The Dark Heart of Sandokan

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"The Black Sea of Sandokan" "The Dark Heart of Sandokan"
Publisher	Transformers Collectors' Club
First published	February 19, 2007
Writer	Benson Yee
Pencils	Jake Isenberg
Inks	Jake Isenberg
Colors	Thomas Deer
Continuity	Cybertron cartoon
Page count	29pp + 1 page prologue

A crashed Autobot ship's crew and a Decepticon bounty hunter race to recover a new powerful energy source, while an alien intelligence desires to destroy them all.

Synopsis

Prologue

On board the Star Arrow, an Autobot ship assigned with the carrying a new piece of technology known as a Force Chip, Excellion complains about having to transport something he feels is a waste of time. When berated by his mentor, Blurr, about the risk of Decepticons obtaining it, Excellion misses the point, thinking it just a simple Cyber Key. Blurr explains that the Force Chip, while similar, is made from Nebulan technologies, and can increase a Cybertronian's power by a factor of twenty or more, a weapon that could help the Decepticons rise up again. Override, commander of the ship, steps in, explaining to Excellion he's here because she believes his efforts can be beneficial. As Excellion apologizes for this outburst, the ship is rattled, alarm klaxons begin to sound, and Override demands a status report. Swerve explains that plasma beam attack originates from the planet below, Sandokan, which—according to the star charts—is supposed to be abandoned. With more blasts incoming, and their shield's power already halved, Override orders for evasive manoeuvres. The ship is suddenly struck by a different beam, causing the ship's metal to buckle and groan. Longrack identifies it as a powerful tractor beam coming from below and, with no other way to get out of its grip, Override orders Swerve to launch the torpedoes. With the tractor beam stopped, Blurr accelerates the ship, thinking they're home free. Unfortunately, one final blast takes out the ship's systems and it enters free fall in the planet's atmosphere. As the crew falls unconscious, the ship starts to break apart...

Chapter One

In space, the Decepticon pirate ship Kalis' Lament glides in space. The ship's science officer, Brushguard, reports that one of their probes has returned. Skywarp, the ship's first officer, orders for its data to be displayed on-screen, and the crew watches footage of the attack on the Star Arrow. Detecting the Force Chip on board, Skywarp demands the location of the crash site. Runamuck reports it to be on a relatively unknown planet named Sandokan but is interrupted by the ship's captain, Cannonball, who proclaims that the planet is cursed. Buzzsaw laughs, thinking it a joke, but is grabbed at the throat by Cannonball's claw hand, who holds the helicopter-bot until he apologizes for his mocking tone, and is thrown into a nearby panel. Cannonball explains that for 3,000 stellar cycles, a race of warriors fought against one another, until one side invented a living weapon known as the "Dark Heart," which killed everything living on the planet. When questioned on what to do, Cannonball decides to not head in, instead having Runamuck hail Astrotrain, who he plans to have take out the planet's defenses so they can claim the prize for themselves. Appearing on-screen, the Decepticon bounty hunter is annoyed, having other things to do. Cannonball attempts to convince him to complete a favor he owes after his crew rescued him on Taros Four, and when this fails, the Decepticon pirate threatens to spread word about his lack of honor and his incompetence. Astrotrain reluctantly concedes, and quickly works out a deal. Astrotrain is suspicious of Cannonball's unwillingness to go to the planet itself, the pirate captain hiding the information about the defenses from him, but considers the potential upgrade to his systems to outweigh any risk. Astrotrain turns to his Mini-Con crew after his communication ends, which consists of Star Catcher, Astro-Hook, Astro-Line, and Astro-Sinker; Astrotrain considers them his equals, and has taught them all to speak Cybertronic Standard. Star Catcher and Astro-Hook are suspicious of Cannonball, but Astrotrain assures them that he doesn't intend to stick to his half of the deal. Rather, he plans to take the Force Chip for himself, using it to become the most powerful bounty hunter in the galaxy. He orders his crew to recharge before liftoff in 20 cycles.

Chapter Two

Override awakens in the crash site, and surveys the scene around her. The Star Arrow has been ripped apart in the fall, and requires massive repairs before it can fly again. Excellion, Blurr, and Swerve have already returned online. Override notices Longrack buried in rubble, and rushes over to free him. With his left leg sheared off and shrapnel embedded in his chest, he tells them to leave him behind, a request Override ignores. She and Excellion set him in a nearby chair, and he takes readings of the nearby area. Blurr gives Override the Force Chip, which he managed to secure before they crashed. Override has everyone except Longrack head out to salvage for materials to repair their ship, placing the Force Chip and a distress beacon Swerve salvaged in her chest compartment, and gives Longrack one of her spare guns. Exiting the wreckage into a city, they find that nothing but insects live on the planet, which looks to have been inhabited by a human-scale race at one point. Sadly realizing that war, a constant in the galaxy, led the planet to this, Override reflects for a moment until she hears something. She pops out her weapon and the others follow suit, but Swerve is unsure until a large vehicle is thrown at him. A face is formed out of the scrap metal and other parts of their surroundings, and begins to scream. The Autobots fire off their weapons, stunning it, and they run off back to the Star Arrow, recovering Swerve in the process. The creature repairs himself and gathers together a body, proclaiming himself to be Synthos— the bearer of the Dark Heart. Override and her crew are forced to scatter as the creature forms a plasma cannon before she can take it out, and she converts to vehicle mode. Returning to the Star Arrow before the creature can recover, Longrack points them to a place twenty miles north east where no technology exists, putting it out of Synthos' range. Securing Longrack on top of her with her mag-locks, Override and the Velocitronians roll out. They arrive at their destination in a matter of moments. Entering a cave in a canyon, Swerve takes point, and Override tells Longrack that he should go into stasis. Longrack objects: he has taken several scans of Synthos, and plans to study them for any weaknesses the creature has. Heading over to Swerve, the sentry admits he doesn't want to go out this way. Override promises to make sure none of them will.

Chapter Three

Astrotrain arrives at Sandokan. Astro-Line is fascinated by the history records on the planet, impressed by the destructive potential of the organic race's weapons. Astrotrain, not wanting to take chances, goes in cloaked, and manages to get all the way to atmospheric re-entry before the heat signature of the re-entry burn gives him away. Struck by Synthos on the planet below, Astrotrain weathers the blasts and scans the creature, discovering a power source that depletes rapidly within. Opening his cargo bay doors, the Mini-Cons jump as Synthos depletes his power reserves, blasting him with their arsenal. Astro-Line coverts to plane mode as the others use their magnetic repulsors to slow their descent. Synthos seems to ignore the Mini-Cons but, as they continue blasting, releases a blast from his his mouth. Astrotrain swoops in front of the Mini-Cons and the blast strikes him, shearing off armor plating and throwing him backwards on top of the ground-based Mini-Cons. Getting up slowly, Astrotrain decides to change his plans from attack to deception...

Chapter Four

After some quick repairs, Astrotrain flies over to the site of their battle, demanding to talk with Synthos. Forming a body out of junk, Synthos draws his weapons on Astrotrain, telling Astrotrain he will kill him and add him to his body. Astrotrain tells him that he knows he can be hurt, and tells him that an entire armada is waiting overhead. Synthos attempts to call his bluff, but Astrotrain points out how he was only detected when he was in re-entry. Synthos considers and Astrotrain, taking his chance, requests safe passage to the Autobots who crashed on the planet, wanting to obtain their power source. Synthos, too, desires the Force Chip, but Astrotrain tells him that even with it, the Decepticon Empire can destroy him. His bluff still working, Synthos tells him the location of the Autobots and offers safe passage if Astrotrain will give him schematics of the Force Chip. Astrotrain agrees, and he and his Mini-Cons set out to the Autobot's location.

Chapter Five

Astrotrain and his Mini-Cons attack the Autobots. Blurr is knocked out, leaving Excellion to watch over him and Longrack while Override and Swerve deal with Astrotrain. Transforming into vehicle mode, Override utilizes her Cyber Key to launch several blasts at Astro-Hook and, when he dodges, manoeuvres to knock him into a pile of boulders. As Swerve deals with Astro-Sinker, Override launches into the air and blasts Astro-Line down. She lands and turns around to face Astrotrain but stops in her tracks. The large Decepticon has taken the unconscious Swerve as a hostage. Attempting to goad the Decepticon into releasing Swerve, she lowers the power of her weapon. With his Mini-Con partners getting back up, Astrotrain threatens to shoot Swerve, but Override does it herself, the lower intensity of the laser blast jolting him awake and allowing him to escape. She turns her weapons back to maximum and exchanges fire with Astrotrain while ordering Swerve after the Mini-Cons, who have headed towards the cave. Override kicks Astrotrain back, angering him, and he uses his boosters to charge forward. Attempting to jump out of the way, Astrotrain grabs her by the leg and throws her against the ground. Unleashing a pair of energon daggers given to her by Skyblast she engages Astrotrain in close quarters combat until the Mini-Cons arrive with the Force Chip in hand, distracting her long enough for Astrotrain to blast her. He blasts off and heads south west, with Swerve chasing after them with orders from Override not to engage. Upon their return to the cave, the Mini-Cons use their stealth technology to take out Excellion and destroy Longrack's loaned weapon from Override. With the two Velocitronians coming back online, the four get ready to head out and re-obtain the Force Chip.

Chapter Six

Flying back to Synthos, Astrotrain listens as Astro-Line completes his analysis of Synthos and the Dark Heart; with the ability to boot energy inside a power core, and to translate mental energy into telekinetic, combined with the Force Chip, Astrotrain could be granted unlimited power. Arriving at Synthos location, Astrotrain holds the Force Chip, and demands that Synthos give him the Dark Heart in exchange for schematics of the Force Chip. An enraged Synthos states this wasn't part of the deal but, as Astrotrain threatens him more, the creature uses his telekinetic powers to reactivate old wartime exo-suits which attack the Decepticon and his Mini-Con crew. Astrotrain attempts to fire at Synthos directly, but his blast hits a metal plate which explodes into shrapnel that Synthos directs back towards him. Several pieces hit beyond Astrotrain's shield, wounding him, and several robots converge around the group. The Mini-Cons contend with a smaller robot, Astro-Hook holding it in place for Astro-Line, Astro-Sinker and Star Catcher to destroy, but are quickly blasted away. Astro-Line is gripped by wire, and is nearly decapitated before he destroys it. Astrotrain powerlinks with his Mini-Con partners and bonds with the Force Chip, sending his power levels off the charts. Synthos attempts to use more robots and debris to destroy Astrotrain, but the power-boosted Decepticon simply dodges all of his attacks. Using Astro-Line's data to identify a weakness, Astrotrain blows a hole in Synthos' "neck" and prepares to grab the Dark Heart within. Suddenly, several laser blasts knock him off course, and he looks up to see the Autobots with their weapons drawn. Astrotrain thinks they are insane, as the creature will surely destroy them all, but Override refuses to let him have either the Dark Heart or the Force Chip, and refuses to kill Synthos, as although he is hostile, he is sentient and alive. Grasped in Synthos' tendrils, the large Decepticon tries to break free. Synthos throws a tank at him, knocking him into some support beams that impale him and render him unconscious, causing the Force Chip to sever its bond with him. Before Synthos can grab the object, Excellion transforms into vehicle mode and blasts at him but is grabbed by a claw arm. He struggles to break free until Blurr comes to his rescue and, with Swerve providing cover fire, he grabs the Force Chip. A shuttle suddenly arrives in the sky with an open hatch, through which Cannonball and his crew descend on energy ropes to begin their attack. Brushguard throws a sphere at Synthos, surrounding him with techno-organic vines. Cannonball orders Buzzsaw and Runamuck to get Astrotrain out of the area, transforming into vehicle mode and unleashing his Cyber Key-powered weapons on the creature. Brushguard throws a box of corrosive gas, deforming Synthos' head. Taking advantage of the confusion, Override and her crew head towards the shuttle. They hope to find a way to help Synthos, even if it tried to destroy them. Ascending the ropes, with Longrack on Override's back, the Autobots commandeer the shuttle, and Override, examining the schematics, finds a way to deal with the Decepticons...

Chapter Seven

Cannonball stands victorious on the heavily damaged Synthos, Brushguard's concoctions having immobilized the creatures. His heavily damaged crew begs to go, but Cannonball refuses to leave until he obtains the Dark Heart. Synthos puts up some token resistance, punching the pirate captain with a hastily made fist, but surrenders begrudgingly when even that his blasted off him. Cannonball goes to obtain his prize, but he, his crew, and Astrotrain are caught in the tractor beam of their commandeered shuttle. Override has her crew drop off the Decepticons somewhere on the planet where they can do no harm, and has Longrack put in a stasis chamber until he can be repaired. With the larger Decepticon ship likely inbound and her crew too damaged to do anything, Override hopes Synthos can defend himself by the point they arrive, and has her crew head for Cybertron.

Epilogue

Back on board the Kalis' Lament, Cannoball heads straight for the repair bay, where Astrotrain and his crew have taken care of their injuries. The pirate captain explodes and tells him that people will hear about this and that his reputation will be destroyed when they do. The larger Decepticon ensures him that he will be able to crawl up from the bottom, having done so before. As Cannonball orders him off his ship, he can't help but feel a degree of respect for Astrotrain, the Decepticon having neither cowered nor attempted to repent like most would. Suddenly, Brushguard calls his captain to his lab; studying the large black crystal shard known as the Dark Heart, he's managed to find some fascinating results...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

• The story was originally titled "The Black Sea of Sandokan", which is reflected in the one-page prologue published in Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club #13. A correction was subsequently published in issue #14.
• Mentioned characters include: Galvatron, Unicron, Primus, Vector Prime, a Tarosian princess, Lori, Optimus Prime, Skyblast, and Bud.

Continuity notes

• This story takes place some time after the end of the Cybertron cartoon. Override was last seen aboard the Ogygia in series finale "Beginning"; since then, she's been transferred to the command position of the Star Arrow. Blurr and Longrack were chronologically last seen in "Force of Habit" (which wouldn't be released until a year later), having commandeered the Decepticon ship, the Upstart. Excellion and Swerve, meanwhile, make their first appearances in fiction here.
• Brushguard, Runamuck, and Buzzsaw were last seen chonologically stranded on Combatron in "Force of Habit". Skywarp was among the Decepticons who attacked the Iron Hope in the same story. Cannonball makes his first appearance in fiction here.

Transformers references

• Excellion complains that they could have just sent the Force Chip via Galactic Express, a company mentioned in The Transformers cartoon episode "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1".
• Override's been upgraded into her GTS toy's form.
• Nebulos is the home planet of the various "-master" partners in various Generation 1 continuities, including Headmasters, Targetmasters, and Powermasters. Its inhabitants, the Nebulans, were mentioned in the Cybertron cartoon.
• The Force Chip takes its name from the Japanese name for the Cyber Keys.
• While mulling over rescuing the living weapon Synthos, Override recalls Optimus Prime's words, "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings." This hearkens back to Generation 1 Optimus's Tech Spec quote, and those of several following Optimus Primes as well.
• The Kalis' Lament takes its name from the Cybertronian city of Kalis, first seen in Marvel UK's The Transformers #164.

Real-world references

• Sandokan is named for a 19th-century fictional pirate created by Italian author Emilio Salgari.
• The Ancient Autobot on Astrotrain's computer screens reads "Teyowisonte", DeviantArt name of colorist Thomas Deer.
• Override quotes the direction to Neverland from the Disney Peter Pan film.

Errors

• Longrack is accidentally referred to as Override on page 27.

Other trivia

• After the story ends, there's a plug for the Club-exclusive Astrotrain toy.
• The preview art depicts Override in her original colors. The online version of the same art has her in her GTS toy colors.
• Cyber Keys are depicted as physical objects, one for each Transformer who holds them. This is at odds with Hasbro and the cartoon's depiction of them; the original Ask Vector Prime feature describes them as countless, with a new one being used each time a Transformer calls upon it.
• "The Dark Heart of Sandokan", along with "The Razor's Edge", was not re-released when the Collectors' Club launched a new free-to-all prose fiction section on their website in 2015.

External links

• "The Dark Heart of Sandokan" at The Official Transformers Collectors' Club