#the matrix arc

[rubyversetransformers]

The Matrix Arc, Chapter Four

Megatron had excused himself from the feast, leaving his officers to continue the festivities as he descended into the fortress. With Ramulus gone, he had quickly moved to ensure that all those living in the slums of Tarn had been moved to the empty living quarters in the main city. Tarn’s own capitol building had been repurposed as the home base for the Ascenticon party. After travelling the halls, Megatron turned into the room he had chosen to use for himself and dismounted his arm drill, leaning it against the wall. He turned to the wash station and looked at himself in the mirror. He saw his hands clenched into tight fists. He saw his face and arms stained with the energon. He saw the rage in his eyes as he had hurt Orion and killed… He saw Zeta’s dying face in the mirror behind him and turned around, frightened, to see…

Rubble.

“You okay?”

A few million solar cycles ago, after his shift in the mine, Megatron had found an abandoned sparkling trapped under a collapsed section. He had rescued it, of course, but due to his assigned caste, he couldn’t officially have children. So, Rubble, as she had been christened, became Megatron’s secret child. He had been good with taking care of her for millions of cycles, but then, just over a week ago, Ramulus had caught him trying to sneak extra rations for Rubble, for what they at least celebrated as her forgeday. Terminus had taken the blame, saying he had asked Megatron to steal extra rations for him. And that led to- Well, Megatron didn’t want to think about it. In the past 10 days, Megatron had shed more blood than he had in his whole life.

“You okay?” Rubble repeated her words, snapping Megatron out of his trance.

He kneeled down to be more level with the bed she stood on, and set down the tray of food he had taken for her. “Yes, dear. I’m fine. Just preparing for my interview tomorrow.”

“Oshkay!” Rubble responded, despite already shoving the food into her mouth.

The door to the room slid open, and Megatron instinctively moved to hide Rubble.

Shockwave stood at the door, bearing repairs and upgrades he and Starscream had been working on since he returned from the Sea of Rust. “Ah- Sorry to interrupt, Lord Megatron. I did not realize you were preoccupied.”

“No, it is alright. I am just used to having to hide… Her… “

Megatron moved aside, revealing a wide-eyed Rubble, still with handfuls of food ready to be shoved into her mouth. Shockwave remained motionless.

“This is Rubble, my daughter.”

“Shello!”

“Greetings, sparkling.” Shockwave did a small bow, a gesture of respect from his days as a senator. “I am called Shockwave.”

“I am shcalled… Shrubble!” Rubble threw her arms in the air, excitedly.

Shockwave returned to his full standing position, and turned to face Megatron. “Are you prepared for your session?”

“Ah, yes…” Megatron stood up and patted Rubble on the head. “I have to go for a while, okay? If you need anything, you know to call Soundwave or Grimlock.”

“Yup!”

Megatron picked up his drill, and gave one last warm look to Rubble before leaving with Shockwave to head to his lab.

[rubyversetransformers]

The Matrix Arc, Chapter Five

“Sir, with all due respect, have you blown a fuse?” Dion tried his best to remain calm after what he had just heard. “You know there are innocent citizens in Tarn, right? You can’t just-”

“I’m the Delta Magnus, and I’m currently the highest authority on Cybertron. I can do whatever I want, and I will do whatever I can to save the bots D-16 has trapped in that city.”

“You can’t prove that!”

“I don’t need to prove it. I know it in my spark. That monster is assuredly torturing countless people as we speak. You saw firsthand what he did to Zeta Prime.”

“There’s no proof that he did that either. I arrived while Zeta was already dying and there were no traces of Megatron.”

“Oh please, we all know who killed Zeta Prime.”

“I won’t- I can’t support you in this, sir.”

“If you don’t show up on time to drills tomorrow, I will have you arrested for desertion.”

“I’d rather die standing for what I believe to be right than live kneeling to injustice.”

Power gave Dion a look of disgust.

“Dismissed, soldier.”

Dion saluted and walked out of the room. The second he had enough space, he transformed into his armored truck form and began speeding to the medical facility where Orion was.

When he got there, Orion was sitting on the bed, trying to read. Dion pushed through the door, opening his chest door and pulling out the matrix. Orion noticed this and looked up, surprised, before putting down his tablet.

“Dion…?”

“Orion, I’m sorry to thrust this on to you but the Delta Magnus is likely going to arrest me, and I can’t take this to prison. You have to take care of the matrix.” Dion held out the ancient artifact to Orion, who looked even more confused.

“What??”

“He’s going to attack Tarn and arrest me if I don’t help him. Please, take it.”

“I- Uh, okay…?” Orion nervously took the matrix.

“Remember, Orion. It will light our darkest hour.” And with that, Dion turned around and walked out just as quickly as he had walked in, leaving Orion sitting on his medical bed, holding the object that historically indicated the highest position of power on Cybertron.

[rubyversetransformers]

The Matrix Arc, Chapter Seven

In a security room at Garrus-9 Prison in Iacon sat two seekers. These two had been forged with guns on their arms, and as such, were contracted into guard work. They had been part of Zeta prime’s personal guard for most of their lives but had been transferred to become prison guards a few million stellar cycles ago. Neither of them would admit it, but they both had dreams far beyond guard duty. Thundercracker wanted to write stories that bots all across the solar system would love. Skywarp wanted to start an academy where Outliers like she and Thundercracker could live in a judgment free environment, and train their powers. But for now, they sat eating energon goodies and looking out the glass over the lunch room where most of the prisoners were dining.

“You know he kinda has a point.”

“What.”

“Megatron. Okay listen I know that sounds bad-”

“Yknow if we hadn’t been transferred here we would probably have been executed for failing to protect Zeta”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah…”

“But actually I think you’re right to be honest.”

“THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYIN-”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

They both took a bite of food.

“You ever think about how fragged up it is that some of these guys are in here for literally just sayin scrap?”

“Yeah.”

“You ever think about like. Rebelling?”

“Man- Are you crazy?”

“No cause listen-”

“Yeah?”

“Megatron starts a rebellion, and you been hearing these stories about all the bots who’s lives have improved in Tarn, yeah?”

“Y- Yeah, actually, now that I think about it!”

Neither of them had heard any stories.

“So like, we both hate working here.”

“Hey hey hey I never said I hate working here.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah.”

“Right, so, like, all these bots gotta also hate being in here right? Honestly, it looks terrible.”

“I’m following.”

“So what if we just. Broke everyone out? Who’s gonna stop us? The other guards?? Ramjet and Dirge probably hate it here as much as we do!”

“You know Thundercracker, you’re makin some good points. But how in the name of the allspark would you intend to do that.”

“Well, okay, here’s my thought. You know those guys from the capital riot? The miners from Tarn, right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“See, we were told explicitly to keep em separated from each other!”

“Okay, and?”

“So I think that something that the big guys above us don’t want to happen happens when they’re all together.”

“Hot damn, dude. I think you’re on to something!”

“So like, we could get them, and probably that big lady Blackout, and, ya know, just Bing Bang Boom- We’re out. We hightail it for Tarn and then we’re home free, ya know?”

“Right, right.”

“But that’s just my thoughts.”

“No I think it’s a good idea.”

They both took a bite of food.

[rubyversetransformers]

The Matrix Arc, Chapter Six

Punch was calm, despite the panic. Today was the day. He was finally going to get his big break. Sure his show was popular among citizens, but for the big boss reporters from places like Iacon and Vos, he was just some stupid celebrity. However, if he could expose Megatron’s crimes then he might finally get some respect from his peers. Sure, Rodion was never as strict as other Cybertronian sectors when it came to alt mode castes, but that also meant it was never really respected much. Polyhex was treated like slums, but Rodion was treated like a joke.

Punch glanced up at the display clock, then back down at his notes, then up at his cameraman Dogfight, then to the empty doorway, then to the waiting audience members, then back to his notes.

Punch looked at the camera as Dogfight gave him the thumbs up to indicate they were rolling and Punch immediately composed himself, sitting up right.

“Heeellllloooooo Cybertron, and welcome back to the show! As you all know, we’ll soon be starting our exclusive interview with the leader of the Ascenticon Party, Megatron! If you have anything you’re dying to know, make sure to send in your questions on our site, and I’ll try to get ‘em in!”

A few minutes of filler chatter later, and suddenly, booming steps began echoing down the corridor, leading to a figure in grey armor emerging from the darkness. Some of the audience were awestruck, seeing Megatron in person, and some began clapping, perhaps out of habit, perhaps out of admiration. Punch waited for the applause to die down as Megatron made his way over to the guest chair.

“Everyone please welcome our very special guest today, Megatron of Tarn!”

This time, the whole audience began clapping, except for one in the top most row, who looked absolutely horrified by the massive cannon that was strapped to Megatron’s arm. Megatron caught a glimpse of the dull red metal and the shining blue glass and choked for a second as he thanked the audience for the warm welcome.

As the audience quieted down, Punch officially began the interview.

“So, Megatron, some bots have been wondering what exactly the purpose of the Ascenticon Party is, would you mind laying it out for us?”

“Not at all, not at all. Essentially, we believe that a Cybertronian shouldn’t be limited in life just because of the alt mode they were forged with, and that those that choose to become miners or janitors or guards, etcetera, should be properly compensated for their work, and be given better overall working conditions, instead of being forced to work for measly rations in the dark.”

“Well, I suppose I should ask, didn’t Zeta Prime institute new policies during his early cycles as Prime that abolished the caste system based on alt modes?”

“While that is true, he never worked to enforce it planet wide, only in his home sector of Iacon. In Tarn, our local senator continued to enforce the caste system behind his back. Not to mention, the bills did nothing for those already forced into lower jobs. Zeta Prime laid the groundwork, sure, but he never followed through with it.”

“So would you say that perhaps led to unrest within those working such jobs? Something like, say, murderous intent?”

The audience, who had been previously quietly mumbling among themselves, suddenly burst out in a roar, realizing the implications. Orion couldn’t say anything.

“Are you trying to imply something, Punch?”

“Well, Zeta was killed with a drill type weapon. Many witnesses place miners from Tarn at the sc-”

“Are you saying that just because I disliked him, I killed him? I wasn’t even at Iacon that day, I’ll have you know, I was in Polyhex watching pit matches as I often do in my free time.”

The crowd’s roars grew louder. Orion would later come to regret this moment, as maybe, if he had said something, things could have been different. But he didn’t- he couldn’t.

Punch tried fruitlessly to retort. “I- Well-”

“Are you saying that all miners are the same to you? I suppose you suspect me in the disappearance of the Senators too, hm? You think I’m just some criminal, do you?”

“Well, no-”

Megatron turned to face the camera, pointing directly at it with his finger. “If you wish to live a life free from judgement, free from slavery, a life of unity, where we forge our own destinies, come to Tarn. You will find haven there. I will make sure there are bots stationed around to help anyone who wants to join us do so. The Ascenticons are here for you! Til all are one!”

Clearly, Dogfight took that as a cue to end recording, as he quickly shut off the camera as Megatron moved towards the crowd’s open arms. Orion had disappeared.

A few hours after Punch had been shunned out of the studio surrounded by security, Megatron had told the audience to return to their lives, as he had to as well. He started back down the dark hall, unknowingly about to run into a nervous Orion Pax.

Orion tried to get some words out, but he couldn’t even muster Megatron’s name.

Megatron resisted the urge to glance down. He too, wanted badly to say something, but it is perhaps when we need it most that the ability to form words evades us.

[rubyversetransformers]

The Matrix Arc, Chapter Three

It had been a week since the attack on the capital. Orion hadn’t given any details, only that he was attacked and knocked unconscious before Zeta had been killed. The captured ascenticons refused to talk, and apparently Zeta’s final command before death was for Ultra Magnus to hold the matrix so that ‘it may light our darkest hour’. Shockblast and the Dynobots were missing, and when the Wreckers were sent out there, all they found was the blown apart bodies of many of the Senators in a collapsed building. Given the current state of the senate, and the world, surviving senators had been ordered back to their respective cities to manage things, and cities without a senator were following protocol. This of course meant that currently, Iacon was under military rule. Currently, Orion sat in a medical room with Dion. They were watching the news, as the Delta Magnus, Power, was giving a speech regarding all the aforementioned events.

“You know…” Orion knew exactly what Dion was going to say, as much as he didn’t want to hear it. “I know you want to protect him, but this would be easier if you would just tell us what happened.”

“If it were Shockblast, you wouldn’t talk either.”

“Don’t bring him into this, Orion.”

“...” Orion took a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m just… Still on edge.”

“Yeah, we all are.”

First Aid walked in immediately after Dion finished speaking, almost as if he had been listening to not interrupt. “Ah- Ultra Magnus, sir.” He saluted Dion, but Dion simply gave a wave.

“I’m off duty, First Aid. No need for formalities.”

“Right…”

“So…?” Orion looked over, trying to peek at the medic’s notes.

“Well as it stands, it looks like you won’t be in here much longer… You might even be able to walk around later today!”

“That’s great…”

Orion collapsed back onto the bed.

“Thank you, First Aid.” Dion nodded towards the novice medic.

“Of course-” First Aid instinctively went to salute him again, but stopped himself. He walked awkwardly out of the room and the brothers turned their attention back to the news broadcast.

“The mastermind behind these riots- calling himself ‘Megatronus’ after the legend of the fallen prime- has officially taken control of the city of Tarn, and has begun construction of walls around the borders. I urge any citizens who wish to remain safe to evacuate while you still can, lest y-”

Orion had sat up and muted the broadcast before lying back down and turning his head towards the wall. Dion leaned over and placed his hand on Orion’s shoulder.

“I will always be here for you, Orion. No matter what.”

Dion waited a few moments before removing his hand and leaving the room. He could tell when his brother wanted to be alone.

After a few minutes, Orion turned to lay on his back again, dimming the lights in the room to prepare for a short nap. He saw on the muted screen a breaking broadcast from the celebrity reporter Punch, and a headline that mentioned Megatron. He quickly unmuted the broadcast in time to hear what Punch had to say.

“Breaking news, folks! The ex-minerbot known as Megatron has agreed to do an interview on the show!”

Some voice from off camera chimed in “I thought his identifier was D-16?”

“Hey, Dogfight, we’re not monsters, kay? He asked us to call him Megatron so that’s what we’re doing!” He turned back to face the camera “And any of you with any decency out there better do that too!”

Punch settled back into his chair and continued his announcement.

“Now, about that interview. Tune in tomorrow at 3 jumps past sundown to make it in time, we’ll be starting the interview at 3.5! So write it down, kay? Until next time, this has been Celebrity Reporter Punch, bringing you Cybertron’s best news!”

The program switched to some advertisement about some new energon product that Orion could not- no, would not care less about. His head began to mull over what he had just heard. Megatron was going to be in Rodion tomorrow… Rodion was only 8 jumps away in alt mode… But could Orion even transform again yet? Maybe he could hitch a ride on one of the transports for those without portable alt modes…? It would take longer, but it might be his only chance to talk to Megatron again. And if that’s the case, Orion thought, then he had to do it.