Chapter 13

- One Month Later -

Iacon Correctional and War Prison Facility

Optimus silently walked along a long and silent corridor of Iacon Prison Facility. It was early morning. The place was still deserted as the inhabitants of the city were still waking up and preparing for a brand-new day. As for the red Autobot, however, he could only display a haggard look. Optimus was exhausted from thinking too much. The news that he was bearing right now… He didn't know how how tell it to his dear old friend.

The events that he had received from Magnus made him try to think about what words he will use to spill out to the old Decepticon. Megatron was unruly. The Cybertronian had tried to escape many times inside the facility these past weeks. He had also heard that the former Tyrant refused to accept every Energon feeding that he had sent personally. For the past month, Megatron had refused to replenish his energy and Optimus knew why. The Decepticon was paranoid that the Autobot might have tampered it again with sedatives, preventing him from meeting Ellie. The suspicion saddened Optimus to the core.

Optimus may have lost Megatron's trust in him again.

Megatron, Optimus thought in shame. The guilt of tricking his friend had taken a toll to his brain module. He didn't know what he could say to the Decepticon. He didn't know if his friend would ever forgive him again.

Optimus stopped in front of a door. "Holding Cell No. 800, 899." This is it. Megatron is confined here. Optimus stood frozen for a moment. He tried to silence his troubled mind, but to no avail, guilt ruling supremely. He let out a tried sigh and opened the door.

The first thing that the red Autobot saw was the messy walls of the room. The walls, although made of steel, were all dented and filled with scratches. Next thing that he sensed was a strong odor of dried Energon that filled his sensory smell. Optimus gagged for a second in disgust.

And then Megatron.

The poor Decepticon was sitting in the corner of the room, weaponless and weak. The room was dark and windowless, so the only thing that was noticeable about Megatron was his red optics that were slowly dimming. Optimus moved closer and stopped, his blue optics widened in shock and fear. The former tyrant was sitting with his knees tucked on his chest and he was slightly swaying back and forth.

The red Autobot couldn't speak. The scene was very disturbing and very frightening to him. Megatron, a once powerful Tyrant, was now reduced to this sad state. The Decepticon's red optics were staring right on the floor, all wide and filled dread.

Primus! Optimus tried to find his courage to speak. Optimus stammered as he tried to approach him. "Me-Megs."

Megatron's red optics shot up towards him. "Optimus…" the Decepticon muttered his name in a deep yet sorrowful voice.

Optimus clenched his fists, trying to find a way to talk and open himself to Megatron. However, he found none. "Megs, Ellie has-"

"Dead? Because you killed her." Megatron answered with soft and bitter voice.

Optimus flinched in fear, but he clenched both of his fists again. He knows the truth. The Decepticon was wrong. "Ellie chose that fate. We couldn't stop her. I think…we cannot stop her. It's her destiny."

"Frag destiny!" Megatron said loudly, but his voice came out as a loud harsh croak. "You've given up. We should've forced her to our Earth."

Forced her? No, Megatron, you don't understand! Optimus took a step closer, lessening the gap between him and Megatron, defying his words more. "Ellie has freedom. If we truly love her, we should let her choose her own path." The Autobot squatted down and level his blue optics to him. "Megs, I know you're sad and angry, but there's nothing we could do. If we forced her..." Optimus paused, trying to find the right words, "We might become the villains in her eyes."

Megatron slowly raised his red optics, locking it on the face of the Autobot. The former tyrant's eyes were ablaze with anger, still furious at his friend's betrayal. However, his face softened into a mournful frown. The words of Optimus had hit him, an agonizing realization slowly came into brain module. Ellie, just why, my baby girl?

"She doesn't deserve this." he muttered in distress and slowly put his head on the metallic wall.

Optimus didn't answer him. His friend was correct. Ellie deserved more. She was just a normal girl with a gift of immunity. She could have had a good family and a life on their 'Earth.' However, she had freedom and she had chosen. The red Autobot stood up and walked over to other side of the cell. A panel opened and a single can of Energon emerged from the inside.

"You haven't taken any Energon ever since you were confined here." Optimus took the can and moved to his friend again. "Drink this and get up."

Megatron took a single glanced at the can and shifted his red optics away. "Leave me alone to die."

"We're going to see Ellie one last time. At least, you could say goodbye to her before we bury her on our Earth."

"What's the point? She's dead. She'll never hear my voice again…She'll never hear me sing again."

A sad frown appeared on Optimus's face, understanding the grief of his friend. "Ellie left one last message for us."

At the mention of the word 'message,' Megatron slowly looked up at him. The light in his red optics returned slightly. "Message, where?"

"I'll show you, Megs," Optimus hovered the can of Energon closer to him, "If you drink this and come with me."

-Ratchet's Med Lab-

Ratchet silently stood in front of the door of his lab. The doctor was resting his back by the wall with a relaxed, but also with a hint of grief, frown showing on his face. He twisted his left wrist and looked at the time. The sun will come out soon.

"I wonder how Megatron will react." he muttered, questioningly. All that he knew was that the former Decepticon had loved the girl like a friend. No – based on the man's reaction before, the Cybertronian had loved the girl more than just a friend. Maybe a daughter. The thought made the doctor's frown deepened in grimace. "She chose this. Megatron must know that…she chose to sacrifice herself and nothing more." His train of thought was stopped by a loud, familiar ding of the elevator at the other end of the corridor. The door whisked open and a familiar sight greeted his blue optics.

"Optimus," Ratchet called as Optimus moved towards him. Trailing silently behind the Autobot like a shadow was Megatron. The doctor glanced at him and noticed the haggard, aching look of the Decepticon – a common sign of depression.

"Ratchet, Megatron is ready to see Ellie." Optimus said.

Ratchet observed Megatron more. The face of the heartbroken man...How saddening and disturbing. The doctor felt sadness as he pitied the man. Megatron, the Cybertronian who killed many of his friends, was now reduced to something unrecognizable. He knew that the Decepticon warlord needed to be punished. However, he felt his sorrow. He faintly hoped that his punishment would be over soon.

"She's right here." Ratchet turned around and pressed the button beside the door, opening the entrance. "…But just so you know, she didn't suffer. She moved on peacefully." the doctor said in a gentle manner, but Megatron didn't answer. He must not have heard him. He only stood by the doorway, frozen and with fear on his red optics.

Ellie is inside. Megatron stared down the dark med lab room. Ellie was lying on the table. An image flashed in his brain module and it showed a scene that he had hoped that he would never see.

"Megs." A gentle pull brought the Decepticon back to reality. Optimus looked at him with concern. Megatron nodded to him and slowly moved. They both entered the med-lab without making a sound.

The first thing that Megatron noticed was the wide bay window, showing the blue sky and the city of Iacon. The Decepticon then slowly shifted his optics down and saw a familiar object that belong to Ellie – the guitar. The object was slumped on the wall. To the right of it, lying down as if she was sleeping, was Ellie.

Megatron's red optics went still at the figure. The girl was the wearing her green, flowery dress that she got in Italy. Her face was expressionless, but at peace. Her skin glowed in an immaculate white light. Ellie appeared to be asleep and dreaming, and the Decepticon would like to think that. However, he knew the truth.

The girl was dead.

"Ellie," Megatron approached and looked down at her. Ellie would usually greet him with sarcastic remarks after he called her, but there was response. "Ellie? Kiddo?" Megatron called again as his voice slowly revealed his breakdown. "Ellie, my baby girl." Then the reality dawned and had completely broke him apart. Megatron slumped and cried. Ellie would never speak nor greet him again. He would never sing with her. Ellie's heart was still and she was cold as ice.

"Primus! Not like this, please! Not like this!" Megatron's cries turned into a howl of despair that filled the room.

Optimus only looked down, hiding his optics that began to tear up. The scene was truly unbearable for him. He wanted to comfort his friend. However, he couldn't move form the spot, the wails of the Decepticon had resounded painfully inside.

"Hey, Megs and Oppy." A voice, however, made the two stopped. The voice was very familiar and the two slowly shifted their optics towards the computer terminal. Ratchet was standing beside it and he pointed at the screen. Ellie's ephemeral face beamed at them, a pleasant smile showing on her face.

"Ellie, my baby girl!" Megatron shot up and moved closer to computer screen, but Optimus softly tugged him by his left shoulder.

Ratchet glanced at him and spoke. "This is Ellie's last message. Please don't destroy my computer."

The Cybertronian ignored him and stood close by the screen. Even though it was just a video, Megatron could feel her being as if she didn't die at all, as if the body on the table wasn't hers.

"So, if this message is playing, then that means I'm already dead. The good doctor might've already got what he wants and is now beginning his research." Ratchet shifted his blue optics to the ground, hiding his grieving sad optics from the two. "I don't believe in God, but now…I do hope He exist and He'll lend His ears to me. I'm just a girl now – not a threat anymore." Ellie paused and her green eyes looked down in a contemplating manner.

"The world was already cruel when I was born. Without a mother to love me, a father to embrace me from all danger, I lived out of fear or being killed by other ruthless survivors. I live like a survivor. I live as a human…without humanity." The girl looked straight at the camera, but to Optimus and Megatron, they both felt like she was staring right at them.

"Then Joel came. My Joel, my old man…He treated like I was his daughter and I accepted it, his love for me. I thought my whole world had changed," Megatron's red optics were both wide and filled with sadness. He could see tears building up on the girl's eyes, but Ellie just wiped it with her hand. "When I discovered that Joel lied to me, I felt like my whole world had become a lie. And when he was killed, it was destroyed completely. I walked a path of hate for a while and, in the process, it almost destroyed me."

A smile spread on Ellie's face as she remembered a beautiful memory that began to play. A small and joyful chuckle escaped her lips. "Joel was there to stop me. I'd forgiven him and he had saved me one more time. I love him." Her green eyes shifted back to the camera and a small laughter poured out of her mouth. A single tear dropped from Megatron's left optic, feeling her laughter and happiness for the last time.

"And then, two idiots from Cybertron had arrived and met me. Really, whenever I remember the first time we three met, it always make me smile. You two save me, Oppy and Megs. You two are awesome and I love you both as my friends and my parents. You two had given me a life and tried to change my destiny."

The Decepticon lowered his head and tears began to trace on his metallic cheeks uncontrollably. Optimus too had felt her joy. He turned his head away and gritted his dentas as blue optics began to produce bluish water.

"But alas, in the end, we three are wayfarer strangers. We each have a different path. I'm taking mine and I hope the path that you two take will always make you happy. You two deserve another chance to rekindle your friendship." She paused and her smile changed into a calm one. The two felt that they had reached the end of the message since the girl didn't speak for a minute. The three of them felt that they had reached a crossroad and each of them would take a different road.

"Looks like I reached the end." Ellie laughed heartily again. "Before I leave, I'm going to play a song. Yes, I'm going to use my right hand this time and I learned it for a week." She walked away for a moment and then appeared again, carrying a guitar. She sat down and grinned at the camera, excited to play one last time.

"This song, I composed it after I watched an anime with Ratchet and Knockout." Ellie rested the guitar by her left thigh. Her right hand glided along the strings and fingerboard, her smile turning becoming relaxed. Having to play the guitar one last time, it had given her such pleasure and excitement that she couldn't contain.

"Here goes, hope there's no mistake."

The girl strumed the guitar, feeling the vibration of the wood and hearing the pleasant sound. Then she breathed in and begun to sing.

"Long ago, far away

Lonely world

A silent gray

I walked alone

Never knowing what lies ahead

And you

You gave me a light."

"So obscure

So naive

I was blind

And then you reached for me

Broken heart

Beating soundlessly

To life

Once again."

"Take my hand

Take my soul

Share with me

the fears in your mind

When you are facing a darkened night

And I

I'll be by your side."

"Close your eyes

And hold your breath with me

We will dive

Into a distant dream

Beneath the waves

You have set me free

And now I see so differently

Beyond a world of gray."

"But if time should tear us apart

and destiny falls into the deep azure

Dry your tears and rest beside me now

Like a prayer, our story goes on."

"Don't let go

Don't ever forget

Forever you will be the light inside of me

Dry your tears and rest beside me now

Like a prayer, the memory of you

will gently refrain again."

"The Last Refrain…"

The message ended and the screen became black. Megatron's face reflected on the surface, his optics displaying nothing but grief. "Ellie…" He slowly moved his right hand and wiped the screen gently, wishing that the girl was still there, smiling and singing her final song. But the screen remained black, the song had stopped and a realization slowly dawned on him.

Ellie was dead and gone forever.

"Megs," Optimus said with a grieving voice. He moved closer and touched Megatron's shoulder. "Megs, it's over. It's all over for her." The red Autobot's words made the Decepticon kneel.

"She's gone…she's gone. Our friend, our baby girl is gone." Megatron said and yet, from deep inside of him, he denied each word that he uttered.

Optimus only nodded and didn't answer him. He let his friend cried and pour out his misery. The Autobot then turned to his former medic. "Ratchet. This message is almost a month old. Did you already perform the experiment? How did it go?"

Ratchet shook a little. Optimus and Megatron's optics slowly shifted to him, both woeful. Their looks were begging as if expecting good news and hoping that the girl's sacrifice wasn't in vain.

"Optimus—Megatron-" Ratchet, however, stuttered. He gritted his dentas in anger and frustration. The doctor took a step back and shifted his blue optics away from them. "I did." he answered weakly and hesitantly.

Optimus's brows arched into a bothered one. "Ratchet, how did it go?"

Ratchet winced in horror and crossed his arms over his chest. The whole depressing scene earlier had made his spark chamber collapse in so much agony. "I—I tried, Optimus. Megatron, I tried. I did my best." The doctor closed his optics as he tried to explain as much as he could. "But the strain evolved again. It has become too strong and, probably, has reached its strongest mutated form."

"Ratchet, what are you saying-?" Optimus felt a foreboding feeling. A feeling that he wished to never experience. Ratchet didn't answer and the suspense had irritated him.

"Ratchet, what are you saying!?"

Ratchet slowly turned around and casted his blue optics, showing nothing but dread.

"Optimus, Megatron…the vaccine failed!"

Megatron and Optimus knew that vaccines had a tendency to fail, even with their advanced technology. When they discovered the girl's immunity, they had hoped they would succeed. However, their love for her had changed their goal. They had buried the idea in the back of their brain modules. They had wished that they wouldn't come to this situation.

And yet here they were, inside the med lab of Ratchet. Ellie, now dead and cold as stone, was lying on the table. She had sacrificed her life for the last remaining humans of her Earth. Primus, their deity, would certainly praise the girl for her courage and humility. The God of Creation would certainly make her sacrifice come to fruition.

However, fate was cruel. Reality was so unforgiving and, for the first time in his life, Optimus Prime would like to curse and destroy everything.

The vaccine…failed?

"No, Ratchet, you're wrong and you're lying." Optimus said in an accusing tone.

Ratchet's blue optics widened for a moment. "Op-Optimus, I wish I were, but there's nothing I could do-!"

"You're wrong!" Megatron thundered, denying the words that he had heard. "You're wrong!" he roared again, but Ratchet only lowered his head and formed a shameful frown.

"I wish I was! But there's nothing I can do anymore. It's become so resistant that any drugs or cures can no longer stop it."

No! No! Megatron tried to deny it. Ellie's death had been in vain. Anger, sadness and every other negative emotion that he hadn't felt for a long time sprung up at once.

"Ratchet, you murdered her!"

Ratchet's optics went wide and then a furious frown formed on his face. "For Primus-sake Megatron! I didn't murder her! She chose this and she'd hoped that I would succeed!" an angry whimper escaped his lips. "I'm so sorry, Megatron, I'm so sorry, Optimus."

And I'm so sorry Ellie. The doctor berated at them. The two wanted to question him more, and to interrogate him. However, the doctor's desperate reaction had given them the answer. Ratchet had tried his best, but his best wasn't good enough.

Ellie, I'm so sorry. Optimus slammed his left fist on the wall, rattling the room for a bit. Anger, sadness, frustration, woe and grief – all of it were present and were swirling inside his brain module. The feeling was so sickening and so heavy that he wanted to release it. He wanted to blame someone for why Ratchet had failed.

Primus, why have you forsaken Ellie's life? Why did her sacrifice fail?! The red Autobot said and, somehow, he began to curse the God of Creation. Primus was their deity. He protected everyone who were good and kind enough. But he didn't make Ellie's sacrifice successful.

It had been in vain.

"There's still a way for me to meet Ellie." Megatron said in a low, grave voice. The former tyrant slowly walked to the other table that was filled with surgical instruments Ratchet used in his work.

Optimus turned to him. "Megs, what are you—?"

"They say that human souls go to heaven. I wonder," Megatron took an object on the table and turned to the two, "If I've already redeemed myself enough to earn a ticket to it." The Decepticon brandished a saw.

Ratchet's blue optics went wide. The saw was Knockout's surgical tool and the former warlord had just turned it on and pointed it at his neck.

"No!" Ratchet quickly jumped and dove into the Decepticon's chest. Megatron and Ratchet hit the floor, the saw falling on the other side.

"Don't do this, Megatron!"

"LET ME GO!" Megatron punched Ratchet in the face, sending the doctor to the other wall across him. He stood up and his optics scanned the floor. "Where is it? The saw-! Ellie needs me." he muttered in a crazed manner, both of his red optics wide in grief. Then he found the saw, only it was in the hands of Optimus.

"Optimus," Megatron swayed and dazedly landed his red optics at him. "Please give me the saw. I must meet Ellie. You can come later if you like."

A sad smile appeared on his grey face. Optimus's face, however, was unreadable. "So, you think suicide is the solution?" The red Autobot said and took a step forward. "Then do it."

He quickly tossed the saw towards Megatron. The Decepticon looked and was about to catch the surgical tool only to be hit by Optimus after the Autobot lunged himself at him. The Autobot pinned the Decepticon to the wall and made a right hook.

"Do you actually think killing yourself is the solution? Don't be so selfish!" Optimus landed his right fist at the former warlord again and again. "Ellie would never be happy with that. She wouldn't be happy that you've chosen a death path. You're not the only one who loved her! You're not the only one who's suffering right now!"

"Optimus, stop!" Ratchet grabbed Optimus's fist, stopping the malevolent attack of the Autobot. "Megatron, he's hurt." The doctor pointed and the Autobot slowly turned his head back to Megatron. He gasped and jumped back, letting go of his friend, whose face was already stained with Energon.

"Megs-!" Optimus was hurt, a shameful frown appeared on his face. I lost it. My anger got a better of me! For the first time in his longest time, he had given in to violence and it felt really bad.

"Megs—! I'm so sorry."

The Autobot kneeled down and tried to help his friend, but then Megatron muttered. "Ellie…she's dead…our friend…she's never coming back."

The Decepticon whimpered and let out a sorrowful wail. The anger in Optimus's spark chamber had disappeared and was replace with misery. The painful reality didn't change. The cries of his friend echoed agonizingly throughout the room, but it was silenced as the Autobot lunged at him and locked him in a hug.

"There, there, its ok." Ellie isn't with us, Optimus slowly tightened his embrace, comforting his friend more. But that doesn't mean she's gone. Dead doesn't mean gone. He glanced back at the operational table, where Ellie's body lay. "Ellie isn't gone, Megatron. She's with us. As long as we remember her, as long as we know her, she will never disappear. She will always be with us."

"Why can't I feel her? Why can't I hear her anymore!?" Megatron's muffled cry echoed loudly on Optimus's left shoulder.

The Autobot didn't move at first and began to pat his back gently and softly. "We'll feel and hear her soon. She's now happy. She's with Joel. They're both at peace and safe now. Its ok, Megs."

It's all gonna be alright.

Megatron didn't move and Optimus only stayed on that position. The two hugged tightly for a while, trying to comfort each other from the tragedy and sadness that had befallen them.

Woo-Hoo new chapter! Hello guys, we're almost at the end! Looks like Ellie had now sacrifice herself, but it failed! Why? BECAUSE THIS IS REALITY, THAT'S WHY! THERE'S NO HAPPY ENDING IN REALITY HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!

Will Optimus and Megatron be ok after this? Do you all want them to be happy? Do you want happiness and kindess to reign over in the world of Last of US? Then all you need to do is to hate ABBY! ABBY is the symbol of humanities cruelty, she's the sign that humanity isn't worth saving for!

THE LAST OF US WOULD ONLY MAKE SENSE IF ALL OF HUMANITY IN THAT WORLD WOULD DIE AND LOSE AGAINST THE CORDYCEPS!

Special thanks to Pure Red Crane for beta-reading

Disclaimer: I do not own the music lyrics and the characters of Transformers Prime and Last of Us. Characters names, terms, events and places are all purely fictional if one exists in real life then its purely coincidental.

Song title: Last Refrain by nano

from the anime: Arpeggio of Blue Steel

Search the song on youtube guys, her voice sounds so good.