The Return of the King: Part 1
A fanfic by Bill T. Taylor
a.k.a. RedStreak
Cyclonus soared through the vastness of space faster than light. Moments later, he appeared over the bleak and gray world of Char. From afar, this dead world seemed quiet, peaceful, even tranquil as it hung there in space with a pair of equally lifeless moons gliding overhead side by side. However, only from afar would a Decepticon stronghold look even remotely peaceful….
“I must rally the other Decepticons,” Cyclonus said to himself, “Galvatron needs our help!” As he sped onward, twin purple contrails burned in his wake, fading to nothingness in minutes.
From atop the Great Pyramid of Giza a pair of eyes scanned the horizon, glowing a dull shade of red. Set looked over his surroundings from the ancient human peak like a hawk from a cliff. With little more than a blink, his sight easily extended for many, many miles in whatever direction he chose. The red-eyed, self-proclaimed deity saw much: ruins beside cities, buildings of all ages in ruin and repair, people riding in gas-powered machines as camels were walked alongside the roads, and further still in the seas North sailing ships humbly wafting by great tankers en route to the Suez Canal.
“Such strange beings these mortals be,” quoted Set, taking in all these strange and new wonders. “Much time has passed for me indeed. The people of this land, and those beyond, have forgotten the legendary lord of Upper Egypt, their master.” Set stood up, his staff beside him in his hand. “Time has thus come for us to set this world straight!”
With a single bound, the bizarre transformer flew into the air, sailing over first Giza and then the Egyptian capitol, Cairo. At first the people went about their business as usual, cars whizzing down streets as marketplaces in alleys opened to passer-bys. Only a few took notice of the distant figure, easily mistaking it for a hawk or some other bird.
“Come on, Bubbula,” one man said to his camel, tugging it along by its reins, “We’ve got to get you to Mahatma’s grooming. You smell like ten-day-old road kill under a hot sun.”
Bubbula, the camel, rose up and started baying. His owner did not understand what instinctively drove the beast to panic, but soon he’d learn….
Hovering motionless above the broad sprawl of Cairo, Set opened his mouth wide. His thunderous voice boomed, “Hear me my once and future subjects! Set has arisen to rule you all! Defy us…AND THIS SHALL BE THE CONSEQUENCE!”
A ball of purple fire filled Set’s mouth. He spat it out, blasting apart a centuries-old tower, sandstone raining down as fine gravel, raising the street people’s attention toward the sky. Still not finished with his display, Set stretched out his arms wide. From the fingertips of his free hand sparks of gold-orange spat out. Grinning, Set aimed it downward…toward a strange set of iron towers with copper lacing.
A humungous bolt of orange light hit a densely packed cluster of microwave towers. An explosion of radiant sparks shot up like a geyser, scattering in all directions. The orange lightning itself bounced off the numerous satellite dishes about the towers, spreading towards other antennas and dishes to all corners of the city in a huge chain reaction. Soon houses, power relay stations, even lamp posts shorted out…at least those that didn’t explode violently.
Set dedicated himself to one final act. Arms still stretched, he began to spin in midair like a whirling top. He spun faster and faster, his staff whistling in the breeze he generated as the frill of his toga flapped until his very image began to blur. At first there was a gentle zephyr circling about, but then a strong wind grew…quickly becoming stronger and stronger. Loose papers and trash within the city limits became airborne, Set’s whirlwind nearly cyclone strength, forcing people to take cover inside. Moments later, cars began to lift off the very streets, crashing into each other above them.
At the very fringes of the city, where both roads and fields gave way to desert, sand dunes shifted directions, pointing toward the city center. As the cyclone’s influence grew, the dunes marched further and further inward like an encroaching army. Then, with but a gust, the sand itself was sucked into the air in great waves that quickly became great clouds of sand. In mere seconds a full-blown sandstorm more powerful than the country had experienced in decades was enveloping the greater portion of the Nile delta.
From the heart of the sandstorm, a voice raged. “SUCH IS THE WRATH…OF SET!”
Further away, Broadside sat beside the golden pyramid, watching what appeared to be a dark cloud over the horizon. He could only wait patiently as Rodimus Prime and the Aerialbots explored the bowels of the unburied tomb…seeking a way to counter Set.
The tunnel’s ever-present darkness was unnerving, even to Slingshot. “Man, this place is really giving me the creeps!” he complained, “Can’t we head back?”
“I’m with Slingshot,” Airraid seconded the suggestion, “This tunnel spelunking business is not Aerialbot business! I couldn’t even transform in this cramp space!”
Rodimus Prime, the headlights on his chest ablaze, said back to his companions as he marched onward, “It’s our business to find out anything we can about that bronze-plated goon of a Decepticon, and unless one of you has Set’s autobiography on hand, this place is our best guess for the time being.”
Skydive, marching beside Silverbolt in the rear, had a passing thought. “Rodimus, I just realized something.”
Rodimus Prime paused, turning halfway around to hear out Skydive. “Yeah? What would that be Skydive?”
“Well,” Skydive timidly said, “If my databanks serve me, Set was not only the name of that creep, but…the name of one of the humans’ ancient gods’ – specifically the god of evil and sandstorms and…some other stuff.”
“Well that helps a nanobit,” Slingshot mumbled aloud.
“Enough,” Rodimus spoke up, “Let’s just focus on this pyramid. Come on, it looks like the tunnel’s exit is just ahead.”
Sure enough, the Autobots discovered a large chamber at the Pyramid’s heart. As they entered, the surrounding walls lit up with a faint orange glow that pulsated eerily, causing shadows to stretch and glow regularly. Glancing around, Skydive muttered in wonder, “Wow. The walls…it’s almost as if this place were alive.”
“Eww,” Fireflight groaned, “Skydive, don’t make me wish I weren’t here any more than I already do.”
Rodimus Prime turned to the Aerialbots, thinking to arrange a search party. “Alright, let’s split up and look for any signs of….”
“Galvatron!” Silverbolt raised his voice.
Everyone drew their blasters and rifles. Galvatron lay directly before them, at the top of a square platform bordered by four columns. He was perfectly motionless; his arms sprawled out and face resting on the floor, eyes dark and empty. From all appearances, the mighty Galvatron was dead.
Skydive bolted forward in front of the others. “Skydive! Get away from there! We don’t know if he’s conscious or not!” Rodimus blared.
The Aerialbot put his fingertips on a miniscule outlet just above the base of Galvatron’s neck. He connected momentarily, making a brief connection. “He’s in a coma you guys. Deep stasis lock for certain.”
Rodimus Prime put down his gun and took a deep breath. “That’s a relief, but please, don’t rush out like that again, Skydive. With Decepticons in the vicinity any situation can become volatile.”
The Autobots casually strolled atop the platform where Skydive kneeled beside the frame of the Decepticon tyrant. As they moved about, the heels of Slingshot stepped across a set of pegs built into the flooring. With a soft rumble…the remaining three sunk into the floor.
The Aerialbot tripped. Slingshot toppled into Skydive, who knocked down Fireflight in turn. “Hey! Watch it Slingshot!” Skydive began to say…but then the walls began to shake.
Rodimus Prime froze, as did all five Aerialbots. Around them the dim glow emanating from the walls grew brighter, more intense. Here and there, small spokes of yellow lightning sprung up, wavering like candles against a flame.
“By Primus, what’s going on?” Silverbolt said, stepping back towards Rodimus Prime.
As the group stood in the middle, the room became aglow with radiant gold light, as if the very walls were made of the sun’s fabric. From three of the chamber’s four corners rushed bursts of energy, flowing through the ceiling and into the columns. On each column a symbol lit up – three altogether emitting an identical, pulsing light.
“It’s some sort of chain reaction!” Silverbolt declared. He rose up his blaster, pointing toward one of the glowing columns. “We’ve got to stop it!”
Rodimus Prime’s hand jutted out from his side, blocking Silverbolt’s weapon. “Wait,” he told the Aerialbot to pause, “We don’t know what we’re dealing with here. No weapons…not here and not yet.”
A tremor shook the floor they stood upon. The Autobots jumped back as sizeable sections of the platform rose up like spires from the ground. With a heavy thud they rested against the columns, a low hum rumbling from each.
The chamber’s glow then faded, reduced once more to mere twilight. Once more all was quiet.
“What was that all about?” Fireflight asked, scratching the top of his head.
A low, grinding noise broke the silence. Silverbolt glanced behind…and his eyes widened. Three coffin-like boxes were opening…and from them eyes shining a deep green peered out. “I think it means,” Silverbolt said to Fireflight, “we’ve got company.”
On the other side of the globe, reconstruction of Autobot City was well underway. Outside, Kup, Streetwise, Groove, and Springer hoisted above their shoulders a massive black hand. Grunting, they slowly marched toward a large, open socket with wires and rods jutting out.
“Alright, one…two…three!” Kup yelled out.
With a heave, the four Autobots slid the wrist-end of the hand into the socket. There was a small burst of blue sparks from within – the wires reconnecting inside. The fingertips twitched and began to move in a wave, testing out their motion.
Over the intercoms Ultra Magnus’ voice rang. “Alright ‘bots, it’s working. Metroplex’s right hand is working at one hundred percent capacity again.”
As the giant hand retraced and the arm transformed back into a large, inert building, Kup and the others sighed heavily. “Now if we could only get the rest of Metroplex’s systems operating again at one hundred percent,” Kup muttered.
“I’d settle for fifty percent about now,” Springer said, rubbing his sore shoulder.
From within Metroplex’s brain vault Ultra Magnus monitored the status of Metroplex’s repairs. The read-outs from the core processing console were not encouraging. “Primary systems are still down, as are Metroplex’s transformation cog and cerebral functions. We’ve made progress with his weapons and secondary systems, but not as much as I’d wish for,” he said to himself.
Over his com-link came an unexpected transmission. “Broadside to Ultra Magnus, got some weird activity going on here,” reported the triple-changer, “There’s a massive energy source creating a sandstorm over Cairo! Not natural! Reports from city indicate storm generated from Set!”
“Set?” Ultra Magnus repeated. He quickly replied, “What about Rodimus Prime and the Aerialbots? Are they….”
“Uncertain,” Broadside could only say, “They’re exploring the pyramid Set emerged from. However, if Set’s activities go unchecked…damage could be severe.”
Ultra Magnus gave out a heavy, growling groan. “I swear Rodimus acts more like Hot Rod at times of a crisis.”
“What was that again?”
Ultra Magnus quickly covered up his unintentional mutterings. “I said I’ll send what back-up I can Broadside, A.S.A.P.” The city commander clicked off his com-link, not wanting any further miscommunications. The Autobot turned back to the core processing console. With his fingertip, Ultra Magnus accessed a special set of independent systems. Hesitating, he said aloud, “I’m taking a big risk for you as well as the humans, Broadside.” He then pressed one crucial button.
Atop the central structure of Autobot City, a single red and white spire reacted. Its top half arced down, a head with a cycloptic visor and faceplate visible beneath. From its base a rocket launched it up. Simultaneously, the giant black guns and cannons forming the key weapons of Autobot City disconnected and flew to the air-borne spire. They connected, forming arms and legs. It descended, landing on the solid ground with its eye glowing bright blue. Standing upright, the transformer declared, “Six-Guns, online.”
Inside another part of Metroplex a secret panel slid open. A modest-sized, black transformer was stowed away behind it. Its own eyes lit up. Reacting to Ultra Magnus’ summoning, it transformed into a black car, its arms folding up behind as a pair of mounted blasters. “Scamper, online.” His six wheels spun and Scamper sped down the halls.
Ultra Magnus met with the two sub-components of Metroplex in the hanger built into Metroplex’s chest. The hanger door and ramp opened, allowing tall Six-Guns to walk up and kneel before the entrance (Six-Guns himself too large to enter, being half the height of a typical Gestalt). Scamper drove up to Ultra Magnus and transformed before him.
“Six-Guns, Scamper, I’m sending you two on a mission along with RedStreak and Sandstorm,” Ultra Magnus informed the pair.
“But our primary duty is to Metroplex,” Six-Guns stated, “Defense.”
“I know, I know,” Ultra Magnus nodded his head, “But right now we’re in a crisis. Most of the other Autobots are divided between restoring Autobot City and aiding the humans, and Rodimus Prime and the Aerialbots are preoccupied as well. I’m keeping Slammer behind just in case something arises, and if that happens, we’ll alert you.”
“As you command, Ultra Magnus,” Scamper bowed to the city commander, “Anything to aid our fellow Autobots.”
Scamper drove out, following behind Six-Guns. Ultra Magnus glanced behind him – a single red and silver Autobot standing behind him. “RedStreak, you think you’re up to it?”
“I…I think so,” RedStreak said, rubbing the top of his head, “However, I keep getting these weird feelings…like…premonitions.”
“First Aid informed me it was a power unlocked from your seizure, inherit to one of the deceased Autobot’s powers,” Ultra Magnus informed.
RedStreak’s eyes perked a bit. “Really? Whose?”
“Red Alert…possibly Prowl’s influence as well. Both possessed an uncanny way with security and detection, Decepticon and otherwise.” Ultra Magnus put his hands on RedStreak’s shoulders. “Not to worry; with your systems online you’re bound to discover more abilities. They should come in handy very soon.”
RedStreak smiled, feeling more confident than ever. He transformed and followed after Scamper and Six-Guns. Ultra Magnus frowned, his brow heavier than usual. “I hope they’ll handle things alright.”
A little over ten miles from Autobot City RedStreak, Scamper, and Six-Guns met up with an orange and yellow buggy. Over the dusty road it swerved hard directly in front of the two car Autobots, coating their hoods with a thick layer of dirt.
RedStreak coughed in his vehicle mode, his engine revving loudly. “Gez! Watch your driving! Trying to clog our engines up?”
A laugh came from the dune buggy. It transformed, becoming a confident and seemingly arrogant Autobot. “Heh heh,” Sandstorm chuckled, “Guess I’m just not used to being around city-bumpkins like you ‘bots.”
“Enough,” Six-Guns’ voice boomed from behind. The large Autobot stood on his lanky legs, pointing a black hand toward the three smaller ‘bots. “Ultra Magnus ordered us to go to Egypt; stop the problem with Set. Sandstorm, transform and carry RedStreak and Scamper.”
“Killjoy,” Sandstorm grumbled. He transformed yet again, this time into a cargo-carrying helicopter. For a minute he powered up, turning about so his tail-end was pointed toward the two car-bots. His rear panel opened, deploying his ramp so RedStreak and Scamper could drive inside.
Sandstorm’s space was limited. RedStreak and Scamper were bumper-to-bumper inside. “Ugh! Talk about cramped! At least Sky Lynx has a better decorated interior!” RedStreak complained.
“So suck my lug-nuts,” Sandstorm bitterly sneered, “You’ve got me so be happy! All right Six-Guns, away we go!”
As Sandstorm became airborne, Six-Guns stretched his body out. Fire erupted from the base of his feet, Six-Guns slowly launching up. Together Sandstorm and Six-Guns took a trajectory aimed eastward, toward the sands of the Sahara and the pyramids of Egypt.
Rodimus Prime and the Aerialbots backed up. Directly in front of them were two figures…both easily distinguishable as akin to Set. One was particularly tall with looks like Set, except his face and arms were like obsidian, extremely dark with pointed, jackal-like ears standing upright from the sides of his head. The other was far more freakish – two huge orbs for eyes on the sides of his head and a steel-beaked mouth – his head, arms, and what could be seen of his body beneath the cream-colored toga-skirt covered with silver and blue plates, some as detailed and refined as bird feathers.
Slingshot, his gun in hand but still trembling, exclaimed, “W-What is this? The pyramid of horrors?” Impulsively he fired a shot at the dark transformer, the blast nicking it in one ear. The creature paused for a moment and eyed Slingshot. Its glassy hackles raised up to reveal a row of very dog-like teeth.
A spear materialized in the jackal-headed creature’s hand out of a cloud of yellow light, its handle obsidian-colored like its owner but the diamond-shaped tip coated in gold. With it, he whacked Slingshot like a golf ball. The Aerialbot went careening into a wall, the folded tips of Slingshot’s wings cracking as they smashed.
“Hey! Nobody does that to my teammate pal!” Silverbolt bluntly yelled. He rushed at Slingshot’s attacker, but the second, falcon-like creature stepped up. It let out a great shriek from its beak, a pair of sickles materializing in its hands.
“Try me!” Silverbolt said, and fired a blast straight into the open throat of the beast. It flew in, but the creature, with its mouth still agape, stood strong. A red light came from its throat, followed immediately by a blast of molten flame.
Silverbolt was knocked down, leaving Rodimus Prime and three Aerialbots standing. “This is getting uglier by the nano-click,” Rodimus bluntly stated. He quickly pulled out and cocked his large rifle. “But like the Pit I’m done yet!”
Rodimus Prime blasted the jackal creature back into a column, knocking it down, albeit temporarily. It ascended to its feet again, growling more angrily. Its eyes started to glow bright green, intense with rage…but then the glow vanished, and both the jackal and falcon paused.
Out of the shadows a third appears…but one unlike anything either Decepticon or Autobot had seen. This new being was lithe, clearly feminine in form. A gold helm shaped vaguely like a vulture with its wings down was over her head, her eyes shimmering green with blackened edges resembling eyeliner. From her rounded shoulders sprouted two huge, angelic wings, each feathery blade shiny and translucent like the windows of a cathedral. The toga-like gown she wore was tight and composed of multicolored beads, complementing her already goddess-like form.
Before her the falcon and jackal stood down, falling to one knee as she passed with her arms raised. Airraid, Skydive, Fireflight, and Rodimus Prime stared with both awe and bewilderment. The female, robotic entity seemed to smile at them initially, but then her smile turned to distress. She walked through the crowd of Autobots, toward one column from which one empty sarcophagus leaned on. As she reached up, the icon imbedded within pulsed with energy.
“Set has awakened,” she said.
“Yes, he has,” Rodimus Prime spoke up. Tentatively he reached out towards her, but the female being immediately turned about and stepped away. Surprisingly, she quivered with fear. The jackal and falcon began to stand up, gripping their weapons tighter. Rodimus Prime raised up his arms submissively in response, showing he wasn’t looking for a fight.
She looked at Rodimus Prime, particularly at the gaping hole within his chest. Deep inside the blue light of the matrix still shined. “Matrix-bearer,” she softly muttered.
“This is a strange pattern,” Skydive said, “Just like Set, she both recognizes and fears the Matrix of Leadership. Maybe we can use that to our advantage.”
“No,” Rodimus Prime scorned Skydive, “That’s not the purpose of the Matrix! However…” He looked toward the female, her face frightened but also intrigued. “I sense that she might be willing to help.”
There was moment of pause, the female one glancing off in a different direction. Her senses were attuned to other happenings. “Set near; must stop,” her voice spoke.
The walls of the pyramid quivered, radiating with gold light again. Both Silverbolt and Slingshot stirred to life, as did the jackal and falcon. A shutter went through the pyramid. Above, the ceiling parted in four directions. The light of day beamed in as the gaps widened. Without direction or cause, both the jackal and falcon bolted straight up. The female entity flexed her wings, ready to take flight.
Rodimus Prime stretched out an arm. “Wait! If you’re trying to stop Set, we are willing to help!”
As the Autobot looked to her, she stood in indecision. She cocked her head to the side, then smiled. She touched her hand to Rodimus Prime’s chest…and at her touch the hole Set punched into it mended itself, even the paint job restored. With a wave of her right arm, both Slingshot and Silverbolt were restored as well. Then, with the wave of her left arm, a great net of blue-white energy enveloped both her and the Autobots.
“What’s happening Prime?” Silverbolt asked nervously.
“I think we’re going for a little ride, Silverbolt,” was Rodimus’ only answer. The whole lot was hoisted effortlessly into the air, flying up in the direction of the sun.
Little over a half hour later, Six-Guns and Sandstorm were in the heart of the Sahara desert, nearing the Libyan-Egyptian border.
“Are we there yet?” RedStreak spoke up.
“No! You’ve been saying that for the past nine hundred miles!” Sandstorm yelled.
“I hope we get there soon,” Scamper also spoke up, “I’m getting sick of having RedStreak’s exhaust pipe in my face.”
Six-Guns looked ahead, noticing a glimmer of yellow in the distance. “Something is on the horizon,” the Autobot said to his comrades, “Composition appears to be…gold…mixed with tin and copper elements.”
“The pyramid Ultra Magnus told us about!” RedStreak exclaimed, “He said it was a combination of gold and bronze. Hopefully….”
Suddenly something began to tremble inside RedStreak. His dashboard and circuits sparked with a rush of electricity, his sensors tingling. “Decepticons! Approaching fast!”
“Decepticons?” Sandstorm said, “We haven’t seen a Decepticon for thousands of miles? Why would they suddenly appear out of….”
A rush of mechanical bodies swarmed in from above. Six-Guns and Sandstorm jerked to a stop, their engines straining. A blur of purple, flashing Decepticon symbols could be seen in the swarm, the entire mass of them flying straight down and then sharply turning above the dunes.
Cyclonus parted from the swarm and transformed, hovering in mid-air. “Hurry Decepticons! Our lord and leader beckons us for aid!” As the other Decepticons flew above the ground, Cyclonus glanced over his shoulder at the Autobots, one eye glaring at them. “Forgive me, my enemies, if I do not battle you now. Greater matters than Autobots concern me.” With that, Cyclonus transformed and flew off to join his group.
“What was that about?” Sandstorm asked.
“I do not know, but we should concern ourselves with our mission: aiding Broadside against Set!” Six-Guns emphasized. The giant flew off, leaving Sandstorm, Scamper, and RedStreak to ponder over the Decepticons’ enigmatic appearance as Sandstorm lagged behind Six-Guns.
Further away still, the entity and her companions, both Autobot and her ‘kind’, moved northeast, toward Cairo where a massive sandstorm was swirling. Rodimus Prime peered into the soup of dust and sand, towards what lurked deep within. He made out a large, dark image lumbering about. Every few seconds orange lightning blasted out from a point, crackling around the lumbering mass.
“Broadside! And he’s fighting Set!” Rodimus deduced.
“Man, not even he and all his bulk can stand those blows from Set for long!” Slingshot said, watching the fight alongside Rodimus Prime.
Skydive turned to Rodimus, sympathetic of Broadside. “Surely there must be some way we can help Broadside.”
“Not for the moment,” Rodimus Prime said, looking toward their strange guide, “For the moment, we’re going where she’s going, whether we like it or not.”
Suddenly, like two arrows, the companions from the pyramid flew into the sandstorm. Amid the flying debris and scorching sand, the falcon-headed ‘bot transformed! The toga it wore split down the middle and became strong, solid wings. Limbs folded and unfolded, falcon claws emerging in place of feet, only the head remaining unchanged. It swept against the storm as its obsidian counterpart flew into the eye of the storm itself.
Broadside fell into one mud-brick building, orange fire racing through and dancing about his whole body. The Autobot struggled to get up, but was weary and weak from battle. A bolt of lightning then wrapped around him and lifted him up like the claws of a hawk. Set, with his staff in hand, smirked as he flung the transformer into yet another, even larger, structure.
“Foolish mechanism, you thought you could match the power of us, Set?” Set mocked Broadside.
A yellow streak smacked the left side of Set. He jolted back, falling onto the ground with a wicked scar tracing down from his cheek to his waist. Beneath his bronze skin circuits momentarily flashed as they slowly mended. Set but a hand to his cheek in utter shock and disbelief. He then looked up…a snarl forming on his face.
“Anubis.”
The jackal-headed entity landed softly on his footsteps before Set. The blade on his spear pulsed a faint yellow, its golden surface shimmering as he held it. His hackles were drawn, golden teeth visible.
The creature, named Anubis by Set, growled in a strange language only Set could comprehend, “You should not have reawaken, dark one. You shall not take life from this world as you did in the past!”
“Ha!” Set laughed, speaking to Anubis in the same language he spoke, “I’m lord of not just this world but everything, as our lost master would decree! Besides, where were you and the others when I stole from Osiris HIS life?”
“And for that, Set,” Anubis raised up his spear, its end pointed toward his nemesis, “I shall avenge him.”
The spear was flung in a blur – the spear itself moving so fast as to be perceived as a bolt of yellow light. Set was struck…and a great gush of wind blasted out in the same direction Anubis threw his spear. In an instant, less than two seconds’ time, a giant ditch cut from bare rock was burned into the ground – buildings and streets obliterated along its path.
Sandstorm and Six-Guns were just three miles from Cairo when a sudden shockwave hit them both like a hurricane. The Autobots were blown thirty miles west, all screaming “WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA!”
On the ground the desert was split in two, resembling parting waves in the ocean. The spear, with Set at its end, blasted a huge distance away from the Egyptian city, careening into a large hill of rock jutting out above the dunes. The bolt of yellow light struck it…and an explosion was flung up.
Sandstorm and Six-Guns fell like rocks toward the ground. Out of control, Sandstorm’s rear ramp flung open, spilling out RedStreak and Scamper. Six-Guns tried to swim through the air toward the smaller bots, catching them in his arms. Holding them tight to his chest, Six-Guns crashed into the dunes with Sandstorm in suite.
Six-Guns’ body arose from the sand like a monument rising up. As the sand sifted away, he opened his hands to reveal RedStreak and Scamper, now in robot mode, sitting in each of his palms.
“Thanks ‘bot.” RedStreak smiled at the big guy.
“You’re always good to have around, I must say,” Scamper added.
“This isn’t over just yet…look!” Six-Guns stared toward the shattered rock hill.
Set sat up, groaning loudly. Glancing toward his chest, roughly a third of the length of Anubis’ spear was imbedded in a wound so deep the tip of the gold blade pierced the other side. Set grasped both hands on the spear, yanking it out with a weak grunt.
Anubis appeared again, landing before Set a second time. Set growled, but then let out a laugh. As his chest sealed itself up, Set said in the secret language, “Heh heh! That was most amusing, oh jackal-headed one, but hardly impressive!” Set now stood up, flinging the spear to the ground. He smacked a fist into his chest, feeling as strong as ever. “You know my strength far exceeds yours…and now with Ra’s power magnifying my own neither you, Horus, or Isis stand a chance against me!”
Anubis opened his hand. The spear flung up, flying into it. The spear head began to glow again. “Not likely, Set. We will overcome you…as we did before….”
In Cairo, the female companion to Set and Anubis set down in the streets with the Autobots beside her. Overhead the falcon-headed being was flying about against the wind, and slowly the winds began to die down. In minutes, the winds and sand dissipated altogether.
Rodimus Prime and the Aerialbots found themselves standing before a human museum, specifically the American University of Cairo. The being immediately walked toward a sign – one adorned with hieroglyphs. She stared at them, her wings shimmering in the sun. Rodimus watched as she touched the glyphs, noted her fascination with them.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Rodimus Prime activated his com-link. “Rodimus Prime to Perceptor, come in.”
A voice on the com-link replied over the static, “Perceptor here. What is it Prime?”
“Perceptor, can you tell me where the British Museum loaned the Rosetta Stone to exactly?” Rodimus asked, still watching the female.
“Hang on, let me access the data banks,” Perceptor responded. Rodimus Prime impatiently waited, the Aerialbots watching him with blank, perplexed faces. Another minute later, the com-link came to life once more. “Rosetta Stone located. It is currently on tour in North Africa. The current university it is being exhibited at is the American University of….”
“Cairo, thanks Perceptor. Prime out,” Rodimus hastily said, clicking off the link. He rushed up to the being, politely tapping her on the shoulder. When she looked, Rodimus Prime motioned with his arms toward one of the large doors. “Come, please. We may have something you’ll want to see.”
It took a great deal of coaxing, not only for the strange, winged visitor but also from the curator of the museum. The idea of giant robots tromping around a museum filled with four-thousand year old, fragile artifacts did not bode well with him.
“Four thousand, heh,” Airraid joked to Slingshot, “If only they saw some four million year old Cybertronian artifacts. Heh heh.”
Finally they came to the Rosetta stone, a great black stone with red splotches here and there. On it, writing of miniscule detail was inscribed…the key human archeologists had to deciphering the words of a long-lost language and culture. With luck, it would be the Autobots key to a friendship with the enemies of Set. Rodimus Prime waved an open palm in front of the slab. “Here, read this,” he suggested in slow, long words.
The Autobots’ guest glanced at the stone, staring for a long time. She kneeled before it, looking more and more closely at it. Her eyes turned green as her study of the scripts deepened. Suddenly, as the glow deepened in color, two broad beams of light shot out of her face, waving back and forth over the stone again and again.
“What is she doing?” Silverbolt rushed up.
Rodimus Prime held him back with his hand. “Relax, she’s scanning. It took humans over two hundred years to decipher the language. Hopefully, if her synapses are anything like ours…she’ll be able to do the same in two minutes.”
Her eyes soon finished scanning the stone, but they did not stop. Other exhibits she scanned, rushing from one stand to another. Hieroglyphs, symbols, even the information charts attached to each stand she examined in a frenzy. Then, as quickly as she started, she stopped, her eyes halting their glow.
She turned around, staring directly at Rodimus Prime. “Bearer of the Matrix,” she said, speaking surprisingly eloquent English, “I am Isis, one of the Enneadmons. It is vital that we recover and restore Osiris’ body. Annubis and Horus, as superbly powerful as they are, can not keep Set at bay forever….”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Slingshot spoke up, waving his hands, “What are you talking about? Osiris, Annubis? What does it mean?”
“Please, it is difficult to fully comprehend, even by beings like yourselves,” Isis began to say. Suddenly she gasped, as if being choked. Her silver face turned west. “By our maker’s will…Ra!”
Miles away, in the far west reaches of Egypt, the Decepticons had gathered before the great gold pyramid. A sizeable squadron consisting of the Constructicons, Stunticons, Predacons, Combaticons, Blitzwing, Astrotrain, Octane, and Cyclonus surrounded the structure as it gazed down with its single eye.
“Decepticons,” Cyclonus commanded, “Transform and rip apart the pyramid! We shall recover Galvatron at any cost!”
The combiners united into their respective Gestalts: Devastator, Predaking, and Bruticus, the triple-changers Octane and Astrotrain switching to their flying forms while Blitzwing became a tank. Blitzwing aimed his wide muzzle toward the pyramid, firing a round of mortars.
Isis gasped, falling to her knees, he great wings drooping.
“No…can not…destroy…Ra. Ra…must not…be harmed.”
To Be Continued…