"In hindsight, we accomplished what was required. With Unicron's awakening, extreme measures needed to be taken. Enemies became allies, allies became confidants, and with the Matrix of Leadership, the planet Earth was saved. Though at immeasurable personal cost. When Optimus surrendered the Matrix, he lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes. He lost himself." Ratchet said.
"That doesn't follow. Optimus knew Megatron." Chromia said. "They were like BFFs!" Bulkhead added. Bee buzzed with them on that. "If Optimus did not know his own name, perhaps it is because the title of Prime hasn't yet been granted to him." Ratchet said. "Huh?" Agent Fowler said. "What?" Elsa asked. "Say again." Miko said.
"With the power of the Matrix no longer within him, it would stand to reason that Optimus has reverted to his Pre-Prime state. The historical archivist Orion Pax." Ratchet said. "You mean in his mind?" June asked. "Are you telling me Prime thinks he's some kind of librarian AND a Decepticon?!" Agent Fowler snapped.
Aboard the Nemesis, Megatron gave a message. "Attention, crew, our guest is currently in isolation to help ease his transition. But when Orion Pax emerges, he is to be shown every courtesy, and the first to address him as 'Optimus Prime' will have their voice-box torn out." Megatron casually threatened.
"Lord Megatron, is it wise to allow an Autobot, current or former, full run of the premises?" Airachnid asked. "Nothing happens aboard this ship without my knowledge. You would do well to remember that, Airachnid. But there's no need for concern, Orion does not possess the same fight Optimus is so renowned for." Megatron said.
"Then what use is he to our cause?" Airachnid asked. "Ah, rest assured, Orion Pax will indeed earn his stripes." Megatron said.
In the medical lab, Knockout was torching something onto Orion's shoulder. "Welcome back to the winning team." He said as he finished Orion's new Decepticon symbol.
"Being a Decepticon is a choice, Agent Fowler. One that I have a hard time believing Optimus would make at any point in his life." Ratchet said. "So, if he's with the Decepticons." Jetfire started. "It's because Megatron's working some kind of voodoo." Arcee finished.
"Orion Pax may not currently be an Autobot up here, but I must believe he will never stop being one in here." Ratchet put his servo on his chassis, motioning to his Spark-Chamber. "We must locate him to know for certain." He finished.
"Hold on, I have a chip lodged in my behind that let's Uncle Sam know when I stop for donuts. Are you telling me you can't just track Prime?" Agent Fowler asked. "Optimus' signal has not reappeared since he embarked for Earth's core. But we must get to work finding him if we have any hope of initiating his contingency plan." Ratchet said.
"Contingency plan?" Cyclonus asked. "What contingency?" Bulkhead asked. "Is that even a word?" Miko asked. "The key cards. So what do they do?" Jack asked. "They grant access to Vector Sigma. The repository of the wisdom of the Primes." Ratchet said.
"Is that some sort of supercomputer?" Raf asked. "So we can just download Optimus' memories back into him? Great! Which one's the Big V? Over here? Somewhere in back?" Jack asked. "Vector Sigma is more than a supercomputer, children. It is an ancient source of mystical power. On Cybertron." Ratchet said.
Megatron walked into the main control room, with Orion close behind. The Vehicons gave him an awkward look. "You have been a captive of the Autobots and locked in Stasis for quite some time, Orion. Long enough for us to be an exodus on another world." Megatron said.
"Exodus? Why?" Orion asked. "Because the warlord Ratchet's careless actions led to this." Megatron pressed a button, and Orion's optics widened in shock and sadness. "Cybertron!" He gasped, then grew angry, and Megatron hid a smile.
"Jackson, Elsa, neither of you will be traveling to another planet." June said sternly. "I'm in!" Miko chimed in. "Can I come too?" Anna asked. "You're not going either, girls." June said, getting a groan from Anna. "Not when two of you can." June said to the Autobots.
"June's right. Why send those two to do a 'Bots job?" Agent Fowler asked. "Because only a Prime can access Vector Sigma, or one chosen by a Prime. Optimus gave the key cards to Jack and Elsa. They are now imprinted with their unique bio signature. Elsa may have become a permanent herald of Unicron, but it is said that Vector Sigma can see the goodness in a Dark Energon user. And Elsa is chosen." Ratchet said.
"So, you mean they're both like some kind of honorary Prime's?" Miko asked. "Let's just say Jack and Elsa may be the only ones who can return Optimus to the Autobot we knew." Ratchet said.
"But why would Optimus willfully endanger two humans? Children?" June asked. "Mom, we're not children. Well, Elsa is, but I'm not." Jack defended. "Maybe Optimus believes there could be more to those two than meets the eye." Chromia said.
"All of which is moot. The key cards are useless to us without a means of reaching Cybertron. Which we at present do not possess." Ratchet said.
"Dude, what about that?" Miko asked and motioned to the Ground-Bridge. "Miko, the Ground-Bridge barely got them into Earth's orbit, remember?" Raf reminded. "Yeah, but Ratchet built it. Can you just turbo charge the thing?" Miko asked. Ratchet thought about it.
"I can not believe Ratchet's capable of such horrors!" Orion gasped at the images if the desolate ruins that is Cybertron. "Yes. And to think the Doctor of Doom's mad quest for power continues. His marauders pursued us to this planet's orbit. We feel its species are not ready to behold us. But we have resolved to protect this world from the same tragedy which was dealt to our own." Megatron said.
"One question, Megatron: Why are we called Decepticons?" Orion asked. "Another craven Autobot scare tactic. The name was meant to demonize us. Instead, we wear it as a badge of honor. For if speaking the truth is deception, then we are gladly guilty." Megatron said.
Orion nodded. "Now please, Orion, there will be plenty of time for catching up. You must rest." Megatron said and turned to leave until Orion stopped him. "Megatron, I will do my part to stop Ratchet's unspeakable crimes of aggression. This I vow with all my Spark." Orion said and clenched his servo in fury. Megatron grinned maliciously and left.
"It seems we have successfully achieved control of Orion's Spark. Now to put his mind to work. Have you sanitized the data core?" Megatron asked Soundwave who nodded. "Excellent." Megatron praised him. "Our new archivist will require unlimited access to our files. It would be counterproductive for him to stumble upon any sensitive information." Megatron said.
At KO Burger restaurant, Jack was giving out an order. "Two body slamburger specials. Enjoy!" He said, and then saw his crush Sierra. "Hi, Jack." She said. "Sierra!" Jack said, a little surprised. "How come I never see you around?" Sierra asked. "What are you talking about? We have chemistry together." Jack said, and Sierra shrugged.
"Class! Chemistry class." Jack corrected himself. "I mean outside of school. I never see you at any parties. Or the mall." Sierra said. "Well, mostly I'm here. Wearing the hat. And you can never study too hard for the old S.A.T's, you know. And there's some other stuff." Jack said, and the mic buzzed. "Oh, don't go anywhere." He said. Sierra smiled awkwardly.
"Welcome to KO drive in, may I take your -" Jack was interrupted by Arcee's voice. "5 PM, Jack. Your shift is over. Let's go." She said. "Oh. That kind of stuff." Sierra said and turned around to leave. "Sierra, wait! She's my mother." Jack said.
Arcee turned the corner and drove up to Jack's window with her holographic human driving. "Your mom looks good in leather. On your bike." Sierra said and left. Jack sighed. "Didn't mean to decimate your social life." Arcee apologized. "Not the first time. Any sign of Optimus?" Jack asked. "Not today." Arcee said. "Not yet." Jack said.
"When we stormed the Iacon Hall of Records in the winning days of the war for Cybertron we aquired highly classified files. Files written with Autobot codes which we had been unable to decipher." Megatron said to Knockout. "Autobot codes which the Iacon archivist Orion Pax should have no trouble cracking." Knockout said.
"Considering what's at stake, shouldn't we beef up the security around here?" He asked. "Knockout, I believe that Orion will perform most effectively if he does not feel threatened or confined in any way. However, it is no coincidence that Orion's workstation is located in direct proximity to the Energon storage vault." Megatron said.
"Which is under constant surveillance. Well played." Knockout said.
Raf was reading when he heard beeping. He looked behind the couch and saw Ratchet working on the Ground-Bridge. "Ratchet, are you turbocharging the Ground-Bridge?" He asked. "Tinkering, no need to get anyone's hopes up just yet." Ratchet said.
Orion continued decoding the Iacon Database when Megatron entered. "Orion, how fares Project Iacon?" He asked. "I am a bit rusty, I fear. I've only managed to decode 3 entries." Orion said. "And what do these entries comprise?" Megatron asked.
"They were logged by Autobot archivist during the war after I entered Stasis. My only knowledge of its content so far is that they're coordinates, targeting locations on this very planet." said and displayed a holographic image of Earth. "I surmise that they could indicate hiding places for vessels shuttled from Cybertron for safekeeping." Orion said.
"Such as historical documents or cultural artifacts?" Megatron asked. "My greatest fear would be weapons of mass destruction, hidden away for later use." Orion said.
"All the more reason it is essential that we do everything in our power to keep said vessels from Autobot reach. We are fortunate to have you on our side, Orion Pax." Megatron turned to leave until Orion stopped him. "Lord Megatron, I am puzzled by one particular finding. I have discovered several historic references to Starscream as your Second in Command." Orion said and showed an image of Starscream. "Yet I have not seen him aboard the ship." Orion said.
"Sadly, Commander Starscream is dead." Megatron said and left. He joined Soundwave in the control room. "Orion asks many questions. A valuable trait in an archivist, but not in a Decepticon. It is a matter of time before he unravels our fabrications, and his innate sense of right and wrong rises to the surface. I only hope that Orion will complete Project Iacon before I am forced to destroy him once and for all." He said.
Ratchet continued working on the Ground-Bridge and the monitor beeped with a call from Agent Fowler. "Ratchet! You awake? This is an emergency." Agent Fowler said. "Agent Fowler, is it Optimus?" Ratchet asked.
"It's 'Cons, and they're busting into the same military research lab they hit two months ago." Agent Fowler reported. Bee buzzed in confusion. "Another Space-Bridge?" Bulkhead asked. "For all we know Optimus could be riding with them." Chromia said.
"Roll out." Ratchet ordered.
Tanks shot at Knockout and Breakdown, but hit the area around them. Breakdown and Knockout returned fire and destroyed the tanks, then the Ground-Bridge opened, and Jetfire, Chromia, Cyclonus, Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee emerged.
"Drop the power source!" Cyclonus shouted. "Aren't you missing someone?" Knockout asked. The Autobots pointed their weapons. Breakdown smirked when he looked up. Dozens of flying Vehicons shot at them. Cyclonus and Jetfire transformed and chased the Vehicons.
"Ready for that bridge!" Knockout said. Their own portal opened. "We'll be sure to tell the Big O you said hello!" Knockout taunted and they retreated. Arcee transformed and followed them. "Arcee, what are you doing?!" Chromia shouted.
A Vehicon fired but missed Arcee, and she entered the portal right as it closed, right passed Knockout and Breakdown. She turned a corner. "Scrap!" Knockout cursed.
Arcee continued driving, and encountered a group of Vehicons who fired upon her. Arcee transformed and shot a Vehicon to death. She kicked the second into a wall, and then kicked the third across the floor. She stomped on it. "Where's Optimus?" Arcee asked. The Vehicon remained silent. "Answer me!" Arcee demanded.
The Vehicon looked behind, and more came shooting. Arcee used the Vehicon as a Cybertronian shield, then ran from cover and sliced a Vehicons arm off. She kicked it down and threw the second aside, then shot the third, transformed and drove away.
Soundwave showed Megatron the news. "What?!" The warlord growled. "Arcee. Allow me to welcome her aboard." Airachnid said as she activated her spider legs.
"No! If Orion so much as lays eyes on another Autobot, let alone be allowed to witness its destruction, everything he currently believes will be called into question. See to it that Arcee is escorted off this ship immediately." Megatron ordered. Soundwave nodded.
Orion heard gunfire outside. Arcee kept dodging more shots from another group of Vehicons, and hit one and kept going. Orion opened the door and saw two Vehicons run past. "Orion, please return to your station. Lord Megatron's orders." One said. Orion left anyway.
As Arcee continued driving Soundwave stepped into the path. Arcee picked up speed. Soundwave's visor displayed something as Orion was nearby. Arcee was closer, as was Orion. And Before Arcee could hit Soundwave, a Ground-Bridge activated and swallowed her. "I heard a commotion." Orion said. Soundwave looked at him and left.
The Ground-Bridge spat Arcee into the cold tundra of the frozen wasteland of the Arctic. "What the?" She screamed in fury.
Later in Autobot base, Ratchet examined Arcee. "You weren't able to determine the Decepticons location? Or if Optimus was even aboard ship?" Ratchet asked. "I... couldn't confirm." Arcee said. Bulkhead growled and smashed another one of Ratchet's tools. "Bulkhead -" Ratchet started. "What?! You needed that?! The only thing I need is our head honcho back!" Bulkhead said and clashed his servos together.
"It's not your fault." Jack said. "If any of us needed rescuing, Optimus would have found a way. I didn't. Simple as that." Arcee said, then Agent Fowler called again. "Ratchet, what happened out there? Reports indicate at least a dozen wounded. The heat's on me to provide some explanation. You 'Bots better get your act together, or the Pentagon will make me shut down your base." He said.
"But where would you go?" Elsa asked. "Who knows. Maybe they'll ship us out to some island, or fire us into space. Wouldn't that be a welcome relief?" Ratchet asked angrily.
"I don't blame Fowler. Optimus would have evacuated all humans from the area before engaging the 'Cons." Arcee said. Bee buzzed in agreement.
"We don't actually know what Optimus would have done because he's not here!" Bulkhead growled. "You're pretty good at stating the obvious, Bulk. Anything else you'd like to mention that we already know?" Arcee asked sarcastically. "Nothing I can say in front of the children." Bulkhead said.
"Hey! Aren't we overlooking one positive? Nobody's talking about what the 'Cons just got their claws on." Jack said. "Yes. We managed to allow them to finally aquire a power source for their Space-Bridge!" Ratchet snapped. "And how exactly would that be a positive?" Chromia asked.
"We let them finish building their Space-Bridge." Jack said. "Why? So they can bring more zombies back from Cybertron?" Bulkhead asked. "No. So we can commandeer it. And use it to send me and Elsa to Cybertron." Jack said.
"Whoa. That's a pretty good idea." Miko said. "Oh, well, if Miko thinks it's a good idea." Arcee said. "Nobody's saying it will be easy, but you've seized the Space-Bridge before." Jack said. "We blew one up. That's a whole lot different than us seizing and holding one." Bulkhead said.
"Plus, who knows where it is." Chromia said. "Chromia's right. We'd have to find the thing first." Arcee agreed. "Uh, hello? If it's a Space-Bridge, isn't it?" Miko asked and pointed upwards to emphasize her point.
"The term 'space' refers to its transport range, not its physical location! And we've been monitoring Earth's orbit since the last one, we'd know if it were there!" Ratchet snapped. "So, the bridge could be somewhere right here on Earth." Jack said. "Like trying to find a servo in a scrap yard." Bulkhead said.
"Then maybe we better start looking." Jetfire said. "But the fact remains we do not know what the Decepticons have in store for Optimus, or if he's truly safe from harm." Ratchet said.
A squadron of Vehicon troopers flew to the Nemesis. But what they didn't know was that a silver fighter jet was following. The Vehicons flew into the warship and transformed. The silver jet came in last and transformed, revealing himself to be Starscream.
The former Decepticon cautiously ran through the halls, and hid behind a corner, but peaked out to see two Vehicons. But they noticed him. "Starscream!" One said and they pointed their cannons. "That's Commander Starscream. What's your malfunction? Lower those weapons immediately." Starscream ordered.
"I'm sorry, sir. But Lord Megatron ordered that you be taken into custody should you ever return to the ship." One of the Vehicons said. "What? Clearly, there has been a mistake." Starscream lied. He then stabbed one Vehicon with his claws, making it shoot the ceiling light, then stabbed the other.
He entered the cault and emerged with four Energon cubes. He heard footsteps and saw a shadow. He scowled and ran forward, but stopped when he saw a door. He entered and smirked to himself, but what he saw next nearly gave him a Spark-Attack. Orion turned around.
"No! Optimus Prime!" Starscream yelled and pointed his missiles. Orion didn't know what to do.
To be continued...