The Trial of Rodimus Prime

"Out of the way, Hotrod!!" Optimus Prime yelled once more as he slowly took aim at the Decepticon leader with whom Hotrod was now grappling. A few precious seconds later, and the brash young autobot again felt the steely grip of Megatron's fingers around his throat. A shield. He was going to use Hotrod as a shield. "Fall..." the Decepticon leader cried as he blasted Prime with shot after shot. Then, coldly, Megatron cast the gasping Hotrod aside, and everything to him became a blur.

A second later, it seemed, Hotrod stood in the Autobot medical bay. "I fear the wounds are...fatal," came the familiar grim evaluation by Perceptor. The disorientation again surrounded Hotrod, as Prime spoke again. "...and light...our darkest hour...". And, again, the Matrix fell from Prime's lifeless hand, and was caught by a quick-thinking Hotrod. As it touched his hands, he felt a warm glow, as if all the great Autobot leaders of the past were a part of him. But quickly he handed the matrix to its new rightful owner. Ultra Magnus.

Hotrod's surroundings again blurred, and he was standing in the bowels of Unicron. "First Prime....then Ultra Magnus...now you.... It's a pity you Autobots die so easily, otherwise I might feel a sense of satisfaction now."
Galvatron's rasping voice echoed in the metallic chamber. And then, Hotrod once more opened the Matrix of Leadership, becoming Rodimus Prime, and utterly devastating the planet devourer Unicron.

Unfortunately, Rodimus's surroundings blurred again. This time, he was standing before the Quintesson judge on the planet of the Sharkticons.

"Rodimus Prime," hissed the prosecutor, "You are herby charged with the following crimes: Failure to protect those you love. Failure to eliminate the Decepticon threat. Causing the death of your former commander, Optimus Prime. Existing as a burden on your fellow Autobots. The deaths of countless beings due to the careless collateral damage your battles cause."

The Quintesson tribunal droned its required ceremonial dialogue. "You stand accused of the aforestated crimes. The penalty for such crimes is deactivation.  How do you plead?"

"Not Guilty!" Rodimus yelled, stretching at his energy bonds in a vain attempt to free himself.

"So noted. Counsel for the prosecution, call your first witness."

"As you command, your honor. For its first witness, the prosecution calls...Optimus Prime,"

Rodimus gasped as Optimus Prime stepped slowly towards the dais from a darkened doorway. His eyes glowed blue, as they always had, but his frame was dark, metallic grey. The color of the dead.

"Optimus!" Rodimus Prime called desperately, "Optimus help me!"

The deceased Autobot leader did not respond.

"Was this the Cybertronian responsible for your death?" hissed the Prosecutor.

"Yes," Prime replied.

"And did he do so by entering into a fight that was not his?" the tentacled robot probed further.

"Yes" again, the soulless reply from Optimus Prime.

"Next witness, Your honor. The Prosecution calls Decepticon leader Galvatron."

Optimus Prime faded from view as the reflective violet armor of Galvatron became visible on the witness stand.  The prosecutor smiled as the Decepticon approached.

"Galvatron, you are the greatest threat to Earth and the galaxy in known space, are you not?"

"Most would agree with that statement," Galvatron replied with a smirk.

"And how is it you gained your newfound power?"

"It was a gift from Unicron"

"Would you have had occasion to cross paths with Unicron had Hotrod not interfered with your battle with Optimus Prime?"

"No."

"Next witness, your honor. In the interests of time, we call the entire Autobot army to the stand."

"No...." Rodimus whispered as every living Autobot appeared atop the dais in the gigantic witness stand. Accusing eyes pierced his titanium outer shell and deep into the heart within. They saw him as a failure.

The prosecutor's teeth gnashed. "Of all the Autobot leaders in the past, is this Rodimus Prime not the weakest, most indecisive, and most ineffective? And has not his leadership cost the lives of many of your Autobot comrades?" he hissed to the witnessed.

Various signs of affirmation arose from each and every Autobot on the stand.

"Your honor, the prosecution rests."

Rodimus prime hung his head, lubricant dripping from his optic sensors. It was true. He was a failure. He was a failure at everything.

"Has your honor, the Imperial Magistrate, reached a verdict?" questioned the prosecutor.

"I have," said the crowned face.

"Guilty or Innocent?"

"Innocent," the Quintesson said, turning to the Death's Head face.

"And the punishment?"

"Feed him to the sharkticons."

Rodimus did not attempt to fight. He merely kept his head lowered as the platform he stood upon dropped away, and he fell towards the waiting jaws of the Sharkticons."

"Prime!!" a familiar voice called from above. "Prime!!!" It was the old man, Kup. Rodimus looked up to see Kup's outstretched arm growing smaller and smaller in the distance.

"Prime would you wake up!" Kup shouted, shaking Rodimus from his diagnostic station. "Musta been some dream you were having."

"...yeah, Kup...it was. Some dream."

The End.