Illuminating the darkest reaches of space, a single shinning light dominated the skies of planet Earth. A strange circle of light appeared, not very far from Earth for that matter. It was a brilliant beacon, rivaled only by the Moon in the night sky. All over the Earth, people gazed at it from their hidden refuges, wondering what it could possibly be.

In reality, it was a transwarp conduit, energized by the very force of the Matrix itself. Now it was a great gateway in space, a wormhole even. Through it, Omegracon ripped Cybertron from its proper place, pulling it towards him. Now an entire planet passed through that gateway at the whyms of Omegracon, destined for doom....

Amid it all, a tiny pinprick of light flew past the transformer homeworld just as it finished crossing over into the solar system. Closer in, it turned out to be Megatron, carrying Adam with him. The boosters mounted inside his legs sent him towards Cybertron nearly at the speed of light.

Poor Adam was trapped, his arms and legs pinned down by Megatron’s giant hand. "Let...me...go!" he demanded, "I’ve already been through enough today and you don’t want to make me any madder!"

Megatron laughed. "Ha! That’s supposed to be a threat? Oh please! Optimus’ speeches were more threatening than your pitiful demands...."

Adam growled, defiantly staring at the Predacon overlord. "You won’t find this so pitiful!" He balled up his fists. Concentrating, the power flowed through Adam, surges of raw energon building up. He blasted it out, sending megawatts of power into Megatron’s palm.

The surge tickled Megatron’s fingers, but nothing more. Sparks were flying out as Megatron told Adam, "I wouldn’t bother with that if I were you. My new body is indestructable, made from cast-iron laced with only the finest adamantium. Besides, I have better ideas in mind for that power of yours...."

Adam continued to struggle, wanting nothing more than to be free of this tyrant. Megatron continued on despite Adam, skimming Cybertron’s atmosphere as he headed toward a different planet not far away.

Several thousand kilometers behind, the shuttle Discovery shadowed Megatron’s path. Its engines simply weren’t fast enough to keep up with Megatron, no matter how much power was put into them. For every second that passed, the Predacon was gaining another couple hundred kilometers . The Maximals were keenly aware of this fact.

"Megatron’s getting away, with Adam in his grimy clutches!" exclaimed Cheetarus, "Can’t this thing go any faster?"

Kaye sighed, growing more and more strained by Cheetarus Prime’s demands. Calmly, he said to the Maximal, "Look...Prime, this ship was originally designed to go into Earth orbit, no further. Even with the Cybertronian modifications, speed is not one of its greatest assets."

Optimus Primal came up from the rear of the cockpit, his wings swinging from side to side with his shoulders. "Cheetarus is right. We must recapture him as soon as possible. What he had planned for Adam is something....horrible." Primal said.

"But the energon reserves are getting low," Rattrap pointed to a supply readout, "And we’re thousands of miles from the last convenient energon station."

Optimus Primal turned to face the cockpit window. The glowing transwarp gateway flashed before their eyes, nearly blinding them all with its brilliance. There, hung in the middle, was a shinning green jewel. Staring at that brave new world, Optimus Primal said to Rattrap, "There is one possibility: Cybertron."

The shuttle began to alter course, breaking off its pursuit over Megatron. It shifted starboard, heading straight into the vortex. The Discovery went straight ahead despite the gravity waves pushing against it. Like a turbulent ocean, the gateway tried to force all ships away, throwing every storm, tsunami, and hurricane upon them.

"Into a sea of troubles we go..." Optimus quoted.

Megatron did not notice the Discovery breaking away, nor would he have cared. He was determined to reach his destination at all costs. Just beyond the edge of the transwarp gateway, one of the several moons of Cybertron emerged into normal space. Its metal surface called Megatron to it, calling him to his fate.

The steel moon became larger and larger in the eyes of Adam until it became a broadening horizon stretching beneath his feet. His imprissoner swooped downwards, diving straight for it. He and Megatron grazed jagged cliffs of titanium, past canyons of optic wiring, flew beyond plains of crystal.

Below them, a wide icon appeared in the landscape - a great carving engraved into this moon’s surface. Adam wasn’t sure what it was - neither Maximal or Predacon, nor Autobot either, but it was a face with sharp angles and a crown of four spikes on top. Then it hit Adam: it was the symbol of the Decepticons.

Megatron chuckled, sensing Adam’s fear. "Ah yes, impressive and awe-inspiring, isn’t it? This place is sacred to me, and to others of my kind." he elaborated with great relish, "In the end times of the Great War, this was a secret staging ground of the last ‘renegade’ Decepticons. This was where they created the first generation of Predacons, the first of my line."

"This is where you were...born?" Adam dared to ask.

Megatron flew towards the icon, entering one of the eyes. "Yes," he replied, "This, humanoid, is the birthplace of all Predacons! Welcome to...Cy-mos...."

They entered inside a great pit at least forty meters deep. It was dark place, much of it in shadows. Megatron slowed to a standstill, hovering in mid-air. He gazed into the darkness, searching for something.

Then Megatron smiled. "Ah...yessss." he said. With a heavy rumble, he dropped to the ground, casually throwing Adam away. The human-hybrid scurried off, trying to get away. In the meantime, Megatron walked up to a glowing button in the shape of the Predacon symbol. Chuckling to himself, he pressed it.

Lights started coming on all around them, illuminating the chambers. Tables, instruments, lab experiments, and consoles were all brought to light. A pair of projectors extended from the walls, zeroing in on Adam. They shot out beams of energy that hit the youth. Adam groaned, feeling like he hit a freight train. When he started to get up, his hands hit a blast of energy.

Force fields! Adam realized. He was entrapped inside a giant cube, sustained by the two wall-mounted projectors from a distance. Adam brought together his hands and blasted at it with a pulse of energon. The shields sparked, but held the explosion.

"As I said before, I wouldn’t bother with that if I were you, human." reminded Megatron as he went through piles of old data discs and manuscripts. Angrily, he shoved a whole pile over. As one disc hit it the floor, it squealed as it replayed an old recording.

"Whhhrrr-rrrr.....Data disc-Ninety. Classified data on human-made disc deciphered. Location of major energon-source given. Decepticon cryptics also encoded; further translation required...."

Megatron’s large foot smashed the disc into a pulp. "Useless." he muttered, "Ah! However..." . He turned to a box containing various instruments and tools, the sight of which made Megatron’s face light up. He opened it, removing a large scalpel, its edge glimmering like moonlight. Turning to Adam, he said, "This...will be most useful to me."

As he approached Adam, Megatron spoke aloud. "Laboratory computer - voice code M115. Access force screen projectors and switch to paralysis rays."

Automatically, the projectors responded, deactivating the force field around Adam. Before he could move though, beams of white-blue energy shot him, nullifying his muscles and servos. "Paralysis ray activated. Good to have you back, M115." a computerized voice spoke to Megatron.

"The name," Megatron said to his computer, "Is Megatron now. Update your memory banks please..."

The computer beeped, "Confirming, M115. Updating memory...welcome to Cy-mos...Megatron. Welcome home."

Turning to Adam, who had no choice but to stand there and quiver involuntarily, Megatron decided to talk more of Cy-mos. "At one time," he said, waving his arms around, "This was my laboratory, the one I created long before engaging in the Beast Wars on your scummy world."

Rubbing the delicate scalpel, Megatron went further. "For the longest time, it was my sanctuary from the Maximals...and where I spent many a decacycle studying, plotting, planning for my destiny." He picked up an ancient book, on the cover of which was the Autobot emblem. "I read the Covenant of Primus here, after which I renamed myself..." Taking a breath, the Predacon said, "Megatron...."

Adam’s voice broke Megatron’s melodrama. "Get to the point as to WHY I’M HERE!" he shouted.

The blade went right to his neck. Megatron growled, fangs showing as he put the scalpel to Adam. "Don’t tempt me to use this on you prematurely...Adam. But if you insist upon knowning your role...I shall be gracious enough to inform you."

Megatron took a step back and began circling around Adam. "When I was joined with Optimus Primal...both in the Matrix and by Omegracon’s hand," he began, "I learned much about the Matrix’s grand designs. Those designs are a template for my rise to power! And yet...my conquest of Cybertron...and the galaxy...are tied to you in one very crucial way...."

The scalpel went lower, from his throat and to his torso, hovering over the exact center of Adam’s chest....

"There!" Optimus pointed toward a strip of land on the screen, "Just outside of New Cybertropolis. There’s a minor spaceport a few clicks away! That should be good enough to attempt a landing...."

The Discovery eased into the Cybertronian atmosphere, angling to get just the right geometry. The heat shields absorbed a searing wave of heat, transporting the Maximals downward. With Kaye at the controls, the shuttle swayed left and right, but landed with barely a bump on the runway.

As the Maximals got out, Cheetarus quickly stated, "All right. We refuel and then move out! That’s an order!"

"Wait!" stopped Optimus. He stepped out, sniffing the air for the most delicate breeze. "Something doesn’t feel right here. Cybertron doesn’t feel the same...."

Cheetarus put his hand on Optimus Primal. "Sorry big-bot, but now’s not the time for reminiscing. Much has...."

Botanica stood up. "No, wait Prime! Optimus is right. Something wrong is in the midst...the planet itself feels...ill..." she said.

A sizzling, clicking sound came from all around. Botanica, Optimus, and Cheetarus stood their ground and checked for anything. Rattrap, unwary as usual, came back from a building with a full stack of energon cubes. "Hey look guys! I’ve got enough energon to...UGH!"

The Maximals turned to Rattrap and gasped. A carpet of red energy had enveloped the ground the rodent stood on, and now was halfway up his body. "Agh! Guys! Help!" Rattrap cried out, but the red energy overwhelmed him too quickly, knocking him unconscious. But that wasn’t the end of the energy - it swept over the runway like a wave over a low-lying beach, coming straight at them.

"A virus! Everybody out now!" Optimus shouted.

Everyone, including the human Kaye, stormed out of the Discovery scarcely a minute before the viral energy surged through its metal components. "So much for our ride home!" said Kaye, following the Maximals.

The energy followed them relentlessly, forcing them to a cliff edge. "That’s the end of the road." Cheetarus said, looking behind them.

Optimus stared down at the cliff wall, his eyes just catching onto something. Then, with startling revelation, the same red energy wave began surging up the cliff. "No it isn’t!" Optimus corrected Cheetarus, "The virus is coming at us from all sides, including straight down!"

"But not straight up! Optimus, can you fly us out?" asked Botanica.

Seeing the wave coming up on them from behind, Optimus replied, "I’ll do what I can." Primal transformed, becoming a huge metal chiropteran. Without needing to be told, Cheetarus, Botanica, and Kaye all climbed aboard. Grunting as he lifted his wings, Optimus warned them all, "Hang on. This...may be a little rough...."

Optimus Primal jumped, plummeting straight down along the cliff edge. They fell past the front of the viral energy, moments later it collided with the other wave, merging into a single, sizzling mass. The ground came up very quickly, and Optimus spread his wings as wide as possible. A thermal pocket of air pushed his wings upwards, giving him flight.

Over the planet Cybertron, the group soared. Below, they saw everything crackle with the red energy, pulsing from bright red to a barely distinguishable tint of gray. All of Cybertron, or so it seemed at least, was infected by a great virus.

"Oh no," groaned Cheetarus, "The whole planet’s been infected."

"Yes," said Optimus, "Both the organic and technological. Both are in pain."

"So this stuff...might infect me as well?" asked Kaye.

Optimus turned his head to stare at the human. "I believe it would be best not to try and find out.", was his comment.

They flew over New Cybertropolis, hovering over the Council Citadel. Thousands of voices could be heard, all crying and groaning in pain. The Maximals and other transformers here had been infected as well...probably the first of millions.

"Look at them all," Botanica said, "Their suffering is great. We need to help them."

Optimus jolted in mid-air. The others aboard his back got scared and asked what it was. Optimus Primal’s eyes became filled with white light. "There is a way to eliminate the virus," he said, "And that is to stop it at its source."

"Well, where’s this...source?" inquired Cheetarus Prime.

Optimus looked down into the great maze of bridges and walkways at the heart of the Citadel, down into the catacombs it lead into. "Vector Sigma..." muttered Optimus.

He swooped down, careful to avoid touching anything metal as he descended deeper and deeper into Cybertron. The light from above dimmed, then vanished completely as they ventured into Iacon, the secret city of the Autobots.

"Where are you taking us?" asked Botanica.

"Here! This is it!" said Optimus. A great metal dome appeared before them, one that pulsated with viral energy. "The Vector Sigma chamber...." He flew towards it, but there was no visible opening. Optimus shireked and pulled up, sweeping above the dome.

"Blast! It’s locked!" he said.

A spark jumped from one of Optimus’ wing ligaments. He cried out as it became stiff, barely able to move. "Can’t...support you all...forever! Arms are getting weak!" Optimus said.

"If we can get inside that chamber maybe you can have a rest!" Cheetarus pointed out.

Kaye stood up on Optimus’ body. "Hang on! I’ve got an idea!" He bent his knees, preparing to jump.

Cheetarus grabbed him. "No! You don’t know what that virus will do to you!"

"Beats getting us all killed!" Kaye said. With that, he bolted off Optimus Primal, falling twenty feet to the ground. He landed with a sickening thud...but the space suit he had on protected his body. Lieutenant Kaye stood up and took a step toward the chamber.

The virus beneath him did nothing. "No effect, just as I hoped!" Kaye shouted to the Maximals. He took a few steps closer to the chamber entrance, spying the computerized lock. Kaye look a close look at it, sure that he could crack it in no time. He pulled out a rod-like probe, sprouting from which were several micro-tubules suited for the job of circuit jamming. "All right," he said to the Maximals, "I’m going to open the chamber door..."

Optimus saw the lock on the chamber door. It flashed red for a moment, rippling with viral energy. "No Kaye! Wait!" Optimus shouted.

Upon touching the lock, the probe turned bright red. The viral energy caught onto the metal filaments and wiring imbedded in Kaye’s space suit, surging up into his arm. Soon, it enveloped the entire suit. Kaye groaned for a moment.

"My suit’s...freezing up! Internal motors...jamming in place! But I’ve got to break...that lock!"

With as much effort as possible, Kaye bent the glove’s fingers, crudely manipulating the probe. It started to slip...then fell to the floor. Kaye cried out, "No!" His device shattered, its various pieces rendered into glass. "No!" he yelled again, raising his hand up to pound upon the door.

A beep sounded from the lock. Magically, the heavy door creaked, sliding open.

Kaye fell to the floor, exhausted beyond belief. Cheetarus suggested they help him, but Optimus snapped on him immediately. "No! The virus will contaminate us! It appears...Kaye himself is unaffected by it...but for how long I can’t say...."

He flew into the chamber, finding a giant ball of viral energy glaring back at him like a red sun. Bolts of firey energy jumped from it to the chamber walls, the viral energy surging through like water through a sponge.

"Oh Primus," Botanica gasped, "Is that...Vector Sigma?"

Optimus nodded. "Yes. And infected with a serious viral agent obvious...."

A surge of energy blasted from Vector Sigma, side-swipping the Maximals. They all hollered as Optimus Primal was flung about. Botanica and Cheetarus fell to the floor like over-ripe coconuts from a palm tree. In mere nano-clicks, the viral energy eminating from Vector Sigma surged through them, causing their bodies to spasm.

"Cheetor! Botanica!" Optimus called to them, hovering in the air. Watching, he saw Cheetarus lift his head up, looking up at him. But the virus was too much for him. The head of Cheetarus Prime...Cheetor...became limp and dropped to the floor, his eyes closing as he lost consciousness.

"NOOOO!" hollered Optimus.

"O-O-Optimus...." a weak voice flew through the air.

Primal gazed about the room...finding a modest-sized Maximal on the floor, infected by the virus. At first Optimus Primal was confused, but as his memory clarified, he recognized some of his features as those of NightScream.

"Optimus," NightScream tried to say, "Vector Sigma...the virus...remove the panel from Vector...Sigma..." NightScream dragged himself on the floor, but his arms soon lost their strength.

"NightScream!" shouted Optimus.

Without warning, another bolt shot out at Optimus. This time the shock knocked Primal out of the sky, sending him careening into the floor. "No!" Optimus Primal shouted, his new wings failing him for the first time ever....

On the world of Cy-mos, Adam’s wails and screams echoed throughout all the canyons and valleys of silicon and steel like a banshee’s cry over a foggy morass.

"Oh this would go so much faster if you’d silence your whines!" Megatron growled. The Predacon was tinkering with Adam’s innards, severing various connections after he finished painfully prying open the human-hybrid’s chest cavity. A final positronic wire was severed with the pass of Megatron’s scalpel.

"There...now the transplant can begin." Megatron said merrily.

Adam was wincing in pain, sparks constantly spurting out of his neck and opened body. "Ack!" he groaned, a jolt of energon bursting from his shoulder, "What are...you doing? Don’t you...have any...sense of mercy?"

Megatron took his eyes away from the inside of Adam’s chest plate for a moment and stared into his eyes. "Believe me, human," Megatron said, pointing the end of his blade just a centimeter from his eye, "If I had the time, I could inflict more pain upon you than you could ever imagine! But sadly, time is against me and work must come before pleasure..."

As Megatron shifted back to his work, Adam scowled at him. "You’re a heartless beast, you know that?"

Adam’s breath suddenly stopped, a pop sounding from within his chest. A feeling of danger, panic, swept over him in seconds. His body began to jerk, even as it was suspended in the paralysis ray. He gagged, unable to breathe for some strange reason.

Megatron raised before Adam his hand, covered in technorganic ooze. Inside his palm, something quivered and pulsated. As the ooze dripped off, a fleshy organ covered in wires and merged with circuits was revealed - Adam’s very heart.

"Yes...I am heartless," said Megatron. He gently squeezed Adam’s heart, seeming to enjoy watching it spurt fluid and energon. Megatron then unhitched his own chest cavity, a massive plate rising up to reveal his dark spark pulsating within. "No Predacon has ever had a heart," he told Adam, "However...I shall soon have your heart beating within me! That power of yours - to control energon and energy itself, shall be mine!"

As Adam felt his muscles tense up and his throat run dry, he watched as Megatron took his own heart and imbed it within himself. The Predacon’s spark swallowed his heart whole, making it one with itself. Instantly, the spark began to pulsate faster and faster, feeding off the perpetual energy and growing stronger and stronger!

"Hehhehhehheh!" cackled Megatron, watching as ripples of energon stretched out to his hands, "Yes! Yessss! The power...."

Megatron launched himself into the air, his rockets burning bright as star clusters. He hollered joyously, "The power! The power!" He flew higher and higher, becoming a star in the sky. "The power! The power!" he cried, feeling the energy strengthening within him.

He unleashed the power at its climax, lightning bolts blasting out of his body. The thin atmosphere of Cy-mos reacted, winds and clouds circling around Megatron, more lightning shooting out and striking him. Megatron’s laughter rose above the winds, becoming so strong that the ground around him started to break apart.

"Yesssssss!" he hissed. Megatron felt true power within him. No longer was a Predacon, nor a transformer at all! Megatron felt that he was now...a god!

Optimus Primal awoke minutes later on the floor of the Vector Sigma chamber. His eyelids opened slowly, muscles and motors and servos week. His hand was not far from his face. Optimus gasped, realizing he was in contact with metal, and the virus!

Instantly he was on his feet, mech fluid pulsing through his body. He gazed at his body, his arms and legs. It was still pure metal...uncontaminated. "The virus," he muttered, "But how could I...."

A beam of light was shining on him, forming an aura of white energy that sheathed his entire body. Optimus saw that this strange energy covered him over completely, leaving nothing for the virus to penetrate. It was then that he noticed the beam of light shined not from a lantern or illumination array, but from a port on the side of Vector Sigma itself....

The beam of light surged with power. Halfway down the beam, an odd pulse of energy appeared. It quickly changed shape, materializing into another form. It became as large as Vector Sigma itself, sprouting arms, legs, and constantly modifying its form. Finally, as it completed itself, a burst of light flashing out from it.

When Optimus’ eyes reopened, he saw a huge figure of a transformer hovering between him and the core of Vector Sigma. It, or rather he, was colored gray and blue and dark red, with a strange helmet over his head. A long beard and mustache, both white as chalk, stemmed from his face, and an Autobot emblem was printed on his chest.

"By Primus," Optimus mumbled, "What, or who, in the matrix are you?"

The Autobot figure spoke, "I...am Vector Sigma. Before Cybertron was...I was."

Optimus blinked, gazing more closely at the emblem on his chest. "But...you bear the symbol of the Autobots. What does that...."

"I was once an Autobot...one that merged his essence, if not his spark, with the pure logic that was Vector Sigma. Back then...I was known as...Alpha-Trion, one of the first of Vector Sigma’s creations." the transformer explained.

"Alpha-Trion?" said Optimus, "The father and mentor of Optimus Prime?"

"The same," answered Alpha-Trion, "But there is no time for further talk. The virus, even now...infests my systems. My functions, and power, are distrupted by it. You must remove its source. That is why I spared you from the viral energies. You must cure me...of the virus...."

"Yes Alpha-Trion." said Optimus Primal, "I will help you for the sake of Cybertron!"

He flew into the air, above the red globe of Vector Sigma. The pulsating light dominated Vector Sigma’s dome, making it impossible to find a single source. Optimus remembered something NightScream mentioned about a panel, a cartiage of some sort. But where was the question....

A bolt of energy bolted from the sphere, blasting Primal square in the face. The white light protecting him weakened, losing strength as it dimmed. Optimus felt Alpha-Trion’s pain, the virus weakening him. "Hurry Primal," he said, "The power of Vector Sigma...can not protect you...forever...."

He had to find the virus cartridge quickly. It was then that Optimus finally spotted a knob sticking out of the side of the core. Transforming to robot mode, Optimus flew over and landed above it. Yes! It is the cartridge! Optimus confirmed, And the virus is at its strongest here!

The Maximal reached down and grabbed it with both hands. A burst of strong viral energy shocked him, trying to force him from it. "You won’t stop me that easily!" shouted Optimus. He held on, jostling the cartridge from its slot. In defense, the virus did its worst to electrocute Optimus Primal. The beam protected Optimus for a while longer, but its power was dying fast.

The moment the energy shield gave out, the cartridge snapped, finally freed from the slot. Optimus went flying with it in his hand. Viral energy surged into his palm, quickly running up his arm. With its last effort, the virus would conquer Optimus Primal.

"I don’t...think so!" Primal grunted, resisting the virus. He let go of the cartridge, letting it fall to the floor on its own. Before it could hit the floor, Primal yelled and fired three whole energy spheres from his chest. In slow-motion, the viral agent burst apart, vaporizing before it even touched the ground.

All around him, Optimus Primal saw the red viral energy fade, losing its power. It faded, first from the floor and walls, then from the very bodies of the dormant Maximals around him. Vector Sigma began to hum, the red light fading away as its usual golden brilliance returned. Primal then looked at his arm, fiding the virus reversing its course and vanishing at the tips of his fingers.

As Vector Sigma began to repower itself, the hologram of Alpha-Trion reappeared once again. A small smile appeared on his face as he looked to the relatively tiny Maximal.

Optimus reciprocated, saying, "Thank you...Alpha-Trion."

One by one, the Maximals began to awake. Cheetarus Prime, Botanica, NightScream, and even Ursacon. They awoke with wide eyes marveling at the sight of Vector Sigma and the Autobot standing before them.

"By the Matrix..." said Cheetarus, unable to believe it.

"The virus! Is it gone?" asked NightScream.

Optimus Primal nodded, saying, "Yes. It is gone. I managed to remove the device that infected Vector Sigma in the first place, with the help of Alpha-Trion here."

The five Maximals looked to Alpha-Trion, who continued to stand there with a blank gaze on his eyes. Ursacon had the most puzzeled face of the five, his limited intelligence unable to comprehend this new being.

"What...R...U?" he grunted a question.

"I am Vector Sigma," said Alpha-Trion, "Before all transformers, before Maximal and Autobot, before Cybertron itself...I was. I am also Alpha-Trion, keeper of the wisdom of the Matrix, and now the guardian of Vector Sigma."

"Amazing..." muttered Botanica, inspired by the sight of such an ancient being.

The chamber started to shake. It began as a subtle vibration, but grew into a full-fledged Cyberquake. The Maximals turned their heads about to look in all directions, but Alpha-Trion just stood resolutely, almost as if he knew what was about to happen....

The sound of raging wind broke out, howling like a great wolf. Electricity shot through one side of the chamber, breaking a small hole through the thick armor of the dome. In moments, the hole was further blasted apart by wind and lightning, creating a gaping crack within Vector Sigma’s chamber.

Cackling sounded from outside, the most sadistic and meniacl laugh every heard. It echoed inside the chamber, louder than the hurricane winds blowing apart the chamber. Then they all saw a dark shadow fly into the chamber. A double flash of lightning shot out from behind, revealing Megatron in all his diabolical glory.

"Megatron!" shouted Optimus.

"Heh ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Predacon, floating down to the floor of the Vector Sigma chamber. Ursacon saw Megatron, his eyes glowing red. The hard-headed Maximal roared and transformed into beast mode, charging at Megatron.

"Ursacon, wait!" Optimus yelled, but it was too late to stop the bear-bot. Megatron saw the Maximal approach him with a mouth full of teeth ready to chomp down on him. Just as Ursacon leapt into the air, a blast of lightning blew him away.

Ursacon landed in robot mode, an arm missing from his body. He groaned in agony, just barely conscious and almost non-functional. NightScream came to his side to check his wound. Then, in a fit of rage, NightScream flew to Megatron intent on detroying him.

Botanica and Cheetarus Prime joined him, all in a united front. They attacked Megatron from all sides, throwing weapons, blasting lasers, and sending out sonic screams at him. Cheetarus’ blades bounced off the Predacon and neither of Botanica’s or NightScream’s attacks seemed to affect him at all. With hardly any strain from Megatron, a wave of energon radiated out in all direction, knocking down all the attacking Maximals.

"You are all foolish to attack a god, Maximals!" said Megatron.

Optimus Primal roared, sending out his energy spheres in rapid succesion. Megatron held out his hand, the energy aborbed directly into his exostructure. Optimus’ eyes widened. "No...how can you possibly?"

Megatron brought up something he had been holding in his right hand. He threw it before Optimus. It rolled for a few feet before stopping, thumping all along the way. It turned out to be Adam’s body...dead.

"I have taken his power, and infused it with my own and the matrix of leadership as well! All three are now at my command...as is all of Cybertron now!" bellowed Megatron. His chest plate opened, revealing the Autobot matrix glowing like a red sun. Inside, a cybernetic heart beat, pumping more and more energy into Megatron.

The hologram of Alpha-Trion confronted Megatron. "You misuse such power, Megatron, as did your ancestor." he stated, "You must restore it back to its original place, least you doom us all."

"Don’t think you can tell me what to do!" Megatron scorned the Autobot. With a wave of his hand, Alpha-Trion’s image was scattered into a billion fragments. "I alone control the Key to Vector Sigma, and you with it!"

Turning to lowly Optimus, Megatron shouted right into his face, "Now I am master of Cybertron, Primal! Not you, nor the Maximals, nor the Matrix itself can control me, for I have mastered the ultimate power!"

But then, in the midst of his megalomania, Megatron hollered in pain. Sparks began to flash from his eyes, and from the heart within his spark. He roared in pain, the power overtaking him....

Megatron found himself floating in the middle of a great ball of blinding light. He was not dead, for he could feel his very spark pulsating within his body. The light around him began to dim, turning a beautiful blue color. Tiny spheres began to come out from every place, drifting toward him.

Then it hit Megatron. "The Matrix!" Thousands upon thousands of sparks came at him, surrounding him in a wide circle. A million transformers, old and new, past and still to come, gathering around him. Some took forms, some of the Autbots and Decepticons, some Maximal and Predacon.

One tiny spark came towards Megatron. Out of the limitless mass surrounding him, one tiny emissary was sent to represent the vastness of the Matrix. It halted before him, a phantom image materializing to expose the spark’s true nature. The spark became a Maximal, one with yellow eyes, blue and green armor, and red fur dominating his whole body. Although Megatron did not know it, this was the ghost of RedStreak....

"Congradulations, Megatron," said RedStreak, "You have discovered a power greater than the fires of a thousand sparks, a force equal to the Matrix in strength...."

Megatron looked down at his body, finding the human heart beating within him. He sensed that this was what the Maximal spoke of. "Yes," said Megatron, backing away from the bodiless entity, "A very great power indeed. One that I shall not allow the Maximals, nor the Matrix itself to strip from me!"

A dozen sparks began to approach Megatron, taking on various forms as well. The old Autobot, Alpha-Trion, reappeared, and with him the original Optimus Prime and Springer too. Many more appeared, like Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, and even Ravage and Blitzwing. They all came to Megatron with open hands and open sparks....

"You desire to ravage the universe with this power...." Alpha-Trion said.

"And abuse the power of the Matrix with it!" Optimus Prime added.

"Both the matrix of leadership and this heart are mine to deal with!" Megatron shouted back, "I have sacrificed too much to allow you to take it from me!"

Ratchet flew by Megatron, saying to him, "But you know not their true powers..."

"Nor their true strengths!" said Ironhide, slipping by Megatron from behind.

"What powers? What are you talking about? I demand to know!" Megatron demanded.

All the various sparks vanished, except for one. RedStreak lingered on, still willing to speak with the Predacon. "You do not understand the true nature of the power you’ve taken. But I understand...I understand the power of the human heart...." said RedStreak.

"Then show me this power! I insist!" Megatron said.

RedStreak put a finger to Megatron’s spark. A surge of energy went through Megatron, a new sensation he never felt before. Light radiated from his own spark, a brilliant one outshining the entire Matrix. It overwhelmed everything Megatron saw, filling the whole univers with light.

Before he dissapeared, RedStreak told Megatron, "The power of the human heart is to give when all else is sacrificed and taken. The power of the human heart is the hope that lights the darkest hour...."

Megatron awoke a mere second later. He was back inside the Vector Sigma chamber. The Maximals laid on the floor all around him, crippled and damaged. Optimus Primal himself was on his knees before him, unable to move a finger. Then there was the body of Adam, laying right before Megatron’s feet.

His chest cavity was still open, his dark spark beating in sync with the human heart. Adam’s chest was also wide open, dark and empty. The human-hybrid’s face was pale, with eyelids closed and limbs motionless. He was cold and dead.

"The true power of the human heart," RedStreak’s voice echoed, "Is to give when all else is sacrificed and taken...."

Megatron kneeled before the lifeless body, pondering over RedStreak’s words. Would the sacrifice of this unique life be worth the power he had? Megatron had slaughtered hundreds, if not millions, before this one, so what was the difference? The question in his mind was whether all his sacrifices were worth as much as one life?

The Predacon reached his hands inside of the Autobot matrix, gently grabbing the heart. With only a slight tub, it was removed from his spark, now resting in the palms of his hands. Megatron looked down into the black pit inside of Adam. He dipped his hands into that pit, returning the heart to Adam.

A small sparkle of energon jolted out from the heart, setting all the circuits around it aglow. As Megatron got up, Adam awoke. He saw Megatron standing above him with a pair of cold steel eyes gazing down at him. Adam jumped away at his presence, then felt inside his chest. He found his heart back where it was, when before the last thing be remembered was Megatron removing it from him.

Megatron turned, only to find five Maximals staring at him with wide wonder. They were unable to believe what Megatron had just done. "I have sacrificed more than you...can possibly imagine." was all that Megatron said. With that, he leaped into the air and transformed into his spacecraft form, flying out of the Vector Sigma chamber.

The Maximals gazed at Adam, surprised to find him alive once again.

"Are my eyes malfuctioning, or did Megatron do something that would qualify...as an act of...mercy?" asked Cheetarus.

Optimus gazed upward, towards the hole Megatron left behind. "I would have never believed it myself." he said frankly, "But it seems that when Megatron took Adam’s heart...he must of gained a little understanding of what it is like to...have one."

Another quake began inside the Vector Sigma chamber. The Maximals looked at one another, then to Optimus. They half-expected Megatron to come flying back in, but he didn’t. This time it wasn’t Megatron....

High above Cybertron, a dark moon arose in the sky. A deep, drumming laugher echoed between the stars. The sun was blotted out by a broad an unbelievably humungous silhouette. Omegracon was approaching Cybertron.

"Now," boasted Omegracon, raising up his arms above the planet’s surface, "Prepare for total annihilation!"