****
3 days later....
The victim's husband, Sentinel Prime, now sits on the steps in the front yard. He's brooding, alone, with only the breeze accompanying him in his inner devastation.
It's winter, and it's snowing.
His hand was still holding a piece of paper, which was written by his late wife.
Shortly afterward, Nova Prime appeared there to meet her. Since he was in a wheelchair, he chose to stand beside her.
"Sentinel... I'm so sorry, I couldn't attend the funeral yesterday."
"How do I kill a Taken?" asked the Sentinel.
The topic of conversation was immediately turned by Sentinel.
"... Sentinel..." called Nova Prime.
"I'm sure, he must be the cause."
"...Sentinel!" called Nova Prime.
"If he were killed, I'm sure everyone would be immortal. We would be eternally happy."
"SENTINEL!!" Nova Prime shouted. "I've tried, he can't die," Nova Prime's voice was like a painful gust of wind.
"... There must be a way to kill him, the Taken must die, die, die." Sentinel clenched his fists and stood up. The look in his eyes burned hotter than fire, as he walked away.
"Sentinel!" Nova Prime grabbed Sentinel's hand to stop him from leaving. "... I came here to accompany you, because you're my friend, Sentinel. I'm worried about you!"
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault, I didn't kill the Taken at that time," said Nove Prime.
Sentinel was silent, he didn't say a word in response to Nova's words.
Nova decided to continue saying, "But Sentinel, without the Taken, something like this would still happen, because maybe it was destined to happen."
Sentinel he turned to Nova, his gaze sharp and glaring until his eyes were wide open.
Nova Prime then took the rather thick and large book he had shown her earlier from his chest pocket.
"I've been taking notes on a lot of information from the Taken I've been studying. Although it was very difficult to dig up the information, I've gotten quite a lot of facts from it," Nova said.
Sentinel took the book quickly. He looked at it.
"Maybe I can find an answer from here," said Sentinel.
The Sentinel then stood up and walked away.
"What do you want to do? Sentinel!"
"Sentinel, please... Don't go, Sentinel. You're right I'm annoying. Let's sit down and talk to each other, I promise I'll always be there for you. It's okay if you hate me, but Sentinel... let's sit down and talk about this like we used to," Nova Prime called.
Sentinel was far away, in the distance, stopped, and then said, "You could have killed him back then, but you didn't. Just because he was once your friend, you let the future world fall apart."
"I don't want to see you again, I don't want to remember your name anymore, and you better stay in your wheelchair until this is all over."
Nova Prime was silenced by Sentinel's hurtful words. His eyes continued to stare at Sentinel, who was retreating until he was out of sight.
***
Nova Prime started his wheelchair's engine. He headed somewhere, constantly greeted by people on the street.
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry. Wait a minute!" Nova Prime said to the crowd who continued to praise him.
Nova Prime continued his journey. Until he arrived at his usual haunt: the Prime Palace.
Once there he continued in, and went down the hall and down a room, it turned out he was going to the basement, he wanted to go to prison.
He passed through the hallway, and encountered several guards.
The guard reported, "Sir, Nova Prime. It's just right that you're here. I wanted to report but was afraid to leave my responsibilities. So last night, Mr. Sentinel Prime, he was the one who took the key from me, I didn't dare stop him, sir. And I let him in."
Nova then replied, "Okay, it's okay, Sentinel already told me."
The guard then handed Taken the cell key.
Nova Prime continued on, heading towards the Taken's special room. He descended the same long, deep staircase that the Sentinel had passed.
Nova Prime stopped for a moment to look at the doors next to the stairs.
'This is an emergency exit, and you'll enter a high-speed train in a long corridor. Why is it locked? What are the guards doing? Only a few people can access this door.'
Nova Prime unlocked the door he called the emergency exit. He claimed it shouldn't have been locked.
Nova then continued down the long stairs, continuing down without stopping to rest.
...
Nova then arrived at the gate to the Taken's special room. Taking out her special key, she inserted it into the lock. But she stopped in hesitation, confronting the Taken behind it.
*Note:
This special key is really sophisticated, because in this key is a fingerprint scanner tool for the holder, so when the fingerprint matches it is easy to open the Taken room, but if not then the key will contact the guard and Nova Prime automatically, then it will not work to open anything.
Nova made up her mind, turned the key, and opened it. The gate slowly slid open, revealing the prison bars shrouded in darkness.
Nova then pressed the button to turn on the light, even though the light that had turned on was still dim.
Taken was finally seen by the eye, he was seen sitting leaning against the prison wall.
"Taken..." Nova called.
"..." Taken stared intently at Nova Prime's face standing before him from behind the bars.
"...It shouldn't be possible for you to kill someone once you're here. But how?" Nova Prime asked.
"... What do you think?" Taken asked.
Nova Prime, let out a long sigh. "... huh..."
"While sitting in this wheelchair and looking at you. Nostalgia keeps spinning in my head."
"Taken... we can talk to each other. I might understand if you tell me—"
...
"... No!" said Taken.
Nova was silent, Taken's answer slightly disappointing him.
"... You know I don't have much to talk about."
"You're out of action and you're getting weaker day by day here. You don't even seem to mind being stuck here."
"... I remember back then... before all these eras began... growing up among the other legendary Primes in an unknown world. Where Cybertron began,"
***
500 years ago...
In outer space somewhere where several islands are floating in outer space, all connected by several suspension bridges to cross them.
Several buildings stand on each island. Among them, there's a fairly large island in the center, where all the bridges lead. There stands something resembling a vast temple.
Nova Prime, who was still young. Walking on the bridge that led to the largest central island and the temple there.
Someone in the middle of the island rang a bell to call people to head to the island immediately.
Some Cybertronians then went across the bridge, and some of them glided with jetpacks and screamed happily.
This is the Prime Era, where before the Cybertron Era began.
Today it will be official: the god Primus will create the planet Cybertron, ushering in the Cybertronian era. All Cybertronians will live on that planet forever.
"Come on faster, Taken," said Nova Prime.
Taken was behind Nova on the bridge. He walked slowly past her. But his face wasn't visible, even though he wasn't wearing a mask. But he had always worn a black cloak to cover his body.
"Come on, you don't have to be afraid, Taken. You won't fall because I'm here," said Nova Prime.
....
In the middle of the vast island, the Cybertronians, Prime, gathered.
In the center of the temple stood an alternate form of Primus. Primus was a massive figure, but here he appeared in an alternate form, resembling a Cybertronian.
"My beloved children, as I promised today, I will make official the dream of all of us, which is to live on a planet for the rest of our lives and our ancestors, Introducing the planet Cybertron, which is not far from here, it can be seen like the moon from here," said the god Primus.
"And I have chosen the most deserving person to be the best Prime to lead the planet. Someone who is talented and the greatest who is capable of holding this status," said the god Primus.
The Cybertronians cheered and then, the Prime candidates stepped forward, namely the 13 Legendary Primes, and one of them was Nova Prime and Taken.
They are the candidates who will be chosen in front of hundreds of other Primes there.
And this is where all the best Prime candidates get nervous, about to be chosen. Primus walks forward, circles them, looks at them, and chooses.
...
"Congratulations, you've been chosen!"
The audience cheered happily, Nova Prime was chosen by Primus.
Nova Prime shed tears of joy, and that was when Primus handed the Matrix to Nova Prime.
Nova Prime then stepped forward, addressing his witnesses.
"I am very grateful to my friends who have supported and respected the God Primus. If it weren't for your blessings, I wouldn't be able to stand here. From now on, I promise and swear for the rest of my life, as Prime, the holder of the Matrix of the leadership, to guide and manage our planet Cybertron," said Nova Prime.
Some of the Prime candidates were disappointed, while others cheered for Nova Prime's selection. Taken stood silently with his head bowed, not making any movement, not even cheering or applauding like the others.
One of the Prime candidates approaches the Taken.
"Hey Taken, come sit back there," said the person near Taken.
"Taken... I know you must be disappointed. How about I treat you to a drink? Drinking oil can reduce stress," said Sentinel to Taken there.
From a distance, Primus stared at the Taken. And the Taken stared intently, with its orange eyes, at Primus from afar. Eyes furious, trembling, filled with rage.
...
!!TRSKKK!!
Suddenly, Taken, with his bare hands, pierced the body of another Prime Candidate nearby.
"ARGHHH!!"
"Ahh! What happened there?!" said the people who witnessed it.
Taken then removed his hand from the Prime Candidate's body. But he also grabbed his heart.
He held the still beating heart, covered in blood, high up in front of the witnesses.
"T-Taken... w-why?" said Nova Prime.
Sentinel was so shocked, his legs went weak and he fell because of the terrible tragedy that had just happened in front of him.
...
A Prime Candidate suddenly fell lifeless before the Sentinel.
Taken then squeezed and crushed the heart which spontaneously shocked the witnesses.
Primus from a distance, staring with a serious look, did not expect something like this to happen beyond his expectations.
The Prime Candidate who was lying down was then Taken with his hands, tearing the skin off his steel face with force.
"TAKEN STOP IT!!" Nova Prime shouted.
Then, several of the Prime Candidates, who were also legendary Primes, arrived and attacked Taken to stop him. But Taken then managed to take his skull and use it on his own face.
The Legendary Primes immediately went all in on their Hypno Energy power to defeat the Taken.
Taken was thrown off the island by a kick from one of the Legendary Primes.
The other legendary Primes floating in space prepared with a snap of their fingers to launch a powerful burst of cosmic energy that exploded creating a bright and extremely hot light.
Primus was completely speechless watching what happened.
Nova Prime, who was beside Primus, was also silent as he saw what had happened.
Shortly after, the bright light began to fade. Something landed on the island, before them. The headless bodies of two Legendary Primes lay sprawled on the ground.
Taken appeared and threw both of their heads at Primus and Nova Prime's feet. He glared at them both and completely messed things up.
The other Legendary Primes came wielding their swords, surrounding the Taken in preparation to attack simultaneously.
"Forward!!" said several legendary Primes.
The legendary Primes advanced in the blink of an eye, then launched hundreds of slashes in a matter of seconds simultaneously, and left the Taken with no way to retaliate other than to let them slash at him.
Until the surrounding land was swept away and dug into pieces.
But Taken's body was very strong, the slashes actually injured his body until his blood smeared their swords.
Primus then said to Nova Prime, "Nova, you must know how strong the Taken is. He is a Guardian Angel who cannot be defeated by any means other than the power of the Matrix. You must finish this immediately, I want to handle this but right now I am only using my alternate body!"
Nova Prime was confused, all this happened so suddenly.
"Nova, son. I can't hold on any longer! My alternate form is about to fade. I'm sorry I can't help you, son," said the alternate form of Primus, he began to fade into dust.
****
Crshkk!! Bakk!! Crshkk!! The sound of someone's hand hitting someone. And the smell of rust, made my heart stop beating for a moment.
Where, Taken sat, his fists continued to land on the face of a Cybertronian, as if he wasn't satisfied, until the contents of his head, his brains were spilled out, he continued to beat him, even though it had been smashed to pieces.
The Witnesses or the Prime Troopers who witnessed them were terrified, because the Taken had truly become a monster and no one could defeat it.
The Primes continued to arrive relentlessly, running toward him with all kinds of sharp weapons. They forgot who the Taken were and continued to fight. Before long, the ground around them was a carpet of their defeated corpses.
Behind Nova Prime, there are still several Primes. They believe that the only one who can inherit Primus' power is Nova Prime. Nova Prime can certainly match the Taken.
...
Nova Prime's power is actually above Taken's.
Nova summons a sword weapon from the power of the Matrix and advances to face the Taken.
It didn't take long. With a few slashes, the Taken was unable to dodge and was forced to take the attack head-on.
Nova easily defeated him, because Nova's slash effect could paralyze his opponent.
Even though Taken has a mysterious power where he can summon some strange objects from underground and cut off Nova's legs, so that both of his legs were amputated.
Nova plunged the sword into Taken's back just before he fell, leaving him paralyzed, but still alive.
Everyone felt relieved and shouted in support of Nova Prime to kill the Taken.
Nova stood on his knees, raising the axe he was holding higher than his head, Taken must die because he betrayed Prime.
Taken closed his eyes letting Nova Prime decide.
The Sentinel there also continued to tell Nova to kill him immediately.
"Do it Nova!" said Sentinel.
...
"Why... Taken? Why are you suddenly like this? Is it... because I was chosen?" Nova asked.
"...You won't understand, Nova!" said Taken.
"What is it that I can't understand?" Nova asked back.
"..." Taken was silent, not answering Nova's question.
"HYAAHHH!!" Nova shouted as he was about to cut off Taken's head.
****
Taken, even though he's a Guardian Angel. A Guardian Angel's job is to guide Cybertronians to do the right thing.
But Taken destroyed his own title, without any clear reason. He wouldn't tell anyone, even when Nova, who had become his close friend, asked.
...
Finally, Nova's sword stopped just as it was about to slit the Taken's neck. Nova gripped the blade tightly, her breath trembling as she resisted the sword's action.
Taken stared at Nova, who had stopped her own actions. He said nothing, but then his gaze shifted to the ground and the sword that had branded itself on him.
"... What are you doing, Nova?!" Sentinel snapped.
"... I—I... can't do this, Sentinel," Nova said as she removed her sword from near the Taken's neck.
"What do you mean? Nova, before us is a villain, he has no heart. He only became your friend to take advantage of you!" Sentinel said to Nova who was still standing there.
"Primus taught us that we are all good people at first, and no creature is born evil. What changes them is how they are raised, whether by their environment or otherwise, and that determines who they are. Perhaps for those who are evil, they are good, and their brains act in an extreme defensive manner just to prevent the body's owner from feeling pain," Nova said.
"So... what's your decision?" asked Sentinel.
"...We'll take him to Cybertron, and I'll handle it," Nova replied.
Nova's response immediately sparked controversy among the crowd and witnesses. They debated and questioned the decision, some immediately disappointed, and others tried to accept it positively.
"He just killed a lot of people, Nova. And you decide something like this?" Sentinel's tears fell.
Sentinel continued, "Has the Matrix of leadership blinded you? Are their deaths meaningless to you, haven't you seen it? Taken doesn't seem like he's a Guardian Angel, but... he's... a Death Angel."
"Or perhaps you already know that?" Sentinel asked, glaring at Nova Prime.
Nova remained silent, not looking at Sentinel. But Sentinel's prediction seemed to be correct.
"... I don't know either, Taken never said... I have to take him hostage for other important information and my research, Sentinel,"
"Nova... Remember, the Taken can kill you at any time, he just can't beat you in a fight. If you die, then no one else can kill the Taken except your next chosen ancestor," Sentinel explained.
Nova stepped away from Sentinel,
"... Get your equipment and supplies ready. We're leaving this island,"
Nova stopped walking and turned his back on Sentinel.
"and... we're going to Cybertron..."
Nova glanced at Sentinel,
"Starting civilization there,"
Nova, he continued to go further than Sentinel.
"Hey, Nova...I'm not done talking yet!"
"Nova!"
Sentinel called out to Nova, but she didn't hear him. Nova stepped closer to the unconscious Taken.
Nova grabbed Taken's arm. She then focused the power of the Matrix into her legs, causing her to begin floating, ready to glide, carrying Taken.
Before he was actually about to launch, he looked at his supporters, some were shaking their heads, crying, and Sentinel down there was really disappointed, he didn't look back even though he knew Nova was going to launch.
Nova clenched his fists tightly, and shot out into space, heading towards the moon-like planet Cybertron.
****
Since then,
remembering that day has been deeply painful for Nova Prime. His inauguration as the first Matrix wielder wasn't greeted with much fanfare.
But Nova's resilience was immediately tested. He knew letting the Taken live was a mistake.
Nova turned her wheelchair around, leaving Taken to see only her back. "I knew it,"
Nova glanced at Taken. "People will still hate me in the end."
Nova started the engine of her wheelchair, "Taken... even though you remain silent... maybe I already know the answer."
Nova Prime closed the Taken prison room again, and with his wheelchair he left the room.
....
Taken, who was in there, reached for his food bowl, even though it looked dirty. Nova had placed some food there.
Taken was holding a piece of cake that looked delicious and sweet.
But, when he was about to devour it, he instead held it and stared at it for a long time.
The cake made him think about something. But, because he was hungry, he immediately devoured the food in his food bowl.
...
Behind the large door that locked the Taken, someone stood there, stroking the gate.
He is Scoruge, the man who came to the church to trap the Sentinels.
"I'll let you go soon..., Dad!"
To be continued....