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Curse of the Devilspawn!	By : acsoundwave Category: Transformers > G1 > Crossovers Views: 1033 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, Gobots, Spider-Man, X-Men, GI Joe, Iron Man, The Black Panther, The Fantastic Four, nor The Avengers. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
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TRANSFORMERS: CYBERTRON SAGA
CURSE OF THE DEVILSPAWN! Special #9: CHAMPION.
byline: Anubis C. Soundwave
Scene: 1
On Earth, outside Autobot Headquarters; Peter Parker, Angelica Jones, and Bobby Drake board a star shuttle. The shuttle lifts off.
Red Alert sighs. "They're gone," he says. "Now," he continues, turning to face several Autobots. "Search Headquarters thoroughly for any leftover cameras."
"Come on, Red!" spits Inferno. "Peter Parker ain't Soundwave. He'd have to be Spider-Man to have cameras all over the Ark."
"Then for security purposes," says Red Alert, "we will assume that he is Spider-Man and remove every audio and visual recording device from the Ark. Understood?""You are an aft port!" says Inferno, livid. He storms into the base.
Other disgruntled Autobots follow Inferno inside.
Ironhide winces. "Do you really think that Parker kid is Spider-Man?" he asks.
"I'm not one to rule out a possibility due to simple improbability," says Red Alert as he enters the Ark.
Ironhide shakes his head. I should have just gone with Prime, he says to himself.
Scene: 2
Optimus crashes down to the planet's surface, near the Host Village; followed by the Aerialbots, Pumper, Small Foot, and Road Ranger.
The three Guardians struggle to their feet. Road Ranger approaches Optimus, beckoning to Ratchet to scan his vital signs; while Small Foot and Pumper head toward the Deathwater pool, meeting A. J., Anya, and Perceptor.
"They're coming," spits A. J., in pain. "This is the worst pregnancy ever."
"It's the first one for both of us," says Anya, managing a pained grimace of a smile.
Perceptor finishes purifying the Deathwater. "Please lower them into the pool," he says to Pumper and Small Foot.
"Trailbreaker," says Pumper, "we need you on forcefield--*"
"He's in Nzunda, remember?" says Small Foot.
"Where's Leader One?" A. J. asks.
"He was astrobeamed away," says Pumper. "Likely Renegade interference."
"Even for Cy-Kill, this doesn't make any sense," says Anya.
"We just don't want a repeat of this miserable process when the Devilspawn come out," says Small Foot.
Back with Optimus, Ratchet barks orders at Road Ranger; both mechs are grim.
Raleigh approaches Optimus. "What happened?" he asks.
"Nova hurt Optimus," explains Road Ranger gravely as Ratchet opens Optimus' chest panel. "He took the brunt of the attack."
"Optimus was the main target," spits Ratchet, studying a module embedded within Optimus' chest, "and probably Nova's target all along."
"What do you mean?" asks Road Ranger while Dewey joins Raleigh.
"This planet's sapient life had emerged ahead of humanity, when its natural progress ground to a halt--thanks to Nova, of course," says Ratchet. "This happened around four million Earth years ago."
"So?" says Dewey.
"It means," says Ratchet to Dewey, "that the people here were about to learn how to farm four million years ago; humans didn't start that process until about six thousand years ago."
"Which would indicate," says Road Ranger to Ratchet, "that Nova was in Earth's solar system, but had detected both the Ark and the Nemesis Mark One."
"And if we and the Decepticons hadn't been rendered inert," continues Ratchet, "we would likely have found Nova then and there."
"What does Nova want?" asks Dewey.
Ratchet points to the module. "This doohickey in Optimus' chest is very important to Nova--to all Autobots."
"Then why did Nova hurt the people here?" asks Raleigh.
"They made great hostages for Nova, if the Autobots ever did wake up," says Road Ranger.
"Nova planned to make Optimus give up the gadget in his chest," says Dewey, "because Optimus would do that to save people's lives."
"If we give that thing to Nova," asks Raleigh, "then Nova will go away, right?"
"We aren't giving Nova 'this thing'; it belongs to Optimus right now," says Ratchet.
"Nova's a bully," adds Road Ranger. "Do bullies ever go away?"
"Not unless you stand up to them," says Dewey.
"That's right. We're standing up to Nova," says Road Ranger.
Sparks erupt from Optimus' chest.
Road Ranger shields the Newcastle boys. "Return to the Cabin immediately," he orders the boys.
"How can we help Optimus?" asks Dewey, worried.
Road Ranger winces at Optimus' injuries, then faces Dewey and Raleigh. "Pray," he says, his expression grave.
Dewey and Raleigh nod, then leave for the Cabin.
"No, you poor frag-off," grins Ratchet crudely, tinkering with Optimus' systems, "you ain't dying on me today. Ironhide will have my head."
Scene: 3
Skywarp and Starscream crash outside Nzunda.
"Hey, slagger," Skywarp grins, "can you transform?"
"No, but neither can you," says Starscream. "I'll have to transform you manually to get your still-functioning passenger out of your cockpit."
"Your fleshbag still breathing, too?" asks Skywarp.
"I'm...not a bag of flesh," spits Sun-Bright.
"Mine's conscious," Starscream preens.
"We actually need Thunder after all," says Skywarp as Starscream shifts him to jet mode.
"It's a good thing the Elysynese were so cooperative," says Starscream.
"Ah, the Guardians and Autobots will have to get over it," says Skywarp as he removes the safety harness from Galahdri. Starscream gently lifts out the Elysynese woman as she regains consciousness, then realigns Skywarp's transformation cog.
Skywarp reverts to root mode. "Now it's your turn, Screamer," he says.
"Let me realign my cog first," says Starscream. "I'm the only one with the expertise to fix us."
"Funny," quips Skywarp, "I helped you fix Skyfrag before."
"He was only frozen before," scoffs Starscream. "Even an idiot like you could fix that."
"Who is 'Skyfrag'?" asks Galahdri.
"A worthless traitor," spits Skywarp.
Starscream scowls. "A former friend of mine."
"That's sad," says Sun-Bright. "You have very few friends."
"At the end of the day," says Starscream, "you have to stand alone to accomplish anything."
Skywarp turns to Galahdri. "Madam knight," he says, "is that big ring I asked you to build in your center plaza finished?"
"Most likely," says Galahdri.
"Good," says Skywarp as he opens his comm link.
Scene: 4
Nova descends to the planet's surface, only to dodge several missiles from Swoop.
"You no hurt Optimus Prime!" roars Grimlock, attacking Nova relentlessly in midair. "Me Grimlock kick your butt!"
"You fry, Nova," adds Slag in his alt mode, firing his flamethrower.
"End this!" Nova orders. "I have only come to take back what is mine."
"You no am Autobot leader," says Sludge as he kicks Nova into the ground. "Dinobots: smash Nova to scrap metal!"
"Slag am smash Nova anyway--no am need Sludge say-so!" quips Slag, charging at Nova with his horns.
Snarl studies Nova as he and the other Dinobots continue the assault. Him move too fast to land solid hit, he muses.
"Him Nova am pop in and out like Skywarp," says Swoop. "Hard to land clean hit."
"Nova am move good on ground," mutters Sludge. "Am Autobot."
"Good thing him Nova am stupid enemy like Megatron," says Grimlock over internal radio, overhearing Sludge. "Him lose major advantage."
"Explain to Sludge," says Sludge to Grimlock via radio as he swings his broadsword at Nova.
"No flight capacitor. Subject to gravity. Not matter, though," continues Grimlock, "Dinobots not able to hit Nova hard enough to break him."
"Him want device in Optimus' chest," says Sludge. "That am keep Nova on ground." Sludge notes the molten ground, where Slag narrowly missed Nova.
Slag spits as Nova kicks him over.
"How hot am you Slag burn flamethrower?" Sludge asks Slag over the radio.
"Hot enough to melt anything else," says Slag silently as he reverts to root mode and brandishes his broadsword, "but Nova no am melt!" He attacks Nova.
"Must keep Nova on ground," says Sludge to the other Dinobots by radio. "Important to keep Nova on ground."
Scene: 5
Optimus stirs, and struggles to sit up.
Ratchet smiles at Optimus. "Got you good as new, Prime," says the medic. "The Dinobots and our air jockeys are wrangling with Nova now."
"Then I'll have to beat some sense into him," says Optimus as he stands.
"Reasoning with him turned out to be pointless," says Road Ranger.
"I need the two of you to keep an eye on Ms. Foster and Dr. Turgenova," says Optimus. He heads toward the fight between Nova and the ten Autobots.
Slingshot fires the last of his neutron packets. "Frag it! I'm out of slugs!" he spits.
"My rifle's having no effect on him at all," adds Silverbolt.
"I may as well be hitting this slagger with ants," says Air Raid, "'cause I ain't doing any damage with the torque gun!"
"Nova's dodging and deflecting a lot of our kinetic attacks," says Skydive, firing his nega-gun to no avail, "and our energy weapons don't work on him at all."
"I think the consensus is that he can teleport spam," says Fireflight, managing to graze Nova's cheek with a punch. "That's my observation as well."
"So he's like Skywarp--except that Nova actually knows what the fuck he's doing," says Silverbolt.
"I just want to take back the Matrix, young Arwing," says Nova. "This doesn't concern you or the strange children."
"Take this!" Optimus delivers a right cross straight to Nova's face, sending the rogue Autobot reeling backwards.
The Dinobots stare in shock.
"No am know him Optimus could hit that hard," grins Slag, in awe.
"Him am stronger than me Grimlock thought," adds Grimlock.
"Sorry to cut in, boys," says Optimus. "I think this fight is mine."
"Feel free," says Silverbolt.
Nova charges at Optimus.
"Uh-oh!" says Air Raid. "Nova went and messed with the Champ! He's in trouble now!"
"Nonsense," says Nova as he delivers a flurry of punches which Optimus blocks. "I'd expect...no less of him!" He strikes Optimus with a double-fisted blow, knocking Optimus to the ground.
"Tag Slag in whenever you Optimus am ready!" says Slag. "Me am always ready to fight."
Optimus stands. "I can take this clown," he scoffs. "He's over the scrap heap. Obsolete!" Optimus punches Nova in the midsection.
"Not bad, my boy," says Nova as he kicks Optimus. "But the Matrix isn't yours yet. It is mine!" Nova fires his rifles at Optimus.
"The hell with this 'one-on-one' scrap!" says Slingshot, turning to Silverbolt. "Let's jump his aft."
"Agreed. Pile on!" Silverbolt orders the Aerialbots and Dinobots.
The ten Autobots mob Nova at once as Optimus rises to his feet to assess damage.
Nova emerges from the fray unscathed and attacks Optimus.
Optimus winces, watching as the Aerialbots and Dinobots inadvertently attack each other. This would be comical if the stakes weren't so high, he says to himself as he weathers Nova's attacks.
Scene: 6
Nova subdues Optimus, sneering as he stands over the prone Autobot. "It simply wasn't your time," he says, preparing to fire his rifle at Optimus.
Optimus struggles to face Nova with a defiant glare.
"It's such a waste to kill you," Nova adds, "but the Matrix is mine by right."
"'Here we come to save the day!'" crows Skywarp as he fires a bouncer bomb at the two Primes.
The bomb merely knocks Nova away, but Optimus is injured further.
"You jack-aft!" spits Slingshot. "You hit Optimus more than you hit Nova!"
"What makes you think I wasn't gunning for both, slag-off?" says Skywarp, reverting to root mode.
"Two Primes with one bomb, after all," adds Starscream. "If we weren't dealing with Skywarp," he continues, "I'd say the plan came together brilliantly."
"Why am there three of you?" asks Swoop.
"Congratulations," sneers the third Seeker, Thundercracker. "One of the Dinobots learned to count."
"What the hell is he doing here?" spits Small Foot.
"I know, right?" says Thundercracker. "I was surprised that Skywarp finally came to his senses, too."
Skywarp hits Thundercracker on the back of the head. "See? This is why I can't take you places!"
"Enough!" spits Starscream. "Field Leader," he continues to Skywarp, regaining composure, "may I recommend that the three of us restrict our attacks to our actual opponent--no matter how much Optimus Prime needs to die?"
"Sure," says Skywarp, shrugging. "But it's up to Prime to keep his own aft alive. We ain't in the business of saving our enemies lives," he says to the Aerialbots.
The three Seekers attack Nova.
Small Foot slaps her forehead.
"Still in love with that goon?" grins Pumper.
"Unfortunately, yes," says Small Foot with an exasperated smile. "I won't let him off for plaguing us with Thundercracker, though."
"Good girl," says Pumper, pecking Small Foot on the cheek.
Scene: 7
"Thunder! Deafen the old fragger!" spits Skywarp over internal radio. "Short out his audios!"
"Roger!" says Thundercracker. "Die, worthless Autobot!" he says to Nova as he fires his drone rockets.
"I cannot die--!" Nova suddenly clutches his head, in pain from Thundercracker's sonic booms.
"To be fair," notes Small Foot via radio, "no one can stand to listen to Thundercracker for any length of time."
"Damn it! Everybody keeps latching onto the best material," says Air Raid, pouting.
Skywarp drops a few bouncer bombs.
"Wide berth, everyone! Wide berth! Skywarp's attacking!" Thundercracker radios.
"Ah, shut up!" spits Skywarp. "Otherwise, you're next."
"Spare us!" grins Skydive as he takes cover. "We have Fireflight as a wingmate--we know how to protect ourselves!"
"I'm not as bad as he is!" counters Fireflight.
"You're worse!" quips Starscream. "Skywarp can fly!"
"I'm this close to frying someone with a firefog missile," says Fireflight, annoyed.
A blast from the bouncer bombs successfully cracks a bit of Nova's armor plating.
"Now, Screamer!" Skywarp orders. "Frag his systems!"
"Gladly!" Starscream deploys his cluster bombs to further disorient and injure Nova, then fires his null ray.
Nova is frozen, unable to move.
Starscream reverts to root mode and lands, then takes out his sword. "As you know, we only have two minutes to dismantle this ancient fool."
Skywarp transforms and joins Starscream on the ground, followed by Thundercracker.
"Let's get to work then," Thundercracker grins maliciously.
"Righty-o!" adds Skywarp as he dons a pair of spiked red knuckles and punches Nova in the face.
Nova reels from the three Seekers' brutal assault, unable to dodge.
"And Nova falls!" Air Raid crows.
"A true...Autobot...would not...cheer...for my demise..." says Nova between blows.
"You may be right," says Skydive, "but we won't lose any rest cycles."
"Come on, ya mooks!" says Slingshot. "You ain't hitting Nova hard enough--he's still talking!"
"Hey, we're taking out your trash for you--again," scoffs Skywarp. "You ought to be thanking us!"
Small Foot giggles.
Pumper pokes Small Foot's arm. "Don't encourage him," he says.
"It just reminds me of...you know," Small Foot says as her smile becomes sad and wistful.
"I didn't like it when you encouraged his antics either," says Pumper.
"And now you die!" says Starscream as he thrusts his sword towards Nova's chest.
Nova, however, catches the blade mid-strike. "I told you: I am invincible!" Nova shoots up to his feet, yanks off Starscream's sword arm, and starts to beat the Seeker mercilessly.
"Wait!" cries Starscream. "Surely you would show mercy to a fellow Cybertron--*"
Skywarp teleports Starscream out of harm's way, then drops him in front of the Aerialbots. "Get this self-serving frag-off to the medic before I kill him," he says.
"At least get my arm back!" says Starscream as Pumper and Skydive carry him away.
"You'd think Starscream would quit pressing his luck," says Silverbolt, bemused.
"And you didn't want me along," scoffs Thundercracker.
"You're even worse than he--*" Skywarp is interrupted by a pair of rifle blasts from Nova; the black Seeker collapses in a heap.
Thundercracker stares in shock. "Wingmate! Buddy!" he shouts.
Small Foot attacks Nova. "You'll pay for that on top of everything else!" she cries as she pounds Nova relentlessly.
"You're fast, wench," says Nova, gripping both of Small Foot's fists, "but not strong enough," he adds as he breaks her fingers, then kicks her.
Small Foot lands in a heap next to Skywarp.
"Aerialbots! Take him down!" orders Silverbolt, unlocking a switchblade. "No holds barred!"
Air Raid pinions Nova. "Fireflight! Thundercracker!" he says. "Drop incendiary ordnance!"
"I'll hit you!" says Fireflight, worried.
"Do it now!" says Air Raid. "I'm tough enough to take the hit!"
Thundercracker fires his incendiary gun, and Fireflight reluctantly follows suit with his firefog missiles.
Nova, however, breaks out of the pinion hold and pinions Air Raid, forcing the Autobot jetwarrior to bear the brunt of the attack.
"You bastard!" Slingshot clubs Nova with his neutron rifle, then proceeds to beat Nova viciously.
Nova weathers Slingshot's assault. He's determined, unsurprising for his make and model, Nova muses silently amid the barrage of physical attacks. But Class Fives have their weakness, continues Nova. Their devotion to their wingmates is their strength--and their undoing!
Nova grabs Silverbolt while the latter tries to stab him from behind; he forces Silverbolt to stab Slingshot, then shoots Silverbolt in the back.
Silverbolt trembles a moment, then struggles to his feet. "You sorry, worthless, miserable fuck," he seethes, spitting fuel. "I will see you die."
"I cannot be killed, Arwing," sneers Nova as he knocks Silverbolt back to the ground, "especially not by the likes of you."
Silverbolt struggles to stand, glares at Nova, then goes offline.
Scene: 8
Pumper and Skydive return to the battle with Ratchet and Road Ranger.
They find Fireflight and Thundercracker fighting for their lives against Nova.
Pumper rushes to Small Foot's prone body, nudging her away from Skywarp. "Don't attack Nova without a plan!" he orders an irate Road Ranger.
"My sister was harmed," says Road Ranger in quiet fury. "I will not tolerate his insolent existence."
Skydive studies Nova. "We need to find out how he's recovering from his injur--*"
Nova fires a shot through Skydive's chest.
"Ranger!" says Ratchet. "Patch Skydive's laser core before it blows!"
"What about that bastard?" says Road Ranger.
"I'm a medic," Ratchet grins crudely. "I fix things."
"I tire of these distractions," says Nova, teleporting away.
"Damn it!" spits Ratchet. "I think we could kill Nova if he'd just hold still!"
"It doesn't help that he keeps self-healing," says Fireflight.
"What!?" say Ratchet, Thundercracker, and Pumper in unison.
"When I punched him once," says Fireflight, "I scratched his faceplate, but it healed almost immediately."
"How does that happen?" demands Thundercracker.
"Nanites," says Ratchet, calm.
"Oh, come on!" spits Pumper. "Microscopic repair robots?"
"But wouldn't Starscream's null ray fry them?" asks Fireflight. "We all have nanites in our self-repair systems."
"Not at the molecular level," says Ratchet. "Nova has molecular nanites."
"Which means Nova can heal faster than that fleshbag Logan," says Thundercracker.
"The Devilspawn heal almost the same way," Ratchet continues. "Those worms were already technoorganic."
"No wonder Skywarp took a shot from Megatron," Thundercracker shudders. "Having those things impregnate us is a fate worse than death."
"Right now," says Ratchet, "we need to repair everyone."
Thundercracker picks up Starscream's arm. "I'll take care of this," he says. "Don't let Skywarp die, Autobot." The blue jetwarrior takes off with the arm.
Scene: 9
Inside Alpha Trion's old laboratory in Iacon, MR-07 awakens Braxis.
"You know how screwy he is, Director," says MR-43.
"Unfortunately," says MR-07, "the fool is smart enough to stumble onto something that Alpha may have overlooked."
Braxis rubs his eyes, then stares in shock at the four all-black Gobots. "Who the hell are you?" he demands.
"Guardian Intelligence," states MR-07.
"Ah," Braxis sighs, relieved. "Now there's a moronic oxymoron."
"Understand this, doctor," says MR-07. "I will not be trifled with. You will die if you cross me."
"With all due respect, scary fellow," says Braxis blandly, "if I wanted to hear death threats from Guardians, I could have remained on the planet they haled me off to."
"The only reason you live, doctor," says MR-07, "is to assist us with any obscure clues to Nova Prime's weaknesses. Now," he continues, "earn your keep and find them."
"As you wish," says Braxis. "You're not nearly as obnoxious as Turbo," he adds as he notes a Transformer-sized datapad on the ground.
MRT-43 pats MR-07's arm. "Just give him that one, sir."
MR-07 tenses his fist.
Scene: 10
Thundercracker taunts Starscream with the red-and-silver Seeker's own arm.
"Give me my arm back!" Starscream demands.
"You aren't in charge," sneers Thundercracker, hitting Starscream with the arm.
"Thundercracker, what are you doing!?" shrieks Starscream.
"Skywarp is likely dying from Autobot incompetence because of you!" continues Thundercracker, hitting Starscream again.
"Look! I panicked, okay?" says Starscream. "I like to be alive," he continues, trembling, "and that maniac ripped off my arm--which you're flogging me with!"
"And rightly, so, you retro-fitted cable-sucking little frag!" says Thundercracker. "What do you know of loyalty!? Of our history, you worthless Diasporan!" Thundercracker hits Starscream again.
Starscream jerks to his feet, snatches back his arm, and hits Thundercracker with it repeatedly. "Fool!" he spits. "You flunked Cybertronian history back at the Academy. Your illustrious ancestor was just as much of a 'Diasporan' as the rest of ours, you arrogant git!"
Thundercracker scowls.
"Besides," Starscream continues, reattaching his arm, "if Skywarp dies at the hands of an outdated relic like Nova Prime, he was never fit to be one of us. Doesn't it stand to reason, then, that Skywarp's probably fine?"
"Do you even have a soul?" asks Thundercracker.
"Of course I do," says Starscream. "I'm determined to keep it inside my body. Now let's go!" Starscream transforms and flies back out of the Host Village.
"I'm not standing around these weak organics," spits Thundercracker, taking off after Starscream.
Raleigh throws a rock after Thundercracker.
Anita shakes her head. "Pray for Thundercracker, son."
Scene: 11
Ratchet locates and fights Nova, studying him carefully.
"You're an intriguing hybrid," says Nova.
"I get that a lot," Ratchet responds. "My dad wanted me to be a girl," he but my mom and sister overruled him," he continues.
"An AT-Onebox and Caduceus MT," says Nova.
"Don't see many Atwuns these days," quips Ratchet, "and Caddies are pretty much gone except for us 'hybrids', Nova. You don't hold that against me, I hope," Ratchet continues.
"You're just in the way, medic," says Nova. "I only want what is mine by right."
"You won't get the Matrix, Nova. You can't handle the power or the duty," says Ratchet.
"I was created to be Prime!" Nova snarls as he throttles Ratchet. "And when I performed my function, my creator rejected me."
"Oh, shut up! You're causing all of this pain and destruction," continues Ratchet, "because your maker saw your acts of genocide for what they were? You're pathetic."
"I saw--and I will forever see--the organics as a threat to our well-being," says Nova, punching Ratchet repeatedly. "Only when every last organic is eradicated can we live in peace."
"Funny, Nova: we're in the middle of a war that's lasted for nine M-cycles, and not a single organic was involved," says Ratchet. "So you may be wrong about organics being the source of our problems."
"No matter!" Nova says as he kicks Ratchet down a ravine. "The Matrix is mine," continues Nova, "and I will reclaim it from Optimus."
"No. You won't," says a cloaked gray mech wearing a fedora.
"And who are you to defy me?" asks Nova.
"My parents never named me," says the mech as he removes the cloak and fedora, "but I got my designation back at Guardian Academy."
"Ah. It's you," says Nova contemptuously.
"That's right. I am your opponent," says the gray jetwarrior, Leader One. "Codename wa Leader One."
Scene: 12
"The blinking light from that large microscope on the counter is annoying me," says Braxis.
"Indeed," says MR-07. "You can come out now, good fellow."
The microscope's LED light switches off.
"Are you in hiding from the Autobots or the Decepticons?" asks MR-40, noting the Decepticon sigil.
The microscope does not answer.
"We're Gobots, pal--we're not a threat to you," says MR-43.
"Are you an associate of Alpha Trion's by any chance?" asks Braxis. "You don't have to speak; just blink once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'."The microscope transforms. "I'm going to die," he says, trembling. "He will find and kill me."
"Who will?" asks MRT-43.
"I cannot even speak his name," hisses the mech. "That would be suicide!"
MR-07 stares impassively at the mech. Judging from his age and build, he muses, he could be Perceptor's elder relative.
"Is it Soundwave?" asks MR-40.
The mech trembles, looking around the ruined lab.
"We'll take that as a 'yes'," says MR-07. "I have a proposal for you. What is your name?"
"...Scalpel," says the mech.
"As a Guardian of rank, Scalpel, I can recommend to the Governor-general that you be granted political asylum on Gobotron," says MR-07. "You only need to renounce all active ties to the Decepticons, and declare neutrality."
"That's the problem. I've already defected from the Decepticons because of Alpha," says Scalpel, turning to Braxis.
"I gathered that an astute mind like Alpha Trion's wouldn't trust having you inside his lab otherwise," says Braxis.
"They will not acknowledge my neutrality," continues Scalpel. "If I go to Gobotron as an asylum seeker, the Decepticons will say that you're harboring a defector and subversive fugitive--and use that as casus belli."
"The Decepticons will rescind the non-aggression treaty with Gobotron," says Braxis, "and plunge Gobotron into a war it's likely ill-equipped to fight."
"We're equipped to deal with the Decepticons if it comes to blows," says MR-07.
"Oh, I'm sure that you'd be happy to rip that treaty to shreds," says Braxis sardonically. "You are a Guardian, after all, and I know the Guardians hate the non-aggression treaty."
"It is a necessary evil to forestall a war the people don't support," says MR-07, "and the Guardians are the servants of the people. We must defer to their will."
"But if I accept your offer of asylum, agreeing to your generous terms," says Scalpel, "the Decepticons will attack Gobotron. The people of Gobotron would have no choice but to grant you carte blanche to throw in your lot with the Autobots."
"I see you are aware of Gobot politics," says MR-07.
"Alpha and I would debate it constantly," says Scalpel. "I have no wish to endanger civilians," he continues, "as I have seen my share of wars as a Diasporan."
"When did you repatriate yourself to Cybertron?" asks MR-07.
"I arrived here during the time of the Cybertron Provisional Government," says Scalpel, "along with a friendly Class One Arwing--he wasn't too bright."
"I didn't think Skywarp was that old," Braxis quips.
"He's not," says MR-07. "Skywarp is 10.6 M-cycles of age."
"Yes; I remember the fellow's name now: Skywing. We eventually got into a row about Nova Prime's plans for expansion," says Scalpel. "He left to join Nova's army, and I had seen no sign of him until I met his daughter."
"Daughter?" wonders MR-40.
Scalpel nods. "She reported that Nova had killed Skywing because Skywing was protecting his bondmate Typhonus--the femme's mother. It's a long story, but I remember it well because this femme was having an argument with Skywarp."
"Why?" asks Braxis.
"She was upset because Skywarp became a femme's bondmate--Knuckles, I think. To the femme--who was Skywarp's creator, now that I recall," continues Scalpel, "bondmating will lead to death and sorrow, and she didn't want that for him."
"Skywarp's mother turned out to be rather prophetic, then," says MR-07. "Knuckles died in captivity, at the hands of Optimus Prime, no less. A pretty gruesome end for her."
"Did Optimus gun her down?" asks Braxis.
"According to reports, Optimus ripped her in half," says MRT-43. "She was the same size as Rumble and Frenzy."
"Those two--and Soundwave--are her younger brothers, by the way," says MR-07.
"That's...terrible. I wonder if Alpha ever learned of Optimus doing such a horrid thing," says Scalpel.
"I think that Alpha Trion suspected that Optimus was capable of it," says MR-07.
"So Alpha is dead," says Scalpel.
"More or less. He is one with Vector Sigma," says MR-07.
"He was so saddened and depressed after the Vilnacron Massacre," muses Scalpel aloud, "and until a few cycles ago, he didn't even leave this lab. I remember him saying that his daughter was in peril. Probably due to something experimental."
"So Alpha had two kids?" asks MR-43.
"Yes," says Scalpel. "Nova was his eldest--although that was kept a secret for obvious reasons. The other was a femme named Ariel; I think she's fighting with the Autobots, but I haven't seen her."
MRT-43 hides a smile behind her hand. "I don't think you'd recognize her if you did see her."
"Since you know of Nova," says MR-07, "perhaps you can tell us something about his construction."
"I may have inadvertently helped Alpha to create that monster," says Scalpel.
"What makes you say that?" asks Braxis.
"I'd made an offhand comment about molecular nanites when I was talking to him," says Scalpel, "and a few lunar phases later, he had me fire my lens cannon at some armor plating. At the time, I thought what Alpha was doing was amazing--even revolutionary."
The others are silent, studying Scalpel's words carefully.
"I had charged my lens cannon at maximum power--almost at the same level as Megatron's fusion cannon. We're both MC Battalion Destrons after all, though I was from a later rollout than his," Scalpel explains. "Anyway, Alpha had me fire at armor plating, circuit boards, anything that would normally sustain irreparable damage; the plating and circuitry mended itself."
"Alpha Trion took the molecular nanites idea and ran wild with it," says Braxis, "injecting every molecule in Nova's body with them."
"Can these molecular nanites be transmitted through a hardware interface?" asks MR-07.
"It would include data packet molecules," says Scalpel, "so, yes."
Then Nova is mistaken, says MR-07 to himself. Optimus isn't nearly as durable as Nova.
"Optimus does remind me a bit of Nova--without the megalomania, of course," Scalpel continues.
"Is there a way to disable the molecular nanites?" asks MR-07.
"You can overwhelm the molecular nanites with excessive, sustained concussive damage," says Scalpel, "and they're vulnerable to nullification rays and powerful electrical jolts--like any other nanites."
"I'm reporting all of this to my top intelligence operative," says MR-07. "He may be able to come up with a plan."
Scene: 13
"Yes; as you know, I have someone in my employ who can do both at once," smiles Cy-Kill, "and she's eager to get cracking."
"Who is that guy?" asks Crasher, noting the Gobot in shadow on Cy-Kill's monitor.
"A spook from Guardian Intelligence," says Cy-Kill. "We did offer our assistance to the Guardians, if you recall," he continues, "and they have graciously accepted."
"Ooh, good!" grins Crasher.
Cy-Kill disconnects a data drive and hands it to Crasher. "You and Snoop are to meet with Leader One, who is fighting Nova as we speak," he says, "and hand him this valuable intelligence."
Crasher subspaces the data drive.
"Your considerable combined electrochemistry might just do the trick against Nova," continues Cy-Kill with a wink.
"Don't mock me, Cy-Kill; I can take Nova Rustbucket on by myself," says Crasher, turning to leave.
"Mm-hm," smiles Snoop as she exits Cy-Kill's ready room.
Crasher halts at the doorway. "And I am so over him, for the record!" she spits, glaring at Cy-Kill. She leaves the ready room in an indignant huff.
"Mom is totally carrying a torch for that loser," says Crossword, scowling.
"Can we go with Mama, Cy-Kill?" says Pocket.
"Yeah! We wanna see our ma kick some aft!" adds Zigzag.
"I have no objections," says Cy-Kill. "Take your main bodies with you, gentlemen," he continues.
"Thank you, Cy-Kill-sama," says Tic-Tac. "We will not fail you."
"Of course not," says Crossword, rolling his optics. "Come on, guys, let's go." Crossword leaves the ready room with the rest of the Puzzler Six.
"I give the orders around here!" says Tic-Tac imperiously as he follows his brothers out.
Cy-Kill smiles briefly at Tic-Tac's antics, then returns his focus to his monitor. "While I understand the urgency of our current crisis," he says quietly, "in future, Director, I recommend that you don't contact me directly. It will put my neutralization operation in jeopardy."
"Fair enough. I just wanted to keep your skills sharp," says the shadowed Gobot, MR-07, with a smirk.
"I will end this transmission." Cy-Kill ends the conversation, turns off the console, then throws it in the disintegrator chute. "It would otherwise complicate matters."
Cy-Kill exits the ready room.
Laserbeak, in an access tunnel above the ready room, flies through the tunnel to an unknown destination.
Scene: 14
"Now, fall!" says Leader One as he slams Nova with a double-fisted haymaker.
Nova collapses to the ground. "I will not be defeated...by a desperate, half-organic weakling," he says as he struggles to his feet.
"I have no wish to understand you," says Leader One, charging his blasters. "Now, die!"
Nova teleports away, but Leader One beats Nova to his destination with a punch to the face.
"I can move faster than your subspace radius will allow, Nova," says Leader One, smirking.
"True," says Nova, wiping away fuel trickling down his chin. "But can you be in two places at once?" he asks as he fires at the Deathwater pool with A. J. and Anya.
Leader One puts a forcefield dome over the two humans and Perceptor as he resumes his attack on Nova. "No one's faster than me," he says, hitting Nova with another haymaker, "and I can multitask!"
"Wow," says Fireflight, in awe. "I wish everybody at home could see this."
Nova gathers his strength and retaliates with boundless fury, throttling Leader One. "Fool! You will pay the ultimate price for your intransigence."
On the ground, Leader One struggles to face his adversary. "Nova..." he says, optics sputtering. "I...won't let...you win!" Leader One collapses.
"I have already won, half-organic," says Nova, smug, as he cocks both rifles at Leader One. "Prepare to--*"
Nova is knocked away by a sudden seismic shock.
Crasher lands in front of Leader One. "Sorry, sucker," she sneers, "but the only machine who will kill this obnoxious bastard is me."
Leader One grins slightly as he recovers enough to sit up. "I didn't think you cared," he says sardonically.
"Shut up and give me a light," says Crasher as she ionizes herself, summoning an energy flail. "Leave the demolition to the professionals."
Leader One lights an ion cigarette. "Have at it," he says, smoking the cigarette as Crasher touches the glowing tip.
Scene: 15
Crasher and Nova go all-out, neither combatant yielding any openings for attack.
"Come on, Mama!" cheers Pocket. "Don't let Sunseeker make fun of you if you can't beat this old guy!"
"Yeah, ma! You can take 'im!" adds Zigzag.
"Deliver the fatal blow!" crows Tic-Tac.
"And you six are here because...?" asks Pumper.
"Because we feel like it," says Crossword.
"Want to make something of it, Buster Brown?" adds Jigsaw.
Pumper stares at Jigsaw, confused.
"Ignore Jigsaw, Kawashima-san," says Rube with a hand on his forehead. "He's a hopeless nerd."
"I...gathered as much," Pumper says, grinning. "Your mom's in rare form."
"It's nice to see Crasher attack someone other than us," adds Road Ranger.
"You Guardians are next," says Tic-Tac. "This is a temporary alliance of necessity, for the good of Gobotron."
"That and we can't believe that you ignored us to fight old frag-face," adds Crossword.
"It's too bad that your mom can't land a decisive blow," says Small Foot, recovering from her injuries. "Teleport-spamming frag-off."
"Language, ma'am!" says Jigsaw, covering Crossword's ears. "There are children present."
"Oh, that's right; you're the oldest," says Small Foot.
"Let me go, you moron!" spits Crossword, escaping Jigsaw.
"He's not the oldest if you count Hans-Cuff's kids," smirks Pumper. "Isn't that right, little Yugi?"
Jigsaw blushes and fumes as his brothers snicker.
Suddenly Crasher plummets to the ground in front of the group, injured.
"Mom!" cries Jigsaw, optics wide.
"Mommy's a bit hurt," says Crasher as she struggles to her feet, "but I can take this old clown."
"Not without a plan, Mom," Crossword warns, serious. "As long as Nova can teleport, you can't land a clean hit."
"Mommy has a plan," says Crasher as she swaggers toward Nova, unsteady. "I'm wearing him down, and--I have such a headache."
Crasher collapses in a heap.
Nova smirks at the group of Gobots.
The Puzzler Six glare at Nova.
"Can we agree that we need to subdue this miscreant?" asks Jigsaw.
"Agreed," says Tic-Tac.
"Good. Anyone have a plan?" asks Crossword.
"Me Sludge am have plan," says Sludge, standing with the other Dinobots.
"I can't wait to hear it," says Tic-Tac sardonically, rolling his optics.
"Huddle up, and listen to Sludge through internal radio," says Sludge. "Me am only speak once."
"Roger," Crossword grins.
"Will you Guardians kindly get our mother and Leader One to safety?" asks Tic-Tac as he joins the huddle with the Dinobots. "We have work to do."
The Guardians nod and take Leader One and Crasher to the Host Village.
Scene: 16
Nova, clutching his injured arm, approaches the prone body of Optimus, guarded by Perceptor.
"I won't permit you access to the Matrix," states Perceptor, firing his lens cannon again.
"I will gain what is mine," grunts Nova, sustaining another hit.
"This is a concussive energy blast," Perceptor continues, calm. "At the present setting, it is comparable to Megatron's fusion cannon."
"I was built to withstand Megatron's fusion cannon," says Nova, rushing at Perceptor as the scientist fires his lens cannon again.
Nova vanishes and reappears in front of the blast, gripping Perceptor by the neck column and flinging Perceptor away. "Now," continues Nova, "to claim the Matrix."Optimus comes online, wincing as Nova plants his foot on his neck column.
"Once you die, my son," says Nova, "the Matrix will accept me as its rightful owner--for all time."
Optimus glares at Nova. "I don't care how invincible you may be," he says, his voice taking on a darker cadence, "I will never let that happen!"
Optimus lunges up, landing a brutal blow with his energy ax.
Nova staggers from the hit, but remains standing. "It will take more than that," he says, spitting fuel. "Unlike you, I was created to be Prime!"
"Then in order to stop you from ever being Prime again," says Optimus, "you must be destroyed." Optimus charges at Nova.
Nova charges at Optimus. "I can never die!" he cries.
Optimus abruptly stops in front of Nova, then takes off into the sky.
Nova's optics widen. "What? Where did you--*" he begins to ask.
"Burn," says Turbo as he punches a hole through Nova's chest, immolating the rogue Autobot.
"Me Slag say same thing!" adds Slag as he burns...the ground.
"Me Grimlock burn you up, too!" says Grimlock, also firing his flamethrower.
"Fools! Fire is nothing to me!" spits Nova.
"You are mistaken," says Road Ranger. "Any thing created can be destroyed." He uses a seismic field to shatter the ground and his anti-gravity beams to lift large chunks of earth.
"Ridiculous!" snarls Nova.
"Not as much as you, Clyde," smirks Skywarp. "Say 'hi' to Grandpa for me on your way to hell," he adds as he punches Nova down to the now-vanishing ground and teleports away.
Nova begins to teleport, but finds the air ionized.
"You're trapped in an AT ion field," says Leader One. "There's nowhere for you to run."
"And nowhere to hide," adds Crasher. "Prepare for trouble!"
"On the double," says Leader One, grinning.
Nova transforms and flees.
Scene: 17
Superion and the three Seekers, along with Leader One, Crasher, Turbo, and the Dinobots; pursue Nova, entering the grassy fields outside Nzunda.
Nova reverts to root mode. "I am whole!" he shouts. "You have no power over me!"
A white Gobot pounds Nova's head with an energy tonfa, then roars at him.
Five other Gobots join the white one, all roaring.
"Who...are they?" Nova grunts.
"Those little scamps are my boys," says Crasher. "They didn't like you beating up their mommy," she adds with a thin, cruel smile.
Nova's optics widen as he recalls the six raucous Gobot tin pets cheering Crasher on. "The children...?"
Sludge arrives on the scene. "Finish him," he orders.
Crossword grins, charging his burn aura. "Cross...! Down...!" he growls as he races past Nova repeatedly, melting the ground in a grid.
The rest of the Puzzler Six join the other airborne mechs; Crossword joins his brothers in the sky.
Scene: 18
Nova tries to teleport inside Nzunda, only to face Trailbreaker's forcefield; an angry army of Nzundans and Elysynese stare Nova down.
Sun-Bright and Galahdri step to the front of the group.
"Your power over us has ended, Nova," says Sun-Bright.
"That black one broke your control over Nzunda's shaman and the other elders throughout our world," adds Galahdri, pointing skyward.
In the sky, Snoop waves at Nova.
Nova seethes at Trailbreaker and Hound, the two Autobots standing behind the forcefield.
"You are not welcome in Nzunda," says Sun-Bright.
Superion snatches Nova up, hurls Nova back down to the molten battlefield, then fires his electrostatic discharge rifle at the tyrant.
Scene: 19
"I...don't understand!" shrieks Nova, his body slowly melting even as he struggles to escape the molten ground. "I was built...to be...invincible!"
"We told you that we'd make you vincible, didn't we?" sneers Skywarp.
"You Nova am make fatal boot error," adds Sludge, folding his arms. "You am Autobot. Autobots no can fly," he continues with a crude grin.
The Puzzler Six merge into Puzzler.
"You...will never...defeat...me!" says Nova. "It is my destiny...to rule as Prime!"
"Then to hell with dumb destiny," says Sludge.
"Buster...Homerun...Bat!" roars Puzzler as he slams a massive energy club onto Nova. Puzzler continues to beat Nova into the molten ground until Nova stops moving.
Nova's body slowly turns gray and crumbles into the lava.
Scene: 20
"Most of the Redeemed are returning to the Elysyn Kingdom, with proper restitution made by the High Chieftess to the descendants of the original exiles," Road Ranger reports to Leader One.
"What about the chief and Mekuhra?" asks Turbo.
"They and a few others say there's still some unfinished matters regarding their ancient beliefs," says Road Ranger. "They've asked for a forcefield generator," he continues, "in order to protect everyone else from the Vader Devilspawn."
"I see. Pumper," says Leader One, "how is Nzunda?"
"It's pretty interesting," says Pumper. "The Nzundans decided to try their hands at democracy. The role of chief remains hereditary," he continues, "but the tribal council is elected by the people--except for a new position: the high minister."
"Hand-picked by the chief, right?" asks Leader One.
Pumper nods.
"I did say they were more reasonable than Wakanda," adds Road Ranger. "Not a single wrestling match to be found."
"What of their relations with the Elysyn Kingdom?" Leader One asks. "We don't want those two regions declaring war on each other the moment we leave orbit."
"One of the conditions of our ongoing planetary alliance is that all hostilities between Nzunda and Elysyn cease," says Road Ranger.
"Did you make it clear that if they failed to hold up their end of the bargain," says Turbo, "that we would have no alternative but to leave the planet to its fate?"
"Unfortunately, yes," says Road Ranger.
"There's nothing unfortunate about it," says Pumper. "We've dumped enough resources into this mission," he continues, "and spilled enough of our fuel."
"I'm with Pumper," adds Turbo. "If these two major powers want to throw their future away for petty revenge, then we should wash our hands of it."
"Our duty was to save this planet from the Devilspawn and Nova," says Leader One, placing a hand on Road Ranger's shoulder, "not from themselves."
"I understand logically," says Road Ranger, "but what about the innocent?"
"The alternative," says Small Foot, "is for us to become what we all damn-near died to destroy. Life's too short and precious for that."
"I must reluctantly agree," says Road Ranger.
"Come on, everyone," Leader One smiles. "Let's take the Autobots home."
Scene: 21
The Guardian shuttle lands in front of Autobot Headquarters; the party emerges from the craft.
Sunstreaker picks up Pocket, twirling the tin pet around before kissing him full on the lips. "That's my boy!" he says, giddy. "You've done your papa proud!"
"Let me go, Sunseeker!" says Pocket, squirming out of Sunstreaker's arms. "What's the matter with you?" he adds, wiping his lip components.
"What are you even talking about?" demands Crossword.
"There are a large number of news cameras from major broadcast networks across the galaxy," notes Jigsaw.
"That's because we all saw the Puzzler beat Nova Prime to death on live TV," says Barricade. "Word spread."
"How?" asks the returning mechs in unison.
A starshuttle lands; Peter Parker, Angelica Jones, Bobby Drake, J. Jonah Jameson and Lieutenant John Jameson exit the shuttle.
UNECOM MPs immediately surround the group of humans and arrest J. Jonah Jameson.
Braxis, in cuffs, snickers. "At least I'm not the only fellow going to prison."
END SPECIAL NINE
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Curse of the Devilspawn!