Soundwave, superior. Other world, inferior.

Optimus wasn't sure how to react. His servo was still held in the air in a blocking position, still in shock from what had just happened. There was a sword through his counterpart's chassis, obviously, near his spark chamber. He still wasn't sure who was wielding it. 

His counterpart grunted in pain after a few seconds of stunned silence, and the blade slowly slid back. The other Prime fell forward, landing on his knee-plates before collapsing at Optimus' pedes. Optimus slowly lowered his servo, staring at his counterpart before looking up to see who had stabbed him. 

Soundwave stood there, his visor eerily blank as he stared back. He gripped Megatron's blade tightly, energon staining the front half of it. The room was silent. Soundwave broke contact and looked down, where energon had started to form a puddle around the Prime. Optimus silently stepped back to avoid stepping in it, before carefully kneeling next to his counterpart. When the hole in his chassis stopped glowing, he knew he was gone. Primus seemed to know too, the spark glowed and pulsed multiple times in anger, and suddenly everyone snapped back into reality. Soundwave stepped closer to Optimus to avoid a tendril of energy. He exchanged a glance with Optimus before he pointed to his chest chassis. Optimus had stood by now, and nodded once in understanding. This was their best, and, really, their only, plan. Optimus sidestepped and then ducked to avoid another shot of energy. He figured as long as he didn't "search" for Primus and wasn't touched by his energy, he wouldn't be harmed. He summoned the power of the Matrix of Leadership, and the two energies clashed violently with each other. The humans watched in awe, and in worry. If this didn't work, they weren't sure anything would.

Once the energy had been released, Optimus collapsed to the ground. Ratchet moved to help, but Soundwave seemed to beat him to it, kneeling next to him and gently setting a servo on his shoulder plate. The energies continued to clash, blue and orange lighting up the room until, to everyone's relief, they both dissipated. Ratchet should have been cheering like Bulkhead and the kids. But he wasn't. During Optimus' fight, the scout's life had slipped through his digits. He had failed.

Again.

::Ratchet...thank you. Thank you for everything...please...tell Raf...tell him I love him...and I'll miss him.::

The medic held the scout's servo for a moment. His passing had been quiet. Not peaceful, but quiet enough. He knew the scout thought of the boy as a brother. It was obvious to anyone who knew them. He quietly left the scout's side to Optimus', to check on him.

"Ratchet...Soundwave...? Optimus asked once the medic had tried to get him to focus back on reality.

"Yes, Optimus," Ratchet replied, opening his mouth to speak further before Optimus sat up and raised a servo to interrupt him.

"Why did you call me that?"

Ratchet and Soundwave exchanged glances with each other, before Ratchet slowly pulled out the keycard.

"...I've had the Ark transported here by our spacebridge after I learned you had a functional one yourself," Optimus' unsettling voice played through Soundwave, before it switched to a recording of Megatron.

"...Cybertron."

Ratchet understood, though looked at the TiC in surprise.

"You would allow us to return Optimus to his normal state?"

"What?" Optimus asked in confusion. Soundwave glanced at the Prime before nodding once. Ratchet blinked in surprise. But why? He was technically the Decepticon leader since Starscream disappeared, why wouldn't he just end it now?

He shook his helm. If Soundwave was helping them, he'd question it later, and maybe regret it later too.

Soundwave stood to his full height before walking out of the room. Bulkhead moved to get up and follow, struggling slightly with his injuries but managing by supporting himself on the wall. Ratchet looked back at the humans. His spark stung with guilt when he saw Rafael hugging Jack, who was rubbing his back while also watching Optimus in worry. The said mech slowly stood, walking up next to Ratchet when he noticed what he was looking at.

"...Ratchet?" he asked. Ratchet knew he wanted an explanation.

"Everything will make sense in due time, Orion," the medic reassured, gesturing for the humans to come over. "In the meantime, I should re-introduce you to Jack, Miko, and Rafael, and their counterparts from another world, Miko, Raf, and Jackson."

Optimus-Orion nodded in greeting before slowly kneeling to their level. He was curious, though obviously gentle. It was strange for the kids to see him in a slightly different personality. Ratchet gently set a servo down on the floor next to Jack and Rafael.

"Raf," he called gently. "You can see him. But if you do not want to right now, I will not push you. I understand," the medic whispered. Rafael nodded into Jack's shirt, before hugging the boy tighter. He didn't seem to want to go anywhere, and Ratchet nodded sadly, a dull look in his optics.

*

Soundwave walked through the halls at a fast pace, though stopped sometimes to allow Bulkhead to catch up, who was trying his hardest to walk as fast as he could. They eventually made it to the place Optimus and Megatron had split to allow Optimus to move forward, and Bulkhead stopped to take in the scene. All the Decepticons from the other world as well as Arcee were on the ground, some unconscious, and the Decepticons from his world and the Autobots from the other were standing guard should one wake up and/or try to escape.

"Soundwave?" Knockout asked, twirling his staff before jabbing it into the ground. "What's going on?"

The silent mech gestured for the others to step away, and the Autobots did so reluctantly. Bulkhead went over to Arcee's side, where Airachnid had done some damage, but at least hadn't decimated her. She had Airacnid's counterpart to thank for that, as well as the other 'cons. Soundwave walked over to Megatron, who sat up to watch him in curiosity.

"It's over. Primus-is gone." He extended a servo to help him up. Megatron raised an optic ridge in surprise, hesitating slightly before taking it and accepting his help. The 'cons didn't dare ask, and Megatron gathered up his team. Together all the Decepticons made their way back, as well as Bulkhead, who was carrying Arcee in one servo now. Once they saw what had happened, things seemed to be a little more confusing. Optimus wasn't Optimus. The other Optimus was dead. Bumblebee was dead. Primus was gone. The kids, somehow, miraculously survived everything.

After some explanation, a truce had been called by both factions of both worlds as they tried to figure out what to do next. Logically it was the best course of action. Half of the Cybertronians were on a world that wasn't theirs, and the leaders of the evil factions had fallen. The group moved from the core of the Earth back to the Nemesis, and quickly had Ratchet and a large group of Vehicons bridged to Cybertron. Optimus Prime's memories had been restored, and Ratchet returned the Key to Vector Sigma. Optimus thanked him quietly, giving him a small discreet smile before leaving with Megatron, Soundwave, and the other Ratchet to discuss other matters. The other members of each group were sort of avoiding each other. Ratchet had repaired Arcee and Bulkhead, and the two were in the quarters they had lay Bumblebee in, being with their teammate (the offlined Optimus was on the Ark). Ratchet was about to join his team when Raf stopped him.

"Ratchet...? I'm ready," he whispered. The medic smiled sadly, extending a servo to the young boy. He made sure he was secure before moving. The two quickly arrived, and Ratchet discreetly glanced at Raf to see if he was okay. He vented out slowly before walking forward, and the door slid open. Arcee and Bulkhead noticed Raf, and gave him look of encouragement before silently leaving the room. Raf was grateful for that, watching them leave before he finally allowed himself to look at his friend. A part of him thought that if he never actually looked, then Bee would be alive. But he knew he wasn't. The sound of a blade slicing through metal would forever haunt him.

"Bee," Raf whispered, his voice cracking a little. He felt tears come to his eyes and he tried to keep it together. Ratchet set Raf down on Bee's chassis by his request, and the boy scrambled over to his faceplate, feeling sick when he could sort of see the berth the scout was resting on through the stab wound.

"Bee," Raf whispered. "Wherever you are...I hope you're doing okay. I hope you're happy. I miss you."

Ratchet remembered something Raf had told him a while back, and wondered if he still believed it now.

"Bumblebee always listens. And I can understand him. I don't know why, but I do."

Bumblebee always listens.

Ratchet clenched a fist. The scout didn't deserve any of this. He was young. If anything, it should have been him. He should have been the one to protect Optimus. He should have been able to repair Bumblebee better than he did.

"Rafael..." Ratchet whispered. "Bumblebee wanted me to tell you something...since he wouldn't be able to tell you himself," he explained slowly, not wanting to upset the boy further, though felt that would happen anyway.

"Okay," Raf whispered, looking up at him. Tears were running down his face and staining his glasses.

"Bumblebee said he loves you, and he'd miss you."

Raf stared at the scout for another minute, staring at his optics before pulling his knees up to his chest and hugging them. He stuck his face in his lap and cried. Ratchet silently stroked his back with his digit, wanting to comfort the boy but not quite knowing how. The two remained that way for a long time, both lost track of the time and both also didn't care to pay attention. Not until the door hissed open, and heavy yet reverent ped steps were heard. A servo rested on Ratchet's shoulder, and the medic looked up to see Optimus, watching the medic sadly before his gaze shifted toward Rafael. He didn't bother the boy, gently placing a servo on Bumblebee's helm and rubbing it. His spark twisted with guilt and he closed his optics. He had been disoriented. If he hadn't, Bumblebee might not have died. The image would haunt him forever. He knew Bumblebee looked up to him, and knew his team would place his life over theirs, but it still hurt him. He would have done the same thing. He should have simply blocked. Why didn't he block the blade?

Deep down he knew it wasn't really his fault, but it was his fault. He had killed him. Although it wasn't him directly, it was a version of himself he vowed to never, ever, act similar to. Ratchet silently set a servo on his arm, but Optimus didn't acknowledge it, simply allowing himself to mourn in this moment.

*

It was a few hours later before everyone had gathered on the bridge of the Nemesis. The Nemesis was next to the Ark in space, and the Cybertronains of the other world were going to SpaceBridge back with the Ark, and continue their own path from there. Although the Autobots had known the bridge was rebuilt there, the Decepticons had built it out of their range, which was why it hadn't been destroyed yet.

Soundwave had created a portal to go between the two ships to allow them to walk directly inside, mainly for the humans' benefit, being in space and all.

"I am reluctant to leave you and your world with such a mess, Optimus Prime," Megatron expressed quietly. Optimus extended a servo to him to shake, and Megatron took it.

"Do not worry, Megatron. Everything will be taken care of," he replied, giving him a small reassuring smile. Megatron nodded, giving him a smaller one in return.

"It has been an honor serving with you, Optimus Prime."

"Likewise, Megatron," Optimus replied. The others bid farewell before walking though. Optimus and the other Ratchet exchanged a glance. The medic was a little angry, and glanced at Soundwave as well before he turned and walked into the bridge. Soon it only left Megatron with the three humans.

"So..." Raf trailed off, looking at his companions before looking at the humans from the other world.

"Can we still...contact you?" he asked, eventually moving his gaze to Optimus, and then Megatron.

"I feel it may be best to continue in our own worlds, and keep them in the way they were meant to be," Megatron replied, and Optimus nodded in agreement. The humans looked sad for a while, before the three waved to the others silently, and turned to the bridge. Megatron and Optimus exchanged another glance, before Megatron nodded and turned, following the children. They disappeared through the portal, and it closed after them. Beside them, the Cybertronians from that world could see the Ark fly forward and toward the bridge.

"Activate the SpaceBridge," Soundwave ordered through Starscream's voice, and a vehicon did so. The bridge opened, illuminating the bridge of the ship slightly in purple as they watched the other world approach, enter, and then disappear.

~~~

The End.