Editing Transformation (issue)

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Autocracy]]''&nbsp;#9
|prev=Overthrown
|next=
|caption=
|image=Autocracy 9.jpg
|title="Transformation"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 9]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=
|story by=[[Chris Metzen]] &<br/>[[Flint Dille]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]] &<br/>[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Before the war]]
}}
'''Orion Pax is no more... Arise, Optimus Prime!'''

==Synopsis==
At the [[Trion Square]] in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] announces to the populace that [[Zeta Prime]]'s oppression has come to an end, and the [[Decepticon]]s will now rule [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He invites any [[Autobot]]s who wish to rebuild their society to join him, but of course they don't trust him after his previous betrayal and instead choose to go into hiding. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] are discussing strategies in the city of [[Ultrix]] when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] joins them to pitch in that factions don't matter anymore: the violence will never end anyway.

In the [[Undergrid]] far beneath Iacon, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] lies barely alive where Megatron has disposed of him. In spite of his injuries, he is drawn to move towards a nearby energy source, and ends up in an ancient vault containing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. In his head, he hears a voice much like his own, but older and wiser, urging him to reach out for the artifact. When he does, he is overcome by pain, fear and loneliness--the current emotions of Cybertronians everywhere. As Orion's consciousness expands across Cybertron and beyond, he takes in the few but bright [[spark]]s that still burn with courage and hope, and realizes that the Matrix does not only represent leadership or creation, but the sparks of all Cybertronians.

As the Autobots consider rallying the people in a resistance movement against Megatron, their safe-house is compromised by the Decepticons and they're all arrested. While the Autobots are led away, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] takes special interest in Hot Rod and invites him to join the Decepticons.

Meanwhile, the Matrix courses throughout Orion Pax, repairing his body and imbuing his mind with clarity and wisdom. He realizes that despite what the Decepticons think, the Cybertronians are ''not'' a divided race and that unity is a matter of perception rather than some event that has to be brought about. The Autobots are not supposed to fight to uphold the laws of a broken system, but to protect the freedom of all sentient beings. It's time for a change... a change that begins with Orion Pax's transformation into Optimus Prime!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax/Optimus Prime]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Roadblock (G2)|Roadblock]] (2)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (3)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (4)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (9)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (11)

|c4=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (8)
}}

==Notes==
*Optimus Prime experiencing pain when first united with the Matrix was previously mentioned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]".
*Orion Pax describes the Matrix as "a vast [[Underbase]] of collective thought and experience".

[[Category:Autocracy issues]]