Chronicle's End: Part 3

by Bill T. Taylor - a.k.a. Gemini5181

Botanica’s golden eyes reflected from within the image of the newly arisen giant, Ultra Maximus. She, Gold Blade, RazorLeaf, Rattrap, and Optimus Primal all stood at his feet, gazing upwards with amazement. With the radiant sun shining from above Ultra Maximus’ head, it was a site beyond breath taking.

Gold Blade could only stutter in awe. "This is…is…."

"Totally unbelievable?" RazorLeaf suggested to his sister.

For the time being, Ultra Maximus was oblivious to the Maximals’ presence. His bright blue eyes were fixated purely upon Oblivion, the Decepticon giant that had come to destroy nothing less than the entire city of Tokyo. He held his sword firmly in his giant hands, its silver luster mirroring the image of his enemy.

"Oblivion!" he called his nemesis out, "How dare you try and devastate this city, and the peoples within! Your rampage of destruction ends here and now…with me!"

Oblivion growled angrily, his eyes brightening. Infuriated, Oblivion shot out with his optic lasers. In the wink of an eye, the blasts that were upon Ultra Maximus…suddenly deflected to the sides of him, carving out holes in the building directly behind him. He simply stood there, unmoving, unwavering, simply staring at Oblivion.

The Decepticon giant snarled, firing from his eyes repeatedly. As the multiple beams flew out, Ultra Maximus became a blur of motion. With unbelievable agility and speed, he deflected each and every beam Oblivion fired; the red blasts harmlessly striking empty buildings and the pavement below.

"Unbelievable," Primal said, observing Ultra Maximus’ barely perceivable movements, "He fights with Dinobot’s and Depth Charge’s swordsmanship…."

After deflecting the last beam, Ultra Maximus took the initiative, bolting directly at Oblivion and plowing into construction scaffolding. The framework of steel and iron fell apart like a house of cards under the combined mass of the two titanic transformers, dust and debris blasting from beneath them.

A wave of dust blasting by, Rattrap coughed, "Yeah…fish-face’s and Dinobot’s style all right…."

Up above, Galvatron dug himself out of the remains of an upper-floor apartment. Shaking his head, ground-up bits of drywall fell as he hoisted a sizeable chunk of ceiling from his chest. Raising up his right arm, Galvatron began to swear, "Ugh…those blasted Maximals. They will soon regret this…."

Looking down, he saw Oblivion and Ultra Maximus wrestling with one another, the very ground beneath them quaking. "Two giant transformers?" he asked himself in bewilderment.

Then, as the Decepticon briefly glanced over the city from his lofty position, a glint of emerald green caught Galvatron’s eye. Deep within the heart of the city he saw the old Imperial Palace, set apart from the countless glass and metal skyscrapers that had sprouted up around it over the centuries. But what really drew his attention was the green beacon flickering on and off from its topmost level.

"Could it be?" Galvatron asked himself. He gazed upon the ancient and regal structure, magnifying the image he beheld. Sure enough, there was the great green orb of Vector Delta imbedded in the roof of the Imperial Palace; a pearl just waiting to be plucked out.

"Yes…" Galvatron beamed, "IT IS! VECTOR DELTA!" The building suddenly started to quake beneath him. Looking back down, he saw Oblivion being beaten by Ultra Maximus’ sword, the blade leaving gashes and gouges in his armor. "Ah…a formidable force this one is. If I am to retrieve Vector Delta…a distraction is in order…."

Galvatron pointed his arm cannon straight down, blasting a huge hole in the floor beneath him. The force of the blast sent him flying, a trail of purple plasma arcing behind him. Just as he raised up his sword for another blow, Ultra Maximus momentarily glanced away from Oblivion, eyeing Galvatron flying past him.

Optimus Primal and the other Maximals also noticed, watching readily as the Decepticon hovered a few hundred feet above them. Botanica spotted him first, pointing a leafy green finger at him. "Galvatron!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah…but he’s right over Oblivion and Ultra Maximus! What the slag is he trying to do, get himself killed?" RazorLeaf blurted out.

Rattrap let out a little laugh and looked to the plant-bot. "Heh! That would be a BIG favor…."

Knowing the Maximal giant was directly below him, Galvatron powered up his weapon. "ULTRA MAXIMUS!" he openly called out to the giant, "YOU MAY HAVE BESTED MY MIGHTEST WARRIOR, BUT LET’S SEE HOW YOU FARE…AGAINST THIS!" Galvatron’s weapon sparked purple flares, overloading with destructive energy. It was aimed downward, poised to blast the head of the warrior….

With a sudden twirl in midair, Galvatron fired in a different direction. Ultra Maximus watched in horror, his face growing terribly pale, as Galvatron’s potent blast flung itself at a large building, blowing a huge hole near its base. Concrete and steel crashed onto the street below, narrowly missing fleeing pedestrians and loaded vehicles. Worse still, the whole of the building itself began to sway, threatening to crush an entire block full of people.

"BY THE MATRIX, NO!" Ultra Maximus hollered. He dropped his sword and ran, leaving Oblivion in the rubble behind him. Leaping into the air, he spread his twin set of wings and flew high above the street, gliding toward the collapsing building like a huge albatross.

People screamed as boulder-sized chunks of concrete continued to chip off the building as it slumped further and further down. Literally hundreds of people rushed down the street and out of the surrounding structures. Among the countless bodies, a single woman paused, huffing with exhaustion as she scanned the surrounding streets for something. Suddenly, she let out an ear-splitting scream.

Two small children, one a young schoolgirl and the other her baby brother, staggering along as his older sister practically dragged him, ran near the base of the falling building. The girl spotted the woman, and with a teary face, shouted out, "Mama! Mama!" Above them, the better two-thirds of the building groaned, threatening to topple over completely.

Instinctively the woman ran to her children, fighting the panicked crowd to simply reach them. Then, when she finally reached them, hugging the two in her arms, the great building quaked, letting out a final groan as it tumbled downward. The children let out a scream as their mother hugged them tightly.

At the last second, the building stopped with a sudden jerk, hovering over the ground by less than fifty feet, casting a dark shadow over the paralyzed crowd. The mother shivered in fear, but noticed how her two little children started to laugh as smiles came over their faces. She turned her head around and looked up….

A hand and the mouth of a red dragon held the building in place, Ultra Maximus’ arms moaning mechanically as they supported countless tons of building. The Maximal giant got up off his knees, forcing the building back up. The building’s fall completely stopped, and started to reverse. Ultra Maximus guided the damaged structure back into place, standing it back upright as he welded it in place with his dragon-headed left hand.

The crowds of humans below him let out a great cheer, congratulating the giant graciously. Doing the only polite thing a hero could do, Ultra Maximus grinned slightly and waved a hand.

Without warning, an explosion hit the large Maximal in the back. The crowds gasped as Ultra Maximus turned around, already knowing who it was that scared them so. "Oblivion," he said in a low voice, staring at the risen Decepticon.

Oblivion muttered in his deep voice, "Oblivion…destroy!" Raising up his arms, he fired with cannons in addition to his optic lasers. Ultra Maximus quickly spread his wings, shielding the humans directly behind him. For a solid five minutes Oblivion unleashed his arsenal upon Maximus, pelting his once flawless armor.

Despite the extensive damage, Ultra Maximus marched forward, frowning as he glared at the Decepticon. "You’ve done more than enough damage for one day, Oblivion!" he decreed. He raised up his left hand, pointing the head of Scaleblade’s beast mode at his enemy. The dragonhead roared and opened its mouth, spewing flames.

Oblivion readily reciprocated, firing his lasers at Ultra Maximus once more. The blasts merely bounced off Ultra Maximus as he marched onward, still spewing flames at him. Once within arms reach, Maximus grabbed Oblivion by the arms, latching onto him with a hard grip.

"Time to take this battle to a different level…" Ultra Maximus said to Oblivion’s face.

Blue flames erupted from beneath Ultra Maximus, his wings stretching out wide as both he and Oblivion became airborne. Both Maximal and human watched as the two flew higher and higher into the sky, the sun shimmering directly above them.

Over two miles into the atmosphere, Oblivion dealt Ultra Maximus a swift kick, forcing the battling mechanoids apart. The Decepticon spread his own set of wings, bird-like with gold and black feather, hovering in place before his Maximal counterpart. "Oblivion…can not be…destroyed! Oblivion…invincible!"

"I doubt that highly, Decepticon," Ultra Maximus mumbled, his eyes beginning to glow an intense fluorescent blue. Around his head, a tiny cloud began to form, slowly spinning round and round. His eyes brightening more and more, Maximus yelled out, "Planet Earth! Aide me in this war against the spawn of Unicron!"

Clapping his hands together, a thunderclap radiated out from Ultra Maximus, shockwaves echoing across the sky. Oblivion shuttered a bit, but continued to hold his position nonetheless. Soon, in the distance at first, but rapidly growing more evident, thunderclouds appeared, slowly circling around both Oblivion and Ultra Maximus. Thunder and lightning quickly echoed around them, lighting up the skies over Japan like never before.

A particularly large bolt of lightning streaked past Oblivion, flinging itself right at Ultra Maximus. The Maximal caught it with his bare hands, its electrical energy radiating throughout his arms. Like a Greek god, Ultra Maximus flung the bolt at Oblivion, striking the Decepticon with the fury of nature.

Oblivion was hurled backward, but even after being hit by lightning, he was still strong. His eyes blasted out another laser pulse, aiming directly at the Maximal titan’s head. Ultra Maximus brought his hands together, a cold gust of air descending from the storms around him. Bits of snow and hail accumulated on his right arm, forming a shield of pure ice. The ice shield absorbed the blast, melting back down as quickly as it had formed. Ultra Maximus waved his arms around, whirlwinds gathering around him. Without hesitating, he guided them to Oblivion, freezing the giant with great sheets of snow and sleet.

Still watching from below, Optimus Primal muttered, "Incredible. He must be the prophesized warrior." Suddenly, a sonic boom echoed, Primal glancing in a different direction to see a dark Decepticon carrying an emerald sphere. "Galvatron! And he’s got Vector Delta!" Quickly, Primal clicked on his com-link. "Optimus Primal to Ultra Maximus, urgent! Galvatron’s got Vector Delta and is zeroing in on your position! Repeat…."

Amidst his fight with Oblivion, Ultra Maximus picked up an unexpected transmission. "Primal to Ultra Maximus…I repeat…."

Flinching for a moment, Maximus muttered, "Huh? What?"

That was all the time Oblivion needed. Though his joints were thoroughly frozen and coated in frost, he aimed his arm cannons at a distracted Ultra Maximus. A nano-click later, Ultra Maximus was overtaken by a massive blast to his chest, sending him hurtling to the ground.

Mere moments later, Galvatron flew to Oblivion’s side, watching Ultra Maximus crash into a small lake in a Japanese park. He cackled wildly, "Ha ha! Ha ha! So much for the Maximals’ ‘great warrior!’ Now to return to Cybertron with our prize!"

As Oblivion and Galvatron soared off, vanishing just after the storm dissipated, Optimus Primal was left in shock. "Oh no," he muttered, "The Decepticons…."

Putting a hand on Primal’s shoulder, Botanica said, "We’d better concentrate on rescuing our friends first…."

Minutes later, the Maximals arrived at a partially drained lake, its shores reduced significantly to expose lily pads and Japanese Koi fish flopping around. The water itself had drained into a depression in the shape of Ultra Maximus. There Gold Blade, RazorLeaf, and Optimus Primal helped the component Maximals of Ultra Maximus out of the brackish water.

Coyotek coughed and gagged, kneeling on all fours in the mud. "I…I don’t understand what happened," he muttered, "One minute I remember being…Ultra Maximus…and battling Oblivion…."

Dinobot crawled alongside Coyotek, his robot mode muddy and dripping. He spat out a fish, saying, "Yes…and then in the next minute we were distracted! Grrrr! If my core consciousness had been in control, I would never let something as miniscule as a com-link distract me from battle. We should have finished off Oblivion when we had the chance as well!"

"Yeah, right…" A mud-covered fox crawled up on the opposite side of Dinobot. It transformed, becoming RedStreak, though his trademark ruby red plating was largely coated with mud, as had his beast mode. Wiping the mud from his arms, he frankly said to Dinobot, "And if you had been in charge, we would have let that HUGE building squash a couple thousand humans while we were at it!"

Growling, Dinobot said to RedStreak, "Do not presume to insult me, CANINE!" Transforming to robot mode, Dinobot held his battle-ax to RedStreak’s throat.

Before Dinobot could emit so much as a hiss, the click of a blaster sounded from behind his head. Coyotek, in robot mode as well, held his gun just inches from the back of Dinobot’s head. "Back off, raptor! Nobody lays a blade on my friend!"

As Coyotek and Dinobot stared one another down, Optimus Primal shouted loudly, "MAXIMALS! STAND DOWN…NOW!" A canine growl escaping his throat, Coyotek lowered his blast, stowing it behind his back. Dinobot did likewise, eyeing the coyote as well. Primal shook his head, groaning, "We have enough problems as it is without anyone trying to sever another’s wires. We’ve got to focus on getting Ironwood back online. We’ll need him to…."

"But wait!" RedStreak spoke up, "We can transform into Ultra Maximus now! The six of us can take on both DarkStar AND Oblivion now! We can do it, Optimus!"

Optimus turned about and gazed at RedStreak. Glancing at Coyotek and Dinobot, noting their level of aggression, he stated, "I’m afraid Ultra Maximus is out of the question for now, taking in your group’s level of cooperation."

The six in question, Coyotek, RedStreak, Dinobot, Depth Charge, Tigatron, and Scaleblade, heard this and looked to one another. They all exhibited frowns on their faces and a sense of disappointment.

Later, on Cybertron, Galvatron arrived with six other Decepticons, among them Starscream, at the old Decepticon command center. Galvatron marched inside first, followed by Nova, Chibi-Batt, and Triceradon, carrying the stolen Vector computer.

Inside, Shockwave worked at a non-functional console, crossing wires and inserting a new motherboard inside. At the sound of Galvatron’s footsteps, he quickly closed the open lid and turned about to face his commander. "Welcome, Galvatron," he said, saluting his leader, "The command center is nearly operational now. My repairs are ninety percent complete now, and I’ve tapped into Maximal Central Command as requested, my liege."

Galvatron stood before Shockwave, frowning. "Not good enough, Shockwave. I expected you to have those repairs completed at least two megacycles ago! Now we’re behind schedule…."

"But Galvatron, I…" Shockwave tried to protest.

Before another word could be muttered Galvatron raised his weapon and pointed it to Shockwave’s yellow eye. Shockwave quickly quieted, not wanting to lose any vital circuits. "Good. I do not want excuses; I want progress Shockwave. Get the security grids online before…"

The console Shockwave was working on started to beep. Galvatron lowered his weapon and marched up to it, just as Vultor and Nova dragged in Starscream. Starscream wailed and yelled loudly, to which Galvatron shouted, "SILENCE! VULTOR, REVOME HIM UNTIL HE IS NEEDED! THIS IS IMPORTANT!"

Vultor nodded, quickly shoving Starscream in the back and heading towards the detention center.

Galvatron focused on the console, clicking on specific keys and buttons. A flat-screen monitor descended from the ceiling, the Maximal symbol beeping on and off on it. Tentatively, Shockwave asked Galvatron, "What is it?"

"Your special link to the Maximal Command Center. Something of code: x status," Galvatron replied, "The computer’s decrypting their systems to find out just what."

A minute later, the Maximal symbol displayed dissolved into a long-range tactical map. On it, a dozen strange blips were identified, all approaching Cybertron at high speed on a direct course to the Maximals’ planet. Galvatron highlighted one of the blips, magnifying it a hundred fold. On the screen, it resolved into the Predacon symbol.

"Predacons?" Shockwave gasped, "But…how is that possible?"

"I believe I know how." Galvatron replied, thinking of the one being possible, "This is an unforeseen event. We must accelerate our plans now because of this. Quickly…."

Following a single cable linked to Galvatron’s console, countless pipes and tunnels are crossed until the cable’s end is met at the base of the Central Command Tower. At the top, Nightscream worked hastily on a flat console table to identify an incoming threat.

"Computer, are you positive the scanner identification is correct? There are Predacons on a direct course to Cybertron?" Nightscream spoke to the table.

"Confirmed," a beep replied, "Approximately two hundred Predacon vessels approaching planet on vector zero one zero. Estimated time of arrival at current speed: thirty point eight five cycles."

Nightscream slammed his fist into the console. "Slag! I didn’t think there were even that many Predacons left! Alert all planetary defense units. Activate perimeter orbital defense platforms…stat!" the Maximal general ordered, "No Predacon’s getting past me while I’m on the job!"

In deep space, beyond the furthest moon of Cybertron, large hexagonal platforms came online, lights in the shape of the Maximal symbol glowing as numerous weapons emerged. In seconds, dozens of ships marked with the Predacon symbol swept by, the platforms exchanging heavy fire with them. Although several small Predacon ships were destroyed, all of the Maximal platforms were obliterated completely.

Nightscream, still at the control tower, was unable to believe what his computer reported. "Perimeter defense platforms…destroyed. Twenty-eight point three cycles to arrival."

"Have we any activate planetary defenses?" Nightscream asked.

"Negative," the computer reported, "Seventy percent of all planetary systems are under repair, including planetary defenses. Currently unavailable."

"Then find out what we have left and use it!" Nightscream shouted to the computer. He sighed heavily, shaking his head over and over again, as consoles buzzed around him. Muttering to himself, he said, "This isn’t good. Ever last Pred is the galaxy is coming and our defenses are zilch! What should I do?"

He thought for a minute, even as the Predacons got that much closer. He activated the console a second time, making another request to the computer. "Open com-links to the Council of Elders and Optimus Primal on planet Earth. Inform them on the…situation and…."

Slowly, but obviously nonetheless, a trembling developed. The tower Nightscream was in as well as all of Cybertropolis began to shake, a strange and powerful earthquake overtaking the entirety of the Maximal city.

At the Decepticon Command Center, Galvatron yelled to Shockwave, "Power up the base, Shockwave! It is time!" Obeying his commander, Shockwave pulled on last, giant lever.

Above ground, dozens of city blocks were suddenly thrust upwards as Cybertronian buildings and vegetation were reduced to mulch. The rubble was pushed aside, unveiling solid gray and blue metal beneath as the dome of Decepticon Command manifested itself. To further terrify the Maximals that beheld it, a portion of the dome came to life, lighting up in the form of the Decepticon icon.

In his tower, Nightscream could only watch. "By the darkest Pit…."

On Earth, the Maximals worked beside the fallen remains of Ironwood. Large sections his armor had been removed, allowing his damaged systems to be accessed and repaired more easily. For brief instances, his eyes flickered on and off, but still the giant didn’t come to life.

Rattrap opened one of Ironwood’s blue-tinted eyes like a window, popping directly out of his head. "Eh, I’m telln’ ya, this guy’s nothing but deadwood! I’ve been working on his cerebral cortex for a megacycle and still not so much as a watt of brainpower’s come back!"

Lifting up a welding mask as he paused his work on Ironwood’s neck, Optimus Primal told Rattrap, "We’ve got to. His well-being is dependent on us and we need him!"

Dinobot growled slightly as he put away his welding torch. "Give up this effort, Optimus!" he said aloud, "The guardian was simply damaged beyond repair by Oblivion! We might as well start salvaging his components while there’s still time to prepare for the next battle!" Crawling up onto Ironwood’s chest, Dinobot spotted an open plate with numerous conductors and pistons visible. He walked over and reached down to remove a piece of equipment.

A yellow, robotic hand reached up from within Ironwood, snatching Dinobot’s own hands. "I think not!" Gold Blade frowned at him, "Nobody salvages my boyfriend with me around!" She then pushed Dinobot aside, pulling the plate and covering the hole up.

The raptor snarled, "Accursed plant life…."

Just as Optimus resumed his work on Ironwood’s neck, a transmission sounded from Ironwood’s com-link. "Attention…Nightscream to…Predacons…."

Dropping their tools and rushing over to Primal’s side, the Maximals tried to listen in at once. Rattrap nudged Dinobot aside, wheeling in to analyze the situation. Plugging his tail into a small port, he analyzed the transmission. "It’s coming directly from Maximal Command on Cybertron! Long-range transmission…but iron brain’s receiver is too weak to discern it properly. I’ll try using my faceplate system…."

Rattrap’s computerized faceplate fell over his face, a static-filled screen visible. In seconds, the image of Nightscream appeared, making Rattrap into a wheeled, two-armed television set. "Optimus!" Nightscream exclaimed, "Thank Primus I got to you! The situation is deteriorating on Cybertron! Predacons and Decepticons are running amok, and…."

"Predacons AND Decepticons? Are you serious?" Optimus asked.

"Yes, and most of the planetary defenses are offline. Aside from the Maximal reserves fighting right now Cybertron has no defenses!" Nightscream tried to explain, "The Council of Elders has initiated a planetary evacuation, and we need all the help we can get to assist!"

Optimus Primal looked to the Maximal general, saying, "But Nightscream, we have no way to get there! Ironwood’s..." Before he could utter another word, the transmission went offline. Primal shouted as he banged against Rattrap’s visor, "NIGHTSCREAM! NIGHTSCREAM!"

"Ow! Hey!" Rattrap yelled, pushing Primal’s fists aside. His visor flipped back up, revealing a rat instead of a bat. "Oh…looks like we’ll be needing big ‘ol pines here after all…"

Dinobot but a hand to his face and snarled loudly. "Oh I can’t believe you Maximals! There’s no hope at all in this! This guardian is completely offline! How many times must I tell you…" Angrily, Dinobot kicked at Ironwood’s side, trying to prove the guardian was dead.

"THE…GUARDIAN…IS…"

Before Dinobot could say, "dead", a mechanical rumbling started deep inside of Ironwood. It quickly built up, joined by the humming of generators and electrical devices. Suddenly, Ironwood’s body jerked up, his blue eyes flickering to life all on their own as the guardian sat upright. He turned to his right, glancing down at the comparatively diminutive Dinobot.

Primal chuckled slightly. "What were you saying…Dinobot?"

Before the megacycle was up, Ironwood was in rocket mode and halfway to Cybertron itself. When they were less than half a million miles from the planet, Coyotek came upfront and made a sensor report. His rod-shaped antenna went limp and his pupils shrank. "I don’t believe it…" he simply said.

"Put it up on the monitors," Optimus suggested. Coyotek readily complied, and Ironwood’s sensor images were put on display. On the long-range sensors, there were flashes of light and fires going off all over the green and silver surface of Cybertron. Zooming in, fleets of ships could be seen moving from city to city in a matter of minutes, laying waste to anything Maximal-made.

"By Prime himself, Nightscream wasn’t kidding when he said they needed help!" RazorLeaf said.

"Ironwood, get us to Cybertron fast!" Optimus ordered.

"Complying, Optimus Primal," Ironwood replied in his usual deep and mundane tone. From his sides he deployed his nacelle engines. A pulse of light fired from them, sending the Maximals to Cybertron at unbelievable speed. The rocket adjusted its course, heading for one of the larger flashing lights on the planet…Cybertropolis.

The great central city of Cybertron was under siege on a scale not seen since the Great War. On the ground, slow moving turrets futility fired upon Predacon ships that periodically swooped down, dropping explosives as they fired with energy weapons. Every minute, a building toppled over. The city itself burned, roads, rails, and power plants crumbling to bits as civilian transformers desperately ran.

Only three great structures stood intact, despite the intensity of the Predacon attack. The Council Citadel, though cratered and burned, stood its ground, acting like the symbol of stability it represented. Further off, the Central Command Tower towered above the burning ruins. The third was the Decepticon Command Center, which had just risen from its subterranean grave, a nightmare from the past made real once more.

Of the three, surprisingly, it was the Decepticon headquarters that received the heaviest firepower. From above, a large Predacon warship descended, firing three entire volleys of missiles at the ancient complex. A massive explosive shook the ground it stood upon, but the command center itself glowed a deep green, a force shield generated from within protecting it from the damage the rest of Cybertropolis received.

Inside the warship, Megatron slammed his fist into a console, leaving a huge dent in it. "BLAST!" the Predacon shouted, "THAT LAST BLOW SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO DISENTIGRATE THEIR SHIELDS!"

In the shadows behind him, gathered around a circular table lit by four red lights, one Predacon spoke, "It is foolish to waste our power against the Decepticons themselves." "Yes," a second agreed, "They may be powerful, but limited in force. Eradicating the Maximals should be our main concern. We can deal with the Decepticons later…."

Megatron turned around, practically snarling, "NO!" He smashed his fist into the table, cracking one of the four lights imbedded within. "The Maximals are one thing…BUT THE DECEPTICONS ARE A DIFFERENT MATTER ENTIRELY! IF WE LET GALVATRON ESCAPE, HE WILL UNQUESTIONABLY RETURN, WHETHER IT BE TOMORROW OR ANOTHER THREE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW!"

A third Predacon at the table narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Megatron. "The Tripredicus Council disagrees. Were it not for you obsession with destroying them, we could possibly join forces with them. They are our predecessors, are they not?"

Megatron chuckled. "Yesss…they are, aren’t they?" Leaning forward, he elaborated further. "And for that reason, we should destroy them for none other! Their kind has existed for countless eons, waging war to the point of desperation. If they were to destroy the Autobots’ descendents, do you reeaallly think they’ll just…turn Cybertron over to us?"

The three members of the Tripredicus Council looked to one another, and then to Megatron. "Very well. We shall take Cybertropolis, Maximal and Decepticon alike…."

The smile on Megatron’s face widened further. Suddenly, an alarm went off. A monitor mounted to the wall came online, flashing on and off with the Maximal symbol. The Tripredicus Council hissed in disgust. As the monitor came alive with the image of a green rocket flying in, Megatron tightened his fist. "Primal…so…you’ve come for me at last?"

Megatron opened a doorway, walking into an elevator. The Tripredicus Council looked to him, one of them asking, "Where are you going?"

The Predacon tyrant simply smiled and said, "To finish off an…old friend."

On the far side of the Citadel, Ironwood landed upright. A ramp deployed, letting his passengers out. Ironwood then transformed, deploying his various weapons in readiness. A modest Predacon fighter dove at the group, firing a gatling gun. Ironwood bent down, covering his comrades as the bullets bounced off his thick armor. With that, he targeted the fighter with his chest cannon, blowing it to bits completely.

Primal transformed into a bat and flew up. "Quickly! We must get to the spaceport! We’ve got to ensure the evacuation is successful!" Without another word, the Maximals ran after Primal, Ironwood bringing up the rear as he left massive imprints in the already battered streets.

The spaceport rested at the very edge of Cybertropolis, not far from the Central Command Tower. Numerous ground forces fired into the air, keeping away Predacon fighters from shuttles being prepped for launch. Primal kept his gaze primarily on the spaceport, even as buildings and technorganic life burned around him. Then, unexpectedly, his forces were brought to a sudden stop.

Flying ahead, Primal looked up and saw the dark form of a ship sweep overhead. A deep cackle filled the air, a blurry figure circling about and making a pass at the Maximals. It fired a single green disruptor bolt, destroying a large sign looming overhead. It toppled down with an explosive crash, separating Rattrap and RedStreak from the rest.

Pointing his weapons at DarkStar, Ironwood said, "Ironwood…stop attacker!"

"No Ironwood!" Primal said, much to the guardian’s surprise, "You get to the spaceport and help defend it! You are guardian first and foremost! We’ll take care of Rattrap, RedStreak, and ourselves!"

Ironwood looked down at Primal for a minute with a puzzled, perplexed look, but then nodded. The guardian flew off, understanding his specific instructions flawlessly. With the guardian gone, Primal attended to other matters. Staring at the burning rubble before them, he said, "We’ve gotta get Rattrap and RedStreak out of there!"

Coyotek smugly grinned, saying, "Not a problem for the Coyote Express!" Spreading his arms as the other Maximals parted around him, Coyotek shouted, "Coyotek…Magnus Armor!" A glow emanated from around his body, silvery Autobot armor materializing. Standing taller in his armor, Coyotek made a second command to his systems. "Transform: hauler mode!" His body transformed, the silver armor forming into a trailer, his gold main body became a truck.

Honking his horn, Coyotek yelled, "Stand back and leave the driven to us!" His wheels spun hard, and in seconds he took off. The massive truck simply plowed through the rubble, clearing a path leading directly to the two separated Maximals. Coyotek jackknifed and slow to a stop, his engine still rumbling.

RedStreak laughed. "What kept ya?"

Just as the Maximals started to join, the sinister laugh returned again. Everyone looked around, unsure where it came from. However…Optimus Primal already knew who it was. "Megatron."

"Ha ha ha!" Directly in front of them, the mentioned Predacon materialized out of thin air, decloaking. "The one and only…Optimus Primal! Now, if I am not mistaken, we have a score to settle!"

Primal transformed to robot mode, glancing at the Maximals as he continued to hover. "Go! Help with the evacuation! That’s an order!"

Megatron simply laughed. "Ah…prefer to face this alone, Primal?" He transformed, turning into a large and muscular blue wolf that snarled loudly. "Or is it that you’d rather not have them see you scream as it tear you limb from limb, Optimus?"

Still in vehicle form, Coyotek accelerated, separating Megatron from Primal with his trailer. He immediately disengaged and transformed, becoming a gold coyote that stared down the Predacon wolf with silver fangs. "COYOTEK! REDSTREAK! LEAVE! I SAID THAT WAS AN ORDER!"

RedStreak laughed, transforming to beast mode and standing beside Coyotek. "What can we say, Primal?"

Growling enthusiastically, Coyotek added, "If Megs wants this to go down doggie style, then me and Red are the ones for the job!" The two canine Maximals rushed Megatron, bearing the fangs at him. They clamed down with their teeth and wrestled the Predacon, growls and barks filling the air.

In the end however, Megatron won. Coyotek and RedStreak were flung aside, still stuck in beast mode. Megatron spat out some yellow fur, panting heavily. "You…you think you can face me? Even as a dog, I can handle any puny Maximal!"

A pair of robotic arms suddenly latched around Megatron’s muzzle, forcing it shut. "Then you haven’t face me…Megatron! RAAAGH!" With incredible strength, Optimus Primal flung the Predacon into the air. Megatron was helpless, but only for a second. He reacted almost instinctively, transforming and firing up his leg thrusters. Megatron snarled and aimed his gold arm cannon at Primal….

Two blasts of energy struck Megatron at the same time, knocking the Predacon out cold before he fell to the ground. Optimus Primal gasped, seeing two giant guns smoking from their barrels, both branded with the Decepticon symbol. One aimed at Optimus Primal, keeping the remaining online Maximal at bay. The other transformed, becoming Galvatron himself.

Optimus narrowed his eyes at the Decepticon leader. "Why did you stop him for me?" he asked.

Galvatron laughed. "For you? Hardly!" Galvatron walked over to Megatron’s limp body, picking him up and throwing the smaller Predacon over his left shoulder. Turning back to Primal, Galvatron told him, "It just so happens I need him…for a project of such scale that you and your Maximals will be but a memory when I’m through with Cybertron. And just to make sure you don’t think I’m doing you any favors." Glancing at the giant purple gun, still pointed at Primal, Galvatron said, "Shockwave, if you please…."

"As you command, Galvatron," Shockwave replied. With a massive bolt, Shockwave blasted a chunk off a building, sending rubble falling upon Primal. Optimus yelled, and was buried under rock and metal.

Glancing away, Galvatron noted the ruined city and the heavy amount of Predacon activity in the area. "We must flee Cybertron, for the moment, Shockwave. But when we return…all shall be ours." Galvatron swore to his lieutenant. Activating his com-link, Galvatron signaled the Decepticon base. "DarkStar, now."

A distance away, a side of the Decepticon Command Center exploded. Out of the smoke, DarkStar flew out at sonic speeds, a trail of fire left behind. She zoomed past incoming aircraft, meandering her ways skillfully between flaming buildings. It took her all of forty seconds to reach Galvatron. Jerking to a stop, she deployed a ramp, granting her fellow Decepticons access. Shockwave transformed to robot mode and ran in, the ramp retracting as DarkStar took off for the skies.

From the rubble pile, a ball of blue energy exploded out. Primal hollered and jumped out, transforming to beast mode. He saw DarkStar vanish all too quickly, the Maximal commander muttering, "Slag. Looks like we’ve lost this one." Pausing for a moment, he overlooked the charred city block around him. Again he said, "Looks like we’ve lost this one…big time."

A great boom filled the air. Looking towards the spaceport, Optimus Primal saw one, then two, shuttles blasting off. A few seconds later, a third joined, followed by a fourth and fifth. "The shuttles! The evacuation…."

Primal flew off, flying faster than ever before. Around him more buildings fell, all still burning. At the spaceport more shuttles fled, flying into orbit. More buildings…more shuttles…an array of images and sounds that rumbled violently around Optimus Primal.

He finally reached the spaceport’s upper launch platform; a circular landing area suspended above the burning streets and damaged equipment. The last remaining shuttles were poised there, ready to launch as soon as they were completely loaded. To one side Ironwood stood with weapons aimed skyward, keeping away many a Predacon fighter. As Optimus swooped in, he spied Nightscream and Rattrap waiting for him.

"You got here just in time, Optimus!" Rattrap immediately told him.

Nightscream said, "Ironwood’s been keeping the Preds and ‘Cons at bay, but we’re still losing shuttles and big green is running dangerously low on ammo. We can’t afford to stay much longer."

"I’d agree." Primal noted, but was busily glancing around. "Where are the reserves, Nightscream? For that matter were are Botanica and the others?"

"I sent Botanica, RazorLeaf, and Gold Blade in the last shuttle launch. The rest are busy at the East Pad, keeping Predacon ships away." Nightscream informed Primal, "As for the reserves, they’re either offline or in orbit with the other shuttles. I didn’t want to keep any more Maximals in this deathtrap. We…."

A screech filled the air. "Pred attack!" Rattrap yelled, "Duck!" The three Maximals ran, nearly hit by laser fire. A shuttlecraft was hit, causing it to explode like a giant firecracker.

Even before the flames died down slightly, Nightscream panicked. "THAT WAS THE LAST SHUTTLE! WE’VE GOT MORE REFUGEES LEFT TO FLY OUT OF HERE!"

"Wait," Primal tried to calm them, "What about Ironwood? He’s heavily armored and capable of flight."

Nightscream looked to Primal with weary eyes. "But…but he’s your transport! With the refugees, there will…" The general glanced downward, hesitant to say what he spoke next. "There will be only enough for eight of us."

"Yeah," Rattrap said, "Eight seats, nine Maximals…one unlucky ‘bots stuck in this Inferno, and it don’t look like it’s gonna cool down anytime soon with the Preds dropping nova bombs and plasma mortars by the kiloton."

Another explosion rocked the spaceport, control towers and various poles falling down. Nightscream glanced at them briefly, and then said to Optimus, "I’ll stay, Optimus. This is my responsibility, I.…"

Putting his hands on his shoulders, Primal said to Nightscream, "You’re the head of Cybertronian security. If any of our people are to survive this, we need someone to protect them. You go; I’ll stay and look out for anyone else left behind…."

Yet another explosion shook, sizeable chunks of the upper launch platform collapsing around them. Rushing towards them, Dinobot, Depth Charge, Tigatron, and Scaleblade came running up with burn scars on their armor. Dinobot proclaimed, "The remaining defense systems have failed!"

Panting as he wiped the sweat off his head, Depth Charge said, "Yeah. The Preds are overrunning the place like never before! Wouldn’t be a bad idea to get outta here quick as lightning!"

Primal glanced at the four before him, noticing something particularly odd. "Where’s RedStreak and Coyotek? I thought they would have returned her by now." He turned, looking toward the burning city of Cybertropolis. "Oh no…by Primus…."

Scaleblade rushed in front of Optimus, shouting "Wait! I-I think I see them! Over there!"

Sure enough, a pair of dust trails had appeared near the top of a burning building, a large truck and a red car diving over the roof. As they neared the curved edge of the roof, another bomb exploded. The two vehicles swerved together, momentarily engulfed by flames. A split-second later out rushed a larger, red-colored truck. Its engine roaring, the massive vehicle flew up the sharp edge of the roof, flying into the air for a few crucial moments.

With a massive thud, Red ‘Tek landed before his fellow Maximals, his painted-on flames and ruby-gold hide only slightly singed. "Sorry I was late for the launch. Traffic was a bit of a b…."

Before another word could be spoken, a swarm of Predacon ships appeared over the spaceport, countless numbers of them circling above. Lasers and bombs fell, starting the final collapse of the launch platform. Ironwood and Red ‘Tek arced their necks up and tried to fire, but found their weapons completely depleted.

"The platform’s collapsing! We’ve gotta leave now!" Nightscream shouted.

Ironwood quickly transformed, a ramp deploying from his side. Nightscream, Primal, and Scaleblade guided in the last of Cybertropolis’ population. Then, just as the last few got inside, a burst of fire erupted at Red ‘Tek’s feet. The solid platform beneath him gave way, the combiner suddenly finding himself falling.

"RED ‘TEK!" Scaleblade shouted. Instinctively, she unfolded her wings and swooped down, following behind.

Dinobot’s eyes widened. Impulsively, he chased after Scaleblade. "FOOLISH GIRL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Without thinking, he jumped down after, falling after.

More metal plating broke away, taking Tigatron with it. "STRIPES!" Depth Charge yelled, catching the cat-bot by an arm. Optimus ran out to up, but as he rushed, Depth Charge slipped, sliding down with Tigatron.

"NO! NO!" Optimus yelled long and hard, watching as six of his comrades plummeted down. Then, just as he looked over the edge, something massive came up from below. The largest of the Predacon warships ascended, locking weapons onto Optimus Primal and Ironwood’s motionless rocket form. Large blasters began to power up, turrets targeted directly at the Maximal.

Behind Optimus Primal, half of the launch platform suddenly shattered. A loud yell was let out, and Ultra Maximus reappeared once more. With sword in hand, he hollered, "Optimus, go! I’ll handle this!"

With little more than a flick of his wrist, the giant flung his sword out, his weapon circling about and slicing one of the turrets off the Predacon ship. Electrical sparks shot from it, the device exploding. One by one, other turrets followed, the whole ship malfunctioning. Ultra Maximus’ sword circled back, returning to his hand. Flying out to the ship, Ultra Maximus used his sword once more, cutting into the thick hull of the vessel. Explosions started going off, power systems and fuel cells overloading inside the damage craft.

Ironwood lifted off on a fiery red flame, the launch platform falling apart beneath him. Ultra Maximus quickly withdrew his sword and followed, but at a slightly slower pace. Far below, the transformer watched as the last of Cybertropolis fell, every last trace of it ashes and blackened slag. "Such a terrible waste…and tragedy," Maximus softly muttered.

The giant’s bright blue eyes dimmed on and off, his strength weakening more rapidly than expected. "S-S-Strange. I d-don’t understand this p-p-power drain," he muttered, his voice becoming static-filled, "I…I m-must return to Earth…fast." Using what energy he had left, the Maximal warrior fled from Cybertron…the last of his kind.

Elsewhere…far from his ruined homeworld, Megatron started to awaken. He found himself chained to the floor, too weak to break free. Above him, Galvatron stood, gazing upon the forward view screen within DarkStar’s command chamber. "Yes," he seemed to mutter over and over again, even as the other Decepticons watched, "The time has finally come. The pieces…have at last fallen into place. Cybertron…and the Universe shall all be mine."

On the monitor, a giant, wicked structure appeared from the darkness of space. As light fell upon it, the mass of metal and jagged wires revealed itself as DarkStar guided them all to the head of Unicron himself….

To Be Continued…

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