Master of the Game

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Master of the Game, quick to catch the... no, wait, that's not right...
"Master of the Game" ゲームの黒幕 (Game no Kuromaku)
Published in	Figure Ō No. 98
First published	March 24, 2006
Cover date	April 2006
Story	Hirofumi Ichikawa
Pencils by	Hirofumi Ichikawa

Megatron gains control over space and time. We're sure nothing bad can happen because of this.

Synopsis

Megatron and Optimus Primal have found the ship's control hub, but are unable to get much out of it. Most of the information on the shiny new Golden Disk is encrypted; they still don't know where they are, where they're going, or how they got there. But they do eventually activate a few features—including a system that could monitor multiple areas of time and space, making the ship capable of influencing many universes. Primal, though awed by the ship's powers over space and time, continues to research his own origin with the ship's dimensional capabilities. Not only does he worry about what he might have left behind him, he's a little suspicious of Megatron's plans for the space-time bending powers of the temple.

At last, Primal finds something in the database; though from a different time and a different place, he finds an image of a robot called Optimus Prime that greatly resembles him. Primal wonders if he once was Optimus Prime, while behind his back, Megatron, noticing new commands that became available after the search results were found, hits a button. Before Primal realizes what's going on, his body begins to shift and distort—not a simple transformation, but something more. He soon finds himself in the body of Optimus Prime!

Though Primal is a little indignant at having the fundamental particles that compose his body screwed with, Megatron scoffs, telling him he should be happy with such a powerful form. Turning back to his experiments, the T. rex robot sends a rock into space—and causes it to spontaneously explode. Primal is sent back into the control panel by the shockwave, inadvertently crushing it. Megatron, laughing, explains that he converted part of the rock into antimatter, making it into a particle-eradicating bomb. When he proclaims that he wishes to find even more destructive applications for the technology, Primal realizes his companion has shown his true colors. The two robots, antagonists once more, prepare for battle.

At that moment, a loud noise suddenly enters the chamber and overwhelms their audio processors. The entire temple then seems to crumble around them, save the floor and the pillar containing the Disk; the rest is replaced by a dark abyss ringed with lights. A small bird suddenly appears, telling them to stop. A huge robot soon follows, removing a key from a pillar at the edge of the platform and causing the entire place to shut down; the lights go dark, and Primal reverts to his own body. After a brief pause, Megatron greets the newcomer; the robot, speaking through the bird, gives his name as Soundblaster, and reveals that the power over space-time is not that of the ship, but of he himself. He offers Megatron this power, to Primal's shock.

Simultaneously at that moment, Vector Prime appears before Soundblaster from within the Astral Plane. He recognizes the black robot as another one of his kin, an Ancient, and demands to know why he's abducted the two lesser Transformers. Soundblaster reiterates what he just told the others, to Vector Prime's dismay: he has chosen Megatron as an heir to his evil power...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Megatron! You caused this?"
"Perhaps. Or it may just as well have been due to you meddling with the controls."

—Optimus, just given another new body, isn't getting a straight answer from Megatron anytime soon.

"Surely you ought to be pleased with such a seemingly powerful form. I don’t suppose you mean to tell me it’s defective?"

—Megatron has a one-track mind.

"Do you see, Optimus? I applied the 'partial temporal inversion' command to a single section of the pod, one microscopically small component. Do you understand what that means?"
"That would reverse the properties of the particles…"
"Antimatter, yes! It means that anything, or anyone, can be simply converted into a particle-annihilating bomb! Oh, but this is merely the beginning!"
"So you’ve finally shown your true colors. You’re a menace, Megatron! I can’t allow you or this temple to remain at large!"
"Then what do you suggest? The temple belongs to me. Negotiation will prove futile!"

—Megatron and Optimus talk science, then restart the Beast Wars.

"I expect that will be enough."

—Soundblaster makes his entrance.

"Yes, the devices of this temple are most impressive indeed. Might I request a renewal of service?"

—Megatron sweet-talks Soundblaster.

"I have transcended time at the order of the Creator. I am Vector Prime!"
"The one known as the Guardian of Time? You did well to find me here."
"Though you may change your name and shape, you cannot deceive those who watch over space and time. I recognized you as one of our own: an Ancient! What intention have you with abducting these warriors from another world?"
"How perceptive you are. I believe you heard the conversation in the world below?"
"You cannot be serious!"
"I am. I shall name one as an heir, and imbue him with the power of the Ancients. It is as this successor of evil that I have chosen Megatron!"

—Vector Prime and Soundblaster face off.

Notes

Transformers references

• Optimus Prime is identified as a "Commander Class" robot, a term first used in Beast Wars II to refer to Matrix bearers, and which was later referred to as the "Convoy Class" in Car Robots.
• When Primal receives Prime's body, he gains his ancestor's Generation 2 Laser body. That is awesome.
• Soundblaster was originally a Japanese exclusive black repaint of Cybertron Soundwave, accompanied by more or less a copy of Soundwave's backstory. Now he's one of the Ancients.
• The key in the pillar is modeled after Vector Prime's Cyber Key.

Real-world references

• Matter and antimatter annihilate each other and produce a number of other particles as well as a massive amount of energy. A large number of heavy particles with high energy produced as a result could be used to devastating effect.

External links

• "Master of the Game" translation at the Allspark