前言

? “State Games”是1986年年刊內(nèi)的變形金剛前傳小說，講述了在塞伯坦最后的和平年代（內(nèi)戰(zhàn)之前，約五百萬年前），汽車人領(lǐng)袖如何逐漸失勢、而霸天虎如何崛起的故事。在故事中，震蕩波和紅蜘蛛分別被設(shè)定為塔恩（Tarn）和青丘（Vos）的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者，這似乎也解釋了為什么這兩個霸天虎（直至今日）一直試圖從威震天手中奪取霸天虎的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)權(quán)。

內(nèi)容梗概

• 汽車人至高領(lǐng)袖對塞伯坦的獨裁走到了盡頭，人民分崩離析，城邦崛起（鐵堡、塔恩、青丘為代表）。

• 角斗比賽旨在促進(jìn)各城邦之間的友好交流，卻產(chǎn)生了相反的效果，城邦之間的競爭演變成公然的敵意。塔恩市民、角斗能手，威震天，嶄露頭角。

• 青丘和塔恩之間爆發(fā)戰(zhàn)爭，逐漸演變?yōu)槿驙幎?。塞伯坦?jié)M目瘡痍。

• 威震天集結(jié)戰(zhàn)后（對汽車人執(zhí)政不滿的）難民，成立霸天虎。

正文

城邦競技

在塞伯坦角斗場的廢墟之上，霸天虎崛起了

? “威震天！”

? 一拳。飛毛腿（Sunstreaker）的頭盔被砸裂了。汗珠從他的前額滲出，雨般滴下來。

? “威震天！”

? 又是一拳，飛快地。飛毛腿的盔甲被擊碎、左臂幾乎被扯下。

? “威震天！”

? 一拳接著一拳，一拳又是一拳。節(jié)奏性的打擊呼應(yīng)著觀眾逐漸高漲的歡呼聲。

? “威震天！威震天！”

? 飛毛腿踉蹌地后退幾步。他緩緩抬起滿是傷痕的手臂，優(yōu)雅地摘下那已經(jīng)毫無用處的頭盔，擲向遠(yuǎn)處。汗和血（原文，fuel and lubricate，原意燃料和潤滑油）模糊了他的視線，使臺上的觀眾褪成一片震耳欲聾的呼喊。飛毛腿預(yù)料到這將是一場硬戰(zhàn)；威震天來自塔恩（Tarn），這個競技場對他來說有主場優(yōu)勢。但是事態(tài)失控了，嚴(yán)重失控了。

? 塞伯坦的城邦之間經(jīng)常舉辦角斗比賽。作為傳統(tǒng)，比賽的目的是檢驗參賽者的身體素質(zhì)和武斗能力。俗話說，重在參與。然而，比賽一開始，威震天便帶著必勝的殺氣和難以置信的兇猛。同時，這暴力的歡愉隨著場上觀眾的助威愈漲愈烈。絕望從飛毛腿的胸口噴涌出來，壓的他喘不過氣；他知道，這場比賽絕不是所謂的友誼賽。這是……

? 思緒被威震天鑿下的能量斧打斷了。飛毛腿的肩膀上出現(xiàn)了一條深不見底的口子。過度的疼痛已經(jīng)使他麻木。他感到周圍的世界逐漸離他遠(yuǎn)去，思維慢慢地被抽離身體；他看到自己被威震天甩到角斗場的邊緣，這種感覺那么不真實。觀眾變成了一只只餓狼，他們的嗥叫夾帶著緩慢而低沉的腳步聲——那是勝者的鐵蹄，一步一步向他逼來。 威震天舉起能量斧，飛毛腿的血液被熾熱的斧面灼成黑煙，緩緩?fù)蔬M(jìn)塞伯坦的冷夜。

? “威震天！威震天！威震天！”

改朝換代

? 汽車人的至高領(lǐng)袖（Autobot Overlord）慢慢睜開他的雙眼。場內(nèi)的歡呼聲此起彼伏，他也準(zhǔn)備好為角斗的勝利者頒發(fā)獎?wù)?。為了舉行這個儀式，他將自己充滿電。插座滋滋作響，他越來越力不從心。

? 至高領(lǐng)袖離大去之期不遠(yuǎn)了，他現(xiàn)在就像一臺老舊的蘋果手機，離不開充電插座。他是曾統(tǒng)治塞伯坦的最后一名汽車人領(lǐng)袖，其中的壓力對他這個歲數(shù)的老人并無益處。他始終不明白，是什么使各個城邦從汽車人的壟斷統(tǒng)治中獨立起來。他只知道，汽車人對于能源的貪婪促成了現(xiàn)在的局勢。

? 塞伯坦已經(jīng)面臨嚴(yán)重的人口過剩和老齡化。幾千年來（也許更長），人們已經(jīng)忘記了死亡是什么滋味；隨著新生的變形金剛被不斷制造出來，這顆星球終將面臨前所未有的能量短缺。

? 事實是，這一天早就到來了。城市之間相互競爭爭奪資源。塞伯坦最大的城市曾壟斷了本來就不富裕的能量來源。隨著能量短缺愈演愈烈，即使是至高領(lǐng)袖也無法阻止他的子民分崩離析。作為新生代最為強勁的城邦代表，鐵堡（Iacon）議會的執(zhí)政長老們利用他們的權(quán)力將能量分發(fā)給處境較差的鄰邦。

? 塞伯坦第二大城邦塔恩之軍師領(lǐng)袖——震蕩波，不會這樣無私；同樣的，青丘（Vos）獨裁者們的傀儡領(lǐng)袖——紅蜘蛛，把大部分能量儲備用于建立和維持軍事建設(shè)。

? “你看起來很疲乏?！币粋€黝黑的、貓形的變形金剛，故意放輕腳步走進(jìn)至高領(lǐng)袖的大廳。他優(yōu)雅地抬起自己的鐵爪，說話的時候嘴里露出雪白的尖牙。

? “什么？哦……夜行者（Nightstalker）。”至高領(lǐng)袖轉(zhuǎn)過身朝這位訪客走去，他的關(guān)節(jié)吱吱作響?！安?，老朋友，至少，沒比平時差到哪去。”

? “你該多多休息?！币剐姓咝χf。他和機器狗（Ravage）一起，作為保鏢服侍了好幾代至高領(lǐng)袖。有了鐵堡汽車人議會的存在，他就不用獨自面對將死之領(lǐng)袖的老年期抑郁。“比賽進(jìn)行的如何？”

? “比賽，”至高領(lǐng)袖搖頭道，“比賽根本沒有任何幫助?！?/p>

? 他將布滿皺眉的手搭在侍從的肩上。近幾年，城邦之間的局勢愈發(fā)緊張。他曾天真地以為這種情況不可能發(fā)生，而現(xiàn)在長老們都公開表示塞伯坦將難逃一場全球性沖突。

? 為促進(jìn)友好交流，至高領(lǐng)袖開展了城邦之間的競技比賽。趁他說話在塞伯坦還有分量。然而隨著比賽越來越知名，競爭越是了惡化了城邦間的不和（尤其是鐵堡和塔恩）。至高領(lǐng)袖起身，“我得去準(zhǔn)備……頒獎了?！闭f完，他陷入了意味深長的沉默。

窺間伺隙

? 機器狗隱在暗處，對于角斗的盛況不感一絲興趣。他本性僻靜，從不在意角斗場上嘈雜的歡愉。但今天不同，場上的好戲勾起了機器狗的好奇之心。威震天，一名令人生畏的戰(zhàn)士：他的打斗技巧和角斗意志，都實屬罕有。

? 威震天的過人之處可不止擅長角斗這么簡單。一名冷靜的、精明的策略家，才能完成他那無可挑剔的場上壓制；一名深得人心的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者，才能如他使大眾俯首稱臣。塞伯坦歷任的至高領(lǐng)袖都缺少這樣的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)才能。是的，威震天……他可遠(yuǎn)不止擅長角斗這么簡單。

? 角斗場內(nèi)，飛毛腿的意識已經(jīng)模糊。他聽不清楚觀眾的噓聲。他只能感受到一只冰冷的手掐在他脖子上。

? 威震天俯身，低沉又有穿透力的聲音從他那精心保養(yǎng)過的頭盔后傳出，“這場暴力的歡愉，是時候結(jié)束了?！?/p>

? “夠了！”

? 觀眾安靜下來，威震天聳起肩膀。他轉(zhuǎn)身盯著這名高大的深紅色的人物?！扒嫣熘?，”他吼道，“我并不受你的意愿左右！”

? 這粗魯?shù)拟枘姘殡S著一記重拳，教擎天柱一驚?；剡^神來，這位來自鐵堡的頭牌角斗手（指擎天柱）已經(jīng)躺倒在地上。擎天柱想要起身，但是威震天的攻擊并未間斷，泛著血光的能量斧鑿塌了擎天柱的胸膛。

? 飛毛腿已被遺忘。威震天朝擎天柱傾斜過去，舉起他的武器。突然……他的手臂變得沉重,無力地垂在身邊。威震天瞳孔放大，靜靜地瞪著擎天柱的槍口。

? “結(jié)束這場胡鬧吧。”至高領(lǐng)袖的聲音隱隱傳到場內(nèi)運動員的耳邊。他現(xiàn)在已著厚重的長袍制服，走入場內(nèi)，老態(tài)盡顯。

? 擎天柱站起來，收好槍?！拔业拇笕耍鹛炱髨D……”

? “無須多言，”至高領(lǐng)袖打斷了擎天柱，“你使這場比賽蒙羞，更使你自己蒙羞?！?/p>

? “但是……”

? “夠了，擎天柱。老夫?qū)壕忣C獎典禮。一個周期之后，我們再進(jìn)行友好的會面?！?/p>

? 機器狗從他的座位上起身，跟著夜行者進(jìn)入了塔里的領(lǐng)袖包間。難道至尊領(lǐng)袖天真到無視威震天的野心？可能吧，也可能注意到了，無妨。畢竟，他將不久于人世，塞伯坦的未來都與他無關(guān)了。機器狗走進(jìn)陰影中，他思索道，今天在角斗場發(fā)生的一切，將為塞伯坦開啟新的篇章。

蓄意破壞

? 塔恩。

? 天空中劃過閃電，發(fā)電站安靜的讓人不安。競技伊始，只有極少的工作人員值班。如果所有的員工都在崗，破壞團伙不可能在不被發(fā)現(xiàn)的情況下就輕松定位主發(fā)電機。

? 龍卷風(fēng)（Tornado）把手搭在發(fā)電機的冷卻系統(tǒng)上?！安毁M吹灰之力，”他說“我就可以釋放出必要的力量來夷平這座可憐的城市。我們?yōu)槭裁匆衿胀ㄗ锓敢粯佣阍诤诎抵?？?/p>

? 一個高大的汽車人堅定地走向龍卷風(fēng)。他的銀色身體一反常態(tài)地沒有標(biāo)志，除了一個小徽章，這枚徽章提示他是青丘的一名高級軍官?！澳悴恍枰罏槭裁?，”他說，“我們這么做是因為我們被要求這么做！”

? 說罷，這名軍官便退后，將帶來的炸藥放置在發(fā)電機周邊。該發(fā)電廠的破壞，將對未來青丘的發(fā)展至關(guān)重要。對于如此程度的公然破壞，塔恩必定不會善罷甘休。如果有證據(jù)顯示鐵堡的特工涉嫌……大戰(zhàn)一觸即發(fā)。

? 當(dāng)然，青丘會保持嚴(yán)格的中立……至少要等到塔恩和鐵堡相耗殆盡，屆時青丘將無人能敵、便可爭霸全球。這是一個簡單而有效的計劃。但計劃總是趕不上變化。沒料到這時竟然有一名汽車人工程師閑步進(jìn)入了發(fā)電室。

? 工程師驚愕地打量著這一小群外來人?！疤熳鹪谏?，”他喃喃道，把進(jìn)發(fā)電室要做的事忘的一干二凈?！拔艺J(rèn)得你們，你們是青丘的運動隊員！”

? 工程師轉(zhuǎn)身逃出了房間。這一小隊所謂的運動員潛入這么重要的發(fā)電室就已經(jīng)足夠叫人起疑，更何況工程師都看見了綁在發(fā)電機上的炸藥。即使是再頭腦簡單的人，也能明白這些人的低劣企圖吧！

? 工程師走出房間后立馬打開手腕上的通訊器，發(fā)了一條急訊給保衛(wèi)科。結(jié)果卻是徒勞。龍卷風(fēng)用風(fēng)場將這名汽車人托舉在空中，并將他甩向發(fā)電機。工程師重重地摔在地上，雙腿折斷。

? 他身上唯一的生命跡象是來自他的通訊器：“工程師……滋滋……我們需要確認(rèn)你剛才發(fā)送的訊息，發(fā)電站的安保是否被青丘的特工破壞？工程師，請回話……”

? 這一小隊人馬返回青丘后一刻鐘（1/4個塞伯坦時間周期），炸彈被引爆。塔恩的發(fā)電站陷入一片火海，照亮了黑夜的天空。城市的另一端，無數(shù)汽車人望著天邊那道“璀璨”的光輝，心中愈發(fā)的惶恐。

開戰(zhàn)之時

? 薩隆大公（Emirate Xaaron，注：汽車人長老的議會主席）走進(jìn)天朝神殿（Celestial Temple）。自從塔恩向青丘宣戰(zhàn)以來，鐵堡的裁決議會就陷入了僵局。然而，汽車人們相信，今天的會晤將為目前的情況帶來轉(zhuǎn)機。

? “戰(zhàn)況如何？”當(dāng)大公進(jìn)來時，Tomaandi（注：汽車人長老議會成員之一）問道。

? “如我們所料，”薩隆回答，“青丘的特工摧毀了塔恩的發(fā)電站，并且……”

? “是的……青丘的防御網(wǎng)絡(luò)似乎很薄弱，雙方的沖擊部隊肆無忌憚地越過了邊境?！?/p>

? “還有難民呢，”Tomaandi繼續(xù)道，“他們怎么樣了？”

? “他們暫被安置于別的城邦中，”薩隆答道。兩座城邦內(nèi)的汽車人都蜂擁至鐵堡。鐵堡給予他們食物和避難所。薩隆相信，難民只是目前的難題之一，而且這個難題并未被議會很好地解決。他抬起頭環(huán)視了一周議會大廳?！疤乩蠈④姡?span id="s0sssss00s" class="color-gray-02">General Traachon，注：汽車人議會的高級議員，政治領(lǐng)袖），我再一次力勸您向戰(zhàn)區(qū)排出維和部隊。”

? 特拉肯站起身?！安?！”他吼道?！拔也辉试S鐵堡的軍事力量介入這場爭端，不論是維和還是別的原因。此外，你有沒有考慮過，如果青丘和塔恩繼續(xù)自相殘殺，也許符合我們的最大利益？”

危險旅程

? 威震天眺望了一眼他家鄉(xiāng)塔恩的廢墟，他對塔恩已經(jīng)不抱希望。他的命運被綁在鐵堡。只有在鐵堡他才能組建一支足夠強勢的隊伍來實現(xiàn)自己的理想。他意圖將塞伯坦打造成移動軍事要塞（即#1中提過的無畏艦計劃），進(jìn)軍宇宙。威震天的嘴角上揚，機器狗走過來。

? “你認(rèn)為現(xiàn)在的情況很樂觀？”機器狗問道。

? “噢，”威震天答道，“現(xiàn)在的形勢樂觀之極！”這位將死城邦的角斗冠軍在他命運的轉(zhuǎn)折點仰天長嘯。他已經(jīng)與擎天柱和汽車人至尊領(lǐng)袖結(jié)盟。擎天柱一心要護(hù)送至尊領(lǐng)袖到鐵堡安全的地方去，由于塔恩發(fā)電站的毀壞，目前唯一的辦法就是徒步經(jīng)過戰(zhàn)區(qū)。路途艱辛，多一個伙伴多一份安全。本來就決定獨身前往鐵堡的威震天，主動提出協(xié)助護(hù)送至尊領(lǐng)袖。

? 他們的行程并不順暢，一方面因為總是遇上攔路的突擊部隊，另一方面因為至尊領(lǐng)袖總是需要充電。他們終于就要接近鐵堡的邊境。只差一條路的距離，他們就安全了。

? 威震天轉(zhuǎn)身盯著至高領(lǐng)袖休憩的建筑，那地方曾是塔恩的邊境堡壘。至高領(lǐng)袖年邁的身體不堪承受這一路的艱辛。擎天柱恭敬地俯身，盡可能地幫助這位老者。

? 威震天等待這一機會太久了，他小心地越過塔恩邊境。那里，像垃圾一般，堆砌著被隨意丟棄的的汽車人尸體。他好不容易走到路中間，努力保持著平衡——地面上的結(jié)構(gòu)已經(jīng)不穩(wěn)定，在他面前裂出一條長長的縫。等威震天反應(yīng)過來，他正向塔恩的底層墜落。他感到右手一陣牽扯似的劇痛，便喪失了意識。

救援行動

? 威震天醒來看到擎天柱站在他身邊。

? “幸好我拉住了你，”擎天柱的語氣中充滿了對威震天擅離職守的責(zé)備?！拔覀儸F(xiàn)在需要另找一條路去鐵堡，每個人都必須一起努力。”

? “恐怕這是行不通的?！?/p>

? 擎天柱緩緩轉(zhuǎn)過身來，看到夜行者?！澳鞘菫楹?？”他問道。

? “多走一步都會要了至高領(lǐng)袖的命，恐怕?lián)尾坏借F堡了?！?/p>

? “你們?nèi)耸卦谶@里保護(hù)他，”擎天柱說，“我去鐵堡搬救兵?！?/p>

? “這就要花掉好幾天的時間。”夜行者抗議。“而至高領(lǐng)袖現(xiàn)在就需要醫(yī)療救治，何況……”

? “我會盡快?！闭f完，擎天柱轉(zhuǎn)身越過路面的溝壑，消失在了道路的鏡頭。

? 對于夜行者，塔恩從未如此平靜。戰(zhàn)前，塔恩生機勃勃，歌舞喧囂；現(xiàn)在，夜籟寂寥。死氣沉沉的，不只這寂寥的夜，還有至高領(lǐng)袖每況愈下的身體。他走到主人的身邊，祈禱著擎天柱的回歸。

? 突然，這寂寥被一聲槍擊打破，與此同時，夜行者的導(dǎo)彈發(fā)射器被激光融化。

? “該死……”夜行者抬起頭看到一小隊突擊部隊，塔恩現(xiàn)在僅存的部隊正向他們快速移近。

? “趴下！”

? 夜行者趕忙躲避，爆炸擊中了移動在最前方的部隊。狼煙和殘骸散去，夜行者看到威震天將地上尸體的加農(nóng)炮綁在手臂上。機器狗就在旁邊，他的導(dǎo)彈隨時都準(zhǔn)備發(fā)射。

? “快！撤回！他們很快就會重新集結(jié)并發(fā)動第二次攻擊！”威震天吼道。

任務(wù)收尾

? 時間過去良久。即使是手握致命武器的威震天也無法解決眼前的雙重困境，一是前方不斷逼近的突擊部隊，一是后方斷裂的道路。

? “機器狗。”威震天呼喊道，“這樣是行不通的，我們唯一生還的機會，就是把后方斷裂的道路給補上。跟我一起？”

? “不！”夜行者欲只身對抗突擊部隊，“你們不能扔下至高領(lǐng)袖，你們不能……”

? 這位老保鏢很快就被突擊部隊踩在腳下，一名軍官就要將他殺死。突然，雷鳴般的爆炸摧毀了整支隊伍。

? 威震天的眼睛被暫時閃瞎了，在視力恢復(fù)之前只好保持一動不動?！鞍l(fā)生什么了？”他輕聲問道。

? “是炸彈，”機器狗解釋?！按_切地說，是一大顆炸彈。至高領(lǐng)袖的所有保鏢都裝配了那玩意兒，作為最后防線。成效顯著，你覺得呢？”

? “請……幫幫我?！?/p>

? 剛才焦灼的交戰(zhàn)使大伙都忘了至高領(lǐng)袖的存在。威震天走過去問道?！坝泻畏愿?？”

? “你的能量，我需要一點你的能量，”垂死的領(lǐng)袖虛弱地乞求。“拜托了，只要等到擎天柱回來，拜托了……”

? “不，老家伙，”威震天鄙夷地笑道，“不會再有能量給你了?！敝粮哳I(lǐng)袖一死，就少了一個對抗他未來計劃之人。而且，很容易就能讓擎天柱和其他鐵堡人相信，至高領(lǐng)袖太老了，心理無法承受遭受攻擊的壓力……

? 至高領(lǐng)袖眼巴巴地看向他的另一名保鏢。

? “問都別問。”機器狗低聲咆哮，“塞伯坦的權(quán)力天平已經(jīng)傾斜，而我要倚靠這個星球未來的統(tǒng)治者?！?/p>

? 在生命最后時刻，映入至高領(lǐng)袖眼簾的，是機器狗緩緩地大步走向威震天。

險惡發(fā)源

? 威震天在高高的講臺上，望著人滿為患的會堂——他們都曾是塔恩和青丘的市民，他們都曾為自己汽車人的身份感到自豪。但是青丘和塔恩已經(jīng)不存在了，它們被兩枚光子導(dǎo)彈爆炸的熾熱光芒所吞噬。

? 威震天不知道是什么情況讓兩地同時發(fā)射了塞伯坦的“最終武器”……他也不關(guān)心。只有一件事要緊，那就是戰(zhàn)爭的幸存者以從未有過的形式團結(jié)在一起。同樣的，他們都感到無助和沮喪。

? 利用他們的苦難，威震天要做的很簡單。他只需讓大家相信，鐵堡議會本有能力結(jié)束這場紛爭。更讓威震天滿意的是，甚至有人相信鐵堡為了壟權(quán)才引發(fā)了一系列的動蕩。

? 這位前角斗士舉起手，躁動的觀眾們安靜下來?！拔覀兊牡匚惶岣吡?，我們的武器儲備增加了。”他吼道，“但我們?nèi)孕璧却龝r機。自今日起，我們不再僅僅是變形金剛，我們也不再是汽車人——我們是霸天虎。在鐵堡人最意想不到的時候，我們會向他們復(fù)仇！”

? 當(dāng)威震天走出會堂，他仍能聽見堂內(nèi)的霸天虎高吼喝彩。他們反復(fù)贊頌著一個名字，是他的名字。

? “威震天！威震天！威震天！”

完。

后續(xù)

領(lǐng)袖降臨（1985年年刊漫畫 ' And There Shall Come...a Leader!'）

? 內(nèi)戰(zhàn)打響，霸天虎正在攻擊塞伯坦的首都城邦鐵堡。這是塞伯坦內(nèi)僅剩的未被霸天虎攻占之地，亦是汽車人長老們最后的藏匿處。

? “特拉肯議員，我懇求您，以您的權(quán)力，解放被壓迫的鐵堡人，放手讓他們?nèi)?zhàn)斗，而不是坐以待斃?！碧斐竦睿?span id="s0sssss00s" class="color-gray-02">Celestial Temple）內(nèi)，薩隆大公（Emirate Xaaron）繼續(xù)對特拉肯提議。鐵堡就要失守，這可能是他們最后一次議會。

? “有誰可擔(dān)此重任？”特拉肯這一次有些動搖。

? “有一位人選，”薩隆保存最后一絲希望，“擎天柱?！?/p>

? “鐵堡只剩下最后一層防線，” Tomaandi議員反駁道，“而現(xiàn)在霸天虎們正在重整軍姿，我們的隊部潰不成軍。我們完蛋了！”

? “胡說！”薩隆義憤填膺道，“我們的隊部潰不成軍，全都因為你這樣的無能之輩瞎指揮，Tomaandi。我們要把軍權(quán)交出去，交給真正的戰(zhàn)士，真正的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者！”

? 在戰(zhàn)場上，擎天柱同時協(xié)調(diào)指揮多個突擊小隊。他現(xiàn)在還沒有軍權(quán)，只能眼睜睜地看著自己的部下逐一倒下、束手無策。同時，他也在焦急地等待藍(lán)霹靂（Bluestreak） 和融合（Fusion）帶來軍備補給——爆破炸彈。

? “他們在哪兒呢？”擎天柱自言自語。

? 另一邊，在返回的路上，藍(lán)霹靂和融合被霸天虎的飛行軍追擊，霸天虎炸毀了他們前進(jìn)的路。藍(lán)霹靂順勢一躍到了路的另一邊，而融合卻落在了后面被霸天虎擊毀......

? 與此同時，擎天柱被緊急從戰(zhàn)場上召回?！澳銈冏詈糜惺裁匆o事！戰(zhàn)場上還需要我……”擎天柱氣沖沖地進(jìn)入指揮部。而薩隆向擎天柱轉(zhuǎn)達(dá)了一個好消息，“擎天柱，特拉肯已經(jīng)同意將軍事指揮權(quán)全全交付于你，汽車人的命運就看你的了，放手干吧！”

? “終于，最終的勝利！”威震天從高處眺望鐵堡，滿意地審視著他的空襲隊部造成的損害?！拌F堡已經(jīng)失守，塞伯坦將臣服于我的腳下！”

? “聲波，匯報情況?！?/p>

? “議會外圍的汽車人部隊都被迫撤軍了，”一個優(yōu)雅的聲音回復(fù)道，“他們幾分鐘前剛接到命令進(jìn)行重組?！?/p>

? “好極了！”威震天大喜，“乘勢進(jìn)攻議會！我們將無人能敵。”

? “別太猖狂了，威震天！”擎天柱迎面出現(xiàn)，作了暫停的手勢，“你別想前進(jìn)一步。立刻投降，否則別怪我不客氣！”

? “投降？”霸天虎的領(lǐng)袖吼道，“進(jìn)攻！進(jìn)攻！”

? 最后一戰(zhàn)在通往鐵堡的橋上打響。依目前的汽車人軍隊當(dāng)然是無法對付霸天虎的，除非汽車人另有一手。

? 此時變速箱（Gears）正受擎天柱之命將爆破炸彈安置在橋下的支撐上。變速箱給了一個信號，擎天柱佯裝讓威震天的部隊前進(jìn)并占領(lǐng)橋上。

? “我也許被打敗了，威震天?！鼻嫣熘鹨话驯ё⊥鹛欤拔宜酪惨獛阋黄鹚?！”

? “快撤，汽車人們！”擎天柱被威震天的融合炮擊中，發(fā)出最后的指令。

? “我必須謝謝你，擎天柱。”威震天用他的槍管指著擎天柱（注：這一幕在角斗場似曾相識），“讓你的軍隊不戰(zhàn)而降，真是明智之舉?，F(xiàn)在，我只需扣動扳機……”

? 橋墩爆炸了，無數(shù)的霸天虎從橋面上墜落。威震天他的軍隊們被壓在橋梁的廢墟之下。

? 在充電器（Windcharger）的幫助下，擎天柱在落地前被安全接住。

? 鐵堡暫時得救了，霸天虎們也首次遭到了重創(chuàng)。

英文版 (By James Hill)

State games

Out of the ashes of a friendly contest, the Decepticons were born!

?

“Megatron!"

The first blow fractured Sunstreaker's battle mask. Fluid seeped across his forehead and down towards his face.

" Megatron!"

A second blow, this time unseen, splintered the Autobot's shield and almost severed his left arm.

"Megatron!"

Yet another blow and another. Another. A rhythmic assault timed to the crowd's growing chant.

" Megatron! Megatron "

Sunstreaker took a step backward, He raised his broken arm and with a single graceful movement he cast the now useless mask to the far side of the arena. Fuel and lubricant impaired his vision and the crowd blurred to a deafening roar. Sunstreaker had expected a hard contest; Megatron was a citizen of Tarn. And here in this arena he had the advantage of fighting in front of a home crowd. But something else was wrong……terribly wrong.

Gladiatorial contests were common throughout Cybertron. Steeped in tradition……they were primarily designed to test an individual's athletic ability, his aptitude with shield and energy weapon, his acrobatic skill, The actual combat itself was far less important.? Yet from the moment of entering the arena Megatron had fought with an unbelievable ferocity. Every vulgar movement timed to the swaying of his frenzied supporters. Each bestial attack punctuated by their screams. With growing horror. Sunstreaker realized that this was no ritualised conflict he was engaged in. This was…

…Circuit numbing agony as Megatron's energy axe loaded deep in the golden Autobots shoulder. The world became dull, the crowd somehow remote and then Sunstreaker was thrown to the arena's smooth surface as with a brutal tug, Megatron tore his weapon free from his opponent's body. Tarn's crowded citizenry howled their approval as their champion loomed towards his stricken foe, He raised the energy axe once more, his pace slow and deliberate. His weapon shimmering in Cybertron's cool night air.

"Megatron! Megatron! Megatron!"

?

LAST IN A LINE

The Autobot Overlord slowly opened his eyes. His circuits were now fully charged and the growing chant from the arena outside told him he d soon be presenting another winning gladiator with an award. Electricity hummed and sparked as with weary resignation he pulled away from the circuit-encrusted wall he'd been embedded in.

The fact that his energy levels now needed almost constant replenishing was but another indication of the Overlord’s great age He was last in the line of Autobots that once ruled Cbertron and this fact weighed heavy on him. What had finally caused the planet wide autocracy of his forefathers to give way to the lose collection of independent states that existed today, the Overlord could not say. But he was convinced that the Autobots thirst for fuel sources had contributed to the change.

The Overlord himself was testament to the fact that the people of Cybertron were a hardy race. For thousands of years, perhaps longer. natural death had been an alien content to them, yet with the creation of new Transformer life continuing unabated, it should have come as no surprise that one day the planet would face an unprecedented energy crisis.

That day had arrived. Cities swelled to capacity and competition for fuel had become an intense and bitter struggle. The largest of Cybertron's cities were able to monopolise the planet’s meagre resources and as the crisis deepened not even the Overlord of the time could prevent his people from fragmenting into countless groups. lacon emerged as the strongest of these newly-created city states and its council of governing elders used their powers to ration and distribute fuel to the city's less advantaged neighbours.

Not so Shockwave, the military ruler of Cybertron's second largest city, Tarn! nor Starscream, figurehead of the controlling dictators of Vos, who used their not inconsiderable fuel stocks to create and maintain vast armies.

"You seem tired." An ebony, cat-like Transformer padded into the cavernous room He moved with heavy lumbering steps, and pointed fangs, well kept and incredibly long protruded from his mouth as he spoke.

“What? Oh Nightstalker.” Overlord turned with stiffening joints towards his visitor. "No. old friend. At least no more than usual."

"Then you need much rest" Nightstalker grinned. Along with Ravage, he had been bodyquard to the Overlords for generations and he now thanked the celestial spires that he'd been spared the peculiar melancholy that seemed to take hold of them in the final centuries of their lives." Do the Games progress well?"

"The Games" the Overlord said shaking his head slowly, "the games do not progress at all.

He placed an ancient hand on companion’s shoulder. Recent years had seen an alarming increase in tension between the city states. lt appeared that now the unthinkable was no longer so and many openly expressed their fears that Cybertron was moving rapid along a path towards global warfare.

In order to promote good will. The Overlord had used his still considerable influence to organize an inter-state competition. However, the Games, as the competition became known had if anything widened the deadly rift between the city states, particularly lacon and Tarn. The Overlord rose, "it is time to prepare. . . for the award ceremony," he said, his words punctuated by a long, considered pause.

?

SOLITARYWATCHER

The spectacle of Gladiatorial combat held little interest for Ravage. He was a creature at home in shadows and the incessant noise of the spectators to such affairs held little appeal to his solitary nature. Yet now he watched, with mounting curiosity as a spectacular drama unfolded in the arena before him. Megatron was indeed a formidable warrior: he fought with a skill and determination Ravage not seen for centuries.

But there was more to Megatron than combat, His perfectly executed movements suggested the sharp, calculating mind of a true tactician and the manner in which he incited the crowd and bent them to his will, needed a particular spark of leadership Cybertron had not seen since the time of the ruling Overlords. Yes, there was more to Meqatron than combat…much more.

In the arena, Sunstreaker could no longer ear the crowd. The spectators continued to mock him but there was no sound. There was nothing but an icy grip at the base of the Autobot's neck. Meqatron bent lower, his voice whispered from behind a highly polished battle mask "lt is time this farce ended."

"That is enough!" The auditorium fell silent and Megaton shoulders hunched, turned to see a tall, crimson figure. "Prime," he roared “l(fā)’ll brook no interference from the likes of you!"

The savage assault took Optimus Prime by surprise, and lacon's chief athlete found himself lying on the floor of the arena. He tried to regain his footing but Megatron followed his attack through and a gleaming energy axe creased Prime's chest.

Sunstreaker now forgotten, Megatron lurched towards the fallen laconian. He raised his energy weapon and... his arm fell limply to his side. His eyes widened and ne silently stared into the barrel of Prime's photon pistol." put an end to this violence " The Overlord's voice carried poorly across the arena. He was now dressed in the heavy robes of his office and appeared to many amongst the crowd, old and feeble.

Prime stood and holstered his weapon. "My Lord. Megatron tried..." Silence." the Overlord cut in." You shame these games, but more important, you shame yourselves."

“But…"

“Enough, Prime. l shall postpone the award ceremony for another time cycle and until then, we should all endeavour to re-establish friendly relations.”

Ravage rose from his vantage point in the crowd and followed Nightstalker into the tower that housed the Overlord's chambers. Was the overlord so naive as to be unaware of Megatron's true nature? Perhaps…Perhaps not. It mattered little anyway, for the Overlord would be gone soon and with him the planet's ties to the past. And as he was swallowed by the shadows, Ravage reflected that quite possibly, what he had witnessed in the arena this day was the opening chapter in the bold new history of Cybertron.

?

SABOTAGE!

Framed by a lightning-streaked sky Tarn’s power plant lay ominously silent. Since the start of the Games, only a minimal workforce had been on duty. Which was unfortunate, for had the full engineering staff been present, the group of saboteurs would undoubtedly have been intercepted long before they located the main generator.

Tornado placed a hand on the generator’s cooling system, "it would take little effort" he said, "for me to unleash the power necessary to level this pitiful city. Why do we cloak ourselves in darkness, like common criminals?

A tall Autobot moved determinedly towards Tornado. His silver coloured body was uncharacteristically free from markings, save for one small insignia and this identified him as a commanding officer in the armed forces of the city state Vos. "We do so because we have been ordered to do so " he said "And that is all you need to know!"

The officer stepped back and began to lay the explosives the group had brought with them around the base of the generator. The destruction of this power plant was crucial to the future plans of Vos. After such a blatant act of sabotage, Tarn would almost certainly demand retribution and if evidence suggested laconian agents. . . the neighbouring cities would soon be at war.

Of course, Vos would maintain a strict neutrality. . . at least until lacon and Tarn were virtually destroved, and then with little effective resistance left to meet them, the armies of Vos would embark on a campaign of global conquest. It was a simple but effective plan. But it was a plan that failed to account for a solitary Autobot engineer strolling into the generator room. The engineer stared with horrified fascination at the small group of saboteurs, "By the primal program" he whispered, all thoughts of his forthcoming work forgotten. "I recognize you. You’re members of the athletic team from Vos!”

The engineer turned and began to make for the room's exit. That a group of supposed athletes had infiltrated such an important power station was cause enough for concern, but the engineer had seen the explosives strapped to the generator and even an Autobot of his limited thought processes could guess at the saboteurs' grim intention!

He opened his wrist communicator and began to broadcast a frantic message to the power plant's security officer. Yet this action proved futile as with ease, Tornado used his wind-creating powers to hoist the Autobot aloft and throw him violently against the side of the enormous generator. The engineer fell to the room's floor, his limbs twisted under him.

The only evidence of life was a faint crackle coming over his communicator:" Second engineer... we need confirmation of your last statement. Has station security been breached by agents from Vos? Second engineer, please respond...

A full quarter of a time cycle after the small band of agents returned across the border into Vos, their explosives detonated, consuming Tarn's power station in a hideous fireball. Night turned to day and across the city, countless Autobots stared at the brilliant radiance that filled the horizon with mounting apprehension.

?

WAR!

Emirate Xaaron entered the celestial temple. lacon's ruling council was dead-locked, and had been since Tarn declared war on Vos. However, the Autobot was determined that today's meeting would produce some positive action.

"How goes the war?" Tomaandi asked, as Xaaron entered the council room.

"It is as we suspected.” Xaaron replied. "Agents from Vos destroyed Tarn's power plant, and…”

“Yes... but there's been only minimal penetration of Vos' defence net and shock troops from both cities seem to cross the border indiscriminately.”

“And the refugees," Tomaandi continued, "what of them?"

They're being housed in various cities, " Xaaron said. Autobots from both warring states had flooded into lacon. They were offered fuel and shelter, but Xaaron was convinced that the refugees were only a symptom of a disease that the council had as yet failed to combat. He raised his head and looked across the council room. “General Traachon, I urge you once more to send a peace-keeping force to the war zone."

Traachon rose. "No!” he bellowed. "I will not allow a laconian force, peacekeeping or otherwise, to be caught in this conflict. Besides, have you considered that it's perhaps in our best interest if Vos and Tarn continue to destroy each other?"

?

DANGEROUS JOURNEY

Megatron looked out across the scarred wasteland that had once been his home city. Tarn held little for him now; his destiny lay in lacon. It was only there that he could hope to create a power base large enough to fulfil his ambitions. Ambitions that would transform Cybertron into a mobile battle-station, which could then be used to establish a galaxy-wide empire. Megatron smiled, and was still smiling when Ravage approached.

“You find our situation amusing?" he asked.

"Oh," replied Megatron, “I find our situation amusing in the extreme!" and the gladiatorial champion of a dying city laughed long and loud at the twist of fate that had allied him to both Optimus Prime and the Autobot Overlord. Prime had been determined to escort the Overlord to the safety of lacon, yet with the destruction of Tarn's power station, the only way to do so was by travelling through the central combat zone on foot. A treacherous journey at best, so recognizing safety in numbers, and having already decided to travel to lacon himself, Megatron offered to help Prime in his endeavour.

The group's progress had been slow, hindered by frequent encounters with groups of shock troops and by the Over. lord's constant need to re-charge his ageing circuits. But now they were nearing the border. One final expressway to cross and they would be safe inside lacon's boundaries.

Megatron turned and stared at where the Overlord lay in the shadow of a building that had once been one of Tarn's border fortresses. The journey across the city had placed too great a strain on the Overlord's feeble circuits and he was undoubtedly now very close to death. Prime was bent low, administering what help he could to the aged Autobot.

This was the opportunity Megatron had been waiting for, and with cautious steps he began to negotiate the non-functioning bodies of the Autobot warriors that littered the expressway into lacon. Maintaining a precarious balance, he managed to walk halfway across the gleaming structure before a weakened support shattered - producing a gaping hole in the expressway.

There was no time to react and Megatron, all thoughts of war-worlds and galactic empires forgotten, found himself falling to Tarn's lower levels. The last thing he experienced before losing consciousness was a sharp, tugging pain in his right arm.

?

RESCUE

Megatron awoke to see Prime standing above him.

“It was fortunate I was able to prevent your fall," the laconian said, his words tinged with contempt for Megaton's attempted desertion of the group. "For we'll need all our strength if we're to find an alternative route into lacon."

“I'm afraid that will be impossible."

Prime slowly turned to see Nightstalker approaching. "Why is that?" he asked.

"The Overlord cannot be moved just now... he'd never survive another journey.”

"Then you three must remain here to guard him," Prime ordered. "I'II travel to lacon alone and return with help."

“But that will still take days," Nightstalker protested. "The Overlord is in need of immediate medical attention and.

"I do not intend to try to map a different route into lacon." With that, Optimus turned, leapt over the hole in the expressway and was soon out of sight.

To Nightstalker Tarn had never seemed more peaceful. Before the war the city had teemed with life - boisterous and loud; yet now all seemed silent.

It was a deathly silence which reminded Nightstalker of the Overlord's deteriorating condition and he began to walk towards his master, hoping all the time that Prime would return.

An electron pistol suddenly flared in the darkness and almost simultaneously a high intensity laser beam melted Nightstalker's missile launcher.

“What?" Nightstalker raised his head and saw a small force of shock troops, members of Tarn's now all but defunct military, moving quickly towards him.

"Down!"

Nightstalker ducked and the first of the advancing shock troops were caught in a tremendous explosion. The smoke and debris cleared and the cat-like Transformer turned to see Megatron, a fusion cannon from one of the dead warriors on the expressway strapped to his arm. Ravage was standing by, his missiles primed and ready to launch.

"Quickly, move back! They'll re-group soon and attack a second time," Megatron bellowed.

?

FINAL MISSION

Time cycles passed and despite Megaton's deadly weapon, the group found themselves trapped between the shock troops and the impassable expressway.

"Ravage!" cried Megatron. "This is proving fruitless. Our only hope of survival lies in somehow bridging the hole in the expressway. "Are you with me?"

"No!" Nightstalker leapt into the pack of shock troops. "You can't abandon the Overlord now - you can't!"

The ancient bodyguard soon began to buckle beneath the troops' relentless blows and as an officer prepared to render Nightstalker non-functional, the entire group were destroyed in a thunderous explosion.

His eye circuits momentarily blinded, Megatron could do nothing but remain still. "What happened?" He whispered.

"A bomb," Ravage explained. "Quite a large bomb to be precise. All Overlord bodyguards are fitted with them. They're designed as a last line of de-fence. Most effective, don't you agree?"

"Help... please."

Forgotten in the heat of the battle, Megatron now walked over to the Overlord. "Yes?" he asked.

“Your energy... I need some of your energy," the dying Autobot begged. "Please, just until Prime returns, please.”

"No, old one," Megatron sneered. "No energy for you!" He smiled a humourless smile. With the Overlord dead, there would be one less to oppose his future plans. And it would be easy to convince Prime and the other laconians that the shock of coming under attack had proved too much for the Overlord's weakened circuits.

The Autobot Overlord turned his gaze towards his bodyguard.

"Do not even consider asking the same of me," Ravage growled. "The balance of power on Cybertron is changing and I have chosen to ally myself with the planet's future ruler.”

The final sight to greet the Overlord before becoming non-functional was Ravage slowly stalking over towards Megatron.

?

DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENTS

From his raised dais, Megatron gazed at the seemingly countless Autobots that crowded the auditorium - Autobots who had once been proud citizens of Vos and Tarn. But Vos and Tarn no longer existed. They had been consumed in the fiery light of two exploding photon missiles.

Megatron did not know what had led to both cities simultaneously launching Cybertron's ultimate deterrent'. He didn't care to know. All that mattered now was that the survivors of the war were united as never before. United in their feelings of hopelessness and frustration.

It had been such a simple task for Megatron to play upon this bitterness, to convince the refugees that lacon could have ended the conflict. but had failed to do so. And it was with satisfaction that Megatron had learned that many of those gathered in front of him now believed lacon had actually caused the war, in an attempt to be rid of its more powerful neighbour.

The ex-gladiator raised his arms and the restless crowd fell silent. "Our ranks have swollen, our stockpiles of weapons grown." he bellowed, "but still we must bide our time. From this day forward, we are not merely Transformers, we are not Autobots - we shall call ourselves Decepticons. And when they least expect it, we will have our revenge on the laconians!”

As he left the auditorium, Megatron could hear the roar of the crowded Deceptions. They were chanting a name. His name.

"Megatron! Megatron! Megatron!"