EPISODE I: THE PROPHECY
Rodimus Prime was able to fight back! How was this possible?
What was that explosion? The generator! Optimus Prime had destroyed the force field generator! Damn him! Where was Jhiaxus?
Oh no! There they were: the Autobot military transports! A laser cannon fired, followed by two missiles. The last thing visible were those twin missiles; then there was only darkness�
�OMNICRON��
The voice sounded distant. Was it really him?
�YOU�� ARE �..CORRECT�. MY�.. SERVANT�..�
Unicron! Where was he? There was nothing but darkness.
�GO���SEEK�.RUNES OF CYBERTRON�THE HUB�... SECRET� �RELEASE ME�..�
Omnicron then saw a blinding flash of light. He awoke from his daze, and realized he was still on J�Asik. Wait, he was able to see! How did his eyes get repaired?
�Ah, hello there. I see you�re up.�
Omnicron looked to the ground. There was a little creature staring up at him.
�WHO ARE YOU?�
The creature became startled. �My name is Primacron. For many years now I have been wandering this universe since my lab was destroyed by the Autobots.�
�THE AUTOBOTS?�
�Yes,� Primacron replied. �Actually it was a brute named Grimlock. They have already defeated two of my creations, Tornitron and Unicron�
�UNICRON? YOU CREATED UNICRON? NOT LIKELY�
�Well, in a manner of speaking, I did,� Primacron said. �His essence came to me, so I built him a body, and wanted him to follow my bidding. He did not wish to work that way, however.�
Omnicron managed a laugh. �SO WHY HAVE YOU REPAIRED ME?�
�To help me gain control of the universe! You owe me that much!�
Omnicron could tell that this little scientist was not much of a planner. �YOU�RE RIGHT, I DO OWE YOU SOMETHING.�
Omnicron smiled and fired his eye lasers at Primacron. He completely vaporized the small megalomaniac.
�NOW I HAVE HELPED YOU,� Omnicron said. �YOUR DEATH WAS FAR LESS PAINFUL THAN WHAT I WAS PLANNING.� He turned and flew off, beginning his search for the Hub.
�Connelly�s done it now,� Goldbug said. He couldn�t believe what was going on.
It had been a year since Trypticon had resurfaced. William Connelly, head of the Earth Defense Command, had used the opportunity to lead a massive opposition against the Autobots stationed on Earth. The anti-Autobot cause had been growing in number and now they threatened war in order to get their former allies off the planet.
�Yeah, he sure has,� Jazz replied. The large demonstration being held outside Metroplex was growing in number each day. They chanted phrases that all voiced a common message: go back to Cybertron.
Jazz was the commander of the Earth Autobots. He had been hoping that the whole anti-Autobot thing would blow over, but it didn�t. It was all so baffling. The return of Trypticon was a minor skirmish, with the Autobots driving the Decepticons off rather quickly. Not one human was involved, the only casualty being Trypticon himself.
�Man, all of this stuff is so lousy,� Jazz continued. �Stupid propaganda.�
�I know,� Goldbug said. �We need help to deal with this.�
Hound cut in. �I�ve got an idea, let�s just transform Metroplex and scare �em all off.�
�No!� Jazz snapped. �Whatever you do, I do not want anyone taking the slightest action against these protesters. As foolish as we think they are, that will only give them more reason to get angry.�
Hound knew that Jazz was irritated, which was something that rarely happened. �You�re right, Jazz. We need to do something about this, though. If we get the E.D.C. against us, that will make things much worse.�
�He�s right,� Goldbug said. �Marissa can�t help much right now. She�s already trying to sway the remaining soldiers in the EDC to remain loyal to us. We have to go to the source: the world leaders.�
�Yeah, that�s the only shot we have,� Jazz said. �I�ll contact Spike and Carly. They�ll set up a meeting or something. We�ll also need to get Rodimus Prime. If we show that our leader will come from Cybertron on this matter, then maybe we can make a good impression.�
Jazz looked at Goldbug. �Contact Cybertron, get Rodimus Prime and tell him to get here as soon as he can. Maybe he can convince Earth that they still need us.�
There it was, the Hub. The planets that once housed the Cybertronians were now a vast wasteland. No life thrived whatsoever.
Omnicron flew straight for the main planet, the one that the Liege Maximo himself had lived on for centuries. It was here where he would find the Runes of Cybertron, the ancient scribes that an unknown Cybertronian author had printed the secrets of the universe. The Liege Maximo had stolen them when he left Cybertron, so not even the Transformers knew about them.
He landed near a large forest-type area. Omnicron saw that this was where the great Liege Maximo had fallen. The body of a giant dragon, now covered in dirt and grime, was lying right in the middle of a clearing. Jhiaxus had spoken so highly of his former leader, but apparently he had been defeated by only two Transformers. What a pathetic nonsense.
Omnicron searched the area for the Runes, but couldn�t find them. Then he noticed a flicker of light from the giant creature�s body. He walked over to what he saw and reached down into the split body.
He pulled out two stone tablets. Both of them were glowing, but had stopped once he touched them. Startled by this, he dropped them both into the dirt. Picking them up, Omnicron noticed the ancient markings. These must be the Runes of Cybertron! He began reading.
The first tablet spoke of the beginning of the universe, Unicron and Primus�s battle, and the creation of the Transformers. As interesting as it all was, Omnicron skimmed it. History was not what he was after.
The second tablet was far more interesting:
It is so written that in the future two instances of great darkness will descend on the universe.
The first will come when all hope will seem to be gone. In their darkest hour, one of Primus�s creations will rise from their ranks to use the Creation Matrix to its full power. This being will be known as �The One.�
The second will come far later, when peace will seem to have been restored. A great evil will come forth to free Unicron the Chaos-Bringer from death. To do so, he will recite incantations that will appear on this Rune. These incantations will only be visible once the time is right. Then he will prepare to sacrifice innocents up to Unicron himself. These innocents will be of Primus�s creation��
Omnicron then saw a blank space where the words for the ritual would become visible when the time was right. Finally, he had been given the ultimate power to bring back his lord. The plan was now set forth. He would travel to Cybertron and kidnap the Autobots. Then he would bring them back to a ground where he could recite the incantations. Finally, he would perform a massive slaughter of his prisoners.
At last, Unicron would accept him. The two would then be the unquestionable emperors of the universe, ruling side by side.
Meanwhile, on Cybertron, Ultra Magnus was speaking with Rodimus Prime. Jazz had recently contacted the current Autobot commander about the current situation on Earth, and Rodimus was preparing to leave.
�I really don�t understand why you need to go by yourself,� Ultra Magnus was saying.
�Look,� Rodimus Prime said. �Diplomatic relations between us and humanity are dissolving quickly. If I go to Earth with an entourage, they may see it as a sign of hostility. I want them to be assured that we will take their concerns seriously.�
Ultra Magnus knew that Rodimus was right. �Well that�s fine, but I can�t help but wonder: why am I in charge? Optimus is still here.�
�I know,� Rodimus said in a soft voice. �But he doesn�t want to be bothered. Ever since the incident with Jhiaxus, he hasn�t really talked to anyone. All I know is that he�s guarding Vector Sigma. That�s the only thing he�s doing, and I think that�s the only thing he wants to do.�
�It�s so depressing though,� Ultra Magnus said. �Isn�t he ever going to leave that room?�
Rodimus shrugged. �I don�t think so. Not as long as Elita-1 is still in a deactivated state.�
�Okay,� Magnus said. �Well, I�ll make sure everything�s okay here. Take care of yourself, and I hope that everything works out on Earth.�
Rodimus got in the ship. �So do I,� he said. Shutting the door, he entered the cockpit and took off.
�The chair recognizes the distinguished representative from Cybertron.�
Rodimus Prime stood up. He was in the United Nations building on Earth, conferring with Earth�s leaders. Shortly after his arrival on the planet, the military had escorted him to New York. Rodimus was astounded to see the number of people outside with signs saying things like �Go home Autobots� and �Only humans belong on Earth.� They threw vegetables and garbage at Rodimus as he passed, as well as screaming obscenities. All Rodimus did, however, was walk on without showing any emotion.
He now spoke for the Autobots stationed on Earth. �Thank you Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the delegation. I have come here today invited by Ambassadors Spike and Carly Witwicky, having been informed of the current events taking place on your wonderful planet.
�It has been approximately 25 years since the Transformers have landed on Earth. Since then, both humans and Autobots alike have participated in battles against the threat of Decepticons and other evils. We have come to the help of the United States elite military organization G.I. Joe, as well as founding the Earth Defense Command.
�My predecessor, Optimus Prime, always felt terrible about bringing our age-old war to your planet. He felt as though it was his responsibility to defend Earth, and accepted it as his new home world.
�Now I understand why everyone here may think that we need to be driven off the planet. But you must know that we have a very important reason for being here. We help defend against any force that threatens this planet, as represented by the current instance of Trypticon�s return.�
�While I agree that you do help defend the planet,� the Chairman said. �Isn�t that what the EDC is for?�
�Yes,� Rodimus said. �That is the EDC�s function. But in recent years the Command has been downsized incredibly. I do not believe that they could stand alone against an attack.�
�That is a lie!� William Connelly broke in. He was invited to the forum, and chose to speak up. �The Earth Defense Command has never been this efficient!�
Rodimus glared at the Chief Executive of the EDC. �It is because of this man that we are really needed here. The organization that once housed the most elite soldiers in the world is now a joke. The Command no longer has the amount of funding to combat any threat, foreign or domestic.�
�Why you huge ugly piece of tin!� Connelly yelled.
�Mr. Connelly!� the Chairman ordered. �Restrain yourself please! Now, Rodimus Prime, I believe that we should hold a recess until tomorrow. Are you available to return then?�
�Yes Mr. Chairman,� Rodimus answered. �I will be at the city of Metroplex until then. If I am needed, please feel free to contact me there.�
A few hours later, Jazz and Rodimus were sitting in the control room of Metroplex. They were going over the hearing�s events.
�Connelly is really sticking it to us now,� Jazz remarked. �There�s something very sinister about him.�
�I know, Jazz,� Rodimus said. �But he�s a human, and the council is more likely to listen to his opinion than ours. We need to remain patient, otherwise there�s no way to win this battle.�
At that moment, Goldbug rushed in. �Rodimus Prime! We�re receiving a transmission from Cybertron. It doesn�t sound good.�
Rodimus looked at Jazz. �What now?�
They rushed into the communications room. Ultra Magnus�s voice was barely audible, and it was growing fainter by the second.
�SOS.�..odimus��..nee��.elp�����.�has returned��come quick�� Then the transmission went dead.
Jazz looked down. �I�ll tell the UN Council that you had to leave. Ask them to postpone the hearing.�
�Thank you, Jazz,� Rodimus said gravely. �I�ll contact you once I reach Cybertron to let you know what�s going on. Take care.�
As his ship approached Cybertron, Rodimus Prime noticed the complete lack of activity on the surface. Not one Autobot was visible. Expecting to see a battle, this sight of dormancy was unsettling.
Rodimus landed the ship, and walked out on the surface. �Hello? Anyone here?�
Nothing. Complete silence, not even a sign of movement.
�Ultra Magnus? Kup? Perceptor? Grimlock? Anyone?�
Absolute quiet.
Something then caught his eye. Rodimus Prime walked over to a nearby wall. There, carved into the metal wall, was a word that struck Rodimus to the soul:
OMNICRON
TO BE CONTINUED