Chapter 44: Epilogue

Soundtrack:

Arrival to Earth-Steve Jablonsky

Metroplex looked down at the team, as they surrounded the forcefield bubble.

It began to flicker, and disintegrated.

Leaving only a small cloud of rust. And a large brown circle in the ground.

Nothing remained of Trailbreaker.

Mirage walked into the circle, and sank to his knees on the spot, bowing his head.

Running his hands along the grains of rust. Pain written agonizingly clear on his face.

Ironhide walked up to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry." He said, shaking his head, as his wounded frame shook. "I never meant to..."

"It's not your fault." Mirage said, looking down at the ground. "He did his duty. He gets to be the hero. It's...what he's always wanted. Since the academy."

Ironhide leaned forward and embraced the mech, as the other autobots stood solemnly around.

"Forgive me." Metroplex said from above. "If I had not been late...if I had conserved my energon..."

"Fear not." Optimus replied. "The burden of this loss does not fall on you."

Metroplex sank to one knee.

"I have barely the energon to be a worthy fighter, Prime. But I give myself to you and your cause. I shall serve as your base."

He initiated transformation, and lowered down into his fortress mode, shoving away what remained of the Citadel, and falling in its place.

Optimus nodded.

"Thank you, Metroplex. I shall...do my best to be worthy of your loyalty."

Prowl walked up to Optimus, and the Prime turned, hugging his old friend tightly.

"Easy now." Prowl squeaked. "You're way too strong...metals...buckling...light...fading..."

Optimus managed a lighthearted chuckle as he released the mech.

"Never give yourself to Megatron again." He said sternly. "That's an order."

He turned to the others.

"You all share in this victory today, my friends." He declared. "It could not have been possible without you. I needed an army to win this battle...and you exceeded all expectations. I wish I could release you from your obligations to Cybertron...but I fear this war has only just begun."

"We're soldiers." Hound said with a nod. "We'll follow you, Prime."

"Yeah. Ain't got nowhere else to be." Jazz said with a smirk.

"I'm not going back to being a delivery boy." Bumblebee declared. "Kicking aft is way more fun."

Optimus looked to the twins.

"And you? Sideswipe? Sunstreaker?"

Sunstreaker looked up at him, as Ratchet welded a plate over his chest wound.

"I suppose...we'll stick with it for now." He said with a smile.

"Yeah." Sideswipe agreed. "If it doesn't work out, we can always just turn back to crime."

"Like hell." Arcee replied, shooting them a stern look. "You're in this now. Don't worry about them, Optimus. I'll keep them on the straight and narrow."

Optimus looked to Mirage with concern, as Ironhide helped the wounded mech to stand.

"I'm with you, Prime." Mirage wheezed. "You need not even ask. I am yours."

Optimus looked to Ironhide, who snorted and rolled his optics.

"Come on, Prime. You know i can't walk away from a fight."

"Someone's going to need to patch you all up." Ratchet added. "I'd like to officially request to be posted here. Kimia has enough medics anyway." He said with a grin.

"Granted, chief medical officer." Optimus replied. "Wheeljack? Do you wish to stay?"

Wheeljack sighed, throwing up his hands in frustration.

"Kimia has a great weapons bay. I mean...great. Buuuuut...working inside a Titan? Sure. Can't really pass that one up." He looked down at his monitor. "Autobots are reporting in, Prime. They've seized multiple cities across the planet. However, they failed to take back Kaon, Tesarus, or Helex."

"Understood." Optimus said, turning to walk toward the ruined entrance to the Citadel. "I need a moment." He said, putting up a hand. "Ratchet, take them into Metroplex, and get to work on repairs."

He walked into the building and rubbed his optics, the toll of the battle weighing on him.

When he opened them, an ethereal figure stood before him.

"Congratulations, Optimus Prime. It appears our faith was well placed." Solus Prime said soothingly.

"I lost a soldier." Optimus replied. "And Megatron escaped."

"Yes. And as I told you before, you cannot save them all. This is a fact you must understand. This war will take all that you have, but if you stay true to yourself, you will emerge victorious."

Optimus slumped against the wall.

"How many more will I lose?" He asked.

"It is not for me to say. The future is in your hands now, Optimus Prime." Solus replied. "This is the last time we speak. Keep Cybertron safe."

"What?" Optimus asked, optics wide. "But...I am not ready. I'll need more guidance..."

"Your victory today was entirely your own, Prime." Solus replied. "And I have given you all that I can. Fear not. You will prevail." She said with a smile. It faded a little. "You must."

She turned, and her form faded away, leaving Optimus alone, staring into the darkness of the ruined building.

He let out a long sigh, and walked out of the building.

Prowl was waiting for him, an expectant look on his face, Ultra Magnus standing by him.

"The autobots want to hear from you, Optimus. They've been calling in."

There was a crackle from the comms.

"Hey this is Cliffjumper calling in...we win yet?"

"That's unprofessional." A femme's voice replied. "Elita-1 reporting in. Petrohex is secure. Update status."

"This is Kup reporting in. Whoever this Optimus Prime is, I owe him a drink."

Optimus put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Let's not keep them waiting." He opened his comm link.

"Calling all autobots...Cybertron is ours again. We need no longer hide in the shadows of our own home. Revel in this victory while you can, my brothers and sisters, for you are now free. Every one of you had a hand in this victory today, and I cannot wait to meet you all." He looked at Prowl. "We will not become complacent. We will not yield. We will not make the mistakes of our predecessors. We will not compromise ourselves. And we will never surrender. My name is Optimus Prime. And this...is just the beginning."

A cloaked figure wandered through the ruins of Altihex, seemingly unfazed by the rust swirling around his frame.

He poked his face out of the cloak and looked across the ruins with his metal bearded face.

The old mech let out a sigh.

"What has happened to us?" He asked no one in particular.

He paused, his ancient comms device crackling.

He turned up the volume and listened.

"...name is Optimus Prime. And this...is just the beginning."

A smile crossed Alpha Trion's face as he looked across the rust plains.

"The last Prime has risen."

Cast:

Orion Pax-Troy Baker

Optimus Prime-Peter Cullen

Zeta Prime-Warren Kole

Arcee-Laura Bailey

Prowl-Steven Blum

Ultra Magnus-Keith David

Ratchet-Robert Foxworth

Ironhide-Roger Clark

Jazz-Jamie Foxx

Hound-Manu Bennett

Sunstreaker-Chris Pratt

Sideswipe-Nolan North

Bumblebee-Tom Holland

Mirage-Luc Roderique

Trailbreaker-John C. Reilly

Wheeljack-Paul Rudd

Blaster-Bumper Robinson

Cliffjumper-Shia Labeouf

Tracks-Mark Wahlberg

Outback-Hugh Jackman

Pharma-Kelsey Grammer

Solus Prime-Cate Blanchett

Megatron-Frank Welker

Starscream-Steven Blum

Soundwave-Frank Welker

Shockwave-Tom Hardy

Barricade-Frank Grillo

Skywarp-Jason Isaacs

Blitzwing-Nolan North

Brawl-Nolan North

Onslaught-David Sobolov

Swindle-Bill Burr

Moonracer-Tara Strong

Metroplex-Fred Tatasciore

Metalhawk-Travis Willingham

Alpha Trion-Paul Bettany

End credits music:

No Way Back by Foo Fighters