The Monster of Kaon (Transformers Si): Chapter 13

As we proceeded deeper into the Titan's body, I could not help but stare at the surroundings while also keeping an eye on my ship's sensors.

Hundreds of ships, some I was familiar with, while others were of unknown make, were stored neatly inside chambers that looked suspiciously similar to display areas while my ship's systems were registering a few dozen energy spikes, indicating that there were a few dozen things onboard this Titan that could easily change the tides of war for any species.

Just where the hell did you send me? Chela, you overgrown space turkey.

Unfortunately, I cannot slow down or change the direction of my ship without displeasing the Titan and maybe turning him hostile, a risk I cannot take, especially since Windblade does not have many of the defensive systems that a typical Cybertronian is either born or made with thanks to her body being an economy model.

Reluctantly, I followed the path that Emissary made within his body for us to its end, arriving at a hangar where an area was being highlighted by the Titan.

However, the moment I landed my ship, I felt that something was wrong.

Somewhere deep within me, I felt a strange code attempt to take control of my main processor. Worse yet, this code is neither Ancient Cybertronian or the Neocybex that I developed. Instead, this code is something that I have only seen once before, back during the Age of Wrath.

Aside from the code, I am also feeling something deep within me resonating with something else within the Titan.

"What is going on here?"

"Interesting. I have never seen a reaction like this, especially from something that belonged to Him of all bots. Come, Child of the Three, we have much to discuss about."

…It is going to take me some time to get used to a foreign voice coming out of Windblade's mouth. And judging by her grimace, it doesn't appear to be a pleasant experience for her either.

Without wasting any time, both of us transformed into our Alt-Modes and flew deeper into the Titan, headed straight toward wherever the Titan was guiding us.

"Why does he keep calling you 'Child of the Three'? Maximus."

"I think it has something to do with the fact that I have some connection with Metrotitan, one of the original three Titans alongside Chela and Metroplex."

"Wait what?? You have a connection to a titan and you didn't bother telling me all this time??"

"In my defense, I found out about it very recently. Specifically, from Lady Chela during our private meeting, I had no time to tell you about it. Besides, what difference does it make?"

"On the contrary, it makes a lot of difference, Child. For a Titan to bless your spark with their code is the same as declaring you their kin to those who know the old ways. And for said titan to have been one of the original three speaks volumes about who you are."

This time, the voice did not come from Windblade but from our surroundings instead as we swiftly arrived at a massive corridor, lined with objects suspended on see-through containers with a massive container at the end of the corridor.

And right behind that container, was a massive brain module that was as large as my original body. As for Windblade, the brain module easily towered over her at twice her height.

"Does this mean you won't be speaking through me again? Because I admit, it is very uncomfortable for me when you take control of my voice box and audio receptors.

I cannot help but look at her with shock.

"That is what you are concerned about right now? Not that you are a few hundred feet from the tomb of one of the Primes? A supposed 'God' for your people?"

"Hey! I have my priorities, and at the top of that list is my personal space."

"Then, what about other's personal space?"

"You-"

"Haha! It has been a long time since I have seen a friendly banter amongst children. But, I know that you children are not here to entertain an ancient relic like me. So, why don't we get on with it?"

I nodded as we approached the brain module, all the while, my sensory systems were working on overdrive, trying to get the readings for all the strange and exotic things that I saw floating within the containers lining the hallway.

Once we approached it, Windblade placed her palm on the massive brain module, instantly causing several conduits to emerge from the brain module and engulf that part of her hand.

Much to my suppressed fear as old memories that I thought lost surfaced again.

With another shake of my head, I placed my own palm on her shoulder, creating a connection between myself and the Titan.

It was strange, to feel the presence of a spark other than my own, and for that feeling to materialize in a visual manner on my processor.

I saw my own spark, a massive, bright green orb pulsing in the void of my imaginary space, connected to a much, much, smaller bright blue orb that pulsed in synch with my own Spark's rhythm.

And then, I saw it.

Connected to the Blue orb in the same way it was connected to me, A gargantuan Orb that was a similar shade of Blue as that of Windblade's except much brighter.

If Windblade's spark can be compared to a golf ball and mine to a Beachball, the Titan's Spark was the size of a Moon.

A scale that would have been impossible to comprehend if we were organic beings.

Thanks to the practice I had with helping Windblade understand her powers during her studies as a Cityspeaker back on Caminus, I knew exactly what I needed to do.

With a mental command, I pulled on the memories that I had of the day that I talked to Chela and her request, only for the Titan to seize this chance to peer deeper into my mind.

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I felt awe as I watched the massive light show light up the night sky, courtesy of Caminus. The titan's very spark was exposed to the atmosphere of the planet as orb after orb of energy flew off from it, shooting off to the protoform bodies that were already prepared for them by the blacksmiths of Caminus.

The Sentio Metallico of the bodies reacting instantly to the newborn sparks that originated from the very existence of Caminus.

"A beautiful sight, isn't it?"

I looked at the smiling Mistress of Flame and simply nodded at her words.

"Indeed. No matter what method, the sacred process of a life being born is something that will always stun me with its beauty."

For a split second, the scene was replaced by a distant memory.

The memory when I watched the weekend Well of Spark, exhausted after thousands of years of oppression from the Quintessons, gave birth to a new generation of sparks.

A memory, of the bastards that worked under Sentinel, took a newborn point-one percenter and fled the scene, trying to avoid my sword in my enraged state. A rage that originated from the desecration of such a sacred moment.

Then, the scene in my mind vanishes as I see the protoforms, now transformed to accommodate their sparks and their personalities perfectly, take their first steps.

One particular femme, caught my attention as the newborn looked at her new surroundings curiously, trying to run everywhere at once to satiate her curiosity, causing no small amount of chaos with her actions.

"Haha! Quite the curious one, isn't she?"

"True. I hope that curiosity will serve her well. What do you want to name her?"

The Mistress looked at the femme that jumped from one place to another, talking animatedly with her fellow newborn and the adults alike, like a blade in the wind, seeking direction, a purpose.

The Mistress spoke with a fond smile.

"I think I will name her, Windblade."

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"GAAH!"

"S-stop it! You are hurting him!"

"Shush, Child. I need to see what is so special about him that that thing is reacting to his very presence in such a way. Already, he is proving to be a very peculiar one. I have never seen someone create such a formidable firewall around their minds using Neocybex of all things."

Through the pain, I felt the bastard dive even deeper into my memories as the firewall slowly started to break under the strain.

Another memory slowly rose to the surface.

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I smiled as a bunch of outlier children ran around our compound, playing simple games with their Alt-Modes.

"Maximus, how long do you plan to slack off like this?"

"Believe me, I would not waste a single second if it were not for Shockwave and Knockout's orders. They say I still need to get used to my new body."

Megatronus looked annoyed at those words, but I knew that it was just an act. I taught him many things during these long centuries, but I never managed to get him to be truthful about what he is feeling.

Case in point, his inability to express the concern he felt for me.

In the few days since we returned from the ambush where I lost my body, Megatronus, Knockout, Breakdown, Shockwave, Soundwave, and even Airachnid had been very concerned for me, no matter how much I tried to assure them that I was fine.

The ones who took this near death too hard were undoubtedly Megatronus, Shockwave, Soundwave, and Airachnid.

Truly, I am blessed to have such dear comrades in this cold world made of metal where I am to spend my eternity.

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"Intriguing. Your spark holds such love, yet, it is overshadowed by such rage, despair, and apathy. In fact, I have only ever known one other bot who holds the same kind of negativity as you. So, why does his artifact not resonate with you instead instead?"

At this point, I have already lost all feeling In my body, the only thing that still anchors my mind to reality is the rapidly pulsing spark of Windblade as it desperately resists the Titan's power while her physical body is still pleading the bastard to let my mind go.

I did not have much time to ponder on it as, once again, old memories rushed to the forefront of my mind.

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"Armorbite, have you come to see me again?"

"Of course, my dear. Someone needs to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't succumb to Mode Attachment."

A deep laugh rang out across the massive clearing as the bot that was nearly half as large as a Titan looked at me with fond exasperation.

"I heard Nova is spearheading a project using the technology of those Quintessons, why are you not helping him realize it?"

I couldn't suppress the sneer that appeared on my faceplate at the mention of that name.

"The Space Bridge technology, while beneficial as a whole, is nothing more than Nova's ego gone overdrive thanks to his new rank as a Prime. He thinks that, just because we can live indefinitely thanks to our mechanical nature, we have the right to rule other species. Already, he has set his optics of a few dozen worlds, life-bearing worlds at that, which he wants to cyberform."

Instantly, the gentle giant became pensive as her expressions twisted with concern for the victims of this act.

"Then, what about the beings that already inhibit those worlds?"

"He does not care about them."

"Why aren't you stopping him then??"

I stared at her with surprise before shaking my head at her kind nature.

"Leviathan. What he does with his newfound political power has nothing to do with us. As long as we keep to ourselves and he doesn't bother us, I see no reason to tangle with him. Especially when he might react adversely to any advice we try to give him."

"Even still…."

"Leviathan. Let it go. Please. It has nothing to do with us."

It was only a few days later that I would receive the news that Leviathan was killed by an unknown party. Her shattered body was left to rot in the Rust Sea.

By the time I reached the Rust Sea, there was nothing left of her.

I had nothing to remember my closest friend in this world. No proof that she ever existed.

While the media and the security forces would claim that the attackers were unknown, I knew exactly who it was that offlined my best friend.

Especially when she informed me of her plans to conduct a public rally to oppose the Space Bridge program.

That day marked the birth of my hatred for the lineage of the Primes.

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"Hmm, while the Prime's actions are indeed abhorrent, it should not be the cause for such a deep-seated hatred within you."

"Enough"

The tiny voice originating from the Femme went unnoticed as another memory surged to the surface.

All the while, I felt something reach out to my spark. Just as I felt Windblade's Spark resonate with something else.

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Nominus Prime, the greatest authority in the Cybertronian Empire, shook like a leaf as his optics looked between the white-hot sword embedded a single centimeter away from his neck and my own enraged optics.

"Y-You think you can get away with threatening a Prime?"

"Yes, I can. Now, what the hell is this 'Nominus Edict' that I keep hearing about in the rumors?"

"What?? How do you even know about that?? It should be confidential information-"

"First of all, cut to the chase. Second of all, I am an Outlier with the ability to control all electronic devices. Third, I hope I don't need to elaborate on just how corrupt your Council is."

The shock on his face showed that he really did not know about his council's corruption.

Just how did an idiot like you end up becoming a Prime? Did Primus go senile after being dormant for so long?

Suddenly, Nominus's faceplate became serious as he started talking.

"Nova Prime's Expansionist policies were a detriment to the Universe."

"Don't state the obvious. I know that fact personally. Now, stop deflecting and tell me the truth."

He looked annoyed at my words.

"I was getting to that. The Nominus Edict is something that I am going to pass, with my authority as a Prime which allows me to circumvent the council, that will make it illegal to colonize any more worlds than those that we already have. This will also include those worlds on which colonization has just begun or those that had Titans with their colonizers in transit."

"….That is actually a good plan and a sensible one at that. But I refuse to believe that you made it out of the goodness of your Spark. So, tell me why the sudden change in policy? You were pretty content to let the status quo go on until now."

"Remember Exarchon?"

"How can I not?"

I shuddered in genuine terror as I remembered that particular debacle.

It was sheer luck that one of our armadas was patrolling near the Space bridge from which that abomination came through. It was also pure luck that the Armada was automated, making it so that there was no Spark save for my own on board that Exarchon could extinguish and take control of.

I shudder to think what would have happened if that corrupted monster that was once one of our greatest explorers had made landfall on Cybertron.

I only escaped that encounter intact thanks to the sheer alienness of my programming and protective code that I rewrote personally utilizing my human memories. Even then, the damage to my firewalls thanks to his brute force method of breaking down my defenses made me immobile for more than a few months.

"I recently managed to track his path, from where he came."

"And?"

"He originated from outside the Galaxy."

"What of it?"

"You don't understand. Our actions have enraged something outside of our comprehension, and I will not allow something like that to happen again."

I felt pure disdain for his words.

While I recognize the wisdom in his words, I have no doubt as to the real reason for his actions.

I retrieved my Sword, merged it back into my body, and started to walk out.

"I have never seen a bigger coward than you, Nominus. However, your actions, despite coming from a dubious motive, are beneficial for Cybertron."

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"Wow. How did a coward like him become a Prime in the first place? Regardless. This is not the memory I am looking for."

"Enough"

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"No"

"Armorbite, I am sorry. But, There is no doubt about it. It is her."

"No. She was a pacifist, sure. But, she would never go Immersant. You remember how she fought in the war right? There is no way someone like her would go Immersant."

"Stop it. Armorbite-"

"No! you stop it!!"

My desperate cry filled with rage and despair rang out across the hollow caverns.

But, my defiance only lasted for a few seconds before I broke down. My body fell to the ground in despair as I stared listlessly at the figure half merged into the walls.

Her beautiful blue optics that always assured me in the most troubled of times, were now dull and lifeless. Her form that once slew thousands of Quintessons alongside me was filled with wires and Cybermatter which connected her directly to Cybertron itself.

I will never see her spend days observing something that caught her interest. I will never hear her laugh at my silly jokes. I will never see her smile that always pulled me up from the darkest places where my mind would go.

I would never have my love back.

I felt Ratchet's hand on my shoulder, trying to reassure me. But, he was only reminding me even more of what I just lost.

"…How did this happen?"

"I don't know. But, I have heard certain rumors. Now, I don't know the truth of the rumors-"

"Tell me."

"…I heard that Codexa went to the Council a few days ago, to make them stop taking newborn sparks for their experiments. That was the last anyone heard from her before it was suddenly announced that she went Immersant. Rumors say, that Sentinel may have forcefully implemented the Immersion on her for defying him."

Sentinel? Sentinel Prime?

Once again, a Prime has taken something that I held dear. Once again, the people are being oppressed by the tyranny of a Prime. Once again, innocent lives are being lost.

I felt a spike in Rage and Hatred within my Emotional matrix, the likes of which I have never felt before.

However, I suppressed these feelings instantly as the images of those I held dear flashed in my mind.

Leviathan would have been disappointed in me if I went on a rampage. Codexa would have scolded me for causing needless destruction in my pursuit of revenge.

But, most importantly, they would have been heartbroken to see me wallow in self-pity.

So, I will do no such thing.

Ratchet was startled as I got up from the ground and started walking out of the caverns deep underneath Iacon where those who underwent Immersion, the process of merging their sparks with Cybertron, were kept.

"Armorbite? Where are you going??"

"It is time for Cybertron to be freed from the lineage of Primes, Ratchet."

"Don't be a fool! You can't fight the council on your own!"

"I know. That is why, I will not do it alone. I will do it with those who share the same kind of vision as Codexa did, the same kind that Leviathan did. It is time for Cybertron to be free. For a world that any bot can claim to be their home with pride to be born."

For a world that my closest friend and my beloved hoped for to be born.

The tyranny of the Primes can no longer be tolerated, and as long as my Spark still exists, I will not stop fighting against them.

This is my vow to you, Leviathan, and my beloved Codexa.

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"…I see. So that is the source of your darkness. However, I am truly impressed, Child, no, Maximus. There is no doubt that your darkness matches That Monster, and yet, you have gained control over this darkness through your love and wisdom. Indeed, you are truly worthy of having his blessing-"

"Enough!! You will not hurt him anymore!!"

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For a split second, Windblade's Spark expanded to sizes that dwarfed even my own Spark while shining with the intensity of a thousand stars.

Instantly, I felt the hold that the bastard had on my own spark disappear, indicating that our sparks were no longer connected.

Then, I knew no more as darkness claimed my consciousness.

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Nova Prime:



Nominus Prime:



Leviathan:



Codexa: