"Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path. It's a prism… of endless possibility… where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities… creating alternate worlds from the ones you know. My name is Vector Prime. I am your guide through these new realities. Follow me. "

" In the universe you know, the autobots were determined to have Optimus Prime bac after he lost his memories and thought to still be Orion Pax. Jackson Darby and Arcee traveled to Cybertron with the Key to Vector Sigma.

But while they were on their way back, Megatron defeated Ratchet, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Orion, who came to his senses.

While Arcee distracted Megatron, Jack gave Optimus his memories. Megatron tried to stop it but he wasn't fast enough.

But what would have happened if Megatron used his cannon instead of running at the two with his sword ? "

"Your spark may be in the right place, Orion." Megatron commented to the Autobot on the ground, raising his right servo and extending his blade. "But you still have much to learn before you can EVER again stand your ground against me. A moment, sadly, that shall never come." He finished, ready to strike him down.

But Arcee came out of the vortex and knocked the silver giant away, sending him into the distance. Orion stood up, watching, still in confusion, as the blue femme was fighting. She was fighting Megatron, despite having no chance of victory. Megatron was too powerful for her for sure. And yet she fought, with no regard for her life. Why would she go such lengths? Something caught his attention, which would answer his question. Jack stood before Orion, holding the key. Orion quickly understood. Now he knew the reason.

"Are you certain I am truly worthy?" he asked the small organic, who was dressed in a space suit.

Jack looked at him with confidence and faith. "You have no idea." He replied. He raised the key, as a beam shot out into Orion's chest. It opened, exposing the matrix to the beam and restoring the eon's worth of wisdom.

Megatron finally managed to grab Arcee, who was small enough for him to hold her with one hand. He pressed her against the wall, nearly crushing her. She tried to free herself, but with no effort. Megatron was too strong, even by Cybertronian standards. He neared his face to hers, grinning maliciously. "How nice of you to join our little reunion. Now if you please… the Matrix." He growled.

Then something caught his attention. A strange, screeching sound. What was it? He turned to find the source. He was deceived. It was not Arcee who held the key but the human boy who spared him in the mine.

" You again ?! " He roared

With the roar, he threw her into the wall on the other side of the cave and aimed his fusion canon towards Jack. He would not allow the Prime to return. He opened fire. The shot seemed to travel slowly, hitting the drops of water on the way. Orion and Jack managed to get a glimpse of the incoming ball of light. They knew it was coming their way. They knew it would hit them.

But they couldn't make it to dodge it.

Orion got hit, but wasn't hurt too badly. The shot just knocked him down. But Jack… he got worse. The suit was practically destroyed. His skin burned in multiple places. Blood covered half of his face and his left eye was useless.

Megatron laughed at the sight. His victory was almost denied. The Autobots have almost managed to restore their leader's memories with the help of their human pet. And yet, they failed. Victory was his. Ratchet was awake by the time Megatron fired at the two. And the Decepticon's laugh drove him mad. The medic roared as he got up and dashed at the Decepticon leader, tackling him down, pummeling him in blind fury, blind to the fact he was weaker than this… monster.

" You will pay for what you did to Jack, murderer ! " Ratchet yelled

At the Autobot base, the human allies of the autonobots could hear Ratchet's cries and shouts. They heard everything about Megatron's deed. The organics could not believe the cruelty of the warmonger. Raphael and Miko began to cry. They knew it was dangerous what they were doing, but their Cybertronian friends always could protect them. They were always there for them. But now, their friend was dying. He became the victim of not-their-war.

Special Agent William Fowler sighed heavily at the news. He used to be a military, part of the Army Rangers, so he used to see people die in war. But this was a kid, far too young to have to suffer this.

But the boy's mother, June Darby, took the news worse than others. Her son, her only child, has been killed, KILLED, by a psychopath in cold blood. She was sobbing uncontrollably.

Orion's optics came back online. He could see the small organic lying on the ground, trying to reach the key to Vector Sigma, even though it was so far from his reach. Apparently the human was too weak to move- and dying. He was in pain, but crawled towards Jack, wanting to see if he could help. If he could at least ease the young one's pain. He crawled towards him, slowly. His moves were a bit clumsy at the moment. He did not want to risk harming the human more. He managed to crawl up enough to face him optic to eye. Jack noticed it and managed to face him.

"Jack…" the metallic giant spoke.

"O-Optimus…?" Jack asked, wanting to make sure. Could it be that the upload ended before the blast?

"Jack… The upload was incomplete." Optimus informed the black haired teen. "I have not regained all of myself. I remember you, Miko, Raphael Special Agent Fowler and your mother. I remember Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee. But I did not regain my whole self."

"Op-timus… I'm… sor-rry. I failed *cought* You mu-st s-stop… Mega-tro-on…" Jack tried to say, barely breathing. Optimus sensed the boy who was like a son to him was dying.

"No Jack, you never failed." Optimus said just as Ratchet flew behind him, hitting the wall. Optimus turned to find Megatron walking towards him.

"How sad, Optimus." The tyrannical Cybertronian said in a mocking tone. "First, Cliffjumper. Then you lost your memories. Then you fail to regain them. And now your human friend dies." Megatron continued, as Jack was about to stop breathing. "It's a pity you Autobots fail lately. It's starting to make me feel there will be no satisfaction now.

But you only have the boy to blame : He should've killed me when he had the chance. But it would appear that, unlike you, Optimus Prime-no-more, he was weak."

Optimus looked at Jack, as he was about to pass. The human boy who wanted nothing to do with this war at first. Who wanted a normal life, free of all this chaos brought to his home world. And yet he came back. And he has proven a reliable friend. He helped protect the base, when the Cybertronian vermin infestation overwhelmed their base. He was able to face a rogue femme Decepticon and blow her ship. It was Jack who thought about Megatron possessing the cure to heal their leader. Jack was a loyal friend, whom Optimus entrusted the key to Vector Sigma. He was willing to travel a dead, alien planet to restore the Autobot leader.

" You cannot be more wrong, Megatron. Jack was and always will be stronger than either of us. " Optimus stated, with certainty

At this moment, the Matrix and the key to Vector Sigma both started to glow with brilliant light. As the artifact carried by Optimus left the giant's body, Jack's body rose in the air. Both artifacts and Jack came into contact and exploded with light. It was as bright as if it was the star itself born in this small, dark cave, blinding everyone within. As a strange sensation overwhelmed Jack's body, a strange, yet warm voice echoed around him.

"Arise, Durerus Prime." He heard. The boy was confused, as he felt his head filled with unfamiliar memories and information.

When the light died down, Optimus and Megatron saw that Jack had disappeared and his place stood a cybertronian. He was smaller than Optimus but taller than Bulkhead at 27 feet, had wings on his back and wheels behind his shoulders and lower legs. He was mostly blue, with red flame patterns on his shoulders, forearms, torso and legs. He also had blue optics.

The torso of the new cybertronian was closing on the Matrix. Megatron snarled before roaring in anger and charging at him, blade extended. He was about to finish him and Optimus with one slash. But his hand was caught by the blue Bot who stared at the shocked Decepticon, preparing his free hand to strike.

" This is the end of the road, Megatron. " The cybertronian said with Jack's voice, delivering an uppercut, sending Megatron flying.

The warlord hit the wall, but immediately freed himself at started to fire his fusion cannon at his enemy. Durerus was able to dodge and evade each shot, before Megatron closed distance between them and pushed him through the space bridge. Afterwards, the two found themselves on Cybertron, where Megatron pressed his newfound enemy against some structure and began to beat him in rage.

However, Durerus was able to change to shoot blasts from his hands in the Decepticon's face, forcing him back. Being at awe at first, Durerus snapped out quickly to reality. He had no idea how he did this. But at the moment he did not care. He was in the midst of combat. He continued to fire, pushing Megatron back.

The silver giant was growing ever more furious and finally fired. He missed, but the tower like structure must've been filled with some kind of explosives or other highly flammable stuff, as an explosion took place, bringing the whole thing down.

As Durerus saw Megatron ready to engage him in close combat, he extended, on instinct again, two master blades from his forearms and stood his ground. ( think Sari's blades in transformers animated )

As Jack, he was no warrior. Heck, he wasn't even the type who wanted a fight. But as Durerus, his head was filled with information that could help him now. He was even strong and fast enough to at least defend himself. And that's what he did. He was blocking the Decepticon Lord's blade, occasionally delivering a counter attack.

"I'll rip out your optics, vermin !" Megatron growled, pressing for the advantage. "I don't know who you are or where you come from. But it doesn't matter. You're not Optimus. You will fail like him." Megatron kept pushing, as rubble was all around them and still falling. Then the blue autobot noticed a strange, glowing crate above them. Then he glared back at the war monger. It was about time to end this fight.

" You knew me... as Jack Darby." He said to Megatron. The Decepticon was at first confused. How could a human vermin be a Cybertronian? Unless…

"Now… My name is…" He started to put more strength, pushing Megatron back, shocking him. " Durerus PRIME!" he finally shouted. The Decepticon was dumbfounded. Durerus took advantage of the situation swiftly stepped aside, making Megatron loose his balance.

Durerus then punched him in the face. " This is for Bumblebee. "

Another punch that threw Megatron against the wall. " This is for Raf. "

Then he shot at the crates, which finally started to fall. When Megatron noticed it, it was too late. The crates fell on top of him, covering him in some green ooze.

" And this is for Optimus. " Jack finished, before running in the groundbridge

The Autobots managed to regain their consciousness just to see the even occurring. A bit terrified, they dashed towards Optimus, who's chest was still open. "Optimus? Are you… yourself ?" Bulkhead asked, helping the red giant get up.

"Bulkhead… I am glad to see you all…" Optimus started, but was cut off by Arcee who was looking around

" Where is Jack ? " She asked, fearing the worst

Bumblebee gave a view beeps before he saw someone run out of the vortex. The Autobots were confused at first, wondering who was the new comer. Then Arcee's optics widened upon noticing familiar features. Before she could say anything, Optimus commented.

"The Matrix?" He asked, with concern. The red-and-black Autobot placed his hand on his chest, before looking back at Optimus.

" You have no idea. " Jack answered

" Base to Ratchet, we read six autobot signals. Is Prime with you ? " Agent Fowler asked with the comms

" Yes. And Jack is alive. " Ratchet answered

June, Miko and Raf calmed themselves and turned towards the radio.

" Jack, can you hear me ? " June asked

" I hear you, mom. " Jack answered, relieving his mother

" What happened to you ? " Raf asked

" I think it's better that you see it. " Jack responded

Raf then opened a groundbridge and they waited for the autobots to come through.

First was Arcee, then Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Optimus and finally Durerus. The latter was nervously rubbing his neck, not knowing what to do.

" Hi everyone. " he nervously said

" Jack?" Everyone asked.

June came towards him, he kneeled down and picked her up, letting her hug his torso.

" I don't care what you look like, I'm so happy you are alive. " June said, before he put her down.

Miko, of course, instead of being freaked out, was gone hyperactive. "No way! Look At you! You're a Cybertronian! How did you become one? Did it hurt? How did you survive Megatron's shot? How strong are you? Will you take me on a mission?"

Jack shook his head in disbelief. Before he could say anything though, the Autobots got his attention, looking at him weird.

"Jack. How did this happen?" Arcee asked.

"I… just remember Megatron shot me. I thought I was dying. Then, The key and the Matrix engulfed me in some light. I felt something, I don't know… changing. And this strange voice said 'Arise, Durerus Prime.' The next thing I knew, I was fighting Megatron. Not sure how I knew how to fight." He said, making everyone wide eyed.

"The Matrix must've found you worthy as my successor, Jack." Optimus commented. "And in the process reformatted you."

" And Megatron ? " Ratchet asked

" The last time I saw him, he was covered in rubble and a green goop that was fuming. " Jack answered

" Tox-en. " Ratchet said

" Good job, Hot shot. " Arcee said with pride

" Yeah, you're the best, buddy. " Bulkhead added, fist bumping with Jack.

Durerus then opened his torso, revealing the Matrix and turned towards Optimus.

" Optimus, I return the Matrix to you. " Jack said " It was always yours. "

Optimus seemed to think while reaching for the artifact. But instead of taking it, he closed Jack's chest, confusing him.

"Even if you pass the Matrix back onto me, I fear the failed upload at the time made it that I will never be whole again." Optimus explained. "Besides, you have proven yourself as someone worthy of the Matrix to lead us."

" He's right, Jack. When we were bickering, you kept your cool and made the plan, you went to our planet, and you protected Vector Sigma from that insecticon and the scraplets. If that isn't being worthy, I don't know what that is. " Arcee added, reassuring her best friend.

Jack looked at his family. Everyone gave him a look of approval. His mother looked so proud of him. Many emotions ran through Jack, before he came to think that perhaps there was no return. He looked at Team Prime, trying to look strong.

"Then… 'til all are one!" he said loudly, raising his servo as high as he could. Everyone followed. As they were cheering, Durerus placed his servo on Optimus's back and said with a warm smile: "It's good to have you back, Optimus."

" It is good to have you with us, Jack. " Optimus responded

( Back in the cave )

Soundwave arrived at the spacebridge and activated it at its last coordinates. The vortex opened and Megatron appeared, covered in dust and with some parts of his armor missing. And he was really enraged.

An : this story is written with authorisation from Kris-dragon. Thanks to him.