Headstrong: Part 3

A fanfic by Bill T. Taylor

a.k.a. RedStreak

 

Chip and High-Q watched as High-Q’s machinery forged below them a new entity.  A great iron vat poured into specially designed casts refined molten metal.  As each piece cooled, robotic arms delicately took each individual piece, reinforcing and wiring together intricate optic cables intertwined with crystal-like positronic circuitry.

 

A beeping alarm drew the pair’s attention.  High-Q walked over to another console and checked its readings.  “His spark signature is fading.  We’ll have to accelerate the reconstruction process.  My containment field will not sustain him much longer.”

 

“High-Q,” Chip said, swiveling his seat towards the Nebulon host, “I’ve been going over your schematics on RedStreak’s new body.  Altogether it’s remarkable, even beyond my imagination…but I have some concerns…particularly with his central processing and neurotronics.  Given his spark’s condition and damage….”

 

“I’m aware,” High-Q openly said, “But this is the best my theoretical and scientific knowledge can do.  I’ve taken his original designs and modified them to the best of my abilities.”

 

Chip posed an alternate solution.  “Perhaps what we need is a whole new design.”

 

The Nebulon turned around with a raised eyebrow.  “What do you mean?”

 

“It’s difficult to explain…but in this case, it just might be the solution we’re looking for,” Chip simply stated, “Bring me RedStreak’s head….”

 

Over the construction area the new Autobot body was being built, a large claw-like arm descended from a latch in the ceiling.  It whirled about as dozens of drone droids welded and hammered components into place.  The arm-crane descended over the unfinished cranium, clamping down to the sides.  Two smaller arms, mounted with lasers, deployed to cut it from the neck for modification, the flames burning bright.

 

At the rear of Fortress Maximus a set of ion thrusters propelled the city-Autobot beyond the realm of Nebulos on a ballistic trajectory towards the main hub of the galaxy.  Alongside Prime’s shuttle flew on a parallel course, destined for the same battle that lay on the Decepticon-named planet of Galvinok.

 

Optimus Prime stood beside Cerebros on Fortress Maximus, the wide canopy of the command tower granting them a magnificent view of the galaxy, stars of all colors passing by them at super-speeds with the main spread of the galaxy looming ahead.  Prime, Cerebros, and Spike all stared long at it.

 

“Looks deceptively peaceful, doesn’t it Prime?” Cerebros spoke up.

 

Optimus tuned to his right, perked by the Headmaster’s words.  “What was that Cerebros?” he asked.

 

“The galaxy,” Cerebros explained, “It appears so peaceful and still out here.”  He sighed deeply.  “If only it truly were.”  In his visor-like optics Prime saw the strain hidden away, a tire of wars great and small.  He turned away from the view, walking to a concave section in the back of the tower.  “Forgive me Prime…I…I’ll concentrate on directing Fortress Maximus’ navigation.  Spike, if you don’t mind.”  Spike bolted off Cerebros’ shoulders, the gray Autobot transforming to become a bulky supercomputer that merged with the open slot in the wall.  As his head formed legs and arms, Cerebros became inert to both Prime and even his Headmaster partner, Spike.  He seemed content to be that way as well.

 

As Spike removed his exosuit mask, Prime asked, “Spike, you’ve been with Cerebros longer than any Autobot, including myself.  Is he…alright?”

 

Spike, staring at Cerebros is his immobile state, said, “You’re right to ask me about him – I’ve not only been fighting with him on Nebulos but I now understand how he thinks…and frankly I understand his beliefs.  Every time he enters battle, he grows more weary of fighting, of the war.”  Turning to Prime, the man added, “Sometimes, I feel the same way.  I…he…remembers why we fight, but sometimes…we both lose hope.  God, how many times I just wanted to go home to Daniel and Carly….”

 

Prime kneeled down, looking straight at Spike.  “I’m sorry Spike.”

 

Spike fought off the emotions he held to reply.  “It’s not your fault Prime.  You….”

 

“No,” Optimus Prime told him, standing back up, “It is my fault.  In the past, I’ve had many an opportunity to end this war…to keep it on Cybertron…to stop Galvatron while he was still Megatron, and I was too blind to see it then.  Then it came to Earth, then Nebulos…to you, Cerebros…and even your son, Daniel.”  Prime looked out to the stars, fixed forward.  “This war has dragged on for long enough; I plan to end it soon – perhaps not today, but soon.”  He turned back to Spike.  “We’d better prepare; we’re almost there now.”

 

Prime was not the only transformer en route to Galvinok.  Several hundred parsecs distant in an adjacent part of the galaxy, Trypticon was flying through the void like a true dragon of the stars.  Deep within his armored chambers, in Galvatron’s hall, the Decepticon lord raised up a glass, simmering with raw, liquid energon.

 

“A toast!” Galvatron praised, “To Prime’s death, the mark of our coming to Cybertron!”

 

“Here!  Here!” numerous other Decepticons rallied.  They all raised their glasses, some clanging them, and then sipped their fill of energon…a taste each relished delightfully after returning from the exhausting strike on their former home world.

 

Only one Decepticon seemed less than joyous.  Cyclonus held his glass in hand, still full while other Decepticons were on their forth and fifth drinks, overenergized and celebrating in a drunken state.

 

Scourge slapped Cyclonus on the back, wildly yelling, “Hey Cyclonus!  Why the long – HIC – face?  We – HIC – slagged Prime where he stood!  Energon for all!  Hail to Galvatron’s victory!  HIC!”  Scourge already began to waddle off, barely able to stay on both feet.  Cyclonus looked on in disgust, his mind focused on other issues.”

 

“Hmmph,” he snorted to himself, “Prime is but one Autobot among thousands.  One Autobot’s death doesn’t end a war…and where are our Targetmasters?  Have they wandered off along with the Headmasters too?  Bah!”  He slammed his glass onto a counter, letting his energon spill as he walked to the exit.  Moments later, Cyclonus exited through an airlock, transforming and switching to light speed, flying off in the opposite direction.  “Someone needs to clear this up with Zarak, once and for all!”

 

The Scorpinok followed behind Trypticon, but at a far slower pace.  Zarak sat at the command bridge, his mind fixed on the screen of Trypticon.  His mind and its telekinetic powers directed the various mechanisms about him.  His mental powers that he’d developed on Nebulos were at a point where he could manipulate objects to a degree about him, but it was mostly on a subconscious level.  Eyeing a pyramid-shaped clock display, Zarak willed it to him, the clock floating into the palm of his hand.  “They’re late,” he muttered distastefully.

 

A burst of blue-white light flashed before Zarak, startling the Nebulon lord enough to raise his arm up defensively.  The rift flashed, and upon vanishing, four Decepticons stood before him.  Standing before Zarak, they reached up and plucked their very heads from their shoulders, presenting them to him.  Then, like chicks from eggs, the heads came alive, transforming into mechanoid beings equal in stature to Zarak.

 

“Finally,” Zarak’s voice said, glaring at the five Headmasters behind the red visor of his exosuit, “I was starting to guess your plan had failed, Vorath.  Now tell me you successfully retrieved what I asked you to retrieve from my…former partner.”

 

“Yes, yes, of course!” Vorath said encouragingly in his hissing voice, “We executed the plan perfectly!”  He reached behind him, opening a compartment in his exosuit.  From it, he brought forward a strange glowing orb.

 

Zarak smiled.  “Excellent,” he said enthusiastically, “Now we can initiate our second phase.  Targetmasters, come forward!”

 

Outside, unknown to Zarak or the Hive, Cyclonus was perched outside a rectangular porthole, peering in.  Since he was in the vaccum of space, he could not hear Zarak or the others speak, but he could read their lips, gauge their actions.  Cyclonus, the ever vigilant, observed the scene very, very closely.

 

Fracus, Blowpipe, and Aimless came to Zarak.  Zarak, standing up from his command chair, directed them.  “You three and Vorath go to Scorpinok’s primary power chamber and install the quantum fission core to his main turbines.”  Smugging confidently, Zarak further said, “It will boost his power over a hundred-fold, sufficient to conquer Cybertron for ourselves and then…Nebulos itself.”

 

“Heh heh!” laughed Monzo, “And no doubt the galaxy itself after that!”

 

“Yes,” Krunk further added, “We may not even need Galvatron anymore to implement our plans!”

 

Cyclonus narrowed his eyes.  “They dare to contemplate treachery!” Cyclonus growled, glaring through the porthole, “I ought to melt each and every one of them down this instant…but Galvatron should know this first.”  He began to stand upright, preparing to transform and return, but suddenly he was struck from behind.

 

A large blue-violet Decepticon crashed into the command chamber from above, glass shattering loudly as his frame landed on a bulky console.  Nightstick and Caliburst descended from above as well through the broken window, landing atop Cyclonus’ unconscious body.

 

A large blast of air surged up, sucking into the vacuum of space through the shattered window.  Zarak waved his hand toward it, a pair of armor plates automatically sealing the window shut.  “Nightstick, Caliburst,” Zarak spoke to the respective Targetmasters, “explain this Decepticon’s presence on my floor.”

 

“He was spying on us!” Caliburst blared.

 

“Yeah,” Nightstick further said, shaking a fist, “Ready to bolt and squeal on us!”

 

The Decepticon Headmasters transformed to beast mode, looming over the Hive with snarling, bitter faces.  Snapdragon snarled, “We’re not buying into this scheme of yours any longer!”  Growling, he snatched up Spasma in his mouth, shaking and squeezing the little Headmaster hard.

 

“Enough of this!” Zarak declared.  With a mere thought a giant cable thrust out of the wall, wrapping around and enchaining Snapdragon, who promptly let go of Spasma with little more than a few deep scratches.  With a second thought, the remaining Decepticons were flung against a wall, held there by a seemingly magnetic force as Zarak stared purely at them.  Zarak spoke directly to them, “No one gave any of your four a choice!  This is purely a Hive matter – you can either stand back and watch…or…..”

 

Out of one wall emerged a long robotic arm, at the end of which was a flaming welder and a buzz saw wizzing loudly.  It came within inches of the Decepticon Headmasters, only Zarak’s mind keeping it from coming any closer.  Zarak then simply turned around, letting the Headmasters fall to the floor with a thud as he removed his potent telekinetic grip on them.  “Take Cyclonus and Snapdragon to one of the prison cells.  We’ll deal with them after our designs on Cybertron are completed.”

 

The vast flying complex of Scorpinok slowed to a halt in space, the vessel turning full-about and heading back to Cybertron.

 

Finally Galvinok was in sight for Prime’s rescue effort.  Inside the Autobot shuttle, Kup and Hot Rod were at the controls.  Radioing to Prime, Kup said, “Well Prime, it looks like we’re here and…uh-oh.”  On the radar console, all around the planet were a vast series of blips, at lying in wait.  “Bad news, Prime.  We just picked up a whole mess of sentry stations all around the planet!  More of them in orbit than there are Nerrigen wasps in a nest-hive!”

 

“I see them too, Kup,” Prime’s voice radioed back, “Clearly they’re what brought down the Silverstreaker along with Highbrow and Brainstorm.  You continue on your course – Fortress Maximus will draw their fire for you!”

 

“Roger Prime!” Kup said, switching off the com-link.  Turning to Hot Rod, the old Autobot said, “Alright Roddy, let’s put this bird into overdrive!  We’ve got friends to rescue!”  At the back, the Autobot shuttle’s thrusters fired at full thrust, the ship speeding head-on towards the planet.

 

Onboard Fortress Maximus, Optimus Prime looked to Spike.  “Alright Spike, this is it.  Bring Maximus’ weapons online.”

 

Spike, already at work on the console, gave a thumb-up to Prime.  “You can count on it!” he assured him.  Turning to the console, Spike said to it, “Alright Fortress Maximus, time to show ‘em what you got.”

 

A deep voice, booming around them, replied, “As you say, Spike.  Primary long-range armaments…online.”  Outside, the giant cannons swung forward, locking into place.  Missile silos opened and launched, shooting needle-like projectiles toward Galvanok itself.  As the Autobot shuttle flew toward the broad rings, dozens of sentinel satellites, already arming their laser blasters, tracked it.  A second later Fortress Maximus’ missiles blasted several apart, clearing the way for the shuttle that sailed on toward the planet.

 

The remaining sentries changed priorities, their basic AI systems interpreting Fortress Maximus as a bigger and more demanding threat than the mere shuttle.  Without haste they all opened fire, completely ignoring the Autobot shuttle.

 

The shuttle glided down to the surface, easily picking out the plateau the Decepticons maintained their base from the surrounding rugged, hostile terrain.  With a rough bump, the shuttle landed, its ramp deploying even before coming to a full stop.  The Autobot targetmasters Kup, Hot Rod, Blur, Crosshairs, Pointblank, and Sureshot drove out with roaring engines.

 

Spoilsport, mounted to Sureshot, scanned the maze of Decepticon barracks and bunkers, seeking out anything to track.  “I can’t penetrate their armor shielding!  It’s too thick for my sensors!”

 

“So much for that plan,” Sureshot grumbled.

 

Kup, revving his engine with Arcana and Gort aboard, muttered, “Yeah, for once RedStreak’s tracking systems would come in handing about now!”

 

“There may be an equally useful alternative,” Arcana proposed a theory, “Mine and Gort’s exosuits share Brainstorm and Highbrow’s energy signature.  I can adjust our signatures to produce some feedback, resulting in a boosted signal you Autobots should detect!”

 

Hot Rod drove alongside Kup.  “Hey, anything’s worth a try at this point!”

 

Arcana opened a splot in Gort’s chest, reaching in and tweaking a few connector tubes and wires.  He slammed it shut, then performed the same operation on his own suit.  On Kup’s dashboard, a screen beside the steering wheel displayed a pair of beeping dots.  “All right!” Kup said, “We’ve got somethan!  Alright, Blur, Hot Rod, Sureshot, you’re with me!  Crosshairs and Pointblank, you guard the shuttle!  Let’s roll!”

 

Crosshairs and Pointblank transformed, standing vigilantly by the shuttle while the other Autobots and Nebulons drove into one of the numerous Decepticon bunkers.  Barely halfway through the entrance hanger they already encountered Decepticon security.  From the floor a pair of laser rifles rose up, catching Kup’s team by complete surprise.

 

A direct hit blasted Sureshot in his left-side door, causing him to swerve and roll to the side.  Spoilsport detached from his hood and transformed, trying to push his Autobot counterpart back up.  “Sureshot, you alright?” he asked worriedly.

 

“Gah!  My crankshaft!” Sureshot groaned.

 

“I’ll take ‘em out!” Hot Rod vowed.  His mufflers spewed flames as he ran right at the firing laser guns.  Nearing pointblank range, he yelled out, “Firebolt, do your thing!”  The Nebulon gun mounted atop his silver engine blasted, the twin Decepticon rifles blown apart in seconds.  Hot Rod crushed what remained under his wheels, swerving to a stop and transforming, standing confidently with Firebolt in his hand.  “I may not be Prime any longer,” he said aloud, “But I’ve still got the touch!”

 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Kup said.  Once Sureshot was back on his wheels, they moved out once again, tracking Brainstorm’s and Highbrow’s energy signatures.

 

At the outskirts of Galvinok’s star system Trypticon was entering the borders of Decepticon-controled space.  Galvatron was sitting on his throne, sipping from his energon-filled glass.  Smiling at his reflection, he uttered in a semi-dazed stated, “At last, Prime…gone…for good this time.  Ah…what a glorious day it shall be in Decepticon history.”

 

“Galvatron!” Scourge’s voice blared.  Galvatron crushed his glass in his hand, the shards shattering to the floor as he frowned bitterly as the loud lieutenant.  “There’s a signal coming in from Galvinok itself!  There’s been a security breach!”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

Closer to Galvinok itself, Fortress Maximus held his position even as dozens of sentries fired simultaneously.  Missiles and plasma cannons returned fire in full, knocking down several more sentry stations with ease.  However, per Prime’s directive, Fortress Maximus did not press forward – he was to maintain position and keep a clear path for the shuttle’s retreat.  Spike watched over the situation in the command tower, keeping an eye out for the Autobots.  It was then his eye caught something.  Speeding fast, a dark reptilian form appeared from the depths of space, crossing through the twin rings of Galvinok to the planet itself.

 

“Prime!” Spike called out.

 

Optimus Prime arrived via the tower’s elevator, rushing off and to Spike’s side.  He instantly recognized the beast.  “Trypticon,” the Autobot commander spoke.

 

“And no doubt Galvatron’s with ‘em!” Spike deduced.

 

“Can we draw their attention away from our teammates?” Prime inquired.

 

Spike replied, “No, he’s too far out of range and too fast!  We’ve got to engage him on the planet’s surface itself!  Even the Targetmasters can’t take on Trypticon and a full-fledge Decepticon assult force!”

 

“But Fortress Maximus,” the base around them rumbled, “Can!  Changing vector for planetary rendezvous.”  Fortress Maximus slowly changed direction, whole series of rockets and thrusters pulsing and firing to direct the giant Autobot.  His main thrusters once again fired, the broad girth of the planet Galvinok before his sights.

 

Brainstorm and Highbrow, still in their headless robotic forms, were chained to the walls of their silicon prison cell.  They hung there weakly, as they had been for the last few solar cycles.  A knocking came at their cell door, then a banging, then a rumbling.

 

BOOM!

 

The door slammed down, Blur, Hot Rod, Kup, and Sureshot standing before the entrance with their Targetmaster guns in hand, still smoking.  “We’re in!” Kup declared, “Highbrow, Brainstorm, you online?”

 

A cough came from Brainstorm’s torso plate.  “K-Kup…that you?  We knew you…and Prime…would come!”

 

From beneath Hot Rod and Kup Arcana and Gort ran into the room, standing before their long-seperated Autobots.  “You should know, Brainstorm,” Arcana said smiling at his friend, “Nothing could keep us apart!”

 

Arcana bolted up, his arms and legs folding up, bolting onto the vacant slot between Brainstrom’s shoulders.  Seeing through his optics once more, Brainstorm laughed, “Heh heh!  Couldn’t have said it better myself, Arcana!”

 

Gort bonded with Highbrow as well, completing the Autobot.  Highbrow sighed happily.  “Ah, good to have a head back on my shoulders, and good to have you back as well, Gort.”

 

“Good to hear, Highbrow.  Now let’s break out of here!  We charged our exosuits power cells with more than enough energon to revitalize you two!” Gort said.

 

Their eyes lighting up as the Nebulons’ power reserves transferred to them, Brainstorm and Highbrow stretched their limbs.  With just a bit more than a twitch of their wrists, the chains snapped, the captives free.

 

“Alright!Alright!Alright!Let’smakeabreakbreakbreakforit!” the speedy Blur suggested.

 

“Right, and me and Highbrow know just the formula!” Brainstrom confidently said.  He pointed both his blasters at the ceiling, blowing a giant hole into it.  Once the dust settled, Brainstorm transformed with Arcana loading into his cockpit, “Alright Targetmasters, load up!  We’re flying outta here!”

 

Hot Rod and Sureshot grabbed onto Brainstorm’s wings while Blur and Kup latched onto Highbrow propeller mounts.  Brainstorm bolted out on flaming contrails, Highbrow’s props whirling to life as he hoisted himself and his passengers out.  Not even a mile away was the shuttle, lying in wait on the paved plateau.

 

Thunder filled the sky.  No…not thunder, more like the boom of a thousand jets screeching by.  By the shuttle, a shadow fell over both Crosshairs and Pointblank, the Targetmasters looking up in disbelief.  Kup, still flying on Highbrow’s wing, groaned, “Oh slag….”

 

Trypticon had landed.  The giant glanced down at the bronze shuttle adorned with his enemies’ emblem.  A rumbling growl escaped his throat, Trypticon lifting up one massive foot over the shuttle. Below Pointblank yelled, “SLAG!  RUN!”  He and Crosshairs transformed into cars and drove at top speeds, Trypticon’s massive heel crashing down on the ship’s rear half.  Its fuel core crushed like a beer can, the Autobot shuttle exploded like fireworks, but when the fires subsided, the mighty Decepticon still stood.

 

“Oh great!” Recoil said, standing beside Kup on Highbrow’s wing, “Now how any of us are gonna go?”

 

“Well there’s only one way to go in my opinion,” Kup said, “And that’s to go out fighting!”  He jumped down from the still-airborne Highbrow, not hesitating for anything.

 

“Hey!  If you’re going out I’m coming with you!” Recoil yelled, and with that he jumped down after Kup.

 

The Targetmasters and Headmasters opened fire on Trypticon.  Brainstorm, Blur, Crosshairs, Highbrow, Hot Rod, Kup, Pontblank, and Sureshot were on Trypticon like a swarm of bees, but did little aside from irritate the giant.  Trypticon bellowed like a dinosaur, opening his mouth wide and from it spewed form a swarm of Decepticons.

 

“Destroy the trespassers!” Galvatron blared.

 

“Oh man!  This day just keeps getting better and better!” moaned Hot Rod.

 

“I THINK NOT, GALVATRON!” a familiar voice boomed from the clouds.  Both Auotbots and Decepticons looked skyward.  Through a bank of smoggy clouds Fortress Maximus came forth, aiming straight for the swarm of Decepticons.  A hatch opened toward Maximus’ front, and from it a bright red truck with a gray trailer flew out, free-falling straight to the ground.  “FROM THIS MOMENT ON, GALVATRON,” Prime himself bellowed, “YOU WILL NOT TAKE ANOTHER LIFE!”

 

Galvatron glanced up, some twenty-odd tons of Optimus Prime falling directly at him.  The Decepticon lord was struck head on, his face smashed against Prime’s grill.  For a solid minute the two were entwined, mortal enemies falling like gods from Olympus.  When they crashed, a large crater was blasted out in the landscape.

 

Optimus Prime was on top of Galvatron in robot mode, the Decepticon buried beneath Prime in solid rock.  Relentlessly Prime wailed on Galvatron with his bare fists, punching over and over and over again.  “FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS, MEGATRON,” he said to him, never stopping his fists, “WE’VE FOUGHT!  FOR EONS I PITTED MYSELF AGAINST YOU…BUT NOW, I’M PLAIN FED UP FIGHTING WITH YOU!”

 

Galvatron’s hand caught Prime’s right fist before he could strike his beaten face again.  Gritting his teeth, the Decepticon hissed, “My…name…is…GALVATRON!”  With his other arm he struck at Prime, sending the Autobot hurtling against the carved crater’s edge.  Galvatron jumped out of the crater, Prime just picking himself up.

 

His faceplate dented with Galvatron’s knuckle marks, Prime just chuckled, “New name, same faulty hardware.  You’ve never changed…you and Megatron shared the same corrupt spark!”

 

“Oh don’t worry about our spark,” mocked Galvatron, “Mine will still be pulsing…WHILE I EXTINGUISH YOURS!”

 

Parsecs away, Ultra Magnus was rushing to the deep space control center where Sprigner and Sandstorm were stationed.  “What is it?  What’s the danger?” the city commander pressed them for a reason for the alarm.

 

“Something’s coming straight at Cybertron!” Springer said, activating Teletran-3’s main view screen, “Something hot!”

 

Once it was brought up, Ultra Magnus stared at the image.  “By Primus, what is it?  A meteor, comet?”

 

Sandstorm checked Teletran-3’s readings.  “None of the above.  Some kind of giant particle stream, the likes of which are beyond our scale!”

 

Springer glared more closely at the readings, and his eyes widened.  “Sweet mother of Cybertron…it bears a weapon signature!  Gonna hit in nano-seconds!”

 

“Teletran,” Ultra Magnus yelled to the giant console, “Raise city shields, divert to form a planetary barrier!”

 

“Acknowledged, diverting full power to Iacon shields,” Teletran-3 replied.  At Iacon’s edge, the great shimmering energy dome went up, encasing the city.  In moments the dome grew, then altered its form.  Over the leading edge of Cybertron it became a great sheet arcing over roughly a quarter of the planet.  With not even seconds to lose, a powerful yellow beam blasted against it, the Cybertronian atmosphere quaking.

 

A monstrous thunder shook over the city.  Ultra Magnus, once the shocks settled, asked Teletran-3, “What’s our status?”

 

“City shield strength down to sixteen percent, minimal damage reports coming in from Iacon and outlying cities,” Teletran-3 beeped back.

 

“Well get those shields back to full strength again!” Ultra Magnus demanded.

 

“Negative,” Teletran-3 beeped back, “Ionizing effect of blast polarized shield generators.  Extensive restoration required to boost shield power to full capacity.”

 

“Slag,” Ultra Magnus cursed, “that was definitely some form of long-range attack.  But from who?”

 

A few million kilometers away, Scorpinok continued on its path toward Cybertron.  Inside Zarak smiled, pleased at the results.  “Excellent,” he said, “Thanks to High-Q’s quantum fission core, our simple weapons test proved more proficient than we could ever have imagined.”

 

The blue orb was now bolted down in a slot at Scorpinok’s core, pulsing in tandem with the surrounding generators.  All manner of devices operated at hypercapacity, engines drumming loudly as raw energy fed the Hive machine.

 

“The time has come to take Cybertron for our own,” Zarak boastfully decreed, “Perhaps…when the Hive’s domination is secure…I’ll give Cybertron to Galvatron…once he vows to serve me.”

 

The Scorpinok plowed into Cybertron space mercilessly.  All over Iacon alarms rang, the Scorpinok appearing as the biggest blip ever seen on a radar screen.  Skylynx was the first to rush out to confront him, his mouth open to allow his cannons to fire.  Scars were left in the Hive ship’s armor, but nothing beyond superficial.  A pair of small cannons swiveled and returned the favor, knocking Skylynx into his two halves.

 

In minutes, Zarak’s creation landed to the south of Iacon itself, becoming a clawed, eight-legged arachnid of alien metal ready to tear down everything in its path.  A platoon of Auotbots rushed to its flank, but the blaster-stinger mounted to the end swiveled.  It glowed, then unleashed a bolt of potent energy.  The ground erupted, tossing the Autobots aside like toy cars.

 

“What the Pit?  Scorpinok?  Back already?” Ultra Magnus exclaimed as he lurched over the image, “Quickly!  Raise the shields back up!”

 

“But we’ve only restored them to twenty-four percent!” Springer told Ultra Magnus, “and judging from how fast that bug’s blasting our guys, it will only withstand one shot, maybe two if we’re lucky!”

 

“Do it,” Ultra Magnus ordered, “We can not let Iacon fall once more.”  He paused one moment longer, contemplating one other thing.  Clicking on his com-link, Ultra Magnus radioed, “Ultra Magnus to Blaster, activate the planetary distress beacon.  We are going to need all the help we can get.”

 

On Nebulos, High-Q worked over one shaded bench, the sparks of his personal welding tool providing the only illumination.  A red light began flashing to his left, on his command console.  He quickly finished the last adjustments and slammed down the cover on what appeared to be a small, robotic arm.  As High-Q checked what his systems reported, the hand attached to that arm moved, testing its own movements.  Slowly, a mechanoid body sat up, a set of orange eyes staring at High-Q with his back turned.  It got to a pair of feet, walking up behind the Nebulon.

 

“A beacon,” High-Q spoke, “from Cybertron.  It is the Hive, as I’ve always feared.”  Turning about, he squarely faced the darkened entity staring back at him.  “Your friends, it seems, are calling out for help.  Prime will be needed…as will RedStreak, for the coming battle.  I trust you know what to do?”

 

The head and its brilliant orange eyes nodded to High-Q, then turned to its left, toward the construction bay.  It approached the railing, glancing at what appeared to be an alien craft, sharp-angled and triangular in shape with a pair of small tailfins over its boxy engine section.  The entity was drawn to it, descending via a lift and walking to the ship itself on the bay floor.

 

“Remember,” High-Q spoke to his creation, “You and he are responsible for the other’s well-being.  I have done what asked of me…and all I ask in return is that you and your ‘friends’ leave me be.”  As the Nebulon genius turned away, he only further said, “Conflict is not my arena…only science, and my people…are.”

 

The entity watched as High-Q walked away from the railing, vanishing from the light.  “I shall remember, High-Q,” he said, ascending into the open cockpit.”

 

On Galvinok, Fortress Maximus hovered in place, exchanging fire with the beastly Trypticon.  Inside him Spike confronted Cerebros, the Autobot still refusing to fuse and transform.  “No…no, I won’t!” Cerebros insisted, “Not again….”

 

“Please Cerebros!  Highbrow and the others need our help, as does Prime!  You know very well Fortress Maximus can not continue to fight in this form!” Spike begged of the Autobot.

 

Cerebros let out an indecisive groan.  Slowly, his body transformed, arms, legs and torso reforming.  “Oh…as you wish, but I can not continue in these…endeavourers!”  Cerebros firmly spoke.

 

“Trust me Cerebros,” Spike said, transforming and becoming Cerebros’ head, “I don’t enjoy going into battle any more than you.  Now let’s get this over with!”

 

The command tower canopy opened, Cerebros flying out.  In midair Fortress Maximus shifted, arms extending as he slanted down, his broad feet planting themselves on the ground.  His head sailed down, fusing in a shimmer of electricity.  Fortress Maximus stood in all his glory, all his might, before all of Galvinok.

 

“Trypticon,” bellowed the Autobot giant, “face that which is…Fortress…Maximus!”  Headstrong more than ever, the Autobot titan swung at the Decepticon, bashing him in the snout, the horn-like gold tower shattering like so much glass.

 

The Decepticon staggered back, but did not relent.  Instead, Trypticon lurched forward, chomping down hard on Fortress Maximus’ left thigh.  His teeth dug into the armor, the Autobot clenching but not overwhelmed by the pain.  Balling his fists together, Fortress Maximus raised his arms up and slammed them down into Trypticon’s back, knocking the creature out cold.

 

His eyes panned elsewhere, spying with a telescopic gaze the battle waging between Prime and Galvatron.  The battle seemed matched, both opponents receiving their share of blows.  Prime ran at Galvatron, but then the Decepticon kicked him back, knocking him down to the ground hard.  “Finally!” Galvatron said, looming over Prime.  He powered his cannon up, aiming for his head.  “It…is…over…Prime.”

 

“NO!” 

 

Galvatron let out a surprised gasp as a giant hand clamped around his waist along with his arms.  Fortress Maximus hoisted the Decepticon up, staring at him face-to-face.  “Galvatron,” Fotress Maximus’ voice rumbled, “most vile of all Decepticons; I will end your tyranny here and now!”

 

The Deceptcion laughed.  “Heh heh,” he said, even as Fortress Maximus’ fingers tightened around him like a grinding press, “So…the mighty Maximus.  You…UGH…have me at your mercy, utterly defenseless…but tell me, whose voice speaks for you?”

 

“Fortress Maximus speaks for himself,” the giant thundered his reply, squeezing Galvatron tighter.

 

The vice closing tighter, Galvatron still managed to speak.  “Yes…of course!  Your voice…or is it?  Cerebros and Spike are part of you now!  Which one directs you?”  Fortress Maximus paused, eyes freezing for a moment.  Galvatron smiled, sensing his opportunity.  “Yes…you know it!  Cerebros…if you are part of Maximus, you know you can’t kill me!  It…UGH…violates…AGH…everything you…believe!”

 

Something rattled inside Fortress Maximus’ mind…a true conflict of thought.  Grunting, struggeling to carry out any action, Maximus uttered, “Must stop…but can’t!  Galvatron is evil! But killing wrong!  Fighting wrong!  Agh!  Must…decide!”

 

Giant flames spewed at Fortress Maximus’ backside from Trypticon, Maximus yelling in pain.  Galvatron fled from his hand, laughing loudly.  “Ha ha!  Here’s my advice to you, Fortress Maximus!”  He fired, square at the giant’s neck.  “Get a new head!”

 

Cerebros fell, automatically transforming and landing on Fortress Maximus’ forearm.  He groaned in pain, shaking his head in disbelief.  From within him Spike asked, “Cerebros!  Why did you do that?  We could have stopped him once and for all!”

 

Cerebros replied, watching as Galvatron flew off, “Because…he was right.”  Suddenly, strange static began to fill his audio circuits, a voice just barely readable.  “A transmission!  Someone’s calling from Cybertron!”

 

Spike, sitting in Cerebros’ head, deciphered the message.  “My lord…it’s the Hive.  They’re attacking Iacon itself with Scorpinok!”

 

“Then we must leave this pointless battle,” Cerebros stated.  Looking up, he yelled out to Fortress Maximus’ headless torso, “Maximus!  Transform to cruiser mode!  We’ve got to get to Cybertron!”

 

Beneath Cerebros, Maximus’ body changed back into the hovering, massive fortress it was before.  Cerebros bolted back into the command tower as Fortress Maximus swung low over the battlefield, the numerous Nebulons and Autobots jumping aboard.  Prime he came to last, the battered leader getting up.

 

Prime looked out, finding no sign of Galvatron.  “I’ll end this once and for all, Galvatron.  I vow by the Code of Primus itself!”  He transformed, his trail reattaching as he drove inside Fortress Maximus’ open airlock.  The Autobots then escaped from Galvinok at full speed, Cybertron itself calling for their aid.

 

Scorpinok’s massive, eight-legged frame stopped before the shielded gates of Iacon.  The shields, wavering but holding, blocked its path from entering.  “You can no longer hide from the Hive,” Zarak’s voice blared through Scorpinok, “Your precious defenses shall fall as easily as your world!”

 

The tail-blaster of Scorpinok charged.  Inside, the quantum core glowed like a star, pumping tremendous energy into the weapon.  Finally, as the scorpion’s tail shined with a terrible brilliance, it fired.

 

Inside Iacon it was as if a star had gone nova.  Everything became pure white with long trailing shadows, a powerful wind blowing through the city, sweeping everything clean that wasn’t bolted to the ground.  A blue flash sparked, marking the shields’ breaking point as they collapsed.  When the light subsided, Scorpinok stood at the city gates, ready to march in.

 

A giant claw smashed down part of the encircling way, collapsing several near-by buildings as well.  Ultra Magnus watched from the command center of all Iacon at the destruction that was just beginning to be inflicted upon the city.  “Slag!  Scorpinok’s far stronger than before.  We won’t be able to hold long….”

 

Blaster, sitting at his post, looked to Magnus and brought something to his attention with his optimistic face.  “Good news Magnus, getting a radio from Prime and Fortress Maximus!  Our boys are on their way!”

 

“Maybe too late I’m afraid, even with Prime!” Ultra Magnus groaned, “Blaster, we’re gonna have to face this thing head-on, as suicidal as it sounds.”

 

“No kidding!  I coulda told ya that millicycles ago!” Blaster said.  Regardless, he and Ultra Magnus ran outside, rushing to the site where dozens of Autobot warriors were amassing.  Guns were being blasted at full charge at Scorpinok, the clawed menace taking little if any notice of it.

 

Wrek-Gar flung his ax at Scorpinok, but it was deflected, not even leaving a nick in the black armor.  Catching it, he saw Ultra Magnus and Blaster coming.  “Well yeee-ha!” the Junkion Autobot cheered, “Da cavalry has arrived to save the ranch!”

 

“Like to talk TV myself, Wrek-Gar,” Blaster said, “But we got one bummer of a situation if you haven’t noticed!”

 

At the frontlines, Broadside and Defensor were brushed aside like bugs as Scorpinok swung a claw.  Both crashed, a pile-up of Protectobots on top of Broadside.  Observing this, Ultra Magnus noted, “This isn’t going good!  An army of Autobots can’t match THAT thing!  We’ll need a different approach.”  Turning to Blaster, he began to suggest, “Blaster, deploy your Cassetticons.  Perhaps they can slip by and infiltrate inside….”

 

A deep, shrieking noise suddenly filled the air.  Ultra Magnus, Blaster, and Wrek-Gar looked up…and hovering above Scorpinok in the black sky was what looked like a fluorescent red star.  It flashed, and in the blink of an eye it stretched out into a flowing beam of light coming straight for Cybertron.  Like a comet it flew, arcing down as it neared the planet, sweeping over thousands upon thousands of miles in seconds.

 

“What is that thing?” Ultra Magnus asked.

 

The ribbon of crimson passed over Scorpinok in a flash, and the instant its trail faded, explosions went up all over the Hive city-bot, ones powerful enough to cause its eight legs to stumble.  Inside, the Hive members were flung about wildly, many still clinging to their battle stations desperately.  Zarak buckled even in his command post.  He demanded to know, “What just attacked us?”

 

Vorath, sitting at his post, tried to get a reading from his equipment.  “I-I don’t know!  Whatever it was, it’s moving too fast for our sensors to lock onto it!”

 

“Well I don’t care what it was, destroy it!” Zarak demanded.  Scorpinok was diverted from its attack on Iacon, instead it backed away and focused its myriad of blasters skyward.  Lasers were fired into the air, but the enigmatic ribbon darted fast, leaving long zig-zag trails into the Cybertronian sky.  It zoomed beyond any conceivable firing range, whirling toward and circling around one of the several moons of Cybertron.  Then, as it doubled-back, the crimson trail cloaking the object began to dim and fade, a sharp angled starfighter adorned in deep red and silver armor appearing.

 

Zarak’s optics narrowed on the ship.  “I don’t know who’s capable of piloting such a craft, but it’s surely High-Q’s work, I can deduce that much.”  Glancing back at his Hive underlings, Zarak bellowed, “Prepare for transformation!  I’ll take this thing out with my bare hands if I have to!”

 

Inside the starfighter’s cockpit, the shady figure watched through orange optics as Scorpinok became more focused on him and his ship.  “Alright, this is it,” he said, punching in several of the luminous controls before him, “We’ve got his attention.  Let’s show him what you’re made of, RedStreak.”

 

A laugh came back from the controls.  “You bet!” RedStreak’s voice heartily replied.  Towards the nosecone of the starfighter a small laser deployed from the underside.  Further back, toward the wingtips, a pair of linear missile launchers were mounted, the heads of missiles clicking into place with their warheads peaking out.

 

“For Cybertron!” RedStreak bravely declared.  Twin torpedoes launched, blasting at the tail end of Scorpinok.  A sizeable hole was made, exposing delicate mega-servos and crackling power lines.  As RedStreak began his dive, the laser sliced square into that hole, causing an even bigger blast.

 

RedStreak made a pass over the length of Scorpinok’s backside.  A pair of bomb bay doors swung wide open, releasing whole clusters of energon bombs that scattered completely.  Streaking by, the explosions followed in RedStreak’s wake, leaving whole sections and vital systems damaged.  RedStreak himself sweeped back skyward, Scorpinok’s claws clanging together as they missed the flying Autobot.

 

“Agh!” Monzo yelled, “Our weapon systems are locking up!”

 

Nightstick, trying to seal a smoking crack in one console, said, “If this keeps up there won’t be enough of us to get us home!  He’ll tear us apart!”

 

Zarak stood up and walked from his command seat.  “Are the transformation systems functional?” he barked a question to Nightstick.

 

“Yeah, but…”

 

“Good!  I’m not going to be usurped my chance by one measly Autobot!”  Zarak stepped out, standing atop Scorpinok’s block head.  “Scorpinok!” he bellowed as loud as possible, “TRANSFORM!”

 

Gears and servos whirled deep inside the Hive machine, parts coming together and merging.  Scorpinok rose up on two massive legs, the crab-like claws stretching out further.  The scorpion’s head blasted off, hovering in mid-air for but a moment.  Zarak joined with it, merging and transforming into Scorpinok’s head.  Landing, a surge of power flowed into the giant transformer, a bitter scowl on Scorpinok’s face.

 

“AUTOBOT!” Zarak-Scorpinok shouted out, his voice rattling the landscape, “MY GREATEST ENEMY MAY HAVE BUILT YOU, BUT LET’S SEE HOW YOU FARE AGAINST SCORPINOK’S FULL STRENGTH!”

 

Deep inside, the quantum core doubled its output, glowing even more brightly.  Outside, the excess energy building up made Scorpinok’s very plating glow an astral yellow.  Scorpinok’s eyes glowed pure white, and in a burst fired a huge beam.  RedStreak arced up and down, giant cuts left in buildings as Scorpinok’s eyes followed him fixatedly.

 

“Snappy visitors!  Reports of unidentified flying objects filling the area!  Officials claim it’s a weather balloon…report at eleven!” Wrek-Gar blared in his garbled language.

 

“Weather balloon or not,” Blaster said, “That guy’s got some fancy moves!”

 

RedStreak bolted up, arcing over a building.  His angular nosecone suddenly split in two, stretching out as feet folded out.  He landed, the rear quarter of his starship form rotating, the auxiliary engines to the sides becoming shoulders and arms pulling out from the main body.  Then, from the downward facing cockpit (now in the small of his back) a tiny, somewhat boxy figure leaped out.  It spun, contorted…transformed.  RedStreak’s head fused, now adorned with a prominent crest marked with the Autobot symbol.

 

Ultra Magnus blinked his eyes, “No…it can’t be!  RedStreak?

 

“RedStreak?  I didn’t even recognize him!” Blaster said in an equally surprised tone.

 

As RedStreak stood on the peak of an adjacent building, he glanced down at Ultra Magnus, yelling out, “Ultra Magnus!  Get everyone out of here, stat!  I’m gonna take on this bug!”

 

“Have you lost it?” Ultra Magnus shouted back, “You can’t defeat Scorpinok, no matter how fast you can move!”

 

“Maybe, but me and my friend can buy some time!” RedStreak replied, his optics now fixed on Scorpinok.  He jumped, a beam from Scorpinok blowing the top half of the building away entirely.  Hovering in mid-air, jets from his feet firing, RedStreak yelled, “Well are you going to wait for him to squash us into paper clips or what Magnus?”

 

Although Ultra Magnus frowned, he took the ‘new’ RedStreak’s advice.  “Alright people, load up!” he ordered.  He transformed, his trailer ready to take in the wounded and damaged.  “Whatch you skipds, Red!” Ultra Magnus warned the Autobot.

 

“I intend to!” RedStreak replied.  He stretched his arms back.  The missile launchers on his wings underside swung down.  In rapid succession, they fired in gatling mode, energy bolts firing at Scorpinok.

 

“You’ll have to do better than that!” Zarak-Scorpinok yelled.  A claw swung by, RedStreak flying up to avoid the city-block-sized arm.

 

RedStreak smirked up at the massive menace.  “If you insist!” he said.  RedStreak transformed back, his partner returning to the cockpit as RedStreak swooped down at Scorpinok’s feet, flying right by up as a ninety-degree angle.  “Zarak,” he spoke, transforming back to robot mode and hovering in the giant’s face, “It’s time you said hello to my little friend!”

 

RedStreak’s head bolted off, a tiny red figure launching feet-first into Scorpinok’s eye.  It shattered, and Zarak himself, sitting directly behind, was stuck in his green jaw.  While Zarak was momentarily stunned, RedStreak’s comrade opened a latch beside Zarak’s seat, diving into the innards of Scorpinok.

 

Landing, the headmaster got to his knees, glancing around him through his orange visor.  “Now to take care of things from the inside-out!”  He whipped out a small, hand-held blaster and went down one long hall.

 

Outside, RedStreak shifted back to vehicle form and ran circles around Scorpinok, the giant’s arms flailing in the air as Zarak, now visible through one broken eye, tried to track the Autobot.  “I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS FOOLISHNESS!” Zarak-Scorpinok exclaimed.  Finally, a claw snagged the flyer, gripping tightly RedStreak.  Zarak glared closely as Scorpinok’s claw put the squeeze on…but strangely, the jet’s metal did not bend.

 

“Go ahead!  Try me!” taunted the captured RedStreak, “Tyronium alloy superstructure!  You may scratch my paint job, but you’ll never break me!  High-Q made sure of that!”

 

“Really?” Zarak said curiously, “Well..let’s put his theory to the test!”

 

Suddenly a bomb exploded in Scorpinok’s face.  “GAH!” Zarak yelled, covering his eyes.  Brainstorm and Highbrow swooped by, blasting Scorpinok’s head.  On the ground, Hardhead in tank mode fired his guns, the Targetmasters Hot Rod, Kup, Blur, and Pointblank doing the same.

 

Finally, Fortress Maximus in his full immensity appeared, stomping straight at Scorpinok.  “I don’t like it,” rumbled the Autobot giant, “when Hive slime threatens my friends.”  From his claw Maximus freed RedStreak, gripping the other claw with his free hand.

 

Scorpinok laughed.  With ease he forced the Headmaster giant back, snatching one of Fortress Maximus’ hands, the claw squeezing, whole sections of armor cracking around his wrists.  “This time,” Zarak-Scorpinok boasted, “Scorpinok will vanquish you, Fortress Maximus!”

 

Deep within the bowels of Scorpinok himself, RedStreak’s small counterpart ran his away through.  He was just outside the heart of Scorpinok when he heard the rushing of other feet.  Hiding beside a pumping tank, just meters away from the core, he sat still as Nightstick, Caliburst, and Vorath gather in front of the open entrance.

 

“Zarak said the intruder was heading this way!” Nighstick told the other two.

 

“He must be after the quantum core for the Auotbots!” Vorath warned.

 

“Autobots nothan!  He could be a mercenary, working for High-Q himself!” Caliburst said.

 

“Either way, we ain’t nothing getting near that core, not until Zarak finished off the Autobots for good!” Nightstick resolutely stated, standing fixed before the broad entrance, his shadow striking in the core’s stellar glow.

 

The ‘intruder’ reached to his wrist, clicking open a small com-link.  “RedStreak, at the core, but guarded as I feared!  Need a diversion on your part!” he whispered into the com-link.

 

The starship Autobot launched from Maximus’ palm, swooping about and flying straight at Scorpinok’s flank.  “Diversion on my way!” RedStreak shouted, launching a twin volley of torpedoes.  Near a small vent they went in, exploding seconds later.  Into the fiery smoke flew RedStreak, straight into Scorpinok.

 

Something rumbled near the core chamber, Caliburst looking up.  “Say, what’s that noise?” he asked.  To his immediate left the way burst apart in bright blue flames.  An arrow-like nosecone plowed through, the roar of rockets blaring as the three Hive members were flung aside.

 

Vorath, getting off the floor, yelled, “What in the galaxy is that?”

 

The starship plowed through, fully bursting through the wall and hovering in the narrow confines of the hall.  A mechanical voice from it replied, “RedStreak…your worst nightmare Hive scum!”  He launched another torpedo, the floor beneath the trio blown apart.

 

As the Hive returned fire, the rogue bolted from behind the pumps, dashing behind the Hive and running at the core.  He reached for it, pulling off the several wires linking it to the main turbine above.

 

“Hey!  He’s stealing the core!” Nightstick yelled.  He transformed and fired, blasting a chunk of the main turbine itself.  Electricity went wild, bolts jolting out from the turbine.  Amid the chaos, the figure took the orb and fled, jumping into RedStreak’s open cockpit with the Autobot turning about and taking off in a blaze of fire.

 

The glow from Scorpinok’s body faded, changing to its original black and violet.  “NO!  LOSING…POWER!” Zarak-Scorpinok yelled, his strength leaving him.  Fortress Maximus narrowed his eyes, finding the advantage his own once more.

 

“My turn,” Fortress Maximus said.

 

His hands latched onto one of Scorpinok’s claws.  He held tight, swinging about in a circle, then again…and again.  Soon the dense mass of Scorpinok was flung up by centrifugal force.  Smiling as the stunned face of Scorpinok, Fortress Maximus said, “So long!”

 

At the same moment Maximus released Scorpinok, RedStreak zipped out through the hole he carved, the giant Decepticon flung off the planet entirely.  As the giant yelled, RedStreak transformed back to robotic form, landing on Fortress Maximus’ right shoulder.  He took the quantum fission core from the stowage in his cockpit, shoving it into one of his missile launchers.  He detached it from his wing, holding it like a rifle.

 

“Here’s a little going away present…a gift from me…AND High-Q!” RedStreak said, aiming precisely.  The glowing orb blasted out, flying further and further and further out until….

 

KA-BOOM!  A pinwheel of blue-white light and smoke erupted over the sky of Cybertron like a newborn galaxy, shining brightly for several minutes.

 

“Noooooooooooooo!” Zarak’s voice trailed, Scorpinok vanishing from sight as he did two years before, at the dawn of the Gold Age itself.

 

Not long after the battle, Cerebros, Spike, and RedStreak were treated as heroes in the main hall of Cybertron.  Cerebros and RedStreak stood beside Prime and Ultra Magnus as they exchanged handshakes.

 

“You all did some incredible work, all for the sake of Iacon,” Optimus Prime said proudly, “Spike, Cerebros, Fortress Maximus, RedStreak…and then…the other.”

 

“Yeah,” Ultra Magnus said, looking straight at RedStreak with a smirk, “Who’s the new friend you’re teamed up with, Headmaster RedStreak?”

 

“Yes,” Prime seconded, “Who is your component partner?”

 

RedStreak chuckled.  “If you insist,” he smiled at them.  He held out his hands openly.  His head slowly transformed, again the mysterious newcomer taking shape and sliding down RedStreak’s shoulders and arms, standing upright in the Autobot’s hands.  He smiled and then reached back, clicking two locks at the back of his head open.  The back half unhinged, the exosuit mask peeling off.

 

A murmur went through the surrounding audience.  Light-brown hair flopped out, the face of a somewhat pale human smirking at the staring Autobots.  “I was surprised,” he said, reaching for a containment slot in his thigh, pulling out a pair of glasses that he put on, “that you didn’t recognize me earlier.  But then again, both me and Red had something of a…makeover one could say.”

 

“That’s an understatement, Chip!” Spike said from Cerebros’ head.  He transformed, jumping onto RedStreak’s hands to stand before him.  “I must say, High-Q is a miracle worker!”

 

“Yeah,” Chip agreed, patting the sides of his legs, “Through this exosuit, my paralysis is a thing of the past…though, of course, RedStreak himself proves one hell of a ride!”

 

“You said it,” replied the headless RedStreak.  As Spike reattached to Cerebros, he took Chip and merged once more.  Tapping his forehead, the new Headmaster said, “I have a feeling this will be one beautiful partnership, friend.”

 

The End

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