A trio of golden cruisers swooped down over the planet’s surface, cruising just above the speed of sound. From the east, they approached the massive conglomeration of twisted structures known as New Hive City that clung to the horizon. Boldly the Cybertronian cruisers approached the Quintesson city at full speed, unwavered by the dangers ahead.

Two buildings shouldering one of the huge gateways began to transform, unfolding panels to reveal hidden gun turrets. Automatically they targeted the fast-approaching ships, aiming to kill. The twin towers let loose a torrent of plasma bolts in a fit of rage. The three cruisers easily dodged the blasts, slipping by with incredible maneuverability. Simultaneously, they fired missiles that headed straight for the city gate. Upon impact, the missiles threw up a huge fireball, obliterating both the towers and the gate itself.

As the cruisers pulled up, the gateway to New Hive City blew up, and a loud cheer went up from all around. The Maximal Elder Argos stood up and raised a flag with the Maximal symbol into the air. "Maximals, unite!" he shouted, "Onward for Cybertron!"

Roughly nine hundred Maximal soldiers charged over a small, rocky ridge and into the still-burning gates. They flooded the gates and poured into the city, engaging every Quintesson guard and soldier they encountered. Weapons were fired and whole buildings tumbled as New Hive City was besieged.

Just minutes into the battle, the DarkStar flew over the wrecked gate, landing and decloaking over a smooth courtyard. The underside hatch opened, steam hissing out. Rushing out all at once, Optimus Primal, Megatron, Ursacon, Coyotek, RazorLeaf, Gold Blade, and RedStreak joined the scene.

Coyotek, with gun in hand, hit a foolish Quintesson guard easily, stunning the alien. He blew the smoke at the tip of his weapon away, holstering it behind his back. "Not even a challenge." he muttered with a slight smirk.

RazorLeaf snuffed Coyotek. "Show-off." he grumbled. Suddenly, a large explosion rocked the ground around the Maximals. RazorLeaf wobbled about, barely able to keep his balance. Looking up, he saw one of the tall and sharp-edged skyscrapers fall to the ground, smashing like cheap glass just a few blocks away. The plant Maximal held up his green arms, blocking the sharp bits of debris from his eyes. "Whoa man! Looks like the Quints are really getting a pounding!"

Another explosion, still closer to them, smashed another Quintesson structure to smithereens. Optimus, holding up a bat-wing to shield himself, stated, "We’ve got to! This is our only chance to stop them and end this war!"

"And," Megatron added, raising up his gold arm cannon, "To wipe them out for their own good!" A potent blast of energy swept out from his cannon, hitting the base of a Quintesson spire. The spire shook and swayed from the explosion, then fell to the pavement.

Optimus turned a bitter eye to Megatron in objection. "We’re here not to commit genocide, Megatron! We’re here to end this war!"

"Ha!" the Predacon laughed, "Like Predacons, Quintessons live only for power! The only way to truly stop them is to destroy them all!"

Just as Optimus was about to speak up, a second voice suddenly chimed in. "I’m with Megatron on this one, Optimus." RedStreak said, "Wipe them out completely to make sure they never return! They’re pure evil…."

"RedStreak!" Optimus yelled, "This personal vendetta against the Quintessons has gone on for long enough! They…."

"They are EVIL Optimus!" RedStreak shouted to his commander, "They invaded Earth, ruined thousands of lives, and violated my spark and body! These creatures…."

Noticing the falling Quintesson guard, RedStreak walked up to it and pointed one of his fusion cannons at the creature. Moaning, it looked up to see RedStreak glaring at him. "No! Please! I beg of you!" it squealed with its high-pitched voice.

Finishing his sentence, RedStreak muttered, "Deserve to die."

"NO!" Coyotek rushed to RedStreak’s side and grabbed his arm. RedStreak shouted in anger, struggling to free himself. Immediately Ursacon joined with Coyotek, and after that RazorLeaf. They pulled back RedStreak’s arms, preventing him from terminating the Quintesson.

"Enough of this!" Optimus roared. He walked up to RedStreak, grabbing the enraged Maximal by the shoulder. "RedStreak, you stop this here and now! If you try and pull another stunt like that again, I’ll personally dismantle you until we get back to Cybertron! Is that clear?"

Begrudgingly, RedStreak submitted. His fusion cannons folding back into his arms, he muttered, "Fine."

Turning to the Quintesson, Optimus held out a hand. Nervously, the Quintesson wrapped two of his tentacles around it. Optimus helped the scared being up peaceably. "That’s one you owe me, Quintesson. Leave us…and be thankful you’re alive for another day.", he told him. Without hesitating, the tentacled creature left, running off as fast as it could.

RedStreak just went, "Humph!" and raised up his nose.

For the moment, Optimus ignored RedStreak’s behavior and turned to the other Maximals. "All right. We need to penetrate the central command center while the other Maximals occupy the main forces in the city. Once inside, we’ll deactivate the city defenses and capture the ruling Quintessons."

"But their command center is guarded like a fortress Optimus!" Gold Blade said, "No way in!"

"We’ll find a way." Optimus muttered. Quite suddenly, energon flashes started to overwhelm his circuits. The other Maximals were affected as well, all experiencing energon surges. Grunting a command, Optimus ordered, "But…in the meantime…transform!"

All the gathered transformers changed, reverting to beast mode. Optimus moaned, weakly moving his stiff wings. Gold Blade and RazorLeaf as moaned a bit, their technorganic leaves still sizzling with energon.

"Ugh," mumbled RazorLeaf, "I never thought…energon surges…stung so much!"

"Trust me," said Optimus, "After the first few surges, you get used to it."

Coyotek spoke up, his tail wagging as he brought up a major concern. "But…but this means our time in battle mode is limited! How are we supposed to fight?"

Replying quickly, Optimus said, "Improvise with what you’ve got. It worked in the Beast Wars, and will work just as well now! Now let’s split up!" He lept into the air, flapping his wings. "We’ll go four by land, three by air! RedStreak, Coyotek, you’re both with me. Megatron, you lead the others by ground."

"Very well, Primal," Megatron agreed. In the span of a few nano-clicks, the Predacon transformed yet again, from wolf to ground vehicle. His wheels spun and his engine roared. In another nano-click, Megatron was off.

Immediately Ursacon ran after Megatron, huffing and puffing all the way. RazorLeaf and Gold Blade, stuck in their plant forms, looked to their stingy roots, and then to Optimus.

Optimus Primal blinked twice, then said, "Well…what are you two waiting for?"

The two plant-Maximals groaned, and reluctantly started after Megatron. RazorLeaf shot out a vine, latching onto one of the larger buildings. With his sister in his other arm, he started swinging in the direction Megatron was heading.

"Ok…time to fly now!" said Optimus.

Coyotek whined a little with his canine voice. "Rrrr! How on Cybertron am I supposed to fly? My beast mode’s not equipped to…."

Optimus Primal swooped down and latched onto Coyotek’s shoulders. With one mighty heave, the bat-bot hoisted the coyote into the air. "Whooooooooa!" Coyotek howled, his paws leaving the ground as Optimus rose higher and higher above the streets.

RedStreak transformed from fox to helicopter, his propeller blades whirling as he followed after Optimus. The air-borne trio flew through the air among the tall and once beautiful buildings, now scarred and ravaged by missiles and blasters that still lit up the great city’s skies. After covering what seemed like hundreds of miles, a single stocky and rather large building came into view, rising out of the ground like a mountain.

"There it is! The Quintesson command center!" shouted Optimus.

"Can we…(gulp)…please set down somewhere? I can…(gulp)…feel the rabbits I had for lunch coming up!" Coyotek pleaded.

Looking down at the nauseous Maximal dangling from his feet, Optimus assured Coyotek, "Just hang on for a while longer. We need to find a way in first before…."

"Optimus!" interrupted RedStreak, "Bogies at 3’o clock!"

Sure enough, a group of Quintesson fighters flew towards them, armed with disruptor cannons and energon-tipped missiles. The strange aircraft, resembling blue hamster balls with wings, immediately fired every weapon they had at them. Green disruptor bolts narrowly missed Optimus and RedStreak as they hovered, and poor Coyotek dangled below Optimus helplessly.

"WELL SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!" the canine shrieked.

"I intend to!" was RedStreak’s reply. Using the fusion cannons attached to his sides, the helicopter-bot fired powerful blasts at the Quintesson attackers. Like a swarm of bees, the Quintessons fanned out and darted about to avoid the blasts. RedStreak growled angrily as his fusion cannons began to overheat. Finally, one unlucky Quintesson got hit, the wing of his craft blown completely off as he spun into a building.

"Nice job Red, but there’s too many!" said Optimus, "We have to fall back!"

RedStreak ignored Optimus, instead continuing his futile barrage against the oncoming fighters. He fired again and again, but only left burn holes and craters on the sides of buildings. While he and Optimus were preoccupied, one fighter swooped behind them and launched a pair of energon missiles at them. With a shrieking, whistling sound, the missiles rocketed toward the flying Maximals.

Optimus glanced behind his shoulder, his sensitive ears just barely distinguishing the noise amid the fight. "RedStreak! Look out!" he shouted, but it did little good. Less than two nano-clicks later, the missiles detonated right between Optimus Primal and RedStreak, throwing up an enormous energon blast.

Not very far away, Megatron stopped upon hearing the echo of a massive explosion. Transforming to robot mode, Megatron was quickly joined by Ursacon, Gold Blade, and RazorLeaf, who were following behind.

"What is it?" asked Gold Blade.

"An explosion…from Optimus Primal’s direction I believe." Megatron answered. Using his optics, Megatron focused in upon the source. He saw in the distance debris clouds and what were clearly the marks of blaster fire on the buildings.

Suddenly, Megatron saw five fighters zoom above him. "Aerial attack!" Megatron shouted. Switching off his telescopic vision, Megatron powered up his arm cannon and prepared for battle. "Everyone: transform!" he ordered.

All too quickly, the Quintesson fighters started firing on Megatron’s group just as they had done to Optimus’ before. Ursacon, Gold Blade, and RazorLeaf all transformed, assuming robot mode and unleashing all their weaponry. Ursacon used his large rifle to hit some of the fighters, but to no avail.

"Slag!" Ursacon cursed, "Blaster shielded!"

Raising up a green ninja star, RazorLeaf said, "Then we’ll have to use something less conventional Ursacon!" He threw the star into the sky, hitting one of the Quintesson fighters dead-on. Two seconds later, the star exploded, vaporizing the Quintesson vessel completely.

"Right on brother!" applauded Gold Blade. The quill of leaf-arrows on Gold Blade’s back deployed, fully loaded. With a mere twitch, she launched her arrows at the Quintessons in full force. A few of her arrows missed, striking the skyscraper, but several impaled a Quintesson fighter, pinning it against the skyscraper like a beetle in a bug collection.

The remaining three fighters made a second pass, and then landed directly in front of Megatron and the three Maximals. Their wings folded in back, and the spherical cockpits unfolded, becoming large battle suits augmenting the Quintessons inside them.

Immediately they attacked, charging at the transformers. One of the Quintessons fired a disruptor bolt, grazing Ursacon’s shoulder. The Maximal roared both in anger and pain. His eyes turned a bright red as he transformed to beast mode.

"Uh-oh! You shouldn’t have done that!" warned RazorLeaf.

Within a heartbeat, Ursacon was in a rage, running straight at the Quintessons. Like a giant, brown bowling ball, the bear-bot slammed into the Quintessons, knocking them all down like pins.

"STRIKE! YES!" cheered Gold Blade.

A large alarm suddenly blared in their ears. At the base of the command center, a large section of the wall lifted up. Behind it stood over thirty Quintesson soldiers, all adorned in the same battle suits as the previous ones. Upon seeing the transformers, all of them turned in unison towards them. Their robotic arms lifted up, disruptor cannons clicking in readiness.

RazorLeaf groaned, "Oh slag. Why do we always get the tough assignments?"

Scavix, Lor-Gavvon, and Maral all watched the battle on their view screen. Although intrigued by the fight, all three were preoccupied with other matters, particularly their own lives.

"The last battalion has been deployed to guard our base. They should provide sufficient resistance to the Maximal forces outside." Maral reported.

Scavix briefly commented, "Long enough for us to complete the reconstruction of our command ship at least. Once operational, we’ll be able to storm their home planet to avenge our race!"

Lor-Gavvon, busy at other various monitors, noted Scavix’s high expectations. "Don’t expect victory to come so easily, especially after so many defeats Overlord Scavix…."

Scavix turned to Lor-Gavvon, detecting an insult beneath the Scientist’s subtle words. He approached Lor-Gavvon, his eyes briefly flashing red-orange. Scavix rotated his body, switching to a green and gentle false-face. Smiling, he spoke to Lor-Gavvon. "My…dear brother," Scavix forced the words out, "Why do you doubt our eminent victory? We have planned this moment for so long…."

Lor-Gavvon’s tentacles quivered and shook. Finally, Lor-Gavvon whipped them out, smashing a crystalline console. "It is your fault, Scavix, for getting us into this futile war! At the very beginning I warned you what it would cost us, and now we are standing in a ruined control tower, our world swarming with enemy forces!"

On impulse, Scavix changed over to his usual red, demon-like face and hissed at Lor-Gavvon. "We are at war Gavvon! While my faction has insisted that we need to strike, your pitiful conclave of scientists has wasted their time! Even the Council of Quinton realized this, and sided with me! And now in this forbidding hour you doubt my judgment?"

"Your judgment was always clouded by your quest for power, Scavix!" shouted Lor-Gavvon.

Just as the two elders were about to fight, Maral stepped in to stop. "Please!" she shouted, "Our world is dying, and our time short! Launching the refitted command ship is our only option if our race is to survive!"

Reluctantly, both Scavix and Lor-Gavvon backed down, knowing Maral was right. "You’re right, my daughter," acknowledged Lor-Gavvon, "Time is too short to waste on petty squabbles. Prepare the command ship and alert the remaining guards…."

Maral and Lor-Gavvon left the small chamber, heading for the hidden launch complex. Strangely, Scavix remained behind. Glancing about, he made sure no other Quintesson was around before moving towards a console. Punching in a few codes, Scavix depowered the monitors and sensors within the chamber. Then he waited….

A black shadow moved from the ceiling, stretching itself to the floor. A pair of black wings appeared along with a set of red eyes. "What is thy bidding, my master?" Scaleblade asked.

"This is the moment, my minion. My last strike against both the transformers and…my only rival." Scavix said to her. Narrowing his eyes, he further elaborated, "Did you reenergize yourself, and relocate the store of Korlonium crystals?"

"Yes, Overlord Scavix," she replied, "I relocated the crystals to the lower catacombs of the base, precisely as ordered. What else did you wish of me?"

Scavix smiled. "You’ve done well. As to…what else I had in store for you," Scavix said, hovering about Scaleblade, "You shall defend the command ship throughout our flight to Earth, and engage any alien force that attempts to divert our path."

"Per…Lor-Gavvon’s orders?" asked Scaleblade.

"No," said Scavix, "Per my orders…which happen to coincide with Lor-Gavvon’s for the moment. I shall implement the…final strike myself." Looking directly at Scaleblade, he said, "To the command ship, and await my arrival."

Scaleblade bowed before Scavix, then left the same way Maral and Lor-Gavvon did.

Scavix turned to one last console. On the last operating view screen, he observed the battle between the transformers and his own forces. Wrapping his tentacles around one crucial control crystal, Scavix muttered, "Now…to implement the next step of my plan…."

Outside, Megatron and the others desperately fought against the Quintessons with little success. Despite disposing of ten, roughly forty more were still coming for them, forcing them to take cover behind a large stone chipped off from one of the buildings.

Megatron’s robotic body rippled with energon surges. He groaned, unable to fend off the pain any longer. His body changed into his organic wolf form, restricting him to four paws and a pair of pointy ears. Snarling bitterly, Megatron said, "There’s too many! And my body…unable to withstand the blasted energon fields on this planet!"

One after another, RazorLeaf, Gold Blade, and Ursacon all had to revert to their beast modes. Looking at his leafy, fibrous body, RazorLeaf muttered, "Ugh! These forms are useless in a fire fight like this!"

"Hey!" Gold Blade spoke up, "Don’t say fire around me! I’m a tree for crying out loud!"

Ursacon briefly peered over the top of the stone. A dozen energon bolts flew overhead, missing him by inches. Ducking back down with his comrades, the Maximal grunted, "Uh…not good! Quintessons approaching…body too weak from battle! Unable to transform!"

Then, as the Quintessons prepared to rush the Maximals, their battle suits began to short out. All at once, they started falling down, their weapons no longer responding. In minutes, all Quintessons outside the command center were without power, all struggling to flee.

RazorLeaf, unable to believe what he saw, muttered, "What the heck just happened?"

"Hmmm…power loss it appears." Gold Blade gave a crude analysis, "Must have been a glitch…."

With wide eyes, Megatron added, "One in our favor…look!" He lifted a paw and pointed to a large door still three-fourths of the way open. "There’s our way in! Let’s move!" In less than a cycle, Megatron bounded over the suits of fallen Quintessons with a pack of Maximals right behind, all running inside the command center.

Deep within the command center, alarms started going off. Maral and Lor-Gavvon, busily preparing the command ship, were completely surprised.

"WHAT?!" Lor-Gavvon blurted. Rushing over to a near-by control console, he activated a small viewing screen. The moment his eyes saw the read-out, his face became pale. "No! Transformers have penetrated the base defenses! That means we have to accelerate our escape plan immediately!"

Maral, handling a load of materials paused for a moment to look at her father. "But we can’t leave yet! The supplies…and the fuel rods aren’t loaded yet!"

Turning to an open doorway, Lor-Gavvon replied to his daughter, "Have our forces load what they can! I’ll attend to the fuel rods myself!" Without a moment’s hesitation, Lor-Gavvon sped toward a locked chamber where the fuel rods were stored. Using his tentacles, he forced the lock open and quickly ran into the chamber.

Inside, Lor-Gavvon saw something he didn’t expect. The walls of the chamber were lined with glowing crystals packed into large crates by the dozens. At the center were the fuel rods, gathered together into one spot; an all-too-convenient spot….

"What the? Who relocated my Korlonium crystals?" Lor-Gavvon said aloud.

From behind Lor-Gavvon, a sickly, snickering laugh echoed. Lor-Gavvon turned around to face the intruder, and was shocked. Scavix stood at the doors, blocking any exit. One of his tentacles opened up, revealing a cyberneticlly-implanted disruptor that he aimed at Lor-Gavvon.

Narrowing his eyes, Lor-Gavvon muttered, "I knew you’d attempt this some day…."

Laughing, Scavix jovially exclaimed, "And today is that day, Lor-Gavvon! It is the day I finally eliminate you and take my place as the all-powerful ruler of Quintessons!"

"Never! Such an action is forbidden by the council…." Lor-Gavvon tried to say.

"The council is dead Lor-Gavvon! You and I are all that remain thanks to the humans and transformers! And with your death…I alone shall be left to rule over a glorious new empire that will span the galaxy!" Snickering, Scavix added, "And your precious daughter shall bow before me…as my personal slave."

"NO!" shouted Lor-Gavvon. Before he could rush Scavix, the devious Overlord blasted Lor-Gavvon’s levitator. Without his anti-gravity beam, Lor-Gavvon’s body fell to the floor, his tentacles unable to move him. Desperately trying to lift himself up, he cursed Scavix. "Scavix! You shall treacherous freak!"

Scavix laughed, and then pointed his disruptor at the stacks of Korlonium crystals. Almost casually, he fired a shot, blowing apart a crate filled with the crystals. All at once, the energy crystals began to vibrate, humming louder and louder. Scavix just cackled as he closed the doors behind Lor-Gavvon, saying, "Farewell my rival!"

At the command ship, Maral saw Scavix running toward the ship speedily. "What is it?" she inquired of him.

Grabbing one of her tentacles, Scavix pulled the female inside with him. "Quickly! The transformers have penetrated the base and…somehow overloaded one of the generators! We must lift-off immediately before the base explodes!"

"Wait! What about my father?" Maral asked as the airlock closed.

The Maximals and Megatron arrived just as the command ship’s engines fired. "Quickly! We must stop them!" shouted Megatron. He and the Maximals transformed, firing everything they had against the command ship. All their blasts, weapons, and beams bounced off force fields surrounding the ship, none of which dented them.

A giant explosion went off deep inside the base. Megatron turned to see a giant wall of yellow-white plasma rolling towards him. "MAXIMALS! RETREAT!" he yelled. All four transformers broke off their attack and scrammed like they never scrammed before. The group ducked behind a wall as flames burst through the door, filling corridors and halls in mere seconds.

Outside, the command center blew like a tremendous volcano. Shaken by the shockwaves, Optimus Primal, Coyotek, and RedStreak were all awakened. In amazement, they watched as fire blew out of the top of the base, whole chunks of the Quintessons’ base flying into the air.

"By the Pit!" Coyotek gasped.

In shock, Optimus remembered something. "Megatron and the others were inside when it exploded! We’ve got to rescue…."

Before Optimus could say another word, a second explosion rocked the command center. Out of the burning flames ringing the top of the base, a giant, saucer-shaped craft flew straight into the air. In mere seconds, it left the planet’s atmosphere and vanished into the depths of space.

"Quintessons!" said RedStreak, transforming to robot mode. He fired up his jets and prepared to fly after the ship, but Optimus stopped him.

"No RedStreak! We’ve got to rescue our friends first!" Optimus Primal insisted.

Out of nowhere, a small shuttle descended with engines whirling loudly. Landing only a few meters away from their position, an airlock door opened. A ramp deployed, and out of the door appeared none other than Rattrap and Botanica.

"Rattrap!" Coyotek cheered, "I never thought I’d be glad to see you again, and Botanica as well!"

"Thanks guy," Rattrap smiled. Turning to Optimus, he apologized for his late arrival. "Eh, sorry if we’re a bit late Optimus. This old shuttlecraft we borrowed is as slow as a snail, but we’re here to help now!"

"That’s great! We could use some help in finding the others! They were inside the Quintessons’ command center when it exploded! They’re trapped inside, possibly injured.", said Optimus.

"Then there’s no time to waste." Botanica summed it up. Facing a large, blackened panel, Botanica blasted it apart with her twin blasters, creating an opening for them. "Quickly!" she suggested.

The entire group rushed inside, focused entirely on rescuing their comrades. Well…all but one. RedStreak fell behind the group on purpose, hesitating as he watched them disappear into the dark halls. Then he heard something…a weak groan accompanied by the sound of heavy panels moving. Instinctively, RedStreak moved out, taking a different corridor than his friends took.

RedStreak entered a dimly lit room with walls charred a deep black. Looking around, it was obvious that this was ground zero for the explosion that took out most of the command center. Small pieces of the walls and ceiling continued to crumble away, hitting the floor and turning to dust.

It was then that he saw it. A large block of stone jerked and moved slightly, a few tentacles moving weakly beneath it. For a moment, RedStreak contemplated what to do exactly before walking over and lifting up the heavy stone.

Below it was a Quintesson, its body burned and pitted with holes, many of its tentacles reduced to mere stumps twitching from the shoulders. RedStreak silently raised up his arm and deployed his fusion cannon. "I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, Quintesson." he said.

The Quintesson breathed heavily, gasping for air. "Please…spare me." he said.

"Why?" asked RedStreak, "You were the one who made me this way, and turned my sister into a monster. For those reasons, this seems the right price for you…."

Lor-Gavvon gasped again, staring up at RedStreak. "Spare me…not for my life…but so I may speak. Death…is already upon me…and…there is much I must say…to you, Maximal…."

RedStreak stood there for a minute, thinking. Slowly, he lowered his arm, but kept his fusion cannon out just in case. He walked over and kneeled alongside the Quintesson’s tortured body. "What you have to say…had better be important." RedStreak warned Lor-Gavvon.

The Quintesson opened his mouth and began to speak, his dying body strained to the limit. "First of all, know this…Maximal: I…understand why you hate me and…my kind."

Scoffing the Quintesson, RedStreak muttered, "That’s an understatement…."

Continuing, Lor-Gavvon said, "Please…listen to me. I…" Pausing between words, the Quintesson yet again gasped for air, the life in him rapidly dwindling. "I know that my race is a dying one, corrupt...and for our actions…we truly deserve to perish. But…my daughter; of all that…I know of, she is the one that…deserves to be spared from the fate of my species! Please! Save her…."

RedStreak just narrowed his eyes further. "You love your daughter, but what about my sister?" Lifting up his fusion cannon, he stated, "She deserves better than being a slave to you, or anyone else!"

Lor-Gavvon starred at RedStreak for a moment, his tentacles wiggling slowly. The fallen Quintesson turned his head, looking to his left shoulder. One of his many tentacles rose up and approached RedStreak, the tip of it unfolding to reveal a strange attachment. Like a snake, it moved toward RedStreak, grazing his ear slightly.

RedStreak grabbed the attachment with his bare hand, keeping it from drilling through the side of his head. "What do you think you’re doing?" he yelled.

With a raspy voice, Lor-Gavvon said to the Maximal, "Undoing the damage…I have done." His tentacle slipped through RedStreak’s fingers, the attachment hooking into RedStreak’s ear. Inside, it whirled into position, interfacing with the Maximal’s core consciousness. Now linked with RedStreak, Lor-Gavvon muttered to his onboard computer, "Initiate download protocol: program…Save Maral…."

The tentacle stuck into RedStreak’s head lit up with lights, and an overwhelming dizziness struck RedStreak. For several seconds, his mind was bombarded with weird lights, sounds, and sensations so strong that it forced him to the ground; but it was a short-lived moment, and just as quickly it faded away.

Getting up, RedStreak literally felt as if a burden had been lifted from him, his mind…freed from the guilt he’d accumulated for so long. "W-What have you done?" he asked Lor-Gavvon.

"My gift to you…Maximal. The program…you have received, has removed all the…mental programming…we have…placed in you." Removing his tentacle from RedStreak’s ear, Lor-Gavvon added, "Should you…interface and download…this program to your sister…she shall be freed as well."

He couldn’t believe it. For the first time in a long time, RedStreak felt the true light of his spark deep inside, the warmth of his human heart. So many things suppressed for such a long time, all returning! As he looked down at Lor-Gavvon, something else overcame him as well…the emotion known as…pity.

The Quintesson began to quiver there, his final moment coming. "I have done this…in the hope that you will save my daughter…from Overlord Scavix and his…deviousness. She…is the hope of my race, and though…I understand if you won’t forgive my…actions against you…perhaps this will help make amends." Lor-Gavvon wheezed, coughing and choking. "Please," he begged, his eyes glowing less brightly, "Save…my daughter."

RedStreak gazed down at Lor-Gavvon. Putting his hands under his head, he said to Lor-Gavvon with simple words, "I forgive you, and promise to save Maral."

Lor-Gavvon looked up, smiling at the Maximal. A green-colored tear left the Quintessons’ eye, rolling down his metal cheek. Then, a short gasp escaped from him, his body going limp. As RedStreak supported the dead Quintesson’s head, the eyes became dark and empty. The flesh of Lor-Gavvon’s body turned to ooze, melting and dissolving away before the Maximal, leaving nothing but a cold and gray shell of metal behind.

For the longest time, RedStreak held onto that metal carcass, feeling as if he’d lost a father. Slowly, the Maximal got up and exited the hollow chamber. Before he had taken more than three steps RedStreak ran into the other Maximals who were equally surprised to see him.

"RedStreak!" shouted Optimus, "Where have you been? We could of used your help in lifting a four-ton plate off of Megatron! You…." Quite suddenly, Optimus paused, looking behind RedStreak’s shoulder to see Lor-Gavvon’s remains. With a frozen look on his face, the Maximal leader quietly walked over to the empty shell and knelt down. Gold Blade and Botanica, carrying Megatron’s body with them, also saw the dead Quintesson. The others also walked into the room, not sure what to make of it.

After examining the body for a minute, Optimus Primal turned to look at RedStreak. "RedStreak, you didn’t…."

RedStreak immediately said, "No. He was dying before I even found him. But I did have a moment to speak with him…and now I have a promise to keep…."

The fox-bot began to walk off, but Optimus stood up and asked, "What kind of promise?"

Pausing in mid-stride, RedStreak glanced behind him and opened his mouth. However, Just as he was about to mutter something, the entire chamber began to quake. Every transformer looked up and around, realizing the walls were about to collapse.

"Holly slag!" shouted Rattrap.

Taking charge immediately, Optimus Primal hollered, "This building’s falling apart! Maximals, evacuate!"

In the next few cycles, the whole group ran as fast as possible while huge blocks of glass and metal came smashing down from the ceiling and walls. Botanica and RazorLeaf carried Megatron on a jerry-rigged stretcher, jobbing right behind Coyotek, RedStreak, and Optimus. Rattrap sped ahead on his wheels, activating his scanner-faceplate to guide the others.

"I found the way out! Just turn right here and we’ll be out the door!" assured Rattrap.

They came to a narrow hallway with a light at the end of it. Everyone was gunning for it, even as larger and larger sections of the ceiling fell around them. They were all just a few meters away when one large keystone supporting the exit started to slip. Finally, with a heavy, grinding moan, it broke away, headed straight for the heads of the transformers below.

"LOOK OUT!" hollered Coyotek.

When the massive keystone was just a few feet above them, it suddenly exploded. RedStreak held his arms up, fusion cannons smoking. He groaned, collapsing to the floor. Good Coyotek came by and helped him up. Barely able to speak, RedStreak managed to say, "Blast…drained me…of energy. I am…too weak."

"Hang on buddy!" Grabbing RedStreak by the arm, Coyotek hoisted his slightly larger comrade over his shoulder, helping him along. "Just lean on me!"

The whole lot of them escaped from the fallen command center just as it completely gave way. With a roar as mighty as thunder, the large, stocky structure broke into a hundred thousand pieces that fell on top of one another. What had once been the Quintessons’ proud headquarters was now rubble. At long last, they’d been subdued…almost….

"So much for the Quintessons and their war against us." RazorLeaf said.

"No it isn’t. That large ship they launched has escaped!" Botanica reminded.

Putting his hands over his head, Rattrap muttered, "Oh great! And no doubt it’s headed straight towards Cybertron!"

Looking skyward, RedStreak said, "That ship is my department…." His rockets kicked on, blue-green flames spewing out from the Maximal’s feet. RedStreak rose into the air, hovering above his fellows. However, a bolt of energon leapt from his torso, shocking the Maximal. He gave a brief yelp in pain.

"Hold on RedStreak!" Optimus Primal said, "You’re in no condition to engage a Quintesson vessel in your condition!"

"But Optimus! I must! I…agh!" Again, energon bolted from his body, revealing RedStreak’s weakened state. The second surge caused him to fall to the ground, metal banging against the ground.

Optimus loaned RedStreak a hand, helping him up. "You’re not engaging the Quintessons." Optimus stated with a stern face. RedStreak opened his mouth, about to plead for his cause. Then, a small grin formed on Primal’s face. He added, "Not alone, anyway…."

RedStreak smiled.

Just moments later, the DarkStar powered up, its thrusters lifting the battleship above the wrecked Quintesson city. Inside, Coyotek pulled the lever controlling the main thruster drive at the pilot station. With a burst of fire, the large engines at the rear of the DarkStar came alive, sending a deep rumble throughout the entire ship. In the span of a single cycle, the mighty craft blasted off, soaring beyond the pale atmosphere of Photoneron and toward the transwarp gate leading to the Earth’s Solar System.

Sitting in the command chair, Optimus Primal ordered Coyotek, "Full power to the trasnwarp engines, Coyotek! Set course for planet Earth – maximum thrust."

"Aye-eye sir!" Coyotek enthusiastically replied, "Transwarp engines goin’ hot!"

Primal observed the giant view screen before them of the stormy transwarp gateway with his deep blue eyes. Pointing a finger at the screen, he gave the final word. "Engage!"

With a burst of light, the DarkStar flew into the gaping vortex, venturing into the space beyond.

Inside the transwarp gateway, the Quintesson command ship was nearing the opposite end, but quickly detected the presence of another with them. On their own viewing screens, Maral and Scavix watched as the DarkStar closed in on them, narrowing the gap with each passing second.

"A Cybertronian ship has found us Scavix!" exclaimed Maral, "They’ll be within weapons range in less than two cycles!"

Scavix shrewdly observed the monitor, and rearranged his plans appropriately. "Then we shall have to engage them…with extreme prejudice. For what…they did to Lor-Gavvon, they shall be destroyed!"

Clicking on a ruby crystal on the console, he summoned Scaleblade. Immediately, the dark transformer appeared, standing behind both Scavix and Maral. "Your will, my master?" she asked.

Pointing to the image of the approaching battleship, Scavix commanded, "Intercept that vessel and destroy it completely!"

Maral suddenly spoke up. "No! We should destroy them Scavix! Why send out a mere minion when the honor of my father is at stake! We should vaporize their vessel our…."

Without warning, Scavix lashed a tentacle out at Maral, knocking her to the ground. "I give the orders here Maral, not you!" As Maral looked up with wide wonder, Scavix focused on Scaleblade and nodded. Scaleblade then exited through the nearest hatch with sickle in hand.

Maral stared at Scavix for a long time, wondering what was happening. Also, she sensed something was amiss….

Aboard the DarkStar, Coyotek, Optimus Primal, and everyone else kept a close eye on the monitor. Citing his instrument readings, Coyotek reported, "We’re at four hundred meters and closing. We should be in range within fifty nano-clicks at our current speed."

Optimus Primal said, "Good. Once we’re within range, target their primary propulsion system and disable their multiphasic-shields so that we…."

The floor beneath the bridge ripped wide open as what looked like a black bolt of lightning rushed in. Smashing through consoles and ventilation tubes, Scaleblade rose to the ceiling, hanging above all the Maximals with her large sickle glowing a bright purple.

With a huge smile, Scaleblade squealed, "Time to die, Maximals!"

Gold Blade, RazorLeaf, and Ursacon all rose from their seats, withdrawing their weapons. Before any of them could fire however, Scaleblade swung her sickle, unleashing three arcs of energy that took out each Maximal. Coyotek stood up next, raising his specialized weapon at Scaleblade. Just as she fired another arc from the blade of her sickle, Coyotek’s gun threw up a square force shield, absorbing the blast.

"Not bad, flea bag," Scaleblade congratulated, "But you’ll have to do better than that!" She transformed into her dragon beast mode, her wings flapping hard. With a resounding roar, she spat out a giant ball of fire that destroyed the force shield and threw Coyotek into his console.

The piloting screen overloaded, shocking Coyotek’s body. "AHHHHH!" was the sound of Coyotek screaming as electricity short-circuited his body. He was then thrown off, knocked down to a floating platform below.

Next, Scaleblade turned to Optimus Primal, still sitting in his command chair. She fired another fireball, hoping to incinerate him. With quick reflexes, Optimus Primal transformed into a bat and flew off before the command chair exploded. Scaleblade growled angrily.

"You won’t stop us that easily this time!" Optimus Primal shouted to her. He then transformed, resuming his robotic form once again. Optimus bravely dove at Scaleblade, but in vain. The monstrous dragon laughed, and then wiped her tail around, knocking the Maximal into a wall.

"That was pathetic!" she laughed, transforming to robot mode.

Suddenly another voice shouted, "Then try me!" With a loud howl, Megatron caught Scaleblade by surprise, leaping from a walkway in his wolf form. The two Predacons were sent spiraling to the floor, smashing through all kinds of equipment along the way.

Throughout the fight, the DarkStar began to loose control. Slowly it began to rock back and forth, unable to balance itself. With a groan, Coyotek got up. With determination, he made his way back to the piloting station, using every ounce of energy to pull himself up with damaged muscles and servos. Once there, the console turned out to be wreaked with half the controls broken off and the monitor cracked.

"Gotta…regain…control!" he grunted, grabbing onto the console. Coyotek was able to reactivate it, but every part of it sparked. Beeping erratically, the computer said, "Unable to respond. Navigation and thruster controls offline. Attitude control failing…."

Coyotek punched in with the remaining controls, bringing up thruster control. "Let’s get this bird flying again!" The quick Maximal adjusted the systems, diverting power to the thrusters. In moments, the DarkStar straightened out, resuming its normal heading.

"You can’t hold me!" shouted Scaleblade. She gave Megatron a kick, throwing him off. Megatron transformed as he somersaulted, landing on the ground in robot mode. He charged again at Scaleblade, but she swung her fist at him, giving him a knuckle sandwich straight in the face.

Suddenly, a bolt of energon hit Scaleblade, knocking her to the ground. RedStreak stood above her on a platform, grasping his side, panting with effort. "Your fight…lies with me…sister." He told her.

"Then a short fight it will be!" she declared. As Scaleblade got up, her left arm was suddenly grabbed. Optimus Primal held her with both arms. As the Predacon started to swing her right arm, Megatron took it, forcing it back. "NO!" she hollered, "LET GO OF ME!"

RedStreak floated down and walked up to Scaleblade. He clicked the side of his face, opening a hidden compartment containing a curly wire. As Optimus and Megatron held her, RedStreak put the wire’s end into Scaleblade’s ear.

"What are you doing?" Megatron demanded to know.

"Restoring my sister to her proper mind." replied RedStreak. With the link in place, RedStreak accessed his memory banks. "Download protocol – initiate. Program: Save Maral."

The wire connecting Scaleblade and RedStreak began to glow a dull blue, data flowing from the Maximal into the Predacon’s twisted mind. Through it all, Scaleblade hollered and screamed to the top of her iron-cast lungs.

"NO! NO!" howled Scaleblade, her eyes glowing bright green, "STOP IT! GET OUT OF MY MIND! GET OUT! AGH!" In a fit of rage, Scaleblade tore free from Optimus Primal’s grasp, throwing him away with great strength.

"STOP HER!" shouted RedStreak, "The download isn’t complete yet!"

It didn’t help. Soon after, Megatron was tossed aside, and Scaleblade herself grabbed her head and pulled away from RedStreak. The cable linking the two snapped in an instant, breaking RedStreak’s contact with her. Scaleblade’s eyes still glowed bright green, her voice screaming in pain. In moments, her eyes changed to yellow, and then orange, her body writhing with pain.

"Her reprogramming wasn’t complete!" exclaimed RedStreak, "We’ve gotta help her!"

Scaleblade continued to scream and holler, her mind unable to repair itself.

Seeing Scaleblade in so much pain, even Optimus was shocked. "Her core consciousness is unstable! She’s going to crash in cycles!"

"NO! WE’VE GOT TO HELP HER SOMEHOW!" RedStreak shouted, "I CAN’T LET HER DIE! SHE’S MY SISTER!" Scaleblade continued to scream, unable to control herself. "NO! AMANDA! PLEASE!"

Somewhere deep inside of RedStreak, the love Adam had for his beloved sister triggered something. From within RedStreak’s chest, the spark of light erupted like a newborn star. His entire body began to glow with a white aura, an aura that grew brighter and brighter until….

In a grand spasm, the cockpit built into RedStreak’s chest opened, and a brilliant beam of light shot out, hitting Scaleblade. For several minutes, the two were linked, brother and sister. As RedStreak’s eyes glowed bright white, Scaleblade’s body was overwhelmed by the power of both the Oracle and the Matrix. Her eyes changed from orange to blue-green, the pain they held vanishing. Scaleblade’s dark body changed in the light, her once black and featureless armor becoming shiny with neon green lining. Her wings became large and lined with blue veins; her hands, arms, and face taking on green, reptilian scales. Scaleblade reopened her eyes, reformatted and reforged.

The light vanished, and both Scaleblade and RedStreak collapsed. As all the Maximals rushed to gather around, Scaleblade awakened, freed at long last from the Quintessons’ control. She gasped for air, and as she saw all the transformers gathered around her, she was frightened.

"Where…where am I?" she asked.

"Scaleblade?" Optimus muttered to her.

Scaleblade withdrew from Optimus, startled by the sight of him. She overlooked all the Maximals, confused and wary. Then, as her eyes passed over RedStreak, she sensed something. Slowly, she got up and approached him. The exhausted Maximal looked up at Scaleblade, a small grin on his face.

"A-Adam?" Scaleblade said.

With a moan, RedStreak got up and held Scaleblade by the shoulders. "Am-manda. It’s…good that you’re back…."

"Where am I? What’s happened to me…and you?" Scaleblade asked, speaking as Amanda.

Barely able to stand, RedStreak leaned over his sister. "It is…a very long story. I…wish I could explain it all to you…." RedStreak told her.

Suddenly, the whole ship shook. As everyone gawked and mumbled wearily, Optimus Primal quickly took charge once more. "Everyone! To your stations!"

As soon as everyone was back at their rightful posts, Coyotek, still manning the pilot station, reported the situation. "We’ve just jumped out of transwarp space! We’re near Earth but the Quintesson ship has a major lead over us!"

The main monitor unveiled the horror. A large saucer was fast approaching the planet Earth, quickly leaving the DarkStar behind. It was an ominous moment – all of them realized what kind of destruction such a huge ship was capable of, and what would happen to the Earth soon.

"I can…catch up…with them." said RedStreak, "I’ll stop them…before they can reach Earth."

"But you can’t!" said Gold Blade.

Elaborating on Gold Blade’s point, Optimus Primal told RedStreak, "She’s right! You are extremely weak right now…and with reformatting Scaleblade you’re…."

"I know Optimus, I know. But…I must do this…to save my people." RedStreak managed to say. Gently, he pushed Optimus Primal aside. Taking on of the hovering platforms, he escaped to an airlock stowed at the end of the bridge. He opened it, stepping inside. Once the inner hatch closed, he opened the other one, escaping into the blackness of space.

On the main viewer, they all watched as RedStreak flew off, heading straight for the Quintesson command ship. Soon, he slipped by it, and then completely overtook it. RedStreak continued on, heading towards Earth itself, it seemed.

"Why doesn’t he attack the Quintesson ship?" asked Coyotek.

Optimus Primal sighed, knowing what was in store. "He’s not going to attack head-on. He’s going to self-destruct and take the Quintessons with him."

RedStreak came to a full stop just a few hundred kilometers above the Earth’s atmosphere. From his unique vantage point, he could see the Quintesson ship coming right at him like an old-fashioned freight train. With the DarkStar too far behind and the local defenses unaware, this meant that he was the only line of defense left….

Opening his chest cockpit, RedStreak reached inside and pushed a series of buttons on his internal console. "Computer, verify personal code one-three-two-two, voice print: RedStreak." In compliance, a voice inside of him beeped, "Voice print acknowledged, code accepted. Systems on stand-by." Now that all was ready, RedStreak knew what had to be done next. "Initiate self-destruct sequence – set for five cycles and ten clicks, voice code: Adam-one."

His onboard computer accepted the code, and his destruction was at hand. Deep within his body, RedStreak felt his micro-reactors powering up, preparing to overload upon reaching maximum capacity. Second by second, he felt the energy pulsate within him, growing stronger and more painful.

As he floated there, RedStreak gave a final sigh. "Won’t be long now…."

Back onboard the DarkStar, chaos was breaking out amongst the crew. "We’ve got save him!" "He’s going to commit suicide!" "It just isn’t right!" "There’s gotta be something we can do to help!" All the Maximals shouted out these phrases, all trying to convince Optimus to attempt a rescue of their friend.

"I only wish I could," was all that Optimus replied. It was literally impossible. The DarkStar was already moving at maximum speed with its power drained into the engines, and there was not a Maximal onboard that could fly out and rescue RedStreak, and Megatron was too badly damaged to even attempt such a dangerous venture…assuming he volunteered first of all.

Scaleblade watched the monitor as RedStreak’s body began to glow from his overloading circuits. She turned to Optimus and begged him to do something. "Please! He’s my brother! The only reason he’s doing this is protect me!"

"We simply can’t!" Optimus tried to explain, "We’re already traveling at full power and there’s not a transformer onboard that can reach out to him!"

It was then that Scaleblade noticed her hands, their mechanical components shimmering back at her. "Maybe I can." she said.

Rattrap, who had been lying in the background amid the chaos, raised up his hands and shouted, "WHAT?! OH BOY! Now another one who’s into self-sacrificing!"

Optrimus was extremely reluctant to let her go, but he inevitably caved. "Very well…go." As the new transformer began to walk away, Optimus decided to add something. "And, if you can, try to bring him back in one piece."

As with RedStreak, Scaleblade ventured out into space and flew toward her brother. Zooming at fantastic speeds, she passed close-by the Quintesson ship. Inside it, Scavix saw Scaleblade flying past, sending him into a frenzy.

"Scaleblade! Scaleblade! Return to us at once! Scaleblade!" he shouted over the com-link. Watching his former minion sail by without so much as a glance drove the Quintesson mad. Scavix threw down his communicator and blasted it with his disruptor.

RedStreak’s body had frozen-up completely when he caught sight of Scaleblade approaching him. Groaning as jolts of electricity radiated up and down his body, he called out to his sister. "No! Amanda, get away! Leave before it’s too late!"

Scaleblade came right up to RedStreak and hovered directly before him. Crossing her arms, she said to him, "And do you honestly think I’ll let you kill yourself like this?"

"Please!" RedStreak insisted, "You must go! If I don’t do this…the Quintessons will overrun our world, Amanda! I must…."

"This is beyond heroics and self-sacrifice!" stated Scaleblade, "You’re doing this for me and your friends – whatever they may be! Do you think after going through all I’ve been through, I’d let the only family I have left to vanish?"

RedStreak then said, "And you understand why I’m doing this as well, Amanda? Please, just go!"

"Adam, we’re family. We’re all that’s left of our family." she told him, "If we perish, then we ought to go out…together."

Scaleblade reached out to RedStreak, holding her hand out to him. RedStreak, knowing that she was right, accepted it. For the last minute, the two held hands, loving each other as brother and sister. The two floated above the Earth, slowly spinning like dancers in a ballet. Soon, the energy that had been building up inside of RedStreak turned critical, and his self-destruction sequence ended….

A massive shockwave shot out, massive waves of blue-white radiation expanding outwards, and for a few minutes the Earth appeared to of had a second sun. The Quintesson command ship entered the front of the wave, experiencing its full force.

"Shields to maximum!" Scavix ordered the computer. Immediately the ship responded, projecting a powerful bubble of energy that repelled the oncoming blast. The ship shook for several seconds, enduring the blast just as a sturdy ship would an ocean storm.

Maral approached him, asking, "What happened?"

Analyzing the sensors, Scavix concluded, "An energon detonation. Possibly an incendiary device planted in our path. Fortunately, our shields have held, and the blast itself is dissipating…."

In the midst of the explosion, a large sphere of plasma energy remained, glowing a very brilliant yellow-orange. As the shockwave surrounding it faded, it slowly began to pulsate and change colors. The sphere suddenly turned a bright blue-green, and it exploded into a second shockwave.

Watching the monitors, Scavix was bewildered. "What? By the lords of Quintessa, what is happening? The energy is…transforming! But how?"

The second wave stretched itself out vertically, becoming a boomerang-shaped wall of concentrated energy. At first it was erratic, behaving as an unstable explosion; but then the whole object changed, making a sudden turn and flying straight for the Quintesson ship.

"WHAT?!" exclaimed Scavix.

The energy wave rushed straight for the Quintesson ship, going faster and faster as plasma rippled along it. Then, with the force of a thousand novas, the powerful and enigmatic energy wave plowed straight through the command ship, cutting the vessel like a giant knife. Aboard the Quintesson ship, explosions started going off, ravaging ever part of the ship until….

A massive explosion rocked the vessel, blasting out for thousands of kilometers in what could only be described as the Universe’s grandest fireworks display. Puffs of red and orange smoke blew out as large chunks of debris were thrown out in all directions. Through it all, the mysterious energy wave continued onward, flying toward the DarkStar.

Watching the monitors with wide eyes, Botanica muttered, "By the Matrix! What was that?"

"I dunno, shrubs," said Rattrap, "But it’s coming right for us!"

"Wait! The energy wave is changing…taking on a different form!" noted Gold Blade, "its signature is…is…Maximal!"

As it approached the DarkStar, the wave began to dissolve and cool. Its once regal blues and greens disappeared, and only two tiny lumps of gas remained. The gas soon trailed off, revealing none other than Scaleblade and RedStreak, holding hands as they flew across space.

Pausing for a moment, Scaleblade turned to her brother with a joyful smile. "We did it! We saved the world!"

"Yeah…we stopped them all right!" RedStreak said, panting exhaustively. Just then, he glanced back at the wreckage they left behind…and noticed one odd thing. Calmly, he added, "But I think we’re not out of the ball park just yet! Look!"

Flying out of the burning debris, one small, cube-shaped craft escaped, heading for the blue and serene Earth near-by….