Chapter 5. Gentle

"You've done a great job." Optimus quietly stated as he came out from his memories. They had wandered away from the museum portion of the building and were heading toward the new library and offices.

"Of course I have." Megatron answered back loudly. " Cybertron has never been under better leadership than mine. Cybertron is connected to all the sister planets and more. We are starting to lead in trade and justice is swift and fair."

"Your brand of justice is violent." Optimus replied. " Your citizenry fears you."

Megatron sneered. "As they should. No one messes with the new order and no one steps out of line. It's a new start and everyone needs to play their part."

"But at what price? Cybertronians are happy to have their home back but live in fear of their leader and live in trauma. It is time that you adapted as well." Optimus stopped walking and took a good look at Megatron. Megatron's armor was scarred and he still carried his massive cannons. The Decepticon emblem shining purple on his chest.

Megatron narrowed his optics. " Is that what you have come back for? To give me advice on how I look and rule? If that's all you want, you can go back to the scrapper. I have built this planet up from the ruins by myself with my armies under my rule."

" The ruins that we created." Optimus argued passionately. " I would have loved to help you build Cybertron back. You have done an amazing job, building up what we have ruined. But now I implore you to take a step back. Be more gentle and be a ruler that the citizenry respects rather than fears."

"Oh, this is rich!" Megatron's voice echoing in the empty building. " The Great Optimus Prime comes back from the dead after I uttered his name a millenia later to give me advice on how to build up a planet! Oh, and with his holier than thou attitude still intact."

"Megatron! You have built up the planet but you need to help it heal. Our people are suffering from PTSD and the new generations are inheriting that pain. You can lead with a hard hand but you also need to be gentle."

"I beg your pardon, Optimus, but did you say our people?"

Optimus opened his mouth flustered but Megatron cut him off.

"There's no our people. There's no our anything but our war and our hatred. You abandoned the cause, you went after personal fame and glory. You betrayed me!" Megatron lashed out. He remembered that fateful day when Orion abandoned him and became Optimus Prime. How he loathed Optimus. How fresh that hatred came up to the surface. Lifetimes later now as he glared into those cursed optics.

"I never betrayed you! I never abandoned the cause!" Optimus yelled. "All I ever intended was making Cybertron a fairer more perfect home for everyone. Why can't you see that?"

"What I see is that you need to go back to wherever you came from. I never want to set optics on you again. If you were here in the metal, I would pierce your spark all over again and relish in the moment of those optics dimming at my hand." Megatron stated coldly.

Optimus Prime lifted his helm up and Megatron could see the hurt in his enemies optics. And without a word, Optimus was gone. And Megatron was left in the dimly lit building standing right in front of a new chrome door with golden letters proclaiming it to be the new Hall of Records.