28.Oct.06
Reconciliation
By: Spectre
the Hechidnat
Chapter 4: Nemesis Risen
Primal Prime was surprised by how easy it was for him to move around Axalon
Tower. Rattrap had explained the unusual architecture for him, and he
marveled at the testament to his predecessor as commander of the Axalon crew.
Primal knew little of Optimus, but the fact that Rattrap had gone to such
expense simply to accommodate a Transformer of such size testified that he had
been greatly respected.
Walking up to a computer console accommodated to his show, Primal Prime caused
his eyes to glow. Twin beams of green light shot from his optics to a data
receptacle, the computer uploading the information he was transmitting. In a
matter of seconds, all the intelligence the Vok had granted him was in Axalon
Tower's memory banks.
"So, you say that the Vok recovered all the information from Megatron and
Tarantulas' Beast Wars datatracks?"
Turning to Dinobot, Prime nodded. "Everything you could want to know about
their secret operations is in there, from Megatron's plan to steal the Golden
Disk to Tarantulas' connections to the Tripredacus Council."
Explanation complete, the giant Maximal headed off for his quarters. Intent on
his purpose, he did not see the narrow-eyed look that Dinobot directed at the
computer. Had he known, he wouldn't have cared that Dinobot logged into the
database and spent several hours reviewing the information.
Blackarachnia entered the quarters she shared with Silverbolt, noticing
immediately that he was not in bed despite the late hour. Looking around, she
quickly spotted him by the window, staring out at Cybertropolis. Sighing, she
stalked up to him, moving as quietly as possible. Her stealth skills virtually
unmatched, it seemed impossible to her when Silverbolt spoke. "There is no
need to mask your presence, Blackarachnia."
More than his detection of her, the use of her name gave Blackarachnia pause.
Silverbolt rarely greeted her in such a fashion, normally using some kind of
nickname that expressed his affections. However, such a mannerism had not
occurred since the unexpected rebirth of Jetstorm.
"Silverbolt, what's wrong? Lately you seem as though nothing matters
outside of battle."
Guilt reflected in his golden eyes as he turned to face her. "I am sorry,
my love. It's just...the current conflict has me greatly concerned."
Knowing that he would say no more, Blackarachnia settled for being pulled into
his strong embrace. They moved to their bed, lying down and holding each other
close. Neither said anything, taking comfort simply from the presence of the
other.
Cackling, Tarantulas watched as the two Dark Vok floated into his laboratory.
Their air one of subservience, they retained a distance of several feet,
twitching their tentacle-like appendages as they hovered. For a long moment, the
spawn of Unicron just watched them, glorying in their obedience. Finally, he
spoke.
"You have something for me, I assume?"
In answer, the Dark Vok caused an object to materialize between them. It was
identical in shape and size to the lost Autobot Matrix of Leadership, but
Tarantulas could feel the dark power it pulsed with. A faint call reached to him
from the object, indicating a presence contained within. Seeing their master's
thrill, the Dark Vok gave chilling grins. "We present to you the Decepticon
Matrix of Conquest!"
Airazor and Tigatron sat on the edge of the takeoff platform, a short runway
that extended from the side of Axalon Tower. The two stared out across the
techno-organic cityscape, looking down at the vegetation that was similar to and
yet so unlike that of Earth, the world they had regarded as their home. While
the new surroundings were unnerving, the two had a large compensation: each
other.
"Cybertron is certainly not the world I thought it would be," Tigatron
said.
"Sure isn't," Airazor agreed, leaning against him, her head on his
shoulder. "I feel torn; this is the planet that should be my home, but I
feel as though I belong on Earth."
"I feel the same, my lady. Still, our home is here now: our friends are
here, our purpose is here...and our lives together will be here."
Turning to look at him, Airazor smiled. However, before they could say anything
more, Cheetor emerged from the tower. "Guys, we've got a big problem!"
Sensing the urgency, the pair arose, rushing towards the door as Cheetor went
back in.
Dark clouds obscured the sky above, but Tarantulas was not concerned. Standing
on the roof of the Cybertropolis power plant, he made sure that the stasispod
his band had stolen some time ago was properly hooked up. Satisfied, he began
his work, logging into the built in computer and initializing the activation
program. Cackling as the allegiance programming went from Maximal to Predacon,
Tarantulas set about his other plans. Placing the Great War blueprints into the
computer, he downloaded the schematics into the protoform. Finally, he inserted
the stolen wooly mammoth DNA into the replicator, allowing the stasispod to
begin working.
The sound of engines approaching caused him to turn, and Tarantulas smirked as
he saw the Maximals coming in. Pulling out the Matrix of Conquest, he opened the
pod and dropped the container into the churning mass of metal. Closing, he
watched as the pod began to glow with the energy flowing into it.
Walking forward, he leaped off the edge of the building, Tarantulas turned to
his associates. "We must delay those Maximals long enough for our newest
member to emerge!"
"Yeehaw! Let's slag them tin-horns!" Quickstrike crowed, opening fire
with his cyber venom.
Rampage converted to tank mode, aiming missiles at the airborne Depth Charge.
"Time for a game of dodge bomb, old playmate!"
Working in concert, Obsidian and Strika bombarded Cheetor and Blackarachnia as
the pair landed. Tigatron closed in on Tarantulas, while Scavenger and
Waspinator made their way towards Airazor and Rattrap. However, before Primal
Prime could join the fight, the stasispod above exploded.
Opaque smoke obscured where the pod had been, and for a moment, Tarantulas
worried that he had miscalculated. Then the sound of heavy footsteps echoed, and
a shape even darker than the smoke emerged.
The figure that appeared was a wooly mammoth, his fur black and grey. Long tusks
extended from his face, red on the end with what appeared to be bloodstains.
However, formidable as that seemed, it was when he transformed that the Maximals
froze in shock.
His body a mixture of black and bone-white with silvery metal on his torso and a
red pectoral section, the figure had the tusks of his Beast Mode sticking out
from his shoulders. An enormous cannon was held in his right hand, looking
impossibly large. But what caught the eye was the familiar head shape of a
Prime.
"Who the spotted heck is that?" Cheetor breathed.
In answer, the enormous Predacon— for he could be nothing else— dropped to
the ground. A Transformer of his weight should have made an enormous crash, but
he made no sound as he landed lightly. "I am Nemesis Prime, mightiest
Predacon since Megatron himself. My structure has been improved upon from the
schematics of the original Optimus Prime, but my technology combines that of
Decepticon and Predacon. Now I am here to dispose of you, Maximals."
"Just try it, freak!" Rattrap yelled, taking aim and firing. The
blast, normally able to send a Transformer staggering, didn't even leave a mark
on Nemesis Prime. Staring at the diminutive Maximal, the lightless black eyes of
the massive Predacon showed no emotion. Lifting his cannon, he opened fire,
narrowly missing Rattrap. Still, the blast came close enough to cause damage,
sending Rattrap flying to lie motionless.
"He certainly is impressive," Strika muttered.
"We'll have to watch ourselves with this one," Obsidian agreed.
"Such a soldier is a worthy addition to our colony!" Scavenger
exclaimed.
Changing the direction of his gaze, Nemesis Prime spoke to his new comrades.
"Keep back; these fools are mine."
While all the various 'Cons were unwilling to give up their opponents, the
bearing of the giant and the power he displayed indicated that they should do as
he said. Backing away, they watched as Nemesis Prime opened fire. Tigatron went
flying, followed shortly after by Airazor and Silverbolt. Dinobot, Blackarachnia,
Cheetor, and Depth Charge also took hits, but were quickly back on their feet.
Before they could rejoin the fight, however, Primal Prime waved them back.
"Get the others together; I'll handle this."
Nemesis Prime didn't move as Primal Prime walked up to stand directly across
from him. The two giants stared at each other identical in size and in the aura
of power they gave off. Primal drew his gun, a weapon that would have been a
rifle in the hands of a smaller Transformer. Once again, the pair just stood,
facing each other without moving.
Without warning, Primal Prime's gun shot up, opening fire with a detonation that
burned into Nemesis Prime. Staggering for the first time, the Predacon replied
with a blast from his own cannon. Hit with a blow that defied previous
experience, Primal was knocked from his feet, quickly recovering as Nemesis drew
close. Holstering their weapons, the two went into a grapple, enormous fingers
locking around each other. The pair struggled, each impossibly strong.
Finally, when it seemed as though the titanic Cybertronians would struggle
forever, Nemesis Prime broke away. His pectoral chest plate opened, revealing
the Decepticon Matrix of Conquest. Primal suddenly became impossibly weak, the
energies emanating from the exposed container draining him by some method.
Gloating would have been appropriate for the Predacon, but when he spoke, it was
in the same cold tone as before. "Witness the glory of the Matrix of
Conquest, Primal. As the Matrix of Leadership contained the life of Primus, this
Matrix contains the life of Unicron. It was meant to extinguish the Leadership
Matrix, and since your Spark comes from that, I would kill you were I to open
this. Still, I prefer to defeat my enemies in fair combat."
Drawing his weapon, Nemesis Prime aimed at Primal Prime. "But that doesn't
mean you're getting off free."
Primal Prime flew backwards as the discharge struck him, toppling to land on his
back. Closing his chest plate, Nemesis Prime turned and walked away, not even
looking back at his fallen opponent. For a moment, the remaining 'Cons thought
to attack and finish off the Maximals. However, the sight of the Transmetal 2s
and Depth Charge coming towards them with weapons armed was enough to deter
them, and they took off after their comrade.
Ignoring them after casting a glance towards Rampage, Depth Charge knelt to
examine Primal. After a moment, he shook his head. "He needs medical
attention, just like the rest of them. I'll carry him; I'm the only one strong
enough to do the job. The rest of you, find a way to transport the others."
Acknowledging Depth Charge's wisdom, the other three went to work. Unbeknownst
to them, Jetstorm was flying overhead, smirking in jet mode. "With their
numbers cut by more than half, this is the perfect opportunity to slag these
losers once and for all!"
Powering up his jets, the Vehicon took off after his comrades.
To be continued...