"Orion! Orion, wake up!"
Orion opened his optics to see Ironhide and Ratchet standing over him. He groaned as he sat up.
"What happened?"
"Megatron knocked you out," Ratchet explained. "You're lucky to be alive."
"And the Matrix?"
"After you blasted it out of his hands, he went for it again," Ironhide explained. "He tried to put it into his chest, but it backfired. He couldn't lift it up, so they left it here. They're searching for Maccadam now. They think he'll be able to lift it."
"He will," Orion stood up and walked over to the Matrix of Leadership. "Which means we need to take it."
"And do what?" Another cybertronian asked. "He's a gladiator, we're just a bunch of volunteers."
"Perhaps. But Alpha Trion told me something the night Megatron and I met. He said he had been searching for the last prime, and that he may have found him. He said I would find out in time."
"What are you getting at?" Asked another cybertronian.
"If Megatron gets Maccadam, there's nothing to stop him from putting it in. But for us to take it before he can, the last prime must be here," Orion bent down and gripped the Matrix of Leadership. With a mighty tug, the Matrix rose from the ground, and Orion's chest plate opened. The relic flew inside of Orion and his chest plate closed around it and his spark. The purple insignia on his shoulder shattered, and his body began to shift and transform. As the blinding white light dispersed, Orion stood, several inches taller than before. His armor looked completely different, and a faceplate in the shape of a pentagon now covered his mouth.
"Orion?" Ironhide looked at the former clerk. "What happened?"
"I am no longer Orion Pax, Ironhide. My name is Optimus Prime, the last of the primes."
The remainder of Megatron's former followers looked up at Optimus, puzzled. Ironhide began to walk up to the new prime.
"Orion, er, Optimus, with all due respect, possessing the Matrix doesn't…" he paused as Optimus passed him, staring into the distance. A cloud of dust approached, barely visible, but the remaining cybertronians knew what it was.
"Megatron," Optimus turned to the others. "I must fall back in order to keep the Matrix from him. I do not ask you to follow me, but if you do, know that there is no turning back."
The rebels looked to Optimus, concerned. Finally, Ratchet stepped forwards.
"I may not know you well, but I do know this;" the medic pointed at Optimus' chest. "Inside of you is one of the most important relics in cybertronian history. And if we don't protect it, I fear Megatron may take it," Ratchet walked to the prime's side. "I will stand with you, Optimus Prime."
"As will I," Ironhide said. "You may need an actual warrior, no offense."
"It's crazy, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but those two are right," the second cybertronian stated. "The name's Bluestreak, by the way. And I'll put my life on the line if need be. Cybertron may be corrupt, but Megatron's only intention is to make things worse."
"You guys are nuts!" the first cybertronian shouted. "But something tells me that if Megatron gets his servos on that Matrix, then partnering with you lot will be the least of my problems. So… I make my stand. I'll hold them off as long as possible."
"Thank you, brave soldier," Optimus said.
"Huffer. My name is Huffer."
"Good luck Huffer," Ratchet said. "You're gonna need it."
Optimus, Bluestreak, Ratchet and Ironhide transformed, accelerating past the city's center and the north pole. Huffer looked towards the oncoming horde.
"Hold them off. Just hold them off."
The group of cybertronians halted in front of Huffer, Megatron in the lead. The leader transformed and walked up to Huffer.
"Huffer. Where have you been?"
"Searching elsewhere, sir," Huffer lied. "I assume you found him?"
Megatron nodded as Maccadam was drug to the front. "Now, to take the Matrix."
"Funny thing about that," Huffer started. "Turns out, nobody guarded the thing, so Orion must have awakened and took it."
"Impossible!" Megatron stormed past Huffer and looked to where the Matrix once lied. The gladiator roared with frustration.
"Well, look on the bright side. We got Macca-"
There was a burst of energy as Megatron fired his fusion cannon into Huffer's chest. The silver cybertronian stormed to the fallen body and lifted him up. The yellow and blue robot began to sputter.
"W-why did you?.."
"Because there is one thing I did not teach you, Huffer. I did not teach you to be as deceptive as the rest of us. I did not teach you to be a Decepticon," Megatron put his fusion cannon to Huffer's chest and fired another blast, carving a hole through his torso. The madbot cast the husk aside and looked to the rest of his crew. "Anyone wish to join him?"
The mob was silent.
"Good," Megatron pointed at a trio of cybertronians. "Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet, go to Trypticon city and make sure Maccadam doesn't escape. Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, find the traitors. The rest of us shall return to Kaon to plan our next move."
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The quartet of cybertronians made their way across the planet towards the sea of rust. Ironhide moved closer to Optimus.
"So what are we now, Prime? Exiles?"
"From here on out Ironhide, we are autonomous cybertronians, acting to protect the Matrix of Leadership, and the lives and freedom of all sentient beings. We are no longer just a band of Megatron's followers. We are Autobots."