Era of Legends: Part 3

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

Starscream and Thundercracker confronted Optimus Prime in his very quarters, the great Autobot leader still tied into various pieces of equipment keeping him alive. Prime’s only help, Ratchet, was on the floor alongside his bench, taken offline courtesy of Starscream’s positron scrambler. Now Starscream had it pointed at Optimus Prime along with Thudercracker’s weapons array.

"Now Prime," Starscream slowly said, "Tell me where the cybernetic alien is now! It would truly be a shame for an Autobot as great as you to die such an undignified death."

Grunting as he breathed with labor, Optimus Prime’s only reply was, "Never…."

"Your choice then Prime," Thundercracker said, his arm cannons poised to blast the Autobot’s head off.

Before he could pull the trigger, Thundercracker’s arm was pushed away. "That won’t be necessary, you idiot!" Starscream sternly said, "If Prime won’t cooperate, then we’ll simply use this to find it!" Starscream held up the positron scrambler, the metallic cube shimmering beneath the dim lights.

"Are you mad, Starscream?" Thundercracker asked, "We’ve got Prime himself right here and you don’t want to blast him? Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft!"

Turning round to point the scrambler at his counterpart, Starscream warned, "Chose your words carefully, Thundercracker, or else you might find your circuits sizzling from a positron overload! Obey me or else!"

Reluctantly, Thundercracker backed down, knowing it was better to obey Starscream. The pair left Optimus Prime’s quarters without a struggle. Before departing however, Starscream turned around and gave Prime a wicked smile. "Just so you don’t think I really do have a soft spot for you Autobots…" Using his null ray, Starscream blasted one of the devices linked to Optimus Prime. As he walked away, Prime started to spasm in pain.

Soundwave, Ramjet, and Rumble followed behind Thundercracker and Starscream as the positron scrambler beeped repeatedly. Nearing a large and scuffed set of doors, the scrambler let out a long, continuous tone. Putting the scrambler away, Starscream said, "The alien is right behind these doors in the Autobots’ repair bay."

Soundwave and Thundercracker pried open the doors manually, revealing a modest chamber that looked thoroughly trashed. As he and the other Decepticons marched in, Starscream muttered, "The Autobots must have had a terrible accident in here; normally their facilities are far neater than this. We’d better stay on the alert in case the alien is…."

"Starscream!" Rumble shouted.

"WHAT?!" the Decepticon commander shouted, firing a blast into a wall. The repair bay echoed loudly. Starscream stood there and slowly turned his head downwards to Rumble. "Well…Rumble?" he bitterly growled.

"I found the alien!" Rumble said.

The Decepticons saw what Rumble noticed: the cybernetic alien lying on a partially damaged table. Ramjet poked at it a couple of times, but the creature didn’t respond at all. It laid there completely defenseless before the transformers.

"It’s…deactivated." Thundercracker said.

Noticing how tense the others were, Starscream broke the ice and exclaimed, "So it’s a dead carcass! No reason to burn out your reasoning circuits! Now pick it up and carry it back to the spacebridge. With any luck, Shockwave will find a way to use it on Cybertron."

Inside of Optimus Prime’s chamber, the damaged Autobot, still groaning from the pain of his own ravaged body, started to move. First he struggled to lift his torso up, but immediately fell back down. He glanced up, eyeing the emergency communications console just a few yards away. Slowly he flipped himself over, crawling on his stomach to reach one single button that would signal the others.

"Must…alert…Autobots!" Prime grunted, stretching his arm out. With a large grunt, his palm slammed into the wall, triggering Teletran-1’s emergency communicator.

At the geothermal plant, Ironhide’s left arm started beeping in the middle of the battle. While Blaster covered him, he checked on it, discovering it to be the emergency beacon. "Teletran-1’s emergency beacon! The base is under attack!"

Bumblebee looked to Ironhide, dodging Decepticon blasts. "Then that means…this battle was a diversion!"

"You got it, Bumblebee! Autobots! Transform and return to base! Prime needs us!" Ironhide called out. Immediately he transformed, rolling out with Bumblebee directly behind him. The others did the same, following Ironhide and driving straight for the Ark.

Skywarp fired his blaster at a passing Autobot, but missed. He then realized that the Autobots were not simply retreating, but leaving! Quickly he contacted Starscream, reporting, "The Autobots have discovered the energon raid was a diversion! They’re heading straight for you, Starscream!"

Starscream replied over his communicator, "Keep them occupied for a few more cycles! Thundercracker and the rest of us will meet you at the spacebridge with the alien entity! Starscream out!"

Elsewhere, RedStreak and Sideswipe encountered even bigger problems than the other Autobots. The giant Stunticon Menasor hovered before them with his giant arms held out and an ugly grimace on his face. "Menasor crush! Destroy!" he roared.

"What do we do?" RedStreak yelled to Sideswipe.

Dodging Menasor’s hand, Sideswipe replied, "The only thing we can do: run!"

The two Autobots used their flight to stay clear of Menasor and his terrible grasp. Although fast, Sideswipe and RedStreak were no match for Menasor. Like all Decepticons, he too was able to fly, and was as big a threat in the air as all five Stunticons on the ground. RedStreak darted about him like a dragonfly to confuse him, making the giant even madder.

"Sideswipe! Get out of here! I’ll try and lose Menasor myself!" RedStreak hollered.

"But you’re damaged! You won’t be able to outpace him!" Sideswipe said.

"I’ll manage! Just go!" RedStreak hollered. In moments, the red Autobot took off, leaving RedStreak as Menasor’s sole target. "Ok, big guy," he said to Menasor, "Let’s see you catch a jet!" The Autobot transformed, becoming an F-22 fighter. Firing his thrusters at maximum power, RedStreak blasted off, leaving Menasor in his wake.

Sadly the flight was all-too short-lived. His left wing stung badly, a piece of it actually chipping off from the wind sheer. "Agh! My wing!" shouted RedStreak. He lost control, finding himself falling steeply over the Mississippi river. Pulling all his strength and will together, he transformed, becoming a robot once again. The water below came closer and closer, the waves and boats growing larger until….

SPLASH!

Menasor watched from above as ripples went out all over the Mississippi, flooding its very banks from the immense splash. He hovered there for a few minutes, hoping to find some trace of his prey. Much to his disappointment, nothing surfaced except for a few oil bubbles. Grunting, the Stunticon giant flew off, hoping to find something else to smash.

Deep down, RedStreak was stuck in the mud at the bottom of the river, his metal feet sinking into the muck. He would of screamed in frustration, but all that came out of his mouth were bubbles. Slowly, he marched his way up the riverbanks, coming to a stop near one of the fishing piers. Once out of the water, he gagged and coughed. Tapping the side of his head, water flowed out of his ear orifice, and along with it a few catfish that flopped onto the pier below.

"I don’t wanna go through that again, but now I’m on my own for real this time." RedStreak said to himself. Looking out over the riverbanks, he saw a large arch over the water. "Saint Louis, without a doubt." RedStreak declared, "But in the history books…I thought it was wider. Hmm, must have been rebuilt when the river rose up…."

Suddenly from above came the screeching of supersonic jets. RedStreak looked up and saw close to a dozen Decepticons flying above him. Quickly he transformed, becoming a mundane, although rather wet, car. They flew by without noticing, much to RedStreak’s fortune. "Phew…that was close!"

Above, Starscream lead a group of Decepticon jets towards the base of the St. Louis arch. He said to his followers, "Rumble, Frenzy, and Skywarp should have completed the spacebridge near that human-made structure by now. With any luck…."

Suddenly, Starscream’s positron scrambler started beeping again. Dirge, following just behind Starscream, blurted, "Hey! Why is your cockpit beeping Starscream?"

"It’s the positron scrambler! I must of left it on tracking," Starscream began to say, "But then…with the alien entity in our grasp…what else would be left…to track?" Immediately, Starscream transformed along with the other flying Decepticons. Directing them, he ordered, "Ramjet, Thrust, Thundercracker, ensure the alien entity arrives at the space bridge. Blitzwing, Astrotrain, Dirge, you follow me while I track…something."

The group parted, with one half flying towards the arch and the other towards the fishing piers. Unknown to RedStreak, Starscream and his bunch were heading towards him, following the beep of the positron scrambler. The four Decepticons landed on the sturdy piers, Starscream holding the scrambler out front and waving it around. RedStreak froze, realizing if he moved, they would fire on him.

Still closer and closer did they came, until Starscream was holding the scrambler right against RedStreak’s spoiler. "The positron signature matches that of the alien, and it appears to be coming from this car!" exclaimed Starscream. He reached for the windows, saying, "Let’s get a close look inside this thing…."

RedStreak realized he had no choice at that instant. He shifted gears, squealing his tires loudly. "Sorry! No touching the chrome!" he yelled to Starscream, driving off before the Decepticon touched his shiny exterior.

"It’s…it’s…" Starscream stuttered.

Pulling out his energy rifle, Blitzwing yelled, "An Autobot!" He fired on the Ferrari, his blasts blowing holes into the piers.

The Ferrari narrowly evaded the fire directed upon him, but didn’t retreat just yet. RedStreak swerved around, facing the angry horde of Decepticons dead-on. "Geez, Blitzwing, what was your first guess?" RedStreak mocked the triple-changer. His motor blared as he drove straight for the group like a madman.

Grabbing his own blaster, Astrotrain shouted, "Quick! Blast him!"

The Ferrari swerved yet again, circling around the Decepticons. Both Astrotrain and Blitzwing fired at him, but instead left more holes in the pier below them. The wood and metal began to groan, weakening from the damage. Starscream looked down to his feet and saw a large crack radiating out beneath him.

"Stop you fools!" he shouted, "You’re destroying the…."

With a mighty crunch, the large pier fell apart beneath the Decepticons. All four fell into the water along with huge chunks of debris. RedStreak steered away from the growing hole as best he could, but he too was caught. His rear tires slipped, causing him to slide over the edge.

"Oh slag!" he yelled, feeling the grip on his front tires slipping as well. Quickly, he transformed. As his front tires withdrew, the Autobot fell. His right hand gripped an iron beam, the crude metal crunching in his grip. Grunting, RedStreak pulled himself up, exhausted from the ordeal. "Thank Primus…."

The water below exploded, throwing up a massive fountain. Something burst out, flames spewing out of the water. When the smoke and steam dispersed, RedStreak looked up, seeing Starscream hovering before him.

"Starscream!" RedStreak gasped.

The Decepticon raised up his right arm and fired his blasters. RedStreak jumped into the air, his feet clearing the pier before Starscream’s blast set it aflame. RedStreak hovered high above the water, looking at the damage that was wrought. Starscream floated a short ways away, staring at the air-borne Autobot. For the longest time, both seemed almost frozen in place, a pair of reflections in the sky.

"You really didn’t think I’d be stupid enough to fall for an Autobot ploy like that, did you?" Starscream said.

Shrugging his shoulders and grinning a little, RedStreak replied, "Well…yes."

Starscream looked over RedStreak, his eyes scanning him twice over. "What are you?" Starscream asked, "Some kind of cheap mirror?"

"I may look like you," RedStreak yelled, balling up his fists, "But I’m nothing like you either!"

"Enough talk!" Starscream hollered. Starscream transformed and charged at RedStreak, his sleazy voice screaming loudly. Before RedStreak could react, the Decepticon fighter rammed him hard. RedStreak flew backwards at almost a hundred miles an hour, his voice echoing across the entire city.

As quickly as it started, RedStreak’s fall ended. With a mighty smack, he slammed into something hard. Grunting, RedStreak pried himself free. It was then that he was staring straight down, seeing the sprawling streets and buildings crowding the river shores. On all fours he backed up, only to end up slipping on the opposite ledge. He was trapped on top of the great arch spanning over the river, and within weapons range of Starscream!

RedStreak watched as the Decepticon circled about like a vulture, with each pass growing closer and closer to him. The Autobot backed up slowly, creeping inch by inch until he was sitting at the very top of the arch. Starscream swooped down, hollering, "Your time has come, Autobot!"

RedStreak pointed his right arm at Starscream, saying, "Not today, you stinkn’ Decepti…." His weapons clicked, but nothing happened. "What the?" RedStreak tried and tried again, but for some reason his weapons didn’t fire. All the while, Starscream was still charging at him with lasers blazing.

"DIE!" screamed the Decepticon. A million laser blasts filled the air as a rain of violet bolts fell upon the arch. All around RedStreak the arch was ripped apart, burn holes tearing it apart, tainting it’s white-silver color a dark gray. RedStreak could only stagger to-and-fro to avoid being shot.

"Oh man!" he moaned, "My weapons don’t work! Maybe I should of let Perceptor test my systems before…" Suddenly, a whole row of laser fire passed before RedStreak, just narrowly missing him. The metal below him heaved up, a huge chunk lifting up. The Autobot stared at it for a moment, then glanced at the approaching Decepticon. Something clicked inside his head, and a grin formed on his face.

Starscream steadily approached the stray Autobot, moving in for the kill. "Now, Autobot," he confidently spoke, "Time to say hello to oblivion!" Just moments before his strike, Starscream watched as the Autobot bent down, grabbing a torn sheet of steel from the arch. With a mighty grunt, the Autobot pried it off, hoisting it into the air like a huge club. "What the heck?" Starscream mumbled, still flying straight at the waiting Autobot.

What happened next was a swirl of movement. RedStreak swung the sheet of metal in his hands around in a full circle. With all his strength, he slammed it into Starscream. Metal went flying all over the place as Starscream yelled loudly. With a cracked nosecone and a smoking engine, he plummeted downwards. In a final spin, the Decepticon crashed into a warehouse.

RedStreak stood atop the arch, watching Starscream crash in the worst way. He put his hands on his hips, stuck out his chest plate, and laughed with the greatest pleasure. "Decepticons…will they ever learn?" he chuckled.

As RedStreak looked down, a huge explosion went up beneath his feet. A huge chunk of the arch was blown apart, throwing the unwary Autobot into the air. "WHOOOOOOOOA!" In a manner of seconds, he found himself falling down towards the ground, the wind rushing at his steel-plated face until….

Another warehouse exploded along the Mississippi River. Surprisingly, only a few people paid notice since the area was unoccupied by humans. However, within minutes a swarm of Decepticons descended into the burning wreckage.

With a groan, Starscream awoke. He stood upright in robot mode, shaking his head a little. "Oh…what hit me?" he mumbled to himself. Glancing from the corner of his eye, the Decepticon lieutenant spotted the Autobot that winged him laying a short ways away, unconscious and completely helpless. A smile appeared on Starscream’s face. He raised up his arms and proudly shouted, "Yes! I did it! I, Starscream, won! I destroyed him!"

From behind a large wall of flames, a row of Decepticons came forward; their metallic faces reflecting the red and orange hues of the fire. One of them, a silvery giant, stood out, the cannon on his right arm smoking.

Starscream gasped, his mouth hanging open. "M-M-Megatron!"

"Right, Starscream!" Megatron rushed at his traitorous follower, grabbing Starscream by the neck and lifting him into the air with one arm. Squeezing his grip tightly, Megatron said to him, his eyes glaring a bitter red, "You should have made sure I was deactivated permanently before daring to take command!"

Choking, Starscream pleaded pathetically. "B-But…Megatron!"

Just when it seemed Starscream was about to be terminated, the mighty Megatron added, "However…" Lowering Starscream to the ground and releasing him, Megatron pointed to the fallen Autobot. "The success of retrieving both this new Autobot and the cybernetic entity has…convinced me to overlook your treachery…this time." Turning and staring directly at Starscream, Megatron continued, "We may have use for this Autobot…in many ways."

"How…may I ask, Megatron?" Starscream nervously spoke up.

Megatron chuckled deviously. "Once the Autobots learn that we’ve kidnapped him, they’ll swarm to our spacebridge to save him, and then we’ll crush them with a single blow!"

RedStreak momentarily opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, and his body extremely weak. He saw two Decepticons approach him in what seemed like slow motion. Their silhouettes against the burning fire were etched into his mind as he found himself drifting back into a coma.

Miles away, all the Autobots were massing outside of the Ark. Ironhide and his forces just arrived in time to watch Sideswipe fly in from above. "Sideswipe!" Ironhide said, surprised to see the red Autobot, "Perceptor said you were tracking RedStreak down! Where is he?"

Breathing heavily, Sideswipe landed a few feet away from Ironhide, his rocket pack sizzling as smoke wafted from it. "RedStreak…and I…" he managed to heave, "Chased…by Stunticons. Red…Streak…distracted…Menasor…so I could…get away."

Grabbing Sideswipe by the shoulders, Ironhide blared, "Well do you remember where he was heading?"

Sideswipe replied, still feeling weak, "He…was moving…east…toward Missouri…I think."

Out of nowhere, a loud groan came from the Ark’s entrance. Ironhide and the other Autobots looked, finding Optimus Prime himself stumbling out.

"PRIME!" Ironhide shouted, rushing to his leader. He caught him just as Prime collapsed.

"Decepticons…invaded. Ratchet and I…damaged. They took…RedStreak’s…old body." Optimus managed to say.

"Don’t you worry Prime!" Jazz approached him, "We’ll nab those lousy ‘Cons and get that body back for ya!"

"No!" Prime declared, "I’m coming with!"

Still holding up his leader, Ironhide said, "But you’re too damaged! You could be…."

Pushing Ironhide away and standing up on his own, Prime sternly yelled, "I’m fine! We’re doing this together, regardless of my condition! Autobots, roll out!" Channeling his great strength and will, Prime slowly transformed, becoming a red semi. He groaned a little as his engine started, but once in second gear the Autobot rolled. Obediently, the other Autobots followed, transforming and driving east behind Prime.

A little over two hours passed. Optimus Prime and the Autobots were nearing St. Louis while Megatron and his Decepticons were preparing a welcoming party. While Soundwave and the Decepticon camera, Reflector, scouted for Autobots at the city’s edge, Megatron and the others waited by the spacebridge.

The ring-shaped structure began to hum loudly, foreshadowing an arrival from Cybertron. In the sky, clouds parted as a giant laser beam streaked down and connected with the spacebridge. Little more than a minute later, the spacebridge opened, revealing a stocky and extremely strange Decepticon covered in purple armor. Its small, Cyclops-like eye flickered yellow as it approached Megatron.

"Welcome, Shockwave!" Megatron warmly greeted his guest, "What have you come to report?"

Raising up an arm, Shockwave reported with his electronic voice, "The preparations on Cybertron have just been completed! Using Starscream’s positron scrambler as a template, I’ve built an energy cannon thirty times as powerful."

"With that much power," Starscream said, rudely marching in, "We should be able to destroy every Autobot within an eight-mile radius!"

"We will be able to!" Megatron corrected his lieutenant, "And all that’s left is to install the alien entity into the cannon…with a small modification."

Shockwave stepped back and paused for a moment. "Forgive my naivety, lord Megatron, but…what sort of…modification?"

"These modifications!" Megatron laughed. He stood aside and gave way to Long Haul, rolling up in his dump truck mode. Stowed atop him were two bodies, one Autobot and the small, alien entity. "I wish for you to connect these two to the cannon. Both of them have advanced circuitry and positronics that could enhance the weapon’s power."

Shockwave approached Long Haul and examined his load. "Hmm…" Shockwave hummed, "It’s possible. Given the proper the connections, they are compatible…but we’ll have to bring them to Cybertron directly."

"WHAT?!" Megatron roared, "THE AUTOBOTS WILL BE HERE WITHIN MINUTES!"

"But Megatron," Shockwave tried to say, "The equipment I need is on only Cybertron, as is the cannon!"

Megatron groaned in disgust, but then said, "Very well, Shockwave." Megatron looked to Starscream. "Starscream, you and the others will distract the Autobots until we arrive with the cannon! Understood?"

"Yes Megatron! I’ll make it a glorious battle!" Starscream said with bravado.

"Then let’s do this, quickly!" With a wave of his arm, Long Haul and Shockwave followed Megatron into the spacebridge. The three Decepticons and their prisoners stepped inside, the bridge closing around them and powering up. Energy built up until, in a massive burst, they were launched into space through a beam of light, flying straight at Cybertron.

Just as Megatron left, the Autobots came charging in, storming the Decepticons. The Aerialbots struck first, flying over the spacebridge and bombing the surrounding area. Decepticon after Decepticon was knocked away, crashing into buildings or falling into the river. A horde of cars, trucks, and vans came charging in, ramming their enemies dead-on.

Soundwave and Reflector flew in, both scratched up. "Autobots…invading!" Soundwave shouted to Starscream.

"We know that already you two-bit moron!" Starscream replied, firing his blasters to keep away attacking Autobots, "Make yourselves useful and…."

Before Starscream could say another word, a large red van charged at him, flying straight into the air. Starscream looked up and yelled, the van falling straight on top of him, crushing him with several tons of weight. The van transformed, becoming Ironhide. He grabbed Starscream by the arms, pinning him down. "Go Prime, go!" he shouted out to his commander.

Amid the chaos of running cars and giant robots fighting one another, a large semi came charging through at full speed. Soundwave paused for a moment, turning around when he heard the sound of a horn blaring. The Decepticon was immediately plowed over, the massive truck riding. It continued on, ramming several Decepticons as it headed straight for the spacebridge.

Once inside, Optimus Prime swerved around in a circle, stopping with heavy brakes. His trailer unhooked automatically, allowing him to transform. He then yelled, "Wheeljack! Jazz! Activate the spacebridge!"

A pair of cars came running in. Near the spacebridge’s entrance, both transformed, becoming silvery Wheeljack and blue-striped Jazz. Before stepping in, Jazz raised his gun and fired at the controls. Sparks started flying out, the console beeping wildly as the spacebridge began powering up.

"Spacebridge activated!" Jazz shouted, "Let’s go!"

Jazz leaped inside, the entrance closing right behind him. While the other transformers outside continued to fight, the spacebridge began to glow. Within seconds, a giant laser blasted into outer space, taking with it Optimus Prime, Wheeljack, and Jazz. In the blink of an eye, their bodies were flung countless miles across the galaxy, traveling faster than anything within it. An odd planet soon appeared before their eyes, a world of iron and silver and metal…a world called Cybertron.

On Cybertron, Megatron, Shockwave, and Long Haul had already landed. They were inside of the Decepticon headquarters on Cybertron, Shockwave’s personal fortress. Not long after arriving, one of the computers started beeping loudly. Shockwave approached it, accessing its systems.

"The Autobots!" he exclaimed, "Megatron, Optimus Prime and several of his forces have accessed the spacebridge! They’re approaching as we speak!"

"Then we’d better get moving!" Looking at the Constructicon, Megatron ordered, "Long Haul! Get to Shockwave’s laboratory, now! We’ll be joining you in a moment." Complying, the green truck drove down a ramp leading deep under the fortress. Megatron turned to one console, focusing on another task. Clicking on a few switches, he said to Shockwave, "The internal security systems should hold Prime for a while. When they find us…we’ll be ready. Now let’s go!"

The two Decepticons left via another doorway. Once inside, the door automatically closed, blending into the walls around it just as the spacebridge port began to open. Three Autobots jumped out of the spacebridge, their weapons fully charged and ready. They scanned the room watchfully, but found nothing.

Jazz lowered his blaster and looked to Optimus Prime. "Gee Prime, doesn’t look like anyone’s home."

Prime thought otherwise. "Don’t let your guard down Jazz. This is a Decepticon facility, and knowing Shockwave and his abilities, this could be a very dangerous…."

Without warning, mounted blasters popped out of the ceiling and floor, rotating about and aiming their nozzles. More sprouted from what appeared to be ordinary computers, also ready to fire. The Autobots formed a circle, clicking their blasters. "Let’s get it on," Prime said, aiming his weapon.

Deep down below, the echoes of energy weapon fire filled the air. Megatron heard it, and knew that the Autobots had finally arrived. "Prime’s here…just as we anticipated. And as fortune would have it…our weapon is nearly ready."

Shockwave stood before a large and intricate device, its metal components lit up by flashing blue sparks of electricity. Mounted atop a turret, one half was clearly a huge blaster. The other half, attached to the rear of the blaster, was a web of glittering diamonds contained within a circular ring of silicon. Within the web, in turn, were bound RedStreak, the Autobot, and RedStreak, the Maximal. The Autobot grunted, tugging hard on the web fibers, but to no avail.

Looking up at the menacing Shockwave, RedStreak yelled angrily, "Get me out of this, NOW!"

"Silence, Autobot slag!" The Decepticon stuck a long, pointed prod in RedStreak’s side, sending a few hundred volts through him. His yellow eye glowing brightly, Shockwave declared, "Your time shall soon be at an end, Autobot, as will be the rest of your kind!"

RedStreak groaned, his body simply too weak and drained of energy to fight. The best he could do was glare at Shockwave with a mean grimace. The Decepticon moved on to a computer console, flipping a few switches and buttons on. Generators began to glow as power slowly surged into the cannon. The Autobot’s body began to sizzle, moans and cries of pain starting to exit his mouth as Shockwave activated the cannon.

Turning to his leader, Shockwave reported, "The cannon is ready, Megatron! I have diverted enough power from the fortress generators to fry Prime and the Autobots’ circuits."

"No! I don’t merely want to deactivate him, I WANT TO WATCH HIS BODY ATMOIZE! PUT EVERY MILLIVOLT OF ENERGY INTO THE CANNON!"

"But-but Megatron," Shockwave gasped, "That could overload the generators…destroy the entire base!"

Amid Shockwave and Megatron’s yells, RedStreak managed to speak up even as his body rippled with positrons. "Ugh…you’d…better do as he says! For once…the big purple guy here’s…gotta point, even if…he is a…Decepticon!"

Megatron’s eye began to flinch, his fists clenching. He marched up to the cannon, his face growing more and more rigid. "I don’t listen to fools’ advice! I will do whatever it takes, at any cost, to destroy Optimus Prime!" Pointing his cannon right into RedStreak’s face, Megatron added, "Even if it means destroying you in the process!"

Suddenly, an explosion went up. Shockwave and Megatron both turned at once, seeing three Autobots charge in through a burning door. Jazz and Wheeljack pulled out their weapons, aiming at the two Decepticons. Optimus Prime, with his own blaster in hand, stood up front, his armor gritty but still regal.

"Nobody’s destroying anybody today; except maybe you!" Prime shouted loudly.

Quickly Megatron lifted up his arm cannon and targeted the Autobots. "You won’t stop me this time Prime! Today’s your doomsday!" He fired a great blast, but the Autobots scattered, leaving nothing but a smoking crater behind. Before jumping off, Megatron turned to Shockwave and said, "Ready the cannon Shockwave! Do as I say!"

Megatron jumped off the cannon platform and ran straight at Prime. He struck Prime with his fist right in the faceplate, knocking the great Autobot back. Again and again Megatron hit Prime, delivering multiple blows to the Autobot’s chest, stomach, and face. Prime was sluggish, still significantly damaged, which was severely impeding his reactions.

Shockwave flipped one final switch, causing the cannon to rise up. Before it lifted up too high, Shockwave jumped into a control chair mounted to the side, immediately grasping the controls. "You won’t survive this time, Autobots!" he yelled, aiming the cannon at Jazz and Wheeljack.

A massive ball of energy built up at the cannon’s tip, slowly growing bigger and bigger. Jazz made good use of the charge-up time, aiming for Shockwave’s head. Before he could shoot however, Wheeljack purposely got in the way. "No wait! You might hit RedStreak!" he warned.

The cannon fired, sending a wave of crackling energy towards them. The two Autobots barely had time to escape, the ground they had been standing on melting completely.

Jazz looked to Wheeljack and said, "But how are we supposed to hit Shockwave with our Autobot stuck in his machine?"

Staring at the web RedStreak was caught in, Wheeljack said, "Maybe we want to hit RedStreak!"

"WHAT?!" Jazz exclaimed. RedStreak glanced downward, seeing Wheeljack point his gun towards him. The entangled Autobot’s eyes widened, watching Wheeljack’s finger pull the trigger back. A blast shot out, flying straight through the air. RedStreak flinched, anticipating the worst.

All around him, the web began to short-circuit. Opening his left eye and glancing up, RedStreak saw a single fiber cut, freeing his left arm. The cannon’s energy was disrupted, unable to discharge freely.

"No!" Shockwave yelled, frantically pushing buttons, "I must reroute the auxiliary capacitors before…."

At once, both Jazz and Wheeljack jumped at Shockwave. They plowed into his shoulder, knocking the hefty Decepticon off the cannon’s controls. The three transformers fell to the floor, landing with a loud metallic clank. Growling angrily, Shockwave shoved both Autobots off of him. In an instant he was on his feet with his blaster pointing at his enemies.

"Infidels! I’ll vaporize you both!" Shockwave yelled. He unleashed a blast, creating an explosion before the two Autobots, knocking them both away.

Still caught in the web, RedStreak could only look on as the Autobots and Decepticons continued to fight. He looked to his right arm, realizing it was free now. Using it, he grabbed several cables and tried to sever them, but none broke. He sighed, realizing it was impossible. "Dang! The only things that can break these are lasers!" RedStreak said. A thought crossed his mind as he remembered how Wheeljack’s blaster cut the lines. "Possibly…energy can zap these things…but the only source of energy I have is…."

He glanced down at his chest, realizing he was about to do something quite risky. With his free hand, he pried it open, exposing his pulsating spark amid various circuits. "…my spark." He thought for a moment, then glanced at his old body, hanging in the web like an ornament. Sighing, he said to himself, "I know the old me would never back out, not at a time like this! I’ve…got to!" RedStreak grabbed a loose cable jolting with energy and shoved it into his chest.

Instantly, the whole cannon started sparking on and off. Shockwave, Megatron, Prime, Jazz, and Wheeljack all froze and turned to see a veritable fireworks display going off. At the center of it, RedStreak was glowing bright yellow, lightning radiating from his body. His spark glowed orange, then red, then a deep maroon, energy building up in it until the whole cannon exploded.

"REDSTREAK!" howled Optimus Prime.

Taking advantage of the situation, Megatron aimed his cannon square at Optimus Prime’s chest. As his weapon clicked, the Decepticon said, "You have bigger concerns to worry about now, Prime!" The resulting blast stuck Prime point-blank, the front of his chest almost blowing completely apart as the Autobot flew backwards.

Lying on the floor, RedStreak watched in horror. "No…" he weakly mumbled. As he watched, blue energy started swirling about the room, sweeping up every particle of dust inside. A vortex formed, growing larger and larger until it expanded beyond the confines of Decepticon headquarters. In the following minutes, a huge cyclone enveloped half of Cybertron, stretching out into space.

"What’s happening?" Jazz exclaimed.

RedStreak grunted, lifting himself up. "A…time…storm." RedStreak whispered weakly. Watching the storm expand and grow stronger, he saw Optimus Prime leaning against a wall, his chest laid bare with crackling wires. "If Optimus Prime…dies now, everything will be destroyed." While the other transformers stood there, unable to comprehend what was happening, RedStreak reminisced.

"It’s my fault. If I hadn’t come…none of this would of happened. If I hadn’t interfered with history…" RedStreak stopped, realizing that words wouldn’t save the world. "I’ve…got to…do something!"

Just then, RedStreak saw something rocking in place. A glimmer of gold and silver shined in his eyes as he gazed upon it. It was the matrix! RedStreak realized when Optimus Prime’s chest was blown apart, it must have been knocked out as well! It’s glow beckoned to him, called him.

Even as his spark quivered and jolted in his ravaged body, RedStreak pushed himself forward. His arms screamed in pain as he dragged himself toward the matrix of leadership. Reaching out to it, RedStreak muttered, "You’re…our only hope. I channeled your power once before. By Primus’ sake, perhaps I can do it again…."

Getting to his knees, RedStreak, with the matrix in his hands, held it before his spark. Both his spark and the matrix began to glow, their powers mingling together. Then, when he tried to bring it closer, the matrix refused, forced against him. "Please! You’re our only hope!" RedStreak pleaded.

A ghostly voice echoed in his mind, "You can not wield the matrix like a weapon, young one! It…must accept you first!"

Suddenly, RedStreak was transported into the Matrix of all transformers. He found himself floating there, the matrix of leadership still in his hands. Before him, Alpha-Trion stood. "Alpha-Trion!" RedStreak pleaded with him, "Help me! How can I use the matrix to undo the damage I’ve done?"

Alpha-Trion shook his head. Behind his transparent body, a glowing sphere appeared. Alpha-Trion merged with it, becoming Vector Sigma. The great mega computer loomed before RedStreak, its golden light blinding him. "You have the spark of light, but you lack the knowledge to use the matrix of leadership properly. That is why it won’t open for you…"

"But I did it once before! I found the matrix and used it to destroy Omegracon in the future!" RedStreak shouted.

"The power…was not of the matrix…but of the purity of your human heart…transformed. The matrix of leadership…is a different power…one as great as the spark of light…but different." Vector Sigma explained, "One can not channel both in the same manner. You lack the knowledge…"

RedStreak lowered his eyes, unable to believe this.

Vector Sigma, however, spoke again. "However…we shall help you." Vector Sigma approached RedStreak, merging with him. The matrix of leadership began to glow brilliant. "Now…you have the wisdom…and the knowledge. Now…only your courage can save us all…."

In a flash, RedStreak returned to the real world, finding himself holding the matrix of leadership as the time storm raged around him. "Now…" RedStreak muttered, "Time to restore what should be!" The matrix, at long last, merged with his spark, the two becoming one. A giant bolt of blue-green light shot out of RedStreak, flying into the sky like a laser beam. The winds of the time storm circled about it, making tighter and tighter circles around it. Then, with a final surge of energy, the time storm died out, history mending itself.

Megatron, covering his eyes to avoid the eerie light, said, "What…is that?"

The great beam of light shrank, condensing into a ball of energy surround RedStreak. With the matrix of leadership inside him, its power reached out to the Autobot. His burned chest and cracked wing began to heal themselves, restoring RedStreak to the way he was. Then, RedStreak began to change. His wings became broader, his shoulders broader. A helmet with a crest similar to Optimus Prime’s took shape as RedStreak became nearly twice as tall.

Emanating from all around, Alpha-Trion’s voice called out, "Arise…Streakus Prime."

Shockwave and Megatron stood there, just as equally baffled as Jazz and Wheeljack. The new Autobot that had been RedStreak stood upright, the matrix still shining even from within his closed chest. His gaze shifted towards the large cannon Shockwave created, and simply held out his hands. Without any effort, a pair of energy blasts erupted from his palms, turning the cannon from a weapon to mere dust.

"NO! MY WEAPON!" Megatron screamed. Preparing to raise his weapon, he yelled to the Autobot, "YOU’LL PAY FOR THAT!"

"Not today…Megatron!" Streakus Prime boldly said. Before Megatron could fire on him, a large pair of cannons deployed from Streakus Prime’s back. Both unleashed a blast the Decepticon had never felt in his life, sending Megatron flying through the wall. "That," the Autobot shouted out, "Is for both the Autobots and the Maximals still to come!"

Shockwave stood directly behind Streakus Prime, his blaster targeted for his back. Jazz, catching the act a second before, shouted out, "RedStreak! Behind you!" Shockwave fired, hitting Streakus Prime. Much to the Decepticon’s dismay, the blast reflected off his wings, hitting a wall instead.

Shockwave, unable to believe it, fumbled, "You-you-you should be vaporized! That was my highest setting!"

Smiling, Streakus Prime said, "That’s a shock for you, Shockwave…as is this!" He lifted up his foot and then slammed it into the ground. The entire chamber shook from the blow. A crack grew out from where his foot stomped all the way to where Shockwave stood. The crack widened until it swallowed Shockwave whole, sending the Decepticon down to the lower levels of Cybertron.

Streakus Prime sighed, feeling slightly weary. He turned around, seeing Optimus Prime still lying against the floor. "Optimus…" Quickly he walked over to the fallen Autobot, kneeling by his side. Streakus Prime stared closely at him, his eyes full of worry and concern.

Slowly, Jazz and Wheeljack approached Streakus Prime, not sure what to make of him. "Red…Streak…is that…you?" Wheeljack asked.

Not diverting his eyes from Prime, Streakus Prime replied, "In a manner of speaking; but please, I must attend to Prime." Opening his torso, exposing the matrix a second time, he softly said to Prime, "Now…I must undo…the damage that’s been done…and restore you to the way you ought to be."

A beam of light shined upon Optimus Prime’s damaged body. In less than a minute, the warped and crackled metal unfolded itself, covering over Prime’s naked spark. The fragmented glass grew back, the cracks vanishing completely. Optimus Prime gave a weak moan, his eyes glowing blue once more. Directly before him was Streakus Prime, happy to see him online once again.

"Red…Streak?" Optimus Prime said, "What happened to you?" Looking over the new Autobot, he also saw the matrix of leadership glowing within him. Reaching out to the matrix, Prime asked, "How did you…."

"A long story, Optimus Prime," Streakus Prime told him, "One that you deserve to know, but only you." Channeling the matrix one more time, RedStreak further said, "This…is the only way to explain it." His chest opened up, a beam of computer codes stream out. It linked with Prime’s spark, directly transferring all the knowledge Streakus Prime had to him. The Maximals, the Techno-organic War, RedStreak’s birth, how he arrived here…all were revealed to Optimus Prime.

Looking at the young Autobot, Optimus Prime said, "I understand now."

"Then you understand, Prime," Streakus Prime spoke, "That I can not remain here…in this time. It is not my place. But…at the same time…I do not know how to mend the problem."

Putting his hand on Streakus Prime’s shoulder, Optimus said to him, "There is one way I know of." Turning to Wheeljack, he asked, "Wheeljack…can you relocate the Cronosphre?"

Half an hour later, all four Autobots were on an old part of Cybertron, within an old and cracked dome once used as a warehouse. At the center of it was a strange platform rigged to other, smaller machines. Wheeljack, pushing buttons and pulling key switches, reactivated the device.

A great circle of blue-violet light was projected onto the platform, temporal energy radiating from it. Within the sphere, they saw a very vague image, a glimpse of the future Cybertron. Strange trees and plants grew of the land, and water flowed through tall skyscrapers covered in vines and flowers. Streakus Prime recognized the place simply as "Home…."

Just as he walked onto the first step, Jazz halted Streakus Prime for one moment. In the Autobot’s arms was the original body of RedStreak, good as new but inert without a living spark. "I found this…and thought you’d like to keep it, although you have a new one." Jazz said.

"Thanks, Jazz." Streakus Prime replied, taking his old body into his arms. Looking to Optimus Prime, he said to him, "Keep up the battle here, Optimus Prime. My future…your descendents…are counting on it."

Optimus Prime nodded, and watched Streakus Prime ascend the platform.

Jazz crept up to Prime. Careful to cup his hand over his mouth, he whispered to Prime, "But Optimus, the matrix…he has it! How can we expect to win without it?"

"The matrix," Optimus Prime stated, "Is a part of him now, and the only thing keeping him alive as well. To remove it from him would be wrong."

Streakus Prime was on the final step, standing right before the time portal. He looked into it, eyeing the world he belonged to. Giving a sigh, he asked himself, "I wonder how everyone will think of me now?" He took a step towards the portal and….

ZAP! The matrix sent out a brief pulse of energy, forcing Streakus Prime back. Prime, Wheeljack, and Jazz wondered what happened, but in his mind Streakus Prime knew. Alpha-Trion said, "You can not go. The matrix belongs here, in this time, not your own. To remove it from history would be as damaging as Prime’s own death. It must…be returned."

He paused for a moment, contemplating all the variables. If he left, many terrible things could happen in the past without the matrix of leadership. Then again, if he returned the matrix, he could no longer inhabit this powerful new body, one that he had already grown attached to.

Setting his old body down for a moment, Streakus Prime faced the Autobots. Opening his chest, he sighed. "I can’t go just yet. This," he said, pointing to the matrix in his chest, "Belongs to you, Optimus Prime, not me."

"But it’s the only thing keeping you alive now!" Wheeljack told him.

"I know Wheeljack, I know." Streakus Prime replied. He reached in, pulling the matrix out of his Autobot body. Already feeling weak, Streakus Prime tossed the matrix to Optimus Prime with the last of his strength. He collapsed, rolling down the stairs until he stopped at the very bottom. When the other Autobots looked, he was RedStreak again.

A tiny spark flew out of the dying Autobot, leaving it forever. It floated up the steps, hovering over the nonliving Maximal. Then, almost impulsively, it left, streaking toward the Cronosphere controls. It physically moved one switch, powering up the time machine. Without hesitating, the spark flew back to the Maximal and entered it. The temporal portal grew larger, swallowing RedStreak just as he began to awaken. Minutes later, the portal sealed itself, and the Cronosphere powered off.

Prime stood there, the matrix in his hands. After a moment, he opened his chest and placed it back inside where it belonged. Then he looked to the base of the Cronosphere at the dead Autobot, its eyes empty, as was its chest.

Looking to Prime, Jazz asked, "Well…what should we do with…RedStreak’s shell? Recycle it?"

Prime shook his head. "No. We will bury it in a tomb, where it belongs." He directly eyed Wheeljack and Jazz, not sure what to say exactly. "None of us…can tell what happened here today, least it upset history and our universe in ways we can’t comprehend. Consider that an order from me."

The two Autobots nodded, but Jazz had another question. "What will mark his tomb as? RedStreak? Streakus?"

"Neither." Taking a deep breath, Prime said, "It will be known…as the unknown Autobot."

In another place, another time, RedStreak awakened. He found himself on a bed, surrounded by all his Maximal friends. "Gah!" he gasped, startled at first, but then overjoyed. "Optimus! Coyotek! Rattrap!" He reached out, grabbing the rodent and actually kissing him.

"HEY! Lay off on that!" Rattrap yelled, forcing RedStreak away.

"Sorry!" RedStreak apologized, "I’m…just so happy to see you all again! Considering all I went through…."

Optimus Primal raised an eyebrow. "All you went through? Like what?" he asked out of curiosity.

"Well I, I uh," RedStreak struggled to say, "I…saw…the Autobots!"

"What?" Coyotek asked.

Sitting up, RedStreak said again, "The Autobots! I swear! I…I traveled back in time…got rescued by Cosmos…fought the Decepticons and-and saved Spike! Then I was rebuilt as an Autobot and saved Cybertron…."

"Whoa there!" Primal laughed, "Sounds like quite a story!"

"Ha! More like a crazy dream! I keep telln’ ya to lay off those oil and perachino cherry drinks! Believe me!" Rattrap chuckled.

RedStreak refused to believe it was merely a dream. "No! It was real! I was really there!"

Rattrap laughed again, shaking his head. "Oh really? Then where’s some proof…"

Halfway through his sentence, Rattrap stopped, looking at RedStreak. The others froze, staring at the same spot as Rattrap. RedStreak cocked his head, confused, then looked toward his right shoulder. There, where a Maximal symbol ought to be, was the Autobot symbol, engraved in polished ruby.

The End…?.

Forward to the Next Fic

Back to The Era of Legends

Back to Fan Fics