Parasites

« The Transformers: Autocracy #2 »
My name is Zeta. I was built to destroy. But I don't want to destroy any longer
"Parasites"
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	February 1, 2012
Story by	Chris Metzen & Flint Dille
Art by	Livio Ramondelli
Letters by	Robbie Robbins
Editor	John Barber & Carlos Guzman
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Before the war

Zeta Prime is a little crazy.

Synopsis

At a meeting of the Senate in the Citadel, Zeta Prime reviews the situation concerning Megatron's Decepticons, especially of their recruiting of Nyon's populace. It is fortunate, then, that he has found the perfect weapon to destroy them all: Jhiaxus's vamparc ribbon. As he is about to elaborate, Starscream arrives at the proceedings as a "delegate". Zeta Prime gives a firm reminder to the delegate that nothing forces him to respect his presence, but moves on to a demonstration of the vamparc. The subject: the captured Swindle.

In the Citadel's sparring rooms, Orion Pax wrestles with Ultra Magnus while the two talk of Orion's newly developed temper and of the morality of their efforts to contain the Decepticons.

In the Primacy Auditorium, Zeta Prime continues his demonstration of the vamparc ribbon, showing that it draws power from the nearest available source: in this case, Swindle. As the vamparc's energies are volatile, Zeta shoots the auditorium's ceiling to avoid the weapon's overload. Zeta goes on to further explain that larger vamparc ribbon units on the Omega Destructors require more power, and that the citizenry of Cybertron provides an excellent source of energy. Despite the protests of the Senators, Zeta explains that proceedings in Nyon have already begun. As part of Zeta's preparation, Orion Pax tells his warriors to get ready.

Starscream approves of Zeta Prime's plan, which surprises the Prime. But Starscream accidentally blurts that he has "done far worse in the name of—". To get Zeta off his scent, Starscream points out the Decepticon spy in their midst: Soundwave. His cover blown, Soundwave escapes and Zeta orders Orion Pax to hunt him down before he can reveal Zeta's plan to the populace.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"This Security Council has lost the will to do what must be done. That is why I was chosen to be Prime... because I am the monster the people need."

—Zeta Prime

Notes

• Starscream is a delegate, but we're never told who he's meant to be a delegate for. Zeta doesn't seem to realise he's a Decepticon. Metzen later clarified that nobody is aware which Decepticons killed the old Senate and Starscream's role as a Decepticon is, at the time, unknown.^[1]
• While the comic has Zeta Prime as a full-on nutjob, the author's thinking was that Zeta had started out okay but became a monster to try and restore order.^[2]
• This issue features one of only a handful of appearances by what must be assumed to be the original Ultra Magnus.

Errors

• Nominus Prime is referred to by Zeta Prime as his predecessor who "couldn't contain this upstart rebellion", when Sentinel Prime was the Prime directly preceding Zeta and the one who failed to stop Megatron's rebellion in Megatron Origin. Metzen apologized for the error in an interview, stating "the mention of [Nominus Prime] getting whacked at the start of Chaos Theory was etched in my head as I was scripting Chapter 2 and I referred to the wrong guy".^[3] The mistake was rectified for the TPB.
• When Zeta Prime mentions Jhiaxus as the inventor of the vamparc ribbon, the scientist's name is misspelled as "Jihauxus". This was also fixed for the trade.
• Starscream's optics change color from red, yellow, and then blue.
• Orion Pax has his Earth body when talking to Bumblebee and Ironhide.

Advertisements

• More than Meets the Eye #1
• Robots in Disguise #1

Reprints

Other than collections of the full series.

• N/A

References