DeathSpire's story

Deathspire

Space: a restricted Maximal quadrant

    "Attack groups ready, Lord DeathSpire." reported the commander.
    "Very well, Starscream. You shall lead the first drop group, the others will be in reserve until and if they are needed. I shall control all
aspects of the Oblivion."
    Once, the divisions would be more generous, but the battle you have continued for the past seventy-five years has depleted your troops.
    Then again, it was only the strong that now remained.
    You look again at the data screen on your control console. The Maximals had restricted this quadrant for some reason, and you knew what
that reason was. An experiment was being held here. One that you meant to control.
    "Prepare to strike."
    The field of stars shifted subtly around your ship as it drops from the subspace fields of hyperspace.
    In that nano-click of time, your mind shifts through a mosaic of memories. The Decepticon Empire, once proud and strong, now crushed and
defeated along with its legendary leader. The Pax Cybertronia had sealed their fate, the joining of all the forces on Cybertron, the peace.
    -Bah, the conquest of our inferiors is our rightful goal. Ours is the mantle of power to hold.-
    You can still remember Clench's words to you, remember him begging you to leave the proud Decepticon heritage behind, to change your
allegiance.
    You refused.
    You would not hide behind a Destron banner.
    You were Decepticon.
    The huge space station that was your goal blurred into vision. The cruiser was close, as per your orders.
    "Fire."
    Five warheads streaked toward the station. Precisely they arced along a predetermines path. The intelligence reports had served you well.
A few muffled explosions on the station signified the hits.
    "Sir, the stations shields are no longer operational." reported you're comm officer.
    "Launch team Alpha."
    You're warriors leapt towards the station, guns laying down a scattering fire. heavier missiles were to be reserved for the stations
armaments. You watched in satisfaction as the deadliest teaming of warriors known completed their task.
    "Sir, incoming."
    "Identify."
    "It's a Starhopper."
    -Syntax.-
    The laughable fool had been chasing you for nearly two decades now. If he wasn't so stubborn he would have long since passed into the
great void like an honorable opponent.
    "Open a channel."
    The screen flickers and the black and silver form of Syntax sat glowering at you.
    "Syntax. Why must you keep up with your pathetic attempts at disrupting my progress."
    "You will remove your troops immediately or suffer the consequences."
    "Indeed. And what do you think your pitiful Starhopper will do against the Oblivion."
    "I take it your answer is no."
    "Hmmm."
    "Then prepare to be sent back to the Smelter!"
    The transmission is cut off.
    "Blow him from the stars."
    "Sir! Something's dropping out of hyperspace to our port side!!"
    "Identify!"
    "Old class guardian, Sir! And he's releasing troops!"
    The screen shifts to show a rusted grayish rocket, with it's orange, claw like directional fins spread around the base of the ancient design. A
team of around ten firestormers could be seen launching from the newcomer.
    "Launch team B. Bring the Oblivion to bear on that robot!!"

    Outside, the battle flared into vibrant life.
    Syntax switched on his Starhopper's battle computers, "Omega, take that battleship on directly, we need it's shields taken out!"
    "Affirmative."
    "Airraid, keep those battle groups away from the station long enough for them to reset their defenses."
    "Three to one odds, limited firepower, and a civilian craft to protect... Just like the old days!" answered the old Aerialbot with glee.
    Syntax smiled to himself. He was lucky. It had taken him three years to gather this ragtag band together, but it was worth every dead end
and false lead. This was a group that could finally threaten DeathSpire's forces.

    The ship shook as Omega Supreme, last of the guardian robots, smashed into the Oblivion's shields with his incredible firepower.
    You activated another salvo of missiles, but the robot's armoring was dense and powerful. He shrugged off the crackling tongues of flame
and jumped toward the ship, bringing his clawed arm down quickly with savage speed at your ship.
    You had not bargained for this kind of fight. You're resources were not at their best, but you would not be defeated so easily.
    The Oblivion shook and tossed as the claw smashed into the shields. A warning light began to flash red as your shields shattered under the
robots power.
    He used the momentum to push off of the ship, clearing a distance between you. His power levels reading a buildup. He was preparing to
fire.
    Now was the opening. You shifted your power systems to the main cannon. It was a large, Plasma based, fusion cannon. The lights
dimmed with the drain as it fired into the guardians chest. Nearly point-blank range.
    He was thrown back, his weaponry firing in a painful reflex. The shots went wide, missing you completely.
    You shifted power back to the conventional systems. Ready to cover yourself from any backlash attacks. The shields could only draw up to
two percent though. Any hit would cripple them permanently.
    A scanner started flashing. There was a massive buildup from the station. Only then did you realize that Omega Supreme's shots had
smashed into the unshielded station. The scanners went crazy. The energy readings were like nothing you had seen, and it was sending a wave
of power along an arc around the station. A flat wave that would likely rip apart anything caught in it.
    "Decepticons, stay clear form that energy spiral. Pull back to the ship and prepare to fall back." You cursed under your breath as you pulled
the oblivion a fraction higher to avoid the approaching energy wave. It was slow, and no real threat, but the station's reading were sporadic,
and the core appeared to be nearing critical. The experiment would soon be lost.
    You glowered at the battle computers as you watched the Decepticon's begin to pull back from the engaged battle.
    The arc of energy began it's slow drift just below your hull.
    The the computer's warning sounded, "Collision warning. Small ship approaching upper hull."
    "Syntax!"
    There was a dull thud, and the sounds of explosive decompression. Then the screen was filled with a blinding light.

    The smoky trails arced down across the gray skies of the prehistoric planet.
    "What do you make of it?" asked the huge silver backed gorilla.
    "I'm not sure, Optimus. It appears to be some kind of debris, but the heat is disabling any further scanning. Not to mention the energon
fields." answered a thick, heavy, brown skinned rhinoceros.
    "Eh, it's probably just some meteor comin' in for a crash landin'." a gigantic rat came to stand on it's hind legs and prop itself up against the
thick hide of the Rhino, "Nothin' ta really get your fuzzy skid plates in a knot about, monkey man, right Rhinox?"
    "No Rattrap, whatever it is, it's big. And it's not burning up in the atmosphere. A collision of that size could be important to us. The
environment may shift if it causes to much damage."
    "So, we'ze adapt. No biggy."
    "Yeah, "answers Rhinox, "We adapt, but if it hits a large enough chain of energon.... Well, it's best to be sure."
    "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ok, so send spots to investigate."
    "I'm still not too keen on the idea of separating ourselves by that much distance. Megatron still hold us at a disadvantage. And he has the
fliers to cover that distance in no time."
    A yellow, spotted Cheetor skidded up, "Someone call? I can beat those stupid fliers any day!"
    "We stay in groups. Me and Rhinox will go with Cheetor. Rattrap, you stay behind with Dinobot, and warn Tigatron that we're moving out
as well. He may be close enough to meet us there."
    "Yeeaaaa, no problem. This rat don't need to be told to take the day off." The gray rat trundled off to base as the other group set off.

    As your systems shut online, a spasm of pain wracks your body. you pull yourself free of the scattered remains of your warship. Cursing
Syntax with every molecule of your structure.
    The heat was terrible, but overhead the crackle of lighting signaled the onslaught of rain. At first you looked up at the gray, smoke filled skies
and noticed the liquid droplets evaporating long before they ever reached the ground, and it's scaldingly hot treasure. Then, after minutes of
steam, the rain began to reach the ground. Each drop sizzling on your cracked and charred exterior, but each drop bringing you that much
closer to full awareness.
    Then you heard a noise.
   --Maybe the twisting of the cooling metal?--
    No, even as the though surfaced you squelched it, the noise was deliberate, the noise was movement.
    Syntax jumped free and tackled you.
    The two of you grappled with each other. Smashing titanic blows down upon the other's frame. Both no longer caring what damage was
ensued. Circuitry boards flew, and wires sparks as they were ripped free. The two of you fought with terrible vengeance.
    Finally you grabbed the smaller robot by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
    You're circuitry was scrambled, but you still knew hate.
    You slowly squeezed, the metallic talons that were once your hands exerting all your destructive strength to rip the robot's head free from his
ruined body.
    Then, amazingly, the stubborn Syntax drew upon some hidden reserve of strength. He stretched down to grab your weapon, where it was
exposed behind a ruined panel on your side. He pulled the gun free and braced it against your midsection. You were stunned, and the shot
ripped through your circuits like a tide of burning destruction.
    You're optics faltered and your arms went off-line.
    You staggered backward, equilibrium circuits sending a myriad of confusing messages to your processors. Syntax fell limply to the ground.
His throat torn and exposed to the drizzling rain. Smoke pouring out of a thousand wounds.
    You staggered backwards and fell over a pile of debris. A noise registered vaguely on your sensors. You pushed yourself across the ground,
circuitry dangling and clattering as your legs worked spasmodically to force you to an outcropping of rocks.
    You're sensors shifted and blackness covered you.

--Systems online.--
no feeling

--Sensors active.--
no pain

--Audio active.--
silence

--Optics active.--
darkness

--Movement active.--
Slowly you rise up.

--Weapons active.--
Error! Weapons off-line...

Earth : underground

    You stretch in the darkness and swing your feet to the floor.
     A low thudding throb registers on your audio circuitry.
     "Lights."
     The room lights up as your wing lights spark into life. You find yourself in a dank cave. Nothing is around you but a large entryway, from which the thudding noise seems to emanate.
     You swiftly jump to the floor and assume a crouch, ready to catch your captors off guard.
     Into the cave steps a giant lizard.
     It turns it's squarish head to one side to stare at you for a second, before turning to walk along the rooms wall with caution.
     It was as large as you were, covered with purplish scaled skin, with large rear legs and short, pointless forearms. It's jaws were rather impressive, for a flesh creature.
     You've heard of such creatures, they usually are found on lesser developed planets, and were possessed of extremely limited intelligence. Dinosaurs.
     You stand, not interested in this pitiful flesh creature, and begin to walk towards the cave entrance, only to fell a sudden tingling as a powerful jolt shoots through your system.
     You stumble back from the entryway as your sensors reset themselves.
     --force shield--
     "Yessss, I'm afraid you won't be traveling from your new home so soon, Deathspire."
     You spin to face the Dinosaur.
     "What the....?"
     "Who the. Is more like it, Megatron, TERRORIZE!!"
     --Predacon!--
     You grab for your weapon, but realize it is non operable. So, opting for the next direct line, you pounce at the Predacon.
    The purple and black transformer grabs you from the air and slams you against the wall.
     "Really, did you think to take me so easily? Relic."
     You bring your feet up and kick into his chest, knocking him free of you. Then you tumble to the side, as he regroups and smashes his claw, which is the head of the Dinosaur mode, into the wall with rock shattering effect.
     You tumble to the side where a large rock sits on the ground, you jump behind the rock and reach down under it.
     "Hiding behind a rock? Really, I expected more of a war hero."
     With a quick lurch, you bring the rock up into the air and hurl it at the Predacon.
     There is the sound of a blaster, and the rock shatters to dust.
     "Impressive, most impressive, but in the end, I am the one with the cannon."
     "Coward."
     "For holding the upper hand. Strange, it is always the one who is loosing that seems to cry."
     "Why bring me here and repair me if you plan to destroy me again?"
     "Oh, I plan no such thing, Deathspire. Rather, I need you..."
     "Hah! Why would I help a Predacon!"
     "You have little choice in the matter. You see, you... are a relic. And on this planet, relics can not survive."
     "I'll show you..."
     "Now, now, I'm sure if it was within the range of your cunning, you could survive, but you see... this planet is full of energon."
     "Energon?!?"
     "Yes, too much energon, one step free of this cave and you will short out within minutes. And believe me, you are nowhere near any
place where you could find a safe haven."
     "You're lying. Am I? Come, walk with me."
     The transformer changes down into his beast mode and walks out of the cavern. You follow, doubtful.
     As soon as you step free a warning goes off in your circuits.
     --Energon buildup in progress, shutdown approximately five minutes.--
    "You see, the energon fields here are deadly, and without my help, you will not survive."
    "And what do you want?"
    "What I want, is your tactical experience."

Earth : A Predacon trap

    Your mind races. He thinks of you a dumb warrior. You'll show him. You decide that it is best to lay low, to learn, to adapt...
    Then, you will seize control from this fleshy piece of Predacon Trash...
    You extend your hand to the T-Rex, "Where do I sign up?"
    "Sign up? You?" scoffs the Pred, "Deathspire, your record precedes you.
    You see, much like my namesake, I leave nothing to chance. You would no more assist me willingly than I would allow a renegade pirate
such as yourself within blasting range of artillery."
     "But you said..."
     "What I said is that I want your tactical knowledge. We Predacons have kowtowed to the Pax Cybertronia far too long. We have lost the
ability to wage a war that you and our ancestors had, we have lost the plans, the strategies, and the calculations necessary for us to stomp out
the Maximals and their Primus spawned treaty!"
     "So, you keep me in a cage and ask for battle plans?"
     "Uhm... No. I was thinking something more permanent, after all, data tracks can always be copied."
     You realize Megatron's true plan, a download of your tracks, and afterward....
     "Not a chance!" You prepare to tackle the large bot, ready to fight or die.
     "Tarantulus!"
     You here a thunking noise from behind you and a sharp sting in your shoulder.
     The cave becomes blurry...
     -System shutdown-

          Coldness passes through you. It is a numbing cold that saps strength and will from your very spark. The cold seeps into every
     joint and molecule of your being in a matter of seconds.
          You feel despair.
          A voice whispers from the cold darkness, calling you. Commanding you.
          You feel its drag as if a vortex of darkness pulled at every ounce of your being.
          You push away, but the cold saps your will to fight.
          Suddenly, the pull stops, and you float in a void.
          A soft breeze brushes through you, carrying the cold bite of the cold with it.
          Another breeze swirls around you, then another.
          Suddenly, a blast of wind swirls around you, and on that wind is the sound of trillions of agonized screams.
          --These are mine, and so, shall be you. Herald.-

    -Emergency reset-
     You're eyes glitter to life in the darkness, and for seconds, you fear that the void still surrounds you. But the light in your eyes glitters off the
cavern walls. Sensors adjust, and the room becomes visible.
     The previous cavern entrance was collapsed, as was a large part of the ceiling.
     You push yourself to your feet, shoving rubble off to the side in a cloud of dust. The room was still and silent, the cavern had to have been
collapsed some time ago.
     It was cramped, tight quarters, you began the boot sequence for your scanner systems. You were damaged, several large rocks had fallen
on you, and your armor had taken a beating. Systems readouts reported sixty-one percent operability.
     There was an access log.
     You're databanks had been copied.
     --Megatron WILL pay for that.--
     A soft coldness seems to creep through the rubble around you, seeping into your circuits.
     -Herald, come.-
     The rocks around you shift and change into a tunnel.

Earth: Underground

    The tunnel stretches below in the darkness.
     You make a decision.
     Slowly, carefully, you step into that darkness.
     The rock walls were warm and squishy to the touch. Almost as if their very molecular structure had been altered. The tunnel itself was just
large enough for you, as if it were made for you. It was round, like something had bored the tunnel out of the ground.
    It went down for a ways, then leveled off.
    Silence holds as heavy as the darkness. The only sound the squelching of your feet as you walk on the spongy ground.
    --First you shall be tested.--
    The voice almost made you jump out of your metal. There was no mistaking it, something was speaking to you.
    "Who are you! Show yourself!"
    No answer.
    Silence.
    Then a strong feeling of being pulled, almost yanked, down the tunnel.
    --It's either backwards or forwards. Backwards lies nothing, and I fear no future.-
     You move again down the tunnel.
     The tunnel suddenly curves sharply, and as you step around the corner, you find yourself in a cavern. It was maybe your height and a half,
and stretched out for around two hundred meters, covered in jagged stalagmites and stalactites. The soft sound of dripping water can be heard
echoing from all around.
     And a low grinding noise, a scuffling can be heard.
     There is the sound of dirt falling, rocks crumbling and a thud as a spiny mass lands some distance away from you.
     It was a fleshy creature, about as tall as your knees. It was on all fours and covered with bristling spines. Two black, beady eyes glare at
you with an uncanny intelligence from its snub face. Large, clawed paws dig into the ground in anger below it.
     "What's this? Even injured a flesh animal is no test for me."
     "You're bravado and foolishness and is ultimately what creates Error."
    This voice came from the creature.
    This voice was quiet and emotionless.
    This voice was... familiar.
     "Syntax?"
     "ERROR, MAXIMIZE!!" roars the giant porcupine. Instantly it transforms into a lithely built robot. Wings along it's back, forearms, and
chest bristling with the thorny spines of the     beast mode.    It flexes its thick, heavily taloned hands and glares at you menacingly.
     You act immediately.
     --Weapons on-line--
     --Weapons systems inactive--
     Error advances.

Earth: Underground

     You lunge to the side, narrowly missing Error's savage attack. His claws send a shower of sparks as they rake across the wall of the
entryway behind you.
     He spins as you roll away. You get your bearings and try to gauge your opponent.
     He's fast, not real fast, but enough to be dangerous. He's strong, far stronger than Syntax had been previously. That combination with the
single-mindedness which Syntax had followed you for years could be deadly.
     One of the spike covered 'wings' on his back whips around and a volley of darts flies at you. You dodge most of them, but two still hit.
They explode on impact, sending a jarring pain along your leg where they hit.
     You skid through a muddy patch of the cave floor and behind a pile of stalactites. You needed something to use. You wouldn't be able to
get near enough to him to pound him. Not without taking the risk of serious damage. All your battle systems were off-line, and your scanners
were glitching bad. You needed room, and repair.
     Water drips down on your forehead.
     You look around, there's a lot of water dripping here.
     You think for a moment.
     "Deathspire, vehicle mode." You mutter, transforming into your jet mode. It was a small cave, but you could fly for a brief second.
     "Hey Error!!!" You bolt out and up near the ceiling, near a particularly wet patch of ceiling.
     Error fires several darts in your direction. One hits you in the wing, but just a scratch. The rest smash into the ceiling.
     You transform and fall behind another set of rocks, bracing yourself for what cam next.
     There was a loud cracking noise.
     The ceiling collapsed, and a river started pouring down.
     You hear Error's grunts and gurgles over the sound of the waterfall. You hold onto the rocks near you as the water pours into the cavern,
filling it up.
     As the cavern fills, you let go and swim through the murky darkness towards the cave you came from.
To your surprise, there were now two caves, and once again, you felt drawn towards one of them. You swim on, and in the back of your head
wanders the thought...
     --What about those energon surges...--

Earth : underground

    --Slag, you want me!?! Fine! I've got nothing to loose!-
     You stagger down the tunnel for what seems like ages. Minutes stretch into hours. Hours seem to stretch into days.
     You feel the energon charge sparking across your frame.
     --Why isn't it putting me in stasis?-
     Still you travel on. Your metallic skin glittering with the static buildup, while your internals whine about low energy levels.
     --Ironic, all the energy I need, but I can't access it, and if I did I'd go off-line.-
     Static rolls across your visuals.
     --Systems error-
     --Systems error-
     --Syst9 seyt48h so;s;on.    .......--

    Your eyes focus. The darkness surrounds you, a dark void of velvety blackness. You feel nothing.
     --Is this death?-
     A cold breath seems to sigh through your body, and a quiet answer whispers on it's tail.
     This is life.
     As the last syllable fades into nothingness, the void seems to shatter in a cacophony of light and sound. Searing heat grips you and a
kaleidoscope of colors blinds you.
     You scream.
     And in your scream you hear billions of other screams.
     In that instance, you know who has claimed you....

Unicron.

Earth...?

Unicron.
The Dark God.
The Planet Devourer.
The bane of your race.

    The light settles and you find yourself floating in a red sea of heat. The heat throbs and pours into your every chip, processor, but still one
thing remained cold. Deep in your chest, your spark was as cold and lifeless as ice.
    You raise your head.
    "What do you want of me?!?!"
    --Deathspire. You have been chosen. You will be my herald.-
    "Herald? Herald of what?!?"
    --My return. You will be my seed of chaos, one thread in the pattern that even now do I weave.-
    "And if I will have no part of it?"
    --You are already dead. You have no choice.-
    "There is always choice!"
    --You are not without redemption. I offer you this, a new body. An advance body and a return to life.-
    "And what do I do?"
    --What you have always done. Return, destroy the Autobots. Destroy any who would oppose the Decepticon Banner. And let
the word of my return spread before you like brush fire before the sweeping infernos.--
    "And my redemption?"
    --New life always holds new possibilities. But know this. If you do anything to displease me, you will suffer.-
    "You said that I was dead! Why worry about a return to death!!??!!"
    --Who mentioned a return?-
    With that, waves of searing agony sweep through your frame. Molecule by molecule are separated one at a time. Your mind expands and
races to encompass everything that ever was and ever will be. Worlds filled with pain, anger, and hate seep into your mind and crush you under
their weight.
    Then it ends. And void surrounds you. In that void you look from outside your own body.
    You see the wrecked carcass that is you.
    It dissolves as if sand, leaving only your spark.
    The spark was without light, without pulse, without life.
    You watched as the wispy, amorphous spark changed.
    Not surging to life, but freezing...
    No... not freezing, rather it's surface swelled and hardened, becoming metal. Circuitry etched it's way across the surface, and light began to
seep through the circuits. Energy traveling across the network on the mechanical spark's surface.
    --Your life will no longer be as it was. Your spark is now MY creation. -
    You feel unparalleled horror at the site of the mechanical spark.
    --Now, choose you're new form.-
    With that an image flashes into your mind, and you feel yourself pulled deep into the heart of the cold spark. Plate by plate, circuit by circuit
you feel your body rebuilt...

Earth...?

Unicron.
The Dark God.
The Planet Devourer.
The bane of your race.

Earth...?

    You hang, motionless in the darkness. No life, no feeling, only silence.
     Stillness hangs over you like a thick, silent cloak.
     --Herald, go forth. Return to the ending, return to the beginning, cry out my name to declare my coming.-
     Rock forms around you, a cocoon of solidity.
    You curl up as it closes in, trapping you in a cold no more lifeless than your own body.
    And again there is darkness.
     A scraping.
     A chipping.
     A cracking.
     Then you feel something grab onto you, claws...
     Electricity crackles around you. The smell of brimstone and fire fills your sensors, and a blinding light envelops you.

     Light and air surround you, freedom!
     The freedom of the sky!
     You stretch out and reach towards the sun that shines down upon you.
     Bone wings reach out from your bleached white body.
     You're new form is lithe, and small. White, with red writing across it.
     In your hands is a long bladed pole, bluish metal glinting with silver scrolled etching.
     Something below you splashes, drawing your attention back to the now.
     You look around. Smoke billows up from a boiling cauldron of a sea. Several Transformers clash in mid air. A city hover off the distant
shoreline.
     The smell of battle fills the air.

Earth: ????

     You transform into your jet mode, long, bone like wings shimmering with an energy field stretching between the fingers. You move up into
the clouds and fly toward the battle in the distance.
     By the time you reach the group, you find that the skies have cleared except for two remaining Cybertronians. You transform and stay to the
clouds to watch.
     One was green and insectoid, with pearlescent wings beating rapidly. The other was black and metallic, with a Destron sigil on his chest.
Two sharp silver bladed wings stretched up from the Destron’s back.
     You watched as the Insect put a gun to his head and blasted his brains out.
     The other bot looked confused for a second, then yelled, "Thanks Knight! May we meet again, and not on opposite swords!"
     He then transformed and headed down towards the water.
     You watch as he nears the surface, a dark shadow seemed to be growing there. The black Destron hovered for a second as the shadow
grew larger and move forward.
     --Something’s walking underwater!!--
     --That too is an agent of Chaos—
     The surface of the ocean parted across a purple metallic skull, hundreds of meters across!!
     The beast continued to walk toward the shore, rising up out of the water. It was Cybertronian, and the size of Trypticon!
     Nearby, the other city hovered nearer. Looking at it, you recognize it. It looks to be an updated version of the Autobot city Metroplex! It’s
curves were smoother and covered with a chrome-white metal that glinted in the sunlight, but it still held the same basic shape.
     The Destron flew into the monster skull’s mouth.
     Things had definitely changed here.   But where WAS here?

Earth : the Atlantic

     -- … Interesting, the skulled warrior could be used… He would be a powerful ally. And anything that large must have a city mode.
A new capital would be most helpful for raising the Decepticon banner.—
     You fold your wings in and drop into the waters of the ocean.
     Quickly, you move toward the massive form. Here, under the water, you can feel the powerful vibrations as the behemoth makes his way
toward the nearby shoreline.
     You float beside it feeling the power behind it’s step, and pondering exactly where you should head.
     Then a white light attracts your attention. A door had slid open near the creatures spine. It’s light shining like a beacon in the dirty, ashen
waters.
     You spread your wings and use them to push you into the welcoming entrypoint.

     You kneel on the ground, your circuitry working to pump the excess water clear of your systems. You wings splayed around you in the
squat entryway. Around you the soft hum of machinery fills the air, and the sound of water being dumped out of the airlock behind you.
     You look around. No signs of life other than yourself. You stand up, the strange silence only punctuated by the quiet thrum of the powerful
machinery at work.
     --I feel your pain—
     You spin, "Who are you."
     A door opens with a swish down the hallway. You cautiously step toward it, your sensors on full scan. You pull out the long, curved blade
polearm from it’s holding spot and whip it around with a buzzing swish of displaced air.
     The blade shimmers with a cold bluish glow as you step through the doorway. The chamber beyond held a long, curving tunnel. It was
dark, and a breeze of warm, humid air seemed to push down it.
     --How can one with death inside live in the world of the living?--
     You begin to walk down the hallway, "You haven’t answered my question. Who are you?"
     You reach the end of the hallway, a thick, heavily armored door sits in your path.
     A wheel in the center spins with a smooth gliding motion, and the sound of locks unlatching reverberates through the hallway. The door
swings open silently on it’s hinges. A blue light pours into the hallway.
     You step through, and find yourself staring up at a huge, glowing chamber. The center swirling and moving as if alive. And all the while, the
pulse-beat of a heart shimmered in the air around you.
     Not a heart… A spark.
     --I am hunger.—

Earth : Trypticon

     The air throbs with the pulsing of the massive spark chamber. You stare in awe at the sheer power that is being processed before you.
     "And what is it you hunger for?"
     --Chaos, harbinger—
     "How do you know these things about me."
     --I feel. I feel pain, torment, agony. It feeds my spark. You’re torment and hatred for what you are rings out in my ears. The
storms of chaos whose feathery clouds surround you are as angels to my cause.—
     "And what is your cause."
     --To end all pain—
     "And who do you serve?"
     --I serve the winds of change, the lords of chaos, and the gods of pain.—
     --Delightful, The only ally I have and he’s a sado-masochistic poet—
     "What is your name?"
     --Now I go by Trypticon—
     "And before?"
     --Lifeless, clone, Predacon experiment… called X2, Rampage II—
     In the spark you see a picture of a large Predacon, a giant metallic and flesh crab.
     Never heard of it…
     "And what of the original Trypticon?"
     --Dead, centuries gone. His shell left soulless and hungry for a new life. So did I grant it one.—
     Again, in the swirl of the spark, you see a picture of Rampage standing before the chamber you were in. The glass was dark and without life,
you watch as he plunges his hands into his own chest and rips free his pulsing spark. Evan as his body falls to the ground, he lifts up the spark
towards the chamber. Lightly, as if a feather, it floats upward until it contacts the glass. The scene erupts in a flash of light.
     "Who else is on board you?"
     --The Decepticon’s have inhabited my halls. The leader seeks a peace the universe refuses to give him. The others seek a leader
that died centuries ago. Their paths are being forced closer and closer together at this, the dawn of a new war.—
     "And the other city?"
     --Metroplex. Ancient enemy, now supposed friend. I feel his hatred rolling off of his armor like a thick cloud. Long since did he
trade blows with the original Trypticon.—
     "What do you mean by friend?"
     "The Decepticons are fighting for their freedom from the Predacon’s. That is why I help them… for now. The Autobot’s are neutral, but
lean more toward the Decepticon’s camp. Little do they know of the madness that brews in these halls."
     "Madness?"
     "The Predacon’s have their claws in many things, more than even I can feel. But I do know their influence is thick with the one who has
claimed leadership of the Decepticons."
     --Leadership, eh? And what fool dares claim the throne that only I should hold. Surely not that fool second of mine… Starscream.
Of course, he must be terminated after all this time. What upstart would deign to take control of this ancient banner of pride?!?--
     You look up at the spark, "Show me the leader of this rabble!"
     The spark swirls and in it appears a kaleidoscope of merging images. You recognize three forms of the greatest leader in the Decepticon
archives. Megatron, silver and black. His original form that radiated an aura of confident command. Galvatron, purple and shimmering with
power and madness. And Megatron again, in his tank form, strong and vicious, a seasoned commander trying to rebuild a shattered armada.
The three forms shift together and seem to mold into one unified picture.
     There was no mistaking what Trypticon was saying. The new transformer was slate blue, with silver, youthful eyes, but the face was
nonetheless Megatron.
     Megatron was reborn!!

Earth: Trypticon II

     "Is this true? Megatron? Reborn!?!" You sputter, your mind whirling with the shock of seeing a virtual ghost.
     "He is the commander of these Decepticons on Earth."
     Years of loyalty to the Decepticon banner merged with loyalty to this one individual. He had been the greatest of all Decepticon generals, but at the end, some say he faltered. There
was no doubt he had lost, and until now, you had thought he had died in battle.
     "I must speak to him."
     --Gather those around you who could foment my seeds of chaos.—
     You shake your head free of the thought.
     "What is the status of Megatron’s forces? What are his goals?"
     "His forces here are limited. The Combaticons and a handful of warriors."
     "Are there any that we may use to learn more of what is going on here?"
     You see a shimmering light splay across the floor from behind you, you turn to see a doorway. The spinning of a lock and a loud cachunk signify the door being unlatched from the
other side. It swings slowly forward to show the darkness of the cooridor behind it.
     And in that darkness glowed a single, red, glowing eye.
     A black robot, slightly shorter than you stepped out from the darkness. Two silvery wings stretched up behind him and two crackling energon blades were in his hands.
     "Who are you?!" you ask.
     "Bladewing, and who the slag are you?!?"

Earth : Trypticon

    "Greetings, Bladewing. My name is Deathspire."
     "Deathspire? Sounds… familiar."
     The bot steps into the room, you take stock of him, "A Laser Rod? Created in the late periods of the Great War… By Bludgeon?"
     "Not exactly… Close enough. Your markings… they mark you as Herald. Herald of… what?"
     "Herald of the oncoming storm of Chaos that will purge this Universe of the refuse that plagues it."
     "Chaos is good, but what refuse would be cleaned?"
     "Maximal, Autobot, Cybertron… Those that tried to oppress the Decepticon Empire!"
     "Hmph, you can add the Predacon’s to that list." The other bot spat.
     "Yes, the Predacons would be good to hunt."
     "Why are you in… here?"
     "I was drawn here by another… spirit of Chaos. The spark that now calls itself Trypticon."
     "Hmm, and why not announce yourself to Megatron directly?"
     "A wise Decepticon always understands the circumstances before he makes his presence known."
     "Then why am I here?"
     The pulsing spark behind you sends out a wave of thought.
     --You are a kindred soul, your being drawn to this chamber after my birth was no random event. Your spark sought out others that burned with the spark of chaos.—
     "That still doesn’t answer my question." The black Decepticon restated.
     "You are to be my eyes and ears before I step into the light of this battle."
     "Hmmm, and to what end?"
     "To the end…" you think for a moment, "to the end that would announce the destruction of the Predacon Empire?"
     "Hmm, my score’s settled with the Predacon’s."
     "Then what about a return to Cybertron? A return to the power that once was the Decepticon Empire?"
     "More interesting. I do need a ride off this mudball."
     "Then so be it. Return to your post. I will go and meet Megatron. He must be judged for the leader that he is now. If he does not prove worthy, then I shall be in contact with you."
     The silver winged robot turns and moves back into the darkness of the tunnel. As he steps into the shadows, his body takes on a silvery appearance and you loose track of him
immediately.
     --Then it is time for the herald to announce his presence.—

     Trypticon made sure that you reached the level of the command platform uninterrupted.
     Now, you stood in front of the access doors. Your mind preparing itself for meeting the robot who was responsible for the formation of the Decepticons.
     You step forward.
     The doors slid noiselessly open and you moved onto the command platform. In front of you was a massive monitor that stretched downward to the lower control decks, four floors
below you.
     Images flashed across the screen in separate areas, images of the planet, of the Predacon forces, of the Autobot Metroplex, and of the planetary forces of Earth.
     You glance at it for only an instant as you step through the threshold and out onto the platform.
     The door behind you slid shut, and you heard a cocking noise behind you.
     You spin to find a slate colored robot with a large rifle aimed directly at your head. He must have been just beside the door, but you hadn’t seen him, and your scanners had not
registered his presence!
     "I do not know who or what you are, but I do not believe that you were given permission to enter."
     --Megatron!!--

Earth : Trypticon

    "Greetings, Magatron."
     "You’re voice…   Deathspire?"
     You’re surprised. Obviously time had passed, though you weren’t sure how much, but apparently death did not dull his memories.
     "Yes. I have returned to find out what has happened here."
     Megatron still didn’t lower the gun, "The markings. They mark you as Herald."
     "Herald for the return of the Decepticon Empire!"
     His eyes narrow as he looks up from the markings, "And to what ends should that Empire return?"
     "To crush those that would oppose us, to bring back what is rightfully ours by conquest."
     "Conquest!? HA! Apparently your sleep has been as deep as mine, Deathspire. We lost. The Empire proved a façade and a passe idea of a maniacal few. We are the anachronisms
that remained from millenia of infighting and greed!"
     You’re taken aback at the vehemence in his voice, "Then why do you stand in a city that bears our once proud symbol?!"
     "Because that is the hand that I have been dealt. I would have chosen an end to the fighting. I was dead, and so I should have stayed. However, I was dragged back to the light, and
with it I was poked and prodded as something that should be feared!" With that he spun and smashed his fist into a console, "So shall I give them something to fear."
     You mind tries to grasp the violent shifts in opinion that he seems to spin through.
     --His spirit is gripped in the tumultuous web that is made from the strands of history and destiny. He is split again, between several forces and minds. Look, and I shall
show you the Chaos of his struggle.—
     Around Megatron you see a swirl of colors that seem to resolve into the hinting of several faces. Starscream is among them, as well as a Predacon you don’t recognize. An Autobot
floats there as well, and finally you see the face of Chaos behind them. Leering and controlling them all in a parody of dance through Megatron’s mind.
     --This one gave his spark to me centuries past. His death may have freed a part of him, but know now that you shall never be truly free of my grasp.—
     You ball your fist in anger, memories of the once powerful warrior shattering in your mind.
     --Then shall I free him for all eternity!!—
     You pull you scythe-like blade and bring it to bear for a swipe against the back of you once powerful leader.
     In a glittering arc you swing the weapon down in a slash that would quickly and powerfully dispatch Megatron to the Abyss, but to your surprise, the blade only met air as the slate
blue transformer moved with lightning speed. He grasps the shaft of the weapon and snatches both you and it off the ground and into the wall near the door behind you.
     "Fool, do you not think I still hear? Your master is no more ready to let me pass then he is of rebuilding that toy spark of yours."
     You push yourself up off the wall. His strength was far more than you had remembered… and the speed.
     "A new body sometimes has its advantages." Megatron states, noticing your shock, "I am far advanced, more power, more speed, the perfect king for this game that the dark god has
initiated."
     "Then you know…?"
     "Of course. I can feel his very presence in your body, I knew from the moment you came here. He wanted me to know, wants me to try to destroy you."
     "Why? That doesn’t make any sense!!"
     "Deathspire, we are but momentary fragments of a much larger plan. I do not yet understand it in truth, but something is happening here. I fear it is the beginning of the end of our
race… maybe of the universe as we understand it"
     "And so…"
     "And so I fight. For nothing else can I do. If this is the hand I must play, then I shall play it as only I know how. Join me, Deathspire. Join me and I shall find a way to free your
spark."
     "My spark is dead."
     "I have been dead for three centuries, do you think I care?"
     A slight shudder to the walls of the fortress and the sound of a distant explosion reach you.
     Megatron turns and leans over the console, "And so it begins."
     You move up next to him to overlook the vista of screens on the far walls, "What begins?"
     "War."
     The screens focus in on a gruesome figure that seemed to look like several insects mashed together into a humanoid form. On smaller section, you see a shuttle, and from the shuttle
are launching a decent sized group of Predacons.

Earth: Trypticon

    Megatron leans over the control panel, a sharp edge replacing the weariness in his voice.
    "Shields up, prepare Tryptcion for transformation!"
    Sirens began to wail as the battle fortress prepared for battle.
    Megatron activates a comm unit, "Combaticons, merge and form Bruticus. Take care of that insectoid nuisance."
    Another set of explosion’s rocks the city.
    A panel on the viewscreen shifted, and the image of Optimus Prime, in his new form, filled the area.
    "Optimus," Megatron started, "Will you step in yet and help us to end the lives of these pitiful pretenders?"
    "They’ve passed the line Megatron. Their attack on one of our troops was a blatant slap in the face of the treaties. We…"
    The screen winks out in a haze of static.
    "Skyjack, what happened?!" Roars Megatron.
    "There’s been an explosion on Metroplex. Scanners are showing severe damage to their systems. They’re communications have been damaged as well."
    Megatron turns toward you, "Deathspire, you were one of the greatest commanders I had. Will you again fight for the Decepticon banner? Together we can stop the Predacon’s and
then shall we find Unicron and rip his very spark in twain."
    You had been evalutating the situation. For now, there seemed no serious threat. Even with the loss of the Autobot city, the legendary Bruticus should be able to lay waste to both the
shuttle, and the large Predacon. A few Decepticons at your command could easily dispatch the rest of the threat.
    "Agreed."
    --For now…--
    "Excellent, then take Space Case, Bruticus, and Skyjack I will keep Trypticon active and running."
    --Two warriors and Bruticus?!?—
    "Megatron, where are the other Decepticons?"
    "Two were lost earlier in a scouting mission against the Predacons, two more are on a mission for me. That leaves the few that are here. What’s the matter Deathstrike? Don’t you
think you can handle it?"
    "Of course I can handle it. The Predacon’s will be duly dispatched without any delay."
    You bow slightly and step back through the door behind you.
    --Megatron’s leading a pathetic straggle of an army. How could he even think that he would be able to help me defeat Unicron!
    Still, the chance to get payback on the Predacon’s is too handy to dismiss. I will enjoy ripping them to shreds…--
    You are joined by Space Case and Skyjack As you walk down the hallway. They were both Decepticon Jets, and registered as having some descent abilities. The Combaticons join
you outside on the platform.
    "Combaticons, you heard Megatron’s orders, merge and attack that insect. We’ll take care of the Predacon swarm."
    You note that two of the Predacon’s had changed. The one called Blast-off and the one called Brawl had both taken on new forms. They appeared more technological, and there
was a sheen that was chrome-like in their new armoring.
    The leader, Onslaught looks at his warriors, "Combaticons, MERGE and form BRUTICUS!!!!!"
    With that, the team transform, their pieces shifting quickly and smoothly to form the impressive battle robot.
    You turn to the two jets, "Decepticon, transform and attack!!"
    The three of you change, afterburners scorching the takeoff pad. You streak toward the Predacon’s that were dropping out of the shuttle…

Earth: The Atlantic Shoreline

    "Hit them hard, use your speed to your advantage!" You roar as you and the other two jets burn a trail into the Predacon swarm.
     Guns blazing, you cause a momentary disorientation in their ranks. They scatter as your two wingmen peel off in opposite directions following orders you were
outputting through your battle computers.
     The plan was for you each to arc back in another sweep working on weeding out their forces with maximum impact in minimum time.
     As you predicted, they could not keep up with yours or Skyjack’s fiery speed, but to your surprise, one of the Predacons transformed into a jet and began to
follow Spacecase at mach speeds!
     "Spacecase, loose him and return to the strategy. Skyjack, you and I will continue the assault on the others."
     You didn’t like this and the strategy would soon have to be altered. The Predacons would now be attacked on only two sides leave plenty of room for them to
run to.
     You careened back toward the group, but this time, you screech to a sudden halt, transforming into robot mode and bringing your weapon to bear in a glittering
arc of death.
     Two Predacon’s drop their ‘passenger Pred’s’ into the water below as they dodge away from the spiraling arc. The rest scatter in surprise in the sudden shift of
tactics. Explosions were ripping apart the air as Skyjack flew by and released a set of cluster bombs in the midst of the Predacons.
     His shots were well aimed, and none of them affected you as you took a stance to strike.
     One of the Predacons decides to take on your threat directly. A large red and green Predacon, whose skin was shiny and smooth, almost chrome-like over the
chitinous pieces of exoskeleton that covered his body. Two sharp horns crown his head, and an insane gleam glitters in his optics.
     "So, Herald. You dare take on the Predacon masters? I shall shred you and spread your carcass across the waters of this world."
     "Brave words, Predacon…"
     The Predacon raises two arms that end in sharp drill bits, "The name is Scavenger!"
     With a roar the Predacon launches himself at you.

Earth : The Atlantic Shoreline

    You dodge his first lunge, swiftly bringing your staff around to smack him in the back, but he was ready, and brought his other drill up to defend.
     As you began to parry and dodge, you observed this Predacon. His technology was different. You had seen some others that had displayed this style, a shinier
metal covered him, a higher power rating. His technology was nearly equivalent to your own.
     But that wouldn’t save him.
     You knock his arms aside and dive low, allowing your wings to slash by him.
     The sharp, bladed edges on you smooth, bonelike wings sliced deep into the robot’s torso.
     He gives an urk of surprise and falls back, oils dripping out from his armoring.
     But his surprise was your advantage, you spun around to your back and threw your weapon at the robot, before he could react, the lance penetrated his
chestplate with a thunk.
     You instinctively reach out, and the weapon began to pull back toward you, bringing the Predacon along with it.
     He squirmed on the haft, trying to cut at it with his drills, but the light ivory that covered it was harder than any steel.
     You snatched the haft out and spun around again, delivering a viscious sqipe that sent the Predacon spiraling down into the dark waters below.
     As you stood at the end of the swipe, you rotated around, watching carefully the other Predacon’s. They hesitated, unsure of what to do.
     But not for long.
     The other six Predacon’s attacked.

Earth : The Atlantic ocean

     You lurch up drawing the Predacon’s after you. "Skyjack, Spacecase, respond!"
     There is a thunderous boom, and you see Skyjack spiraling toward the ocean.
     "Slag!   Spacecase, are you there?!?"
     No answer, and a slew of Predacon’s on your tail.
     "Decepticon, this is Optimus Prime, turn yourself to bearing three seven forty five. We’ll take care of the Predacon’s."
     Part of you rebels at accepting the Autobot’s help, but then, it’s always best to use your enemies against each other. You bank towards the vectors the Autobot
gave you.
     A thick cloud bank was made darker by the heavy smoke that poured from Metroplex, "A perfect place for an ambush…"
     You put on an extra burst of speed, and dive into the heavy cloud cover.
     You transform and hover for a moment, wondering if you had been in error.
     Then the cloud busts into light as blasters started up and missiles were launched. The cloud sepreated in a torent of displaced air and the Autobot’s could be
seen.
     The Predacon’s scattered at the onslaught of firepower. The robot you recognized as Optimus Prime, at least from Trypticon’s visions, stood atop a huge battle
sled, and other     Autobot’s clung to the battle sled, adding their own firepower to its. There were also several Maximals that flew out into the midst of the
Predacon swarm, smashing their way through the ranks and sending the Predacon’s scampering for safety.
     The attack was broken, the Predacon’s were now on the defensive.
     You joined in the slaughter, swinging your massive polearm in deadly arcs that sent the Predacon’s fleeing for their sparks.
     You turn to see that Optimus’ sled had seperated, and the lower half, with the other Autobot’s was staying to help chase the Predacon’s, while the upper half,
with Optimus Prime, was moving toward Trypticon and Tripredicus.
     "Where’s he going?" you wonder aloud.
     "He’s going to try to deal with that giant bug." A heavy southern drawl answers you. A silver robot on the sled was the source of the comment. He looked back
worriedly between blasts of icy cold nitrogen that he was unleashing on the Predacon forces.
     You look back, the Autobot fool would probably be torn to shreds, but at least he had to make the council weaker in the process. You turn your attention back
to the Predacon’s at hand.

Earth : The Atlantic ocean

    From out of the smoky skies you see a white and blue flash as Spacecase comes into view.
     "Spacecase! Get over here, why didn’t you answer me on the comm?!?"
     The jet turns directly at you and zooms toward your position, but no answer comes through.
     You get a strange feeling.
     You move just as two heavy missiles fire toward you from Spacecase’s wings. They shatter the air behind you with a thunderous explosion that sends you
reeling.
     "What the slag!?!?" you transform and dive out of the way as another explosion rocks the skies.
     "Traitor!!" you wing your way up toward the offending Decepticon and let loose with a barrage of cluster missiles. They crackle around him, burning his wings
and forcing him to transform.
     You fly past, your wings low and aimed directly at his midsection. He dodges, only taking a glancing blow to the torso. Your wings slice into him with a shower
of sparks though.
     You transform and bring your polearm to bear.
     You notice a blank expression on Spacecase’s face as he moves in toward you.
     --oh, great, someone’s got him mind zonked!!—
     You lurch in slicing downward with your stave, he backs away and brings two bat-like missiles up to parry. As you grapple, you see a panel that appears to have
been exposed and rewired.
     --Some Pred’s been doing some renovating with this idiots processors…--
     You twist around and slice through his midsection.
     "Too bad whoever played with your mind didn’t improve your skills."
     The Decepticon falls off to the water, smoking as he drops.
     You look around to assess the battle grounds. Most of the Predacon’s appeared to be slagged or surrendering.   Prime was grappled onto Tripredicus in a
struggle over Trypticon. Megatron had attacked the shuttle, and appeared to be giving Starscream the beating of his life. All along the shoreline, you could see a
collection of white tanks. Apparently some of this worlds armed forces come to lend a hand.
     "Looks like the battle is nearly over…"
     Then, a loud crackle and a bright green light attracted your attention.   You spin to see energy pouring out of the shuttle and engulfing Megatron and
Starscream…

Earth : The atlantic Shoreline

    You watch from the skies as the power surge engulfs the two robots. Their screams continue as the electricity arcs and surrounds them for cycles.
     Then, Megatron’s body falls into the ocean with a splash.
     You watch, however as the shuttle that they were near noticeably shifts in shape. It sheds it’s bulky, boxlike exterior, dropping them off into the water below.
Wings slide out and the form narrows down, compacting in on itself. The colors change to a gray and greenish camoflauge pattern. A huge gun appears underneath
it, some kind of gattling missile launcher!
     As the change finishes, you see Starscream transform and link to the back of the new ship, a huge ATF bomber! It’s wings were edged with shiny silver blades,
and bristling with racks of missiles!
     The V-shaped bomber jolted to life, flying around both Trypticon and Metroplex, and then landing on the beach below.
     --See, now Megatron too has returned to the fold. He and his greatest bane are linked forever as one. His soul will forever cry out to feed me…--
     You shake your head clear of the Dark God’s thoughts.
     --We shall see.—
     The battle is over, and you go to join the others on the beach.

Earth: The Atlantic beach

     The massive robot stretches out an arm and looks at it, "Fascinating."
     The group of Cybertronians facing it, look at each other apprehensively.
     Optimus Prime, scuff and damaged from his tussle with the monstrous Tripredicus was the first to react, "Megatron?"
     The large robots head snapped up at the name, his eyes glowing red for a brief second, then slowly shifting to a sparkling silver hue, "Yes, and more…"
     The smaller, aqua colored Autobot, Flood, spoke up, "Megatron, what happened?"
     The robots eyes glittered above the black faceplate, "The shuttle… it was created to house my spark?"
     A derisive snort came from a orange and rust colored robot that sat, hunkered down on a large rock on the beach. Oil and mech fluid dripped slowly from a
wound in his stomach. As he clenched at the exposed wires, Hooligan looked up at the others, "Yeah, that was how all this got started, sorta…"
     Optimus looked over at the old Decepticon, "Explain?"
     Hooligan gives a laborious sigh, "Well, at least that was where my part started here. You see, the Combaticons built that shuttle to try to reclaim the spark of
Megatron. Then, to get it to Earth without Starscream knowing about it, they sold it to… to this Predacon cat that I hired on with to get off of Cybertron."
     "How did the Decepticons know about Megatron?"
     Hooligan shrugged, "How did the Predacon’s know?"
     Flood shook his head, "The Predacon’s knew because of Razorclaw. He was working for them the whole time. He was on Earth as a Predacon scientist and
has been running tests on the water environments.   In the confusion with the Tripredicus council we forgot about him AND that he had the access codes we were
using here on Earth! He snuck on board Metroplex and detonated the bombs at the beginning of the battle today."
     Megatron looked over, "That explains the Predacon side of things, but still gives us no idea how the Combaticons knew where to find me."
     A lanky black robot with a red eye and huge silver wings shakes his head, "It appears that none of you are two adept at intrigue."
     All eyes turn back as he leans against one of the white Earth Defense Force tanks, the setting sun glinted off the red cockpit bubble on his chest, "If you want to
know how, why don’t you just ask someone who IS adept."
     "Who?" Flood gives Bladewing a stubborn look.
     The black and silver robot only raises a sword to point at the smaller of the paired robots standing on the beach. The formerly blue and black Starsream, now
hunkered in the shadow of his enormous counterpart, Megatron. His gray and green camouflage making his nearly invisible in the slanting light.
     "Soundwave." He states grumpily.
     Bladewing nods, "Soundwave, an ancient Decepticon adept in telepathy. He must have sensed where Megatron’s spark was."
     Prime looked dubious, "Then why not come earlier than three centuries?"
     Flood’s eyes got wider, "He couldn’t sense Megatron until I rebuilt him! When I found him and threw him into a CR chamber I started all of this off." He leans
back hard against another of the EDF tanks.
     Prime looks over his shoulder at the smaller bot, the sun shining through a crack in the glass crystal of his door-wing, "Don’t blame yourself, Flood. You only did
what was right."
     Megtron’s eyes glinted red, "Yes, ‘don’t blame yourself’. The only danger that has been caused was by the Predacon’s interference!" He spun toward the
crouched robot that sat slightly apart from the rest of the group, a black and orange carapaced robot with a slew of gun blast wounds across his back. He looked
up from the decapitated body that he was working on, stemming the flow of mech fluids from its gaping neck wound.
     Megatron’s gun raised, but Prime moved in front, "NO! It is over Megatron.   The council has lost, and are defeated."
     "Spare me your idealistic ways Optimus. One does not leave a enemy in his tent hoping that he will not slit your throat in the night."
     Flood moved to Megatron’s side, "No, he’s right. Remember what you told me! Remember how you just wanted to be left alone. Now is your chance! End
the wars here and now!!"
     Megatron seemed to consider this for a moment, then lowered his cannon.
     The Predacon, Powerpinch, was visibly relieved. He stood up, setting Hornet’s carcass down, "Now what."
     Prime sighed, placing his hand on the larger Megatron’s shoulder, "Now, we rebuild."

     The next week was spent with a combined effort at reconstructing Metroplex’s hull. It ended up being easier than expected, as his new technology
seemed to have a fairly advanced restructuring ability.
     The Predacon’s were all rebuilt, weapon’s deactivated, except for the Tripredicus council. It was by joint agreement that until they could be returned
to Cybertron that their bodies would remain in stasis lock.
     Megatron becomes listless as the days go by.   When approached he seemed agitated and angry. Even Optimus and Flood could not drag out of him
the reason. The strange duality of his voice did fade as a few days passed, however, and once again he and Starscream seemed to operate almost
independently.
     Extensive cleanup and geological repair began as soon as Metroplex was rebuilt. The ocean floor had taken considerable damage from Terrorsaur’s
attack, not to mention the several cities that had been slagged by the mad Predacon. The attack on Tripredicus didn’t help either. Around a hundred
miles of ocean shoreline suffered due to the battle, but with the combination of the Autobots, Maximals, Decepticons, and Predacons, repair efforts were
very successful.

     Bumblebee leaned back in the cushy chair in Metroplex’s main bridge. He was the only one on duty, and he was nearly ready to be relieved. It had been a quiet
night. Outside, Metroplex was working on a geological fault line that had been severely shaken by Terrorsaur, but the work he was doing required little or no help
from the smaller Cybertronians. The viewscreens were set to show the ocean depths. A beautiful coral reef was not too far off, and Bumblebee had early on set the
zoom to show the reef exclusively.
     Life swam across the massive screen in sharp relief as the computers on board Metroplex lit the area with a form of virutal definition. Colors were vivid and
sharp, and the seen was breathtaking.
     Or at least it was six hours ago when Bumblebee had first brought it up.
     Now, the golden robot sat cleaning his chromed gun. He had come a long way from the bubble-like body he first had on Earth. He was now a sleek car,
powerful, fast, and armed.
     He clicked his gun together with a resounding snap and holstered it back in his leg. He leaned back looking out into the blue waters again, nearly powering down
in boredom.
     The door behind him hisses open. In the glare of the control panel, Bublebee sees Rapido walk up and look over his shoulder.
     "Beautiful, ain’t it Rap?"
     "You were falling asleep."
     "Yeah, but let’s see how you do after six hours of waterworld."
     "Ok, get up. I know how to turn on the link to Earth’s holo vids. It’s a movie night tonight!" the red robot chided.
     Suddenly a small beep attracted both the robot’s attentions. Bumblebee hits a button and a star map of the local solar system appears in the center of the kelp
bed.   On the edge of the system, a large blinking ship appeared on the scanner.
     The two Autobots looked at each other in disbelief and worry.
     Then a screen panel blinked. A large rust colored, and slightly charred looking Cybertronian face appeared in the panel.
     "This is Backdraft, Captain of the Cybertron ship Soulfire. We are in a state of emergency and war. If there are any Cybertronians on Earth, please reply."

Earth: a wharehouse
     You stand, leaning against an Earth vehicle outside of a large wharehouse in the capital city of the planet. Looking at the sky, you wonder at the brilliant sun whose warmth seems flat and pale, somehow no longer reaching your very spark… or whatever Unicron had placed there.
     You hear a door slide and look over to see Bladewing tromp out.
     "Anything?" you ask the lanky black robot.
     "I found some transistors we could use to plug Optimus’ crankcase." He mutters in disgust.
     "Great." You sigh, "I don’t see what the Autobot’s see in this backwater mudball." You stand, flexing your bonelike wings.
     "Peace and harmony with the little fuzzy monkeys." He snorts.
     "Yeah, well, you’d think at least their capital city would have…"
     Bladewing’s com-unit bleeps, interrupting you.
     "Bladewing here." he answers the call.
     Megatron’s voice returns, "Bladewing. I need you to pick of the Human President and transport him to Trypticon’s current coordinates."
     "What? I’m no fleshy transport!"
     "I wasn’t asking. Bring him hear immediately, there’s a Cybertron ship landing and the President wishes to be here for the meeting. Megatron out."
     His red optic rotates out as he looks over at you, "Cybertron ship?"
     Your eyes glint, "Looks like we just had an opportunity opened to us. In fact, since you have orders to… ‘get’ this planet’s leader. Perhaps we have multiple opportunities."
     "Hmm… we’ll see. Bladewing, birdy mode!"
     He transforms into the compact black jet, with his long, outstretched silver wings splitting the air before him as he launches toward the Captital building.
     You transform and roar after him, your own bone-colored wings shimmering with energy in the anticipation of a break from the boredom.

     The two of you waited patiently in vehicle mode in the middle of a green lawn that stretched out in front of the odd looking white building.
     A small, and armed entourage marched out, with the President in the middle.
     "Greetings, Bladewing… and Deathspire I believe?"
     Before Bladewing can answer, you speak out, "Greentings Mr President. Megatron has asked us to assure your safe arrival to Decepticon city."
     Meanwhile, you send an undercurrent transmission across the lawn at Bladewing, "We must be the diplomats in this situation. No good in arising suspicions of anything other that the obedient servants until we have a plan."
    "Thank you, Deathspire." The lanky elder man moved up beside Bladewing.
     His red bubble cockpit slides open, revealing a mass of blinking lights and controls. The President is helped up by one of his guards.
     As the cockpit shuts, you see Bladewing flare his engines, with a bit extra power than is necessary. He launches into the air, leaving two char marks on the green lawn.
     You rise into the air after him…

Earth: heading towards Trypticon

As you and Bladewing soar through the evening sky, streaking your way toward Trypticon at top speeds, you ponder the string of events that had brought you hear. Your mind wanders, until suddenly you find yourself in a quasi-dream state.

You see below you the ruins of Cybertron, rusted and choked with vegetation, ape-like creatures swing to and from amidst the crumbling towers that once dotted the skyline with electric light.

--You see?—

Unicron’s voice…

--This is what is destined for your race. For all your perfection and power, you shall become no more than scrapmetal memories in a jungle of life.—

“Why do you show me this!?!” you yell.

--This can be stopped, you can stop it.—

“You’re giving me a choice?!”

--There are no choices, but willingly do my bidding and you will rule Cybertron.—

“So to rule I must be a slave!?!?”

--Slave, puppet, pawn… as you choose. You have to true choice in the matter.--

“There is always a choice!!!”

--For a spark, yes, maybe… but I remind you that you have no true spark. You are mine to do with as I please…--

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Megatron was flying at your side.

It snaps you out of your reverie.

Your com beeps, “Bladewing, return the President to Trypticon. I would have a word with Deathspire.”

With that, he peels off from the small back jet. You turn and follow him downward, past the clouds.

He transforms and lands on the side of a cliff with a thud.

You’re surprised to see that your still near land, even though the ocean shoes below you were crashing against the cliffside.

“What do you know.” The leader starts as you transform and land lightly beside him.

“Know?”

“I can read your markings as you well know. I know you are a herald, and I know whom for. We’ve been over that. Now I want to know what you know about what is going on back on Cybertron.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

The part of him that is now Starscream sighs, “Really, you don’t believe he will tell you. As Galvatron, you were completely controlled by Unicron. What makes you so sure he isn’t?”

You eyes narrow as you glare at the other robot. He stood as tall as you did, and seemed unimpressed by your stare.

The larger Megatron stepped in between, “Unicron is powerful, and I have no doubt that he is fully in control of Deathspire.”

You wings twitch menacingly against this.

“You may not like it, but it is true, Deathspire. But one thing Unicron is not is modest. Why else send a robot with the markings of ‘Herald’ on him. He always revelled in the knowledge that his victims knew what was coming. He always fed on the Chaos it caused. So I ask again, What do you know?”

You shake your head, “I know little. What I do know is given to me in feelings and dreams. Almost as if I had a pipeline to Unicron’s whims. I know that something is threatening to destroy Cybertron. Destroy life as we know it.”

“Gee.. Unicron?” Starscream snaps.

“No! Not Unicron, or not… exactly.”

“What do you mean?” Megatron’s eyes narrow.

“I don’t know. All I know is that he is watching, and that he is coming.”

“Coming? Or already here?”

“No… There’s something… else. Something powerful, but not Unicron. I don’t believe he has appeared yet.”

Megatron stares out at the ocean for a few minutes.

Starscream’s eyes glint red in the evening sky, “I say we scrap him. Better not to have a wolf in the fold…”

Megatron turns, “Seems like I have no choice sometimes. No, I believe that this is a chance to hold a line to our enemy. Deathspire, I want you to listen in on what is told at this meeting. I want to know what Unicron is feeling… thinking… anything that may help us. When it is time for decisions to be made, however, I want you to leave.”

“Leave?”

Starscream snaps a tree in half out of boredom, “He doesn’t want Unicron to know what WE’re doing!”

You glare at him for a moment, then back at Megatron, “Understood.”

“Very well, then let us return to host our… guests.”

A long table ran along the walls and sat all the others assembled here. At the forefront was Optimus Prime. Megatron sat beside him and the Earth President beside him.

The crew of the ship, the Soulfire, stood in the center of the gathered crowd.

Optimus spoke, “Autobot, Decepticon, Maximal, Predacon, Cybertron, Destron, and Human. For the first time in perhaps all of our history do we all stand side by side, joined in peace and united through a common danger. For those of you who do not yet know why we are here, Cybertron has again fallen under attack. Our homeworld has become the target of conquest from an outside force, and now calls to us to stand against it’s would be enslavers. Captain Backdraft is the first ship to reach us, to ask for our assistance in this new fight. He will now, hopefully, shed some light on what has happened on our homeworld.”

Silence reigns in the room. With a heavy sigh, Captain Backdraft squared his shoulders and began…

Earth: Trypticon
As the conference starts you stand in the back, broiling over your meeting with Megatron and Starscream.

--I will not be a pawn, to Unicron or Megatron!—

The Cybertron Captain rolls through introductions of himself and his crew. Then makes the proclamation of war.

Something inside you twitches. Something that doesn’t come from you.

--Pride? Is this your doing Unicron?—

--No, it is not my work, but the seeds of Chaos have been sown by mine.—

--‘By mine?’—

But nothing other than a faint, mocking laughter echoes in the cold mechanics of your artificial spark.

A transmission cuts across your thoughts, “Deathspire,” it was Megatron, “Now is the time to… step out.”

Your eyes narrow and you spin, moving out of the chamber as you hear Megatron stand and speak.

As you walk through the halls, a new voice enters your mind. Trypticon’s voice.

--They plan to attack.--

“Yeah, and what of it.”

--Why did you leave the chamber?—

“I needed some fresh air?”

--Or do you not truly work for this… Megatron?—

You stop, glaring at the ceiling for lack of point of reference, “And what if I don’t!”

A low rumble, maybe a chuckle, --Then you are not alone. But why play the hand of mutiny until a way is found to restore us to our home?—

“Who said anything about m… about that.” You check yourself.

--My interest is destruction, I care not what form it comes in. I will rampage here, or rampage through the streets of my homeworld, but I shall not be enslaved by him or by anyone else.—

You step out onto a launching platform, “Sometimes we have no choice.”

You transform and lurch out into the night sky over the dark, brooding seas.

Earth : Trypticon

The night air was cool and damp under your wings as you streaked across the vast depths of the Atlantic.
Your mind was broiling with thoughts. Why was Trypticon so interested… Unicron had called him a ‘similar spark,’ What had he meant?

Storms swirled below you as you climbed above the clouds, out into the upper atmosphere. Here the velvety darkness was speckled with pinpricks of cold light. No more did you feel interested in the light or the dark. They were only conditions, states other than yours, and held no sway to your spark or emotions.

Emotions… But the emotions were still there. The bitterness, the hatred, the darkness that covered your spark was far from the emptiness that you would have expected. Almost as if something had siphoned off any appreciation for beauty, for laughter, for valor, and had replaced them…

You transformed and hit the ground with the clattering of your wings and joints.

You had been flying without thinking for some time. You now look around a field of soft grass that seems to whisper in the cold night breeze. The moon pours over hills that twist and wind around, with small clusters of trees far off that clung together in the darkness.

A low mist clung to the ground and whipped about your feet as you moved forward.

--Why am I here?—

The sound of the shoreline could no longer be heard. You weren’t even sure how far inland you were. Hours had passed, and you did know you were heading East-Northeast the whole time.

Somewhere far off the soft roll of thunder could be heard.

You notice an outcropping of rock, and for some reason know that that was why you were here. Moving closer, you can see the rocks were ancient, jutting straight out of the Earth at an odd angle. Massive, the largest one towering nearly your size, they stretched up from where they had been embedded for centuries.

You look at them long and hard. Then with a sweeping motion, you pull your weapon, slicing through the rock as if it was air. Huge chips slide down and away as you make the rock… more manageable.

You bring the scythe down again and again, until, suddenly, a large piece of the rock slid away.

There was a hollow inside of the rock…

The pale moonlight shined over the rock, shined into the mold that had been formed by what the rock had once contained.

From when it had contained you…

You stared at the mold from when you had been reformed, from where you had been transported to this place and time.

You think back, remembering the cocoon of rock that had surrounded you, of the clicking of Error’s claws as he scrabbled to get too you, of the energy as it built up, the warp that had formed.

You looked down and noticed something… There was a break in the bottom. And burned into the rock was a claw shaped impression.

“So, this is where it ended… Where Syntax’ quest finally ended.”

--and if so, then could Unicron’s tomb be held near this place?!?—

Another voice broke the stillness, “Where Syntax’ quest ended and where mine began.”

You spun to see the spiked form of Error standing on top of a hill not too far away. His eyes glittered red and deadly in the darkness.

“We started this fight millennia ago. It is time I end it.”

Earth
You bring your scythe out with a crackling sweep of energy. The smaller, spiked warrior bristled, flexing his large claws. They glinted deadly in the foggy night.

“Still you persist in your delusions, Syntax?” you begin to circle with him, “Merely changing form and name does not include the ability to defeat me!”

“Syntax died in that crash. I was created…”

“Recreated… Just like me…”

“NO! You are an abomination. Do you think I don’t know what lay below this ground?!? Do you think I couldn’t feel his corrupted hand sweep us both from our places in this universe!! You are no transformer, you have become his slave!!”

You roar in rage, bursting into action with your scythe. The moist air sizzled and popped as it came sweeping down. His claws came to block, and you feel a sharp explosion against your chest as two spikes fire out from his armor. You roll back, flipping and allowing your wing blades to strike against the opposing warrior.

Sparks fly from the other, but you too were damaged. Another volley of spikes fired out, but you were quicker, jumping up, spinning scythe held above you.

The missiles crash into the ground with an explosive rumble. You can make out part of the hillside by the stone as it began to crumble and collapse.

You bring the scythe under your arm and channel a charge of energy through it. It hisses as it whips out toward Error, making him leap away as it ripped up rock and dirt around him.

He flies back, loosing his balance in the spray. You charge forward, bringing the scythe down with a thunderous smash.

He dodges, barely, letting the scythe, and your weight, crash into the ground. The earth tore open, send the both of you tumbling down into the darkness…

You push yourself up. The damage was minimal, but it had knocked you prone for a few segments. The cavern you were in was huge, and dark. Something seemed terribly familiar about it.

“So here is where you sold your spark, Decepticon.” You hear Error spit from somewhere to your right.

You look to see him staggering up, in mainly the same, stunned condition you were still grappling with.

You look back into the darkness of the cavern.

“I was give no choice.” You whisper desperately to the darkness.

You sweep around with your blade, sending another shot of blue white energy towards Error. He moved, barely dodging the blast, as it roared by him and into the far wall.

In it’s bright light, the cavern was illuminated for a brief second…

And in that second, the skulls of a million creatures were lit in brilliant relief, their sightless eyes locked blamingly on the two of you in the darkness.

You stopped, and from the silence, you had no doubt that Error had seen as well.

There was a snap and a his. Something bright clattered in the darkness, a flare. It began to spin and then grew in brightness, until the vague shadows of the walls were visible.

You stood at the edge of a great underground basin. Still, black waters rested, with only the ripples from the flare that now bobbed heavily in the center of its dark surface. The walls that stretched up and away from it were lined with skull upon skull, bone upon bone. Some areas randomly seemed to coalesce, as if there were a picture being represented, but the shadows made it difficult to tell what the bone sculpture revealed. You looked down at your feet to see where bones encrusted the earth there as well. Hands that lay flat, as if protecting themselves from your feet. Skulls, already crushed and shattered from where you had fallen, as well as several other places… perhaps even where you had tread all those hundred of millenia ago.

“So this is where Unicron lies…” you hear an awed and deeply fearful whisper.

But no… there was no presence here. A part of you remembered before, when he had picked you up and forced you to live again. Then you had felt him all around, even before he announced himself.

Something like that could never stay hidden…

There was nothing here.

Earth : Unicron's Tomb
You spin on your heel to face Error again, “Look, I was never given a choice. I was dead, and wanted to stay dead. He brought me back… He put this abomination of a spark in me…”

“Why tell me this…” Error spits out, turning himself from the macabre walls, “What do you want, PITY!?!?”

“NO!!! What I want is his destruction! What I want is vengeance and peace! What I want is freedom for my spark!!”

Error stops, seeming to consider this.

“You are one of the few links I have to this past, and as much as I hate to admit it, possibly one of the few I can trust. You already know my darkest secret, and know what it could signify.

I am marked as Herald, as the forecomer of the Chaos Bringer. If he transported us here, to this time, then it was to warn them of his coming!”

You definitely had the hedgehog-bot’s attention.

“Look around you. No FEEL around you. Nothing is here, HE is no longer here. This was where Unicron slept, but why is he no longer here?”

Error folds his arms over his bristling chest, “What are you suggesting?”

“A truce, put aside our differences, maybe even work together to find out exactly what Unicron has in store for Cybertron.”

Error shakes his head, “And why should I trust you?”

You snort, “Trust me? Why should I trust YOU? You’re the one holding all the cards. I have no secrets against you, I’m quite sure that if you told anyone about it, I’d be slag dripping in a segment, if I wanted to, we could continue this fight, I’m quite sure the outcome would be favorable to me…”

“You always did underestimate your opponents.”

“Not this time. My opponent is the Chaos Bringer, and it’s not likely I’ll survive the fight, but I swear, I will get my spark back, and I will see that bastard locked back in the depths of an eternal slumber.”

Error again considered for a moment, “Then it’s a truce.”

“Truce.”

Suddenly, the enormous cavern seemed stifling, and you could feel a million eyes watching you.

You shiver, “Let’s get out of here. We can talk more about this elsewhere, far away from here.”

“Agreed.”

You leap into the air, heading toward the crack in the ceiling, but, stopping at the entrance, you look down to notice that error has a bit of a befuddled look on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

His eyes narrow, “Can’t fly.”

Suppressing a laugh, you drop back down and extend your hand.

Error regards the extended hand for a second, then reaches up and clasps it with a thick, wide claw…

Earth : Metroplex

You return to the cities with Error. Both of you decide that the higher towers would be the safest place to sit and discuss the problem of Unicron.
High above Metroplex, the two of you stood on a small platform that overlooked the Atlantic ocean. The sun was rising, and turning the sea into a glittering sheet of gold.

“So,” begins Error, “What happened to you, what exactly happened to you…”

“Well, after we rightly killed each other, I woke up in a cave, held prisoner by some Predacon using Megatron’s name. He wanted to suck my brain dry of tactical knowledge and then deactivate me… Correction, he did pick my brain and then bury me. I went into stasis…”
“Stasis? Didn’t he rebuild you… give you?”

“Yeah, but he didn’t give me a beast body, or update any of my systems the way yours were by, I assume, the Maximals. I had no protection from the energon that was present here at that time.”

“So, this Megatron buried you and left you for dead.”

“No, he buried me and I died.”

“What?”

“Well, I survived for a while, and while I struggled, I found a cave. A voice seemed to call to me from it’s depths, and I couldn’t help but follow it. After all, I had nothing else to loose… or so I thought. I followed it, and then ran into you.”

“In the cavern underground. Where you decided to cave in that lake on me.”

Your eyes sparkle with amusement, “Yeah, I was washed out and down another set of tunnels, and into that tomb we just came from. My systems were bad, and I could barely move.”

“And?”

“And, as far as I can figure out, he waited till the moment my spark expired and rebuilt an artificial one to replace it.”

“Didn’t you tell him no?”

“Yeah, he told me the choice wasn’t mine.”

“So… you have an artificial spark?”

You look down and your chest plates shift. They rotate open, revealing the robotic conglomeration that took the place of your spark.

Error looked shaken.

“So, in all respects, I died.”

“And now?”

“Now, I want revenge on the Dark God himself.”

He paused and considered it all, “Who else knows?”

“Megatron. Something is left inside of him from when Unicron created Galvatron.”

“Is he…?”

“No, he’s not controlled, not really, but I’m afraid the spark of Chaos within him is still eating away at his mind.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Visions… taunts… Unicron keeps showing me things, as if to have someone else to laugh at them with. I saw that Megatron is more than just he alone. There are many who are tampering in his mind, and it may begin to drive him mad. Unicron said that there would be no escape for me, just as there was none for him…”

“And what did Megatron say?”

“He want’s to use me to keep Unicron at bay, or at least to know what he’s up to.”

“How?”

“I can… sense Unicron’s presence, and sometimes he talks to me.”

“And so he can also see through you?”

“I don’t know… I don’t know if he’s seeing through me, or if he can just see everything.”

“For now I’ll help you, but if your lying to me, or somehow…”

“You saw the cavern, you know what it was, and you’ve seen what passes for me ‘spark’.” You spit the last.

“Agreed. Don’t let Megatron know that I know. That way at least you have an ace card in case he tries too much, or goes overboard.”

Error leaves you to your thoughts, overlooking the vast ocean, your mind wanders…

--The champions are awaking…--

“What? Who?”

--They will now bear my banner.—

“Then what about me…”

--You still have a purpose to serve.—

“What purpose?!?”

--Soon, you will return and find Wargod—

“Who?! Who is Wargod!?!?”

--Soon you shall return…--

Earth :Trypticon

--Wargod… Wargod… who the slag is Wargod!!??!—

You had spent the last two days sitting in Trypticon’s data storage building searching for things that referenced a Wargod. You so far had no luck.

There were no transformers past or present that were registered with the name Wargod. Nor were there any historical accounts or mythological accounts of anything or anyplace bearing that name.

--Is Wargod Unicron?—

You were positive that he wasn’t. Unicron had spoken as if he were another… someone else. Your mind burned in it’s quest for a light.

“Computer link all references to Unicron available.”

A list of references scrolled down the screen. Most were items in the past or mythology, but also included were the last two Unicron wars. The outcome of the second had been the leftover head that orbited Cybertron for quite some time. But that had been shattered and now little remained other than the horn that the Decepticons had stolen and attached to the Warworld.

--Could Unicron be coming back on the Warworld?—

Possible, even plausible... He would need a body, wouldn’t he?

You tap in a few commands, bringing up a history on the Warworld.

It showed the original Warworld, as well as some shaky pictures of the Warworld that now floated above Cybertron. They differed slightly… not surprising considering the time that had passed since the Warworld was in action.

You scanned through the history. It was a battle moon created by Bludgeon… extremely powerful, and meant to be a birthing place for new Decepticon warriors.

--Birthing place… yeah, the Laser Rods came from there… and some other transformers from around the time of the Jhiaxus’ conquest…--

You scroll down.

--But how did they come from there… they weren’t mindless they had sparks. But the only thing that could create sparks…--

There it was.

Apparently, Megatron killed Bludgeon, and mounted his head on the Warworld’s command deck. He then returned to Earth and ripped the Matrix of Creation and Leadership from Optimus Prime’s body. Megatron returned to the Warworld and attached the matrix to the moon, giving it the ability to form life.

Then, Starscream had gotten a hold of it, and merged himself with the Warworld and the matrix.

This all ended when the swarm attacked and nearly destroyed the Warworld. Starscream separated, and he an Megatron returned to Earth to stop the swarm. Meanwhile, Prime reclaimed the Matrix and used it to imbue the cloud with intelligence.

--Yeah, I remember all this… vaguely. Bladewing is a Laser Rod. He must have come from the Warworld.—

You continued reading. The Warworld drifted off into space, over ninety percent of it had been eaten by the Swarm.

--The Decepticons must have recovered it and rebuilt it, attaching the Horn to it…--

Something about it all struck you as odd. You aren’t sure what… but something.

Earth :Trypticon

You wander out into the salty air outside.

--The Warworld…--

You wanted a closer look, but how? You were galaxies away, and no ship was to leave the Earth until the armada was gathered.

It was nearly morning, with the false dawn lighting the sky in a pale gray-blue color. The wind whipped across Trypticon’s decks as you walked and pondered in the silent dawn.

Sounds echo hollowly through the city from some solitary point. A tfirst, you pay them little heed, figuring they were just working on the connection between Soulfire and the two massive cities.

--They don’t work this early…--

You decide it might be worth a look.

You find the source across the way on Metroplex’ landing decks. Atop it was a sleek black ship. Not a very large one, but rather more of an advanced shuttle. It looked fairly well outfitted though, very advanced.

--It’s being prepped…--

Indeed, the ship was being prepared in the misty morning for takeoff. Of course, it could just be headed to the Moon Base or the orbiting station…

--But it is returning home…--

Unicron!!

--Go, with them, return to Cybertron and see my progeny.—

--Progeny?!?!—

But the voice was gone again. You look to see a grouping boarding the ship, you recognize most of them, a mercenary called Skyjammer, The Transmetal mutant Lightslayer, the robot Zabgoth who had the new ‘Vehicon’ armor, an Earth Mech custom model that entered with them, and even Bladewing.

--Now why is he going with them…?—

They boarded the ship in silence, and the hatchwouund it’s way up. No one else appeared around as the engines began to hum with life.

--Well, I wanted a closer look…--

You transform as the ship began to lift off. Swooping low, you swept under it and attached to its underbelly as it lifted up and pointed up into the atmosphere.

--This is gonna hurt.—

The ship burns its way free of the atmosphere.

The strange bone-like armoring of your Unicron granted body faired remarkably well in the heat caused by leaving the atmosphere, and soon, you found yourself in the glittering cold of space.

Your regulators kicked in, keeping you from freezing solid while you clung tenuously to the belly of the black ship.

A carbon residue covered you, camoflauging you from any prying eyes you bight pass, but for some reason, the ship steered away from all the Earth sattelites, as if to keep its presence a secret.

As it floated into deeper space, you locked down for a long ride, setting most of your systems in stasis for the flight… home.

Earth :Trypticon

You wander out into the salty air outside.

--The Warworld…--

You wanted a closer look, but how? You were galaxies away, and no ship was to leave the Earth until the armada was gathered.

It was nearly morning, with the false dawn lighting the sky in a pale gray-blue color. The wind whipped across Trypticon’s decks as you walked and pondered in the silent dawn.

Sounds echo hollowly through the city from some solitary point. A tfirst, you pay them little heed, figuring they were just working on the connection between Soulfire and the two massive cities.

--They don’t work this early…--

You decide it might be worth a look.

--It’s being prepped…--

Indeed, the ship was being prepared in the misty morning for takeoff. Of course, it could just be headed to the Moon Base or the orbiting station…

--But it is returning home…--

Unicron!!

--Go, with them, return to Cybertron and see my progeny.—

--Progeny?!?!—

--Now why is he going with them…?—

They boarded the ship in silence, and the hatchwouund it’s way up. No one else appeared around as the engines began to hum with life.

--Well, I wanted a closer look…--

You transform as the ship began to lift off. Swooping low, you swept under it and attached to its underbelly as it lifted up and pointed up into the atmosphere.

--This is gonna hurt.—

The ship burns its way free of the atmosphere.

The strange bone-like armoring of your Unicron granted body faired remarkably well in the heat caused by leaving the atmosphere, and soon, you found yourself in the glittering cold of space.

Your regulators kicked in, keeping you from freezing solid while you clung tenuously to the belly of the black ship.

A carbon residue covered you, camoflauging you from any prying eyes you bight pass, but for some reason, the ship steered away from all the Earth sattelites, as if to keep its presence a secret.

As it floated into deeper space, you locked down for a long ride, setting most of your systems in stasis for the flight… home.

The Crusader-1

--Stasis lock disengaged. All systems active.—

You could feel the warmth of the atmosphere around you. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the heat from exiting the Earth’s atmosphere. Cybertron had a considerably lighter atmosphere, and the ship seemed to be taking it’s good time getting close to the surface.

--Must be working on avoiding sensors.—

Soon, the ship was flying low across the surface.

You kept your perch, waiting until the ship began to slow. It was near a city you believe is called Prosiphony. Just outside of its borders, actually.

A few kilometers outside of the city sat a Cyber-plain. Flat expanses of metallic ground, dotted with the occasional housing station, or vast smelting pool. It was out in these areas that stores of raw materials were created, and it was here where the ship seemed to be landing.

You took a moment and shifted from where you were. It wouldn’t do to have the ships occupants come out and see a hitchhiker.

The cool, steel landscape was good to see after all this time. It had been decades since you had been able to return home, nearly a century of piratry had made you quite an exhile.

You hear the hatch below slide open.

“He’s a bit of a loner.” A big skull-faced robot says as he steps down from the Crusader-1’s gangplank.

A cat strolled out beside him, black and purple, with a Transmetal II body. He appeared to be sniffing the Cybertronian air, “This isn’t anything like your last… ‘friend’ is it?” he gave the other a sharp look.

“Who was his last friend?” Bladewing seemed to appear from the shadows below the ship.

Another robot, green and bluish gay camoflauged, turned at the entryway as a white and silver EDF tank hovered out, and started locking the hatch, “The Decepticon they brought back in pieces. Apparently he tried to hijack and kill them.”

The tank’s hatch opens and an Earth Lieutenant’s head pokes up, “Oh, great. Aren’t we here to look for help?”

“It’s cool, he’s nothing like that… This one is a real friend. He had me run a lot of shipments for him…”

“So, where is he? It’s not like he could miss a ship landing in his backyard.” Bladewing scanned around nervously.

“Over there!” The cat called, he had walked out from under the wings of the Crusader and was looking out at a low-lying factory about a kilometer away.

“Yeah, that’s his place alright.”

“Then let’s go…” the camoflauged bot transforms and hover for a second, causing you to duck behind the engines, while the rest of them change as well…

Cybertron: The Plains.

You watch as the two speed off, wanting to follow them, but there were still two robots left..

As they streaked away you see Lightslayer turn back to the earth Lieutenant who was staring strangely at the sky, “So, I guess that just leaves us to sit and wait…”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” The lietenant slides back down into the tank-mech he was in and turns it to head back up the ramp.

You see the other sigh and scan out over the plains.

--C'mon, C'mon, go back inside!--

You watch as he turns and heads back up the ramp.

--Good, now to clean off.--

A quick charge through your frame repels the carbon scoring from the atmosphere reentry. Quickly you leap up and transform into your jet mode, a shimmering energy field stretching between the estentions of your wings. You burn your way up quickly and out over the vast plains toward where Zabgoth and Skyjammer had gone.

You reach them as two shotgun blasts echoe off the vast expanse. Staying to the clouds you watched down below as the two stood inside some kind of pen, with a gigantic six legged, 'Y' horned beast. On a small building stood another robot, a Maximal, with two guns in either hand, with a quick jerk he cocks the weapons and re-aims them at Zabgoth and Skyjammer.

You could hear the heavily accent edvoice from the roof,“Nope. An’ I’d appreciate it if’n you didn’t go shootin’ at mah cows.”

This newcomer was shaggy brown, with the head of a Bison on his chest, white, silver, and gold robotic parts could be seen from beneath

“Now, I expect I’m lookin’ for an explanation’ how you two are sitting here shooting up mah cattle?”

“Bonecrusher!" Zabgoth cries out, "You shag brained excuse for a backwoods inbred Maximal! It’s ME! Zabgoth!”

From beneath a mop of fur, the Maximal peered at him for a second before his face split into a wide grin, “ZABGOTH!” His guns were up in a flick, and the thick bodied Bonecrusher was on the ground, shooing away his ‘cattle’.

For a few cycles he worked on shoo-ing the large creature back into the kennel-building. he spoke with the two about how he bred them for delicacies enjoyed by the Beast-bots around the planet. As he finished up, Zabgoth started talking, “We’ve got a few others back at the ship, and we’re looking for a place to hole up for a few days.”

“Hole up? You in trouble?”

“Well, sortof. You see, we’re just returning to Cybertron now, and we were sent here from the Cybertronian Armada."

”The Cybertronian Armada!? HAH! That’s a good one!” He slaps Zabgoth on the shoulder.

“No, really. We’re advanced scouts to see how Cybertron’s holding up.”

“Holding up?”

“After the siege?”

“Oh, you mean that mess over in Cybertropolis?”

“…yeeeeaaahhh…”

“Cost me a pretty penny in shipments. Shut the slaggin’ city down for nearly three weeks! Now, Iacon is nothing but hot slag, but I hear their even allowing that to be rebuilt.”

Skyjammer butts in, “You mean that Cybertropolis is open again?”

“Sure, Decepticon’s just wanted control. Nothin’ but a political battle from what I understood.”

“Political battle?!” you gape, “They slagged a city, shut it’s surrounding cities down, killed thousands, and you say it’s just political!?”

“Hey parnter, back up. I’m no soldier, not anymore. What they fight over is their business. So they say they’re in control, big deal. Don’t effect my work none too much. But hey, you want a place to hole up, you got it. Get your friends and we’ll head back the homestead. It’s about five kilometers East of here…”

Cybertron: The Plains

Zabgoth and Skyjammer quickly accept Bonecrusher's offer of hospitality. Once the animals were locked down, the three of them made their way back to the ship.

You follow behind them, watching them carefully, but keeping to the hazy covering clouds. As they reached the ship, Bladewing appeared and greeted them. "I think that after a short rest, I should be the one to head to Cybertropolis."

"Whoa," Skyjammer steps up to you, "Who said anything about splitting up?"

"It's what you two just did."

Zabgoth grins, "The bladebot want's to risk his wings, let 'im."

Skyjammer thinks about it for a second and shruggs, "We'll need some preliminary mappings at any rate. I guess if any of us couldmake it he could. C'mon lets go talk to the others."

The four of them board the Crusader-1.

You land on top of the ship, thinking about what to do... There was something else... You had an... odd feeling whenever you see Bladewing. you had hung out with him a bit on Earth, but not that much... The feeling was an almost loathsome kinship to him in some strange respect.

As you sat there pondering this, the engines kicked in. You lurch and grab onto the top of the ship as it lifted into the skies of Cybertron.

Cybertron: The Ranch

The ship climbs into the heated light of the smooth silvery plains. Cybertron was fairly near to a star at the moment, and it's radiation glittered warmly off the shiny surfaces out here, warming the area, and turning the skies a reddish gray color.

The large, armed shuttle glided smoothly a short distance to where a sprawling collection of buildings and silos were spread out.

You jumped clear as the ship passed one of the silos, hiding atop it from the activity below.

Several Cybertronians and worker drones came out as the ship landed, and helped to moor, unload, and camouflage the battle shuttle.

As you watched, you took the time to ponder your purpose.

--What am I doing here. Unicron tells me to return home and I jump at the chance?!? Now, I'm stuck in the shadows following these amateurs. They seem to bicker amongst each other more than anything else.--

You slide down near a large building, sliding behind it's wide bay-like doors. Inside, machinery and tools were scattered around.

--Hmm... A garage of sorts. And plenty of equipment to jury rig a few spy drones to keep an eye on those bots, and they might even be useful to return to Cybertropolis.--

You knew that Cybertropolis was a considerable distance away, but you would eventually have to go there. That had been where the Decepticon attack had touched down, and that was where the Warworld itself floated in synchronous orbit.

You set to making two small camera drones for starters. They could transmit and operate on a quiet repulsor system. Not the most intelligent things, but their information gathering would be most useful.

Within a mega-cycle one was up and running. It was time for it's first test...

The room was spacious, and covered with dark corners. A large table was spread out with mapping gear that they had pulled from the Crusader-1. The grouping of Cybertronians was gathered here talking over a 3D representation of Cybertropolis itself.

Your drone took up a dark corner, opposite of another silently sulking watcher, Bladewing.

The others in the room included the owner of the large Ranch, Bonecrusher and an orange armored helper of his, Lightslayer, Zabgoth, Skyjammer, the human in his Earth mech, and a newcomer, a small greenish Maximal.

"Like I said," the small Maximal shrugged, "They're moving from spot to spot, on patrols and such."

Bonecrusher leaned against the wall, with his aide in the shadows behind him, both watching impassively as your group bickered about what was to be done. Now, the shaggy bot leaned forward a bit, "Y'know, he's right. 'dillo here's been on the delivery runs. Sez that you gotta register and sign a few documents and passports to even get into the city. Apparently everything is under lock and key by the new government. It hasn't slowed anyone down really, not now that there's the chance to get back to business."

"So then, how do we get back inside?" Skyjammer was looking at the limited access ports. The city was fairly easily defendable, at least from land assault. Of course, the massive blasts and sheer brutality of the Warworld's attack was enough to bring it to its knees...

"We don't. I do." spoke the silent Bladewing from his spot in the darkened corner. You had almost forgotten about the black and silver Decepticon... or former Decepticon. You had noted that the Cybertronian had removed his sigil sometime since leaving Earth.

Lightslayer stood up, "You can't just go waltzing in there alone. Springback and I..."

"Can stay here. Where I'm safe!!" snapped Bladewing with considerable venom in his voice, "You brought me along for just such work. You are a warrior, a tactician! He... he is a rabbit! I'll be far safer alone than with you taggin on my heels."

Skyjammer holds his hands up, "Look, I see both of your points, but if we send one out, then the chances for his being destroyed, and the rest of us never finding out is multiplied by a thousand."

Zabgoth shrugs, "Yah, well why should any of us sit on our carburetors then?"

Lighstlayer shook his head, "We'll be most effective in two teams. You, the Lieutenant , and Skyjammer can be one. Me, Bladewing, and Springback can be the other."

"Whoa!" The little Maximal rabbit protested, "Why do I get to go on this party?! I wasn't the one who got volunteered for this suicide run!!"

Lightslayer grabbed him by the scruff, "Because you are a Maximal. And the peace and health of Cybertron is a load that you must bear!"

Bonecrusher claps his hands, "Bravo, bravo, bravo... Touching and sincere, but I still think your plan has a problem."

Lightslayer glares across the room at the hefty Bonecrusher, "And that is?"

"Well, seems to me that you've lost one of your numbers already."

"What?" Lightslayer glances around, as do you... for the first time realizing that Bladewing has disappeared.

"HAH!" Zabgoth laughs, "Looks like the old razor head is the most suicidal of us all!"

The Lieutenant jumps up and heads for the door, "He couldn't be far. I can catch up to him!"

"You?!?" Lightslayer grimaces.

"Me! You'll have to trust me. I figured a way to trace him, but I have to stay near to him. My tank will make sure of that!"

You recalled the drone and stepped outside to see the others running out into the hazy dusk...

Cybertron: The Ranch

You react quickly, before the confusion departs from the tangle of Maximals.

"Deathspire, Jet Mode!" You shift easily with several clicks into the smooth jet mode and bolt straight up into the air, into the atmosphere, where, thankfully, there was still a considerable amount of gray green clouds to blot you from sight.

You let your engines flare into life, bolting you forward on the advanced repulsion systems that Unicron had laid in place. Immediately, and surprisingly, Bladewing showed up on your sensors, as plain as day.

--Wierd. Perhaps my sensors are attuned a bit differently...--

It wouldn't surprise you, after all, this mutate body still hadn't had a full examination, but you couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than that...

--As you should.--

--Unicron!--

Again, the monstrous entity seemed to be making a game of some cosmic consequence out of your life. Egging you on, and leading you where he may.

As you followed Bladewing, you soon became aware of yet another group tailing him. Apparently, the human and his earth tank, and Zabgoth had also headed out and were attempting to keep a subtle tail on Bladewing. Surprisingly, he seemed unaware that they were even on his trail. You, however had little problem picking them up.

A few megacycles later, and you found yourself nearing the walls and battlements of the city of Cybertropolis.

Every kilometer there was a weapons bank, set to scan for ground and air movements, and armed with some rather impressive artillery.

You reined up short, knowing that your own skills at stealth were no where near those of the small black spy. So far, you had gotten by on luck, and on other bot's distracted CPU's. The motion sensors and scanners on those walls would be far more alert.

You waiting scanning the main gates from a great distance. Watching as ships and robots went to and from the massive city.

The other's had fallen behind, the human and Zabgoth, but they were along shortly, and to your amazement they chose a small gateway to the side, where much traffic wasn't passing. The two of them began transmitting something... you couldn't lock the frequency or code... but whatever it was, the massive robots at the entrance seemed to ignore them, turning their identical optics blindly away, as if the bot's didn't even exist.

"Interesting... very interesting..."

But without the code or frequency, the knowledge did you little good.

Enough time had been wasted. Time to try your luck.

You landed at the gate after a few cycles had passed, the two massive robots looked at you immediately.

"Name." grunted one mechanically.

They were huge, blue-gray monstrosities of identical nature. Huge rail cannons sat on their shoulders, and their legs were heavy, thick treads. Their arms were massive clawed apparatus and their faces were steel plates that gave them the image of a jutting jawbone topped with a red visor eye that rotated to and fro.

"Deathspire. Decepticon General."

They seemed to think for a second, "Registered. Welcome, General Deathspire."

You nodded and walked past them.

--Ok, I guess the easiest solutions are sometimes the best.--

You transformed and headed out to find Bladewing.

Again, finding him was ridiculously easy. You definitely knew it was Unicron now, for the stealthy bot gave no signature, and his skin as coated with a silvery mirrored covering.

He appeared to be searching the city, and so, you decided it was time for a reintroduction. Landing behind him you waited a second as he was scanning out below.

"What exactly are you looking for... at any rate?"

The black and silver robot spun, his red optic glaring at you from twenty meters away.

"Deathspire!?"

"Yes. I've been following you since you and that crew landed here on this planet. You don't really plan to be a good little Cybertronian and do their scouting for them? Do you?" You slowly began to move closer.

His eye glittered with contempt for the others in the crew, "Of course not. But why should my business be any concern of yours?"

"Because I think we are after the same thing. I think we both want to find out what... or who is controlling these drones."

"And what makes you think that?"

"Because... deep down, we're both Decepticons."

He snorts, "So why should we help each other then?"

"Because, others followed you. Two of them, the human, and the ex-Destron... Zabgoth? They are here in the city, and like me, they have been watching your moves."

"How HAVE you been watching me? You see, I pride myself on my skills, and it's not likely that a warrior could simply..."

"Ease your fears... it was through no fault of your own. I have had... assistance."

"Assistance?"

"Yes, perhaps it would best suffice to say I merely followed my internal instincts for now."

"And what of them?" he indicated the other group.

"That I do not know. They are fairly easy to spot, only a short distance frequency and code signal that seems to counteract the control on the drones has kept them hidden until now. I do not know the extent of the signal, or what the frequency is, just that they have been using it since they entered the gates."

He looks at you, then looks down at another line of drones that passed across a high roadway.

"So what do you say?" You were fairly close to him now, "Partners?"

Cybertron: Cybertropolis

The black and red robot turns toward you, extending a hand, "Very well, Deathspire. Then we shall work together. After all, what is more important to a Decepticon than power. And those drones... that is where the power now lies."

You shake his hand, "So that's the game is it? Control the drones and control Cybertron. My, you truly do have ambition Bladewing."

"Ambition? Hah! Power means survival, and I mean to outlive all of these fools."

He looks back down into the streets, another group of drones trundled past in another direction.

"Their patterns confusing you?" You note as you look over his shoulder.

He turns back to you, "There is no pattern... No beginning, no end..."

"Part of that is right." you had made a few notes on the drone's patrols yourself, "I've been a general since before your spark was brought online, and I recognize their pattern. It is complex, and would probably take weeks to decipher fully, but there is a pattern. But you are right in saying they do not seem to be coming from anywhere or going anywhere... At least not the ones we've tracked."

His optic dimmed thoughtfully, "What about these others. How are they tracking me? A self diagnostic shows nothing, no bug, no signal..."

"No, I do not believe they are using any sensible means to follow you, but how is still beyond my kin."

"Why didn't they pick you up? Slag! Why didn't I pick ANY of you up?!"

"You were occupied. It would not be hard to make sure you were properly distracted with your mind set on the drones patterns."

--That and Unicron pointed me in the right direction...--

His optic flared, "but my sensors..."

"Can be fooled. There are many forces at work here that you do not understand, suffice it to say, I believe that your optics were covered... That you were kept from seeing myself or the others."

"Then I think we should teach them a lesson." His wings glittered menacingly in the starlight.

"Don't underestimate your foes. We would beat them, yes, but not without the risk of attracting unwanted attention."

"Then we're at a dead end?"

"Perhaps at a stall." you concede.

Bladewing chewed this over for a few segments, then blurted out, "What about Iacon?!"

"What?"

"Iacon. The area is a wasteland after their attack, I saw it from a distance. Buildings were melted into nothing, streets were file with ruble and slag."

"So?"

"So, why patrol a wasteland?"

You stand up flexing the long blades of your wings, "Why indeed. If you are right and they are patrolling it, then it would mean they have something to guard. Perhaps something that they don't want anyone to see?"

"The control tower." he looks off toward the horizon, where the dark bulk of Iacon sat like a formless lump of sludge.

"Let's go... the ruins there would be a better place to teach them a lesson, if so needed." he jerks a thumb at the group below.

You nod and leap into the air.

Cybertron: Iacon

The dark interior of Cybertropolis lay dead and silent as you and Bladewing glided through the cold skies.

Iacon was a dormant, smoldering slag pile. Buildings were torn down, and lay charred and crumbled in the streets. Roads were collapsed in strips of rubble and melted metals. All of it left you feeling cold, and even a bit lonely as you raced over the surface.

"I don't see anything here... It doesn't even look like the tank drones are patrolling here!" Bladewing grumbled.

"Yeah, well they were patrolling heavy enough at the border. I'm still not sure how you led us past that." You careened around a building that was little more than a mountain of melted metal and crystal.

"Skill." Bladewing stated simply.

Moving downward and transforming, the black and red Cybertronian waited as you joined him on the ground.

"Maybe we should consider setting up a trap for the others?" his optic glittered evilly.

"We could, but for some reason they left our trail some ways back." You had noticed it half a megacycle ago, and were surprised that even with the knowledge that they were behind you, still Bladewing had not noticed.

He scanned behind in surprise, checking on what you already knew to be true.

"I don't like it... where would they be heading in this place..." The thin black transformer began.

Then something in the dark city drew your attention.

A small glittering far down one of the darkened streets.

--Follow.--

You transform, whether from instinct or from outside influence, you weren't sure. Your engines flare as you speed over the slag filled streets of Iacon.

Bladewing was already in the air, following the distant glimmer.

Ahead, you made out the shimmering orange glitter. It flitted and shot downward, into a broken basement of some building.

You careened and shot downward after Bladewing, dodging the struts and wires that quickly closed in as best as your greater wing girth allowed.

Bladwing was faster and smaller, but you still managed to stay within shouting distance.

Down the two of you went, following the brief glimpses of the shimmering light into unknown depths below the streets.

Through the under-labyrinth of Iacon you went, heading out and away into the unknown.

Spinning past wires and pipes in the dark interior of inner-Cybertron, the landscape seemed to blur into a meaningless haze of shifting gray.

Then the light disappeared.

Bladewing stopped, and transformed, you landed next to him after a segment.

"Where are we?" Bladewing gasped in the darkness.

You turned to look at the dark Transformer, thoughts rolling through your mind.

--Why did he follow the globe... I heard Unicron's voice, but what of this one... Could that be the answer, how he has evaded the Decepicons? Does he have some link to Unicron?!--

"Sector Kappa, I think." you observe coolly, "Why did you follow it?"

Bladewing turned, his optic lighting you both in a deadly red halo.

"Why?" he sounded confused.

"I heard Unicron's voice and was forced. Why would you do the same."

"I..."

But the reply was cut short as your warning sensors began to flare up. Spinning, you saw lights down the tunnel, heading toward you at an alarming rate. The signatures of a large platoon of tank drones registered.

"Company." Bladewing whispers.

"There's too many... we can't hope to fight them." you note.

The lights swayed up and down, back and forth, randomly lighting the tunnel around them. Bladewing looked up, "There's the way we..." but the tunnel that had to have lead you here was gone. There was only a thick nesting of wires and metal sheeting above you.

"Great... there's only one way." You grunted shoving Bladewing hard to get him moving down the tunnel in the opposite of the tank drones.

Shocked into action, he began to run. Wires inhibited you both from transforming.

Soon, Bladewing's swords were in hand, as was your scythe. Rapidly the two of you sliced through the darkness, the tank drones ever growing closer. Already you could hear heavy treads behind you, and you swore that their lights would be able to pick you up at any second.

Then, up ahead, you could make a out a bluish light, filling the darkness... everything became even more blurred than before, until, suddenly, you found yourself three meters behind a large... ticked off Decepticon.

The Decepticon had armoring that matched the drones in make, if not style. He stood on two real legs, and had oversized, almost goalie like arms. A gattling cannon sat on his shoulder.

He had just torn down a doorway that lead into the room beyond... where the bluish glow was emanating from. And you could tell from his inhuman roar that he was none too happy with whatever lie beyond...

Cybertron: the Vat

You looked up at the hulking mass of metal.

--Are you on my side...?--

It spun to glare down at you. It's solitary optic was reminiscent of the tank drones that were closing in, you began to think standing here was a bad idea.

You turn to Bladewing, but the slippery Decepticon had disappeared.

The massive transformer in front of you reached out with alarming speed and grabbed you, hoisting you to his face, "I..." he seemed disoriented... something was disrupting his circuits. You could make out flashes of an odd orangish light sparkling in the depths of his optic, "don't... know... where you came from, Decepticon..... but we must stop the two in this room... Lord Clench so orders...."

--He thinks I'm one of them!! Then again, what better way to dodge those tank drones than to become one with their side!--

The massive robot gives you a viscous shake, "For the Decepticons!" he bellows at you in anger.

Your eyes narrow, "For the Decepticons!"

At least it was an oath you didn't mind taking. You had been dormant for too long, perhaps it was time to take the reigns of your spark back by force if need be...

The massive bot dragged you with him back into the room.

There, you could see two other robots, apparently attacking each other. One was odd, his gray-green body was fleshlike, with great wings spread behind him, and tentacles hanging down at his waste and from his face. The ones on his face were buried into the skull of the other, equally strange, Decepticon. This one had a bluish purple and red body. It was insectoid, with greenish tinted wings stretching back from him. He was a Transmetal II in design!

You didn't waste time in pondering their conjuncture, rather you bolted forward. Your new companion seemed stunned in some kind of trance, his body jerking with minor convulsions as he stared at them numbly.

Your scythe in hand, you began it's charging as you ran across the wide room. The massive room itself was filled with a bluish glow coming from the center, where the floor had opened, revealing a pit of sparkling, blue energy.

Something in your circuits revolted at the sight of it...

However, your logical mind registered the only thing that it could be... Yet another myth sat before your eyes.

The Vat... the creation place of the Maximals and Predacons. A massive pit charged by the very energy of the Matrix of Creation itself where the first of the new wave of Cybertronian technology had crawled forth from centuries before.

But none had ever consciously seen it... or so you had thought!!

Regardless, you were across the chamber in an instant, warrior reflexes carrying you onward despite the shock of the situation.

A laughter echoes in your soulless spark...

There is a thunderous smash of energy as you hit!

Flying back, you hit the ground hard, feeling waves of energy lash about you.

Everything goes white.

But only for a segment.

You struggle to your feet in the aftermath, seeing everyone else in a similar, prone state.

Vulcan was up already though, and raising a thick arm at the two who you had just attacked, "Enough of this. Lord Clench has commanded that you be taken into Decepticon custody. Stand down, or be slagged.... I don't care which anymore!"

His gattling began to spin, the signs of glitching gone from his optics.

Deep within your CPU, you heard another voice, however.

--Destroy the winged one... Destroy Doctor Archeville. I command it!!--

Cybertron: The Vat

Immediately, the green gray robot threw his hands in the air. The other insectoid looked dazed, and was still struggling to get up.

--If this is over, then they may start asking questi...--

Your thought was cut short as your thick tank companion apparently decided that he really didn't want surrender, and opened fire on the two other Decepticons.

His gattling blazed and rockets flared toward their target, slamming into the ground by the massive blue pit on the floor.

You spin to look at him in surprise, when you realized with even greater surprise that two Autobots stood directly behind him. One was a silver and blue jet-like transformer of some sort, the other a small yellow and orange streetbike fellow.

The silver and blue raised his weapon in distress and shot the tank bot in the back!

... Doing absolutely nothing other than making the tank-bot turn in anger toward the two Autobots.

The yellow and orange one was already transformed to his bike mode and roaring past the tank-bot, heading toward the pit.

You move to intercept when a heavy ringing fills your head.

You close your optics in pain and stagger back.

Images began to fill your optics.

You see Error, Optimus Prime... and others... They were in Unicron's tomb!

Your mind reeled and another image comes to you this was of a vortex of energy surrounding Error... something about it seemed familiar.

You get a glimpse of machinery, and suddenly you recall the interior of a Spacebridge receiving port.

--What the pit..?--

You suddenly realized that no longer were you seeing Error, but rather you were seeing through Error!

The door in front of you... him... opened.

And on the other side was a Decepticon.

The Maximal's brain flared with warning alarms and you could hear his voice, "A Decepticon! Watch out!"

A voice, female, from beside you... him... answered, "Wrong, Error. Two Decepticons."

You felt a cold barrel against your head and a ripping pain jolt through your head.

There is a weightlessness and a heavy thud. One optic looked up through heavy static. A dark form was moving out of the chamber. All you could tell is that it was female.

That... and an overwhelming sense that you had suddenly seen your own death.

Not the image, not Error's death, but that robot.

She was going to kill you.

White covered the optics as static took over, but Error's voice floated to you.

--You left. You betrayed us. --

"No..." you mumbled, finding yourself leaning on a wall, "No... I didn't betray..."

--I'm dying...--

You knew where he was. You know where the ancient Decepticon spacebridge is!

Standing, the images, voices, and feelings passing, you resolutely look for a way out of the current predicament. You could find Error, he could tell you who this female was.

You looked around to find the tank-bot still firing at the silver and blue robot. The insectoid was gone, and the gray-green squid bot and the yellow-orange bike-bot were working on the controls for the massive pit.

--This is confusing--

Just then, there was a loud explosion from above. The sound of tearing metal filled the large chamber, and the ceiling, above the Vat, collapsed in a thunderous onslaught.

You ducked, covering yourself as fragments of rubble, mixed with energy sparks from the Vat, flew around the chamber.

As the smoke settled, you found that rubble had collapsed onto the Vat, partially covering the wide, glowing blue hole in the center of the room.

Instantly, the rooms lights flickered and died, and emergency klaxons began to sound. Red emergency lights flashed around the room, and an odd sense of urgency mixed with a timeless pause of all activity, as if something had reached into your spark and frozen you to the spot.

You felt your whole frame go cold, your CPU reeling with a sense of vertigo that tore through you.

The blue energy that shined up from the vat gave an odd shadow wash to the rubble that was situated above the back half of the pit.

Then, a distinct red glare shown up from the interior of the vat. So intense it was visible through even the shimmering blue radiance of the energy from below.

Unable to move, you watched as an arm reached up from the pit. It was bonelike, with shimmering red and blue 'veins' running up the skeletal structure. Steel claws extended as it slammed down on the lip of the Vat. Two bone wings appeared, stretching up with a noise not unlike the cracking of bones. A dark form hoisted itself up with a haunting, echoing roar. It's head, cyclopean and made of skeletal matter. It's arms also bone, and bone ran across the thick black armor that covered it's body, shoulder and legs. A black and red cockpit sat atop it's shoulder, and red and blue veins seemed to pump a glittering liquid across the whole of it.

You felt the cold of death emanate from the creature as it looked around the room in the flashing red lights from the sirens. It's one, large red eye taking in each of the transformers that stood around.

As you stared at the horror, the red optic and black armor reminded you, horribly of something. A certainty as to the identity of this newcomer shot through your CPU. You stepped forward extending a hand, "Bladewing....?"

The skull-bot looked down on you with a crack of his neck, his jaw twisted into a skeletal grin of hideous aspect as he answered in the same, haunting echo, "Bladewing has gone to hell. We remain."

Cybertron: The Vat

"You! Decepticon!" You turned toward the silver and blue Autobot with some effort, "You know this.... thing!?"

You jerked back to look at the monster, it is Bladewing, or was, you were sure, "What has become of you?"he asks the creature, his vocal circuits still a bit shaky. "What are you now?!?"

"I am as I always was. Not as the pathetic coward you once knew, but as the champion I was always destined to be." the echoing voice stayed cold and contemptuous.

Certainty gripped you as you recognized some rare aspect of the echoes around the voice... as the title Champion sunk in and seemed to fit with another title... with Herald...
"Champion? Champion of what?" You began to feel rage well up within you. Unicron had claimed another robots spark...

A low chuckle... one that seemed to boarder on madness came from the creature, "The champion of Death. I am what you fear, what all Cybertronians fear. I am the Reaper of sparks. Stay clear of me herald. Your time will come soon enough."

The silver and blue Autobot seemed to have had enough, "I require use of that machine. You had best find a way to control your 'friend.' "

You stare at him in stunned silence as he seems oblivious to Bladewing's newly acquired interest...

There is a crackling noise of bones as the dark creature turned to look at him, his jawbone stretching even further up in his horrible grin.

"Foolish Autobot. Your spark shines with a brilliant light that will be joyful to extinguish."

With that, Bladewing reaches back and with a noise, like bone snapping in half, he pulls forth a thick, short bone. He lunges at the Autobot, a blade stretching up from the bone 'handle' A glittering green arc slashes down at him in the blink of an eye.

At the last moment, something slams into the Autobot from the front, knocking him clear. There is a agonizing scream and the splatter of hot mech fluid.

The other Autobot, the yellow and orange streetbike, had pushed him away, but in the process had been sliced cleanly in half by Bladewings green blade!

The other Autobot stood slowly, dropping the upper half of the graying body to the floor with a dull thud.

Suddenly there was a shuddering thud... and explosion from the Vat. The green and gray fleshy robot that had been working on the Vat's controls yells, "It's going to go critical in a matter of cycles!" And dove for the massive swirling blue pit of energy, as if to carry out the sparks held within by hand!

You hear Bladewing's eerie echoing voice, "He is mine now, Autobot. Soon, you shall all join him."

"AUTOBOT!" you hear a yell... You quickly identify the source as the gray-green batwinged robot. You glance to see him over the body of a small robot. It's chest was open and the gray-green bot seemed to be doing something to it.

You look back as the silver and blue Autobot's arm fell to the ground.

Bravely, the Autobot held his other arm and yelled, "Shatterblast! TRANSFORM!"

There was a screech as a red and gold raven swooped down on the bone-bot. Sending him back in defense.

The, a heavy blast struck Bladewing from behind. He staggered forward, spinning to keep the Autobot in his optic range, as well as taking in his new adversaries.

At the doorway, where the massive tank bot had been... and was no longer... stood two MORE newcomers. This time an extremely slagged out Autobot in black and gold stood... or more accurately leaned... next to a tall and commanding beast-bot of orangish reddish hue. That one's face was black, faceplated, with a red optic visor, he bore a claw-tail for one arm, and a dino-head as the other!

"ME think that enough, bonehead." roared this new robot as he lowered his head-hand-weapon that was still smoking from the blast that had erupted from it's jaws.

Without even blinking Bladewing transformed into a bat creature with bone wings and a solitary red eye. He silently tore off, up into the whole in the ceiling.

Quickly you transformed and followed suit...

Cybertron: Iacon

Through the underwarrens of Cybertron you followed the monstrosity that had been Bladewing. Ever upward you spiraled, until, out into the crisp, cold air above Iacon, you shatter from the ruins of the city. There, Bladewing hovered in his new bat-form, a long tail curling down from his weird body. He turned his gooey red optic to look at you as you approached.

He transformed to bot mode, his bone wings fluttering behind him.

You transformed, ten meters from him, pulling your scythe out menacingly.

"Bladewing! What have you done?!" you yelled in disgust.

He chuckled, an eerie, echoing sound that hummed through the silent skies, "Fool. I have done what you refused to do, and so I have been reborn!"

"Reborn?! You really think that what you were given was a gift?!" you gaped at his stupidity.

"I am a god!! The harbinger of the chaos that will sweep down upon this planet to scourge it clean of the foolish pawns of Primus!"

"Pawns of Primus?! Do you truly think yourself any less of a pawn!!!??? Unicron will use you, and discard you when he is through..."

The creature cut through your retort, "You were tossed aside because you failed to accomplish anything of worth! You rebelled and are therefore useless to me... stand aside. You stand no hope of dissuading me from the genocide that will consume their race!"

You shake your head, "I wasn't coming after you to dissuade you... I was only trying to understand. You've made your choice, as I have mine. What I came to do was to end your blighted existence."

With that the scythe hummed hungrily as you jolted up it's power levels, blue energon steam curled up from it's blade.

The creature smiled, "So be it. Then you shall perish here, without hope of resurrection. You are the one that has brought this upon yourself, Deathspire."

He pulled his weapon, it's curved green blade shimmering in the dark sky...

Cybertron: Iacon

The two of you floated in the air, circling menacingly, your weapons glowing in the clear Cybertronian night.

With a roar Bladewing lashed out in savage fury, striking down in a glittering green sweep. You bring your scythe around, and parry his strike down and away, pushing yourself up and back, away from where he could easily hit you. Then, swooping around him you fire a jolt of energy. It crackled along the haft of your scythe, to leap out as if it were a snake snapping to bite it's victim.

The monster-bot screeched in pain with the echoey voice. Spinning, he charges again, slashing upward in a blow that knock you sideways as you come to parry again.

He ducks as you sweep at him again, bringing his blade up and near enough to you that you feel the clammy crackle of energy as it sweeps by. You arc back, sweeping your wings around, their razor like edges pricking him as they slashed around his body.

He pushes up and away, but not in time to dodge another blast of the energy that you unleash from your weapon.

He turns, reaching back with his hand. The bone claw seemed to amass a dark, writhing mass of shadows that he clenches and tosses at you. You move, but not before the mass splatters across one shin. You wince as pain jolts up your frame. It felt as if your leg had been frozen solid, and was pulling itself apart. You glance down briefly to see your very leg armor fade in and out. Ice crystals form along the edge of the spot, sending screeching pain through your leg.

You allow yourself to tumble forward... Leaving an opening for Bladewing to take. He lunges, as you predicted, diving down at you, but you suddenly arced up, shooting past him with a deadly slash of your scythe. Sparks fly from the gash across his torso.

He reaches out and grabs your foot as you pass.

Suddenly, there is a massive explosion of heat and light.

You are thrown up and out, charred as flames danced along your armor.

You turned to find Bladewing floating, as if considering something. You didn't give him time to finish. You bring the scythe around, trying out a new tactic, a curtaining web of electricity that covers the air around Bladewing. He didn't have time to react, and not enough room to dodge.

He transforms to bat mode, insulating himself to some degree and darting out of the electric shower.

You duck down past him, your wings sweeping by in a dangerous flutter. Their sharp edges ripping at his fleshy body. You feel a sharp pain, and green energy sizzles through you as you register a small breach in your armor.

--Poison!--

One wing goes dead, it's circuits paralyzed and sending you into a spiraling plummet.

You see Bladewing change again, this time to his new blade ship mode, darting down at you, ready to cut you in half with the edges.

But you take a queue from him and transform as well. In jet mode, your wings don't move... You quickly control your fall and turn it into a dive. Pulling up you dodge around several ruined buildings with Bladewing on your tail.

--Just need enough time for the paralysis to wear off!--

The venom faded and you transform, spinning around to face Bladewing.

He begins to spin... a deadly twirl of sharpened edges.

You saw it, and expected it. Quickly, you cut all hoverjets and dropped straight down, at the same moment firing up with your weapon. The energy knocked the Blade ship harmlessly away from you as you kicked in your jumpjets again and sweep in, jabbing the long scythe directly through his torso with a shattering crunch.

He transformed with a roar of pain. His sword sweeping back, slashing at the pole.

The scythe snapped.

Bladewing lurched away, the bladed end still protruding through his lower midsection, his sword glittering, deadly in the air.

He spun, shocked rage fueling a new lurch foreword, sweeping down with his sword in a slash that shattered the air as it flew. You dodge, partially, but feel the freezing energy of his blade as it slices through a layer of your front armors, sending slivers falling down, and revealing some of your torso circuitry. Also, you feel a pain as several of your sharpened bone wing ends fell into the dark streets below.

You reacted and with your arm reached out to snatch the haft that stuck out from your midsection and wrench it free.

Circuits and wires fell out as you pulled, kicking Bladewing back, away from you.

You were injured, and badly. You frame was charred black, and part of a wing was missing. Glitches were still registering from the poison, and some of your torso and leg armors were gone...

But then, he had a big slaggin' hole in his torso...

Cybertron: Iacon

The injured monster gives a scowl as the two of you float in mid-air.

He transforms, "I guess this means we aren't friends anymore..." he laughs as his engines kick in with a whine. In segments he was gone.

You looked down at your charred and battered frame. Letting him go was for the best, you didn't have the armor to safely continue battle. You drift downward, landing on the ruined streets of Iacon.

"Systems, damage report."

--Hull damage critical.--

--Systems exposed.--

--Flight capability at 50%.--

--Weapons discharge dangerously unstable.--

--Cyber venom present.20% strength and dropping.--

"Ok, ok, enough, can autorepair fix it?"

--Autorepair can cover 60% of all damage, structural and flight integrity must be handled by Critical Repair chamber.--

"Great... I have one in my back thruster."

You look around at a loss. You couldn't go to the ship you used to get here, if getting out and back into the city weren't so difficult, maybe, but even then... It's not like you had been a legitimate crew member.

The Decepticons here... it was possible that you could find help from them...

Then the image of Error flashed through your mind again, the image of some Decepticon ending his life... or had it. You had seen him fall, but he had proven nigh near impossible to kill in the past... and that feeling... the feeling that whoever had killed him would be the cause of your own extinction. It was as strong now, as it had been when you had first seen it...

You were still certain that you knew where he had been... it was an old space bridge tower in Cybertropolis...

Of course, no matter where you went, it looked like you wouldn't likely get there too quickly, so you began to walk, back in the direction of the closest borders of the mainstay of the Cybertronian city...

Cybertron: Iacon's ruins

You walked for some time, lost in your own thoughts.

--So, Unicron is disappointed in me enough to make a new champion, eh? Good, I told the bastard that he wouldn't control my life.--

--But I do. And the time for your tenure to end is now.--

You jerked your head up as a sizzling blast ripped through the damaged armor on your chest. You dropped to your knees as inner emergency systems began to fail.

Your optics became filled with static and system error messages as you brought your head up to peer into the shadows.

"From... shadows?! Bla... wing.... I will.... "

You slump to your side, vaguely aware of the circuitry that was burning in your chest, of the acrid puddle of mech fluids that was forming around you.

--This?! This is your revenge?! Slag you Unicron... Slag you Bladewing!!--

You feel more blasts hit your body, sending your arms and legs numb as each are hit with deadly precision. You turn your head to see one of your arms lying a meter away, loosened and free from your body, still twitching in the greasy fluids that were pooling around you.

Then your optics failed completely.

You hear footsteps.

--You will pay. This can not end here... this WILL not end here!--

You feel a tug and a rip from your remaining chest armor.

Vaguely, you register as the heat and the smoke are inundated with cold air, as your spark unit was exposed.

--You will not be rid of me... I will...--

You feel several blasts hit inside of you with shattering forces, sending bolts of energon coursing freely through your entire body.

"I will return." you manage to say, segments before you feel the inferno of pain sweep over you, followed closely by the black, cold void of death.

?:?

You fall away, feeling the darkness swallow you.

A cold rush of howling air surrounds you, pushing you deeper into the vague oblivion of nothingness.

A series of echoes surrounds you, buffeting you... hammering your essence to the very core.

--but what am I?--

The question you ask yourself seems to shatter all around you. The noise, the winds, all abruptly shatter into an abrupt silence.

You were left floating.

--I am dead.--

There seemed to be a shimmering in the nothingness. A ripple of amusement.

You reach down... then realize there was nothing to reach with.

--I am nothing?--

Around you the image appears of your body, of the ripping blasts of energy that tore into you... of a pair of hands pulling open your chest and the barrel of a gun leveling and firing at the monstrosity of a spark that Unicron had created.

You feel a numbing coldness.

--How can something die that was never truly alive.--

You suddenly find yourself amidst a series of massive columnal dais', a cold dank mist swirling about you, concealing them in dark shadows.

A voice from the column echoes coldly, "And is that all you believe?"

You look around, but only vague shapes could be seen, standing or sitting behind the great podiums.

--Is this some kind of court?--

"Perhaps. Perhaps a court for your eternity. Now, answer the question."

--I believe that I am free. Free of Unicron. Free of his control. Beyond where he can reach.--

"Foolish." another voice, also deep, that sounded like slabs of granite grating against each other, "Many have fought for freedom. What makes you think that you can gain what they have not?"

--Because I did. This is not of Unicron.--

There is a pause. Then, "What is it you would seek?"

--Seek? Revenge.--

"Revenge? Nothing greater?" a higher voice, almost screechy.

"Revenge has carried him this far." the first voice stated.

"Revenge is a powerful tool. You should know this above all."

You wished you could see them.

--Who are you?!?--

A new voice answered, one you recognized from somewhere, "We are those that have fallen prey to Unicron. Those that even now remain trapped in his web."

--Then I have not escaped?--

"That's why we're here. You have escaped, something most of us have failed to do over the millennia."

Two of the voices click in.

--Megatron? Starscream?!?--

"In a fashion." Starscreams voice answered, you pinpointed it, making out the upswept wings of a form you did not recognize. He was white, with reddish coloring on his body, "We are as we were, as we will be, from all time and space. You, Deathspire, have succeeded in your quest. You have been freed of Unicron's grasp!"

--But how?!--

"How indeed. How are we called together here." the first voice. You see him lean forward a bit, he was purple and silver, a large cannon sat on the arm that rested on the dais.

--You were... were once ... Galvatron?--

Another voice answered, "We are each of those that have been tainted by our involvement with Unicron. Each of us renowned as leaders of the most powerful forces in Cybertronian history."

You didn't recognize him at all, he was purple and greenish, his arms massive robotic claws. he was larger than any of the other shadows.

--I don't understand... where am I?--

"Outside time and space." this one was made of a conglomerate of reptiles, "Perhaps this is how you managed to escape. You death coincided with a... disturbance. The same disturbance that brought us all here to your trial."

--My trial?--

Megatron spoke again, "Deathspire, among us all, you are the only one... granted it be by chance... to escape from Unicron's influence. Even now, in the time that you come from he is flexing his muscles. Waiting for the time when he can plunge all into a random chaos that must not be allowed."

--Then what does that have to do with me?--

"As it stands, all who will soon be in power have been touched by Unicron. Some knowingly, some without any concept that they have been used as his pawns... Regardless, what we wish to test is if you are able to stop him."

--Tell me how.--

"That is beyond us." Starscream muttered, "We are not even sure how we came to be here. Only that perhaps it was by Primus' power itself that we were granted the ability to give you one more chance."

--To stop him.--

The dinosaur robot nodded, "To stop him. Already in motion are forces that will bring Cybertron to it's knees in front of him. only a strong hand can purge this from Cybertron. Cleanse it and bring it's forces together to face him when he reveals his true form."

--Then let it be me.--

Starscream chuckled, "Be forewarned, Deathspire. It will be the least path trodden that will lead our world to freedom. Many trials will appear, and each decision will forge but a part of the future that is ahead."

--I will succeed.--

"Your first trial we can foresee. It will be simple. Return to Cybertropolis. To Iacon. Your spark will guide you as to when and where. There will be one to appear that will be one of the keys to the future survival of our planet."

Your optics open.

Open to a dark, cramped laboratory. There is the shattering blast of sparks as a welding torch lights the space.

--Systems scan.--

--Systems at full operability.--

--Area scan.--

--One sigil marking in near proximity. Autobot in nature.--

You were strapped to a wall, you could feel the straps in the darkness, and the wires that lead from your body to a nearby computer. The small computer was bleeping annoyingly in the darkness.

"Eh? What's this?" an elderly voice asked.

Suddenly the lights clicked on.

There was an old robot working on another body frame. He looked at the computer, confused for a moment, then he looks up at you.

"You are... alive?!?"

You flex, snapping the bonds that held you up against the wall. With a thud you land, your hand already shooting out, grabbing the old Autobot and lifting him off the ground. You were easily twice his size, "Who are you!" you asked brusquely.

The robot struggled slightly, but was no where near as strong as you, "My... my name is Exodus... and I believe you could be a bit more tactful for someone who just built your body..."

"I'll decide on that..." you look around, finding a large, shiny bulkhead in the small lab. You step over to the mirrored surface.

The white bone armor and red sketching were gone. In there place was smooth, black metal.

And on your chest...

You reach up and touch the circular blue-ish globe that pulsed in the center of your chest. It reacted and glowed brightly, almost blindingly.

"A spark..." you find yourself muttering.

"A spark indeed." the robot interrupted you, "That I seem to have created as well."

You look at him sharply, "You can't create a spark."

"Apparently my studies have disproved that theory. You are the first successfully created spark to date. I have been toying with the theories of energy fusion and formatting..."

"You didn't create me. I already existed." you set the robot down, watching as your new curved, scoop designed wings flex.

"That's quite impossible. you are merely the infusion of energy based off of previous format data, randomly designed with personality traits and..."

You turn toward him, "I already existed."

The old robot stopped and looked at you oddly, "Perhaps... what is your name?"

"Deathspire. Where are we."

"Deathspire... Deathspire... why does that..." the old robot's eyes popped open, "THE Deathspire?! The rogue general that continued to fight even after the Pax Cybertronia was signed?!"

You raise your other arm, looking at the arm weapon that now graced it, "Yep, that's me. Where are we?"

The blue white robot looked a bit befuddled, his mouth moved in thought as he answered blankly, "In the Silicon Wastes... How could... you can't... maybe I just pieced... That's it!" he turned back to you, "You can't be Deathspire... You no doubt had some randomly generated data that merely causes..."

"Nope. I'm he. I was killed in Cybertropolis... I assume not very long ago. What date is it?"

"Date....date...? " He spouts off the exact date and time to the segment. As you listen you realize...

"That's impossible. I couldn't have gone offline more than five cycles ago!!"

"No..." Exodus interrupts, his face losing it's blank look, "It is possible. There have been stories of sparks in the past leaving their bodies and seeking out new ones. I must have somehow created a skeleton that your own spark could format into... that." he points at the glowing orb in your chest.

You snort, "Then so be it. Regardless, I am Deathspire. And I have to get back to Cybertropolis. Silicon Wastes you said? That's slagging across a quarter of the planet!"

"Indeed." a new voice interrupted from the doorway, "And quite a distance to travel to find another Decepticon has already beat me to you, Dr Exodus?"

You spin to see a strange, insectoid beast bot standing in the door. He was red and black transmetal, with greenish wings that flicked out and over his shoulders, red swirling energy shafts glowing along their centers... weapons that were armed and aimed at you and Exodus.

You reacted immediately pulling Exodus to the side and lifting your own arm weapon with the ominous click and hum of it's pump-action mechanism arming it, "Who are you, bug?"

The large multifaceted eyes on the transmetal robot's head pulsed grotesquely a bit, but he did not flinch, "My name is Scourge, and I am a Decepticon, like yourself... whoever you are. I have come here for the scientist. He has... information that I need..."

Cybertron: The Silicon Wastes

"Tough, the scientist is a little too important for me to release to you. I kindly suggest that you power down your weapons and leave before I blow you a new waste disposal hole..."

The insects wings shiver in annoyance, "I do not recognize your authority on this matter. We are both Decepticons, and I have been sent to recover that Autobot."

"My 'authority' is not your concern. Your only concern is to leave of be slagged."

You noticed on your combat screens, there were two settings on your weapon. The first was molecular combustion. You decided that might be fun...

"I am to take him back to the Warworld. There he will be integrated into the master systems. His knowledge will advance out cause... surely you can understand...."

That's when the door behind the insect exploded inward, violently.

Smoke and shrapnel filled the room as the door shattered into a hundred fragments. You see movement of something entering the room, gaining it's feet. Reactively, you fire at the doorway. Your weapon barrel recoiled as a golden wave of energy flew out and seemed to smack the wall, almost coating it for a segment before shattering the wall apart on a molecular level.

The explosion knocked the first of the attackers off kilter, but another round of blaster fire was rapidly coming from what appeared to be an elevator shaft beyond the door.

They were blind shots, however, and were meant as cover fire only. You dodges them deftly and raised your weapon to lock onto the first of the attackers as he gained his feet.

His weapon also was locked onto you. As the smoke cleared you could make him out.

He was an Autobot, silver and blue and apparently jet-natured by form. His weapon was a sleek, golden Targetmaster rifle! You had thought that most targetmasters were long since retired, but this bot seemed newly built.

Hold it, Con'!" he threatens from a smooth featureless faceplate. His optic visor glittered dangerously as he measured you up.

It wasn't hard to guess that he and the other Autobot who was still in the elevator shaft were here to 'rescue' the Scientist, and most likely from the insect... which a quick scan showed were both gone already.

"Fool. I assume you too were here for the scientist?" your voice was low and confident.

"Were?!?" The Autobot looks around, noticing for the first time that there was one less Decepticon, and one less Autobot signature in the room.

The other Autobot enters the room, a Beast Warrior with a brightly colored wing crossed across his breastplate. One of his arms ended in some kind of reptilian head, and his other ended in a hand blaster, "Stand down, you're outgunned," he warned.

Amusement glittered in your eyes, "I would suggest you stand down. Your shot may injure me, but mine will destroy the Targetmaster."

"Swoop, what happened to the other two?!" the other Autobot interrupted.

The Beast bot looked around in surprise, "Pit!"

"Your little firestorm gave Scourge the opportunity to escape with your scientist in tow." You chided.

"And where did he take him? To the Warworld so you slag suckin' freaks can splice his brain?!" The jet-bot growled threateningly.

You simply lower your weapon-arm, seemingly unconcerned of the weapons aimed at you. In truth, your gun was still cocked and ready to fire at a moments thought, but these two morons were very likely not worth the effort or energon expenditure.

You look over and notice a fresh hole in the far wall. Walking casually over you look out. It was just about the right size for the insectoid to have carried the scientist through, "He may have, I wouldn't know. I'm not with his pitiful excuse of an army. I was simply in the process of making sure he didn't do anything rash when you two blundered in."

"And what interest would you have in him 'not doing anything rash.'"

You planned your response carefully, perhaps these bots might be of some use. If they held true to their old sigil-sakes, then the best approach was to seem... worried about the well-being of the scientist, "My own reasons. Let's just say that it seemed like I might owe him a favor."

"And why would a Decepticon owe him a favor?"

It was obvious he didn't believe you, so perhaps you might up the ante... make him believe that you held a tie to the scientist, and what better tie than... family.

"Nosey, aren't you. If you must know, it seems that he was the one who... created me."

It was a rather large exaggeration, but from the shocked expression on the Autobot's face, you had hit the right chord....

Cybertron: Exodus' Lab

While the two Autobots stand with their weapons aimed in stunned silence. You turn again and quietly scan for any sign or trail left by the insectoid. In a nano-segment a very obvious trail apears. You doubt the insect made it though... no doubt the scientist would try to help though.

You quietly turn back to see that neither had moved a piston, "I'm going after them. You're welcome to come... assuming you stay the pitt out of my way."

That seems to shake them out of their stupor. The targetmaster hefts his gun, "Beautiful. I suggest you do all in your power to help us retrieve him, cause your coming with us. Swoop? Be so kind as to help me bind him or find some way to get him back to base.... We have to get reinforcements for this one....."

You sigh, why don't they ever believe you. The one winged bot moves forward, reaching out to you carefully.

You simply move, grabbing his hand and twisting his arm effortlessly. Then you shove him hard against the other bot, sending them both tumbling backwards into the shaft.

"I don't have time for this. I respectfully decline your invitation."

You spin and transform, finding yourself in a new jet mode. If it could be called a jet!

Your scooplike wings move around to become the primary propulsion of the mode. Two on top, two on bottom. There were repulsor engines inside of them that gave a warm orange glow... The thrusters on your back were on the jet's topside as well, probably for increased propulsion in a pinch. The nose was similar to your old jet, long and narrow. A bit flat at the end.

All in all, not a bad form at all!

Your engines kick in, thrusting you out across the barren Silocon Wastes at blurring speeds.

Within segments you hear the other two following. You could probably loose them, but they may still be useful. Gunning your jets up, you kept yourself in a good lead.

As the cycles slipped away, they showed no sign of slowing, but neither did they seem to try any harder to catch up. They were content with their distance, and so were you.

As you roared over Cybertron's landscape, you passed over small outcroppings of industrial centers and population centers. The trail was faint to begin with, but then, suddenly, as you passed over a small collection of buildings, a town if you will, the trail stopped suddenly in mid air.

You transform, landing with a thud on the roof of one of the low, three story buildings. You were still about a hundred kilometers from Cybertropolis' borders.

The two Autobot's land on a nearby rooftop, "What happened?" yelled the tall blue and silver Targetmaster.

"Scourge chose here to end the trail... for some reason ." you spread your scanners in the hope of contacting something of the Decepticon Insect.

That's when the rooftop exploded.

A maelstrom of fire erupts around you, incinerating your landing sight, and bathing you in a titanic wave of flame and debris.

Your reaction was swift, reaching back, you pulled a metal rod wich shifted out and became your scythe. You hefted the cobalt blue blade in your hands, your wings spreading out, and a long cloak of a thick almost plasma like material dropped down from your shoulders in a heavy fluttering swirl. As the flames roared around you, you felt the spark within your chest pulse, and the opposite end of the scythe began to glow with heat as it drank in the fiery destruction around you.

As the flames were swept into your weapon, two long sickle-like blades appeared on the opposite end from the old blade. The blades were made from flame, and danced a deadly dance as the explosion disappated.

You locked onto your targets, several drone signatures that were rising up from under the streets around you. In fact, there were ten of them.

--Aerodrones.--

You swept back the new two-sided scythe weapon with a swirl, readying yourself for their attack.

They don't hesitate for a moment, sliding in toward you for the attack. You reacted smoothly, diving toward them with a sweeping arc. Three of them seperated and exploded instantly. The others dropped back, only to run against the firepower of the targetmaster, splitting two of them in a wave of energy!

From the other side, a whirlwind force scattered four more, the Autobot bird rising in the center, the spark crystal under his chest wing glowing with a bright orange intensity that shown out from the feather covering.

You spin on the tenth drone, raising your other arm and firing with a jolting snap of the barrel.

A golden glob of energy shot forth, coating the drone and spreading quickly across it's surface. One of the disoriented drones from the Autobot's whirlwind attack rose unsteadily beside his glowing comrade, in just enough time to be engulfed by the shattering force as the drone's molecules separate.

You spin, swirling your scythe around to create a crackling sheet of energy that consumes two others. They spark and fall back, where the Targetmaster dispatched them quickly with his weapon.

The other Bot was firing at the remaining ones. His shots were knocking weapons off with a deadly precision, and slicing the Aerodrone's armor into shreds.

You drop down easily, your cloak fluttering around the drones as his shots still worked to cut them to pieces. Your scythe spins, ripping through the drones and dropping them in a pile of useless junk parts.

Your wing-engines splayed out, pushing you up and over to a nearby rooftop. The two Autobot's joined you momentarily.

"A trap." the Targetmaster muttered.

"Indeed, but not meant to stop us. If it were, there would have been more of them. This was barely enough to have challenged any two of us together, much less three."

The bird-bot shrugged, "So he wanted to put room between him and us. He also had these down below. They had already taken damage." he hefted a piece of one that was still fairly intact and threw it at the Targetmaster, "Bullet holes, smaller than anything we used in the fight."

The Targetmaster sighed, "Whirl?"

"That's my guess," answered the bird.

You look at them, "A friend of yours?"

"He stayed behind in the tunnels to slow down a squad of drones that were on our tails."

You nod, "Then he likely did not survive."

"Look... " the Targetmaster paused in mid-reproach, "What's your name at any rate?"

You stepped to the edge, where the wind ruffled the edges of the heavy synthe-cloak, "I am Deathspire."

"Great, I'm Altima Stratus, and this is Swoop... Now it seems that you aren't with the Cons, else they probably wouldn't have sent a patrol after you."

You nod.

"Then we have a comon foe, at least for now. And a common goal. We want Exodus back, and so do you. Agreed?"

"As I stated before you tried to coerce me to go to your 'base'."

"Right... well... at any rate, we've got to find a way to pick up the trail."

Suddenly, the Autobot's weapon transformed and landed in a golden robot mode at your feet. Looking up at the robots surrounding him he chided, "What am I, used oil? I told you I can follow the bug!"

"He's right.. he can sense where Scourge has been!" Altima snapped his fingers.

"Then you are now in lead." You transform, circling the building while the others followed suit.

End of NWNG: General Statement