Parasites

2023-05-04T12:07:42Z

RenderDistance=0: /* Errors */ Added the mention of a error in the drawing of Orion Pax

{{Comicstory
|series=autocracy|issueno=2
|prev=Law and Disorder
|next=The Hunt for Soundwave
|next2=
|caption=My name is Zeta. I was built to destroy. <s>But I don't want to destroy any longer</s>
|image=Autocracy 2.jpg
|title="Parasites"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 1]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=
|story by=[[Chris Metzen]] &<br/>[[Flint Dille]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|letters by=[[Robbie Robbins]]
|editor=[[John Barber]] &<br/>[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#4 million BCE|Before the war]]
}}
'''Zeta Prime is a little crazy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Parasites Zeta Prime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
At a meeting of the [[Senate]] in the [[Citadel]], [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] reviews the situation concerning [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s [[Decepticon]]s, especially of their recruiting of [[Nyon]]'s populace. It is fortunate, then, that he has found the perfect weapon to destroy them all: [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s [[vamparc ribbon]]. As he is about to elaborate, [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] arrives at the proceedings as a "delegate". Zeta Prime gives a firm reminder to the delegate that nothing forces him to respect his presence, but moves on to a demonstration of the vamparc. The subject: the captured [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].

In the Citadel's sparring rooms, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] wrestles with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] while the two talk of Orion's newly developed temper and of the morality of their efforts to contain the Decepticons.

In the Primacy Auditorium, Zeta Prime continues his demonstration of the vamparc ribbon, showing that it draws power from the nearest available source: in this case, Swindle. As the vamparc's energies are volatile, Zeta shoots the auditorium's ceiling to avoid the weapon's overload. Zeta goes on to further explain that larger vamparc ribbon units on the [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s require more power, and that the citizenry of Cybertron provides an excellent source of energy. Despite the protests of the Senators, Zeta explains that proceedings in Nyon have already begun. As part of Zeta's preparation, Orion Pax tells his warriors to get ready.

Starscream approves of Zeta Prime's plan, which surprises the Prime. But Starscream accidentally blurts that he has "done far worse in the name of—". To get Zeta off his scent, Starscream points out the Decepticon spy in their midst: [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. His cover blown, Soundwave escapes and Zeta orders Orion Pax to hunt him down before he can reveal Zeta's plan to the populace.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] (5)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"This Security Council has lost the will to do what must be done. That is why I was chosen to be Prime... because ''I'' am the monster the people need."
:—'''Zeta Prime'''

==Notes==
*Starscream is a delegate, but we're never told who he's meant to be a delegate ''for''. Zeta doesn't seem to realise he's a Decepticon. Metzen later clarified that nobody is aware which Decepticons killed the old Senate and Starscream's role ''as'' a Decepticon is, at the time, unknown.<ref>[http://www.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/idw-transformers-autocracy-3-blizzplanet-interviews-chris-metzen-and-flint-dille Blizz Planet interview with Metzen and Dille for ''Autocracy'' issue 3]: "no one survived that (very brazen) attack and all video coverage was quickly disposed of. Decepticons are very clever… and thorough! Thus, Starscream’s role as a Decepticon is still largely under wraps as Autocracy gets underway (at least as far as Zeta and these remaining senators are concerned). That entire attack was covered up pretty quick – so one has a clear picture of exactly which Decepticons were specifically involved. "</ref>
*While the comic has Zeta Prime as a full-on nutjob, the [[authorial intent|author's thinking]] was that Zeta had started out okay but became a monster to try and restore order.<ref>[http://www.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/idw-transformers-autocracy-3-blizzplanet-interviews-chris-metzen-and-flint-dille Blizz Planet interview with Metzen and Dille for ''Autocracy'' issue 3]: "I believe Zeta started strong and wanted to be a Prime that really maintained order and security for the people. But Megatron really stoked the fires of unrest. I think there was a crazy escalation between Zeta’s conventional tactics and the Decepticons’ terror tactics. Over time, he concluded that fighting fire with fire was the only reasonable response to what Megatron represented. "</ref>
*This issue features one of only a handful of appearances by what must be assumed to be the original Ultra Magnus.

===Errors===
*[[Nominus Prime]] is referred to by Zeta Prime as his predecessor who "couldn't contain this upstart rebellion", when [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] was the Prime directly preceding Zeta and the one who failed to stop [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s rebellion in ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]''. Metzen apologized for the error in an interview, stating "the mention of [Nominus Prime] getting whacked at the start of Chaos Theory was etched in my head as I was scripting Chapter 2 and I referred to the wrong guy".<ref>[http://www.blizzplanet.com/blog/comments/idw-transformers-autocracy-3-blizzplanet-interviews-chris-metzen-and-flint-dille Blizz Planet interview with Metzen and Dille for ''Autocracy'' issue 3]</ref> The mistake was rectified for the TPB.
*When Zeta Prime mentions [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] as the inventor of the [[vamparc ribbon]], the scientist's name is misspelled as "Jihauxus". This was also fixed for the trade.
*Starscream's optics change color from red, yellow, and then blue.
*Orion Pax has his Earth body when talking to Bumblebee and Ironhide.

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]]
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|#1]]

===Reprints===
<small>Other than [[The Transformers: Autocracy#Collections|collections of the full series]].</small>
* N/A

==References==
{{reflist}}

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Parasites