EPISODE V: SHOWDOWN ON EARTH
Hot Rod sat in Optimus Prime's chair in the Great Hall, just staring into space. The recent events in his life were almost too hard for him to handle, what with Optimus's death, and the loss of the Matrix to Galvatron. After the battle with the Decepticons a few days ago, Hot Rod had been repaired physically, but soon fell into a mental gloom. With the loss of the Matrix there seemed to be no hope for the Autobots. He once again felt like the inexperienced leader of the past, wishing that Optimus was here to help him.
"Why, Prime?" he thought out loud. "Why did you leave me in charge?"
Then Hot Rod felt deeply depressed. Optimus Prime was the most brave and valiant Autobot, no, Transformer, that had ever lived. And now he was gone. At least if he was here there would be an ounce of hope left. But no, he was gone again, leaving the Autobots once again in a period of great loss.
Ultra Magnus walked in at that moment. He was deeply concerned with Hot Rod's actions as of late. Usually nothing got to him, but lately everything was taking its toll on him. Talking to Hot Rod at this point probably wouldn't be a good idea. Still, Ultra Magnus had some news. He spoke first.
"Hot Rod."
"Yes?" Hot Rod turned around. "What is it Ultra Magnus?"
"Well, sir, I.."
"Please don't call me sir," Hot Rod said gloomily. "First of all, I don't like being regarded as a superior. Second of all, that's a term for someone who commands respect. I am not someone who deserves anyone's respect."
"Oh for Primus's sake, Hot Rod!" Magnus said. "Just because you lost the Matrix doesn't mean you're an inept leader!"
"Yes it does," Hot Rod said.
"You've lost it before, but you gained it back! I couldn't even do that!"
Hot Rod turned around again. Magnus, though, would not be turned out. "Listen to me Hot Rod: we have reason to believe that Galvatron is planning an assault on Earth. Punch has relayed to us that he plans to take the planet."
"Then go."
"Hot Rod, you need to come. Optimus believed in you."
"That was his mistake."
Ultra Magnus became angry. "Are you saying that he didn't know what he was doing?"
Now it was Hot Rod who fell silent. Magnus began talking calmly again. "Hot Rod, listen. I'm sure we can regain the Matrix from Galvatron, but we'll need your help. Now, are you going to come with us?"
Hot Rod looked down, and thought for a moment. Then he got up. "When are we leaving?"
There it was: the giant body of Trypticon. Galvatron looked upon the lifeless body with happiness, gripping the Creation Matrix in his hands. It had been years since he was able to terrify the puny inhabitants of this planet, and now he had the benefit of using such a vastly large weapon as Trypticon. The years had weighed heavily on the giant dinosaur's body, but with a few repairs Trypticon would be as good as new.
"Constructicons." The team came forth. "Begin repairs immediately."
They went off to work, and were soon making some headway. Galvatron smiled, but did not notice a small Decepticon walk off. This particular Decepticon headed for some nearby woods, and transformed into a car. His name was Counterpunch, but known as Punch to the Autobots. He drove off in the direction of the Autobot's base on Earth, Metroplex.
"Hey Goldbug, check this out," Blaster said. Goldbug came over. The two Autobots were sitting up in the radar control room, monitoring all systems. According to a radio transmission they received a few hours ago, Galvatron and the Decepticons would be arriving to attack, so they had been on guard. Jazz and Hound were down in the weapon firing area, just in case an attack would happen. They were waiting for reinforcements at the moment, and a blip came on the screen.
"Looks like a car," Goldbug said.
"Yeah I know," Blaster said. "I wonder who it is."
Suddenly a radio crackled. A familiar voice came over the intercom. "Come in, Autobot City. This is Punch. We have an emergency!"
Goldbug went over to the radio. "Yes Punch?"
"Galvatron is over by Trypticon's remains. He has about twenty troops with him, as well as that monstrosity Scorponok. I'll be there shortly, but I think it'd be wise to get Fort Max."
"Received. Thanks Punch. We'll await your arrival." Goldbug put back the receiver, and hit the intercom button. "Calling all Autobots. Prepare to transform Metroplex."
"Do you think that's wise?" Blaster asked. "I mean, we can attack now, but it will take a while for Fortress Maximus to show."
"I know," Goldbug said. "I just hope that Cerebros can get here as fast as possible." He made the call to Nebulos, and all the Autobots left as Metroplex transformed.
Trypticon was beginning to take shape. The Constructicons had been working nonstop for about an hour, and the Decepticons' former assault base was beginning to look as it did four years ago. Galvatron began to approach the body holding the Creation Matrix when a rumbling was heard.
"What's that noise?" Cyclonus asked.
The Decepticons looked at each other in fright. They realized that the sounds they heard were footsteps!
"Metroplex!" Scourge cried. They saw the monstrous Transformer appear above them. Only one Decepticon remained calm.
"Scorponok!" Galvatron commanded, keeping his wits collected. "Attack! Constructicons, finish the repairs!"
With that, the giant Headmaster transformed into scorpion mode and jumped on Metroplex. Hitting the Autobot with his electric stinger, Scorponok transformed into robot mode and began beating on Metroplex's body.
"MISTAKE, DECEPTICON," Metroplex said. He shook off the initial shock behind the electric volt he received and knocked Scorponok aside with his hand. Just as he did this, he was hit by missiles and was knocked on his back. Looking up, he saw where the blow had come from. Galvatron had used the Matrix: Trypticon was reborn!
The Cybertron-based Autobots neared Earth, and soon saw the battlefield. Hot Rod looked on in horror as he saw Metroplex being double-teamed by the behemoths Scorponok and Trypticon. He knew that something had to be done soon or Metroplex would surely die. Then he had an idea.
"Ultra Magnus, do you have any idea where Omega Supreme is at?"
"Yes, I believe he is on Earth somewhere."
"Well radio him, we need his help."
They neared the battlefield, and soon reinforced the ground forces as Metroplex tried to fight the two giants. Hot Rod looked for Galvatron, and soon found the Decepticon leader behind the forces watching and smiling devilishly. Transforming, Hot Rod drove up and confronted his rival.
"Return the Matrix!" Hot Rod said.
"Foolish Autobot," Galvatron said. "You were quite a match for me when you were Rodimus Prime, but now you are weak."
"That may be true, but I'm still faster!" Hot Rod transformed and drove straight at Galvatron. He knocked the Decepticon on his back, as well as sending the Matrix a few meters away. As he ran for it, Galvatron got back up and tackled him. They stayed in that position, Galvatron on top with Hot Rod trying to keep himself from being crushed by the Decepticon's hands.
"I'll rip off your head, Autobot!" Galvatron reached down, but couldn't quite get the grip he needed. Hot Rod was putting all his strength into trying to stay alive.
Meanwhile, Metroplex was being beaten down. Scorponok and Trypticon kept hitting the Autobot with every ounce of firepower they had, and soon began weakening him. Suddenly, a laser blast hit Trypticon's side, and he looked over.
"WHO DARES TO FIRE AT THE MIGHTY TRYPTICON?"
"I DO." Omega Supreme had arrived, the Guardian Robot turned Autobot. He had been living on Earth since the third Unicron War, recuperating. Since then, Omega Supreme had kept to himself, but now had come to help after Hot Rod contacted him. Although he was the third largest Autobot, Trypticon dwarfed him. Still, he charged, and attempted to tackle the giant dinosaur.
Trypticon was taken aback by the strength of Omega Supreme, and was soon trying much harder to fight. Scorponok was watching and almost got involved, but figured he should finish Metroplex first. He turned, but soon saw Metroplex begin to stand and fire off rockets at the Decepticon Headmaster.
"NO!" Scorponok fell on his back. Metroplex, although struggling, made his way over to his foe, and began pummeling him.
Trypticon began to gain the upper hand while fighting Omega Supreme. He threw the Autobot to the ground many times. Omega Supreme got up, though, and clawed at Trypticon. The dinosaur howled in pain, and kicked Supreme across a forest. He flew over to finish the job, opening his jaws for the final blow.
Instead of cowering in fear or even showing complete indifference, Omega Supreme began laughing. Enraged, Trypticon screamed at the Autobot.
"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?!?"
Omega Supreme looked at the Decepticon, then up to the sky. "BECAUSE YOU'VE LOST."
Trypticon looked up. The final reinforcement for the Autobots had arrived. Fortress Maximus flew down and pulled Trypticon off of Omega Supreme, throwing the dinosaur as far as he could. Trypticon landed, shaken and bruised. Scorponok was already subdued by Metroplex, and soon the two titanic Autobots exacted some much needed revenge on Trypticon. Using their combined efforts, they picked up the newly resurrected Decepticon and sent him howling into a nearby lake. The water would deactivate the monstrous Transformer, keeping him out of commission once again.
While Metroplex and Fortress Maximus were defeating their enemies, Galvatron was still locked in a fight with Hot Rod. The two had not moved for some time, as Galvatron tried to use his power to rip the Autobot's head off. Hot Rod was almost depleted of strength, and still could not get to the Matrix. It looked hopeless, and he knew he was facing his death.
Suddenly a voice came to him. It was a strong voice that Hot Rod recognized immediately.
"Hot Rod, you need to believe in yourself," it said. "You can defeat Galvatron, and you will. Now."
"Optimus?"
Galvatron heard Hot Rod utter the name. "Ha! You're delirious Autobot! You will meet your leader soon enough."
Then to the Decepticon's surprise, Hot Rod's eyes suddenly flashed bright yellow. With a sudden burst of strength, he threw Galvatron off of him, sending the Decepticon flying. Hot Rod then ran for the Matrix and picked it up. He began glowing, once again growing taller and stronger.
"NO!!!!" Galvatron cried. "It can't happen!"
"Yes it can, Galvatron," Rodimus Prime said. He ran forward and tackled Galvatron. Picking the Decepticon up, Rodimus threw him right next to Scorponok's near lifeless body. Rodimus and Galvatron then looked around to see Metroplex, Fortress Maximus, and an injured but strong Omega Supreme standing around them.
Rodimus Prime spoke. "Galvatron, I want you to get on your ship, gather your troops and leave Earth, now."
Galvatron looked around him. Knowing he was beaten, he ordered the Decepticons to board Scorponok and take off. They did, and soon Rodimus was alone with his troops once again.
After returning to Cybertron, Rodimus Prime sat in the Great Hall feeling much more confident than before. Fortress Maximus had returned to Nebulos, and Metroplex was being repaired on Earth. While he was thinking over the recent events on Earth, Rodimus Prime was approached by Ultra Magnus. Magnus had seen the climax to the fight between Galvatron and his leader, and couldn't help wondering about something.
"Rodimus Prime?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to ask you about Earth."
"What is it?" Rodimus asked.
"Well, it's about how you defeated Galvatron. Actually, about how you threw him off when you were about to be killed. How did you do it?"
"Actually I was just thinking about that. It was the weirdest thing. I was positive that I was going to die, but something happened. Optimus Prime spoke to me."
"What?" Ultra Magnus asked. "You're not serious."
"I am, completely."
"Well, I guess you could have imagined that. There must be a little of Prime within all of us."
"No, Magnus, I don't think that was it," Rodimus said. "It was almost like he helped me. Like he loaned his strength to me to defeat Galvatron."
Ultra Magnus looked at Rodimus, and shook his head. If he wants to believe in the supernatural, let him. Still, Prime was not one to be that na�ve. Maybe Optimus Prime was alive, somewhere.
Rodimus Prime watched as Ultra Magnus left, and got up to take a patrol around Cybertron. He wondered if he was losing his mind. Even so, something odd had happened on Earth. And even if Optimus wasn't alive, it had instilled in him the hope that he had lost earlier. Rodimus Prime transformed, and drove off.
Eternal darkness. That is the best way to describe this place, "The Void" as the other residents call it. They tell me that they all achieved some kind of inter-dimensional travel by cutting a hole in their original universes. Unfortunately, those holes had led them to this dimension, a place of immense darkness. That must be what happened to me.
The only thing that keeps me alive is the ability to watch my world through Rodimus's eyes. I'm not sure how I'm able to do this, but it doesn't matter how. So, as I float in this vast nothingness, I hope for one thing: that I can escape. Until then, I have to try and maintain my sanity. I must remember my duty and my name.
My duty is to protect the freedom of all sentient beings.
My name is Optimus Prime.
TO BE CONCLUDED