{"id":1364,"date":"2020-06-11T23:49:41","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T03:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=1364"},"modified":"2020-06-11T23:49:41","modified_gmt":"2020-06-12T03:49:41","slug":"tmc-6-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/tmc-6-9\/","title":{"rendered":"TMC 6-9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The tone was a somber one after Optimus told them what happened. It took about two days, but Optimus and Blackarachnia were cleared for duty. Optimus confined himself to his workshop to keep himself busy with a project. Blackarachnia was walking to Ultra Magnus\u2019 office with a pad in her hands. She rang the chime. \u201cEnter,\u201d bid Ultra Magnus. The door opened, and she stepped in. \u201cAh, 1st<\/sup> Lieutenant,\u201d he greeted. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have a name change form for you,\u201d reported Blackarachnia. \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed my identity as Blackarachnia so much that I don\u2019t want to give it up to being Elita-1 again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me see,\u201d directed Ultra Magnus. She handed him the pad. He looked it over. \u201cGood, everything seems in order. Name change: approved.\u201d He signed it and filed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you, Sir,\u201d replied Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes Optimus know?\u201d asked Ultra Magnus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was the first to know,\u201d answered Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood to know,\u201d replied Ultra Magnus. There was an awkward silence, something Ultra Magnus didn\u2019t like. \u201cIs there something else?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGuilt, actually,\u201d sighed Blackarachnia. \u201cI feel like I should have been there for Optimus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat could you have done in the condition you were in?\u201d countered Ultra Magnus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but it would have been SOMETHING!\u201d protested Blackarachnia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, it isn\u2019t getting defeated that\u2019s bothering him,\u201d answered Ultra Magnus, \u201cit\u2019s the fact that it\u2019s our brother that beat him and betrayed us to the Decepticons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrue,\u201d replied Blackarachnia. \u201cI\u2019m gonna see if I can comfort him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood luck,\u201d bid Ultra Magnus. Blackarachnia headed out and made her way to Optimus\u2019 workshop. Her hand reached the chime, then hesitated. She wasn\u2019t sure if she should. She then shook her head of that doubt and rang the chime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome,\u201d said a sullen voice. It stung Blackarachnia\u2019s Spark to hear Optimus so sad. She went in to see Optimus at a workbench with the battery Megatron had damaged. He was using special tools to get into the crack to fix the damaged circuits. After a bit of work, he put his tools aside and put his head in his hands. He then saw Blackarachnia. \u201cHey,\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d asked Blackarachnia softly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to fix the Gabutyra Zyudenchi,\u201d answered Optimus. \u201cLook what Megatron did to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you can fix it,\u201d assured Blackarachnia as she put her hand to his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d sighed Optimus as he put his hand on hers. \u201cMaybe.\u201d They sat there in silence for a bit. \u201c\u2026He almost killed me,\u201d mumbled Optimus. Blackarachnia didn\u2019t ask who, she didn\u2019t need to. \u201cMy own brother tried to kill me. He didn\u2019t hesitate, I don\u2019t think anything he did required any effort on his part. I looked up to him and he joined the Decepticons! I don\u2019t understand why a decorated war hero like him would do this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, you still have the relics I gathered,\u201d answered Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, but I don\u2019t think they\u2019re gonna do any good in stopping him,\u201d muttered Optimus. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m supposed to do!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, if he\u2019s the new Decepticon Leader,\u201d offered Blackarachnia, \u201cmaybe you two could work something out that would bring peace to both parties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe didn\u2019t exactly act like he wanted to work WITH Autobots, much less FOR them,\u201d countered Optimus. \u201cBesides, he said he went through the Dead-end of Polyhex and concluded that the Autobot cause was the problem. Megatron\u2019s been fighting in the Pits of Kaon, enhancing his own concentration on the nature of magic spells! The reason most mages say the spell\u2019s name is so they can remember the nature of how magic works for that specific spell. What would teaming up with an amateur Wizard like me accomplish?! He just sees me as an obstacle to his endgame, whatever it is! He\u2019s got a grip on power now, and he has no intention of letting go until, like an orange, he squeezes it so hard, it pulverizes! That\u2019s all we are to him, just runoff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd nothing stood out?\u201d asked Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot to me,\u201d sighed Optimus. \u201cI mean, if he has so much power\u2026,\u201d he then got an idea, \u201c\u2026if he has so much power, why didn\u2019t he kill me?\u201d He then stood up. \u201cThere was nothing I could do. He aimed an arm-mounted, nucleon grade fusion cannon at my face! I saw light inside the barrel! But, instead, he asked Soundwave for a Ground Bridge! Why did he run?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI may have a theory,\u201d offered Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHit me with it,\u201d directed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d say it\u2019s overconfidence,\u201d explained Blackarachnia. \u201cBefore I was stabbed, Thundercracker said that, with my death and his betrayal, Megatron would have no resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe tried to break me emotionally!\u201d realized Optimus. \u201cHe wanted a smooth conquest! Well, he ain\u2019t gonna get it!\u201d He activated his comms. \u201cAll Autobots, this is Optimus. Gather in the briefing room. I have a plan to beat the Decepticons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

After Optimus briefed everyone on how they were going to beat Megatron, they set to work on the tasks assigned to them. Ultra Magnus coordinated with Alexis to get materials. Optimus was talking with Commander Topaz in getting G.U.N troops involved. \u201cLook, I\u2019m sorry,\u201d he argued, \u201cbut this isn\u2019t something I can negotiate on! Without the assistance of G.U.N, the Autobots have no hope of succeeding!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd how do we know,\u201d countered Topaz, \u201cthat the intel Blackarachnia gave you will help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s just as scared of the Decepticons as the rest of us,\u201d answered Optimus. \u201cLook, if it turns out to not help, you can call off your forces. But, for now, I NEED your support!\u201d Topaz considered what he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026All right, Prime,\u201d she finally decided. \u201cBut, this is gonna be a risky operation. Many brave soldiers\u2019 lives are on the line. If this goes fubar, you\u2019re going to regret it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf Megatron succeeds,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201che won\u2019t give us the luxury of regretting it. Prime out.\u201d As the transmission ended, the Ground Bridge opened to let Blackarachnia, Bumblebee, and Cliffjumper return with the relics she had obtained while undercover. Bumblebee was holding the Apex Armor and grinning wildly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSir, I will pay you to let me use this in the fight!\u201d pleaded Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo; you, the armor, and Cliffjumper are staying in reserve until you\u2019re needed,\u201d directed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSir, you\u2019re a buzzkill, you know that?\u201d sighed Cliffjumper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been called worse,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cAre there any more?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see, we\u2019ve got a shield rod,\u201d reported Cliffjumper as he looked into the hover sled, \u201ca couple of doses of Red Energon, a Spark Extractor,\u201d he held it at arm\u2019s length, \u201can Immobilizer, a Resonance Blaster, Soundwave would have loved that, and a Phase Shifter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNice toys!\u201d cheered Optimus. \u201cGood work, you guys, especially you, Lieutenant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust doing my job,\u201d assured Blackarachnia, happier that her boyfriend\u2019s in better spirits. Ratchet and Perceptor came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your status on the First Weapon?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDone and done,\u201d answered Ratchet. \u201cBut, if you ask me, we should keep it in reserve. Give Bumblebee and Cliffjumper something to play with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBee\u2019s already got a toy, supplied by Blackarachnia,\u201d countered Optimus. \u201cBesides, the weapon was only designed to throw him off. We need to keep up the melee attacks and hold him off until G.U.N has made progress. In the meantime, Ironhide needs help cleaning the rest of our weapons. Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, you two are helping, so try not to shoot up the walls this time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo promises, Sir,\u201d called Cliffjumper. As they headed off, Optimus used his own Scrying Orb to contact Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmy, how goes the vote?\u201d quizzed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately, given that I\u2019m Sira\u2019s apprentice,\u201d muttered Amy, \u201ca Replacement Coven was called, one without Sira.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hate those,\u201d grumbled Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe vote\u2019s leaning towards yes, but it\u2019s still too early to tell,\u201d continued Amy \u201cThey\u2019re aware of the deadline. Final vote\u2019s this evening. I\u2019ll let you know then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMuch appreciated,\u201d thanked Optimus. Her image faded and Optimus switched to Trema. \u201cTrema, how\u2019s\u2026?\u201d he was interrupted by a startled Nebulan\u2019s curses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo NOT call me without warning!\u201d roared Trema. \u201cEspecially when I\u2019m meditating for the fight tomorrow!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay then, you just answered my question,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cSee you tomorrow.\u201d The call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, what are WE going to do?\u201d asked Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re sparring,\u201d directed Optimus. \u201cWe need to keep our skills honed. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf all the ludicrous things I\u2019ve heard, this takes the cake!!\u201d shouted a female Mobian Badger, Senator Josie \u201cSticks\u201d Beller. The Queen\u2019s Congress was in session. \u201cYour Majesty, you\u2019re actually considering joining the fight with the machines against their own!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Decepticons,\u201d corrected Aleena. \u201cI will thank you to make the distinction in future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour Majesty, we\u2019re talking about robots!\u201d protested Senator Beller. \u201cYou never stopped to consider slicing off the heads of Eggman\u2019s robots!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese particular alien robots you seem to have an unwarranted hatred of,\u201d muttered the Queen, \u201chave benefited us with their technology. They have done no harm to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLies!\u201d shouted Senator Beller. \u201cEver since they\u2019ve arrived, we\u2019ve had skirmishes with Shockwave, Commander Tower betrayed us for MECH, a Wizard attacks us, and, on top of that, we\u2019ve had Eggman-shaped Transformers. All of this would never have happened if the Transformers actually obeyed whatever peace treaty was in place!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of those events,\u201d countered a businessman, a male human by the name of G.B. Blackrock, \u201cwould have happened anyway. From what I could tell, they were simply lying in wait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom what YOU could tell?!\u201d snapped Senator Beller. \u201cWell, if the head of Blackrock Enterprises says they\u2019re all right, they\u2019re all right! Mr. Blackrock, who\u2019s to say that they won\u2019t attack one of your solar towers?! Your defenses won\u2019t hold out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve worked with Ratchet; they can hold out now!\u201d assured Mr. Blackrock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe this!\u201d wailed Senator Beller. \u201cMr. Blackrock, you\u2019ve allowed soulless machines to infect your company and\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJOSIE BELLER!\u201d thundered Aleena as she slammed her hand onto the armrest of the throne. \u201cYou will cease this vilification of the Autobots or I will have you relieved of your duties as Senator!\u201d Senator Beller glared at the Queen, then slowly sat back down. \u201cThe decision has been made. I\u2019m joining my son and the Autobots in their plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cOverreacting?!\u201d protested Starscream to his trine-mates. \u201cI am most certainly NOT overreacting! I AM justifiably angry that the social order here has been disrupted by a former stuttering Autobot idiot who fought in Kaon, claimed to have mastered the Badge\u2019s dark powers, and struts around as if he\u2019s been a Decepticon his entire life!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSee, that\u2019s your problem,\u201d mused Skywarp, \u201cyou let everything get to you. You being whiny about the situation is only going to give Megatron more spots to pick on and give more credibility to the bots loyal to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am NOT being whiny!\u201d grumbled Starscream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, you are,\u201d countered Thundercracker. \u201cAnd, over whom? Megatron, of all bots! If this whole thing turns out to be a snafu, then he\u2019s the one getting the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven so,\u201d muttered Starscream, \u201che\u2019s got the D.J.D on his side. No way would they leave Jhiaxus alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, it\u2019s not them I need to be worried about with a half-done job,\u201d argued Skywarp. \u201cHe needed YOU to kill that spider-femme.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrue,\u201d conceded Starscream, his smirk returning. \u201cHe probably doesn\u2019t have the Spark to kill! It\u2019s amazing how he survived the war as an Autobot!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI heard his major was in Mathematics!\u201d giggled Skywarp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe he should have stayed in the classroom!\u201d laughed Thundercracker. As they laughed, Starscream felt talons on his wing. He was then flung causally over Megatron\u2019s shoulder! He was wearing Cybertronian glasses and holding a pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see, if I calculated the trajectory right,\u201d he mused, \u201cStarscream should hit the ground in 3, 2, 1.\u201d Starscream landed, none too gracefully. \u201cPerfect, as always,\u201d boasted Megatron. \u201cWould anyone else care to test Peel-out\u2019s trajectory formula?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, thank you!\u201d yelped Thundercracker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d offered Megatron. \u201cIt will help to see if the formula needs editing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re good!\u201d assured Skywarp. Megatron\u2019s glasses folded and retracted into his helmet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerhaps, next time, you\u2019ll think twice about your words against me,\u201d he rasped. He then stormed off to the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSkywarp, Thundercracker, I\u2019m making a new rule!\u201d announced Starscream. \u201cWe DON\u2019T make fun of mathematicians!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgreed!\u201d called Skywarp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever again!\u201d confirmed Thundercracker.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The tone was a somber one after Optimus told them what happened. It took about two days, but Optimus and Blackarachnia were cleared for duty. Optimus confined himself to his workshop to keep himself busy with a project. Blackarachnia was walking to Ultra Magnus\u2019 office with a pad in her hands. She rang the chime. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,230],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-6-harbinger-of-doom-and-betrayal","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1364"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1365,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1364\/revisions\/1365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}