Here we are...
Moving along! This is more of going over the episodes' happenings but with more insight on Optimus Prime's part. Enjoy!
The Prime
Smokescreen was stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing...
"But... that would mean..." he trailed off, the thought of Optimus offlining much too tragic to even comprehend. How could this be happening?
"The fate of our kind is more important than any one of us. Including...me," Optimus struggled to speak. His life force was nearly depleted. He could feel it in his spark chamber, the weak flickering of his once strong spark.
Smokescreen couldn't speak. He was struck with grief, his optics and expressions evident of all the emotions rushing through his core. He had only just begun to serve under the great Optimus Prime's command, and now he was loosing him...
"Optimus," he tried once more, "the Forge is a relic of the Primes. We can't use it to restore Cybertron, not without a Prime. Not without you..."
"There will be, a new Prime..." Optimus replied calmly. He sounded more labored than before, but he had to speak. He had to be heard. This was important. Smokescreen however, didn't want to hear it. He stood up, shaking his head.
"We can worry about that after we get you patched up and take down Megatron," he stated. Optimus needed to get this mech's attention. With strength waining, he lifted his hand and caught hold of the rookie's arm.
"The time, for a new leader... is upon us," Optimus insisted gently. Deep down, Optimus had always wondered if in the moment of his passing he would be granted the wisdom to properly discern the next Prime to follow after him. He had been watching Smokescreen carefully ever since the young mech had landed on earth, and Prime had taken into account all of the rookie's attributes.
Smokescreen had proven to be skilled but also displayed using good judgement.
Most importantly, he had a good spark.
He was kind, and patient, loyal and trusting. He was passionate about justice and dedicated to do good. Optimus had never seen a mech so young and inexperienced, but yet so full of potential and promisingly capable to carry the heaviest, most precious of burdens: leadership.
"In my spark," Optimus continued wearily, "I believe that leader stands before me right now," he declared.
Smokescreen's reaction only served to assure Prime of his speculation. The young mech had sat there, speechless and completely overwhelmed. After a while he had gotten to his feet and began pacing. Several times had he stopped to speak then kept silent and kept walking. Finally, he uttered,
"I...I can't do this. I mean... sure, who wouldn't want to be a Prime? But... I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility..." he admitted, a sad helplessness in his optics.
It was exactly the kind of reply Optimus had been hoping for: genuine humility.
"Smokescreen... the choice is neither yours... or mine to make. When it is time, the Matrix of Leadership will present itself only to the one whose spark is worthy," Optimus answered. It was merely Optimus Prime's belief that the Matrix would choose Smokescreen, but only time would tell if this assumption would become reality.
To be continued...
There you are! Hopefully not boring. Let me know if you think I'm putting enough emotion into these! I'm trying to find a nice balance where there's enough emotion to make it nearly real... but not too real as to be totally depressing! Insight is welcome!
-Stokin D Embers