A/N

Been waiting to write this scene for years...

XIX

Kaon was not as monstrous as Iacon but was nothing to sneer at. Home to the gladiatorial arena and a favorite rest stop for construction bots, it was a rather rough and tumble place. It was one where laws were loosely enforced at best but mostly regarded as guidelines. So long as you didn't get caught, no one really cared. Recently, after the arrest of Megatron, the Council had been cracking down on the lawlessness of the area but this just forced most bots away, leaving the destitute and broken the remnants of a once bustling city.

"So, where are we going?" Ratchet commented.

The day was young as the group exited the station, entering the eerily quiet streets of Kaon. Knockout pulled out a small page, running a finger down it. Ratchet gave him a judgmental look. Knockout grinned, pointing off in a direction. Though Knockout was the one pointing and with the direction, Orion took point, leading the group through the streets. They could feel the stares.

"I've never felt so…unwanted," whispered Ratchet. "It's like everyone is watching us."

"They're waiting to rob us," grumbled Knockout. "I've been to Kaon a few times. Keep your valuables close, everyone."

"I've been to Kaon too," Shockwave spoke up. "It's a great place to get cheap parts…and volunteers."

Ratchet and Knockout swiveled their heads to stare at Shockwave. Without the addition of facial expressions, Shockwave's silence was creepy. He simply continued to walk straight, keeping in sync with Orion. Ratchet and Knockout soon turned to each other, optics wide. Orion grinned. He wasn't completely sure whether Shockwave was being truthful or just messing with the two but he could almost see the slight cheerfulness in Shockwave's sole optic.

"Over here!" pointed Knockout, gesturing to a nearby blocked off lot.

They took turns ducking under the guard tape, entering a clearing. It was a massive empty area with towering walls, blocking off the view of the outside world. Orion felt a ping in his spark, a familiar feeling of something calling out to him. It wasn't painful though. This felt right. Knockout pulled out a small flat device, holding it up.

"Here's the key," he nodded. "Now, where's the door?"

"What is this place?" mumbled Ratchet, stepping away from the group.

"It's an auditorium," Shockwave instructs. "Speeches were given here, mostly by the council but in its later use was used by Megatron. After his arrest, they closed it. I suppose they didn't want to incite any more…discussion."

"Seriously," grumbled Knockout, "Where's the door?"

"Doesn't it say in the directions?" Ratchet huffed.

"It just says that it'll be obvious…" Knockout looked around sarcastically. "Clearly, not."

"Wait…" whispered Orion, raising a hand to them.

Silence fell upon the clearing. Knockout lifted the small device, watching it light up slowly until it was near blinding. The ground began to rumble, shifting under their feet. The concrete cracked, parting sharply as something underneath rose. A large entry tunnel grew from the ground, shedding debris and parts of the auditorium around it. Eventually, the rumbling stopped as the gate finished emerging. The gate's doors opened sharply. The device in Knockout's hand stopped glowing. Silence again.

"I found the door…" sputtered Knockout, lowering his arms.

"Guess we're going in," chuckled Orion, motioning for the others to follow.

Knockout and Ratchet stood behind Orion, with Shockwave holding up the back line. They entered quietly, slowly moving deeper into the tunnel's shadows. The light of Kaon slowly diminished, forcing the group to turn on headlights. The darkness consumed them, wrapping around and echoing their footsteps.

"Is it wrong that this is less creepy than walking through Kaon?" grinned Knockout.

"It does have a sense of calm here," added Ratchet.

"Yeah…" mumbled Orion.

"Are you alright?" Shockwave offered.

"Actually, yes," chuckled Orion. "For the first time in a while…I feel great. I feel…like I'm actually moving forward, doing what I'm supposed to. No looming visions, no headaches, no pain just…me."

"I guess that means we're finally on the right path," nodded Shockwave.

The path opened into a large chamber, with a towering ceiling and a seemingly bottomless pit. A small bridge stretched slightly over the pit. Their footsteps echoed long after they'd stopped.

"What now?" whispered Knockout.

Orion stepped from the ground, walking to the bridge. Ratchet reached out but Shockwave quickly grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him. They watched as Orion stepped out onto the bridge, feet just barely over the edge. He held out his arms in front of him, palms up, optics lowered into the pits.

"What's he doing?" murmured Knockout, nudging Ratchet.

"Watch," instructed Shockwave.

A light began emerging from the pit, lighting up the walls slowly as it glided up. Soon, the large pall of twisting light rose above them. As it reached Orion's height, it seemed to draw him in, allowing him to rise with him. Orion floated beside the light, optics staring into it. The orb branched out, placing a small ball of light in Orion's open hand. It was blinding.

"Is that…" Ratchet gasped.

The light parted, revealing a small device. An orb with handles which perfecting interlaced with Orion's fingers. Orion smiled lightly, shutting his optics. A light began glowing in his chest, opening a compartment. The Matrix lifted from him, moving inward. The light from the device reached out, embracing Orion's frame in its cloud.

"Fire!"

Ratchet spun around, watching as another bot fired a dart at Orion's back. The small device struck him in the back, releasing an electric current into his nervous system. Orion opened his mouth but no sound emerged. The large ball of light began retreating into the pit as Orion and the Matrix fell hard, clattering and separating.

"Optimus!" shouted Ratchet, rushing forward.

"Guards!"

More bots emerged from the tunnel, grasping Shockwave and Knockout. Ratchet knelt beside Orion, placing a hand gently against his opened chest. The compartment jittered, eventually stuttering closed. Ratchet opened his medical scanner, searching for a life sign. He looked up as a pair of feet stepped up to the other side of Orion.

"You…" snarled Ratchet, optics narrowed.

The Councilman stood, hands behind his back, optics lowered to see Ratchet. His expression was smug as he bent over and lifted the abandoned Matrix. The light from it had faded, leaving a single cold flicker from the center. The Councilman grinned, looking back down at Ratchet and Orion. He gently kicked Orion's side.

"Was this your plan all along?" Ratchet growled. "Lure him here to get the Matrix for yourself?"

"With this," the Councilman chuckled, showing off the Matrix, "the war for Cybertron ends. There is nothing of the old war left."

"You have no right to it!" shouted Ratchet.

There was a faint beep. Ratchet turned quickly back to his scanner. Life. Faint. Flickering. But Orion was still alive. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, smiling lightly. The Councilman rolled his optics, stepping over Orion and pass Ratchet.

"Take them," he ordered to the remaining guards.

One large bot lifted Ratchet, handcuffing him. Another lifted Orion, throwing him over their shoulder. The Councilman grinned, looking over the Matrix. The guards moved passed him, ushering the others. Knockout kicked, screaming about his paint. Shockwave moved silently. Ratchet sulked, head lowered and mouth open as if to speak.

"Game over, Optimus," mumbled the Councilman, watching the group fade into the tunnel. "Cybertron wins."