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REVERT |
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By Charles Ellis |
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1. THE RAD ZONE A bitter wind blew through the Rad Zone, the blighted ruin spawned from the use of proton weaponry. The Mutants, Cults and Empties lived and died here, where nobody would have to bother looking at them. It was rumoured that all kinds of secret military bases and experiments existed out here, but you had to wonder what soldier or scientist would bear to live out here. The wind and metal grit pounded on the sides of the Armoured Convoy, a stocky Actionmaster combat-transport. Already the paint was being peeled off it. The Convoy had no registration. None at all.
“ETA in two cycles.” The Convoy did, down an old and cracked street, the snapped towers of old rising above it like bones. It parked outside one of these towers, and waited. The whirring of a lift came from within, and two figures came out to greet the Convoy.
“The area’s secure. You can come out.” “About time! Come on, this place gives me the creeps…” This was one of the few Decepticon bases left on Cybertron, and the most secret- nobody beyond Decepticon High Command even knew it existed. It was designed for the designing and creation of new weaponry, though with Galvatron descending more and more into madness, its runners Aquablast and Snipe didn’t have much work to do, and instead spent most of their days watching TV. Dreadwind and Darkwing walked down the corridor, taking with them a large crate on wheels with “FRAGILE” marked on it. “Nice pad you got here,” said Dreadwing.
Snipe shrugged. “Loses its lustre after the first century,
y’know. So what brings you two here?”
Snipe was puzzled. “Why did you bring him along? Who sent you,
anyhow? Galvatron?” Inside were the comatose bodies of Thundercracker, Skywarp and Megatron. 2. THE MADNESS OF COMMANDER PROWL
Ratchet suddenly went bolt-upright, causing Detector to fall backwards with a yell. The doctor looked panicked, and in pain.
“Are you all right?” asked Prowl. “You just suffered a major
systems crash, what happened?”
“Brawn, Trailbreaker, Windcharger, Inferno, Gears- arm up and get
ready. We’re leaving.” “Hang on, shouldn’t we go to the main army about this?” asked Gears. “And why am I going? I’m just a computer engineer!” “We can use you to find where Megatron is, and we am not going to the army about this.”
“Why n-“ He knew he was making himself look like a prat in front of his comrades. He didn’t care. This was a serious situation. Oh, the others did look worried, but they weren’t grasping the full magnitude of the threat. Why should they? The Decepticons were nearly finished. It’s not like Megatron would have much left to lead- except if Megatron returned, then he could attract all those who had left during Galvatron’s reign back to the fold. He could cause a large amount of destruction and death. For example, he could use his Nanobot-derived powers to their fullest potential. Prowl wouldn’t see that happen. And he wouldn’t let anyone beyond this Unit deal with it, because he couldn’t trust anyone else. This team were the only ones he knew that could bring down Megatron for the final time. Besides, it was personal. Megatron had destroyed the Cybertron Prowl once knew. Megatron had killed scores of his friends and allies. Megatron had trapped him on Earth for years. Megatron had blown him to scrap in 2005, leaving him in stasis for years and having him return to an army ruled by an inexperienced young punk. Megatron had killed Optimus and his clone. Megatron had to stopped. This was Prowl’s fight, and he would win it no matter the cost. Because there was centuries worth of hate to be dealt with, the lives of two commanders, a Cybertron that was a mere ruin prettied up and so much more. He cocked his gun. “No matter the cost,” he whispered. 3. NANOSCOPIC SURGERY His brain lay exposed, every system in his head exposed for all to see. Delicate metal strands probed it, checking for damages, while circuitry connected it to a vast computer which searched through his lines of code one by one. Snipe
gave a theatrical yawn and poked Megatron. “You find anything wrong with
him yet?” Aquablast sighed and went back to checking each line of code. It was dull and monotonous, but it was his assignment and he completed his assignments. Always. He physically couldn’t not complete assignments. And this was a very important assignment. He and Snipe were entrusted with this because they were the only people High Command could trust to do it without changing Meg’s code while they were at it- neither of them thought they could command better than Megatron, neither had a superior anymore to try and put in charge, neither had been involved in Decepticon politics for centuries and neither were anywhere near Bombshell and his little cerebro-shells. “So, anything I can do?” asked Snipe, hoping there wasn’t.
“Get me a drink.” ************************************************************************ A
few more hours passed. Snipe never did return with that drink, the git.
Aquablast could almost feel his cerebral circuits decaying with boredom.
He’d gone over Megatron and Skywarp’s codes twice now, and nothing had
shown up. Then the probe ceased to function. Now worried, the Stormtrooper decided to look over the medical files they had on Megatron and Galvatron, given to them by the Dreadwing duo. He read it over, noting with interest the whole Ratchet element in Megatron’s medical history, and then he found it. “Oh no.” *********************************************************************** “It’s
their Nanobots,” he explained to Snipe. “Both Megatron and Skywarp
have a specialised type of Nanobot inside them, giving them their little
powers. Now, until recently they had been nanoscopically transfigured into
Galvatron and…” He checked the file. “…Sweep 03. This suppressed
their originally Nanobots and their original personalities. My theory is
that the original Nanobots tried to fight back, keep control, but were
kept contained- now the Unicronian Nanobots have deactivated, the
originals have been unleashed again and are eagerly trying to get rid of
all foreign influences on them. Which includes Skywarp and Megatron’s
minds.”
Snipe thought for a second. “Maybe,” he said. Give me an hour
or so, and I’ll have it set up for you.” 4. AMBIGUITY Devastator loomed over the collected Autobots, roaring with his fists raised in the air. Windcharger sighed and magnetically pulled the gestalt’s right arm out and hit him over the head with it. The giant fell apart, and he grabbed Scrapper and ran back to the Autobot shuttle. Brawn grinned as he came in. “Ten seconds to take down one of the most powerful Decepticons imaginable? You’re slipping!” ************************************************************************ Scrapper glared up at Prowl, the inhibitor claw on his back and the chains around his limbs holding him down. He refused to speak as Prowl revealed that the Constructicons deal with a terrorist faction in the Yerril sector (the exchange of construction work-for-hire for weapons) was actually an elaborate Autobot sting operation.
Prowl had his arms folded and his face set, the image of cold
command. “I am prepared to free you, Scrapper, if you give me one minor
piece of information: WHERE IS MEGATRON?”
“What?!” screamed Gears. “Are you mad?! That’s illegal!” Scrapper stared in horror at the strategist. He saw no bluff, no hint of mercy in those optics. “You wouldn’t,” he whispered, hoping it was true. Prowl said nothing, but reached towards the Decepticon’s head, a small laser scalpel in his hand. It would only take a single incision and his mind would be laid bare. Gears started to move-
“WAIT!” screamed Scrapper. “I-I’ll tell! I swear I’ll
tell!” ************************************************************************ After
they had the co-ordinates for the Rad Zone base and had kicked Scrapper
out, Gears turned Prowl and asked: “That was a bluff, right? You were
just bluffing with him.” 5. NANOBOTS “Get
him!” “Yeah!” “Go on my son!” “WOOO!”
“Barbarians.” *********************************************************************** Aquablast had been working solidly in the lab for seventy hours- no ISS, no breaks, refuelling on the job. He couldn’t afford to take a break. A strange fork-like device protruded from the computer and was impaled in his patient’s craniums, giving him direct access to their cerebral workings, allowing him to work on both of them simultaneously. He was fighting a war in their minds. The Nanobots were a tricky foe, forever adapting to his efforts to gain control of them. Every time he thought he was nearly there, they reprogrammed their defences and he was back to square one. Every two hours or so, he had to remove the Mind Prong and spend a few minutes repairing the damage the Nanobots had made to it. He was actually enjoying himself. A challenge, an honest-to-Primus challenge. He hadn’t had one in millennia- his skill was great, and little proved challenging to him, but THIS! Only the greatest engineers and medics could even think of attempting such an operation! Ratchet, Sygnet, Hoist… and him. He cared little for the Seeker, but the presence of Megatron made this even more delicious a mission. For Megatron had created him, several years before Orion Pax became Optimus Prime. He and the other Stormtroopers were built to Megatron’s direct design specifications, right up to their emotionless face-masks. They had been personally Matrixed by him, with the stolen Matrix Flame, with the Deluxe Insecticons, and personally named by him. He owed everything to Megatron, and now he was returning the favour with interest. If he could get past the Nanobots. It took him a few more hours, but eventually he got there. He reprogrammed the Mind Prong slightly, so when the Nanobots attacked it, trying to erode it, it started to reprogram them. They’d leave after a bit, and start to spread the reprogramming throughout the swarm. Oh, the swarm would figure it out eventually, and get rid off their infected fellows, but they’d weakened, and he’d have his chance. After ten minutes, as he prepared for his final onslaught on the enemy, the alarms went off. The Autobots had arrived. 6. WITH BIG EXPLOSIONS The cloaked Autobot shuttle sped across the Rad Zone. Inside, Gears took control from Auto-Pilot and activated the weaponry. The Autobots sat inside, nervous and toting heavy-duty firearms, which only added to their nervousness. Inferno was even more nervous, as he was sure his cover was going to be blown. He’d painted himself a navy blue and neon green, and reprogrammed his voice tone to be more high pitched, but it would never be enough for him. Prowl didn’t look nervous. He was coiled, hard, focused. He was on his Turbo Cycle, ready for combat the instant they landed. He was scaring the others, especially after they’d found out what he was going to do with Scrapper.
“I don’t need to tell you how important this mission is,” he
said. “Megatron must be terminated. I want this done quickly and neatly.
No hesitations, no mercy.”
“Shut up. Be prepared to move in.” It was a spectacular explosion. Shrapnel scattered for miles around. The crew landed with a thud, safe inside Trailbreaker’s forcefield. It had been activated in a rush, so they had been knocked about inside it by the explosion, and Gears had been knocked offline. Dreadwing and Thundercracker rocketed towards them.
“Inferno, Trailbreaker, Windcharger- handle the guards. Brawn, on
the Cycle- you’re with me.” “They sure love their explosions, don’t they?” said Trailbreaker, as the Decepticons threw every weapon they had against his forcefield.
“Can’t we shoot back at them?”
“Ah. About that…” Trailbreaker sounded apologetic- a bad
sign. “I’m not sure if my forcefield will last that long. We’ve got
two extremely powerful Decepticons firing their full arsenal at us, and if
they don’t run out of ammo before it gets fully weakened…”
“Pretty much.” ******************************************************************* They found it eventually. They took the lift down and when they reached the bottom, Prowl activated the Cycle again. <This ends here and now, Megatron.>
7. IT ENDS HERE AND NOW Trailbreaker had lowered his forcefield at the rear for a few seconds, allowing his companions to transform and leg it. All the explosions and smoke obscured the fleeing Transformers, so Overkill was very surprised when he went flying off the ground and collided with a fast moving Thundercracker. Windcharger smugly prepared to take out Dreadwing in the same way, not realising that the duo were behind him and had just fired lasers. And if he was worried to get blasted down, he was even more worried when he realised he’d lost his concentration and now Overkill was falling back to Earth. Crunch. Trailbreaker stared open mouthed. “That was… embarrassing.” Dreadwing came back for another strafing run. ****************************************************************** Prowl rocketed down the corridor, Brawn hanging on for dear life. They hadn’t encountered much resistance yet- just one Skyscorcher who took one look at them and surrendered on the spot, yet unfortunately forgot to get out of the way of the fast-moving Turbo Cycle. They reached the lab door. Prowl motioned for Brawn to kick it down, and transformed his Cycle to missile launcher form. The door, however, refused to budge.
“Hrrr. This thing’s strengthened with Rheanimum,” said Brawn.
“I can knock it down, but it might take a-“ ******************************************************************** With Windcharger down, the battle wasn’t going too well for the Autobots. With their long-range weaponry and the occasional forcefield, Trailbreaker and Inferno were able to fight without gaining too much damage. Unfortunately, while Dreadwing was taken his/their fair share of hits, Overkill seemed to shrug them off and went right back to eating Windcharger. He seemed to be harbouring a grudge from his capturing for Decepti-Kombat. “How much longer can we hold out?” asked Inferno, fireballs blazing as he quickly reversed. “Up until Overkill decides to take us out too!” ******************************************************************* Aquablast swore and pounded away at the computer, trying to bring down the Nanobots before it was too late. The door was already starting to give way. He almost had it, but it all hinged on just a few seconds either way… <Come on, you microscopic slags! Work with me!> The door gave way. Brawn fell into the room with a yell, which transformed to a scream when a stream of acid hit him in the shoulder. Prowl aimed the Cycle and fired; Aquablast rolled to the side just before the shot hit and destroyed the computer. Prowl’s lips curled into a sneer as he turned to Megatron. Aquablast moaned inwardly as Brawn hoisted him up and jammed a gun to his throat. If Megatron didn’t pull through… Nothingness. Vague memories of madness, dark gods, decay. Who
am I? Autobot. AUTO- “-BOT!” Megatron tore himself free of the medical apparatus and with frightening speed blasted Prowl in half. With a hiss, he turned towards Brawn. The Autobot threw Aquablast at him with full strength, imbedding the two of them in the far wall. He knew it wouldn’t hold the Decepticons for long. Quickly he grabbed Prowl’s upper half, transformed the Cycle back to its standard mode and retreated, making sure to grab and pocket Snipe’s crushed head on the way. ******************************************************************** The Autobots began to flee, Windcharger’s brain module safe on Trailbreaker’s drivers seat and Gears on Inferno’s alt mode roof. Behind them, Overkill fired a few missiles off for good measure.
“Where are we going?” ******************************************************************** He stepped out into the sun, Skywarp and Aquablast at his side. He stretched his arms, noting the lack of purple paint or orange laser cannon, and with a merry laugh he opened a wormhole to a black hole and turned a large portion of the ruined city to dust. “It is good to be back!” 8. UPBEAT Prowl had been staying in his room ever since he’d been repaired. He came out to refuel, and that was it. He refused to get involved in conversation, and everyone was worried he was going to attempt suicide again. The hab-unit door opened. “Hello Prowl.” He didn’t turn round. “Hello Grimlock,” he muttered.
“Me hear Megatron back,” said the Dinobot. “Hear you try stop
him.”
“I was too late,” Prowl whispered. “Megatron is alive, and
the Decepticons will have a renaissance of sorts. Hundreds will die, he
may even turn unite all the splinter groups and stand a chance of taking
Cybertron again. All my fault?” Prowl turned round, enraged. “Do you understand the severity of the situation?!” ye screamed. “Megatron is back! The founder of the Decepticons! Wielder of anti-matter powers beyond our comprehension! Can you possibly understand how much I’ve buggered up?!” Grimlock slapped him. Prowl almost fell over, a shocked look on his face.
“You there on Klo. Me nearly get entire Autobot army killed. We
all could’ve died. Because of me. Understand? Me nearly end us all
because me stupid! Me always have been! You, you were smart one! You
always had plan! You leader, you hero. You mess up one time. Big
deal. You can rectify. Me did, or try to. Megatron not at full strength
yet, you have chance to stop him before it too late. Me know you can.” ******************************************************************** “Tell me doc- will I ever be able to dance again?” Ratchet sighed. “I have no idea why I connected your brain module to the holographic projector Windcharger, I really don’t. Keep this up and I’ll be giving you a Wheelie body- I SAW THAT GESTURE!”
“Leave him be.” TO BE CONTINUED IN “INHERITANCE”, BY MARTIN MCVAY.
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