Hello everyone and welcome back. As I said in my Authors' note in the last chapter, I was taking a six-month break to deal with family and personal matters. That has not changed. However, there have been some questions as to whether I'm still active. Let me say this, I have not been entirely idle and even now am working on the next arc of this story. As proof, here is a taste of what's to come.

Originally, I planned to write snippets of what's to come as a teaser chapter to be replaced later. However, I figured, why not make it part of the story? So here it is. The beginning of the end.

Vector Prime gave a sigh as he turned away from the spot Optimus had just vanished. He'd meant what he said about not getting involved in the Autobot and Decepticon conflict. However, he knew that his time in his short self-imposed exile was about to end. The one thing that would draw him back out of his pocket dimension was the same thing that necessitated his and his sibling's creation. Unicron.

Being the keeper of time meant that Vetor Prime didn't quite experience it the same as most sentient beings. To him, he had only entered his dimension a scant few days ago, after the arrival of the Quintessons even though eons had passed. Optimus left seconds ago from his perception; however, he knew it had been millennia ago.

Striding down the section of his dimension he'd dubbed the Time Corridor, Vector looked at various events as they were happening. Perhaps it was Optimus' recent visit that led him to the time windows about him. In one window he observed him as Orion Pax accepting the title of Prime.

"The Matrix of Leadership is yours to seek, because from this moment forward, you are Optimus Prime."

Vector snorted, as if he needed their blessing. Then again, Optimus wouldn't be Optimus if he took the title by force.

Turning to another window, Vector saw Optimus shoving Magnaboss away from a full powered blast from the Nemesis, the blast driving him into the ground with the resulting explosion and cave in collapsing the entirety of the Unit-E base and the Lost Light. Galvatrons' voice ringing out.

"And thus ends the tragedy, of Optimus Prime."

Glancing at another window, Vector saw Optimus soaring across the sky in another new body. How many has he gone through now?

"I will be there in moments. Hopefully I can prevent Leobolt from doing anything he will later regret."

Looking away from the images, Vector thought of the other mech that had stood by Optimus until he was denied the title of Prime. Glancing at another set of windows, he saw the argument between Megatron and Optimus that led to them parting ways.

"You see 'brother'? They do not want your control. They want to be free."

Next to it was the image of Megatron being vivisected by Tarantulas.

"If you think this hurts, wait until we test my spark mitosis experiments."

He couldn't help shaking his head at the wasted potential, but then again. He turned and saw a different Megatron seemingly splitting into a trio of beasts to aid a group of fighters led by Optimus against Galvatron. Primus was seldom wasteful.

"I believe Galvatron, that the time has come, to unleash the Beast Wars upon you."

Walking a little further down the corridor, he thought of others that would be essential to the coming conflict. Vector saw Galavatron tormenting the young scout Bumblebee, slashing his chest and face with his claws.

"Whereas Megatron would've taken your voice once again. I prefer to visibly mark those who defy me."

Next to that was an image of the soon to be warrior with a new appearance and name preparing to face off against an Insecticon for supremacy of the Scorponok hive. His new Insecticon mentor guiding him.

"Yeh needn't ah worry yerself Goldbug. Yer more than capable enough ta take on Bugbite."

Finally, there was an image of him embracing a brown-haired human with what looked like a smiling Rhinox behind him.

"You can change your name, color, and face. But your still Bumblebee to me."

Optics lingering on Rhinox a moment, he turned to the windows surrounding the original three Maximals. Those three were more important to the coming conflict than anyone knew. Looking carefully at the windows he saw them being set upon by Soundwave and Laserbeak as humans in one.

"Scatter, try to get a hold of the bots!"

In another, getting punched through the roof in their first fight with Megatron as Magnaboss.

"Did he just Mortal Kombat us?"

The final window he saw showed an upgraded Magnaboss facing down Galvatron, Star Saber in hand.

"Galvatron. One shall stand, one shall fall."

Going from one set of Maximals to another pair of them sprinting across a ruined Cybertron, Vector couldn't help noticing that one of them had two of his Blades of Time mounted in his chest. The two were being chased by Terrorcons before being saved by a much older looking Rhinox.

"Get inside and get those fuel rods connected! Then prepare for the time shunt!"

Vector nodded, while succeeding in their mission would erase their timeline, he would ensure they were anchored in when they arrived in the current one, preventing them from being erased as well. Vector could see they would be critical to coming events.

Turning away from the scene, Vector took in the image of G.B. Blackrock hugging his recently transformed daughters.

"Sleep as well as you can girls, I'll see you in the morning."

Nodding at the scene he turned to the father using the Transtector for the first time to aid in battle as Overdrive.

"While I'm in my Transtector. Please, call me Overdrive."

Beneath that window was one of the titan Fortress Maximus rising out of the Earth. Vector nodded again; the titans would return soon enough.

Turning away, Vector took glances at other events yet to come.

Of loss.

"I didn't even want to see myself like this again, let alone the two of you."

"Arcee!?"

"No! Lightbright! Bludgeon, please, I'll go with you, just spare her!"

"I wish you'd come to me sooner Grimlock. I can slow it down but, at this rate, you will be fully feral in less than one Earth year."

Of power.

"We are the hunters. We are the pack. We! Are! Tripredacus!"

"These protoforms are blanks. Without sparks, I couldn't activate them. Now however."

"You mean you want to reactivate the Combaticons!?"

"Then project Cerebros begins here, with us."

"Call for reinforcements heard. Omega Supreme, responding."

Of unity.

"We thank the people of Earth for their hospitality. And we bid you all welcome, to Autobot City."

"We, the Constructicons are officially citizens of the United States of America, thank you very much."

And Love.

"I'm still intimidated by our age gap Allie, but yes, I love you too."

"I knew him before he was a Prime, and I haven't seen Optimus look at anyone like that since Elita-1 died."

"Please, tell me everything you know about purifying dark energon. Help me save my Sparky."

"Chromedome, Rewind, how does a Conjunx Ritus work?"

The reason for many of these events, as well as the Primes return, however, was that Unicron had chosen a new herald, and orchestrated circumstances to ensure the creation of his "Anti-Prime". Turning to the sizeable section of corridor dedicated to this threat, Vector listened closely to the sounds coming from Galavatrons' time windows.

"I don't know who you think you are Arcee, but you are no longer my brother!"

"I am not unused to pain, no."

"A toast to a glorious new age for the Decepticons."

"Can't you see Arcee, I've finally bought what you've been selling!"

"I am no one's puppet, gah!"

Looking around, he observed the windows of those who would aid his evil.

"Very well. Tarantulas Terrorize!"

"Begin repairs and upgrades immediately. Trypticon must rise again."

"Yes, I want you three to bring me the Monstructor six."

"With these new Vehicons, Galvatron, shall come three new generals. Jetstorm, Tankor, and Thrust."

And those his evil would touch.

"Awaken Scorponok, heed your new king and rise again!"

"Prepare the chamber. I want all current Vehicons upgraded into Predacons immediately."

"Gentlemechs, I'd like to offer you five a deal."

"Yes, yes! Arise my Necrotitan! YES!"

Shaking his head, Vector strode to the end of the Time Corridor. Out of the corner of his optic he saw one final window. A new image of a battle being waged between four titans and Trypticon, several combiners and a vast number of humans and Cybertronians before a bright wave of magenta light enveloped everything.

Before he could contemplate the last image, Vector Prime heard Vector Sigmas' voice emanating from the end of the corridor, signaling his time to return.

"It is time." It called. "The time of the great transformation is upon us. It is time for the Primes to remember, and return."

Nodding, Vector Prime stepped to the very edge of his domain. Before him stood the portal he'd entered through not too long ago. Taking his sword, he jabbed the tip into the portal and turning his sword like a key, expanded it. Making a note to apologize to the startled being he was about to return through, he stepped forward, reentering reality and ending his exile.

A/N: And here we are. Sorry for the tease, and I hope I didn't give away too many plot points. I'll see you all toward the end of June with the next chapter.

Next time: The New Face of Darkness