Optimus and Bulkhead ran through the ground bridge, Optimus carried SilverStorm while Bulkhead carry BumbleBee, the two had been caught in an explosion. Placing the two on the med berths Ratchet ran around them, patching and connecting till he finally stopped. Wiping his forehead, he turned to Optimus and Bulkhead, "They are stable for now, you two got them back in time…hopefully." Silence took over the base, Optimus starred at his sister and the young scout, this was his fault. He had told them to flank the Decepticons, he should have known Megatron would have anticipated that move. Bulkhead head sat on the floor with a datapad, his back up against the wall. Optimus looked to Ratchet whom was double checking his work, Optimus turned to walk towards the back. "Optimus?" Ratchet gently grabbed Optimus's arm and lead him to the hall, away from Bulkheads ear shot. "This was not your fault." Optimus looked to the floor, how was it Ratchet could always see right through him. "The order given was mine." Ratchet shook his head, "Optimus, how could you have known the explosives were planted there?" Optimus thought hard, but no answer came, he still felt it was his fault. "Thank you Ratchet." Optimus turned and walked away leaving Ratchet to watch him walk away, "Stubborn arse bot." Ratchet mumbled under his breath as he turned his attention back to the injured.
Optimus sat on his bed, closing his eyes he rubbed his hand along his head, "Perhaps it would have been better had I simply said nothing." He rose walking over to the computer that illuminated his and Stormy's shared chambers. He stared blankly at the screen, his mind was whirling too much to focus. Others had been injured before, even killed, heck even SilverStorm had been injured before, why did he feel so different this time? Optimus sighed sitting back down on his bed, how many had lost their lives due to the war? How many orphans and widows had been made? Hadn't they lost their home to destruction? He laid back looking up at the ceiling, wasn't it all his fault? Wouldn't it have been better for everyone if he had not spoken against Megatron? Or had even been born?
Optimus jolted, had he fallen asleep? He sat up looking around the room, someone was watching him he could feel it. Standing up he turned in circles looking for whom ever had intruded. "Show yourself" he spoke into the dark, "I am here." Optimus jumped as the voice spoke from behind him. "Alpha Trion?" Optimus withdrew his weapons, blinking "Is it truly you?" Alpha Trion chuckled, "Yes my student." Optimus shook his head, "Have I died?" Alpha Trion again chuckled placing his hand on the Primes shoulder, "No, I have come here for a different reason." Optimus looked at him, a soft glow outlined his form, "I searched for you but could not find you." Alpha Trion ran his hand down his long beard, "You would not have found me, I am no longer amongst the living." Optimus felt his spark pang; a sad expression crossed his face. "Do not mourn for me my student, I did not come here for that purpose. I came here because you have need of something." Optimus cocked his head, "What do you mean?" Alpha Trion smiled, "You recently have begun to think that this world and Cybertron would have been better off without you?" Optimus widened his eyes, "How could you have known that?" he quickly stopped talking, "You are a Prime, you have a connection, whether you know it or not, to the other Primes." Optimus looked at his chest feeling the matrix pulse, "I did not know they could hear my thoughts." Alpha Trion turned to him, "They do not intrude upon your privacy unless the Matrix calls upon them to do so. As it has done." Optimus turned his back to Alpha Trion, "Bumblebee and SilverStorm almost perished because of an order I gave" Alpha Trion turned the Prime to face him, "You think your fellow Primes never felt the way you do?" Optimus sighed, "Did they?" Alpha Trion smiled, "They did. In fact, they are prepared to give you a chance that no other has ever been given." Optimus cocked his head, "And that would be?" Alpha Trion waved his hand as the room around the Prime changed, the computer screen vanished as did the interior items, Optimus spun around as the door to his chambers crumbled before his eyes. "What is happening!?" He looked to Alpha Trion as things seemed to settle, "The Primes have given you a chance to see what both worlds would be like without you. Optimus Prime, you were never born." Alpha Trion vanished as Optimus felt his spark beat rise, "No wait, master!" he ran for Alpha Trion just as he vanished. Optimus sighed loudly, "Ok." He breathed walking out into the base, the walls were crumbling, dust coated everything, debris laid about in his path. He walked out into the main area, no computer systems were present, the med bay was empty, he gasped bending down to the floor where the logo should be. He looked ahead of him, the solid wall in front of him should have been the ground bridge. He backed up, transforming and rushing out of the base. His spark filled with dread thinking of what would have happened to earth without his presence. To his surprise as he drove through the desert towards Jasper with his radio cranked everything seemed normal. He approached the small town, where were the children? He drove do the street to the KO Drive in. Optimus parked in the parking lot facing the building just as Jack exited, he walked over to his bike kicking up the kickstand and heading out. Optimus breathed a sigh of relief Jack seemed fine, "Jack!" Optimus turned his attention to the voice call Jack, "Oh hey Sierra." Jack stopped his bike, "Vince said to meet him and the boys tonight at Riley's." Jack nodded, "Tell him I will be there at 6pm." Optimus was confused, wasn't Vince the bully who always attacked Jack? Optimus noted the time and planned on seeing what exactly Jack was up to. He turned down the street heading for Rafs house when a news story broke over the radio, "In local news an exchange student, Miko Nakidi was deported back to Japan today after being involved in several felonies including breaking and enter, graffiti, and other small accounts of assault. Locals agreed not to press charges for such acts of the youth if she was sent back home…in other news…" Optimus switched off his radio, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. On approach to Raf's house he spotted the young boy sitting outside on the lawn, "Raphael!" the voice of his mother echoed out into the lawn as Optimus parked on the opposite side of the street. "Si Mama?" Rafs mom appeared, "Time to come in for lunch" Raf smiled up at his mother, "Where is your chair?" Raf pointed to the house, "I had padre carry me out." Optimus caught a gasp as Rafs mother bent down and carried the boy inside. Optimus noticed his legs hanging limp, "What happened Raf?" Optimus whispered, Optimus sat on the curb for a few hours trying to see if he could figure out what had happened, scanning the radio for new stations not finding anything he headed for the area where Jack was to be, arriving early he transformed taking out his Datapad and searching the internet for the story until he finally came across it. "Child injured in car accident. Young Raphael Esquivel was critically injured Saturday when he was struck by a car. The child was playing in the spillways when an illegal race took place. The child was struck causing him serious injured. Reports have said his spine was broken along with multiple other injuries." Optimus couldn't read anymore he shut his datapad off, poor Raf. Engines roared in the distance causing Optimus to transform.
Vince was the first to pull up, "Nice wheels Jack, where did you steal them?" Jack hoped out of his car, "Hilarious Vince, unlike you I borrow the vehicles I need." Vince just shrugged, "You always were a pansy." One of the others among the many pointed out Optimus, "Yo what's up with the semi?" Jack walked over to the truck opening the driver door, "No ones inside." Vince pushed Jack out of the way and climbed inside, "Yo this is nice!" he felt around, "Drivers normally leave their keys in certain areas." Jack rolled his eyes, "I doubt a truck this nice was just abandoned, its an expensive truck. Peterbilt 379, custom." Vince hoped out the cab, "Tell you what, who ever wins the race wins the truck." Jack crossed his arms, "What good is a truck that has no keys?" Vince shrugged, "Hot wire her." Optimus listened to the teens, a race? An illegal race. Jack walked back toward his car, "Try not to hit anyone this time Vince." Vince growled, "Not my fault that stupid kid was down there playing in the middle of the track, and if you wouldn't have stopped the cops would never have caught us" Optimus's spark and gut twisted, Jack was involved in hurting Raf, he couldn't believe it. Optimus couldn't watch this anymore, as soon as the cars took off down the spillway he sped out of there. "Alpha Trion!" Optimus called out as he pulled to the ridge, Alpha Trion appeared behind him, "What has happened to the children?" Alpha Trion pointed, "You were not there." Optimus looked at him confused, Alpha Trion continued, "Now you have seen this world…" the ground gave away under Optimus as the world seemed to spin in hyper speed stopping suddenly as Cybertron appeared. Optimus looked around him, "Iacon." He whispered realizing that Alpha Trion had again disappeared. Optimus stepped forward looking around, two bots passed him whispering and giggling. Optimus looked confused as he walked to the main street, security drones flew overhead, buildings stood tall, voices rose around him as mechs and femmes passed him on the streets, and transport vehicles drove by. A robotic voice echoed out over the street, "Due to recent criminal activity against the crown a new curfew has been instated, any bot caught outside of their home after 9:00 pm will be shot on sight." The message repeated itself five more times before dismissing. Optimus starred in horror at the signs and banners looming over the city, "King Megatron" Optimus couldn't believe it. Optimus shook his head, surely Ratchet and SilverStorm would have done something to stop this. "Hello! Plan on attending the rally this afternoon?" Optimus turned to the young bot who was talking, "Jazz?" he asked. "Do I know you?" Jazz asked, Optimus nodded, "I am Optimus, Optimus Prime." Jazz shook his head, "Sorry bro don't remember ever meeting someone with that name." Optimus was confused, "What rally is taking place?" Jazz perked back up, "His majesty is addressing the people, he has a big announcement for us." Optimus was mortified by the glisten in Jazz's eyes at the mention of Megatron. "Thank you" was all he could managed as he headed to the Amtrak transporter. He had to get to Kaon to this rally, he was dumbstruck, everyone seemed happy. He sighed as he took a seat, no war, no untimely death, no destruction why the people wouldn't be happy. He stared out the window, even the announcement of the curfew seemed to be unnoticed by the people. The train pulled into the station in Kaon as Optimus disembarked, he could easily tell where the rally was gathering due to the crowd of people. Optimus joined them as the cheering began, "Welcome Everyone!" Optimus's spark jumped as he saw who was announcing on stage, "BumbleBee" he breathed, "I know you are all excited to hear what our King has to say so without further a due, I present his majesty King Megatron!" A cheer rose up through the crowd along with claps and whistle as Megatron appeared on the stage. He raised his hands, "Thank you for attending this rally! As promised, I have a special announcement." Megatron extended his hand behind stage, Optimus nearly collapsed as he saw who came to join him. "No, SilverStorm." He murmured. SilverStorm walked to join Megatron by his side, "My wife is to give birth to a son!" Megatron pumped his fist into the air as another cheer rose through the crowd. Optimus held his spark as it beat harder inside his chest, how could SilverStorm had married him? Optimus had to get away from this rally, he had to find Ratchet. Optimus head toward Tiger Pass, that is where Ratchet was from. Once he arrived, he was confused, he had no idea how to even begin searching for him. Optimus shook his head catching a glimpse of Alpha Trion in a back alley. Optimus charged for him, "What have you done!?" Alpha Trion just smiled as Optimus phased through him, "You wished you have never been born, now you are seeing what would have come to be had you never existed." Optimus shook his head, "SilverStorm would never marry Megatron! Not as he is!" Alpha Trion placed a hand on Optimus heaving chest, "Perhaps it is time to use your research skills." With that Alpha Trion disappeared. Optimus shook his head, he could feel his anger rising within him, his chest from burning from it. He walked out to the street looking for Ratchet was his first mission, he approached the hospital, walking his he search the registry but saw nothing listed for Ratchet. He turned back to the street, he searched multiple hospitals for hours but to no avail. Optimus sat on a bench in the central park, night had fallen. Optimus placed his hands over his face as a bot sat next to him. "I saw you at the rally, noticed you weren't cheering like the others." Optimus look to his right, a cloaked bot sat next to him, "And your point would be?" The cloaked figure handed him a slip of paper, "password is freedom fighters." With that the cloak bot walked away. Optimus left the park, opening the piece of paper was an address, Optimus's spark skipped a beat perhaps Ratchet had caught wind of him trying to locate him.
Later that night Optimus approached the address, it appeared to lead him back into a dark alley. Optimus drew his weapons as he walked back, trach and dumpsters littered the alley. Perhaps it had been a trap to corner him, Optimus spun on his heel to run when two mechs stopped him, blocking his entrance. "Curfew is 9pm, its 10pm now." Optimus backed up, "I warn you to stay back." The mechs continued to walk toward him, "Any bot who is caught out after dark is to be shot on sight." Optimus raised his weapon, "Last warning." He growled. The one mech laughed, "This one tough." A sudden sting struck Optimus in the neck as he pulled out a small dart. Optimus looked up as he fell a figure jumped down. "Nighty night."
Optimus jolted awake, his hands were tied behind his back. "Where am I?" he blinked trying to get his eyes to adjust to the darkness. "You were tricked." A voice answered his question. Optimus turned to the voice stunned to see who it was. "Ratchet!?" The mech looked at him, "How do you know my name?" Optimus reminded himself of his current predicament, "I have…heard of you." Ratchet scoffed, "Such as?" Optimus didn't know what to say, he knew nothing of this Ratchet. "What are we doing here?" Ratchet shrugged, "You were supposed to be shot, shocked they didn't." Optimus shook his head, "And you?" Ratchet sighed his hands weren't tied and he walked around the cell freely. "The only reason I am alive is because of SilverStorm." Optimus gasped slightly, "Megatron's wife?" he tried to sound unknowing. "Yes, before she became his wife, talk of a rebel uprising floated in the streets. SilverStorm was to take charge of the rebel force, the plan was to stop Megatron from becoming king." Ratchet sat down, "Megatron got wind of it, he took me captive knowing how close I was to SilverStorm. He told SilverStorm that she either give up the rebel force and marry him or he would kill me." Optimus lowered his head, everything made sense. "She decided to save my life in exchange for 140 mechs and femmes whom had joined the rebel force." Ratchet slammed his fist on the ground, "I have never forgiven her for trading their lives for mine." Optimus tried to move but his wrist were firmly tied, "She only did so for your sake." Ratchet scoffed as a metal clang echoed the dungeon. "Ratchet?" a small voice asked, Optimus knew it to be SilverStorm. Ratchet remained where he was, "Ratchet?" SilverStorm held up a lamp, Ratchet squinted blinking in the light, "What do you want?" he snipped, SilverStorm looked sad as she had one hand on her stomach. "I came to see how you were doing." Ratchet turned his back to her, "Why you have another hundred or so bots that need to die?" SilverStorm lowered her head, "Ratchet you must believe me, I thought Megatron would imprison them, not kill them." Ratchet leaped up, "You were always blind when it came to his lies!" He yelled, "Look at you now, you carry his offspring! You really think he will be any different then his father?!" SilverStorm backed away from the cell, "My only mistake Ratchet was ever believing that you would forgive me!" Tears streamed down her face as she ran out of the cell block. Optimus couldn't help but feel back for her. "Was the necessary?" he chided. Ratchet waved his hand, "Who are you to tell me that?" Optimus lowered his head, "What do they intend to do with me?" Ratchet shrugged, "Don't know, don't care." Ratchet sat back down in the corner as Optimus worked on his binds, "Do you know of one named Bulkhead?" Ratchet narrowed his eyes, "What about him?" Optimus replied, "I was a friend of his." Ratchet looked to the floor, "He was one of the hundred and forty that where killed from the rebel force." Optimus shrunk back, Alpha Trion, please take me back to my world. He thought as he held back the tears that for the first time in ages threatened to spill over. The cell disappeared into a blackness, "You called?" Alpha Trion stood in front of Optimus, Optimus was still sitting on the ground, "I was wrong Alpha Trion, I was wrong to think such things. Please allow me to go back to the world in which I belong." Alpha Trion smiled, "You see Optimus, your life has impacted so many around you, for the better I might add. Had you not been born Megatron would have risen to power, those who follow the Autobot path would have been killed or never would have joined at all. Cybertron and Earth would be much different." Optimus rose to a standing position, "Why could you not have simply told me of this?" Alpha Trion laughed placing his hands on the Primes shoulders, "Would you have believed me if you had not seen it?" Optimus lowered his head in submission, "I would not." Alpha Trion smiled lifting the Primes face, "Return now and never forget what an impact you have made."
Optimus jolted upright he looked around the room, the computer screen flickered light. He jumped up, walking quickly to the command center. Bulkhead was asleep up against the wall, his data pad laid in his lap. Ratchet was working on the computer system. "Optimus, glad you are finally awake. Both of them have made significant improvements." Optimus breathed a sigh of relief as the base looked normal, they were all here. "You were knocked out for a while boss bot!" he turned his attention to the human girl, "Miko." He nodded his acknowledgement. His spark warmed when he saw Jack and Raf playing a game together. Everything was as it should be. SilverStorm stirred slightly as Optimus sat down next to her, "How do you feel?" SilverStorm reached up with a smile and touched his face, "Better, still have a headache." Ratchet reached his hand to her head, "Your core temperatures are still high, its to be expected." She turned her smile to Optimus, "To think I could be married to Megatron and pregnant right now." Optimus stared at her wide eyed, "Why would you say such a thing?" Silverstorm chuckled slightly grabbing her chest from the small pain, "Alpha Trion told me." Optimus smirked, "For being the master of secrets he certainly tells you many things." Optimus smirked formed into a smile. SilverStorm nodded, "He sure does, he sure does." She whispered as she drifted back off into sleep. Optimus sighed sitting back, everything was how it should be. Though the images still haunted his mind, specially those of the children. He turned to them, they seemed to be growing bored of their games and tv. "Children?" Optimus's voice drew their attention, "I am going on patrol would you care to join me?" Miko was the first to nearly dive over the railing as the others followed suit. Optimus's spark was warm and full as his engine hummed down the highway with the children in his cab, "Thank you Alpha Trion" he whisper "Thank you"