The Fallen

"Welcome back," Alpha Trion greeted Waverod. "Are you ready?"

"For what?" Waverod wasn't sure what Alpha Trion had in mind.

"We're going to look at the Covenant of Primus. In particular, the post-Unicron stories. To understand the present, you must understand the past. Character types come back, transformed, of course. First, the end of the Alliance of the Primes."

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The Fallen stood among the ruins of Unicron's body. "Is he dead?" Prima shook his head. "Unicron can't die. But his body is destroyed. He is not a threat, at least for now."

"We should prepare for his return, however long it may be," The Fallen noted. Prima agreed. "Let us each think about how best to do so." Prima left.

It was your powers combined which fell Unicron, The Fallen heard. "Who said that? Liege Maximo, is this one of your jokes?" But Liege Maximo was nowhere to be found.

The voice returned. I am quite real, not a trick. If you want to be ready to defeat Unicron again, you must combine within yourself the powers of your siblings.

"Why? We can always join forces if we need to." But for how long? Even now, some are planning for a time when they won't be there. Some will give up their lives. Others will simply leave. Your father already sleeps. The coming days will see a race rise up. United, they would be unstoppable, but they will never be united, and separately, they will be too weak to help.

"But, surely not! My siblings will stand together!" 

Can you take that chance? I can give you the power you need to defeat Unicron. "How? Who are you?"

Take my gift, come and learn from me, and you will know. "I accept." Then tell your siblings you are going away to train.

The Fallen found his siblings gathered together. He announced his plan: he would continue to train, but away from the rest, on the other side of the planet. The Arisen said to him, "Be careful. If you need anything, please, do not hesitate to ask."

The Fallen's trek was long, but finally he set up camp. Yes, this will do nicely. "I am ready for your gift, and to know your name."

The Fallen stood motionless for a moment, then began to convulse. Fire appeared to surround him. "I am invincible! Neither Primus nor Unicron could stop me!"

But you know now what you must do. Your siblings will be jealous of your newfound power. "Yes, they are a threat now greater than-- than you. I must leave this planet, bide my time, until the moment comes for me to defeat them. And I know who you are now."

Indeed. Say it. Say my name. And he did.

Across the planet, Quintus Prime turned to his siblings, visibly disturbed. "The Fallen is leaving the planet. And his spark seems more powerful -- and corrupted." The Twelve stared at the readings as one. Onyx Prime spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "Unicron."

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Red text indicates an emendation of the original text in a visibly later hand. These emendations serve to obscure the original names of two of the Thirteen. The original text is unrecoverable, and their true names are likely known only to the Thirteen.