It was several days before Optimus could let Alita out of his quarters without panicking. The first night he had been too exhausted to resist recharge, despite the fear that she would not be there when he awoke. Alita had been woken several times by his muttering and nervous thrashing, but her soothing hands and voice managed to calm his nightmares, and soon he was deep in peaceful recharge. Once he was comfortable and quiet, she joined him in dreamland, snuggling close to him, reassuring him with her silent presence and taking comfort from his solid bulk as well. The next day she bustled about, tidying up as Prime continued his much-needed rest. He came out of his stupor slowly, then shot up bolt upright, anxiously searching. When he caught sight of her, the tension relaxed and he smiled shyly, a bit overwhelmed by his emotions.

"Hey there, sleepyhead," she smiled affectionately.

"Hey yourself," Optimus smiled back.

"Optimus, why does Magnus have the Matrix?" she asked abruptly, then instantly began cursing herself. He needed some more time before he would be ready to answer such questions.

"How did you know that?" he frowned, his mind momentarily distracted from his suffering.

"I sense its absence from within you. Perhaps that is due to the bond that Alpha Trion gave us."

Optimus looked unconvinced. "But how did you know that Magnus has it?"

Alita opened her mouth to reply, then stopped, pondering the question. "I'm not sure," she said slowly. "I could have sworn that he told me, but I can't remember him saying the words. I guess I somehow just knew."

Optimus looked puzzled. "Maybe you've acquired an affinity for the Matrix through your bond with me."

"Perhaps. I just don't know," Alita sighed. This was the least of her concerns at the moment. It could wait until later; right now Optimus needed her.

The next few days were spent coaxing Optimus out of the protective shell that he'd built around himself after she had gone. Alita could see how painful it was for him, facing the pain again, but with the pain came the ability to feel once more, to love, and the desire to go on. He haltingly shared all of his nebulous fears and anxieties, and several secrets so dark that he had kept them hidden from her. The burdens on his soul began to grow lighter, and he became curious about the outside world once more.

It was a few days more before Optimus would allow Alita to leave his sight. She spoke to his friends, urged them to contact him by e-mail, but not by more direct methods. He had come to fear the outside world as a source of pain, and reintroduction would have to be slow. Happily, the adjustment was not as long as she feared. Optimus soon willingly accepted radio messages, and then began cautiously initiating contact himself. The day he consented to visitors nearly moved Alita to tears of joy.

Today would be the last step in his gradual but steady recovery. Optimus stroked the battle mask that concealed his face. He hoped one day to remove it permanently, but right now he needed it for emotional support, sort of like a security blanket that he needed to face the outside world. He straightened his shoulders and stepped outside of his quarters, Alita following slowly behind.

Optimus nodded stiffly at the passerby in the halls, who nodded in return, a questioning look on their faces, but a stern glare from Alita kept them from inquiring. Alita didn't want Optimus to feel crowded and overwhelmed. Optimus greeted his closer friends with a bit more warmth, glad to be out and about again. Now that he was feeling better, his quarters felt confining. The scars were not completely gone, but he was eager to get on with his life.

Optimus pushed open the door to his office, then jumped in surprise when he saw Magnus behind the desk. He shook his head briefly, mentally berating himself. Of course Magnus was in his office -- Optimus still was not prepared to resume leadership, but it was strange to be on the other side of the desk.

Magnus rose and came around the desk to clasp Prime's hand in his own. "Good to see you, Optimus," he said warmly, relieved to see his old friend up and about.

"Likewise, Magnus," Optimus replied, returning the handshake. "It's good to be back among the living. How have things been going?"

"It was hairy for awhile. I honestly don't know what we would have done had Alita not succeeded in destroying the battleship. The Decepticon forces have not been eliminated by a long shot, but they're stunned and reeling. They'll be feeling this blow for a long time to come."

"That's good to hear," Optimus said in relief. His conscience had begun to prick him about what could have happened in his absence, but he still just couldn't face returning to his old post.

A sharp gasp from Alita made them both turn. She was clutching her chest, optics blazing brightly. "What's happening to me?" she cried. "It burns!"

Magnus locked optics with her, and some silent communication seemed to pass between them. His hands moved to his chest of their own accord, tracing the metal plating. And for the first time, he felt a response from the Matrix. The device pulsed within him, sending out gentle waves of energy. He shivered at the sensations. For this brief moment he understood what it was like to be Chosen, to have a rapport with the alien device, their symbol of hope and courage. But all he would ever have was this small taste of a world completely out of his comprehension, and that was fine with him. He doubted that he could cope with such a connection on a daily basis. The Matrix was giving him a first and last communication -- a suitable bearer had been Chosen.

"By the Matrix!" Optimus breathed, not realizing the aptness of the cliche. The sight before him was too fantastical to be believed, and he hastily ran a diagnostic on his optic sensors. He was witnessing the transferral of the Matrix to the next Chosen One, an event that he had thought he'd never get to see before death. Of course, he *had* died more than once before and transferred the Matrix himself, but he had known full well that Magnus was not the Chosen One, nor had Hot Rod been ready at the time to assume his responsibilities. And, above all, he'd certainly never believed that there would be another Autobot leader while he still lived.

In a trance, Alita stepped forward, drawn to the beckoning object within Magnus' chest casing. Dreamily he opened his chest panels, and the room was bathed in a soft yet blinding white glow. Energy pulsed within the crystalline facets of the Matrix, energy that seemed to reach out to the curvy purple figure. Magnus removed the Matrix and held it aloft, understanding the momentous importance of the occasion. "I believe this belongs to you," he said softly as he placed it in Alita's small hands.

"Thank you for keeping it safe," she replied softly as she brought the Matrix towards her chest. A small panel swung upwards, and within lay a perfect niche. Optimus frowned. He knew Alita's body inside out, and he was sure that this panel hadn't been there before. It was possible that it was a modification made for her mission, but that wasn't very likely. Was it possible that it was a modification made by the Matrix? The device had been known to adjust things to its specification, especially regarding its hosts.

Alita smiled beatifically as she slid the Matrix into place, panel sliding shut and hiding it from view. It all felt so right somehow, like fate. She felt tingles rushing through her body as the Matrix accessed her systems and began upgrading and modifying her defense systems. Her body changed slightly, but not nearly as much as Hot Rod's, becoming a bit more solid and durable, not to mention powerful. She no longer appeared so fragile and delicate. Her purple paint coat gleamed, and her Autobot brand seemed to be glowing.

The magical spell began to wear off, jerking the three back to reality. Alita stared down at her chest in disbelief. "Am -- I the Autobot leader?" she said in disbelief. Optimus nodded, beaming.

"But I don't understand. Why me? Why now?"

Optimus shook his head. "Nobody can ever fully understand the Matrix or its motives, but I can try to hazard a guess. You have been chosen now because there is a void that needs to be filled. You may have been chosen in particular for several reasons. You have just undergone a difficult trial of sorts that has undoubtedly changed you and prepared you for great responsibilities. You have also been close to the Matrix in a way for many years through me. You also have a special spirit, a certain fire that is needed to lead, a passion that I'm afraid Magnus lacks. Sorry, Magnus." Magnus waved away the apology dismissively. He wasn't offended by the remark, since he had never been eager to bear the burden of leadership of all troops.

Prime's tone turned teasing. "Besides, the Matrix has good taste. I couldn't imagine a cosier place to be stored than your chest."

Alita mock scowled and smacked his arm. "Cut it out! This is no joke. Am I really suited for the job? Will the others accept me? This is going to change everything. I'm just not sure it will work out. What do I know about leading?"

"More than I knew than I started," Optimus reassured her. "I had the same doubts and fears, and I managed to do all right, despite a few scrapes along the way. The Matrix has Chosen and accepted you, and the others will in time, some right away, while others will need more time. If they could adjust to Hot Rod, I'm sure they will have no problem with you. You're going to be an excellent leader. I know you can do it. I have faith in you."

Alita clasped his hand, moved by his words. "But what about you?"

"What about me?" Optimus replied. "The Matrix has already made its decision. I don't think I could face leading again as it is. I have too much on my conscience, and I can't face sending someone else to die. I'm sorry to have placed this burden on you, but it's part of the responsibility of leadership."

Alita nodded. "I've faced that situation before," she said sadly. "It was a terrible decision to make, but I knew that it had to be done, and I managed to go on."

"I guess this means that Orion Pax is back," Optimus mused.

"If so, it will be in name only," Alita said firmly. "We both know that you have changed far too much to go back to who you were. Orion is dead, while Optimus lives on. I don't mind if you keep 'Prime' as your name, for it is who you are. Leadership has sculpted you into the mechanism you are today, and the loss of the title changes nothing inside." She stroked his helmet affectionately. "Your name reflects your courage and compassion, your brave deeds and wise decisions. All of that is still inside of you, and I won't rob you of it. You have earned your name, and I insist that you keep it."

"As you command," Optimus said teasingly. Alita tried to smother a smile. He was teasing her already.

"What about you, Magnus?" Alita asked. "Do you have any problems with this? I don't want you to feel pushed aside."

Magnus smiled. "Not at all. I'm relieved to relinquish the reins of command to you. It was a burden that I never felt comfortable with -- too high-pressure and high-profile. I prefer to keep the smaller areas going. And Optimus is right; I can't think of anyone better suited to lead than you. But what are you going to call yourself?"

"Good question. I don't know if I want to change my name, but if I do I will be called... Prima."

Optimus knelt reverently at her feet, one arm across his chest, covering his fuel pump, head bowed in respect. "Hail Prima, leader of the Autobots. I swear eternal loyalty and service to you."

Alita smiled down at him tenderly, touched by his demonstration of acceptance and show of faith. "I never doubted you, but it's still reassuring to hear. Now please, get up and face me like an equal." Optimus rose to his feet and gazed at her questioningly. "I know that you will not resume leadership, but you won't be able to endure staying out of the loop for long. You need to be in the thick of things, thinking ahead and planning counter-moves instead of sitting alone in your quarters brooding or going stir-crazy. I have no idea how you managed to lead for so long without a clear second-in-command. And if you don't mind me putting it so bluntly, I'd love for you to be my second."

Optimus looked taken aback at the surprise announcement. He thought it over for a moment, then a smile broke through under his mask. "It sounds perfect. This way I can take some of the pressure off of you without feeling too much of it myself. I wish I had done this myself, but I guess I had felt too unsure of who to trust when alliances were just beginning to cement, and later on I was just too set in my ways, not to mention the fact that the others looked upon me as a god, not someone to directly work with. I'll help you out in any way I can."

"You can help prepare me to be sworn in as leader. And after that comes our bonding ceremony."

Prime's stunned look was almost laughable. "I never thought I'd live to see it," he choked.

Alita shook him gently. "Hey, don't go getting all mushy on me! I need a competent second to hold things together. You've got to be ready to act on my orders."

A wicked grin spread across his face. "I certainly don't mind working under a woman."

"Don't get cocky, buster, or you'll find your tailgate cooling off in the brig!" she snapped, practicing her commanding voice, which was frosty and no-nonsense but had no effect on Prime's impish expression, since he could see right through her. "Yes, ma'am. Anything you say, leader ma'am," he deadpanned.