Prime Spark

Armada Optimus Prime encounters shade of other Primes in a place near death.

Vital Statistics
Writer: Sean P. Fodera Pagecount: 21pp Major characters: Originally published: In the Transformers Legends anthology, November 2004
 * Armada Optimus Prime
 * Generation 1 Optimus Prime
 * Optimus Primal x2

Synopsis
Following his destruction at the hands of the Hydra Cannon, Optimus Prime finds himself in Maccadam's Old Oil House, encountering a similarly ghostly Optimus Primal. Both of their sparks 'split,' resulting in the arrivals of the original Optimus Prime, and a future Optimus Primal. (See Trivia/Notes for 'when' each version came from.)

All four attempt to discern why they're here, eventually concluding that Armada Optimus Prime is the key, as he was here first. Optimus Primal theorises that each of their sparks, though seperate, have affinity across time, space and dimensions, drawn into similar events and conflicts with likewise affinitied sparks. (Their deaths at the hands of 3 respective Megatrons.)

Armada Optimus Prime's sacrifice differs from that of the others. While a leader is always prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if there is not other choice, he must be cautious against the urge to sacrifice himself, especially when his leadership is still needed, especially as redemption for precieved mistakes. While a leader is responsible for his mistakes, he is also responsibile for his troops, and cannot recklessly throw his life away, as Armada Optimus Prime attempted to do.

Armada Op's crisis of confidence resolved, all 4 briefly join, feeling the Prime Spark, the part of all of their sparks that ressonates as one (the affinity Primal theoried about,) then seperate to share a drink together before fading back to their respective dimensions and eras.

On the way out, all 4 encounter their respective Megatrons, fresh from a similar meeting. they run at one another for a hilarious comedy moment before fading out.

With renewed vigor, Optimus Prime returns to life, ready to kick Decepticon skidplate!

Continuity
Prime Spark takes place in late in Armada's cartoon continuity, spanning the 3 episode gap between Crisis and Miracle from Armada Optimus Prime's point of view. It also touches on the events of Transformers: The Movie and the Beast Wars and Beast Machines television series.

Trivia/Notes

 * Armada Optimus Prime comes from the moment of his destruction in Crisis, the 39th episode of the Armada Cartoon series.
 * Generation 1 Optimus Prime comes from the moment of his death defending Autobot City in Transformers: the Movie.
 * Optimus Primal comes from his destruction in a Transwarp explosion in Other voices, part 2, the 26th episode of Beast Wars. His later incarnation arrives from his disintegration int he Plasma energy Chamber in End of the Line, the 13th episode of Beast Machines.
 * The Physics text by Robert Nagisa that Generation 1 Optimus prime mentions reading appears to be fictional.
 * The meeting takes place in Armada's verion of Macadams Old Oil house, in the relative present of the animated series.
 * Beast Machines Optimus Primal is described as huge and hulking, larger than Armada's Tidal Wave— the author was going by the toy, not realising the character was suppsoed to be much smaller than Optimus Prime.
 * Two of the four Megatrons lack equivilant deaths for their meeting. This is glossed over.
 * The Transformer generally regarded to be Macadam is identified merely as the bartender in this story.

Comments

 * This story is generally held in poor regard by fans. Its wouldn't it be cool if all the Primes met and did nothing? premise was greeted with a resounding "No."
 * The arbitrary naming structure used to diffirentiate the 4 Primes does improove readability.
 * The author's command of Transformers lore does not run deep enough to pull off the story's premise. The result is... shallow.