Chapter Nine

Megatron carried the limp form of Optimus Prime through dark corridors that seeped with lifeblood. He wasn't quite sure where he was, but he knew he had to get Optimus to safety. Gradually the walls became wider and the blood disappeared, but they seemed to swirl, occasionally punctuated with bursts of energy. As he walked, he noticed that his footfalls made no sound. Gentle white-blue light illuminated the corridor. Just when he had begun to wonder if he was actually getting anywhere, a branch formed off to the right, leading into a large chamber. The glow was stronger here, and the room seemed to give off a comforting feel. It seemed like a good place to rest.

He studied his adversary with a grim look. Optimus Prime was now somehow wearing his lower coverings, but his face remained exposed. An unexpected pang of sympathy hit him. He had too once been overwhelmed by an attack that had invaded his very mind, twisting him into a pawn. The Autobot was comatose, his optics glowing faintly, but showing no other response to the outside world. Without his mask, he looked younger and much more vulnerable. Covering his face had been an excellent tactical maneuver, making Optimus Prime essentially expressionless and more imposing. He was every bit as cunning as Megatron had suspected. A bit hesitantly, the Decepticon reached out, caressing the exposed cheek with a fingertip. "It's okay. You're safe here." He didn't know why, but he felt he had to protect Optimus, and this strange place seemed safe and secure.

Why had he been acting so strange lately? First he had let Optimus leave Goloran without a fight instead of capturing him, then he had actually risked his own life to save Optimus and return the Matrix. Now he was protecting him again! Had something unexpected happened to him upon his return as Megatron? Had his perspective changed? Had the Matrix influenced him somehow? Perhaps it was a little of everything. Or perhaps, just perhaps, he sensed that something was going to happen. Something bigger than their squabbling factions.

A prickling sensation formed at the back of his neck, and he turned his head. Another robot stood behind him, regarding him silently. Megatron started slightly – he had not heard him enter. He had nearly mistaken this new arrival for Rodimus Prime at first glance, but on closer inspection, he noted several differences. This Cybertronian had a somewhat more slender build, and his exostructure was more red than orange. The face, however, was almost exactly the same. The main difference was in the symbol that graced his chest. Instead of an Autobot brand, there stood the swirling Cybertronian word-symbol for creation.

The newcomer knelt and took Optimus Prime gently in his arms. He spoke, and Megatron found himself mesmerized by his soothing tones. "My poor child. Again you have been abused."

The Decepticon stared, captivated. "Who *are* you?"

The robot looked up and fixed him with an enigmatic smile. "I think you know already." Then he turned his attention back to the stricken Autobot in his arms.

Megatron watched, feeling like he was intruding. There was something undeniably familiar about this stranger. The answer fluttered around his neural net, but somehow just managed to evade him. The red-orange robot seemed to have some sort of whitish aura around him, and as Megatron watched, awestruck, it flared out and extended to form around Optimus Prime. He put one hand on the Autobot's forehead, murmuring inaudibly as he slowly rocked him. Optimus seemed to relax in his embrace, the glow in his optics strengthening. His mouth twitched in a tiny smile.

After an interminable amount of time, Prime's optics lit with consciousness, and he groaned softly. His gaze focused on the being that cradled him, and his optics grew wide with shock. "Primus!" he breathed. Had he died once more?

At first, Megatron thought he was merely making an exclamation… then it slowly dawned on him that Optimus had meant it as a name. It hit him like a sledgehammer. His mouth moved soundlessly. This was their god! This was their creator! He sank to his knees, his legs threatening to collapse. "You!" he gasped. Questions crowded his mind – there were so many things he wanted answered!

The god smiled at him in reply, then turned his attention to his creation lying in his arms. "I have healed the damage to your mind as best I could. I'm very sorry, but I can't change what happened, or take away the memories. I am not permitted to interfere to that degree. There are very strict rules that I must obey, or risk altering this reality." His expression grew sad. "You have suffered so much for your people. You have been set on a path that has only brought you pain and strife. I have been unable to change it, but I have given you as much comfort as I could."

Optimus stared up at his creator, the meaning of those words slowly sinking in. How many times had he cried himself to sleep, alone and desperately afraid for the future of his people? It was at those times that he called out for a reprieve, for mercy, for help. And he would dream of a comforting embrace that gave him love and courage, and upon waking in the morning he had found the strength to continue. He had often wondered how he could manage to push on, time after time, tragedy after tragedy. Now he knew – he had never truly been alone.

Primus then looked up and indulged Megatron with another smile, which only made him shiver. This was just too unreal! Perhaps he was dreaming. "My proud warrior," he addressed the Decepticon, "you are strong and passionate, but you have strayed from your path as Cybertron's defender. This civil war has diverted you from your true purpose."

Megatron stiffened in anger. He would not allow this being to preach to him! He was not some kind of tool! "You care nothing for us! The Decepticons were forced into subjugation while the Autobots glutted themselves on high-grade Energon and forced us to duel for their amusement! You stood by and did nothing, and you have not lifted one little finger to stop this war! Do not tell me of my true purpose! I make my own destiny!"

"So you do." Primus actually looked amused at his reaction. "Hear me, Megatron. Your life is your own, to use as you see fit. I created the Transformers to compensate for the threat of evil that has continually threatened life in the galaxy. Vector Sigma was my tool, and the Quintessons were merely the beings that implemented my designs. I knew there was a risk in granting my creations self-determination, but I felt that it was worth it, to grant them a true chance at life. Ever since, I have not been able to influence your development except in small ways. To do so would betray the trust I had placed in you. Everything that has happened since your creation was of your own people's doing, and yours to resolve. It is not my place to interfere."

Optimus looked up at him questioningly, still unwilling to move from the comforting embrace, though part of him felt that he should kneel and show his respect. "But why, my lord? Why have you chosen to interfere now? Why appear to us, after all this time?"

Primus touched his forehead once more, and his optics dimmed, a feeling of love and well-being spreading through him. He clung to it desperately. "I will answer that in a moment. But first, there is someone missing who must be summoned."

Rodimus Prime stood watch over his violated friend, Ultra Magnus by his side. Both Optimus and Megatron had been unconscious for nearly two days. It was understandable for Optimus, who had been dealt such a cruel blow, but there seemed to be absolutely nothing wrong with Megatron. Rodimus was quite certain that the both of them were in the Matrix. For what purpose, he could not guess. Cyclonus and Soundwave were kept under constant armed guard as they kept vigil by Megatron's bedside. Rodimus hoped that he would wake up soon, before the other two lost patience and tried to forcibly bring him back to Goloran.

He looked down at the fresh weld marks on his chest. As in battle, the situation with Optimus had caused him to block out the pain of his severe wounds, running on an adrenaline high of sorts. Once the crisis had passed, he had collapsed and had been rushed to medbay. The wounds had been severe enough to shock him into unconsciousness earlier, and had caused him to lose a good amount of fluid, but nothing too essential had been severed. He was already healing. He was very glad that that creature, whatever it was, had been defeated before it could do any more damage. Rodimus had no doubt that, once it had gained the Matrix, it would have killed Rodimus to eliminate any other Matrix-sensitive threats, then it would have used the tainted Matrix energy to wipe out the rest, Autobot and Decepticon alike.

Optimus was his main concern right now. Magnus had not left his side since he had been brought in, finally replacing his missing armor and restoring some of his dignity. Andromeda had stayed for several hours, but Magnus had seen how worn she looked and ordered her to her quarters for rest. He had promised to contact her the moment Optimus awakened.

"I can't believe it!" Rodimus whispered, looking at Optimus' lifeless form. "To have had something so awful happen to him when he was so young…." He shuddered.

"Imperious!" Magnus hissed, his hands curling into fists. "I wish that lecherous bastard was alive, so I could beat him to death all over again! Megatron did us a favor by killing him. He deserves to know what it feels like to be violated!" Rodimus put a hand on his shoulder in sympathy. Magnus' shoulders slumped. "I bear part of the blame for this, Roddy. I took him to that rally where he met Imperious. I had a funny feeling about their appointment together but had no concrete worries to address. And when Orion returned, I could tell that something had gone horribly wrong, but that…! I never guessed what had happened, but maybe I should have. Orion locked himself in his quarters and would see no one for days. And when he did finally let me in, I was shocked at how horrible he looked. He hadn't recharged well in days, or energized much either. He refused to talk about what had happened. Stupid me, I thought that Imperious had just said something hurtful. And a few days later, Orion was back to normal, as if nothing had happened. I thought he had finally resolved whatever had been bothering him. But now I realize he had just buried the memories and convinced himself that it never happened." Magnus bowed his head in grief. "I should have done more, Roddy. I should have been there for him, found out what had been bothering him and helped him through it."

Rodimus pulled up Magnus' chin and stared him in the optics. "None of this is your fault, Magnus. I saw exactly what happened, and believe me, it would have hurt too much for him to talk about. If it had happened to me, I would've blocked it out too. It was terrible beyond words."

Magnus sighed, glancing over at the still form on the medberth. "I just wish there was something I could have done for him. We didn't find out until much later, when the war had started, exactly how corrupt the Council had been. And Imperious was the worst of the lot."

Rodimus gave him a kind smile. "Just be there for him, Magnus. That's all we can do for him. I know he's pulled away from you a bit, but it's just a self-defense measure to protect him from more hurt. He needs us now, more than ever." He looked like he wanted to say more, but he suddenly fell forward. Magnus cried out in surprise and caught him. Roddy's optics were dark. The city commander groaned and carried his friend over to a spare medberth. Whatever was going on, it looked like Rodimus had become a part of it.

Rodimus suddenly felt the world receding, and he was falling…. He put his hands out to catch himself, falling to his knees. Once he had managed to reorient himself, he looked around him. He recognized his surroundings immediately – he was in the Matrix! Megatron and Optimus were indeed there, but there was someone holding Optimus…. A sudden wave of dizziness struck him as he beheld the other. He looked so much like him it was eerie! He had his very face! And the creation symbol on his chest left no doubt to his identity. "So it's true, then," he said, feeling numb all over. Optimus Prime may have unwittingly been the one to create his spark, through his spontaneous and quite uncharacteristic tryst with Phantasma, but Primus had been controlling the entire event. Rodimus Prime was truly the son of Primus.

His creator smiled at him, and Rodimus was utterly speechless, feeling overwhelmed. "Welcome, my chosen one," he said softly. "You are quite right. I created you to be my emissary, to guard against the evil that I knew one day would return to threaten my creations. And so it has come to pass. But the threat has once again returned to Cybertron. The demon that attacked you is known as a Voracian. Normal circumstances would not allow me to repair the damage that it has wrought, but this is a special situation that warrants my intervention. The Voracian was sent by a dark god to find my children, cripple the leaders, and corrupt the Matrix that holds both my essence and the sparks of those creations that have rejoined me in death. You know this entity as the Chaos-Bringer, destroyer of life."

"Unicron!" Rodimus cried, touching his lips with trembling fingers. Could it possibly be? Had the Chaos-Bringer had a hand in this?

"No!" Optimus whispered. Please not that! Hadn't they already suffered enough? Couldn't they ever find peace?

"Your young friend is quite right." The light-god looked at him with a sorrowful expression. "You have been strong and brave, Optimus Prime, but I know of the burdens upon your soul. You ache to rest and fight no more, but you are needed now more than ever. And things will get much worse." Optimus closed his optics and turned his head away in misery. There would never be any peace for him! "But you will not be alone in this endeavor. You will have help." Megatron most definitely did not like the way Primus looked at him at that moment!

Heedless of Megatron's perturbation, Primus explained, "Unicron gains strength by the day, and while he cannot create life, he can twist and corrupt it. He has taken much pleasure in doing so to my warrior-child." Megatron growled and clenched his fists tightly until the metal began to bend. Unicron would pay dearly for what he had done! "He will send other creatures that have allied themselves with him. You must prepare yourselves, my children. Unicron seeks to wipe out all life as we know it, creating a void of nothingness. If you fail to stop him, life as we know it will cease to exist. Now go, and prepare!" With a clap of his hands, their surroundings seemed to fade out into a soft yet powerful white light.