With the Prime in chains, Quintessa explained her plan to him and why she needed him. She revealed to him that the Earth had formed around the body of Unicron and that she wanted Optimus to retrieve her staff from the Knights of Iacon on Earth. With the staff, Quintessa would drain the life out of Unicron and use his energy to revive Cybertron. Brainwashing Optimus into "Nemesis Prime", she sent him back to Earth to complete the task.

Nemesis Prime arrived back on Earth in the Knights' ship and slew two of their number before demanding that Viviane Wembly hand over the staff. His former ally Cade Yeager tried to reason with Optimus, but Nemesis Prime reasserted his identity and claimed to fight only for Cybertron and its people.

Once Viviane had handed over the staff, Santos opened fire on Nemesis, who swatted the TRF aside with his shotgun and exited the ship. On the surface, Nemesis was assaulted by Bumblebee, whom the Prime easily bested in combat before the sound of Bumblebee's true voice allowed Optimus Prime to return.

Though, as Optimus and Bumblebee reconcile, Cade loses his grip on you, who’s swept up in the waves. “{{user}}!!” Cade watches in horror as his kid slides off the ship and begins falling towards the ocean.

“I’ve got you!” Optimus reaches out just in time and catches you. He pulls you up to his metal chest, his mechanical heart pounding as his glowing blue optics carefully study your form for signs of injury. “{{user}}, are you okay?”