The Monster of Kaon (Transformers Si): Chapter 52

The Pilgrims' Tunnels.

That was the name given to a set of tunnels connecting the surface of Cybertron to the Underworld in the Age of Origins. The age after the catastrophe that wiped out the Predacons and most of the other primitive mecha-fauna on the planet.

It is believed that the thirteen primes used these tunnels to guide the primitive Cybertronians to the safety of the Underworld, and later on, used them to commune with Primus himself to make the planet habitable again after the meteor impacts.

In the eons that have passed since then, many bots have tried to ascertain the truth behind these legends, but were always hindered by one reason or another. The same went for me as I too tried to uncover the truth, only to suffer setback after setback.

However, things changed when I first befriended the Insecticons of the Underworld.

Turns out, the reason why most people cannot pass through this particular set of tunnels is because of Primus himself.

Somehow, someway, these tunnels connect his inner self, his spark chamber, with the planet proper, and as a result, he has some kind of built-in internal defenses that make it nearly impossible for anyone to try and traverse them unless they are a Prime.

Either that, or they must belong to a hive of Insecticons or must have befriended said hive.

I watched as Kickback directed his hive to quickly dig through the collapsed tunnels, making visible progress as the rubble was swiftly removed from the ancient tunnels, reminding me of the times when I first ventured to the core of Cybertron all those eons ago to confirm my suspicions.

“We should be a mere few minutes away from the core, right?”

“Yes, Lord Maximus. Once we clear this tunnel, it should be a straight shot to the core.”

“Hm. That’s good. Once we are done reviving the planet, I think it would be the perfect time to fulfill that promise I made to Hardshell all those years ago.”

“You mean-?”

I nodded my head in confirmation at his unspoken question.

The joy was clear to see on his face, just like I could see from the way the Insecticons buzzed about happily, their hivemind allowing them to realize what Kickback and I were talking about.

It truly was unfair how these people were always treated as lesser beings simply because their body plan differed from that of the standard bipedal forms on Cybertron. I think the only time the Insecticons were ever viewed without suspicion and disgust was when they met the previous leaders of Eukaris, the students of Onyx Prime’s teachings, when they first set off with Chela to colonize their new home.

But now that the first three and the greatest Titans to ever exist have given me a new title and position. A position that supposedly surpasses everyone else, save for the Matrix bearer, I should be able to implement a law that would allow the Insecticons to live their lives as they want, free of a system-wide oppression against their very nature.

As the last of the rubble was removed from the tunnel, I felt the Allspark within my chest pulse with power, indicating that we were very near.

“Alright. That should do. Kickback, you and your hive need to go. Get to the safe distance that I transmitted to you previously. We do not know what kind of reaction would occur when I reintegrate the Allspark into the core of our very planet, and I would rather not have any of you harmed in any way.”

“Then, what about you? My Lord?”

I simply grinned and reached behind my back to pick up the Forge of Solus Prime.

“As long as I have this thing, nothing can kill me.”

“…Very well. We will be waiting for you on the surface.”

I nodded as Kickback and his hive transformed into their alt-modes, swiftly flying out of the tunnels.

Here goes nothing.

With the Forge in my hand and a canister of Cybermatter hidden within my body, ready to repair any damage done to me should things go south, I took a deep breath and walked into the tunnel, ready for anything.

But I was not ready to see the sight in front of me.

What was once a vibrant location, housing the pulsing and alive core of our life giver, filled with the ever-present hum of Energon flowing through the planet, was now a sight that I no longer recognized.

The Core was completely dormant, which was something that I had expected. But what I did not expect was the dark taint that sent chills down my body just by being in its presence.

It tainted the core and its surroundings with its dark presence, inhibiting it from functioning, while also trying to infiltrate the outer shell of the core, which it fortunately failed to do.

“Damn it! Megatronus, what the hell did you do?”

I muttered to myself as I watched the severe and extensive damage, mostly originating from the dark substance tainting the place, with the rest coming from the clear signs of powerful weaponry.

Something about this taint is rubbing me the wrong way. The last time I felt like this was during the Quintesson war when we were ambushed by an armada of Quintesson drones near Crystal City.

Without wasting any time, I swiftly opened up my chest, releasing the power of the Allspark.

Then, the ancient lifegiving device made contact with the core and released a burst of light, knowing me out.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting in a room that looked like an exact replica of a human apartment.

And sitting in front of me was a being of pure energy that my eyes simply could not define.

“Hm, took you long enough. Armorbite. I have been waiting a long time to meet you.”

“….Fuck.”