Transformers Prime: A New Adventure.

Chapter 75: Uncertainty.

(Carver's POV...)

Things have been going wrong ever since Onorato, Bumblebee, and myself had unintentionally and unknowingly allowed Megatron to follow us back into our minds to revive himself with the Dark Energon.

Onorato has fled from the base, not wanting to be comforted by anyone.

And me? I was trying to train my powers further so I could unlock the ability to instantly travel between dimensions for a one-way trip back home.

Because, honestly, I finally realized that regardless of whether or not I or any of the others abused our foreknowledge, most of the results like Megatron's return would still be the same.

And even some of the results would only serve to make things worse for us Autobots and Maximals.

At the present time, I was questioning how valuable I really am to this new Autobot army if I allowed myself and two of my new friends to be possessed by the Decepticon leader only to resurrect him from the dead.

Our foreknowledge is literally a blessing and a curse in unison, a benefit and a handicap, and so forth in every synonyms for all four words.

Among others, Onorato and I knew what was gonna happen and we couldn't do a thing to stop it to prevent Megatron from finding out the truth about the Transformers Multiverse or the Quadwal cluster where the Transformers are fictional along with all affiliated human, Quintesson, Nebulonian, and so forth friends, enemies, and neutrals. Although he still doesn't know about the part about the Transformers being fictional.

There's nothing I can do for the time being to quell my despair, and I'm pretty sure that Onorato was thinking the same thing as I was. But the main difference is, just 2 days after Megatron came back and we recruited the Omnicons, I came up with a plan to help me out.

That's why I was in my robot form trying to find Optimus' quarters. But admittedly, unlike some schematics of the Nemesis in some scenarios, I can't tell which of the rooms were used by whom or for what.

So, onto Plan B: find Ratchet in the command center and ask for his help.

(Third person POV...)

Everyone was worried about Carver for sure, but they didn't expect him to come out of his room and approach Ratchet.

Ratchet knew that Carver was in a fragile emotional state of mind and that any trace of negativity in his words or his tone would exacerbate matters, so he settled for asking, "Carver, how are you?"

Carver answers straight to the point, "I want to speak with Optimus on the roof. Alone."

Even Ratchet was surprised that Carver wanted to talk with Optimus, especially alone.

Nevertheless, Ratchet nods and goes to comm Optimus, but before he could, the Autobot leader walks into the command center.

Optimus takes notice of Carver and asks as well, "Carver, how are you?"

Carver answers again, "I wish to speak with you on the roof, alone."

Optimus' optics blinked several times in shock before he nods.

Carver switches to his Cybertronian form and he follows Optimus to the freight elevator.

After they emerge on the roof, Artemesio says first, "Optimus, you may not have noticed, but I'm not sullen enough to do anything dangerous at the cost of my physical, emotional, or mental health. It's just... what's getting to me is the pretty much everything happening so far. I'm starting to think that Primus sending me to your universe was one of the biggest mistakes he ever made."

Optimus questions, "Why is that?"

Artemesio answers, "I'm starting to think that I'm more like a detriment to your army rather than an asset because my foreknowledge shared with everyone from Overscreen to Fortressimus is toiling around in my head, especially including the consequences for using it to prevent many small and big disasters from the future from happening, like with Bumblebee, Onorato, and myself being possessed by Megatron via the triple cortical psychic patch."

Optimus says in response, "Artemesio, making the hardest decisions even without supernatural intellect is never that simple for any real life or fictional hero. For me, as a real life hero in my universe, I would know this because I have made many tough decisions during the War for Cybertron, and for the choice of letting Megatron leave the High Council Chambers just because violence was strictly prohibited in the chambers, I felt I was responsible for allowing Cybertron to be plunged into the civil war that ended with Primus' spark being poisoned by Dark Energon."

Artemesio replies back while taking his time, "But the difference between you and me is that you managed to overcome all the challenges of your war and anything else that the Supreme Beings and devils of our respective races threw at you without losing control of your anger circuits. And me? Well, as I already let it out in the SAFE just half a joor ago, I'll be honest; I try to keep my emotions in check as I try to do my part to change the future, but no matter what I do along with any of the others, I get smacked hard with the ramifications of my choices."

Artemesio then pulls out his phone and plays a familiar song.

The song plays Inertiatic ESP by The Mars Volta.

As Optimus watches, Carver's singing reprisal of the song right to the last lyrics unveils an illusion similar to what Optimus once experienced.

Optimus saw who appeared to be him in his secondary Cybertronian robot mode frame carrying someone. In an instant, Optimus recognized the bot as Bumblebee, and he apparently had been damaged over the area where a human heart would be.

Then, a Decepticon Flier similar in appearance to Starscream emerged on the scene in jet mode, transformed to robot mode, and brought out a sword.

But then, someone Optimus instantly recognized as Ironhide rushed up and punched Starscream hard in the faceplate, breaking off a chunk of his face and sending him to the ground.

Then, a bot who appeared to be Jazz brought out a Path Blaster and shot Soundwave in the chestplate at point blank range with an explosive round, engulfing Soundwave in flames from the midsection of his frame.

Then, the illusionary Optimus set down Bumblebee and the two grasped servos while looking each other in the optics for a brief time, apparently sending a message to each other.

Then, the illusionary Optimus stood up straight, brought out his own Path Blaster, and cocked it as he saw explosions from Decepticon Seekers making strafe bombing runs.

Then, the illusion showed an Autobot Soldier getting bashed offline in the head by a mace-shaped wrecking ball on a chain, before the illusion showed Megatron in his Gunner Class Titan frame, which Fortressimus Prime described as Megatron's secondary body since most of his original Destroyer Class Soldier frame was destroyed when he was temporarily killed by being squashed by Metroplex on the day that Grimlock disappeared into the Sea of Rust with his team before Shockwave's experiment to turn Grimlock and his team into Triple Changer Dinobots was finished. And also because Megatron's frame was rebuilt and improved upon by Soundwave before he was revived by an infusion of artificial Dark Energon.

Megatron looks up to see his hated enemy and gives the signal, and the Decepticon army charges past him.

Then, Optimus saw an illusion of the Combaticons still as Decepticons combining into Bruticus.

Then, the other Optimus turns to see Grimlock walk up to him, carrying a large Energo-Sword.

Grimlock nods before digging his sword in the ground and then transforming to his dino mode, unleashing his fire breath to reveal what happens next.

A battle commences, and the Autobots are losing badly.

Bumblebee was still damaged and was being dragged into what Optimus recognizes as the Autobot flagship the Ark, firing off rounds from his Neutron Assault Rifle at any Decepticons attempting to initiate pursuit.

Grimlock was fighting against Bruticus, but because of the anatomy of his dino mode, Grimlock was losing.

But then, the Dinobots Slug, Snarl, Sludge, Swoop, Grimstone, Hacksaw, Runknocker, Horrorsaur, Chew, Cutgripper, Tightthroat, Hangnail, Nosedive, Pterradon, Roughneck, Scorn, Sharptooth, Slash, Slog, Slag, Dartbomb, Daven, Reagan, Thunderlips, Topdive, Airraptor, Dinotron, Magmatron, Rapticon, Reptron, Striker, T-Wrecks, Terranotron, Triceradon, Slapper, Paddles, Scarr, Bullhorn, Crackback, Floodgate, Freezeout, Frostbite, Iquanox, Ironeye, Mollox, Roadhound, Silversnout, Skimmer, Torosaur, Slugover, Killfest, Swiftstrike, Shadowdancer, Indobeast, Coppertone, Steeltone, Holegut, Clouddiver, Predastorm, Windgear, Blazefang, Novaquest, Bladefist, Narufin, Maxhammer, Cortex, Buster, Chopper, Tangler, Gearslammer, Roadrun, Thundertank, Neoclaw, Keeper, Axehead, Kipparin, Yokufang, Brawnwing, Aerobreaker, Airtrain, Airblaze, Axelfire, Windtrack, Bashslash, Biskbreaker, Smokepunch, Zoomloose, Wingbreaker, Fusionburst, Scythepiercer, Lacescramble, Cellwing, Wrenchbolt, Crashdrone, Twistertitan, Bronzewing, Platinumwing, Stonehide, Wingbrawn, Wedgeblade, Wildspinner, Strongspot, Knockblow, Stingburner, Lancebuster, Bladetwister, Slicehacker, Sawdown, Hackstone, Grimsaw, Hornknock, Bulldown, Gatecrack, Biteout, Frostfreezer, Ironox, Iquaneye, Groundhound, Bronzesnout, Goldsnout, Steelsnout, Coppersnout, Jadesnout, Emeraldsnout, Diamondsnout, Rubysnout, Bucketgear, Hammerburner, Windburst, Aeroburst, Acidtrain, Iontrain, Novatrain, Ionraptor, Novaraptor, Stonewing, Speeddust, Skygear, Megarider, Metalblitz, Silverbreaker, Bronzebreaker, Goldbreaker, Copperbreaker, Trailwing, Indoshadow, Goldtone, Silvertone, Holediver, Cloudgut, Predagear, Acidquest, Ionquest, Blazehammer, Fistsaber, Finblade, Hammerbuster, Maxwing, Busterstrike, Chopperblade, Strangler, Roadslammer, Gearrun, Tankclaw, Neothunder, Sonicwing, Daggertalon, Brawnbreaker, Stoneshaker, Backdash, Denfendragon, Bone Rod, Bigcomber, Sky Aid, Dropfest, Motorjumper, Mindworks, Rollbat, Wingwing, Blastjack, Skullstreak, Cranksaw, Silverscream, Banzai Saber, Point Spot, Blitzmine, Warworks, Grandtwin, Cloudhappy, Backwatch, Cution, Victoryrock, Knocksting, Bladebuster, Twisterlance, Stonesaw, Sawknock, Steelgripper, Cutbreaker, Brontodrive, Howlclaw, Bullhound, Freezesaur, Naildive, Roughnose, Slicerblade, Bombstrike, Terrorlock, Spancemaster, Wingfang, Spanblade, Wingsweeper, Wingshear, Wingrazor, Wingcharger, Wingburn, Wingmill, Grimwolf, Waterblaze, Wavepath, Watervolt, Break Grip, Tripview, and Trenchhappy emerge on the scene, transforming into their dinosaur modes and joining Grimlock in fighting Bruticus, and with Jazz joining in the fight against the Combaticon Combiner.

The illusionary Optimus runs through the war zone firing off rounds at Megatron, but the rounds missed or flattened against the Decepticon leader's armor as he swats other Autobots out of his way while occasionally firing off Fusion Cannon blasts of his own.

As the two faction leaders are about to meet in the middle, Optimus is intercepted by both Starscream and Shockwave, but he fights them off.

Unfortunately, Megatron capitalizes on this temporary distraction to bash Optimus in the head and thrust-kick him backward.

Optimus slides back before eyeing Megatron's Energon mace, and he gets ready to deliver the killing stroke.

Optimus puts his Path Blaster away and places his hand on the ground, apparently pressing some kind of button, and the ground lights up blue.

The city around the Ark then transforms into a Titan Optimus remembered being called Metroplex.

Metroplex holds Optimus in his hand and says amidst the lyrics to the song, "Metroplex heeds the call of the Last Prime."

Metroplex then aims his shoulder cannons at the retreating Decepticon forces and opens fire, presumably destroying them, and the illusion ends.

Artemesio then asks, "How's that?"

Optimus answers before asking as he composing himself, "That was... quite an illusion. But does it actually reflect how you are feeling right now?"

Artemesio answers, "Yes."

Optimus then proceeds to hug the young techno-organic, and this shocked Artemesio, as he knew that Optimus was never the type to engage in affectionate forms of physical contact with anyone other than Elita One or any other relative.

Artemesio hugs Optimus back, and Artemesio sheds any leftover lubricant that he may have missed during his last breakdown.

Optimus then says, "Carver, I may not know what it's like to be placed in an alternate universe where fictional heroes exist in real life or to have knowledge of the future that can cloud your judgement as you make specific choices to alter the future without abusing the future knowledge, but know this. You aren't alone in our universe or in our new army of Autobots. We are all here for you because we are each a family unit, no matter if we are related to each other or not. Don't be afraid to ask any of us for help or if you need someone to talk to or if you want to do something therapeutic to help you relieve stress and you don't know how to do it."

Artemesio dries his optics and he inquires, "Optimus, exactly how do you keep your emotions in check when friends and family are being murdered and when the world is beginning to come to an apocalyptic conclusion?"

Optimus answers, "My emotions weren't something easy to ignore ever since I became a Prime. But as you should know, even before I became a Prime, aside from my parents, my siblings, my cousins, and my other friends like Ratchet, Elita One was one of the few people in the universe who brought out my emotions."

Artemesio remarks, "Heh, beings like Elita One have that kind of effect on beings like yourself, and there's nothing we can do about it."

Optimus chuckles slightly as he replies back, "You are correct about that."

After Artemesio and Optimus return into the bowels of the base, Artemesio went around to talk with everyone else.

To say that Artemesio was comforted also by Amethyst Spud was an understatement.

But now, all that was left was to find Forcescream and comfort him while trying to convince him to come back to base before the Decepticons find him.

Fortressimus was trying his own efforts as best as he could, but he was coming up with nothing.

Fortressimus gives up and goes to the SAFE.

The End.

(Author's notes: See you all in chapter 76: Regrets, Horrors, and a Pep Talk.)