One teleport later, the elementals were back at the base. Magnus was so tired he could hardly walk, so Optimus carried him back to their room. The poor bot had used up a lot of his power to teleport so many bots at the same time and to such a distance. It was amazing that he could do it at all. No wonder his tech specs had ten for endurance.
“Optimus … ?” Magnus muttered, his optics coming back online. “Where … are you taking me?”
“To recharge.” The blue mech answered. Magnus murmured an “Okay” in answer and closed his optics again.
At the base, they had a space ship built. It was going to be used to go back to earth to visit it, but now there were more pressing matters to tend to. Cybertron was going though hell without its Orb. The base had to activate its battle mode for protectiveness against the planet’s earthquakes and electric storms. Right now, most of the crew were getting ready to leave to what looked like Elementus. It seemed that was where the New Ones were heading, according to the scanners who were scanning the ship. The elemental signature Starscream had placed on the ship worked like a charm.
Optimus entered his room. It was large and had a large recharge bed in the corner. There was no need for windows as the base was underground, but there were panels, which created a mirror image of the scenes outside. Right now, the black clouds shot down lightning and rained down acid. There was a computer also, and a desk with notes on it.
Optimus placed his brother on the recharge bed and then gathered up some of his weapons that were hanging on the wall. His rifle, a large sword and a pistol were apart of his arsenal; all improved with the help of the crew on Plikaton, who had dealt with the New Ones before and had the metals available to destroy them. He picked them up and shrinked them so they would fit in his sub-space bag.
Magnus watched drowsily as his brother wandered around the room, picking up random items and tossing them in the bag. It put another memory in his mind … of a day he’d rather forget …

+++

Magnus watched as his brother hurriedly gathered his weapons and some extra energon. He was preparing to leave to the planet Earth that currently had the Minicons on it. The beacon had arrived mere minutes ago, and already his brother knew he had to leave to stop Megatron. Optimus had told Magnus that he was in charge now, being second in command and all. Jetfire was supposed to be, but Optimus said he would be coming to Earth in the near future, so it would be best to put Magnus in charge.
“Optimus?” Magnus asked timidly.
The proud leader of the Autobots looked up at him and said, “What is it?”
“You’ll come back, wont you?” Magnus asked softly. He averted his gaze and stood up from his sitting position on the recharge bed.
Optimus looked up from his packing and turned around, looking at his brother with sorrow. He knew Magnus hated him going anywhere without him. But this time was different … he didn’t know if he would be coming back or not.
“I don’t know …” Optimus answered and his brother looked up, tears in the corner of his optics. “Come here.” He said, raising his arm.
Magnus rushed to him in a second and hugged him. He hated saying goodbye. He hated it when his brother was gone, but this time, he wasn’t even sure if he would come back! At least every other time (which wasn’t many) he had known Optimus would come back. But this …
“Magnus,” Optimus said, his voice wavering a little, “I will do whatever it takes to get back here, alright?”
Magnus let him go and looked him in the optic. He wasn’t lying. He smiled a little and said, “I won’t recharge for a second until you do!”
“Yes you will,” Optimus said warningly, but the playfulness was evident. “Or I’ll haunt you till you die!”
Magnus laughed and hugged him again, whispering, “Come back, okay?”
Optimus held him close and said, “I’ll try.”

+++

Magnus came back online. He had been asleep for a few minutes, and in that time Optimus had started gathering his own things for him in a separate bag. Somehow, Magnus was glad that Optimus had never promised him anything that fateful day. If he did, then he knew he would’ve been twice as mad with him as he had been. But how could he have ever been mad in the first place? Yet … it didn’t matter now.
“I’m glad … you know.” Magnus said, sitting up.
Optimus fell over from his crouch on the ground in surprise. He thought Magnus was recharging!
Magnus saw this and chuckled when Optimus glared at him, and said, “You scared me!”
“Sorry,” Magnus replied, getting up and nearly falling over himself. He was still a bit tired and his limbs were stiff from teleporting. “I was just thinking of something.”
“What’s that?” Optimus said, getting up and picking up his bag and Magnus’s.
“That day when you left for Earth,” Magnus revised, “You never promised me you’d come back. Did you know you wouldn’t be?”
Optimus looked startled at the question. He had never thought about it like that before.
“I’m … not really sure.” Optimus said, thinking hard. “I think I sensed something in the future would happen, even if I didn’t notice it then. I guess that’s all I can really think of at the moment.”
Magnus merely nodded.
“Why did you ask?” Optimus said, and chucked him his bag.
Magnus caught it and said, “Thanks. Oh I just remembered it that’s all, and I wanted to know. And Optimus?”
“Hmm?” He had resumed gathering energon from a storage unit next to the ‘window’.
“When we get back, promise me you’ll have a game of Forest hide and seek with me, okay? I miss doing that …” Magnus said, taking on a wistful tone.
“Alright,” Optimus smiled, “I promise.”

***

Electrica groggily awoke.
She was aware of two things; one: her brothers were in the room with her also and two, she was in the med bay. Why she was there she didn’t know, but she did notice the rumbling of the base. She sat up, and she poked her brothers awake.
“Wake up!”
Razorblast grumbled and sat up, saying, “What happened?”
“Yeah, what the hell are we doing here anyway?” Medivo, who had just woken up also, asked.
“I dunno …” Electrica responded and then said, “Lets go and see Scavenger, he’ll know.”
“Ahh, your awake.”
All three bots span around to find Blades walking over to them.
“Blades?!” Razorblast said in surprise, and then asked, “What are we doing here?”
“You collapsed about an hour ago,” Blades answered, “and you were brought here.”
The three looked at each other in wonderment. Why had that happened?
“Anyway, we are all leaving into space soon, so you might want to pack.” Blades concluded, and left them to themselves.
“I wonder why we all collapsed at the same time?” Medivo mused to himself more than anything.
“I don’t know.” Razorblast said, uncharacteristically unnerved. “But I think we just better go and pack like the others. We don’t want to be left behind!”
They left the med bay, each heading to their own rooms. Electrica spotted Starscream and ran up to him. She knew he would’ve startled him from collapsing so suddenly.
“Starscream!” She called, running up to him.
He turned and sighed in relief, a grin surfacing on his face, “You woke up!”
“Yeah,” Electrica stopped in front of him, “I’m sorry if I scared you or something.”
“I’m … just glad you’re alright.” Starscream said awkward at the show of emotion. There was an awkward pause as the two stood there, not knowing what the other was thinking. Electrica was surprised that her teacher would be concerned for her, but she was happy that he was. He looked confused about what to do, so she acted. The red seeker gasped as she gave him a brief hug, saying, “Thank you.”
Starscream recovered and smirked, pulling away and saying, “You better go and pack, now. We’ll be leaving very soon.”
“Okay.” She chucked and said “See you on the ship!” She turned and ran to her room next to Blurr’s. Starscream smiled a little at the show of affection, and then proceeded to the ship; his things having been packed.

***

A white ship, similar to the Axalon, was standing in its launch pad at the other side of the base. It was huge and sleek, with the symbol of Cybertron on the side (The Autobot and Decepticon symbol combined and coloured blue) and huge engines. Ultrasound and Skyblast would be piloting the ship while Optimus commanded the battling that the ship would likely come across. They entered the main area of the ship and sat in their designated seats around the command centre. The four elementals each took a seat in the controls part of the cockpit, while Starscream, Electrica and Magnus took theirs at the weapons controls. Their elements (and Electrica’s lightning abilities) would be able to be used if the New Ones attacked.
“Okay, are we all set?” Optimus called.
“Affirmative sir.” Red Alert said from his seat at the sub-controls panel. “Everyone is on board and ready to leave.
“Countdown to blast off in ten,” Brainstorm, who was acting as a director for the take off, said, “Nine.”
“Eight,
“Seven,
“Six,
“Five,
“Four,
“Three,
“Two,
“One,
Blast off!”
The engines roared and fire spewed out of the jets at the end of the shuttle. And the Axalon II headed into space; destination: Elementus.

***

Out in space, the white ship soared away from its home planet. Looking down with sorrow, Hotshot made a vow to return the now stormy planet to its original state. He didn’t know how he would do it, but he must. For his sake as well as everyone else’s.
He looked over at Sideswipe. He too was sad to see the planet in this state, but he knew he would be okay. They might even get an elemental power now they were heading to the planet that provided them.
“Jetfire?” Hotshot asked the white mech. He turned from his seat at the computer screens of outside and answered, “yeah?”
“What element do you think would suit me?” He asked, a little nervous.
“Element?” Jetfire laughed, “Not thinking on taking on a cloak are you?”
“Actually … yeah I was.” Hotshot said quietly, looking away.
“Hmm,” Jetfire thought about it and then said, “Plasma.”
“Plasma?!” Hotshot was surprised to say the least. “Why that?”
“I dunno,” The V.C replied, “I just think it would suit you.”
“What about me?” Sideswipe asked, striding over.
Jetfire glanced at him and said, “Probably ice, and I hear that’s been taken. So I don’t know.”
“Aww,” Sideswipe complained, and went back over to his seat near the windows.
Jetfire chuckled and then whispered, “Between you an me, I don’t think he has the strength to handle a cloak.”

“How’s the tracking going?” Magnus asked Ultrasound as he set up weapons with Starscream.
“We’re locked onto the ship,” The said mech answered, “The radar indicates we are about 1,000 miles away from the target. They are going at a rapid speed, but with luck we could catch them in at least an hour.”
“Good, that will give us time.” Magnus replied and nodded. He then turned back to setting up a cannon controls on the inside. The cannon would allow Starscream and Electrica to use their attacks though the barrel like a giant lightning gun. Magnus wanted to make sure everything was in order, and it was.
“Time to relax now.” Magnus said happily and wandered over to his seat. Sitting down, he rested his head back and closed his optics, somewhat content.
Optimus observed this small scene and smiled. Magnus was becoming more and more the bot he was 500 years ago; carefree, happy and very skilled. He was glad that his brother was recovering somewhat from being separated for so long.

***

Brainstorm sat at the construction area of the ship, thinking and helping building a weapon with Sideswipe. He was an accomplished weapons designer, and he had figured out a way to destroy the New Ones quickly and efficiently.
“Look at this data,” He had said to his partner. “It shows that the New Ones are not actually androids by creation. They are actually an organic species that can morph itself into anything it wants.”
“That’s incredible!” Sideswipe had answered, awing at the specs on one of the bodies they had captured and brought in to observe. “So, they transform into a more advanced form of the planet they wish to destroy, and then change back to their original state when they’re done?”
“It seems that way.”
“So, how would we beat them then?”
“Hmm …” He had thought about it for ages, but the solution came to him, “If we build a weapon that transforms them back to their original forms, then we could destroy them!”
“Alright! Lets do it.”
It wasn’t easy, but with the body they had found they had figured out that it’s morphing process required the force of the chemical C4NA, which could be neutralised by the chemical HR7O, which was also known as Acidic Energon. It was found on their planet in the metal that made up the forests, and could be used to create energy. But it also provided vital energy to the machines deep inside the planet, so therefore could not be harnessed. But the need this time was urgent, so they had gathered what they could from the nearby forest and proceeded to create a weapon to hold it. Once ready, it would spray them with the acid, and turn them back to their original forms.
The weapon looked a lot like a fusion cannon, but more sleek and would be coloured a purple so as to recognise it in the future. They had told Optimus and Magnus their plan before hand, they agreed to it. So, they had set to work.
“Pass me that spanner, Sideswipe.” Brainstorm requested, holding out his hand.
His partner did, and Brainstorm tightened a weak joint.
“Hey Brainstorm?”
“Yup?” Was the absent minded reply.
“Do you think this will work?” Sideswipe inquired.
“Dunno,” Brainstorm was used to the kid’s questions. “Lets hope so. I don’t want to think of what will happen to Cybertron if it doesn’t.”

***

BANG!
Magnus was jolted out of his doze when a crash against the ship wobbled it dangerously. The cause was evident as soon as the red and black bot saw the screen. The New Ones ship had come into site it seemed, and they didn’t like being followed.
“Magnus, get ready to launch!” Scavenger called to him, trying to help get the ship stable.
“Right!” Magnus answered, and got up. Running over to the cannon he had prepared earlier, he saw lasers fly from the other smaller cannons being controlled by Hoist, Scavenger, Hotshot, Blurr and some others. He saw Starscream preparing to fire lightning though the barrel, and ran up to him.
“Get ready!” He ordered, and focused his power on Starscream’s own. His goal was to help control the direction of the element, as lightning had the tendency to wander. Electrica had decided to watch the first one to learn how to do it herself.
Starscream charged up his elemental power, and gripped the bar that would conduct his attack. In a second, he let it our in a blast of bright light that he saw shoot out of the ship, and then suddenly jack-knife towards it’s intended target. The red seeker looked up, and saw Magnus focusing on his attack and bending it to his will. The lightning struck the ship hard, and it shuddered off course for a moment before flying back to its position.
The attacks continued, but neither side saw a brightly coloured planet drift slowly into their view …
“We’re losing it!” Scavenger muttered as a huge blast of laser scraped the front of the ship.
“No! We have to keep fighting!” Hotshot answered and blasted the enemy ship.
Suddenly, an alarm rang though the ship. A second later they knew why; they were heading straight into a crash landing at Elementus.
Skyblast and Ultrasound wrenched at the controls. The New Ones ship swerved and disappeared! The two pilots were shocked, but they saw the ship land due to the radar on the dashboard showing so. They broke thought the atmosphere and the crew held on. The ship was damaged, and was shaking violently. Finally, they managed to land without too much damage done to the ship.
The crew stayed still for a moment, all relived that they had landed somewhat successfully. Finally, Optimus stood up and ordered everyone to disembark.
“Soundwave, you and the other technicians try and see what damage has been done and repair it.” He ordered, and received positive answers.
They all got out. Elementus was like Cybertron in some ways; it had steel buildings and many structures around. Right now, they had landed in a remote area, where there were small shrubs and trees in all colours of the rainbow. The sky was blotched with colour, and had white wispy clouds patched over it like windows though the sky. The planet was one of the stranger ones Optimus had encountered on his journey, but he liked it. It had a sense of serenity to it that was hard to come by in the universe these days. There were no wars on this planet. Everyone lived in peace.
“Still looks the same,” Magnus commented, coming up to Optimus to observe.
“Yes it does,” Optimus answered, “but I wonder why the New Ones are here? Surely not to take over this planet as well?”
“I don’t know,” Magnus murmured, then his face brightened. “Oh I love these things!”
Optimus turned around to find his brother crouched on the ground, beckoning a rabbit like creature to him. It was the size of a cat to a human, and from what Optimus knew, they were very tame creatures. It hopped into Magnus’s arms tried to lick his face while Magnus laughed. Optimus shook his head and said, “Since when are you the pet type?”
“Never,” Magnus said, looking up at his brother, “I just like these guys.” He placed the creature down on the ground again and stood up, his face turning serious. “We better get to the Element dome. We might find some answers there.”
“Good idea.” Optimus nodded and looked back over to his troops. They were also exploring the land they were on, while some like Scavenger and the elementals. They had been here before, and did not need to wander about. Optimus called everyone to order, and they transformed. The ones who knew this planet went first, while the others followed.
She is close.

***

“You know what you must do now.”
A shadowy figure stood in the doorway of the New Ones ship. It was impossible to make out the persons features by the dim light of the control centre.
“I understand, Iseno.”
Iseno nodded his head and said, “Destroy Optimus Prime!”
The person left, swishing its cloak.

***

The Dome of Elements was an extraordinary place. It was partially transparent and pearly in colour. Wisps of colour swam across it in no particular pattern and seemed to give off a faint glow. The entire building was huge even for Transformers. It was here that all of the cloaks originated.
“The place hasn’t changed a bit.” Scavenger said. He had come here in search of guidance from the elders of the planet, and had been given the Cloak of Earth as a gift for helping them fend off an alien race.
“Greetings Cybertronians.” Said a voice.
Looking down, they saw one of the people of Elementus. The size no bigger than the average human, this one looked male. He was clothed in robes of silver and had a purple gem resting in his head.
“Hello Orion.” Optimus said, kneeling to his level in an act of respect.
“Welcome back, Optimus Prime.” He replied, bowing. “I take it you are here to see our Elder?”
“The matter is of great importance.” Optimus replied. Orion nodded and said, “Follow me.”
Optimus stood up and followed him. Those with elemental powers were asked to summon their cloaks, so they did so. Starscream looked around in awe. He had never been to Elementus before, and he felt out of place, as he had not received his cloak like everyone else had. He hated wearing it sometimes because of the colour, but he was a respectful bot. And he respected these people’s wishes. His brother liked his cloak he had told him. It was easy for him as the colour matched him perfectly. He looked over at him; he was looking around also and Starscream whispered, “When did you get your cloak?”
“I got it with the others,” Thundercracker whispered back. “Flare forced me to come along!”
Starscream snickered.
Orion led them to the large doors that led to the Elder’s chamber. He knocked on it, and a deep voice answered, “Enter, Orion.”
He opened the doors.
Inside was a large room with a desk at one end and many more around the dome shaped chamber. It was coloured like the rest of the building; silver with other colours mixed in. The light of their twin suns shone though the open window to their left, but the room was still dim. A cloaked figure about the size of a transformer turned around, and his smile grew bright, “TC! Screamer!”
“Skywarp?!” Thundercracker answered in amazement as his youngest brother stood up, his pale blue cloak swishing as he did. “You actually got a cl - oof!”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence as the said seeker ran up to him and gave him a hug. “Its great to see you!”
The elder behind the desk laughed. He was sitting up on a high chair so he could see the Transformers properly. He was old, but remained active in may things like sports and games played on the planet. “Skywarp has missed his brothers greatly these past years, Optimus.” He addressed the black-cloaked figure of the leader.
“It seems that way.” Optimus replied, looking over at the three seekers. Skywarp was very shocked to find Starscream alive, but gave him an extra big hug much to the red seekers dismay.
Once everything was back in order, the Elder turned to them all and said, “It appears that the New Ones have come to your planet also. I have been watching the events, and I knew you would come here. I wish there was something we could to do to help you, but I’m afraid there is nothing more we can provide. Except … Skywarp?”
“Yes Elder?” Skywarp grew to order and straightened his figure.
“Take our friends here to the Cloak chamber.” The elder then turned to Optimus, “I think you will find Elder Andromeda has more information regarding the events than I do.”
“Thankyou very much, Elder Rigel.” Optimus bowed and then followed Skywarp outside.
“So ‘Warp,” Thundercracker said as the seeker traced a path though the building he obviously knew. “What have you been up to these past 100 years?’
“Well, I got my cloak!” The black and purple seeker said, “And Elder Volans (the martial arts master) has been training me to control it fully. I am now the Master of Ice!”
“You got the cloak of Ice?” Hotshot, who was near the back, asked.
“That’s right,” Skywarp answered, “Elder Andromeda seemed to think it suited me the most.”
They followed him though the hallway that led to the chamber. Optimus watched on, but he felt insecure somehow … like something was coming …
Magnus noticed the absentness in his brother’s optics and knew what was wrong. He was feeling the bearer of light again. He reached out a hand and rested it on Optimus’s cranium. His brother started but then saw the look of concentration on his brother’s face. He was trying to find out what was going on with the bearer of light using Optimus. He drew away and said, “She is close.”
“She?” Optimus questioned.
“Yep, it seems that ‘it’ is a she.” Magnus announced. Then they stopped, having reached the huge doors that led to the cloakroom. Skywarp took out a key and inserted it into the lock and turning. The door creaked open and revealed the room Optimus knew so well.
On both sides of the long room were glass cabinets that contained one cloak. Above each there was a golden plaque reading the name of the element that the cloak contained in their language. At the very end of the hallway there was a cabinet unlike the rest. It was made of white marble and had the symbol of light and dark on it. The symbol of Ying and Yang.
“Hello Optimus. It is good to see you again.”
Elder Andromeda was the youngest of the elders on the planet. She tended to use her psychic powers to fly around the place and had the most childish ways. But when it came a time for knowledge, she got all lucid and became a wise elder like the rest.
“As is to you.” Optimus smiled.
“So,” She said, leading them over to the sacred cabinet, “You have come here to seek knowledge Optimus?”
“Yes I have.”
“Well, there isn’t much to tell,” Andromeda said flatly. “But I can tell you this – the New Ones come from the planet Stormus. They go to worlds to gather their Life Orbs and use them for themselves to make them stronger. They also want ours, but they are stuck at the moment. We had prepared before hand and they are now trapped in a dome of elemental energy. The only way they could get out is from outside help, which … I’m afraid they have.” Andromeda sighed. “I don’t know how long they will last – Whoa!”
The others started at her outburst, but she pointed to the end of the hallway that they had come though. There was a figure there, not able to be seen, but the white cloak was very obvious. They she turned and started to run.
“Wait!” Optimus shouted and ran after her. If she is the bearer of light, then maybe she would have some answers! He had to know what.
He heard someone call after him, but ignored it. He knew Magnus was following him.
The white figure led him out of the building and down an underground path. Optimus recklessly followed, and he knew somehow that this person would have answers. To what? Maybe why he got the dreaded Darkness element in the first place. Suddenly, the figure disappeared, and Optimus ran to the edge of an opening to another place.
It was a stadium. One that was of dome shape and had a ledge running around the edge of where he stood. Looking up, he saw that there were huge rocks like stepping stones hanging in the air and slowly moving around, as if it was being held by some unseen force. Standing on the closest one was – a transformer. Not a New One, but it was the same femme that Optimus had saved from them. And now that he looked at the white and beige transformer above him, he recognised her as the leader of Female warriors on Cybertron, but what was she doing here?
“Well, well, well, I thought you would follow me Optimus,” Her voice was sinisterly sweet. “You’re a fool …”
Optimus glared at her. “Hello, Elita-1.”