Fantastic Four and the Transformers (CONT)

by Chris McFeely

CHAPTER SIX

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BATTLE OF THE GODS

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!” Rodimus Prime screamed at Doom, hoisting him off the ground, and dangling him in the air. “You’ve doomed us all!”

“Not so, you mechanical miscreant,” Doom said, activating his forcefield to push Rodimus’s hands off his person. His boot jets took over, and he floated in the air, just out of Rodimus’s reach. “I have no interest in destroying you - you are nothing more than a pile of nuts and bolts to me. Unicron is totally under my control - and he has been programmed to destroy the Fantastic Four!”

“I think Galactus may have something to say about that,” Ultra Magnus said, pointing out of the window.

The rage on Galactus’s face was evident. He glared accusingly at the capitol building, obviously assuming the Fantastic Four were responsible for this outrage. Then, his eyes began to glow with crimson energy, which the FF members instantly recognised as the Power Cosmic - the source of Galactus’s incredible abilities and a vital force of nature in the universe. Slowly at first, then with growing speed, Galactus began to increase in stature. The crackling aura of energy which surrounded his person quickly faded away, as he stood level with Unicron. Neither being spoke. Then, all at once, conflict erupted as energy bolts lanced from Galactus’s eyes striking Unicron squarely in the chest. The mechanical monstrosity roared in pain, and lunged at Galactus, knocking him from his massive feet.

Rodimus Prime moaned softly. “If Galactus doesn’t destroy Cybertron first, this battle will!”

“Don’t worry, my friend,” Reed offered his condolences. “I believe we can turn this to our advantage.”

“How?” Rodimus, Magnus, and the Thing asked in unison.

“The device I told you about - the Ultimate Nullifier ?” Reed explained. “Galactus kept it in his world ship. Johnny was the one who retrieved it in out first encounter.” He gestured at the Human Torch. “Now, I am assuming that Unicron has simply reconfigured Galactus’s ship to assume the functions of his normal body. Therefore...”

“The Nullifier must be inside Unicron somewhere!” Magnus concluded, stating the blatantly obvious, as he so often did.

“But you said that the Nullifier was too dangerous to actually use!” Rodimus pointed out.

“True,” Reed conceded, “but I intend to direct it toward Unicron, not Galactus. Plus, believe that, if you, Rodimus, link your systems with the Nullifier, the merging of its energies and the Creation Matrix within you should create a far more controllable effect, plus of course, the Matrix is the only thing which can hurt Unicron.”

Rodimus stared at the human, open mouthed. “How do you know about the Matrix? I never spoke of it.”

“Well,” Reed replied, smiling, “the neuro-circuitry which runs through my suit -” he stretched his arms out “- makes it, in effect a wearable computer. I scanned you and your friend with it almost instantly, when you first arrived at Four Freedoms Plaza, and detected some very powerful energy readings. When we were on that earlier version of your planet, I scanned Unicron, and noted that the energy readings were exactly the opposite. Finally, I made a link with Doom’s armour when I grabbed him a few moments ago, and downloaded all the data I required.”

Rodimus couldn’t believe it. “No wonder they call you Mister Fantastic,” he said, scratching his head.

Doom, who had been floating in the air the whole time, drifted down. “You probably think you’ve beaten me again, Richards - but you haven’t! I have one more trick up my sleeve!” With another cackle, Doom vanished from the room.

“What’s that tin-plated jerk up to now?” the Thing wondered.

“We have more important matters to deal with now, Ben,” Reed said, then turned to Johnny, who was floating beside Rodimus. “Johnny, you’re familiar with the interior of Galactus’s ship, and Rodimus, based on what you told us earlier, I assume you are well versed with the interior of Unicron.”

“You’re not suggesting...?” Johnny started.

“I’m afraid so, Johnny,” Reed said, apologetically. “It may be the only way.”

“I’ll do it,” Rodimus said, making a fist. “Anything to save Cybertron.”

“Then let’s prepare,” Reed ordered. He looked out of the window. Galactus appeared to be holding his own against the metal titan, and it would be a long time before he would tire - but he also knew that it would be even longer before Unicron grew weak. “There is precious little time left.”

Rodimus looked at Magnus, who looked at Springer, who looked at Arcee, who looked at Rodimus. “Are you with me, Torch?” he asked.

“What the hey,” the Torch answered. “It’s an experience.”

“Let’s get you ready,” Arcee said to Johnny.

“How can you ‘get ready’,” Johnny asked sarcastically, “for a journey to the centre of Unicron?”

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