Flashback: Six months in the past, the trial on Luna 2 takes an unexpected turn as Ultra Magnus informs the court of Megatron's decision to retract his earlier guilty plea. As Starscream, Rattrap, and Autobot High Command look on in anger and chagrin, Magnus delivers an affidavit on Megatron's behalf. Magnus recounts the alleged reasons behind the defendant's change of mind: while initially content to let justice take its course, the prosecution's course of action has convinced him that the trial is nothing more than a grandstanding political maneuver to promote the Autobots' version of events, including his "attempted mental violation" by Chromedome and Optimus himself presiding as Chief Justice. However, as Ultra Magnus is about to suggest a second course of action, the surviving Terrorcons and Seacons, freed from the brig of the Lost Light, storm the arena with the intent of rescuing their leader via orbital jump. As Optimus and co. move to engage the loyal soldiers, Seawing implores Megatron to grab his extra teleport pack, only for the former Decepticon leader to apologetically refuse. As the Decepticon soldiers are swiftly defeated, Optimus decrees that the court will adjourn for a brief recess...

Present: Onboard the Lost Light, assistant bartender and "entertainments officer" Bluestreak runs Brainstorm and Rung through the various Earth films he's got in store for the patrons of Swerve's while Whirl, confined to quarters for the suspected theft of Ultra Magnus' desk tidy, looks on through his holomatter avatar. Skids urges Riptide to finish his drink or risk being late to Megatron's education seminar, only for the Hydrobot to reply that class was cancelled today. This exchange gives Swerve opportunity to voice his displeasure with their new captain and predict that the class is yet another rung in the ladder of Megatron's domination of the universe.

Flashback: At the recess, high command converges to hear Ultra Magnus conclude Megatron's argument: in concurrence with the ancient legal system of Luna 2, different and separate from that of Cybertron, Megatron has invoked his right to be tried by the only body which can objectively process his charges: the Knights of Cybertron. Prowl and Starscream are quick to protest this unwelcome development, but Ultra Magnus insists that the trial cannot be reshuffled for the convenience of the prosecution's argument, and Optimus is quick to back him up, pointing out that their handling of the trial is just as important as the actual outcome. Rattrap also speaks up in favor of their argument, pointing out that such duplicity belies the trial as a strictly black-and-white moral affair.

Present: In the Lost Light's medibay, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, and Megatron look on as First Aid examines the contents of the mysterious coffin: Rodimus's apparent corpse. Though he is able to quickly confirm the gaping head wound as the cause of death, there is no obvious evidence that the figure isn't their captain...much to the shock and confusion of Rodimus himself, who arrives to view "his" corpse, bickering with "co-captain" Megatron all the while.

Flashback: Before the trial's conclusion, Optimus visits Megatron's cell once more, confronting him about his earlier request to have the trial take place on Luna 2, under the pretense of the arena there being the only structure large enough to contain all the people he has ever wronged. Megatron insists that his intentions are not to escape justice, but to atone for his crimes by finding the Cybertronian race a new home in the form of Cyberutopia, the fabled domain of the Knights of Cybertron, after which he will gladly let justice take its course. Optimus hands Megatron a datapad and promises to uphold Megatron's wish and let him join the Lost Light crew—as long as he relays the message on it to the crowd.

Present: In the medibay, Megatron's barbs rouse the sulky Rodimus into action. Calling on Nightbeat, Chromedome, Brainstorm, Skids, and Nautica,

---