#2 - "Balancing Act"

Credits

Writer - Forest Lee / Artist - Dan Khanna

Story

Some time after the events of last issue, a massive black hole near Cybertron disgorges Nemesis Prime, Ramjet, and four attendant Mini-Cons. The two are former heralds of Unicron who have been freed by his destruction. Ramjet notes that Unicron is not entirely dead; if Nemesis Prime uses the Dead Matrix within him to destroy Primus, then Unicron can still rule a multiverse of chaos. The two then descend to Cybertron...

Cybertron itself is dark, abandoned by the Transformers who've fled the impending threat of the black hole. But in Iacon, two Decepticons named Jackhammer and Crush Groove have broken into Maccadam's Old Oil House and are enjoying its drinks. Their revelry are interrupted by Nemesis Prime and Ramjet, who claim the two as "warrior-slaves". The recruits resist and are promptly destroyed; the heralds resign themselves to finding Alpha Trion themselves.

In his chambers, Alpha Trion is conferring with Vector Prime and Vector Sigma. After telling them that Primus is using all of his power to prevent the planet from falling into the "Unicron singularity," he asks about the search for the Planet Keys. Vector Prime replies that they've found one of the planets, but the Autobots are being challenged by "traitors," even as he struggles to comprehend the notion of Decepticons. Alpha Trion mentions that he's managed to exploit the black hole's space-time distortions to recruit help, then introduces Sentinel Maximus. As Maximus is introduced to Vector Prime, Alpha Trion announces that Ramjet has escaped--

--just as Sentinel Maximus is blasted from behind by Unicron's heralds! As Vector Prime produces a sword and attacks Ramjet, Alpha Trion is grabbed by Nemesis Prime and thrown against a wall. Nemesis Prime is puzzled by Sentinel Prime, who "reads" like a Matrix bearer but without a Matrix, while Maximus uses his powers to create a gun pointed at Nemesis.

Ramjet insists to Vector Prime that balance must be restored, then suddenly turns and obliterates Alpha Trion and Vector Sigma with one blast! Mission accomplished, the heralds retreat, evne as Nemesis Prime promises a rematch. With Sentinel Maximus staggering and Alpha Trion and Vector Sigma dead, Vector Prime drops to his knees and declares, "This is truly a dire event"...

Notes and Comments

• The situation with the black hole threatening Cybertron and the quest for the planet keys are part of the backstory for Transformers: Cybertron.
• Nemesis Prime and Ramjet are from the Transformers: Universe toy line.
• Sentinel Maximus is an exclusive toy from the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention 2004; the character is a resurrection of Apelinq and Primal Prime, the convention-exclusive toys from BotCon 2000.
• Considering that Vector Prime has spent an eternity watching (and influencing) Transformers events in the timestream (see last issue), his unfamiliarity with the idea of Decepticons seems rather contrived.