NOTE: This story takes place in the mainstream Marvel Universe, in between West Coast Avengers #39 (the end of the Steve Englehart era) and Avengers West Coast #42 (the beginning of the John Byrne era.)
Clint Barton, also known as the costumed hero Hawkeye, felt like the weight of the world was upon his shoulders. Specifically, it was the burden of leading the super-hero team known as the West Coast Avengers – a team which now found itself fragmented, unstable, and low in morale. Clint feared as if, like the mythical Atlas, the whole thing would come crashing down if he shrugged.
Because of this, Clint was currently seeking solace in his favorite sport, archery, which he had mastered at a young age and which became his stock-in-trade. Many a villain had choked on their disdainful laughter whenever Clint had shown them just how much of a true warrior he really was.
The arrow flew straight and true to the center of the target. It was a momentary spark of positive feeling for Clint, but at the moment he felt like he needed much more. A familiar voice provided some extra cheer: the rich baritone belonging to the Vision. “Great shot, Clint.” he said, smiling.
“Thanks, Vizh.” replied Hawkeye before immediately falling back into a blue feeling. “I just wish it was just as easy for me to stop feelin’ sorry for myself an’ pull this team back together.”
“All good things in time.” said Vision serenely. “You’ve been through a lot, we all have.”
Hawkeye’s moroseness began to lift again, only to fall back into place when he saw Vision’s wife, Wanda the Scarlet Witch, back from a shopping trip to the botanist, carrying an exotic flower in a pot. As Wanda walked across the front lawn of the West Coast Compound, she waved at Hawkeye and blew a kiss at Vision. Hawkeye cursed himself for feeling envious of the thriving marriage that Wanda & Vision had, while his marriage to Mockingbird was all but over.
As Hawkeye plucked another arrow, he saw Wonder Man coming in for a landing. He and Wonder Man were the last founding members remaining in the team; Iron Man had gone rogue and presumably been killed, Tigra was unraveling, and Mockingbird...Hawkeye let out a deep sigh.
“Hey, guys.” said Wonder Man as he landed on his feet in front of Hawkeye and Vision. “What’s up? I saw Wanda coming back, but where’s Jan and Hank?”
“They’re getting re-acquainted.” said the Vision tactfully, but not tactfully enough for Hawkeye to sink further into despair.
Suddenly, a scream from inside the compound put all three men on alert.
“Wanda!” exclaimed the Vision. “It came from her quarters.”
The three Avengers raced to Wanda’s quarters, Vision phasing through the door, ready for anything. What he found was...
...a fashionably dressed red-headed woman sitting on top of Wanda’s bed, arms crossed and demeanor calm even as Wanda was blasting her with hexes and yelling, “WHO ARE YOU?? HOW DARE YOU DISTURB MY SANCTUARY AND THAT OF MY BABIES??”
“Is this any way to treat a spiritual sister?” replied the woman serenely as Hawkeye and Wonder Man barged in.
“You’re a witch, too!” said the Vision.
“Yes,” she replied, “and as you can see, I came prepared for a possible attack, so you really should get yourself under control, Wanda-kins, especially since you’ll need all your power for what lies ahead.”
“Never mind that right now!” said Hawkeye. “How did you get past security?”
“Trade secret.” answered the witch with a sly smile before turning her head to look Wanda in the eye. “Tell me this, don’t you have a certain other responsibility besides your children?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” said a flustered Wanda.
“I’m talking about Holly Ladonna.”
“Holly? By all the spirits, I haven’t seen her in months! I’ve been so busy with Avengers missions and with Vision and the babies and myself moving to the West Coast...”
“Who’s Holly?” inquired Wonder Man.
“Wanda’s former protege,” replied Vision, “a young sorceress-in-training.”
“Did it occur to you,” said the witch with more than a hint of scorn, “that your neglect of her could have dreadful consequences?”
Wanda’s face turned a whiter shade of pale. “No,” she said almost pleadingly, “no, not Holly. Please tell me she’s okay.”
“That’s what I need you to help me find out. I’m a detective specializing in the supernatural, and I was hired by Holly’s parents after she mysteriously disappeared from her bedroom this past Halloween.” The witch paused. “There were candles strewn across the floor, and she’d drawn a pentagram...”
“Gaea help me!” exclaimed Wanda, covering her face with her hands.
“Gaea help poor innocent Holly, who was YOUR responsibility!” snapped the witch as she suddenly stood up and grabbed Wanda’s wrists. “Now start acting like a grown woman and let’s go rescue her.”
“Unhand my wife!” growled the Vision.
Without a word, the witch did just that.
“Who...or what...are we rescuing her from?” stammered Wanda.
“I don’t know.” replied the witch. “Even using personal effects of Holly’s, I haven’t been able to pinpoint her location across the realms. I concluded that it would take my power combined with yours, Wanda.” She reached into her large handbag. “I’ve brought the last remaining personal effects of Holly’s. Let’s get started.”
“Wait a minute,” said Hawkeye, “we don’t even know your name!”
“I don’t give my name.” said the witch plainly. “Names have power.”
“For all we know,” said Vision, “you could be a demoness like Umar or Selene, trying to lure Wanda into a trap!”
“She’s not,” said Wanda, much to the surprise of the men present, “I recognize her now. She’s Mary Clarke, a selfish little hellion and the black sheep of the magical community, but a human nonetheless.”
“I see my reputation precedes me.” quipped Mary dryly. “But whatever else I may have done in the past, I am telling you the truth at present. Holly’s parents hired me to investigate her disappearance, and I came to you for help. Whether you want to help or not is up to you.”
“I’ll help,” said Wanda decisively, “for Holly’s sake.”
“Now that,” said Mary grinning, “is the Wanda I looked up to as a little girl.”
“Huh?”
“Uh...never mind, that’s a story for another time.”
“How can the rest of us help?” asked the Vision.
“I’m glad you asked.” said Mary, visibly relieved that the subject had been changed. “I have a feeling that Wanda and I will need all the backup we can get.”
“Lady,” said Hawkeye, “we got plenty of experience dealin’ with demons. You just hired yourself the West Coast Avengers.”
********
Later, as the sun was setting, all was in readiness. The circle had been drawn and the candles lit. The four West Coast Avengers and Mary Clarke stood inside the circle, hands joined, prepared for anything.
“Okay, Wanda,” said Mary, “we must open our minds to each other.”
After a pause, Wanda & Mary began the incantation.
“O ancient spirits of the light, illuminate our present journey into the darkness as we traverse to rescue an innocent girl, Holly Ladonna. Show us the way, wherever she may be, for we know that you watch over us. Show us the way, show us the way...”
The room went cold, freezing cold, and a wind came out of nowhere, despite the windows being shut. First the candles went out, and then the wind began to spin faster and faster, stronger and stronger, until the five heroes were swept up in it. In the center of the room, a portal opened, emitting poisonously colored light. Like a black hole, the portal sucked in all five heroes.
*********
First to regain consciousness was Wanda, who woke up the others. The infernal surroundings seemed eerily familiar to both Wanda and Vision. Suddenly, Wanda realized where they were and she began screaming.
“Get a hold of yourself!” scolded Mary, grabbing Wanda by the shoulders and shaking her. “Be the strong Wanda that we need right now!”
A baritone voice even deeper than the Vision’s echoed through the hellish realm as bubbling lava gave way to colossal fires and their host revealed himself.
“Why should the Scarlet Witch, or any of you, waste time deluding herself with false courage? No, you mortal weaklings, you would do well to surrender yourselves to me...just as this young and easily corrupted soul has.”
“HOLLY!” exclaimed Wanda as she witnessed the horrifying sight of a spellbound Holly Ladonna, her eyes flooded by the recently awoken evil within her.
The voice came back, this time louder, as a tall, muscular humanoid form began to rise from the middle of the biggest fire.
“Call it poetic justice, call it what you will. But do not attempt to deny that the timing is perfect for my revenge against you, Scarlet Witch and Vision. The vengeance of...DORMAMMU!”
The Scarlet Witch and the Vision flashed back to their previous encounter with Dormammu, who had captured and dominated Wanda in a fashion all-too similar to what had now befallen Holly. But the heroes had won the day on that occasion, and now Wanda remembered how she had done it. Summoning all her powers, she cast a spell on the molten lava, turning it from burning hot to freezing cold.
This time, sadly, it did not work as expected. Instead, Dormammu laughed. “Did you truly believe you could defeat me the same way twice? I am more powerful that I ever have been. You are nothing to me but sport, in preparation for my true battle against my nemesis, Dr. Strange.”
Time seemingly stood still as the heroes digested these grim tidings, until Hawkeye broke the silence. “Y’know, fireball-face, you’re right. We shoulda thought of another way...like maybe THIS!”
Hawkeye fired an arrow point-blank at Dormammu’s chest. In the split second it took for the arrow to reach his destination, Dormammu prepared to laugh again, only for the laugh to get caught in his throat and be replace by an agonized scream.
Hawkeye and Mary smiled at each other. Before coming to Dormammu’s realm, Hawkeye had replaced his trick arrows for traditional ones...with the arrowheads dipped in a potent potion that Mary had provided.
“AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!” exulted Hawkeye.
Vision and Wonder Man took advantage of Dormammu’s temporary vulnerability and charged at him, hitting him hard, like twin pile-drivers, and Hawkeye fired more arrows at the fallen Dormammu. As per the plan, Wanda raced toward the now-free-but-dazed Holly while Mary’s spells kept Dormammu’s cannon-fodder demons at bay. Holly took Wanda’s hand and together they ran towards the other heroes.
“Ahhhh...you forget one thing, fools,” wheezed Dormammu, “you are still in MY REALM!”
Instantly, reality seemed to turn itself inside-out, and the heroes could no longer even tell which way was up, as if they were trapped in a waking nightmare. The men panicked while Mary, who was well acquainted with such settings, got her bearings within a few seconds...just in time to see Wanda and Holly perched at the edge of a cliff.
Dormammu, floating above the heroes in the form of a giant head, taunted the heroes. “This girl,” he said, obviously referring to Holly, “stands at the edge of oblivion, both literally and figuratively.” The ground beneath Holly and Wanda’s feet began to crumble, and Holly lost her balance. Mary raced past Wanda and grabbed Holly’s hand, but the combination of gravity and supernatural oblivion produced a strong pull. Wanda put her arms around Mary’s waist and began helping her haul Holly back to safe ground.
“The question is,” said Dormammu, “do you witches truly want to save this young soul? For a young soul is the most dangerous kind. Behold that which awaits, should she return to the mortal realm.”
Holly, Wanda and Mary’s minds were seized by images of...Holly berating Wanda for letting her fall into Dormammu’s clutches; followed by Holly embracing fundamentalist Christianity and ultra-conservative politics; followed by Holly marrying a right-wing demagogue who becomes president of America and orders the genocide of all witches...including Wanda and Mary.
“No!” screamed Holly, “I don’t want that to happen!”
“It is fated!” laughed Dormammu.
“Don’t listen to him, Holly!” said Wanda.
“He’s trying to trick you!” added Mary.
Then...and then, who can say? Did Holly deliberately let go? Did Mary intentionally slacked her grip? Did Wanda purposely lose her hold on Mary? Whatever the answer, the fact was that Holly fell into an oblivion from which she could never be rescued. Wanda’s scream echoed through Dormammu’s realm for what seemed like an eternity, until she turned around and blasted Dormammu with a hex so powerful, even Wanda herself didn’t know she had it in her.
Reality re-aligned itself, and the five heroes now faced a weakened Dormammu.
“Defiant to the last,” hissed Dormammu, “but it is all in vain. Holly is lost to us all, and that is vengeance enough for me. Your destruction shall have to wait for a future encounter.”
Before the heroes could rush him, Dormammu cast a spell with which the same wind that had brought them to his realm now returned them to where they had come from.
*********
Mary was the last to awaken. It was the dead of night, the room’s electric light was on, and the Avengers were staring at Mary in a most unfriendly way.
“I don’t know who you are,” snarled Wanda, “how you got in here, or what you did to us, but you’re not welcome here.”
Mary was at a rare loss for words. “You don’t...none of you remember what happened??”
They didn’t need to answer out loud. Their faces said it all. It was abundantly clear that Dormammu had cast a final spell making the Avengers forget everything, while Mary, who had brought them to Dormammu’s realm and whose potion had allowed them to injure and humiliate Dormammu, would be cursed with the memory of the infernal tragedy which had transpired. And there was no way the Avengers would ever believe her – after all, the Avengers never lost.
Without a word, Mary stood up, packed her belongings, and made her exit from the Compound. Life would go on, the Avengers would have their ups and downs and save the world many times over, Dormammu would suffer many defeats thanks to Dr. Strange, and no one would remember Holly Ladonna, except for her grieving family...and the ever-burdened Mary Dolan.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
FANFIC: The Imperial Guard in "New Blood", Part 2
“You must understand,” explained Gladiator to the Imperial Task Force as their ship entered the stargate leading to Earth, “we are entering a very delicate situation. The Earth has been at war with one of our rival empires, the Troyjans, and so our activities on Earth must be stealthy and discreet so as not to drag the Shi’ar Empire into the war.”
“Unless Deathbird’s already done it ahead of us.” quipped Sicknessia.
“I beg you, child, no jesting at this most serious matter.” said Gladiator wearily.
*********
On Chandillar, all available Imperial Guardsmen had finished gathering at the Mission Monitor Board.
“Mentor,” commanded Smasher, “we await your appraisal of the situation.”
The Imperial Guard’s Chief Scientist, Mentor had a formidable mind that the Guardsmen had always relied on to help them through a crisis. “We are facing the legendary Starship Omega, the flagship of the fleet belonging to Warlord Zorg of the planet Zogora. It would seem their intent is to destroy Chandillar and cause a chain reaction that would throw the Empire into chaos and allow Zorg to plunder it. Zorg’s army are savagely efficient warriors who are fiercely loyal to Zorg to the point where their very lives are forfeit for the glory of their kingdom.”
Nightside was unimpressed. “A mite presumptuous of Zorg, is it not, to think he can take on an Empire?”
“No enemy is ever to be underestimated.” replied Smasher soberly.
“And there’s no enemy we can’t take!” said Impulse with typical brashness.
“While morale boosting is always good,” said Smasher, “we must always proceed with caution. Remember that.” After a pause, he commanded, “To the battle-cruiser, Guardsmen.”
Smasher, Astra, Scintilla, Nightside, Impulse, Mentor, Magique, and Fang all raced to the launchpad.
*********
“The cloaking device is working like a charm.” said Frostbite as the ship hovered a short distance above a forest in the Northeastern United States.
“You shall split into teams of two and commence the search for Deathbird. I shall monitor you from here and aid you should the need arise.” said Gladiator. “Fortunately, we are all humanoid in appearance and the citizens of Earth are accustomed to the presence of gaudily garbed super-powered people. At worst you can expect to be laughed at. But you must, I repeat, YOU MUST stay out of others’ conflicts. Is that understood? Yes? Good. Let us proceed. The teams shall be...”
Little did Gladiator and the Task Force know that they had already been tracked down, for at a discreet distance from their supposedly cloaked ship, a small futuristic aircraft was making a 180 degree turn. “Prometheus to Mount,” said the pilot, whose hard face had horrible burn scars, “I’ve tracked the Shi’ar ship and am transmitting the coordinates as we speak. My work’s done for the time being. Permission to return to Mount?”
“Good work,” came a deep-voiced reply from the aircraft’s radio, “and permission granted. Our satellites have zeroed in on the coordinates, and we shall send the rest of our top operatives to deal with this...intrusion.”
As the Task Force teams – Sickenssia & Q’ill, Frostbite & Piromanyak, Obscura & Massivus, and Prism & Flora – each departed the ship for a different destination, they had no way of knowing that they were about to learn a lesson in the strategy known as “divide and conquer.”
*********
The Imperial Guard’s battle-cruiser had come as close to the intimidating monolith known as Starship Omega as they possibly could without being detected.
Inside, the Guardsmen were standing by, ready to charge into battle.
“Impulse,” said Smasher, “take the point.”
“Smasher,” replied Impulse, “I like your style of leadership.” He flew out of the cruiser and sped directly towards the Starship Omega. Once satisfied that he was on target, Impulse fired tremendous anti-energy blasts at the enemy vessel, overloading the vessel’s shields and blowing up a section of it.
“Guardsmen, prepare for boarding!” commanded Smasher.
As the Starship Omega’s remaining defenses of laser cannons and missiles blasted away in vain, the rest of the Guardsmen flew out of the cruiser and quickly entered the Starship Omega to find the Zogorians waiting for them, armed to the teeth and with Warlord Zorg himself, a towering, muscular half-man/half-machine with crimson flesh and a cannon where his right arm should have been, in command.
“So begins the final reckoning!” declared Zorg defiantly. He opened fire on the Guardsmen as he bellowed, “ATTACK!”
*********
Gladiator’s attention was focused on the four windows on the ship’s monitor. Thanks to microscopic flying cameras, he was able to follow and observe all four teams as they searched for Deathbird in different parts of America. Nonetheless, his super-senses were perceiving the whistling sound being made by a speeding object outside which was closing in on the ship.
“Great Strontan!” exclaimed Gladiator, “We have been detected already!”
Bracing himself for whatever was seeking to breach the ship, he thought he was prepared for anything...
...but he was wrong. A tremendous cosmic force in the form of a humanoid woman with long golden hair burst through the hull of the ship, lunged at him at the speed of thought, blocked his best punch, and blasted Gladiator with cosmic rays from her eyes. Gladiator felt like he was burning to death as he went flying through the other side of the hull, speeding backward uncontrollably, making impact with the ground and skidding for what felt like an eternity.
Once Gladiator had come to a stop, he was seeing stars – literally and figuratively, for he was losing consciousness as the cosmic warrior woman stood looking over him and her flesh appeared to be made of shimmering star-stuff.
“If you value your life,” said the cosmic warrior woman, “you’ll surrender and come with me. Because no further alien invasions shall occur under while Earth is under the watch of...CAPTAIN MARVEL!”
TO BE CONTINUED
“Unless Deathbird’s already done it ahead of us.” quipped Sicknessia.
“I beg you, child, no jesting at this most serious matter.” said Gladiator wearily.
*********
On Chandillar, all available Imperial Guardsmen had finished gathering at the Mission Monitor Board.
“Mentor,” commanded Smasher, “we await your appraisal of the situation.”
The Imperial Guard’s Chief Scientist, Mentor had a formidable mind that the Guardsmen had always relied on to help them through a crisis. “We are facing the legendary Starship Omega, the flagship of the fleet belonging to Warlord Zorg of the planet Zogora. It would seem their intent is to destroy Chandillar and cause a chain reaction that would throw the Empire into chaos and allow Zorg to plunder it. Zorg’s army are savagely efficient warriors who are fiercely loyal to Zorg to the point where their very lives are forfeit for the glory of their kingdom.”
Nightside was unimpressed. “A mite presumptuous of Zorg, is it not, to think he can take on an Empire?”
“No enemy is ever to be underestimated.” replied Smasher soberly.
“And there’s no enemy we can’t take!” said Impulse with typical brashness.
“While morale boosting is always good,” said Smasher, “we must always proceed with caution. Remember that.” After a pause, he commanded, “To the battle-cruiser, Guardsmen.”
Smasher, Astra, Scintilla, Nightside, Impulse, Mentor, Magique, and Fang all raced to the launchpad.
*********
“The cloaking device is working like a charm.” said Frostbite as the ship hovered a short distance above a forest in the Northeastern United States.
“You shall split into teams of two and commence the search for Deathbird. I shall monitor you from here and aid you should the need arise.” said Gladiator. “Fortunately, we are all humanoid in appearance and the citizens of Earth are accustomed to the presence of gaudily garbed super-powered people. At worst you can expect to be laughed at. But you must, I repeat, YOU MUST stay out of others’ conflicts. Is that understood? Yes? Good. Let us proceed. The teams shall be...”
Little did Gladiator and the Task Force know that they had already been tracked down, for at a discreet distance from their supposedly cloaked ship, a small futuristic aircraft was making a 180 degree turn. “Prometheus to Mount,” said the pilot, whose hard face had horrible burn scars, “I’ve tracked the Shi’ar ship and am transmitting the coordinates as we speak. My work’s done for the time being. Permission to return to Mount?”
“Good work,” came a deep-voiced reply from the aircraft’s radio, “and permission granted. Our satellites have zeroed in on the coordinates, and we shall send the rest of our top operatives to deal with this...intrusion.”
As the Task Force teams – Sickenssia & Q’ill, Frostbite & Piromanyak, Obscura & Massivus, and Prism & Flora – each departed the ship for a different destination, they had no way of knowing that they were about to learn a lesson in the strategy known as “divide and conquer.”
*********
The Imperial Guard’s battle-cruiser had come as close to the intimidating monolith known as Starship Omega as they possibly could without being detected.
Inside, the Guardsmen were standing by, ready to charge into battle.
“Impulse,” said Smasher, “take the point.”
“Smasher,” replied Impulse, “I like your style of leadership.” He flew out of the cruiser and sped directly towards the Starship Omega. Once satisfied that he was on target, Impulse fired tremendous anti-energy blasts at the enemy vessel, overloading the vessel’s shields and blowing up a section of it.
“Guardsmen, prepare for boarding!” commanded Smasher.
As the Starship Omega’s remaining defenses of laser cannons and missiles blasted away in vain, the rest of the Guardsmen flew out of the cruiser and quickly entered the Starship Omega to find the Zogorians waiting for them, armed to the teeth and with Warlord Zorg himself, a towering, muscular half-man/half-machine with crimson flesh and a cannon where his right arm should have been, in command.
“So begins the final reckoning!” declared Zorg defiantly. He opened fire on the Guardsmen as he bellowed, “ATTACK!”
*********
Gladiator’s attention was focused on the four windows on the ship’s monitor. Thanks to microscopic flying cameras, he was able to follow and observe all four teams as they searched for Deathbird in different parts of America. Nonetheless, his super-senses were perceiving the whistling sound being made by a speeding object outside which was closing in on the ship.
“Great Strontan!” exclaimed Gladiator, “We have been detected already!”
Bracing himself for whatever was seeking to breach the ship, he thought he was prepared for anything...
...but he was wrong. A tremendous cosmic force in the form of a humanoid woman with long golden hair burst through the hull of the ship, lunged at him at the speed of thought, blocked his best punch, and blasted Gladiator with cosmic rays from her eyes. Gladiator felt like he was burning to death as he went flying through the other side of the hull, speeding backward uncontrollably, making impact with the ground and skidding for what felt like an eternity.
Once Gladiator had come to a stop, he was seeing stars – literally and figuratively, for he was losing consciousness as the cosmic warrior woman stood looking over him and her flesh appeared to be made of shimmering star-stuff.
“If you value your life,” said the cosmic warrior woman, “you’ll surrender and come with me. Because no further alien invasions shall occur under while Earth is under the watch of...CAPTAIN MARVEL!”
TO BE CONTINUED
Thursday, September 9, 2010
FANFIC: The Imperial Guard in "New Blood"
NOTE: This story takes place in an alternate Marvel Universe.
“Replace you as Praetor of the Imperial Guard?” an astonished Smasher asked Gladiator, “Unthinkable! You are the mighty Kallark, and I am but a soldier!”
“You are too modest, old friend,” replied Gladiator as he broke into a rare-for-him smile, “Far more than but a soldier, rather the greatest and most noble warrior of us all. Remember, too, that this is only temporary, while I take time to whip the newly formed Imperial Task Force into shape. Come, let us now enter Majestrix Lilandra’s chambers so that she may make it official.”
The magnificent colossalness of the Majestrix’s throne room always made the strapping Smasher feel very small; he comforted himself with the thought that others, even Gladiator, must feel the same upon entering.
Gladiator and Smasher kneeled at the feet of the Majestrix until she bid them to arise. She then declared, “By the power vested in me through royal birth and the will of Sharra and Ky’thiri, I anoint thee deputy Praetor of the Imperial Guard.”
“I shall continue to serve the Shi’ar Empire to the very best of my abilities.” said the ever-modest Smasher.
Gladiator offered Smasher his hand and said, “Congratulations, my friend.” The two shook hands.
*********
A far different and, it must be said, more familiar side of Gladiator emerged in the training grounds of one of the many moons of the Imperial Throneworld of Chandillar, as he addressed the members of the Imperial Task Force: Frostbite, Obscura, Flora, Sicknessia, Massivus, Piromanyak, Prism, and Q’ill.”
“You are all young and earnest and eager to fight for the glory of the Empire.” he said before raising his voice, “I am here to tell you that you shall have all of that beaten out of you – BY ME!”
All of the Task Force members visibly flinched.
“There is no greater challenge in the Empire that I. Only by defeating me can you prove yourselves worthy of serving the Majestrix. So let us dispense with any further speeches and fight! ON GUARD!”
To no one’s surprise, it was Frostbite, the most impulsive member of the Task Force, who initiated the attack on Gladiator. Within seconds, he had Gladiator trapped in an enormous block of ice.
But with barely any effort, Gladiator burst forth from the ice and, with the speed of thought, flew up to Frostbite so that they were face-to-face, and knocked out Frostbite with one finger.
Massivus saw a window of opportunity, turned to solid rock and charged at Gladiator. But Gladiator’s super-hearing sensed Massivus’ pounding footsteps, and he sent Massivus flying backwards with the shockwave from a snap of his fingers.
Obscura, whose strength multiplied thousandfold the less exposed she was to starlight, tackled Gladiator from behind and put him in a headlock. Gladiator fought back by taking flight and speeding the two of them toward the nearest star. Obscura felt her strength ebbing away and she lost her grip on Gladiator, who sent her flying back to the surface with a blast of super-breath.
Gladiator followed her back to the surface, where, before any of the other member of the Task Force could attack him, Gladiator clapped his hands together, producing a shockwave exponentially greater than the one that had taken down Massivus alone. The entire Task Force lay semi-conscious on the ground.
“PATHETIC!” bellowed Gladiator. “Return to the barracks and lick your wounds. I shall return when you least expect it, and you had better present a greater challenge to me.” With those words he took leave and flew back to Chandillar.
Gradually, the Task Force members regained full consciousness, got back on their feet, and filed back forlornly to the barracks.
“That was a lot rougher than I expected,” pouted the beautiful, alabaster-skinned Sicknessia, “I didn’t even get to use my powers.”
“You knew the job was dangerous when you took it,” said Obscura, “so cease your whining, it makes me ill.”
“Making people ill is what comes naturally to me.” replied Sicknessia sarcastically.
“I won’t tolerate any infighting in my squad.” snapped Frostbite.
“Your squad?” sneered Piromanyak, “Who made you leader?”
“I’m the leader, because I’m the one with the plan that’s going to make it possible to defeat Gladiator when he strikes back.” asserted Frostbite. “Now, everybody listen up...”
*********
“My lover, the Praetor!” enthused Astra. “I really like the sound of that!”
“Deputy Praetor.” corrected Smahser.
“Whatever,” said Astra, “I just know that, by proxy, it makes me more important all of sudden.”
“Our dear Astra, forever the social climber.” quipped Astra sometime friend, Nightside. Her penchant for dry observations was what kept their friendship tenuous.
“If you’d come from a place like my home planet,” snarled Astra, “you’d be a social climber, too.”
“I’ve only heard that line a trillion times.” sighed Nightside.
“Guys,” said Astra’s closest friend, Scintilla, “let’s not fight. This should be a time of celebration.”
Suddenly, the priority alarm rang.
“The celebration will have to wait!” declared Smasher as they ran to the mission control room. “Duty calls!”
**********
Much later, Gladiator swooped towards the moon. As he entered the moon’s atmosphere and set course for the Task Force’s barracks, he never expected to be suddenly confronted by...
...THE PHOENIX?
What appeared to be the scourge of the universe burned bright in its most familiar form as a giant bird of prey.
Gladiator may have been proud, but he was no fool. He knew that the Phoenix was a challenge even for him. He braced himself for the attack...
...when, without warning, Obscura, using her flight belt, flew up to him and gave him her most powerful punch, which sent him flying out of control towards the nearest star...
...where Prism, thanks to his flight belt, was waiting. Prism changed the color of the light being emitted by the star from yellow to red, the resulting radiation leaving Gladiator temporarily weakened. Gladiator went into free-fall.
Gladiator landed on the surface with tremendous force, creating a brand new crater for the moon. With great effort, he climbed out of the crater...
...only to be rammed from behind by Massivus, who had been waiting for him to surface. Stunned by the powerful blow and still vulnerable from the red star radiation, Gladiator was not prepared for Q’ill to fire quills point-blank at his face. Despite his formidable healing factor, Gladiator was temporarily blinded, allowing Frostbite to pour on his icy attack, leaving Gladiator once again encased by solid ice.
Gladiator, using the last of his strength, broke free from the ice as before, but while his sight was returning, his legs were failing him. He looked up from the ground to see a smiling Sicknessia standing above him. With a wave of her hand, she infected Gladiator with the deadliest microorganisms she could muster. Gladiator vomited bright-green slime before finally passing out.
**********
Later, in the barracks’ sickbay, Gladiator regained consciousness as his healing factor finished mending his wounds and eradicating Sicknessia’s infection. He lifted himself out of bed, put on a new costume identical to the one which had been torn in battle, and went to join the Task Force in the mess hall.
“Which one of you,” he inquired, “planned that brilliant strategy?”
“I did.” replied Frostbite smugly.
“You have definite leadership potential. And which one of you created the Phoenix illusion?”
“That was me.” said Piromanyak.
“Your constructs are convincing indeed.” Gladiator then paused. “But all of you deserve credit, you surpassed my expectations.”
The Task Force whooped triumphantly.
Gladiator grinned ambiguously and said, “Now comes the difficult part, your first field assignment. I shall take command here, as we are about to head to a distant planet named Earth in order to capture the Empire’s most dangerous fugitive...DEATHBIRD!”
TO BE CONTINUED
“Replace you as Praetor of the Imperial Guard?” an astonished Smasher asked Gladiator, “Unthinkable! You are the mighty Kallark, and I am but a soldier!”
“You are too modest, old friend,” replied Gladiator as he broke into a rare-for-him smile, “Far more than but a soldier, rather the greatest and most noble warrior of us all. Remember, too, that this is only temporary, while I take time to whip the newly formed Imperial Task Force into shape. Come, let us now enter Majestrix Lilandra’s chambers so that she may make it official.”
The magnificent colossalness of the Majestrix’s throne room always made the strapping Smasher feel very small; he comforted himself with the thought that others, even Gladiator, must feel the same upon entering.
Gladiator and Smasher kneeled at the feet of the Majestrix until she bid them to arise. She then declared, “By the power vested in me through royal birth and the will of Sharra and Ky’thiri, I anoint thee deputy Praetor of the Imperial Guard.”
“I shall continue to serve the Shi’ar Empire to the very best of my abilities.” said the ever-modest Smasher.
Gladiator offered Smasher his hand and said, “Congratulations, my friend.” The two shook hands.
*********
A far different and, it must be said, more familiar side of Gladiator emerged in the training grounds of one of the many moons of the Imperial Throneworld of Chandillar, as he addressed the members of the Imperial Task Force: Frostbite, Obscura, Flora, Sicknessia, Massivus, Piromanyak, Prism, and Q’ill.”
“You are all young and earnest and eager to fight for the glory of the Empire.” he said before raising his voice, “I am here to tell you that you shall have all of that beaten out of you – BY ME!”
All of the Task Force members visibly flinched.
“There is no greater challenge in the Empire that I. Only by defeating me can you prove yourselves worthy of serving the Majestrix. So let us dispense with any further speeches and fight! ON GUARD!”
To no one’s surprise, it was Frostbite, the most impulsive member of the Task Force, who initiated the attack on Gladiator. Within seconds, he had Gladiator trapped in an enormous block of ice.
But with barely any effort, Gladiator burst forth from the ice and, with the speed of thought, flew up to Frostbite so that they were face-to-face, and knocked out Frostbite with one finger.
Massivus saw a window of opportunity, turned to solid rock and charged at Gladiator. But Gladiator’s super-hearing sensed Massivus’ pounding footsteps, and he sent Massivus flying backwards with the shockwave from a snap of his fingers.
Obscura, whose strength multiplied thousandfold the less exposed she was to starlight, tackled Gladiator from behind and put him in a headlock. Gladiator fought back by taking flight and speeding the two of them toward the nearest star. Obscura felt her strength ebbing away and she lost her grip on Gladiator, who sent her flying back to the surface with a blast of super-breath.
Gladiator followed her back to the surface, where, before any of the other member of the Task Force could attack him, Gladiator clapped his hands together, producing a shockwave exponentially greater than the one that had taken down Massivus alone. The entire Task Force lay semi-conscious on the ground.
“PATHETIC!” bellowed Gladiator. “Return to the barracks and lick your wounds. I shall return when you least expect it, and you had better present a greater challenge to me.” With those words he took leave and flew back to Chandillar.
Gradually, the Task Force members regained full consciousness, got back on their feet, and filed back forlornly to the barracks.
“That was a lot rougher than I expected,” pouted the beautiful, alabaster-skinned Sicknessia, “I didn’t even get to use my powers.”
“You knew the job was dangerous when you took it,” said Obscura, “so cease your whining, it makes me ill.”
“Making people ill is what comes naturally to me.” replied Sicknessia sarcastically.
“I won’t tolerate any infighting in my squad.” snapped Frostbite.
“Your squad?” sneered Piromanyak, “Who made you leader?”
“I’m the leader, because I’m the one with the plan that’s going to make it possible to defeat Gladiator when he strikes back.” asserted Frostbite. “Now, everybody listen up...”
*********
“My lover, the Praetor!” enthused Astra. “I really like the sound of that!”
“Deputy Praetor.” corrected Smahser.
“Whatever,” said Astra, “I just know that, by proxy, it makes me more important all of sudden.”
“Our dear Astra, forever the social climber.” quipped Astra sometime friend, Nightside. Her penchant for dry observations was what kept their friendship tenuous.
“If you’d come from a place like my home planet,” snarled Astra, “you’d be a social climber, too.”
“I’ve only heard that line a trillion times.” sighed Nightside.
“Guys,” said Astra’s closest friend, Scintilla, “let’s not fight. This should be a time of celebration.”
Suddenly, the priority alarm rang.
“The celebration will have to wait!” declared Smasher as they ran to the mission control room. “Duty calls!”
**********
Much later, Gladiator swooped towards the moon. As he entered the moon’s atmosphere and set course for the Task Force’s barracks, he never expected to be suddenly confronted by...
...THE PHOENIX?
What appeared to be the scourge of the universe burned bright in its most familiar form as a giant bird of prey.
Gladiator may have been proud, but he was no fool. He knew that the Phoenix was a challenge even for him. He braced himself for the attack...
...when, without warning, Obscura, using her flight belt, flew up to him and gave him her most powerful punch, which sent him flying out of control towards the nearest star...
...where Prism, thanks to his flight belt, was waiting. Prism changed the color of the light being emitted by the star from yellow to red, the resulting radiation leaving Gladiator temporarily weakened. Gladiator went into free-fall.
Gladiator landed on the surface with tremendous force, creating a brand new crater for the moon. With great effort, he climbed out of the crater...
...only to be rammed from behind by Massivus, who had been waiting for him to surface. Stunned by the powerful blow and still vulnerable from the red star radiation, Gladiator was not prepared for Q’ill to fire quills point-blank at his face. Despite his formidable healing factor, Gladiator was temporarily blinded, allowing Frostbite to pour on his icy attack, leaving Gladiator once again encased by solid ice.
Gladiator, using the last of his strength, broke free from the ice as before, but while his sight was returning, his legs were failing him. He looked up from the ground to see a smiling Sicknessia standing above him. With a wave of her hand, she infected Gladiator with the deadliest microorganisms she could muster. Gladiator vomited bright-green slime before finally passing out.
**********
Later, in the barracks’ sickbay, Gladiator regained consciousness as his healing factor finished mending his wounds and eradicating Sicknessia’s infection. He lifted himself out of bed, put on a new costume identical to the one which had been torn in battle, and went to join the Task Force in the mess hall.
“Which one of you,” he inquired, “planned that brilliant strategy?”
“I did.” replied Frostbite smugly.
“You have definite leadership potential. And which one of you created the Phoenix illusion?”
“That was me.” said Piromanyak.
“Your constructs are convincing indeed.” Gladiator then paused. “But all of you deserve credit, you surpassed my expectations.”
The Task Force whooped triumphantly.
Gladiator grinned ambiguously and said, “Now comes the difficult part, your first field assignment. I shall take command here, as we are about to head to a distant planet named Earth in order to capture the Empire’s most dangerous fugitive...DEATHBIRD!”
TO BE CONTINUED
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
FANFIC: The Black Knight in "The Choice"
This story takes place in mainstream Marvel Universe continuity, shortly after the events in Avengers v.1 #366.
Amid the vast splendor of the English countryside lay the estate of the recently deceased Victoria Bentley. Mystics and mages from all over the world had gathered to honor the memory of one they had variously called friend, patron, hostess, lover, or mistress.
Among those present was Dane Whitman, the Black Knight. Though not a practitioner of the mystic arts, his noble ancestry tied him to the myths and legends of knights in shining armor. He had also been a friend of a friend of Victoria’s. The man who had introduced them, one of Victoria’s oldest and closest friends, Dr. Stephen Strange, was noticeably absent. So was another friend of both Dane and Victoria, the young knight-in-training Sean Dolan...it was he who had accidentally killed Victoria when his Ebony Blade – formerly wielded by Dane before being entrusted to Sean – went awry during a battle against the mutant Deadpool of all people.
Understandably, this all weighed very heavily on Dane, who, at that moment, was wondering how Sean was dealing with it while in self-imposed exile.
“I hope you can help me come up with a good reason for me not to kill Sean Dolan.” said a familiar voice which Dane hoped did not belong to the person it reminded him of. Dane looked over his shoulder and, indeed, it was Mary Clarke.
“I hope you can give me a good reason why I shouldn’t have you forcibly ejected from here.” snapped Dane.
“Victoria was my friend.” an unfazed Mary replied softly.
“Friends don’t use each other the way that you used Victoria.”
“It is true that it didn’t end pleasantly, but she did me kindnesses that no one has done for me before or since then. I arrived in England without money, without knowing anyone, without any job qualifications, and she took me under her wing.”
“And look how you repaid her!”
“I was young and foolish. I would like to think that Victoria found it in her heart to forgive me.”
“She never talked about you after you fled to America. Does that tell you something?”
Mary’s voice then became louder and harsher. “Yes, dammit, it does! Look, Dane, I’m not pretending to be a perfect person. I wronged Victoria, and now that she’s left us before we could talk about it, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life.” She paused before spitting out the sarcastic addendum, “Does that make you feel better??”
“Hearing you take responsibility for once in your life?” said Dane, “Yeah, it does make me feel better.”
Mary’s reply had a sour coating: “I’m happy for you. Really, I am.”
Dane didn’t let the sourness faze him. Instead he pressed on. “Now, if you’d apologize for your behavior at Avengers Mansion, that would make me really happy.”
“What do I have to apologize for?” sneered Mary. “They’ve all got feet of clay and, as they say in America, I call it like I see it. You’d be better off without them...” she paused, “...although you couldn’t get away from them now if you wanted to, what with that cosmic bond you have with Sersi...”
Dane was incensed. “How do you know about that??”
Mary smiled slyly. “I know everything, Dane dearest. I know you can barely keep yourself together right now and that cow Sersi occupies your every waking thought...”
“Please stop.” choked Dane.
“As usual, you misunderstand my intentions. I want to help you. I can cure you and I can put Sersi in her place. You just have to say the word.”
“No.”
To Dane’s surprise, Mary’s tone became almost pleading. “Dane, you would be so much happier without her and without the rest of those soft-centered do-gooders. This is not a dainty world to set before the swine. You were meant to wander the magical way. Come go with me.” Mary abruptly caught her breath, as if she couldn’t believe she had just said those last words.
Now it was Dane’s turn to be cruel. “You’re desperate.”
Mary snapped. “And you’re an immature little boy playing games that will lead you to nothing but confusion and unhappiness! You had your chance, and you wasted it! I don’t care if I never see you again!”
“If you try to lay a finger on Sean, you will see me again,” said Dane firmly, “and all my friends, too. It won’t be pretty.”
Mary paused and then smirked. “And what makes you think that the alternate path you’ve got lying ahead of you will be pretty? No, Dane, from this moment on I shall delight in your misfortune. It’s a pity, because we could have had something really great.” And with those words, she turned her back on him and walked away.
Dane spent the rest of the night drinking heavily, among other temporary distractions from everything that was threatening at that moment to tear him apart.
NEVER THE END
Amid the vast splendor of the English countryside lay the estate of the recently deceased Victoria Bentley. Mystics and mages from all over the world had gathered to honor the memory of one they had variously called friend, patron, hostess, lover, or mistress.
Among those present was Dane Whitman, the Black Knight. Though not a practitioner of the mystic arts, his noble ancestry tied him to the myths and legends of knights in shining armor. He had also been a friend of a friend of Victoria’s. The man who had introduced them, one of Victoria’s oldest and closest friends, Dr. Stephen Strange, was noticeably absent. So was another friend of both Dane and Victoria, the young knight-in-training Sean Dolan...it was he who had accidentally killed Victoria when his Ebony Blade – formerly wielded by Dane before being entrusted to Sean – went awry during a battle against the mutant Deadpool of all people.
Understandably, this all weighed very heavily on Dane, who, at that moment, was wondering how Sean was dealing with it while in self-imposed exile.
“I hope you can help me come up with a good reason for me not to kill Sean Dolan.” said a familiar voice which Dane hoped did not belong to the person it reminded him of. Dane looked over his shoulder and, indeed, it was Mary Clarke.
“I hope you can give me a good reason why I shouldn’t have you forcibly ejected from here.” snapped Dane.
“Victoria was my friend.” an unfazed Mary replied softly.
“Friends don’t use each other the way that you used Victoria.”
“It is true that it didn’t end pleasantly, but she did me kindnesses that no one has done for me before or since then. I arrived in England without money, without knowing anyone, without any job qualifications, and she took me under her wing.”
“And look how you repaid her!”
“I was young and foolish. I would like to think that Victoria found it in her heart to forgive me.”
“She never talked about you after you fled to America. Does that tell you something?”
Mary’s voice then became louder and harsher. “Yes, dammit, it does! Look, Dane, I’m not pretending to be a perfect person. I wronged Victoria, and now that she’s left us before we could talk about it, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life.” She paused before spitting out the sarcastic addendum, “Does that make you feel better??”
“Hearing you take responsibility for once in your life?” said Dane, “Yeah, it does make me feel better.”
Mary’s reply had a sour coating: “I’m happy for you. Really, I am.”
Dane didn’t let the sourness faze him. Instead he pressed on. “Now, if you’d apologize for your behavior at Avengers Mansion, that would make me really happy.”
“What do I have to apologize for?” sneered Mary. “They’ve all got feet of clay and, as they say in America, I call it like I see it. You’d be better off without them...” she paused, “...although you couldn’t get away from them now if you wanted to, what with that cosmic bond you have with Sersi...”
Dane was incensed. “How do you know about that??”
Mary smiled slyly. “I know everything, Dane dearest. I know you can barely keep yourself together right now and that cow Sersi occupies your every waking thought...”
“Please stop.” choked Dane.
“As usual, you misunderstand my intentions. I want to help you. I can cure you and I can put Sersi in her place. You just have to say the word.”
“No.”
To Dane’s surprise, Mary’s tone became almost pleading. “Dane, you would be so much happier without her and without the rest of those soft-centered do-gooders. This is not a dainty world to set before the swine. You were meant to wander the magical way. Come go with me.” Mary abruptly caught her breath, as if she couldn’t believe she had just said those last words.
Now it was Dane’s turn to be cruel. “You’re desperate.”
Mary snapped. “And you’re an immature little boy playing games that will lead you to nothing but confusion and unhappiness! You had your chance, and you wasted it! I don’t care if I never see you again!”
“If you try to lay a finger on Sean, you will see me again,” said Dane firmly, “and all my friends, too. It won’t be pretty.”
Mary paused and then smirked. “And what makes you think that the alternate path you’ve got lying ahead of you will be pretty? No, Dane, from this moment on I shall delight in your misfortune. It’s a pity, because we could have had something really great.” And with those words, she turned her back on him and walked away.
Dane spent the rest of the night drinking heavily, among other temporary distractions from everything that was threatening at that moment to tear him apart.
NEVER THE END
Saturday, August 28, 2010
FANFIC: The Avengers in "Something About Mary Clarke"
This story takes place in mainstream Marvel continuity, in between Avengers Volume 1 issues #344 and #345.
“Dreadfully sorry, Mistress Black Widow,” said the Avengers’ manservant, Edwin Jarvis, “but I fear there is a matter that I have been unable to effectively deal with.”
Natasha Romanova, the Black Widow, turned from the Avengers Mansion’s monitor to face Jarvis. “Of course, Jarvis,” she said, “what is it?”
“A most unpleasant young woman is at the door, demanding to see Master Black Knight.”
When Natasha reached the mansion’s door, what she was greeted by resembled a hybrid of a haute couture model and a vision out of a Celtic fairy tale. The fashionably dressed young woman had a long and fiery mane of red hair, blazing green eyes, and an exquisite peaches-and-cream complexion. She stood poised and confident, hands on her hips.
Before Natasha could say anything, the young woman blurted out, in a thick Irish brogue, “I’m so pleased to finally meet you in person – so that I can tell you that your short haircut looks awful.”
Natasha fidgeted, but as a former spy turned costumed heroine, she wasn’t about to let an insult like that get under her skin. She cleared her throat and said, “Who are you and how may I help you?”
“Mary Clarke. I’m an old friend of Dane Whitman, and I must see him now.”
“He’s busy at the moment, but I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
Mary looked Natasha in the eye. “What you’ll do is lead me to him, right now.”
Suddenly, Natasha felt dizzy and nauseous. There was some kind of supernatural influence in Mary’s stare, and, with Natasha’s lack of experience dealing with the supernatural, her normally formidable will crumbled like dry mud. Quivering, she began leading Mary to the mansion’s gymnasium.
As they walked down a corridor, the Inhuman princess turned Avenger Crystal was walking the other way, cradling her daughter Luna.
Mary smiled enigmatically at Luna, causing the toddler to start crying. Crystal scowled fiercely at Mary, the devoted mother all but daring the threatening stranger to try something unwise.
“You remind me of my sister and her daughter.” said Mary serenely before jabbing them with a verbal stinger. “That’s not a compliment.”
Natasha and Crystal both wanted to wring Mary’s neck, but, though they hated to admit it, they were both afraid of her. The parties went their separate ways.
Inside the gymnasium, Dane Whitman, Eric Masterson, and the living legend known as Hercules were merrily bonding as only men can.
“Zounds!” exclaimed Hercules upon seeing Mary. “Thou art truly a thing of beauty, fair lady. The Prince of Power would know thy name...and would invite thee to become better acquainted with the Lion of Olympus.”
“Shave your beard off, and I’ll consider it.” was Mary’s tart reply.
“Thou dost presume to give commands to Hercules??” roared the offended demi-god.
“Take it easy, Herc,” said Dane dryly, “she’s nothing but trouble, and she’s not worth getting worked up about.”
“It’s good to see you again, too, Dane.” said Mary, her voice dripping sarcasm.
“Uh-oh,” said Eric, “Herc, ol’ buddy, I think that’s our cue to leave. C’mon, I’ll treat you to a beer. A real beer. I know a place where they serve the good stuff.”
“Thou art a true friend, Eric.” said Hercules. “Let us take leave of this foul environment.”
“You’re wasting your time, Mary,” said Dane after Eric and Hercules had gone, “Stephen and Victoria warned me about you...”
“Yes, after the fact!” laughed Mary.
“You can delude yourself that what happened was anything more than you manipulating me, but that won’t make it the truth.”
“The truth is eternally elusive. If only more people would realize that, there would be less conflict in this world.”
“I don’t have time for your riddles, Mary!”
“Oh, Dane,” came a sultry voice from outside the gymnasium, “are you busy with anything?”
The stunning Sersi walked into the gymnasium. Without exchanging a word, she and Mary fell in hate at first sight.
It was Mary who broke the silence. “Well, well, you really are as remarkably well-preserved as I had heard. Shame about the stupid green bathing suit.”
Sersi’s eyes began glowing bright red. “I don’t know who you are,” she screamed at Mary, “and I don’t care! If you don’t leave right now, I’ll vaporize you where you stand.”
“No, Sersi,” said Dane as beads of sweat across his brow betrayed his nerves, “you won’t. I don’t like her any more than you, but...”
Suddenly, Dane heard Mary speaking in tongues. He turned to see her making a hand gesture at Sersi similar to that which his friend Dr. Strange made when attacking his enemies.
Sersi began to have difficulty breathing, and her knees buckled. “Great Zuras,” she gasped, “what kind of witch are you??”
Mary replied with no words, just a smirk.
“Mary!” growled Dane, “If you don’t stop this now, I’ll...I’ll...I’ll get Stephen to turn you into a hood ornament!”
Mary lowered her hand and sighed. “I knew it would go like this. You really are no fun anymore, Dane.”
“Get out.” said Dane through clenched teeth. “GET OUT!”
Mary began walking towards the exit. “Don’t fight your destiny, Dane,” she said to him, looking over her shoulder right into his eyes, “that’s always been your problem. We’ll meet again.”
“Not if I can help it.” snarled Dane.
Mary laughed heartily as she walked out of the gymnasium, her laughter echoing eerily for what seemed like an eternity.
Dane approached Sersi. “Are you okay?” he inquired.
At this point, the always-proud Sersi was more angry than hurt. “Nice friends you have.” she sneered.
“Believe me,” said Dane, “she’s not my friend and I wish I had never met her.” He looked Sersi in the eye. “If there’s anything I can do to make up for what she did...”
Suddenly, Sersi regained her composure and smiled end-to-end. “Hmmm...” she replied, “...let me think about that for a minute...”
But before she could go on, she was unintentionally interrupted by Crystal and a still-weeping Luna. “Excuse me, Dane,” said Crystal, “but Natasha says she needs to see you right now about upgrading the computers.”
“Okay,” replied Dane, “but first things first. I have to help you calm Luna down, as I’m guessing that horrible woman who came to see me is what she’s upset about.”
“Yes,” said Crystal, handing Luna to Dane, “and thank you.”
Crystal smiled and Sersi seethed as Dane tenderly comforted Luna.
Outside, Mary Clarke walked gracefully down the streets of New York City, and as the sun went down, she appeared to melt into the shadows, going back to wherever she came from...for now.
NEVER THE END
“Dreadfully sorry, Mistress Black Widow,” said the Avengers’ manservant, Edwin Jarvis, “but I fear there is a matter that I have been unable to effectively deal with.”
Natasha Romanova, the Black Widow, turned from the Avengers Mansion’s monitor to face Jarvis. “Of course, Jarvis,” she said, “what is it?”
“A most unpleasant young woman is at the door, demanding to see Master Black Knight.”
When Natasha reached the mansion’s door, what she was greeted by resembled a hybrid of a haute couture model and a vision out of a Celtic fairy tale. The fashionably dressed young woman had a long and fiery mane of red hair, blazing green eyes, and an exquisite peaches-and-cream complexion. She stood poised and confident, hands on her hips.
Before Natasha could say anything, the young woman blurted out, in a thick Irish brogue, “I’m so pleased to finally meet you in person – so that I can tell you that your short haircut looks awful.”
Natasha fidgeted, but as a former spy turned costumed heroine, she wasn’t about to let an insult like that get under her skin. She cleared her throat and said, “Who are you and how may I help you?”
“Mary Clarke. I’m an old friend of Dane Whitman, and I must see him now.”
“He’s busy at the moment, but I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
Mary looked Natasha in the eye. “What you’ll do is lead me to him, right now.”
Suddenly, Natasha felt dizzy and nauseous. There was some kind of supernatural influence in Mary’s stare, and, with Natasha’s lack of experience dealing with the supernatural, her normally formidable will crumbled like dry mud. Quivering, she began leading Mary to the mansion’s gymnasium.
As they walked down a corridor, the Inhuman princess turned Avenger Crystal was walking the other way, cradling her daughter Luna.
Mary smiled enigmatically at Luna, causing the toddler to start crying. Crystal scowled fiercely at Mary, the devoted mother all but daring the threatening stranger to try something unwise.
“You remind me of my sister and her daughter.” said Mary serenely before jabbing them with a verbal stinger. “That’s not a compliment.”
Natasha and Crystal both wanted to wring Mary’s neck, but, though they hated to admit it, they were both afraid of her. The parties went their separate ways.
Inside the gymnasium, Dane Whitman, Eric Masterson, and the living legend known as Hercules were merrily bonding as only men can.
“Zounds!” exclaimed Hercules upon seeing Mary. “Thou art truly a thing of beauty, fair lady. The Prince of Power would know thy name...and would invite thee to become better acquainted with the Lion of Olympus.”
“Shave your beard off, and I’ll consider it.” was Mary’s tart reply.
“Thou dost presume to give commands to Hercules??” roared the offended demi-god.
“Take it easy, Herc,” said Dane dryly, “she’s nothing but trouble, and she’s not worth getting worked up about.”
“It’s good to see you again, too, Dane.” said Mary, her voice dripping sarcasm.
“Uh-oh,” said Eric, “Herc, ol’ buddy, I think that’s our cue to leave. C’mon, I’ll treat you to a beer. A real beer. I know a place where they serve the good stuff.”
“Thou art a true friend, Eric.” said Hercules. “Let us take leave of this foul environment.”
“You’re wasting your time, Mary,” said Dane after Eric and Hercules had gone, “Stephen and Victoria warned me about you...”
“Yes, after the fact!” laughed Mary.
“You can delude yourself that what happened was anything more than you manipulating me, but that won’t make it the truth.”
“The truth is eternally elusive. If only more people would realize that, there would be less conflict in this world.”
“I don’t have time for your riddles, Mary!”
“Oh, Dane,” came a sultry voice from outside the gymnasium, “are you busy with anything?”
The stunning Sersi walked into the gymnasium. Without exchanging a word, she and Mary fell in hate at first sight.
It was Mary who broke the silence. “Well, well, you really are as remarkably well-preserved as I had heard. Shame about the stupid green bathing suit.”
Sersi’s eyes began glowing bright red. “I don’t know who you are,” she screamed at Mary, “and I don’t care! If you don’t leave right now, I’ll vaporize you where you stand.”
“No, Sersi,” said Dane as beads of sweat across his brow betrayed his nerves, “you won’t. I don’t like her any more than you, but...”
Suddenly, Dane heard Mary speaking in tongues. He turned to see her making a hand gesture at Sersi similar to that which his friend Dr. Strange made when attacking his enemies.
Sersi began to have difficulty breathing, and her knees buckled. “Great Zuras,” she gasped, “what kind of witch are you??”
Mary replied with no words, just a smirk.
“Mary!” growled Dane, “If you don’t stop this now, I’ll...I’ll...I’ll get Stephen to turn you into a hood ornament!”
Mary lowered her hand and sighed. “I knew it would go like this. You really are no fun anymore, Dane.”
“Get out.” said Dane through clenched teeth. “GET OUT!”
Mary began walking towards the exit. “Don’t fight your destiny, Dane,” she said to him, looking over her shoulder right into his eyes, “that’s always been your problem. We’ll meet again.”
“Not if I can help it.” snarled Dane.
Mary laughed heartily as she walked out of the gymnasium, her laughter echoing eerily for what seemed like an eternity.
Dane approached Sersi. “Are you okay?” he inquired.
At this point, the always-proud Sersi was more angry than hurt. “Nice friends you have.” she sneered.
“Believe me,” said Dane, “she’s not my friend and I wish I had never met her.” He looked Sersi in the eye. “If there’s anything I can do to make up for what she did...”
Suddenly, Sersi regained her composure and smiled end-to-end. “Hmmm...” she replied, “...let me think about that for a minute...”
But before she could go on, she was unintentionally interrupted by Crystal and a still-weeping Luna. “Excuse me, Dane,” said Crystal, “but Natasha says she needs to see you right now about upgrading the computers.”
“Okay,” replied Dane, “but first things first. I have to help you calm Luna down, as I’m guessing that horrible woman who came to see me is what she’s upset about.”
“Yes,” said Crystal, handing Luna to Dane, “and thank you.”
Crystal smiled and Sersi seethed as Dane tenderly comforted Luna.
Outside, Mary Clarke walked gracefully down the streets of New York City, and as the sun went down, she appeared to melt into the shadows, going back to wherever she came from...for now.
NEVER THE END
Sunday, May 16, 2010
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point," Chapter 9
The winds gusted, the clouds turned black, and lightning struck in several places at once as the mystical battle between Avaya and Yarvok put the entire Negative Zone in peril. The two mages summoned energies from the nature around them and channeled the energies into mystic bolts which they fired at each other.
All of this was causing severe structural damage to the castle. The mutants panicked as the ceilings began collapsing around them. The giant mutant fighting Blaster was buried under rubble, giving Blaster a chance to make a break for it. Blaster raced to the dungeons and used his sonics to pop open the doors to the cells containing his fellow Autobots. “Tonight,” Blaster declared, “there’s gonna be a jailbreak.”
Outside, the tide of battle was turning against Avaya, whose lengthy inactivity had left her without practice, and she was gradually being overwhelmed by Yarvok’s bolts. “Surrender!” said Yarvok, “Surrender and I may be lenient with you.”
“Knowing your concept of leniency, I refuse to surrender!” said Avaya defiantly, but she was now losing strength rapidly.
Suddenly, the Autobots burst through the castle’s heavy doors, and attacked Yarvok with all their might. This did little to harm Yarvok, but it distracted him long enough for Avaya to rally and focus her powers into one single, deadly bolt.
Avaya fired, and Yarvok screamed as he appeared to begin combusting. A loud and flashy explosion finished off the remaining foundations of the castle, and it collapsed on top of Avaya and the Autobots.
Gradually, the Autobots pulled themselves out of the rubble. None of them were seriously damaged. Avaya, too, was unharmed, thanks to Skids shielding her at the last second.
Bumblebee was the first to find his voice. “Is...is the wizard...d-d-d-dead?”
“Not necessarily.” replied Avaya resignedly. “He may have been able to teleport himself to another dimension.” She paused as she looked at the withered remains of the garden. “But there is no organic life remaining to sustain him, so it is unlikely he will return here.
“If I am to survive, I must go now to another dimension, too, and take the surviving mutants with me. Most of them are not truly evil now that Yarvok’s corrupting influence is gone.
“But first, I am once again indebted to you Autobots for assisting in my victory and for saving my life. What would you desire?”
Jazz did not hesitate to reply. “Destroy the Decepticon citadel, so that we can take back Cybertron.”
“Yeah, what he said.” agreed Kup.
“Very well.” said Avaya, raising her arms and firing a mystic bolt which traveled toward the skies above the Decepticon citadel and entered the clouds.
Below, Elita-One’s Autobot forces had been boxed in by the Decepticon reinforcements and appeared on the verge of surrender. But the mystically empowered clouds began turning strange colors and thundering loudly.
All the Decepticons were unfazed, except Shockwave, who knew immediately that something was amiss. “A strange energy pattern...” he mused, “...originating in...the Forbidden Zone?” He suddenly understood, and was alarmed. “Decepticons,” he commanded, “cease fire and take cover!”
As Shockwave ran to safety, the other Decepticons were nonplussed. “Just when we’re winning? What’s gotten into him?” snarled Motormaster.
The thunder grew louder, and lightning bolts began raining down, hitting only the Decepticons and their citadel.
“It is the hour of our doom.” observed Dead End with typical moroseness as he and the rest of the Decepticons either fell unconscious or scrambled in panic.
With a deafening thunderclap, a massive bolt struck the Decepticon citadel dead center and caused it to explode in a mushroom cloud, leaving only a smoking crater.
“I don’t know how,” said Elita-One, “but it’s clear we have won.”
At the same time, in the forbidden zone, Avaya had levitated herself and opened a mystic portal, which the winds under her command carried the surviving mutants into.
“And so,” declared Avaya, “the last remaining traces of organic life on Cybertron are no more. Farewell, Autobots. Rule your planet justly and wisely.” Avaya followed the last of the mutants into the portal, which then vanished.
“Blaster,” said Jazz, “radio Optimus Prime and tell him that victory is finally ours.”
Bumblebee and Powerglide couldn’t contain themselves. “WA-HOO!” they cheered. The other Autobots immediately joined them in raucous celebration.
Later, much later, the entire Autobot army was assembled in the chambers of Cybertron’s master computer, Vector Sigma, the original source of the Transformers’ life sparks.
Optimus Prime stood tall and proud at the center of it all as the trial of his nemesis Megatron reached its conclusion.
“Autobots, I firmly believe in the sanctity of sentient life, but I also believe in justice. Megatron must pay for his countless crimes, and he must pay the ultimate price.”
That said, Optimus wielded the spare key to Vector Sigma which Alpha Trion had entrusted to Elita-One, and activated the super-computer.
“Who reactivates me?” asked Vector Sigma icily.
“I, Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and new ruler of Cybertron. I command you to take back the life spark that you gave to the Transformers’ greatest folly, the one called Megatron. His consciousness will forevermore be imprisoned within you, where he can do no more harm.” Optimus paused, then locked eyes with Megatron. “Any last words, Megatron?”
“Yes,” replied Megatron, “I must grudgingly congratulate you, Optimus Prime, for your plan to capture and neutralize all Decepticons on Cybertron and on Earth was brilliantly conceived and precisely executed. But most of all, this final battle has proven that you could only defeat me by becoming as ruthless and brutal as I. Think about that as you assume your new responsibilities. Farewell, my greatest enemy...or should I say, my greatest disciple?”
Megatron then broke out in blood-chilling laughter which echoed across the chamber as Vector Sigma absorbed Megatron’s consciousness and Megatron’s body fell to the ground.
An uncomfortable silence followed which was finally broken by Prowl. “What will we do with the body?” he asked.
“Melt it into scrap.” was Optimus Prime’s emotionless reply.
Optimus walked out of the chamber without another word. The other Autobots, including the newly reinstated Ultra Magnus and Kup, filed out slowly and awkwardly.
Later, with his hands on his hips, Optimus Prime observed the remaining Decepticons below him, all doing hard labor in a specially built prison. He heard a familiar engine coming to a stop behind him. “What do you have to report, Cliffjumper?” asked Optimus as Cliffjumper transformed from vehicle mode to robot mode.
“It’s not good news, Prime.” said Cliffjumper. “Shockwave is still at large. We’ve rounded up all the other Decepticons on Earth and on Cybertron, but he managed to slip away.”
“And with greater knowledge than anyone else of the planet’s ins and outs, he will likely prove most elusive.” observed Optimus Prime stoically.
“It really burns me up.” growled Cliffjumper. “Just once, I’d like the Autobots to have a total victory.”
“In life,” said Optimus Prime, “there is no such thing.”
With those words, Optimus Prime turned and transformed to vehicle mode. “Let’s roll.” he commanded, and Cliffjumper obeyed, transforming and revving up his engine. The two Autobots sped away towards an uncertain future.
NEVER THE END
All of this was causing severe structural damage to the castle. The mutants panicked as the ceilings began collapsing around them. The giant mutant fighting Blaster was buried under rubble, giving Blaster a chance to make a break for it. Blaster raced to the dungeons and used his sonics to pop open the doors to the cells containing his fellow Autobots. “Tonight,” Blaster declared, “there’s gonna be a jailbreak.”
Outside, the tide of battle was turning against Avaya, whose lengthy inactivity had left her without practice, and she was gradually being overwhelmed by Yarvok’s bolts. “Surrender!” said Yarvok, “Surrender and I may be lenient with you.”
“Knowing your concept of leniency, I refuse to surrender!” said Avaya defiantly, but she was now losing strength rapidly.
Suddenly, the Autobots burst through the castle’s heavy doors, and attacked Yarvok with all their might. This did little to harm Yarvok, but it distracted him long enough for Avaya to rally and focus her powers into one single, deadly bolt.
Avaya fired, and Yarvok screamed as he appeared to begin combusting. A loud and flashy explosion finished off the remaining foundations of the castle, and it collapsed on top of Avaya and the Autobots.
Gradually, the Autobots pulled themselves out of the rubble. None of them were seriously damaged. Avaya, too, was unharmed, thanks to Skids shielding her at the last second.
Bumblebee was the first to find his voice. “Is...is the wizard...d-d-d-dead?”
“Not necessarily.” replied Avaya resignedly. “He may have been able to teleport himself to another dimension.” She paused as she looked at the withered remains of the garden. “But there is no organic life remaining to sustain him, so it is unlikely he will return here.
“If I am to survive, I must go now to another dimension, too, and take the surviving mutants with me. Most of them are not truly evil now that Yarvok’s corrupting influence is gone.
“But first, I am once again indebted to you Autobots for assisting in my victory and for saving my life. What would you desire?”
Jazz did not hesitate to reply. “Destroy the Decepticon citadel, so that we can take back Cybertron.”
“Yeah, what he said.” agreed Kup.
“Very well.” said Avaya, raising her arms and firing a mystic bolt which traveled toward the skies above the Decepticon citadel and entered the clouds.
Below, Elita-One’s Autobot forces had been boxed in by the Decepticon reinforcements and appeared on the verge of surrender. But the mystically empowered clouds began turning strange colors and thundering loudly.
All the Decepticons were unfazed, except Shockwave, who knew immediately that something was amiss. “A strange energy pattern...” he mused, “...originating in...the Forbidden Zone?” He suddenly understood, and was alarmed. “Decepticons,” he commanded, “cease fire and take cover!”
As Shockwave ran to safety, the other Decepticons were nonplussed. “Just when we’re winning? What’s gotten into him?” snarled Motormaster.
The thunder grew louder, and lightning bolts began raining down, hitting only the Decepticons and their citadel.
“It is the hour of our doom.” observed Dead End with typical moroseness as he and the rest of the Decepticons either fell unconscious or scrambled in panic.
With a deafening thunderclap, a massive bolt struck the Decepticon citadel dead center and caused it to explode in a mushroom cloud, leaving only a smoking crater.
“I don’t know how,” said Elita-One, “but it’s clear we have won.”
At the same time, in the forbidden zone, Avaya had levitated herself and opened a mystic portal, which the winds under her command carried the surviving mutants into.
“And so,” declared Avaya, “the last remaining traces of organic life on Cybertron are no more. Farewell, Autobots. Rule your planet justly and wisely.” Avaya followed the last of the mutants into the portal, which then vanished.
“Blaster,” said Jazz, “radio Optimus Prime and tell him that victory is finally ours.”
Bumblebee and Powerglide couldn’t contain themselves. “WA-HOO!” they cheered. The other Autobots immediately joined them in raucous celebration.
Later, much later, the entire Autobot army was assembled in the chambers of Cybertron’s master computer, Vector Sigma, the original source of the Transformers’ life sparks.
Optimus Prime stood tall and proud at the center of it all as the trial of his nemesis Megatron reached its conclusion.
“Autobots, I firmly believe in the sanctity of sentient life, but I also believe in justice. Megatron must pay for his countless crimes, and he must pay the ultimate price.”
That said, Optimus wielded the spare key to Vector Sigma which Alpha Trion had entrusted to Elita-One, and activated the super-computer.
“Who reactivates me?” asked Vector Sigma icily.
“I, Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and new ruler of Cybertron. I command you to take back the life spark that you gave to the Transformers’ greatest folly, the one called Megatron. His consciousness will forevermore be imprisoned within you, where he can do no more harm.” Optimus paused, then locked eyes with Megatron. “Any last words, Megatron?”
“Yes,” replied Megatron, “I must grudgingly congratulate you, Optimus Prime, for your plan to capture and neutralize all Decepticons on Cybertron and on Earth was brilliantly conceived and precisely executed. But most of all, this final battle has proven that you could only defeat me by becoming as ruthless and brutal as I. Think about that as you assume your new responsibilities. Farewell, my greatest enemy...or should I say, my greatest disciple?”
Megatron then broke out in blood-chilling laughter which echoed across the chamber as Vector Sigma absorbed Megatron’s consciousness and Megatron’s body fell to the ground.
An uncomfortable silence followed which was finally broken by Prowl. “What will we do with the body?” he asked.
“Melt it into scrap.” was Optimus Prime’s emotionless reply.
Optimus walked out of the chamber without another word. The other Autobots, including the newly reinstated Ultra Magnus and Kup, filed out slowly and awkwardly.
Later, with his hands on his hips, Optimus Prime observed the remaining Decepticons below him, all doing hard labor in a specially built prison. He heard a familiar engine coming to a stop behind him. “What do you have to report, Cliffjumper?” asked Optimus as Cliffjumper transformed from vehicle mode to robot mode.
“It’s not good news, Prime.” said Cliffjumper. “Shockwave is still at large. We’ve rounded up all the other Decepticons on Earth and on Cybertron, but he managed to slip away.”
“And with greater knowledge than anyone else of the planet’s ins and outs, he will likely prove most elusive.” observed Optimus Prime stoically.
“It really burns me up.” growled Cliffjumper. “Just once, I’d like the Autobots to have a total victory.”
“In life,” said Optimus Prime, “there is no such thing.”
With those words, Optimus Prime turned and transformed to vehicle mode. “Let’s roll.” he commanded, and Cliffjumper obeyed, transforming and revving up his engine. The two Autobots sped away towards an uncertain future.
NEVER THE END
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point," Chapter 8
Skids felt as if the sorceress Avaya’s glare was burning holes into him. But he overcame his fright and managed to answer her query, though not before reminding himself that telling your personal name to a mage gives him or her power over you. “The Autobots!” Skids blurted. “The Autobots have summoned you...to help them.”
Avaya’s demeanor changed from hostile to haughty. “So,” she asked, “I take it this means the war between Transformer robots continues to rage?”
“Sadly,” replied Skids, “the answer is yes.”
“Take me to the surface.” she ordered. “I must see what has changed during my imprisonment.”
Skids and the sorceress exited the ruins cautiously, wary of the presence of evil mutants. Soon, it became clear they were alone for the moment. This gave Avaya time to contemplate the grim landscape of the Forbidden Zone and perceive the events which had transpired recently. Finally, she spoke again.
“Yarvok has fulfilled his dreams of conquest...at a terrible cost. I almost wish I was still imprisoned, so I did not have to witness this.”
“Yar-who?” asked Skids.
“Yarvok, a megalomaniacal wizard. I was one of his pupils eons ago. When he saw that my powers would grow to match his and he sensed that I opposed his evil plans, he forcibly exiled me to a dimension of nothingness.”
“What plans?”
“To rule the Forbidden Zone through black magic. But while it is clear he succeeded, it is even more clear that he expended the Forbidden Zone’s meager natural resources to the point where he is a prisoner in his own kingdom. I sense he has gone quite mad...and that he holds your fellow Autobots prisoner in his castle.”
“Will you help me free them?”
“I must. I am indebted to you for liberating me. But I cannot fly, I must conserve my powers for the battle ahead.”
Skids transformed to vehicle mode and opened the passenger door. “Hop in.” he said.
“How quaint.” the sorceress remarked dryly.
On Earth, the last Autobots standing before Trypticon’s attack finally fell from either severe damage or exhausted Energon. Trypticon spread out his arms and adopted a messianic pose, declaring, “NOW TRYPTICON CRUSH AUTOBOT CITY!”
But before he could begin his destruction, Autobot City began to transform into Metroplex, a mighty Autobot warrior who matched Trypticon in size and strength.
“THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL BE CRUSHED,” declared Metroplex defiantly, “IS YOU!”
The Autobots and humans inside Metroplex were less sanguine. Metroplex had sustained heavy damage from the Decepticons’ strafing of his Autobot City mode. They watched Metroplex’s cerebral monitors nervously as he sized up his opponent.
With a roar, Trypticon made the first move, lunging at Metroplex and putting the bite on his opponent’s right arm. Metroplex poured every ounce of strength into grabbing and lifting the upper half of Trypticon’s head, dislocating the Decepticon monster’s jaw. While Trypticon screamed incoherently in pain, Metroplex delivered a pummeling blow to his enemy’s midsection. Trypticon stumbled backward, and Metroplex moved in for the kill, but the giant Autobot had gotten overconfident. Trypticon used the cannons mounted over his brow and inside his mouth to blast Metroplex in the face. Momentarily blinded, Metroplex suffered a lashing in the chest from Trypticon’s tail, and fell on his back. Trypticon pounced on Metroplex and tried to slash him with his claws, but Metroplex blocked Trypticon’s moves, and the two behemoths began wrestling on the ground, tumbling around, and flattening whole mountains in their wake.
Finally, Metroplex used the momentum to gain the upper hand, and Trypticon went flying through the air, falling down into a deep canyon.
Metroplex approached the edge of the canyon cautiously, but no amount of caution prepared him for the savage attack of the wounded Trypticon, who flew up swiftly from the bottom of the canyon and unleashed his entire arsenal of weaponry at Metroplex.
Inside Metroplex, the Autobots shielded the humans from the explosions and fires produced by Metroplex’s wounds. They saw on Metroplex’s cerebral screens that he was beginning to access the Energon-X, and they crossed their fingers that his most powerful weapon, his chest cannon, was still functional, and that the Energon-X would prove as potent as they dared to hope it was.
A massive single beam erupted from Metroplex’s chest cannon, hitting Trypticon point blank and sending the monster back over the edge of the canyon. This time, Metroplex dove down after Trypticon, relentlessly tearing into the monster with a ferocity that equalled the monster’s own. Within minutes, the burning remains of Trypticon littered the landscape and Metroplex stood tall, proud, and triumphant, with the Autobots and humans inside him cheering.
The Autobots had won the battles for Earth. But what of the battles for Cybertron still raging?
In the Forbidden Zone, Yarvok’s twisted entertainment in the form of Blaster attempting to outfight an unspeakably monstrous giant mutant was interrupted when he sensed intruders approaching. Racing to his scrying pool, Yarvok was confronted with the sight of Skids with his sun roof down, giving his passenger, Avaya, the open space to cast powerfully stunning hex bolts at Yarvok’s mutant guardsmen. Once the last guardsman had fallen, Avaya jumped out of Skids and placed herself in the midst of the garden outside the castle, where her powers would be strongest, and issued an ultimatum to Yarvok: “Face me, you cowardly brute, if you dare!”
In response, Yarvok teleported outside the castle and stood face-to-face across from Avaya. “So,” the wizard raged, “the disciple needs to be taught yet again who her master is!”
“No one is my master,” the sorceress replied, “least of all you!”
And thus the gauntlet had been thrown down, and the duel between black magic and white magic erupted cataclysmically.
TO BE CONCLUDED
Avaya’s demeanor changed from hostile to haughty. “So,” she asked, “I take it this means the war between Transformer robots continues to rage?”
“Sadly,” replied Skids, “the answer is yes.”
“Take me to the surface.” she ordered. “I must see what has changed during my imprisonment.”
Skids and the sorceress exited the ruins cautiously, wary of the presence of evil mutants. Soon, it became clear they were alone for the moment. This gave Avaya time to contemplate the grim landscape of the Forbidden Zone and perceive the events which had transpired recently. Finally, she spoke again.
“Yarvok has fulfilled his dreams of conquest...at a terrible cost. I almost wish I was still imprisoned, so I did not have to witness this.”
“Yar-who?” asked Skids.
“Yarvok, a megalomaniacal wizard. I was one of his pupils eons ago. When he saw that my powers would grow to match his and he sensed that I opposed his evil plans, he forcibly exiled me to a dimension of nothingness.”
“What plans?”
“To rule the Forbidden Zone through black magic. But while it is clear he succeeded, it is even more clear that he expended the Forbidden Zone’s meager natural resources to the point where he is a prisoner in his own kingdom. I sense he has gone quite mad...and that he holds your fellow Autobots prisoner in his castle.”
“Will you help me free them?”
“I must. I am indebted to you for liberating me. But I cannot fly, I must conserve my powers for the battle ahead.”
Skids transformed to vehicle mode and opened the passenger door. “Hop in.” he said.
“How quaint.” the sorceress remarked dryly.
On Earth, the last Autobots standing before Trypticon’s attack finally fell from either severe damage or exhausted Energon. Trypticon spread out his arms and adopted a messianic pose, declaring, “NOW TRYPTICON CRUSH AUTOBOT CITY!”
But before he could begin his destruction, Autobot City began to transform into Metroplex, a mighty Autobot warrior who matched Trypticon in size and strength.
“THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL BE CRUSHED,” declared Metroplex defiantly, “IS YOU!”
The Autobots and humans inside Metroplex were less sanguine. Metroplex had sustained heavy damage from the Decepticons’ strafing of his Autobot City mode. They watched Metroplex’s cerebral monitors nervously as he sized up his opponent.
With a roar, Trypticon made the first move, lunging at Metroplex and putting the bite on his opponent’s right arm. Metroplex poured every ounce of strength into grabbing and lifting the upper half of Trypticon’s head, dislocating the Decepticon monster’s jaw. While Trypticon screamed incoherently in pain, Metroplex delivered a pummeling blow to his enemy’s midsection. Trypticon stumbled backward, and Metroplex moved in for the kill, but the giant Autobot had gotten overconfident. Trypticon used the cannons mounted over his brow and inside his mouth to blast Metroplex in the face. Momentarily blinded, Metroplex suffered a lashing in the chest from Trypticon’s tail, and fell on his back. Trypticon pounced on Metroplex and tried to slash him with his claws, but Metroplex blocked Trypticon’s moves, and the two behemoths began wrestling on the ground, tumbling around, and flattening whole mountains in their wake.
Finally, Metroplex used the momentum to gain the upper hand, and Trypticon went flying through the air, falling down into a deep canyon.
Metroplex approached the edge of the canyon cautiously, but no amount of caution prepared him for the savage attack of the wounded Trypticon, who flew up swiftly from the bottom of the canyon and unleashed his entire arsenal of weaponry at Metroplex.
Inside Metroplex, the Autobots shielded the humans from the explosions and fires produced by Metroplex’s wounds. They saw on Metroplex’s cerebral screens that he was beginning to access the Energon-X, and they crossed their fingers that his most powerful weapon, his chest cannon, was still functional, and that the Energon-X would prove as potent as they dared to hope it was.
A massive single beam erupted from Metroplex’s chest cannon, hitting Trypticon point blank and sending the monster back over the edge of the canyon. This time, Metroplex dove down after Trypticon, relentlessly tearing into the monster with a ferocity that equalled the monster’s own. Within minutes, the burning remains of Trypticon littered the landscape and Metroplex stood tall, proud, and triumphant, with the Autobots and humans inside him cheering.
The Autobots had won the battles for Earth. But what of the battles for Cybertron still raging?
In the Forbidden Zone, Yarvok’s twisted entertainment in the form of Blaster attempting to outfight an unspeakably monstrous giant mutant was interrupted when he sensed intruders approaching. Racing to his scrying pool, Yarvok was confronted with the sight of Skids with his sun roof down, giving his passenger, Avaya, the open space to cast powerfully stunning hex bolts at Yarvok’s mutant guardsmen. Once the last guardsman had fallen, Avaya jumped out of Skids and placed herself in the midst of the garden outside the castle, where her powers would be strongest, and issued an ultimatum to Yarvok: “Face me, you cowardly brute, if you dare!”
In response, Yarvok teleported outside the castle and stood face-to-face across from Avaya. “So,” the wizard raged, “the disciple needs to be taught yet again who her master is!”
“No one is my master,” the sorceress replied, “least of all you!”
And thus the gauntlet had been thrown down, and the duel between black magic and white magic erupted cataclysmically.
TO BE CONCLUDED
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point," Chapter 7
Underneath the Forbidden Zone ruins from which the Autobots had been removed, Skids sat alone. He had taken refuge there during the battle, in the same place where he had found the box of magical artifacts. Skids was now straining his brain to remember the rituals he had absorbed on Earth, in the hopes that he could conjure up something that could rescue his fellow Autobots.
In a more familiar section of Cybertron, the battle between Elita-One’s Autobots and Shockwave’s Decepticons continued, with Omega Supreme gripping Menasor’s Sword with his claw as the two giants wrestled.
Suddenly, the Constructicons and Insecticons, newly arrived from Earth via the Space Bridge, made their presence noticed. The Insecticons swarmed the Autobots, Shrapnel creating clones from the remains of Shockwave’s Sentinels. Concurrently, the Constructicons merged into Devastator and soon Omega Supreme fell to a double attack from Devastator and Menasor. The remaining Autobots regrouped to rethink their battle plan.
On Earth, activity within Autobot City was frantic as the Autobots scrambled to activate Autobot City’s attack mode while Trypticon moved ever closer.
Then, as if by divine intervention, the rest of the functioning Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, appeared on the spot. They had imprisoned the Decepticons they had captured earlier and had now come to lend a helping hand to Autobot City. The three still-active Aerialbots, plus Tracks in flying vehicle mode, buzzed around Trypticon’s head, while Optimus and his troops fired from the ground. But it all did little more than annoy Trypticon, who unleashed his powerful weaponry at the Autobots, who scattered but then quickly and courageously went back on the attack, knowing that they were buying their comrades inside Autobot City extra time, and that was crucial.
In the Forbidden Zone, the captured Autobots arrived at Yarvok’s castle. They could not help but notice that the castle was surrounded by exotic flora and fauna, an oasis in the otherwise dreary and barren Forbidden Zone. For this was how Yarvok kept himself strong and vital and unchallenged in his autocratic rule over the Forbidden Zone.
Yarvok received his prisoners in the castle’s courtyard. “Greetings!” cackled the evil wizard. “Ah, the sport can continue for some time to come now. Slaves, take them to the dungeons.”
As the Autobots were being put in their cells, they noticed two other still-functioning Transformers who were in cells of their own, but none of the newly captured Autobots were old enough to recognize who they were.
“How in the Matrix’s name did you end up here?” asked the older of the two, gray of color and curmudgeonly of voice.
“We’re here because the Matrix told us to come.” replied Jazz. “It said we would find the key to Autobot victory here in the Forbidden Zone.”
“So much for the infallible Matrix.” cracked the old robot sardonically.
“Don’t give up hope completely,” said the younger, blue-and-white-colored robot, “it’s the only thing that keeps us functioning.”
“Hope shmope!” growled the older one, “It’s plain old orneriness that keeps me going.”
“Don’t mind Kup.” said the younger one to Jazz, “He’s got good reason to be the way he is. I’m Ultra Magnus, and you are?”
Jazz made introductions. “I’m Jazz. That’s Blaster, Bumblebee, Cosmos, Powerglide, Perceptor, and Sk...wait a minute, where’s Skids?”
“If he got away,” said Bumblebee, “then maybe there is hope for us.”
“Sure,” said Kup sarcastically, “at least until the wizard decides to make you his pet monsters’ latest chew toy.”
“That,” explained Ultra Magnus, “is why Kup and I are the only ones left of all the Autobots who were exiled to the Forbidden Zone millions of years ago by Megatron.”
“Ah,” said Perceptor, “the infamous Great Autobot Purge.”
Ultra Magnus elaborated. “The wizard uses us for his own amusement. His monsters tear us apart, then he puts us back together over and over until we cease to function.”
Two monster guardsmen entered the dungeons. “The master requests the presence of the mightiest among the recent arrivals.”
“No,” said Kup, “take my rusting carcass and just get it over with.”
The guardsmen did not reply. Instead they opened the door to Blaster’s cell.
“Looks like this is the day the music died.” joked Blaster morbidly. “It’s been nice knowing you folks.”
At that bleak moment, Skids was within a mystic circle, surrounded by candles. He had figured out as best he could how to combine the magical artifacts into a spell. But as he chanted arcane wordings, he began to worry it might backfire disastrously.
But it was too late. A glowing inter-dimensional portal was opening in front of Skids. This was the moment of truth.
“Who summons me??” inquired an irascible female voice as a silhouette appeared at the portal and then revealed itself to be a mutant resembling a pale-skinned, raven-haired humanoid woman. “Who summons the sorceress Avaya??”
Outside, the elements went wild, windstorms and thunder and lightning raging like bedlam. Skids was frightened into stillness and silence. “What have I done?” he asked himself in a choked whisper.
TO BE CONTINUED
In a more familiar section of Cybertron, the battle between Elita-One’s Autobots and Shockwave’s Decepticons continued, with Omega Supreme gripping Menasor’s Sword with his claw as the two giants wrestled.
Suddenly, the Constructicons and Insecticons, newly arrived from Earth via the Space Bridge, made their presence noticed. The Insecticons swarmed the Autobots, Shrapnel creating clones from the remains of Shockwave’s Sentinels. Concurrently, the Constructicons merged into Devastator and soon Omega Supreme fell to a double attack from Devastator and Menasor. The remaining Autobots regrouped to rethink their battle plan.
On Earth, activity within Autobot City was frantic as the Autobots scrambled to activate Autobot City’s attack mode while Trypticon moved ever closer.
Then, as if by divine intervention, the rest of the functioning Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, appeared on the spot. They had imprisoned the Decepticons they had captured earlier and had now come to lend a helping hand to Autobot City. The three still-active Aerialbots, plus Tracks in flying vehicle mode, buzzed around Trypticon’s head, while Optimus and his troops fired from the ground. But it all did little more than annoy Trypticon, who unleashed his powerful weaponry at the Autobots, who scattered but then quickly and courageously went back on the attack, knowing that they were buying their comrades inside Autobot City extra time, and that was crucial.
In the Forbidden Zone, the captured Autobots arrived at Yarvok’s castle. They could not help but notice that the castle was surrounded by exotic flora and fauna, an oasis in the otherwise dreary and barren Forbidden Zone. For this was how Yarvok kept himself strong and vital and unchallenged in his autocratic rule over the Forbidden Zone.
Yarvok received his prisoners in the castle’s courtyard. “Greetings!” cackled the evil wizard. “Ah, the sport can continue for some time to come now. Slaves, take them to the dungeons.”
As the Autobots were being put in their cells, they noticed two other still-functioning Transformers who were in cells of their own, but none of the newly captured Autobots were old enough to recognize who they were.
“How in the Matrix’s name did you end up here?” asked the older of the two, gray of color and curmudgeonly of voice.
“We’re here because the Matrix told us to come.” replied Jazz. “It said we would find the key to Autobot victory here in the Forbidden Zone.”
“So much for the infallible Matrix.” cracked the old robot sardonically.
“Don’t give up hope completely,” said the younger, blue-and-white-colored robot, “it’s the only thing that keeps us functioning.”
“Hope shmope!” growled the older one, “It’s plain old orneriness that keeps me going.”
“Don’t mind Kup.” said the younger one to Jazz, “He’s got good reason to be the way he is. I’m Ultra Magnus, and you are?”
Jazz made introductions. “I’m Jazz. That’s Blaster, Bumblebee, Cosmos, Powerglide, Perceptor, and Sk...wait a minute, where’s Skids?”
“If he got away,” said Bumblebee, “then maybe there is hope for us.”
“Sure,” said Kup sarcastically, “at least until the wizard decides to make you his pet monsters’ latest chew toy.”
“That,” explained Ultra Magnus, “is why Kup and I are the only ones left of all the Autobots who were exiled to the Forbidden Zone millions of years ago by Megatron.”
“Ah,” said Perceptor, “the infamous Great Autobot Purge.”
Ultra Magnus elaborated. “The wizard uses us for his own amusement. His monsters tear us apart, then he puts us back together over and over until we cease to function.”
Two monster guardsmen entered the dungeons. “The master requests the presence of the mightiest among the recent arrivals.”
“No,” said Kup, “take my rusting carcass and just get it over with.”
The guardsmen did not reply. Instead they opened the door to Blaster’s cell.
“Looks like this is the day the music died.” joked Blaster morbidly. “It’s been nice knowing you folks.”
At that bleak moment, Skids was within a mystic circle, surrounded by candles. He had figured out as best he could how to combine the magical artifacts into a spell. But as he chanted arcane wordings, he began to worry it might backfire disastrously.
But it was too late. A glowing inter-dimensional portal was opening in front of Skids. This was the moment of truth.
“Who summons me??” inquired an irascible female voice as a silhouette appeared at the portal and then revealed itself to be a mutant resembling a pale-skinned, raven-haired humanoid woman. “Who summons the sorceress Avaya??”
Outside, the elements went wild, windstorms and thunder and lightning raging like bedlam. Skids was frightened into stillness and silence. “What have I done?” he asked himself in a choked whisper.
TO BE CONTINUED
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point," Chapter 6
Devastator’s rampage on Dinobot Island had left a grim tableau of fallen Autobots enveloped in smoke, flames, and sparks, and surrounded by pools of Energon. Devastator’s bone-chillingly triumphant laughter echoed across the island.
His gloating was interrupted by an interplanetary communication from Shockwave on Cybertron. “Constructicons, Insecticons, the tide here has turned in the Autobots’ favor. We require reinforcements. Head for the Space Bridge immediately.”
Devastator separated into the Constructicons. “Blast it!” grumbled Hook, “There are further adjustments to be made to Decepticon City.” “Nonsense!” countered Scrapper. “To fine-tune it further would be wasteful. Our work here is done. Let us activate Decepticon City’s attack mode and be off to Cybertron.”
With the flick of a switch or two, Decepticon City assumed the form of Trypticon, a bipedal lizard-like monstrosity which towered proportionately above the other Decepticons as a human to ants. With a blood-curdling roar, it took flight and headed for Autobot City.
At that moment, Autobot City was being savagely strafed by Thundercracker and Skywarp in their jet modes while the Combaticons kept the Protectobots busy. Even Autobot City’s formidable weapons systems had little effect as the seasoned pair of Decepticon warhorses repeatedly dodged the heavy artillery.
“We have to expedite this battle.” declared Hot Spot. “Protectobots, combined to become Defensor!”
The five Protectobots merged together into a magnificent Autobot goliath.
“Combaticons,” commanded Onslaught, “let us even the odds! Form Bruticus!”
The Combaticons gestalt form was a growling, ugly menace of a behemoth. Bruticus charged at Defensor with both fists flying, but Defensor put up his force field just in time.
“FIGHT BACK, AUTOBOT COWARD!” challenged Bruticus as he hammered away in vain at the force field. Bruticus’ rash assault caused him to quickly exhaust himself, something which Defensor noted.
“MY TURN!” declared Defensor as he dropped his force field and let fly with a tremendous punch to Bruticus’ face. The giant Decepticon was momentarily staggered.
Defensor seized the day, drawing his twin automatic weapons and firing point blank at Bruticus.
But Thundercracker had snuck up next to the aural sensors on the side of Defensor’s head and created a sonic boom that took Defensor by surprise and disoriented the giant Autobot.
This gave Bruticus a chance to get on his feet and lunge at Defensor. The colossal combatants created a minor tremor as they hit the ground together.
Meanwhile, in the Forbidden Zone, Perceptor was shaking his head in disbelief and frustration. “The destruction was clearly wrought by the forces of nature, fire and wind and such,” he reported to Jazz, “but there is a strange energy pattern that does not compute, and indeed defies any scientific explanation.”
“Magic.” interjected Skids.
“Magic??” replied Jazz and Perceptor in unison.
“In my studies on Earth,” elaborated Skids, “I became fascinated by all things mystical in nature, and it would seem the Forbidden Zone is the last remaining section of Cybertron where such things have not been eradicated by technology and warfare.”
“Must be the season of the witch.” chuckled Blaster.
“Laugh if you want,” replied Skids as he produced a small black box, “but I’ve got this to back me up. I found it buried inside what used to be the underground level of the fortress, and it’s filled with organic substances like honey, salt, roots, and herbs, as well as what appear to be mystical talismans. ” He opened the box so the others could see.
“Way cool!” remarked an awestruck Bumblebee.
“But how is this supposed to help us?” demanded Jazz.
Before Skids could answer, he was interrupted by a badly burned Powerglide, who swooped in for a landing, transformed to robot mode, and made a breathless, trembling report to the other Autobots. “I got bogeyman bogeys on my tail. I tried to shake them, but I couldn’t. And they breathe fire!”
“Relax,” replied Jazz as he drew his weapon, “we’re ready for them.”
A phantasmagoric army of darkness descended on the Autobots like a demonic plague. The Autobots fired at will, but nothing seemed to have any effect on the them, not even Blaster’s sonics, which had helped them escape a mutant monster earlier. The monsters appeared to be adaptable to any kind of non-mystical weapon.
The Autobots quickly fell before the monsters’ magical might, but much to the Autobots’ surprise, the monsters did not finish them off, but rather captured them and flew them toward their master Yarvok’s castle.
At Autobot City, the battle between Defensor and Bruticus was proving conclusively that the harder they come, the harder they fall indeed. With Bruticus defeated, Defensor was free to pinpoint Thundercracker and Skywarp and blast them both with precision. The damaged Decepticons all retreated.
“We won! We won!” gloated Scamper.
“Don’t start celebrating just yet.” warned Prowl. “The Decepticons caused their share of damage to Autobot City, and I haven’t been able to raise any of the Autobots on Dinobot Island.”
Suddenly, the ground started trembling.
“I think I know the reason for that, Prowl.” moaned Ratchet.
A shadow descended over Autobot City as Trypticon made his inexorable approach.
TO BE CONTINUED
His gloating was interrupted by an interplanetary communication from Shockwave on Cybertron. “Constructicons, Insecticons, the tide here has turned in the Autobots’ favor. We require reinforcements. Head for the Space Bridge immediately.”
Devastator separated into the Constructicons. “Blast it!” grumbled Hook, “There are further adjustments to be made to Decepticon City.” “Nonsense!” countered Scrapper. “To fine-tune it further would be wasteful. Our work here is done. Let us activate Decepticon City’s attack mode and be off to Cybertron.”
With the flick of a switch or two, Decepticon City assumed the form of Trypticon, a bipedal lizard-like monstrosity which towered proportionately above the other Decepticons as a human to ants. With a blood-curdling roar, it took flight and headed for Autobot City.
At that moment, Autobot City was being savagely strafed by Thundercracker and Skywarp in their jet modes while the Combaticons kept the Protectobots busy. Even Autobot City’s formidable weapons systems had little effect as the seasoned pair of Decepticon warhorses repeatedly dodged the heavy artillery.
“We have to expedite this battle.” declared Hot Spot. “Protectobots, combined to become Defensor!”
The five Protectobots merged together into a magnificent Autobot goliath.
“Combaticons,” commanded Onslaught, “let us even the odds! Form Bruticus!”
The Combaticons gestalt form was a growling, ugly menace of a behemoth. Bruticus charged at Defensor with both fists flying, but Defensor put up his force field just in time.
“FIGHT BACK, AUTOBOT COWARD!” challenged Bruticus as he hammered away in vain at the force field. Bruticus’ rash assault caused him to quickly exhaust himself, something which Defensor noted.
“MY TURN!” declared Defensor as he dropped his force field and let fly with a tremendous punch to Bruticus’ face. The giant Decepticon was momentarily staggered.
Defensor seized the day, drawing his twin automatic weapons and firing point blank at Bruticus.
But Thundercracker had snuck up next to the aural sensors on the side of Defensor’s head and created a sonic boom that took Defensor by surprise and disoriented the giant Autobot.
This gave Bruticus a chance to get on his feet and lunge at Defensor. The colossal combatants created a minor tremor as they hit the ground together.
Meanwhile, in the Forbidden Zone, Perceptor was shaking his head in disbelief and frustration. “The destruction was clearly wrought by the forces of nature, fire and wind and such,” he reported to Jazz, “but there is a strange energy pattern that does not compute, and indeed defies any scientific explanation.”
“Magic.” interjected Skids.
“Magic??” replied Jazz and Perceptor in unison.
“In my studies on Earth,” elaborated Skids, “I became fascinated by all things mystical in nature, and it would seem the Forbidden Zone is the last remaining section of Cybertron where such things have not been eradicated by technology and warfare.”
“Must be the season of the witch.” chuckled Blaster.
“Laugh if you want,” replied Skids as he produced a small black box, “but I’ve got this to back me up. I found it buried inside what used to be the underground level of the fortress, and it’s filled with organic substances like honey, salt, roots, and herbs, as well as what appear to be mystical talismans. ” He opened the box so the others could see.
“Way cool!” remarked an awestruck Bumblebee.
“But how is this supposed to help us?” demanded Jazz.
Before Skids could answer, he was interrupted by a badly burned Powerglide, who swooped in for a landing, transformed to robot mode, and made a breathless, trembling report to the other Autobots. “I got bogeyman bogeys on my tail. I tried to shake them, but I couldn’t. And they breathe fire!”
“Relax,” replied Jazz as he drew his weapon, “we’re ready for them.”
A phantasmagoric army of darkness descended on the Autobots like a demonic plague. The Autobots fired at will, but nothing seemed to have any effect on the them, not even Blaster’s sonics, which had helped them escape a mutant monster earlier. The monsters appeared to be adaptable to any kind of non-mystical weapon.
The Autobots quickly fell before the monsters’ magical might, but much to the Autobots’ surprise, the monsters did not finish them off, but rather captured them and flew them toward their master Yarvok’s castle.
At Autobot City, the battle between Defensor and Bruticus was proving conclusively that the harder they come, the harder they fall indeed. With Bruticus defeated, Defensor was free to pinpoint Thundercracker and Skywarp and blast them both with precision. The damaged Decepticons all retreated.
“We won! We won!” gloated Scamper.
“Don’t start celebrating just yet.” warned Prowl. “The Decepticons caused their share of damage to Autobot City, and I haven’t been able to raise any of the Autobots on Dinobot Island.”
Suddenly, the ground started trembling.
“I think I know the reason for that, Prowl.” moaned Ratchet.
A shadow descended over Autobot City as Trypticon made his inexorable approach.
TO BE CONTINUED
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point", Chapter 5
In Cybertron’s Forbidden Zone, Cosmos was heading towards what appeared to be a fortress in ruins. “Sensors indicate no mutant presence within a wide radius.” he said.
“Then make a landing ASAP.” ordered Jazz.
Cosmos obeyed, and soon the group of Autobots stood outside the ruins in a semi-circle with Jazz at the center.
“Skids,” said Jazz, “I want you to search for anything that might lead us to the surviving Autobot exiles...” he paused, then added, “...if there are any survivors.”
“On it.” replied Skids.
Jazz then turned to Perceptor. “Analyze these ruins and tell me when and how you think they were destroyed.” he said. “And, finally, Powerglide, reconnoiter the vicinity and report on anything approaching our position. But don’t go out too far!”
“Gotcha.” said Powerglide.
As Powerglide took to the air, Jazz surveyed his unit at work and on guard. Unknown to Jazz, they were being watched from a scrying pool inside the nearby castle of the Forbidden Zone’s tyrannical self-appointed ruler, Yarvok, a powerful mutant wizard as evil as he was hideous to look at. With a mere thought, Yarvok commanded his monstrous army of mutants to attack and capture the Autobots.
Meanwhile, on Earth, the battle for Dinobot Island seemed to be turning in the Autobots’ favor.
“We’re outgunned and outnumbered.” panicked Scavenger.
“I do not know the meaning of the word surrender!” growled Bonecrusher.
“Our victory shall come through strategy!” declared Bombshell as he fired a mind-controlling Cerebro-Shell into the small brain of Sludge, the brontosaurian Dinobot. Under Bombshell’s orders, Sludge lashed out at his fellow Dinobots, using his tail as a whip to give Grimlock a severe chest wound and sending Grimlock tumbling onto Snarl. Sludge then used his optic lasers to shoot down the airborne Swoop. Slag, the horned Dinobot, charged at Sludge just as Grimlock and Snarl were getting back on their feet. But Sludge stomped the ground so hard that it cracked, with the other three Dinobots falling down the deep fissure. Sludge then began attacking the rest of the Autobots.
“If ever a golden opportunity presented itself...” observed Hook.
“You said it!” agreed Scrapper. “Constructicons, merge into Devastator!”
In the blink of an eye, the six Constructicons combined into the gigantic super-robot Devastator, striking terror into the heart of even the hardiest Autobot. “AUTOBOTS,” said Devastator in his booming baritone, “YOUR FATE IS SEALED!”
Devastator used one of his massive hands to pick up Warpath, who was in tank mode and firing at him in vain. “Zing! Let me go! Zowie!” exclaimed Warpath. Devastator casually tossed Warpath far away from the shores of the island, where he sank helplessly like a stone. Skyfire, despite his injuries, bravely charged at Devastator, only for the Decepticon to respond with a ferocious martial arts kick that sent Skyfire to the ground. The rest of the Autobots opened fire, but Devastator was unfazed and he brought down his fist on them, crushing some and scattering the rest.
Meanwhile, near Autobot City, Slammer, the spunky little Autobot tank drone, was helping the Protectobots guard Autobot City. Suddenly, Slammer’s advanced sensors detected a Decepticon presence not far away. Scanning around, he discovered the Combaticons plus Thundercracker and Skywarp attempting a sneak attack. Slammer sped towards them, and was quickly spotted from the air by Vortex, who transmitted an image to Onslaught and flippantly remarked, “The Autobots must be getting desperate if they send a toy tank after us.”
“I would be glad to crush it!” roared Brawl.
“No, Brawl,” commanded Onslaught, “save your agression for Autobot City. Swindle, pick off that miniature nuisance.”
“You got it.” replied Swindle, who fired an explosive shell at Slammer which the little Autobot dodged easily. Slammer then returned fire, his own shell packing a considerable punch that Swindle never expected. Swindle was sent flying and crash-landed upside down.
Slammer then alerted the Autobots of the Decepticons’ approach. “Battle stations!” responded Prowl, who then issued another command, “Protectobots, head off the Combaticons at the pass!”
TO BE CONTINUED
“Then make a landing ASAP.” ordered Jazz.
Cosmos obeyed, and soon the group of Autobots stood outside the ruins in a semi-circle with Jazz at the center.
“Skids,” said Jazz, “I want you to search for anything that might lead us to the surviving Autobot exiles...” he paused, then added, “...if there are any survivors.”
“On it.” replied Skids.
Jazz then turned to Perceptor. “Analyze these ruins and tell me when and how you think they were destroyed.” he said. “And, finally, Powerglide, reconnoiter the vicinity and report on anything approaching our position. But don’t go out too far!”
“Gotcha.” said Powerglide.
As Powerglide took to the air, Jazz surveyed his unit at work and on guard. Unknown to Jazz, they were being watched from a scrying pool inside the nearby castle of the Forbidden Zone’s tyrannical self-appointed ruler, Yarvok, a powerful mutant wizard as evil as he was hideous to look at. With a mere thought, Yarvok commanded his monstrous army of mutants to attack and capture the Autobots.
Meanwhile, on Earth, the battle for Dinobot Island seemed to be turning in the Autobots’ favor.
“We’re outgunned and outnumbered.” panicked Scavenger.
“I do not know the meaning of the word surrender!” growled Bonecrusher.
“Our victory shall come through strategy!” declared Bombshell as he fired a mind-controlling Cerebro-Shell into the small brain of Sludge, the brontosaurian Dinobot. Under Bombshell’s orders, Sludge lashed out at his fellow Dinobots, using his tail as a whip to give Grimlock a severe chest wound and sending Grimlock tumbling onto Snarl. Sludge then used his optic lasers to shoot down the airborne Swoop. Slag, the horned Dinobot, charged at Sludge just as Grimlock and Snarl were getting back on their feet. But Sludge stomped the ground so hard that it cracked, with the other three Dinobots falling down the deep fissure. Sludge then began attacking the rest of the Autobots.
“If ever a golden opportunity presented itself...” observed Hook.
“You said it!” agreed Scrapper. “Constructicons, merge into Devastator!”
In the blink of an eye, the six Constructicons combined into the gigantic super-robot Devastator, striking terror into the heart of even the hardiest Autobot. “AUTOBOTS,” said Devastator in his booming baritone, “YOUR FATE IS SEALED!”
Devastator used one of his massive hands to pick up Warpath, who was in tank mode and firing at him in vain. “Zing! Let me go! Zowie!” exclaimed Warpath. Devastator casually tossed Warpath far away from the shores of the island, where he sank helplessly like a stone. Skyfire, despite his injuries, bravely charged at Devastator, only for the Decepticon to respond with a ferocious martial arts kick that sent Skyfire to the ground. The rest of the Autobots opened fire, but Devastator was unfazed and he brought down his fist on them, crushing some and scattering the rest.
Meanwhile, near Autobot City, Slammer, the spunky little Autobot tank drone, was helping the Protectobots guard Autobot City. Suddenly, Slammer’s advanced sensors detected a Decepticon presence not far away. Scanning around, he discovered the Combaticons plus Thundercracker and Skywarp attempting a sneak attack. Slammer sped towards them, and was quickly spotted from the air by Vortex, who transmitted an image to Onslaught and flippantly remarked, “The Autobots must be getting desperate if they send a toy tank after us.”
“I would be glad to crush it!” roared Brawl.
“No, Brawl,” commanded Onslaught, “save your agression for Autobot City. Swindle, pick off that miniature nuisance.”
“You got it.” replied Swindle, who fired an explosive shell at Slammer which the little Autobot dodged easily. Slammer then returned fire, his own shell packing a considerable punch that Swindle never expected. Swindle was sent flying and crash-landed upside down.
Slammer then alerted the Autobots of the Decepticons’ approach. “Battle stations!” responded Prowl, who then issued another command, “Protectobots, head off the Combaticons at the pass!”
TO BE CONTINUED
Sunday, May 9, 2010
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point", Chapter 4
“Blaster,” commanded Jazz, “make this mutant monstrosity shake us loose.”
“Good vibrations comin’ right up.” replied Blaster as he used his sonic powers to give the mutant a tremendous jolt. Cosmos broke free and sped away, searching for a somewhere safe to land.
Back on Earth, Prowl noted the rapid progress being made on the creation of Autobot City. Wheeljack and Ratchet supervised the construction while Grapple went about his master builder work with customary precision. Spike and Sparkplug were lending Grapple a helping hand, and Carly oversaw the programming of the computer systems.
Spike walked over to Carly and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry we’ve ended up spending what should have been our honeymoon working.”
Carly laughed. “This is the best honeymoon you could ever have given me. I’m having the time of my life.”
Spike smiled in response, but Carly noticed he was fidgety. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“It’s Dad.” whispered Spike. “He’s overworking himself again.”
The young couple looked over at Sparkplug, who grinned and waved at them, oblivious to his son and daughter-in-law’s concern. Sparkplug was a proud man, living for his work and raised to believe that showing vulnerability was a sign of weakness. But in the last couple years, age had been catching up with him, and his health was not what it used to be.
Carly and Spike’s contemplation was interrupted by Six-Gun and Scamper, recent additions to the Autobot army and the designated guardians of Autobot City. “What’s the status of the computers, Carly?” asked Six-Gun.
“I was about to give Slammer his test run.” replied Carly, pointing at a tiny automated tank that she had designed to help patrol the perimeter of Autobot City. She punched a few keys on her computer set-up, and Slammer came to life, moving in circles and talking in beeps and boops.
“That is so cool.” said Scamper admiringly. Carly smiled.
Meanwhile, Prowl contacted one of the five Protectobots who were patrolling the perimeter. “Anything to report, Blades?”
“Now that you mention it,” replied the Autobot helicopter, “we’ve got Hoist about to make his delivery of the Energon-X.”
“Outstanding.” said Prowl. “The Energon-X is our trump card. It’ll guarantee that Autobot City is mightier than Decepticon City.” He paused. “Of course, I’m still holding out hope that Ironhide and his crew can keep Decepticon City from becoming a reality.”
But over on Dinobot Island, the Decepticons were dangerously close to completing work on Decepticon City. The six Constructicons worked hard while the three Insecticons rotated between devouring the island’s rich vegetation, keeping the dinosaurs at bay, and providing the raw power to fuel Decepticon City.
Shrapnel was in the midst of gorging himself on exotic plants when he heard the roar of a jet engine. He took to the skies and recognized the approaching Autobot Skyfire.
“Alert, Decepticons!” shrieked Shrapnel to his comrades. “Autobots approaching (approaching.)”
“Give them a shocking welcome!” commanded Scrapper, pointing up at the storm clouds.
“With pleasure,” replied Shrapnel, “(pleasure.) I shall fry them to a crisp (crisp.)” Using one arm as a lightning rod and the other to fire searing bolts, Shrapnel electrocuted Skyfire, shorting out many of his circuits, including his navigation systems. Skyfire crash-landed in a dense clump of trees.
“Damage report!” commanded Ironhide as he and his team – Warpath, Huffer, Gears, Brawn, Beachcomber, Windcharger, Bluestreak, Hound, Trailbreaker, and the five Dinobots – tumbled out of Skyfire.
“We’re all still functional.” declared Bluestreak.
“Unfortunately,” interjected Skyfire as he transformed to robot mode, “I’m at only 60% capability after what just happened.”
“We’re sittin’ ducks in this tight spot.” said Ironhide. “Dino-buddies, clear us a path.”
“Dinobots save the day as always.” replied Grimlock. “Dinobots, transform and smash trees.”
As the Dinobots got to work, Warpath transformed to tank mode. “Let me – wham! – give you some – pow! – help.”
“This is a bummer, man.” groaned Beachcomber as he watched the trees being crushed, torn up, blown up, and torched.
But his lament was short-lived as the Constructicons and Insecticons launched their assault on the Autobots.
TO BE CONTINUED
“Good vibrations comin’ right up.” replied Blaster as he used his sonic powers to give the mutant a tremendous jolt. Cosmos broke free and sped away, searching for a somewhere safe to land.
Back on Earth, Prowl noted the rapid progress being made on the creation of Autobot City. Wheeljack and Ratchet supervised the construction while Grapple went about his master builder work with customary precision. Spike and Sparkplug were lending Grapple a helping hand, and Carly oversaw the programming of the computer systems.
Spike walked over to Carly and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry we’ve ended up spending what should have been our honeymoon working.”
Carly laughed. “This is the best honeymoon you could ever have given me. I’m having the time of my life.”
Spike smiled in response, but Carly noticed he was fidgety. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“It’s Dad.” whispered Spike. “He’s overworking himself again.”
The young couple looked over at Sparkplug, who grinned and waved at them, oblivious to his son and daughter-in-law’s concern. Sparkplug was a proud man, living for his work and raised to believe that showing vulnerability was a sign of weakness. But in the last couple years, age had been catching up with him, and his health was not what it used to be.
Carly and Spike’s contemplation was interrupted by Six-Gun and Scamper, recent additions to the Autobot army and the designated guardians of Autobot City. “What’s the status of the computers, Carly?” asked Six-Gun.
“I was about to give Slammer his test run.” replied Carly, pointing at a tiny automated tank that she had designed to help patrol the perimeter of Autobot City. She punched a few keys on her computer set-up, and Slammer came to life, moving in circles and talking in beeps and boops.
“That is so cool.” said Scamper admiringly. Carly smiled.
Meanwhile, Prowl contacted one of the five Protectobots who were patrolling the perimeter. “Anything to report, Blades?”
“Now that you mention it,” replied the Autobot helicopter, “we’ve got Hoist about to make his delivery of the Energon-X.”
“Outstanding.” said Prowl. “The Energon-X is our trump card. It’ll guarantee that Autobot City is mightier than Decepticon City.” He paused. “Of course, I’m still holding out hope that Ironhide and his crew can keep Decepticon City from becoming a reality.”
But over on Dinobot Island, the Decepticons were dangerously close to completing work on Decepticon City. The six Constructicons worked hard while the three Insecticons rotated between devouring the island’s rich vegetation, keeping the dinosaurs at bay, and providing the raw power to fuel Decepticon City.
Shrapnel was in the midst of gorging himself on exotic plants when he heard the roar of a jet engine. He took to the skies and recognized the approaching Autobot Skyfire.
“Alert, Decepticons!” shrieked Shrapnel to his comrades. “Autobots approaching (approaching.)”
“Give them a shocking welcome!” commanded Scrapper, pointing up at the storm clouds.
“With pleasure,” replied Shrapnel, “(pleasure.) I shall fry them to a crisp (crisp.)” Using one arm as a lightning rod and the other to fire searing bolts, Shrapnel electrocuted Skyfire, shorting out many of his circuits, including his navigation systems. Skyfire crash-landed in a dense clump of trees.
“Damage report!” commanded Ironhide as he and his team – Warpath, Huffer, Gears, Brawn, Beachcomber, Windcharger, Bluestreak, Hound, Trailbreaker, and the five Dinobots – tumbled out of Skyfire.
“We’re all still functional.” declared Bluestreak.
“Unfortunately,” interjected Skyfire as he transformed to robot mode, “I’m at only 60% capability after what just happened.”
“We’re sittin’ ducks in this tight spot.” said Ironhide. “Dino-buddies, clear us a path.”
“Dinobots save the day as always.” replied Grimlock. “Dinobots, transform and smash trees.”
As the Dinobots got to work, Warpath transformed to tank mode. “Let me – wham! – give you some – pow! – help.”
“This is a bummer, man.” groaned Beachcomber as he watched the trees being crushed, torn up, blown up, and torched.
But his lament was short-lived as the Constructicons and Insecticons launched their assault on the Autobots.
TO BE CONTINUED
Sunday, May 2, 2010
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point," Chapter 3
“Teletraan,” commanded Optimus Prime, “I need status reports from our other teams in the field.”
Instantly, three windows opened up on Teletraan’s monitor, each with the particular mission’s field commander.
“Prowl here. Work on Autobot City continues apace. No Decepticons spotted in the perimeter yet, but we’re ready for anything.”
“This is Ironhide on board Skyfire. My unit should be arriving on Dinobot Island soon, an’ well kick them Decepti-creeps clear off the island.”
“Jazz reporting from aboard Cosmos. Omega Supreme and the female Autobots are providing a very effective diversion at Shockwave’s citadel on Cybertron while my unit approaches Cybertron’s Forbidden Zone.”
“Godspeed to you all.” replied Optimus Prime.
Outside the Decepticon citadel on Cybertron, the female Autobots, led by Elita-One, advanced closer to the citadel while, behind them, Omega Supreme laid down cover fire. Shockwave and a pack of Decepticons – the Stunticons plus Octane, Runamuck and Runabout – defended their fortress.
“Stunticons,” commanded Shockwave, “maneuver Z.”
The Stunticons united to form the giant Menasor at the same time as Shockwave transformed into gun mode. Unlike Megatron, Shockwave did not shrink when in gun mode, so he was the perfect fit for Menasor’s massive hand.
Menasor blasted Omega Supreme point-blank in the chest. The Autobot colossus fell hard on his back.
“Now, Decepticons,” said Shockwave back in robot mode, “move in for the kill.”
The Stunticons separated and transformed into their vehicle modes. Runamuck and Runabout also transformed to vehicle modes. While Shockwave and Octane covered them, they all charged at the female Autobots.
“Autobots,” said Elita-One, “show these Decepticons the way of the true warrior.”
Sharpshooting from Elita-One and Moonracer caused Motormaster to jackknife and Runamuck to spin wildly. The Decepticon charge turned into a pile-up. Now it was the female Autobots’ turn to transform to vehicle modes and charge at their enemies. The battle for the citadel had turned into a demolition derby.
Meanwhile, on a far more remote sector of Cybertron, Cosmos flew close to the ground as he approached the infamous Forbidden Zone. Packed tightly aboard Cosmos were Jazz, Skids, Powerglide, Blaster (in boombox mode,) Perceptor (in microscope mode,) and Bumblebee.
“Perceptor,” queried Bumblebee of the most erudite of the Autobots, “why exactly is it called the Forbidden Zone?”
“Legend has it,” replied Perceptor, “that billions of years ago, when Cybertron bore a different name and its dominant lifeforms were organic, there was a battle for supremacy, and the losers were exiled to a barren land, where they adapted to the harsh conditions and the planet’s increasing pollution and radiation fallout by mutating into increasingly monstrous forms. The land became dangerously inaccessible, hence the name Forbidden Zone.”
“Tall tales, that’s all they are.” laughed Powerglide. “I’ll believe it when I see it...UMPH! Cosmos, what’s going on out there?”
“I think I found the proof you demanded, Powerglide.” said Cosmos as a giant Lovecraftian menace that had erupted from the ground enveloped Cosmos with its tentacles.
TO BE CONTINUED
Instantly, three windows opened up on Teletraan’s monitor, each with the particular mission’s field commander.
“Prowl here. Work on Autobot City continues apace. No Decepticons spotted in the perimeter yet, but we’re ready for anything.”
“This is Ironhide on board Skyfire. My unit should be arriving on Dinobot Island soon, an’ well kick them Decepti-creeps clear off the island.”
“Jazz reporting from aboard Cosmos. Omega Supreme and the female Autobots are providing a very effective diversion at Shockwave’s citadel on Cybertron while my unit approaches Cybertron’s Forbidden Zone.”
“Godspeed to you all.” replied Optimus Prime.
Outside the Decepticon citadel on Cybertron, the female Autobots, led by Elita-One, advanced closer to the citadel while, behind them, Omega Supreme laid down cover fire. Shockwave and a pack of Decepticons – the Stunticons plus Octane, Runamuck and Runabout – defended their fortress.
“Stunticons,” commanded Shockwave, “maneuver Z.”
The Stunticons united to form the giant Menasor at the same time as Shockwave transformed into gun mode. Unlike Megatron, Shockwave did not shrink when in gun mode, so he was the perfect fit for Menasor’s massive hand.
Menasor blasted Omega Supreme point-blank in the chest. The Autobot colossus fell hard on his back.
“Now, Decepticons,” said Shockwave back in robot mode, “move in for the kill.”
The Stunticons separated and transformed into their vehicle modes. Runamuck and Runabout also transformed to vehicle modes. While Shockwave and Octane covered them, they all charged at the female Autobots.
“Autobots,” said Elita-One, “show these Decepticons the way of the true warrior.”
Sharpshooting from Elita-One and Moonracer caused Motormaster to jackknife and Runamuck to spin wildly. The Decepticon charge turned into a pile-up. Now it was the female Autobots’ turn to transform to vehicle modes and charge at their enemies. The battle for the citadel had turned into a demolition derby.
Meanwhile, on a far more remote sector of Cybertron, Cosmos flew close to the ground as he approached the infamous Forbidden Zone. Packed tightly aboard Cosmos were Jazz, Skids, Powerglide, Blaster (in boombox mode,) Perceptor (in microscope mode,) and Bumblebee.
“Perceptor,” queried Bumblebee of the most erudite of the Autobots, “why exactly is it called the Forbidden Zone?”
“Legend has it,” replied Perceptor, “that billions of years ago, when Cybertron bore a different name and its dominant lifeforms were organic, there was a battle for supremacy, and the losers were exiled to a barren land, where they adapted to the harsh conditions and the planet’s increasing pollution and radiation fallout by mutating into increasingly monstrous forms. The land became dangerously inaccessible, hence the name Forbidden Zone.”
“Tall tales, that’s all they are.” laughed Powerglide. “I’ll believe it when I see it...UMPH! Cosmos, what’s going on out there?”
“I think I found the proof you demanded, Powerglide.” said Cosmos as a giant Lovecraftian menace that had erupted from the ground enveloped Cosmos with its tentacles.
TO BE CONTINUED
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point," Chapter 2
In a section of the Pacific Ocean not far from the American coast, there moved what appeared to be an aircraft carrier with five fighter jets aboard. In reality, the jets were the Aerialbots, and they awaited their encounter with the Decepticons with varying degrees of patience.
“Are we there yet?” moaned Slingshot.
“We’ll reach the coordinates any minute now.” replied Silverbolt.
Suddenly, the water below started to churn.
“Call it a hunch,” said Air Raid, “but I think we’re already there.”
A colossal tower emerged from the ocean, and a giant hatch opened, unleashing four Decepticons: Ramjet, Thrust, Dirge, and Astrotrain. They opened fire on the Aerialbots.
“Aerialbots,” commanded Silverbolt, “counter-attack!”
The Aerialbots took to the sky with speed and grace, and soon the skies were alight with pulsating lasers and exploding missiles as there unfolded an awesome battle.
The Decepticons’ underwater base, which was connected to the tower, was temporarily deserted. And at the bottom of the ocean, another Autobot was taking advantage of this.
Seaspray, the Autobot best adapted to aquatic settings, worked painstakingly to override the Decepticon base’s alarms until, finally, an emergency entrance activated, allowing Seaspray access.
As Seaspray raced through corridors looking for the base’s control center, the battle above water was turning in the Decepticons’ favor, thanks largely to Astrotrain’s considerable durability and firepower. Silverbolt knew the time had come for extreme measures.
“Aerialbots,” commanded Silverbolt, “merge into Superion!”
But before all five Aerialbots could join together, Ramjet brutally rammed Slingshot, while Dirge scored a direct hit on Sky Dive. Superion was only operating at a fraction of his power, and had limbs missing. This made him an easy target for the Decepticons, who went into battle formation and bombarded Superion with all the weaponry at their disposal.
Below, Seaspray had found the control center and was in the process of programming the base for self-destruction, but it would take a few more minutes – time he might not have, considering what appeared to be the outcome of the battle above.
Suddenly, the aircraft carrier began moving, pulling itself apart and then back together in a new form, that of a mighty shuttle that was more than a match for Astrotrain in size and power. This was Broadside, whom the Decepticons were getting a rude introduction to.
Broadside made short work of Ramjet, Thrust, and Dirge, then engaged Astrotrain in a ferocious dogfight. They appeared evenly matched until the three still-functional Aerialbots regrouped to provide reinforcements.
Inside the base, Seaspray finally got the computer to execute the self-destruct program. He ran for the emergency exit as the countdown ticked away.
Above, the three still-functional Aerialbots loaded their fallen fellow Aerialbots as well as the four Decepticons into Broadside’s spacious hull. Seaspray emerged from the ocean and jumped inside Broadside.
“Get us out of here as fast as you can.” said Seaspray to Broadside, who obliged.
The Decepticon base exploded in a tremendous fireball that illuminated the night sky.
Silverbolt communicated with Teletraan I through Broadside’s radio. His report to Optimus Prime was brief and to the point: “The mission was a success.”
“Hopefully,” said Optimus Prime, “the same will hold true of the others.”
TO BE CONTINUED
“Are we there yet?” moaned Slingshot.
“We’ll reach the coordinates any minute now.” replied Silverbolt.
Suddenly, the water below started to churn.
“Call it a hunch,” said Air Raid, “but I think we’re already there.”
A colossal tower emerged from the ocean, and a giant hatch opened, unleashing four Decepticons: Ramjet, Thrust, Dirge, and Astrotrain. They opened fire on the Aerialbots.
“Aerialbots,” commanded Silverbolt, “counter-attack!”
The Aerialbots took to the sky with speed and grace, and soon the skies were alight with pulsating lasers and exploding missiles as there unfolded an awesome battle.
The Decepticons’ underwater base, which was connected to the tower, was temporarily deserted. And at the bottom of the ocean, another Autobot was taking advantage of this.
Seaspray, the Autobot best adapted to aquatic settings, worked painstakingly to override the Decepticon base’s alarms until, finally, an emergency entrance activated, allowing Seaspray access.
As Seaspray raced through corridors looking for the base’s control center, the battle above water was turning in the Decepticons’ favor, thanks largely to Astrotrain’s considerable durability and firepower. Silverbolt knew the time had come for extreme measures.
“Aerialbots,” commanded Silverbolt, “merge into Superion!”
But before all five Aerialbots could join together, Ramjet brutally rammed Slingshot, while Dirge scored a direct hit on Sky Dive. Superion was only operating at a fraction of his power, and had limbs missing. This made him an easy target for the Decepticons, who went into battle formation and bombarded Superion with all the weaponry at their disposal.
Below, Seaspray had found the control center and was in the process of programming the base for self-destruction, but it would take a few more minutes – time he might not have, considering what appeared to be the outcome of the battle above.
Suddenly, the aircraft carrier began moving, pulling itself apart and then back together in a new form, that of a mighty shuttle that was more than a match for Astrotrain in size and power. This was Broadside, whom the Decepticons were getting a rude introduction to.
Broadside made short work of Ramjet, Thrust, and Dirge, then engaged Astrotrain in a ferocious dogfight. They appeared evenly matched until the three still-functional Aerialbots regrouped to provide reinforcements.
Inside the base, Seaspray finally got the computer to execute the self-destruct program. He ran for the emergency exit as the countdown ticked away.
Above, the three still-functional Aerialbots loaded their fallen fellow Aerialbots as well as the four Decepticons into Broadside’s spacious hull. Seaspray emerged from the ocean and jumped inside Broadside.
“Get us out of here as fast as you can.” said Seaspray to Broadside, who obliged.
The Decepticon base exploded in a tremendous fireball that illuminated the night sky.
Silverbolt communicated with Teletraan I through Broadside’s radio. His report to Optimus Prime was brief and to the point: “The mission was a success.”
“Hopefully,” said Optimus Prime, “the same will hold true of the others.”
TO BE CONTINUED
Sunday, April 25, 2010
FANFIC: The Transformers in "Turning Point", Chapter 1
NOTE: This story takes place in G1 continuity. The year is 1990, which places the story in between the end of Season 2 and Transformers The Movie.
In a remote corner of the Southwestern United States, a team of evil Decepticons – Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing, Soundwave, Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Buzzsaw, and Laserbeak – soared through the air towards the Autobot Ark, home base to their enemies, the noble Autobots.
“Soundwave, scan and report!” commanded Megatron.
“Readings confirm presence of Energon-X within Autobot Ark.” replied Soundwave in his eerie monotone.
“Excellent!” said Megatron. “Decepticons, show no mercy!”
And with that, the Decepticons opened fire on the Autobot Ark.
Inside the Ark, Red Alert and Inferno stood in front of the Autobot master computer, Teletraan I.
“If they think they’re gonna get their grubby hands on the Energon-X, they’ve got another thing coming!” laughed Inferno.
“Indeed.” added Red Alert, turning his attention to a freshly installed control panel on Teletraan I.
To the Decepticons astonishment, a battery of automated laser cannons emerged from beneath the rocky surface above the Ark, and began blasting away.
From a nearby hilltop, a team of Autobots – Optimus Prime, Tracks, Sideswipe, Sunsteaker, Mirage, Hoist, Smokescreen, and Cliffjumper – had been watching and waiting.
“They’ve been thrown off-balance by the element of surprise. The time is now.” said Optimus Prime. “Autobots, transform and roll out!”
The Autobots changed their robotic forms into sleek cars and trucks and barreled down the hill and straight on towards the Decepticons.
“It was a trap!” exclaimed Megatron.
“You have a talent for stating the obvious, o great leader.” snarked Starscream.
“Blitzwing,” ordered Megatron, “take the point.”
Blitzwing swooped to the ground and transformed to tank mode, firing his powerful shells at the approaching Autobots. The Autobots dodged the fire and returned it, creating a diversion so that Tracks could transform from land vehicle mode to air vehicle mode. Tracks flew over Blitzwing and dropped a bomb in the precise spot, damaging Blitzwing’s treads and causing him to flip over.
“Tanks for the memories.” quipped Tracks.
“Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, operation termination.” Soundwave commanded his two bird-of-prey subordinates.
But Tracks blinded Buzzsaw with his black beam while Laserbeak was shot from behind in a sneak attack from Sideswipe, whose rocket pack gave him flying ability in robot mode.
The other Decepticons responded with a ferocious barrage of gunfire. Smokescreen sped ahead of the other Autobots and activated the special smoke that was his unique power, enveloping the Decepticons in a grey cloud through which they couldn’t see as the Autobots returned fire.
“Soundwave,” coughed Megatron, “Plan B.”
“As you command.” replied Soundwave. “Ratbat, eject, operation annihilation.” And from Soundwave’s chest there emerged a horrific creature whose built-in radar allowed him to navigate through the cloud of smoke, zero in on Smokescreen and open fire, hitting Smokescreen and sending the Autobot into a tailspin.
Ratbat next turned his attention to Sideswipe, dodging the Autobot’s gunfire with astonishing aerial acrobatics, then returning the fire with interest, hitting Sideswipe in all his weakest spots.
Sunstreaker sped up, launched himself into the air and transformed to robot mode, pouncing on Ratbat. They wrestled in mid-air until Ratbat put the bite on Sunstreaker, his fangs draining the Autobot of precious Energon.
By now, the cloud of smoke had dissipated. “Decepticons,” commanded Megatron, “give the Autobots a show of force!”
Megatron transformed into gun mode, landing in Starscream’s hand. Starscream pulled the trigger, and the powerful beam struck Mirage just as he was beginning to activate his invisibility power, causing his engine to explode. Meanwhile, Hoist and Rumble fought hand-to-hand, as did Cliffjumper and Frenzy, while Blitzwing recovered from his damage and transformed into fighter jet mode, firing missiles at the Autobots.
Optimus Prime transformed to his imposing robot mode. “Cover me!” he ordered Tracks, who dutifully engaged the Decepticons in a firefight.
Optimus had a clear shot at Megatron and Starscream and didn’t waste it. He blasted Megatron’s gun form out of Starscream’s hand, then hit Starscream square in the chest. As Megatron began Transforming back into robot mode, Optimus continued firing until Megatron was down.
Optimus then turned around and shot down Ratbat, who was attempting a sneak attack.
Soundwave turned his deadly sonics on Optimus, but Soundwave hadn’t counted on Inferno and Red Alert, who had emerged from the Ark. Their double-barreled assault soon had Soundwave unconscious, and Inferno’s shoulder-mounted weapon took down Blitzwing.
Cliffjumper froze Frenzy in glass-gas, while Hoist delivered the knockout punch to Rumble. Tracks took care of Ravage, the last Decepticon standing.
“Sweet victory.” gloated Cliffjumper.
It was time for a reality check from Optimus. “We’ve won this battle, but not yet the war. Let’s hope our other operations are proceeding according to plan.”
TO BE CONTINUED
In a remote corner of the Southwestern United States, a team of evil Decepticons – Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing, Soundwave, Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Buzzsaw, and Laserbeak – soared through the air towards the Autobot Ark, home base to their enemies, the noble Autobots.
“Soundwave, scan and report!” commanded Megatron.
“Readings confirm presence of Energon-X within Autobot Ark.” replied Soundwave in his eerie monotone.
“Excellent!” said Megatron. “Decepticons, show no mercy!”
And with that, the Decepticons opened fire on the Autobot Ark.
Inside the Ark, Red Alert and Inferno stood in front of the Autobot master computer, Teletraan I.
“If they think they’re gonna get their grubby hands on the Energon-X, they’ve got another thing coming!” laughed Inferno.
“Indeed.” added Red Alert, turning his attention to a freshly installed control panel on Teletraan I.
To the Decepticons astonishment, a battery of automated laser cannons emerged from beneath the rocky surface above the Ark, and began blasting away.
From a nearby hilltop, a team of Autobots – Optimus Prime, Tracks, Sideswipe, Sunsteaker, Mirage, Hoist, Smokescreen, and Cliffjumper – had been watching and waiting.
“They’ve been thrown off-balance by the element of surprise. The time is now.” said Optimus Prime. “Autobots, transform and roll out!”
The Autobots changed their robotic forms into sleek cars and trucks and barreled down the hill and straight on towards the Decepticons.
“It was a trap!” exclaimed Megatron.
“You have a talent for stating the obvious, o great leader.” snarked Starscream.
“Blitzwing,” ordered Megatron, “take the point.”
Blitzwing swooped to the ground and transformed to tank mode, firing his powerful shells at the approaching Autobots. The Autobots dodged the fire and returned it, creating a diversion so that Tracks could transform from land vehicle mode to air vehicle mode. Tracks flew over Blitzwing and dropped a bomb in the precise spot, damaging Blitzwing’s treads and causing him to flip over.
“Tanks for the memories.” quipped Tracks.
“Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, operation termination.” Soundwave commanded his two bird-of-prey subordinates.
But Tracks blinded Buzzsaw with his black beam while Laserbeak was shot from behind in a sneak attack from Sideswipe, whose rocket pack gave him flying ability in robot mode.
The other Decepticons responded with a ferocious barrage of gunfire. Smokescreen sped ahead of the other Autobots and activated the special smoke that was his unique power, enveloping the Decepticons in a grey cloud through which they couldn’t see as the Autobots returned fire.
“Soundwave,” coughed Megatron, “Plan B.”
“As you command.” replied Soundwave. “Ratbat, eject, operation annihilation.” And from Soundwave’s chest there emerged a horrific creature whose built-in radar allowed him to navigate through the cloud of smoke, zero in on Smokescreen and open fire, hitting Smokescreen and sending the Autobot into a tailspin.
Ratbat next turned his attention to Sideswipe, dodging the Autobot’s gunfire with astonishing aerial acrobatics, then returning the fire with interest, hitting Sideswipe in all his weakest spots.
Sunstreaker sped up, launched himself into the air and transformed to robot mode, pouncing on Ratbat. They wrestled in mid-air until Ratbat put the bite on Sunstreaker, his fangs draining the Autobot of precious Energon.
By now, the cloud of smoke had dissipated. “Decepticons,” commanded Megatron, “give the Autobots a show of force!”
Megatron transformed into gun mode, landing in Starscream’s hand. Starscream pulled the trigger, and the powerful beam struck Mirage just as he was beginning to activate his invisibility power, causing his engine to explode. Meanwhile, Hoist and Rumble fought hand-to-hand, as did Cliffjumper and Frenzy, while Blitzwing recovered from his damage and transformed into fighter jet mode, firing missiles at the Autobots.
Optimus Prime transformed to his imposing robot mode. “Cover me!” he ordered Tracks, who dutifully engaged the Decepticons in a firefight.
Optimus had a clear shot at Megatron and Starscream and didn’t waste it. He blasted Megatron’s gun form out of Starscream’s hand, then hit Starscream square in the chest. As Megatron began Transforming back into robot mode, Optimus continued firing until Megatron was down.
Optimus then turned around and shot down Ratbat, who was attempting a sneak attack.
Soundwave turned his deadly sonics on Optimus, but Soundwave hadn’t counted on Inferno and Red Alert, who had emerged from the Ark. Their double-barreled assault soon had Soundwave unconscious, and Inferno’s shoulder-mounted weapon took down Blitzwing.
Cliffjumper froze Frenzy in glass-gas, while Hoist delivered the knockout punch to Rumble. Tracks took care of Ravage, the last Decepticon standing.
“Sweet victory.” gloated Cliffjumper.
It was time for a reality check from Optimus. “We’ve won this battle, but not yet the war. Let’s hope our other operations are proceeding according to plan.”
TO BE CONTINUED
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