Book VII
     "The Battle For Earth"

     Chapter XXXXI
     "Uncertain Future"


   Operation freedom was a huge success. 
Autobot and First Circle casualties were
light, in spite of the fierce
opposition.  Some of the Decepticons
surrendered, but unfortunately, many
fought to the end.
   Optimus awoke to find himself in a
repair bay in Ice Station Omega. 
Rodimus was there.
   "Optimus, how do you feel", asked
Rodimus?
   "I'm alright."  Optimus started to
get up.
   "No you don't. Percepter wants you to
rest a while", said Rodimus.
   "Rodimus, the last thing I remember
was Megatron, he was engulfed in flames. 
Is he dead?"
   "Well, I'm....", started Rodimus.
   "Is he dead or isn't he", asked
Optimus?
   "I don't know.  Soundwave, Nightbird,
and the Xformers escaped.  They took his
body, but he was so badly burned, I
don't see how he could have survived. 
We found Skyquake's body, but it looks
like he was given a new body.  I don't
think he's dead."
   Optimus did not care about Skyquake. 
"But you don't know for sure that
Megatron is dead.", said Optimus.
   "No Optimus, I'm sorry.  You were
right, they had a way through the
defense shield."
   "I'd like to be alone for a while
Rodimus", said Optimus.
   "Sure, no problem."  Rodimus left
Optimus alone.
   He had failed again.  Megatron was
not dead.  Optimus knew he wasn't.  He
could feel it, but the worst part was
the he knew Megatron would be back.


   Soundwave placed the odd helmet on
Megatron's head.  His face was hardly
recognizable.  Soundwave pressed the
button on the steel box, and waited
patiently.  A few minutes later, the box
exploded open.
   "Megatron, you live", said Soundwave.
   "Yes Soundwave."  Megatron looked at
his hands and arms.  There was no
mistaking the silver gray coloring. 
"I'm my old self again."
   "Yes Megatron", said Soundwave.
   "Excellent."  Megatron looked around
the room for a moment.  "Where's
Nightbird", he asked?
   Soundwave looked at the ground. 
"Megatron, I don't know how to tell you
this."  Soundwave stopped.
   "What is it Soundwave?"
   "She's gone", said Soundwave.
   Megatron just stared at Soundwave for
a minute.  "How", asked Megatron?
   "As we were taking off, Rodimus Prime
destroyed one of the shuttles power
conduits.  The explosions killed her."
   "Leave me alone now Soundwave."
   Soundwave nodded, and turned to
leave.
   "I'm going to kill them both
Soundwave.  I will rip Optimus Prime and
Rodimus Prime to pieces."
   The pain was evident in his eyes, but
Soundwave was not about to say anything. 
Soundwave left Megatron alone.
   Megatron walked over to a view port. 
He could see the stars rush by. 
"Optimus and Rodimus Prime will both die
Nightbird.  I swear I will avenge you."


   "Well, began Uatu, In the next year,
the people of Earth were gradually able
to return.  The Decepticons had done a
lot of damage, and it took a long time
to rebuild many cities, but in just
under a year, the people of Earth were
home, and had formed a new global
government.  Percepter was able to use
the equipment in Megatron's lab to send
the Thing back to his own dimension. 
Life on Earth was returning to normal.
   On Cybertron, all members of the
First Circle were given a full pardon. 
As for the few Decepticons who were
captured, many committed suicide before
a decision was made as to what should be
done.  The few who were left agreed to
live under conditions set by Optimus
Prime.  They had to stay on Cybertron,
and were not allowed to possess weapons
of any kind, but beyond that, they were
given no further punishment.  Much
construction was begun on Cybertron, and
it was hoped that one day the planet
might be returned to it's former glory. 
Also, archeological expeditions were
planned to explore long closed area deep
within the planet.
   On Earth, it was decided that a
memorial to all those who died in the
great war to retake the Earth was to be
built.  Now, on the first anniversary of
the battle of Ice Station Omega, Optimus
Prime was to dedicate the memorial.


   Optimus rolled down the highway
towards Los Angeles.  Today was a day
Optimus had not been looking forward
too.  He was to dedicate a memorial to
all those who had died in the battle to
retake the Earth.  It seemed so hollow a
victory.  The Earth was free again, and
it's people were home, but he had failed
to stop Megatron again.  He knew that
Megatron was still alive, and as long as
Megatron lived, Optimus could never be
sure that it would not happen again.
   Optimus arrived at the site of the
memorial.  It was early, and he would
not have to make his speech for almost
four hours.  No one was there yet.  The
memorial was a large park with several
monuments lining the outside, and one
lying in the center.  Optimus walked
around and looked at the different
monuments.  There was one that bore the
name of every human who was killed in
the retaking of Earth.  One had the
names of the Autobots who had died, and
one for the members of the First Circle
who had died.  Some were dedicated to
particular battles.  The one that
Optimus wanted to see was Blitzwing's
memorial.  Optimus looked up at the huge
statue.  This particular statue was the
only one that Optimus requested be
included in the memorial.  After all,
without Blitzwing, the First Circle
would never have come into play, and
Megatron would likely have been in
control of the Earth for good.
   "I'm sorry Blitzwing", said Optimus. 
"Megatron didn't win, but I fear someday
he will have another chance."
   Optimus then went to the statue at
the center of the memorial.  It was
decided that this should be as much a
memorial to those who survived, as for
those who did not.  In the center, there
were two statues standing side by side. 
He walked up to the two statues.  They
were of himself and Rodimus Prime.  The
inscription on the base read, "May
everyone on Earth never forget all the
heroes who saved her."  Optimus just
stared for a while.
   "Alpha Trion, there are days I wish
you had never created me", Optimus said
out loud.  "I don't deserve this, I
failed to destroy Megatron, I know he
still lives.  I am no hero.  I just did
my duty.  I did what I had to do. 
Blitzwing was a hero.  He took an
awfully big risk, and he paid for it
with his life.  Me, I just failed once
again."
   "You know Optimus, it's not good to
talk to yourself", said Rodimus. 
Rodimus walked up beside Optimus.
   "How long have you been there
Rodimus", asked Optimus?
   "Long enough", said Rodimus.  "You're
far too hard on yourself Optimus.  I
know you think Megatron's alive, but so
what?"  Rodimus paused.  "You're
probably right.  Without Blitzwing, we
would never have succeeded, but what you
don't see is that without you, we never
would have succeeded either."
   "But I let him live Rodimus, and I
had a chance to correct my mistake, and
I blew it.  If I had pulled that
trigger, in Autobot City, everyone
listed on those stones would be alive,
and there would have been no need for
anyone to be a hero, and...", Optimus
paused.  "Sorry Rodimus, I must sound
like a broken record."
   "And what Optimus", said Rodimus?
   Optimus turned away.  "And Elita
would be alive."
   "Elita's death is not your fault."
   "I know that Rodimus", said Optimus.
   "Do you", asked Rodimus?  "You say
that, but I don't think you believe it. 
You've got to let go of the guilt
Optimus."
   Optimus knew deep down that Rodimus
was right, but it was one thing to know
it, accepting it was something else
entirely.


   Optimus gave his speech later that
day, and then he headed back to Autobot
City, but on the way back, he had
something to do that was long overdue. 
The last year he had been so busy, he
had not had a chance to go back to Mount
Trion.  Optimus walked up the hill and
deactivated the invisibility shield on
Elita's statue.
   "I'm sorry I haven't been here in so
long.  I've been so busy this last year,
rebuilding this planet has been a
monumental undertaking."  Optimus paused
a moment.  "But that's not why I haven't
been here.  Elita, I failed again, and I
couldn't face you.  Megatron still
lives."  Rodimus tells me that I am too
hard on myself, but I don't know.  How
many lives could I have saved.  I know I
will face Megatron again.  I know I will
have another chance to stop his evil
ways for good.  I know I must do that." 
Optimus paused.  "I love you so much
Elita, and each day, I find it harder to
be without you."
   Optimus suddenly felt strange, and as
it had before, his chest opened, and the
Autobot Matrix of Leadership floated in
the air in front of him, and the image
of Alpha Trion appeared behind it.
   "Optimus, Rodimus is right.  You can
not blame yourself.  If anyone is to
blame, it is I", said Alpha Trion.  "I
should have told you about Megatron.  I
should have warned you.  But that is in
the past, and we can not change the
past."
   "I know we can't change the past.  I
would give anything if I could.  I would
go back and kill Megatron in Autobot
City, and Elita would be alive today",
said Optimus.
   "Optimus, I know that you are full of
doubt, but there is no time for that
now", said Alpha Trion.  "I come with a
warning from the Matrix."
   "A warning from the Matrix", said
Optimus.  "What do you mean?"
   "Optimus, since I became one with the
Matrix, a great many things have become
known to me.  There are many things I
can not tell you, so you will just have
to trust me.  The Matrix, has foreseen
something in the future, and it was
important enough to send me with a
warning.  Megatron does still live, and
one day, perhaps many years from now, he
will learn a secret, a secret that could
enable him to enslave the Universe, and
defeat all who oppose him.  I can give
you no further details Optimus Prime,
save one.  You must seek out the temple
of Primus.  Only there, can you learn
what you need to know.  For you must
learn the true nature of the Matrix, and
learn of the true origins of the
Transformers, and only in the temple of
Primus, can you find that out.  For only
there, can you find the Third Prophecy."
   "Alpha Trion, you speak of legends,
myths.  Are you telling me the old
stories are all true?  I have always
believed in Primus, and when Rodimus
fulfilled the Second Prophecy, it only
reaffirmed my faith", said Optimus. 
"But are you saying that the burial
place of Primus still exists?"
   "I can tell you no more, but a final
warning.  Beware the Betrayer.  He who
betrayed Primus, for he is your worst
enemy."  Alpha Trion's image vanished,
and the Matrix returned to it's place in
Optimus's chest.
   The Temple of Primus was said to have
been one of the first structures
constructed on Cybertron.  Legend said
it was the final resting place of
Primus.  Since Cybertron had been built
up over many millions of years, the
temple was now said to be buried deep
within the planet.  The teachings of
Primus were the very foundation of the
Autobots way of life, and the Prophecies
were said to be the rewards.  The First
Prophecy was known as the Covenant of
Primus, and told of a great threat to
the universe, and how it would be saved. 
The Second Prophecy told of the coming
of a chosen one to light Cybertron's
darkest hour, a prophecy Rodimus Prime
had fulfilled.  The Third Prophecy,
however, was a mystery.  It was also
called the Lost Prophecy.  It was the
one Primus was to deliver the day he was
murdered by the one known as the
Betrayer.
   Optimus sat on the ground in the warm
sun.  An already uncertain future was
now even more so.


   "The Earth is safe", began Uatu, "but
Optimus Prime is still haunted by the
past, and now Alpha Trion's warning
leaves him haunted by what is to come. 
Megatron does still live, and Optimus
Prime knows he will one day threaten the
Universe again."