EXPOSITION AHOY.

Magnus' lips parted slightly as he attempted to search for the proper words out of the racing thoughts that hung in his mind. Countless questions pooled in his processor, and he wanted to get all of the answers, even if Optimus didn't have all of those answers.

"How? Why didn't I know about this? Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? " Magnus began firing off questions.

"You wouldn't remember, Ultra Magnus. It was the time before the war, during the age of the caste system, when you and I were a part of vastly different castes; a data clerk and a laborer. Magnus, you were a vastly different bot from who you are now. Back all those cycles ago, your designation was actually 'Magnum'.

"The bot that I had known as Magnum had lived in Iacon for the longest time, but one day he vanished. Spirited away to the other side of the planet, close to Polyhex where construction was underway. He had been keeping me updated on their progress with every passing solar cycle, but one day I discovered that he wasn't there. My brother hadn't come to give me his report on the building status.

"This had shaken me greatly, to the point where I thought I couldn't preform my duties. I had been worried about you for countless cycles before Alpha Trion finally entrusted me with certain information. Information regarding what had occurred at Polyhex and about Magnum's fate. "Optimus paused to gather up his thoughts.

"I had found out that something of unknown origin had triggered an explosion to shake the nearly completed structure at Polyhex. From what I had read, several Cybertronians were killed and one was in a very critical state.

"I had asked Alpha Trion is Magnum had been there during the explosion, and if he was one of the dead that had been mentioned. To my surprise, it was revealed to me that you weren't. Instead, he told me that you had been in the ICU at Polyhex for three solar cycles, and he also told me that you were to be moved to the hospital back at Iacon at his request. Alpha Trion said that if you were to die, then I should have one final chance to see you. "

"Did you take that chance, Orion? "interrupted Ultra Magnus.

"Yes, I did. It was a sight that I would never forget - even now the image still haunts my processor. I had pleaded with the medics to help you, but even they said that you were a goner, but I denied what they were saying. Never did I want to bid my brother farewell, not yet. "

"Then how am I alive? "

"Alpha Trion. I am unsure as to how he did it, but he saved you. For the great price of severing my familial bond with you, Alpha Trion then promised that he would do everything in his power to bring you back to working order, although you wouldn't remember anything from then on.

"It was he who rebuilt you, and he tried rebuilding another who was said to also be alive – Dion, our friend. However, unlike you, Dion couldn't be rebuilt, for Alpha Trion informed me that he could save one, but the other would not survive. I lost so much that very day, yes at the same time I retained something that can never be replaced – you, my dear brother. "

Ultra Magnus would have smiled for the third time in the same year, but the shrill cry of three engines filled the air and made him and Optimus look out of the hangar's entrance simultaneously. A yellow sports car, a large green military-like vehicle, and a smaller blue motorcycle were all speeding through the desert sands.

Optimus Prime stood with the aid of Ultra Magnus. However, before the Prime could walk away from the other, Ultra Magnus grabbed a hold of his brother's servo urgently.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? "He asked with pleading optics.

"Understand that I was afraid of what would happen to you if that knowledge fell into the wrong servos. My fears only became far worsened after Megatron became my sworn enemy. If something had happened to you, I don't know what I would have done. "Optimus responded tenderly.

"But I am able to protect myself, you know this. "

"Yes, I know this now. But back then, I didn't. Only when I heard of your success at the Hydrax Plateau did I begin to convince myself that you were safe. Magnus, I honestly regret not having told you sooner."

The pair of bots locked their optics on one another for a few silent moments before Ultra Magnus finally released Optimus' servo so that he could reunite with his team. He watched his limping, amputated brother make his way over to the entrance of the hangar, and he began standing to join him. But as soon as he stood, a wave of dizziness washed over Ultra Magnus' frame, made him stumble, and he just barely caught himself before colliding with the ground below.

What was going on?

Laserbeak had been soaring high in the sky for a full solar cycle before he finally found what he had been looking for; three individual vehicles speeding to the south without slowing down or stopping for a single second. Now this had been what Soundwave and Laserbeak had been searching for all this time.

The Communications Officer of the Decepticons called for his MiniCon to swiftly mark where they had been, and where they were heading before commanding him to return to the base. Soundwave would have smirked, but his lack of emotions denied him this action. Instead, he played a sound clip of Megatron so that Predaking below would hear.

"Very soon, Predaking. "That menacing voice echoed.

Down below, the three-headed dragon was plotting as to what he would do once he found the Autobots. He longed to finally execute those filthy bots and drink their spilled energon to affirm that he was a force to be reckoned with. A low growl was emitted from his vocalizer when he heard Soundwave from up above.

Any minute now.

In the confines of Ultra Magnus' mind, a video message had somehow managed to pull itself up right in in front of his optics. He stared as the figure of an elderly Cybertronian came into view, a face he knew far too well – Alpha Trion.

"Greetings, Ultra Magnus, or 'Magnum' I should say. If you are listening to this message then that means that Orion Pax has revealed his secrets to you. Although I trust that he has told you everything, without a doubt I know you still may have countless questions. To that extent, I will attempt to make everything clear for you.

"You must know from Orion that you have been known as 'Magnum', working in the field of construction in Iacon, only to be moved to the province of Polyhex where you and Dion met with a terrible fate, yes? Now you must be asking yourself – why you?

"Although I never exactly got to know Magnum back then, I was well acquainted with Orion Pax and I've observed the loving bond that he shared with his brother. Such a bond between brothers wasn't unseen, but there was something about the way you both interacted that set my Spark alight with such euphoria in those dark times. You both were like the sons I never imagined creating.

"I can still recall the disbelief I felt when learning of Magnum's condition after the explosion at Polyhex, yet at the same time I was relieved to learn that you still functioned. But even then, I knew I would be unable to tell Orion Pax what happened at that very moment, for it filled me with dread to imagine what state of dysphoria he would be in. I was right in that aspect. When he learned of your fate, he immediately left for the Iacon ICU. Every medic on staff had told Orion that his brother was a lost cause, but he had begged for them to help him. It was then that I decided to interfere with the hand of fate and save your life at the great cost of both your friend Dion and your bond with Orion.

"It was a necessary evil, know that. We both knew of the rising unrest on Cybertron, and we knew about Orion's growing number of enemies, so we decided that it was the best way of keeping you safe. Yet, through some great act of charity, the Covenant of Primus revealed to me that it was your destiny to become a soldier, although the outcome of this was yours alone to control. In that regard, you have proven yourself to be quite the soldier and you have surprised both Optimus and I with your courage and your loyalty.

"I do not know if you have found this message while war still blazes forth. If war between the Autobots and Decepticons still plagues the galaxy, then I ask you to continue fighting alongside your brother. But I must warn you, something will be coming for the both of you. How do I know this? Let's just say I have my ways. Goodbye, Ultra Magnus, and good luck to you. "

The message ended.

Magnus looked up to find Optimus looking back at him, the others were still driving towards the hangar as though he had only been out of it for mere seconds.

"Is everything alright, Magnus? "asked Optimus.

"Yes, everything is quite alright. Just felt a little dizzy, that's all. "Magnus gave smile number four as he slowly walked forward to join with Optimus.

Megatron grinned as his Eradicon followers unlocked the chains that had bound Predaking to the chamber beneath his fortress. A sinister grin spanned across his faceplate as he watched his prized Autobot hunter stand and stretch out his wings.

"Come, Predaking. The hunt is on. "

Predaking's three heads roared with a devious excitement as he took off towards the skies, with Megatron and his crew transforming and taking towards the skies behind him.

Here's that new chapter. Sorry for the slight wait! Thanks for any reviews or likes! (: