a kingdom for himself! We’re trying to save the multiverse and keep it as it is! Is…Isn’t that the same thing?! Don’t these feelings come from the same place?! Don’t-?!”

“You assume that Nemesis Prime’s goal comes from a genuine place,” said Solus. “But that pale imitation of Optimus and Tails can’t see that his desires ultimately will bring about a hell-scape he never conceived of. Because of that blindness, he fears what he can’t control, much like he feared Unicron.”

“…And now that…that same fear’s gonna…gonna win…” Glyph was gasping. A vision of Nemesis Prime then appeared in the sky above them.

“First Optimus dies!” he cackled. “Then you bots get separated! Now YOU die! It’s a pity the Transformers of your universe die so easily or I might have a sense of satisfaction!”

“Ah, scrap!” swore Solus. “I thought there was more time to ease you in. But Nemesis will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. …You ready to stop him?”

“What?!” asked Glyph. “What can…can I do?!”

“Well, you were brought here for a reason,” replied Solus. “So, what say we reveal that reason to you, hm?” Thirteen lights of various colors flashed behind Solus and turned into Transformers. Glyph goggled when she recognized all the shapes.

“…The Thirteen!” she said. She then looked at the one that stood out. “…Uncle Optimus?!”

“Hey, Green Bee,” chuckled Optimus as he strode up to her and hugged her.

“…Optimus, are you sure…I’m worthy?!” asked Glyph as tears rolled down her face.

“Well, you needed some initial polishing,” replied Optimus, “but I can safely say you will be a worthy successor to me. But I don’t have the power to make you a Prime and the Thirteen can’t give you that power unless you accept it. So, what will your choice be, Glyph Stinger?” Glyph thought for a moment.

“…I can’t exactly continue a Prime’s goals of peace if I’m dead,” she said. “…I accept!” Optimus smiled, then turned to the Primes.

“She’s all yours, my Primes,” he said. Prima then stood forward.

“Like Optimus Prime before you,” he said, “you will stop a great evil! You are worthy to ascend to Primehood!”

---

“What’s the matter?!” taunted Nemesis as Glyph gasped. “Can’t laugh at me again?!” Nemesis started laughing himself. Glyph then found new strength and grabbed the Matrix! The instant her fingers wrapped around the handles, the crystal inside the Matrix shone bright enough to blind Nemesis and force him to let go of Glyph’s neck. Glyph then kicked Nemesis off, breaking the chain around the Matrix, stood up, and held the Matrix above her head.

“ARISE, SOLARA PRIME!” came fourteen voices. Everyone heard them and gasped as Glyph began changing! She grew for a start, then her alt-mod kibble became more angular until it resembled a long, futuristic sedan! Her helmet gained antennae as her fingers became pointed.

“…Optimus…” whispered the new Solara Prime as she held the Matrix. She then opened her chest and placed the Matrix inside her, then closed her chest and stood defiantly in front of Nemesis Prime.

“…It won’t matter, kid!” laughed Nemesis. “Your Primehood will be short!”

“No,” replied Solara. “This is the beginning of my Primehood. But as for YOU, this is the end of the road, Nemesis Prime!” Solara then activated spikes on her knuckles that sparked with electricity and scored a blow directly into Nemesis’ chest, frying the suit AND the pilot. Nemesis was thrown to the floor.

“GET HER!” he shouted.

“Dad, hammer!” Solara called to Goldbug.

“Right!” Goldbug tossed the Magnus Hammer to Solara. Solara keyed in a button code on the handle and it compressed into the Forge of Solus Prime.

“There’s no Creation Lathe here!” laughed Nemesis.

“Don’t need it for what I’ve got in mind!” replied Solara. She then swung the hammer into Nemesis’ chest and a sand timer appeared briefly before it vanished. The remaining Terrorcons then swarmed Solara. Solara fought with the usual tactics of Batman, going for knockout blows, then hammering them in the chest. The sand timer appeared whenever she struck, then vanished. Solara was then beginning to tire out.

“PRIME!” called Megatron as Straxus raised his cudgel to bring down into Solara’s head. He fired a blast from his fusion cannon. The shot obliterated Straxus’ head and the rest of his body fell, fading to gunmetal gray. Nemesis’ optics went wide.

“…No!” he pleaded.

“Yes! You’re mortal again!” confirmed Solara.

“NO QUARTER!” Galvatron ordered his Decepticons. The Autobots joined in. Deceptitran, he was shot by Goldbug. Makeshift, he fell to Sky Runner’s sword. Sideways was incinerated by Hot Rod. Shockwave punched straight through Rodimus Unicronus’ chest, tearing his Spark Chamber and Spark out and killing him. Blackarachnia stuck her fingers into Crystal Widow’s neck and injected a fatal dose of her cyber-venom. Crystal Widow reached out to Nemesis.

“N…Nemmy!” she gasped. Nemesis, too scared to fight, transformed and sped off! That feeling of betrayal was the last feeling Crystal Widow had.

“AFTER HIM!” called Solara. “LET’S REV AND ROLL!” The Transformers cheered as everyone transformed, allowing Mobian passengers into their vehicle modes, and sped after Nemesis!

The Lord Ships were tougher nuts to crack, even with more ships joining the fray. The Imperium was launching small pyramids, the fighter pods of the Lords. Other ships launched drone fighters and other fighter craft, but our heroes were in a tough spot. Scorpainia called up Emily. “The enemy’s sent out attack fighters to harass our own,” she said.

“We’ll try to help,” replied Emily.

“With what?! Emily, we’re losing too many ships! We’ve got to turn the Lords’ left flank!”

“It’s too well protected, but their lines are spread pretty thin in the middle.”

“We’ll worry about the middle; you guys keep the attack fighters off us.” Scorpainia ended the call.

“The Hammer of Tarlax has already sustained heavy damage,” reported Hiroki. “She can’t take a direct assault in the middle.”

“It’s the best option we have,” replied Emily.

“What about Boulton?” asked Michael.

“He’s been deassimilated,” reminded Hiroki. “I know what you’re thinking of, but Picard’s ability to exploit a Borg Cube’s weakness was a fluke.”

“There’s also Seven of Nine!”

“Michael, the decision stands,” interjected Emily. “We can’t always rely on a former drone to get us out of Borg messes.”

“You can rely on this one!” called Boulton’s voice as he strode onto the bridge with Richard behind him.

“Boulton!” protested Emily.

“He said he has a means of destroying the Lord ships without sustaining more casualties,” explained Richard. “We need his expertise.”

“…Where?” decided Emily as she nodded for Hiroki to step aside. Boulton keyed in the coordinates.

“Their shields are on different rotational frequencies, but there’s a moment where the frequencies match on this one,” explained Boulton as he also keyed in the shield frequency.

“Hail all ships,” ordered Emily.

“Channel open,” replied Hiroki.

“This is Emily of the Virginia,” Emily said to the fleet. “Boulton has found a weakness. Target all weapons on the following coordinates at his command.”

“Emily, those don’t appear to be vital areas,” replied Rosadera.

“Trust me, Rosadera.” All ships kept up the appearance of a valiant effort against the ships.

“Wait for it…” said Boulton. “…Stand by. …NOW!” All ships fired, their weapons passing through the enemy shields and targeting the one spot on each ship. To put it simply…catastrophic systems failures across all parts of the enemy ships!

---

“ZIDDET! GET OUT OF THERE!” Sonavok called through the Collective.

“TRANSPORTERS ARE OFFLINE!” replied Ziddet. “I HAD TO STEAL A FIGHTER!” Sonavok then spotted a fighter.

“SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN! SEE YOU AT BASE!” Other drones followed the same idea and scrambled for the fighters. They escaped just in time.

---

“They’re getting away!” Scorpainia warned the fleet.

“That’s all the ships!” replied Emily. “Megumi, the enemy fleet’s beaten!”

“Now’s our chance!” cheered Megumi. “All hands, it’s time for the ground assault! Let’s end this!”

---

“Damn it all!” growled Kamen Rider Ex (Metaltron). “How did they beat the Lords?!”

“Ground assault forces detected within perimeter!” warned a Dalek.

“Metaltron,” called the Rift Controller, “we have only five more minutes!”

“We’ll hold them off as long as possible!” She then addressed Intrag and Nemesis Prime. “Split them up. We must have no glorious team-ups for them!”

“Lord Nemesis!” called Crystal Widow. “We just spotted Megatron carrying the Matrix around his neck.”

“…A steward, eh?” mused Nemesis. “Darling, you just gave me an idea!”

---

“All right, everyone,” said Megumi in her Rider persona of Kamen Rider Royal. “Remember the plan. We have to stick together.”

“Call me vengeful, but Nemesis is mine when he is sufficiently weakened,” said Megatron.

“Easy, Megs,” advised Richard in his Rider persona of Guard.

“Weakened, my dear Megatron?!” cackled Nemesis Prime’s voice. The Terrorcons then surrounded the group and separated the heroes so that Royal and her friends were on one side of a wall that came down while those of the Transformers and Sonic’s universe were on the other side with the Terrorcons!

“MEGATRON! MEGATRON!” called Royal as she banged on the wall!

“GO ON!” replied Megatron’s voice. “WE ANTICIPATED THIS, REMEMBER?!”

“…All right, meet us at the center of the place when you can!” decided Royal. She turned to her remaining friends. “Come on!” she said. Death, in her Rider persona of…well, Kamen Rider Death, then checked her watch. She then saw something.

“…Oh,” she whispered to herself. “So he IS still coming. …Good. We still have a shot.”

“Death?” asked Royal.

“Nothing, just a loose end wrapping itself up shortly.”

“…If you say so.” Royal then led the way.

---

The Terrorcons were fighting hard against their opponents. Hot Rod grappled with Sideways. “Cosmos and I trusted you!” he snarled. “You were better as Meteorfire!”

“I dunno,” replied Sideways, “I still made my distaste for Majips quite clear. Surely you Autobots don’t wanna associate with someone so racist.”

“Why you-!” Hot Rod fired his wrist blasters, but Sideways grabbed one of Hot Rod’s arms and bent it in an unnatural way.

“HOT ROD!” called Override when she saw Hot Rod cradling his broken arm. Sideways then turned into a blob of static and flew around her. He then solidified an arm and punched her torso hard enough to leak Energon. Override collapsed, gasping in pain.

“Oh, did I hurt the baby?” asked Sideways cruelly. She wasn’t pregnant, but anything to get his licks in. “GOOD!”

---

“Guys, this isn’t going so hot!” called Sonic. Amy swung her hammer into Deceptitran’s head, then Deceptitran caught it with his teeth.

“LET GO OF MY HAMMER!” she shouted. Deceptitran, instead, clamped down and bit the hammer’s head off. “MY HAMMER!” wailed Amy.

“My snack!” laughed Deceptitran. Amy then pulled another one out of nowhere. “WHAT THE?!” yelped Deceptitran. “YOU HAVE MORE HAMMERS THAN A HARDWARE STORE!”

---

“Wives, always getting the upper hand over their men, am I right?” laughed Nemesis. Megatron wasn’t listening. He was still swinging his concealed swords. “Oh, no bite? Still got revenge on the processor? You know, I liked you better when you were trying to kill Optimus.”

“Not kill, turn to my way of thinking!” argued Megatron.

“Oh, for Pete’s sake! You never WERE a Decepticon, were you?! Just an Autobot with red optic lenses! I’d say that’s proof you don’t deserve this thing!” Nemesis then summoned the Dark Saber and slashed Megatron’s arm off! Megatron howled in pain as Nemesis took the Matrix! “A nice little trophy.”

“YOU GIVE THAT BACK TO MEGATRON THIS INSTANT!” shouted Glyph as she leapt onto Nemesis.

“GET OFF!” roared Nemesis. Glyph was not making the fight easy for Nemesis. Sadly, Nemesis had more combat experience. He threw her to the floor, then wrapped his fingers around her throat! Glyph…was losing consciousness.

The fleet arrived outside the enemy’s combined sensor range. “They’re within targeting range,” reported Hiroki.

“All ships, report,” Emily said to the entire fleet. “Virginia, standing by.”

“Ark, standing by,” said Jazz.

“Nemesis, standing by,” reported Galvatron.

“Enterprise, standing by,” replied Sonic.

“Endeavor, standing by,” said Arsha.

“Glanthelantir, standing by,” reported Glanthel.

“Dominion, standing by,” said Hiro.

“Scorpion, standing by,” reported Dr. Borg. This went on until the entire fleet was ready.

“Hail the enemy flagship,” said Megumi.

“Belay that!” interjected Kaede. “Mom, you sure that’s a good idea? We can be stealthier than that.”

“Maybe, but stealth wasn’t exactly part of the plan, remember?” reminded Megumi. “Besides, I don’t want to. I want that former kill-happy squid to know I’m coming for her! Hail the Relentless!”

“Do as she says,” Emily directed Flora. Flora nodded and began sending a transmission.

---

“…I wonder what the Daleks will do once the Doctor is gone?” mused Metaltron to herself. Speaking of which, a Dalek approached her.

“Alert! Alert! Transmission being received! Relentless awaits orders concerning it!”

“A transmission? Given the panic, I’d say it’s not according to our usual frequencies. …Ah, what the hey? Tell the Relentless to open a channel both to the ship and to us.”

“I obey!” The Dalek sent the necessary commands. …That’s when the smug look on Metaltron’s face vanished.

“Metaltron, give it up!” barked Megumi’s voice. “Your fleet will be destroyed, your ground forces will be pushed back, and your plans will be undone! Surrender while you can!”

“How did she get here?!” demanded Metaltron. “Find the source of that transmission!”

“Triangulating!” replied the Dalek. “…Source located! Starship Virginia detected with 300 strong fleet!”

“WHAT?!” Metaltron could see that, yes, there WERE 300 ships just entering their sensor range! “Route the call to me!”

“I obey!” The Dalek routed the call and Metaltron spoke.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, coming here!” she said.

“And YOU have a lot of nerve thinking I would just accept this!” replied Megumi. “You WILL fail one way or the other!”

“No, what will happen is you will be erased like the vermin you are! You’re on MY time, you skunk!” Metaltron ended the call and contacted the Rift Controller. “Megumi brought a fleet here! Begin the reset!”

“I cannot begin now!” replied the Rift Controller. “I still need thirty minutes to warm things up!”

“You don’t HAVE thirty minutes! Begin!”

“I cannot change the laws of physics! I’ve got to have thirty minutes!” Metaltron growled in annoyance at what the Rift Controller said.

“…Fine, we’ll hold them off as long as we can,” she finally said, “but you MUST start if and when the enemy breaks through our fleet!”

“…Very well,” replied the Rift Controller.

---

The Dominion and Virginia flew towards the Relentless. They began their attack with their standard laser weapons. Aboard the Relentless, Metaltron coordinated the action. “Status of hyperdrive,” she demanded.

“Hyperdrive still operating at peak efficiency!” replied a Combatman.

“Status of weapons.”

“All weapons primed!” reported the Dalek on Tactical.

“Fire standard weapons on the Virginia. I want Megumi to fall into the Sea of Ideas and be nothing more than a thought.”

“Firing standard weapons!” The Relentless fired.

---

The Virginia rocked. “Report!” called Emily.

“Shields down by 7%,” replied Hiroki.

“Enemy shields?” asked Emily.

“Getting a call,” said Michael. “Hiro’s transmitting the prefix code and instructions for the enemy to lower their shields.”

---

“Alert! Alert!” warned the Tactical Dalek. “Shields failing! Prefix code transmitted from Dominion!” Metaltron goggled at the idea that Hiro DID memorize the Relentless’ prefix code!

“Restore shields!” she ordered.

“Unable to obey! Shields failed!” The ship then rocked thanks to enemy fire.

“SEND BAZOOKA JOE OUT THERE!” shouted Metaltron. The Tactical Dalek looked at Metaltron.

“The Special Weapons Dalek, you dope!” snapped a Combatman.

“Deploying Special Weapons Dalek onto topside!”

---

“Hiro-sama!” called a Combatman aboard the Dominion. “The enemy-!”

“I have eyes, Harada!” snapped Hiro. “Target the Special Weapons Dalek. The enemy doesn’t need a 360⁰ cannon on top.”

“Yes, Hiro-sama!” Harada targeted the Special Weapons Dalek. “Target locked!”

“FIRE!”

---

The Special Weapons Dalek was destroyed quickly. “Nice work, Hiro,” said Megumi aboard the Virginia.

“As I anticipated,” replied Hiro.

---

“Hull integrity fallen to 22%!” reported the Tactical Dalek. “Hyperdrive failing!”

“…Abandon ship!” ordered Metaltron as she fastened her belt. “All hands, abandon ship!” She then began her transformation sequence. “Henshin!”

---

There were flashes of light from the windows of the rapidly falling Relentless. “We have survivors,” Hiro said to Megumi. “I’ll give the order to pursue.”

“Extermination is NOT the goal here,” replied Megumi. “Join with us as we assist with the destruction of the Imperium.”

---

“Understood, Metaltron,” said Nemesis Prime on the Hellfire. “We’re going to change our prefix code now.” Nemesis ended the call. “Terrorcons, Hiro and Dr. Borg knew the Relentless’ prefix code and helped our enemies learn its weaknesses. We’ve been ordered not to let that happen. Makeshift, erase the old prefix code and put in a new one.”

“Yes, Sir,” replied Makeshift. He got to work on the prefix code…but…

“Access denied,” said the computer.

“Huh?” Makeshift tried again.

“Access denied,” repeated the computer.

“Nemesis, I’m locked out!” called Makeshift.

“That’s not possible,” replied Nemesis. “That thing must be faulty.” A face then appeared on the screen, a rather cartoony face of… “DR. BORG?!” yelped Nemesis. He then realized what Dr. Borg did a while ago! “Engage override! Code 10-Tango-Nemesis!” Makeshift tried, then pounded uselessly on the console.

“I can’t!” he reported.

“Shields are dropping!” warned Crystal Widow. “They’re targeting the cannon!”

“FIRE!” ordered Nemesis. Crystal Widow moved to fire but…

---

The Scorpion fired its stinger as the Ark and Nemesis fired torpedoes directly into the Hellfire’s cannon, bringing heavy damage to the enemy vessel. Dr. Borg arched an eyebrow in approval. She called Galvatron. “The new Nemesis seems to know where to place her shots like the original,” she said. “And the skill of her Captain’s as good as the original.”

“I’m the son of the original Nemesis’ Captain,” replied Galvatron. “Had to learn something from him.”

“You learned well. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to show why I named this vessel the Scorpion. Scorpo!”

“Ooh, I always loved this bit!” chuckled Scorpo. The ship’s claws then tore into the Hellfire, bringing pieces of it into the cargo hold on the bow for scrapping operations.

---

“FIRE!” ordered Nemesis Prime as fires sprang up all over the bridge. “FIRE, DAMN YOU!”

“WE CAN’T!” replied Straxus. “THERE’S NO POWER TO THE WEAPONS AND OUR WARP DRIVE IS OUT! WE MUST EVACUATE!”

“NO, DAMMIT! NO!”

“NEMESIS, LISTEN TO REASON!” argued Crystal Widow as she grabbed his shoulders. “This ship is totaled! We have to get out of here and assist in shoring up our ground defenses! We still have the Lords to act as a final wave of ships!” Nemesis growled, then sighed.

“Abandon ship,” he ordered.

It was all hands on deck aboard the Virginia, the personal universe-travelling starship of the F.N.S. Emily was in command again with Megumi on deck, her eyes blazing with righteous fury at the injustices Metaltron and her team committed. Her mind raced with the plan she and the others came up with. Emily then approached her. “We’re ready to go,” she reported.

“Let’s get started,” replied Megumi. Emily turned to the bridge crew.

“Helm, take us out,” she ordered. Michael took the position of Helmsman and keyed in various commands. The Virginia then took off and opened a rift.

---

The Virginia met with a whole fleet of ships that their allies could spare. The Chizarans, the Cybertronians, Realmfleet, the TARDIS, and the Tarlaxians all leant ships to the effort. Megumi got on the horn with all the ship commanders. “Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you not in the know, let me explain,” she said. “A former human known as Khan the Author was going to alter all universes to his design, but he was betrayed and turned into a Dalek slave under the command of Metaltron, a former Dalek herself. She has allied with the resurrected Nemesis Prime, Adachi Hiro, Dr. C. Y. Borg, and Intrag the Conqueror.” Several Captains whispered to one another, knowing the history of those villains. “However, Metaltron further betrayed Hiro, Dr. Borg, and their families, so they’re joining us on this assault. Pulling them up now.” Hiro and Dr. Borg appeared.

“Hiro!” hissed a Tarlaxian Captain.

“Calm yourself, Captain,” soothed Scorpainia.

“Now, the reason this fleet is assembled is to counter Metaltron’s fleet,” explained Megumi. “Hiro, Dr. Borg, the floor is yours concerning the enemy command vessels.” A purple saucer then appeared.

“This is Shocker Umbra’s flagship, the Relentless,” said Hiro. “A Predator-class command saucer, its intended use is planetary bombardment, so its heavier weapons are on its keel. However, its shields are stronger around the upper hull, so we’ll need to use heavy weapons to make any significant progress.” A red ship then took the Relentless’ place. It looked like a bottle with sickles pointing towards the bow.

“This is the Hellfire,” explained Dr. Borg, “a Genocide-class destroyer. Originally from Sonic and the Transformers’ home universe, it was built by a creature named Primacron.”

“Primacron?” asked Galvatron. “Dad and Uncle Optimus fought him when existence itself was at stake.”

“I’ve heard that name before,” said Megumi. “Who was Primacron?”

“He’s the one who pretty much made the Transformers, then he split himself into Primus and Unicron for some experiment to decide whether light or darkness should be dominant.”

“And this ship,” interjected Dr. Borg, “is a prototype Unicron. The cannon at the bow is designed to destroy planets. However, the cannon is also its weakness. Once enough firepower breaches its shields, a few well-placed torpedoes will destroy it.” A Borg Cube appeared. “This is the Juggernaut, a standard Borg Cube, but its assimilation capabilities are toned down thanks to it being the Lords’ service.”

“So the Lords stayed with Metaltron,” remarked Jazz aboard the Ark.

“Yes,” confirmed Dr. Borg. “Right now, the ship is under the command of Ziddet, a female Cardassian Lord. Standard Borg Cube weaknesses apply to this ship.” One more ship appeared. It looked like eight pyramids with their bases stuck together at the sides, but it had distinctive Borg design aesthetics.

“You’ve seen this ship before during the occupation of Beyond City,” said Hiro. “The Imperium. It’s a new command vessel and with the Author deposed, Sonavok is in command. It’s going to take more firepower to scratch it or even get past its shields.”

“We have Boulton,” replied Megumi. “He served aboard that ship. He can tell us its weaknesses. Hiro, do those ships have prefix codes?”

“…Prefix codes?” Dr. Borg asked Arsha.

“First I’ve heard about them,” replied Arsha.

“They’re combination codes that would allow an allied vessel to prevent an enemy from taking over another vessel through remote control,” explained Jazz. “I remember that during a Star Trek movie night with Optimus.”

“Ah, you mean compromise-counter codes,” said Dr. Borg.

“Whatever terminology you use,” said Hiro, “the Hellfire and Relentless have them, but the Lord Ships have too many for us to memorize without being assimilated.”

“All right then, Hiro, you’re with the Virginia,” decided Megumi. “We’ll take care of the Relentless. Jazz, Galvatron, once you have the prefix code, you take care of the Hellfire. Then we join the rest of the fleet in taking out the Imperium and Juggernaut. Once that’s done, we begin our ground assault. Thanks to the maps Hiro and Dr. Borg gave us, we have a clear path to where our enemies will begin their plan. I say this with no exaggeration, we only have one shot at this. We…cannot…fail!”

---

The villains had gathered on Foundation Prime where the Foundation Element Pedestals stood. This time, they built their own base, not wanting to waste the energy in constructing things like Vortech did. “Report,” Metaltron ordered the Rift Controller.

“All required elements now being arranged!” replied the Rift Controller. “We shall become the supreme beings of the universe!” An image of the Dalek Emperor then appeared in the gateway on its dome.

“I’m not running the risk of us messing anything up,” said Metaltron. “Continue with Source installation, then proceed to Prize installation. Keep checking as you go.”

“I obey!” Metaltron headed off as the Rift Controller continued its work. As it did, the rift inside its dome’s gateway showed an image of Khan Noonien Singh during the second Star Trek movie. “Do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish best served cold? …It is very cold…in space!”

Death, Megumi, Arsha, Amy, Blackarachnia, Megatron, Galvatron, Firestorm, Sky Runner, Glyph, Arcee, and Goldbug were outside the OR they gave Emily and Ratchet. Megumi was pacing worriedly. “I’m scared for him too, Megumi,” said Arsha, “but pacing won’t help.”

“It’s the only chance I got of burning off the nervous energy I have,” replied Megumi. “How long have they been in there?!”

“Two hours,” said Goldbug. “But these things take time.” The door to the OR opened…and Emily and Ratchet’s faces were downcast.

“…No!” whispered Megumi.

“There…there was nothing more we could do,” replied Emily.

“Optimus Prime is…beyond recovery,” sighed Ratchet. “He’s only got a couple of minutes to live.” Amy was the first to rush into the room. Everyone surrounded Optimus as the machines he was hooked up to beeped slowly.

“Optimus, please!” begged Amy as tears rolled down her pink cheeks. “You can’t die!” Optimus slowly switched his optics on.

“…Do not…grieve,” he whispered. “…Soon…I shall be one…with the Matrix.” He then slowly turned his head to his left. “…M…Megatron…”

“I’m here, brother,” said Megatron as he knelt by Optimus and held his hand.

“It is…to you…I give…stewardship…of the Matrix.”

“Optimus, after what I’ve done? I’m not worthy of stewardship.”

“…And I…was not worthy…of Primehood…once. …But…one day…a Transformer…will rise from our ranks…and use the power of the Matrix…to once again…light our darkest hour.” Optimus released Megatron’s hand and his chest opened. The Matrix filled the room with calm, soothing light as Optimus slowly took the Matrix out of his chest. He then slowly held it out to Megatron. “Until…that day…’til all…are one…” His fingers unfurled and the Matrix tumbled to the floor. Megatron and Glyph both reached out to grab it. Glyph caught it, then gave it to Megatron. A chain formed around the handles so Megatron could just wear it around his neck, a symbol of Megatron being a steward, not a full Prime. The instant the Matrix was draped over Megatron’s neck, Optimus’ optics faded, his labored breathing stopped, the life-support machines flatlined, and Optimus’ body faded to gunmetal gray. Optimus Prime…was dead and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, not even Death as she performed her duty.

---

This was a first for Megumi. To say she wasn’t handling it well…that would be an understatement. She spent a lot of time staring at her hands. Arsha approached her. “…Megumi?” she asked.

“…He died,” mumbled Megumi. “…He died…and I can’t. …That’s just…” Megumi wept again. Arsha sat next to Megumi and hugged her.

“…Perhaps it isn’t fair,” she said, “…but I’d say you more than earned your immortality.”

“And how, pray tell, did you arrive at THAT conclusion?!”

“Because you still have humanity. Metaltron and her ilk, they don’t. Someone was not careful in giving them immortality. But you, Megumi Hishikawa, one of my greatest friends, you never sacrificed your humanity. …I can’t say it gets easier, seeing a friend die. Take it from someone who had to fight in a war, it doesn’t. …But it’s how we remember them that matters. …Failing that, there’s always a chance he could end up here.”

“…That’s no guarantee,” said Megumi. “For one thing, you’d have to really impress the Horsemen. For another, you’d have to choose to live here knowing that your old universe is no longer your home universe, but one you can only visit for moments at a time. The best you can do is hope those you left behind honor your wishes.”

“…Well, you know what he always said,” remarked Arsha.

“…Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.”

“So we continue to fight for freedom and live in his name.” By then, a fire was lit in Megumi’s eyes.

“…Metaltron MUST fail!” she declared. “…Arsha, you’re right. Optimus wouldn’t want us to wallow in despair. He’d want us to grieve, then fight!”

“Exactly. Galvatron’s rallying his Decepticons right now.”

“What about the Autobots?”

---

Optimus’ body was taken back to Cybertron for the funeral. His Rigor Morphis had him assume his robot mode. Thankfully, as his parents had already passed on, there was no one to grieve the loss of their child. …It still stung that two brothers were burying their baby brother. Ultra Magnus arrived in time for the funeral and led the whole thing. Optimus’ body was placed in between the prongs of the usual vaporization tech. When he was alive, Optimus had granted permission for his vital components to be donated, so the scars were there. “…Optimus and I…we butted heads often,” Ultra Magnus addressed the mourners. “But we always figured out how to help one another. And we both admitted that we needed a kick in the pants; Optimus for letting power go to his head and myself for my raging Decepti-phobia. He made friends that he helped keep on the straight and narrow and those friends did the same for him as he fought to prove that freedom is the right of all sentient beings, whether they be code, flesh and blood, or robots. …The universe is a little darker without him, but we’re all obligated to carry out his mission in his memory and name.” The Transformers attending each held out a phial of innermost Energon and laid it at the memorial that would be switched on. “When a Spark goes online, there is great joy. When one is extinguished, the universe weeps.”

“You flare. You flicker. You fade,” said the crowd.

“You won’t be forgotten, Optimus Prime,” promised Ultra Magnus. “Let your Spark join the Matrix, the greatest treasure of Cybertron.” He pressed a button on the controls and Optimus’ body was vaporized respectfully.

---

After the funeral, Galvatron stepped up onto a stage in Kaon, the Decepticon capital of Cybertron. He had his particle cannon affixed to his right forearm like his father with his old fusion cannon. He turned to address the crowd. “…Decepticons, I must open this with a personal question,” he began. “How many of you are Empties?” A few raised their hands. “…Quite a few. Then my uncle’s programs didn’t reach you?”

“We just applied for them,” said a mech called Needlenose. “I just got my new hands.” He showed off his hands, looking more pristine than the rest of his body. “Thanks to that, I was able to find a job and, already, I have more Shanix to help me fix up my lifestyle. …And now there’s someone wearing Optimus’ face that has wicked thoughts, thoughts that would put me back to square one!”

“Yeah!” called a femme, Shadow Striker. “I just got out of poverty and someone wants to put me back in it because I look freakish!” The sentiment was taken up by the crowd.

“Well, there’s an opportunity for you all to voice your complaints to him!” called Galvatron. “The Cybertronian High Council has asked for naval help from our allies and colonies. Even the Galactic Council is giving us help! Tomorrow night, the Nemesis and Ark will join that fleet as we merge with a combined fleet from outside our universe to take down Nemesis Prime and his allies! And I want all of you with me! We will not rest until the pelt of that evil version of Tails is mounted on a wall! DECEPTICONS, COMMENCE HUNTING SEASON!” Galvatron fired his particle cannon into the sky! The crowd followed suit and fired their weapons into the air.

Megumi and Arsha arrived with the Sources and the three 3V2R prizes in the prearranged universe. Metaltron, Intrag, Hiro, Dr. Borg, the Dalek Rift Controller, their partners, and the hostages met them. “Deciding to go without the bot?” asked Hiro.

“I’m not in the mood for your snark, Hiro,” replied Megumi.

“We have the Sources and our prizes,” said Arsha. The two women set their loads down. “Now let our friends go.” Metaltron turned to her allies.

“A bargain’s a bargain,” she said. “Besides, shooting them now won’t work. Too many of them are immortal.” Intrag shrugged.

“All right, follow me!” barked Hiro. He and the hostages headed to the Sources and prizes. He then cut the hostages’ bonds and shoved each one to Megumi and Arsha. He used a new device to lift the Sources and prizes up and levitate them to Metaltron.

“Dammit, Megumi!” snapped Dell Conagher, a purple TF2 Engineer. “That was stupider than grilling with-!”

“Calmly, Dell. Calmly,” soothed Megumi. “Arsha, Optimus, and I have a form of insurance playing out.” Everyone then heard someone snap their fingers. They turned to see Metaltron acting as if she just remembered something.

“Hiro, Dr. Borg, would you and your friends move closer to our foes?” she said.

“…What’s going on here?” asked Dr. Borg.

“Just need to test the range on something,” replied Metaltron.

“…Not sure I like being a target here,” remarked Hiro. Still, he and his partners obeyed, as did Dr. Borg and hers.

“…What’s going on here?” asked Arsha.

“Hell if I know,” replied Megumi. “And I think our arch-enemies are just as confused.”

“There we go!” Metaltron then pressed a button and an energy field surrounded them.

“WAIT A MINUTE!” shouted Hiro. “That was meant for all of us!”

“What are you talking about?” asked Megumi.

“This universe is an unstable one!” answered Hana. “That shield was meant to keep us all safe while you heroes died!

“Maybe I would,” gulped Arsha, “but Megumi’s-.”

“No, not even I could survive the raw Apocalypse energy being unleashed by a universe ending,” replied Megumi.

“…That’s alarming,” remarked Arsha. “…But, wait, why are your friends here on OUR side?”

“Because we have no further need for our alliance,” replied Intrag. “We have all the partners we need…and a new plan.”

“You were scheming behind our backs!” Igura accused Metaltron.

“Naturally,” replied Metaltron. “Khan may have been content to recreate universes and rule over them, but, if I might indulge in old Dalek ways, I’d rather start from scratch. Erase it all. Wipe the slate clean!”

“…Doesn’t look like those dullards understand what you’re saying,” remarked Phury.

“It seems that way,” agreed Metaltron.

“Permit me to translate, my lady,” offered Intrag. “I learned to translate genius into imbecile during my reign.”

“Translate away,” replied Metaltron. Intrag grinned as he explained to his enemies.

“We’re going to reset the multiverse utterly and rebuild it to our liking!” he said. “We will be GODS! …Which means, Dr. Borg, you and Hiro won’t exist. Neither will your spouses, children, or those meddlesome idiots we both had to suffer!”

“INCONCEIVABLE!” shouted Remsu.

“You keep using that word,” replied the Rift Controller. “I do not think it means what you think it means.”

“I see your Rift Controller knows a thing or two about that particular movie…universe…whatever,” said Megumi.

“That’s Khan!” snapped Hiro. “We mutated him into the Dalek Rift Controller!”

“So, for you, Metaltron is triple crossing you,” said Arsha. “Betrayal stings, doesn’t it?”

“Not as much as Apocalypse energy will sting for you! Ta!” Metaltron and her gang then vanished into a rift that opened behind them. The Rift Controller couldn’t resist a quote.

“And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges! Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act 5, Scene 1!” It then vanished into the rift. Megumi then pulled out her communicator.

“Death! This is Megumi! Requesting evacuation rift back to After Academy! Multiple people will be following!”

“I read you!” replied Death. “Opening emergency rift now!” A rift then opened and Megumi and Arsha herded their enemies into it before jumping in themselves. It closed behind them and the universe’s stars exploded at the same time, vaporizing everything.

---

The group escaped safely, tumbling out of the rift. Death goggled at the sight. “What are THEY doing here?!”

“The plan went sideways for all of us!” explained Arsha. “They betrayed Khan by turning him into a Dalek with the powers of a gateway and now Metaltron betrayed them!”

“I just…wiped from existence by that blue freak?!” shouted Dr. Borg. “I’d like to see her try after I shove the Rift Controller up her-!”

“BUT…not if we get to her first!” insisted Megumi.

“You can’t,” replied Hiro. “She’s already aboard her flagship. She has an entire fleet going to Foundation Prime to enact her plan.”

“To erase it all like she said?” asked Megumi.

“…If you want to stop her,” said Dr. Borg, “then it appears we need to work together. We DO have a common enemy.”

“…Much as I hate to admit it, she’s right,” sighed Death.

“…Here we go again,” muttered Megumi.

“Wait a minute,” realized Arsha. “They weren’t there either.”

“They?” asked Megumi.

“Hiro, where were Nemesis Prime and his Terrorcons?!” Arsha demanded.

“Same place as Optimus and the other Transformers, I assume,” replied Hiro. The heroes goggled. That meant that their enemies DID anticipate such a maneuver! A call then came through.

“EMERGENCY!” shouted Megatron’s voice. “THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY! OPTIMUS PRIME IS BADLY WOUNDED! HE WAS RUN THROUGH WITH A SWORD IN NEMESIS PRIME’S POSSESSION!” Megumi’s heart sank as Death checked her smartwatch, fearing the worst.

“…His…his fate is…” Death looked regretful as Megumi guessed the sentence’s end.

“…What…what could have…? …Let me see!” she demanded.

“That’s not advisable, seeing-!”

“LET ME SEE WHAT LOCKED HIM TO HIS FATE!” shouted Megumi. She yanked Death’s arm to her and scrolled through the smartwatch’s fates and saw Optimus’ fate through his optics. He was fighting against the Terrorcons in the old Gotham Underground before leading to the new Batcave.

“Just let us take this universe and yours will be spared!” cackled Crystal Widow.

“You’d never stop at just one!” retorted Optimus as he swung a fancy looking sword. “I’LL TAKE YOU ALL ON!”

“Optimus, don’t be foolish!” growled Megatron.

“PRIME!” shouted Nemesis Prime’s voice. Optimus…then gasped. He was looking directly into Nemesis Prime’s optics, then looked down…to see a wicked looking sword running through his chest at the Spark Chamber. “At last!” panted Nemesis Prime as everyone stopped fighting with the Terrorcons smiling and the other Transformers gasped in horror. “After so many years…Optimus Prime DIES!” Nemesis then pulled his sword out and Optimus’ vision went blurry while his hearing became worse. Death then turned off the feed.

“…He can still be saved!” pleaded Megumi. “We can get Ratchet here and-!”

“It’s not that simple,” replied Death sadly.

“We have to try!”

“Megumi, I appreciate that you want to help him-,” Megumi grabbed Death and pulled her close to her face.

“You will NOT tell me to give up on him!”

“I’m not saying that at all!” hissed Death as she briefly turned to her classic appearance of a skeleton in a black cloak. She then resumed her more human appearance. “But it’s not just that one stab. Optimus was wounded by the other Terrorcons and I fear the wounds are…fatal.”

“I’m not going to waste time on how you intercepted Megumi’s call,” said Arsha as Khan’s image appeared in the Gateway, “nor will I waste time humoring you with this!”

“Oh? Humoring?” asked Khan innocently.

“You tried to get the Sources of Flourishment!” snapped Optimus. “You failed miserably!”

“I think not, Optimus Prime!” retorted Khan. “Because I have some things…and some people that Megumi may know!” He stepped back to reveal several people, five of them from what we consider fiction, and five crystal spheres, colored dark-blue, orange, sickly-green, yellow, and dark purple.

“…The Sources of the Apocalypse,” whispered Megumi.

“And their guardians,” remarked Arsha.

“And unless you surrender your 3V2R prizes and the Sources of Flourishment to me,” threatened Khan, “your friends end up as BORG Drones instead of Lord Drones!”

“DON’T GIVE IN!” called Mickey Mouse. “MEGUMI, DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!”

“Megumi, please!” begged a Korean woman, Duchess Deung Moon-kyung. “Our lives-!”

“Will belong to me permanently!” interrupted Khan. “Consider my proposal, you three! You have 24 hours, your time scale!” The call ended.

“…Impromptu meeting,” said Megumi. “We gotta discuss this now.”

---

“So, what is the plan, Brother?” asked Megatron once everyone was brought into the loop.

“That’s why we’re here,” replied Optimus. “We need ideas.”

“What we need,” remarked Thundercracker, “is someone that was in the enemy’s counsel.”

“We have Batman and the others,” said Farmee.

“We weren’t that deep in Khan’s inner circle,” replied Batman.

“But there was one who was,” said Gandalf as he smoked a pipe. “One Boulton.”

“I am NOT putting Boulton through that again!” snapped Richard.

“That ain’t your call, Richard,” called a voice. A deassimilated Boulton then approached the group. He was accompanied by Tom and a few police officers. No guns, given that he was more than cooperative. “I was deep in Khan’s head,” continued Boulton. “I know how he thinks.”

“Then you have the coordinates for his base universe?” asked Megumi.

“You can’t go there,” said Boulton. “I helped him reverse-engineer abandoned Vortonian scattering technology.”

“Ooh, nasty!” shuddered Rosadera.

“What does this scattering technology scatter, exactly?” asked Megatron.

“The atoms of any beings that may try to invade whatever universe you’re in,” explained Rosadera.

“…How quickly did the Vortonians abandon that tech?” asked Liam.

“Not until their final days, sadly,” said Death.

“So how do we get in?” asked Brittney.

“There’s a universe Khan didn’t think to use,” said Boulton. “It has a direct path leading straight past the scattering technology.”

“What’s the universe?” asked Megumi

“The identifier string calls it 1-N-J-U-5-T-1-C-3.”

“Injustice,” remarked Richard. “In that universe, the Joker made Superman think he was fighting Doomsday, but it was really Lois pregnant with their son. He went so far as to kill her and her heartbeat was tied to a nuke in Metropolis. Superman then killed the Joker and formed the One Earth Regime with other heroes that thought like him, as well as a few villains. That universe’s Batman led a resistance group with Lex Luthor.”

“That version of me hasn’t contacted me, so I’m assuming they’re still all right,” said Batman.

“Well, it splintered into two timelines after their Brainiac attacked. One is where Superman used Brainiac’s skull ship to mind control unwilling superhumans to form a new Legion, the other is where you sent Superman to the Phantom Zone after he talked about killing Brainiac.”

“It’s through the latter branch,” said Boulton. “The best bet will be in the new Batcave in the Gotham Underground through the now defunct Arkham Asylum.”

“That still leaves the hostages,” remarked Optimus. “How do we free them?”

“…We give Khan what he wants,” suggested Arsha. Everyone goggled at her. “And we got some advice from Anansi to help with that.”

“…Ooooohhhh!” recalled Optimus as a grin appeared on his face.

“You two spoke with Anansi?” asked Death.

“Here’s what I have in mind…” Arsha began outlining the plan.

---

Khan was in his throne room, pondering how to construct the New Multiverse. “…Maybe I should spare Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellan. …No, those two goofs had their time. …Wait, is there someone I can resurrect?”

“You know, with the way you abused those two lately,” remarked a Guard Drone, “Sonavok and Ziddet will betray you.”

“…What? Betray me?” asked Khan. He then hammed up his “surprise” at the suggestion. “A Romulan and a Cardassian, two of the most sly and power-hungry races, plotting to betray me?! I tell you, I’m shocked! Shocked and dismayed! I had no idea! You just can’t trust ANYONE these days!”

“I think I saw them write something in the Tome,” said the guard. Khan arched an eyebrow, then opened the Tome to find that, yes, someone DID write in it.

“‘The instant Khan asked the Collective for clarification, the Tome burned his hand and was forever severed from his use.’ A bit ham-fisted of them, don’t you think?” The door then opened to reveal the Dalek Supreme, Sonavok, and Ziddet. “It IS polite to knock, you three,” admonished Khan.

“We require your presence in Grid 9, Subjunction 12!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“I’m busy, you over-sized saltshaker!” dismissed Khan. “Get out!”

“We require a Rift Controller to better integrate with the Time Controller!”

“You have my sympathy, now go away!”

“Your multiversal expertise would make you an ideal candidate,” remarked Sonavok.

“I doubt it,” replied Khan. “I know how our tech works, but to any others…how did that Learman woman put it…my mind is a very opal.”

“The Rift Controller is slaved to its Gateway-styled casing,” said Ziddet.

“So, the Rift Controller is a Dalek, huh?” scoffed Khan. “Well, in case it’s escaped your notice, I am NOT a Dalek.”

“You WILL be,” came the voice of the Lord Collective.

“…What?” The instant Khan asked the Collective for clarification, the Tome burned his hand and was forever severed from his use.

“Take him!” ordered the Dalek Supreme. Sonavok and Ziddet then grabbed Khan and removed the neural transceiver connecting him to the Lord Collective.

“GET OFF ME!” demanded Khan. “YOU CAN’T DO THIS! LET GO OF ME, YOU HAM-FISTED-! YOU TWO ARE FROM RACES KNOWN FOR THEIR CUNNING, NOT THEIR-!”

“While this isn’t the more subtle of our plans…” began Sonavok.

“There’s something to be said for occasionally indulging in…ham-fisted tactics,” finished Ziddet.

“You will be transported through a nuclear reactor area via a transient time corridor!” said the Dalek Supreme. “We have temporarily lowered the reactor’s safety measures!”

“The radiation will kill me, you idiot!” argued Khan.

“Mutagenic drugs will be administered into your system! They will accelerate the mutation of your body!”

“What about our agreement?! The New Multiverse I offered your leader?!”

“Metaltron, Intrag, and Nemesis Prime have advised that our terms remain unchanged! Retrieval of the Apocalypse Sources and the 3V2R prizes are of top priority!”

“But the godhood I promised you all! The power! You all promised! You said that I would lead you through a new era!”

“As the new Rift Controller, you will be able to advise us in matters of Multiversal Conquest to better lead us to victory! You will still…pull our strings, as it were!” The group then arrived at an area with a time corridor active. Metaltron, Intrag, Nemesis Prime, Dr. Borg, and Hiro were all watching. Khan was held in place as Hiro stuck a syringe into his neck. He then administered the contents, the mutagenic drugs Khan was told about. After a few seconds, Hiro pulled the syringe out as Khan was feeling a little…unwell.

“Throw him in,” ordered Metaltron. The Dalek Supreme put his manipulator arm onto Khan’s back and used suction power to hold him. It then pushed Khan towards the time corridor. Khan tried to resist, but the Dalek Supreme had a strong grip on him and maintained its manipulator arm’s position.

“No! Please! Stop!” begged Khan. “You can’t do this! I’LL BE REVENGED ON THE LOT OF YOU!” The Dalek Supreme quickly extended its manipulator arm and thrust Khan into the time corridor, releasing its grip on him. Khan tumbled through the time corridor, screaming all the while.

“Khan’s now in transit,” reported Nemesis Prime.

“The casing is completed as well,” said Dr. Borg. She pulled a cloth off of a special Dalek casing. It looked like it had a small gateway tilted at an angle behind the speech indicators, had intersecting rings on its neck like the Time Controller, and in place of the standard Dalek manipulator arm was a multi-dexterous, three digited, jointed claw. It was sky-blue with purple sense globes and a purple bumper.

“Mutation of Khan organism is complete!” reported the Dalek Operator manning the time corridor. “Retrieving now!” The time corridor brought back its passenger. In place of Khan, the Author…was a Dalek mutant. “Mutation stable!” reported the Operator.

“Let’s stuff this thing in there, then,” said Nemesis Prime as he picked up the mutant and put it into the new casing. Metaltron then integrated it into the casing’s systems. The small gateway on its dome then opened a rift.

“…Integration…complete…” croaked the new Dalek. Like a normal Dalek, the speech indicators flashed on every syllable.

“Seal your casing,” ordered Metaltron.

“I…obey.” The casing then closed on the Dalek mutant. The eyestalk then glowed purple.

“Report systems status!” barked the Dalek Supreme.

“All systems…fully operational!” reported the Rift Controller. “…Onboard Gateway Computer: activated! …I see you!”

“Quotation identified!” called the Dalek Supreme. “Sauron! Universe M-1-D-D-L-3-3-4-R-T-H! Late Third Age!”

“Victory is assured!” cheered Metaltron.

Richard had gotten his van to the Chrome Trim Car Auction, a very high-class automobile auction site. Michael was looking over the description of the Spectacular. “…‘Hand-crafted by a renowned Vortech Wars Veteran and News Anchor,’” he read aloud incredulously, “‘the van sympathetically marries the class of Chrysler and Dodge’s names to the modernity of the…’ Richard, you ARE joking!”

“Hardly a lie!” protested Richard. Michael read on.

“‘The interior would benefit from some minor alterations.’ What interior?! And those alterations will need to be conducted with a hand grenade! You gotta put that thing down!”

“Coming up to Lot 25,” called the auctioneer. “A beautiful 1956 Citroën DS. Start me, if you will, at 200,000 studs. 200,000. Do I hear 250,000? 250,000? 250,000! Do I hear 300,000?” The final total reached 3,000,000 studs. The buyer handed over the total and gave the auctioneer the delivery information. “Coming up to the last lot, Lot 26, the…Spectacular.”

“That’s me!” Richard whispered to Michael.

“A…fantastic hand-crafted minivan,” the auctioneer couldn’t believe he said it, but he HAD to emphasize the positive, his job depended on it. “A very unusual machine. Beautiful, stylish Dodge Grand Caravan coachwork. Again, a very unusual, unique vehicle on sale this afternoon.”

“Unusual?!” Michael chuckled. “Unusual?! He’s being very generous!”

“Start me, if you will, at…300 studs,” said the auctioneer. Richard goggled in horror.

“WHAT?!” he yelped. Michael laughed.

“Starting at 300 studs,” continued the Auctioneer. “Any advance on 325? 325! Do I hear 350? 350 studs? 350!”

“Somebody’s bid?!” asked Michael. The bids went up.

“400! Do I hear 425? 425?” Richard rolled his eyes and raised his marker. “425! Do I hear 450? 450? 450 studs for this unusual minivan? 425 going once! 425 going twice! 425 sold to Mr. Richard Saunders! Come forward to pay and give us your delivery information and Lot 26 is yours!” Richard grumbled as he went to pay.

---

Back with the Horsemen, now that Order was in the picture, she also had to put up with Famine’s pasta bowl deliveries. “I’ve been acting like your mother here, you know that?” grumbled Order as she stacked empty bowls into Famine’s hands. “I’ve been talking to you, we ALL have, it’s like we’re talking to a wall! I heard Death say, ‘we don’t wanna see you get another bowl’, and you still go and get one! All right, come on, let’s go.” Order led Famine to the sink. “Watch how you walk. And hurry, will you? We got a lot.” Famine then stumbled and all the bowls came crashing down. “Oh, for the love of-! How many times do I have to tell you? Neatness counts!”

“It was an accident!” protested Famine.

“It’s always an accident with you,” sighed Order. “You’re my sister, and I love you, but I tell you once! I tell you twice! It’s like you don’t listen to me! Why is that?!”

“Why don’t you believe me when I say I can’t say no to a guy like him?!” argued Famine. “Besides, he’s a cutie and he thinks I’m cute!”

“…Cute? He thinks you’re cute? I think you’re cute too! But what’s gonna happen when the bill comes in, huh? You ever think about that?!”

“Don’t worry, I got a plan!” assured Famine.

“Yeah, sure you do.”

“GOTCHA!” called War’s voice.

“HEY! WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?!” yelped a man’s voice.

“That’s him!” said Famine. She dashed off to the main dining hall with Order in tow. All the Horsemen were surrounding the poor delivery boy. He had a stack of pasta bowls as usual. “Ooh! Food!” cheered Famine.

“That’s enough!” snapped Death. “I think it’s time to get some answers here!”

“…Oh, okay,” sighed Famine. She looked to the delivery boy. “Hey, Rupert, I gotta know, why are you giving me all these pasta bowls?”

“…W…Well, Miss Famine,” said the delivery boy, Rupert, “I just…you know the expression that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? …Well, I…I wondered if that was true…for you. You see, I’ve got a…a crush on you and…” Famine sat next to him and patted his hand.

“Then, perhaps, we should go out to eat on an official date?” she suggested.

“Y-You mean it?!” asked Rupert.

“With all my heart.”

“Ugh, sappiness,” groaned War.

“There’s a question your new girlfriend is avoiding, so I’m gonna ask!” said Lacey. “Rupert, how much are all the pasta bowls gonna run us?”

“Oh, nothing, Ma’am!” replied Rupert. “They’re all free and so are future deliveries.”

“…Free?” asked Death.

“Yeah!” confirmed Rupert. “We recently hired a new chef that’s been making all sorts of new bowls and the boss wanted him to simply throw away the rejects, so I offered to take them and see which ones Famine would like. You know Famine better than I do.”

“And the way to my heart IS through my stomach!” said Famine.

“…Well, if that’s the case,” said Life, “I guess we panicked for no reason. Sorry to delay you like that, Rupert.” The Horsemen released him.

“I’ll see you for our first date when this whole affair is over!” called Famine.

“Just to make sure I got it right, fine dining or casual buffet?” asked Rupert.

“Buffet, please!”

“I know the perfect buffet place! See you then!” Rupert then left the Horsemen’s mansion, jumping and clicking his heels as he went back to his car.

“…I’ve never seen a man click his heels like that outside of Vaudeville,” remarked Death. Famine sat down and began eating her newest acquisitions. Bounty then looked over Famine’s shoulder. Famine sensed it and looked behind her.

“…You wanna try some peppermint and shrimp alfredo?” offered Famine.

“Forget the pasta,” replied Bounty. “Does Rupert have a brother or sister that likes cooking?”

“…I dunno. I’ll have to ask him when he comes back,” mused Famine.

---

Megumi, Optimus, and Arsha headed to the Gateway with Liam and Palmarta. “So you guys visit the Mushroom Kingdom and someone comes back from a universe with a Source of the Apocalypse?” asked Arsha.

“That’s right,” confirmed Megumi. “It was Alesandro’s idea. Speaking of which, I think it’s his turn to come back.”

“Aye, it is,” confirmed Liam. “Let me just give him a call.” He activated the comms. “Alesandro, it’s Liam. Me and Palmarta are heading to the Mushroom Kingdom. Confirm that you’re ready to head back to Beyond City. …I said confirm.”

“That’s odd,” muttered Megumi. “He’s a punctual guy.” Liam tried someone else.

“Mickey, this is Liam. Have you seen-?”

“Liam?!” yelped a high-pitched feminine voice. “It’s Minnie! Have you seen Alesandro or Mickey or War’s Source?!”

“…Aren’t they in your universe?” asked Palmarta, worry creeping into her voice. Megumi took over the call.

“Miss Mouse, this is Megumi. We’ll find them.”

“Please do,” said Minnie. “I’m really worried right now.” The call ended and Megumi called Vorton.

“Vorton, this is Megumi. Lord Alesandro Ortiz, Lord Mickey Mouse, and the Source of War are missing. Begin a search starting from the-.”

“Trying to find a certain rat?” came a voice. Megumi realized the call was intercepted!

“Khan!” she snarled.

After the pizza party, it was time to say goodbye. “It was fun, touring New York with you all,” said Hiroki. He then made the mistake of sniffing the Lair’s air. He then gagged. “G-Gomen!” he apologized. “Not used to the…flavorful air here.”

“It ain’t that bad!” protested Raphael. He then took a sniff, then coughed.

“Okay, there must be something wrong with the air purifiers,” remarked Donatello. “‘Scuse me.” He headed off to his lab.

“It was an honor to fight alongside you, Hiroki-san,” said Leonardo as he bowed.

“The honor is all mine, Leonardo-san,” returned Hiroki as he bowed.

“Thank you all for the rescue,” said Order. “Now, I’d like to return home.”

“Same here,” agreed Jazz. Hiroki then pulled out his phone and called home.

“Beyond City, this is Team T-M-N-T,” he said. “Mission accomplished! Need a rift back home!” A rift then opened. “Sayonara!” Hiroki called out to the Turtles and their friends and family. He, his team, and Order then jumped into the rift.

---

“…Not…one…lousy…Source,” grunted Khan as Tormo reported his failure.

“No, Sir,” gulped Tormo.

“This sets us back, you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“…Anything to say that may help your case?”

“…No, Sir.”

“…Smart in the long run.” Khan then heard a knock on his throne room door. “Come in.” Hiro then came in with a smile on his face. “Hiro. What can I do for you?”

“It’s more like what did I do for you!” replied Hiro. He then produced a dark blue crystal sphere. Khan’s eyes goggled.

“You got the Source of Death!” he cheered.

“And its guardians, Jason Ikamesh and Colleen Doyle!” reported Hiro.

“Hostages! Even better!” Khan turned to Tormo. “See if you can replicate Hiro’s success with the Source of Chaos.”

“Will do,” replied Tormo. He headed off to tell his team.

---

Hiroki and his team returned safely home. Xiomara was about ready to hug him. “Ah, mi-!” she said.

“YAME!” yelped Hiroki. “I…had to travel through New York City’s sewer system. I don’t think I smell all that good.” Xiomara took a whiff and gagged.

“Of all the times to be right!” she choked.

“So, should I be expecting Order to smell that bad too?” asked Death.

“Probably a safe assumption, Sister,” replied Order.

“Well, in any case, welcome back!” greeted Death.

“Thank you, Death,” returned Order.

---

After a shower and deassimilation operation, Hongo joined with Megumi, Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle. “The five of us, together again,” he said.

“It’s been a long time, Hongo-san,” said Megumi.

“Too long,” said Gandalf. Hongo then noticed Batman brooding as usual.

“All right, what’s on your mind?” he asked. By now, everyone paid attention to him.

“There’s the Bat-Brooding,” chuckled Wyldstyle. “I used to date a version of Batman, so I should know.”

“We have the Sources of Flourishment,” remarked Batman, “who’s to say that Khan won’t try the same trick as Hiro did with the Sources of the Apocalypse?”

“That would be a worry,” remarked Megumi. “…IF the Horsemen didn’t think to counter that trick. After Academy is more heavily guarded now and anti-Lord procedures are being implemented should they come back with a greater force.”

“You have?” asked Wyldstyle. Megumi looked at the entire group.

“Come on, guys, give us some credit here. We haven’t been just sitting on our asses waiting for our teams to return. We needed to develop plans to counter any of the enemy’s plans. While one team was away, the others took time to develop plans for keeping the Sources safe. But any strategists’ help would be appreciated. THAT’S why I’ve been trying to call you, BRUCE!”

“…I was busy,” grunted Batman. “…But I’ll definitely be at the next strategy meeting. When is it?”

“Tonight at 8. And I’ll have Alfred remind you too.”

“Not a bad idea.”

---

“This looks like Blackarachnia’s old lair on Mobius,” muttered Optimus as his holo-form followed Arsha into Anansi’s cave.

“She weaves webs like this?” asked Arsha.

“Yeah. I got tripped up on one of her trap lines and was dangling for a bit.”

“So she’s more spider than car, hm?” asked Anansi as he came out.

“That’s part of her charm, sir.”

“Anansi, I know your role is a sort of story guardian,” said Arsha, “but is there a way to destroy the Tome?” Anansi flinched.

“…Not by any power we possess, sadly,” he admitted. “Not unless you’re willing to sacrifice your life like that. Even Megumi would have to die.”

“Immortals too?! Oh, Vector Sigma!” shuddered Optimus.

“None of us can make that sacrifice,” remarked Arsha. “What else can we do?”

“Well, I DID just come up with a safer idea,” said Anansi. He brought Optimus and Arsha into a huddle.

---

“All right. Thanks Alfred,” said Megumi. She hung up the house phone.

“So, Batman’s in on the strategy meeting?” asked Richard.

“Yep. And Alfred heard that Optimus and Arsha had a little planning session with Anansi,” replied Megumi. “So we’re gonna get that…erm, Richard, what is that on the counter?” She pointed to a piece of paper.

“Ah! That’s my description of the Spectacular for the auction tomorrow morning!”

“And it ain’t to a junkyard, Mom,” warned Kaitlyn. “It’s at that car auction Michael goes to so he can add to his vintage car collection.”

“Richard, no one is going to buy that piece of crap!” protested Megumi.

“Thank you SO much for the confidence!” retorted Richard. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I got some editing to do!” Richard took the description of the Spectacular and headed off to his office.

“…I swear to every god in the multiverse, Anansi as well, Richard is frittering away his money this way!” complained Megumi.

“…Mom, you’re not really one to talk,” remarked Kaitlyn.

“Come again?!”

“Need I remind you how much that barely used knock-off Batcave cost us? We had to be REALLY lean with our money.”

“Now hang on a minute-!”

“Was it or was it not that incident the impetus for me and Kaede learning how to budget?” Megumi opened her mouth to argue, then sighed.

“You win this round, kiddo,” she grumbled.