In the depths of Cybertron’s mantle, great cyberquakes were beginning to shake the planet apart. At the Vector Sigma chamber, Optimus Primal, Cheetarus Prime, Botanica, NightScream, and Ursacon were all gathered in the golden glow of the megacomputer, along with the humans Adam and Matthew Kaye. As the quakes became stronger and stronger, they all began to worry more and more.

"Something’s happening!" shouted Botanica as the chamber began to collapse.

As a large beam landed before them, Adam looked at her and said sarcastically, "Oh, and what exactly makes you think that?"

"Whatever it is, we’ve got to find out," Optimus Primal said. His wings lifted him to the roof of the Vector Sigma chamber, just above a gaping hole left in it. "NightScream, Adam, assume your flight modes and let’s fly up to the surface to investigate."

"Roger," both NightScream and Adam replied, transforming on his command.

Suddenly, just as he was rearing to take off, Adam yelled. As the Maximals turned to him, sparks were bolting out of his eye sockets. The sparks flashed on and off for several minutes, giving Adam a terrible shock.

"You all right?" Cheetarus asked, lending a hand to Adam.

"I don’t know! Those flashes just came out of nowhere..." he said.

"Perhaps it’s better that you stay, Adam," Optimus told the human-hybrid, "NightScream and I will determine what’s shaking Cybertron - clearly it’s not of natural origin....."

The two flying Maximals left the chamber and soared through the catacombs of Cybertron. Finally a light shined from above, the Earth’s sun shining over their world. Warmth returned to them in mere seconds as they soared further and further upwards. Then, staring up to the sky, their blood started to run cold....

A huge monster hung over the planet Cybertron, like a vampire god preparing to rape the land of life. It was Omegracon, poised over their world with a fiendish grin on his face. It was the very image of Unicron pulled out from the Chronicles of Cybertron, a giant transformer above all others, preparing to dismember the planet piece by piece.

"By the Matrix no..." said Optimus, "It’s Omegracon...."

"Oh great! As if Megatron alone was bad enough! Now we got to take on an entire monster the size of a planet!" exclaimed NightScream.

"Megatron..." thought Optimus. A flash from the Matrix struck him, visions of an old time coming back to him; visions of Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Unicron...and then the Autobot matrix of leadership. "The matrix! That’s what we need to vanquish Omegracon!"

"What are you talking about?" asked NightScream.

Hovering in mid-air, Optimus turned a wing to NightScream. "Roughly four hundred years ago, Rodimus Prime used the matrix of leadership he obtained from Optimus Prime to destroy Unicron himself! If the power of that same matrix could be harnessed once again, Omegracon could also be destoryed in the same manner!"

NightScream looked skyward, then back at Optimus. "But...Megatron? Didn’t he take the..."

"Yes." replied Optimus, reading NightScream’s thoughts in an instant, "Megatron has the matrix of leadership now, deep in his dark spark...wherever he’s gone to...which means we must make alternte plans until we find him."

A full hour passed on Cybertron as what remained of the standing forces were rallied to the unified defense of their world. In the sky, several moons circled the planet as Omegracon hung above them...waiting it seemed. At the Central Defense Tower, just a few kilometers from the New Citadel, the remaining Maximals had gathered to prepare for the attack. They saw Omegracon slowly drifting closer and closer to their world, and yet the titan did not attack....

Coyotek said as he vigilantly watched the sky, "What on Cybertron is he doing there? It’s been almost a megacycle and he still hasn’t attacked. Surely he knows...even at our best we’re no match for him...."

"It’s the gateway," Botanica answered from behind, creeping her way up slowly, "Cybertron has not yet fully emerged from the transwarp gate he created. If he draws any closer than he is now...it would damage him greatly, if not completely...."

"He had no choice but to wait," Optimus laid out the facts, "Without the power of the Matrix, he can’t directly control it, and when RedStre..." Primal caught a glimpse of Adam, and quickly corrected himself. "I mean...Adam...severed the link between me and Megatron, he lost any connection to the Matrix whatsoever."

"I have a distinct feeling he won’t stop anyway..." Cheetarus said, "In less than fifteen cycles Cybertron will exit the gateway and enter normal space. Then..." He sighed heavily. "Then we’ll be at his mercy...."

Ursacon approached, carrying with him a single data disc. "I have the search results you asked for...Prime-Al." he said to Optimus, handing his new leader the disc. Optimus took it and analyzed the information. Most of it was a blank, with only a faint energy signature detected just above the Cybertronian atmosphere.

"Mega-twan...gone." plainly said Ursacon.

Optimus handed the disc to Botanica, then glanced at the sky one last time. "Then there’s one option. I will return to Vector Sigma and ask Alpha-Trion for aid. Prepare the defenses in my absence..." he said.

As Adam stood with the others, just staring upwards, another flash seizure struck him. "Ah! Ahhh!" he hollered, falling to the floor. As the Maximals around him gathered, his body writhed and clammed up. Botanica grabbed his arms and tried to shake him.

"Agh!" Adam gasped, coming out of it, "I...I saw something!"

"Those were just hallucinations, mixed wiring..." Botanica tried to explain.

Before another word could be spoken, another seizure hit the human-hybrid. This time Adam got separated completely from the real word, sent into a dimension of color and motion. Black Arachnia’s face flashed before him, then his own. Then he saw a giant ship, armed with a huge cannon. A ball of plasma came at him, and then black....

"Agh!" Adam awakened, and had more to say. "Images! I s-s-saw Black Arachnia! Springer! I kept seeing things!" The Maximals continued to say it was just a malfunction, but Adam knew otherwise. "No! No! If it were a malfunction I’d know it! These images I see...they’re not programs or glitches! They’re memories!"

Far beyond Adam and the Maximals, deep beneath Iacon and New Cybertropolis and all the problems facing Cybertron itself, Optimus convened with Alpha-Trion, seeking guidance toward what they were facing. Vector Sigma glowed bright yellow, rotating effortlessly at the heart of its chamber. When it stopped, a beam of light shot out, recreating Alpha-Trion in the form of a hologram.

"Alpha-Trion, guardian of Vector Sigma," Optimus addressed the Autobot, "I come in this dark hour seeking help...in any form. Surely you have the knowledge, for you are one with not only Vector Sigma, but the Oracle and even the Matrix...."

Alpha-Trion just floated there, quiet as a ghost.

Optimus came closer. "Please!" he begged of him, "We all need your help! I know not what to do this time!"

"You," slowly spoke Alpha-Trion, "Already possess all the wisdom of the Matrix deep within your mind. The way to defeat and destroy Unicron’s progeny has already been laid before you...."

In space, Omegracon awaited for Cybertron to emerge from the gateway linking it to its native system. Patiently he waited, as his lifeless body had for four centuries after Unicron’s destruction. Slowly, gradually, inevitably...the technorganic world came closer to him, drawing further and further from the gravitational vortices of the gateway. In the final moments of its arrival, Cybertron shook as it was tossed back into the normal pulse of the time-space continuum, the diamond radiance of the gateway vanishing behind as the transwarp conduit closed and disapeared completely from the visible universe, leaving Cybertron no protection and no escape.

"The hour of vengeance has arrived," Omegracon said to himself, "Darkness shall fall over all Cybertron as my power rips apart this wretched planet!"

With a kick of his legs, he began to fly towards the planet Cybertron. In orbit around the planet, the retrofitted defense platforms came online, targeting Omegracon with all their firepower. In nano-cycles, every platform sent wave after wave of weapon fire at him, using every iota of energy that could be scrapped from their power circuits. Blasts hit Omegracon in isolated parts, leaving great burn scars that could of spanned states, but did not impede his progress in the slightest. As the titan came within a few thousand kilometers of the planet, he threw out his arm at the orbital platforms. With a single wave, he destoryed hundreds of them, wrendering them scrap.

"Cybertron!" Omegracon yelled to the silver-green planet before him, "You shall not defy Unicron’s vengence, nor my very destiny!" With those words, he lifted up his left arm with fingers outstretched, preparing to claw Cybertron’s surface to ribbons.

At the Vector Sigma chamber, Optimus recieved a com-signal from NightScream. "The planetary defense systems have failed completely! And our standing forces aren’t ready for a direct strike yet!" he exclaimed.

Turning to Alpha-Trion, Optimus pleaded once again. "Please Alpha-Trion! We aren’t ready yet! There must be something you can do to help us all!"

Alpha-Trion sighed, looking down at Optimus Primal dissapointedly. "There is nothing I can do that will stop Unicron’s spawn. As I said before, only you know what must be done, for you have the wisdom of the Matrix within you." Then the Autobot closed his eyes one last time. "I can not defy Cybertron’s ultimate destiny, for it is not my place."

Optimus closed his eyes and looked to his feet, knowing nothing could be done now. But then Vector Sigma started to glow brightly. He looked up, seeing it shine like a yellow sun before him. Alpha-Trion stood there like a statue, but against the light of Vector Sigma, he was a white, transparent phantom.

"Know this, Optimus Primal," the Autobot said, raising his arms above his head, "In the darkest hour, three sparks shall unite: the spark of darkness, the spark of wisdom, and the spark of light. Only then shall Omegracon fall before the light. More...I can not say. But until that moment comes to be, I can do nothing...for the Matrix ordains it. But for now, I shall do what must be done...."

Alpha-Trion formed an arc with his arms, touching his hands together to complete it. A great spark formed in his palms, his own spark. It flew upwards like a rocket, leaving the Vector Sigma chamber. The hologram of the Autobot dissolved into a sparkling cloud of mist. Each shining light followed Alpha-Trion’s spark, and with it the power of Vector Sigma.

A beam of yellow-white light shot out from Cybertron’s core, exiting through the circular pit at the heart of the Citadel. Cheetarus Prime and the others in the defense complex turned and saw it fly skywards towards Omegracon like a comet with a great yellow tail. At the edge of the Cybertronian atmosphere, at the borderline of space itself, the beam spread out like an umbrella, enveloping the whole of Cybertron in a golden net that shielded the planet.

Omegracon’s hand clashed with the yellow light, great sparks sent up his fingers. Omegracon yelled in pain, drawing his hand away. "Bah! What manner of blasphemy is this?" He smashed his fist into the shield with no effect. Omegracon did this again and again, growing angrier by the second. "AHHHHH! I SHALL NOT BE DENIED!" he roared.

From the Central Defense Tower, the Maximals gazed in wide wonder. Omegracon was high above them, banging on the great wall of light seperating him from them. Every time be pounded it, thunder sounded, but nothing more.

"By Primus," said NightScream, a smile forming on his face, "We’re saved!"

Optimus Primal flew up from the base of the tower, hovering before the railing the Maximals had gathered around. "Vector Sigma’s shield can not hold out forever NightScream. It’s merely Alpha-Trion’s way of delaying the inevitable. We still have to defeat Omegracon!"

"But how? He’s about ten quad-trillion gigatons of soild metal! There’s no way!" exclaimed NightScream.

Primal thought for a moment, trying to figure out something. "Prehaps..." he mumbled. Off in the distance, Optimus Primal saw something - an odd-looking tower. No, not a tower - it had fins and boosters and engines attached. It was a rocket!

"Perfect..." said Optimus, flying off.

"Optimus wait!" shouted Cheetarus Prime, but his mentor did not hear him, instead heading for the massive launcher. Cheetarus saw this, then looked to Omegracon. It then hit him.

"By the Matrix...he’s going to try and take on Omegracon himself!" he realized.

Ursacon grunted, looking to Cheetarus. "Uh? But how...big bot no match for bigger bot!"

"I think I have an idea what he might pull," Prime said. He turned to Lieutenant Kaye, still standing with them. "Kaye? Is the Discovery prepped and ready?"

Kaye paused, then told him, "Yeah. It has been for several hours now...."

"Good! We’re all going to need it once again!" Cheetarus said as he headed down the stairs of the tower. "NightScream, radio the bots working on the shuttle and tell them to set it for launch in four minutes!" he commanded the Maximal, "As for the rest of you, let’s get moving!"

Optimus Primal flew to the shuttle in the form of a bat. Nearing the capsule portion at the tip of the rocket, he transformed, flying to a hatch. With minimal effort he broke the lock and entered, securing himself in the pilot’s seat. Upon activating the navigational computer, an automatic launch sequence was initiated.

"T-minus five cycles, twenty clicks until booster ignition..." the computer said, noting the passing nano-clicks as the rocket slowly hummed to life.

"Ugh," Optimus groaned, "Neither me nor the planet have time for this." He grabbed a hand-grip controller and pushed a button clearly labeled in Cybertronian text: Emergency-Instant Launch Initiator.

"Instant launch sequence engaged. Engines powering on - full thrust." quietly said the computer. Not even a second later the rocket blasted huge columns of orange smoke over the launch site as it lifted up, heading straight for the heavens above. Another cycle later, as the rocket neared the golden shield, its side boosters ejected, followed by the lower portion of the rocket itself. What remained flew beyond the Cybertronian atmosphere, penetrating the sheild and entering Omegracon’s realm.

The giant transformer was in Optimus Primal’s sights as he directed the rocket at him. "Now Omegracon," he muttered, firing the rocket’s final stage, "It’s just you and I!" Optimus grabbed a near-by lever and pulled hard. The capsule’s ejection system engaged, firing him directly into space. As Optimus flew out into space, his rocket continued on to Omegracon. The giant paused, turning away from Cybertron just as the rocket crashed through his eye.

Omegracon screamed loud enough to shake the heavens. "AAAAAAAAAAAH!" His eye still functioned, but it was shatted, and a noticeable scar dominated the right half of his optic sensor.

As Optimus Primal floated in space, he smiled smuggly. "That should get his attention!"

The giant turned his head about, trying to find where the space vessel came from. Then, at the last moment, he saw a tiny, fly-like object hovering directly in front of his face. His cracked eye squinted, analyzing the strange creature with great resolution. Omegracon recognized it; the emblem of the Autobots and Maximals were imprinted on the creature’s wings.

"So..." Omegracon’s voice echoed, "One of the puny creatures dares to face me. You...the one known as ‘Optimus’. Heh,heh...." This amused Omegracon, watching Optimus stare at him defiantly with fire in his eyes.

"Don’t think to underestimate me, Omegracon! I have the power of the Matrix itself within...." Optimus began to say.

Omegracon’s words blasted Optimus Primal back. "You are nothing but a speck in the eye of the Cosmos! Whereas I...." Omegracon stretched out his infinenitely gigantic arms, blotting out the sunlight. The stars, planets, and even the moons of Cybertron were eclipsed by the great one’s mass. " Am an entire world!"

With that, Omegracon reached out to snatch Optimus Primal from the darkness of space with a hand larger than the greatest mountiain range. Optimus flew straight up literally like a bat out of Haydes, slipping Omegracon’s grasp by slipping between his fingers as they closed into a fist.

Optimus paused there, time freezing for a moment as he concentrated. "For the sake of Cybertron, for the sake of the entire Universe...Matrix, give me the strength and knowledge I need to do this..." All around Optimus, space warped like crushed tin-foil. His spark shined from inside his body, glowing brighter and brighter as Optimus gathered the power. A bright light began to radiate out of Optimus’ body, giving him an aura reminescent of an arc angel as he stretched his wings.

"Time for a change, Omegracon! Prepare to be reformatted!"

Primal’s spark sent a great beam of light out at Omegracon, straight at his torso and the dark core within. Optimus held the power as long as he could, concentrating the Oracle’s power to change the teribble monster-planet. A patch of green appeared on Omegracon, beneath the beam’s focus. The light began to spread out, enveloping most of Omegracon’s body. For a while the reformatting seemed to be working, Omegracon’s transmetal body becoming massive stretches of green forests.

Something began to happen. The light stopped dead in its tracks, and slowly withdrew. Where the light left, light became dark and what was once organic became technological again. Optimus hollered loudly, trying to keep the power alive, but to no avail. The light of the Oracle vanished from both him and Omegracon, leaving Optimus weakened and stranded in space.

Struggeling to look up, Optimus saw Omegracon move his right arm towards him, the cannon at its end focusing on him. "No..." Optimus groaned, "The...reformatting...the Matrix...."

A ball of light began to emerge from the long barrel of Omegracon’s weapon, glowing like the light at the end of a train tunnel. As the cannon surged with a jolt of energy, Omegracon said with little regard, "Utterly pathetic...as I said before...." The cannon fired, sending a blast of plasma-energon to helpless Primal.

As the fire of Omegracon’s weapon came upon him, Optimus sighed, knowing his time had come for certain this time. I gave my life twice before...first for the Earth in the Beast Wars, then for Cybertron. Now what am I giving it for this time? Optimus thought.

Out of the moonlight of Cy-mos, a glint of light appeared. Optimus turned, muttering, "What the?" He was snatched by a strong force like an invisible hand one minute before the blast flew by. It sailed past him, impacting the golden shield of Cybertron like an asteroid.

A voice close to him said, "Did you think I would let you perish at the hands of another, alone in the dark of space?" From beneath Optimus’ legs, a large glow began, electricity crackling all around him. A dark object materialized - a steath spacecraft - from right underneath him!

"Megatron!" gasped Optimus.

A very familiar laugh eminated from inside the spacecraft. "Surpirsed, Primal?" Optimus was about to state frankly, "Yes," but Megatron quickly said, "Well don’t be. If anyone’s going to deactivate you, that honor is specifically reserved for me...my nemesis."

Optimus chuckled. "You wouldn’t be a Predacon if you were completely on my side now, would you?" he said.

Megatron carried Optimus Primal on his back as they sped away from Omegracon. Suddenly, as they came into a low orbit over Cybertron, Optimus’ com-link activated. "Optimus! This is Cheetarus Prime on the Discovery! We’re going to rescue you!"

Optimus clicked his com-link twice, knowing the Maximals would be surprised at his reply. "Thanks, but I’ve already been rescued by Megatron! We’re heading straight for your position so don’t move!"

As he deactivated the link, Megatron groaned. "Oh! Rescue! You!" he snarled, "I never rescued you! Have you no shame?"

"Oh?" Optimus said, "Then what was that act of sweeping me out of harm’s way then?"

Megatron was silent for a moment, then his answer came. "I wouldn’t so much as call it a rescue...merely an effort to...salvage the honor of deleting you personally." Quick to avoid any further discusion, Megatron blurted, "But we can discuss my ethics later. Your shuttle awaits...."

In a matter of nano-cycles, the Discovery came into focus. It grew from a pin-point of light to a clearly visible vehicle, its wings broad and spanning over the surface of fair Cybertron. As they neared it, two huge doors forming the spine of the shuttle opened, revealing all the Maximals gathered inside.

"Optimus!" Cheetarus called to him.

Megatron hovered above the Discovery’s cargo bay low enough to allow Optimus to jump off. Immediately afterwards, Megatron transformered, landing inside in his robotic form. Several Maximals turned to him with bitter faces, particularly Cheetarus and Rattrap. Megatron just stood there, even as the two began to draw weapons.

"Put away your arms!" Optimus ordered, "He’s on own side..." Catching a glance at Megatron, seeing his cold but resolute face, Primal said, "Now."

Cheetarus’ scowl never left his face for a second, and neither did his blade from his hand. Rattrap backed away, but only by a few feet. Coyotek and Ursacon stood guard at the airlock leading inside the cockpit, both growling a warning at the Predacon.

"Hmm." snuffed Megatron, "And you claim Predacons have faults?"

Rattrap hissed at Megatron, saying aloud, "As much as I’d LIKE to pull your plug, I’ve got other problems..." He turned to Optimus, reporting something most urgent. "Adam’s taken a sudden turn for the worse. How or why I can’t say, but Botanica’s inside and could really use your help!"

Optimus was puzzled, but followed Rattrap inside, the airlock slamming behind them. He was taken inside the Discovery, to where Botanica hung over Adam’s curled-up body. The human-hybrid was motionless, alive, but a total vegetable. Sparks still sputtered from his eyes, flashing occasionally.

"You say his diagnosis is not good?" asked Optimus.

"He’s alive," said Botanica, "But his mind appears to be wiped. He doesn’t react or respond...almost as if he’s in a coma."

Optimus looked more closely at Adam, peering into his open eyes. At first, they looked completely vacant, empty, as if there was no life, no consciousness. However, when he peered more closely, the Oracle within him sensed something, as if Adam’s mind were adrift someplace.

"I’m going to try a spark-meld..." said Optimus.

"What?" said Rattrap, "With what spark? He’s human!"

"Maybe," Optimus said to Rattrap, his eyes already glowing white, "But I sense something in him. What it is, I can’t say...." Before either Botanica or Rattrap could stop him, Optimus Primal let his core consciousness slip from his mind into Adam’s. Reality became a blur as he disappeared into the Matrix itself.

Reappearing in a higher plane, Optimus heard voices echoing. "Hello! Hello!" someone kept calling out, "Someone please help me! I can’t find where I am! Help! Help for the love of...."

"Adam!" Optimus called out, flying deeper into the Matrix. A mere nano-click later, Adam’s body appeared, but in the form of a pale ghost. He appeared complely human, not transformer at all. Adam also looked scared, the reality the Matrix created too bizzare for his mind to take in. Gazing at Adam’s transparent form, Optimus asked, "Adam...what happened to you?"

"I-I don’t know!" Adam sincerely told him, "I just lost consciousness and became lost in this place! I don’t know what’s happened to me!"

Optimus came closer. "Perhaps I can help. Just concentrate on your last waking moment...your body shall return to you forthwith." He put a hand on Adam’s forehead, initiating a meld with him. Optimus jumped back as a bolt of lightning struck him, blasting him away. In one moment, a billion images and a trillion thoughts hit him, causing such pain to make the Maximal shout out. It took Optimus what seemed hours to comprehend.

"Your mind," moaned Optimus, "It’s splintered. It’s in three places at once - your body, here with me, and...somewhere deeper. I can’t take you back unless it is whole...."

"But how did this happen? How can I escape this?" exclaimed Adam, wanting nothing more than to return to himself.

"I...can’t help you." flatly said Optimus, "But...I can guide you. Make your mind one once again...."

Behind them, a gaping wound formed in the fabric of the Matrix. It swirled like a storm, crackling with lightning and bolts of energon. Adam’s phantom body was drawn to it, being sucked into it. He cried out, "Optimus! Don’t let me go in there!"

Immediately, Optimus came to Adam’s side, rescuing him from the storm. "I won’t let you go." he promised. But then, as he started to gaze into the Matrix, Optimus Primal saw something, a light. It was part of the Matrix...and it was calling for something.

Adam glanced at the vortex. "I...I can hear something calling my name! It’s coming from in there! I don’t know...know how," he muttered, "But I know it."

Optimus heard it as well. A voice, one sounding out with the chorus of the Matrix behind it, called out Adam’s name continuously. The voice from the deepest portion of the Matrix soothed Optimus’ anxieties, saying that Adam was needed, that he would come to no harm.

As Optimus accepted the Matrix’s will, Adam’s hands dissolved into his own, passing right through them. The two gazed at each other, both frightened, but also realizing the Matrix would protect them. Adam was nervous, but felt a bit of the Matrix’s warmth around him. Optimus watched as the human was brought into the vortex, pulled out of this plane, until he vanished completely.

"Farewell, Adam..." said Optimus, "And may your journey carry you to where the Matrix wills...."

Omegracon was not one to wait. Already he’s been diverted from his true goal by tiny, insignificant distractions. Cybertron was just within his reach, were it not for the blasted shield blocking his way. Determined not to let anything stand in his way, Omegracon raised up his right arm, charging his great weapon with all the power within him.

"Wretched planet!" he hollered at Cybertron, "Meet thy doom!"

The blast Omegracon unleashed hit the shield with a force Cybertron had not witnessed since the days it was forged. Streamers of starfire screamed away as the beam scorched the golden shield like a blowtorch to a steel plate. The great shield bent under Omegracon’s power, but did not give just yet.

Far bellow, in the Vector Sigma chamber, the source of the shield’s strength was under strain. The core of the great machine that gave birth to the transformers was dying, no longer able to withstand the blows of Omegracon’s rage. Vector Sigma’s golden armor began to sizzle, its power circuits overloading.

In the last moments, Alpha-Trion’s voice echoed, "Until the day...when all...are...one."

The core of Vector Sigma exploded in a ball of yellow-orange fire. Every piece of its gold surface shattered, the great chamber itself crumbling apart. The wave of fire blew out through the catacombs, burning everything it touched. On the surface, New Cybertropolis was shaken by a huge cyberquake as a great fountain of light spewed out of the Council Citadel. Above it, the sky turned from gold to blue, the great golden shield vanishing in the speed of a thought.

When Vector Sigma died, Megatron saw it happening within his mind. He turned to gaze upon Cybertron, unshielded and unprotected. "No!" he shouted, seeing Omegracon rush toward his home world.

Megatron jumped into the air, powering on his boosters. Ursacon, Cheetarus, and Coyotek grabbed Megatron, throwing him back into the shuttle bay. "And where do you think you’re going, Megs?" sneered Cheetarus, his blade at the Predacon’s neck.

The Predacon growled bitterly. He grabbed Cheetarus’ weapon in his hand and smashed it like pottery. "I have no time to deal with you, Maximals!" Megatron shouted. With his arm cannon, he blasted Cheetarus and Coyotek into the airlock, their bodies leaving a deep impression in it. Ursacon was jabbed in the stomach, throwing him off as well. Megatron was then free to take off, abandoning the Discovery completely.

The airlock door groaned open, with Coyotek crawling in. Botanica, Rattrap, and the recently awakened Optimus turned to see him. "Megs...taken off," gasped Coyotek, his entire body aching, "Threw us away...like rag dolls...much...pain!"

Optimus gasped, seeing Megatron flying away. Without a moment to spare, Optimus Primal ran off, leaping over Coyotek’s and Cheetarus’ slagged bodies. With a single bound, he bolted off the Discovery’s gravity-plating, flying freely after Megatron.

Megatron came from behind Omegracon as the giant swept toward Cybertron. He opened up his torso plate, withdrawing both the matrix of leadership and his living spark. With his hands, Megatron tugged at the handles, attempting to pry open the device. "Work, slag you! You did this once before, now you must do this again!" he growled.

"Megatron!" Optimus shouted, flying up to his new Predacon comrade. "You can’t open the matrix! It can only be used by one of Autobot heritage, not Decepticon!"

"Save your breath Maximal!" Megatron snarled, "The matrix of leadership is mine now! My spark and it are as one now...only I can open it now!"

"But Megatron! You simply can’t!" Optimus continued to say.

As the two transformers argued over the Autobot matrix, Omegracon sensed their presence near them. Just as he was about to devastate Cybertron, the giant turned about, his green eye gazing upon the Maximal and Predacon. Optimus and Megatron paused their bickering, then looked up to behold their true enemy.

"Tiny silicon viruses," Omegracon spoke to them, "Your powers granted by your despicable ‘Matrix’ are useless against me! Your very sparks are mine now, as is your world!"

Omegracon began to stretch his hand out to them, determined to snatch them from the very sky. Optimus was about to fly off, but Megatron stayed behind, still determined to harness the matrix’s power. The Maximal eyed the distant shuttle, and then the Predacon. He groaned, returning to the Predacon despite his self-preservation circuits.

Primal grabbed Megatron’s shoulder and said, "Come on! Before he crushes us all!"

Megatron growled, not relenting. "NO!" he shouted, forcing Primal away, "We can not relinquish ourselves to this abomination! I will not stand by idly while Omegracon destroys Cybertron!"

The red spark within the matrix of leadership suddenly turned blue. The matrix itself began to glow as strong as it ever had been before. Megatron’s spark surged with energy that the matrix absorbed, growing brighter and brighter. It was then that the matrix split in two, opening itself at long last.

The light of the very Matrix shined out like a white star. "Primal!" Megatron called to the Maximal, "We must do this...together!"

Megatron gave a roar, his spark becoming the catalyst for the power of the matrix. As the hand of Omegracon began to overcome them, the light of the matrix shot out at the giant, forcing him from them.

Optimus watched as Megatron groaned in torment, his very spark giving the light needed to empower the matrix of leadership. But even with the light, it wasn’t enough to stop Omegracon. Optimus Primal realized this, and looked into his own spark. "Yes, together!" he said.

With all his will, Optimus summoned the Oracle’s power once again, joining its light with that of the matrix. Both of their powers forced back the hand of Omegracon, further and further until the light blated against Omegracon’s chest, forcing him away from Cybertron.

"Our world is ours, not yours Omegracon!" Optimus shouted, "And united, not even you shall take it from us!"

The Universe began to shake. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Omegracon laughed, even as the light burned away at him. The giant encroached upon Cybertron again, the beam of light itself bending in his wake. Both Megatron and Optimus Primal were stunned.

"The matrix! It’s not stopping him!" shouted Megatron, "I don’t understand it!"

"We can’t stop now Megatron! We’re the last line of defense for Cybertron and our people!" Optimus cried out, determined not to let Unicron’s progeny pass.

Somewhere inside the Matrix itself, Adam’s mind and spirit flew through it, without map nor guide to aid him. Only a mysterious force pulled him in, headed straight into the heart of the Matrix of all transformers.

He was in a world of blazing lights and comets that circled him before sweeping by. Strange, even eerie balls of blue blazing with what appeared to be electricity hovered about him, like fairies leading a traveler into an enchanted forest. Adam became sure that it was these that were guiding him here, but as to why he did not know.

Adam came out of a tunnel and entered an unfathomable vast chamber, one who’s walls were made of the same glowing balls that lead him to this place. Adam floated out into the midst of it, halting at the very center of this place. All around him, a multitude of voices whispered, "The human has arrived. The human has arrived. The human has arrived...."

Poor Adam was frightened, overwhelmed by the many voices. Thousands, if not millions, of the spheres came to him en masse. Adam put his arms up as they circled about him, afraid of what they might do.

"Do not be afraid," a voice said to him. Adam peeked out from between his arms. He saw the figure of Springer, his old friend and companion, before him, as large as ever.

"Springer! But how...you’re...dead!" cried Adam.

"I am not dead Adam," said the Autbot, "But one with the Matrix. This place, where all the transformers go to when their bodies whether and sparks go off-line. This is where you’ve been taken, Adam."

Adam instinctively understand this for some strange reason, but was still baffled. "But...why me? I mean...I’m not really a part of this place. I-I don’t belong here..." he said, still unsure what he was doing in a place like this.

Hundreds of sparks around him came to life all at once. Like magic, each became a transformer, or rather the ghost...sprit possibly...of a transformer. Some he recognized, like Golden Bug, Wheelie, and Springer of course. A few he recalled from images, history, like the great Optimus Prime. Others...he simply did not know, but they all had one thing in common: they were all Autobot.

They all parted like a dividing wave, ripples sent out through the crowds. An aisle was formed for a single, glowing spark that was coming for Adam. It pulsed and hummed like any other spark, perhaps not as large or brilliant as that of any other transformer here, but a spark - the essence of a transformer nonetheless.

"Behold..." Springer said to Adam, "The spark of light."

The spark halted before Adam, hovering directly in front of him. It seemed to gaze at him just he gazed at it, uncertain of what it was or what it wanted.

"Don’t you recognize him?" Springer asked. Adam shook his head, eyes still fixated upon the ‘spark of light’. Sprigner chuckled. "You may not recognize him, but he surely recognizes you, Adam." The spark glowed bright white, flashing into a whole new existance. Adam’s mouth dropped as he beheld the spark of light’s true form.

"Oh my God...Red...Streak?"

It was the same Maximal that befriended Adam aboard the ill-fated Axalon 2, the same one who’s memories still haunted him in his own mind. RedStreak stood before Adam, his smile open and welcoming.

"What is the matter, my friend?" asked RedStreak, "Do you not know me?"

Adam said, "Yes...but," He paused, not sure how to phrase it. "But I still don’t understand this all! You’re dead and I’m fused with your body! This whole place is, well, ‘transformer heaven’, and I ain’t got a clue to why I’m here! Will someone please tell me?" he shouted.

Alpha-Trion and Optimus Prime came before Adam. "Your mind is clouded, confused...." Prime said.

"And yet a small part of you feels as if you’re one with this place." finished Alpha-Trion. "You seek purpose, you seek understanding...."

"Yeah, yeah," Adam interrupted somewhat rudely, "But what I ask is why am I here and what do...all of you want from me?"

RedStreak grabbed Adam by the shoulders and spoke to him. "The Matrix needs you Adam, we all do!"

"But," fumbled Adam, "I’m...not a transformer! I’m not part of it!"

"But you’re a part of me now Adam!" RedStreak exclaimed, "We may be of two minds, but we’re now one in heart, spark, body, and even spirit. And as such, you are one with us all...."

"Adam," Optimus Prime said, "The Matrix beckons you. We need you to save Cybertron and Earth from Unicron’s revenge now. The Matrix and humanity are joined by this common cause, and now...in this dark hour, only together can we save ourselves."

This was a bit overwhelming for Adam, to say the least. "Join the Matrix? Save Cybertron and Earth? But how can I accomplish such a thing! I’m only human!"

"Exactly," said RedStreak, "That’s why the Matrix needs you! The power of a single, human heart, is as strong as the Matrix itself, transcending it! To save both our worlds, your heart and my spark...must become one."

Adam was beyond overwhelmed. A million million eyes stared at him, waiting for him, a trillion lights shining on him. "I...just don’t know..." sheepishly said Adam.

RedStreak grabbed Adam’s hand and held it tightly. "Adam," he said to him, "We’re already bonded more than you can imagine. Our bodies have been molded together...my own memories are now surfacing in your mind. Why not join together in spirit? Together...we shall be the light of the Matrix reborn...."

The human looked up at his Maximal friend, seeing the courage in his eyes. Strangely enough, he also saw a reflection of himself staring back. He took RedStreak’s hand and smiled. "Yes. Let’s do this not only for our worlds," said Adam, "But our friends!"

Inside the Discovery’s cockpit, the body of Adam twitched sporadically, eyes emitting a few electrical sparks. The arm moved, the hand latching onto a pole. It moved, a groan slipping from its lips. Its eyes glowed blue-green, a flash of energon rippling over them.

Botanica, Rattrap, Cheetarus, Ursacon, and Coyotek were all in the open shuttle bay looking up at the midnight sky. The airlock door behind them swung wide open with a loud clang of metal. Rattrap jumped, surprised to see Adam up and about once again.

The others saw him as well. "Adam!" Botanica gasped, "You’re alive again! But how..."

Adam was silent, bright light shining from his eyes. His chest plate bean to open, revealing something completely unexpected: a Maximal spark, with Adam’s heart within, both beating together harmoniously.

Coyotek’s eyes widened. "Primus! A spark!"

Botanica was left without an explination. "But...how?" she said, "How is it possible Adam?"

The new Maximal spoke with a different voice, one more reminescent of an old friend. "We are now as one, now and forever." he said, "The spark of light has been...reborn once more...." For a moment, his eyes turned yellow long enough for the Maximals to remember.

"Oh my...RedStreak?" Cheetarus’ voice cracked.

"Yes...and no," replied RedSteak, "Both RedStreak and Adam are now one within me. I am both human and Maximal, flesh and silicon made one. We are one now...but you may call me by my old Maximal name, Cheetarus...."

RedStreak had fused completely with Adam in every sense of the word. Spark and heart were one now with him. As his spark glowed inside his body, RedStreak looked upwards, toward the battle Megatron and Optimus were engaged in. They were losing to Omegracon despite the powers the Matrix granted them.

He looked down at his chest, seeing the heart beat and the spark hum with life and light. "In ally’s heart...lies the power. In the darkest hour, through it the Matrix will shine...."

The Maximal reached his arms into the air and blasted off. RedStreak was already halfway to Omegracon before the other Maximals even winked an eye. Cheetarus and his comrades were now beyond his reach, unable to help him as well as Optimus and Megatron now. "All we can do," said Cheetarus, "Is sit back and hope for the best...."

Megatron and Optimus struggled to hold their own as Omegracon just laughed at them. "HaHaHaHaHaHa! Foolish germs! Did you really expect your precious matrix to save you from me? Ha!" Omegracon bellowed loudly, "I learned from Unicron’s mistakes very well, enough to give me the power to destroy you all. Time to die...."

Omegracon reached out to Optimus and Megatron with his left hand, the Matrix energy firing at him having no effect. But then a blast of raw energon hit the titan square in the eye, blinding Omegracon. "AGGGGGGGGGGGH!" wailed Omegracon, "MY EYE!" His emerald eye was shattered, leaving an open hole in his head.

Another blast of energon, even stronger than the first, was directed upon Omegracon, keeping him at bay. "What?" Megatron blurted. He and Optimus turned in the direction of the energon beam. Much to their surprise, a small but bold Maximal flew from the direction of Cybertron to ward off the giant transformer.

RedStreak shouted out as he sent wave after wave of energy blasts, "You leave my friends alone you planet bastard!"

"Adam!" Optimus called out, but the hybrid swooped past him, his eyes only on Omegracon.

Omegracon went into a rage as RedStreak attempted to assult him. "WRETCHED CREATURES! FILTHY VIRUSES! YOU DARE TO TRY AND DESTROY ME?! I SHALL SHOW YOU HOW TRULY INSIGNIFIGANT YOU ALL ARE!" Between blasts, Omegracon transformed, his legs and arms folding up as his armored plates moved back into place, mitigating the energon firepower through transmetal plating.

At that moment, a voice deep inside Optimus told him that this was the moment, that RedStreak was the key to survival. In his mind, Alpha-Trion’s words came to him. The Maximal looked to RedStreak, seeing his spark glowing an electric blue. "Spark of light..." he muttered. Looking to Megatron, floating alonside him, he noted the red spark pulsating within him. "Spark of darkness..." Then, looking into his own chest, Optimus Primal saw and felt the dormant knowledge of the Matrix inside. "Spark...of wisdom." In a flash of revelation, Optimus exclaimed, "That’s it! Three sparks uniting!"

"What on Cybertron do you mean, Primal?" Megatron asked.

"That’s the key to truly unlocking the power to defeat Omegracon! The sparks of light, dark, and wisdom must unite! We have to give our sparks up to him!" Optimus replied, pointing to RedStreak.

"Are you insane, Primal?! That will accomplish nothing other than suicide for the both of us!" Megatron shouted at him.

"But don’t you see it, Megatron? Trust, loyalty, unity! That is what gives the Matrix its strength and even the humans of Earth! We must combine forces to truly vanquish Omegracon and save our world!" Turning to RedStreak, he further added, "Besides...I don’t think he can hold off our enemy alone..."

Megatron growled, then gave a long sigh. "And you wonder why I was never one for heroics..." he told Primal, removing the Autobot matrix and his spark. Megatron’s spark became bright red, floating away from his body. Optimus Primal closed his own eyes, also letting his spark fly free of his physical form. Primal and Megatron’s sparks merged inside the matrix of leadership, their combined essence giving it light once more.

With a final gasp, Megatron let go of the matrix, his hands becoming limp. The Predacon’s fierce eyes dimmed until they were nothing but a pair of darkened glass panels. Both transformers faded from life, their bodies drifting in orbit around Cybertron. Only their sparks remained in the Autobot matrix, the last spark of their lives.

From the matrix itself, the voices of Optimus Primal and Megatron called out, "REEEDSTREEEEAK!" The matrix of leadership glowed bright yellow, then flew off in a straight line towards RedStreak like a blazing meteor.

RedStreak’s ears heard the holler, and turned from his battle with Omegracon. The matrix was flying to him as fast as light itself. In that same instance, Omegracon’s transformation back to his planet form completed, and with his great cannon he targeted the tiny Maximal, who was prefetly aligned with the planet below. Without pausing, the giant used it, firing upon the Maximal with full power. The Maximal turned just in time to witness Omegracon firing at him. RedStreak yelled, putting his arms in front of his face as the blast came at him. A light blinded him, wrendering him blind for one instant.

Upon opening his eyes, RedStreak saw the Autobot matrix of leadership before him, glowing brightly against the power of Omegracon. It had stopped right in front of him to divert Omegracon’s blast with its own power. "Take it..." Optimus’ voice said to RedStreak, "Take it...and we shall all be as one...."

RedStreak grasped the device in his hands carefully. In that same moment, his own spark and heart emerged from his chest, merging with the matrix and two other sparks. True power rippled through his body, the essence of three transformers, one human, and the Oracle in one.

He held up the matrix to Omegracon. A beam of light shot out from it, pushing back against his cannon’s fire. It pushed further and further back, until both were equal distances away. Against the matrix of leadership, it seemed Omegracon met his match.

"Pathetic human," scoffed Omegracon, "Were you not aware the matrix has no effect on me?". On the giant’s surface, a single turret took aim and fired, knocking the matrix away from RedStreak.

"NOOO!" the Maximal shouted, the matrix falling from him. Omegracon’s beam came upon him, forcing RedStreak to use his energon powers against him. It was too strong, forcing him further and further away, Omegracon’s beam drawing closer and closer to him.

"For a time, I considered sparing your blue, organic world, human," Omegracon began to gloat, "But because your kind interfered with my destiny, your precious Earth shall be obliterated...after you, the transformers, and Cybertron are crushed by me!"

Omegracon’s beam was becoming too strong, RedStreak’s powers growing weaker and weaker. "No...I...can’t give up! Matrix! Why have you forsaken me in this hour?" RedStreak cried, "I can’t do this alone! Not by myself!"

His spark began to glow. "You never were alone, RedStreak." two voices said. Optimus and Megatron appeared near him, at his very side. "We are with you, and our strength and endurance are yours! We are with you...."

Then, behind RedStreak, a glowing blue image appeared in the shape of the Autobot emblem. Through it, every Autobot that ever was reached out to him. "We are all with you, RedStreak. We will stand by you for as long as possible..." their voices said, "Let us join with you...."

The Autobot emblem blew apart, becoming a great cloud of sparks surrounding RedStreak in a shimmering background. Then, as RedStreak looked within his own heart, he saw the light of the matrix with him! In that moment, every spark that had rallied behind the Maximal swirled about like a thunderstorm. RedStreak felt the essence of every one of them enter him, giving him the strength of the strongest Autobot and the will of the Matrix itself!

"No....No....No!" shouted Omegracon, "You can not harm me! I am invincible!"

RedStreak’s power grew and grew, the strength of a hundred thousand thousand transformers in him. As the last sparks circled him, he unleashed a beam of pure energy against Omegracon, forcing back the titan’s power.

"No...Omegracon," said RedStreak, "You are not invincible! You...are nothing but a mere fragment of Unicron, as you always were! You steal your power from other worlds, other beings, because you yourself are powerless, sparkless, and heartless!"

RedStreak raised up his arms, the untold power within him surging through his body. "For Cybertron!" he yelled out, "For the planet Earth! For all transformers, whether Maximal, Predacon, or Autobot, and for humanity itself! But most of all..."

Near Cybertron, the Discovery drifted beneath him. Twelve eyes were on him, as were the eyes of countless millions on the transformer home world. RedStreak said at long last, "I do this for MY FRIENDS!"

With a mighty yell, RedStreak unleashed not only the power of the Matrix, but the power hidden deep within his heart upon Omegracon. The giant roared, the titanic beam blasting him with the force of a huge supernova. His power vanished before it, his weapon dissolving away along with his body against the shockwave. In the final moments, Omegracon gave one last yell as he blew apart completely, banished from existance evermore.

"By the Matrix," said Cheetarus, watching the blast from the Discovery. Omegracon’s remains were nothing but dust, scattered into a halo around Cybertron. Over a period of minutes, a solid, shimmering ring encircled the planet, adding to Cyebrtron’s technorganic beauty.

Lieutenant Kaye watched the skies with eagle eyes. "Look!" he shouted, pointing a finger to the ring. Against the silver brillance of Cybertron’s new-born rings, a red meteor streaked from the heavens toward the world below. "It’s Adam!" Kaye exclaimed.

It was Adam, and RedStreak for that matter. The Maximal fell from the heavens like a beautiful meteor. His fall was uncontrolled, the rigor of his great effort wrendering him unconcious. The atmosphere of Cybertron soon hit his back, causing him to heat up.

Following behind him, two more beams of light came. Optimus Primal and Megatron returned to catch RedStreak. In a power dive, both caught him, saving him from a firey death.

"Is he...alive?" asked Megatron, unsure whether this bit of scap and flesh was alive at all.

RedStreak’s open chest glowed with a gentle light. His spark came online once again, and his heart, faint but endurable, beat on. He stared up at his two rescuers, eyes blue-green with dark pupils. "Cybertron...out of...danger?" he asked.

Optimus nodded, smiling at the brave Maximal. "You did well, friend." he said, "Both our worlds are saved, and you fullfilled you destiny."

RedStreak smiled confidently. He closed his eyes, comforted by that fact. "I, can not be sure of that Optimus." he said to him, "I think...the Matrix has more in store for me. I was created...as a living symbol of...unity...between our peoples, and our spirits. There is...more that must be done."