I know... I hadn't update this story since... well, too much time! I hope the waiting was worthy!

Chapter sixteen - the memories: step ten

Optimus, Bumblebee and Jetfire were on the edge of the Well of the AllSpark. Jack knew that place, he was there with his friend and guardian just before starting this extraordinary and frightening journey.

Then he saw two other mechs. One was Ultra Magnus. Jack couldn't mistaken about him, but he didn't recognize immediately the other mech. He had a something familiar. The boy looked at him more closely and remembered where he had already seen that red frame: Cliffjumper.

That mech was Arcee's deceased partner. Jack had never met him personally, but he had seen several of his holographic images in the room of the Autobot femme. The boy let out a smile thinking about how his guardian would have been happy to see the lost friend. But there was no time for such thoughts.

Prime was about to descend into the depths of the planet to get to the real core of Cybertron in a desperate attempt to save it. And this was a trip that Jack would not ... could not ... get lost.

The small changes in Jack's brain waves and heart rate drove the monitor mad. Raf was outside with Bumblebee and Smokescreen. But the young hacker, however, was taken aback.

"Don't worry, dude ... Jack is in good hands!" Bee, as always, could read the concern in the face of the young hackers. And the yellow and black mech tried to be optimistic.

"I know Bee ... I'm just wondering, when he'll wake up ... if he'll wake up" said in a faint voice Raf.

"Jack is a tough guy ... just like Optimus ... he'll regain the way home" said Smokescreen with enthusiasm.

"I really hope so ..." sighed Raf, before returning to stare at the starry sky.

"Yeah ..." muttered Bumblebee, after having exchanged a puzzled look with Smokescreen.

Cybertron's core. Primus. This was the wonderful and terrifying spectacle that the young teenager had before his eyes.

Wonderful because stand in front of the living soul of a planet was indescribable. Terrifying because everything was dark and dying. Once again, Jack's heart was gripped by a sorrowful vise, a mixture of fear and pain.

Cybertron was dying, despite all efforts Optimus Prime and his valiant Autobots had done.

Jack saw that the big mech was alone. Perhaps only in to Prime was given the honor of being in the presence of Primus. The raven teen watched carefully the supreme Autobot commander. The red and blue mech seemed to hesitate before the God of Cybertron.

Then something totally unexpected happened. The sphere in front of him seemed to change, how to open. From its luster came out an artifact of spherical shape. Jack had already seen that artifact.

"The Matrix of Leadership" he could barely whisper.

So it was that the young human witnessed one of the most important events not only in Optimus' life, but most of Cyberton's history. With the Matrix, the former clerk Orion Pax became a real Prime.

Jack couldn't take my eyes off by spherical artifact. It floated slowly towards Optimus to slowly and gently lean on the open palms of his hands. The teenager could see the frame of the young Prime tremble. For the thrill and the fear. And he heard him whisper, as if he were talking to someone "I'm not worthy of this." But the Matrix of Leadership, Primus himself, chose his new bearer. And there would be no return.

Optimus was taken by surprise when the panels of his chest opened automatically. The commander of the Autobots was even more confused and scared. The legendary artifact went into his chest. A very strong light wrapped Jack and everything around him. When the young human was able to open his eyes again, he found in front of him a whole new mech. But not unknown. Primus had not only given to Optimus the Matrix of leadership. He had also donated him a new frame. More powerful. More resistant. More robust.

Optimus stared, confused and disoriented, at his new body. A hint of a smile appeared on his face. Just for a moment.

Then a voice, deep and old, filled the huge room. Jack couldn't understand what the voice was saying. Only after a few minutes the words became clear and understandable.

"... One day the Core and the Matrix, working through you, will be Able to restore our planet. Cybertron You will lead toward a new age. Located age of prosperity and peace. But ..." the voice paused "The salvation of this planet will inevitably tied to your destruction".

"No. .." Jack's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm ready to do anything to save Cybertron and its people!" the young Prime said with decision, putting a hand on his chest, right above the spark and the Matrix.

"I'm sure. The Matrix was waiting for you and only you, Optimus Prime. Now you have to go. Remember what I told you and always act with justice and righteousness, my son ... Till all are one" and the voice of the creator Cybertron dissolved and there was only silence.

"Till all are one ..." the sound of Optimus' voice was barely audible.

Jack stood motionless for a few seconds, just like Prime. His cheeks were streaked with tears. The knowledge that Optimus was aware of his fate and accepted him without hesitation was upsetting for the young man. He reached for the mech who was still standing in front of the large sphere. But, suddenly, everything was enveloped by a fog and Jack realized that it was time again for another jump.

"Ark?" Prowl's voice echoed through the large room of the Hall of Records.

Jakc took a moment to adjust to the new situation. He looked around and saw that all the main Autobots commanders were present. Including Alpha Trion. The old mech stood on the sidelines, however, leaning against the door frame. He watched the group of soldiers with apathetic air.

"We need to start this project as soon as possible" was the deep and severe voice of Optimus to bring the young human to reality "Primus himself has entrusted me with this task: we have to build the Ark and leave the planet" he concluded.

"And to go where?" Prowl asked skeptically.

"To where the Matrix will guide us" said Prime staring straight into his commander optics. Prowl looked down without another word.

"Okay, I'm in!" finally said with great enthusiasm Jazz "I am with you OP, anyway! Always!" added, giving a vigorous pat on the Prime's back. Optimus nodded and smiled a little.

"Well" Optimus said after a moment of silence,"You all know what to do".

Everyone nodded to the Autobot leader and left the room. All but Alpha Trion.

The old chief clerk stared at his young student quizzically.

Optimus walked over to the energon dispenser and handed a cube to his mentor and friend. The old mech smiled and pushed away gently the hand of his pupil.

"Trion ... you have to consume your ration of energon" said Prime, determined.

The deep laugh of the bearded mech filled the empty room.

"Use the Energon for something more useful than feed an old feed mech!" Trion said.

"I could make it an order!" added the younger mech.

The laughter of the older mech became more intense "Well, then, I think, my dear Prime, you'll have to put me in jail because I'm not going to obey you".

Optimus looked at him amused.

"Now go, my student... let me work!" and he dismisses his disciple with a wave of the hand. Prime, the Autobot leader and commander, looked down and walked out, smiling, from the big empty room.

Even Jack was smiling. And his smile was gone enveloped by the strong white light.

They were all gathered beside the bed where Jack was lying. The situation of young human was not varied, it was neither better nor worse than the previous hours. The explanations of Ratchet about Jack's condition had not convinced everyone. But it was the only plausible explanation for now. In silence, Team Prime and their human allies, prayed for their respective gods to go with the young human during his trip that would take him back home and to his affections. Back to his family.

Till next one... please review... '')