He traveled around America for weeks. Looking for signs of other Autobots. But there were none. No Autobots, no TRF, no Sector 7. Optimus Prime came to his own conclusion. He was lost, not in another galaxy, but in another universe. A universe where he and his friends had never set foot on this earth.
So, when the spring ended and the summer came. Optimus parked himself in an alley in New York City. Calming down, analyzing, and figuring out what happened and how he could get back to his universe. Until one day someone called out to him.
Originally published on Archive of Our Own, at TheEnchantedQuill.
Cybertron has been saved, and the reconstruction has begun. Autobots and Decepticons alike are flocking back home, ready to rebuild their restored planet. Optimus' dreams of redemption for all beings is finally coming true.
With the war finally over, Ratchet and Optimus finally get to live their fantasy of having a family. Optimus didn't anticipate the target that would be put over Ratchet's head once he became sparked.
A small band of Decepticons aren't satisfied with the way things played out. Seeking revenge and compensation, they take the sparked medic hostage, and the race begins. Optimus must juggle his Primely duties and searching for his medic while complying to the outrageous demands.
His desperation is what leads him to Megatron.