Book III "Into the Darkness" Chapter XI "The Coming of the Xformers, Part I" At the Decepticon base in Northern Canada, Nightbird walked with purposeful strides down the corridor towards Megatron's Lab. Megatron went into the lab three weeks ago, and had not come out since. All attempts to get him to open the door had failed. She decided she had a fool proof way to get in. She approached the door, and knocked on it. Megatron, please let me in", she said, in her nicest tone. "Go away, I'm busy", called Megatron. "Okay, if that's the way you want it", she said. She pulled out an energeon grenade, set it, and placed it in front of the door, and dove around the corner for cover. The explosion atomized the door completely. Nightbird got up, and walked through the door. "So nice of you to let me in", she said to Megatron. "Was that really necessary", asked Megatron. "Three weeks ago you had an invention explode in your face, you were out cold with that thing hooked up to you for three hours, then when you came out of it, you locked yourself in here, and refused to open the door. Now would you please tell me what is going on", said Nightbird. "Of course my dear. I must apologize, but I am on the verge of having the power to destroy Optimus Prime once and for all. "Pardon me if I don't jump for joy Megatron, but you have made that boast on more than one occasion." "This time is different", said Megatron. "What did happen to you?" "I was working on a machine that would allow me to travel through time. I had planned to travel back in time and finish off Orion Pax before he could become Optimus Prime. However, while doing my research, I had that minor accident. During those three hours I was unconscious, the machine was showing me different periods in time. But all the while I was seeing these different times, something seemed out of place. When I came around, and started my research again, I made some discoveries about time. Time is almost alive, and as such, it has a defense mechanism. It is probably impossible for me to travel back and change the past. Every time I try, time sends me into the past of an alternate reality." "You may", began Uatu, "recognize this as being much the same as the theory that Mister Fantastic came to in Marvel Two In One #100." "I have isolated one of these realities. It contains the power I need to finish off Optimus Prime and the Autobots." "And that's what you have been stuck in hear for three weeks doing", asked Nightbird. "Not entirely. I spent most of my time building them." Megatron pointed to a wall, and pressed a switch on the console. The wall slid back revealing what was behind it. "I give you, the Xformers." "Well, they look like impressive robots, but I don't see how they will tip the balance of power." "They won't, not yet. You see, each of them has been specially designed. I have found beings who live on earth in an alternate reality who possess great powers. I will duplicate those powers in these robots, and in so doing, create the most powerful Transformers in the galaxy", said Megatron. "Why the Xformers", asked Nightbird. "Some of these humans are part of a group known as the X-Men. The name seemed appropriate. As of now, these robots have no life, and can not think for themselves, but I will remedy that." Nightbird looked closely at the robots. There were five of them. Four of them looked strangely human in design, but could obviously transform, and were slightly taller than she, about Megatron's height. The fifth was unlike anything she had ever seen. She was unsure if it could Transform. "What are there names", asked Nightbird curiously. "I am not certain. Some of the names these being have would be quite ridiculous for robots", said Megatron. "What are they", asked Nightbird. "Wolverine, Spiderman, Storm, Cyclops, and The Thing", said Megatron. "What stupid names", said Nightbird. "These robots look powerful, why do you need to have anything to do with these humans anyway." "They have powers that I can not duplicate, but I can infuse them with the powers directly from the humans. Also, they possess much battle experience. They will be excellent warriors", said Megatron. "Once they are complete, we will have the army we need to destroy the Autobots and take over both Earth and Cybertron." "Not that I want to put a damper on your plan Megatron, but what will happen when you take these beings? Don't you think they might have friends who will come looking for them", said Nightbird. "This time, I will not fail. I have thought out every contingency. I will take them from there reality, use them for my purposes, and send them back to the exact moment they left. They will never even know that anything has happened to them." Megatron stared at his creations. This would be his greatest victory. This time, he would conquer the Earth. Meanwhile, out in space, on route to Charr, a large black jet streaked through the cosmos. "Faster you hunk of junk", commanded Soundwave. "I'm going as fast as I can Stalker", replied the black jet. "Never call me that! I am Soundwave. Nothing that Unicron and you did to me can change who I am Starscream. Now get moving." "Of course Soundwave. I don't have much choice since you removed my transformation circuit do I." "No, I suppose you don't. Remember Starscream, we both want the same thing. Glory for the Decepticon Empire." "No. I want glory for the Decepticon Empire. You want revenge for Megatron's death." Soundwave laughed. It was a cold harsh sound. "After spending these last months planning on Unicron's head, I finally have a plan that will do both." "Good. I was tired of living in that metal cemetery", said Starscream. "You mean it bothered you using components from the other Predators to repair ourselves", asked Soundwave. "It didn't bother you", said Starscream. "I did what was necessary to survive, and to live to fight another day."