Chapter Twenty-Six: The Matrix Revelations

The next few days had been business as usual, and yet there was a haze of unease coating the daily goings-on. The Autobots continued their duties, while Steven made sure to check in on everyone around town. None of them mentioned what they had seen, as the last thing they needed was for everyone to freak out at the news that the Decepticons were returning.

Even when talking among themselves, they never used the word 'Decepticon,' or implied that them coming back was the biggest issue. Instead, conversations were frequently had regarding 'what they needed to prepare for,' which frequently was 'the worst.' The only times they said outright what this worst-case scenario was was when they were communicating with NEST, as was the case right now.

"...So, this 'Scalpel' character…how did she get her drones to Earth in the first place?" asked Dr. Maheswaran, doing her best to mask her concern. But even over Teletraan's newly-repaired screen, it was obvious she was just as freaked out as they were.

"We believe she used the meteor shower to conceal their approach," said Magnus. "One of them then hacked Teletraan while we were asleep, distracting us while she was able to repair the spacebridge. But not to worry–not only did we destroy it beyond the point of repair, but I've taken special care to secure the pieces in the Ark's most secure vault. The only way the Decepticons are getting to Earth now is the long way."

"Something still more than within their capabilities," Priyanka muttered. "Are you absolutely certain no important data was extracted from Teletraan?"

"We were worried about that too," said Elita, "but strange as it seems, none of his files were accessed aside from the simulation parameters. The drone was perfectly capable of peering into everything on his logs, but its only concern seemed to be keeping us busy."

Sideswipe chuckled. "Her loss! I mean, was she really expecting us to stay trapped in there while she took over the whole planet?"

"No–her mission was solely to get access to Earth via repairing the spacebridge," said Magnus. "That said, now that the spacebridge has been destroyed, I suspect it's only a matter of time before she or her superiors take notice. What she'll do then, I can't even begin to speculate."

"Whatever it is, it can't be good for any of us," said Priyanka. "I'll make sure NEST monitors any and all suspicious activity and readings around the clock, and I suggest you do the same. If a full invasion really is imminent, I want all of you doing everything you possibly can, understood?"

"Anything less would be unacceptable," said Elita. "I promise, there will not be another incident like this."

"We can all hope not," she replied, before shutting off the feed.

The Ark was silent once again. Although there was a lot they could have talked about, nobody seemed to want to speak. Magnus stayed busy at Teletraan's console. Elita headed deeper into the ship. Sideswipe went outside to who-knows-where. With nothing left to do of his own, Steven headed back into his house, wishing there was more he could have done.

"Why are they coming back, anyway?" he asked himself, falling onto the couch. "I mean, the Earth is a pretty nice place, but from the sounds of it, the Decepticons aren't coming here to enjoy the scenery. What's the point of putting all this effort into taking over a planet if you're just going to ruin it anyway?" He glanced up at his room, where his bed was unmade and his clothes were scattered everywhere. "I'm sure Elita would have a snappy remark for this…"

The fact of the matter was, whether or not he liked it, whether or not he understood it, the Autobots were certain that their ancient enemy was returning to finish what they started all those years ago. He had to be ready for when that day came…but how could he? He was just a kid, looking at the potential of a planet-wide war. Even with all the training he had been through lately, nothing compared to what was coming. If it was just one robot, they might have stood a chance, but he hadn't even learned how to harness the Matrix yet…

Hold on. That might be the answer. "The Matrix…" he said, sitting up. His hand drifted up to his chest. If there was one ace in the hole that might fend off the entire Decepticon war machine, it was the relic encompassing all the collective knowledge and power of Autobot leaders of the past. There were still many mysteries hidden in that little orange orb that had yet to be found. Maybe, by some stroke of luck, the answers were in there.

He got to his feet, returning to the Ark to tell the Autobots of his plan. But once he entered, he found that they had all left, including Magnus. He considered going looking for them, but figured they all had their own jobs to take care of. But since he was still anxious about entering the Matrix alone, he needed somebody by his side. Dad? Maybe…but he didn't want to drag him any further into this. Instead, he went back into his house to make a call.

"No need to explain–I heard Mom talking about it already," said Connie, surprisingly unbothered by the potential invasion. "So you think that the Matrix of Leadership can really keep the Decepticons away?"

The two of them were both sitting on Steven's couch. "It's our best shot, aside from an entire army of Autobots," he replied. "But the last time I tried going inside of it, I kinda got stuck and chased by a dragon monster. I'm hoping having somebody with me will help. I mean, it didn't last time…but I'd really rather not do this alone."

Connie placed her hand on Steven's. "Then I'll stay right here the whole time. If anything happens, give me a sign, and I'll wake you right up!"

"I don't know if it works that way," Steven said, "but I'll be a lot more comfortable knowing you're with me. I just wish you could come inside too…"

"That makes two of us!" she said. "The Matrix of Leadership is, like, the Autobot artifact! My mom said that Optimus tried to show NEST how it worked, but none of their computers could handle what was inside of it, because it was that powerful! Ah, I'd give anything to see what's really in there!"

Seeing as 'what's really in there' was too much for NEST's computers, Steven wasn't sure he would've shared her sentiments if he was in her position. "Uh, yeah. Okay, I'm going in. Are you ready?"

She gave him a thumbs-up. He curled up in the lotus position, taking a deep breath to clear his mind. He had done this before, he reminded himself, he could do it again. Slowly, as he cleared his mind, a tell-tale glow appeared before him. The more in-tune with the universe he became, the more clear the Matrix's form became. Connie watched in awe as he drifted off, a warm, calming aura filling the room. "Good luck, Steven…"

Steven appeared amidst a swirling sea of bluish clouds that slowly formed into a stable ground for him to land on. He had successfully brought his consciousness into the Matrix–but that was the easy part. He still had to find what he needed to, and to get out without being noticed by that…thing. "Hello?" he called out. "Alpha Trion? It's me, Steven. I need to talk to you."

The void around him was quiet for a time, enough to make him wonder if he was on his own this time. But just as he was about to call out again, another shape began to take form from the mist. Soft blue turned to red as Alpha Trion solidified. "So we meet again, Steven Universe," he said. Although his expression was neutral, something about his demeanor told Steven he was happy to see him. "I must admit, I did not expect you to be back so soon."

"Neither did I," said Steven, "but it's an emergency. Something happened the other day…we got trapped in one of our simulations when Teletraan was hacked. And he was hacked by…a Decepticon."

Alpha Trion looked troubled. "A Decepticon? On Earth? Now?" He stroked his beard. "What more can you tell me?"

"Her name was Scalpel," Steven said, "and she was trying to repair the spacebridge. We managed to destroy it again, but if she comes back…" His silence implied what this could mean, for all of them.

With his countless eras of sagely wisdom, Alpha Trion knew that this was always a possibility–the Decepticons returning to finish the job. "Yes, I imagine that could prove…troublesome. This Scalpel, is she the only one you've encountered, or were there others?"

He shook his head. "No, just her and her drones. Well, there was Windblade, but she isn't like the rest of them. At least…I don't think she is. Are all the Decepticons really as mean as the Autobots say?"

"I am afraid so, my boy. You see, there was a time when–"

Suddenly, his story was interrupted by a voice calling out through the fog. "Steven! Steven!" He'd recognize it anywhere.

"Connie!" he shouted. "Over here!" A figure became visible, hurrying through the haze before emerging.

"Steven! There you are!" The pair hugged. "That was so weird! Your chest started glowing, and then it was like I was in some sort of…well, whatever this place is!"

Though the two were glad to see each other, Alpha Trion was puzzled. "Steven, is…this a friend of yours?" he asked. "I'm… In all my years of presiding over the Matrix of Leadership, I've never seen anything quite like this. Only bearers are able to enter to gain its secrets–so how is this possible?"

Neither of them knew either. "Beats me," said Connie. "I just woke up here. Unless…" She thought about it for a moment. "Steven, remember when we combined? That must be why I'm in here! I'm half of Hot Rod, and he's a Matrix-bearer!"

"You formed a Gestalt!?" said Alpha Trion, even more baffled than before. "That could very well explain this, but a Cybertronian merging with an organic…that's even more unprecedented!"

"So, um, what were you saying?" asked Connie. "Before you were interrupted. About the Decepticons?"

"Ah, yes. You see, the Autobots and the Decepticons were not always enemies." Alpha Trion motioned with his quill, and the smoke formed into a number of silhouettes mingling about. Some were colored red, while the rest were purple. "In the beginning, all of Cybertron was united. The badge one wore merely denoted their purpose: Autobots were the workers, while Decepticons were the warriors. Together, the two factions worked side by side to ensure that our race enjoyed a golden age of peace and prosperity. We were no longer oppressed, nor were we oppressors. But…this was not to last…"

More mist swirled, and three towering figures appeared above the rest, sending them scattering in fear. Their silhouettes were hard to make out, as not only were they a much darker purple than the others, but a dark miasma surrounded them. But even though he couldn't quite make them out, just their very presence gave Steven a pit in his stomach.

"Under the leadership of a select few, the Decepticons began to value strength above all else. They came to believe that not only were Autobots inferior, but so too was organic life. That is was their destiny to pillage the entire universe, ravaging inhabited worlds to claim their resources for the good of Cybertron. But the humble Autobots disagreed, and, under their leader, resisted."

Another towering figure appeared, this one of red and gold, holding the Matrix over his head. Unlike the others, he gave off an aura of pure hope, drawing the figures towards him rather than scaring them away. Steven recognized him as Prima, having encountered him on his last trip.

"As was to be expected, there was a war. A war that, I am sorry to say, the Autobots were losing. Noble though our efforts were, the Decepticons were literally built for combat. Only the Matrix of Leadership, and all it represented, allowed us to hold back their endless advance across the cosmos. But alas, we could not stop them from taking our home."

Instead of figures, the mist created a series of planets before them. One, the largest and most central, was pure purple, but the others fluctuated between purple and red, representing the back and forth of the tides of war. And then, a familiar planet appeared: neither red nor purple, but blue and green. Earth.

"For a period of time, the Matrix was lost. By the time it was recovered, on Earth, most of our forces had been scattered. This world was to be our last bastion, for one final stand against Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. And in the end, thanks to the work of one brave individual…they were pushed back."

The image changed one again, this time showing Optimus Prime himself, holding the Matrix victoriously. From it came a light that caused all of the Decepticons surrounding him to disappear.

"But they would not leave lightly. In one final effort to deny us our victory, a weapon was constructed. One that would ensure that this world became uninhabitable for Cybertronians. It was only because of the Matrix that Optimus and his closest companions."

A wave of purple washed over the scene, doing the same to the Autobots that the Matrix light had to the Decepticons. Only three remained by Optimus' side. At the end, they were the only ones left. Until the monsters appeared.

"By twisting and warping the ones left behind, the Decepticons hoped to eradicate any last trace of life on this world. It is only because of the Matrix that humanity, and indeed the Autobots, still exist. And if they are coming back to finish what they started, the Matrix may be your only hope."

Steven thought as much. "If it held them off once, it can do it again, right?" he said. "I…I think I'm ready. To learn how to use it to its full potential. What can you teach me?"

Alpha Trion knelt down beside the boy. "I will do what I can, my boy, but the Matrix of Leadership is not something one can 'use.' It has great power, yes, but it is no mere tool. All of its knowledge, all of its wisdom, it must be fully understood in order for its power to truly flow through you. Are you willing to learn all there is to learn?"

"I am," he said, nodding. "What about you, Connie? I'd love to have you here, but if you're not ready, then I can't ask you to stay."

She smiled. "Are you kidding? There's no way I'd miss this! All the wisdom and knowledge the Matrix has to offer–you'd better believe I'm coming along for the ride!"

"Then it's settled," said Alpha Trion with a grin. "Come. We have much to get through." He waved his quill, and the landscape around them changed.

When the blue mist stopped swirling, the trio found themselves within some sort of cavern. The walls glistened in all sorts of colors, while veins of energy led down towards the end. The tunnel opened up into an enormous room, which appeared to house an enormous tree. But on closer inspection, this 'tree' was one of the same veins lining the cave walls. In fact, all of them seemed to converge into the structure. Beneath its 'roots' was a pool of faintly glowing blue liquid. "What is this place?" asked Steven, taken by its beauty.

"This," Alpha Trion spoke, "is the Well of All Sparks. Or at least, an approximation of it created by the Matrix. This well is said to be the border between the lands of the living and the dead, where Primes and other leaders of the past would go to consult their ancestors."

Connie peered into the pool of energon, looking at her shimmering reflection. "Um, Mr. Trion? I remember hearing about the Allspark in school…is that related to the Well of All Sparks in any way?"

"Yes–the Allspark is believed to have been created as a way to harness and contain the Well's power. In olden times, the Well was how new Cybertronians were created, and where they returned after death. With the Allspark, one could control this process, creating an endless army to obey their every command."

Steven understood why Optimus had been forced to destroy it. "So, do I just step in, or…?" he asked, dipping a toe into the pool.

Alpha Trion knelt down at the 'water's' edge. "Yes. Step beneath the point of convergence of the ley lines, and look inward. Through meditation, you will be able to see what you could not before. This is the only way you will be able to access the Matrix's true potential."

While that was no doubt what he wanted, something about Alpha Trion's words sounded a little foreboding to Steven. "O-okay…" He couldn't quite put his finger on why, though, so found no reason not to give it a try. The water–or rather, the energon–was warm to the touch, and surprisingly dry. As he ran his hands through it, he could feel it pulsing along with the veins in the walls. Sitting down right beneath the formation, he closed his eyes and concentrated.

Connie followed him into the pool. "Careful, little one," warned Alpha Trion. "Energon may not be as harmless to humans as it is to Steven."

"It's not real energon, though, isn't it?" she said. "We're just in Steven's mind. It'll be fine!" She sat down to meditate as well, likewise shutting her eyes. With any luck, the secrets Steven was about to find would be revealed to her as well. Alpha Trion had no further objections, seeing how the two regarded each other.

There was no sound in the cavern aside from the gentle sloshing of liquid. And yet, as the near-silence went on for longer and longer, Steven swore he could just make out a faint hum. It seemed to be coming from within the veins above him, reverberating down into the pool. It grew much less faint as time went on, and soon it was unmistakable. He wanted to open his eyes, to ask Connie or Alpha Trion if they heard it too, but found that he couldn't do either. The hum had now become a deafening buzz, with several other horrific sounds beneath it. Explosions, yelling, gunfire. It sounded like he was about to be thrust headfirst into the heat of war. Was that what Alpha Trion had meant by truly understanding the Matrix's wisdom?

As though he had been pushed off a precipice, it suddenly felt like Steven was falling. He could feel his body, unmoving, back in the pool, and yet it was as though he was hurtling downwards at the same time. Walls of blackness rushed by him, until he felt the sensation of landing somewhere.

Another image filled his eyes, clear as day. He seemed to be on Cybertron, given what he had seen of the planet during his last time within the Matrix. He was surrounded on all sides by walls–rather, one big wall wrapping around in a circular fashion. The ground he lay on was hard and dirty, so he pushed himself up. Only then did he get a good look at his arms, which were blue and gold in color.

He was Prima. Giving the rest of himself a once-over, that was the only possibility. But before he had any time to process this revelation, there was a sudden deafening noise, like a gong mixed with a foghorn. A gate on the other side of the area opened, and out came another Cybertronian, decked out in armor and weaponry, charging right for him. His arms moved on their own–much to his horror, he drew a sword, slicing cleanly through his opponent's chest. Energon splattered all over him as, before he could do anything, he found himself falling once more.

He was Nova Prime. A battle raged on the desolate rocky world where he now found himself, both in the sky above and on the surface. The blaster in his hands ripped through enemy combatants as more Autobots both fought and fell by his side. A Decepticon tried to attack him from behind, but he threw them to the ground. Unable to look away, he raised his foot, driving it down onto his enemy's head.

He was Zeta Prime. Fires burned all around him while small stone houses were shattered by enemy artillery. He ran through the streets, a small band of humans hanging on his heels. With a shout, the rear guard was attacked, a legion of Decepticons bursting out from the buildings and opening fire. Herding the humans to safety, he produced his hammer, raising it above his head and swinging it down, finding himself covered in energon as it crushed its target.

He was Optimus Prime. Fallen Transformers were strewn all over the battlefield, and his axe was caked in dried energon. A Decepticon charged, wielding a knife. By instinct, he swung his weapon, severing his attacker's arm and sending them to the ground. Despite this wound, they tried to get to their feet, gritting their teeth as they glared at him. But he was faster, aiming a blaster at his enemy.

Just as the weapon fired, Steven managed to throw himself back, landing back into the pool of energon. "No!" he cried, as though awakening from a terrible nightmare. Alpha Trion looked in his direction in concern, but perhaps not surprise.

"I see you've been given the full tour," said Alpha Trion knowingly. He paused a moment while Steven caught his breath. "You witnessed the old Primes, didn't you?"

Steven had staggered away from his original spot, the terror on his face slowly subsiding. "It was m-more than that," he said, laying down in the energon. "I was them. I was looking through their eyes during these horrible moments. All this blood a-and death… Why would it show me that?"

"Maybe it's something inside of you," suggested Connie. "Are you feeling angry at all? Maybe some hidden resentment you don't know about?"

He shook his head. "No, not that I can tell. I'm a little worried about the Decepticons and all, but that isn't the same thing as hating them, right?"

Alpha Trion stood up, slowly approaching him. "In order to truly understand the Matrix and all of its Bearers, you must first understand what they have gone through. And to do that, you must see every side of them–the good as well as the bad. Those who held the title of Matrix-Bearer were heroes, legends, even, but they were also warriors. And where there are warriors, there is inevitably war."

This was a part of his history that Steven had always been aware of, but hadn't really confronted before now. He had preferred to believe that the previous Primes, his father especially, had been saintly figures who could do no wrong–or no dirty business, at least. But deep down, he always knew that war wasn't pretty, especially not for Transformers. "So, what now?" he asked. "Do I have to do that again?"

"I certainly cannot force you to," said Alpha Trion, "but it is the best way to understand what your predecessors have been through. I cannot say it will be a pleasant journey, but the initial sojourn into truth is always the most difficult."

A small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. "Connie? Are you sure you're okay with this?" asked Steven, not wanting to subject her to such things.

"Oh, uh, I didn't actually see anything," she said, averting her gaze. "I just wanted to try and meditate with you. But I'll be right here for moral support!"

Steven smiled, before steeling himself against what was to come. "He made his way back to the center of the pool, sitting down and crossing his legs. "Well…here goes nothing." He closed his eyes, that hum returning once again.

Prima scratched another mark onto the wall. Another day down–this was the five hundred-seventy-eighth he had managed to survive. A short time for a species that lives for millennia, but a long time to be forced into gladiatorial combat. He had seen so many of his fellows fade away because of those Primus-forsaken tyrants. Some by his own hand. "This has to stop," he said.

"Thus speaks the great Prima, First of the Thirteen," a voice replied, biting sarcasm dulled by exhaustion. Over by another wall, a figure sat, sharpening one of several knives. Cloaked in shadow, all that could be seen from the light of the sparks was a red and yellow coloration. "And how do you proclaim we accomplish this after all this time, O mighty one? Has Primus illuminated you with the great secrets of the universe?"

"Leave him alone, Logos." This voice was similarly tired, but with a warmness to it nonetheless. Alpha Trion limped over to the first Transformer. "After all this time, and all these horrors, they have yet to quash Prima's spirit. That is a gift that should not be taken lightly."

"Whatever, " Logos replied, throwing one of his knives into a dummy at the other side of the chamber. It embedded into its head. "All the optimism and spirit in the galaxy can't break chains. If it could, we would have been freed long ago."

The three of them turned upon hearing not a sound, but the lack of one. Their conversation had been punctuated by the banging of metal against metal, which had suddenly stopped. They turned towards the furnace it had been coming from, seeing the blacksmith setting down her gigantic hammer.

"Prima might be right," she said. She was a hulking figure, towering over all three of them. Her bulky frame was colored a pale shade of purple. "We've given up on this fight. We've stopped fighting because we think it's pointless."

"It is pointless," said Logos. He stood up, revealing a pair of wings on his back. "Do you know how many rebellions have tried rising up against the Quintessons? More than I can count. More than any of us can remember. And do you know how many of them have made things better for us instead of worse? Not a one. Trust me, I hate these squids as much as you or anyone. I want to fight them, to kill each one with my bare hands…but what's the use when it's destined to end in failure? If we try to rise up, not only will we be decimated, but we'll only make things infinitely worse for those who survive."

"So…the coward wishes to speak of 'worse.'" Yet another voice chimed in, its owner stepping away from his sword training. He wore blue and gold armor that gave him the appearance much like a Roman soldier. "Remind us, Logos, of how you ran and hid whenever the enemy came too close for comfort. You say you want to fight, but have you ever tried? The rest of us have been subjected to the horrors of war, whereas you turn tail the moment battle becomes a possibility."

"That hardly seems fair," the female, Solus, said. "Logos may be a touch self-serving and underhanded, but calling him a coward is–"

"...No, Autonomus is right," said Logos. "I've never been a fighter. It's just not in my nature. And when push comes to shove, I-I prefer to avoid conflict. But even still, I stand by what I said! If we fight the Quints, we will lose. How can you stand by leading all these people to their deaths?"

Prima hesitated at this question. Surely, if they were to fight, many of them would die. What would be the point if they were sure to lose? But as he glanced to the other side of the room, a familiar sight gave him an idea. "Because this time, we'll have something none of the others had." He walked over to one more figure, writing on the walls in a strange language.

The Cybertronian, green in color, and with numerous tentacles emerging from his back, mumbled to himself as he scratched the strange symbols in sequence. "Ever the…ever the stars, they point the way. Just several moments more, what's done is done, but not done." Everybody knew Quintus' story. He had been experimented on by the Quintessons, body and mind irrevocably altered. Whoever he was before had been lost to time–even his name now reflected this change.

"Quintus," said Prima, approaching him. Perhaps understandably, everybody had written Quintus off as a rambling madman. Nothing he said made any sense, and he seemed barely aware of the world around him. But Prima viewed things differently. "You can still hear me, right? I need your help. We need your help."

Taking a break from writing in cryptic code, Quintus looked up at Prima. "I've seen you before," he said quietly, one of his tentacles lightly touching the other bot's face. "The Matrix might finally be in alignment. You are the one who will light our darkest hour!" He suddenly stood up, grabbing Prima and shaking him. "You are the First! I will follow Prima!"

"Okay, glad to see that kind of enthusiasm!" Prima said, lightly detaching him. "Quintus here has something nobody's ever had: a unique connection to the Quints. He's seen inside their heads. He knows what they're thinking. With his help, we can stay one step ahead of them!"

Logos was unimpressed. "You're resting the fate of our species on a lobotomized, blabbering nutcase? Are you out of your mind!?"

"Quintus may have a…different way of looking at things, but he's not insane," said Prima.

"They found him in the sewer! He was writing poems in a made-up language!" said Logos.

Alpha Trion stepped up. "I, for one, believe that Quintus has far more to teach us than we are aware. His mind may have been shattered by the Quintessons…but it is often that which is broken that comes together stronger than before."

"I agree," said Solus. "You see that sort of thing all the time when making weapons. Maybe he's onto something here." She raised her fist. "So why not? I will follow Prima!"

"I, too, will follow Prima!" said Alpha Trion.

Autonomus looked Prima up and down, silently determining his worth. "Even if your plan proves fruitful, you will need all the help you can get. I will follow Prima!"

And so, many of the other prisoners were swayed to this young new leader. "I will follow Prima! I will follow Prima! I will follow Prima!" they began to chant, filling the chambers with their song of righteous defiance.

Seeing how everybody was doing it, Logos figured he would rather not be left behind. "I better not regret this, but…I'll follow Prima too!"

It was a little overwhelming, seeing how many people were willing to pledge their loyalty to him. Prima had never seen himself as any sort of leader, and he definitely didn't think he was a hero. But now, the fate of all his friends, all his fellow prisoners, and possibly even Cybertron itself was resting on his shoulders. He couldn't let them down now. If they were going to win, they had to be the best they could be. They had to be the pinnacle.

They had to be Primes.

"I always believed myself to be a righteous man. A man of the law. A man, simply put, of good."

The distant moon was covered in smoldering metal. Hundreds of fallen Cybertronians, both Autobot and Decepticons, littered its surface. The flaming remains of crashed ships dotted the landscape. Only two figures still stood amidst the destruction–and only one of them was actually standing.

"Before I was handed the Matrix, I assumed that there was only good and evil in this world," continued Nova Prime. "And it was my job to keep the two separate. But because of you, I think I finally know my place in all of this. I should really thank you for that."

The only other bot, a bulky frame with black and crimson armor, wasn't interested in his speech. He was trying to crawl away, which wasn't easy, as he was missing a leg, and was heavily damaged besides. He reached for his gun, only for a blast to blow his hand to bits.

"Are you even listening to me?" asked Nova Prime, approaching his opponent. "I'm trying to talk about how transformative of an experience this is. But it's quite obvious you don't feel the same way. It's a shame, really. All this death and destruction, and what do you have to show for it?"

"Do you expect me to beg for mercy?" the other bot hissed. "Then you are a fool. Straxus bows to no mech, for no reason! If you think I will give you that satisfaction, then you are a bigger fool than the others."

Anger crossed Nova's face–more than was already upon it. He pressed his foot down on Straxus' torso, forcing his gun against the Decepticon's chest. "And yet, you obey the whims of the Decepticon High Council with impunity. Is that why you led your men into this slaughter? Because you are nothing more than a slave of the system? Ir do you enjoy seeing the chaos that war brings?"

"War!" shouted Straxus. "War is the only thing that will cleanse the Autobots from our worlds! You claim to fight for goodness, for order, for peace–but what has that wrought? There is no goodness! There is no order! And there is no peace! There is only dea–"

Nova's blaster went off before he could finish, blowing much of his upper body apart. Wisps of evaporated energon spread outward as his head clattered to the ground, his optics blinking out. The rest of his body faded to gray.

"No," he said. "There isn't."

Now the only survivor of the battle, Nova Prime finally fell. From one watching from afar, it would be safe to assume he had died. But it was merely a culmination of the physical and mental toll this battle had taken on him. He just allowed himself to lie completely still, wondering if maybe he truly was dead.

Of course, it would take far more than that to kill Nova Prime. As he looked over the battlefield, and all the fallen it held, he lamented that, as loathsome as he was, Straxus was right. This was not a war that could be won with peace, or good, or order.

He had to exterminate the Decepticons. Every last one, down to a mech. It was the only way Cybertron could be whole again.

A sky filled with stars hung over the forest, a far cry from the devastated battlefield scene that preceded it. It was just as quiet, but the air did not carry the silence of death. The area was tranquil–one might even say serene.

But as peaceful as the forest was, the one within it was not. Zeta Prime was restless, unable to sit still, pacing back and forth between the trees. "Something must have gone wrong," he said. "He should have been here by now."

"Hey, he'll be fine," said a gentle voice. Another Autobot leaned against a tree. She was fairly petite as far as Transformers go, with teal armor. "When has Cosmos ever been late before?"

Zeta wasn't much comforted by her words. "Never, but only because he hasn't been captured before."

"Exactly. And that means he likely hasn't been captured now."

"But Moonracer–"

"Come on, I thought the great Zeta Prime was supposed to be fearless!" she said. "You laugh in the face of danger! Stand up to Decepticons five times your size! So where's that boisterous spirit now?" She walked up, patting him on the chest. "Cosmos will pull through. Just have a little faith, okay?"

Glancing up at the starry sky, Zeta gave in. "...Very well. We will wait for a little while longer. But if he does not arrive soon–"

"Then we'll wait a bit longer than that," said Moonracer. "Give him time. He'll come through, I know he will."

And so they waited a little longer. The night went on, and soon, it came to an end. But just as the sun began to rise and the stars disappeared, one more glittering object appeared in the sky. A tiny mote of light, darting this way and that. Upon seeing it, the two immediately knew what–and who–it was. The light descended towards the forest, revealing it to be a flying saucer.

The spacecraft, dark green in color, touched down in a clearing nearby, and Zeta and Moonracer went over to receive it. The bottom of the craft opened, a ramp extending out to the ground. And walking down that ramp was none other than Optimus–not yet a Prime–carrying a metal case that he clutched close to his chest.

"Welcome back, Orion Pax," said Zeta. "I trust that your mission was a success?"

"Indeed it was," Orion replied. He set down the case, with himself, Zeta, and Moonracer crowding around it. There was a tense silence as he flipped it open, a soft bluish glow illuminating their faces.

The object within was an orange tetrahedron, its top and bottom halves floating independently of each other, and with glowing lines of energon running along its surface. With great reverence, Zeta Prime lifted the relic out of its container to study it closer. "I can hardly believe it," he said quietly. "The Allspark. Part of me believed you could never have pulled this off, and yet, here it is. How did you manage this?"

"I…have my ways," Orion replied. "But now that we have the Allspark, what will we do with it? Cybertron will be unable to create new sparks without it…"

Behind him, the UFO began to move. It transformed, revealing a large yet stocky figure. "I agree with the new guy," said Cosmos. "Why exactly did we go through all the trouble of stealing this if we're only going to let our home starve?"

"Patience, my friends," said Zeta, staring up at his large friend. "I do not intend to simply hold such a thing hostage. We will make great use of the Allspark–in the right hands, its power can be used to create a great army that will easily overwhelm what remains of the Decepticon forces."

Both Orion and Cosmos were stunned by this claim. "A-an army?" stammered the former. "But Zeta, using such an artifact as a weapon of war, it can't be right!"

"It is what it is," said Moonracer. "It's not like the Decepticons have given us much choice. Not only will this finally let us get the upper hand in the war, but such an army can protect Earth even after it's over."

Cosmos leaned in closer. "But to create so many Cybertronians, only to send them into battle with no regard to what they want…that would make us no better than the Decepticons, surely."

Locking the Allspark securely in the case, Zeta handed it to Moonracer to be taken away. "Not to worry–in the right hands, the resulting bots created will be little more than mindless drones. They will have no sparks or wills of their own, yet will fight just as well as the finest Autobot warriors. I know you have your reservations, but in time, I am sure you will see just how necessary this is." He and Moonracer strolled back to their base.

In a way, that made things worse. Mindless drones, created for nothing more than to fight and die. "What kind of a life would that be?" Orion asked quietly. "How can he even think of using the Allspark in that way?"

"It definitely isn't pretty," said Cosmos, "and it feels like something our enemies would do. But…" He looked behind him. Much of the forest had been torn away, a prior conflict resulting in a charred and cratered landscape with no plantlife in sight. "This war is taking its toll on this world, and on us. "...maybe the only way to defeat the Decepticons is to become like them."

On that somber note, he followed the Prime, leaving Orion to ponder this choice on his own. He too looked over the battlefield, noting how just days ago it had been a beautiful, lush landscape full of green. Their war had taken its toll on this planet–and on them. Even if they could keep fighting, how long until their strength gave out? Would there even be a world left fighting for? Maybe Zeta's plan was for the best…

"No," he said, turning around. "Someway, somehow, I'll find another way." With this declaration, he followed after the others. "There's always another way. No matter what, I won't let this world be destroyed."

The room was silent. "You…what?" said Elita, nearly at a loss for words. "That's…how…why would you even think that's a good idea!?"

The only one with her was Optimus Prime himself. He faced away, trying to hide the shame on his face. "It's the only way, Elita. The Decepticons are never going to leave this world. Not so long as he's alive."

"Optimus, in all the years I've known you, I've never doubted your judgement. But this…there are too many ways it can go wrong. Even if you make it work, there's no telling what sort of consequences will result!"

He turned around. "Without their leader, the Decepticons will be left aimless. They cannot band together in the same way the Autobots can. They will be forced to either surrender or retreat. Either way, the Earth will no longer be in their hands."

Elita could see the logic, but she still didn't like this plan. "I'm just not sure any of the others will be willing to take the risk," she said.

"That is why they will not know," he said. "We will handle everything ourselves, just the two of us. You are one of the smartest Autobots I've ever known–I am sure we can think of something."

"I'm sure we can too," Elita said, a bit quieter. "But the real question is if we should."

"Elita, look around. Every day, more and more of this planet is razed. More humans lose their homes, their families, if not their lives. Autobots are slain in droves–Decepticons as well. Don't you want this war to be over?"

She looked away. "How can you even ask that? Of course I do! But…think of the consequences!"

"I have," he said solemnly. "I am willing to shoulder the blame for whatever happens. But I have considered the outcome again and again, and I can only conclude that this is the only way. Will…" He hesitated, his tone seeming to grow weaker. "...will you join me?"

Elita walked to the other side of the room. "Optimus…if we go through with this, there's no going back. We'll never be able to return to how things used to be. How they should be."

"And who is to say how they should be? The Decepticons?" he said, slowly approaching her. "All I know is, I am far happier here than I ever was on Cybertron. Ever since I met you, and Zeta, and Magnus, and all the others–that is truly worth fighting for. I cannot ask any of them, nor you, to risk yourselves for my sake. But if it means keeping what we have built here, I believe it is worth the risk."

Letting out a tiny breath, Elita turned around. One tiny step at a time, she inched closer to Optimus, until she was practically right against his chest. "All the forces of all the Decepticons on all of their worlds could not keep me from your side," she said. She raised her arms, looping them around his shoulders. "You are everything to me, Orion Pax."

"And you are my everything, Ariel," he replied, his own arms extending to embrace her. For what felt like, and they wished had been, forever, they clung to one another. But after a while, they separated, knowing that there was work to be done. "We only have one shot at this," he said. "It will need to go flawlessly."

"Well, you did already try to kill him once," she said with a smirk, "so you have that going for you."

Optimus shook his head. "Actually, that will likely make things more difficult. Security will be higher than ever, so we will need to choose our moment incredibly carefully. Especially if they know I am in the area."

"Then we'll have to make sure they don't know," said Elita. "We'll make sure nobody knows. Both for their sake, and for ours. I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of us." She looked away guiltily.

Placing his hand under her chin, Optimus raised her head so that her gaze met his. "I don't want that either. I don't want you getting hurt because of me. If anything happened to you…"

She took hold of his hand. "Nothing will happen to me. Not as long as you are around." Once more, the two embraced.

Steven's eyes opened, finding himself back in the pool of energon within the cave. His awakening was far less violent this time around, though what he had seen of each of the Primes left him unsettled. "Welcome back," Alpha Trion said. "I trust your journey was successful?"

I…guess so," Steven said, feeling conflicted. "All I saw was some of the Primes feeling conflicted, though. And my dad…he said he had to kill somebody? I don't understand why the Matrix had to show me all that."

Alpha Trion stood up. "Because, young Universe, war is messy. Even if it can be cleanly divided into heroes and villains, rarely do either side emerge unscathed. If you were to fight back against the Decepticons, you needed to be aware of the consequences."

"But if we didn't fight back, the whole planet would be destroyed," said Connie. "Seems like a pretty easy choice to me."

"Yeah, me too," replied Steven, though he wasn't as sure. If it came down to it, he wasn't sure he had it in him to kill somebody, even a Decepticon. Seal up their sparks, sure, but not kill them. "So, what happens now?"

The vein of energon behind him started glowing brighter. Alpha Trion smiled. "Now, the Matrix decides whether you are truly worthy to access its full power. And from the look of things, you are viewed favorably."

The three of them watched as the light enveloped the cave, both it and the pool disappearing. Now, they were standing among a field of stars, seeming to float in the vastness of space. Before them was an enormous glowing orb, resembling a blue sun. "Woah…" said Steven, enchanted by its beauty. "What is it?"

"That," Alpha Trion explained, "is the very core of the Matrix of Leadership. "That you have come this close means you will be allowed to delve into the deepest depths of its knowledge without fear of being swallowed by it. Simply touch it, and all will be made clear."

"Yeah, go for it, Steven!" said Connie. "Let's see what it has to offer!"

With one hesitant step followed by another, Steven slowly walked up to the luminous orb. As he neared its surface, a warmth filled his body that was unlike any ordinary heat source. A sense of benevolence washed over him as he slowly reached out to touch it…and hesitated.

Connie looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Don't you wanna know how to beat the Decepticons? Just touch it!"

"I…I can't," said Steven. He turned around, looking down in shame. "I want to protect the Earth, really, b-but after what I saw, I…I don't know if I'm ready to become that kind of person. If there's another way to save the world that doesn't involve going to war, then I want to find it. I'll only do this if there's no other option."

Rather than be put off by Steven's decision, Alpha Trion smiled. "You truly are your father's son, Steven Universe. Very well. You need not access the Matrix's full body of knowledge just yet, but it will always be open to you should you require it. I, for one, wish you luck in your search for a peaceful resolution to this confli–"

Alpha Trion suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as though he had been paused. Confused, Steven looked up, and was immediately worried by what he saw. The ancient Transformer was indeed frozen in place, telltale swirls of black miasma surrounding his form. But even more concerningly, these dark clouds seemed to be coming from Connie, who had placed her hand on his leg.

"I'm disappointed, Steven," she said, not meeting his eyes. "I really thought you were ready for this responsibility. I suppose I expected too much from a simple child. You could never measure up to the others."

Steven's alarm bells were ringing like crazy. "Connie? Wh-what's happening?" he asked. "What's wrong with Alpha Trion?"

A grin spread across her face; but not one of joy. It was one of pure wickedness. "He's taking a little rest," she said. "I'd hate to have him step in and ruin this moment. Not after all the work I put in getting here." She finally looked up at him, revealing, to Steven's horror, that her eyes were glowing bright purple.

He instinctively took a step back. "W-what's going on!?" he shouted. "Where's Connie!?" He had decided by this point that this couldn't have been anything other than a doppelganger.

A cackle proved him right. "She's still sitting by your side on the couch!" said the thing-that-wasn't-Connie. "Only the Matrix-Bearer can actually enter the Matrix, you foolish boy!" Her voice progressively became more distorted and inhuman. "I was biding my time all along, and you were none the wiser!"

Steven felt a pang of guilt that he didn't recognize that this…thing wasn't really his best friend. "If you aren't Connie," he asked, "then what are you?"

"I'm so very glad you asked, because I can finally cast away this insipid form," it said. The black mass swirled around her body more and more, until her body began to change. It grew larger and larger, a great stalk reaching upward before splitting in half. The ting let out a terrifying roar, and Steven recognized it instantly.

The two-headed dragon.

In his terror, Steven fell backwards, scrambling away from the beast. He neared the glowing sphere, instinctively reaching out to touch it. "Yes, open the way!" said the monstrosity, its four piercing eyes staring down at him. "Let me into the Matrix's most sacred depths!"

Of course, knowing that was what it wanted, Steven couldn't do it. "W-what exactly are you?" he asked, finding himself unable to activate any of his abilities. "What do you want?"

"Has your journey into the past taught you nothing?" sneered the beast, looming over him. "Though they try to deny it, every Prime to hold the Matrix had a dark side, buried deep beneath their seemingly-perfect surface. I am the culmination of all those centuries of denial! And once I am able to infect the entire Matrix of Leadership, everyone will finally realize that. No longer will the Primes bring false hope to the ignorant masses!"

They already didn't, seeing as he was the only one left, but Steven figured the dragon wouldn't see the difference if he brought that up. "I won't do it!" he said, getting to his feet. "The Primes may have all had darker sides, but I still need the Matrix to learn how to stop the Decepticons!"

"Yes, it would appear you do," the dragon said. "But is it truly knowledge you seek? Or do you covet power? With my essence flowing into the core, you could use the Matrix as it was truly meant to be used: a weapon! Nothing could stand in your way, least of all the Decepticons!"

Glancing over at Alpha Trion's frozen form, Steven knew he would never approve. "No way–that's not what the Matrix is. That's not what it should be. I may have only had it for a little while now, but I'm just as much a Bearer as my dad, or any other Prime. If there's another way to stop the Decepticons, I'm going to find it!"

Enraged by his decision, both of the dragon's heads roared, its tail knocking Alpha Trion down. "Then you are just as naive as he is! Touch the core! Now!" It bore down on him, snapping its jaws inches away from his body. Steven was forced back onto his back, but still refused to do as it demanded.

"No! I won't let you!" he said. The dragon seemed to need him in order to access the core, so it likely wouldn't kill him. That didn't mean it couldn't come just short, though. "I'll never let you corrupt the Matrix, so you might as well let me go!"

Uninterested in doing so, the dragon growled. "How fitting–seeing as I will never let you go! You will remain here for as long as it takes, while your body remains forever still!" Darkness emanated from the beast's form, enveloping everything in the landscape aside from the core itself. "How will your dear friends feel, knowing that you are alive, but unable to contact you in any way? Only you have the power to return to them!"

The power to return…he did have that! "You're right…" he said. "You don't have any power over me! I can wake up any time I want, and then you'll never corrupt this place!"

His claim was met with laughter. "Is that so? Go on, then! Awaken! Deprive me of the only means I have to access the core!"

Steven was understandably hesitant after hearing this. "Okay then, I will." He closed his eyes, concentrating with all his might. "Come on, Steven, come on! Wake up!" But no matter how hard he thought, he still found himself floating in this void, between a glowing orb and a shadowy dragon. "Uh-oh…" A cold shiver ran up his spine as he found he couldn't wake himself up.

"Now do you see?" asked the monster. Though he could barely see either of its faces, and neither looked particularly emotional, Steven could sense an air of arrogant satisfaction exuding from the dragon. "How can you expect to handle the Decepticons when you cannot even handle the darkness within your own spark? This is my domain, Steven. My own private corner of the Matrix. And with your help, I will spread my dominion all throughout this rotting archive of anachronistic ideals. You will be my instrument of assimilation, or you will suffer for your hubris!"

Steven shielded himself as the dragon lunged, its darkness becoming suffocating before the strike. Images flashed in his mind of himself, forever passed out on the couch as the Matrix was slowly corrupted. To think he had failed before anything had actually happened…he had to be the absolute worst Matrix-Bearer in history…

But whatever the dragon was about to do to him never happened. There was suddenly a bright flash of light, and the darkness was lifted. Steven opened one eye, peering out at the scene now unfolding before him. A figure had appeared, bathed in a holy glow, and was fighting against the monstrous dragon. Embodying truly inspiring strength and swiftness, his rescuer fought the much larger beast to a standstill using a very familiar-looking axe.

His eyes growing used to the light, Steven finally recognized the figure, clad in red and blue. "D-Dad…?" he stammered, rubbing his eyes to make sure he was really seeing what he thought he was. Indeed, it was none other than Optimus Prime, ferociously defending his son.

"Get back!" he shouted, swinging his weapon with a controlled fury. "Crawl back in the hole you came from!" Optimus then glanced back at him. "Steven! Quickly, you must go, now! Without you, it has no way to take over the core!"

Steven couldn't believe he was finally seeing his dad, and he had to leave. "But…Dad–"

"There's no time! I am sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, but I cannot hold it back much longer!" One of the dragon's heads lunged, its jaws blocked by the axe's handle. The other tried to strike from the side, only to be bashed away with a strike from Optimus' fist, which then became a blaster to further fend it off. "We can push it back, but only if you wake up!"

Heartbreaking though it was, Steven knew he had no other options. "Goodbye, Dad." He closed his eyes, again concentrating on returning to his physical body. "I'll come back someday to see you. I'll be strong enough then."

"I eagerly await that day," replied Optimus. "Farewell, Steven Universe." Just before the scene faded, he suddenly remembered something. "Ask Lio to show you the way!" Then everything went white.

Slowly, Steven opened his eyes. He found himself lying down on the couch, with a concerned Connie looking down at him. "There you are! What exactly happened in there!? You were muttering and turning like you were having a nightmare. I tried to wake you up, but nothing I did worked. Are you okay?"

He sat up, shaking off some of the grogginess. It seemed his venture had taken something of a mental toll on him. "Uh, maybe," he replied. "So you were out here the whole time? You didn't see any of that?"

"Any of what?" asked Connie. "Did you figure out how to beat the Decepticons?"

Steven sighed, a combination of relief and disappointment. "Not really. All I learned was that the Primes weren't as flawless as I thought they were. All the ones I know about had some deep, hidden secret dark side."

Connie wasn't shocked by the idea. "Makes sense," she said. "They were warriors fighting in a war. And sometimes, that means having to do some bad things. In the end, though, they protected the Earth. I think that's worth remembering, at least."

"Yeah," said Steven, nodding. "Yeah, it is. They may not have been perfect, but in the end, they were heroes." He then remembered why he went into the Matrix in the first place. "Oh…but their deeds will have been for nothing if the Decepticons come back. If I can't find a way to stop them, the Earth is doomed…"

"Hey, don't think like that!" Connie said, sitting down beside him. "You are a Matrix-Bearer, so you're just as good as any of those other Primes. And you want to find a way to save the Earth without war, so in a lot of ways, you're even better! No matter what happens, I'm gonna stick by your side, and so will the Autobots! We'll find a way to save the world if it's the last thing we do!"

Though he wasn't keen on her phrasing, Steven was glad to have a friend like Connie. "Thanks," he said, hugging her. "I'm glad to see the real you again."

She looked confused. "Huh?"

"Nevermind," said Steven, quickly changing the subject. "Anyway, you're right. The Matrix may not have the answers, but I do. Or, at least, I will, with some help from everybody. What do you say we start brainstorming something?" What Optimus had told him about Lio had been pushed to the back of his mind.

"I say 'let's do it!'" Connie replied. The two of them got up, and headed into the Ark where everyone else was waiting. Not much seemed to be going on: Sideswipe was just sitting there, Magnus was working on the computer, and Elita was watching him.

"Hey everybody, good news!" announced Steven. The Autobots all turned their attention towards him. "After a good deal of introspection, and some help from Connie, I've decided that we're gonna find a way to stop the Decepticons–without going to war!"

The Autobots shared glances with each other. "That's…a very noble sentiment, Steven," said Magnus. "But considering their history with this planet, I doubt they will be in the mood to negotiate."

"Then we'll find some other way," Steven insisted. "Come on, we're the Autobots! We may not have the same numbers you did back then, but that hasn't stopped us yet! We've made it through all the troubles we've come across so far, so what's one more?"

"That's all fine and good, Steven, but–"

Sideswipe interrupted Elita. "That's the spirit, buddy! Whatever Scalpel has planned for this planet, we'll tell her 'no way!' If she wants to do anything bad, she'll have to get through us first!"

"I'd like to see her try!" said Connie. The three of them began chattering excitedly, while Magnus and Elita shared a concerned look, however, unconvinced of their chances.

"I don't doubt we can stand up to Scalpel," said Elita, "but what comes next? Surely if we fight her, she'll just alert the higher-ups. All we'll be doing is making the problem worse."

"Then we won't fight her," he said. "Not directly, at least, if we can help it. We'll have to find ways of dismantling her scheme, whatever it may be, from the shadows. Like Steven said…let's brainstorm."

Elita and Magnus walked over to the others, who were still hyping each other up. "So," Elita said, getting their attention, "what did you have in mind?"