"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power"

Abraham Lincoln

The Autobot Council had a long, sometimes dark, history on Cybertron. Some of the mechs who held seats on the council were the greatest leaders the planet had ever seen. Selfless and righteous. True Autobots, through and through. Others, though, were too full of selfish ambition and lust for power. They cared not for the common person or their suffering, or for upholding the Autobot core values.

Many Autobots remain ignorant to the corruption of their government. Young mechs, idealists such as Optimus Prime, believe the council to be nothing but benevolent. Even as he stands before them now, there is no doubt in his mind that their every decision is honorable, and in the best interest for Cybertron.

"Optimus Prime, this council, and the planet of Cybertron, will forever be indebted to you." Alpha Trion, an ancient, bearded mech speaks. He is one of the few bots who predates the war, one of the first models to be brought online just after the Cybertronians won independence from the Quintessons.

There are many other mechs on the council. Perceptor, an ambassador from the Ministry of Science, as well as Halogen, Xaaron and Avalon, to name a few. Sentinel Magnus sat at the highest seat, looking down at Optimus in thinly vailed contempt as the rest of the council congratulated the young prime.

As for himself, Optimus Prime stood in the center of the assembly, looking up at the powerful mechs who once thought of him as scarcely more than a maintenance bot, awed and, slightly, flustered. Alpha Trion continued to shower praise over the young mech.

"Optimus Prime," The ancient mech says "you are truly deserving of the title of Magnus." Sentinel sputters and leans forward in his seat, but Alpha Trion does not acknowledge him "The council has come to an agreement, and the title is yours should you desire it."

Sentinel turned his steely glare to Optimus, who face looks just as surprise as Sentinel's does furious.

The young prime contemplates this. In his spark, it is an easy decision. The title of Magnus is one he never thought of attaining. It had seemed too impossible. He tries to picture himself as a Magnus. He would try to be a kind, but firm leader, as Ultra Magnus had been. But it is lonely at the top, and Optimus knows there are others who need him more.

"With all due respect, sir" Optimus begins, unsure of how to phrase his request. "I think I'm more needed elsewhere."

"Oh?" The surprise in Alpha Trion's voice is absent from his stoic voice, "and where would that be?"

"Earth, sir." Optimus is quick to respond. "The native life there has suffered from our presence, it should be our duty to help them repair what we have destroyed. And perhaps to set up a permanent base of operations there? An embassy of sorts?"

Some of the councilmembers grumble at this. The thought of allying themselves with lesser organics seeming to lack any benefit. However, Alpha Trion looked thoughtful.

"There is much about organic life forms, specifically the creatures of Earth, as you call it, that we have yet to discover; and if your testimony about the…humans, was it?" Optimus nods wordlessly. "Yes, that human companion of yours is quite a unique specimen. It seems the organics of planet Earth are far more developed than we previously imagined. Perhaps it is time to set up a permanent alliance, of sorts. After we have properly dealt with Megatron and the Decepticons, of course."

At the mention of Megatron, Optimus tenses, the final battle with the Decepticon leader was still all too fresh in his processor, and Prowl was too freshly smelted. The moment the former maintenance crew had landed on Cybertron, Autotroopers had swarmed around the captives and escorted them away. Optimus had watched them go, staring into the distance long after they'd disappeared behind the throngs of Autobots welcoming the new heroes home. No one had bothered to tell the young Prime where they were taking his prisoners, and that had caused unease in his spark. Megatron and the remaining Decepticons were his captives, his responsibility. However, it was easy to guess where they'd been taken: Trypticon Prison. Ironically located in the former Decepticon capitol and Kaon, it is easily the most heavily guarded and secure facility on the planet. There is a common saying about the stockades within those massive walls; mechs who go in never come out, which is usually the case because most of the con's confined there face life imprisonment, or execution. Which will Megatron be receiving? Prime thinks, his mind wondering back to the final words he had said to the Decepticon; that would be the easy way out, you don't deserve it. What did such a mech as Megaton deserve then?

"Sir" Optimus finds himself asking before he can stop himself. "What will become of Megatron? And the Decepticons?"

A look of surprise dances across the ancient mech's face, but before Alpha Trion has a chance to reply, a much louder, and far more uncouth, voice is filling the council chambers.

"You've served your planet, Optimus, by bringing Megatron back to Cybertron for punishment, let the justice system take it from here." Sentinel Prime looks down on Optimus, malice evident on his face and in his words, "No need for you to become some sort of vigilante trying to avenge your fallen comrade, is there?"

"I brought Megatron back for justice" Optimus says, blue fists clenched at the disrespectful mention of Prowl. "As his captor, it should be my responsibility to see due process carried through."

"Well it's not your responsibility" Sentinel retorts, "it is the duty of the council to court martial Megatron for his war crimes."

"So, he will be receiving a trial, then?" Optimus asks, hoping that in all Sentinel's rage he will accidently let slip the information the young Prime desire to hear. However, before the temporary Magnus can reply, another councilmember speaks. This mech is far more ancient than either of the Primes, and is closer to Alpha Trion or Ultra Magnus in age and wisdom.

"But, of course, Optimus Prime" Halogen says, until now the elder had been quite; preferring to lurk in the corner and watch the situation unfold than chime in. Halogen has always been, along with Xaaron, one of the more controversial mechs on the council. He had been caught in the company of pleasure femmes in the past. And in the Golden Age he was known to have a fondness for watching the gladiatorial matches in the pits of Kaon. Still, his political knowledge had helped the Autobots win the war for Cybertron, and had helped them successfully rebuild their desolated planet. "The Autobot judicial system will always be upheld."

There is something in the old mech's optics, or perhaps it is the way in which he says these last words, that makes Optimus Prime feel as if he is lying.

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In the end, Optimus supposes as he boards Omega Supreme, it won't have matter if Halogen had been truthful with him or not. The young Prime did not expect to be leaving his home planet so soon. And, yet, here he is staring down at his home city of Iacon from one of the giant Autobot's many large windows. His meeting with the council had only been a little over a week ago, and, already, it had been decided that Optimus would travel with his original crew, and Jazz, back to Earth to set up a conference with the planet's leaders. Despite what Alpha Trion had said, Optimus' request to set up a permanent base on the organic planet is being fulfilled before the Decepticons are dealt with. For the young Prime, it feels good to finally be heard and respected after being taunted and disbelieved for so long.

As Omega Supreme lifts off Cybertron, any thoughts of Megatron or his Decepticons are banished by the warm company of his teammates and the exciting promise of the future.