Hot Rod's vision blurred as he began to die. His sight dimmed, and he could feel his fuel pump straining as Galvatron crushed down on his neck, compacting vital passageways and severing circuits. It would all be over soon and the agony of his passage into death was nothing next to the agony of knowing he had failed and the fear of leaving his friends behind to face the evil alone. Still the pressure increased. It was more than a bot was meant to bear, he knew. But he pushed aside the threatening despair and let himself sink to his knees to ease the strain on his body, hoping to gain a few more moments. His breath labored in his chest as though his filters were crushed in tritanium manacles "First, Prime," gloated Galvatron, "then, Ultra Magnus, and now, you” Galvatron sneered into his face. It's a pity you Autobots die so easily, or I might have a sense of satisfaction now!" " With a final move born of desperation, the Autobot released his grip on Galvatron’s wrists and tried to push against his chest instead.

Hot Rod flailed his arms around, making a last futile grasp at the Matrix before he died. In that moment he understood that, whatever he did, he would die because Galvatron was more powerful than he was, As he did he saw within the matrix the shadows of those who had died this day. Hot Rod had looked at the Matrix as a final consolation. And, within its light patterns, he found several silhouettes that were waiting for him. All were Autobots who had died during the war, his mother phantasma, and her fellow scientists of the colony, the elite team that had traveled to Earth millions of years ago. Optimus Prime was with them, and Hot Rod forced himself to meet his gaze and accept that, if that soul was there, it was his fault. Optimus had looked back in silence, his eyes displaying so many emotions that Hot Rod had not been able to identify all of them. It was the central shade at the front that caused the guilt to return. I had wanted to become a great Autobot like Optimus Prime himself but because of my stupidity I’m responsible for the death of the legend. It's too late for me to do anything because I will soon be one with them." it's my fault" he thought to himself. "I deserve to die" he thought to himself out of guilt for what happened. Never give ground never ever surrender. Hot rod heard a voice in his head "No, I am a Autobot if I die then it shall be fighting" was his final thought as Hot Rod grasped for the matrix before he fell into total blackness Yes Galvatron. Destroy him now. Tear him apart. Destroy the chosen one. Destroy…NO! Don’t let the light touch him!

N….never!” Using the last of his strength, Hot Rod reached out for the matrix His hands clattered against the chain around the neck of the beast, then closed over the Matrix. Despite his loss of strength from the battle, the chains snapped easily as the Matrix came away in his hands. he suddenly felt the metal chain give, At the same time, as a strange new sense of power seemed to sweep through him and he kicked out against Galvatron who was rolled away and sent flying away from him and crashing into the wall. As he rolled over to look back, an intense blue light engulfed the Autobot like a purifying flame and he stood, straightening proudly and growing in stature before Galvatron’s amazed eyes. The Matrix clasped in his hands. Power and glory radiated from him like beams of light as the room was bathed in an unworldly light, Optimus Prime's voice filled the room. Hot Rod heard a voice in his mind. "Arise, Rodimus Prime," it said. "Optimus," he breathed, as he recognized the voice and felt himself change. NO! It cannot happen. It cannot happen like this! Not now! Galvatron heard some of the same wonder that had tinged his voice when he first spotted the Matrix around his neck. He became taller, stronger, and faster, age began to show on his face and wisdom as well, as he grew older at a seemingly accelerated rate, his body growing in height so fast that a series of after images seemingly show him increasing in height He looked at the Matrix. He had begun to open it. Suddenly the room felt much smaller, as if Galvatron was being crowded out of it by the sheer power and will of the Matrix and its new gaurdian. his precarious hold on sanity slipping away as he heard the voice of the Autobot leader he had sent to the grave as Megatron.

"No," Galvatron gasped struggling against the feeling, and almost reflexively, he fired at the Autobot hoping to knock Rhodimus away from him or blast the Matrix from his hands. The beams of destructive energy were reflected away from him as soon as they reached the limits of the glowing blue aura,..... He blasted again and again, to no effect as the energy beams began scattering and dissipating into darkness All except for one, which penetrated the field not damaging his opponent, but knocking the Matrix out of his hands and sent the Matrix spinning toward the ground. It hit the floor with a metallic clink and the blue fire died as the relic rolled to a stop by the wall. Galvatron looked up grimly at his new opponent. Losing the Matrix hadn't robbed him of his power. He was about the same size now, with a broad chest and a look of maturity that Galvatron hadn't seen on his face before. He fixed him with a dangerous glare from eyes that, oddly, hadn't changed a bit. Fully matured he looked more like Optimus now in build and form as well but still had some attributes inherited from his mother. Turning to face his enemy, Rhodimus felt his new form brimming with power and energy. "This is the end of the road, Galvatron," Rodimus Prime said, his voice different, deeper more mature, pointing an accusing finger at the Decepticon. Galvatron steeled himself for impact as he rushed him, quickly bridging the distance between them, and tore into the Decepticon leader with a strength he had never before possessed. They were on equal footing now, but Galvatron was still in shock.

Everything had been going his way. He would destroy the Autobots. He would figure out how to use the Matrix against Unicron and free himself from the monster’s mental hold. He would rule the universe. He attacked, but he was still surprised by the sheer force of his tackle. While Galvatron staggered backward, lashing out at his arms and face Galvatron was no longer able to defend himself. Galvatron kicked and struggled, as he punched him in the sides of the waist with a left hook and then tried to clobber him with a blow to his head with the butt of his cannon but he was no match for him now. Not at the height of his new power. Rodimus went and locked his arms around the Decepticons body and went to lift him up off the ground as he grabbed him roughly by the shoulders however, a force like an electric current raced through Galvatron and he saw everything with a sudden new clarity. His death, his rebirth, his quest for the Matrix, and his search for his own identity had all been preludes to this last confrontation. Rodimus Prime and He were the fists of the light god and the destructive dark god, poised on the edge of a new era. By rebelling against Unicron, He had sealed his own fate. The dark fist of the chaos bringer had brought the light to his rival, offering up the Matrix as the instrument of his own defeat. And yet, in doing so, he had freed himself from a servant's role forever. All this went through his mind in the space of an eternity and an instant While Galvatron flails his arms about. But Rodimus is now an equal to him in strength and lifted him over his head and hurled him into the wall head first. Nooooooooo yelled Galvatron as he saw that he was hurtling toward the wall that separated them from the vacuum of space. I have lost the fight, but for the first time in my life, I am ready to do so. If I must die now, I die free he thought to himself as he covered his head with his arms as he smashed through the metal plating and went hurtling out into the dark emptyness of space. Galvatron punctures my side. It can’t happen. I must find him. I must destroy him! He must not open the Matrix! Rhodimus paid him no more attention.