Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. I do own some very irritating new scars, though.

A/N: Again, forgive stupid errors. I'm still in a recovery haze.

Chapter 24

Sam hardly remembered the journey back to Cybertron's surface. Alexis had steadily regained strength along the way, although it became clear that the hand she had used to breach Primus' force field was broken. For a while they had walked faster than the light emanating from the Spark Matrix, but it had eventually passed them like a wave. Now the previously dark tunnels were bright and humming with life.

Sam recounted everything that had happened since they'd left Unicron to his cousin. It was almost relaxing, just being able to talk. Alexis never interrupted, simply taking in all that he said while trying to make sense of it. Each word he spoke brought back more memories, memories that both did and didn't belong to her. Unlike her time being controlled by the cerebro-strip, Alexis had been unaware while under the control of Unicron and Primus.

Optimus Prime, having reached an unspoken truce with Starscream, was the first thing Sam saw when he arrived back at the temple. Without even asking Sam what had happened or where the Matrix of Leadership had gone, he directed the children over to Ratchet and the human medics. After a quick scan showed that Sam was in good shape, despite some cuts and scrapes, he went over to where Optimus, Lennox and Simmons were waiting. Then, he retold the story for a second time. Unlike with his cousin, there were several interruptions along the way. Perhaps the most welcome was when Bumblebee and Mikaela rolled up. Mikaela immediately hugged Sam and apologized for what had occurred earlier. Sam then continued his story, holding her hand the entire time. When he was finished there was a moment of silence.

"What do you mean, the sparks 'combined'?" Lennox asked. He was holding a bloody bandage to his arm, the only obvious wound he had suffered in the Decepticon battle.

"They sort of circled each other, and then there was a blinding light."

"We saw that, too," Epps said, joining the conversation.

"I think they formed one big spark, because of the Matrix," Sam said, looking up to Optimus for assurance. "I call it the Spark Matrix."

Optimus rubbed his nose. "What shape did the three take after their combination?"

"Uh, abstract?"

"Could you draw it?"

"Sure," Sam said. Someone managed to find him a pen and paper and he drew the image as best he could. When he turned it over to Optimus, the Autobot also showed it to Bumblebee. Blue optics opened wide in recognition and Bee led the group over to a group of hieroglyphics hidden in a corner. There, a near identical image rested.

"Oh my God," Mikaela whispered, covering her mouth.

"These walls tell the story of our race," Optimus said, reaching out to touch said walls with reverence. Below him, Sam did the same, running his fingers over the outline of the Spark Matrix. "The start of the glyphs show the Allspark granting our ancestors life. This last panel has always been a mystery; countless bots have tried to understand its meaning. It would seem that you, Sam, were able to do so."

"What? I didn't do anything…"

"You helped give our planet a second chance." Optimus quietly corrected. "From what we could translate, we knew that this object, your Spark Matrix, was needed to restore Cybertron. However, no one knew what it was. Many speculated that it was the Allspark reformed. Yet now it is all clear." Optimus pointed to another glyph, this one so high that Sam had trouble making it out. It showed first a single being, splitting in to two, the Matrix floating above. Then there was a crude interpretation of Unicron and Primus, standing side by side. The next showed them fighting. The final panel showed them forming one being yet again.

"There was a longstanding theory that Unicron and Primus were, in fact, more than brothers. Many thought this panel indicated that they were twins. And as you know," Optimus said, motioning to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, "Twins form when one spark splits into two. It seems that the same was true of Primus and Unicron. Separated, they were drawn into battle in order to form a galactic balance of life and death."

"So when I put their sparks together, they went back to one, the way it was supposed to be?"

Optimus nodded. "The Matrix was what separated them and it was what brought them back together. Their combined energies were restored, enabling the planet to recover. We have you to thank for this, Sam."

The teen felt his face redden. He really hated when Optimus singled him out for simply being in the right place at the right time. If anything, it was because of Alexis that things had worked out. Well, because of Unicron possessing her.

"Does this mean…You're going to stay here?" Mikaela asked quietly. The humans tried to hide their anxiousness. This was what many of them had feared. With Cybertron restored, there was no reason for the Transformers to remain on Earth. Although some human politicians welcomed this, many others did not.

"Perhaps," Optimus said. "That is up to your human government and our individual choice. With the space bridge, we might not have to make such permanent decisions now."

A sigh of relief came from almost every being listening. Bumblebee seemed the most excited, knowing that he wasn't going to be forced to pick between Sam and Cybertron. Lennox and Epps exchanged grins, glad to know that they'd still have their alien back-up in future military ventures. Simmons was the only one who didn't seem completely satisfied, until it crossed his mind that he now had the opportunity to study an alien race in their natural environment. After that revelation, a huge grin was plastered over his face.

"I think it's my turn to ask the questions," Sam said. "What's going on with the Decepticons?"

"Right now Starscream's in control. That means we have a temporary truce…for now," Lennox said with a shrug. "Of course, there's still a lot of Decepticons out there. Only the ones on Cybertron are following Starscream."

"That means there is still a threat from Shockwave and Soundwave," Optimus said. "As soon as they learn of Megatron's death, we will be facing Decepticons under their control."

"Megatron's dead?" Optimus nodded. "Are we sure this time?"

"Okay, it looks like we have an actual mission now," Lennox said, ignoring Sam's quip. "Let's see how much that Spark thing did."

While the soldiers and Optimus went to survey the planet, Sam listened to Mikaela describe what had happened with Bumblebee. He couldn't help but laugh when Bee showed him just how much damage his girlfriend had managed to cause. He laughed even harder when Bumblebee explained how he had taken out all of his anger on the nearest Decepticon. That reminded him of something.

"Hey, Bee, where did you live before the war?"

The next thing Sam knew, he and Mikaela were being taken on a tour of the city. Bumblebee showed them various spots of personal importance and enjoyment. Everywhere they went they saw signs of the Spark Matrix's work, as entire buildings shined with its light. Eventually a comm. from Lennox had them return to the temple and the Ghost ships. It seemed that the humans were going to be sent back while half of the newly combined Autobot and Decepticon forces remained to oversee the planet's reconstruction. For once it seemed that everything had calmed down. All of the Decepticons that Megatron had brought were more than willing to quit fighting under Starscream, and simply being on their home planet seemed to keep them in check.

When they arrived back at the temple, Sam was the first to notice that there was a small crowd gathered around Ratchet. Wondering what was going on, Sam led the way over to the group. No one said anything when they arrived. They were all distracted by the medic. Nestled in Ratchet's arms were two incredibly small robots. They almost looked like…babies. Robot babies.

A/N: Explanation next chapter (unless you remember the last chapter). Let me know if there are more questions. I might have missed something in my stupor.