Chaos Theory Part 1

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File:Transformersissue22-CoverA.jpg
"Chaos Theory Part 1"
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published July 20, 2011
Cover date July 2011
Written by James Roberts
Art by Alex Milne
Colors by Joana Lafuente
Letters by Shawn Lee
Editor Andy Schmidt
Assistant editor Carlos Guzman
Continuity IDW continuity
Chronology Current era (2011)

Why did Megatron surrender...?

Synopsis

On Cybertron before the War Megatron and Impactor are sitting in Maccadam's New Oil House. Megatron has handed Impactor a treatise to read which calls for non-violent direct action to bring about a revolution. Megatron believes that the revolution will be about ideas and that violence solves nothing. Impactor seems sceptical. Meanwhile, at the bar, Rung accidentally spills the drink of a burly cadet. He offers to buy another drink but refuses to clean up the mess as he is not a service droid. The guards don't take kindly to this threatening him before knocking him out and throwing him across the room onto Megatron and Impactor's table. Impactor is none too impressed and emboldened by the large quantity of energon he has drunk goes to confront the group of bullies. Megatron tries to stop him but Impactor is determined to do what he always does in these situations; think with his fist.

The present day aboard Omega Supreme's rocket, Perceptor and Ratchet scan the captured Megatron for weapons. Finding nothing they discuss their captive and how he will be dealt with. Ratchet is freaked out and suggests dissecting him but Perceptor points out that he is a prisoner of war and has rights. Ratchet is not convinced and worries about the legend that Megatron can siphon anti-matter from a black hole and release it through his eyes. Perceptor quickly dismisses this and indicates to Optimus Prime that Megatron is safe for questioning. Prime has been watching through a gallery window with Ironhide and Xaaron. Prime thanks Xaaron for his advice regarding how Megatron should be dealt with but Xaaron responds saying that nothing ever happens on Kimia anyway and that he had to see Megatron for himself. He leaves to go and make Wheeljack an offer of a workshop on Kimia. Alone with Ironhide, Prime questions Megatron's motives, wondering if his nemesis wants the war to be over as much as he does. Ironhide offers to handle the interrogation but Prime denies the offer saying that Megatron is his responsibility and in many ways his greatest failure.

In a police cell Springarm, a police officer, checks Megatron's information asking for his name and where he created. He notes that Megatron has a clean record. Megatron asks where Impactor is and Springarm tells him that he is in a medical facility but that the cadets he beat up are in a much poorer condition. Megatron expresses concern for them asking if they will be alright. Whirl enters with a Communicube to relieve Springarm, responding with menace he says that they had better be alright, for Megatron's sake.

Prime finally goes to face Megatron pausing for thought as he does so. Once in the cell he instructs Omega Supreme to give them some privacy. The gallery windows close, much to the disappointment of a crowd of gathered Autobots. Alone at last Prime suggests to Megatron that they have a civilised conversation for once. Megatron points out that being restrained is not conducive to a frank exchange of views. Prime sees his point and releases him from his holdings. Prime invites his counterpart to be seated and asks him why he really surrendered. Megatron enquires about what is happening to his troops back on Earth. Prime tells him to ignore such concerns and to focus on this conversation, a conversation they have put off for far too long. Megatron tells him that this is because he has been busy conquering and killing. Prime retorts that all of Megatron's words are steeped in hate. Megatron replies saying that he learnt to hate in a prison cell, that he has an Autobot to thank for it, that hate sustains him and that his only two constants over the past four million years have been the presence of hate and Optimus Prime. Megatron qualifies this by saying that he doesn't hate Prime per se, just what he represents and the barriers he has put up to prevent Megatron's ambitions from becoming reality. Megatron asks Prime if he hates him. Initially prime responds with a yes but then changes his mind stating that 'hate' is too simple a word, that it may sustain Megatron but he is lessened by it. Megatron scoffs at Prime's sanctimoniousness and mocks his insecurity and self doubt. Prime tells him that he doesn't know him but Megatron denies this claiming to know Prime better than anyone and that this fact terrifies him. Prime tires of this exchange and bemoans the lack of progress their civilisation has made. Megatron points out that the game has changed, that the war is picking up speed. Prime questions Megatron's goals, asking what victory would look like. Megatron describes his endgame; dominion over the lesser species, the Autobots vanquished, a new Golden Age - peace through tyranny. Prime responds that they both want peace but that their view on the road to peace and what it looks like is very different. Megatron balks at the comparison and accuses Prime of doing nothing to achieve his goals while at least Megatron was prepared to fight to address the injustice in their society. Prime tells Megatron that he has changed since the start of the war and asks him if he remembers the first time they met. Megatron thinks that they first met at the battle for Sherma Bridge, they then reminisce about various battles they have had and the injuries they have sustained as a result. Both Prime and Megatron seem almost nostalgic as they remember their past victories and defeats, like two war-weary generals who realise they are opposite sides of the same coin. Prime offers Megatron his hand and says that if he wants they could end it all right now. Megatron silently refuses turning away. Prime tells him that he may die for his crimes but that he just wants to know why Megatron surrendered.

The Autobot High Command convenes to discuss the situation with Megatron and how this will affect how the other races will perceive them. Xaaron wants to make sure that there is a proper public, independent trial. Prowl agrees and Ultra Magnus suggests Chief Justice Tyrest who is recognised as neutral by the Galactic Council. The conversation turns to possible punishments, Xaaron informs the group that execution or life imprisonment are the two possible outcomes. Under Galactic Law the prosecution decides the sentence. Prowl and Magnus back execution but Bumblebee expresses doubt believing that this may make Megatron a martyr and that it is not the Autobot way. Prime tells him this is not for democratic vote but the decision will be his. Bumblebee is not happy about this but Prime says that as it is Megatron this rests with him alone. Rodimus casts doubt on whether Optimus can make the right decision and reveals that though the gallery windows were closed the audio feed was not shut down and everyone heard the cozy walk down memory lane the two leaders shared. Prime is livid, and demands that everyone leave. Once alone he sits, head in hands in despair.

In the police cell Whirl savagely beats Megatron blaming him for crippling his cadet friends. Megatron takes the beating in silence. Whirl threatens to kill the prisoner saying he will claim self defence and his death will mean nothing. Before he can carry out his threat Springarm stops him, horrified at what Whirl has done. Whirl tells him to leave but Springarm has orders to release the prisoner. Megatron is escorted to see the police Captain, Orion Pax. Pax had read Megatron's treatise and surmised that he was not prone to violence and the bartender's evidence backed this up. Orion tells Megatron that though he doesn't agree with everything in the treatise he is glad someone is voicing their concerns and encourages Megatron to keep it up.

Annoyed after the High Command session Prime returns to Megatron's cell and again demand to know why he surrendered. Megatron tells him to rephrase the question telling Prime that isn't really the answer he seeks. Instead Prime rants at Megatron laying singular blame on him for millennia of conflict, the billions of lives ruined, their race on the edge of extinction. Again Megatron insists that Prime rephrase his question, finally Prime asks if Megatron feels even the slightest remorse. Megatron responds with a no, that his only regret is that he didn’t do more while he had the chance, didn’t kill even more. Megatron goads Prime further by telling him he will always respond by killing on an industrial scale, that he would do anything to murder the last Autobot and doing so would give him great pleasure. Prime tells his prisoner that if he put a bullet between Megatron’s eyes the rest of the Galaxy would applaud his actions but that it is not about him. Megatron contradicts this saying it has always been about Prime, that the war made him who he is, that he is glad of it and should therefore be grateful to Megatron for starting it. Prime tells him that he knows his nemesis is merely trying to goad him into a reaction and grants this wish by activating the Variable Volt Harness. In the viewing gallery Rodimus observes sternly as the electricity courses through Megatron’s body. Recovering Megatron tells Prime that they first met in Rodion and thanks him for what happened back then.

Prime leaves the cell telling Omega Supreme that he should have cut the power to the VVH. Omega explains that he did, had he not Megatron would most likely be dead. Exhausted Prime pauses, resting against a wall. Ironhide finds him and asks if he has found out what Megatron wanted. Prime replies that he thinks he just gave it to him.

Outside the Rodion Police station Springarm bids farewell to Megatron and hands back his non-violent treatise on Cybertronian society. Megatron looks at it briefly before smashing it through a large screen. He walks away with fresh determination and a new perspective.

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons

Quotes

"They say he can use this weird inter-dimensional circuity to syphon anti-matter from... from a black hole. You know, in space. So."
"With respect, Ratchet, that sounds—that just sounds stupid."

—Ratchet and Perceptor


"So. How are we going to play this? Are we going to spend the next hour posturing, or are we going to rise to the occasion and actually have a civilised conversation?"
"'Rise to the occasion'? What is this, a summit meeting? I'm bolted to the wall, I'm riddled with inhibitor chips, and I'm precisely one rash gesture away from being electrocuted to death. It's hardly conducive to a frank exchange of views."
"Fair point. [unbolts] Take a seat."

—Optimus and Megatron


"I look back over the last four million years and recognize that there have been only two constants: hate... and you."

—Megatron


"Look me in the eye and say you want it ended, and it will end."

—Optimus


"Do you even feel the slightest remorse?"
"No."

—Optimus and Megatron


"Understand this. So long as you stand in my way- so long as anybody stands in my way, I will respond by killing. Murder on an industrial scale. Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would do so not simply as a means to an end, no. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me pleasure."

—Megatron

Notes

Errors

  • Jazz is seen amongst the Autobots who are viewing the captive Megatron, but issue #25 will establish that he should currently be on Earth.
  • Both Megatron Origin and "Spotlight: Blurr" had a pre-Prime Optimus sporting a body clearly inspired by Orion Pax. Here, before either story, Optimus is already in his usual Cybertronian Optimus Prime form.
  • Despite Megatron's recollection of being trapped in a gun alt-mode after the Battle for Hell's Point, Prime's recollection of the fight shows Megatron having the Don Figueroa-designed body that transforms into a Cybertronian tank. It is, of course, possible that Megatron was forced to withdraw and swap alt-modes in the midst of that battle, only to return later.
  • Several Cybertronian dates are mentioned this issue: Megatron was created in "1st cycle 012", and some major battles in the war took place in "2nd cycle 087" and "3rd cycle 199". Though it's not clear exactly how the Transformers' almanac works, this seemingly conflicts with Last Stand of the Wreckers #4, in which Ironfist claims the war had yet to begin by "5th cycle 522".

Covers (3)

  • Cover A: Megatron's head; art by Alex Milne and colors by Josh Perez.
  • Cover B: Megatron's head from Megatron Origin; art by Milne and colors by Perez.
  • Cover RI: Both heads combined into one time-spanning super head; art by Milne.

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