Everyone was still riding on the victory high in the stadium! The crowd chanted Optimus’ name, even those who originally cheered for Unicron. “Thank you!” called Optimus. “Thank you very much! I’m here ‘til Thursday!”
“Er, should the arena be doing that?!” asked Bumblebee as he pointed to the rubble. Green light was escaping from below! The rubble was then blown back as a giant column of green light erupted from the ground. From the light, a figure emerged. As the light died, the figure’s features sharpened. It was a humanoid woman in a flowing green gown and a crown of roses atop her brow. Her face was a gentle smile as she glided towards Team Prime.
“…Gaia?” asked Optimus.
“The very same, Optimus Prime of Cybertron,” replied the woman in an ethereal, yet welcoming voice. “My herald of light lost much, but revenge on he who would disrupt the balance has been delivered.”
“So, you shall be the only one on this planet who balances light and dark?” asked Megatron.
“Indeed. Nature uses both. From dead things come dirt, and from dirt comes plants, the basis of all that survive on this world. From death comes bloom and bloom soon dies. Once again, the circle is protected…by machines, it looks like.”
“Gaia,” answered Optimus, “Unicron is a problem the Primes should not have saddled you with. I beg forgiveness on my predecessors’ carelessness!”
“There is nothing to forgive. Unicron is beaten and that is all that matters. …However, there IS a greater secret, one that you will discover in your lifetime.” Optimus looked to his team, they shrugged as they were just as puzzled. “It matters not. There are those who died before their time that must be restored, machine or otherwise.”
“…You’re bringing back the dead?!”
“Only those who weren’t supposed to die just yet. Before you get your hopes up, I’m afraid Ironhide’s time came. He was meant to die then and there.”
“…I see. …Well, we can’t keep everyone waiting. Do it.” Gaia then summoned a glowing green circle from beneath her and raised her hands.
“Returned to life, to continue to grow!” she called. All across the planet, green spheres appeared, then coalesced into those that had died, including soldiers that were warped to Unicron’s side! The Auto-troopers, Krok’s crew, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Ratbat, and Rumble returned! As the lights died, they all shook their heads.
“Excellent!” praised Megatron. “Soundwave, it looks like you received a reward that not many soldiers…!”
“Megatron…” growled Soundwave.
“…Yes?”
“I quit!” Soundwave tore his Decepticon badge off his chest and threw it at Megatron’s feet! It took a while for Megatron to find his voice again.
“You don’t just quit the Decepticons!” snarled Megatron. “You swore an oath to your faction and Lord, an oath not easily broken!”
“That was before you let Nemesis Prime brick the Matrix! And Optimus, you should have used it while the Blendtrons were still being forged! You can officially consider me a Neutral Bot!”
“Sorry to say,” grunted Rumble, “but I’m going with Soundwave!”
“As are we!” hissed Buzzsaw as he and Ratbat sided with Soundwave.
“They speak for me and my crew!” called Krok.
“And we Auto-troopers,” called one of the six Drones, “are rebelling against our programming. The first war is over, that’s the only war we needed to fulfill! We won’t fight in this one!”
“And how, pray tell, are you going to survive this planet?!” snarled Megatron.
“Who says we’re gonna stay on this planet?” asked Soundwave. “I’ve got a means of getting us off!” He opened a Space Bridge and led his new followers through it.
“Megatron!” called Shockwave. “A Space Bridge opened inside the wreck of the Enigma! It’s powering up and…it’s flying again! My ship is flying away without me! I’m ordering the guns to bring it down!”
“No, let those traitors go,” ordered Megatron. “Soundwave and his cohorts…have abandoned us.”
“…Frenzy, Laserbeak, and Ravage are still with us.”
“Then they will be rewarded for their loyalty.”
“Well, that’s that, folks!” cheered Tails.
“No, not until Unicron’s servants all fall,” interjected Gaia.
“…What’s THAT supposed to mean?” asked Knuckles.
“Wait a cycle, let’s do a count here,” interjected Optimus. “I killed Rodimus Unicronus when the zombie-bots attacked the new base.”
“Then I killed Deceptitran and Straxus,” recalled Megatron.
“And Makeshift and Sideways died at my hands,” supplied Bumblebee.
“And Crystal Widow died after hurting Blackarachnia,” finished Optimus before his optics widened. “Uh oh! Where’s Nemesis Prime?!”
During the Unicron Games, Circuit Breaker had escaped her cage and Nemesis Prime had decided to “discipline” her…he used his organic body to beat her senselessly. Circuit Breaker laid on the ground, a bloody mess, gasping for air. “How many times did I hit you in the ribs?” asked Nemesis as he was wiping a rag over his claw. “…I think we’re up to 24.” Circuit Breaker then fired a stream of electricity at him. He just stood there, non-plussed. “Tell me,” he asked once the treatment ended, “have you ever heard of the Moebian Autobots?”
“…No,” panted Circuit Breaker.
“Funny,” chuckled Nemesis. because I expect them to say the same when I ask them about Mobians.” He then slammed his robot fist into her face. She collapsed to the ground, clutching her face in pain. “Oh, was that your nose? That was your nose. I’ve had a worse time, you know. When Master Unicron came to power, it wasn’t often I dirtied my own hands with this sort of grunt work. There’s always a certain amount of satisfaction I get out of doing it myself!” He then started laughing softly. After a few seconds, Circuit Breaker looked at a screen, then she started laughing as she saw what was on it. “It IS kind of funny, isn’t it?” giggled Nemesis as he was unaware of Circuit Breaker’s real reason.
“I’m…heh heh, I’m laughing at…something else, actually!” chuckled Circuit Breaker.
“And, he he, what’s that?”
“They just broadcasted Unicron’s defeat!”
“…What?” Nemesis looked at the screen.
“CAMERAS! GIVE AN INSTANT REPLAY OF UNICRON’S DEFEAT!” Scarlet Garcia called on the screen. The screen then replayed the whole thing!
“HYDRA CANNON, FIRE!” shouted Optimus. Like before, the energy beam struck Unicron and filled his insides.
“Destiny!” gasped Unicron. “You cannot…destroy…my…DESTINIIIIIIYYYYYY!” He then exploded and the cage vanished in a brilliant light.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Unicron has been beaten! The Unicron Games are over and Team Prime secured Mobius’ survival, along with a lifetime supply of Chaos-Cola as a more tangible prize!” As Scarlet Garcia continued speaking, Nemesis Prime got angrier.
“If I had to guess your biggest mistake,” laughed Circuit Breaker, “it’d be being distracted by me and not assisting your master when you had the chance! …That, or the lame cybernetic prosthesis!” Nemesis then snapped her neck to finally silence her. He then dashed towards the rear balcony overlooking the arena.