(see previous disclaimers)
While the young new couple was still blissfully unaware of the coming chaos, Hide made the preparations that he had been ordered to do so. He sent out the secret code to all survivors and all those in the kingdom of Iacon. All the bots, upon hearing the emergency code, quietly went into action. Slowly, those who were in far out areas that had not yet been touched by Megatorn made their way to the predetermined underground area near Iacon but not under Iacon. And after sending out the code, Hide went back to the room where the young couple was.
Bee and Jumper spotted Ironhide and both could tell something was off. 'What's wrong?" Bee asked, sensing danger.
"It is no longer safe for the young princes to remain here. The Kingdom of Eron has fallen, the kingdom of Vos has fallen and…" Hide started.
"Please don't tell us the Kingdom of Kaon has fallen" Jumper suddenly blurted out.
Hide sighed and lowered his helm before raising it again. "I am sorry, I don't bring good news. The Kingdom of Kaon has fallen and both its King and Queen are no more. A young scientist named Perceptor reported it" Hide revealed.
Jumper merely nodded while Bee sighed. "If only…" Bee started.
"If you hadn't come here, not only would the king and queen be dead, Prince Mirage would be as well" Hide stated.
Bee and Jumper nodded, as they realized it was the truth. "What do we do now?" Jumper asked.
"You two take Prince mirage to these coordinates (gives coordinates) and I will take Prince Optimus to see his father" Hide stated.
"Why are we splitting them up right now?" Bee asked.
"Because Sentinel needs to bestow the Matrix of Leadership on Optimus before Optimus can be safely taken to those same coordinates" Hide answered. "Please, just trust me."
Bee and Jumper nodded. "Is there any secret way out of here to those coordinates, as I fear if Prince Mirage is out in the open, he will be fired upon" Bee replied. Hide shot a link to an secret passage in a remote area of the castle that would allow for the safe transfer of Mirage to the secluded underground base. "Thank you, Hide. We will do as you say."
Hide nodded and then knocked on the door. He wasn't liking the way things were going.
Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, King Sentinel was making last preparations on the Matrix of leadership and on a special box for Optimus and Mirage. It was going to be special holos, both of Optimus' creators and Mirage's creators, both of which would no longer be around once Megatron attacked the Kingdom of Iacon. Soon he was done with the preparations and waiting for Prince Optimus to arrive.
Back at the room, Mirage and Optimus, who had been talking about sparklings, were worried by the sound of the knock that they heard on their door. It sounded urgent. "Come in" Optimus stated from the berth, unlocking the door by sending a code.
Hide burst through the door with Bee and Jumper following. Hide said the code word. Having not been informed of it, it meant little to Mirage, but Optimus knew what it meant. "Bee and Jumper are here to take care of Mirage and move him out safely. I am to go with you to meet up with King Sentinel" Hide revealed.
Mirage was scared, but Optimus merely nodded. He realized what this meant. "Yes, take my mate to safety. I will go see my father and receive what he will give to me" Optimus stated. The receiving part meant little to Mirage, but Hide and even Bee knew what it meant – Optimus accepted his new role and he knew his father would be slaughtered.
Bee and Jumper hurried the sparked Mirage out of the room and headed for the special area where the secret tunnel opening was. Mirage didn't want to be separated from his mate, but Bee explained that Optimus would be coming soon. IT was enough for Mirage.
Meanwhile, Prince Optimus and Hide headed for King Sentinel, who had now been joined by his Queen and by the medic Ratchet. "Father, Ironhide told me about what was going on. I am ready to receive whatever you will bestow upon me."
King Sentinel, though worried, smiled. He knew that meant Optimus was ready to accept whatever was going to happen. "My time grows short, my son. Your mother and I will fall when Iacon falls, as Primus revealed when we learned Queen Elita was sparked with you. We have been preparing since then for this to come. I can no longer remain the bearer of the Matrix, as the line of the Primes must go on. And so, for that reason, I am bestowing two gifts upon you – this special holo box with holos of us, holos of you when you were younger, as well as holos of Prince Mirage and his family that were salvaged by the young scientist Perceptor and the Matrix of Leadership, filled with wisdom that you will need as you take over the reign of all transformers" King Sentinel stated. Optimus merely nodded, awaiting the command to open the special cavity in his chest that he had been sparked with to carry the Matrix. "OPEN."
At the command, Optimus opened the special compartment near his spark and waited to receive the Matrix. Soon, Sentinel opened his own chest plating, revealing the Matrix. "What I was given, I now pass on to you" Sentinel stated and released the Matrix from his own body. The Matrix, upon recognizing the vow, moved itself away from Sentinel's spark and floated over to where it would reside in Optimus.
"I receive what has been given to me" Optimus answered, having known the response to give. And with that, the Matrix moved into Optimus' chamber and then both chest plates were closed.
Once that was done, King Sentinel and Queen Elita hugged their son one last time before ordering Hide and Ratchet to take the new leader to the secret base. Optimus went with the two without arguing. He would miss his parents, but he now knew, he was needed elsewhere.
King Sentinel and Queen Elita watched as the three fled. "It is only a matter of time, my love, before Megatron seals our fate" Sentinel replied. Queen Elita nodded. The two shared a hug and a kiss, knowing that it would be soon that they would be slaughtered. They decided that with whatever time they had left, they would spend together, not as king and queen, but as loving mates. They trusted Primus that Optimus was now ready and their time had come.
