Takes place shortly after War Dawn:
It had been a rough battle, but thanks to those five mysterious strangers blowing up that energy warehouse, the newly forged Optimus Prime had managed to drive Megatron and his forces out of Iacon City for the time being.
But it had come at a great price: two-thirds of the civilian populace had been greatly injured by Megatron’s assault on the city, with the other third having been killed.
All so Megatron could display dominance and conquer Cybertron.
Optimus couldn’t help but feel as though he was responsible for Iacon’s current state.
And why shouldn’t I? The mech thought as he drove by the ruins of what was once a cargo ship. I invited Megatron into the warehouse, I told him we stored energy there. I… admired Megatron because he was powerful…
And Optimus had failed to see how Megatron used said power.
He drove past a headless Guardian Robot, a grim reminder of the casualties that had descended upon Iacon because of his poor character judgment.
And now the city, along with his friends, had paid the price.
Alpha Trion had said he’d do his best to fix them up and reconstruct them like he did with Optimus. In the meantime, he ordered Optimus to search the city and scour for any supplies, or more importantly, survivors who were in need of medical attention.
He was about to head back for the day when groaning was heard from among the debris, which surprised the young Autobot. His scanners detected no distress beacons in this vicinity. It’s a survivor. I have to help. Optimus quickly changed direction and headed toward the cry for help.
The sound grew louder as he got closer, eventually reaching the source of the cry. Transforming into his robot mode, Optimus saw that the mech in question was crushed beneath the remains of a statue that used to be Primon.
“Hold on, stranger!” Optimus exclaimed, removing the debris. “I’m here to help.”
Upon removing the last of the debris, he realized the injured mech in question was actually one of Megatron’s Decepticon soilders.
“Help…” the Con weakly groaned, his energon spilling out. “Please… Mercy…”
This Con was probably responsible for killing multiple civilians today, he was probably one of the Decepticons at the warehouse. Energon was on his servos, and he wanted mercy?
The young Autobot slowly raised his Ion Blaster at the soldier, ready to end his existence right then and there.
He deserves to die. Optimus thought, trying to bring himself to pull the trigger. He’s just another one of Megatron’s soldiers, if I let him live he’ll probably just kill more innocent and defenseless robots. Bots like-
For a moment, he was Orion Pax again, left for dead at that warehouse, along with so many other countless bots when Megatron had begun his attack.
He remembered lying there, dying. Orion recalled trying to pull himself together, praying to whoever was listening that he did not die today.
Those mysterious five robots he had met earlier had come to his rescue and took him to Alpha Trion, where he had been reborn as Optimus Prime.
Five mysterious robots, strangers who had no reason to save him, other than it was the right thing to do. They could have fled for their lives, let him die. But, they instead chose mercy.
I must… be strong…” Optimus tried telling himself, looking at the Decepticon soldier. “I can’t… show him… mercy…”
At that moment Optimus felt good. He felt powerful, he felt strong, he felt-
Megatron did this to him, didn’t he? He shot him unarmed, defenseless, and left him to die. Optimus realized what he was doing. If he shot this injured and weak Con here and now, he would be just like Megatron.
No. He wouldn’t allow himself to become a monster.
Sighing, he lowered his weapon and instead opened his trailer, gently picking up the severely injured Decepticon and placing him inside. “Alpha Trion…” he spoke into the commlink. “I’ve got an injured Decepticon here. I’m.. bringing him to you…”
“… Very well,” The old mech replied. “I’ll have some security droids watch over him while he recovers.”
“Thank you…” The soldier whimpered just as the trailer closed on him, securing him in place.
Optimus said nothing, instead transforming into his vehicle mode.
If I am going to stop Megatron, I need to be better than him. He thought. I need to show mercy. True strength does not rely on taking the lives of others, but rather on helping those who lack the power to help themselves.
“Be strong enough… to be gentle…” Optimus whispered, driving off toward Alpha Trion’s workshop. “Yes… that is what I must be…”
Happy belated birthday to Peter Cullen! To the man who brought Optimus Prime to life.
I kind of wanted to tell a story from Optimus’s perspective from what happened after the events of War Dawn (obviously after the Arielbots were brought back to the present), so I threw this together.