In dark space, a blue light shined through. Lighting struck out in all directions, like a storm at its peak. A portal in space was opened, held open by the Quintessons’ creation. On the other side, their forces massed together, preparing for the final strike against Cybertron itself.

Aboard the lead ship, Scavix and Lor-Gavvon cackled like mad men. "At long last! Our plans are coming to fruition!" laughed Scavix. Curling a tentacle, he spoke melodramatically. "Cybertron in our clutches, Earth and humanity just waiting to be taken, our throne at the center of the galaxy…."

Looking out through the window, Lor-Gavvon added, "And a great weapon that will conquer the stars for us, and destroy any that oppose our will."

As the two elder Quintessons snickered to each other, Maral looked onward toward Cybertron itself. It seemed very strange…even more so than in the data banks she read from. "Such a strange little world," she said, "It isn’t what I expected it to be…."

The world of Cybertron looked from distant space to be a beautiful green paradise, the entire planet covered with vegetation in all shades of green. Much to the contrary of what she saw, Maral recalled that Cybertron was described as an iron wasteland – an old colony of theirs abandoned countless ages ago, misused and untended by narrow-minded slaves. What had once been a jewel in the Quintesson Imperium was left to rust, wither away without the Quintessons’ divine guidance and rule. Now…those earlier misconceptions were blown away before the reality of Cybertron.

As she stared at that world, Maral pondered if it had somehow been altered, changed by its inhabitants for the better. Or was it something else? Quite possibly, Maral thought, this might have been the way Cybertron was before her race’s arrival. Did Cybertron simply revert back to its original state? For several solid minutes, this strange emerald planet mystified Maral, making her ponder things no Quintesson before her had.

"Prepare our vessels," commanded Lor-Gavvon, "Once the conduit is stabilized, we’ll be relocating to a new position behind the Earth satellite. Then, when the time is right, we will strike at Cybertron and burn it to a clean slate…."

Maral looked to her father in shock. "But…Lor-Gavvon, that would be a tremendous waste of resources. Why not concentrate on the Cybertronian settlements instead? Surely the native vegetation can be spared…."

"I’m afraid not Maral," her father said, "The entire surface must be vaporized to ensure not a transformer survives. From what we’ve ascertained on their beast modes, they’ve truly acquired the ability to disguise themselves…literally blend in with their surroundings. Even our sensors have difficulty in detecting them; therefore, we must destroy Cybertron completely."

Maral didn’t like this; for some reason, this course of action didn’t seem right. "But father, we’d be destroying innocent creatures, ruining a living planet. Even you…."

Turning with a sharp tongue to his daughter, Lor-Gavvon practically shouted, "NOTHING ON THAT WORLD IS INNOCENT MARAL! THESE CREATURES, THESE…TRANSFORMERS…HAVE DEFIED US! THEY MUST BE OBLITERATED AT ALL COSTS TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO RULE!"

Lor-Gavvon stopped before he went too far. He turned away from Maral, looking at battle plans being calculated. Scavix approached while Lor-Gavvon was away. He put a tentacle on the side of Maral’s rounded head, attempting to gain her confidence.

"Do not be angry with your father," he said to Maral with his snake-like, hissing voice, "The whole of the council has put him up to this…for it is a necessity. Cybertron must be destroyed for our species to survive." He backed away, moving toward Lor-Gavvon’s station. Glancing at the Scientist Quintesson, Scavix further said, "Even your father would agree with me on that…."

Confidently, Scavix passed Lor-Gavvon with a broad smirk. Lor-Gavvon frowned, secretly hating Scavix not because of his deviousness, but because he was working with him.

Switching to a different subject, Scavix recommended, "We should have weapon R disengage from us and attack Cybertron. The transwarp conduit will remain stable for a full megacycle before destabilizing. Time enough to complete our attack."

Amid sparking filaments of transwarp particles and lightning, RedStreak received a message coming in from the Quintessons. His com-link automatically activating, RedStreak responded, "Yes, my masters?"

Over the com-link, Scavix’s voice told him, "The time for action has come, my minion. You shall make a preemptive strike on Cybertron while our fleet amasses at a classified position…" A chuckle was then heard as Scavix added, "You know what to do…."

RedStreak snickered evilly, knowing just what the Quintesson Overlord had in mind. "Yes, my master! For the glory of the Quintesson Empire!" The Maximal servant of the Quintessons flew off, a trail of red energy following behind him.

Maral looked on from her window in the command ship, watching their weapon fly off toward Cybertron. She looked down, muttering, "May the Universe forgive us…."

On Cybertron, the very world threatened by the Quintessons, a great trial was being held before the entire Council of Maximal Elders. All nine members sat on a high platform forged of silver and iron. Cheetarus Prime, both head of the council and supreme leader of all Maximals, was seated in a large throne elevated above the other eight elders.

The Council of Elders looked down upon four individuals bound together by power shackles, surrounded by a self-sustaining force field. Just outside the force field was a standing restoration chamber, beside which were Ursacon and NightScream, guarding its occupant.

Argos, the strongest leader of the council, rose up and spoke directly to the council. "Transformers…Cybertronians…fellow citizens of Cybertron," Argos began, "These five transformers presented here are all charged with betraying the Council of Elders and defying the will of Cybertron!"

The five traitors being judged were the crew of the DarkStar. Just a few hours ago, they surrendered themselves at the hand of Optimus Primal as a gesture of their good faith to the council.

Megatron, looking to Primal out of the corner of his eye, said to the Maximal commander, "It appears your ‘good faith’ in the council was misplaced. Now because of it we’re going to be terminated and reduced to scrap iron!"

NightScream hit Megatron on the back of the head. "Quiet, Megs! No talking before the council until you’re called upon." NightScream told the Predacon. Megatron growled angrily, giving NightScream good reason to be wary.

Optimus Primal stood up, speaking to the council even while chained. "Councilmen! You’re all making a grave mistake! We’ve done nothing to warrant being charged with betrayal!"

Argos stared at Optimus with wide eyes. "Done nothing?" he blared out, "Disregarding a direct order from the council? Seizing the Thetos and destroying it? Operating with a wanted Predacon? The theft of a prototype-cloaking device? Do any of those sound like ‘just nothing’?"

"All those extreme actions," Cheetarus spoke up, "Warrant nothing less than the charge of betrayal. While we have prepared for the Quintesson invasion force, your group, consisting of Gold Blade, Coyotek, RazorLeaf, and even the Predacon, Megatron, have recklessly endangered the lives of themselves and others to accomplish nothing beyond the loss of the Thetos and RedStreak. Because of your actions, Cybertron is at more risk than ever…."

"And what of the fate of Earth?" interrupted Optimus, "Have you completely forgotten the alliance between our worlds? How with the help of their resources we rebuilt Cybertron to what it is now?" Narrowing his eyes on Cheetarus, he asked, "How can we betray them after so much?"

Argos said aloud, "It was decided by this council several solar cycles ago that Cybertron is of greater concern to us now. It is us the Quintessons want, not the humans…."

Coyotek stretched out his neck, speaking out, "What about their attack on New Phoenix? That wasn’t a coincidence!"

The council ignored Coyotek’s statement, choosing instead to focus on the trial itself. Cheetarus turned to the guilty ones and asked, "What do the accused wish to say of themselves before we decide the ultimate verdict?"

Gold Blade, with her arms bound, spoke first. "Council of Elders, I did what was needed to be done, nothing more." She turned her face down, not uttering another word.

Proudly, Coyotek stated, "What I did was my best, because Cybertron deserves nothing less!"

Optimus, both leader and diplomat, said in defense, "Prime…what they did…they did because of me. It was my recklessness, not theirs, that lead to all this. Please! Remove the charges on them and place them on me!"

To his side, Megatron gagged. As eyes turned to him, a laugh started to rise from the Predacon. "Please Primal," Megatron said, "Spare us your indigestible speeches! They might have wanted to save you, but I had bigger goals! I recognized the threat and did…."

Megatron suddenly hollered in pain as sparks jumped from his back. After falling over, NightScream backed away, blowing on a smoking tazer. Megatron looked up, groaning a little. NightScream smiled a little out of the corner of his mouth.

"You enjoy that, don’t you?" said Megatron.

NightScream put the tazer back on Megatron, saying, "Very much," as he shocked him again.

Turning to the restoration chamber, where RazorLeaf’s damaged, but conscious, body floated, Cheetarus Prime asked, "And what of you, RazorLeaf? Were it not for them, you wouldn’t be damaged or on trial? What do you say to all this?"

Sarcastically, RazorLeaf said, "Personally I’d say up your tailpipe Prime…"

Ursacon whacked the side of the restoration chamber hard, making RazorLeaf splash around in the cybernetic fluid. He snorted at the plant-bot, warning him not to insult the council.

Talking seriously now, RazorLeaf said to the council, "But if I have something I really want to say, it’s that I would of taken these wounds and given my spark to help them. We didn’t do anything wrong! It’s like what Gold Blade said: we did what we had to be done, nothing more…."

The council members looked at one another, considering alternatives and comparing thoughts. Argos and Cheetarus looked at each other as well. Argos spoke for the council, saying, "We will reconvene in fifty cycles for the final decision. Until then…lock away the prisoners until…."

A rumbling interrupted Argos’ words. The entire council chamber began to shake, the beams above wobbling in their struts. All the various Maximals started speaking, wondering what on Cybertron was going on. There was the sound of blasters, accompanied by an insidious laughter.

Megatron, still bound in his energy shackles, recognized that sound. "By Primus…" he mumbled, "He’s returned."

The ceiling of the council chamber exploded violently. Debris flew all over the place with large chunks of metal crashing down. A beam struck RazorLeaf’s restoration chamber, knocking it over and pinning it beneath a few tons of titanium.

Laughter filled the air as a pair of blazing rockets blasted into the room. Megatron, Optimus, and the other captives, unable to move, looked up and saw a shiny red transformer descend from above. A familiar pair of orange eyes gazed at them with a mouth full of shiny silver teeth.

"Helloooooo...Cybertron!" RedStreak rose up his arms and shouted, "The new and improved RedStreak is here to have some fun!"

The council members rose up in shock at the appearance of a large, unruly Maximal hovering at the heart of the chamber. Cheetarus Prime stood up as well, unable to believe it. He softly muttered, "RedStreak?"

RedStreak smiled and pointed of his arm-mounted fusion cannons at the Council of Elders. "Meeting adjourned!" he said, charging his weapon. Cheetarus and the entire council jumped in all directions as a potent fusion blast obliterated their seats, sending silver shrapnel all over the place. RedStreak cackled madly as he watched the council scatter before him.

"REDSTREAK!" Optimus shouted, "STOP IT, NOW!"

The demented warrior spun around in the air, looking down at Optimus and the others, all trapped behind a force field. Smiling, RedStreak muttered, "Ah. How convenient! All wrapped in one neat little package for easy dismantlement…."

Coyotek looked to Optimus and said, "That wasn’t such a good idea to get his attention!"

Another blast from RedStreak’s fusion cannon destroyed the force field and sent the captured transformers flying. Optimus Primal hit the floor hard, snapping part of his power bond. The energy beams faded, the containment devices falling away and freeing Optimus.

Coyotek and Gold Blade hit one of the walls with similar side effects. Megatron’s bonds were damaged as well, allowing him to force his way free. The Predacon got up and shouted, "Time to finish what we started, Maximal!"

RedStreak just laughed. Megatron fired a blast at him, but he easily avoided it. "Oh as challenging as that may be, I think I’ll have some real fun first! Hahahaha!" laughed RedStreak. In a heartbeat, he double-backed and flew out, cackling all the way.

Megatron ran and transformed, flying out in his stealth fighter mode. The Predacon was about to fire up his rockets and chase the deranged Maximal, but Optimus Primal flew out, stopping Megatron entirely. Transforming back to robot mode and hovering in place, Megatron shouted to him, "Out of my way! That Maximal’s mine!"

"No!" Optimus said, "We can’t destroy him! He’s still one of us!"

Megatron was outraged. "What kind of slag is that? The Quintessons have turned him into a maniac!"

"Perhaps," Optimus admitted to him, "But he’s my responsibility! Besides…dealing with maniacs is my department…." He smiled mockingly at Megatron, and then took to the skies after RedStreak.

Growling to himself, Megatron said, "Some day Primal…some day…."

Coyotek and Gold Blade started to recover when they heard yelling. Near-by, they saw the restoration chamber lying on the ground, fluid sloshing around inside. "Help! Get me out of this sardine can now!" yelled RazorLeaf. A crack appeared on the glass window. On top, weight was shifting around, putting more pressure on RazorLeaf and the chamber. He screamed, "GET ME OUT NOW! AHH! AHH!"

"Hang on!" Coyotek called to him. Springing up, he and Gold Blade rushed over, prying the restoration chamber open. The cybernetic fluid surged out, but the chamber door got stuck. The crack on the window got bigger, and the metal walls began to crunch inch by inch.

"Get me outta here now before I’m a crushed salad!" RazorLeaf suggested to them.

The two Maximals grunted and pulled, finally freeing the door. RazorLeaf quickly crawled out, just as the chamber collapsed with a big crunch. RazorLeaf sighed.

NightScream grabbed the soggy fern-bot by the shoulder and pulled him to his feet. "Come on!" he said to the group, "We’ve gotta find a way to help Optimus stop that fiend-bot…."

Elsewhere in New Cybertropolis, Remembrance Memorial stood peacefully. A row of statues, dedicated to various heroic Maximals of the past, began to shake. A single elegant statue, one of Depth Charge holding his missile launcher, quivered at its base. A strange wind began to pick up rather suddenly as well.

The statue exploded into a hundred pieces. RedStreak swooped by, laughing continuously. He plowed through at least a dozen more statues without haste. Rhinox’s marker was smashed apart, and those of Silverbolt and Black Arachnia RedStreak blew apart with his fusion cannons. Optimus Primal arrived minutes later, seeing the Memorial in ruins. The head of Rhinox seemed to stare up at him, asking, "Why?"

"What’s the matter?" joked RedStreak. Optimus turned around, seeing him hovering a couple of meters behind him with a deranged smile. Looking at the mess he left behind, RedStreak pretended to gasp. "Ah! Dear me! Such a tragedy…."

Optimus growled. "You’d better stop this now RedStreak! I don’t want to destroy you if necessary!"

RedStreak tilted his head and sighed. "Why is it that everyone keeps saying that to me?" In a flash, he raised up his fusion cannons. "As if saying that’s going to help you!"

The fox-bot fired a full round at Primal. The bat-bot had to fly in circles to avoid being blasted. Giant craters were left in the surrounding buildings and many more on the pavement below them. A technorganic tree burned to a crisp. When he got the chance, Primal fired back, launching energy spheres from his chest.

RedStreak easily dodged them simply by twisting his body to the left and right. He laughed again. "This is starting to bore me…" he yawned. As he turned his face away to cup his mouth, Optimus tried to take advantage of the situation by charging RedStreak. He flew to within a meter of RedStreak exceedingly fast. However, RedStreak stuck out an arm and fired a bolt of energy from his hand. It blasted Optimus Primal like a stick of dynamite, sending him flying backwards into a building.

Looking at his fingers, the Maximal said to himself, "My power seems just a little off today. Perhaps it’s time for a power lunch!"

RedStreak disengaged his hovering thrusters and allowed himself to fall straight down. A second before impact, he blasted a sewer lid off. He disappeared into the catacombs, chuckling to himself. Optimus got up a moment later, his arms and wings swore. Quickly he followed after RedStreak, hoping to halt any further destruction.

The two of them flew through the labyrinth of tunnels under the surface of Cybertron, zagging this way and that with RedStreak in the lead. He flew towards a formation of stalactites near the ceiling, heading dead-on. At the last moment, RedStreak turned sideways, easily slipping through a narrow space. Optimus gasped and swung low, barely missing the rock formations.

RedStreak blasted through a wall with his weapons, flying through the burning cinders. As the vapors cleared, Optimus finally found out where the fox-bot was heading: the Plasma Energy Chamber.

Hovering in front of the huge generator, RedStreak put his hands together and rubbed them merrily. Licking his chops, he said, "Mmmm! A deliciously sized power source! Much too great not to resist…."

Optimus flew into the chamber and started blasting. Most of the blasts RedStreak ignored as he drew near the Plasma Energy Chamber, hungrily staring at it. "No! Stop! Get away from there!" he yelled, but as usual, RedStreak didn’t listen to his words.

The fox-bot punched through a small plate, ripping it out. An array of crackling wires were revealed beneath it, filled with positronic energy. RedStreak took a bundle, licked his lips, and bit into it. A huge blast of light went off, an aura of green energy surrounding both RedStreak and the chamber itself. Large bolts of energy flew in all directions, attracted to anything metal.

"Noooo!" Optimus shouted. He flew towards the chamber, but a green power bolt hit him hard. It fired his flight circuits, sending him to the ground. His body reverted to beast mode as Optimus went out.

On the surface, NightScream, Cheetarus Prime, and most of the others were trying to find out what was happening. NightScream lead them all to a special part of the Council Citadel, reinforced doors sliding open to grant him access.

Activating a console, NightScream said, "We’ve gotta find out what RedStreak and Optimus are doing! If I can get these scanners online, we should be able to…."

Without warning, a huge bolt of green energy erupted from the console, knocking NightScream on his back. Every piece of equipment began to overload, sparks jumping from one machine to another. NightScream got up again, returning to his console.

"What in the name of Willie the great is going on here?" asked Coyotek, seeing instruments go wacky and computer screens fill with static.

"Hold on…I’m tracking this energy surge to its source." NightScream told him. Despite the damage caused by the strange energy, NightScream got a lock on the source of the overload. "By Primus!" he exclaimed, "It’s the Plasma Energy Chamber itself! Something’s overloading its systems by the gigawatt!"

Megatron appeared from behind them. "No doubt our good fox friend!" he stated.

Looking at the console alongside NightScream, Gold Blade got worried. "Oh no! It’s worse than an overload! If we don’t shut down the Plasma Energy Chamber, its power will destroy the entire planet! Possibly wipe out even the technorganic life!"

"Optimus is down there," said NightScream, "I’ve got his signature registered! He’s our best chance…."

In the Plasma Energy Chamber, Primal was awakened by a noise from inside his chest. Over his com-link, NightScream yelled, "Optimus! You’ve got to stop the plasma energy from leaking out of the chamber down there! It will destroy the planet if you don’t…."

After that, the signal began to break out. Optimus got to his tiny bat feet, then looked up at the Plasma Energy Chamber. RedStreak was still chewing at the wires, feasting on the limitless energy trapped within the chamber. "Got to…stop…the chamber…" he muttered to himself. The question in his mind, however, was how to do that?

A memory flashed before his eyes…one stemming back to the Techno-Organic War. A vision of the chamber powering up, a gorilla’s eyes glowing the same color of green. Then Optimus Primal remembered that it was him! He controlled the chamber!

Closing his eyes, he said, "Oracle within me…give me strength enough to stop this."

The chamber began to rumble, the green energy fluctuating, gradually growing dimmer. The power running through it stopped, circuits growing cold. RedStreak noticed the wires lose their energy, his meal losing its flavor. Drifting away from the chamber, he looked down and saw Optimus Primal looking at him with bright green eyes.

"Sorry to ruin your dinner, RedStreak," he pointed a clawed wing to the fox-bot, "But snack time is over!"

RedStreak snorted at Primal, saying, "Bah! There are still more things for me to do on this world!"

He darted off, heading for an open elevator shaft. Optimus saw this, and wanted to stop RedStreak once and for all. "You won’t get away that easy!" he yelled. The Plasma Energy Chamber hummed to life again, a single blast of its plasma energy blowing out of its core.

The energy hit RedStreak directly from behind. He yelled as plasma energy surged through him, disrupting his circuitry. He fell to the ground, gasping for air, but he still wasn’t down yet. "Very…very good. You’re trying…to play by my rules," muttered RedStreak, "But I’ll…still…win!"

RedStreak transformed, becoming a helicopter. With a kick-start from his engines, his blades started spinning. A few nano-clicks later, he headed straight up the shaft. Optimus watched, then clicked on his com-link. "NightScream, Cheetarus Prime, meet me at the following coordinates and bring everything you’ve got!"

Five cycles later, a large set of doors in an old of part of New Cybertropolis blew open. RedStreak, still in his helicopter mode, flew out, shortly followed by Optimus Primal. The two flew towards a large, open intersection between buildings. As RedStreak drew near it, Optimus clicked on his com-link. He shouted into it, "NOW!"

Eight large anti-aircraft cannons fired simultaneously. RedStreak was caught in crossfire without warning, desperately swerving this way and that until an explosion destroyed part of his tail. Without control, RedStreak spun about as he fell downwards, crashing into a building. He plowed through two whole rooms before coming to a stop, his helicopter blades still spinning and causing serious damage as he skidded.

Optimus hovered above the intersection while in robot mode, waiting for RedStreak to emerge from the wreckage. He waited for what seemed like hours until the building began to quiver. Optimus shouted to the ground, "Everyone away from there, now!"

NightScream, Coyotek, and all the others pulled back most of the cannons as everyone moved away from the shaking structure. A nano-click later, flashes appeared in the windows. Gold Blade looked at her arm, noting the occasional energon surge going up it. She realized something big was about to happen….

The top half of the building shattered into a million pieces, all of which were sucked into a swirling vortex that stretched toward the sun. An energon storm had erupted, with RedStreak at its heart. He roared loudly with his arms flung into the air, directing the swirling winds dancing about him. Bolts of lightning shot out from the vortex, destroying the anti-aircraft cannons completely.

RedStreak then shot upwards, the storm he created dissipating rapidly. He made a large smile and stared down at them all. For the longest time, he just hovered there, not doing anything.

NightScream became curious. "What the heck does he think he’s doing? I may be crazy for saying this, but why isn’t he attacking like before?"

A shadow passed above them. The Maximals and even Megatron shifted their gaze skyward in wonder. In the sky, five giant spaceships resembling corkscrews descended, spinning in slow motion. They gathered behind RedStreak and hovered alongside him for a minute.

"The age of the Quintessons is at hand!" cheered RedStreak.

With that, four of the vessels landed, drilling themselves into the ground as landing struts deployed. Hatches opened, out of which rolled out strange, glowing mechanisms with greenish cores. From each vehicle a full dozen emerged, rolling down the planks and stopping to form a straight line. Six spidery legs jutted out from each device, up righting it as four arms deployed, armed with energon-powered disruptors. A canopy then opened, revealing an ugly, green Quintesson manning the device.

A large voice came from the fifth ship, still hovering above them. "Stand down, transformers." A large hologram projected out, focusing into a deformed face beneath a shell-like helmet. "This is Warrior Trajis of the Quintesson attack force, general of the Empire. Cease your resistance to the Quintessons, or prepare to be terminated immediately."

"Say what?" RazorLeaf blurted.

Raising up a fist, NightScream hollered, "We’re not surrendering to a bunch of scheming, green-faced midgets now or ever!" He bent down and picked up a stone, chucking it at the Quintesson vessel. It passed through the hologram, and then bounced off the side of the vessel.

Trajis scowled at them, and shouted, "Warriors! Destroy them!"

All the Quintessons in their battle suits opened fire with disruptors on the Maximals. Shooting blue bolts of energy, they managed to hit Coyotek and Razorleaf. NightScream opened his mouth and emitted a sonic scream, knocking several of the attacking Quintessons away to give his fallen friends cover.

Optimus went to Coyotek’s side to aid him. Looking at the moaning Maximal’s damaged arm, he noticed a raw wire flickering, the circuits it was attached to undulating with flashing energon surges. Primal shouted to the others, "They’re using energon pulses! Avoid their fire!"

Before he could make another move, a disruptor bolt blasted Optimus Primal. It sent him to the ground, his joints locking up as energon surges went through him. As he fell alongside Coyotek, a pair of Quintessons approached to dispatch him quickly.

Targeting its cannons on Optimus’ forehead, the Quintessons were overconfident in themselves. Without warning, a yellow sai came flying through the air, slicing off their weapons and then their mechanisms’ legs on the return swing. Struggling to move, Primal just managed to tilt his head to one side, catching a glimpse of a tall, yellow Maximal catching the golden sai in his hand.

"Chee…Cheetor!" Optimus managed to say.

Cheetarus Prime leapt to Optimus Primal’s side, deflecting the Quintessons’ weapons to defend his true friend. "Hang on Optimus," he told him, "I’ll get us out of this!"

"No…." Primal muttered, "You’re…Prime. You’re…too important to remain on the battlefield here…."

Chuckling, Cheetarus said, "Hey, I was getting sick of the job anyway! I prefer a hand-to-hand fight as opposed to diplomacy!"

Cheetarus Prime continued to keep up a fierce defense, taking down five more Quintessons. For a while the numbers seemed to be evening out, but the Quintessons still had their trump chard to fall back on. Seeing his maters losing the battle, RedStreak decided to take action. In his hands, he created a ball of potent energy, letting it grow to an appropriate size before hurtling it at Cheetarus.

"Goodbye Prime!" RedStreak laughed.

As the energy ball came at Cheetarus Prime, the heroic Maximal looked up to see it falling towards him. In response, he held up both his sais, hoping to deflect the oncoming blast. Unfortunately for him, they didn’t. Both of his weapons shattered like yellow glass, fragments flying into the air. A sharp pain went into Cheetarus’ chest, forcefully knocking him down.

The next thing Cheetarus remembered was looking at his torso. There was a smoking hole that went straight through his body, exposing damaged circuits, wires, and ruptured organs. Like blood, mech-fluid oozed out, a greenish puddle starting to gather around him as he felt himself grow cold and weak.

"CHEEOR!" Primal shouted. Despite his own battle wounds, Optimus got up and went to Cheetarus’ side. He put his hands under his spine and lifted him up gently. With worried eyes, Optimus kept saying, "No…no. You can’t leave us! Cheetor!"

Deep inside Cheetarus Prime’s chest, his damaged spark pulsed slowly, the light fading from it slowly. He lifted his head up to look upon Optimus Primal one last time. "Heh…you still…call me by my old name? It’s Cheetarus now…and as Cheetarus…I will die."

"No!" Primal said, "You won’t die! I’ll give my own spark if I have to…."

Cheetarus coughed. "No Optimus. The…others need you! Without me now…." A final gasp escaped from Cheetarus’ mouth. The spark within him dissolved, gone in a final puff. With the last of his strength, the Prime said, "Cybertron…still needs…a leader…Primal…."

"NO! CHEETOR!" Primal shouted, but he knew his prodigal son was long gone now. As he started to cry, Optimus told himself, "He’s…one with the Matrix now."

The Quintessons gave Optimus little time to grieve. The high general, Trajis, spoke to the Maximals once more. "You know see what will happen to you all if you continued to oppose us." Trajis told them, "Resistance is futile. Surrender now…and the Quintesson Empire may spare you."

For a timeless moment, all the Maximals looked at one another, wondering what to do. Optimus, still holding up Cheetarus, just gazed upwards at the holographic projection of the Quintesson general, glaring at him.

Trajis’ eyes narrowed. "Very well. I offered you one final chance…now prepare to face the consequences…." The hologram turned to RedStreak, commanding him. "Destroy them all, weapon R." commanded Trajis.

The Maximal relished hearing those words. With his hands, he recreated the same energy sphere he killed Cheetarus with. This time, he let it grow bigger, more powerful, even more deadly in his hands. The ball became an electric blue, rippling with energon surges. It became massive, nearly thrive as large as RedStreak’s own body. In slow motion, weapon R swung the ball backwards, building up momentum before unleashing it upon the transformers below.

At that same moment, a tiny, shimmering light appeared at the edge of the transwarp conduit. A beam of light stretched out like a comet of silver and diamond, streaking towards Cybertron. In less than a second, it traversed ten million kilometers to reach the limb of the Cybertronian atmosphere.

In the last seconds before RedStreak’s energy sphere dropped down upon the Maximals, a beam of light struck down directly before them, pulsating brilliantly. The beams shrank, condensing into a tiny white spark of light. As the destructive, pulsating blast neared, the spark radiated out its light like a miniature star, forging an umbrella-shaped shield that diverted the energy away from Optimus, NightScream, Coyotek, RazorLeaf, and Gold Blade.

Trajis was astounded. In desperation, he shouted to his legion of Quintesson warriors, "All forces, open fire!" Obediently, they did as he commanded, concentrating all their firepower into one place. The translucent shield generated by the spark didn’t fail, but instead grew stronger. In nano-clicks, a blast of pure white light blew out, knocking all the Quintessons and their mechanical devices down.

Out of all the Quintesson forces, only RedStreak himself remained conscious and functional. Staring at the strange spark radiating the white light, he snarled. "What in the galaxy is that thing? How could it stand before my power?" He lowered himself before the spark, desiring to confront whatever it was.

The spark continued to shimmer, not in the least intimidated by RedStreak. RedStreak landed on the ground, his hovering thrusters shutting down. He eyed the strange ball of light attentively, not sure what to make of it. "What are you?" he poised a question, unsure what to think of it himself.

The spark unexpectedly spoke, "I am you; I am RedStreak."

The spark pulsed with light. Each particle of light morphed, solidifying into a ghostly image. Around the spark, a luminescent body had been created. It had the same eyes, same face, and the same voice as RedStreak. The only difference was that this phantom reflection was of the old RedStreak, the original that existed before the Quintessons warped his mind and body to their whims.

RedStreak pulled out his sword and held it defensively. "No!" he shouted, "You are not me!"

His spark said otherwise. "You lie to yourself. I am as much a part of you an arm or leg, your brain and heart. Search your feelings…you know deep down that I am right."

Lifting up his weapon, RedStreak hollered, "I feel nothing!" He swung it down at the spark being, the sword passing through and chopping into the ground his very feet stood upon. The spark being just stood there and stared at him.

"You can’t destroy me that easily…." he said to him.

RedStreak started to growl, his breath heaving, as he grew angrier. "No…I…will…destroy you!" he declared, "One way or another!" He power up his fusion cannons and blasted. The fusion blast went straight through the spark being, just as the sword did. Several blocks away, a building exploded violently, but the spark being still stood before him.

The Maximal was enraged. "NO! I’LL EXTINGUISH YOU WITH MY OWN BARE HANDS IF I HAVE TO!" He latched onto the spark being. His hands gripped the creature physically, finding him to be just as real as his own body. With ease, RedStreak flung his enemy into a building with as much force as possible. The spark being hit the wall, electrical bolts flying out of the spark.

The spark being panted, RedStreak’s strength actually having an affect on him. "You don’t need to do this! I am a part of you, whether you like it or not!"

Loading his fusion cannon, RedStreak replied, "Like I should care!" He fired another blast that went through the spark being, forming a crater in the wall behind it.

The spark being got up and turned around to look at the damage done by RedStreak’s fusion cannon. "Haven’t you learned your weapons have no effect on me?" He sighed, shaking his head. "But if it’s a fight that you want," he banged his knuckles together, saying, "Then I’m going to give it to you!" The spark being swung an upper cut to RedStreak’s jaw, causing him to stumble backwards. "Even if it means giving myself a black eye in the process!"

Eagerly, RedStreak fought back. He charged at the spark being, raising up his claws to slice him apart. Being smaller and therefore more dexterous, the spark being ducked and rolled between his legs. The spark being then jumped into the air, spinning about to deliver a kick directly to the middle of RedStreak’s back. RedStreak was plowed straight into the metal pavement, the sound of glass shattering.

When RedStreak got back up, his nose was bruised badly, and the cockpit imbedded within his chest cracked. As a few fragments of glass broke off, RedStreak growled angrily, "I’VE HAD IT WITH THIS!"

A grin forming on the spark being’s face, he said, "So have I, my friend. Let’s finish this quick!"

RedStreak leapt upon the spark being, pinning it to the ground with all seven hundred pounds of his metallic body. His claws were cupped over the hands of the spark being, forcing its arms down. Bringing his sharp teeth near the being’s face, RedStreak muttered, "Now my counterpart, it is over. I shall finish this with one quick…."

The spark being looked down at RedStreak’s torso plate, seeing the jagged hole in his cockpit’s windshield. His face beamed. Looking back at RedStreak, who was ready to crush him, he smiled. "Yes RedStreak, it’s over! Time for us to become one once more!" In an instant, the spark being became a glittering mist of silver, condensing back to the original spark of light.

"WHAT?!" RedStreak exclaimed. Before the evil Maximal could make a move, the spark flew through the hole in his chest, beams of light radiating out in a grand explosion of light. Inside of RedStreak, the spark of light became a blazing white sun, illuminating half of the city of New Cybertropolis with its brilliance. All of the Maximals, and even Megatron, were stunned by it. The diamond light shimmered for several long minutes.

For several minutes, RedStreak cried out in pain, trying to pry his chest open to remove the blazing light. "NO! NO! THE SPARK! C-CAN’T CONTROL IT! THE LIGHT…IT BURNS! AHH!" The twisted mind inhabiting RedStreak, a purely evil creation of the Quintessons, couldn’t exist in conjunction with the spark of a pure, noble transformer. All the mental programming was wiped away, leaving hardly a trace of its existence.

In the end, the spark faded, growing gray and weak. RedStreak collapsed, resting on his knees and hands. He remained that way a while longer, motionless and speechless. His eyes opened, their color changing from orange to blue-green.

RedStreak got up, turning his head about to see the damage and chaos surrounding him. Both the Quintessons and transformers came alive again, watching RedStreak just gaze at them. Looking at the ravaged buildings and blast craters, some still sizzling with heat, he softly mumbled, "What have I done?"

It was then he saw Optimus Primal, still holding the body of Cheetarus Prime in his arms. RedStreak saw the leaking mech-fluid, the hole in the torso plate, and the lifeless look on Cheetarus’ face. He looked down at his hands, and then at the fusion cannons attached to his arms. "No…I did this." He said to himself, "I…I murdered him! No!"

Trajis’ hologram spoke to RedStreak. "Weapon R, destroy the transformers! I order you…."

RedStreak’s body began to shake with anger, his eyes slowly changing from blue-green to orange again. His lips curled, his teeth grinding against one another. RedStreak turned around and pointed to Trajis. "YOU! YOU MADE ME DO THIS HORRIBLE THING! YOU PUT BLOOD ON MY HANDS!" he hollered to Trajis.

"Do as we command," Trajis said, "We are your masters; do as we say!"

That was when the slag hit the fan. RedStreak growled like a wild canine, the hair on his neck rising up. Deep inside his chest, the spark of light turned a deep red, growing brighter and brighter. In RedStreak’s hands, energon began to build up until it crackled down the entire length of his arms.

Yelling to the Quintessons, "YOU MADE ME DO IT! YOU FORCED MY HANDS AGAINST MY FRIENDS! NEVER AGAIN!" RedStreak threw up us arms into the air, unleashing a storm of rage that had built up within his heart.

A beam of red light shot out from RedStreak’s heart, flying high and dispersing in all directions. Winds built up, spreading out over the whole of Cybertron. Buildings and trees began to tremor in its presence, just barely holding to the ground.

Over RedStreak, a vortex of immense power formed with lightning blasting out of it. With a slight move of his arms, he directed it towards the Quintessons. All their ships, their soldiers, and their weapons were sucked into the vortex, circling round and around as they flew higher and higher. The whole lot was blasted off of Cybertron and back into space, all screaming in horror.

RazorLeaf got to his feet, watching the Quintessons vanish. All he said was, "Whoa…."

RedStreak let out a long sigh. Coyotek walked up to him and patted him on the back. "Nice job." A nano-click later, RedStreak’s eyes turned up and he completely blacked out, collapsing on the ground. "Red!" Coyotek shouted, trying to get his slightly larger buddy back up.

Optimus Primal came by RedStreak’s side as well. Putting a hand near his jugular, he found an extremely weak pulse, one that was rapidly growing even weaker. "He’s fading fast; we’ve got to get him to a regeneration chamber quickly…."

Some time later, RedStreak awoke in a bath of glowing chemicals. He gasped, unable to remember what last happened. He was inside a large tube partially made out of metal. Feeling claustrophobic, RedStreak pounded on the sides saying, "Help! Someone get me out of this…."

Suddenly the chemicals were drained away, and the tube opened. Outside, RedStreak saw Optimus Primal, RazorLeaf, Gold Blade, Coyotek, NightScream, Ursacon, and even Megatron waiting for him. Megatron worked the controls next to a large vat of the same chemicals he was immersed in.

RedStreak look a step out, his heavy feet pounding on the iron flooring. Upon leaving the tube, he felt groggy, his senses feeling a little off as well. It felt like he had a major headache. Fortunately it subsided in the following minutes, but RedStreak asked, "What happened?"

Megatron stepped away from the controls to his regeneration chamber and spoke to RedStreak. "You were offline for nearly thirty megacycles. Your powers drained you completely of energy; were it not for my technorganic regeneration chamber, you’d have ‘joined the Matrix’ some time ago."

The bewildered Maximal shook his head, trying to lose his feeling of disorientation. He saw his hands, finding them to be metallic with long razor claws now. His whole body was altered; almost entirely nothing like it had been before. "I can’t believe what they did to me…." RedStreak muttered to himself.

His memory started coming back, and it was a terrible thing. A flash of Cheetarus’ tortured face returned to haunt him. He shook his head a second time, then looked at Optimus Primal. "Where’s Cheetarus Prime?"

All the Maximals closed their eyes and looked down. Optimus approached RedStreak and told him in a sullen tone, "Cheetarus…is dead. There was…nothing we could do for him…."

RedStreak closed his eyes. He opened them, and looked at his hands. "You saved the guilty, Optimus, and yet you couldn’t save the innocent…."

"Those actions weren’t your fault. The Quintessons reprogrammed you…disengaged your spark…." Optimus tried to explain away.

RedStreak lashed out, pushing Optimus Primal away. "Don’t try to tell me it wasn’t my fault! It is! It was because of me that Prime’s spark became extinguished, all because of my hands!"

RedStreak turned and headed down a hallway. He stopped, his eyes turning down toward his torso. Inside his cockpit, his spark pulsated, glowing like it always had. Except…this time, his spark was a dull orange in color, not its usual pure white brilliance.

He took a deep breath, and then let it out. "And now…because of the evils I’ve done, the spark of light will never shine again." RedStreak left his friends for a time, desiring nothing but solitude for the day.

RazorLeaf turned to Optimus, asking, "What’s with him?"

Optimus said, "RedStreak isn’t the same Maximal he was before. His experience with the Quintessons has changed that. Now that his mind and spirit are his again, he must find a way to grieve not only for Cheetarus…but himself."

Hovering over the dark side of the Moon, the Quintesson fleet waited like a pack of wolves in the night. Aboard the main ship, Scavix and Lor-Gavvon monitored the events going on over Cybertron. They became worried when all contact was lost with Trajis’ attack force several megacycles ago.

Facing Scavix, Lor-Gavvon said, "It appears Trajis and his accompanying warriors are lost."

"And all contact with weapon R has been broken as well," added Scavix, "Our attack force, in short, has failed…."

"Then it means we must resort to our secondary attack plans." Lor-Gavvon stated.

Scavix went to the communications console and pushed down a crystal button. "Scavix to all ships. The attempt to engage Cybertron has failed. Prepare to engage secondary targets."

The entire fleet began to move, flying over the day-side of the lunar surface. They broke from lunar orbit as well, heading straight for the satellite’s blue parent planet.

"If we can not take Cybertron," Scavix said, "Then we shall take the Earth instead…en masse."

All the Quintesson ships drew near the planet Earth, nearing the fringes of its white-cloud atmosphere.