Energon blood spilled in a long, sluggish trail across the metallic floor. The sound of ragged, labored breathing echoed through the vast hall, joined by the pounding footsteps of Orion as he rushed, dragging Sentinel Prime's weight toward safety amidst the chaos and unending screams.
Sentinel's remaining hand pressed tightly to the wound in his abdomen, energon pouring out in a steady, unstoppable stream. His strength waned with every step, until finally, his legs buckled.
"Put me down..." his voice rasped—hoarse, commanding, undeniable.
"But—" Orion began to protest, but one look at Sentinel's steely gaze silenced him. It wasn't a request. It was an order.
With care, Orion laid the Prime down. The once-mighty arm of Sentinel now trembled. His breaths came shallow and strained.
"I... won't make it. I must... pass it on to you..."
With great effort, Sentinel pried open the armor on his chest, revealing a blinding blue glow—the Matrix of Leadership, the most sacred relic in all of Cybertron.
Orion's optics widened. He shook his head immediately. "No... No, sir. I can't— I'm not worthy—"
"The Matrix must have a bearer," Sentinel said, voice weak but firm. He reached inside himself, pulling the glowing artifact free. Its light shone undiminished, even as its master lay dying. "Take it... Everything now rests with you..."
Orion swallowed hard, his spark pounding in disbelief. But in this darkest hour, there was no one else.
He nodded slowly. "...Yes, sir. I won't fail you."
He opened the panel on his chest, revealing the slot meant for the Matrix. Sentinel handed it to him, placing the last of his strength into Orion's waiting hands.
The Matrix flared as it connected with Orion's frame, light and power surging through him. His body trembled as energy overwhelmed his circuits, pushing past every limitation.
Orion Pax was becoming... Prime.
He felt his body shift—growing stronger, taller, steadier. The power of the Matrix filled him, radiant and ancient.
He clenched his fists, testing the might of his new form. It was strange, unsteady... but real. Then, gently, he knelt and lifted Sentinel Prime's limp form into his arms.
"I'll get you to safety..." he whispered, though no reply came. No breath. No twitch. The great Prime... was gone.
Orion Pax ran.
He sprinted through the wreckage, aiming for the secure chamber—but then:
BOOM!
An explosion shook the entire chamber, gray smoke flooding the air. The lights flickered wildly, casting shadows that warped and danced like a nightmare.
Before Orion Pax could react, a dark hand shot from the haze and ripped Sentinel's body from his grasp.
"Put him down!" Orion shouted in fury, raising his blaster and firing.
CLANG!
The shot bounced harmlessly off the intruder's armor. In a blink, a massive hand backhanded Orion across the room, slamming him against a wall with a metallic crash.
From the smoke emerged a towering figure of gunmetal gray. Its red optics glowed with savage hunger, locked onto Sentinel's corpse—searching... hunting.
Then, it tore into the Prime's chest.
Energon splattered.
Metal screamed.
The sound was sickening.
Then, the attacker paused—eyes flaring wider.
"The Matrix... it's gone!"
The voice was shaken, disbelieving. It turned toward Optimus, who was slowly pushing himself upright.
A faint blue light pulsed from within Orion's chest.
The Matrix was with him.
Orion Pax gritted his denta, raising his blaster once more, though his hands trembled from pain and fury.
BANG! BANG!
More rounds struck the monster's armor... and did nothing.
"Give me the Matrix!!" it roared—so loud the very walls vibrated.
It charged.
Too fast.
A huge fist smashed Orion again into the wall, shattering panels and cables.
CRASH!
Still—he stood. Shaking, gasping—but standing. His spark burned with resolve.
He lunged forward, fists flying.
They clashed—metal on metal.
Blow for blow.
A battle of titans.
And then—
In the middle of a dodge, Orion caught a glimpse—a crack in the enemy's armor. Beneath it... something familiar.
His spark skipped a beat.
"No..."
A whisper.
A tremor.
"...D-16?"
The gray monster froze.
Its glowing red optics focused on him—and for a fraction of a second, something flickered within them. A memory. A name.
Orion Pax stood still, heart pounding. He didn't want to believe it—but the figure in front of him wasn't some nameless enemy.
It was the one he'd searched for. Hoped for. Feared for.
"D-16... is dead," the figure growled. "I am Megatron."
The name thundered in the hall, ice-cold and final.
Orion staggered, as though the words themselves struck him. His optics widened with anguish.
His friend.
His dearest friend... was gone.
"D... why...?" he asked, his voice breaking.
But Megatron didn't hesitate. He lunged again, aiming to tear the Matrix from Optimus's chest with his bare hands—
But then—
Beep.
A signal buzzed in Megatron's audio receiver.
Shockwave's cold voice cut through the moment:
"Stand down, Megatron. Initiate Plan B."
Megatron clenched his jaw, snarling. He pressed his receiver. "Fine."
Then, he turned to Orion once more—gaze like frozen fire.
"We'll meet again... Prime."
With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Orion Pax crumpled on the floor.
Alone.
In a shattered hall...
Drowning in ruins and grief.
And for the first time as a Prime—Orion Pax wept.
YOU ARE READING
Transformers Until one
FanfictionBefore he became Optimus Prime, the great leader of Cybertron, he was merely a slave of entertainment, known only by the code C-372. Amid the brutal life of the slave markets, his only purpose was to protect his two younger brothers, Toxitron and Bl...
