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"No! You can't die! You just can't!" Sari sobbed.

"He went saving the AllSpark," Prowl looked at the blue orb, "That's what matters."

"Ratchet! Help him or something!" Sari demanded. Ratchet looked away solemnly.

"There's nothing we can do. Nothing can bring him back," he choked.

"I know what can," Sari pulled her key off her neck.

"Sari," Bumblebee put his hand on her shoulder, "There are some things that can't be fixed. Even by your key." She brushed him off and placed the key against his chest.

"Prime didn't give up!" she proclaimed, "And neither will I!" The tip of key glowed and slipped inside. Its energy shot through the Prime's body. But it wasn't enough to bring him back. She turned it and the AllSpark orb glowed hot and shot a blast at the key like lightning. It channeled its energy through the key and into Prime. All of Optimus's wounds healed immediately. His bones snapped back into place. Then Sari could feel his heart beat. His grip tightened. He gasped and coughed.

"Is this," he breathed, "the Well of All Sparks?"

"No, it's Detroit," Sari sniffed.

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"As Detroit recovers from this devastating clash of the titans," the anchor man announced, "the Autobots prove themselves to be even greater heroes by not only defeating the villain now identified as Starscream, but also by helping Detroit pick up the pieces of the fantastic fight. And despite the great damage done and some lives lost, the Autobots remain heroes in the eyes of hundreds leaving only two words on everyone's lips: 'Thank you.'"

Isaac Sumdac clicked off the television. He couldn't bear watching any more. The guilt had become too great.

"I wouldn't know where to begin thanking them," he sighed. He got out of his chair and moved to the door.

"But if they knew the truth about my robotic empire, would they ever forgive me?" he wondered. He switched off the lab and left. One by one, all the lights in the room switched off until only one remained.

A large glass container with several pieces of equipment surrounding it sat in the back of the lab. And within the stasis pod, behind the fogged glass wall, a shadow could be made out. The shadow of a broken man...

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END