Arisen

17

"Amalgamous simulation complete."

In the real world, Airachnid finally jumps on Bee, knocking him down and holding him in place with her legs.

"Get his body ready for transport to the Well." Sentinel orders from outside the chamber. "We have what we need."

As the guards carry Pax's offlined body and lay it down on a berth, the cube begins to glow, so bright it nearly blinds them.

A hologram of the thirteen Primes emerges from it, and when it speaks, they all speak as one.

When Pax regains consciousness, he knows immediately something has gone horribly wrong.

That's the only explanation he has for why he's still alive.

Pax tries to look around him, but he can't move his helm, nor his frame or a single digit. He tries to speak, but not so much as a gasp escapes his mouthpiece.

He's paralyzed.

There's a glow surrounding him, but even from his direct line of vision, it doesn't appear to be coming from any one place.

And though he can't move, he realizes he's being pulled by his spark, towards what, he can't even begin to wonder.

Suddenly, the glow seems to open itself up and pull him through it, and he's met with the most beautiful thing he's ever seen: the core of Primus himself.

And then, with a start, he realizes he's being pulled through it, before coming to a stop.

"Orion Pax. "

If Pax still had a spark, it would burst at hearing Alpha Trion's voice.

But that, incredibly, is nothing compared to when all 13 Primes appear to stand in a circle around him.

"Cybertron fell the day we were ambushed by the Quintessons."

All bots in and outside the chamber stare at the hologram in awe as they listen to the Primes speak.

"We knew our time was nigh and hid the cube and our message with the hope of a future where all would be truly one. Sentinel sought to steal this future for himself, and divided you into factions, believing it was the only way to keep all of Cybertron at his mercy."

Pax wishes more than anything he could say something, anything, to show he's listening.

"These factions only served to value a bot's most defining trait, rather than the spark that resides in all sons and daughters of Cybertron."

Sentinel stares at the hologram in stoic silence.

" But we knew there would be those among you that never lost sight of a unified Cybertron, despite never knowing it for themselves, ones that see beyond what they're told to do or who to be, proving anyone can be more than meets the eye. These are the Ascendants. "

Pax doesn't know how, but his frame suddenly feels like something is flickering inside it. A tiny flame, or perhaps a dying ember.

"It's these in whose servos we place the future of Cybertron. They are candidates for wielding the Matrix of Leadership."

At this, everyone gasps.

Coolant leaks from Bee's optics, unable to tear his gaze away from Pax's body as Airachnid still holds him down.

"Your noble sacrifice for the greater good has proven you worthy in the eyes of Primus."

What? Pax thinks, if he still could. No, I—

"He entrusts in you, the future of Cybertron. And the Matrix of Leadership."

Pax's first instinct is to fight it, not fully understanding what's happening as the Matrix forms right in front of him, then lowers into his chassis.

"The Matrix of Leadership is not found. It is earned by one deemed worthy by Primus himself. This cube's activation can only mean the awakening of a new Prime is upon us, ready to usher in a new era."

Sentinel's frame goes stiff with anger, furious.

"Sentinel stole the title of Prime, but he never was."

Pax's limited form expands in size as a surge of radiant energy pulses outward, enveloping Pax's frame in a bright light.

His form begins to shift, expanding as his armor plates realign and fortify, reinforcing him.

Plating overlays his arm guards in angular layers.

His servos gain an added layer of armor on the digits, offering protection, flexibility and a firm grip.

His stabilizers grow more robust and well-armored, tapering down to his pedes, now equipped with stabilizing extensions to support his larger, heavier frame. Each stabilizer gains additional thrusters along the calves, ready to propel him forward with speed and agility.

His knees develop reinforced plating in the shape of sharp, geometric angles, emphasizing strength and flexibility.

But Pax's helm undergoes the most noticeable transformation. The contours of his helm is topped with a shining silver crest. His helm also gives him a regal structure that includes antennae, enhancing his sensory capabilities.

Now complete, the Matrix glows in his chest—a beacon symbolizing he has become the living breathing heart of Cybertron. It becomes brighter and brighter, until Pax swears he's about to go blind as Primus' core, the Primes, and everything vanishes, only one final order echoing through his spark, almost identical to the one he heard before he fell.

" Arise, Optimus Prime! "

In the real world, Pax's optics flash open, chest glowing as his frame is launched through the building's roof.

"PAX!" Bee screams in horror as he looks up, but that's promptly forgotten when another thing crashes back through it, landing and sending a quake that knocks all bots to their knees, and Bee has to dash back to avoid getting hit.

When the dust clears, they all look in stunned shock at the taller red and blue bot with a bright glow in his chassis on his knees, blue optics glowing bright.