Grapple and Springer entered the infirmary as Perceptor looked solemnly at Ultra Magnus. "I'm sorry, Ultra Magnus, but I'm afraid the wounds are fatal."
Fatal. That was the last thing Ultra Magnus; the last thing anyone wanted to hear. "He can't die like this," Kairi said. "Prime, you can't die."
"Do not grieve for me my friends," Optimus Prime said weakly. ", for soon, I shall be one with the Matrix," Ultra Magnus it is to you old friend; I Shall pass the Matrix of leadership, as it was passed to me."
Ultra Magnus stepped forward and took Prime's hand in his own. "Optimus, I can't accept such a heavy burden of leadership. I'm only a soldier and I'm not worthy of carrying this responsibility."
Ultra Magnus was too silent to say a word, as were the other Autobots. Weakly, Optimus Prime reached to his chest. Every movement was in itself an agonizing struggle just to keep his arms from shaking. In time though, the fallen hero's chest was opened. First, two panels that made the up the image of Prime alt mode swayed to either side, and then a single panel swayed straight up. Then came the most blindingly beautiful ray of light that any Transformer, be it Autobot or Decepticon or anything in between, beheld. The Autobots in attendance had to shield their optic from the light before it receded. Soon the Matrix of Leadership was full view; a radiant blue jewel within a golden, spherical exterior.
Having not heard Kup, Ultra Magnus stepped forward as Prime reached for the Matrix. "Optimus I beg of you; don't leave us."
Optimus Prime heeded Ultra Magnus not as he attempted to pass the Matrix. "Until that day… 'Til all are one."
And then the Matrix fell from Prime's hands. Ultra Magnus instinctively moved to grab it, as did Kup and Arcee and Hotrod. In the end, the Matrix was resting within the un-waiting, un-wanting hands of Hotrod. The first thing Hotrod expected to happen was for the entire city to explode, and then Earth and then for the shockwave to travel all the way to Cybertron. Nothing came of that scenario. Only a minor yet beautiful gleam of light shown from the blue jewel of Matrix. It was almost mesmerizing to Hotrod but he ultimately relinquished the Matrix to Ultra Magnus. Ultra Magnus, who was understandably reluctant to take up the mantle of leadership, took the Matrix. It blue glow never ceased for more than a nanosecond. Ultra Magnus opened a compartment in his chest in which to keep the Matrix, but his gaze first rested on Optimus Prime. Ultra Magnus soon placed the Matrix inside the compartment and it closed. And yet, it felt like he was stealing the Matrix from his friend; his brother. Then all in attendance gathered around Optimus Prime as his blue optics rapidly flickered and began to slow in frequency.
And then there was nothing. Optimus Prime's optics flickered for the final time and finally dimmed completely. The mourners gathered closer and each had a different but no less Spark diminishing expression. Hot rod held Arcee close, where as Arcee would turn her face away. Kup saluted his fallen leader as any veteran soldier would do. Springer, Perceptor, Rin, Len, Neru and Meiko exchanged glances of harrowing silence and said nothing. Of all of them, Kairi finally broke into tears but tried to hide it. Ultra Magnus stepped back to let his brethren mourn and pressed his finger to the side of his head.
"Blaster, send a message to the Moon Bases," he said solemnly. "Tell them…" he suddenly stalled.
"Tell 'em what," Blaster asked. "What's happening down there, Magnus?"
"Tell them… Optimus Prime has been lost." Ultra Magnus said and as he turned back around, he watched as Optimus Prime's body became gray as ash. Indeed it was; the Autobots' greatest hero was dead.
Watching from deep space, Unicron studied, recorded and analyzed all that had transpired on Earth. Within the hulking superstructure, millions of individual monitors lined that which was likely the Chaos Bringer's core. They played back the same image from different angles, the now deceased Optimus Prime passing the Matrix of Leadership to Ultra Magnus. This development was most distressing, but Unicron remained reserved. The time was fast approaching, as was the arrival of his herald. And that herald, Unicron was certain of this, would do his bidding. Whether he liked it or not.
