Next In Line

By: Karen C. C.


It was dark, but the sun had just risen. The air was thick, but the sky clear. Voices of jubilee turned quickly to ones of mourning. I slowly got to my feet, my pain receptors registering the worst damage. But I was passed physical pain now, all that I felt was numbness, nothing was there. I made my way threw the devastation, my optics focused on the path that lay ahead and nothing else. So many friends were dead and the city, my city, was destroyed. But somehow I knew that the worst was yet to come, as if there was more that could come. Going passed the cries of sorrow and pain; I climbed the stairs to the once upper levels of the city. Kup gazed at me as I made my way up; I couldn’t even tell if he was still functional. His optics were empty and deeply grave. It took all I could to pass him, as I feared the worst. Then I saw him; my friend, my leader, my hope. He lay there, not even a shadow of what he once looked like. His lubricants soiled the ground and his gaping wound prevented any moment as a voice cried pitifully nearby. I looked to it and there the youth sat, crying into the femme’s arm. I deactivated my optics as she whispered reassurances to him. I lowered myself to the dying Autobot’s level, willing myself to activate my optics, and carefully gathered him into my arms. He tried to say something as I carried him away, but I softly hushed him. He felt so light and cold as I made my way down. My leader was dying before my optics and there was nothing, in all my power, that I could do. I kept my head down as I passed the injured survivors in the repair bay and went into the critical area. On a lone repair bench is where I laid him to rest. He gasped in pain as I felt my laser core slow to nothing. It shouldn’t be him there, it wasn’t right. The others joined me in silence and solemnity. It was as if they were walking their own last mile. Hot Rod’s smile was no where to be found on his faceplate and his optics were a sea of emotions, Kup was there but disconnected entirely, Arcee and her look of grief looked like she would never get over this, Daniel and his endless river of tears, Blurr and his silence, even Preceptor, the emotion spilling from his usual empty optics made it hurt deep inside my core. They knew just as I did that Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, was going to die.
“I fear the wounds are fatal.” I almost didn’t hear him as my true friend slowly broke down in front of me.
“Prime, you can’t die!” Daniel. I wanted to comfort him, tell him it would be okay, tell him something…
“Do not grieve… soon I shall be one with the Matrix,” he strained to say. Even in his last moments, when the pain was choking him, he wanted to comfort those that anguished for him. I lowered my head, it was too much to bear and my own grief was crushing me.
“Prime?” The young bot asked his voice filled with a pain that intensified my own.
“Ultra Magnus… it is to you, old friend…” I backed slightly away from him, my thoughts running a mile a minute. Me? He was choosing me? Why? No. I couldn’t… I can’t be the leader that he was, never.
“…I shall pass the Matrix of Leadership as it was… passed to me.” No… it couldn’t be, not me.
“But Prime… I’m… I’m just a soldier… I… I’m not worthy,” I managed to say through my shaking voice component. He was really going to die and he was giving the most honorable gift that he had… to me. I wanted to let my emotions go right then, but his optics softened upon seeing my pain.
“Nor was I…” Optimus… you were the most worthy of anyone, once again you humble yourself to the lowest. My whole body shook as I listened to his physically pain-filled voice.
“…but one day…” He started, reaching up with a shaky hand for my own. I took it immediately; on the verge of losing control of the emotions I was so good at covering.
“…an Autobot shall rise from our ranks and use the power of the Matrix…” I leaned my head closer to him, my hands shaking as they gripped his own weak one.
“…to light our darkest hour.” He resisted my grip and I tenderly let his hand go. He slowly opened his chest and behold the sacred Matrix of Leadership was revealed. I had never seen it so close, its bright but soft glow reaching out to all who were present; it was beautiful. Reaching for the treasure, he took it out and spoke, his voice fading quickly.
“Until that day… till all are one.” I wanted to call out to him, say something, do something to keep him from leaving. But all I could do was watch. Watch as he reached out for me; feel as I reached out for the Matrix. It fell from his dying hand. I went to get it but the young bot caught it first, before it hit the floor. He stared at it in wonder, as I stared at my life-draining friend. He then turned and reverently gave it to me. I absently took it, still watching Prime, and put it in my chest. When my systems confirmed the interlock of the new hardware, I felt the warmth radiate throughout my frame and a feeling that everything will be okay over came me. But it quickly disappeared as I watched Optimus’ optics dim and dim and dim… until there was nothing left to dim. Optimus… my special friend… goodbye. His body dulled and so did my spark. I would not be the same, not ever the same. Daniel cuddled his face on the lifeless hand as a new stream of tears trailed down his face. I walked out shortly after, ignoring anything and everything all the same. My friends were dead, I felt lost and alone, no light, as my view blurred. The remaining shambles of the Autobots were mine to lead with nothing to fall back on but the ancient artifact. I gripped the metal of the doorpost that led to the outside deck. Confusion, grief, all and none… emotions ripping at my tortured spark; for a warrior am I, not a leader, a listener, an advisor, not a talker, not a guide. I bowed my head and put a hand to my chest, I don’t know what the future holds… but please, protect us and let me lead the Autobots right.


The End.


[Note: I don’t own Transformers. I recommend watching Optimus’ death before reading, it helps a lot. A lot of people do stories of how Optimus felt, how Hot Rod felt, ect. How about anyone else, especially Ultra Magnus? You may call him an emotionless bot, but even if you watch the movie, you can see he was visibly upset. So here’s my little take on how he felt. Hope you enjoyed it, all comments can go to Cloudstreaker@yahoo.com.]