Chapter Text
Primus’ Hip was the name given to the piece of Cybertron that had become movable through space. It was like a floating shell, and the only proof that it even had the capabilities to be piloted was how it was always attracted to other Cybertronian life. Regrouping all Transformers was a pipedream to some, but to Optimus, it was the only goal. But now, they were between planets, searching. The last lot they had found had been sent to the closest planet. Paradron was a desert world, but it had become home to a few lost bots. The planet was temporary, as was any safe point that was selected, and with Autobot colonies expanding even more, there was hope. Except, this was not the end goal.
Optimus wanted to keep on this path today, but he was lost. His mind was stolen, trapped within what a cage locked by his one true foe. Everyone had heard the broadcast, and it was not what he’d expected, nor did he meet it with the typical will to fight. This time, he kept thinking of something else. It was Galvatron, or Megatron, or whatever he went by now. That was who was at the other end. How the two had reached this point was a complicated tale, and yet, a single moment was prodding in memory.
“Now, we need a truce,” came the memory of Megatron’s voice. “All I ask is to be back in charge. After all, who would you be without me, Prime?”
“Time to find out,” he’d said back.
This was followed by sound of his axe meeting it target.
“Optimus?”
His eyes widened and he was back in the room. His other Autobots were at the controls, even now working out how the pilot this thing. It was Hot Rod who had called to him.
“Hot Rod?” he replied. “Yes?”
“You are troubled,” the Autobot replied in the French accent he had picked up on Earth. “Take rest out back. We can take it from here.”
Optimus sighed, but he was grateful. “It is- nothing. Come, we must continue our journey.”
“We’ve had contact from the planet below, sir,” said Hot Shot, a yellow Autobot who could be mistaken for Bumblebee if not for his younger voice and more jovial stature. “Spinister is on the line.”
“What do they need?” Optimus asked.
“He says his team are wanting to come aboard.”
Optimus nodded. “Then let’s welcome them.”
Primus’ Hip rotated, and the Autobot leader felt peace. Space was beautiful, as was the planet below them. In all the fear that the broadcast had put upon him, he knew it was better to keep his mind up high. To look at the galaxy, he saw at that moment, it was so tranquil, it was like he was sleeping.
“Thrusters are stable,” said Hot Shot. “We’ve got enough jam to last the next few years, yeah?”
“I’m still not sure that’s what it runs on,” said Hot Rod.
“I’m not talking about the Earth kind though. I mean energon jam!”
“Right.”
“Back me up Optimus!”
Optimus chuckled. “No. I’m afraid I can’t support either side here.”
“Typical,” joked Hot Rod. “I thought leaders were supposed to stop arguments.
“If you think you can do better, Hot Rod, by all means.”
“That would terrible,” said Hot Shot.
Their ship began its decent, and the crew readied themselves. They’d park upon the atmosphere and await the arrival. He could see that the two Autobots had gotten the hang of their roles here, as had the others on board. Hot Shot had been found on Cadmus, wondering its ruins with a small group who were all working here now. Hot Shot’s face had lit up when he was found, and he’d refused to leave Optimus’ side since. Hot Rod was found on Earth, and he’d been there since its Nineteen-Forties. He’d told stories of fighting evil humans and radical Autobots and Optimus wasn’t sure if believed any of it. If any Autobot had been doing what Hot Rod claimed this Ghost had apparently done, they’d have been imprisoned, immediately.
“Spinister, Springer, Reck-N-Ruin,” Hot Shot called through his communicator. “We will be there soon. Be ready for us.”
“The Survivors?” said Hot Rod. “Good team.”
Prime stood, hands behind back. He felt the time had come to forget his worries for now.
“Optimus!” Hot Shot suddenly called. “Another vessel just came up. It’s an Autobot ship.”
“Class? Title? What do we have on it?” Prime replied, straightforwardly.
“The Hammer. Scanners indicate this was the Hammer.”
“That can’t be right,” Hot Rod interrupted, and Optimus had already understood why. “That ship was abandoned, years ago.”
“Then how?” Optimus let out.
Except it was obvious why. There were no Autobots on that vessel.
He bellowed. “Activate shields!”
It was too late. The walls blew out with pieces of shell, shooting across. Missiles flew upon, but Hot Shit kept hold of the console. Swiftly, he sprayed his fingers across, and the sounds the of the shields beginning, rang.
The corridor next to where they stood grew loud with the sounds of clanking footsteps, followed by a collage of bullets and lasers.
“This way!” Optimus ordered as he readied his sword and shield.
“We’re with you, Optimus!” Hot Shot called.
In the hall, Autobot bodies lay, and at the back appeared a full squad of Decepticons. Some had similar designs, the ones that were blue that is. Even in battle, Optimus felt a level of sorrow of those he had not been able to save. He looked upon the fallen Autobot to his left. Riptide, another selfless Autobot lost in the needless conflict.
The Decepticons fired, and Optimus blocked with his shield. He kept the shield above his head as lasers bounced off it before he charged into a shooting Con. He bashed his foe into the wall before sliding his shield down and thrusting his sword forward. One down. He rolled under the appending fire from the rest, then he split his shield, unleashing the gun within it. He took out another of the blue clones before reaching a more unique looking Decepticon. He ducked under their mace then latched his shield pieces around their shoulder and closed it, snapping the arm off. The Decepticon cried out but was silenced once Optimus made his final slice with his sword.
More Decepticons were moving through and Optimus fired back. Hot Shot was by his side, shooting lasers from the gun that used to be his hand.
“Should we evacuate, Optimus?” he asked.
“We cannot lose this ship, Hot Shot,” Optimus spoke. “We push on.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go!”
Hot Shot ran forward, unleashing his blade as he prepared to strike. He leaped, a Decepticon in his sight.
At that moment, his path was stopped. Pushing out from behind the crowd of Cons, a behemoth with an enormous cannon on its right arm stepped forward, catching the small Autobot in his hand and he slammed him down. Between dodging the lasers and firing back, Optimus tried to get close. The giant Decepticon allowed Hot Shot to stand but just as quickly, threw his claw out. Optimus watched in revulsion as the Decepticon ripped Hot Shot’s chest from his body and stabbed with the end of it. Energon poured and Hot Shot was down.
“No!” Optimus cried before suddenly, another Decepticon got close.
In his panic, he hadn’t seen his foe coming, and a fist collied with his face. He didn’t reach the ground; he was caught and held before another punch was made. That was when he realised who held him, the same black interpretation of himself that he’d faced all those years ago. Unable to let go, he looked at the one who had just killed Hot Shot and that was when he realised, he knew exactly who this was.
“Optimus!” cried Hot Rod as he aimed his weapon.
The black Optimus took out a gun of his own and fired, destroying both the weapon and the Autobot’s right hand. Hot Rod screamed in agony just before being held by the Decepticons that deployed from behind. The knocked him down, taking the swords and rods he possessed.
Scourge was still a hold of Optimus, he moved him along the hall where the juggernaut now stood, striking a totalitarian pose.
“Megatron?” Optimus whimpered.
“Bow down, slave!” spat the dark Optimus.
“You will accept your demise under the foot of his lordship,” said another Decepticon, this one with an Autobot symbol on his chest that had been slashed and the insignia of his current side underneath. “Galvatron!”
Optimus didn’t care about why the name had change anymore, he was more shocked at how his nemesis looked. Not even during his rule of Cybertron had the Decepticon leader looked so huge.
“At last,” Galvatron said, triumphantly.
Optimus struggled as his copy dragged him back into the cockpit. Galvatron looked upon the panels that piloted the piece of the planet.
“This is what became of our world?” he commented. “Floating scrap? Made to wonder this universe, so aimlessly?”
“The witch must have converted it into her own private vessel,” the other Optimus stated.
“It would seem so. Scourge, take a look at it. See what you can find.
Scourge threw Optimus to the ground then landed a powerful stomp onto his head. Optimus grunted, spitting blood onto the floor; despite this, he tried to keep his calm. He would not let Galvatron have the moment he knew he wanted.
Galvatron’s head shifted to the other Decepticon, the ex-Autobot. “Grift. Scout the rest of this place. Kill any who lurk.”
“Of course, my lord.” Grift replied before heading out.
Optimus finally pulled himself up, though he did not stand. He knew Grift would find no one else, and it was clear Hot Rod knew the same.
“I think it’s this panel here, sir,” Scourge explained as he went over the board.
The blue Decepticons stood by the door. Optimus noticed that Hot Rod kept looking back at one, the one with his equipment. He was planning something. He looked back at Optimus, obviously for validation, but the last Prime shook his head.
“Galvatron,” called Scourge. “Look, a request. There’s an Autobot group on this planet. In fact, there’s a whole colony on this planet!”
Optimus felt his spark pulsate. He instantly rose, only to be met by Scourge’s fist upon his gut. He fell back down, shaking.
Galvatron looked upon a screen that showed him data of the most recent transmission. “More prey,” he said.
“No!” Optimus cried.
Galvatron shook his head. “This is where you have always failed, Optimus. You have too much fear for those who choose to slum below your leadership when they would thrive without you. I will teach them that lesson of what will come from your demise. But first, some must learn the consequences of choosing to keep your outdated philosophy.”
“Galvatron!” Optimus cried out. “That planet is full of life, beyond just Autobots. Our kind are merely tourists there. Their people have no involvement in our conflict!”
“I appreciate your concern and will of course take it under advisement,” Galvatron replied with a slippery grin.
Optimus lunged forward, attempting to tackle the Decepticon leader. However, it was like Galvatron felt nothing. He simply swayed his hand and swatted the Autobot down.
“Let us see how this planet sees your kind when your own planet comes crashing down upon them!” Galvatron growled. “Full throttle, Scourge!”
But Scourge let go. “My lord. This is Cybertron. Should we not keep this to rebuild?”
“Rebuild what, Scourge? Our planet died a long time ago. We don’t need it anymore, but for its legacy, it will end in a historical vaporise!”
“Galvatron, stop!” Optimus begged.
Galvatron called into his communicator. “Slicer. Take the ship closer to us. We shall be docking soon.”
Optimus saw Hot Rod again, staring at him. He was planning something, still. At that moment, the Autobot rolled his eyes before turning to one of the blue Decepticons.
“Oy, my little blue friend!”
The transformer that held his belongs looked back.
“Do you know of me?”
“What?” the Decepticon asked.
“Have you heard of me?” Hot Rod went on.
“Silence!” shouted Scourge.
“Is there any importance in your identity?” Galvatron asked, snappishly.
“Hot Rod,” the Autobot explained.
Optimus was confused, until he remembered.
“Do you know how I got that name?” Hot Rod asked.
The blue Decepticon looked down at its hand and saw the rod it was holding.
“It’s cold,” it said.
“Is it?” Hot Rod replied.
Optimus knew what the others could not see. He knew that Hot Rod had just unsheathed a device from inside his hands was about to activate it. This was confirmed when rapidly, the rods exploded, destroying many of the blue Decepticons, as well as throwing Galvatron and Scourge back into the wall. Scourge smashed through the energy field at the side, floating off into space.
Optimus seized his chance. Latching onto the controls, he shifted them left, diverting the vessel from its path.
Suddenly, he felt his body push over as Galvatron appeared from his right, slamming him into the panel before throwing him over his shoulder. As Optimus flew, Hot Rod rolled, taking one of weapons that had hit the ground and shooting at Galvatron with his undamaged hand.
“Out of the way, Hot Rod!” Optimus yelled before taking a gun for himself and firing upon the enemy.
No matter the firepower, Galvatron remained on his feet. Optimus watched in horror and despair as the Decepticon leader kept moving towards him.
“Anything else you wish to try?” Galvatron asked with a wide grin.
The hull on his chest was impregnable, so Optimus aimed below and fired at his legs. Galvatron winced, taking a step back, but even that wasn’t enough to stop him.
Optimus knew it was time to make his escape. He had to warn the people below, but he also needed a way out. He could see the Decepticon ship approaching. This was it.
“Move!” he shouted as he prepared to grab Hot Rod and fly out of there.
Except he was caught. Galvatron’s hand wrapped around his neck.
“No!” cried Hot Rod.
He ran to them both, then leaped and fired his gun into Galvatron’s face.
“Gaah!” Galvatron let out. “You pest!”
Optimus dropped, rolled, then regained his sight of the scene.
“Hot Rod, to me!” he called.
Hot Rod turned, moving to his leader. Galvatron rose once more. Enraged, he bolstered his arm forward and the inside of his cannon lit up.
Hot Rod’s chest rippled as he was torn about. Optimus raised arm out, but there was nothing he could do. Not allowing the grief to overcome him, he made the jump. Leaping out of the edge of the cockpit, he shot off through the shield barrier and into space.
Galvatron was not going let Prime leave. He aimed his cannon and saw his enemy line up. Just then, he felt a sharp pierce at his hip. Looking back down, he saw the Autobot he had shot. Hot Rod kept his good hand on the trigger of his gun, but he was out of bullets. He threw it away before attempting to make punches at Galvatron’s feet.
“Such heroic nonsense,” Galvatron muttered before firing his cannon again, finishing him off.
Suddenly, there was no sound. The quietness of space did nothing but allow Optimus to rethink what had just transpired. Now he grieved, now he could remember everyone he had just lost in such a short amount of time. Riptide, Hot Shot, Hot Rod. None of them deserved such fate. The war was over; it was supposed to be over. He’d told them it was over; he’d told them they were free. Maybe now they were, but not how they would have wanted. In just those brief moments, his mind went from the calm of moving on with the battle to the agony of realising the extent of it. He hadn’t noticed just how angry it had made him.
That was when he got close to the Decepticon ship.
The windows to most Cybertron ships were made with a self-healing gel. Smashing through the that leg to the cockpit, he saw many Decepticons become sucked out before the window healed itself. Those that remained had their weapons prepared. Optimus said nothing, then he unsheathed his blade from his right arm. Despite his desperation to hold back, he couldn’t help but howl like a hunted animal before he began.
My lord!” said Grift as he returned. “I have done a full scan. There seems to be no one else onboard.” Then he looked at the carnage. “What happened here?”
“Nothing that halts our plans,” Galvatron replied.
“Where’s Optimus?”
“Heading to Slicer’s vessel.”
“Should we warn him?”
“No point. They will not survive either way.”
Galvatron could see Scourge floating in space. Energy shot from his feet, and he began to return to them.
“Grift, you and Scourge will join Shadow on his ship.”
“It will be done, my lord,” Grift replied.
He looked down at the planet who was intending to crash this vessel into, but then he realised.
“I have changed my mind,” he said. “We shall let this planet survive for now. They can spread the word of our return. Instead, they will bear witness.”
While the vessel was not planet size, it was still big enough to be seen from a planet, providing it was as close as it was. All he needed now was about to arrive, and then, right on schedule, they felt their new vessel be pulled away. To his right, Galvatron saw the arrival of Unicron.
A Sweep moved to his side.
Galvatron stated. “A change of plan. You shall devour on Cybertron itself.”
“It would be an honour,” the Sweep replied.
“Won’t this planet fall into him anyway?” Grift asked.
“Unicron is beyond our understanding of physics,” Galvatron explained. “He chooses what his gravity affects. As of today, the people of Paradron will see him in all his glory, and they will understand how close they were to destruction.”
Optimus reached for controls of the ship as dozens of Decepticon bodies remained lifeless behind him. Finally putting way his blade, he activated the ship’s communicator and sent a signal below.
“Springer? Springer!” he called.
There was static, then a voice. “Optimus? How? This signal is-”
“Listen to me!” Optimus interrupted. “We don’t have much time. Ignore all contact from Primus’ Hip. It is compromised. Get as many as you can to safety below.”
“Is this because of that?”
“Because of what?”
It was then that he noticed the shadow that had suddenly engulfed the planet before him. He rotated the ship until what was behind came into view. He lost all motion he had the moment he saw it. All he could do was stare as the new moon stared back at him.
Primus’ Hip was now in front, and he watched as it was devoured. Not just him, but he knew those below him would see it as well. An obvious power play.
Finally snapping out of his trance, he went back to his comms. “Springer! Take your team and regroup with any Autobots you can find. I can’t send you a location in case they are tracking this. Just get out of there!”
“What about you, Optimus?”
“I need to find a bridge.”
“I’ll send you coordinates to one. If the Decepticons track it, you’ll just have to beat them there, okay?”
Optimus sighed, but he knew there was no better option.
“It will have to do. I hope to see you again soon.”
“You too, Optimus. Springer out.”
The link was shut off, and Optimus took a moment to himself. He soon looked once more at whatever had just eaten the last remanent of Cybertron.
That was when in hit him.
“Unicron. Of course,” he said to himself.
He knew he’d been a fool to believe the lies the witch had told him, and yet even now there was more of her story to be proven wrong. No matter now, he thought. He had to find a place where many Autobots could be found, one they’d consider a home. It was the best place he could regroup.
He started to check what else was stored on this ship. Checking the logs and agendas, he suddenly noticed a report. Soon, a holographic projection of an Autobot shined from the controls. The hologram was of Bulkhead, an Autobot that Optimus knew all too well. It was then he saw where a Decepticon vessel had just been sent to search.
Of course, it was always that planet.
Earth.