goodbye

In my hazy state, I heard a deep voice:

“My apostle…my creation…”

I activated my visual sensor, and the scene before me immediately became clear: dark purple, irregularly shaped walls formed the space I inhabited, the surfaces of the walls, floor, and ceiling displaying muscle-like textures. Randomly distributed, tree-like, vein-like pipes were scattered throughout or embedded in various parts of the "building," the dark super-energy of the blood of the Cosmic Emperor flowing within these pipes, emitting a purple glow. This faint glow prevented the entire space from being completely dark, and a purple, misty, light-like object hung high in the very center of the room.

What are all these things? The database in my brain module gave me the answer—this is the interior of the Cosmic Emperor, and that high-hanging cloud of light is the Cosmic Emperor.

What am I?

"You are my apostle, Unicron. I created you and gave you life. Your mission is to help me defeat Pumles."

Pumles – the god of Cybertron.

Unicron—my…god?

Is that ball of light hanging high above me my god? I wondered. My heart kept repeating to myself: He is your god, your creator, your everything…

Dark energy fluid flowed through my body, washing over the IV tubing with the beating of my "heart," and the sound of a pulse appeared in my brain module. I had just woken up, and the brain module contained nothing but the knowledge that came with the production line, yet my consciousness seemed to be enveloped by the sound of a pulse, and all I could see in the optical lens was a cloud of light before my eyes.

Only the Cosmic Emperor, only my spark pulse resonating with his.

"Yes, Unicron."

I continued, "But, Your Majesty, what are we going to do?"

This question seemed to stump the Cosmic Emperor. His voice remained silent for a long time before it rang out again: "I want you to reach Cybertron and inject the crystal I have condensed into the body of Promrace."

It's about putting dark super energy into the AllSpark, right? I think I understand what the Emperor means, but why does it sound a bit strange?

I asked, "How do I get to Cybertron?"

"You'll have to find out for yourself."

"This is the core of Unicron," I suddenly thought. "Is it possible to travel directly to Cybertron from here?"

"cannot."

"Should I... go to the surface first?"

"Go defeat the Autobots and punish the traitors."

How do I get there?

“My apostles will have the ability.”

This says absolutely nothing! There's no useful information at all. Stop being a riddle-maker, Your Majesty!

I sighed, transformed into an airplane, floated in the air preparing for takeoff, skillfully started the engine, flames shot out from the thrusters, and flew towards the ground, into the hole deep in the wall.

After a while, my anxious voice echoed in the vast space around the Cosmic Emperor's body, and a little condensation appeared on the surface of the plane due to the agitation.

"Lord Unicron!"

"What is it?" the voice of the Cosmic Emperor appeared in the brain module.

"Sir! Sir! I've been flying for so long, why haven't I reached the ground yet? The engine is completely exhausted!"

The Earth's radius is approximately 6,371 kilometers, meaning it would take about 6,371 kilometers to fly from the Earth's core to the surface. The engine of the apostle personally certified by the Cosmic Emperor might be able to support such a long-distance flight, but I kept flying along the cavity inside the Cosmic Emperor's body at the Earth's core. I was flying in the wrong direction and circled around the starting point several times, practically standing still.

Did the Cosmic Emperor not know that I was tired from flying all along?

His tone was impatient, and the dark purple stripes in the surrounding environment lit up in rhythm with his voice: "Do you think the Earth is hollow? You're so stupid! As an apostle of my Cosmic Emperor, you not only have a powerful engine, but also unique superpowers."

"But what should I do?" I felt wronged, as I knew nothing except for the basic knowledge required.

The Cosmic Emperor remained silent, and I waited quietly.

He said dryly, "I have already given you the power. If you cannot even reach the surface of the earth, you are not worthy to be my apostle."

The energy fluid surged through my body, rushing straight to the brain module. My thoughts beat in sync with the pulse of the Cosmic Emperor. Some memory data that could be called "feelings" surfaced in my consciousness. They were so familiar that my body started moving on its own.

Suddenly, like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, the scenery in front of me rippled outward from the center directly in front of me, and space unfolded its mystery to me.

"Sir, is this my ability? Did you help me?" I asked excitedly. I had discovered my ability, like finding another hand I could use. My special talent was a part of me, and I had discovered it.

"Of course, I am the Cosmic Emperor! You are too foolish!"

Two different locations were connected in space. The light from the sun and the fluorescence of the dark super-energy body intertwined and twisted into a dazzling fireworks display, surrounding the spacetime tunnel connecting the two spaces. The fireworks surrounded and greeted me, and I should naturally respond to their welcome.

...

I'm not stupid at all. Muttering to myself, I noticed the scenery around me.

Having traversed the time tunnel, I should have successfully reached the surface, but the predominantly purple-gray interior, styled similarly to that of Unicron's interior, left me uncertain. The gray steel walls and floors were interspersed with recessed, dark, streamlined stripes. Along the walls were numerous instruments and tables adorned with test tube racks. Through the glass doors of the built-in reagent cabinets, I could see them crammed full of medicines. This was a laboratory.

There was also a large camera staring at me; this must be a Cybertronian. The camera, serving as a head sculpt, had a large red lens inside, like a red bullseye acting as an optical lens, with four sharp antennas standing on its side. The mecha was a robust and broad type, but the waist, tapering inwards and noticeably narrower, maintained its overall aesthetic appeal. It had a full chest armor in the front and shoulder-blade-like back wings in the back. It had only one hand; the other was a hand cannon that occupied a large portion of my field of vision, connected to its back by a square chain tube with bright purple stripes running through the center.

He pointed his hand cannon at me, then lowered it, the antenna bobbing up and down. The large optical lens couldn't express his emotions, yet I could almost feel them—it was quite endearing. I also found his voice very magnetic: "A steel fork? That doesn't make sense."

What is he saying? Oh well, never mind.

"Who are you? What's your name?" I asked eagerly, then stepped forward and poked a large, darker section of his thick breastplate. It felt solid and hard, which disappointed me. "Is this the surface?"

“This is Retribution, my name is Shockwave,” a deep magnetic field enveloped my body. He leaned forward, his neck close, his red optics filling my vision, and placed his only hand on my chest armor. “Do you remember your name, Grimfork? What did the Autobots do to you? If it weren’t for the AllSpark link, I wouldn’t be able to recognize you from your appearance. The Autobots modified you? That doesn’t make sense.”

"What are you talking about? Who is Steel Fork? I am an apostle of Unicron, you can call me..."

Oh, what should I call you again?

It seems the Cosmic Emperor didn't give me a name. Does "Apostle" count as a name?