Alpha Trion (voiceover; via transmission and narration)
At the dawn of time, there was our gracious and powerful creator, Primus. To protect our universe, he sacrificed his life force, transforming himself into our planet, Cybertron. From within Cybertron’s core, Primus birthed the first Transformers known as the Primes, the most powerful Transformers, appointed to lead and protect future generations. To assist them, Primus created an entity of great power, the Matrix of Leadership. [...] With the Matrix in the Primes’ possession, Cybertron’s natural power source, Energon, flowed in abundance, sustaining life across the planet. [...] For generations, there was peace and prosperity, until the Matrix of Leadership was lost, causing Energon to no longer flow.
Alpha Trion For thousands of cycles, the war with the Quintessons had been a brutal conflict. Until Sentinel, the principal aide to the Primes, intercepted an enemy transmission. There was going to be a secret gathering of Quintesson commanders. Their elimination could end the war. It was a mission so important, we Primes took it on ourselves. We agreed to meet Sentinel for his sensitive intel in secret, here, in this cave. But we were not alone. [...] We were outnumbered but stood as one. Our victory was near. Until we were betrayed. [...] But Sentinel never understood the true power of what he desired. The Matrix of Leadership can only be wielded by one that Primus himself deems worthy. And Sentinel most certainly was not.
Alpha Trion [the protagonists have just learned the truth, and are bitter about it]
Now you have seen the truth.
[crushed and bitterly]
Every day... every single day of my life... has been... a lie.
[angered]
My God, I knew it! Deep down, I always felt something was off.
[bitterly]
He deceived... everyone.
[angered]
Sentinel bought himself power and then put us to work paying off his debt.
[ashamed]
I can't believe it. Well, obviously, I can believe it; I just saw it, but I still... I can't believe it.
[bitterly]
Sentinel lied [frowns angrily, and starts to boil up] to my face.
It was all a sham. How could we have been so gullible? Oh, this... this is going to change everything.
[Orion, Elita, and B notice D-16 grunting in anger and stomping on his miner badge.]
You just had to do it, didn't you?
You just had to go to the surface, had to enter the Iacon 5000; you just had to break protocol!
Who cares about protocol?
I do! I care, because nothing bad happens when you stay on protocol!
Sentinel Prime has been forcing us to work in the mines until our gears strip. And all the while, he's been giving the Energon away to our greatest enemies.
Uhh, and what do you think he's gonna do to us when he finds out that we know?
I'm not thinking about what he's going to do; I'm thinking about what we're going to do.
Well, that's the whole thing! You're never thinking about anything else, just yourself! Fantastic! Another Orion Pax master plan! I can't wait to hear this!
Hey, don't you want to stop him?
NO, I WANT TO KILL HIM! I want to put Sentinel in chains and march him through the mines so EVERYONE can see him for the FALSE PRIME that he is! I want him to suffer, and then to die in DARKNESS! But we all know that it doesn't matter what I want, right, Pax? The fact is, we're just cogless bots. Right?! [Orion begins to ponder] Ha, ha, we had limited options, and now... now we have none.
Alpha Trion No son or daughter of Cybertron is born without a cog.
Oh, yeah. I've been myself since I came online, and this slot's always been empty.
What are you saying? Are you saying...?
No! No way! Nobody could be that evil, not even Sentinel.
Alpha Trion He removed your cogs before you came online.
D1 D-16
[D-16 tears Megatronus' cog from Sentinel's limp body and holds it up. He turns to address the terrified crowd of Iaconites]
THE AGE OF PRIMES HAS ENDED! NO MORE FALSE PROPHETS! FOLLOW ME, AND YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BE DECEIVED! RIIISE UUUP!
HG The High Guard
[The High Guard begins the chant.]
RISE UP. RISE UP. RISE UP. RISE UP.
Alpha Trion [The Primes' ghostly ethereal figures appear, surrounding Orion, overseeing the ceremony.]
Orion Pax, your noble sacrifice for the greater good has proven you worthy in the eyes of Primus. He entrusts in you the future of Cybertron, and...the Matrix of Leadership!
D1 D-16
[A pulse of Energon emerges... It pulls Orion towards it. The beam of Energon forms a glowing shape... the Matrix of Leadership appears. Meanwhile, B and Elita can only watch in horror as a lot of the High Guard are riled up by their new leader.]
I WILL LEAD US ALL INTO THE FUTURE!
D1 D-16
[D-16 replaces his T-Cog with the new one. Energy radiates through him as he begins his metamorphosis; he grows bigger, metal plating becoming jagged as he adopts his iconic appearance. Like an emperor, D-16 proclaims:]
I... AM...
Alpha Trion [At the same moment -- A gift from Primus himself, floating into Orion's chest. Causing the shredded metal to reform around it, accepting the Matrix. Power flows through Orion, repairing his wounds. He transforms.]
ARISE!
M Megatron
[Optimus' eyes flicker open. He shoots up towards the top of the Well. Meanwhile, in the city: Iaconians run for their lives.]
Burn it down! ALL OF IT!
[Megatron proceeds to destroy a monument of Sentinel with rapid fire from his fusion cannon as the High Guard members begin attacking Iacon, relishing in the chaos.]
All hail Megatron! [he along with Shockwave and Soundwave begin firing around Iacon]
He's gonna kill everyone!
[Megatron turns to shoot more images when -- Elita latches onto his fusion arm.]
Stop! It's over!
M Megatron
It's over when every last one of his followers is DEAD!
M Megatron
[Elita and B-127 fight Megatron, who overpowers them. He is about to finish off B-127, until Optimus bursts in, pushing Megatron aside. Optimus then lands and stands up. We see him in a new, upgraded body, with the Matrix inside his chest]
Impossible... Primus gave you the Matrix?!
We could've built the future together...
M Megatron
I'll build it myself... after I tear down everyone IN MY WAY!
[Megatron charges Optimus, who manifests his battle mask. They go to war.]
