\u201c…That\u2019s actually a good question,\u201d Optimus replied to the voice. \u201cWhat AM I doing?!\u201d The image of the family flashed through his mind, but he suffered no pain. \u201cUh-uh, not this time!\u201d declared Optimus as he stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat HAS to be a good sign!\u201d called Jazz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is!\u201d cheered Pyra Magna. \u201cHe\u2019s figuring out WHO\u2019S behind this attack!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The image flashed through Optimus\u2019 mind again. \u201cOh no, you don\u2019t!\u201d he snarled. \u201cYou already played that hand! I\u2019m not falling for THAT bluff! I\u2019m not a pretty-boy with marital problems! My psyche has fallen into order a long time ago! I don\u2019t have parental issues! I DO have brotherly issues, but I\u2019ve long accepted that Megatron and I are on different paths! I\u2019m not gonna kill him, I\u2019m gonna knock some sense into him! You\u2019re not dealing with a horror protagonist! Time and again, I\u2019ve suffered dealing with people at their worst! Time and again, I\u2019ve had obstacles put in my path to make me feel insignificant! You come at me with angst and try to make me doubt who I am?! I\u2019m more than just a kid with a powerful relic lodged in his chest! I\u2019m more than just a starship captain! I\u2019m more than just a faction leader! I\u2019m a friend to those around me! I\u2019m the one they can trust when things go south for them! I\u2019m the guy who assures people that being nerdy isn\u2019t a crime! I\u2019m an ally to those who fight for what\u2019s right! I am Optimus Prime, the Autobot!\u201d He twirled his gun, leveled it at the figure, and raised his axe, banishing whatever illusions of his friends remained! \u201cWho in the Pit do you think YOU are?!\u201d The figure clenched its fists at Optimus\u2019 display. \u201cAh, but I DO know who you are!\u201d continued the young Prime. \u201cSee, the thing is, you\u2019re neither Pacemaker nor Blade Dancer. You\u2019re something that focused all the pain and rage and hatred they felt as they were tormented and sacrificed to make my weapons! You want to kill the person who did this to them! But…you can\u2019t. They already got it. The one responsible for their pain, he\u2019s dead already! …That\u2019s the problem, isn\u2019t it? Those two, they poured their Sparks into these things. They don\u2019t need what you\u2019re channeling! He\u2019s dead! They have no one left to hate!\u201d Optimus then realized something. \u201cYour hatred is simply masked by what they once felt! You don\u2019t hate the guy who made them this way, you hate ME! You know that Pacemaker and Blade Dancer DON\u2019T hate me! And if you hate me…then I think I know who you are! So, we\u2019ve played this game. I win, so you can buzz off…Nemmy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNemmy?\u201d asked Ratchet. He then realized. \u201cYou don\u2019t think…?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNemesis Prime!\u201d snarled Jazz. \u201cHE\u2019S the one that nearly made Optimus commit suicide!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNemesis Prime?\u201d asked Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll explain later!\u201d answered Ultra Magnus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…I see,\u201d muttered Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Nemmy, but you lost,\u201d declared Optimus. The figure stared…then started laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLost?\u201d asked the figure. \u201cNo.\u201d The figure then thrust its hands into the air and fired its mist straight up until a purple glow flashed from inside the column of mist. The figure then grabbed the light\u2019s source and swung it downwards to banish the mist and reveal Nemesis Prime with the Dark Saber. Nemesis then swung the blade into Optimus\u2019 chest, making a significant gash in it. Optimus clutched his chest and gasped in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, that\u2019s too dangerous!\u201d yelped Pyra Magna. \u201cEveryone, get ready!\u201d Ultra Magnus, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Jazz wondered what that meant until they passed out. Pyra Magna chanted until she fell to the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optimus heard cracking and looked to his left to see what looked like reality cracking to reveal light. The cracks got wider as reality in that area fell apart and revealed a swirling vortex of lights. \u201cWhat in…?\u201d quizzed Nemesis. \u201cWhat are you trying to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBelieve me, this ISN\u2019T my doing,\u201d replied Optimus. Just then, Jazz, Pyra Magna, Ultra Magnus, Ironhide, and Ratchet came through. Ultra Magnus, Jazz, and Ironhide tackled Nemesis while Ratchet and Pyra Magna headed to Optimus. \u201c…Any accusatory remarks?\u201d quizzed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWould you prefer one?\u201d snarked Ratchet. \u201cLike, \u2018How could you let an imp like Nemesis get in your head?\u2019 Or, maybe, \u2018You made us worry when you put the gun to your chin?\u2019\u201d Optimus grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood to finally have the real deal in my head,\u201d he chuckled. \u201cPyra Magna, I presume you\u2019re the one behind bringing everyone into my head?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActually, that was mainly you,\u201d corrected Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe?!\u201d yelped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou identified who was attacking you,\u201d replied Pyra Magna, \u201cwhy they were doing it, and how they did it, though, not in that order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, doing things my way, that\u2019s me!\u201d chuckled Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the mark of a Wizard,\u201d replied Pyra Magna. Just then, a glow appeared above Optimus. Optimus instinctually reached towards it, then was enveloped by the glow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHOA!\u201d called Ratchet as he and Pyra Magna stepped back. \u201cPRIME! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!\u201d shouted Ratchet. \u201cSPEAK TO ME!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m all right, Ratchet!\u201d assured Optimus\u2019 voice. \u201cIf anything, I feel stronger!\u201d The glow died down and Optimus stood, the gash on his chest gone and a magnificent looking broadsword in his right hand. Within the hilt was a space shaped to fit the Matrix. Pyra Magna and Ratchet gasped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t be!\u201d breathed Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Star Saber!\u201d Pyra Magna confirmed in a reverent whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRatchet, Pyra Magna, hang back for me,\u201d directed Optimus. He then charged towards Nemesis and the Autobots distracting him. \u201cAUTOBOTS, BREAK OFF!\u201d ordered Optimus. Jazz looked back and widened his optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cINCOMING!\u201d he warned. The Autobots got off of Nemesis as Optimus slashed across his opponent\u2019s chest with the Star Saber. Nemesis gasped in pain, then shook it off as he swung the Dark Saber down. Optimus blocked with the Star Saber and both swords were pushed to the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow are you standing?!\u201d demanded Nemesis. \u201cI brought you down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne gash across my front,\u201d countered Optimus, \u201cdoes NOT a victory make! What you see in my hands are the schematics for the Star Saber since the original one was lost a long time ago, long before any of us were born!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo yours was trapped in your Matrix?\u201d hissed Nemesis. \u201cI ripped mine from the Grid!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell me, your weapons,\u201d snarled Optimus. \u201cThe ones you discovered two years ago on Halloween. Are they magic as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course!\u201d replied Nemesis. \u201cThey were constructed by a dark cult that wanted to spread the word of their god. The weapons destroyed the fool who made them and they found their way into my suit\u2019s possession.\u201d Pacemaker and Blade Dancer appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd, in your universe,\u201d asked Blade Dancer, \u201cwere a mother and her son sacrificed to make those weapons? Were they tormented beyond belief, the lie of their life with the one who sacrificed them lain bare at their feet, causing unbelievable hatred and pain?\u201d The weapons\u2019 evil counterparts appeared. They were red. Blade Dancer\u2019s double had no tutu and Pacemaker\u2019s double had a scar down his arm that terminated in a hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHatred and pain?!\u201d scoffed Pacemaker\u2019s double, Under Taker. \u201cYou stupid, foolish girl!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy son and I,\u201d continued Temptress, Blade Dancer\u2019s double, \u201cforced my weak husband to use us as materials for the weapons!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…We\u2019ll hit them while you take care of Nemesis,\u201d Blade Dancer suggested to Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSounds like a plan,\u201d replied Optimus. All four spirits turned their ghost tails into legs and they clashed while Optimus and Nemesis fought. One could almost hear an 80\u2019s hair band song playing. Nemesis raised the Dark Saber, leaving his chest open for Optimus to slash across with the Star Saber. Nemesis gasped in pain, dropping his sword and clutching the wound. Optimus then drove his knee into his opponent\u2019s jaw. He grabbed Nemesis\u2019 leg and flung him into a wall. Nemesis got up shakily and tried to clear his head. Optimus then swung a punch into his gut and floored him. Under Taker and Temptress were flung into Nemesis. Nemesis craned his head up as he saw Optimus standing over them, the Star Saber on his back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cP…please!\u201d gasped Nemesis. \u201cPrime…I b…beg you, have…mercy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI gave you mercy when we first met,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cYou came back and terrorized innocent people. You\u2019ll have to convince me. If I do grant mercy, and you betray my trust, you\u2019ll never get a third chance. So, let\u2019s have it. Persuade me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease!\u201d begged Nemesis. \u201cI\u2019ll…I\u2019ll leave your mind! Yes, I\u2019ll leave your mind alone! You will never suffer any psychic attacks from me! Promise!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy am I having a hard time believing that?\u201d quizzed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have my word!\u201d pleaded Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI trust your word as far as I can throw you!\u201d hissed Optimus. \u201cHowever, I\u2019d prove myself spiteful if I fractured YOUR psyche in retaliation, so I will let you go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, thank you!\u201d breathed Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, I will insure you NEVER attack my mind again!\u201d warned Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cH…how?\u201d spluttered Nemesis. Optimus charged up a magic blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe best way I can,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo! You said…!\u201d cried Nemesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI AM showing mercy,\u201d countered Optimus. \u201cYou\u2019re leaving with a headache.\u201d He raised his arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Damn you, Optimus PRIME!\u201d roared Nemesis as Optimus fired the blast and vaporized Nemesis\u2019 mental projection. As he faded, so did the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optimus, Pyra Magna, Jazz, Ironhide, Ultra Magnus, and Ratchet woke up in the real world. \u201cOoogh!\u201d groaned Optimus. \u201cThat was rough!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRough doesn\u2019t BEGIN to describe it!\u201d moaned Ironhide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou doing okay?\u201d Jazz asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hate to be a pain,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201cbut we ARE in the real world, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe sure are,\u201d replied Pyra Magna. \u201cThere\u2019s weight in our bodies, the mental world never gets that right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood,\u201d sighed Optimus in relief. \u201cRatchet, would you mind checking us over?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ratchet had given everyone a clean bill of physical and mental health. Optimus was cleared for duty and assumed command again. Pyra Magna was waiting outside the med-bay when Optimus came out. \u201cYoung One,\u201d she began, \u201cI noticed something different when we came through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re usually so stubborn that you think your ways are the best ways,\u201d continued Pyra Magna. \u201cYet, you accepted our help when Nemesis was revealed. Might I ask what changed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just say,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201cthe Grand High Witch of Mobius and the Primes gave me a swift kick in the afterburner.\u201d He explained what happened when his magic went haywire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to meet this \u2018Sira\u2019 person,\u201d mused Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s on Nebulos,\u201d explained Optimus, \u201cwith her student and her Nebulan friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh?\u201d quizzed Pyra Magna. Just then, Teletraan 1 appeared on Optimus\u2019 screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hate to burst people\u2019s bubbles,\u201d he began, \u201cbut the Retranga<\/em> is contacting us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPut it through,\u201d replied Optimus. Sira, Natalie, and Amy appeared while Teletraan moved his avatar to the side. \u201cAmy!\u201d cheered Optimus. \u201cGood to hear from you again! We\u2019ve missed you here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you ready to return?\u201d asked Teletraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo!\u201d countered Amy. \u201cFar from it!\u201d She then relayed what was going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn invasion?!\u201d yelped Optimus. \u201cWhy would the Nebulans invade Mobius?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA demonstration of power,\u201d guessed Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey don\u2019t have the resources!\u201d protested Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen why plan an invasion if they don\u2019t?\u201d quizzed Natalie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLadies,\u201d interjected Teletraan, \u201cis the Retranga<\/em> still at Trema\u2019s estate?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, why?\u201d quizzed Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the Folassian Forest?\u201d continued Teletraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Yes…\u201d confirmed Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s an Autobot stationed there,\u201d explained Teletraan. \u201cA Metrotitan by the name of Fortress Maximus with a partner named Cerebros who\u2019s the basis of all Headmasters. You have to find him! Convince him to stop this invasion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s right, we can\u2019t deal with an invasion,\u201d supplied Optimus. \u201cWe have enough trouble being harassed by Nemesis Prime!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s back?!\u201d yelped Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Nemesis Prime is\u2026?\u201d asked Sira. Optimus realized that Pyra Magna never got the story, so he elaborated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere\u2019s the summary,\u201d began Optimus. \u201cFrom an alternate reality where the Autobots are bad guys and Mobius, Moebius over there, is full of cowards trying to ruin the world. Evil Me landed, killed Evil Sonic and his \u2018friends\u2019 except for Evil Tails. Evil Me dies. Evil Tails wires himself into Evil Me\u2019s chest and uses Evil Me\u2019s body as his personal Mech suit. He commands the Evil Autobots and crossed over to our universe on Halloween one time, when we were celebrating our one year anniversary of our arrival on Mobius. We sent him back, but now he\u2019s here, commanding our Decepticons in Megatron\u2019s absence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll stop the invasion, if not delay it,\u201d declared Amy. \u201cAmy out.\u201d The call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did you know Nemesis was placed in charge of the Decepticons?\u201d quizzed Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTeletraan managed to find a security hole in the Decepticon\u2019s systems,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cIt was opened the instant Megatron and his flunkies left for Nebulos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, for a bit,\u201d countered Teletraan. \u201cI wasn\u2019t as sneaky as I thought, so they kicked me out and closed it when you arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d mused Pyra Magna. \u201cIn any case, since Nemesis is only banished from your mind, not this universe, what will our plan of attack be?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNemesis is so focused on me,\u201d replied Optimus, \u201cthat he\u2019s willing to destroy this entire planet. He\u2019d want me to hurt, so he\u2019d go after some high concentration of…of…\u201d realization dawned on Optimus, \u201cof people skilled in defense!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe planet\u2019s military!\u201d breathed Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany of the G.U.N soldiers are my friends!\u201d confirmed Optimus. \u201cIf they fall, I\u2019d be riddled with guilt and he\u2019d cleave my fractured Spark last, just for me to watch him destroy everything and everyone I love!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to alert them,\u201d declared Pyra Magna. \u201cThe Rust Renegades will stay with the Autobots here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Pyra Magna,\u201d bid Optimus as Pyra Magna left. \u201cTeletraan, patch me through to Commander Topaz,\u201d Optimus ordered the a.i.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201c…That\u2019s actually a good question,\u201d Optimus replied to the voice. \u201cWhat AM I doing?!\u201d The image of the family flashed through his mind, but he suffered no pain. \u201cUh-uh, not this time!\u201d declared Optimus as he stood up. \u201cThat HAS to be a good sign!\u201d called Jazz. \u201cIt is!\u201d cheered Pyra Magna. \u201cHe\u2019s figuring out […]<\/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_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-1594","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\/1594","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=1594"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1595,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1594\/revisions\/1595"}],"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=1594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}