\u201cI\u2019m\u2026still trying to grasp your logic,\u201d remarked Shockwave once Megatron explained Nemesis\u2019 presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo am I!\u201d snapped Starscream. \u201cOne Prime was more than enough trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStill here,\u201d called Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNemesis Prime,\u201d elaborated Megatron, \u201cis here to learn from us. His universe\u2019s Decepticons are blind to the true paths to power, so we\u2019re going to show him how we do things here. So, Nemesis, tell me, what do you make of this?\u201d He activated a map within the conference table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurrent boundaries?\u201d asked Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSplendid!\u201d cheered Megatron. \u201cThese are, indeed, the boundaries between us and the Autobots, along with the respective allies of both factions. Now, what can you tell me about them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cG.U.N\u2019s territory,\u201d observed Nemesis, \u201cis near to our own. And, if I recall, they provide necessary local military support to the Autobots. The key to winning that territory\u2026is G.U.N HQ. If there\u2019s going to be any build-up of military activity, it\u2019s going to start there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think you get it!\u201d praised Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen the first step,\u201d declared Nemesis, \u201cis to raze it and kill everyone there. It\u2019s the only answer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe gets it?\u201d remarked Shockwave. \u201cLord Megatron, forgive my impudence, but you may have assumed incorrectly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt seems that way,\u201d sighed Megatron. \u201cWe can\u2019t simply burn it and kill everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would quell any and all resistance to see their beloved military destroyed,\u201d argued Nemesis, \u201cto know that their protection is gone, fallen at the hands of a superior force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd if the Autobots attack?\u201d asked Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we use G.U.N\u2019s arsenal against them to eradicate the threat,\u201d replied Nemesis, \u201con top of our own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t simply destroy things willy-nilly,\u201d dismissed Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Why not?\u201d asked Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStarscream, explain it to him,\u201d directed Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA true victory,\u201d explained Starscream, \u201cis to make your enemies understand that they were wrong to oppose you in the first place, to force them to acknowledge your greatness!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you kill them?\u201d asked Nemesis. Starscream sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnly if necessary,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You make killing sound so tiresome,\u201d mused Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps the biggest disappointment in my life,\u201d reminisced Shockwave, \u201cis that the Praxians still refused to appreciate how lucky they were to have me as their ruler. I had enforced excellent health amongst the Praxians in the camps. I ensured that they were in peak physical condition. Healthy workers are happy workers, happy workers are productive workers. I made sure that death was at an all-time low. I pointed out how their work was important to Cybertron. I cared for them as if they were my own children. But, to this day, is there a single monument to my great sacrifice in Praxus? And I ask that in a form of honesty as I have been in stasis for some time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d bet not,\u201d muttered Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you\u2019d have won that bet,\u201d chuckled Starscream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn any event,\u201d remarked Megatron, \u201cthe camps were a good thing, in the long run. Without the camps, Praxus would be stuck in a pit of indecision and decadence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo we need people alive to enforce our will,\u201d guessed Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you must care for them as if they are your children,\u201d confirmed Megatron. Nemesis started chuckling. \u201cYou find this amusing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, not at all,\u201d sniggered Nemesis, \u201cI find it\u2026fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLaugh all you want,\u201d countered Megatron. \u201cI shall happily prove my point at any point in time. One other thing, a victory against just one force alone cannot bring total victory in the long run. We need to weaken the core of the alliance. That requires weakening Optimus. We need to break the bonds he\u2019s forged with everyone. And I think I have a way to beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optimus stretched as he walked out of his office. He was concerned for Amy as she hadn\u2019t contacted them in a while. He was making his way to the command center, to meet with his bots on a mission and to contact Amy, when he heard Slash and Blackarachnia arguing about something. \u201cYou heard what he said!\u201d called Blackarachnia. \u201c\u2018Go thy ways to a nunnery,\u2019 indeed!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe you did that!\u201d snapped Slash. They appeared in dresses that Noblewomen of Demark would wear in the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, he didn\u2019t leave me much choice!\u201d argued Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, what happened?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe knocked out Hamlet!\u201d replied Slash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe told me to be a nun!\u201d protested Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s supposed to tell you to be a nun!\u201d snarled Slash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m supposed to be his girlfriend!\u201d wailed Blackarachnia. She then heard her real boyfriend, Optimus, snigger. \u201cMight I ask what\u2019s so funny?\u201d she hissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNice dress,\u201d chuckled Optimus. Blackarachnia wondered for a bit, then realized why he was laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, I know I said I don\u2019t like dresses,\u201d she muttered, \u201cbut I was Ophelia and Slash was Hamlet\u2019s mother and we were in the holo-suite\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo I gathered,\u201d replied Optimus. He then turned to Slash. \u201cWhen did you discover Shakespeare?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA few centuries into our search for magic guns,\u201d explained Slash. \u201cSomehow, his writings speak to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere were you off to?\u201d asked Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was heading to the command center,\u201d answered Optimus. \u201cI hadn\u2019t heard from Amy in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI WAS going to tell you that the Retranga<\/em> was two days out from Nebulan space,\u201d reported Blackarachnia, \u201cwhen Slash roped me into playing Ophelia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re making good time,\u201d praised Optimus. \u201cI\u2019m gonna head out with Prowl and Ironhide for patrol. You two wanna come with?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSadly, I have to help Ratchet tidy the repair bay,\u201d sighed Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Grimlock, Slag, and I are on an Energon scouting mission after this,\u201d continued Slash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh,\u201d mumbled Optimus. \u201cOh well, I guess them\u2019s the breaks. Catch you later.\u201d He headed off to the command center and met with Prowl and Ironhide. \u201cYou bots ready?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHeck, yeah!\u201d cheered Ironhide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m prepared, Sir,\u201d replied Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTeletraan, the Ground Bridge, please,\u201d bid Optimus. The Ground Bridge portal then opened. \u201cTransform and roll out!\u201d rallied Optimus. The three Autobots changed shape and sped through the portal to Soleanna. \u201cAll right, bots,\u201d called Optimus, \u201clet\u2019s make sure the royalty knows about this and get on with it.\u201d Optimus made a quick call to Elise, who confirmed the patrol. \u201cAll right, we\u2019re good. Prowl, you take care of Castle Town. Ironhide, you\u2019re sweeping the Forest. I\u2019ll take care of New City.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Sir!\u201d confirmed the two as they sped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right, let\u2019s see if any\u2026huh?\u201d Optimus saw a Transformer-sized Mobian Long-jawed Jumping Spider land near him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcuse me!\u201d it called. \u201cHave you seen where my armadillos slept in the cheese?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026What?!\u201d gulped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly!\u201d replied the spider. \u201cI\u2019ve asked the tubs where my pants danced, but they couldn\u2019t tell the trees about my face!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell the trees about\u2026sir, you\u2019re not making any sense!\u201d protested Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Mike, old son, I\u2019m used to it!\u201d laughed the spider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYOU\u2019RE used to it?!\u201d protested Optimus. \u201cWhat about\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAAAHH! THE POO MICE!\u201d screamed the spider. It ran off and non-Mobian mice the size of Optimus\u2019 foot were pirouetting after the spider. They were wearing tutus and cop hats. Once they vanished from Optimus\u2019 sight, he rubbed his optics, trying to process what happened. He then shrugged it off and patrolled the area. Once that was done, Prowl and Ironhide came up and transformed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrime, Castle Town is secure. No\u2026Prime?\u201d quizzed Prowl. Optimus looked deep in thought \u201cPrime, are you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIronhide,\u201d asked Optimus, \u201cwas there anything \u2018special\u2019 in last night\u2019s Energon rations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, kiddo,\u201d replied Ironhide. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think I am unbelievably high right now!\u201d answered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Drug humor is in bad taste, Sir,\u201d remarked Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnce I finish telling you what I saw before I started my patrol,\u201d argued Optimus, \u201cyou look me in the optics and tell me I\u2019m not on drugs!\u201d He then described what happened, eliciting an odd look from his subordinates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I suppose if you really want proof,\u201d mused Prowl, \u201cI could conduct a drug test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease do so,\u201d instructed Optimus. \u201cI really don\u2019t want to see that again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Optimus came up negative on the drug test. The results were checked over by Ratchet for confirmation, so no chance of error there. Another theory was that maybe the stress of the job was affecting his mind, so he was ordered to rest. Optimus complied and pulled out a few issues of The Fabulous Windblade <\/em>in his quarters. They weren\u2019t the best issues, though. Swoop and Tails joined him as he griped about it. At least it was something he could control. He was making small talk to keep himself from reading the issues. \u201cLook,\u201d he answered when he got disapproving faces, \u201cI know what I\u2019m saying has nothing to do with the comics. I\u2019m just putting it off so I won\u2019t talk about the stupid storyline!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, you NEVER go off on wild tangents, do you?\u201d hissed Tails, sarcasm lacing his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, whatever!\u201d argued Optimus. As Optimus read on, he came to a scene where Windblade had encountered an alien that sparkled in the sun. \u201cUgh, insert Twilight<\/em> joke here!\u201d groaned Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat, you ain\u2019t even gonna try?\u201d asked Swoop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could, but what would be the point?\u201d sighed Optimus. \u201cIt\u2019s just getting old now.\u201d He continued reading, then, after two issues, he groaned and tossed the pad aside. \u201cSweet PRIMUS!\u201d he shouted. \u201cThe artwork is all over the place! The writing is just abysmal! There\u2019s an unnecessary romantic plot! Can you believe that there are THREE MORE ISSUES to go?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, YOU picked them out!\u201d argued Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReally is his own fault,\u201d agreed Swoop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWould you people put a sock in it?!\u201d snapped Optimus. His door then opened to reveal his best friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI heard screaming!\u201d called Jazz. \u201cAre you okay?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would be,\u201d hissed Optimus, \u201cif two people didn\u2019t spout stuff to interrupt my deconstruction of\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat people?\u201d asked Jazz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTHEM!\u201d replied Optimus as he pointed. \u201cTails and\u2026and\u2026\u2026Swoop?\u201d They were gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrime, Tails and Swoop are working on the Fang<\/em>\u2019s engines,\u201d reported Jazz, \u201ctrying to install the Warp Field Driver. You\u2019ve been alone all evening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2026!\u201d stammered Optimus, fear gripping his Spark. If they weren\u2019t there, then why did Optimus see them?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI\u2019m\u2026still trying to grasp your logic,\u201d remarked Shockwave once Megatron explained Nemesis\u2019 presence. \u201cSo am I!\u201d snapped Starscream. \u201cOne Prime was more than enough trouble!\u201d \u201cStill here,\u201d called Nemesis. \u201cNemesis Prime,\u201d elaborated Megatron, \u201cis here to learn from us. His universe\u2019s Decepticons are blind to the true paths to power, so we\u2019re going to show […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1152,"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_total_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,234],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-10-double-trouble","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1588","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=1588"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1589,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1588\/revisions\/1589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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