In What Furnace?
Written by DBX

In a room below the surface of Cybertron, three Maximals met to discuss the recent attacks. An older bot with a gruff voice spoke first, "The attacks on our military installations seem random, yet upon closer examination, there's a pattern to them." he pushed a button sequence and a map of the city appeared, some buildings were highlighted in red, "These are the installations hit today."

"They surround the Citadel." another said, "He's weakening our defenses and then going in for the kill."

"Who is he? Where did he get so much power?" the other asked.

The first one spoke again as a hologram of Megatron appeared. The hologram was an old one showing Megatron's form before he first left Cybertron, "Eye witness accounts confirm that the Predacon attacking our installations is, in fact Megatron. He disappeared into Transwarp space almost two years ago being pursued by Optimus Primal. We assumed all were destroyed."

"What are his motives? Why attack Cybertron? Some of those he has killed were Predacons."

Meanwhile, Megatron burst through the door of a military base and started shooting flames at the soldiers within. Some fell immediately, others kept up the fight trying to prevent Megatron from destroying the base. It was obvious they were overpowered.

"If the universe was created by spoken word, then Megatron was created with a scream,” the elder said, "From the day he was built he was curious about the Great War and what part his ancestors played in it. He researched everything about the Decepticons and most especially, his namesake Megatron. He loathed the Autobots and their descendants. To him the Maximals were the great oppressor. He became an activist against Maximal rule; his ideals gained him the hatred of some and the admiration of others. Eventually he gathered followers. There were several incidents of terrorism but nothing could be traced back to Megatron. He covered his tracks too well. Then he made the boldest move ever. Acquiring a Transwarp ship, he stole the Golden Disk relic and vanished. Optimus Primal and the crew of the Axalon were the only ones within range that had the firepower to take down Megatron. We should have sent more than just a group of explorers. Whatever happened, Megatron has gained much more power than he had before, along with a beast mode. We don't know how he got here or if there are any more like him. So far there's no sign of his Predacon followers or Primal's crew. Since Megatron made it this far we have to assume Primal and the Axalon crew were all killed."

"What about Megatron? Can he be stopped?"

"Time will tell."

After a short battle, one soldier remained. Knowing he could never win, the soldier charged Megatron. For a brief moment the towering giant seemed startled by this kamikaze maneuver. The soldier had gained the upper hand. He fired on Megatron at point-blank range at full energy. For a mere fraction of a second, the soldier had caught the monster off guard, a move that may have assured him victory against another opponent. But it was not to be, for with one fatal strike, Megatron grabbed the head of the Cybertronian and crushed it in his mighty grasp. The frail body of the bot twitched for a moment and then went limp.

"Megatron is cold, and heartless. We can only guess what his motives are. Whatever his intentions we can be sure of one thing. He must be stopped at all costs. Because whatever he has become, he is a threat to the universe as we know it."

Megatron tossed the bodies aside like scrap metal and then proceeded to set the building ablaze. As it began to collapse, he walked outside and looked up at the Citadel.

"What the hammer? What the chain?  In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? What dread grasp?  Dare its deadly terrors clasp?"