Taking a break from my TFA fiction, I return now to Prime.

After the "Orion Pax" season 2 opening episodes, I remeber thinking how it was kind of a shame that Optimus did not remain in his Orion Pax state for longer. It would have created a nice opportunity for some character development and shaken things up a little within the Autobot team. The fact that he retained no memory of his time as Orion Pax as well just made everything that happened in those episodes rather redundant.

This fic is set right after the "Orion Pax" episodes. There'll be a part 2 as well next week. Enjoy, folks!

Orion - Part 1

"So you really can't remember anything?"

Optimus Prime turned his attention to the question-asker: Bulkhead.

"I am afraid not, Bulkhead. My memory of the time elapsed between my unleashing of the power of the Matrix inside of Unicron and my reawakening at the Decepticon space bridge control centre is...erased."

"Perhaps it is just as well," Ratchet commented without looking up from his work. "I do not imagine memories of being held on the Decepticon warship would be pleasant for any Autobot."

Standing in the medical bay of their base, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee watched as Ratchet burned away the last remaining traces of the Decepticon emblem and carved a new Autobot emblem on Optimus' shoulder using a heat cutting tool. Optimus was sat on a medical table, bending forward slightly so that the medic could reach his upper shoulder.

Bumblebee beeped questioningly at Optimus.

"I do not believe it had been Megatron's intention to harm me, Bumblebee, at least not initially. Even in a regressive state, I may still have been of use to him." Optimus' gaze dropped. "I only hope that I did not provide him with anything of great value before I left."

"Optimus, you need not blame yourself for anything that may have happened whilst you were not in your rightful state of mind and under Megatron's manipulative control," Ratchet stated firmly.

Arcee took a step forward toward Optimus.

"He's right, Optimus," she agreed. "Anything you did under Megatron's influence wasn't your fault." She came to stand beside Optimus and placed both her smaller hands over his larger one. "We'll deal with the consequences, if any, of your time in Decepticon captivity eventually. But for now at least, we're just glad to have you back with us, both in body and mind."

There were nods of agreement from Bulkhead and Bumblebee to Arcee's last sentence. Optimus looked across all his troops.

"I am in debt to all of you for bringing me back," he said humbly. His gaze came to rest on Arcee. "In particular, you and Jack, Arcee, for braving a journey back to Cybertron in search of Vector Sigma. I would not be here in my present state if not for your efforts."

Arcee smiled up at Optimus. "It was worth it to get you back."

"Yeah, just imagine what would have happened if we'd got Optimus back from the 'Cons without any way to reload the Matrix of Leadership?" Bulkhead laughed.

Optimus looked distantly into the far wall as Bulkhead said this.

"Then it would not have been Optimus Prime whom you had returned with...," he murmured.

Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee looked at their leader curiously.

"Done," Ratchet declared suddenly, drawing everyone's attention. He shut off his heat cutting tool and stepped back from Optimus to inspect his handiwork. A satisfied look appeared on his face. "Good as new."

From beside Optimus, Ratchet picked up a large mirror that had been lying face down. He held it up by Optimus' shoulder to allow him a clear view of the newly carved Autobot emblem there. Bringing a hand up toward the new emblem, Optimus touched it lightly with his fingertips.

"Welcome back to the Autobots, Optimus," Ratchet said.

Optimus smiled a small smile. "Thank you, Ratchet."

Ratchet put the mirror back down beside Optimus. "Now you may not remember it, but you have been through quite an ordeal, so I think it would be best for you now to get some rest."

Ratchet turned to Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee. He began ushering them toward the exit. "Optimus could use some peace and quiet now."

The trio nodded and began heading out. Ratchet followed after them, casting a final glance back at Optimus before departing.

Left alone, Optimus looked down at his hands resting on top of his legs. For some reason, he thought they appeared large then, too large for him. His gaze then wandered over to the mirror lying beside him. He reached over and picked it up. Bringing it before himself, he looked down into his reflection. He imagined that he had never seen him before: the Prime in the mirror. Optimus Prime existed only in the glass. It was a window into an alternate reality where such a leader of the Autobots existed, in a world divorced from this one. The image did not belong to him. He was not Optimus Prime. He was just the young archivist tucked away safely at his work station in the Iacon Hall of Records, locating, reading, storing and organising historical files. He had no other worldly concerns about war and responsibilities. He was just an ordinary worker doing ordinary work, performing a designated job, leading a simple, unremarkable life on Cybertron.

From his lips, the archivist softly emerged.

"My name is Orion Pax."

His gaze was drawn down the mirror to the glass panels of the Prime's chest. They began to open. A bluish-white radiance seeped out, then poured.

He heard his old mentor, Alpha Trion's voice again:

"Sometimes destiny is not of our own choosing. Sometimes it chooses us."

He beheld the power and magnificence of the Matrix of Leadership as its energy emanated from within the body of the Prime, a body that was not his, a burden that was not his to bear, a role that he had never been chosen for. The Matrix of Leadership had never come to him. He was not carrying it in his body. It was not there inside of him. He had never been chosen to be its bearer. He was just like any other Cybertronian, carrying only a single spark within him. Optimus Prime did not exist. He had never been created.

Optimus Prime disappeared into Orion Pax.

"I am far from being a Prime."

End.