Editing Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Three

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #39
|prev=Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two
|next=Shattered
|caption=
|image=TF2019 39 cvrA.jpg
|title="Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Three"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 19]], 2022
|coverdate=January 2022
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Nathan Widick]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''While Smokescreen and his team battle Sixshot's Decepticons, Cyclonus finally discovers the terrible truth about Provoke.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and his crack team of operatives have rescued [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] from captivity and retreated back to [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s [[Swindle's|casino]]... but Swindle, already cranky at having to temporarily close for the day, jeopardizes their entire escape plan when he refuses to give the team the weapons they  need to cover their retreat to [[Crystal City]]. As [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] pushes the issue, however, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and his gang of [[Decepticon]] goons—a gang that includes Swindle's former employee [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]]—blast their way into the building, intent on recapturing Ultra Magnus! As the shootout rages, the ever-prepared [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] has already cut his losses and prepared to flee using the secret basement underneath the building... but is confused when he finds "[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]]", one of Swindle's new regulars, rummaging around in the out-of-bounds area that contains the [[Simultronic|multiworld simulation]] chambers. The Decepticon cryptically explains that he's found what he's looking for... but Headlock, who's more preoccupied with making a discreet exit, has no time to chat as "Ruckus" considers his options. Amidst the chaos, a stray blast knocks Smokescreen right through a fake wall and into Swindle's secret armory: while the Autobot agent gladly loads up, Sixshot orders his men to take Magnus alive and kill the others. At that moment, Swindle's employee [[Roughstuff]] abruptly has a change of heart and jams a gun to Swindle's head; Sixshot's got the upper hand now, he explains, so maybe it's time he goes back to the Decepticons. As [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] wrestles with [[Catgut]], a heavily armed Smokescreen arrives, toting every gun he could get his hands on and swings into action!

Elsewhere in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and his ghostly retinue keep an eye on the city's medical center from a nearby rooftop; when "[[Provoke]]" leaves the building, Cyclonus leaps from his perch and directly confronts his former comrade, but when she greets him by name, Cyclonus snaps that she ''always'' called him "Cyc" and never used his full name. Provoke shrugs and tells him that he's acting obsessed, but Cyclonus tells her that this is just the latest in a string of blatant falsehoods... the ''real'' Provoke would never call him obsessed for caring. The jig up, "Provoke" snarls that she's had enough of his interference and pounces—although she momentarily pins Cyclonus he manages to reach for his sword and impale his attacker through her chest. Black energy leaks from her spark chamber as she thrashes in agony; swearing vengeance all the while, she has just enough fight in her to shoot a passing Decepticon officer who tries to interfere. This brief distraction gives Cyclonus—who's finally realized what's ''really'' happened to Provoke—the chance to plunge his hands directly into her torso; mortally wounded, [[Exarchon]] has just enough time to confirm Cyclonus's suspicions before he rips the spark from her body. 

The loss of one iteration is but an inconvenience to Exarchon, who's still got two other bodies in reserve. Even now, "[[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]]" has already infiltrated [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s hidden bunker in the wilderness. When he first appears by Shockwave's side, the Decepticon scientist first assumes that he's speaking with his medic and waves him off as he tries to repair the grievously wounded [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]... but when "Flatline" begins speaking of the past—the opportunities that he once afforded Shockwave, and the debt that he must repay for his betrayal—Shockwave slowly realizes who he's ''really'' speaking too. Pleased, Exarchon informs his old partner that all three of them have some unfinished business to settle...

Amidst the chaotic shootout at Swindle's, Magnus orders Smokescreen to cover their escape with some smoke grenades. [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]], hauling a wounded [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] to safety, shouts that they need to make their escape now; as the others fall back, Chromia grabs one of Smokescreen's guns and stays behind to cover their retreat by blasting the supports and literally bringing down the house. Sixshot transforms into his [[beast mode]] and attacks, but Magnus is able to wrestle their attacker into submission and hurls him at his own troops, tangling them up just long enough for the Autobots to flee. A furious Sixshot orders the Decepticons to find the fugitive, but Roughstuff informs his new leader that although the Autobots have sealed their escape tunnel behind them, they ''do'' now have Swindle in custody. Sixshot grudgingly accepts Roughstuff's request to return to the Decepticons—but as Swindle tries to slink away amidst the confusion, Sixshot warns him that they're not done yet...

Underground, the Autobots  take a moment to relax while Smokescreen scouts ahead. Although they've successfully liberated Ultra Magnus and recruited both Elita-1 and Bumblebee, their problems are only just beginning: Chromia informs Bumblebee that while [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots have withdrawn to [[Crystal City]], the bulk of the Decepticons are on the march, and they might not get back to the city in time to turn the tide.

In Iacon, Cyclonus enjoys a moment of repose as the invisible spectre of Provoke rejoins his group. [[Paragon]] gently asks if Cyclonus is alright after having to put down his old friend, but the old warrior grimly smiles. For the first time in megacycles, he finally knows why he's here. All he has to do ''now'' is find Ruckus, unaware that Exarchon's already one step ahead of his foe. As Swindle stares at the smoking wreckage that was his casino, Sixshot warns the opportunistic mech that this is what he deserves for fraternizing with the enemy. [[Trickdiamond]] tries to offer some comfort, but Swindle angrily pushes her away.. and stops when he sees that the destruction of his business has opened a hole into the building's secret basement. More confusing still, someone or something has ripped open one of the immersion couches and seemingly killed Ruckus—but everything becomes clear when a massive draconic form emerges from the shadows and takes flight by smashing through whatever remains of the roof: the 'bot who once called himself [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] has become Exarchon's newest body!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in hallucinatory form.)<br> 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (4)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (5)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (6)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (7)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (19)

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
* [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] (9)
* [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (10)
* [[Catgut]] (11)
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (12)
* [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] (13)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)
* [[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (15)
* [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] (16)
* [[Scatterspike (G1)|Scatterspike]] (17)
* Security officer (25)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (27)

|h3=Threefold Spark|c3=
* [[Exarchon]] (20)

|c4=
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (1)
* [[Roughstuff]] (2)
* [[Trickdiamond]] (3)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] (18)
* ''[[Gridlock]]'' (21)
* ''[[Highfire]]'' (22)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (23)
* ''[[Grudge]]'' (24)
* ''[[Paragon]]'' (26)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (27)
* ''[[Provoke]]'' (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"I just made some new '''friends''' I'd really like you all to '''meet!'''"
:—'''Smokescreen''' pulls out the big guns


"How long we gotta wait, that's all I want to know." <br>
"'''Me'''. Not 'we'. It's not like you've got something else to be doing, Grudge." <br>
"Cyc's not wrong. Death does free up your schedule pretty dramatically."
:—'''Grudge''' ,'''Cyclonus''', and '''Highfire'''


"Gah! You are all '''such fools!''' Such '''pointless''' fools! I am purpose and fate and you '''will''' yield to me this time! You '''all''' will!"
:—'''Exarchon'''


"Burn '''that''', you crazy."
:—'''Windblade''' takes out Flamefeather


"Exarchon?" <br>
"Yess-s-zzz-" <br>
'''KRE-E-E-CH''' <br>
"Welcome back."
:—'''Cyclonus''' takes out one of '''Exarchon''''s bodies


"Well, it's good to have you back anyway, Bee. Try staying attached to the '''right''' group of Cybertronians from now on. Okay?"
:—'''Windblade''''


"Now '''this''' is a form '''worthy''' of my occupation! Cybertron will fall beneath my shadow. And '''stay''' there this time."
:—'''Exarchon''' bodyjacks Deathsaurus

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* After bursting into the casino, [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] sardonically greets Swindle by name and asks if he missed him: he used to be one of Swindle's employees, but joined the growing Decepticon movement after the events of [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]] led to Swindle's brief arrest. Eight issues later, in [[War World: Hunt|#28]], Swindle replaced him with [[Roughstuff]], an ex-[[The Rise|Riser]] who deserted the Ascenticons after [[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] shot him in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|#21]]. As it turns out, however, Roughstuff's defection was just a temporary change of heart...
*During the last big dustup in Swindle's casino back in issue #20, Headlock could be seen running for the door even before the other members of Swindle's inner retinue realized what was going on. While poking around the basement, Exarchon-as-Ruckus bumps into him doing the same thing, so it seems like Headlock's got a bit of an instinct for knowing when the shit's about to hit the metaphorical fan.
* In his battle against Bumblebee, Catgut mockingly calls him "little yellow", the nickname he used when he and Treadshot went after Bumblebee during [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|issue #19]]. He's still sporting his laser-eye, which he'd added sometime before [[War World: Titans|issue #29]] to replace the one that Bumblebee bashed out with a rock. 
* Skywarp was badly wounded during the climatic battle in [[Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|issue #36]], after [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] chomped him and torched whatever was left before he could safely teleport away.
* As he reunites with Shockwave, Exarchon reminds him that Shockwave owes him after he opened up a world of "wondrous possibilities" for the scientist to play with. In this continuity, Shockwave's big project appears to be mass [[cloning]], as evidenced by the presence of characters like [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] and his [[Insecticon clone]]s. Given that we know that some outside force armed Exarchon with the necessary technologies to mass-produce an army from nothing, it's posislbe that Exarchon also passed some or all of this knowledge on to Shockwave, who's continued to innovate in his absence.
* [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] starred in the [[Wannabee, Part 1|second story arc]] of the ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'' anthology series as its main villain, although his role here was foreshadowed in [[War World: Hunt|''Transformers'' #28]], which depicted him as a long-term resident in one of Swindle's virtual reality chambers, endlessly reliving his confrontation with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] on the planet [[Probat (planet)|Probat]].

===Transformers references===
* This issue marks [[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]]'s first speaking role in this universe. His habit of chanting "Burn, burn, burn!" over and over again hearkens back to [[Bob Budiansky]]'s original [[bio]] for the character, which depicted him as a violent lunatic whose only real talent lay in indiscriminate arson.
* Continuing a bit of a trend that began in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|issue #1]], a generic Decepticon officer in this issue swears by the [[Void]].

===Errors===
* On page eight, Cyclonus impales Exarchon with his sword, which is depicted as a lightsaber-style "laser sword" with a glowing yellow blade. After that, however, the blade's drawn and coloured as though the entire weapon is forged from solid metal.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]’s fist squeezes Cybertron, by [[Alex Milne]]
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron and Ultra Magnus, by [[Stefano Simeone]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:'''  Swindle discovers Exarchon’s scheme, by [[Blacky Shepherd]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 39 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 39 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 39 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars]]'' TPB
* ''[[Star Trek]]: The Mirror War-Data''
* ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' #125

==External links==
* [http://majorspoilers.com/2022/01/18/preview-transformers-39 Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part 3}}
[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]