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Chapter 333: Scheming for the Tesseract
In the original lore, the description of the Transformers' Thirteen Primes was very vague and could only be inferred from many minor details.
After Primus and Unicron explored countless parallel universes, Primus fell into a deep slumber, his body forming the planet Cybertron. On this planet, due to Primus's power, thirteen powerful mechanical lifeforms were born. Each was an avatar of power and wisdom, a manifestation of a fragment of Primus's power.
They led Cybertron towards divinity and civilization and single-handedly forged countless powerful artifacts, such as the Matrix of Leadership, the Star Saber, and the Apex Armor.
Similarly, their internal conflicts also steered the mighty Cybertron in another direction—one that no one wished to see.
"Speaking of which, the characterization of these thirteen Primes is a bit confusing..." Tony said, rubbing his forehead as he looked at the thirteen silent figures.
The greatest achievement of The Thirteen Primes was undoubtedly defeating Unicron, the representation of chaos and destruction, who was on par with Primus.
The Thirteen Primes fought a bloody battle and, as artificial lifeforms, actually managed to repel Unicron. This should have been the starting point for a new era of glory, but unfortunately, this battle was also the beginning of Cybertron's nightmare.
One of The Thirteen Primes, Liege Maximo, became deeply obsessed with Unicron's immense power. As if possessed, he desperately pursued Unicron's power.
In the movie version, Liege Maximo fought a bloody battle with the other twelve Primes, only to turn around and slaughter them. He then became The Fallen, coveting Earth and the Allspark.
This was quite awkward. They were hailed as The Thirteen Primes, the ancestors of all Transformers, yet they were utterly crushed in a twelve-on-one fight...
In the comics, Liege Maximo was originally a member of the warrior group of The Thirteen Primes, the dark side of Prima. In terms of power, temperament, and preferences, he was completely different from the other twelve but highly similar to Unicron. He ultimately chose to fall, becoming an apostle of Unicron.
For the sake of power, Liege Maximo broke with the other twelve of his kind. In the ensuing battle, some died and others fled. After their departure, Cybertron, having lost the guidance and restraint of its leaders, plunged into millions of years of war.
Amidst the frequent wars, Optimus Prime grew from a mere archivist into the Leader of the Autobots, while Megatron rose from a gladiator in the arenas to become the Leader of the Decepticons.
(The Civil War lore for The Thirteen Primes is a complete mess; the movies, cartoons, and comics are all different. For example, the idea of The Thirteenth Prime being reincarnated as Optimus Prime. And especially that inexplicable Quintessa from the fifth movie. Her characterization was that of Primus, or at the very least, she should have been one of the Quintessons, rulers of Quintessa's Planet. Her design was based on Solus Prime, one of The Thirteen Primes, but she turned out to be a total weakling who actually got killed... A Creator who made the Transformers was killed...)
No matter how melodramatic the stories of these thirteen Primes' "past lives" were, none of it would happen here, in this world.
"They are the Guardians. Before you and Megatron mature, they will be the reliable Guardians of the Cybertronian Civilization," Tony said.
"Aren't you the Guardian of Cybertron?" Optimus Prime asked.
"No, I can protect you for a time, but not forever." Tony gave a faint smile. "When I'm not around, you will have to rely on yourselves. Remember, you are true living beings. You must learn to walk on your own and find your own path."
Silently, in his heart, Tony added, *This is what I owe you.*
He had embarked on a new path because of the Allspark, opening the door to a New World. By returning the role the Allspark was meant to play to those who deserved it, Tony acted with a clear conscience.
Of course, the Allspark was also a powerful weapon, and it was bound to his soul. At most, Tony could only separate a portion of it to serve as the core of Cybertron. That was the limit of what he could do.
He was also very curious whether Primus and Unicron would eventually emerge from this.
"In the Sphere of the Gods, there should also be two deities, the Lord of Order and the Lord of Chaos, as well as a powerful 'The In-Betweener'. If I get the chance in the future..."
Tony's eyes narrowed as he suppressed the thought. If it were possible, Tony wouldn't mind taking action at all. Those two, Order and Chaos, were no saints either.
"Who is Megatron?" Optimus Prime asked eagerly, pressing on.
"Hmm, Megatron... he's your... best buddy. Oh, I mean, he will become your comrade-in-arms. He is, um, very reliable... no, unreliable... that's not right either. Anyway, I'm sure you two will get along just fine."
Tony patted his chest, speaking with utmost confidence.
Optimus Prime looked completely bewildered. His logical thought processes were in disarray; he couldn't understand what Tony was saying at all, because the meaning Tony was conveying was itself chaotic.
However, this didn't stop him from becoming interested in Megatron. Since the Creator had said so, it must be true.
"Where is he? Is he like me?" Optimus Prime asked, looking around.
"He is still slumbering. It will likely take some more time for him to awaken, but it will be soon. I can already clearly feel his consciousness strengthening and his mind developing," Tony explained briefly. Before Optimus Prime could press further, he hurriedly made his escape.
He couldn't really explain something like this. Given Megatron's explosive temper, if words failed, fists would have to do the talking—a method that didn't quite mesh with Optimus Prime's peaceful nature...
"Hehehe. However, Megatron, if you really try to solve problems with your fists, you might be in for a rude awakening."
Tony snickered to himself. Within the Protoform CNA he had inscribed into the Allspark, Tony had mixed in plenty of his own special ingredients, which would give anyone who viewed the Transformers through an old lens a huge "surprise."
It was a mischievous little hobby of his.
He had already done what needed to be done. Although it was just the beginning and everything was still in its infancy, the future Cassetticons, Dinobots, and Wreckers would all eventually appear.
And iconic facilities on planet Cybertron, like the Iacon Archives and the Kaon Gladiator Arena, would one day become famous throughout the Universe, attracting countless curious beings to Cybertron.
However, there was still one more matter to resolve, a rather troublesome one: the Transformers' energy source. For now, Tony could still manage, but in the future, when billions of self-aware Transformers emerged, could they still rely on Tony's Allspark to provide their energy?
Research into Energon crystals was the top priority.
For Transformers, Energon crystals were the equivalent of food for humans.
"The Tesseract... It's been in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands for so long, and I've been patient for just as long. It's about time I made a move. Even if I remove the Space Stone inside, the Tesseract itself is a powerful energy core, making it the perfect research subject... Loki, oh Loki, when are you finally going to show up? You still have my Mind Stone..."
(end of chapter)
In the original lore, the description of the Transformers' Thirteen Primes was very vague and could only be inferred from many minor details.
After Primus and Unicron explored countless parallel universes, Primus fell into a deep slumber, his body forming the planet Cybertron. On this planet, due to Primus's power, thirteen powerful mechanical lifeforms were born. Each was an avatar of power and wisdom, a manifestation of a fragment of Primus's power.
They led Cybertron towards divinity and civilization and single-handedly forged countless powerful artifacts, such as the Matrix of Leadership, the Star Saber, and the Apex Armor.
Similarly, their internal conflicts also steered the mighty Cybertron in another direction—one that no one wished to see.
"Speaking of which, the characterization of these thirteen Primes is a bit confusing..." Tony said, rubbing his forehead as he looked at the thirteen silent figures.
The greatest achievement of The Thirteen Primes was undoubtedly defeating Unicron, the representation of chaos and destruction, who was on par with Primus.
The Thirteen Primes fought a bloody battle and, as artificial lifeforms, actually managed to repel Unicron. This should have been the starting point for a new era of glory, but unfortunately, this battle was also the beginning of Cybertron's nightmare.
One of The Thirteen Primes, Liege Maximo, became deeply obsessed with Unicron's immense power. As if possessed, he desperately pursued Unicron's power.
In the movie version, Liege Maximo fought a bloody battle with the other twelve Primes, only to turn around and slaughter them. He then became The Fallen, coveting Earth and the Allspark.
This was quite awkward. They were hailed as The Thirteen Primes, the ancestors of all Transformers, yet they were utterly crushed in a twelve-on-one fight...
In the comics, Liege Maximo was originally a member of the warrior group of The Thirteen Primes, the dark side of Prima. In terms of power, temperament, and preferences, he was completely different from the other twelve but highly similar to Unicron. He ultimately chose to fall, becoming an apostle of Unicron.
For the sake of power, Liege Maximo broke with the other twelve of his kind. In the ensuing battle, some died and others fled. After their departure, Cybertron, having lost the guidance and restraint of its leaders, plunged into millions of years of war.
Amidst the frequent wars, Optimus Prime grew from a mere archivist into the Leader of the Autobots, while Megatron rose from a gladiator in the arenas to become the Leader of the Decepticons.
(The Civil War lore for The Thirteen Primes is a complete mess; the movies, cartoons, and comics are all different. For example, the idea of The Thirteenth Prime being reincarnated as Optimus Prime. And especially that inexplicable Quintessa from the fifth movie. Her characterization was that of Primus, or at the very least, she should have been one of the Quintessons, rulers of Quintessa's Planet. Her design was based on Solus Prime, one of The Thirteen Primes, but she turned out to be a total weakling who actually got killed... A Creator who made the Transformers was killed...)
No matter how melodramatic the stories of these thirteen Primes' "past lives" were, none of it would happen here, in this world.
"They are the Guardians. Before you and Megatron mature, they will be the reliable Guardians of the Cybertronian Civilization," Tony said.
"Aren't you the Guardian of Cybertron?" Optimus Prime asked.
"No, I can protect you for a time, but not forever." Tony gave a faint smile. "When I'm not around, you will have to rely on yourselves. Remember, you are true living beings. You must learn to walk on your own and find your own path."
Silently, in his heart, Tony added, *This is what I owe you.*
He had embarked on a new path because of the Allspark, opening the door to a New World. By returning the role the Allspark was meant to play to those who deserved it, Tony acted with a clear conscience.
Of course, the Allspark was also a powerful weapon, and it was bound to his soul. At most, Tony could only separate a portion of it to serve as the core of Cybertron. That was the limit of what he could do.
He was also very curious whether Primus and Unicron would eventually emerge from this.
"In the Sphere of the Gods, there should also be two deities, the Lord of Order and the Lord of Chaos, as well as a powerful 'The In-Betweener'. If I get the chance in the future..."
Tony's eyes narrowed as he suppressed the thought. If it were possible, Tony wouldn't mind taking action at all. Those two, Order and Chaos, were no saints either.
"Who is Megatron?" Optimus Prime asked eagerly, pressing on.
"Hmm, Megatron... he's your... best buddy. Oh, I mean, he will become your comrade-in-arms. He is, um, very reliable... no, unreliable... that's not right either. Anyway, I'm sure you two will get along just fine."
Tony patted his chest, speaking with utmost confidence.
Optimus Prime looked completely bewildered. His logical thought processes were in disarray; he couldn't understand what Tony was saying at all, because the meaning Tony was conveying was itself chaotic.
However, this didn't stop him from becoming interested in Megatron. Since the Creator had said so, it must be true.
"Where is he? Is he like me?" Optimus Prime asked, looking around.
"He is still slumbering. It will likely take some more time for him to awaken, but it will be soon. I can already clearly feel his consciousness strengthening and his mind developing," Tony explained briefly. Before Optimus Prime could press further, he hurriedly made his escape.
He couldn't really explain something like this. Given Megatron's explosive temper, if words failed, fists would have to do the talking—a method that didn't quite mesh with Optimus Prime's peaceful nature...
"Hehehe. However, Megatron, if you really try to solve problems with your fists, you might be in for a rude awakening."
Tony snickered to himself. Within the Protoform CNA he had inscribed into the Allspark, Tony had mixed in plenty of his own special ingredients, which would give anyone who viewed the Transformers through an old lens a huge "surprise."
It was a mischievous little hobby of his.
He had already done what needed to be done. Although it was just the beginning and everything was still in its infancy, the future Cassetticons, Dinobots, and Wreckers would all eventually appear.
And iconic facilities on planet Cybertron, like the Iacon Archives and the Kaon Gladiator Arena, would one day become famous throughout the Universe, attracting countless curious beings to Cybertron.
However, there was still one more matter to resolve, a rather troublesome one: the Transformers' energy source. For now, Tony could still manage, but in the future, when billions of self-aware Transformers emerged, could they still rely on Tony's Allspark to provide their energy?
Research into Energon crystals was the top priority.
For Transformers, Energon crystals were the equivalent of food for humans.
"The Tesseract... It's been in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands for so long, and I've been patient for just as long. It's about time I made a move. Even if I remove the Space Stone inside, the Tesseract itself is a powerful energy core, making it the perfect research subject... Loki, oh Loki, when are you finally going to show up? You still have my Mind Stone..."
(end of chapter)
