Alternation

2011-02-26T14:11:29Z

118.209.164.116: /* Synopsis */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Alternity (franchise)|Transformers: Alternity]]''
|title="Alternation"
|prev=Nissan GT-R / Ultra Magnus (Brilliant Pearl White)
|caption=
|published in=October 2010
|packaged with=[[Thundercracker (G1)#Toys|Okamora Orochi - Thundercracker]]
|story=[[Hirofumi Ichikawa]]
}}

'''Grab your aspirin, get your head-scratchin' hand ready and prepare for a brain-ache... the era of the Alternity comes to an end!'''

==Synopsis==

Times are dark for the [[Alternity (species)|Alternity]]. Thanks to the efforts of his [[Questor]]s, [[Megatron (G1)#Alternity|Megatron]] has succeeded in penetrating [[Flatworld]], the lower-dimensional realm of the two-dimensional beings known as the [[Planicron]]s, who now stand revealed as actually being their world's equivalent of the [[Transformer]]s. In fact, as a result of their two-dimensional nature, the Planicrons are the first Transformers to have actually lived up to the race's mantra of "[['Til all are one]]": the super-spatial theory and warp technology they developed in order to simply communicate ultimately led to the fusing of their minds with the very forces of reality themselves. Thusly merged, they have become a colossal "cosmic computer" of sorts, a living cosmic phenomenon embodying the entirety of their two-dimensional realm dubbed the "[[Cosmic Driver]]", control of which has been Megatron's goal all along.

From his base on [[Menonia]], Megatron observes the battle between his forces and those of the Alternity in Flatworld through one of the ancient tablets his Questors have found for him. Suddenly, [[Starscream (G1)#Alternity|Starscream]] appears in the midst of the battle, another tablet in his grasp, and announces that he has mastered the "[[magic]]" the tablets are capable of: the sorcerous ability to bend the Planicrons and their incredible powers to the wielders' will. Before he can accomplish his stated goal of collapsing the Planicrons' world in on top of itself, however, Megatron makes an announcement of his own: he has foreseen Starscream's treachery, and indeed, the only reason he brought him back as a Questor at all was to see if there was a way to kill a lifeform infused with [[Alternium]]. Using a tablet's powers, Megatron causes the Alternium in Starscream's body to multiply rapidly, and Starscream explodes, much to Megatron's amusement. This test of the tablets' magic complete, Megatron uses the Planicrons to strike at the Alternity in the most terrifying way: he attacks and successfully destroys their gestalt higher-dimensional consciousness. In the [[universal stream]] of Primax 109.0 Beta, a mass of Alternity operatives gathered in [[Vancouver]], [[Washington]], feel the deaths of their higher-dimensional selves, and realize that they are now individual beings once again, their consciousnesses now inhabiting their [[Auto-avatar]] bodies directly.

Observing all of this at Megatron's side has been [[Thundercracker (G1)#Alternity|Thundercracker]], who, despite being reborn as a Questor, has retained his characteristic doubts about Megatron's goals. The lives lost with every use of the tablets' power and the inability of the Planicrons to defend themselves stirs something in Thundercracker, and he moves away from the tablet sadly. A shout from [[Skywarp (G1)#Alternity|Skywarp]] alerts him to a startling fact: without realizing or remembering it, Thundercracker has used the tablet himself, freeing the Planicrons from Megatron's control. Terrified of reprisal, Thundercracker flees.

Meanwhile, the Alternity have recruited a new ally to their cause: multiversal guardian of time and space, [[Vector Prime]]. Summoned by the Alternity just before their gestalt consciousness was destroyed, Vector Prime communicates with the Planicrons and discovers that their [[The World Is Flat!|previous incursion]] into higher-dimensional space was an attempt to discover a specific diagram somewhere on [[Earth]] which would initiate their evolution beyond two-dimensional existence if they passed through it. The problem had been that they did not know ''which'' Earth this "door" was on, but [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] deduces the obvious answer: universal stream Primax 903.0 Beta, the "BT World", the home dimension of the Alternity themselves!

In order to distract Megatron while they try to find this "door", the majority of the Alternity's forces spread out across the dimensions in order to stage a simultaneous attack on Megatron's different aspects. Additionally, they hope that destroying enough of his Auto-avatars concurrently will loosen his hold on [[Hytherion]], allowing the time-beast to corrupt Megatron's mind. While this goes on, Bumblebee, [[Arcee (Energon)|Elita Seven]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] head for the BT World to locate the "door" for the Planicrons, which Vector Prime will then lead the two-dimensional Transformers through. The Earth of BT World has a strange history of its own: as a result of a [[quadrant lock]] the Quintessons placed upon the planet to trap the Binaltech Autobots, the planet was frozen in time until the Alternity were born and broke through it 900,000 years later. As such, it remains 2010 in the BT World. The Alternity team is welcomed by [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], who inform them they have successfully located the "door" they are looking for: it is a diagram of the unfinished [[Critias Gate]], a super-dimensional reactor the Autobots were working on at the same time as the [[Timaeus Project]] that birthed the Alternity.

A huge screen is assembled in [[Mackay Stadium]], [[Nevada]], and an image of the circuit diagram for the gate is projected upon it. With Vector Prime leading the way, the Planicrons begin to emerge through the gate, morphing into three-dimensional life-forms, and then beyond, into a higher-dimensional state of being, disappearing from the watchers' view as they evolve beyond the point of being perceptible by normal beings. Before they can fully cross over, however, the Planicrons are attacked by a raging Megatron, partially taken over by the Hytherion as a result of 667 of his Auto-avatars having been destroyed by the Alternity across reality. The Planicrons reshape themselves into a humanoid form and attack this "Megatherion", striking him with the same attack he made them use against the Alternity. With one mighty strike, the Planicrons obliterate the gestalt consciousness of Megatron, and then ascend to full higher-dimensional life, taking the Alternity's place as defenders of time and space.

In the wake of the final battle, Thundercracker returns to Menonia. He blames himself for the destruction that has been wreaked across the planet, despite the fact that he apparently acted unconsciously. The letters on a nearby sign reshape themselves into a message from the Planicrons, thanking Thundercracker for helping them. He takes some consolation in that, but then, an ethereal voice tells him that he shall never be forgiven. Starscream's ghost hovers before his eyes, providing a bitter run-down of the new state of play: some Megatrons survived the destruction of their group consciousness, and both the Autobots and the Planicrons (now nicknamed the "Flaternity") will be watching for their re-mergence.

Now no longer higher-dimensional lifeforms, the former Alternity find their memories fading as they struggle to recall the indescribable sensory experiences associated with hyperdimensional life. All the remaining members gather on [[Athenia]] for their final meeting, following which they will all be returned to their home worlds and times. The future of the [[Protector]]s is less certain, though many still wish to remain active. Bumblebee, Elita Seven and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] joke and cry about the situation, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Alternity|Optimus Prime]] delivers one final stirring speech: they should not think on their time as Alternity with the view that they were "once great"; instead, they should look back on all the great things they have done and how they have safeguarded what is to come. And who knows... maybe, one day, the time will come for the Autobots to advance again... and do great things once more.

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|Optimus Prime]] Ultimate Silver (5)
*[[Arcee (Energon)|Elita Seven]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)#Alternity|Optimus Prime]] Vibrant Red (7)
*[[Vector Prime]] (9)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Alternity|Bumblebee]] (10)
*[[Rewind]] (12)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (13)
*[[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] (14)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (15)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (16)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (18)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)#Alternity|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)#Alternity|Thundercracker]] (3)
*[[Starscream (G1)#Alternity|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Skywarp (G1)#Alternity|Skywarp]] (8)

|c3=
*Unnamed human scientist (17)
|c4=
*[[Planicron]]s (2)
*[[Quintesson]]s (11)
}}

==Notes==
*This story is ''epically'' huge—so big, in fact, that the leaflet on which it is printed had to eschew the full-page [[Power Plans]] for Thundercracker that had been standard for the ''[[Alternity (franchise)|Alternity]]'' line and squash his [[bio]] and [[Tech Spec]]s into the top-right corner in order to fit everything in.
*The Planicrons and the tablets used to access their world first appeared in the ''Alternity'' story, "[[The World Is Flat!]]"
*The world of Menonia, and the idea that "magic" was considered taboo by many mechanical species, originated with the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Madman's Paradise]]".
*Is the implication that Starscream's ghost possessed Thundercracker and made him set the Planicrons free? We're not sure.
*The activation of the Quintesson [[large switch|killswitch]], which took place in the ''[[Story of Binaltech]]'' chapter "[[Kill Switch]]", is credited with tipping the aliens off to the existence of the Binaltech Autobots.
*A Quintesson quadrant lock previously appeared in "[[The Face of the Nijika]]". It was placed around the Earth of the BT World following the events of the final ''[[Story of Binaltech]]'' chapter, "[[Unfinished Business, Part 4]]". The story hints that some tragic fate went on to befall the Quintessons.
*The BT World being "frozen" in the 21st Century is offered up as the explanation for why the Alternity use the forms of 21st Century sports cars for their Auto-avatars.
*Grimlock and Optimus Primal were both last seen in "Unfinished Business, Part 4". Since then, they have both taken on new bodies (a must in Primal's case, since he was a disembodied [[spark]] in his last appearance); Primal appears in a "black pick-up truck Binaltech body", an obvious [[repurposing]] of [[Nemesis Prime (G1)#Alternators|Nemesis Prime]] (not the same one who appears in this story!) whose body he briefly inhabited in "[[Binal Time]]", while Grimlock is now sporting his ''[[Masterpiece]]'' body, complete with crown.
*The Dinobots are noted to have been restored after their deactivation in "[[Beast in the Machine]]".
*Just as the Timaeus Project was named for ''Timaeus'', Plato's dialogue on the nature of the physical world, the Critias Gate is named for his second dialogue, ''Critias''.
*The planet Athenia first appeared in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]", and was later named in the ''[[The Headmasters (franchise)|Headmasters]]'' series.

==Reference==
* [[Alternation/src|Full text translation]]

[[Category: Alternity pack-in fiction]]

Topspin (DOTM)

2011-02-20T07:22:21Z

118.209.164.116: /* Notes */ fix link

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Topspin}}

:''Topspin is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''

{{mainpic}}

If it doesn't result in at least a few dings and scraped paint, '''Topspin''' isn't interested. To him, buckled and burnt armor are signs of a life well-led. He's proud of being one tough bot, and is more than happy to wear the scars to prove it.

==Toys==
===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
[[Image:DOTM_Cyberverse_Topspin_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|Transforms from NASCAR racer to bemulleted, Razorblade-sporting NASCAR fan.]]
* '''Autobot Topspin''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2011)
**''Series:'' '''1'''
**''Number:'' '''004'''
**''Japanese ID number:''

: Part of the first wave of [[Cyberverse]] toys, Topspin is a [[Legends Class|Legion-scale]] figure that transforms into a [[NASCAR]] [[wikipedia:Chevrolet_Impala#NASCAR_Sprint_Cup|Sprint Cup Chevy Impala]] stock car, specifically [[Wikipedia:Jimmie_Johnson|Jimmie Johnson's]] Lowes and Kobalt sponsored #48 car. Like the other NASCAR-based ''DOTM'' toys, both versions of Topspin lack the multiple small "contingency" sponsor decals found on a full-sized NASCAR racer.
{{comingsoontoy}}

{{-}}{{anchor|Deluxe}}
====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:DOTM_Deluxe_Topspin.jpg|thumb|300px|Well no wonder he's won five championships in a row. Look at that thing.]]
* '''Autobot Topspin''' (Mechtech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:''
**''Accessories:''

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Deluxes, Topspin transforms into a heavily modified version of the same #48 Sprint Cup car as the Cyberverse Legion toy, with non-firing weapons molded onto the roof and sides. As part of the [[Mechtech]] series, he has a massive weapon that features spring-loaded flip-out claws.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

===Speed Stars===
{{charstubtoys}}

==Notes==
* Topspin's robot mode features "sunglasses", a bushy "beard" and a "[[wikipedia:mullet (haircut)|mullet]]", making him resemble a stereotypical NASCAR fan.

[[Category: Cyberverse]]
[[Category: Dark of the Moon Autobots]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Alternation

Topspin (DOTM)