Watching the humans scurrying about, trying to patch up what our enemies had destroyed, Optimus gave a soft sigh. He had always known coming here would bring his enemies and had tried to think of any other option but knew it was the only way to keep the humans somewhat safe. It would be a fairy tale for Autobots and Decepticons to have a designated war zone. The humans would probably turn it into one of their "video games". Wouldn't that go over well? He could see their government now, calling a meeting about how we've "impacted" their lives dangerously because we are teaching their children it is alright to be aggressive. Not mentioning the fact that we 'Bots know nothing of "video games" and would not want to make one anyway. No, we have enough trouble just trying to handle our enemies and cover our own afts. That is mostly why 'Cons gain ground on the 'Bots. 'Cons have nothing to protect. Nothing they value. Nothing to hold or cherish. All they do is attack and retreat, never defend.

They had had no choice about bringing their war here but Optimus was still regretful. The alternative of leaving Earth, and the humans, to the Decepticons was unacceptable. He hoped, at least some humans, saw his people not just as war machines, or as giant robots, but soldiers fighting for what we believe in. We run on hope and faith. We hope, that at the end of the day, progress has been made either within ourselves or our enemies. A soft word of encouragement at the right time or a servo of commiseration on the shoulder can go a long way toward healing. Wheelie and Jetfire prove that there is hope for our enemies. We just have to find the right way to approach them. We strive to keep faith that someday peace will be found at last. That one day, two soldiers of different sides, would see not an enemy in the other, but a brother or sister. As family, instead of adversaries. As two Cybertronians, instead of an Autobot and a Decepticon. He fought not to hate his brother. Humans had a saying of a, "Love, hate relationship". It was a spectacularly good description of his and Megatrons relationship. He fought everyday to not accept the evil that had seduced his brothers spark. Megatron had decided to do evil and he could just as well decide to do good. If he accepted that the evil in his people was absolute, then he accepted that there was no hope for his enemies. No hope for his people. No hope for his brother. Oh, he knew it was foolish after so long, to hope that Megatron was not totally lost to the darkness that has consumed his spark but he could not help the little voice in the back of his processor saying that there was yet good in him. That was his fear, that there was nothing good left in Megatron. He felt his spark sink lower with the thought. You would think millenia was long enough to mourn for his brother but it hurt just as much today as it did then. Primus, help him, help them all.

He sighed again and took a look around, trying to find something to bring him out of his disillusionment. The mechs around him were working well with other humans trying to fix the pyramid. Laughter floated his way as one of the 'Bots made a horrible sound in his gears from all the sand. Sure enough, Ratchet heard and looked over frowning at the embarrassed mech. Making his way over to Sideswipe, Ratchet passed Optimus saying, "I'm going to take some of this sand home so I can make some kind of solvent to take care of our moving parts. This is ridiculous, slag it! He is the third one today. By the time we get back to base, everyone is going to need maintenance. Hmpf!" With a half smile Optimus closed up the container holding Jetfire's donated parts.

His mind went back to what Sam had told him of the Primes visit...

Sam... we have been watching you for a long, long time. You have fought for Optimus, our last descendant, with courage and sacrifice, the qualities of a leader. A leader worthy of our secret. The Matrix of Leadership cannot be found, it must be earned. Return now to Optimus. Merge the Matrix with his spark. It was, and has always been, your destiny...

Optimus wasn't sure what consequences Sam's action could have in the future but he knew they would come to light sooner or later. From what he had seen of the Primes they acted first and explained second, maybe, if they felt like it. Looking into the colorful sunset he knew he'd have to face what had taken place while he was dead. From the little everyone had told him Sam had orchestrated the whole rescue/resurrection operation. They were definitely going to have a long talk pretty soon.

Optimus knew that no one was aware of what had happened to him while he was dead. He body might have been vacant at the time but his spark was still active somewhere else. He didn't know why he'd kept what the Prime's had said to himself a secret only that he got the nagging feeling that there was an appointed time for that conversation to take place and now was not the time. Optimus was still reeling from what was said himself, he was sure the others couldn't handle it. He would know when it was time. He thought back to his own experiences with the Dynasty of Primes...

He remembered bright lights and rocks under him. Looking around Optimus saw a desert landscape and the shadowy figures of six huge mechs. Checking his systems he found that his chronometer had stopped gaining time.

"So, I have failed to protect Samuel..." he said sadly and hung his head. He cringed thinking of Samuel in Megatrons servos. He remembered Megatron saying Samuel could lead them to another energon source. How would Sam know anything about energon? And what had Megatron been doing with Samuel when they attacked that warehouse? Obviously, he had missed some important information.

"You have done what you ought. It is Sams' time to find his way now. You could not help him find his path. Alone, you must prove yourself. Alone, you must face your greatest foe. And so shall Samuel." It seemed like the voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once. Looking up at the Dynasty of Primes, his mind reeled. Thoughts of Samuel raced through his processor, laughing, running, playing with Bee. He didn't understand. Of course, this was a... What had Glen called it? A "near death experience". He almost snorted, that boy was a handful, especially with an overload of sugar in his system.

"What would you have me do?" he asked the Primes.

All the Primes looked at each other and a great hum started. It was so deep and rumbling he could feel it in his spark. Optimus' vision darkened, then snapped into focus sharply. Looking around he saw himself back at Mission City. Watching the past he could see it all very clearly. It was like he was watching with someone else's optics and objectivity. He could tell that the past Optimus didn't want to kill Megatron. Even then he felt retched about his brother being his enemy. It was a relief that Sam had taken what he had said about his spark and the cube and applied it to Megatron instead. He could clearly see his past battles with Megatron. Over and over he had taken the battle to the edge enough that Megatron retreated. He could never bring himself to make that final strike. Couldn't stand to be without family. "I'm weak," Optimus thought. He couldn't ever kill his brother. It just wasn't in him. Maybe this is what he'd have to do to prove himself to the Primes... He thought of some of the last things he had heard in his life, "There is another source of Energon hidden on this planet! The boy can lead us to it! Is the future of our race not worth a single human life?" Optimus had replied that Megatron would never stop at just one. His spark cleared swiftly and he was certain even if it wasn't what the Primes wanted that he would never stop trying to save his brother. If Megatron wanted to save the Cybertronian race with Samuels' life then Optimus could not save them by killing Megatron either. With Megatron dead, only another Decepticon would take his place, and it would start all over again. Just like Megatron would not take only one human life, the Autobots would not be able just to take Megatrons life. The viciousness of this cycle he could see lasting until there were no Cybertronians left. He thought of all the people that had lost their life in this war, the sacrificesall of us have made to be here today... He did not want the ends to justify the means. There are some things that are suppose to be sacred. He mourned the loss of life.

He found himself back in front of the Dynasty of Primes. They all watched him silently. Optimus was getting frustrated about the whole "prove himself" thing and said, "What can any of us do to end this senseless slaughter? I'll ask again... What would you have me to do? The killing will not stop unless drastic measures are taken and I'm not willing to lose more comrades or the only family I have left. A devastated and broken race is not alive."

The silence was deafening. Optimus looked at the six Primes for direction and guidance and with dwindling patience. All the Primes put their servos over their sparks and, "hmmed", resonantly. As one they looked down at Optimus and spoke four words, "Listen to your heart."