TRANSFORMERS: Planet Eater

                              In a time before the great Cybertronian war, before the
Ark crashed into the planet Earth and began it’s million year slumber, a race
of Transformers the size of planets roamed the galaxy, they’re creators
unknown. Over the course of time, they began to disappear, one by one, until
there were only a handful of the gargantuan beings. When two out of the four
left to explore other nearby galaxies, one of them stayed behind, continuing a 
journey  of his own, as well as a personal mission to contact his younger
comrade, one who was choosing a path of his own.

                             Omnicron made his way through the vast emptiness of space, 
not really knowing where he was going. It didn’t really matter anyway, as he
could venture anywhere he wanted in due time. Star system after star system he
would visit, but finding nothing of interest. As he approached another star
system, he began to feel a large drain on his power reserves. It was time to
refuel. He scanned all the planets in the system, ten in all, and finally chose
the fourth planet as his target, as it was uninhabited, and contained the highest 
concentration of metals that he had seen for some time.
                            A large round area opened it’s triangular hatches, and released
a tractor beam that snared the planet, giving him time to move in and begin his
operation. Omnicron’s two large pincers extended, piercing the surface of the
planet and digging in, ripping it up as they sunk deeper into the mantle. Seconds
ticked by, and the planet began to disintegrate from the sheer power of Omnicron,
his tractor beam pulling everything up, and his horns disrupting everything else.
                           The planet now half in his orifice, he began to consume the
metals and such, digesting it at a moderate speed. The planet was no more after
another few seconds, completely consumed by the hungry planet-eater, who now
was powered up to full once again, his energy plentiful for the time being. He
resumed his course through the vastness of space, and continued on.

                           He could hear their screams as his powerful tractor beam began
ripping apart the planet’s surface, his pincers sinking deeper into the planet as
the seconds ticked by. The planet’s crust began to crumble and rip apart, the
inhabitants along with it. As some people huddled into small areas for safety,
others produced firearms and fired them into the sky to no avail. Their valiant
fight was hopeless, as nothing could really stop the gargantuan Unicron. He was
relentless, and wouldn’t stop until their small, insignificant world was melted
down into fuel for his feast.
                          The sphere’s interior began to crumble as well, the rock and
metals from deep within being ripped away from each other. A rumbling
explosion erupted, tearing the rest of the planet apart The debris floated away, the 
last remnants of a once proud people, their world now nothing but a distant
memory. Unicron’s tractor beam now off and his teeth closing, he was ready
to get underway. Now fully powered, he was able to go anywhere. He was
about to set a course when he began to receive a comm signal. It was Omnicron.
“Yes Elder?” asked Unicron. “Unicron,” yelled Omnicron. “What have you
done!” he queried. “Something that you will never do.” he replied. “Break
the ancient rules!!” exclaimed Unicron.
                       Omnicron was now seething with anger, and Unicron knew it.
“You never used to be this insubordinate...” said Omnicron as his voice trailed
off for a moment. “Breaking the rules is one thing,” he continued. “But killing
an entire civilization just to satisfy your craving for fuel is equal to genocide!” he
exclaimed, anger still in his voice. Unicron responded almost immediately. “We
are the most powerful beings in the universe! We can do what we please!”
                       Unicron had been dissatisfied with the Elders and their rules for
some time, and rebelled on numerous occasions. He had his own ideas how the
universe should be run. He had proposed alternatives before, only to be turned
down. He also went as far as to fight others of his kind for the purpose of proving
a point he felt he had to make. But none of what he had done in the past equaled
the destruction of an inhabited planet, all those lives now gone.
                       There was silence for a short time over the comm. Neither of the
two juggernauts spoke, as both were making plans. But little did Unicron know
that Omnicron was already on his way to Unicron’s location, and there would
be hell to pay upon his arrival. Finally, someone spoke. “So be it.” said Omnicron
softly, his stern voice trailing off as the comm link was ended. Unicron basked
in his self-proclaimed ‘victory’ for a short time, not knowing that he would be the
one to suffer a defeat. 

                        There would be a lesson to be taught, and Omnicron knew that
when he delivered it, it would be most unpleasant. ‘But it has to be done’ he 
thought. His target fast approaching, he put his thoughts aside, and prepared for
the task at hand. Omnicron opened a comm channel. “Unicron.” he said sternly.
“Your rebellious ways must end......now.” explained Omnicron. Nothing happened
at first, but then the younger of the two turned slowly so that his pincers were
facing those of Omnicron’s. After another few cycles of silence, Unicron 
responded.
                       “I have nothing to say to you.” he started. “Be gone, Elder....” his
tone that of insult, the comm link was cut purposely. “Very well.” Omnicron
said. “This shall be done the hard way.” Lights began to come to life all over
Omnicron as he started to power up and begin his transformation. With metal
scraping against metal briefly, the gargantuan planet eater opened up, his arms
appearing from the side of his spherical form. Next came his legs, which slid
downwards and out, taking form as his chest plates continued to transform 
themselves as well.
                        Within a few more cycles, the metamorphosis was nearly complete.
The head was the last thing to lock into place, the optics glowing a bright blue.
His true form now revealed, the massive Omnicron stood hanging there in space,
waiting for his opponent. For Unicron, what began as surprise had now turned
into opportunity. If he could defeat the Elder, he would lead their race, and
become the most feared planet eater of them all. He began his transformation,
and stood to face his new adversary when it was complete. The two combatants
stared each other down for a short time, before it began. Unicron launched
himself at the larger Omnicron, throwing a substantial punch.
                      Omnicron swung his large right fist at the last possible second,
connecting with Unicron’s head, and sending the foolish robot backwards in a 
series of barrel rolls. Unicron’s optics glowed brighter as he came back to his
adversary threw a punch of his own, connecting with Omnicron’s torso. It was
a valiant shot, but to no avail. Omnicron was barely scratched by the attack, and
turned back to face his opponent. His optics began to glow as well, but for a 
different reason altogether.
                      Before he could react, twin laser beams from Omnicron’s optics
cut into Unicron’s chest plates, slicing them open with ease as he fell backwards
and reeled from his damage, energon leaking from the wound. “This cannot be!”
He exclaimed, displaying total shock at getting damaged by Omnicron with such
speed and accuracy. Just as he was about to attack, he was again struck by the
twin optical laser blasts, this time taking them in the torso, with considerable
damage being done. Unicron again reeled, his body becoming a smouldering mess
that continued to leak energon.
                       He couldn’t take much more, and Omnicron knew it. Unicron
took one last glance as his attacker, then decided to retreat, the battle lopsided and
hopeless. “I...shall return....” he said weakly as his voice trailed off before his
transformation back to planet mode, the battle lost. After he was long gone, 
Omnicron stood down from his great assault, his lesson to be learned now over. 
The opposition not what he had thought it would be, Omnicron was content to
know that he was feared for once. If Unicron were to oppose again, Omnicron
would release his full wrath upon him.
                       For now, he decided to return to his planet form and roam the next 
few systems, maybe devour a few mineral-rich asteroids for some quick fuel. 
Omnicron found it hard to fathom why one of his own kind could rebel the way
that Unicron has, but decided not to let it bother him. After all, he had taught the
overconfident Unicron a lesson that he would never forget, and that made
Omnicron very content. He slowly got underway, heading past the solar system
he was at and headed for a strange formation not far away. 

                       ‘Defeated at the hands of the Elder.’ thought Unicron. ‘So very
embarrassing’. He had underestimated the elder Omnicron. A mistake that could
have been fatal, had it been an actual full out battle. His injuries slowly repairing,
Unicron pondered the future as he hurtled through space, not entirely sure where
he was going. ‘Perhaps one day,’ he thought, ‘I will return and prove the error of
the Elder’s way.’ He would have his revenge. But not now. Now it was time to
leave for the time being and come up with a plan.
                         He continued on, hoping to come up with a way to get back
at the Elder. This kind of plan would need time, but he knew time was something
he had more than enough of.  Just then, his power levels dropped, as the energon
leaking he suffered was just now repaired. Low on energy, he decided to refuel
quickly. After scanning for a few cycles, he located a planet rich in the metals he
needed to replenish himself with.
                          Unicron approached the lifeless metallic planet, a sphere whose
inhabitants were long since destroyed, and activated his tractor beam. The planet
was pulled in close enough for his pincers to tear into it and hold it as all the
metals and such were ripped away. Within a few short cycles, the planet was no
more, and giant Unicron was refueled. A easy as it was, there was no life on the
planet, no sense of fear from any beings that he could feed off. Nothing at all that
gave him a sense of superiority. ‘There will be other times.’ he thought to himself
as he slowly moved off into space once again.

                           Fascinating. Who would have ever thought that a nebula could be
so interesting! Omnicron drifted through the massive nebula like an errant meteor,
not wanting to use his propulsion and disturb the naturalness of everything. The
battle with Unicron behind him, he was focusing on exploration and such. It was
rewarding in a way, as things he took for granted astounded him so much. These
things seemed all new to him, for he had never taken the time to appreciate them
in this way before.
                           He also found himself hoping that he would never have to deal
with another of his kind in the same way as he dealt with Unicron. It was almost
inconceivable for one of their own to rebel and bring chaos to order. A chaos that
could threaten his entire race, as well of the future of all machines and the future
itself. ‘Such is fate.’ he thought. Fate indeed.

                           And so it continued. Through triumph and turmoil, these
massive beings lived on, their existence now compromised by the evil nature
of the younger being. But still they traveled amongst the vastness of space, 
venturing as far as they could, dissention among one not affecting the other, who
was dedicated to his exploration of the universe and all it contained. If anything.
He was able to achieve a greater sense of certainty about what lay ahead. He knew
that one day, something would happen that might change the course of history.
Someday perhaps, but not today.

                                                                  THE END