A/N

Sequel to "Worlds Apart". In Transformers Animated, we are just after the opening episode.

War against time

The war has just begun

"Optimus! Catch!"

Optimus, slightly delayed after the call, flinched as the Frisbee hit him on the side of the head. He looked down at the disappointed Sari as she reclaimed her Frisbee. Bumblebee chuckled lightly, finding the amusement in the slow commander. Ratchet barely watched as he was leaned against the side of the building in a light snooze. Prowl sat meditating. Bulkhead was awaiting the return of the game he'd been playing with Bumblebee and Sari.

"Something wrong, boss bot?" asked Bumblebee.

"Yeah, you seem a little slow today," mumbled Bulkhead.

"It's nothing," Optimus smiled. "I just have this feeling like I'm forgetting something."

"Forgetting what?" Sari questioned.

"I don't know. I forgot it," chuckled Optimus. "I'm sure I'll remember."

"Good luck with it," Ratchet offered, barely opening his optics.

Optimus smiled as the games returned to normal. He had been feeling like his memory banks were fuzzed recently. It was an odd feeling that he couldn't escape. He'd been thinking about it long and hard but with no success. With arms crossed, he watched the battle of Sari and Bumblebee against the mass mech of Bulkhead.

"Optimus."

Optimus perked, looking toward the entrance. There stood a silver looking bot, sword in right hand. No insignia but still Optimus knew that he could trust him. Something in the back of his head began to hurt. He glanced at the others. Nobody seemed to notice the mystery bot at the entrance. Perhaps he was seeing things.

"Optimus! You much recall! Several worlds are on the line and you will be of no use if you cannot recall the past events! You must remember what happened!" the bot called out.

"Remember…" Optimus whispered, systems falling to a halt.

He collapsed onto the floor, gathering the attention of the rest of his team. Ratchet, the supposed sleeping medic, was the first one up and at his side much to the surprise of Bumblebee and Sari. Optimus was losing the world around him but memories were flooding back. There were other worlds, much different from here. There were friends he knew outside of this dimension. There were other Optimus Prime's outside of here. There was so much to recall.

In the meantime, the team was moving Optimus to med bay to diagnose the problem. Ratchet tried as fast as possible. He figured it was the fight they just had for the all spark. After all the damage Optimus took, it shouldn't be surprising that he finally found faulty circuits. He came over something else, however, which startled him.

"What's up with him, doc bot?" Bumblebee asked.

"Something break?" questioned Sari.

"No," Ratchet replied. "Systems are fine. Circuits are fine. Everything is perfectly fine!"

"Then why is knocked out?" questioned Prowl.

"Something in his memory banks," whispered Ratchet, "is causing a surge through the rest of his systems."

"A memory?" gasped Bulkhead. "How does that affect anything!"

"A good question," nodded Ratchet.

"Oh…"

Optimus pushed himself upright, rubbing his aching head. He looked up at his team. They looked wearily at him, worried and shocked. Optimus smiled lightly, but it was fake and strained. Ratchet groaned, pushing Optimus back down. Optimus watched as Ratchet went back to his computer.

"I'm feeling fine now Ratchet," assured Optimus, sitting up again. "Everything's working."

"I'm curious about this memory surge," grumbled Ratchet. "Something like this doesn't just happen!"

"What'd ya remember?" Sari perked, bouncing on her heels.

Optimus looked down at Sari but wasn't sure how to reply to that. He couldn't very well explain the whole different dimension crossing thing he did while everyone else was in stasis. Ratchet would keep him bedridden for weeks. Optimus offered shrug as if he'd forgotten it already. Sari frowned, disappointed.

Optimus looked up, toward the door. There he stood. The armored silver bot…Vector, he now recalled. Vector smiled, motioning for the leave. Optimus shook his head, rubbing his neck. Vector sighed, looking at the team. He smiled again, beginning to walk forward. Optimus perked, getting the idea that was posed.

"Really, Ratchet, I'm feeling better," Optimus assured, leaping off the bunk.

"I just want to be sure," Ratchet counted, pointing to the bunk.

"I'm fine," groaned Optimus, glancing back at the approaching Vector. Too late.

"He truly is. The minor memory flash was my doing I'm afraid," Vector explained, leaning on his blade ever so slightly.

The team perked and turned to face the newly found bot. Optimus groaned. His hope of avoiding this destroyed. Weapons were activated and poses were taken. The fight was on. Optimus groaned again, dashing in between the two fighting sides before anything worse started.

"Stand down, team!" ordered Optimus.

"Quite in charge now, aren't we?" hummed Vector.

"You started this," hissed Optimus.

"Optimus, you know who this is?" gasped Bumblebee.

"Yes," sighed Optimus. "It's hard to explain."

"I need to borrow Optimus for a day or two," Vector nodded.

"A day or two?" Optimus perked. "Can't you just return me when I left?"

"Huh?" Sari hummed.

"Not this time, I'm afraid. Time anomalies and laws are going to prevent your immediate return. Now, we must get underway," sighed Vector, motioning toward the door.

"Where are you going?" gasped Prowl.

"I don't think it matters at this time," mumbled Optimus. "I'll explain when I come back!"

"So, you will be coming back?" Ratchet grumbled.

"Yes, I will be coming back!" growled Optimus. "Vector…"

Vector nodded, lifting his sword and slashing it downward. The air tore into a flash of green, the world beyond unrecognizable. The team stood in awe as Vector disappeared into the tear. Optimus looked at them and smiled lightly.

"I promise I'll come back and explain everything!" promised Optimus.

"You better!" snapped Bumblebee.

Optimus nodded, moving into the open in the dimension. He couldn't think whether or not he was pleased to be going through space and time in order to see his old friends. After all he'd forgotten them for most of his experience in his world. Reentering the stasis pod had wiped the memory from him for the most part. Now he recalled everything at it seemed to trouble him. He remembered how Vector had silently motioned that Perceptor was the leading cause for this time problem.

From what he remembered, Perceptor didn't seem like the kind of bot that would cause trouble. He seemed the kind that wouldn't be seen too often. What would cause him to do something obviously dangerous and irrational? Optimus remembered the mentioning of being lucky and how some Optimus Primes don't come back online as quickly. He finally understood it, faintly recalling his trial against Starscream and the fight with the all spark in hand. He shuddered, the new world appearing before him.