Transformers: The Movie - "Alterations" By Dan McCollum ------------------------------------------------------------------ Author's Introduction Yes this is yet ANOTHER alternative look at the movie (ain't it grand?) So I'm going to go against the crowd and do something others have done before and pray that this one is good enough to make you all remember it. Anyway, although I have a good idea of how this will end I want your comments and stuff, because I want suggestions! So enjoy! ----------------------------------------------------------------- Part I - III Autobot City Year: 2005 Event: Optimus Prime vs. Megatron "I will rip out your OPTICS!" Megatron yelled as his hands descended towards Optimus Prime. Both he and Prime where lying on the ground they paid no attention to the chaos and destruction that went on around them, only on ending this rivalry mattered now. "NO!!!!!!" yelled Prime as he hit Megatron in the jaw knocking him back a few feet and allowing him time to get up, "This ends now, Megatron. Too many good people have died already like Prowl and Ironhide....I will not allow this to go on!" Suddenly Prime was hit by a blast of anti-matter energy as Megatron scored a direct hit in Prime's side. "Shut up Prime!" he yelled, firing again, but missed as Optimus ran directly at him and rammed him into a wall. Megatron grabbed a sharp pieces of rubble and, as Optimus smashed him into the wall, stabbed it directly into the hole caused by his cannon. Prime gasped into severe pain, and took his rifle smashing Megatron across the face with it's barrel. Megatron fell to the side and fired again, with his cannon hitting Optimus in the shoulder, and watched as pain again showed on the face of his greatest enemy. He suddenly was struck by a blast from Optimus' rifle. Megatron was struck by a feeling of great pain as his cannon was actually blown off of his arm. "That's never happened before" his mind wheeled through the pain. He ran at Optimus suddenly desperate as his primal feelings took over. He had to survive, he HAD to destroy Prime, were the only thoughts he has as he ran, trying to ram Prime and give him a few more seconds to attack. Prime somehow knew what was happening as he threw out his arm catching Megatron and throwing him over himself to the side of a rather sharp cliff. Prime grabbed his gun and walked over to Megatron; it looked like finally after all of these years victory would be his..... Megatron had the same feeling as he spied a gun laying on the ground, it's previous owner, Dirge, now lay half dead on the ground muttering. It was hidden and he was sure Prime hadn't seen it so he just had to buy himself a little more time. "Please, Optimus Prime, grant me mercy" Megatron said. "You who are without mercy now BEG for it? I thought you made of sterner stuff", Prime replied. Megatron slowly reached for the gun when suddenly a shout of "No you don't, Megatron!" was heard and Megatron was tackled just a few inches from his target. Hot Rod needed to help that was the only thing that shot through his mindas he attacked Megatron. It was foolhardy at best; Prime could have taken care of Megatron if he hadn't interfered, but he hadn't thought of that. Instead he acted on his base emotions, and now he was fighting Megatron, most likely going to die, as Prime stood trying to shoot, pleading "Get out of the way Hot Rod!" Suddenly Megatron grabbed him and the gun and he knew it was all over.... Megatron grabbed the little pest at the same time he grabbed the gun. "This is not what I had in mind, but it DID give me some extra time" he thought as he hurled the Autobot at Optimus Prime, making him stagger back and fall over as the weight of Hot Rod hit him. At the same time, he fired blast after blast after blast from the gun. The first bolt of energy hit Hot Rod right in the stomach, blowing a nice sized hole in him and even doing some damage to Prime. The next bolt hit Prime in the head, blasting a good area of it off and the last blast hit Hot Rod again, doing even more damage and going all the way through him and then smashing through Optimus Prime into his central energon pump. "FALL!! FALL FALL!!!!!" ,Megatron yelled as he saw both opponents go down. He walked over the bleeding wreck that used to be Hot Rod, who was still clinging to life, and stood over Optimus Prime who was obviously dying. "I would have waited an eternity for this . . . it's over Prime" Suddenly Optimus sprung into action he swung up with both of his fists with all of his remaining strength and choked out "It's is never ove....." he fell silent as another blast from Megatron's gun tore through his stomach and Prime fell to the ground just barely alive..... Megatron wasted no time he grabbed Hot Hod and muttered "You will be a good test subject for our scientists." He walked to the cliff and jumped off and slowly flew down to where the rest of his troops where waiting. "Gather up the dead and put them in Astrotrain...the Autobots are defeated and are retreating from Autobot city. I want a skeleton group down here right away to guard the city before we can take it completely under control. WE must go back to Cybertron and strengthen our forces and make a final sweep on the moon bases and the Ark" Starscream spoke up "How can we get a skeleton guard down here when the Autobots are still here" "You're an idiot Starscream. They are retreating to the Ark, most likely," Megatron said as he pointed to the mass exodus of escape ships and cars driving off into the mountains and to the Ark. "Astrotrain prepare to transform and take off." The ship did so, allowing all to enter as it took off on the trip to Cybertron where the final preparations for the Autobots extermination would be taken care of. Ark's Repair Bay Year: 2005 Event: Death of Optimus Prime Kup, Arcee, Ultra Magnus and others in the Autobots Coc (sp?) stood over Optimus Prime, who was hooked up to life support. Energon was being constantly fed into his body, to replace the energon that was constantly bleeding off. "I am afraid the wounds are fatal" Preceptor said. He too had taken a good deal of damage. "No, Prime, you can't die!" Daniel said, crying. "Do not grieve," Optimus choked out. "How can we Not grieve? We have lost everything, Prime; in one single military strike the Decepticons have destroyed almost everything." Ultra Magnus said sadly "We will survive old friend we always have and we always will.....my time here is done, but the Matrix still lives and so it must. That is why I now pass the matrix on to you, Ultra Magnus," choked Prime. It was obvious he was losing power he would not be able to stay alive much longer. "But Prime I'm not worthy," said Ultra Magnus. "Nor was I Magnus, and I fear I never was, but you have potential to lead us to victory," said Optimus as he opened his chest and slowly removed the matrix and handed it to Magnus who took it and placed it in his own chest "My only regret is that I will not live to see our victory....good-bye, my friends..." and with that Prime's life force faded away and he was dead. Arcee bowed her head as did Ultra Magnus and all the others in the room except for Daniel who, unable to hold back his tears, broke down and began to cry. Space Year: 2005 Event: Return to Cybertron As Astrotrain flew through space, he knew something was wrong and realized that there was to much weight. He cursed, and then announced "You better relieve some weight or we'll never make it back to Cybertron" Megatron looked up startled, and then hid the look from his face. He stared around at all of the dead bodies including that of the Autobot Hot Rod, who was still clinging on to life somehow. He hated having to do this, but it looked like they would have to throw the bodies into space. "Decepticons I am afraid that we will be forced to throw the dead from the shuttle. I realize that this will not allow them to be given a proper burial, but I see no other choice." As if on reflex the other Deceptions took the bodies and, after Astrotain opened the hatch, they threw them into outer space. Dirge, Thundercracker, Skywarp, two Insecticons and their clones, and Hot Rod where thrown into space. Suddenly Megatron felt himself be pushed forward and shot his hand out into a wall to keep from falling out also he wiped around and saw Starscream just looking at him glaring. Megatron knew who has just tried to push him out and in anger he shot his arm out and grasped Starscream by the throat, crushing it. Starscream was to surprised to act and by the time he COULD do anything it was far to late. "I don't know why I ever put up with you Starscream! You are scrap!" Megatron yelled as he flung Starscream out of the hatch and into space. Starscream only yelled 'HELLLLLLLLLLLLLP" as he joined the rest of the dead; and Astrotrain flew on to Darkmount. Space Year: 2005 Event: First meeting with Unicron Starscream hated this; it was boring and, more importantly, humiliating. Over the last two weeks he had been floating through space losing energon slowly and painfully as he floated to...Well, he didn't know where he would end up, and with the way things where going he would be dead by the time he got ANYWHERE. Then suddenly, he noticed something. "Most likely just a big asteroid," he thought, even though he could already tell it wasn't. He was suddenly afraid as it came closer. It was twice the size of Cybertron's moons but it had these rings made of metal and he had No idea what it could be. And then suddenly as it came closer....it spoke. "Starscream", the thing said. "W-W-Who are you?!?!" muttered Starscream dumbfounded. "I am Unicron...I have summoned you here for a purpose." "And that would be?" "I need you to destroy the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. It is the one thing, the ONLY thing that cam stand in my way!!!" said the monster planet. "Well the Matrix has been destroyed. _I_ personally attacked and destroyed Optimus Prime and then ripped the Matrix out myself! My leader was SO upset that I could do something he NEVER could that he threw me into space!" boasted Starscream. "You lie, Starscream. It was Megatron that killed Prime, and the Matrix has been passed on to Ultra Magnus. I want you to destroy it for me!" "Yeah, yeah, so what do _I_ get out of this?" "You bargaining postures are as bad as your ego Starscream, but very well. I will grant you a new body and troops for you to command." "That sounds fine......" "Very well" said Unicron and suddenly Starscream was hit by a beam of blue light. He was worried for a second that he was being destroyed, but relaxed when he felt a tingling. The reconstruction had begun and Starscream could feel it. Then suddenly, it was all over. "Behold Stargazer." Starscream had been completely reformatted. He was now completely black, and no longer held the normal seeker shape. His wings were larger than before but held (?) down. On each arm was a plasma cannon where his lasers once were. He now looked sleeker, more aerodynamic, and by the cold look in his optics he was also more deadly and he knew it. "And these shall be your minions" Unicron continued. The blue beams went out and hit Thundercracker, the Insecticons and their numerous clones. In the blink of an eye they had all been reconstructed into identical warriors, all having bat-like wings and full beards with razor sharp talons on each hand. "Scourge the tracker, and his huntsmen...the Sweeps." More beams shot out and hit Skywarp, reforming him also into a warrior. He was the same size as Stargazer, only with a helmet with large arching horns on top. "Cyclonus the warrior and his armada." Then one beam shot out and hit the form of Dirge and he too was soon reformed. He now was completely black and his head had a large faceplate that covered his mouth. Deep piercing red optics shone from his face; as he held a large energy sickle in his hands he looked a bit like the Grim Reaper of Earth, due mainly to the sickle and the large metallic hood that made it almost impossible to see his face. "Harbinger the hand of death," said Unicron. "And finally..." The last long beam shot out and hit Hot Rod. He was quickly reformed into a much larger being, again about the size of Cyclonus and Stargazer. He was now all black and he looked like a mix between a seeker jet and an Autobot car. "And Legion!! And this shall be your ship." The large ship was formed, called the Chaos. "Now go destroy the Matrix." "I'll rip open Ultra Magnus and every other Autobot until I have brought the remains of the Matrix to you," Stargazer said in a voice that was much darker than Starscream's was. With that, he and the rest of his new soldiers flew into the Chaos and rocketed to Cybertron to take over. Darkmount Year: 2005 Event: Wounding of Megatron Megatron stood in his office, planning and checking. Soon they would be ready to make the final assault on the Ark, but not yet. There were a few things he had to do first, a few loose ends to tie up, and then the Ark would be gone, followed by the moon bases, and THEN victory, after all these years, would be his! Still, he could leave nothing to chance, not now and never again; he was to close to allow it all to slip away. Still, though, there was a feeling that he could not shake, a feeling of dread and doom that for some reason would just not disappear. Outside Darkmount chaos has just erupted. An unknown ship had just landed with no authorization. From it, a band of unknown Cybertronians had emerged. "Stop right there!" yelled a guard. 7 Another guard radioed for Shockwave to come investigate, while the apparent leader of the group addressed the growing frenzied crowd. "My name," said the leader, "Is Stargazer! I'm going to finally take over!" "Your presumption is brash, Stargazer," said a machine-like voice that cut through the air. "You will not lead," it finished. "Ahhh Shockwave," said Stargazer a twinkle of malice in his optics. "You know, I have often dreamed of getting rid of you. You always WERE a constant thorn in my side." "I have never seen you before Stargazer," said Shockwave. "And you never will again either!" rumbled Stargazer as he brought his two plasma cannons on his arms up and pointed them at Shockwave. "You are acting illogically," countered Shockwave as he brought his own weapons up. Suddenly Stargazer fired several bolts of pure energy at Shockwave. One blew off his arm, another flew through his chest as did the next, while the fourth and last bolt flew directly through Shockwave's head. He fell to the ground dead. The silence was cut through as Megatron's radio hissed and a frantic voice cut through. "Lord Megatron we have a situation out here!!! Someone just killed Shockwave and is getting the rest of usssSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! *silence*" Suddenly the door was blasted in with a ball of fire as a strange figure with a cloak over his face came in carrying a sickle. He stepped to the side of the door as another figure walked in. The car/plane robot took the same position on the other side as 7 identical warriors stepped in, followed by a strange tall figure with a helmet and finally a model of a seeker that Megatron had never before seen. He was easily his height and had two VERY dangerous guns on his arms. "WHAT is going on here" Megatron demanded "YOU are being deposed, Megatron or should I say disposed," Stargazer said with a cocky smile. "Starscream?" asked Megatron. "No my name is Stargazer, now DIE!" he fired at Megatron who took 7 shots and fell to the ground in a heap, smoking, and sparkling with electricity. Stargazer turned to the gathered crowd that had come to watch in shock. "I am your new leader" he said with a smile on his face; he had always wanted to say that. "What did you say your name was again?" asked a soldier. "Stargazer," said Stargazer as he and his new troops filed out of the room. As they left, a new figure slipped into the room and looked at Megatron, and at the exit and picked up his commander and hauled him to his lab. "Thank you, Soundwave," Megatron gasped. Moonbase 1 Year: 2005 Event: Destruction of moon base 1 Unicron was hungry. Slowly he approached the moon as his pinchers opened up. On the moon the appearance of the planet being caused mass panic "Where did that thing come from?," Jazz asked as he saw Unicron first coming onto the view screen. "I care more about where it's going!," replied Cliffjumper. Suddenly, a pincher came crashing down. Massive damage reports shot through the computers as Cliffjumper and Jazz ran. "We have to get out of here . . . if we can!" yelled Jazz as they reached the shuttles and blasted off. "We're not getting away" screamed Cliffjumper as they were pulled into the maw of Unicron. The Ark 2 Year: 2005 Event: Destruction of moon base 2 Ultra Magnus was over seeing the construction of new defense to protect the Ark if the Decepticons tried to attack again. He was exhausted and still trying to cope with the loss of his friend and ally, and above all he still did not feel he could keep leading the Autobots like this. Still above all this, he had a job to do, and he was going to do it. "Perceptor, put the laser cannon over there," he instructed, when suddenly Blaster spoke up. "I'm getting a distress signal from Moon base two!" Blaster said, transforming. Suddenly Spike's voice cut through the air. "This thing, this PLANET, just ripped the first moon to shreds! Me and Bumblebee are trying to hold it off, but we don't know what we are dealing with!" Suddenly static cut in and the signal was lost. "DAD!!!!!!!!" screamed Daniel. On the moon, Bumblebee and Spike tried to reach the shuttles before the self destruction of the moon would activate. Finally, they reached the shuttles and blasted off and were treated to a large explosion just as they took off. "WE DID IT!!!" screamed Bumblebee as he turned the shuttle around to look at the remains of Unicron. "It isn't even DENTED!" yelled Bumblebee as he saw Unicron fly through the explosion. "Oh shit what are we going to do now!"' yelled Spike as the shuttle was suddenly pulled into Unicron. Stargazer's throne room, Darkmount Year: 2005 Stargazer sat at his throne over looking over his troops. Word over Megatron's disposal had travelled quickly and everyone know knew him to be the NEW leader of the Decepticons. He loved this position; he had ALWAYS wanted to lead and now after all of these years he FINALLY could. He was in command, HE lead, he was the KING!!!!! Suddenly his thoughts were cut by a tormented voice. "Stargazer...LOOK!!!!," yelled Legion "What is it?!?!" Stargazer began as he looked up and saw the moons being devoured. Suddenly his ego was shattered as he remembered who was REALLY in charge! "UNICRON!!!! Cybertron's moons and its self are rule by ME!! HOW DARE YOU DESTROY THEM!!!!!" Suddenly a sharp pain passed through him and he saw only red. He screamed in pain as he stumbled and fell down the steps and rolled for a few more feet "I don't belong to you . . . RULE!" he muttered in sheer agony. "But remember we belong to HIM," cut in Scourge. "I will obey Unicron, just stop hurting me!!!!" yelled Stargazer and then suddenly just as it began the pain was gone. He got up and tried to regain his dignity as his cape once again blew in the wind. "Decepticons to EARTH!" he commanded. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Part IV Outside the Ark Year: 2005 event: Decepticon assault on the ark Kup sat looking into the sky. He had seen others die before, so why did this bother him so much? "Because Hot Rod was so young," Kup thought in reply to his own question. "And because I SHOULD have stopped him; I failed him and I can't stand it." He imagined Hot Rod withering in agony as the Decepticons did experiments on him, those experiments that Optimus Prime was always saying the Decepticons did. Arcee walked up behind Kup and said softly, "Kup are you alright?" "Yes I'm - I'm fine. I guess just so much has happened recently I'm not sure if I can stand it yet. I mean between us and the moon bases we are the only free Autobots left," Kup replied "I know Kup it's hard on all of us, just to think that Megatron is most likely in his fortress planning his final assault at this very moment...it all seemed so cemented a few days ago, everything so - so set, like nothing would change...we would be in Autobot city and Hot Hod," her voice quivered, "Would be fishing with Daniel and...," he voice stopped as her and Kup's radios crackled with activity "What did they just tell you Arcee?" Kup asked. "That the two moon bases where destroyed and we would be sending out a few shuttles to investigate," she answered. "Me too. Come on, lets go," Kup said as he tore to the Ark's launching bay they had created. "Just what I need," he thought "Something to take my mind off of everything" They soon reached the control room where Magnus was. He was briefing the rest of the Autobots that would go with him to investigate "We will be taking two shuttles. The Decepticon activity in the area will no doubt be much greater and if we take two shuttles the chances of at least ONE of us getting there is investigate will be much greater," Magnus was finishing up. He saw Arcee and Kup enter, and went over to talk to them when suddenly a large explosion was heard "What the smelt?" Magnus said as he turned and Blurr came running in. "DecepticonsarehereMagnusDecepticonsarehereshallwegettheshuttlestolaunchwhow illfendofftheark?"Blurr said in his normal hyper speed. "Kup, you and Arcee get the Dinobots and the rest of them loaded into the shuttles. Perceptor, you, me, and Blaster come with me to help defend our position.," Magnus said, and quickly ran out. The outside was chaos; there seemed to be very few attackers actually, but these attackers had never been seen before. Four jets and 7 identical flying crafts that seemed to be able to hover in the air. "Harbringer! Legion! Go take out the shuttles," barked Stargazer as he saw Magnus. "Cyclonus and you Sweeps stay with me we are going to fulfill our part of the 'agreement'." Magnus looked up at Stargazer "Who are you!??! Where is Megatron" Stargazer transformed and landed with a thud close to Magnus. "Megatron has been......how shall we say.....dealt with! I, STARGAZER, now rule in his place!" "Well I am afraid you will not be so lucky with me then,"said Magnus trying to bluff Stargazer. Secretly he was wondering how good of a chance he would stand agaisnt someone that could kill Megatron. "I doubt that!" yelled Stargazer, ready to fire when suddenly he was blasted in the back by an Autobot soldier. He is pitched forward, and regained his footing in time to stop himself from falling. He turned to face the Autobot. Inside the Ark it was a differant matter completely. Legion had flown off to take care of the shuttles, but Harbringer had better things to do. He was going to take down a few Autobots. Besides he was thirsty so he decided he would drink their energon. Two Autobots lay on the ground where Harbringer had slashed them with his energy sickle. They were an easy kill, but still, something bothered him. This Ark was quiet, too quiet, and he didn't like it. "Come on out Autobots," he growled, the sickle in front of him at all times. Arcee was pressed up against a wall hiding. While Kup had gone to the shuttles she had realized she had forgotten her weapon in the control room and had gone to fetch it. When she arrived, she had seen a Decepticon disembowel two of her comrades. Quietly, she reached for her weapon which was just a few inches from her, and waited for the Decepticon to step out by her...he wouldn't live much longer. Harbringer heard a noise and whipped around. He smiled under his face plate as he saw a pink arm retract behind a wall. Slowly, he walked towards the wall and then quickly sent energy from his sickle right at the wall, blowing a huge hole in it. Arcee was pitched to the ground and he snarled as he stood over her, his sickle raised about to deliver final death. The sweeps had taken down a good number of Autobots, but none of that mattered to Stargazer. He NEEDED the Matrix and he was going to get it, he thought to himself as he sent a blast of energy at Ultra Magnus, who skilfully dodged it. Magnus returned fire with one of his own guns and hit Stargazer in the stomach, who screamed in pain and took into the air. Secretly he wondered just how Stargazer could have taken down Megatron. "must have been by surprise" he figured as he ran towards the Ark...he had a flight to catch Arcee looked up into the face of Harbringer and sensed something; a feeling of having met him before. He rolled away from the sickle as it smashed down into the ground. She got up as Harbringer struggled to tear the blade from the ground, and ran unthinking, not even realising that he had gotten the blade and joined pursuit. Suddenly she found herself in a room with no exits and she cursed. She was in a dead end and she knew it. She was standing in the Science lab. He was blocking the door and there would be no escape; she would have to confront him here....she was gong to die. Harbringer glared. "Prepare to enter the void" he said with a triumphant sound. "You remind me of someone another Decepticon.........," she said trying to buy time. "Dirge, I believe." Suddenly the calmness of Harbringer's face was replaced with that of uncontrollable rage. "NO!!!!!" he screamed. "HE IS DEAD THAT WEAKLING IS DEAD!!!!!" He sent energy blasts everywhere, which Arcee dodged. She didn't know what had just set him off, but he was acting like a caged animal now; she HAD to take him out or she might be killed. She aimed her gun up and fired a blast off. She looked in shock as the blast hit him in the face sending him backwards "I CAN'T SEE!!!!! You WENCH I'LL GUT You FOR THIS!!!" He screamed and cursed as he sent more and more energy around him. A few stray bolts hit a few beakers containing dangerous chemicals. They exploded which in turn set off other explosions. It was a huge chain reaction and Harbringer was right in the center of it. Arcee heard the first explosion and ran. The second one caught her, and she went down. In a flash she was up and running again. A raging inferno was around her now and the door was her only escape. She ran to it and as she passed through she hit a switch sending the door down and sealing the room. Ungodly screams of pain and anger and fury came form the room. She blocked them out and left her enemy to die as she ran to the shuttles. Ultra Magnus was running through the corridors of the Ark when he heard a series of explosions. He didn't have time to inspect them and so he didn't. He kept running to get to the shuttles. He was soon joined by Arcee who looked burned and battered up. What seemed like an eternity for Harbringer was in fact just a few short minutes. He had been caught in several explosions which destroyed his armour and sent him flying to the ground a wreck. He was bleeding, and his exposed wires crackled, and worse yet he was actually melting in this inferno. He ran to the door and saw that it was closed. He screamed a yell of outrage and using his greatest strength he ripped the door from it's hinges. He again ran for a while longer before falling to the ground exhausted. When he got up five minutes latter he had regained a bit of his strength needed to escape. He could find a medic back at Darkmount, or in the Chaos which was in orbit. Still when he looked down in the floor he caught a look at his own reflection. His armour was tattered and cracking which was bad enough but the worse part of it was that his face had been stripped of all armour and was now staring back at him ,dead except for barely working optics, coval and audial unit. No medical work would be able to replace his face. He screamed in outrage and pulled his metallic hood over his head so it created a shadow covering his face...no one would ever see his face again. Harbringer ran out of the Ark to join the rest of the assault. Kup was loading everyone into the shuttles, and had just managed to get the Dinobots in when Springer, Ultra Magnus and Arcee ran in. They were the last of those to be loaded, and he nodded. He suddenly looked with distress at Arcee. "What happened to you?" he asked "Explosion..in science lab destroyed a Decepticon that had killed 5 others....," she gasped. "Here get in the shuttle" he said frantically and joined her in the shuttle as Springer and Ultra Magnus got into the other one. Suddenly an other place flew through the air. It looked as if it was partially a car, actually. It circled, and began to blast away at the two shuttles. The shuttles started to gain speed however and finally, after 5 minutes, they had gained enough speed and took off into the sky and eventually space. Legion couldn't keep up with the shuttles, at least not yet, so he turned and flew back. He radioed Stargazer telling him what happened and began to retreat from the Ark, following the rest of the Decepticons that were returning to the Chaos. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Part V Space between Cybertron and Earth Year: 2005 event: Decepticon's second assault "I remember the dust was so think off Beta 6 that we had to use windshield wipers on our Optics sensors," Kup said, beginning another of his old war stories. Of all of the people on the shuttle only the Dinobots seemed interested in the story. "Grimlock know all about WIPERS wanna hear good part of story," said Grimlock. As he did so he moved his arms back and hit Swoop who fell over on the ground. "Good part of story. Swoop wanna hear good part," said Swoop, just as excited as Grimlock. All Dinobots loved Kup's war stories. Kup went on telling his stories for about 10 minutes until Arcee cut in. She was fighting the training drone. "Don't we have better things to do Kup?" she asked as she dived to miss the training drone's energy sword. "Like WHAT?" Kup asked, suddenly angry. "Like trying to find out what happened to our friends and if they are still alive," Arcee said as she threw the Training Drone into the wall. "We will have time for that later," said Kup "Right now we have nothing to do and I'd rather be telling stories than nothing" At the same moment on the Chaos, Stargazer was sitting in the main seat on the bridge. To his right was Cyclonus, his ever-loyal second in command, and to his left stood Scourge. Several Sweeps went around walking while others stood by Scourge also. Legion was at the helm, and Harbringer sat at weapons. "Stargazer I have the Autobots on long range. We will be in firing range in 5 minutes," said Legion as his hands flew over the controls in a very precise manner. It was hard to believe he had only been alive a few weeks, and not years, because of the skill he had with the shuttle. "GOOD! Soon Ultra Magnus will be dead and I can go back to destroying the Autobots!" said Stargazer a look of victory in his optics. On one of the shuttles Kup was still telling his war stories when suddenly he picked something up on sensors. "Arcee!" he yelled "Get over here and radio the other shuttle. I have Decepticons intercepting in two minutes." Arcee nodded, and ran to the communications. She relayed the message: "Come in Alpha Trion, repeat, come in. We have Decepticons intercepting us in two minutes." Suddenly she saw the Chaos fly into viewing range "Cancel that, I've just picked them up in visual range!" she transmitted, and then waited for a response. The Chaos jumped forth in space as it flew towards the Autobot ships. Suddenly it fired it's electrical disruptor beams at the one of the shuttles. The beams struck causing small explosions on board. Arcee screamed as the blast hit the ship and the electrical feedback went through her communication link to her neural net, sending the feedback jolting into her neural net. She screamed in pure pain and didn't stop for about 2 minutes. By that time she had sunk into unconsciousness. "Harbringer, target the leading ships with missiles! I want them taken out NOW!!!!" shouted Stargazer; he was at the edge of his seat. Harbringer responded with a dark, "Of course, sir," making it sound as if he didn't LIKE taking orders, especially from Stargazer. He pressed the firing button sending a salvo of missiles at Kup's ship. Kup saw it coming and was able to barely avoid the attack by just a few feet. It was close, and TOO close for comfort. Still, he had no weapons on this ship, all he could do was pray that by some miracle he would escape. "YOU IDIOT!!!" screamed Stargazer as he saw the missiles pass underneath the target. "Can't You do ANYTHING right!??!?!" He glared at Harbringer, then he turned to Cyclonus. "Cyclonus transform and attack those shuttles!! Take them BOTH down!" Cyclonus nodded and transformed and left via the hatch, flying out into space. He fired several times at Kup's ship, taking out it's FTL drive by luck, and then with another lucky hit destroyed it's navcom. The ship careered towards a strange, unknown planet, and then entered that atmosphere and crashed. On the Shuttle Alpha Trion the place was slightly better off. They had all seen what happened with a faint fascination and horror. "Kup and Arcee Just bought it Magnus!!" "I can't DEAL with that NOW!! I have more IMPORTANT thing to deal with, like trying to save US!!!" retorted Magnus, the tension wearing him thin. "Give it up MAGNUS you can't lead us not like Prime! The Decepticons are going to hunt us down until they see us DEAD!"yelled Springer. "Then that,"said Magnus, an idea dawning on him, "Is exactly what they will see! Prepare for emergency separation." "That's too dangerous!" yelled Perceptor. "What choice do we have?" said Magnus. Out side in space Cyclonus had just destroyed the other ship and now moved towards the Alpha Trion. Missiles and plasma rays streaked out at the ship. At the same time, the front quarter of the ship separated just as the back was destroyed creating a Huge explosion which covered the Autobots escape. Stargazer looked out the viewscreen with the same cocky smile he had had when he had gotten Megatron. Scourge turned to Stargazer. "The Autobots have been terminated," he said. "Yes, and the matrix is also destroyed...we are free from UnicrooohHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNN!!!" Stargazer screamed as once again sharp pain flew through his neural net. "STOP HURTING ME UNICRON!" he yelled, and collapsed to the floor as Cyclonus ,who had just run in, picked him up. "Take me to Unicron!! I'm going to end this once and for all," he vowed. Soundwave's lab year: 2005 Event: revival of Megatron It had been about 6 hours of non-stop work, but Soundwave had finally fixed Megatron's neural system, to a point where he could bring him back on line. He didn't know WHO that Stargazer was, but he acted a lot like Starscream....was it possible? He pushed those thoughts from his mind; only saving Megatron mattered at the moment. Slowly, Soundwave replaced the last of Megatron's damaged armour. Then he injected him with a drug to stimulate the neural net, and bring him back on online. He waited impatiently and even worried as he allowed himself the time to think of their new 'leader'; for the time being anyway, because if that WAS Starscream, the empire needed incredible help. Megatron would destroy the imposter soon anyway. Soundwave looked at a monitor that read neural patterns and was glad to see they had just reached conscious level. "Where...am...I?" Megatron said still weak for the moment. "My lab, Megatron," Soundwave replied. "Soundwave...what happened? I remember this other Cybertronian walking in and....that's all." "He attacked you and left you to die. I took you here to repair you. His name is Stargazer, and he has assumed command over the Decepticons." "Then I will destroy him like he almost did me..." "Also a planet has moved into orbit around us. I have done some checks and it clearly displays neural energy. Lastly, it also ate Cybertron's moons" "What?! Soundwave write me a briefing on everything that has happened since I have been out. I must plan to regain my position as head of the empire." "Affirmative, Megatron." ----------------------------------------------------------------- Part IV Note: I really could find no way to end this chapter and it just kept dragging and dragging. Well, if it bores you, the NEXT chapter is the end and its a real fun one to read...I hope. Quintessia Year: 2005 Event: Meeting the Quintessons The wreckage hissed and spat electricity; it was a complete wreck. "Kup, are you alright?" intoned Arcee as she came to. The question was only met with a groan. Slowly Kup got to his feet as he cursed his current condition. Every diode in his body hurt. "How damaged are you Arcee?" he asked painfully. "Well, my head hurts and I really twisted my arm and dented my side, but other than that I am fine," she said lying. "Where did the Dinobots go?" "Probably ran off while we where out...we better go look for them." Kup looked around and saw a huge hole in the shuttle's side; he walked toward it, and just stood there for a second. "Where the smelt are we?" he said quietly. In the distance a mechanical sigh jumped out of the water and strange animals flew around. The world seemed almost completely water. Suddenly a group of strange robotic creatures walked out in a band and came to a halt as they saw the crashed shuttle. They all had long mouths and long sharp teeth. Kup turned to Arcee and said; "Don't worry. I'm going to give them the universal greeting, and then you offer them some energon goodies." "Ba weep gra na weep nini bon," said Kup as he and Arcee started to hand the energon goodies out. Still, something was wrong; the creatures kept taking more and more of them. "We can't afford this Kup," Arcee muttered as the creatures took the last one. "Sorry we don't have anymore," Arcee said. The creatures looked dumbfounded, but slowly the realization came to them. They transformed, growled and began to herd Kup and Arcee toward, well, whereever they were going. Space close to Junkion Year: 2005 Event: Going to Junkion "Well Magnus, I'll hand it to you. You got us out of that tight spot back there and did a good job of it tpo," Springer said. "Yes. Well we are going to have to set down for repairs if we still want to investigate the moons," said Magnus wearily. "Perceptor see if you can find a place for us to get repairs." Perceptor broke into his normal techno babble before he realized no one understood what he was saying. He chuckled nervously and said, "Well, the Planet of Junk is in this area." "Well, then, let's go for it," said Magnus. He caught a look of Daniel out f the corner of his optic and wished he didn't have to put this kid through this kind of stuff, but if they ever wanted to find out what happened...... Quintessia Year: 2005 Event: the Judge strikes After a long walk, Arcee and Kup were led to a rusted cell. They were thrown in with force and left. Suddenly a voice cut in from the cell next to them; "So, you two are prisoners of the Quintessons?" "Obviously. So these are Quintessons? My name is Arcee and this is Kup." "My name is Korax. My planet was destroyed by Unicron." "Unicron," said Kup puzzled "Who is that?" "A monster planet that devours everything in its path. My planet believed him to be the devil himself." "So that's the thing's name," said Kup as he realized something. Suddenly the door to Korax's cell opened up and two Sharkticons entered the room, grabbed him, and began to drag him away. "No!! I'm the last of my kind!!" he screamed. "Let him GO!!!" yelled Arcee, as she angrily tried to pull the bars apart and get to the creature who she guessed was a Quintesson. As she grasped the bar, an electrical shock coursed through her body; she screamed in pain and flew backwards. Coupled with the other shock she had gotten that day, she fell to the ground unconscious. "ARCEE!!!" yelled Kup, worried as he ran towards her to try and revive her. From outside the area a hissing voice said; "Don't worry. Soon you two shall also await your sentencing." "YOU MONSTERS!!!!" shouted Kup. Unicron in orbit around Cybertron Year: 2005 Event: Stargazer and Unicron Stargazer stood on Unicron. He knew that the creature already knew he was there, but he waited to speak, trying to get up his courage. "UNICRON!!!" he yelled, thinking he sounded REALLY good here, "UNICRON why do you keep torturing me!! I have done what you asked!!!!" "No!!!!" boomed a loud voice, "You have not. You have failed me Stargazer!" "NO I have NOT Unicron!! Ultra Magnus is DEAD!! He is space dust!!! And the Matrix is also!!!" "You are as incompetent as ever Stargazer. Ultra Magnus lives..on the planet of Junk. Seek him out. Destroy him and destroy the MATRIX!!" Stargazer growled. He HATED how he was being treated! He was great, and glorious, and this thing treated him like a human child! He nodded slowly, his mind shooting with what he would LOVE to do to this planet some day. "I will rip him apart Unicron," he said angrily as he transformed and entered the Chaos. The Ship made its way to Junkion. Quintessia Year: 2005 Event: Dinobots to the rescue "Me Swoop no see nothing," said Swoop as he flew high over the rest of the Dinobots as they continued on their way. "Me Grimlock know Kup and Arcee are close." "Me Sludge say we should never have left shuttle..now they are gone." Suddenly a trap opened up in the ground and Grimlock knocked Sludge out of the way to stop him from stepping on it. "Me Grimlock say you full of cesium salami" "Well me Sludge say you full of beryllium bologna" "Cesium Salami" "Beryllium baloney Grrrrrrr" Suddenly another voice cut threw the crisp air; "Your friends look over there." "Who said that," said Grimlock as he turned around. Wheelie appeared, and jumped on Grimlock's head. "You go wrong way you fool I say." "Me Grimlock fool?" "You are a bot, no fool you are not," retorted Wheelie as he broke into annoying laughter Suddenly Grimlock tossed Wheelie off of his head. Wheelie fired a little bomb from his sling shot which hit Grimlock in the nose and exploded. Grimlock growled in pain and said "Why boy hit my nose?" "Wheelie help save friends today?" "Me Grimlock say we on our way." Grimlock said, walking after Wheelie with the rest of the Dinobots following. Junkion Year: 2005 Event: Decepticon's assault on Junkion The inhabitants of the shuttle began to stir. It had been a rough landing on the planet Junkion due to the loss of the landing gear of the shuttle. Magnus was the first to stand up. "Is everyone alright? Speak to me!?" Springer got up. "Remind me to congratulate the auto-pilot," he said. Daniel slowly got up. He had been smashed into the control panel when they hit, and his node was bleeding slightly and he was bruised. "I..I...I'm fine, I think," he muttered. "Good," said Magnus, "Now lets get out there and try to salvage this thing." "Magnus...can I help?" asked Daniel, making a snorting sound to stop the bleeding and so he could breathe. "I would prefer not; you're already injured," said Magnus. "Ya, but don't you, ya know, have *snork* dad's exo-suit?" "I don't think so....." said Magnus, when suddenly Springer cut in. "Actually, I believe we do," Springer said as he went to a back compartment and found the suit. He walked over to Daniel and gave it to him. "Here," he said. Daniel then attempted to get into the suit, and finally managed. "Thanks Springer," he said. His nose had finally stopped bleeding. He fumbled around with the controls and, after a few minutes, got the hang of walking in it. "I'm ready" he said and they began to head out the door. The Chaos was circling the planet in standard orbit. Inside Stargazer, the Sweeps, Cyclonus, Legion and Harbringer stood waiting for the right moment. "Decepticons...transform," said Stargazer suddenly and jumped out himself. Slowly, it seemed, they began to transform and then, all in their jet modes, they streaked out towards the planet below. The Chaos waited, and then sent out shuttles to launch the rest of the troops. Magnus stood as he began to hoist a large piece of junk to place in pile in front of Perceptor. Suddenly a large beam of energy shot over his shoulder. "DECEPTICONS!" he yelled to the others, and they began to run "We'll have to draw them away and double back to the ship!!!" Suddenly two missiles hit the ship causing it to explode. Then a voice cut through the air. "THERE IS NO ESCAPE!!!!!" screamed Stargazer. "There goes the shuttle," acknowledged Magnus as pieces of it hit him. "Everyone!!!! Seek shelter. I'm going to try to unleash the power of the Matrix!" he yelled as they found a small cave. They all entered it, and he shot the top, caving it in. Suddenly Stargazer transformed and landed. To his left landed Cyclonus, and to his right Harbringer. "Give me the Matrix, Magnus," he said. "NEVER!! I will NEVER allow you to have it!!!" Magnus said as he pulled on it. "I doubt that Magnus," said Stargazer as he fired off a salvo of plasma from his arm mounted cannons. Two shots missed, but the others hot their target. Four hit Magnus in the stomach, but he still lived, as he fell. Harbringer and Legion stepped forward. Legion walked towards the Matrix which Magnus still clenched. He grabbed ahold of it and began to try and pull it away, but Magnus was still too strong. "Help me out here Harbringer," he muttered. Harbringer walked up to Magnus, his sickle shooting off loose pieces of energy here and there, looking as if lightning shot out from it. Harbringer laughed and whispered, "Welcome to the void." And with that he sent his sickle down, gouging deep into Magnus's skull slicing through his neural net and killing him. Then he grabbed Magnus's head in both hands and with a heave ripped it off . "I want a trophy" he said. At the same time, Legion was able to rip the Matrix away with a great pull. As the hand of Magnus let go, Legion fell back rolling. He got up and suddenly screamed in agony. He got to his feet and said, trying to make the feeling end, "NO NO STOP!!" he yelled in sheer pain. Suddenly his head was devoid of pain, and the voice of Optimus Prime shot through his head. "YOU are no longer worthy" they said and then the pain continued. He screamed, then flung the Matrix away. Legion was suddenly devoid of pain, yet a feeling lingered. What did those words mean? He sat there whimpering until the throbbing ceased and Stargazer yelled. "Get up you fool! We have the Matrix, NOW UNICRON is going to serve US!!!" Quintessia Year: 2005 Event: Judgment When Arcee awoke she was standing upright, her feet locked to the ground, and an ener-rope around her. She realized that she and Kup where standing on a plank, over a pool of pink water with shark like machines circling in the water. In front of her on the steps was one of the 5 faced beings. To the side, by a switch, was another being with only one face. Suddenly the once faced being rasped; "Would you like to beg for your lives? It sometimes helps, but not often." The being waited, and then continued; "Guilty or innocent?" "What is going on Kup?" whispered Arcee to Kup who was being held in much the same way. "Silence or you will be held in contempt of this court." "LEAVE us ALONE," said Kup, clearly agitated by everything that was going on. "I repeat, guilty or innocent?" Suddenly the five faced being rasped "Innocent" and the next thing Arcee knew she was plummeting into the water. Kup twisted around until he was falling face first. The water hit him as the ener-rope disappeared, and he was suddenly encircled by a group of Sharkticons. He muttered something and fired off a few shots from an arm weapon. The blasts hit three Sharkticons, blasting them apart. The water began to run purple with energon. "Kup how are we going to get out of here!?" Arcee yelled as she followed Kup's example and fired at five Sharkticons, killing them. "We are out numbered!!" Kup muttered something about a former battle and yelled, "Transform! We'll drive out of here and fight them on land...," with that he transformed and began to drive in circles and up the side of the water pit. He watched Arcee do the same. After two minutes both Autobots flew out of the water and squealed around as they faced the large group of Sharkticons. They both drove straight at them, denting themselves as they rammed dozens of Sharkticons. For what seemed like hours this went on, but it was in fact only minutes. The two Autobots rammed away, trying to run the Sharkticons over, but also getting damaged in the process. Suddenly a large clanking sound was heard and a large steel door burst in. Grimlock had finally found where the others were. He smashed the door in and walked into the area. Needless to say he was startled by the amount of action he found as he stomped into the room. Almost instantly, he was attacked by some weird things. He batted them away "Me Grimlock here to save Kup and Arcee," he growled. Suddenly Kup and Arcee transformed. The Sharkticons had all went to attack the Dinobots. "Finally you get here," muttered Kup as he blasted at the retreating Sharkticons. Grimlock smashed a few Sharkticons with his feet. He growled at them and was surprised to see the beings actually back away from him. Suddenly a sharp voice yelled "Sharkticons, execute them!!" Grimlock suddenly came up with an idea. "Me Grimlock say you execute THEM!!" The Sharkticons looked around and actually listened, lumbering towards the wall and trying to climb up. Grimlock looked in awe as the mass of Sharkticon moved towards their former masters. "Yes, now how do we get off this planet?" Arcee asked, exhausted. "You get ship if I get trip," said Wheelie as he jumped down off of Sludge. "Who are you?" asked Kup. "He name is Wheelie him friend," said Grimlock. "So where would we find a ship...Wheelie?" asked Arcee. "Over there," said Wheelie pointing to a strange tower in the distance. "In all my years I have never seen a ship like that before," said Kup as he stared, recovering from his shock, "Come on," he said as the group went off to the ship Junkion Year: 2005 Event: First Contact with Junkions Magnus lay on the ground, energon pouring form his wounds and neural net substance trailing from a long gash in his head. His body had numerous holes in it from Stargazer's plasma cannons. Above all, the Matrix was gone. Daniel looked at the body and felt sick. He had seen TF's die before, but this was just sick. The damage and the fact that you could actually SEE his neural net was too much, and he turned away tears again flowing form his eyes. IT had been a hard last few weeks for him. Slowly his voice quivered "Now what?" "Notihngnothingatall,Magnusisgoneandsoisthematrixandwithoutthematrixthereisnohope," said Blurr sadly. Springer just looked at the body and shook his head silently "Another casualty to this miserable war," he said. Suddenly a whining noise was heard. Daniel turned. "What was that?" Just then a motorcycle came flying by, with a large army of them behind it. They came right for the small group, who took off in every direction. Springer turned into helicopter mode and flew away, but a Junkion jumped from his bike and grabbed him, throwing Springer to the ground. At the same moment, Blurr drove right at a group of them and bashed through the cycles which, to his amazement, transformed into robots and came at him. He backed up and drove at them again. Daniel was not faring so well. Two Junkions grabbed him, and he took his exo-suit's gun and fired it, blowing the face off of one of the Junkions. He screamed in horror as he saw what he had just done while another Junkion came and grabbed him by the arm. He struggled, but the other being snapped through his armor and shattered his arm. He screamed in pain, and fell to the ground whimpering. Springer had by this time transformed and ran to Daniel and tried to keep the rest of the Junkions at bay as he fired his own laser rifle. Suddenly a blast of energy caught him in the stomach and he held his hand to the wound in pain. As he brought it away, energon dripped from his hand as did some internal wiring. He felt ill. Still he fired on almost crazily as he held off the rest of the Junkions. Blurr had been over whelmed, and was being beaten unconscious, but a quick transformation into robot mode and another one back into car shook his captors as he drove away to join the rest of the Autobots. Ultra Magnus was dead, and so he could do nothing. Still some wires sizzled and a large explosion was heard as his body caught fire and exploded. The fight went on for several more minutes when suddenly a large object appeared overhead. Springer looked up and shot one more Junkion in the head as he stared at the strange ship, watching it land and dig its self into the ground. A hatch swung open and some figures emerged. "Bah weep grah na weep nini bon," said Kup as he exited. A few Junkionslooked at him strangely as the meaning of the words began to take form in their minds. "Bah weep grah na weep nini bon," they repeated. All fighting stopped as those words where uttered. Daniel even stopped his crying as he looked up. "It's Kup and the Dinobots" he said happily. Suddenly a Junkion stepped forward. He looked like the leader of the group and marched towards the craft. "Who goes there friend or foe?" he said. "Friend," said Kup wearily; it had been a long set of weeks. Suddenly Arcee caught a look at Ultra Magnus's body off in the distance. She gasped and said "What happened to him? Where is the matrix?" Blurr stammered "Stargazergothim,andstoledthematrix! Wehavetogetitback,becasuewithoutthematrixthereisnohope,buthowdowegetitback?" "Where is Stargazer" Arcee growled, throughout her pain, her loyalty to her friends still took precedence over all else. "And the answer is....*sound effects of drums* UNICRON!!!" said Wreck-gar. "Then we will have to destroy Unicron," Arcee said though she knew it would be no easy task. "An evaluation of our the chances of that are margin of 1000000 to 1,"said Perceptor with a sense of sadness in his voice. "Well we have to fight back! We can't just sit here and let the Decepticons take over the unvierse!!" Arcee said. Suddenly Wreck-gar said, "Yes Obi-wan we must destroy the Death Star!!!" The Autobots looked at the Junkion and shook their heads, wondering if he had been hit in the head to hard at one moment or another. Still he kept on talking "And your prize behind door number one is.....," he hit a button and a large ship began to rise from the ground "The Junkion XRL space ship complete with FTL drive, shielding, weapons and air conditioning!!!" The other Junkions race towards the shuttles, chanting: "Come one come all view the greatest show on Earth! Destroy Unicron, all aboard that's going aboard!!" The Autobots stared and then shrugged and marched towards the shuttles also. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Part IIV Cybertron System Year: 2005 Event: Unicron War "UNICRON!! I have the MATRIX!!!" said Stargazer as the words cut through the icy coldness that surrounded the planet eater. "NOW it's MY turn to torture YOU if YOU don't do as I say!!!!" Cyclonus stood to one side of Stargazer as did Harbringer. They both looked grimly at their leader, and at Unicron. Deep down, both could feel the rage of the Chaos Bringer, and knew that he was already planning. "You underestimate me Stargazer, as You underestimate all others....including Megatron." "How DARE YOU insult ME!!! I have killed Megatron just as I will YOU," Stargazer countered, angered "You have no idea," said Unicron but it was unclear as if he was speaking about Megatron, or him being destroyed, or both. Suddenly, without warning, the ground shook under Stargazer's feet and he instinctively looked up. What he saw astounded him. The giant orb was breaking. Parts lifted and others fell and two main sections both flipped out to become arms. As this was happening a head arose, and feet protruded. In a matter of seconds Unicron had changed from a giant planet into a huge robot. "For a time I considered SPARING your little planet Cybertron, but because of your insolence it will taste my WRATH!!!!!!" rumbled Unicron as he smashed a huge fist down into the planet. In Soundwave's laboratory Megatron typed into the reports as he heard what was happening. "Soundwave is there any weaknesses to that thing?" "Not that I can detect Megatron," said Soundwave a hint of great disappointment in his voice, but only a hint. On a screen, three Seekers rammed into Unicron's body, exploding, but doing little damage. "Then we will have to get inside of him and destroy that creature from the inside out!" "It might work if YOU could reach his neural net and destroy it," Soundwave said, thinking Megatron didn't smile. This would be difficult, and he knew he might not return, but still Cybertron mattered above anything else. "To my personal ship" he said as he broke into a run. He was going to have to save the planet. Stargazer transformed as he saw what was happening. He couldn't let this happen, he would have no one to rule at all. He growled as he flew at Unicron full force. His troops followed him as they flew into the giant's mouth. They would destroy Unicron from the safest place..INSIDE of him. Off in the distance, a strange ship began to hurtle through space. It was the Quintesson ship currently under the control of the Autobots. Inside everyone stood looking at Unicron. "This can't be happening!" Arcee said. Daniel looked out the window and his eyes filled with horror. "Where's the Moon bases?!?! Where's my dad!?!?!" he said weakly. "We are going to find out!" said Springer as he controlled the spiral of the ship. He aimed for the optics of Unicron, and flew straight at the optic, shattering it as the ship passed through. As they passed through, the hull ruptured and all of the occupants of the ship fell screaming to the ground. Arcee and Kup landed on two spikes, limply. The rest fell down one of the tunnels and landed on the ground. "Primus," Springer said as he shook his head and watched as the rest of the group also get up. "Hey, where's Kup and Arcee?" asked Daniel, worried, not wanting to lose anyone else today. "I don't know but pray THEY didn't get him," Springer said, pointing to some snake-like things that where coming out of the walls all around them. They each had two claws on the end and tried to grab the Autobots. The group began to run, shooting as they went. At the same moment outside, Megatron's ship with Soundwave inside began it's spiral as it dived around Unicron and eventual saw an opening. It flew in threw the open optic, then navigated it's way down. Unicron's death awaited him. Arcee lay limply on the spike, and groaned as she saw Kup. He had taken the worst of the fall, and now was holding on for dear life. Suddenly his fingers slipped and he plummeted deep int the shadows. "HELLLP" he yelled. "KUP!!!!!!"Arcee screamed, and jumped down, falling down also, trying to save him. When both came to, they where lying at the bottom of a dark passage. Light filled one area, and gave a brief outline of a winged figure holding the Matrix "It's the Matrix," said Arcee happily as she ran over to see if Kup was alright. He got up and looked suddenly. "It will not help YOU Autobot. The Matrix will not open!" "Decepticons could never open the Matrix," said Kup with disgust as he got up. "Perhaps, but we must all work together to destroy Unicc.c.c.cROOOOOONNNNNNNNNNN!" Stargazer screamed as pain shot through his head. "Make it stop," he whimpered. "Destroy them both, Stargazer, or I will rip your mind apart," the voice inside his head said. "Y-Y-Y-es..Unicron..," said Stargazer as he aimed his dual plasma cannons at the two, and then got an idea. "Troops destroy them!!!" he yelled as he stood there and smiled as two other figures emerged from the shadows behind Arcee and Kup. Suddenly a sharp pain flew through Arcee's back as she yelled and fell to the ground. "Remember me?" said Harbringer as he kicked at her downed form. "H-How did you survive?" Arcee muttered. "I am the harbringer of death!! I AM IMMORTAL!!!" he laughed. Arcee grabbed his leg and pulled him forward. He yelled in surprise as he fell, letting go of his sickle. At the same moment a black and white figure got up behind Kup and grabbed him around the neck. "Remember me, old man?" he hissed. Kup turned around and found himself staring into Hot Rod's face. "Primus...how did you live? What have they done to You Hot Rod?" "Only make improvements old pal of mine," Legion sneered as he threw Kup down onto the ground and shot at him with his gun. Kup rolled away and returned fire. "Primus help me," he said as the bolt his Legion in the stomach and he fell backwards. Harbringer rolled over in time to see Arcee stand over him holding his sickle. Fright would be evident on his face would it have been seen and would he of had a face at the moment. The sickle came down hard and sliced into his stomach. He yelped as the pain flooded every neural circuit he had. He spit energon out of his mouth as he flipped a gun out of his arm and fired it at Arcee, sending her falling backwards. He got up and pulled his sickle out of his stomach, stopping only briefly to catch some energon of his in his hand and drink it again. He walked over to Arcee, and picked her up, and laughed as he thrust her into a wall. Then he said, "Before you die I wish you to see the face of your destroyer." With that his hood began to retract and his skull could be seen. It wasrusting, and dried energon covered it. Arcee screamed in horror and yelled, "What are you!?" as she tried frantically to get her gun. She pulled the trigger, hoping that Harbringer would let her go. The laser hit his arm guns, triggering an overload. He screamed as his arms exploded, sending him flying into the shadows to be knocked unconscious. Legion growled as he leapt at Kup, going right for his throat. "YOU don't understand! Unicron made me better, made me WHOLE!! Now I can repay YOU in kind for what YOU did to me!!!" he sent a fist right into Kup stomach, making him keel over and then uppercutting him. Kup went flying back. Slowly, Kup got up and fingered his own gun, just waiting for the right moment. He sneered as Legion drew closer. He didn't want to do this, but if it came down to one of them of them living.... As Legion got closer he sprung into action and shot at him three times. Legion fell to the ground. Kup walked over to him and looked into the face of his would be killer. "K-K-Kup...help me," he whispered as the small part of him that was still Hot Rod recognized what was happening to him. Kup sighed and hit him with the butt of his rifle knocking him unconscious. Stargazer growled as he looked at the two triumphant Autobots. He muttered a curse, and shot at Kup. Kup was hit and flew back. Arcee yelled in surprise and ran to Kup. As she checked to see if he was alive, Stargazer walked over and pointed his plasma cannon down at her. "Compassion always was an Autobot's weakness," he sneered as his cannons powered up. Springer fired wildly at the snake like things as they shot all around him. He snarled and ripped them away. Daniel also did the same. Unfortunately one stray blast hit a water main and the entire area was suddenly filled with water. Daniel was swept away. For what seemed like hours, Daniel struggled to stay above the water as he was swept down corridor after corridor. Eventually he was washed up on the floor of a giant smelting pit. Daniel groaned as he stumbled to his feet. He moaned at the pain in his left arm, and then gasped as he looked up. His dad and some other Autobots where being dumped into a high smelting pit. "DAD!!!!!" he screamed. "HELP US!!!,"yelled Spike. "HOW?!?!?!" "Use the gun on your exo-suit," screamed Spike adding "HURRY!!!!" Daniel frantically transformed his arms, and after a few tries was able to get his water logged suit to work again. One energy bolt though hit the conveyor belt where all of the bots where being held. They began to fall towards the smelting pit even quicker. Daniel yelped and fired again hitting the acid cap and it slowly fell. Spike screamed as he fell in free fall and landed on the fallen acid cap. He was right by the edge when he lost his footing, and pitched forward, falling into the smelting pit. His screams of pain could easily be heard. Daniel screamed in horror as he sw this and broke into tears..what had he just done? Stargazer smiled evilly as his guns began to charge. "Now Autobot prepare to be one with the Matrix," he laughed. Suddenly a loud roar was heard, and a fusion cannon bolt hit him, and he pitched to the side. The Matrix fell from the chain on his neck and slid to the floor. He didn't notice as he looked up. "Who would DARE?!??!" he muttered, but then he saw a silvery figure emerge from the shadows, and his mouth dropped. "M-M-M-Megarron...how?" he said. Megatron glared at Stargazer. "No-one attempts to kill me and lives, Stargazer," he said, ice in his tone. "No I-I-I killed you. I finally had you out of he picture," Stargazer said as another energy bolt ripped through his side, and he struggled to get up. "No matter," he said, trying to regain his dignity. "I will destroy you again." He charged up his plasma cannons, and let two bolts of pure energy flow from them at Megaron who dodged. Arcee saw the Matrix and gasped. Here was her chance to help, and destroy Unicron. She slowly crawled, and then broke into a run as she saw no one was watching her. She tackled the object, and her hands clasped on it. She smiled, never having thought that she would actually be able to touch the Matrix in her life. Megatron sneered. "Look. You couldn't even keep the Matrix in your possession." Stargazer wheeled around and looked in horror as Arcee grabbed the Matrix. "NO!!!" he yelled as he ran towards her. Arcee put her fingers in through the handles and suddenly felt great power surge through her being. Before she knew it, she was taller and more powerful. A voice inside her head began to say "Arise, Arcimus Prime." "Optimus?" she said in awe. Stargazer looked on in horror. What had he just done? Because of him...no because of Megatron...there was a new Autobot leader. He yelled in fury as he let both of his plasma cannons go, and hit Arcimus Prime knocking the Matrix out of her hands. It rolled to the side. "I cannot allow this to continue Stargazer," she said as she fired her new guns at him. Two hit him in the stomach, and he buckled over. The last passed over him, and hit a wall, making it explode. Soon all of the air was rushing out of the room. Megatron instinctively magnetized his feet, and he stood in place as did the new Autobot leader, but Stargazer was damaged, and he began to fall towards the vacuum of space. Suddenly his hands shot out and grabbed on to some titanium which was connected to the ceiling. "I won't be beaten this easily.." he said, trying to talk over the roar. Megatron suddenly saw his chance he fired his fusion cannon at the titanium destroying it. Still, Stargazer found another place to hold on to right outside of the gaping hole. His hands were losing ground, and he would soon be sucked out there. Suddenly Unicron's internal force fields snapped on; they covered the hole and sliced through both of Stargazers hands. He gasped in pain, and flew into space yelling "NOT AGAIN!!!" Not that anyone could hear him. Seeing his job was done Megatron looked at the new Autobot leader.. Should he attack? "No," he thought. "I will let her live today. She has been most helpful is destroying my enemy." With that he turned and walked back to his ship in the shadows. Arcimus didn't notice Megatron leaving. She would have attacked, but she realized she had more important things to do. She moved over to the matrix and grabbed it. Slowly, she pulled the casing apart and unleashed the power of the Matrix. Energy ripped out from the crystalline entity of the Matrix, and began to fly all around. Unicron's internals began to burn and explode as the Matrix's light hit them. Springer gasped as one of the snake-like things hit him, stabbing him through and then unexpectedly exploded. He slumped to the ground and slowly got up. Blurr and Perceptor were fighting off the last of them as they limply fell to the ground and exploded. Suddenly, the walls began to fall all around them and collapse. Bumblebee drove through a hole that had just appeared and, followed by the others, met with Springer and Perceptor. They looked at one another and then at Daniel who was sobbing uncontrollably. "What happened?" said Springer. "Spike's dead and he saw the entire thing," said Bumblebee as he looked down with pity at the young human. "I'm sorry Daniel,"said Springer trying to console him, "But we have to get out of here. The entire place is going up for some reason." Daniel just continued sobbing. Suddenly more explosions rocked the area and threw everyone to the ground. "We have to get out of here,"said Springer as he transformed into car mode. "We can't leave Arcee," whimpered Daniel. "For all we know her and Kup are gone for good," retorted Springer. Suddenly two figures appeared in the hail of explosions. One looked familiar and was Kup; the other was different however. Arcimus Prime stood about 20 feet tall 5 feet taller than Arcee. She was now a darker pink colour - more of a dark red/maroon actually. Two large guns where mounted on both arms, and she now had more of a visor instead of optics, which gave the impression of sunglasses. "Who is that?"said Springer, but he already new the answer. "Autobots Transform and roll out," she said. She was in command now and it felt kind of good actually. The power of the Matrix flowed through every system, and she knew that she was in fact merely the second choice for it. The original was dead, or mostly at least. She would fulfill the legacy that would have been Rodimus Prime to her best. Right now however she had troops to save. All the Autobots transformed and without question drove towards a giant optic. They crashed through and plummeted to Cybertron. The Matrix kept them safe as they landed. They where home.....for now. Unicron whirled in sheer agony. His arms ripped him apart as he tried to remove the cause of the pain, but it was too late. As a last thought, he put both of his unconscious creations in a force field and launched them to Cybertron. They would survive and with them he himself would survive, at least a small part of him. Still, he could not help but think that it was still too much and that he would be destroyed. As he twirled, he uttered a few last words; "You cannot...destroy my...DESTINY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" then his body was encompassed in fire and exploded. His head flew around and latched into orbit around the planet he had tried to destroy. The Chaos Bringer's life had come to a dramatic and bloody end. Wounded, Stargazer hurtled through space. He was to wounded to transform, and so he could just try to navigate his way pitifully. He had collided with a few asteroids weeks ago. He was now travelling at FTL speeds, one of the last commands to his system Unicron made. He was bored..then, out in the distance, he caught a glimpse of a strange orb flying at him. "Not again" he muttered. It was a planet this time, though. Red and full of lava. Slowly, he plummeted into the atmosphere and then crashed landed in the ground just inches away from a lava pit. He collapsed from exhaustion and waited to be found. Epilogue: In things to come, the Decepticons experienced a small civil war. In the end they were spilt between those loyal to Megatron and those that were loyal to Stargazer, now called Neocons. Using the advantage, the Autobots fought bravely and where able to take back Iacon and Crystal City along with some other cities in South Cybertron.