Many years ago, before the Great War, Optimus Prime was originally known as Orion Pax; a young data clerk who worked in Iacon, under the wing of Alpha Trion.

When Primus was reaching to a critical state, Orion Pax went to Cybertron's core and tried to help Primus. Sensing potential and nobility within Orion, Primus gave him the Matrix, thus turning Orion Pax into Optimus Prime.