As they dug their way through, Bumblebee decided to get some answers. \u201cTell me, Fulcrum,\u201d he asked, \u201cyou\u2019re a kamikaze trooper, right? How come you\u2019re so willing to risk your life for bots who would treat you as expendable?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow come you\u2019re so willing to risk your life for bots who want to enforce their brand of order at any cost just to save their shells and feel good about themselves, Prisoner Bumblebee?\u201d replied Fulcrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got a lot to learn about Autobots, pal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you of Decepticons.\u201d The rocks then tumbled away, startling both mechs for a bit. \u201c\u2026Teamwork, hm. Looks like it can clear away a lot of things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNice work. \u2026Ah, slag! There\u2019s a fork in the road! All right, left or right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Left. Prisoners first.\u201d Bumblebee shined his lights down the left tunnel. It looked like the beams had a limited range before they were swallowed up by darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Pretty dark down there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot as dark as the right!\u201d Fulcrum\u2019s voice was almost an octave higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Fulcrum, are you\u2026experiencing a churning sensation in your fuel pump?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCh\u2026churning?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe a little light-headed? Caused by the Spark pulsing at a faster rate that drains the Energon needed for the brain. \u2026Oh, and the weak leg frames.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs\u2026Is there\u2026a name\u2026to these symptoms?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s called fear.\u201d Bumblebee\u2019s intakes were cycling air a little faster. \u201cI feel it whenever something\u2019s wrong. \u2026It sounds like you do as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you calling me a coward?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, Fulcrum! I\u2019m calling you a fellow sufferer!\u201d Fulcrum\u2019s terrified face explained his whole mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Oooo, I\u2019m a disgrace to the Decepticons!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFulcrum, there\u2019s nothing wrong with being afraid. It\u2019s what you do with it that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve often thought of admitting to these\u2026disgusting impulses! Now\u2026with no weapons, no comms\u2026nowhere to run to!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrim, isn\u2019t it?\u201d asked Bumblebee. \u201cBut, there IS a bright side to all this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re the only ones down here.\u201d A noise cut Bumblebee\u2019s statement down. An apt description, considering it sounded like swords being drawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026That\u2026came\u2026from the left!\u201d gulped Fulcrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, it did. \u2026I was rather hoping I had imagined it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen\u2026then I\u2019LL go first! To the right!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHold on! You DID say \u2018Prisoners first\u2019! No need to risk yourself unnecessarily!\u201d It was then that seven sets of purple lights slowly appeared, along with seven wicked grins. Fulcrum then observed something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cD-do you see it?!\u201d squeaked Fulcrum. \u201cSurrounding the lights?! I-In the darkness?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. All I see are the lights. I-It\u2019s too dark t-to s-s-see anything else!\u201d Bumblebee\u2019s fear was starting to take over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cB-But doesn\u2019t it l-look like th-th-the darkness itself\u2026is alive?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re s-seeing things, Fulcrum! F-Fear will do th-that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI AM NOT AFRAID!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lie, Fulcrum!\u201d replied seven voices in unison. Fulcrum and Bumblebee then looked down the tunnel. \u201cSeven normals and six specials\u2026\u201d remarked the lights. The shadows then formed many hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSee?!\u201d whimpered Fulcrum. \u201cThe darkness! It\u2019s\u2026it\u2019s\u2026MOVING! IT\u2019S ALIVE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026all blended to become me!\u201d continued the lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just darkness!\u201d wailed Bumblebee! \u201cIt\u2019s Unicron! HE\u2019S AFTER US! RUN!\u201d Bumblebee and Fulcrum then ran down the right tunnel, screaming in terror, with Unicron\u2019s extensions in hot pursuit, laughing all the while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bruticus laughed as he was assaulted with his opponents\u2019 strongest attacks. Soon enough, the Cyber Keys locked their hosts\u2019 powers again, giving Bruticus enough time to toss them to the ground hard! \u201cIs that all you got?\u201d he taunted. \u201cBruticus is disappointed. You are all supposed to be stronger than me! You are supposed to be examples of teamwork! But look at you now, lying at Bruticus\u2019 feet! Bruticus is teamwork incarnate!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure you\u2019re about to win?\u201d asked Silver as he panted. \u201cYou\u2019re burning through a lot of Energon, and I\u2019d hate for you to waste it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Why mention Energon?\u201d asked Bruticus. It was then that the Maximus started flashing and chanting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTiming out. Timing out. Timing out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTiming out?\u201d repeated Bruticus. \u201c\u2026Wait, not the\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHypothesis confirmed!\u201d declared Shockwave. \u201cTransformers weren\u2019t meant to be in a gestalt state! The Maximus serves to unite certain Transformers, then undoes the combination process after a certain amount of time so the individual minds are safe! At rest, you stay in a combined state for much longer! In combat, you only have an hour!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNOT TRUE!\u201d wailed Bruticus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, Bruty,\u201d laughed Galvatron, \u201clooks like you\u2019re gonna be crying like a little glitch!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSHUT UP!!\u201d Bruticus then took to the air and was surrounded in an aura of white light. \u201cWE\u2019LL SEE HOW YOU STAND UP TO EVERYTHING BRUTICUS HAS GOT!!\u201d He then thrust his arms to his enemies. \u201cTASTE BRUTICUS\u2019 UNITED WRATH!\u201d HE fired every ounce of energy at his opponents and the whole island was engulfed. The light died down, but the dust had yet to settle. Bruticus was panting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4,\u201d droned the Maximus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHard enough for you?\u201d asked Bruticus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c3. 2. 1. Time over.\u201d Bruticus then felt a jolt and his limbs fell off before each component returned to their individual robot mode. The Combaticons floated in the air for a few seconds before making their way down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho\u2019s crying now?\u201d asked Onslaught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake friggin\u2019 that!\u201d snarled Brawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wonder how long it will take for the Maximus to recharge so we can recombine again?\u201d asked Vortex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRoughly half-an-hour,\u201d answered Swindle. \u201cI managed to find a sort of operator\u2019s manual inside the Maximus\u2019 code.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would be prudent for all of us to read it,\u201d suggested Blast-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoing so WOULD allow for more effective strategies in combined form,\u201d mused Onslaught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll get the chance once we\u2019re done with you!\u201d snarled Galvatron\u2019s voice. The Combaticons turned in fear to see everyone still standing as the dust finally settled. Onslaught and his brothers couldn\u2019t move, frozen in fear. \u201cLike I told you lot, like a glitch!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSh\u2026shut up! JUST SHUT UP!\u201d shouted Onslaught as tears leaked from his optics in frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, Sweet Amalgamous Prime! You\u2019re actually crying!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019M NOT CRYING! \u2026I\u2019M NOT!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHonestly, now I just feel bad. Usually I would just thrash whoever opposed me, but, with YOU, Combaticons, I\u2019ve gotten rather attached. It\u2019s sort of like putting down Ol\u2019 Yeller.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow is THAT a thing?!\u201d asked Rodimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe we\u2019reARUGH!\u201d Galvatron clutched his head in pain and fell to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it?!\u201d asked Shadow. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2026It\u2019s Unicron!\u201d gasped Galvatron. \u201cHe\u2019s got\u2026got the Specials!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHiding in a cave from Unicron!\u201d grumbled Crankcase. \u201cWhat\u2019s the universe come to?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about to be turned into ashes if we don\u2019t hurry!\u201d urged Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegatron, we can\u2019t go any further without a breather!\u201d argued Optimus. \u201cNot all of us are built to withstand this amount of Dark Energon!\u201d Sludge moaned in concurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRUN, YOU LUMBERING IDIOT! RUN!\u201d shouted a new voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that\u2026?!\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWE CAN\u2019T OUTRUN HIM FOREVER!\u201d called another voice. \u201cWE NEED TO HIDE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe it!\u201d muttered Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNor do I!\u201d grunted Flywheels as Bumblebee and Fulcrum rounded a corner. \u201cFULCRUM!\u201d shouted Flywheels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlywheels! Sir!\u201d yelped Fulcrum as he saluted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re stopping to salute?!\u201d protested Bumblebee. \u201cWho are you more afraid of?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good question,\u201d rumbled Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019s you.\u201d Krok then approached Fulcrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFulcrum, you said \u2018hide\u2019 earlier. Hide is not a word used by a TRUE Decepticon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith all due respect,\u201d gulped Bumblebee, \u201cwe need to table that!\u201d Bumblebee then saw Optimus. \u201cSir, we have to get out of here! He\u2019s right behind us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am!\u201d laughed multiple voices as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s him! It\u2019s Unicron!\u201d explained Bumblebee as the darkness with evil, ginning faces appeared by the group. A new face was added. \u201cThe darkness behind! He IS the darkness!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat of the coward?\u201d asked Krok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBumblebee\u2019s right,\u201d rumbled Megatron. \u201cThe time to consider what does or doesn\u2019t constitute a true Decepticon is not here, not now! Not while the Blendtrons are at our feet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that who they are?!\u201d asked Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAccording to Misfire, they\u2019re renegade Decepti-drones assimilated into Unicron\u2019s will!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA mere trick for the 9th<\/sup> Platoon!\u201d laughed the darkness\u2019 faces as the shadows shrank to reveal Transformers built exactly the same with an Autobot symbol on their chests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAuto-troopers?!\u201d yelped Pyra Magna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooks like Insecticons and Basic Auto-troopers,\u201d muttered Optimus. The seven were two jets, a tank, two cars, and two insects. They all stood behind one Krok recognized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpinister! He\u2019s alive! He\u2019s safe!\u201d he cheered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs he?\u201d asked Spinister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Doesn\u2019t he mean something about the birds and the bees?\u201d asked Crankcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSurprised by him not speaking in non-sequitur?\u201d asked Spinister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpinister, what\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Krok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSpinister can\u2019t hear you right now!\u201d laughed a voice Optimus and Megatron knew. \u201cMind if we take a message?\u201d Nemesis Prime and the Terrorcons then stepped out of the shadows. Krok then saw one of the Terrorcons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGovernor Straxus?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s here to make sure his plan worked!\u201d answered one of the insect-mechs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe, Makeshift, and Deceptitran led me to Spinister!\u201d laughed a jet-mech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey cut him into pieces,\u201d cheered Spinister as he drew a sword, \u201cand I easily absorbed his mind and essence into me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you talking about, Spinister?!\u201d demanded Krok. \u201cWhere did you get that sword?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t you get it?!\u201d wailed Sira. \u201cHe\u2019s dead! Just like the guys behind him are dead!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re right here, not dead!\u201d argued Krok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey ARE dead!\u201d insisted Misfire. \u201cI saw them! They\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSilence!\u201d ordered Krok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Auto-troopers are dead! Spinister is dead!\u201d At this point, all the Blendtrons were speaking in unison, Spinister included. \u201cAnd soon, YOU shall be dead! Do you know me, Followers of Primus?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Unicron! The Chaos Bringer!\u201d hissed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood! Now know me as Unicron\u2026YOUR DESTROYER!\u201d The Blendtrons leapt at the team and clashed mightily! Blades against blades. Optimus then shoved his opponent back and addressed the Blendtrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI humbly request your ear, Lord Unicron!\u201d The Terrorcons arched an eyebrow as the Blendtrons looked on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026And what would a Prime be so compelled to say to me?\u201d asked the Blendtrons in unison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI make this appeal, not for myself, but for this planet which you constitute and the beings who inhabit it. Human and Mobian kind rely on you for life, sustenance! Your resurrection would only result in the destruction of species which evolved from the seeds of your very greatness!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, these Mobians and humans, you consider them MY progeny?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed!\u201d The Blendtrons then snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPARASITES! They, too, shall know my wrathful hand\u2026once I am finished with YOU!\u201d The fight resumed and Spinister fired a beam of purple energy into Optimus\u2019 chest, knocking him to the floor. \u201cThe line of Primes has grown weak in my absence! And, thus, you shall FALL!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat outcome is inevitable,\u201d gasped Optimus, \u201cbut not on this day!\u201d He then fired on Spinister with his gun, not stopping until Spinister grabbed his hand and flung him aside. He then grabbed his sword and sliced Misfire in half. Flywheels tried to run but was instantly surrounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrimus, save my Spark! Primus, save my Spark!! Primus, save my Spark!!! PRIMUS, SAVE MY SPARK!!!!\u201d His prayer was unanswered as he was run through the Spark Chamber with the sword. Spinister then fired streams of purple light into the two dead Cons. He then stopped as the corpses moved, and their wound healed. Their optics were now glowing purple, and their faces had a wicked grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, Disciple of Primus! On this very day!\u201d This time, Flywheels and Misfire joined in the voices. \u201cFor Unicron may be one, but we, all, are UNICRON!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As they dug their way through, Bumblebee decided to get some answers. \u201cTell me, Fulcrum,\u201d he asked, \u201cyou\u2019re a kamikaze trooper, right? How come you\u2019re so willing to risk your life for bots who would treat you as expendable?\u201d \u201cHow come you\u2019re so willing to risk your life for bots who want to enforce their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3043,"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":[98,662],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-4012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-14-instruments-of-destruction","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4012","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=4012"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4013,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4012\/revisions\/4013"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}