The year is 2010. Optimus Prime and his Autobots have been in control of Cybertron for four years. In those years, no Decepticon aggression had been made: Galvatron and his soldiers had been missing in action throughout this time. The Fourth Golden Age of Cybertron had become the most successful. The planet was beginning to look like it had in the days before the Great War: peaceful, happy, and prosperous. Yet the Autobots were always wary of what lay ahead, and when just exactly Galvatron might return.
EPISODE I: THE FINAL BATTLE?
Optimus Prime was sitting in the Great Hall on Cybertron. Even though the Autobots who were residing on the planet had eliminated military rankings and looked at each other as equals, everyone still listened when Optimus began speaking. He may not have been the Autobot commander anymore, but he was still an advisor of sorts. Prime had just finished a meeting among the Autobots to discuss certain mechanical problems that had arisen, and how to make sure the problems were taken care of.
Now he was sitting, staring through the window at Unicron�s head, thinking. Thinking about the Chaos-Bringer, and then about his own mortality. Optimus Prime had �died� three times, and been reincarnated five. He pondered over this for several minutes. Memories flooded his mind: the battles with Unicron, the Liege Maximo, and Megatron. He also thought of his reincarnations, adding up until his final reawakening during the Hate Plague.
Prime thought about the Hate Plague for a moment. It had caused so much destruction, and the only thing that was able to destroy it completely was the wisdom installed in the Matrix. Optimus had been brought back to combat the plague after Rodimus Prime had been afflicted. As good as it was to be functioning again, it still left a heavy sense of dread in the back of his mind. Now that the Matrix was emptied of its energy, he had premonitions of his own. He had a feeling that when the Transformers will most need the Matrix, it would be unavailable.
�Optimus?� Hot Rod came into the room while Prime was thinking. �Everything okay?�
�Huh?� Prime turned around. �Oh, Hot Rod! I was just thinking.�
Hot Rod looked out the window. After following his mentor�s gaze he said, �Unicron?�
�Yes,� Prime said, �among other things.�
Hot Rod nodded. Optimus Prime and him had shared a common bond since the Hate Plague. Both had been bearers of the Matrix, and both had used its power to destroy Unicron. Prime still considered Hot Rod to be a second-in-command, and gave him several opportunities to take leadership roles. Although he had been an inexperienced leader in years before, Prime believed that Hot Rod was fully able to command the Autobots now if the situation arose. His position now was a supervisor to most of Cybertron, and reported directly to Optimus. Even though he still had a rather carefree lifestyle, he knew when to separate work and fun. He worked harder than he had in the years before he had become Rodimus Prime; being the Autobot commander had shown him responsibility.
�Did you need anything special Hot Rod?� Optimus asked.
�No, just came in,� Hot Rod replied. �Nothing new to report.�
�Good,� Optimus said. No news was good news. He decided to take up a discussion with his prot�g�. �Do you ever think about what happened to Galvatron?�
�All the time, Optimus,� Hot Rod said. �And then I just try and shake off this feeling I get that he�ll come back.�
�I know how you feel, Hot Rod,� Prime said, shaking his head. �I know exactly how you feel.�
Across the galaxy on the planet Yesto, another group of Transformers was trying to survive. Unlike the peaceful Autobots, they thirsted for revenge: they were the Decepticons. After being blown off of Cybertron in the giant body of Scorponok, Galvatron and his soldiers lost control of the large Transformer and were sent plummeting through space for many months. When they had finally regained control of the ship, the Decepticons were lost. Looking for a new base of operations, they decided to land on the deserted planet of Yesto. For years now they had been scouting for a route back to Cybertron, with no luck.
While on Yesto, the Decepticons created a way to pass the time. They decided to hold tournaments to decide who was the greatest Decepticon. These tournaments were presided over by Galvatron. The two combatants would fight to a near death, with the loser being shipped off to the infirmary to get repaired by the Constructicons. The winner would be able to face Galvatron in hand-to-hand combat, no weapons allowed. Not even the Decepticon leader could use his lethal laser cannon in this final battle. The winner could claim true leadership of the Decepticons. And so it went, while Scourge and his Sweeps looked for a way back to Cybertron.
As the tournament was going on, Cyclonus was walking away from the battlefield. Ever since Unicron created him and Galvatron, he had served his commander faithfully. Yet here the Decepticon questioned his leader. Why is Galvatron wasting his time with silly tournaments? He should instead be thinking about a way to combat the Autobots when they return to Cybertron.
�Cyclonus!� He turned. Hook, one of the Constructicons, came running up. �Why did you leave the tournament? Bored?�
�No, Hook,� replied Cyclonus. �Why, are you?�
�No,� the Constructicon said. �I�m just sick of watching those mindless idiots destroy themselves so I have more work to do.�
�Understandable,� Cyclonus said. �That�s why I didn�t participate. Can I ask you something?� Hook was trustworthy.
�Yes.�
�Galvatron�s mind is unbalanced, correct?� he asked.
�A bit.�
�That was caused by what had happened to him on Thrull, right?�
�Yes, not at all his fault,� Hook spoke carefully.
�Would it be possible to repair his mind?� Cyclonus asked. �All I want is��
At that moment, the two heard something. Scourge and his Sweeps had returned from their search for Cybertron. Hopefully they would have good news. If they didn�t, there�s no telling what Galvatron might do.
�Mighty Galvatron,� Scourge flew straight to his commander. �We have successfully mapped a way back to Cybertron.�
�Excellent!� Galvatron smiled, and turned to his troops. �Decepticons! Quit these silly games and prepare for an assault on Cybertron!�
�Sir, with all due respect, shouldn�t we establish a base of operations somewhere else before we go back?� Ramjet, one of the few original Decepticon jets, asked.
Galvatron looked over at Ramjet. �Come here.�
At that point, the Decepticon knew he had made a mistake. He tentatively walked forward, and knelt at his leader�s feet, in hopes of being granted some mercy. None was given. Galvatron swiftly aimed his cannon at Ramjet�s head as he kneeled, and fired. In a blinding flash of light, Ramjet was blown apart.
�Any one else want to challenge my authority?� Galvatron asked. No one spoke.
�Well then, Lord Zarak!� The Nebulan came forward. �Transform Scorponok and lets get off of this forsaken planet!�
Zarak ran off to his Headmaster component and quickly did so. The Decepticons boarded, and they headed for Cybertron.
Usually, Kup loved his job. In all of his experience as an Autobot soldier, he always had war stories to share with his colleagues. Now all he did was tell them while monitoring the radar for hostiles. Grimlock always came up to listen; it was better for him to hear about battles to pass the time. In recent days, however, Optimus Prime had mentioned to Kup that he keep his mind set to his duty. Kup had always respected and listened to Optimus, but this seemed ludicrous. Galvatron was not coming back.
So as he sat there, half watching the screen, half daydreaming, he heard blips come on. He quickly looked at the radar, and sure enough something very large was headed for Cybertron. Kup hit the alarm and grabbed the intercom.
�Autobots! This is not a test! Get to your stations and prepare for attack!�
Across the planet, Optimus Prime heard the alarm. Decepticons! He quickly grabbed a radio that was a direct link with Nebulos.
�Cerebros!� Optimus said. �This is Optimus Prime. Do you read me?�
�Cerebros here,� said the other line. �What�s wrong?�
�The Decepticons have returned,� Prime said. �We need Fortress Maximus ready and over here!�
�I�m on my way!�
Aboard the massive body of Scorponok, the Decepticons began to feel uneasy. The Autobots weren�t stupid. They probably had an early warning system, and sure enough they were walking into a trap. Yet no one would say a word, for fear of Galvatron�s wrath.
BOOM! The explosion rocked the side of the ship. The Autobots had begun firing, and now they were sitting ducks. Galvatron began barking orders.
�Decepticons! Attack!!�
Reluctantly, the troops left the ship and began the battle below. The Autobots had easily outnumbered the Decepticons, and were defending Cybertron well. Galvatron was the only one who obviously didn�t care about the odds. He began firing and attacking every Autobot he saw. The only advantage the Decepticons had was Scorponok, who was fighting very well. But that advantage was soon countered.
As the giant Decepticon was about to crush some helpless Autobots below, he was picked up and thrown off to the side. Fortress Maximus, newly arrived from Nebulos, had shown up to do battle with Scorponok once again. While the two titanic Headmasters clashed, Galvatron began searching.
�I want you, Prime!" he began screaming. "Don't hide from me Optimus! Come face me!!�
He landed on a desolate portion of the planet. Looking around, he realized he had left the fray completely, and began heading the other way. Then a voice cut through the air.
�Galvatron,� the voice said. The Decepticon leader turned. Out of the shadows came the mighty Autobot commander. �We end this now.�
Enraged, Galvatron flew straight for Optimus Prime. With ease, Prime evaded, and grabbed Galvatron and threw him against a wall. The Decepticon began firing his laser cannon, but missed. His rage had taken over, and it caused him to make all kinds of mistakes. Optimus ran up, dodged each blast, and nailed Galvatron right in the face. Galvatron flailed back, and landed on the ground. Just as he began to get his bearings, Optimus picked him up over his head and threw the Decepticon. Throughout the fight, the Autobot leader showed no signs of weakness, and was collected in the battle. Galvatron was letting his insanity and anger mix with his fighting ability, making him no match for Prime. Eventually, he was laying face down, and pain was searing through his body. When Galvatron looked up, he saw Prime facing him with his trademark rifle in his hand.
�One shall stand,� he said. �One shall fall.�
With that, Optimus Prime fired.
The Decepticons sat inside the body of Scorponok solemnly. Riding in the ship mode of the giant Headmaster was bad enough due to the damage sustained in the battle with Fortress Maximus. Yet they had something worse happen to them. While the battle was going on, Optimus Prime walked up, dragging something. What he had was the body of their leader. Galvatron�s body had numerous injuries caused by blows from hand to hand combat, and some shot wounds. He was definitely no longer functioning.
The Autobots had let them surrender, and told the Decepticons that they were exiled from the planet. With that, they boarded Scorponok with the body of their fallen leader and headed towards their old base on Charr. When they got there they began wondering on what they were going to do.
Back on Cybertron, Optimus Prime sat in the Great Hall, brooding over the day�s events. The Autobots had rallied for him and threw a victory party, but he did not join in the festivities. As great as it was to have defeated Galvatron once and for all, the idea that he had destroyed the Decepticon commander so unmercifully bothered him.
Another feeling kept nagging at him. A feeling that just when things looked better, they would get much worse. Just as he felt it, he looked up and saw Unicron�s head. Prime had the chilling revelation that the face of the Chaos-Bringer was smiling.
On Earth, in a region near Alaska, a native was telling a tourist some stories. One was of a massive fight between two giants. The story told of a giant spaceship coming down from the sky, and a giant came forth, sporting a cannon on its arm. The army tried to fight and destroy it, but nothing worked. Another giant had then come and defeated it, by sending the first one into the icy waters nearby. The native then pointed to show his visitor where this had happened, and the person shrugged it off as another crazy native story.
Just as the tourist looked away, the water began bubbling. Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed the icy shore���..
TO BE CONTINUED