LJ presents: The Gathering Darkness
Why is it that I'm so spoiled?
All week long, I'd be hoping LJ would want to play an Avengers-themed game with me. It's been a while since we used Hawkeye, Black Panther, Giant Man and Wasp and I really felt like giving them a cracking adventure. To my (momentary) dismay, the kidlet had other ideas. "Actually, I had a whole Transformers-only game planned," she said, mock-innocence dripping from her tone, "just like you've been wanting for a while. Of course, if you'd rather play something else..."
Sneaky little so-and-so. I was, as you can imagine, only too happy to break out the 'bots (even if it did mean unpacking a moving box) and take them for a run. I should have realised an epic was in the offing, given LJ's amazing knack for TF stories and her determination to fix the "mistakes" of Transformers: Prime. But I didn't, and I'm glad for that because the adventure upon which we embarked was a huge, welcome surprise.
(Oh and, just for fun, I've seeded the following novelisation with a bunch of hyperlinks. I figured it was long past time the Transfans who read these stories got to see precisely which toys LJ uses to bring her stories to life. It's an eclectic mix, but damned if they don't all go together perfectly in my eyes.)
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LJ presents:
THE GATHERING DARKNESS
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
With neither a city to call their own nor a common target to assail, the population of Villainville had broken up into rival factions once more. The Decepticons had taken over the industrial area of the ruined neighbourhood and turned their attention back toward the conquest of the entire universe. One morning, the Fallen called his disciples to attention. "Shockwave has discovered something," he announced.
The cycloptian scientist took centre stage. "As you are well aware, Optimus Prime recently defeated Unicron, whose chassis was subsequently disintegrated by Thor, Silver Surfer and the Green Lantern Corps. Additionally, many of you would be aware of a basic scientific principle: that energy can neither be created or destroyed."
"I didn't know that," Devastator grunted.
"That's because you're an imbecile," Starscream sniggered.
"Knowing this," Shockwave continued, "I commenced a scan of the universe in order to ascertain the whereabouts of Unicron's energy signature. Late last night, I found it." He turned on the video screen. It showed a jagged piece of rock, black like obsidian yet radiating a palpable aura of darkness. "When atoms of Unicron meet, they congeal and form this substance," he went on. "As energon is the stuff of our creator, Primus, so too are these remnants of Unicron, these veins of... dark energon."
"Shockwave has located a deposit of dark energon on the distant planet Nebulos," the Fallen said, stepping forward. "You will go and retrieve it. Once properly studied, it could well prove the key to both defeating the Autobots and taking total control of the universe!"
Megatron bowed reverently. "Of course, my master. I shall form a battle squadron immediately and..."
"You will all go," the Fallen cut him off, "and Shockwave shall be in command."
Megatron looked up, grinding his serrated teeth dangerously. "I beg your pardon?"
"You failures have become too numerous of late, my disciple," the Fallen snapped. "The time has come for a change in the way we... do business. Shockwave discovered dark energon, and so Shockwave shall lead the mission. You will follow his every order as if it came from me, or you will suffer at my hands. Is this understood?"
Seething, Megatron nonetheless agreed. He held his titanium tongue as Shockwave barked orders, rallied the troops for deployment, promoted Frenzy and - gallingly - chose Starscream as his second-in-charge. When he did finally speak, it was at a volume only his most loyal soldier, Soundwave, could hear. "Give those fools your fealty... for now," he rasped. "When the time comes, we'll show the Fallen who the real failures are."
Once his troops had departed through a Space Bridge, the Fallen turned toward the shadows and beckoned. "You can come out now," he said.
Lockdown, the infamous bounty hunter, melted out of the darkness. "I still don't know why you wanted me around for this," he sniffed. "I'm not one of your little lapdog Decepticon tin cans, old mech. You want my kind of services, you pay special. And I'm talking upgrades."
Laughing to himself, the Fallen reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a tiny speck of black ore. "This is like no upgrade you've experienced, mercenary," he hissed. "Shockwave was able to locate this tiny sample of dark energon and bring it to me." He held it out to Lockdown. "Consider this your down-payment."
Curious, Lockdown plugged the droplet of darkness into his power core. His processor was instantly ablaze with demonic, fire-tinged imagery while his superstructure flushed with raw power. The bounty hunter gasped and laughed, his normal composure abandoned, as he reached an evil euphoria. "Fallen," he said at last, "you've got yourself a deal."
"Excellent," the ancient traitor replied. "Now: go and kidnap Optimus Prime and the human child, Sari Sumdac. I want the Autobots good and distracted while Shockwave's mission is taking place, and there's nothing those idiots care for more than their leader and their snotty mascot."
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Little did the Fallen know his enemies were already on Nebulos! Ratchet, Bumblebee and Grimlock had crossed a Space Bridge to the distant world in search of precious metals. Super Hero City was being rebuilt a little more every day, and the Autobots were determined to make it stronger and better than ever. Bumblebee carved out sections of rock and ore with his stingers, Ratchet lowered them to ground level with his magnets and Grimlock chomped, crushed and melted them into easily-transported ingots.
"I hate to say it," Ratchet grinned, "but we're a well-oiled machine! When Prime told me to team up with you two, I thought it was the worst idea he'd ever had!"
"Gee, thanks," Bumblebee deadpanned.
"Ignore grumpy doc-bot," Grimlock snorted. "Him just jealous we younger 'bots do more work than him, and make it look easy."
"Easy?" Ratchet barked. "You two couldn't find your own skidplates without both hands and a map! Why, if I wasn't here, you'd be..."
Sighing loudly, Grimlock crunched through another tonne of rock. From out his powerful jaws tumbled a large black chunk of rock. "Ooh," he said. "Shiny!" Transforming to robot mode, he stooped down to pick it up. The moment his fingertips made contact with the lump of dark energon, his simple mind and bestial nature were overwhelmed with the taint of Unicron. His optics flared crimson as he transformed once more and, roaring with savage fury, attacked his friends!
Ratchet and Bumblebee did all they could to avoid the Dinobot's frenzied assault but, in the end, they had no choice but to blast the rampaging beast with an EMP. While checking on his friend's condition, Bumblebee saw and almost picked up the dark energon ingot. Thankfully, Ratchet sealed it in a magnetic bubble. "I don't know what this is, or why it's giving off energon-like readings," he groused, "but no one's touching it until we get home!"
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On Earth, Optimus Prime, Jazz and Bulkhead were working to rebuild Hero Headquarters when Sari arrived. "There's a big, black car with spikes causing a real mess downtown," she announced. Optimus accompanied her back to the city, ready to confront Lockdown, while the others continued their work. The bounty hunter led them on a merry chase through the debris-strewn streets and toward an old chemical plant. Once they were inside, he sprung his trap - an enormous blob of super-sticky chewing gum that stuck them fast and held them tight!
"Ew, gross," Sari squeamed. "It's not even strawberry flavoured! Talk about evil!"
"Step one complete," Lockdown smiled. "Now for step two." He opened a channel to Hero Headquarters, delighting in the Autobots' shocked expressions, and demanded an upgrades ransom for his hostages. Being the creep he is, Lockdown couldn't resist sticking the boot in. "You might want to hurry with those upgrades, ninja-bot," he taunted Jazz. "Seeing as I'm the mech who slagged your master, it'd be a real shame if I dropped your precious leader in acid as well. Heh heh heh."
Bulkhead wanted to activate the Space Bridge to Nebulos and call the others back to help. "You're welcome to do that," Jazz replied, strapping dozens of cyber-ninja weapons to his superstructure, "but I'm going after Lockdown right now." Bulkhead begged him not to, but Jazz could not be swayed. "It's a matter of honour, you dig?" he asked. "Master Yoketron died because of Lockdown and he's never been avenged. Today, that changes." The friends shook hands and then split tracks - Bulkhead riding the Space Bridge out into the universe, Jazz making all speed toward the city.
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On Nebulos, Laserbeak returned from his reconnaissance mission and reported to Soundwave. "He has found the dark energon on the other side of that crevasse," the Decepticon communication explained. "It has already been discovered by an Autobot search party."
"Fantastic leadership, Shockwave," Megatron sneered. "What do we do now, genius?"
Shockwave, who was riding in the back of Devastator's alt-mode, seemed unconcerned. "We wait," he said simply. "The probability of the Autobots knowing about dark energon, and therefore being in competition with us to possess it, is incredibly low. We shall wait here, out of sight, until they move on with their own mission. Then we can collect our prize with a minimum of fuss and bother."
"Fuss and bother?" Megatron raged. "You are a disgrace to the Decepticon name! If you won't deal with our enemies, you walking calculator, then I will!" He transformed into his tank mode and zoomed off.
"How dare you disobey Lord Shockwave?" Starscream howled. "Fear not, oh great commander - I shall fly ahead and cut the traitor off!" He, too, transformed and flew toward the Autobots.
Barricade, Blitzwing and Ravage stared uncomprehendingly. "I don't get it," Barricade said. "If the plan is to wait until the Autobots leave, why are you letting those two run ahead?"
Shockwave's lone optic flashed. "Because this was always my plan," he said smugly. "When he was in command, Megatron never listened to any of my suggestions. The likelihood he would do so now, when I am in a position of leadership, is almost non-existent. He and Starscream will serve as excellent distractions while the rest of us take the high ground and wipe the Autobots out from a safe distance."
"Oooh," Blitzwing's random face cackled, "it's so impressive, having a real man in charge for a change!"
Fuelled by his anger, Megatron catapulted across the crevasse and attacked the unsuspecting Autobots. Ratchet and Bumblebee dove for cover, abandoning the dark energon while dragging the still-offline Grimlock behind them. They tried to return fire with stinger bolts and magnetic blasts but Megatron had them pinned down. Salvation came from unexpected quarters - Starscream dropped from the skies and landed atop his former leader, babbling about "obeying orders". Emboldened, the Autobots pressed the attack... and fell right into Shockwave's trap. "Take aim, Decepticons," he ordered, "and annihilate them."
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Jazz switched off his headlights and pulled up alongside the Super Hero City chemical plant. "This has got to be it," he thought to himself. "This is the only place in the city Lockdown could have made a super-sticky bubble gum trap and have acid on-hand. I'd bet anything he's inside, which means I'll need to be careful."
Before his turn to evil, Lockdown had been trained by Yoketron in the ways of the cyber-ninja. His cunning and deadliness were, therefore, equal to Jazz's own. However, that gave Jazz insight into the way his opponent thought and planned... meaning he was prepared. Lockdown had mined the chemical plant with dozens of booby-traps, including a pit of synthetic Scraplets, trapdoors over acid baths, bubble gum shooters and scores of electrified nets. Jazz dodged them all - some only barely - and destroyed them with his arsenal. By the time he reached the main floor, he was armed only with his laser-nunchako and a fraying temper.
"This game's over, fool," he snapped. "Come out so I can whup yo' sorry skidplate!"
To his surprise, Lockdown did not launch a sneak attack. Instead, the bounty hunter stepped into the light and grinned. "I been waiting a long time for this, Autobot," he said. "All my career, I've made it a point to stick to business, but I'd be lying if I didn't confess my desire to wipe out Yoketron's legacy." He raised his hands - one ended in a claw, the other a chainsaw. "This particular bit of business, then, will be an honest pleasure."
With dueling war cries, they leaped at one another.
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The Decepticons on Nebulos were about to fire when a saviour arrived! Tumbling from a Space Bridge portal high overhead, Bulkhead landed on his wheels and accelerated into his foes. Caught off-guard, the Decepticons could not stop themselves being driven over the cliff's edge and down into the depths of the crevasse. Unfortunately, in his haste and ignorance, Bulkhead knocked the dark energon ingot down with them.
"Guys," he cried. "We gotta get back to Earth right now! Lockdown's kidnapped Optimus and Sari, and Jazz has gone to save them by himself! We gotta help!"
"Oh, man," Bumblebee groaned. "This day just keeps getting worse and worse!"
"You're not kidding," Ratchet interrupted. "I've just completed my analysis of that black metal. It's some kind of 'dark energon', and it's giving off the same kind of power as Unicron did. No wonder the Decepticons want it so badly. If they get their hands on it..."
"Umm," Bulkhead stammered nervously, "they kinda already do have their hands on it. I sent it over the edge with them a second ago. Sorry, doc-bot."
"You what?" Ratchet raged. "Bulkhead, you big lummox!"
"It not matter," said a weak, pained voice. They turned to see Grimlock struggling back to his feet, leaning on his tail-weapon for support. "Me felt power of that stuff, and it not good thing. Made me mad... feral and angry. What it do to Decepticons, who already evil, be even worse." He straightened up, winced, then flexed his mighty fists. "Prime, Sari and Jazz have to fend for themselves. If we no stop dirtwad 'cons here, whole universe in danger."
Ratchet blinked. "Looks like someone's had an intelligence upgrade," he said, obviously impressed.
"But not bravery upgrade," Grimlock replied sternly. "Always had tonnes of that. Right now, me have idea. We no able to touch stupid rock, but we can get it other way."
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He managed to parry the chain-whip with his own weapon, but wasn't ready for the follow-up kick. Jazz hurtled backward, crashing through an array of conveyor belts, as Lockhead laughed heartily. The impact cleared the Autobot's processor. He was thinking too much about revenge and not enough about his purpose - rescuing his friends. He had made the same mistake as Lockdown; he'd put personal matters before the business at hand. "This l'il game's about to change," he said darkly.
Lockdown came at him again, firing missiles from his shoulders while swinging his hook-hand. Jazz transformed and accelerated as if to charge him then, at the last minute, changed back to robot mode and jumped at Lockdown's head. The bounty hunter reached out, pivoted and - using Jazz's own momentum - threw the Autobot back toward the bubble gum trap. "Just like I planned," the cyber-ninja whooped.
Jazz used his laser-nunchako to snag an overhead cable and use it as a zip-line. He sped down toward the chemical plant floor and dashed for the "release" button on the trap. Lockdown suddenly realised his plan and transformed, roaring across to intercept. His spiked front grille dug painfully into Jazz's back but, with one outstretched fingertip, the Autobot brushed the all-important button. The viscous trap melted partially away, freeing Optimus Prime's right arm... and his axe.
Lockdown slammed Jazz into the nearest wall, then transformed and pushed him onto the floor. "My collection of cyber-ninja upgrades is about to be complete," he declared, raising his chainsaw high. With all his strength, Optimus threw his axe toward Jazz. The cyber-ninja deftly caught the weapon and swung upward, cleaving Lockdown's legs off at the waist. The bounty hunter cried out as his upper half toppled backward, then fell silent as emergency stasis lock took over.
Pushing Lockdown's legs aside, Jazz stood up and finished deactivating the bubble gum trap. A grateful Optimus and Sari struggled free. "Well done," Prime told his second-in-command. "You took a huge risk, Jazz, but you proved to be more than its equal."
"Thanks boss," Jazz replied. "Just a matter of keeping yo' mind on the game, y'know?"
"The game..." Optimus said, trailing off. "Oh, no! Lockdown talked about creating a distraction, didn't he? Quickly: where's Bulkhead?"
"He went to Nebulos to rustle up some reinforcements. Why?"
"I have a terrible feeling that the Decepticons are there too," Optimus intoned. "And if they are, then the other Autobots are gravely outnumbered. We need to open a Space Bridge to Nebulos immediately."
"Optimus, we can't," Sari said. "The machinery has to recharge between jumps. Even if Bulkhead left when Lockdown sent his ransom message, it'll be another hour before we can open a portal."
The Autobot commander looked up at the sky, as if his mighty optics could see across light years. "Then we must pray that, like Jazz, our friends are the equal of whatever challenge finds them."
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Sheepishly, Laserbeak followed his leader's instructions and peered over the lip of the crevasse. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a face full of Bulkhead's tyres! The Autobots plunged over the cliff's edge and, in their vehicle modes, crashed into their foes. Grimlock, in his dinosaur form, landed next to the dark energon sample and lined it up with his tail.
"Ratchet," he barked. "Think fast!"
Using his tail like a hockey stick, Grimlock sent the dark energon flying with a perfect slap-shot. It sailed through the air and landed in front of Ratchet, who used his ambulance mode's bumper to pass it to Bumblebee. He handed it through a wave of incoming Decepticons and passed it to Bulkhead, who checked Barricade and Blitzwing before shooting the ingot back toward the Dinobot.
"Stop them," Shockwave cried, but it was too late. The Autobots had both their offence and defence well-scouted. Grimlock passed the 'puck' again before climbing atop Devastator and savaging his head. Bumblebee rode Starscream's back until the hapless aerial warrior crashed into the cliff. Frenzy, who was supposedly a ranking officer, fell apart under stress and the rest of the Decepticons followed suit. Eventually, only Shockwave and Megatron were left standing.
"Don't move," Shockwave yelled, brandishing his arm canon. "Before you came down here, I tapped into the dark energon and used it to power my weapon! One blast from this will atomise you all!"
Grimlock transformed to robot mode. "You bluffing, me can tell," he snarled.
"Bluffing would be an illogical move," Shockwave replied. "The probabilities are not in your favour, primitive. Return the sample to be or be terminated. These are your only options."
"I can think of another one," Megatron said. "He pressed his own weapon into Shockwave's back and fired, blowing a huge hole through the scientist's torso. The egotistical Decepticon dropped like a stone. "Ah, that's better," Megatron sighed happily. "Now, Autobots, you'd best be on your way with the dark energon." He waved them away dismissively. "Scurry back to Optimus and speak of your victory this day, but tell him he owes me for this."
Bumblebee shook his head. "Why?" he demanded.
Megatron's smile was ugly. "The Fallen's failures have become too numerous of late," he said. "The time has come for a change in the way I... do business. Begone!"
Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, the Autobots took off - pushing the deadly metal in front of them. "I just hope we're in time to help Sari, Optimus and Jazz," Bulkead said mournfully.
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When the Space Bridge finally opened, Optimus Prime breathed an audible sigh of relief. He greeted his successful warriors with warmth, then listened to their story and looked upon their new discovery with concern. "I can feel the Matrix of Leadership, within my chest, railing against this stone's radiation," he said. "It truly is a remnant of Unicron... the darkest and blackest of evils made solid. I fear there is a new danger in our universe, Autobots."
"We can deal with it, Prime," Ratchet said confidently. "As soon as Iron Man, Donatello and the rest of the science team are back, we'll poke and probe this thing until we know all its secrets. The 'cons won't be able to use it against us without us being ready."
"If they even bother," Bumblebee chimed in. "Old bucket-head didn't seem too interested in this stuff. I mean, heck, he practically gave it away!"
"That is what concerns me the most," Optimus said. He kept a wary optic on the dark energon, as if it could explode at any moment. "No one would ever mistake Megatron for a generous being. If he was willing to part with such a potent source of raw energy, it can only be because he has a grander design in play. And that is never a good thing for us."
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"You dare fail me, Megatron? Again? This is intolerable!"
The beaten, battered Decepticon forces cringed as the Fallen yelled. Yet for once, his mentor's displeasure made Megatron smile. "My master," he said, fighting to hide his mirth, "it was not I who failed you. Surely my lord remembers his decision to place Shockwave in charge of this mission and can imagine the mistakes that followed?"
Optics blazing with anger, the Fallen grabbed Shockwave by the legs and tipped him upside-down. The scientist wept and wailed as he was bashed, again and again, against the floor of the makeshift Decepticon base. "Cretin! Coward! Failure!" the Fallen bellowed. "Who else, besides you, is responsible for this mess? Tell me now!"
Starscream and Frenzy looked positively ill as Megatron spoke again. "No one, my lord," he said. "This defeat rests squarely on the shoulders of Shockwave."
The Fallen straightened up. "Then Shockwave alone shall learn the price of disappointing me," he rasped. He stalked away toward his private chambers, deaf to Shockwave's pleas for mercy. A large steel door swung shut with hideous finality.
"So much for the competition," Megatron grinned.
"Uh, mighty Megatron?" Starscream simpered. "Not that I wish to question your generosity, of course, but I'm puzzled as to why you would..."
"You now owe me your life, Starscream," Megatron roared, getting right up in the aerial warrior's faceplate, "and so your life is mine to use as I see fit. You will obey my orders without question from this moment on, or I'll have to defrag my processor and remember who Shockwave picked to be his second-in-charge. Understand?"
Starscream snapped to attention. "Yes, my Lord Megatron!"
"Go clean the others up," Megatron growled. "All of them. You're on rag-and-polish duty until I say otherwise." He watched Starscream mince away, then beckoned Soundwave across for a private audience. "Now we can proceed with my plans," he whispered.
"Was it wise to let the Autobots have a sample of dark energon?" Soundwave inquired.
"It will do them no good," Megatron answered. "Prime is far too superstitious, too sickeningly pure, to ever grasp the true potential of this energy source. If anything, letting that piece slip through our fingers will only give the myth of dark energon more intensity. That way, Soundwave, when we find the next ingot of that gloriously unholy power source, you and I will use it to trigger within ourselves the ultimate transformation... into gods before whom even the Fallen will tremble!"
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Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
All week long, I'd be hoping LJ would want to play an Avengers-themed game with me. It's been a while since we used Hawkeye, Black Panther, Giant Man and Wasp and I really felt like giving them a cracking adventure. To my (momentary) dismay, the kidlet had other ideas. "Actually, I had a whole Transformers-only game planned," she said, mock-innocence dripping from her tone, "just like you've been wanting for a while. Of course, if you'd rather play something else..."
Sneaky little so-and-so. I was, as you can imagine, only too happy to break out the 'bots (even if it did mean unpacking a moving box) and take them for a run. I should have realised an epic was in the offing, given LJ's amazing knack for TF stories and her determination to fix the "mistakes" of Transformers: Prime. But I didn't, and I'm glad for that because the adventure upon which we embarked was a huge, welcome surprise.
(Oh and, just for fun, I've seeded the following novelisation with a bunch of hyperlinks. I figured it was long past time the Transfans who read these stories got to see precisely which toys LJ uses to bring her stories to life. It's an eclectic mix, but damned if they don't all go together perfectly in my eyes.)
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LJ presents:
THE GATHERING DARKNESS
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
With neither a city to call their own nor a common target to assail, the population of Villainville had broken up into rival factions once more. The Decepticons had taken over the industrial area of the ruined neighbourhood and turned their attention back toward the conquest of the entire universe. One morning, the Fallen called his disciples to attention. "Shockwave has discovered something," he announced.
The cycloptian scientist took centre stage. "As you are well aware, Optimus Prime recently defeated Unicron, whose chassis was subsequently disintegrated by Thor, Silver Surfer and the Green Lantern Corps. Additionally, many of you would be aware of a basic scientific principle: that energy can neither be created or destroyed."
"I didn't know that," Devastator grunted.
"That's because you're an imbecile," Starscream sniggered.
"Knowing this," Shockwave continued, "I commenced a scan of the universe in order to ascertain the whereabouts of Unicron's energy signature. Late last night, I found it." He turned on the video screen. It showed a jagged piece of rock, black like obsidian yet radiating a palpable aura of darkness. "When atoms of Unicron meet, they congeal and form this substance," he went on. "As energon is the stuff of our creator, Primus, so too are these remnants of Unicron, these veins of... dark energon."
"Shockwave has located a deposit of dark energon on the distant planet Nebulos," the Fallen said, stepping forward. "You will go and retrieve it. Once properly studied, it could well prove the key to both defeating the Autobots and taking total control of the universe!"
Megatron bowed reverently. "Of course, my master. I shall form a battle squadron immediately and..."
"You will all go," the Fallen cut him off, "and Shockwave shall be in command."
Megatron looked up, grinding his serrated teeth dangerously. "I beg your pardon?"
"You failures have become too numerous of late, my disciple," the Fallen snapped. "The time has come for a change in the way we... do business. Shockwave discovered dark energon, and so Shockwave shall lead the mission. You will follow his every order as if it came from me, or you will suffer at my hands. Is this understood?"
Seething, Megatron nonetheless agreed. He held his titanium tongue as Shockwave barked orders, rallied the troops for deployment, promoted Frenzy and - gallingly - chose Starscream as his second-in-charge. When he did finally speak, it was at a volume only his most loyal soldier, Soundwave, could hear. "Give those fools your fealty... for now," he rasped. "When the time comes, we'll show the Fallen who the real failures are."
Once his troops had departed through a Space Bridge, the Fallen turned toward the shadows and beckoned. "You can come out now," he said.
Lockdown, the infamous bounty hunter, melted out of the darkness. "I still don't know why you wanted me around for this," he sniffed. "I'm not one of your little lapdog Decepticon tin cans, old mech. You want my kind of services, you pay special. And I'm talking upgrades."
Laughing to himself, the Fallen reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a tiny speck of black ore. "This is like no upgrade you've experienced, mercenary," he hissed. "Shockwave was able to locate this tiny sample of dark energon and bring it to me." He held it out to Lockdown. "Consider this your down-payment."
Curious, Lockdown plugged the droplet of darkness into his power core. His processor was instantly ablaze with demonic, fire-tinged imagery while his superstructure flushed with raw power. The bounty hunter gasped and laughed, his normal composure abandoned, as he reached an evil euphoria. "Fallen," he said at last, "you've got yourself a deal."
"Excellent," the ancient traitor replied. "Now: go and kidnap Optimus Prime and the human child, Sari Sumdac. I want the Autobots good and distracted while Shockwave's mission is taking place, and there's nothing those idiots care for more than their leader and their snotty mascot."
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Little did the Fallen know his enemies were already on Nebulos! Ratchet, Bumblebee and Grimlock had crossed a Space Bridge to the distant world in search of precious metals. Super Hero City was being rebuilt a little more every day, and the Autobots were determined to make it stronger and better than ever. Bumblebee carved out sections of rock and ore with his stingers, Ratchet lowered them to ground level with his magnets and Grimlock chomped, crushed and melted them into easily-transported ingots.
"I hate to say it," Ratchet grinned, "but we're a well-oiled machine! When Prime told me to team up with you two, I thought it was the worst idea he'd ever had!"
"Gee, thanks," Bumblebee deadpanned.
"Ignore grumpy doc-bot," Grimlock snorted. "Him just jealous we younger 'bots do more work than him, and make it look easy."
"Easy?" Ratchet barked. "You two couldn't find your own skidplates without both hands and a map! Why, if I wasn't here, you'd be..."
Sighing loudly, Grimlock crunched through another tonne of rock. From out his powerful jaws tumbled a large black chunk of rock. "Ooh," he said. "Shiny!" Transforming to robot mode, he stooped down to pick it up. The moment his fingertips made contact with the lump of dark energon, his simple mind and bestial nature were overwhelmed with the taint of Unicron. His optics flared crimson as he transformed once more and, roaring with savage fury, attacked his friends!
Ratchet and Bumblebee did all they could to avoid the Dinobot's frenzied assault but, in the end, they had no choice but to blast the rampaging beast with an EMP. While checking on his friend's condition, Bumblebee saw and almost picked up the dark energon ingot. Thankfully, Ratchet sealed it in a magnetic bubble. "I don't know what this is, or why it's giving off energon-like readings," he groused, "but no one's touching it until we get home!"
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On Earth, Optimus Prime, Jazz and Bulkhead were working to rebuild Hero Headquarters when Sari arrived. "There's a big, black car with spikes causing a real mess downtown," she announced. Optimus accompanied her back to the city, ready to confront Lockdown, while the others continued their work. The bounty hunter led them on a merry chase through the debris-strewn streets and toward an old chemical plant. Once they were inside, he sprung his trap - an enormous blob of super-sticky chewing gum that stuck them fast and held them tight!
"Ew, gross," Sari squeamed. "It's not even strawberry flavoured! Talk about evil!"
"Step one complete," Lockdown smiled. "Now for step two." He opened a channel to Hero Headquarters, delighting in the Autobots' shocked expressions, and demanded an upgrades ransom for his hostages. Being the creep he is, Lockdown couldn't resist sticking the boot in. "You might want to hurry with those upgrades, ninja-bot," he taunted Jazz. "Seeing as I'm the mech who slagged your master, it'd be a real shame if I dropped your precious leader in acid as well. Heh heh heh."
Bulkhead wanted to activate the Space Bridge to Nebulos and call the others back to help. "You're welcome to do that," Jazz replied, strapping dozens of cyber-ninja weapons to his superstructure, "but I'm going after Lockdown right now." Bulkhead begged him not to, but Jazz could not be swayed. "It's a matter of honour, you dig?" he asked. "Master Yoketron died because of Lockdown and he's never been avenged. Today, that changes." The friends shook hands and then split tracks - Bulkhead riding the Space Bridge out into the universe, Jazz making all speed toward the city.
----------
On Nebulos, Laserbeak returned from his reconnaissance mission and reported to Soundwave. "He has found the dark energon on the other side of that crevasse," the Decepticon communication explained. "It has already been discovered by an Autobot search party."
"Fantastic leadership, Shockwave," Megatron sneered. "What do we do now, genius?"
Shockwave, who was riding in the back of Devastator's alt-mode, seemed unconcerned. "We wait," he said simply. "The probability of the Autobots knowing about dark energon, and therefore being in competition with us to possess it, is incredibly low. We shall wait here, out of sight, until they move on with their own mission. Then we can collect our prize with a minimum of fuss and bother."
"Fuss and bother?" Megatron raged. "You are a disgrace to the Decepticon name! If you won't deal with our enemies, you walking calculator, then I will!" He transformed into his tank mode and zoomed off.
"How dare you disobey Lord Shockwave?" Starscream howled. "Fear not, oh great commander - I shall fly ahead and cut the traitor off!" He, too, transformed and flew toward the Autobots.
Barricade, Blitzwing and Ravage stared uncomprehendingly. "I don't get it," Barricade said. "If the plan is to wait until the Autobots leave, why are you letting those two run ahead?"
Shockwave's lone optic flashed. "Because this was always my plan," he said smugly. "When he was in command, Megatron never listened to any of my suggestions. The likelihood he would do so now, when I am in a position of leadership, is almost non-existent. He and Starscream will serve as excellent distractions while the rest of us take the high ground and wipe the Autobots out from a safe distance."
"Oooh," Blitzwing's random face cackled, "it's so impressive, having a real man in charge for a change!"
Fuelled by his anger, Megatron catapulted across the crevasse and attacked the unsuspecting Autobots. Ratchet and Bumblebee dove for cover, abandoning the dark energon while dragging the still-offline Grimlock behind them. They tried to return fire with stinger bolts and magnetic blasts but Megatron had them pinned down. Salvation came from unexpected quarters - Starscream dropped from the skies and landed atop his former leader, babbling about "obeying orders". Emboldened, the Autobots pressed the attack... and fell right into Shockwave's trap. "Take aim, Decepticons," he ordered, "and annihilate them."
----------
Jazz switched off his headlights and pulled up alongside the Super Hero City chemical plant. "This has got to be it," he thought to himself. "This is the only place in the city Lockdown could have made a super-sticky bubble gum trap and have acid on-hand. I'd bet anything he's inside, which means I'll need to be careful."
Before his turn to evil, Lockdown had been trained by Yoketron in the ways of the cyber-ninja. His cunning and deadliness were, therefore, equal to Jazz's own. However, that gave Jazz insight into the way his opponent thought and planned... meaning he was prepared. Lockdown had mined the chemical plant with dozens of booby-traps, including a pit of synthetic Scraplets, trapdoors over acid baths, bubble gum shooters and scores of electrified nets. Jazz dodged them all - some only barely - and destroyed them with his arsenal. By the time he reached the main floor, he was armed only with his laser-nunchako and a fraying temper.
"This game's over, fool," he snapped. "Come out so I can whup yo' sorry skidplate!"
To his surprise, Lockdown did not launch a sneak attack. Instead, the bounty hunter stepped into the light and grinned. "I been waiting a long time for this, Autobot," he said. "All my career, I've made it a point to stick to business, but I'd be lying if I didn't confess my desire to wipe out Yoketron's legacy." He raised his hands - one ended in a claw, the other a chainsaw. "This particular bit of business, then, will be an honest pleasure."
With dueling war cries, they leaped at one another.
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The Decepticons on Nebulos were about to fire when a saviour arrived! Tumbling from a Space Bridge portal high overhead, Bulkhead landed on his wheels and accelerated into his foes. Caught off-guard, the Decepticons could not stop themselves being driven over the cliff's edge and down into the depths of the crevasse. Unfortunately, in his haste and ignorance, Bulkhead knocked the dark energon ingot down with them.
"Guys," he cried. "We gotta get back to Earth right now! Lockdown's kidnapped Optimus and Sari, and Jazz has gone to save them by himself! We gotta help!"
"Oh, man," Bumblebee groaned. "This day just keeps getting worse and worse!"
"You're not kidding," Ratchet interrupted. "I've just completed my analysis of that black metal. It's some kind of 'dark energon', and it's giving off the same kind of power as Unicron did. No wonder the Decepticons want it so badly. If they get their hands on it..."
"Umm," Bulkhead stammered nervously, "they kinda already do have their hands on it. I sent it over the edge with them a second ago. Sorry, doc-bot."
"You what?" Ratchet raged. "Bulkhead, you big lummox!"
"It not matter," said a weak, pained voice. They turned to see Grimlock struggling back to his feet, leaning on his tail-weapon for support. "Me felt power of that stuff, and it not good thing. Made me mad... feral and angry. What it do to Decepticons, who already evil, be even worse." He straightened up, winced, then flexed his mighty fists. "Prime, Sari and Jazz have to fend for themselves. If we no stop dirtwad 'cons here, whole universe in danger."
Ratchet blinked. "Looks like someone's had an intelligence upgrade," he said, obviously impressed.
"But not bravery upgrade," Grimlock replied sternly. "Always had tonnes of that. Right now, me have idea. We no able to touch stupid rock, but we can get it other way."
----------
He managed to parry the chain-whip with his own weapon, but wasn't ready for the follow-up kick. Jazz hurtled backward, crashing through an array of conveyor belts, as Lockhead laughed heartily. The impact cleared the Autobot's processor. He was thinking too much about revenge and not enough about his purpose - rescuing his friends. He had made the same mistake as Lockdown; he'd put personal matters before the business at hand. "This l'il game's about to change," he said darkly.
Lockdown came at him again, firing missiles from his shoulders while swinging his hook-hand. Jazz transformed and accelerated as if to charge him then, at the last minute, changed back to robot mode and jumped at Lockdown's head. The bounty hunter reached out, pivoted and - using Jazz's own momentum - threw the Autobot back toward the bubble gum trap. "Just like I planned," the cyber-ninja whooped.
Jazz used his laser-nunchako to snag an overhead cable and use it as a zip-line. He sped down toward the chemical plant floor and dashed for the "release" button on the trap. Lockdown suddenly realised his plan and transformed, roaring across to intercept. His spiked front grille dug painfully into Jazz's back but, with one outstretched fingertip, the Autobot brushed the all-important button. The viscous trap melted partially away, freeing Optimus Prime's right arm... and his axe.
Lockdown slammed Jazz into the nearest wall, then transformed and pushed him onto the floor. "My collection of cyber-ninja upgrades is about to be complete," he declared, raising his chainsaw high. With all his strength, Optimus threw his axe toward Jazz. The cyber-ninja deftly caught the weapon and swung upward, cleaving Lockdown's legs off at the waist. The bounty hunter cried out as his upper half toppled backward, then fell silent as emergency stasis lock took over.
Pushing Lockdown's legs aside, Jazz stood up and finished deactivating the bubble gum trap. A grateful Optimus and Sari struggled free. "Well done," Prime told his second-in-command. "You took a huge risk, Jazz, but you proved to be more than its equal."
"Thanks boss," Jazz replied. "Just a matter of keeping yo' mind on the game, y'know?"
"The game..." Optimus said, trailing off. "Oh, no! Lockdown talked about creating a distraction, didn't he? Quickly: where's Bulkhead?"
"He went to Nebulos to rustle up some reinforcements. Why?"
"I have a terrible feeling that the Decepticons are there too," Optimus intoned. "And if they are, then the other Autobots are gravely outnumbered. We need to open a Space Bridge to Nebulos immediately."
"Optimus, we can't," Sari said. "The machinery has to recharge between jumps. Even if Bulkhead left when Lockdown sent his ransom message, it'll be another hour before we can open a portal."
The Autobot commander looked up at the sky, as if his mighty optics could see across light years. "Then we must pray that, like Jazz, our friends are the equal of whatever challenge finds them."
----------
Sheepishly, Laserbeak followed his leader's instructions and peered over the lip of the crevasse. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a face full of Bulkhead's tyres! The Autobots plunged over the cliff's edge and, in their vehicle modes, crashed into their foes. Grimlock, in his dinosaur form, landed next to the dark energon sample and lined it up with his tail.
"Ratchet," he barked. "Think fast!"
Using his tail like a hockey stick, Grimlock sent the dark energon flying with a perfect slap-shot. It sailed through the air and landed in front of Ratchet, who used his ambulance mode's bumper to pass it to Bumblebee. He handed it through a wave of incoming Decepticons and passed it to Bulkhead, who checked Barricade and Blitzwing before shooting the ingot back toward the Dinobot.
"Stop them," Shockwave cried, but it was too late. The Autobots had both their offence and defence well-scouted. Grimlock passed the 'puck' again before climbing atop Devastator and savaging his head. Bumblebee rode Starscream's back until the hapless aerial warrior crashed into the cliff. Frenzy, who was supposedly a ranking officer, fell apart under stress and the rest of the Decepticons followed suit. Eventually, only Shockwave and Megatron were left standing.
"Don't move," Shockwave yelled, brandishing his arm canon. "Before you came down here, I tapped into the dark energon and used it to power my weapon! One blast from this will atomise you all!"
Grimlock transformed to robot mode. "You bluffing, me can tell," he snarled.
"Bluffing would be an illogical move," Shockwave replied. "The probabilities are not in your favour, primitive. Return the sample to be or be terminated. These are your only options."
"I can think of another one," Megatron said. "He pressed his own weapon into Shockwave's back and fired, blowing a huge hole through the scientist's torso. The egotistical Decepticon dropped like a stone. "Ah, that's better," Megatron sighed happily. "Now, Autobots, you'd best be on your way with the dark energon." He waved them away dismissively. "Scurry back to Optimus and speak of your victory this day, but tell him he owes me for this."
Bumblebee shook his head. "Why?" he demanded.
Megatron's smile was ugly. "The Fallen's failures have become too numerous of late," he said. "The time has come for a change in the way I... do business. Begone!"
Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, the Autobots took off - pushing the deadly metal in front of them. "I just hope we're in time to help Sari, Optimus and Jazz," Bulkead said mournfully.
----------
When the Space Bridge finally opened, Optimus Prime breathed an audible sigh of relief. He greeted his successful warriors with warmth, then listened to their story and looked upon their new discovery with concern. "I can feel the Matrix of Leadership, within my chest, railing against this stone's radiation," he said. "It truly is a remnant of Unicron... the darkest and blackest of evils made solid. I fear there is a new danger in our universe, Autobots."
"We can deal with it, Prime," Ratchet said confidently. "As soon as Iron Man, Donatello and the rest of the science team are back, we'll poke and probe this thing until we know all its secrets. The 'cons won't be able to use it against us without us being ready."
"If they even bother," Bumblebee chimed in. "Old bucket-head didn't seem too interested in this stuff. I mean, heck, he practically gave it away!"
"That is what concerns me the most," Optimus said. He kept a wary optic on the dark energon, as if it could explode at any moment. "No one would ever mistake Megatron for a generous being. If he was willing to part with such a potent source of raw energy, it can only be because he has a grander design in play. And that is never a good thing for us."
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"You dare fail me, Megatron? Again? This is intolerable!"
The beaten, battered Decepticon forces cringed as the Fallen yelled. Yet for once, his mentor's displeasure made Megatron smile. "My master," he said, fighting to hide his mirth, "it was not I who failed you. Surely my lord remembers his decision to place Shockwave in charge of this mission and can imagine the mistakes that followed?"
Optics blazing with anger, the Fallen grabbed Shockwave by the legs and tipped him upside-down. The scientist wept and wailed as he was bashed, again and again, against the floor of the makeshift Decepticon base. "Cretin! Coward! Failure!" the Fallen bellowed. "Who else, besides you, is responsible for this mess? Tell me now!"
Starscream and Frenzy looked positively ill as Megatron spoke again. "No one, my lord," he said. "This defeat rests squarely on the shoulders of Shockwave."
The Fallen straightened up. "Then Shockwave alone shall learn the price of disappointing me," he rasped. He stalked away toward his private chambers, deaf to Shockwave's pleas for mercy. A large steel door swung shut with hideous finality.
"So much for the competition," Megatron grinned.
"Uh, mighty Megatron?" Starscream simpered. "Not that I wish to question your generosity, of course, but I'm puzzled as to why you would..."
"You now owe me your life, Starscream," Megatron roared, getting right up in the aerial warrior's faceplate, "and so your life is mine to use as I see fit. You will obey my orders without question from this moment on, or I'll have to defrag my processor and remember who Shockwave picked to be his second-in-charge. Understand?"
Starscream snapped to attention. "Yes, my Lord Megatron!"
"Go clean the others up," Megatron growled. "All of them. You're on rag-and-polish duty until I say otherwise." He watched Starscream mince away, then beckoned Soundwave across for a private audience. "Now we can proceed with my plans," he whispered.
"Was it wise to let the Autobots have a sample of dark energon?" Soundwave inquired.
"It will do them no good," Megatron answered. "Prime is far too superstitious, too sickeningly pure, to ever grasp the true potential of this energy source. If anything, letting that piece slip through our fingers will only give the myth of dark energon more intensity. That way, Soundwave, when we find the next ingot of that gloriously unholy power source, you and I will use it to trigger within ourselves the ultimate transformation... into gods before whom even the Fallen will tremble!"
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Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF