The Mistress of Flame is troubled by a dream, and visits Alpha Trion to share a story from her past with him that she has long kept secret. Long ago, when Caminus was still a healthy world, and she was merely "Matriarch of Incaendium" (next in line to become Mistress), she accompanied the pilot Praesidia and linguist Magrada to the world of Antilla, to investigate a Cybertronian signal they had detected emanating from there. Upon the planet, they discovered an unnatural, mechanical mountain, the surface of which split open to reveal a colossal eyeball, emitting blazing light that illuminated a figure the Mistress could never have expected to see: Onyx Prime, master of beasts; one of the original Thirteen Primes! Onyx slew Magrada, but the Mistress and Praesidia fled back to Caminus... only for Onyx to follow them there years later, and kill Praesidia as well. The Mistress marvels that she has encountered so many long-thought-legendary Primes in person, especially since coming to Cybertron—Onyx, Trion, Liege Maximo, and Optimus Prime, who she still believes is the nameless thirteenth Prime, "The Arisen." Also present for the Mistress's story is Scoop, invited along by Trion, who scoffs her reverence of the Primes, his own lapsed faith have caused him to long since lose his belief that they are any more special than ordinary Cybertronians. The Mistress is offended, but as she leaves to meet with the other delegates to await a visit from Optimus Prime, she is given pause to reflect on how the myths and legends she grew up worshiping have let her down. Trion reminds Scoop that, for all his bitterness, it wasn't the Primes who let him down, and suggests he pay a visit to the one who actually did.

On Earth, Optimus Prime, Marissa Faireborn, and the President cut the metaphorical ribbon at the opening of a new Ore-13 mine in Kentucky, which will be worked by humans and Cybertronians together. Spirits aren't particularly high, however: there are protesters objecting, human workers worrying about the grief they're going to get, concerns about a Cybertronian-human pay gap, and general laments from Junkion matriarch Rum-Maj, even as Wreck-Gar tries to keep her spirits up. Off to the side, always listening, Soundwave hears it all...

Overhead, aboard Autobot City, Aileron and Arcee chat about the recent goings-on with the protoforms on Cybertron. But it seems a pleasant conversation can't last long these days; Aileron hears the discontented Slide once again ranting about how much she disagrees with Optimus's actions, and tries to break up the argument she is having with her fellow colonists—though Arcee's curiosity is piqued by a reference Slide makes to Aileron recently "burying the truth." Before Arcee can press the issue, Optimus Prime returns with the first load of Ore-13 from the mine, to be sent over the space bridge to Cybertron, and Aileron practically grabs Slide by the ear and drags her out in front of Optimus, daring her to repeat her insults to his face. Prime is already in a downcast mood, disappointed by the problems at the mine, but tries to offer Slide some comforting words. Pyra Magna intercedes; she tells him he has been removed from goings-on on Earth for too long, and proposes that while he is delivering the Ore-13 to Cybertron, Slide and the other colonists should visit the mine themselves so they can see with their own eyes what Optimus is trying to accomplish.

Optimus takes the Ore-13 through the space bridge, handing it over to the collected delegates of the Council of Worlds, now led by Windblade after her victory in the recent election. Windblade's own ability to trust Optimus has also recently suffered a blow, but he reassures her that the shipment is the first of many, to be given freely without expectation. With the official matters dealt with, the Mistress attempts to take Optimus Prime aside and ask him about the prophetic dream he had soon after annexing Earth, in light of the dream she had herself, but before their conversation can even begin, it is cut off by a shadow falling across the city...

In Iacon's prison, the recently-incarcerated Starscream is enjoying life behind bars. Nobody is relying on him for anything, he tells the spectral form of Bumblebee, and though it is now over, his time as ruler of the planet will ultimately be viewed by history as a comparatively positive one. A visitor soon arrives in the form of Scoop, but before the pair can sit down for a conversation to hash out their old quarrels, Bumblebee draws their attention to what is going on outside...

The mountain-sized eyeball seen by the Mistress of Flame on Antilla all those years ago now hovers in the sky over Iacon, blocking out the sun. Windblade believes that the recently-escaped Liege Maximo has returned to wreak his vengeance, but the Mistress is quick to correct her—Maximo is one of the figures on the hull of the massive craft, but he is in chains, kneeling at the feet of Onyx Prime. Onyx announces to the people of Cybertron that he has returned to pass judgement on the captive Maximo, and all who transgress against his homeworld. He is met with a reply from Optimus, cautioning him that Cybertron is under his protection, and inviting Onyx down to the surface to talk. Onyx agrees, warning that "Cybertron's reckoning is at hand"... and declaring that such matters are without a doubt Optimus's responsibility, for he is The Arisen!

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