With the Dead Universe contracting around them at increasing speed, Optimus Prime and his team are distressed to discover that the portal they used to cross over from the living universe has closed. Nightbeat discovers a miniscule tear in the fabric of the universe, large enough only to admit a short message from Wheelie, who can do nothing but verify their dire straits. Kup proposes that the others use the portal within him to escape, but Nightbeat refuses; having observed that all Dead Universe residents seem to have a link connecting the worlds within them, he suggests that he, being dead already, be the one to sacrifice themselves. Prime tries to speak up, but Rodimus shouts him down, unwilling to let him give up his life again... except that wasn't what Prime was going to say. From somewhere, he and Cyclonus can hear singing...

On Cybertron, Shockwave at last initiates the final stage of his plan. With Galvatron held fast in Monstructor's arms, Jhiaxus uses his former ally's link to the Dead Universe in conjunction with the chronal drive of Turmoil's ship to drain the life-energy out of the Dead Universe from its very beginning (in turn, causing it to be, and always have been, dead). In response to Galvatron's demands, Shockwave explains the history of his Regenesis ores, and how they are being employed: by combining Ore-14 and Ore-2 in the Necrotitan and then exposing the result to the transmutative Ore-7, brought by Metroplex, he has fundamentally altered the nature of life and death... by merging Ore-6 with Ore-8 he has gained mastery of the potential energy of all matter... and by blending Ore-1 with Ore-13, time is now at his command... all to facilitate the very real "Dark Cybertron" prophecy. His pontifications are observed by Metalhawk and a puzzled Waspinator, who realize that things are much worse than they originally believed—a conclusion that has also been reached by the discorporated Skywarp, who manages to solidify himself long enough to teleport the pair out of the cavern.

In the wake of the Necrotitan's defeat, the Autobots and Decepticons accomplish the unlikely achievement of celebrating together. Bumblebee has Megatron's wounds tended to by Ratchet, though the medi-bot is less than happy about the task, even in the face of Megatron's genuine compliments as he goes about his work, including the revelation of his own pre-war desire to become a medic. The Constructicons arrive to continue gushing over a frustrated Prowl; Ultra Magnus tries and fails to convince a reluctant Chromedome into using his mnemosurgery skills on Metroplex; and most everyone else retires to Swerve's for a drink and a song. Just as Brainstorm—grumpy from a "sparkache"—is taking Bluestreak to task over his linguistic quirks, Swerve is reduced to a quivering mass by the arrival of his hero, Blurr, who he promptly embarrasses himself in front of.

A little later, Prowl visits the med-center to see Bumblebee, arriving just as Ratchet, Fixit, and Flatline have completed the task of rebuilding Arcee with a new body; asking if she has made the change as part of a fresh start, he only gets sarcasm in return. 'Bee is busy talking with Megatron—who is recalling the Simanzi Massacre and starting to call into question much of his approach to the war—so instead, Prowl goes looking for Chromedome, finding him brooding on a cliff overlooking the city. The talk that follows is curt and tense, with Prowl angry at Chromedome for invading his mind, and Chromedome angry at Prowl for putting Overlord on the Lost Light, leading to Rewind's death... and when Prowl fails to suppress a self-satisfied smirk, Chromedome snaps, grabs him, and hurls him over the cliff edge!

Within Metroplex, Ultra Magnus gets an update on the Titan's condition from Windblade and Nautica, as he heals thanks to the infusion of Ore-7. Though answers are sparing, Windblade has at least discerned that Metroplex picked up the ore at some point in the past, and jettisoned it from h

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