Optimus' mind was blank and for a few seconds he knew nothing but the empty white void he now seemed to float through. After a few more moments, that felt like an eternity, his memories started coming back to him and he remembered what had happened leading up to that moment. He felt weightless and worriless in whatever plain of existence he now found himself.

"is this the allsprark? Is this what it is to be…at peace?"

"not yet dear optimus" a voice came

It was familiar to optimus, and he turned to see its source. There, floating together, were the forms of the 13, all of them together again. Optimus saw in the back floated megatronus, who looked neither angry or vengeful, yet not happy either; he simply looked content. At the groups head was Autonomous prime himself. Optimus was truly happy to finally be looking at him in person, in manner of speaking of course.

"autonomous?

"yes optimus"

"is it truly you? How are we separate now if you reside in the matrix?"

"this is byond the matrix optimus, this is the spark of primus himself"

Optimus ahd to pause to let such shocking knowledge sink in.

"am I…?"

"you are not one with the allspark optimus, not yet" alpha trion smirked

"then what is this?"

"the parting of our ways optimus. Thanks to your courage and strength, primus' spark and cybertron itself is saved."

"but you…"

"our paths were sealed long ago optimus. It was always our destiny to one day give back the energy primus gave us to ensure his continued existence"

"then what happens now?"

"cybertron begins anew. Revitalized and transformed in ways you could not imagine; a new era dawns"

"but…"

"optimus" came a familiar voice

Optimsu spun to see a disembodied spark floating towards, and a round it the image of a bot appeared.

"megatron!?" he said

Optimus floated over to his rival and their optics met. The solemn look on the decepticons leaders face told everything; his spark had left his body. Despite the countless years of anger and feud between them, optimus truly felt despair at his passing.

"megatron, I wish it hadn't come to…"

"oh don't go getting all sentimental on me now prime. We knew looong ago that this was the only way "we" could have ended. I am at peace knowing that in the end I did make a difference…and cybertron lives on because of it"

"I couldn't have done this without you"

"of course not"

The two took each other's arms in a firm but friendly solders shake, and with a truly happy smile, megatrons image faded and his spark withdrew to become one with the allspark.

"cybertron is yours now optimus, take good care of it. And do me one kindness…take care of my soldiers. Give them a chance to make their own paths, and prove they are worthy of your guidance"

The voice trailed off and the spirit vanished beyond the veil of light. A saddened optimus slowly turned back to the primes; their forms began to drift away from him.

"wait, what becomes of you now!?"

"our forms and power fuel primus once again, but we still can serve the spark of life. We go now to another plain, a realm all our own; a place from which we can still watch over and guide this and other universes. But worry not, we still intend to ensure cybertrons safety, even besides leaving you as its guardian"

Blinding light was cast forth and one by one the primes, the 13 original transformer, finally disappeared, their legend passing into legend as they left the universe they knew. Optimus was blinded but tried to push forward through it as Autonmous, the last remaining prime, began to fade.

"please wait, I have more questions!"

"there are always more questions optimus prime, it is the purpose of life…to seek out the answers"

With that, light engulfed all and optimus found himself blind and weightless; falling. He felt the sudden, sharp pain of hitting the floor of the core chamber. He still saw light, but as he regained his senses, he saw that it was the core itself, glowing brighter and stronger than ever; it was finally restored. He was suddenly crowded by the other autobots, each demanding his functionality, though in concern. Ratchet attempted to check his healthiness, but was pushed aside as elita seized him in a passionate embrace, totally uninterested in the presence of the others. Optimus returned it before ensuring his safety to his troops. It was then he realized that he had finally separated from Jetfire, who ratchet was now looking over. The seeker merely gave his leader a thumbs up to signify his condition. The others all then turned in shock and awe as a massive form took shape in the corner of the chamber. Larger than a combiner, it was a massive yet clearly lifeless warrior. Optimus was the only one who recognized its image, undoubtedly modelled after Autonomous prime.

"the last autobot indeed" optimus smirked to himself

"what is that…thing, big bot?" bumblebee asked

"A sentinel, a guardian to watch over this world in the ages to come. And, when all hope seems lost, to be the spark that will light our darkest hour"

As the autobots turned to admire the behemoth again, optimus then saw through the crowd that not a few meters away, the decepticons themselves had gathered. Optimus shushed his troops and struggled to get up. Once he managed it, he headed for the other group, followed by his comrades. The other group parted for him, revealing a despairing Soundwave, kneeling beside Megatrons lifeless shell. He stepped forward to kneel on the other side of the body, and soundwave looked at him, unsure of what to expect. Optimus nodded to him politely, and it was returned. Optimus then leaned down and placed megatron arms crossed over his chest respectfully, and following the primes example, all bowed their heads in respect of the fallen hero.

It had been 6 months since the day the 13s passing, and life on cybertron had changed. Cybertron was revitalized, transformed, just as the primes said. New life and energy fueled it, and yet it was no longer the orb of metal it was. Organic flora and fauna had begun to flourish also, and natural bodies of water had formed. The desolate sea of rust was now a sea of life, jeweled with a mountain sized technorganic tree, revered by all and mothered by Botanica. Peace had flourished as autobots and decepticons came together with those who had never fought or chosen sides; a united people. Optimus prime had naturally disbanded the autobot as a military as there was no longer a need for it. More importantly, he had stepped down as supreme commander; he was a leader of soldiers, not governments. He had fought for peace, but had little place in it. At last, an all-new high council led their planet; Ultra magnus representing the autobots, obsidian and strika representing the former decepticons, senator Windblade representing the unaligned masses, Marissa Fairborne represented the humans who cybertronians had long been involved with. The final delegate, the junkions leaders wreck-gar and Rum-maj, were soon to arrive to represent the alien planets that cybertron had forged alliances with. For the first time since its golden age, cybertron was truly a paradise.

Optimus adjusted the furniture of his new residence, alpha trions former dwelling above the hall of records. Though he still remained on call for any immediate threats, he had officially retired to take up his new calling; new head of the Iacon grand archive. He found it quite appropriate to take up his mentor, alpha trions, post. The events that had unfolded have done what the pair had always dreamed, instilled new passion for history and learning in their people. Optimus had personally built up the grand new exhibit that was opening today; "Legacy of the primes". The knowledge of their world's first and greatest was no longer lost and he wanted to ensure all could learn from their deeds. A room filled with texts, relics, files and recording of their journey and his own account of it. There was one piece, the center piece, for the exhibition that he was not personally ready to showcase yet, for it still meant so much to him. Hr turned to see it, long hung on the wall of his mentors abode; an ancient self portrait of the 13 from their youth on the new cybertron. The image clearly showcased their brotherhood, unity and love. In warmed his spark every time he looked at it and one day he would find the strength to display it for public viewing, but not today. The sound of elita coming home snapped him from his thoughts, he thought she would have been out shopping longer

"optimus, I found the perfect disc towers for side of the…what is it"

Optimus just looked at her with affectionate eyes, and hopped over to pull her into a loving embrace.

"just reminding myself how lucky I am, and how rich a life I have"

"of all the corny.." she smirked as she leaned up to planted a kiss on his face plate

"wait, perhaps it is at last time" he said

He slowly reached his hand up to grasp his mouth plate, ready to finally discard it after centuries of war. Suddenly there came the ringing of their home communication line. Optimus huffed and dropped his head to meet hers before he activated it. Over it came the unmistakable, synthesized voice of soundwave. He had become the head of communication in Iacon and for the council, following Blasters retirement to return to being a freestyle comm channel DJ. Soundwave seemed to flourish with the new purpose, especially after being reunited with some of his mini-con companions, who had been detained since the war.

"yes soundwave?"

"optimus prime, the council request your immediate assistance"

"with what?"

"Operation: rescue mission. Council member Wreck-gar and his entourage never arrived, and reports from off planet report that they were intercepted by Quintesson ships"

"well that's just prime" he huffed

"are you prepared to mobilize?" soundwave requested

A part of optimus wanted to refuse, to fully embrace this new quieter life and leave fighting to others. So many years of war had lefts scars, physical, mental and emotional, on him and many others. He was lucky that unlike some others, he was able to embrace and manage a post-war lifestyle. Many of his autobots had found the strength to start new lives, or embrace their old ones. He turned to look to elita for guidance and saw the cocky grin she wore.

"it hard to quit huh. There nothing wrong with little adventure here and there" she smirked

"just what I was thinking" he nodded

Optimus put one of his senior staff in charge of the hall as he and elita wwalked towards its main hall to leave. It did optimus' spark good to see the hall so swarmed with those eager to learn. As they left the building, they walked between two rows of statues, those of cybertrons greatest leaders. Optimus stopped to admire his own contribution to the gallery; that of megatron. He personally saw to his rival inclusion. Megatron would ever be remembered in their history, and optimus intended for it to include the good deeds along with the bad. It was less than an hour before they were in the launch bay being prepped for the journey. They admired their new ship; "The Hand of Primus II". Optimus placed his blaster and a loading tray, one that contained his cyber caliber sword and the skyboom shield, as well as a new jet pack modelled after his combining with jetfire. He would need them, having been downgraded and stripped of much of his warrior armor already. It was then that he saw soundwave approach with a surprising item in hand; megatrons fusion cannon. He handed it to optimus carfully. Optimus was surprised, having though it had been ceremoniously disintegrated with megatrons body.

"he…would have wanted you to have it. To use it… should the need arise" soundwave said lowly

Optimus was touched and a bit nervous as he attached it to his forearm as it was meant to, twitching a bit at the sensation of its connecting to his circuits. He saluted soundwave as he and elita turned to mobilize their new crew, made up of old autobot friends, former decepticon foes and eager civilian volunteers. Elitas words from earlier about adventure drifted back into his head again and he turned to her.

"I suppose there is always room for one more adventure" he smiled under his mask

"just what I was thinking" she smiled back

He turned back to crew, cocked his fusion cannon and remotely started up the ship; they did have a rescue mission get started after all.

"Transformers, Roll Out!"

THE END?

I am so happy and sad to finally say search for the 13 is done. Almost 3 years in the writing and so many rewrites, changes and evolving ideas. There were so many ideas and resolutions I had intended for this chapter but decided to go for a more focused, character driven closing. I am so grateful to all my readers and the interest many have shown in this story. I am so proud of what it became and I am unsure if I will ever be able to write another like it short of a novel. I hope readers will love this enough to read it again or recommend it to other s and of course review as I love feedback. Thanks again everyone.