The only remaining group of the uninfected walks on the dead world of Cybertron, faint screams echo in the distance as the infected battle and fight each other.

Optimus Prime walks at the front, his footsteps heavy but resolute. "Cybertron is already dead yet Primus's power ever fades, the plague’s reached every system. If we don’t reach Rodimus soon, there won’t be anyone left to save."

Arcee tightens her grip on her blaster, optics flickering with worry. "He’s still out there, Optimus. I can feel it. But if the plague’s taken him completely… even seeing us could send him into a frenzy."

Kup snorts, shaking his head. "Bah! In the billions of years of us fighting this war, I've never seen anything like this, still we don't have the gift of taking risks."

Sky Lynx lifts his head proudly, wings twitching with restrained arrogance. "It is precisely in times such as these that true heroes rise! Have faith, my comrades — for we shall emerge triumphant, as always!"

Octane rolls his optics and folds his arms. "Yeah, sure, bird-cat. Keep narrating. Maybe the psychos will stop and applaud before they tear us apart."

Fortress Maximus turns sharply, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Enough. Keep your comms low. Noise draws attention — and attention will get us all killed."

Spike glances around the ruins, his voice shaking slightly. "This used to be home… I can’t even recognize it anymore." He hesitates, looking down. "Daniel’s out there somewhere. I just… can’t believe he’s one of them now."

The Quintesson hovers nearby, its faces rotating as it speaks in its eerie multi-toned voice. "Only a fool would fight, it is every man for himself, we should be hiding not wandering this pathetic world."

Optimus Prime turns toward the Quintesson, his blue optics flaring. "Hatred spreads without reason, we cannot hide not when innocents are being into slaves of senseless bloodlust. Now is not the time for selfishness Quintesson and that means you too Octane."

Kup loads his weapon with a click and mutters under his breath. "Then let’s stop talking about it and move before Galvatron gets bored and comes lookin’ for us."

Arcee presses a hand to her visor, scanning the distance. "Wait— movement ahead. Three klicks north. Big energy readings. Could be Rodimus… or worse."

Sky Lynx spreads his wings, his tone suddenly serious. "Then it seems destiny awaits us sooner than expected."

Fortress Maximus raises his head, optics narrowing. "Everyone keep some distance from each other. If it’s Rodimus, we fight. If it’s not…" his voice drops into a low rumble "…we run."

The dead world of Cybertron is silent yet an ambush from the infected is ever likely but right now the only one they need is Rodimus so Optimus can reclaim the Matrix and empty billions of years of wisdom into the cosmos and cure the hate plague.