Well, here's this weeks update for this story. Sorry for the span of time between updates, but real life interferes mainly. I hope you all enjoy this one. Gregg.

Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Megatron was walking along the corridor with Soundwave on Nemesis. He was not pleased. He had ordered Soundwave to break the encryption sequences keys around Orion's security pattern systems and to date it had not been accomplished.

"How far have you gotten?" he demanded. His plans all depended on altering Orion's basic personality parameters.

A complex web of code raced across Soundwave's face screen, only one piece highlighted.

"That is all?" Megatron ground out angrily. "One sequence key out of 500? That is unacceptable, Soundwave!"

Soundwave just stood there, his face screen blank. He didn't move at all, letting his non-reaction speak for him.

Megatron swung and hit the bulkhead with a loud clang. "Keep working on it, Soundwave," he ordered malevolently. "Nothing takes priority over this."

Soundwave watched as Megatron strode down the corridor angrily. Then he turned and walked back to his lab.

Meanwhile...

Jack and Arcee were back in Optimus' chambers working over the computer systems. Fortunately Optimus had placed recognition sequencing in the security systems and the computer granted the two of them instant access. The problem, though, was that they were not sure what they were looking for. They tried any number of access prompts, including names, pattern recognition, even chaos theory inspired fractal algorithms. Nothing was working. It was also slowed down since Arcee had to translate everything, and at times had to explain the computer programming.

"I don't know, Arcee, maybe it isn't in here," Jack shrugged after three hours of this. He was tired and frustrated.

Arcee was just as frustrated. She had always disliked mundane computer programming and work, so this was really difficult for her to settle down to, despite the company and purpose. "No, it's here," she told him. "The more I think about it, the more I think you were right." Then something came to her. "Do you have the Key?" she asked him.

Jack shook his head. "No," he replied. "I stored it while we went on our ride. Why?"

"Because Optimus said utilize the Key," she reminded him. "What if it meant to use it on this, too, and not just on him somehow?"

Jack's eyes widened. "I can't believe we didn't think of that sooner!" he slapped his forehead in frustration.

"Optimus wouldn't have made this easy, Jack," Arcee tried to make him understand that none of this was going to come quickly. "This whole Vector Sigma is shrouded in myth and there were a lot on Cybertron that didn't even believe that it existed. Everyone knew of the Key, but debated whether it did anything. Go get the key and see if we can make any use of it."

Five minutes later Jack returned and brought the Key out of his pocket. It instantly began to glow. Jack looked at the console that was in front of him and noticed a slot that wouldn't hold any of the usual data holding devices that the Autobots usually used. As he moved the Key closer it glowed even more fiercely, so he looked up at Arcee who shrugged.

"Might as well try it," she told him. She watched as he slipped it in and almost gasped when the main screen came to life with an image of Optimus.

"Jack, and I am assuming Arcee is with you, I am under no illusions as to the stress and difficulties you are operating under at this time. As you know by now, the Key to Vector Sigma is no ordinary device. I have keyed my terminal to it's unique energy signature. I will not tell you what you need to know about the Key, and to possibly return me to my former state.

"When I became Optimus Prime, I was entrusted with the Key by my friend and mentor Alpha Trion. He was an old Cybertronian, possibly even a first generation robot. He told me that not only the Matrix, but the Key as well held the wisdom of the Primes. In addition to that the memory engrams of the bearer of the Key would be held within it. My memories as Optimus Prime are contained within the Key. I will assume that unleashed the wisdom contained within the Matrix in order to defeat Unicron. If so, the only way in which I may be returned to being Optimus Prime is to insert the Key into my primary program juncture. It will instantly download my memories into me, and, if Alpha Trion was correct, it will also re-infuse the Matrix with the Wisdom of the Primes.

"The danger to you is grave, Jack, and I apologize once again for placing you in this position. I will likely not know you, and will fight any attempt to insert anything that may alter my memories. I understand if you choose not to undertake this mission. I want you to understand, though, why I chose you to hold the Key. Humanity is on a precipice. Your species has a bright future ahead, but it could all be for naught given the strife among your people, and the likely emergence in public of the existence and war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. You have shown me the qualities I believe will be needed to bridge the differences between our two species. Not only from an alliance standpoint, but also from the personal standpoint, if your deep friendship and growing relationship with Arcee is any indication.

"If you succeed in returning my memories to me, we will have much to discuss. Regardless of your decision, I am proud to have known you, and watch you grow into a person who I admire, and respect."

Arcee frowned and looked down at Jack. "He's right," she told him. "It will be dangerous. We need to talk with Ratchet about this."

Jack nodded. "Yeah," he replied. He wasn't sure about where this program juncture was, but he had a feeling that it would be in a location on Optimus' body that would make any attempt very risky. "What would you do?" he asked, not moving.

Arcee could answer that one instantly. "I would do it," she told him. "Optimus is our leader, and the one person who can win this war for us. Without him, I don't know if we will ever get beyond this war, or be able to save Earth."

"He knows about how close we're getting," Jack observed when they left the chamber and went to the main control room.

"Optimus notices things most wouldn't," Arcee told him. "That's what makes him a great leader, and what is needed to win the war. It's also what gives him his compassion and purpose."

The two of them walked into the control room to find Ratchet working on keeping the tracking on Nemesis focused.

"We found what we needed," Arcee said out loud, causing Ratchet to turn and face them.

"Well?" he said with a bit of impatience. He was getting increasingly worried about what could be happening on Nemesis.

"You're not going to like it," Arcee told him simply.

A/N: Well, there's the new update. I am already half done with the next chapter, so it should be up in a couple of days. I hope you enjoyed this one, despite the sudden end of the chapter. Gregg.