Void Rivals issue 6

Solila sits alone in her cell, staring at the key Mistress Vill left with her. She quickly hides the key when the cell door opens, revealing Kanela, wearing the armor of a Blast Trooper. Solila is surprised to see her, but Kanela just tells her to put on a second set of armor and follow her to the Blastwing she has waiting for them.

Meanwhile, on Quintessa, Skuxxoid presents the Quintesson Judge with Darak and Solila's patchwork ship, slinking off while the Judge examines the craft. The Judge is fascinated by it, muttering something to themselves about “her” succeeding eons ago. They order an Executioner to have the ship transported to their laboratory and scanned for anything that could lead them to Zertonia.

Kanela brings Solila to the Unifiers where Darak is waiting for her, much to her surprise. Having held up her end of the bargain, Kanela gives Darak his assignment: delivering a data packet to the Unifiers' counterparts in Agorria, whom they've recently lost contact with. Kanela suggests taking Solila as well, partially because she's of no use to the Unifiers and partially because Kanela doesn't trust her after knowing her for five years. Solila morosely agrees, since she's as good as dead if she stays on Zertonia. Inside his chambers, Premier Zalilak's feast is interrupted by the news that Darak and Solila have escaped.

The Unifiers venture out into the streets of Zertonia, Darak wearing a headband to disguise his forehead gem. Darak sees the state of utter destitution that the people of Zertonia live in – the fate Solila is trying to save her people from. As the group nears a Blastwing, they are stopped by a phalanx of Zertonian guards. Kanela questions how they could have known about their plan, but Ultum reveals that the guards promised to find his mother if he lured them into a trap. He apologizes to Kanela, tears in his eyes, who simply tells him she understands. Solila takes the data pack from Kanela and promises to get it to the Agorrians, throwing her spear at one of the guards' ships and knocking another off their Slip Rider. Darak and Solila commandeer the bike and take off, guards close behind.

The rivals make their way north, Darak suggesting they reach the border, a mostly dead area where they'll be able to plan their next move. However, they are quickly spotted by three guards and are forced to scale the wall of the border, which leads to the Wasteland in between Zertonia and Agorria. Darak asks Solila if she'll trust him once again, to which she answers yes.

A guard reports this news to the Premier, believing that there’s no way they’ll survive the Wastelands, but Zalilak doesn’t want to take anymore chances. They need a hunter willing to venture into the Wastelands and ensure Darak and Solila’s demise. They need to revive Proximus. It’s the only way they can prevent the Sacred Ring from reuniting and avert the coming of Goliant.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Agorrians	Zertonians	Others
Darak (7)	Solila (1) Kanela (2) Unifiers (8) Ultum (9) Zalilak (11) Zertonian guards (12)	Quintesson Judge (3) Quintesson Bailiffs (4) Quintesson Executioner (5) Skuxxoid (6) Handroid (10)

Quotes

"You did this?"
"Eh... You would have done the same for me."
"I would not."
"Well, now that I've done this--you will if there's a next time."
"I probably won't."
"Couldn't you just lie?!"

—Solila and Darak auditioning for the roles of Sam and Diane.

Notes

Continuity notes

The Quintesson’s allusions to "her" and fixation on Zertonia likely indicates some connection between them and Zerta, the deity of the Zertonians first referenced in issue #2.
Zalilak namedrops Goliant, who was also referenced in issue #2 as part of Darak’s vision.

Transformers references

The Quintessons make reference to the fact that they have been plagued by “a rebellious child” before, alluding to their usual role as creators of the Transformers before being overthrown by their creations.

Other trivia

This issue contains a four-page preview of Cobra Commander #1.

Covers (6)

Cover A: Solila and Darak hide from Zertonia, by Lorenzo De Felici.
Cover B: Darak, Solila, and the Sacred Ring, by Christian Ward.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Solila, Mistress Vill, and the Keepers of the Light, by Ejikure.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Darak, Kanela, and Ultum, by Karen S. Darboe.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Solila and Darak in Zertonia, by Toni Infante.
Second Printing Variant Cover: Premier Zalilak, by Jason Howard.

The Rise of Cobra begins in Cobra Commander #1!
Explore the Energon Universe in Transformers #3!
Codename: G.I. Joe starts in Duke #1!

Reprints

Void Rivals Volume 1: More Than Meets The Eye (February 21, 2024) ISBN 153439818X / ISBN 978-1534398184
- Collects issues #1–6.
- Trade paperback format.