"Unicron clearly seeks to access our planet's core from the same point of entry that we used to restore it." Ratchet said. "No doubt with every intention of undoing all our efforts." Cyclonus said.

"So what do we do?" Bulkhead asked. "We put ourselves between Unicron's army and the Well." Bee said. Everyone looked at him. "Our strongest assets are this warship and whatever relics might be stored in its vault. The Harbinger is not equipped to handle this." Bee said.

"Last time I looked in the vault, just the Polarity Gauntlet and the Immobilizer." Smokescreen said. "Hopefully, the genuine article this time." Arcee said. "I'll round up the secret weapons." Smokescreen said and left the bridge. "Bulkhead, think you can pilot this ship?" Bee asked. "'Con engineering. User-friendly, right?" Bulkhead asked.

"Ratchet, you've given your all to save this world once already." Bee said. The Nemesis took off with Ratchet and Ultra Magnus on the Harbinger.

"Where are you taking us? We have a right to know!" Knockout said from the holding cell. The door opened, and Starscream entered. "Greetings, fellow Decepticons." The Seeker said. "Starscream. Thank the stars! We can finally escape this dreaded ship." Knockout said.

"No, doctor. We must, in fact, take this ship by whatever means necessary." Starscream corrected.

"Primary fusion cannons, null rays, ion blasters. Everything we need to stand a fighting chance against Unicron's army." Bee said as he surveyed the weapons.

"Bee, in case I never get another chance to say this, you've really proved your mettle." Arcee said. "I'd like to think my actions always spoke louder than my words, Arcee. But it didn't hurt to watch and learn from the best." Bee said.

"Would be nice if Optimus showed up about now." Arcee said. "I was referring to a powerful little two-wheeler I know." Bee said. "Autobots, surrender this warship." Starscream commanded from the entrance. He was backed up by Knockout and the remaining Vehicons.

The Autobots aimed their weapons, and Bee charged at Starscream until he held the Immobilizer. "Funny how the Immobilizer can freeze 'Bots in their tracks before it's activated." Starscream said. "And in case you're wondering, Smokescreen is in no position to come to your rescue right now." Knockout said as he showed the Phase Shifter.

Smokescreen was trapped in the same wall he got Knockout trapped in. "Scrap." He groaned.

Predaking roared as he approached the refuge. "Skylynx, Firestar, look. One of us." Darksteel said. "Indeed, Darksteel. Most likely our predecessor." Skylynx said. Predaking landed, then transformed and surveyed the valley. "The burial ground! Desecrated! Strip-mined of all that remained of our ancestors!" He growled.

Darksteel laughed. "You should have been here to see them rise and shine." He said. "They live?" Predaking asked hopefully. "I wouldn't call 'undead' alive." Firestar said. "Dark magic. Perpetrated by the demon who lives in Megatron's skin." Predaking said.

"Just be glad you're alive so the demon can't pull your strings." Skylynx said. "Do you not comprehend the scope of this tragedy? We four are proof that our mighty race might once again have flourished. Their remains must be reclaimed, if for no other reason than to be properly laid back to rest." Predaking said and stomped forward.

"And who made you boss?" Darksteel asked. "Don't start it." Firestar said. "I am not your boss. I am your king!" Predaking said. They all got ready to fight.

"Scream won't use it. He needs us if he's going to stand any chance of surviving Unicron." Cyclonus said. "You misunderstand. I do not intend to use this warship for battle, but for quickly getting as far as possible from this doomed planet." Starscream said. "Earth would be nice now that Unicron no longer seems to be calling it home." Knockout said.

"Shut up, you! Now move away from the controls, Bulkhead. Or get stiff." Starscream said. "There's just one thing you've overlooked, Scream. That device you're holding, not the Immobilizer." Bee lied. "What? What do you mean?" Starscream asked, believing the lie.

Bee wrestled the Seeker for the Iacon Relic as the Autobots shot the Vehicons away, and Knockout ducked. "I will silence you forever!" Starscream said, then a servo phased through his body and snatched the Immobilizer. Starscream turned around, and Knockout bashed him with the relic, breaking it and knocking out Starscream.

"Now, will you believe I'm joining the winning team?" The automobile enthusiast asked. "Knockout! We needed that!" Bee said in despair. "Wait, it really was the Immobilizer?" Knockout asked.

Predaking threw Firestar into Darksteel, and they saw Skylynx grab Predaking and throw him into a wall. Darksteel ran at him, but Predaking lowered Skylynx and threw them both aside. Predaking transformed and ragdolled all 3 Predacons before pinning Firestar with his tail and holding down Skylynx and Darksteel as his mouth-plate glowed.

All 3 Predacons transformed. "All hail Predaking." Skylynx announced. A battered and wounded Shockwave approached them. "An impressive display from my creations. But would it not be more logical to employ your might elsewhere at this time?" The scientist asked.

Starscream was put in the holding cell, and Knockout brushed his servos before the door closed. "Fine! I hope Unicron destroys you first!" The Seeker growled.

"Why'd you do it, Knockout? Why did you turn against Starscream?" Chromia asked. "Even if I had helped him seize this ship, he would have probably just fired me out of the first airlock. Oh, and he's rude." Knockout said.

"Are we there yet?" Cyclonus asked when the others entered the bridge with Knockout. "Right on schedule." Bulkhead said. "And so is Unicron." Bee said. The Terrorcon horde was closer to the Well.

The Nemesis descended and fired at them. "Resistance?" Unicron asked. "From my own warship." Megatron said. "Demon hordes, take flight and eviscerate them!" Unicron commanded.

The Terrorcons flew at the Nemesis but were shot down. "Maybe Starscream had the right idea." Knockout said, and a Terrorcon landed on the glass. "Zombie-Con! Zombie-Con!" The defected Decepticon yelled, and Bee and Smokescreen aimed their weapons. The Terrorcon and many more were blasted away by fireballs. "Is it Optimus?" Arcee asked.

It was Predaking, Skylynx, Darksteel, and Firestar. "Predaking." Cyclonus said. "More flying pests!" Unicron said.

"Whome to root for? The lines have certainly blurred." Megatron observed.

"Predacon allies." Bee said. "You called it, Bee. And to think Optimus almost passed down the Matrix to me." Smokescreen said. "Whoa, what?" Bee asked. "Yeah, I said it. But 'right place, right time' doesn't mean 'right 'Bot'. I know that now." Smokescreen said.

As the Predacons kept taking down the Terrorcons, more undead monsters flew behind the Nemesis and shot its thrusters with fireballs. The Nemesis nose-dived for the ground. Starscream stumbled around the holding cell. "Brace for impact!" Bulkhead warned.

Everyone held something as the Nemesis hit the ground and came to a stop next to the Well. Everyone stood up. "Nothing a little carnauba wax won't fix up." Knockout said as he examined his finish. Starscream groaned as he held his helm and saw the door fall apart. He smiled wickedly.

The Autobots stumbled out of the Nemesis and saw Unicron and his Terrorcon horde getting closer. Predaking, and the others transformed and landed behind the Autobots.

Unicron hopped off his Terrorcon. "My legion, the time is upon us. Destroy Primus with your dragon fire!" The Chaos Bringer ordered. The Terrorcons flew towards the Well of All Sparks.

"We're the last line of defense." Bee said. "I would recommend leaving that to those more suited for the task. Firestar, Skylynx, Darksteel, allow nothing to enter the Well!" Predaking ordered. They all transformed into their Predacon modes and ran at the Terrorcons.

The Terrorcons formed into a swarm and flew at the Predacons. They launched fireballs at the horde. The Autobots watched as the Predacons fought valiantly and released four streams of fire at the Terrorcons.

The Terrorcons smashed into each Predacon, flew past the Autobots, and straight into the Well with the Predacons struggling.

"Really? This is how it ends?" Bulkhead asked. "We're not losing our planet, not without taking Unicron with it." Bee said.

Unicron paused. "What? A familiar resonance. Pure energy. Not unlike Primus. One I have not encountered since ancient days. The Allspark!" Unicron realized. Wheeljack's ship flew past them. "Optimus!" Cyclonus said happily. "I never thought I'd be so happy to see that big rig." Knockout said.

"We must keep the Allspark from Unicron's reach." Optimus said. "I thought the container was indestructible." Wheeljack said. "Indeed. But if this vessel once trapped the Allspark, I fear that it can also be emptied of it." Optimus said.

The hatch lowered with Optimus standing on it. "So the Prime returns!" Unicron said and created a spear. Optimus flew at Unicron right as he launched the spear and sent the ship crashing down. "Jackie!" Bulkhead gasped. He and Arcee transformed and drove to their friend.

The other Autobots watched Optimus beat up Unicron. "Thank you, Prime, for delivering the Allspark so that I may erase it from existence." The Chaos Bringer said. "Not while I stand before you, Unicron." Optimus said. They ran at each other and punched their helms. Optimus punched Unicron.

"Megatron, you and I once united to save a world from Unicron. We must do so again!" Optimus said. "Megatron may hear you," Optimus punched him again. "But he cannot help you!" In his mind, Unicron was torturing Megatron. "For he is enduring eternal suffering!"

Unicron created a mace and knocked Optimus away. "Your efforts to protect Cybertron's most sacred relic are futile. My legion is within reach of Primus, your planet's very core, and we both know that the Allspark cannot thrive in a poisoned Well." Before Unicron could kill Optimus, he was held back by Bee with the Polarity Gauntlet.

"Downside to wearing metal near a Polarity Gauntlet," Knockout started. "You're subject to the laws of magnetism." Chromia finished. "Optimus, go! Save the Allspark!" Bee yelled. Optimus readied his thrusters and flew towards the other ship as Arcee and Bulkhead helped Wheeljack out. "I've been worse." The white Wrecker said.

Optimus landed in front of them. "So how are we gonna get that thing to safety?" Wheeljack motioned to the Allspark. "By the only means available to us under these most dire of circumstances. The very survival of our species upon this or any world depends upon it." Optimus said.

Unicron managed to throw Bee forward. The Autobots shot him, but he blew them all back, and Knockout ducked away. Unicron transformed and flew after Optimus.

Unicron quickly caught up and shot the Prime down. Optimus landed, and Unicron transformed. He approached him and then snatched the Allspark container. "I shall devour your Allspark whole!" He opened the container, only to find it empty. "What?! A trick!" His entire body started glowing purple.

Unicron roared before his Anti-Spark was forced out of Megatron and sucked into the container.

The Terrorcon horde arrived at Primus, and before they could kill him, they froze and lost their Dark Energon glow. All the Terrorcons exploded into dust as Predaking, Firestar, Skylynx, and Darksteel watched in confusion.

Megatron's body reverted to its original form before Bee first killed him, and the warlord collapsed. Unicron tried his hardest to break out of his prison but failed. "As a being comprised of pure energy, Unicron's Anti-Spark was vulnerable to this reliquary of the Primes." Optimus said as he held the container.

"But if he's in there, where's -" Smokescreen started. "Praise the Allspark!" Starscream yelled as he transformed next to Megatron. "Master! You're alive!" He said. "Indeed." Megatron groaned. He stood up and felt the temperature around him plummet as he channeled his restored ice magic. Elsa's magic that he stole.

"You may have lost your new battle armor, but your ability to control ice and snow remains, my liege. Together, we will reunite all Decepticons and once again grind Cybertron under your mighty heel!" Starscream said.

"No!" Megatron interrupted.

"What? Why?" Starscream asked. Megatron walked forward but stopped and looked at Optimus.

"Because I now know the true meaning of oppression, and have thus lost my taste for inflicting it." The former warlord confessed. Optimus gaped at him.

"You've clearly been traumatized, Master. A good power down and a stroll around the smelting pit will put you back in touch with your inner warlord." Starscream said.

"Enough!" Megatron barked. "The Decepticons are no more, and that is final."

He transformed into his original star ship mode and quickly flew away with a boost of wind. Never to be seen again

"Yes. Well, we all have plenty to think about, don't we?" Starscream asked. He transformed and flew away.

He later arrived at Darkmount and transformed. "This is not quite how I envisioned my rise to the throne, but since Lord Megatron all but surrendered it to me, I will gladly revive the Decepticons in my name." The Seeker said.

He heard flapping. Starscream slowly turned around and gasped when he saw Predaking, Firestar, Skylynx, and Darksteel land. None of them were happy to see him.

"Though perhaps a throne is more befitting of an actual king." Starscream said and nervously motioned to the throne.

Predaking transformed. "I am not here to seize thrones, Starscream," Firestar, Skylynx, and Darksteel growled behind him.

"But to settle scores." Predaking finished. Starscream yelped as he backed onto the throne, and the Predacons roared.

The Harbinger was docked next to the Well, and all Autobots were grouped in front of Optimus. "In order to both protect the Allspark and secure Unicron's defeat, it was necessary for me to empty the vessel's contents." Optimus said. "Into where?" Cyclonus asked.

"The Matrix of Leadership. As such, my own Spark can no longer be separated from the multitude of others within me." Optimus said. "Are you telling us that you are now... one with the Allspark?" Ratchet asked.

"That's what you say when someone kicks the..." Smokescreen trailed off. "To not return the Allspark to the Well would be to prevent future generations of new life from existing on Cybertron. My quest must be completed." Optimus said. "Optimus, I didn't return to save a life only to lose the one I care most about." Ratchet said.

"Ratchet's restored planets. He'll find a way to save you." Chromia said. "We can turn to Vector Sigma, just like we did before." Arcee suggested.

"Because the Matrix must now be relinquished with the Allspark, it cannot be restored or passed down to another. But while this may very well mark the end of the Age of Primes, leadership can be earned with or without the Matrix, and in my view, you have each acted as a Prime." Optimus said.

"Well, I never really had the best roll models." Knockout awkwardly admitted. "As even Megatron has demonstrated on this day, every sentient being possesses the capacity for change." Optimus said, and his wings opened. "I ask only this of you, fellow Autobots, keep fighting the noblest of fights." He said.

"You can count on us to keep the peace." Bee said. Optimus smiled and then flew into the air. The Autobots watched the Prime dive-bomb into the Well. Primus awaited him. Optimus' chassis opened, revealing the Allspark inside the Matrix.

"Above all, do not lament my absence."

Optimus entered the core and felt a warm presence encompass his body.

"For in my Spark, I know that this is not the end."

Billions of colorful Sparks erupted from the Well as the Autobots watched in awe.

"But merely a new beginning."

A blue and red Spark broke away from the rest and looked at the Autobots.

"Simply put, another transformation."

The Spark returned to the others.