By:
Michael
Part 2
Disclaimer: I may not own Beast Wars but you gotta admit, the show would’ve had a much longer run if I were in charge.
“What happened to Tigatron?” asked Optimus. He and Hawk were sitting in the communications room.
“The Beast Wars have changed him quite a lot,” explained Hawk, “The atrocities he witnessed changed his core conscious permanently.”
“I’ve seen him yell at you several times for no good reason,” said Optimus, “Why does he treat you like scrap?”
“Well, I think he personally blames me for…” began Hawk but decided not go to into it, “I don’t feel too comfortable discussing it. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” responded Optimus kindly, “We all have things in our past that we don’t want to talk about.”
“Optimus Primal,” came a voice from the door, “So you really are alive.”
Both Optimus and Hawk turned around to witness a large, blue ‘bot with enormous bat-like wings.
“Him?” Hawk told Optimus, “That’s Depthcharge. He’s been working with us in the Resistance ever since Megatron conquered this planet with the help of Protoform X. He says the only reason he’s with us is to get back at X.”
Optimus Primal’s optics widened.
“Depthcharge! Is that really you?” he exclaimed.
“None other,” replied Depthcharge, “I see you really screwed things up now. Not only is Megatron ruler of this planet, X is by his side! Guess you really did make one lousy leader after all.”
“Leave him alone!” cried Hawk, “Optimus told me his story. You don’t understand the isolation and sadness that he’s feeling because nearly every single one of his friends died because of that tyrant! What happened to Cybertron is not his fault!”
“Oh,” growled Depthcharge as he stood up, dwarfing both Optimus and Hawk, “Are you saying I don’t understand what it feels like to have those you care about murdered in front of your own eyes?!?”
“I’m not saying anything!” cried Hawk, refusing to back down, “All I’m saying is that you have no right to accuse Optimus of being a coward or a murderer! In fact, both of you now know what it’s like to lose your loved ones. We’re supposed to be like a family to care for one another!”
“Who says he’s a part of our family?” grumbled Depthcharge loudly, gesturing towards Optimus.
“You two both know what it’s like to lose your friends,” said Hawk resolutely, “So from the way I see it, you’re almost like brothers.”
Optimus could tell that Depthcharge was slightly taken aback with that statement. He stared Depthcharge in the optics for a few cycles.
Finally, Depthcharge relented.
“Alright then, Primal,” he said, “For Hawk’s sake, I’ll let you off the hook.”
Depthcharge walked away from the two with a huff.
“Depthcharge has been like a father to me,” explained Hawk, “For years, he’s watched over me and kept me safe. He’s been there for me over the years unlike my real parent, who’s practically disowned me for all intents and purposes.”
“How about you, Hawk?” asked Optimus, “You know almost everything about me now… I want to hear your story for a change.”
“Well, to make a long story short, I actually came online during the Beast Wars. By that time, you were already gone. Tigatron and I were the only survivors from that will-fated war. My beast mode was originally that of a hawk’s, hence my name, but the memories of that war were too painful for me to keep that form once I got back to Cybertron. I, along with Tigatron, were originally prisoners aboard the Darkside when Megatron came back to conquer Cybertron. We escaped and fell in with the planet’s resistance. Over time, Tigatron became leader of the Resistance when the leader before him died by the hands of the ‘Darkest Knight.’ As for myself, I’m just a technician for the resistance. I don’t have the warrior instinct of Tigatron.”
“But you’re a flier,” pointed out Optimus, “Surely you must know a thing or two.”
“Haha, these wings?” chuckled Hawk, “Their mechanical function is merely to manipulate air currents so that I may glide from a high building to make a quick escape. Sometimes, if the wind is strong enough, I can simulate flight by maneuvering through the currents. Other than that, I can’t even get a running start to get airborne.”
“Who is this ‘Darkest Knight,’ anyways?” asked Optimus.
Hawk’s voice lowered to a whisper.
“He is one of Megatron’s generals,” said Hawk softly, “The most ruthless of Megatron’s minions, too... well, second to Protoform X, that is. Other than his title, he is known as Silverbolt. While he’s extremely bloodthirsty, he maintains this bizarre code of chivalry that none of us can ever figure out.”
“What kind of chivalry?” wondered Optimus openly.
“Well, for one thing, he speaks in this archaic dialect that some say belonged to some ancient Earth culture. He also refuses to strike females. Other than that, he’s a cold-blooded killer, through and through.”
“Sounds like the kind of guy I’d like to play a game of Autobot poker with,” remarked Optimus with more than a touch of sarcasm.
Without warning, the alarm started ringing.
Optimus got up immediately and cocked his wrist-blaster.
“Whoa, Optimus!” exclaimed Hawk, “No need to get too excited! The sound of that alarm only means that we caught a spy among us.”
“A spy?” asked Optimus.
“Yeah,” clarified Hawk, “Our alarms have different sounds for different situations.”
“Think we should go get a look at this intruder?”
“Probably should,” replied Hawk, “This captive might give us some clues to how to beat Megatron.”
“Blackarachnia!” cried Optimus. Now, he was staring face to face with the notorious femme-bot who had nearly been responsible for their destruction with the giant floating island.
“Hey there, Donkey Kong” she glanced at Optimus, “Glad to see you’re still alive and well because once Megatron finds you, you’re gonna regret ever coming back to Cybertron!”
“Blackarachnia…” growled Tigatron who stood in front of her. The black widow was held down by two guardian drones. Other members of the Resistance were scattered across the room, glaring coldly at Blackarachnia.
Tigatron aimed his gun directly at her head. “You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to do this,” he grinned sadistically, “But before I do, you’re going to give us information we want.”
“And if I don’t?” she winked at him.
“Then you die!” he shouted.
Blackarachnia laughed.
“Listen, you Bengal berserker, I, of all people, should know best that you don’t have what it takes in you to be a killer,” she smiled sweetly and venomously, “Even the fact that I tortured little miss Airrazor to death won’t provoke you to the point of pulling that trigger! Oh! In fact, now that we’re on the topic of her, did I mention how much she screamed like a whore when I tore her spark to pieces with that energy whip?”
Optimus reeled back in shock as Tigatron furiously struck Blackarachnia across the face, brutally and purposefully. He then proceeded to grab her by the neck, choking her until she spat out mech fluid.
“Tigatron, NO!” cried Optimus as he moved forward but was held down by three guards.
At some point where Blackarachnia was ready to fall into stasis lock, Tigatron stopped.
He glared at her malevolently and let her regain her breath.
“Do it,” he told the two guardian drones holding her. One of them pressed the Predacon symbol on her collar, causing her chest plates to fold back, exposing her spark. Tigatron loaded his gun and aimed it at her.
“No… please…” she gasped for air, “I… didn’t mean… the things I said… I was only… following Megatron’s orders… I never really wanted to hurt her…”
“TIGATRON, DON’T DO IT!” yelled Optimus, throwing off the three soldiers holding him back, only to be tackled and held down by five more.
As for Tigatron’s response to both Optimus and Blackarachnia’s pleas…
“Die.”
He pulled the trigger and fired. An eerie silence ensued after that.
Protoform X glared malevolently at the crippled and helpless sight that lay before him.
“P-please… spare me,” whimpered Iguanus.
“And why would I want to do that, hm?” mused the large, red ‘bot aloud. He had broken every mechanical joint of the reptilian Predacon’s body. Mech fluid had poured our everywhere on the table.
“Oh, for Unicron’s sake, just finish him!” came a cold, female voice.
Protoform X, otherwise known as Rampage, looked up.
“Ah, Transmutate, my sweet,” he cooed joyously, “How pleasant to see you. That tyrant doesn’t know you’re here, does he?”
“He’s asleep in our chambers,” replied Transmutate.
“Right after having his way with you, no doubt,” growled Rampage angrily, “If I only had the other half of my spark back, I’d tear him apart, joint by joint.”
“But you do not,” spoke Transmutate as she wrapped her arms around Rampage, “And I cannot rid myself of this psychic dampening collar, which he has bound me with since the day I came online.”
“Oh, Transmutate…” whispered Rampage as he stroked the back of her head, “The only solace we ever found in our wretched existence since coming online was each other…”
“How I wish we could be together, my love,” said Transmutate sadly, “But if he ever finds out, he’ll kill you!”
“Then let him try!” cried Rampage, “I’ll find the strength to blast him even as he crushes my spark in his hands!”
“No, you musn’t!” urged Transmutate, “We must bide our time carefully until the day we are truly sure we can be free! Otherwise, ruination may be swept upon both of us!”
Rampage sighed.
“I suppose you’re right, Transmutate,” he whispered, “I hope that day will come soon but even so, I’d still wait an eternity for you…”
“And I, you,” replied Transmutate as she gave him a peck on the cheek, “But for now, I’m afraid I must depart. I cannot risk you being seen with me like this. Megatron must not find out!”
“I understand,” said Rampage, “Until next time…”
“Yes…” she replied, “Until next time…”
The beautiful, yet icy, Predacon Queen walked off. Though many considered her to have a spark of ice, there was only one being that she truly loved.
Their love, however, did not go unnoticed. For in the largest of sleeping chambers in the citadel, one ‘bot was watching it all.
“So…” chuckled Megatron, “Rampage… and my lovely concubine, Transmutate… Yeesss, this is interesting. I suppose I will move against the two more subtly, however. They are not like my other underlings whom I may kill indiscriminately, like that fool, Iguanus. In time, I will concentrate on them. But for now, I will sit back and enjoy the threatrics!”
“Optimus, please…” pleaded Hawk, “You really don’t want to do this!”
“And why not?!?” shouted Optimus, “He committed murder! How can you just let it slide?”
“If you’d only seen the suffering Tigatron’s went through…” begged Hawk, “He’s buried his sorrows away to the point of exhaustion. All he has left in life now is vengeance… to avenge your crew, who were murdered by that despot, especially the ones he cared most about, Cheetor and Airrazor. You may very well have turned out the same way if you had been in his shoes.”
Optimus finally stopped to ponder that.
“Perhaps you’re right,” he said to Hawk, “But I still have to have a talk with him. It’s about time I got some answers.”
“Alright then,” conceded Hawk, “I won’t stop you but just be careful! His temper is like a volcano’s and I don’t want him murdering you.”
“Who says I’m going to let him kill me?” smiled Optimus as he winked knowingly at Hawk to let the young Maximal know that everything would turn out alright.
Optimus opened the door to Tigatron’s quarters. Tigatron sat there with what looked like a portrait of Airrazor in his hands.
“Tigatron, why did you do it?” asked Optimus, approaching the topic as carefully as he could.
“The She-Spider had to die,” was Tigatron’s answer.
“But like that?” Optimus’ voice rose, “You committed murder in cold blood!”
“And why not?” growled Tigatron dangerously, “If you had only seen the way she tortured and killed Airrazor, you would feel my actions to be justified.”
“But still, you shouldn’t sink to their level, Tigatron!” pleaded Optimus, “It’s not the Maximal way and more importantly, it shouldn’t be your way!”
Tigatron rose. He walked forward until he was standing before his former commander.
He struck Optimus across the face furiously. Optimus Primal did not back down from the blow.
“For years, you’ve buried your emotions and the only emotions you do show are anger and rage,” said Optimus, “Senseless destruction use to be the one line you’d have never crossed in the past.”
Tigatron backhanded Optimus across the face.
“You’re no longer the Tigatron I use to know,” spoke Optimus, despite the pain, “Whether that’s a good or bad thing, is ultimately up to you to decide.”
Tigatron glared at Optimus. He swung again but Optimus caught his hand this time.
“But ask yourself one thing, Tigatron,” said Optimus through clenched teeth, “How would she feel if she had seen you kill Blackarachnia like that?”
Something in Tigatron’s optics changed. He looked into Optimus Primal’s eyes and in a flash, the anger and hate that was there before seemed to abate.
“Optimus, I…” whispered Tigatron. He fell to his knees and wept openly. Optimus put a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t be afraid, old friend,” said Optimus softly, “Just let it out.”
“I have a feeling things are going to be better from now on,” said Optimus to Hawk.
“That’s good to hear,” replied Hawk, “I think that you coming back has really helped our cause!”
“Don’t thank me,” Optimus said humbly, “My coming to the future was purely coincidental. The real hero is Tigatron. Despite everything that’s happened to him, he still fights on with the same bravery I’ve known him for during the Beast Wars.”
“Oh, by the way, you do know that our attack on Megatron’s citadel is tomorrow, right?” asked Hawk.
“I see,” responded Optimus, “Will you require my help?”
“We’ll need all the help we can get!” laughed Hawk, “Megatron’s no pushover. The place is packed with combat drones, Predacon mercenaries, and turbo-cannons. Too bad Tigatron never allows me to take part in combat…”
“I’ll be there, then,” chuckled Optimus, “And don’t worry about it. Tigatron’s only concerned for your safety. Besides, they’ll need all the technical help they can. And who better than Hawk to provide such assistance?”
Later that evening, Optimus walked down the hall towards his chambers. Something caught his eye, however. A bright light from a door piqued his interest for some strange reason even he could not explain. Optimus walked inside.
“Hmm, this place is a vault, eh?” thought Optimus. Indeed, the room was filled with dozens of screens and thousands more data-tracks and laser discs.
Out of the corner, one title on a data-track caught his roving optics. Simply titled, it was called “Beast Wars.”
Curiousity finally took over. Optimus took it and popped it into one of the screens. Soon, an image popped onto the screen.
Optimus sat down and watched intently.
In the video, the Optimus witnessed Tarantulas as he cried out in an anguished voice while he witnessed his laboratory in flames.
“AAAAHHH!” he cried, “What could have done this?!?”
A hand tapped him from behind. Tarantulas turned around.
“NO! It’s not possible!” he cried, “What are you?!?”
“Right now, I’m feeling just Prime,” said the ‘bot who looked exactly like Optimus, “But I can’t say the same for you in a few kliks!”
“Eh, heh heh, Optimus…” chuckled Tarantulas nervously, “How did you get back so soon?”
“I’ll tell you about it later,” said the being who appeared to be Optimus, “But right now, you and I have a few things to talk about!”
The ‘bot who seemed to be Optimus lunged at Tarantulas and tackled him down.
Optimus could not see the ensuing actions because the images started blurring and suffering from static. However, he did hear the tormented screams of Tarantulas.
Finally, the video popped back up. The ‘bot who looked like him stood over Tarantulas who was wounded grievously with a large gash across his chest plates, exposing his spark.
With a furious roar, the being, who looked like Optimus, thrust his sword down, right through Tarantulas’ spark!
Optimus gasped in shock as his look-alike killed Tarantulas coldly and brutally. Finally, a shocking realization dawned upon him. This WAS him!
The Optimus in the video, after several cycles had passed with him backing up against a wall, held his head in grief.
“I’ve extinguished the life of a spark…” he whispered sadly. Finally, he got back to his feet and after picking up his own sword, stabbed it through his own chest plate. The rest of the video stopped playing from there.
Optimus was in a state of shock. Was this really him? How could it have happened like that? Did he really kill Tarantulas like that?!?
He did not have any time to ponder the questions for a large hand grabbed him by the shoulder plate and yanked him out of the room.
“What do you think you’re doing in there?” Depthcharge demanded, “That’s restricted material!”
“Let’s have a little honesty here, Depthcharge!” responded Optimus angrily, “What happened during the Beast Wars? And I mean, what REALLY happened? You’ve kept me in the dark for as long as you could so let’s hear the truth!”
Depthcharge breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought you’d never ask,” he said, “Come with me.”
“Huh? What for?” asked Optimus.
“Tigatron wants to see you,” replied Depthcharge, “He’ll tell you everything.”
“You don’t need to ask,” said Tigatron as Optimus entered the room, “I’ll be completely forthright with you.”
Optimus was relieved. There would be no more hostile confrontations between him and Tigatron.
“Despite your loss, we still carried on as a team, although not as stable as before,” continued Tigatron, “We still managed to beat Megatron and his forces back time and time again. However, we did not have such luck when it came to retrieving our own stasis pods because we had lost a flier. We only gained one team member, Hawk, while Megatron retrieved the likes of Quickstrike, Silverbolt, Iguanus, Protoform X, and Transmutate. Over the course of four years, Cheetor was the first to fall. His death affected us all. Megatron was the one who pulled the trigger and for that, I’ll be the one to kill him! Rhinox was the next to fall in an ambush. But to his credit, he managed to kill both Scorponok and Waspinator in an act of self-sacrifice that to this very day, I promise to honor.”
Tigatron closed his optics, recalling the painful memories. Optimus sat in silence, feeling daggers drive deeper and deeper into his spark everytime Tigatron informed him of a teammate’s death.
“Then, it was Airrazor, myself, Rattrap, Dinobot, and Hawk. The five of us remained while Megatron added Quickstrike and Silverbolt to his team. Rattrap fell in battle but in the same respect, took Terrorsaur down as he dragged the Predacon scum with him into molten lava during a skirmish on top of a volcano. The Predacons now overwhelmed us but for some reason, they chose not to crush us with one blow, preferring instead to take each of us one at a time. Finally, one night, Dinobot said his goodbyes to me and left the base. I tried to stop him but he disappeared before I could reach him. He led a lone suicide attack on the Predacon base that night, even going so far as killing Inferno with a sword through the spark. However, a Predacon probe was sent to us the next day showing us Protoform X killing Dinobot point blank and without mercy. We took as many Predacons as we could, but in the end, Megatron dominated us! His next attack was a psychic one, with his new minion and future concubine, Transmutate, unleashing her devastating psionic powers upon our base, crippling our defenses and making short work of the three of us in a matter of nano-kliks.”
Optimus Primal’s hands trembled as myriad emotions coursed through him, ranging from grief to rage to helplessness.
“I suppose you know what happened next,” said Tigatron, “For the next year or so, we were prisoners aboard the Darkside while the Predacons mined energon to power their weapons. Finally, Airrazor died from the tortures inflicted upon her by Blackarachnia and only Hawk and I remained. Megatron finally gained enough power by the end of the year and powered the ship to fly back to Cybertron. I took it upon myself to receive the blunt of the tortures just so that Hawk would not be tortured. In the end, when Megatron returned to Cybertron to conquer it, his watch over us became more and more lax to the point where we finally escaped. I gained contact with various resistance groups over the years and here I am, finally. Ever since Megatron took over, the people of Cybertron have suffered much. Energon shortages plague this planet as Megatron and his minions hoard it and keep it all for themselves. I can’t allow this to happen to my world any longer!”
Optimus looked at Tigatron intently.
“You’d do almost anything for Hawk, wouldn’t you?” he asked, “Your care for him stems from more than the fact that he was one of your comrades. Am I right?”
“Very perceptive,” Tigatron chuckled, “Wouldn’t you say it’s too much of a coincidence that someone with a mixture of my armor, Airrazor’s wings and her face, and the current physical age of Cheetor could emerge from a stasis pod just like that? What father would ever want his son to be exposed to the harsh realities of war?”
“You’re Hawk’s father!” exclaimed Optimus, “Now it makes perfect sense why you would never expose him to danger!”
“Yes, well…” said Tigatron, “Once this conflict is over… once Megatron is dead, I will treat Hawk with the true love and respect that a father should give his son. But until then, I must still remain vigilant! Our assault on Megatron’s fortress is tomorrow and I will not fail!”
A moment of uncomfortable silence between the two passed.
“What happened to Tarantulas?” asked Optimus curiously. He had heard the fates of nearly every single being from the Beast Wars, except for the treacherous Predacon scientist.
“Trust me, you don’t want to know,” said Tigatron in a tone that Optimus knew not to press any further.
Finally, Optimus got up.
“Well,” he said, “I’d better get going now. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to accompany you personally tomorrow. Somebody’s got to make sure Hawk still has a father who can return to him alive.”
“Very well, Optimus,” replied Tigatron, and then added, “Isn’t this like old times? The two of us comrades in arms again? Fighting together for the common good?”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” smiled Optimus. He and Tigatron exchanged a hug.
“It’s good to have you back, Optimus,” said Tigatron. “And it’s good to see you again, old friend,” said Optimus. Soon, they noticed Hawk at the door who looked like he was about to cry.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a moment alone with Hawk,” spoke Tigatron softly.
“No problem at all,” said Optimus as he left.
“Come here, my son,” whispered Tigatron as he embraced Hawk in a tight hug. Hawk returned the embrace.
As Optimus retired to his quarters for the night, he knew that the time for healing would be now, in this very moment.
“The time to strike is now,” announced Tigatron the next day, “I assume each and every one of you are ready by now?”
Everyone nodded in the conference room from Depthcharge to General Strika.
“Good,” said the Maximal resistance leader, “Optimus, Depthcharge, and I will infiltrate Megatron’s fortress through the sewers while General Strika’s task force engages with Megatron’s shock troops in front of the palace.”
“This’ll probably be our final and last mission,” stated Depthcharge, “All our resources and soldiers will concentrate on the complete overthrow of Megatron. So it’s now or never. This isn’t going to be some friendly little game of cyber-chess. This is going to be a death match to determine the fate of Cybertron. All those who feel that they cannot handle this and wish to back out, I suggest you do so now.”
Nobody backed out.
“Then it’s settled,” said Tigatron, “General Strika, go round up the troops. We leave now.”
The large female Transformer, known as Strika, bowed and left. Soon, other members of the resistance got up and left. Only Tigatron and Optimus were left.
“Just like old times, eh, Optimus?” asked Tigatron.
“Just like old times,” smiled Optimus but that smile soon disappeared, “But what about Hawk? Suppose you don’t come back? Then what about him?”
“Don’t worry,” said Tigatron, “Should I die, he will be transported off this planet to a safer location in one of the outlying Maximal colonies across the galaxy that has not been taken over by Megatron… yet. There, I have deposited enough credits into his account so that he may start a new life.”
“But I’m going to make sure it won’t have to come down to that,” said Optimus firmly as the two finally left.
“ATTACK!” cried a loud shrill voice. At the command, thousands of rebel soldiers appeared out of the streets to attack the Predacon armies of Megatron, which mainly consisted of battle drones and several assorted Predacon soldiers. Apparently, Megatron had forgotten his own promises of freeing the Predacons as most Predacons suffered just as much as Maximals under his rule. But with the energon wealth he acquired, Megatron, with the help of some blueprints taken from the missing Tarantulas
Megatron’s Predacon soldiers had clearly not expected the attack and as a result, reeled back. The battle drones, on the other hand, had no thoughts of such things and fought back mercilessly as they would have under any other circumstances.
Mech fluid stained the streets, that day.
“Here’s the entrance,” said Depthcharge, “As my map reads, we should be at the lower chambers right now after this opening. They had traveled underground where resistance was light. Only a few inept Predacon mercenaries to watch the sewers and most of them were no problem taking out.
Depthcharge opened a lid, which led to the lower chambers. He, Optimus, and Tigatron stepped out after climbing the ladder.
“Nice place,” remarked Depthcharge.
“By Primus, this is one giant torture chamber!” exclaimed Optimus.
“Megatron built it specifically to keep all prisoners, political or otherwise,” growled Tigatron, “Though the tyrant had a hand in building these chambers, they are operated by none other than Protoform X, or as we call him now, Rampage!”
“Right you are, Kitty!” shouted a deep and menacing voice. Optimus, Depthcharge, and Tigatron turned around to face a giant, hulking Transformer in beast mode, which, apparently, was an enormous crab.
“X!” snarled Depthcharge, “I see your disregard for sentient life hasn’t changed a bit.”
“And I see that your temper hasn’t changed, either,” mocked Rampage, “But there is a way for me to ease your rage… BY OVERWHELMING IT WITH MY OWN!”
Having said that, Rampage transformed into a menacing brute of a Cybertronian, dwarfing Optimus and Tigatron… but not Depthcharge.
“You two go on ahead to stop Megatron,” whispered Depthcharge, “I’ll deal with Protoform X.”
“But you can’t face Rampage alone!” protested Optimus.
“Hey, don’t worry about me, Primal!” spoke Depthcharge determinedly, “I’ve had to face that monster before and lived when I really should have died along with my comrades. If I die here and rejoin my friends, then so be it! I’ll be taking X with me!”
Optimus felt a lump at his throat. He and Tigatron finally moved on, running past Rampage.
“A shame I can’t take the three of you,” chuckled Rampage, “But I’ll let them go in hopes that one of them will be lucky enough to kill Megatron.”
“You don’t like Megatron much, eh?” asked Depthcharge, “I don’t really blame you but then again, I don’t like the either of you.”
“You’ve no idea what I’ve been through,” spat Rampage, “Day in and day out, I must witness the one I love be defiled by that insignificant insect, Megatron! Do you know what it feels like to be a slave of agony? To have Transmutate come to you every day but yet, you know you can never be with her because the fates have decreed it? To be shackled and disgraced like an animal?!?”
“Cry me a river, X,” replied Depthcharge callously, “But I’ll tell you what. Once I kill you, I’m going to do you a little favor and kill Megatron. That is, if Tigatron hasn’t killed him already. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like a deal!” laughed Rampage, “Now let’s shake on it!”
Rampage aimed his gun at Depthcharge and fired. Immediately, Depthcharge leaped into the air and kicked the missile back.
Rampage rolled aside to avoid it but Depthcharge was upon him in an instant. The blue Maximal cupped both his hands together and brought them down upon Rampage with all his might. He punched Rampage in the solar plexus, then, knocked the mass murderer back with an uppercut.
Rampage caught the next punch, however, and twisted Depthcharge’s arm in an extremely painful position. Depthcharge lashed out with his foot and sweeped Rampage to the floor from under his feet. The two of them grappled on the floor.
“Face it, hunter!” cried Rampage as he clasped both his hands around Depthcharge’s throat, “The people of Omicron had it coming! Sooner or later, their lives would’ve come to an end! It is the law of the universe! Everything that is alive must die eventually! I am not their destroyer, but their savior! I sent their sparks to the Matrix eternally and you should be thanking me for that!”
“You’re forgetting just one thing!” spat Depthcharge as he managed to pry Rampage’s hands off his neck, “You’re not exempt from your own rules of life and death!”
“Eh? Never thought of it that way,” replied Rampage. Seeing his opportunity, Depthcharge head-butted Rampage forcefully, then used both his feet to kick the large, crustacean-like monstrosity off him.
“We’re in the middle chambers now,” said Tigatron as he and Optimus blasted open a huge door, leading to an elaborate room. Bookshelves were everywhere, almost as if the whole place were a giant library.
“Careful,” cautioned Tigatron, “We may encounter danger soon.”
“What can we expect now?” asked Optimus.
“Silverbolt and Quickstrike,” replied the rebel leader, “Two of Megatron’s most notorious generals. Their atrocities are second only to Rampage.”
“That sounds just great,” commented Optimus sarcastically.
“Indeed it is!” rang out an almost noble-sounding voice, “And for your participation in this act of treason, we will have you on your knees before our leader!”
“But first, we’re just gunna kick yer keisters! Yeehaw!” cried a second voice.
Optimus and Tigatron turned around to see two odd-looking Transformers open fire upon them. They quickly rolled out of the way to opposite sides. Silverbolt attacked Optimus directly while Quickstrike took advantage of Tigatron’s position to tackle him from behind.
Optimus took out his sword and used it to block himself as Silverbolt slammed into him with his spear.
“So you are the famed Optimus Primal of lore, hmm?” laughed Silverbolt as he forced Optimus back, “You are not as strong, nor as skilled as Megatron seems to think you are!”
“Wanna bet?” smiled Optimus as he slammed Silverbolt back with an amazing show of force.
Silverbolt fell back, stunned. Slowly, he got back up, licking his lips.
“It seems that I have underestimated you,” he said, “But no matter, I shall present your head before Megatron!”
Silverbolt attacked Optimus again but this time, Optimus step-sided and tripped Silverbolt, knocking him to the floor.
Meanwhile, Quickstrike attempted to clamp down on Tigatron with his cobra-like hand.
“Don’t make this hard on yourself, kitty!” cried Quickstrike but Tigatron punched him across the face, knocking him off. Quickstrike charged Tigatron but the Maximal warrior was prepared. Taking out his battle mace, Tigatron smashed Quickstrike to the floor.
Quickstrike groaned in pain but Tigatron bashed him again and again, mercilessly.
Optimus slugged Silverbolt viciously in hopes of taking out the winged warrior as quickly as possible. Although Silverbolt was indeed hurt, he fought back the pain and kicked Optimus in the chest, knocking the Maximal commander back.
“Now it ends!” cried the Darkest Knight as he raised his spear, “Death to all those who would oppose Megatr-AAAHHH!!!”
Optimus raised his head to see Tigatron emerge from behind Silverbolt. The Predacon general’s head had been split in nearly two by Tigatron’s mace.
“Come,” said Tigatron, “We must continue.”
As Optimus and Tigatron continued their ascent on the stairs, Optimus could feel the tension coursing through him. What was Megatron like now after all those years? Did he have what it took to defeat the tyrant for good? Would they fail in their mission to stop his mad ambitions?
Tigatron’s voice brought Optimus out of his trance.
“Optimus,” he said, “You do understand that with Megatron, I will do whatever it takes to bring him down, correct?”
“I understand,” replied Optimus understandingly as he and Tigatron continued running up the flight of stairs.
Rampage smashed Depthcharge against the wall. He pummeled the large, blue ‘bot mercilessly.
“You should be thanking me, ‘Charge!” he cried, “With every blow I inflict upon you, I am bringing you closer to the death you so crave!”
Depthcharge wasn’t really thankful… not by a long shot. But he did realize that he was becoming weaker and weaker throughout the fight. Protoform X had the advantage through his unnatural endurance. He had to think fast or else, he would be joining those slain in Colony Omicron without having avenged them.
The butcher of Omicron stopped his attacks and walked away from Depthcharge. The murderer took a large sword, which hung off a wall, and charged Depthcharge, intending to impale the guardian with one clean blow.
Without thinking, Depthcharge focused all his energies towards his chest plate and fired a massive energy disc, which struck Rampage in head, knocking him back. The sword flew through the air and Depthcharge jumped up, grabbing the sword and somersaulting towards Rampage. With one neat stroke, Depthcharge cut Rampage open from his neck to his hip.
Protoform X fell to the ground, gurgling in agony. Mech fluid was all over the floor as well.
“Heh… finish it, hunter!” spat Rampage, “Before I recover and tear your spark to pieces!”
“I don’t think so,” said Depthcharge coldly, “That would be the easy way out.”
“You’re… letting me live?” asked the weakened Rampage. Already, the tiny nanites within him were working on repairing the rather large wound as well as his internal systems.
“No,” replied Depthcharge, “I’m going to make you suffer for what you’ve done.”
With that, Depthcharge took out a syringe from his arm compartment and injected a strange looking liquid into the spark of his immortal enemy.
“What… have you done?!?” howled Rampage. He convulsed violently and coughed up even more mech fluid.
“Viron Nanites,” explained Depthcharge, “The deadliest piece of mechanical warfare ever devised. They’re in your fluid streams right now, feeding off of you. I’m pretty sure that they’re already eating away at your spark at this moment. For most Transformers, it’s only a matter of one or two cycles before the spark faces complete destruction. For you, I’d wager about twenty cycles before you kick the bucket.”
“It… is your duty to uphold justice… and preserve life,” said Rampage in barely a whisper, “Would you forsake all that… for revenge?”
“Gladly, X,” snarled Depthcharge, “There was a time when I thought that preserving all life was important, the good and the bad alike. Only when you leveled Omicron, did I start to question my Maximal upbringing. After searching myself for several days, did I discover the true ugliness of life and let me tell you, it goes far beyond my hatred for you and your actions. So long as civilization exists, there will always be those of evil and blackened souls seeking to destroy the pure and the untainted. In order to save lives, I must destroy the lives of those who don’t deserve salvation. In time, Cybertron will fall and a new era will begin. Those who deserve life will have earned it and those such as yourself and Megatron who cause nothing but suffering will perish by my hands and the hands of those who believe in our cause. This is the true liberation of Cybertron and not only that, this same belief was the liberating factor, which freed me from all self-pity and doubt. Whether I live or die… so long as I can uphold the universal law of justice… I have no regrets.”
“Very…
moving speech, old friend,” coughed Rampage viciously, “But will your
personal convictions be enough… in this war-torn planet of ours?”
“They may never be enough for our planet,” said Depthcharge, “But they’re good enough for me.”
Depthcharge turned around and walked away, without looking back, leaving Rampage in his agony.
Optimus and Tigatron entered the final upper chamber of the citadel.
“Something doesn’t seem right,” said Optimus cautiously.
“Agreed,” growled Tigatron, “But with Megatron, nothing ever does!”
The two of them slammed the chamber doors open. They were greeted by over twenty spider-like battle drones.
“Well that’s… just… Prime!” grumbled Optimus. The drones attacked.
Both warriors echoed their battles cries and fought back savagely. Tigatron smashed into several with his battle mace and blasted at several more with his plasma cannon.
Optimus carefully sliced off the legs of the drones attacking them and then the heads.
“Watch out, Tigatron!” he cried as he saw a drone sneak up behind his friend. Tigatron turned around but it was too late. The drone slashed Tigatron across the chest, cutting him open and exposing his spark. This did not faze Tigatron as the years of suffering and constant battle taught him discipline. Crying another war cry, Tigatron bashed the drone’s head in with one blow.
“Are you okay?” asked a concerned Optimus after he blasted open the last of the battle drones.
“I’m fine,” snarled Tigatron, “Now where is that coward, Megatron?”
“My dear Tigatron, I thought you’d never ask,” exclaimed a voice behind him.
Tigatron whirled around to face the tyrant but it was too late. Tigatron fell back with an energon blade in his spark and a bewildered expression on his face.
“Tigatron, NOOO!!!” cried Optimus as he caught his fallen friend.
“Optimus…” whispered Tigatron weakly.
“Hahaha!” laughed Megatron, “It truly is you, Optimus, in the metal!”
“SHUT UP!” yelled Optimus towards the Predacon despot as he cradled Tigatron’s head for any sign of recovery.
“He is the least of your concerns, Primal!” Megatron mocked, “To think that after all these years, you never even bothered paying me a visit. But now… NOW… I have you at my mercy at very long last!”
To
Be Concluded.