Echoes and Fragments
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| "Echos and Fragments" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Transformers Collectors' Club | ||||||||||||
| First published | February 10, 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Jim Sorenson | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Generation 1 cartoon, GoBots | ||||||||||||
| Page count | 24pp | ||||||||||||
A familiar conflict is hijacked by Gong and Sideways, bringing in some extra-dimensional visitors and forcing Vec-Tor to intervene.
Synopsis
Part 1: The Gathering Storm
On the eve of a momentous confrontation between the Autobots and Decepticons, Sideways encounters Gong in Maccadam's Old Oil House. The two strike up a plot to merge the reality they are currently inhabiting with a Gargent stream, to see how mixing GoBots into the equation changes things, prompting the bartender to get in touch with his brother, Vec-Tor, to ensure the safety of reality.
On Moonbase 1, Optimus Prime and his Autobots prepare a crucial mission to Earth, unaware that they are being watched by Laserbeak. But before Laserbeak can return to Megatron with this critical data, Gong's manipulation of Cybertron's Omega Locks kick in, and suddenly everyone remembers the conflict as being between the heroic Autobots and the enemy Renegades. Cy-Kill immediately realizes the significance of the intelligence Snoop has gathered, and launches an assault on the Command Center carrying Ironhide and his team to Earth.
On Earth, Nick and Hot Rod enjoy fishing together, until the imminent arrival of the Command Center prompts them to drive to Lookout Mountain. There, they uncover Cy-Kill's plot and begin firing on the ship, causing the ambush to kick off prematurely. None-the-less, the battle is fierce, with Renegades flitting about and causing massive damage to the city. At Ultra Magnus's orders, Perceptor finds Blaster and attempts to get a message off to Optimus Prime. Cy-Kill directs Dr. Go to jam the transmission, and he in turn dispatches the Dread Launchers to demolish the transmitter.
Midway through the battle, Sideways arrives at the reality merging with the one he left, avoids some Guardians and alters the fabric of space-time again. Now, the conflict is between Friendly Guardians and Evil Decepticons. The Decepticons pressed their advantage, destroying or disabling over a dozen Guardians. By dawn, the Decepticons had broken the Guardian defenses and were preparing to slaughter the survivors, when a Guardian shuttle arrived from Cybertron. Courageous immediately engaged Devastator, and Leader-1 proceeded to demolish a number of Decepticons before challenging Megatron to a one-on-one duel. Leader-1 manages to emerge the victor, but the intervention of Tri-Trak allows Megatron to recover and deliver a fatal blow even as Leader-1 delivered ruinous injuries to him. Starscream ordered a retreat, and the Decepticons fled the ruins of Guardian City.
Part 2: To the Death—And Beyond!
On Gobotron, in the alternate reality, Vec-Tor plays a game of Tadek with Zeemon when his brother's warning reached him, prompting him to head to Gobotron's ancient, and practically unknown, Omega Locks.
Back in the primary reality, the Secret Riders and Robo Rebels gather around the dying Leader-1. His wounds are fatal, there is little they can do without the Last Engineer. Leader-1 passes the Guardian Matrix of Leadership to Major Mo, and shares with those present the ancient prophesy that the Matrix can light their darkest hour. Far, far away, Unicron observes this exchange and lets out a howel of frustration.
In the alternate reality, Sideways chances to sense Vec-Tor's presence. He attempts to return the Omega Locks to their default settings, but is unable to do so. The realities are too intertwined. He hides, but his manipulations have caused the realities to further bleed together, with Autobots and Guardians now existing side-by-side, and likewise Decepticons and Renegades.
The Renegades and Decepticons, retreating to Earth, are forced to dump their wounded. Zero gleefully dumps Megatron, and Crasher and Spoons are likewise jettisoned. Zero quickly declares himself leader, prompting a brawl involving Puzzler, Dr. Go, Tank, Snoop, and most of the rest of the Renegades aboard Astrotrain. The wounded, meanwhile, are found by Unicron, who cajoles Megatron into accepting an upgrade to Galvatron. Crasher and Spoons are reanimated as Fracture and Deadlift. The augmented Decepticons return to Cybertron in time to interrupt Zero's coronation and assume control of the Decepticon and Renegade forces.
In the alternate reality, Vec-Tor attempts to unjam the Omega Locks, causing a rapid fluctuation of reality states. Turbo/Jazz and Night Ranger/Cliffjumper witness in horror as Unicron arrives at the outer edge of Cybertronian space. They get off a message to Ultra Magnus / Major Mo on Earth before attempting unsuccessfully to flee in a Space Hawk before Moonbase 1 is consumed. Bumblebee/Scooter and Spike / Matt & Anya on Moonbase 2 broadcast the destruction of the first moon, then attempt to destroy Unicron by causing their base to self-destruct inside the beast's maw. This, too, fails, and the heroes are consumed. Galvatron is furious at Unicron for consuming the moons, but quickly subdued by a stabbing pain. He orders his forces to Earth to do Unicron's bidding. Vec-Tor ceases his manipulations, realizing he needs to subdue Sideways and find the source universe if the damage is to be undone.
On Earth, Major Mo attempt to rally the Guardians and Autobots under his command is interrupted by the arrival of Galvatron and his forces. The Autobots and Guardians flee to space, where Galvatron continues his assault. Hot Rod and Kup are downed by Fracture over Antares III, while Major Mo manages to trick Galvatron into thinking himself victorious by allowing most of his Command Center to be destroyed. He sets course for the planet of rock for repairs. And, on GoBotron, Sideways blunders into a Guardian ambush set by Vec-Tor, finding himself a captive.
Part 3: Terror on Two Worlds!
Vec-Tor patiently watches Sideways, now safely behind bars at the Gobotron Fortress, until a transmission from Gong clues him in as to the multiversal source of his dimension's woes. He sets off for the Primax reality in question.
On Antares III, Hot Rod found himself menaced by Odd Ball in an ammonia sea. After extricating himself from some vines and driving off the Monster GoBot, he finds Kup in the clutches of Monsterous and manages to drive off the massive beast. He gathers up the various pieces of his damaged comrade and walks to dry land.
Major Mo and his crew crash on Quartex, further damaging their vessel but without inflicting any further casualties. After outfitting Nick and A.J. with exosuits, they emerge in the stark, rock-filled landscape and begin repairs, unaware that unfriendly eyes are watching.
Hot Rod manages to repair Kup, but shortly into their search for the rest of their crew, the Dinobots, they encounter more Monster GoBots. Kup attempts diplomacy, but it quickly turns sour and they find themselves marched to the enormous fortress of the Master Renegade. They witness a sham trial, resulting in a hapless mechanoid getting torn to shreds by Dactyls, before being forced into cells. The adjacent cell contains the last survivor of Planet Zi, and for the first time the Autobots learn the name of the planet menacing their homeworld. Their fellow captive is then sentenced to death and devoured.
Their plight did not go unnoticed. The RoGuns had witnessed the capture of the Autobots, and sought out the Dinobots. After a very brief melee, they convinced the Dinobots of their good intentions and led them to where their friends were being held captive.
Back at Cybertron, Vector Prime watched Galvatron return to be berated by Unicron and dispatched to Quartex. With Unicron's attention divided, Vector Prime slipped onto Cybertron unnoticed to hunt down Gong.
On Quartex, Magmar had assembled a large force of antagonistic Rock Lords to dispose of these intruders. Just as he was to order an attack, Galvatron and his forces showed up and Magmar decided to wait and see what would happen. Fracture quickly destroyed their battered ship, and the Autobots and Guardians fled into the landscape. Nick and A.J. found themselves menaced by Pocket and Jigsaw, but their ability to transform saved them. Major Mo, realizing the situation was hopeless, covered his troopers' retreat and then attempted to unleash the Matrix on the Decepticons unsuccessfully. Galvatron demanded he hand the artifact over, and he did so on the condition that his men be spared. Galvatron took the Matrix, hurtled Major Mo out of sight, and then vowed he would use the device to bend Unicron to his will. Far, far away, Unicron bellowed with frustration.
Part 4: Matrix Quest!
Back on Gobotron, Sideways manages to trick his captors into letting him go, then immediately sets off in pursuit of Vec-Tor.
In the Master Rengade's fortress on Antares III, Kup and Hot Rod are dropped into a pit of Dactyls, but manage to escape and cause a good deal of collateral damage. Just as they are about to be overwhelmed, the Dinobots arrive and turn the tide of the battle. Grimlock convinces the horde of ravenous beasts that the Master Renegade would make a much better target for their ire. The RoGuns introduce themselves, and promise to lead them to the Master Renegade's ship. Though it's grungy, it will serve to get them off-world.
Deep within Cybertron, Gong's boredom is interrupted by the arrival of a frantic Sideways, warning them of the impending arrival of Vector Prime.
On Quartex, the Autobots and Guardians locate the battered, but still living, body of their leader. The Matrix, however, is gone. Before they can process this information, they find themselves under attack by powerful living rocks, and again are forced to flee. Unfortunately the landscape itself seems to come alive to menace them. Things seemed dire... until the arrival of a horde of friendly Rock Lords, led by Kup. Magmar called a retreat, and the friendly Rock Lords introduced themselves to the battered Autobots and Guardians. Grimlock even initiates a brief party, interrupted when Major Mo struggled back to consciousness. Morale among the Autobots and Guardians is nonexistent, until Hot Rod rallies them and convinces them to head to Cybertron, retrieve the Matrix, and defeat Unicron. The Rock Lords have a ship of their own, and so the two vessels set forth for Cybertron.
Inside Cybertron, Vector Prime confronts Gong, only to be ambushed by Sideways. Ironically, Unicron's attack on Cybertron in response to Galvatron's machinations allows Vector to break free of the trap Gong had set for him.
The Grungy and the crystal ship of the Rock Lords emerge from space to see Cybertron itself under attack from a massive, planet-sized robot. They do battle, with the Grungy soon hit and plunging headlong into Unicron's eye.
The battle between Sideways and Vector Prime inside Cybertron occurs simultaneously with the battle between Hot Rod and Galvatron. Vector Prime struggles to reset the universe to its default state before the alterations result in Unicron's victory, as Hot Rod struggles to stay alive in the face of Galvatron's overwhelming superiority. Finally, Vector tricks Sideways into revealing himself and drives off the Decepticon, restoring reality. Hot Rod wrests the Matrix from Galvatron and finds himself coursing with energy, rising as Rodimus Prime. He swiftly subdues Galvatron and sends him plunging into the great unknown, then unleashes the Matrix within Unicron, destroying the dark god.
Vector Prime calmly observes the destruction of Unicron, keenly aware of how close to disaster Cybertron and indeed the entire multiverse had come. He flies off into the night.
Rodimus Prime rallies the Autobots and Junkions on Cybertron, pledging to take the momentum of the day and use it to build something great. Below the surface, Sideways attempted to repair his injuries, but it was slow-going due to the nature of Vector Prime's powers. Gong, who had overheard Sideways denigrating his own mental acuity, found the wounded Decepticon and advanced upon him menacingly.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
Quotes
"Tote that barge!" "Lift that bale!"
- —Crain Brain and Spoons have a different attitude towards breaching Autobot City walls than the Insecticons.
"Autobot buffoons! Time to eat beak!"
"Not this time, Renegade slime!"
- -Re-Volt and Blaster trade familiar, yet suitably GoBotified, taunts.
"Why throw away your life so recklessly?"
"The only thing I'm throwing anything will be the key, after I lock you up for good!"
- —Megatron and Leader-1 prepare for an epic smackdown.
"They're closing on us!"
"Yup, like the Quick-Steps of Zeeros!"
"How'd you beat them?"
"I'm trying to remember, we lost a lot of good Autobots on Quartex... oh, yeah, we re-routed the gravity dampeners!"
- Hot Rod and Kup have a familiar conversation with a GoBots twist.
Hot Rod "Cybertron. We've got to get to Cybertron!"
Solitaire "Quartex is not without recourse when it comes to space travel." (points to a gleaming tower of crystal)
Kup "That's a ship?"
Hot Rod "Who cares, as long as it flies?"
- Familiar dialogue, slightly later in the story.
"And you think I fear death? I WELCOME death! The sweet embrace of oblivion is a nectar most dear to me."
- Sideways embraces his inner nihilist.
Notes
- There is a large number of substitutions, with a Guardian or Renegade temporarily taking the place of an Autobot or Decepticon. These substitutions include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Cy-Kill for Megatron (naturally)
- Fitor for Shockwave (ever-loyal #2)
- Zero for Starscream (ambitious, disloyal underling)
- Dr. Go for Soundwave (the scientist/creator)
- Leader-1 for Optimus Prime (again, naturally)
- Major Mo for Ultra Magnus (seasoned veteran soldier)
- Tri-Trak for Hot Rod (impulsive young hotshot)
- Blaster (the GoBot) for Blaster the Autobot (snort!)
- Puzzler for Devastator (combiner for combiner)
- Courageous for the Dinobots (the heavy hitters)
- Nick and A.J. for Daniel (two for the price of one!)
- Matt and Anya for Spike (GoBots had more humans than Transformers, didn't it?)
- Turbo for Jazz (seems apt)
- Scooter for Bumblebee (kid appeal)
- The RoGuns for Wheelie (annoying small companions)
- Space Hawks for Autobot frigates (smaller ships)
- Command Center for Autobot shuttles (larger ships)
- Antares III for Quintessa
- The Master Renegade and the Monster GoBots for the Quintessons and their minions
- Quartex for Junkion
- The Rock Lords in place of the Junkions
- Some events unfold differently, due to the substitution of GoBots for Transformers. Notably:
- Cy-Kill spares Ironhide during the attack on the ship, thinking he might find some use for the Autobot
- Nick warns Hot Rod to avoid Kup's barrier, leading him to dodge around it.
- Leader-1 never considers killing Megatron after the conclusion of their battle.
- Tri-Trak can't bear the guilt of helping to kill Leader-1, and leaves his deathbed early. This causes the Matrix to fall to the floor.
- Major Mo is less flustered by the death of Hot Rod and Kup than Ultra Magnus was.
- Major Mo willingly surrenders the Matrix to Galvatron in exchange for the lives of his crew, and is subsequently spared (though heavily damaged) by Galvatron.
- Several GoBots characters are mentioned, but do not appear in the story. These include Zod, Scales, General Newcastle of UNECOM, Steamer, Quick-Step, Snarlie Narlie and various other types of Narlies, and the Last Engineer.
- Many GoBots playsets and vehicles also appear, including the Command Center, Thruster, and Space Hawk class of ships, the Gobotron Fortress, and the Stonehead, Rock Pot, and Stone Wing Rock Lord accessories.
Transformer references
- The entire story is a retelling of The Transformers: The Movie with GoBots elements jumbled in.
- The story is broken into four parts, with each part sharing a title with an issue of IDW's Transformers: The Animated Movie comic adaptation.
- Crasher and Spoons are rebuilt by Unicron into Fracture and Deadlift... toys that were designed as homages to the original GoBots characters.
- Likewise, the Sweeps are repurposed from the Dirt Boss toy.
- Kup tames a Dactyl, a Sharkticon-analog, and names it "Gnaw".
