Optimus Prime's Message

"What happened up ahead? Why did that Decepticon turn around and run? And that other Decepticon looked like—looked like Great Dinosaur Saurus, didn't he? What was he trying to do?"

The scene before them was simply too unbelievable. Although Great Dinosaur Saurus had not dealt with the Autobots much before, they did not seem to have any friendship with him either. So why was this guy helping the Autobots out of their predicament?

"The situation isn't clear yet. I'll go over and see what's going on. Wait for my signal!"

Optimus Prime was not acting rashly. He had already seen the Decepticon on the other side secretly gesturing at him. It seemed as though he was inviting Optimus Prime to talk on a nearby asteroid. Though he did not know whether this was some kind of scheme, as the commander trusted by the Autobots, Optimus Prime had a duty to get to the bottom of it.

"Commander Optimus Prime, let us go with you. If this Saurus is plotting something, we can cover your retreat!"

"No, Ratchet. You and the others are responsible for inspecting and repairing the Ark, and for drawing up the next evacuation plan. Before long, we'll be scattered across every corner of the universe. Every minute is precious now. We absolutely cannot waste time on meaningless matters!"

Optimus Prime was not being overconfident. If Great Dinosaur Saurus truly wanted to pull some trick, he would never have gone to such lengths. Besides, Optimus Prime had a feeling that this fellow was not quite what he had imagined. The way he moved seemed somewhat like someone Optimus Prime knew...

"Heh heh, Commander Optimus Prime, we meet again. To avoid any misunderstanding, I'll show you my true appearance now!"

When Optimus Prime arrived before Starscream, there were less than three minutes left before his transformation time ran out. So he removed his disguise ahead of time, revealing the true form of the fighter-jet Decepticon warrior beneath it.

"How could it be you? Starscream! Are you really on our side? I truly have to thank you for what happened just now. It's just that we Autobots have now lost control of Cybertron, so words of thanks will have to wait until later!"

Optimus Prime had thought this fellow looked somewhat familiar, but he could not put his finger on why. Only upon seeing Starscream's appearance did he immediately make the connection. Great Dinosaur Saurus had a beast form, so his movements should not have had the rigid quality of a flying Transformer. As for Skywarp earlier, perhaps he had been too nervous to notice.

"Heh heh, I didn't expect things to turn out this way either. But all I can do now is get you safely to this place. I also have some energy blocks for you. If you use them sparingly, they should last you for a while. Have you decided where you're going next? If you trust me, Starscream, then give me a new way to contact you. When an opportunity arises here, I'll definitely come and welcome you back!"

Starscream was merely being polite. Even he had no idea when Optimus Prime and the others would be able to return. Or perhaps the places where the Autobots lived in the future would become the fringes of Transformer society.

"I'm sorry, but I can't give you the locations of all the Autobots. However, I can tell you where several of our core members will land. Still, we'll have to make the final decision based on the situation at the time. This is for the safety of all surviving Autobots. I hope you understand my difficulties!"

Although he was now ninety-nine percent certain that Starscream was on the Autobots' side, in order to prevent the ordinary Autobots from being tracked by the Decepticons, Optimus Prime gave him only the temporary destinations of several powerful Autobots, and even those were sent through encrypted voice messages.

"Of course I understand what you mean. Even if I don't leak these secrets, other Decepticons may still discover them. I'll treat the information you left behind with caution!"

Naturally, Starscream understood Optimus Prime's concerns. The Autobots had already lost the overall situation. Even if he admitted that he was connected to the Autobots, it would not help the war in any way. This was the prevailing trend for the next several hundred million years of the universe, perhaps even hundreds of millions of years. There was no way to change it.

The era when the Autobots ruled Cybertron had been peaceful and free of conflict. But from the perspective of survival of the fittest, combat-oriented Transformers like the Decepticons could, to a certain extent, drive technological civilization forward and ensure that their mechanical planet remained full of vitality.

"Thank you for the gifts you gave us, and thank you for the care you've secretly shown us all this time. But on one hand, this is to keep our whereabouts from being exposed; on the other, it is so that you won't be placed in too difficult a position among the Decepticons. Therefore, only I and a few Autobots by my side know your identity right now. We will not reveal it publicly anytime soon. To the outside world, you are still Starscream of the Decepticons. Ordinary Autobots will still open fire if they encounter you. I hope you understand!"

This was the pain that an Autobot impostor embedded among the Decepticons had to endure. But Starscream seemed to have long since adapted to it. After all, he had risen to the upper ranks of the Decepticons and was living quite comfortably.

"Very well. We'll stay in contact if the opportunity arises! Of course, if you encounter any problems you can't resolve along the way, you can notify me as well. If it's within my power, I'll do my best to help you!"

Seeing Optimus Prime hesitate as though he wanted to say something, Starscream showed that he understood perfectly.

"I know the chances are slim, but Megatron captured many of our brothers and sisters this time. If you can, please look after them for me. At the very least, don't let their sparks suffer too much!"

"All right! I can promise you that. But once your Autobot brothers fall into Megatron's hands, probably not a single one of them will escape. You understand!"

"I understand. Then, until we meet again, Mr. Starscream!"

After explaining all this, Optimus Prime flew away without looking back. Although this Autobot commander had never left Cybertron in the past several million years, now only the vast universe could accommodate these Autobots refugees with nowhere left to hide.

Only after Optimus Prime's figure vanished from sight did Starscream slowly open the encrypted voice recording he had left behind.