Arisen

18

The taller mech rises to its pedes, then slowly turns his helm towards Bee, mask dropping to reveal the Prime's face.

"Bee?" the Prime asks pleadingly.

"P-Pax?" Bee can barely whisper, he's too shocked to speak louder.

In response, the Prime comes closer and wraps his now ginormous arms around the smaller bot, sighing in relief.

Once Optimus feels like he can function and breathe without support, he releases Bee as they both look towards Sentinel, still staring at the cube before he turns to look at them.

Optimus nods at Bee once and approaches Sentinel slowly.

"The Matrix was never yours to obtain." He states definitively, his voice commanding the room like Orion's never did. "We weren't built to fight. We were always built to change our world for the better."

Sentinel seems to be thinking that over, as he also comes closer.

But then he laughs, and says, "Kill them all."

Everyone jolts at that.

"No one will ever know of what transpired here." Sentinel orders. " I am the only Prime. And destroy the cube."

Airachnid goes to stab Bee, but she's shot from behind, revealing Jazz and the miners.

And the High Guard too, who surround Sentinel, while Starscream approaches him directly.

"Long time no see." Starscream taunts.

"You found the High Guard?" Sentinel laughs, but they can all hear the genuine surprise.

"Place looks pretty good from where I'm standing." Starscream keeps taunting. "Let's redecorate."

"The other factions will destroy you all. " Sentinel vows.

"Not if they destroy you first." Starscream says calmly, which is impressive with the messed up voice box.

Then he says, "Detain him.", and Jazz and Knock Out start doing just that.

"You don't know what you're doing!" Sentinel argues as he's dragged away. "Cybertron will fall if they find out the truth!"

But all Optimus is focused on right now is the Wreckers leading Diona way as well.

But neither give a look of anger or betrayal to the other. That's done now.

"What truth was Fool's Gold talking about?" Starscream asks.

"The one that's going to save Cybertron." Bee says excitedly.

"And I'm going to take it to the broadcast station." Optimus vows.

All over Iacon, the message is heard far and wide.

"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. 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."

The entire city walks out of their faction buildings, making a run for the heart, where their new Prime awaits.

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

"You did it!" Bee hops up and down excitedly as they watch all Cybertronians come flooding towards the well.

"No." Optimus shakes his helm. " We did it."

He can't help but notice when many bots stop to stare in awe, to where he asks Bee, "What're they staring at me for?"

"Primus picked you to wield the Matrix as their new Prime." Bee laughs. "Cybertron's gonna be looking to you now."

Optimus watches all the bots swarming to him, most of them without cogs, and starts to say something, only to be cut off when Bee exclaims, "What is that ?"

Optimus looks at Bee in confusion, and when he sees Bee pointing at his chest he looks down.

It's glowing.

No. Optimus realizes as he opens his chestplate. The Matrix is glowing.

He opens his servos, letting the Matrix fall into them like it was waiting to, and grips it tight.

He feels all of the Primes guiding him to lift the Matrix into the air, and as it glows brighter, the results are instantaneous.

All around them, the once empty rivers begin to flow with energon like they haven't in so many cycles, making bots all around them cheer and scream in happiness.

But the best is yet to come, as once Optimus puts the Matrix back in his chestplate, things start shooting out of the energon.

Optimus watches, alarmed for the moment, until he sees one reach a cogless bot.

Instantly, the bots frame begins to transform, and by the end, the bot looks almost brand new.

Optimus' mouthpiece drops right open, as more and more bots are given brand new cogs, given back their Primus given right to transform.

And with them, begins the chant.

"Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime!"

"This isn't the end." Optimus says as they get off the train on the surface. "Sentinel's mess spread all the way here, to the Quintessons."

"I know." Bee agrees. "And I'm coming with you."

"So are we."

Optimus looks, and sees several bots, including Elita, Bulkhead and Jazz, nodding in agreement.

For a moment, Optimus lets himself feel touched, and smiles.

But then he resolves himself, and points a digit towards the horizon.

"Roll out!"