Alchemist prime, botanica and arcee had vanished and Optimus was trying his best to get a handle on the situation. A hostile starship was above them with more on the way and they were now down to 15 autobots, or rather 14 autobots and one useless tag along. The autobots ran outside as enemy fighters filled the sky. As the starship aimed its primary guns at the autobots and prepared to fire, they were blasted as the "hand" came roaring through the sky. Just then star saber, bulkhead and perceptor came by ground to join their comrades, guns blazing.

"Optimus, what is this"

"They are the legions of liege Maximo and seem quite intent on destroying us"

As their ships engaged, a huge force of warriors, led by sideways, suddenly dropped to the ground and the two forces engaged in a furious battle. An explosion suddenly sent brains flying through the air.

"Brains now!" Optimus shouted

As he flew through the air, Brains grabbed the apex armor and pressed the center dial. Multiple layers of metal and armor began to unfold from virtually nowhere and when brains landed, he was encompassed in a large bulky suit of armor. He now stood even taller than bulkhead and felt new energy flowing through his own little body. With little effort he bashed and smashed his way through scores of enemy troops. After cutting down an enemy with his sword, star saber moved to back Optimus when his way was blocked by sideways.

"Hohoho, big tough bot, let's see how tough you are"

Sideways converted his wings into two broad swords and they clashed in a heated duel. Star saber was better trained but sideways was faster, especially with his ability to warp, which had him literally running circles around his opponent. With some skill and a bit of luck, star saber managed to land a punch on sideways.

"Oooooh, if there's one thing I hate, it's a fair fight" sideways scowled, or would if he had a face.

He suddenly connected his swords into one double ended weapon and fully extended his arm mounted shield and really started laying into the autobot. After fighting off some enemies Optimus had brief moment to survey the battlefield; he could see his autobots holding off their attackers, but just barely. The autobots were visually exhausted and couldn't keep the fight up for much longer and the "hand" was starting to take serious damage. Optimus began to grow greatly worried; the situation was growing way to out of control. Suddenly, optimus' worst nightmares were realized. He turned to see Ironhide in the center of a whole squad of troops. Just as he forced them off of him, his chest erupted and shattered as a laser blast struck him in the back.

"Noooooo!" Optimus yelled

A look of horror came over the autobots face as he fought to stay standing but finally collapsed. Just as Optimus was about to run to his old friend, he noticed all the other autobots being similarly overwhelmed and struck down.

"Nonono!" Optimus was overwhelmed with anger and grief, he couldn't even move.

Suddenly the sky was blackened as liege Maximo and his command ship arrived and the air filled with his wicked laugh.

"Curse the pit, I can sense he is gone. my brother may have escaped, but you won't; either way, a prime will die this day!"

Liege Maximo raised his mighty clawed hand and then flung it downwards, signaling his cannons to fire. They devastated the battlefield, felling both autobots and his own troops. Optimus stood in horror, even as fire and laser blast scorched his armor. His worry for his friends was overwriting every other concern in his processor.

"What the slag are you doing!" Sideways squealed as he scrambled to avoid being engulfed in flame

Liege then had his cannons aim higher up and when they fired, the "hands" belly erupted with flames; the whole middle section of the ship began to explode and crumble.

"Optimus!" Ratchets panicked voice came

"Ratchet, ratchet!"

"Optimus, the ship's coming apart and going down, everything is on fire!"

"Ratchet, hang on!"

"I can't stop it prime, the others are down and maccadam is gone. Optimus, I'm…I'm sorry, I think…"

The signal went dead as the the "hand" began to fall from the sky in a fire ball.

"Ratchet, no nooooooo!"

For a split moment Optimus saw a bright ball of light in the sky which flashed and encompassed everything. Optimus looked about frantically, but everything seemed to stand still, even the burning hand sat perched in midair. As Optimus looked, he thought he could make out something moving on the ships outer hull; it looked vaguely like maccadam. The only things that didn't seem to frozen were Optimus and liege Maximo. Maximo looked about furious before turning to look at the light.

"It can't be"

Optimus did the same and after a minute he was able to see the shape of a bot inside. The light began to fade a bit and Optimus could see clearly who it was.

"Vector prime?!"

Vector looked strained and tired, and Optimus finally understood what he was doing. He had stopped time with his powers over it. The light began to fade and vector began to slump, exhausted.

"Hahahaha, your to old for this brother, you don't have the strength to do what your trying to anymore. You're just a relic"

Vector prime looked down in shame and his eyes met optimus'. He saw the hope in them and remembered why he had come. After concentrating and focusing his power he cried out as his energy renewed and shined even brighter.

"Vector, no, don't you dare!" Maximo growled

"Turn back the hands of time!" Vector called out as he held his sword high

The light from his body suddenly blasted outward and everything became a blur. Optimus opened his eyes and suddenly found himself standing in the temple with his autobots. He looked around confused and everything began to sink in; vector prime had reversed time, though only by 20 minutes or so, it was enoughThe to possibly change the fates of his friends. Time began to slowly move back at normal speed and he realized it was just as Maximos first force arrived. He turned to see alchemist had already dropped the space bridge orb. Optimus had just enough time to sort out what he needed to do as time finally returned to normal.

" autobots roll out, full speed back to the ship, NOW!" He shouted

None of the autobots argued and the sped out of the temple into the woods, which helped to cover their escape, just as he left Optimus caught the last glimpse of alchemist, botanica and arcee before they were encompassed by the ball of light, with alchemist still yelling his unfinished warning.

"star saber, come in"

"I'm here Optimus, we are on our way to…"

"No, get back to the ship, we are on our way back, have the ship ready to warp as soon as we get there"

"Optimus, going into warp within an atmosphere is highly dangerous" perceptor spoke up

"we have to get out of her now, liege Maximo and his forces are too powerful for"

"speaking of which prime, I think they finally spotted us!"

"keep going everyone, I'll try and hold them off" jet fire said as he broke away from the group

"jetfire no!"

The jet had already engaged the enemy and was keeping their fighters occupied. Without saying a word, silverbolt had left the Hand to give him a hand.

"Ship is ready to go Optimus, we are just off the ground and waiting for you get aboard"

"Good, jetfire, silverbolt, break engagement and get back to the ship as fast as possible"

"But prime, they will follow us" silverbolt argued

"They are just small fighters, the command ship is still too far behind. Now get back here, the auto guns and shields will handle the enemy"

The jets flew a few circles around the enemy to confuse them before breaking off when jetfire heard silverbolt let out a grunt.

"Bolt, what is it?"

"One of my wings got clipped, I'm losing speed"

"hold on, I'll come back around and…"

"No go, I'll only get you killed to. Get back to the others and I'll cover you"

"not a chance Bolt, there is no way in the pit I'm leaving you"

"Damn it, I said go, the Hand need its pilot, now go while I keep 'em off you. GO!"

Silverbolt spun around and charged back at the enemy fighter while jetfire reluctantly headed back to the ship. He arrived back just as the ground team did and make straight for the control room. All the autobots knew what silverbolt was doing but none had the courage or strength to say anything. As the ship started into the open sky , they could see the sky battle. Silverbolt was holding his own until the command ship joined the battle. Sideways himself took control of one of the ships turrets and landed a direct hit on silverbolts underbelly. His jet mode caught fire and he bang to spin out of control.

"Uh uh! Not like this!" He shouted

With the last of his strength he climbed as high as he could before he inevitably began to fall and spin again, but now he had aimed himself right at the starship. As the other autobots watched, the aerialbots' strained voice came over the comms.

"Optimus prime, autobots, it's been my honor, now you go and find those primes"

"Silverbolt" Optimus breathed

"And tell the other aerialbots that I won't be able to buy them the drinks I owe them…."

Silverbolts burning form suddenly rammed right through into the bridge of the enemy ship, causing the whole front end to erupt in a massive explosion which brought the ship crashing to the ground. The autobots had only a moment to mourn before noticing liege Maximo and the rest of his fleet approaching. They wasted no time and blasted through the atmosphere. Maximo surveyed his ruined ship when sideways suddenly appeared beside him. He let out a sigh of relief, glad that he had warped out of the ship in time.

"well, that could have gone better" he shrugged

Maximo swatted the annoying bot away and glared at the sky where the Hand had gone.

"Should we follow them boss?"

"no, don't bother, they'll be back, he'll be back…for me"

Since they weren't being followed, the autobots only warped to get them out of the system. The autobots held a brief service for silverbolt.

"It would seem that superior will never rise again" perceptor remarked

"for a bot who hated heights, no bot has ever flown like him"

The autobots soon solemnly dispersed. Optimus was about to head for his quarters when he glanced out the window and suddenly noticed vector prime floating, limply, alongside the Hand. Optimus quickly made his way out to the hall and used a line to rope the prime and pull him over.

"Vector prime, are you all right?"

"Arrrr, ahh Optimus, thank primus, you did make it"

"And my autobots, thanks to you"

"I truly wasn't sure if I still had the strength in me"

"I'm sure solus would say that you always had it"

"Wait, where has solus been through all this" Optimus thought to himself

"Well, I think now you know why I couldn't return to cybertron yet, I had another task ahead of me" Vector smiled

"And I am happy you did"

"Yes, but I am very weak now, I don't think I have the strength to return to cybertron by my own power"

Optimus understood and retrieved one of the spacebridge orbs for him.

"Are you returning now?"

"No, not just yet, I have one more…affair, to look into"

"Another one of mine?"

"Yes and no, but I cannot say anything definitively at this moment. If the issue develops in the way I suspect, then I will contact you again, if not, then I will meet you back on cybertron"

"I don't quite understand, but I trust you"

"good, and before I go Optimus, I have one more important thing to tell you"

Vector prime weakly leaned in closer to Optimus and pointed out into the void, and Optimus followed his figure where it pointed.

"look there Optimus, do you see riiiight about there, that blueish star"

"Yes…yes I do see"

"Go there Optimus…go there. She is there, she is waiting for you" vector smiled

"El…Elita?!"

"Yes, she is there, follow that star and the sole planet circling it, and you will be with her again"

Optimus went to ask another question but vector had pushed himself off of the hull and drifted off as the ship continued. Optimus looked but when vector smiled and raised his arm in simple good buy, Optimus matched and soon made his way back inside. As soon as the Hand was out of sight, vector smile turned to a frown and he closed his eyes. He began to concentrate and let his mind roam beyond his physical self. He was no Alchemist but his power over time and space did offer some benefits. Focused on his target, he envisioned the image of the being he was investigating: the shadow entity.

"You are a shadow who moves in the darkness. Who are you?"

Suddenly, just as he concentrated and pinpointed his target, his mind and spark were suddenly attacked and bombarded by waves of dark energy. He felt like his body was on fire, like tendrils of flames, hotter than any sun, were wrapping around him. Within his mind he saw veil of fire and shadow, from which, a dark figure appeared; it was the shadow but just as vector realized who it was, the image shattered, revealing another form. This form was the true being behind the face, and vector needed no time to recognize it. He gaped in horror as he realized who it was; their burning red eyes staring right into his spark and for the first time in centuries, he was afraid.

"You, no it can't be!"

"oh yes it can, brother"

"you have not right to call me, or any of us that anymore"

"My right is to do what I wish. This universe shall fall into my masters darkness"

The being, whose image morphed into one that matched Unicron himself, then stretched out his hand and more waves of agony spread through vectors body until suddenly it stopped. The pain, the vision, his tormentor, they were all just gone and he floated, barely conscious, through the void.

Back on the hand, Optimus had the ship moving double speed to get to the star vector prime had pointed out to him. He had since gone back out on the hull again, but this time to just sit. After vector had gone he realized how peaceful it was out there. He had gone up there with the 13 journal and a space bridge orb, which he was rolling between his palms. He was thinking of Elita-one, the time they had spent together and the idea of finally seeing her again; for the first time in a long time, he felt actual happiness. He suddenly thought back to the knowledge, or lack of, about the 13th prime, reminded of it by memories of him and Elita before the war. After gaining some courage, he took out the journal and prepared to flip to the page that he knew described him.

"Hello optimus"

The sudden voice made him jump a bit.

"solus, good to see you again, in fact where have you been, do have any idea what has happened"

"Yes yes, Optimus I do, it was just…"

"What is it solus?"

"Primus is weakening, I can feel it, I'm sure we all can. My spark is still one with his and in his weakness, I was unable to maintain my form, but I did see everything through you. I...I am so sorry about silverbolt, he was a good autobot"

"he was a good friend. So, before, you saw…"

The ship was suddenly rocked by collision that sent Optimus across the hull. As he looked up, he saw that a ship had rammed the Hand. Upon closer inspection, he saw that a decepticon symbol had been carved into the side.

"No"

"Optimus!"

Optimus looked up to see megatron rise from a hatch on the upper part of the ship. Below, a boarding hatch from lockdown ship extended and burrowed its way into the Hand. The small decepticon force poured in. They quickly made their way to the large wreck room, where many of the autobots had gathered. After both sides secured some cover, a furious fire fight broke out. Outside, megatron fired his fusion cannon in order to propel him right at Optimus. He tackled his enemy and the rolled across the deck.

"did you think you could escape me prime, that I wouldn't find you?"

Megatron wrapped his hands around primes neck and started backing his head against the deck. Optimus responded by fling his head upwards, slamming it into Megatrons. He stumbled back in pain as Optimus stood back up.

"you would be smart to stay down scum" solus scowled at megatron

"if I remember correctly megatron, it was you who fled after our last meeting, and from cybertron before that"

That was the past Optimus, and in the future, you will be no more and I will rule cybertron as its savior"

"Its what?"

"Oh yes, I know of your mission prime, and after I destroy you, I will take it up and all transformers will see me as their savior"

"Nooooo!"

Optimus charged megatron and tackled him. They bounced off of the hull and drifted into open space, still grappling. Megatron finally pushes Optimus off of him, and managed to grab the bridge orb in the process.

"oh and what is this prime, one of your little toys?"

"yes, and I'm sure you will be surprised by what it does"

Megatron looked at the orb and realized that in clutching it, he had activated it. The small light on the ball began to grow brighter. This strange device, plus the look Optimus was giving him, gave megatron a sick feeling in his spark. Suddenly he was encompassed in a ball of light and even in space, his scream of surprise could be heard. On the Hand, the fire fight was still raging, when suddenly cyclones caught sight of Megatrons disappearing act.

"Megatron is gone, he just vanished in a flash of light. What happened to our leader?"

"Prime probably finally took care of him, and you lot are about to follow him" Ironhide stood up and grinned.

Caught off guard and leaderless, the decepticons panicked and retreated back to their ship. As soon as they withdrew their boarding hatch their ship retreated at full speed.

"Maybe we will get a little peace now"

Optimus suddenly realized that he was still drifting through dead space a ways away from the ship.

"uh, jetfire, could you possibly fly out here and give me an assist"

"What do think will happen to megatron?" Solus asked as she appeared beside him

"oh, I think he is in for a big surprise"

In the core chamber of cybertron, the returned primes and autobots were gathered. Suddenly the light of a space bridge appeared. Though they expected to see another prime, they did not expect megatron of all bots to appear and slam onto the floor with a grunt. Megatron looked up in anger, but his look quickly turned to confusion and awe. He looked up to see the giant spark that was the heart of their world and creator. Below that he saw 5 primes looking at him with equally confused looks, or rather, 4 confused primes. Alpha Trions eyes narrowed in disdain at the decepticon leaders presence. Megatron suddenly heard the cocking of multiple guns from behind him. He leaned his head back and was met with the sight of a group of angry looking autobots, all of which had their weapons pointed at him. All he did was frown at the course of events.