EPISODE IV: LAST CHANCE
Optimus Prime had seen nothing like this creature who called himself Omnicron. He had no clue where it had came from, or how he, Rodimus Prime and Elita-1 could possibly defeat it. To make matters worse, the rest of the Autobot army was trapped outside the atmosphere of J�Asik by some force field that Omnicron had created. Optimus had never faced such an adversary under these odds since his face off with the Liege Maximo. The irony of the fact that the two were related to Jhiaxus in some way did not escape him.
Nevertheless, Optimus still had the mental faculty enough to speak. �Omnicron? Where did a being of your size come from?�
�OH, I SEE. YOU WISH TO PROLONG YOUR DOOM,� it said. �IT DOES NOT MATTER, MY ORIGIN WILL NOT HELP YOU DEFEAT ME.�
�Don�t underestimate us,� Rodimus said. He had his bearings back. �We�re tougher than we look.�
Omnicron laughed. It was a more horrifying noise than the three Autobots could have imagined. �I THINK THAT I HAVE THE UPPER EDGE. SHORTLY AFTER YOUR CREATOR, PRIMUS, BROUGHT YOUR RACE INTO BEING, THE ALMIGHTY UNICRON CREATED THE QUINTESSONS. HE FELT THAT IT WAS HIS RIGHT AS THE ULTIMATE BEING IN THE UNIVERSE TO HAVE WORSHIPPERS. THE QUINTESSONS WERE MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE. I WAS CREATED SHORTLY THEREAFTER TO KEEP THEM IN LINE.
�APPARENTLY THE QUINTESSONS WERE LESS LOYAL THAN ME. THEY REBELLED AND CAME TO YOUR PUNY PLANET, LEARNING OF IT THROUGH UNICRON. IT WAS INTERESTING HOW UNICRON�S SLAVES ENSLAVED YOU AFTERWARD.
�LEARNING OF MY INCOMPETENCE TO KEEP THE LOATHSOME QUINTESSONS IN LINE, UNICRON BANISHED ME FROM HIS PRESENCE FOR ALL ETERNITY. I STILL WORSHIPPED HIM, THOUGH, BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED UNICRON FOR HIS VISION OF CHAOS. NO ONE BEING HAS BEEN ABLE TO STRIKE MORE FEAR INTO CREATURES AS UNICRON DID.�
�Unicron was insane,� Rodimus Prime cut in. �And time and time again, the Transformer race has been able to defeat him.�
�YOU TWO PRIMES HAVE BEEN LUCKY WHEN FACING HIM. ONLY WITH THAT ACCURSED MATRIX HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO DESTROY THE ALMIGHTY UNICRON.�
�I wouldn�t exactly call it luck,� Rodimus said.
Optimus looked up at Omnicron. He could tell that their adversary was growing tired of the dialogue. Looking to the giant�s left, he could see a large generator left behind from the civilization that had lived on the planet. The strange thing was the generator seemed to be running.
That was it! It was the force field generator! If they could only destroy it, Ultra Magnus could get through and begin an assault on this creature. It was their only chance, albeit a risky one with this titan in their way.
Optimus quickly looked over at Elita-1. She glanced back at him and was confused by the look on his face. He looked back at the generator, and she followed his gaze. Suddenly, an expression of understanding swept over her face. Elita-1 then looked back at Optimus Prime and pointed to herself.
I�ll go, she mouthed.
He nodded, and went back to Omnicron who was beginning to get his ax ready. �Wait! Before you strike, I wish to know how Jhiaxus fits into all of this.�
Omnicron sighed heavily. �FINE. THE ENTITY YOU KNOW AS THE SWARM WAS RETURNING THROUGH THIS SYSTEM, REMAKING ALL THAT IT HAD UNDONE DUE TO YOUR INFLUENCE. I WAS PASSING THROUGH AS WELL, GOING ABOUT MY WAY. I SIMPLY SWALLOWED THE SWARM, ENDING ITS LIFE FOREVER.�
�No!� Optimus cried. �It had already begun to help those it had hurt! How could you?�
�I AM A DISCIPLE OF UNICRONISM; THE IDEAL OF CHAOS IS ALL THAT CONCERNS ME. ENDING THE LIFE OF THE SWARM HELPED THAT IDEAL. INSIDE THE SWARM, THOUGH, I SENSED A BEING OF GREAT MALEVOLENCE AND HATRED. I RECREATED HIM, THE ONE KNOWN AS JHIAXUS. HE IS NOW MORE POWERFUL THAN EVEN HE COULD IMAGINE.
�NOW YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. LITTLE GOOD IT WILL DO YOU, AS I AM NOW GOING TO EXACT THE REVENGE MY MASTER SO SORELY NEEDED!!!�
Omnicron swung his ax at Optimus Prime. Diving out of the way, he yelled at Elita-1:
�Go!!�
Elita-1 transformed and drove straight through Omnicron�s legs. Baffled, the giant turned to chase her, but was soon stopped. Both Optimus and Rodimus Prime had transformed as well and ran into his legs as hard as they could. The combining effort was enough to trip Omnicron up and he lost his balance. With a gigantic crash, he fell to the ground.
Still, it wasn�t good enough to keep the monster down. Turning his head, Omnicron fired laser blasts from his eyes. Both shots hit Optimus and Rodimus in the chests as they transformed. Neither one had seen it coming. Getting to his feet, Omnicron swung his ax violently at the two Autobots. Firing off their weapons, they tried to keep him occupied until Elita-1 could reach the force field generator. Both of them wondered if they would live to see it.
Elita-1 sped quickly to the generator. Optimus always had a quick wit in tough situations. She hoped that he and Rodimus could get through fighting that creep while she could destroy this thing.
She began thinking about the past few days. As terrible as this all was, life was certainly better now than it was before. She was out, fighting for the good side again. Optimus was alive and as wonderful as ever. It was like Elita-1 had found her reason for living again.
Finally! She had reached the generator! Optimus was right, the machine was running and developing a force field over the planet. Elita-1 transformed and took out her pistol. Aiming at the main power supply, she began to squeeze the trigger�
Meanwhile, Optimus and Rodimus Prime had used just about every maneuver in the book to avoid Omnicron�s attacks. It was especially difficult because they were actually trying to be attacked. Hopefully the diversion they were creating wouldn�t be fatal.
Just as Optimus dodged another ax attack, he looked to see how Elita-1 was doing. She was there! He saw her transform, and begin to take aim at the generator.
Suddenly, he saw a giant blast of energy hit her. From nowhere, Jhiaxus stepped forward. Smoke was coming from his weapon as he approached Elita-1�s body at a slow walk.
�No!!!� Optimus Prime cried. He transformed and sped off at such a high speed that not even Omnicron had time enough to react. Quickly going past the behemoth, Prime drove straight at Jhiaxus.
�Optimus!� Rodimus yelled, watching his friend go. Omnicron took advantage of his foe�s unawareness. Firing a laser from his eyes, he was able to nick Rodimus in the shoulder, bringing him to the ground. Omnicron then swung his ax, but missed as the Autobot rolled away.
Unfortunately, this left Rodimus no room to move as Omnicron brought down his fist to flatten him. In a last effort, Rodimus brought his hands up to shield himself from the blow.
The cry was deafening, but it did not come from Rodimus Prime. Omnicron howled in pain as a flash of light came up when he made contact with the Autobot�s arms. Baffled, Rodimus got to his feet and watched as the enraged Omnicron dropped his ax in pain and threw another punch at him. Putting his hands up to block again, Rodimus saw as Omnicron again bellowed in agony.
Taking the offensive, Rodimus punched Omnicron�s hands as they were within reach. The scream was almost deafening: the giant being could not believe how the small Autobot was able to cause so much pain. Rodimus, on the other hand, did understand. Omnicron was a creation of Unicron, who had an obvious weakness in the Matrix. Somehow, due to the Matrix enhancing Rodimus Prime, its power also coursed through his body. This made every contact made with Omnicron a painful one for the giant.
Still, Rodimus knew it wouldn�t take long for Omnicron to find another way to destroy him.
The generator needed to come down.
Jhiaxus walked toward Elita-1�s body. He couldn�t believe how much fight these Autobots had in them. Just hours ago this one was helpless in his control, and now, even after being shot point blank she still struggled to get up. What bravery, what valor; what foolishness. Jhiaxus pointed his gun at her head.
SLAM!! The impact was thunderous. Jhiaxus flew into the air and crashed to the ground. Looking up to see what had hit him, he saw Optimus Prime transform. There was a rage in the Autobot commander�s eyes that was very uncharacteristic of him.
Optimus picked Jhiaxus up and held him over his head. �It is time we end this, Jhiaxus.� He threw the Cybertronian down. Getting to his feet, Jhiaxus lunged at Optimus Prime, but the Autobot punched him in midair.
Jhiaxus fell, groaning in pain. Before he knew it, Optimus was on top of him. Picking him up, Prime spoke to him again.
�You are one of the most repulsive creatures I have ever met, Jhiaxus,� he said, throwing Jhiaxus to the ground hard. �You speak of your own freedom, of how it is your inalienable right to colonize planets, enslave the inhabitants.�
Prime landed another punch in his enemy�s face. �But you don�t even stop there. You never did. You moved on to other planets, destroying whatever they had so you could add another system to your belt.�
Jhiaxus was now feeling a great deal of pain. He got to his feet just in time to see Optimus grab him and pulled him close for a few final words.
�You know what Jhiaxus,� he said. �I pity you. You�ve never loved, never felt compassion or any real emotions for anything.�
Optimus pointed at Elita-1. �You see her? I love her, always have, and you kidnapped her, threatened her life. Now you may have succeeded in becoming her killer. You didn�t even give her a chance. No mercy, right?�
He raised Jhiaxus over his head. �Well you should be so lucky that I�m showing you the mercy you�ve never had. Your death will be quick.�
With all his might, Optimus Prime launched Jhiaxus right at the force field generator. Pulling out his rifle, Optimus then shot the generator�s power supply.
The explosion was enormous, but still could not deafen the scream that came from Jhiaxus himself. His body was ripped apart, piece-by-piece. It was gruesome, but no one actually saw it. Optimus had already turned and ran over to Elita-1�s side.
That same explosion had been heard by Rodimus Prime and Omnicron. They both turned, and Omnicron knew that the generator was destroyed. He looked to the skies, and the ships began to come through.
Aboard one of the military transports, Ultra Magnus gasped along with his crew as they saw Omnicron. They saw the giant grab a massive ax. To their horror they saw Rodimus trying to escape when it raised the ax over its head to strike. Finally, Ultra Magnus grasped his senses and looked at the gunner, Kup.
�Fire!�
A large blast came from the first ship, and Omnicron had nowhere to run. The shot struck Omnicron in the chest. Another shot came, and hit the right shoulder. Then two missiles were fired, and each one made a smoldering hole in each of Omnicron�s eyes. The giant fell to the ground, making an earth-shattering crash.
Rodimus Prime just stared blankly at the huge creature that called itself Omnicron. He could not believe that something that large and evil was able to exist. Only now did he understand why Optimus had begun to get so sick of the fight, the hopelessness of it all. Yet there was another lesson to be learned: evil is not the only force that never quits. Good must always be there to stop evil, always be there to send it back to the depths from where it came. No other force in the universe had that same determination.
His thoughts were interrupted by Ultra Magnus who had landed and walked up behind him. �What was that thing, Rodimus?�
�It was pure evil,� he said, still staring at the body. Then he looked Magnus in the eyes. �That�s the only way I can describe it.�
At that moment, Optimus Prime drove up with his trailer carrying Elita-1, who was barely functioning. Optimus transformed, and took her in his arms. He didn�t even pay attention to Omnicron�s body or his friends coming off the ship to examine it. Running, he boarded the ship and went straight to the stasis pods. Placing her in one, he was about to activate it before she spoke.
�Optimus..?� she struggled out.
He knelt next to her. �I�m here. You�re in a stasis pod. It will put you in a state of unconsciousness, but at least it will sustain you until we can bring you back to Cybertron to repair you.�
Elita-1 smiled. �Through all your battles, with every enemy you�ve faced, someone would think that you would become tarnished. Your spirit darkened. Then you�ll do your best to save me even though you know it�s hopeless.�
Optimus felt a wrenching pain of sadness. �Nothing is ever hopeless, Elita. Goodbye, for now.�
Above the stasis pod, Optimus Prime pushed the button to close it up. He looked at Elita-1�s face as she slowly went under, and closed his eyes. Turning around, he left the chamber and went to order the Autobots to prepare for departure.
Perceptor examined Elita-1. She was slipping in and out of consciousness, and was suffering greatly due to the blast she received from Jhiaxus�s weapon at close range. Finally, he finished his analysis and transformed out of his microscope form.
�Optimus,� Perceptor said to his leader and friend. �I�m afraid there is nothing I can do. She�s in a great deal of pain, and nothing short of a miracle can save her. The only thing we can do is keep her in a stasis pod, so she can be comfortable. I�m sorry.�
�You did all you could do, Perceptor,� Optimus replied. �And I thank you. Place her in a pod and radio me when it�s all set up.�
Rodimus Prime sat in the Great Hall. He was very concerned for Optimus, who was slipping into a deeper depression. Elita-1 was heavily damaged, and it was unlikely that she would survive.
The door opened and closed gently. Rodimus turned around, and saw Optimus walk in. He looked very somber when he approached Rodimus, and walked slowly.
�Rodimus,� he began. �This won�t be easy for me to say. I�m relinquishing my command as Autobot leader indefinitely.�
�What?�
�Please don�t argue with me,� Optimus said. �Elita-1 is in critical condition, and nothing will be able to save her. The only way to keep her alive is in a stasis pod, which is almost as bad as death.�
�Optimus, you know I�m very sorry about Elita-1,� Rodimus said. �But we need you. There is no other warrior with your abilities and strength. You were the one who has defeated Unicron not once, but twice. You were the one who turned the tide during the Battle of Autobot City. And you were the one who saved my life from Galvatron�.�
�I appreciate the ego booster,� Optimus cut him off. �But the fact is, Rodimus, you have become stronger and wiser than I could have ever imagined.�
Optimus put his hand on his prot�g�s shoulder. �I can�t think of anyone more suited to be the Autobot commander than you. You�re the greatest warrior I have ever known.�
The radio in Optimus Prime�s hand crackled. �Optimus? It�s Perceptor. Elita-1 is in a stasis pod.�
�I�ll be right there, Perceptor,� Optimus replied. He turned to Rodimus again. �This is my last order as Autobot commander: make me proud.�
Optimus turned and walked out of the room. Rodimus Prime sat back down. He looked around, still in a daze following his mentor�s bombshell. Then, with no one nearby, he said to himself:
�Where do I go from here?�
The room was very dark. Elita-1�s face was visible through the glass, with an expression of rest on her face. The liquid energon that she was submerged in helped sustain her, giving her energy and keeping her vitals in check. Still, it was so sad to see such a valiant warrior and kind spirit look so ashen.
Optimus Prime looked down at his counterpart, his friend, his love. The Transformers did not understand the idea of beauty, and many did not comprehend the idea of gender. But Optimus did know that there was more to his race than just being robots. Each one had a soul, good or evil, and each soul had a gender associated with it. Primus knew this, knew that his creations would crave a partner just as any other race would. Optimus Prime and Elita-1 had been drawn together with these feelings.
So the two of them were still together, stationed in the same room as Vector Sigma. Optimus drove her down to the room, and swore to become the guardian of the supercomputer and Elita-1. As Perceptor had said, nothing short of a miracle could bring her into full operation again.
So Optimus Prime would wait for that miracle. He would wait, and remember.
THE END