27
[From TransWarp: Maximus]
Optimus Prime found himself on the frontline once again. Ion blaster in one hand, Energon Axe emanating from the other, Optimus was in close combat, shredding Predacons big and small. He locked his axe with the sword of an approaching Predacon, as a voice yelled from behind a pile of rubble that was once a building.
"Suck this, Prime!"
An Energon grenade landed at the feet of the two locked in combat. Prime disengaged and dove for cover as the grenade exploded, obliterating the Predacon. Prime was hurled away by the detonation and landed in a shattered mess of his own parts and those of others. He was heavily wounded.
The left side of his body had worn the brunt of the damage. His left leg in tatters, his left arm completely gone, and great chunks of metal torn from his chest and head. The only grace was that his blaster had landed within reach. He grasped its handle but didn't have the strength left to lift it.
A band of Predacons encroached, laughing as they saw the mess that was the Autobot leader.
"Watch him die, boys..." said one of them. "Nice and slow."
From behind where Optimus had landed, a voice yelled.
"PRIIIIIIIME!!!"
A small Maximal vehicle launched overhead, transformed mid-flight and landed between Optimus and the Predacons, unleashing a barrage of firepower at them. The Matrix pulsed within Prime's chest.
The small Maximal scattered the Predacons who had no cover out in the open, but then his weapons jammed. The Predacons returned fire. The Maximal turned, and seeing Prime's blaster, lifted the great barrel.
"Pull the trigger, Prime!" he yelled. The blaster unleashed blast after blast, killing the Predacons as they ran.
When they had gone, only then did the Maximal drop the barrel of the blaster, revealing heavy Energon burns to his arms and chest. He couldn't feel them. He turned to look at Prime and only really saw him for the first time. The damage was extensive.
"Medic!.. Medic!" he yelled to the shattered battlefield. No reply came. He tapped his comm.
"Command, Prime is down! Requesting medical assistance."
A voice crackled back. "This is Command. First Aid is making for your position."
The Maximal crouched down beside Prime to see if he could patch anything up himself.
"What's your name, Maximal?" asked Prime.
"Maxim, Sir", he replied, surveying the damage.
"It's no accident that we met, Maxim. The Will of Primus is-"
"Yeah, I bet", he cut across him. "Listen, we can talk beliefs later. Right now we've gotta get you out of here."
"Prime?" came a yell from a distance away.
Maxim stood at the top of the bunker.
"First Aid! Here!" he signalled.
The Protoectobot raced over and quickly began assessing the damage.
"Old friend", said Prime to First Aid.
"Not your best look, Optimus", he replied.
"Can you save him?" Maxim asked.
First Aid's expression was stern. "Not here. We have to get him to cover."
Maxim's comm broke in.
"Maxim, picking up a large Predacon movement inbound to your location."
"Open my chest", said Prime, attempting to move his arm.
"I think the Preds have done a good enough job of that already", replied Maxim with a smile. "Can you move him by yourself?" Maxim asked First Aid, as he collected his weapons and went about unjamming them.
"Perhaps. Where are you going?" First Aid replied.
"Incoming Preds. I'll go and meet them, give you time to get him out of here", said Maxim, his eyes scanning the surrounds as the blasters came back online.
"That's suicide", said First Aid, his expression sterner than ever.
Maxim looked at Optimus. "Not today."
Maxim made to move away but Prime caught his arm. "The Matrix..." began Prime.
Maxim looked straight into the optics of the great Autobot. "You hold onto it. It's the only thing keeping you alive."
Prime held his arm and looked straight back. "Take it", said Prime. Maxim held his gaze. "What was bestowed to me I bestow to you."
"I can't, Prime. I'm not worthy", said Maxim, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"Neither was I." Prime released his grip on Maxim and opened the remaining intact panel on his chest. With one hand he removed the ancient artefact and passed it to the Maximal.
Everything was consumed in a white light.
"A new Age needs a new Prime", Optimus' voice echoed. "Arise, Maximus Prime, and usher in the Peace."
A commlimk broke in.
"Maxim, report! Reading a massive energy discharge at your location."
As the light vanished and the world returned, Optimus and First Aid looked at the new Maximal.
"Everything... Is just Prime", said Maximus, answering the comm, before looking at Optimus. "I'm only borrowing it, Optimus. You'll have it back soon." He turned his head to address First Aid. "Get him out of here safely."
"Yes sir", said First Aid, who began to haul the form of Optimus back towards the Autobot line.
Maximus turned and looked towards the Predacon front. "Alright Maximus Prime - let's see what you can do!"
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28
[From TransWarp: Primal]
Maximal and Predacon ships wove in between each other in a deadly ballet in Cybertron’s orbit.
On board the Xelor, Rhinox was desperately trying to get the ship’s systems back online as he was currently a sitting duck. The only grace being that the comms still functioned, but if Rhinox needed to know how the battle was going, he need only look out the cockpit windows. The MAD Wing pilots were selflessly protecting the TransWarp ship. A voice broke over the static.
“We’ve got some freaky business going on out here, Spiral. Sector 043.”
Rhinox saw exactly what the pilot was talking about. A purple ribbon of unknown origin was stretching from the surface of Cybertron up into Space, towards where the Xelor had first disappeared.
“By Primus! Is it friendly?” asked Primal, stealing a quick peek at the phenomena from his own cockpit.
“I don’t want to find out the hard way”, said Spiral. “Steer clear, Maximals.”
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29
[From TransWarp: Csirac]
The new body was incredible. Though now dwarfed by most of the enemy combatants, the body’s twin swords and wingtip-mounted launchers had proven themselves an ample armoury to cut down the Predacons who had tried to enter the chamber; aided in no small part by the sheer speed of the form. The shoulder-mounted jets could propel the form up to head height for an attack, and then swiftly carry the form around to avoid the counterblows. The bodies were beginning to pile up in the doorway, not forgetting his own and the two of Magmatron’s that already littered the chamber’s floor.
As Silverbolt engaged a poorly designed Proto-sized Predacon, a burst of ions hammered into the amplifier. The Predacon was distracted by the spectacle and Silverbolt didn’t require a second invitation. He cut the Predacon down with ease, scattering limbs to all parts of the room.
Csirac had returned from his journey and was struggling to open the amplifier’s hatch. Silverbolt helped it up as Csirac tried to stand but fell to the floor. Silverbolt sat him up against the machine.
“They’re coming”, said Csirac, with pained smile.
“Who’s they?” asked Silverbolt.
“Friends”, said Csirac. “Soon.”
“We’re going to get you out of here”, said Silverbolt, moving to lift Csirac up, but a Decepticon-sized Pred thundered into the room. Silverbolt turned and engaged him with full force.
Csirac could feel his Spark fading, but had more to tell Silverbolt. He looked up to see a Proto-Pred enter the room, but Silverbolt had his back to the door, still battling the larger enemy. The small Pred ran up behind Silverbolt with an axe in both hands raised above his head ready to bring down on him, but suddenly felt his own skull disintegrate as a laser blast ripped through it. Silverbolt heard the noise just as he brought down the larger Predacon, and turned to find the source of the blast. There, at the foot of the amplifier, was Csirac, unsteadily holding a blaster, plucked from the hand of a dead Predacon. Csirac’s arm fell back to the floor, the blaster falling from his grasp.
Silverbolt stood there, stunned by Csirac’s actions. He sheathed his swords and went to Csirac’s side. “For a ‘bot that’s never picked up a blaster before, you’re not a bad shot.”
“I guess that makes us even”, said Csirac, without looking up.
“No, that’s twice you’ve saved me now”, said Silverbolt. “If I’m to keep us even I’ve gotta get you out of here.” He placed a hand in Csirac’s shoulder, but Csirac held his forearm and shook his head.
“It’s too late for me”, said Csirac, smiling. “Besides, I said I wanted to die looking at the stars.” He lifted his head and watched the ions drift down around the amplifier. “I can see them. I can see her.”
“Csirac…” began Silverbolt, but he didn’t know what to say.
Csirac looked deep into Silverbolt’s optics. “After they come through, promise me you’ll destroy it.”
“I will”, said Silverbolt.
Csirac looked back up to the ions. “A lot of good”, said Csirac, his Spark flickering.
“What?” asked Silverbolt.
“The answer to your question - A lot of good.” With that, Csirac’s head dropped slowly to his chest and he went offline for the last time.
“Thank you, Csirac”, said Silverbolt, bowing his own head. “Be at One.”
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Originally Posted by Verno
