EPISODE I: SERPENTS AND DEVILS
The man in the small craft slept soundly as he flew out of Earth�s orbit. He was dressed in a reflective helmet along with a space suit that could sustain him for days due to its ability to generate oxygen. A brilliant scientist, he had just escaped the planet the day before. His name was Snake.
For several years he had been working out of his laboratory in New York City in an effort to make ends meet. He synthesized drugs for dope dealers as well as made chemical weapons for any would be terrorists. Although he made quite a living, it seemed like money was not important to him. He dreamed of a past life, a life that was just a slight memory. He busied himself with his work, keeping his mind off of his depressing state of affairs.
After a half-decade of investigation, the authorities had finally gained a location of where this man was located. They had no clue who he was or where he had come from. In fact, the police had questioned those who knew him personally, and every one of them had never seen his face.
Snake was not stupid however; he knew that his compatriots had ratted on him. For just the occasion, Snake had constructed a small spaceship with which he could not only escape the country, but the planet as well. All he needed was a diversion. He found one unexpectedly.
As the police surrounded the lab, a massive attack broke out in the city. William Connelly, the director of the EDC, had falsified a report that the Autobots had stolen several of his robot warriors. These robots had then been used to attack New York. Snake saw right through Connelly�s plan; he knew that the unscrupulous director was committing an act of treason. He knew an act of terrorism when he saw it.
While the military, police and the Autobots engaged this army, Snake made his escape. He launched during a firefight and was soon out of Earth�s orbit and on his way to Mars. Within his ship was a makeshift laboratory he could build on the planet that could keep him alive (and well fed) until the heat was off. He planned on returning within a month to another country and start over.
So that was where he was now, rocketing straight to Mars. The trip would take at least a few weeks, due to the ship�s size and lack of velocity. So, he took a powerful narcotic that would keep him in a state of hibernation until he reached Mars�s atmosphere. In fact, he had been traveling past Cybertron at one point as an Autobot noticed his ship and concluded that it was a shooting star�
Snake awoke from his slumber to find that Mars was right in front of him. Picking a spot, he set his sights on a large flat area to land. What he found was astonishing.
Getting out of the ship, he could not believe what he was seeing. A large creature was lying dead not far from where he was. It was entirely split in half, and was oozing an oily black liquid that resembled blood. Scattered around the area were several posts. Large footprints were everywhere, footprints that he recognized.
�Transformers!� Snake exclaimed. He thought he was alone; he was wrong.
Several yards away, another malevolent being was watching the small human intensely. He was Galvatron, commander of the Decepticons. Galvatron had remained on the planet along with his soldiers after the battle with Omnicron a month ago. They had spent the time licking their wounds and repairing each other, deciding to stay on Mars for the time being. Besides, Scorponok needed extensive repairs before it could transform and take them back to Charr.
�What do you suppose it�s doing?� he whispered to Cyclonus, who was right next to him.
�I don�t know,� Cyclonus replied. �Do you want me to kill it?�
Galvatron thought for a moment. �No, if it is one thing I�ve learned over the years, it is to have patience. Sometimes potential enemies can be strong allies, however small they are. Besides, the Autobots always side with the humans, and look how strong their ranks have been. No, I will approach this fleshling.�
He got up and revealed his position. Snake immediately turned around as he heard the Decepticon approach.
�Galvatron, I presume,� he said calmly.
Surprised by the human�s cool and collected manner, Galvatron spoke. �Yes, and might I ask what your name is?�
�My name is Snake,� was the reply. �I have had many other names in my lifetime, but that one will do for now.�
�Very well, Snake,� Galvatron said. �Do you mind telling me what you are doing here?�
�I�m here because I had to escape Earth for the time being,� Snake said matter-of-factly. �In certain circles I am regarded as the greatest biochemist on the planet. I have honed my craft over several years; I have had plenty of time to practice since I was �terminated� from my previous occupation.�
Galvatron raised an eyebrow. �Biochemist? Would you know anything about Transformer biology?�
Laughing, Snake nodded his head. �I carried out one specific experiment for a man a few years back, extracting essences from several key Autobot figures and using the bodies as zombies. In fact, I have met your predecessor before, oversaw a reconstruction of his body. Megatron promised me some Cybertronian technology in return, but infected it with a virus that rendered it useless.�
�Interesting,� Galvatron said. He thought for a moment. �If I were to promise you some Cybertronian technology, would you do me a favor?�
�No,� Snake said. �I have learned once that Decepticons are the only creatures in this universe that are more untrustworthy than myself. If you wish to kill me now instead, do it. I do not care to live anymore, the only reason I am still alive is because I frown on suicide.�
Galvatron was shocked to hear this small human�s remarks. For the first time in his life, the Decepticon commander actually respected a human being. Snake had guts, and that was something that Galvatron had never really noticed much before in the species.
�Well let me be the first to apologize for my counterpart�s transgressions,� Galvatron said, smiling. �But you must understand that I am very interested in pursuing a partnership. I think that you can help me, and I can help you. What is your ultimate goal?�
Snake shook his head. �I do not have any goals. Many years ago, I believed I could conquer the world, but that idea has faded away. I no longer have the resources to do that.�
�What if you gained resources?� Galvatron said. He was pursuing this option as much as possible. �I can offer you a way to construct soldiers that could be more powerful than any human being.�
�That�s already been done,� Snake replied. �Some megalomaniac named Connelly has just gained Cybertronian technology somehow, and he attacked the planet. The Autobots have probably subdued them already.�
�What?�
�It�s the latest news. I escaped during a firefight.�
Galvatron sighed. He decided that this latest news was relatively unimportant. �I doubt highly that this man actually had Cybertronian tech. Still, in addition to an army, I would give you any new technology that Cybertron has to offer. I will aid you in your conquest of Earth, as long as you help me conquer Cybertron. We can be of great help to one another.�
Snake was dumbfounded at Galvatron�s persistence. For some reason, this Decepticon seemed desperate compared to those he had met before. Galvatron was almost reaching out to him. It was a pitiful sight, and Snake suddenly felt a jolt of power. Maybe this situation could prove beneficial after all.
�Very well,� Snake said, appearing reluctant. �I will help you. My terms are this: you give me access to a way to construct humanoid soldiers and any other weapons I request, and I will loan my services to you.�
Galvatron�s face became wicked with delight. �Excellent. Now if you don�t mind, I wish to leave this wretched planet and get back to my home base on Charr. There I wish for you to carry out a task, one that I feel will give us both some help with our future endeavors.�
Snake rode on Scorponok, sitting on the floor between Soundwave and Cyclonus. He couldn�t help it but feel a little uneasy. Even so, he didn�t show it: the whole trip he sat in silence, appearing confident. At the moment, his life was too vital for the Decepticons, at least until his work was through. During this time he deliberated over how he was going to stay alive once his usefulness had been used up.
�Here we are,� Cyclonus said after an hour. Snake felt the ship set down on a surface, and followed the other Decepticons out.
When he got off the ship, Galvatron addressed him immediately. �If you don�t mind, it is imperative that we get to work right away.�
Snake nodded. �What is it you want me to do?�
�Just follow me,� was the reply.
Galvatron led him to a small cave. In it was a large chair and technology that appeared to have been pirated from Cybertron. Walking past all this, Galvatron showed Snake into a small room in the rear and opened the door.
�This is what I need you to work on,� he said.
Snake gasped. In this room was an easily recognizable Decepticon hooked up to a crude life support system.
�That�s you!� he said.
�Not exactly,� Galvatron said. �That is the Galvatron of this dimension. I, however, am from another one; that is of little importance. About a year ago, Optimus Prime killed him when he attacked Cybertron.
�Well, almost killed. For all the Autobots know, he is dead and buried. The Decepticons brought him back here and set him up like this. They wanted to repair him, but had a dilemma. Due to some injury he sustained long ago, he was quite insane. That proved to be his downfall. If they repaired him, he might just lead them into a suicidal battle once again, and could be up against two powerful Autobot leaders as well, both of whom have defeated him time and time again.�
�So what do you want me to do with him?�
�I have realized something Snake,� Galvatron said. �Every time I have fought the Autobots, I have come up against two of their leaders: Rodimus Prime and Optimus Prime. I am not powerful enough to fight both of them, and no other Decepticon has the backbone to fight them either. I need another powerful Decepticon leader to help me destroy these Autobots so my soldiers can gain back their dignity. I want to repair his mind, but until a few days ago I had no clue how to do this. Now I believe that you have the capability to help me.�
�And how have you come to this conclusion?� Snake asked.
�I want you to download his essence, his mind, to another apparatus,� Galvatron said. �And then my technicians will go about repairing his body.�
Snake always enjoyed a challenge. �And in return you will give me all that I have requested?�
�Yes.�
�Well then,� Snake said, �let�s get to work.�
Eight hours later the process began. Snake had requested that the Constructicons aid him in building a machine that would help remove Galvatron�s essence from his body. This took a great deal of time, but Snake was pleased with the result. He began the procedure, and soon enough he had extracted a life force from the Decepticon that he analyzed thoroughly. He noticed something quite peculiar.
�Galvatron,� he said, calling the Decepticon to look at his discovery. �This damage done to his mind, it seems to affected him all the way to the core. There is no way that I can repair this: it is beyond my comprehension.�
�Then what good are you?� Galvatron said, clearly becoming angry.
�I�m not finished,� Snake said. �It seems that the persona known as Galvatron can never be restored. He will never be able to fully recover from this damage. Yet there is another name that is associated with this being.�
�Megatron�� Galvatron said, understanding.
�Yes,� Snake replied. �If I work with this mind to believe that his name is Megatron once again, I can undo the damage. It will become similar to a mind trick; I can make him believe that he is named Megatron, and that the brain injury was done to Galvatron. Therefore, Megatron should be 100% sane, no problems whatsoever.�
�Pure genius,� Galvatron said, smiling. He remembered Megatron from a long time ago when the two of them fought off Shockwave. Although he was quite incoherent, Megatron was still very powerful. Fully restored, his power would be a force to reckon with.
�I suggest that you tell your repair personnel this,� Snake added. �If he is going to be known as Megatron again, he must appear like Megatron. Otherwise, it will become very damaging to his psyche.�
�Understood,� Galvatron said. He left Snake and to talk to the Constructicons, who were repairing Galvatron�s badly beaten body.
�I have a new challenge for the five of you,� he said. �I wish for you to work on reforming this body back to its original form. The Sweeps will get any parts you need, but I want him to look like Megatron once you are finished. That means fusion cannon, everything.�
The Constructicons looked at one another. They knew very well that this was going to be an extremely difficult task, but decided to follow through. Galvatron almost always knew what was best.
It took nearly a month, but the Decepticons and Snake finally finished their task. The body was mended and reformed back to Megatron�s shape. It wasn�t perfect, but it pleased Galvatron. The Constructicons had even mastered remaking the laser cannon into a fusion cannon once again.
Snake had also reconstructed Megatron�s mind so that he had all of his past memories, leaving out his trauma that occurred on Thrull. He remembered Unicron, his original transformation, and the years following the Second Unicron War. His death as Galvatron was left there, hopefully to give Megatron even more incentive to destroy Optimus Prime.
When it had all been finished, Galvatron requested that all the Decepticons come to his trophy room. With the exception of the Constructicons and the Sweeps, no one knew what the announcement would be about.
Galvatron stood before them. �My fellow Decepticons, I have finally deduced the best way to fight the Autobots. Our numbers have diminished over the years, as well as our pride. I myself have not been able to defeat their leaders, and for that I apologize. Yet now, I believe that we have the advantage. Let me present to you, your former leader: Megatron!�
The Decepticons gasped as Megatron himself stepped forward out of the trophy room, looking the same as he had several years ago. He was an immaculate sight.
Megatron smiled. �I�m glad to be back. It is a real pleasure to have been able to speak with Galvatron. When he told me of where he had come from and what he had done, I was amazed. We have decided, for the best of the Decepticons, that we both should lead jointly, both as commanders. The two most powerful warriors in the universe, I can think of no one more fit to lead you to annihilate the Autobots.�
The rest of the Decepticons were still in awe. They could not believe that both Megatron and Galvatron had joined forces.
�Well, take those dumb looks off your faces,� Galvatron said.
�Yes,� Megatron added. �We have planning to do��