Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Time. It's a strange thing. There is a beginning, but it will never end. It doesn't run in a straight line. It branches off like a tree, with so many possibilities. But, not everyone can comprehend the flow.

I can.

I've seen the outcomes, but I can not step in and change them. For I, am one with time itself.

I once sat within my temple and watched the branches grow. Some bring peace, but every timeline has the War of Cybertron. It's an inevitable event. Autobot and Decepticons are bound for war. I believe it's in their nature, but the outcomes are always different. Enemies and allies are turning on the other. Victory for the Autobots. Victory for the Decepticons. The death of a Prime. The death for a Tyrant.

A new time has begun to flow, and that's why I ask you today to watch the events unfold.

Some of you will know the players in this story. Some of you will know what happened. But that's what makes time so unique. Nothing is ever the same.

I am Vector Prime, and I invite you wherever you are to sit with me.

Chapter Text

With a push of the button, a red light blinked to life, and the camera began to record Bradley 'Brad' White's face and the backdrop of the valley.

'Here we are at the opening of the Lincoln Caves,' he began with a wide grin and confident in his voice. He was no stranger to the camera. He never went anywhere without it. Comes with the territory of an aspiring streamer. 'Where it's believed that somewhere in this system, a group of climbers fell to their deaths, and their bodies have never been found.'

Brad turned the camera to Carlos Lopez and Alexis Thi Dang, who sat besides their bikes and stakeboard, prepping their backpacks. 'As you can see, I brought my two, most loyal allies to aid me on this quest.' He moved and pointed the camera towards Alexis. 'Alexis, please tell the audience why we're here.'

'Because someone has to keep you from getting killed,' she said dryly, giving Brad a knowing look, who, in return, looked genuinely confused.

'What?!'

To Alexis, she thought back to last week, where Brad had been given after-school detention for talking in Biology and then forgetting his homework for the fifth time in a row. Whilst the teacher was absent, Brad called down to Alexis and Carlos from the third story window, telling them he was going to escape this prison. Carlos just told him it was only for thirty minutes and they'd be back to walk him home after going to the local shop. Alexis warned him not to do anything funny, something Brad just waved off with a flick of the wrist. Still, he promised to stay.

The duo headed for the school gate. They didn't notice Brad had climbed out of the window and tried scaling down the side of the building using the guttering. It instantly collapsed under his weight, a loud groan of metal accompanying Brad's repeat of the word no as he slowly fell backwards, collapsing on the hard tarmac with a bang, where the guttering finally snapped in half.

'Well, they should be thanking me,' Brad praised himself. 'I discovered a school facility was not up to standard. What if some other poor student had tried that?'

Alexis didn't answer that and watched Brad turn his attention to Carlos. His unofficial twin.

'I hope you've got my good side,' Carlos said with a smug look on his face, pretending to flick some hair over his shoulder and exaggerating his Spanish accent. 'The girls need to know I'm worth it.'

'He's not worth it,' Alexis harshly whispered over Brad's shoulder, then retreating. He snorted, trying to hold in a laugh.

'Oh, Alexis. You're gonna make me lose my reputation if you're not careful.'

'Well then, be more responsible for your own belongings.'

A dramatic gasp from Carlos with his hand over his heart. 'How dare-'

'Anyway!' Brad yelled. 'Carlos. Tell us why you're here.' To which the teenager punched the air.

'To find the bodies and be rich!'

'Yeah!'

'Yeah!'

'YEEEEEAAAAAH!'

'YEEEEEAAAAAH!'

'I thought we were supposed to be quiet,' Alexis whispered.

Adjusting their bikes and stakeboard, Alexis swung her backpack over her shoulders and joined her companions, torch in hand. Carlos wrapped a rope around a large stone before giving a thumbs up. There is no harm in having extra safety.

'We're ready to head inside,' Brad announced to the camera.

It was eerily quiet. There was no wind to whistle between the rocks. No fluttering of a bat's wings. No water dripping onto their heads. Until the shuffling of their feet entered the cave, this place was dead.

The tunnel was wide, and the walls were high. Carlos pointed his torch up to see the stalactites hanging from the ceiling. He led from the centre, feeding the rope. Brad led the way, and Alexis followed from behind, occasionally looking over her shoulder to see the entrance vanish from sight. Dirt kicked up from under each step they took. Alexis grimaces, knowing her trainers will be getting dirty.

Still, the trio felt confident. Mainly because the tunnel was just a straight line.

'Creepy,' Brad commented.

'I thought it would be colder in here,' Alexis said.

'That's because we,' Brad turned, waving the torch under his chin, changing his tone into a sing-song rhythm. 'Haven't encountered any ghosts yet!'

'I think you'd scare them away,' Carlos joked. 'But, we do know the way, right? We won't get lost?'

'Don't worry.' Alexis walked past Carlos, who had noticed the small amount of rope they had left. 'I did some research, and this area was mapped out years ago. The climbers must have fallen into a hidden section that no one has found.' And, as she predicted, the trio found themselves at the end of the straight. The tunnel branched off into two.

'So, now which way?' Brad asked.

'I say back cause we just ran out of rope,' Carlos answered.

'We go right.' Alexis moved, pointing her torch down the narrower tunnel. 'Single file, though.' And she was leading the charge.

'But-'

'I've got these tunnels memorised. Don't worry.'

Brad and Carlos exchanged a look.

'You sure?'

'Positive.'

Remembering his camera was still recording, Brad pointed it to Alexis.

'So, you do have a fun side?'

Alexis turned, now walking backwards.

'Hey! I have a fun-'

CRACK

Everyone fell silent. The noise bounced off the walls. No one moved. No one could bring themselves to move.

Suddenly, the floor below them started to crumble. Dust filled their lungs and eyes. They felt gravity pull their bodies down in a free fall. The angry sound of stone and rock breaking under their feet drowned out their screams. Vision became a blur. Disorienting, even.

It was less than five seconds, but to the trio, it might as well have been an hour, until they felt their backpacks or knees hit and scrape the cave walls before landing on the level below with a thud.

A mix of groans and coughs filled the air. Brad didn't move, too scared in case he broke his neck or back. Carlos slowly sat up, rubbing the back of his bumped head and coughing up the debris trapped in his throat. Alexis hugged her ribs. Nothing was broken, but all three were literally and metaphorically bruised.

'Shit,' was all Brad could say by the time he found the courage to roll onto his knees. He spat out a tooth and went to wipe his mouth, only to notice his camera was gone. Panic quickly set in. Brad patted down his pockets and shirt to no avail. 'No. No. No. No. No.' All fear from a possible broken neck was gone. Brad got to his feet and began to search through the debris. 'My camera. My camera,' he repeated. 'Carlos, have you seen my camera?!'

'What-'

'My camera!'

'No. Sorry. I can barely see anything.'

'Shit - Mom's gonna kill me!'

'Just take a deep breath. I'm sure it's somewhere...'

Alexis clung to the wall and forced herself up. Her legs felt heavy, as if she was dragging a ball and chain. She looked down at herself and tried to pat and waft the dirt from her clothing before trying to set her hair straight. At first, she thought her vision was blurred, and she must have hit her head without knowing because there was a faint green glow next to her foot. She looked to the left. The glow didn't fade. In fact, it got brighter.

'...Nope. Not here...' Carlos' voice echoed. Alexis ignored him. She began to move down the new tunnel.

Brad let out an agonising groan. 'I'm so dead.' He looked over his shoulder. 'Little help here, Alexis?' Alexis ignored him. Carlos blinked, now noticing the glow. 'Alexis?! Hello? Help a doomed friend out here, please?' Nothing. 'ALEXIS!'

Carlos followed her down the tunnel, leaving Brad alone and confused. 'Are you two okay?' Whatever this glow was, it didn't attract Brad like a moth to the flame. He followed out of concern for his friends and the fear of being alone.

The trio turned the corner and stopped dead in their tracks. The source of the glow burned into their eyes as they saw a large crack in the rock staring back. Speckles of a lighter green hue escaped and danced around them. It looked alien. It was alien.

'It's beautiful,' Carlos muttered under his breath.

Brad skirted himself forward. Now that he focused on the light, it quickly entranced him. His eyes darted. He wanted to touch whatever this was filled his mind. He reached up and-

Alexis saw.

'Wait. We don't know what it is-'

Brad placed his hand on the fracture, instantly slipping into whatever was on the other side. He could still feel his hand as he curled it into a fist.

'Okay, pull it back.'

'Just a quick look.' Alexis knew that look. It's the look Brad had when he had an idea, and nothing was going to stop him.

'Please don't.'

Too late. Brad stepped into the green glow. Alexis and Carlos could only watch in disbelief and waited with baited breath.

'Are you dead?' Carlos eventually asked.

Suddenly, Brad's right arm reached out, signalling the duo to follow. 'You two have got to see this!' His voice echoed. 'Come on.'

Even though she was first to be alured by the entity, Alexis was now cautious to enter, unlike Carlos, who didn't hesitate to take Brad's hand. She watched in a mix of fear and shock, followed by a begruging acceptance. Carlos called out for her.

So, with a heavy heart and with a mind buzzing with possibilities, mostly resulting in either being captured by aliens or dying, Alexis shut her eyes and stepped into the glow. It was nothing special. Felt like walking through a door. But, when Alexis opened her eyes, they widened at the sight, and her entire body relaxed. Her mouth fell open, and all she could say was a breathless gasp.

It was a sea of stars.

Chapter Text

If it wasn't for the neon-blue liquid they walked on, the trio would have thought they had been teleported into space. Brad quickly noticed how to stars curved into a dome shape, nudging Carlos to follow the pattern. Alexis tried to dip her hand under whatever this was, but to no avail. It had a solid bottom, but she could kick up whatever this was with her foot. Like a coating of snow on ice.

It wasn't cold or warm. Despite the lack of natural light, they could see so clearly.

Within this seemingly endless void sat ruins of what looked like a long lost tower made of broken metal with rich golden colours and silver to white lining.

'Remember that time we camped out in my garden on the trampoline?' Carlos said, as the three approached and stepped through what was left of the entrance. 'This is what I thought it would be like.'

'That's because it rained,' Alexis muttered, still amazed at this place.

'Do you think the climbers ended up here?'

'I don't see any bodies,' Brad commented. He branched off from the others, his eyes landing on should have been a stained glass window. Only a few shards remained in the structure, but he could make head or tail of what it was.

'Is that a good thing or a bad thing?'

No one answered, but they all felt that what if...? dread.

Alexis and Carlos approached the back wall, attracted to the mural, where they could see what looked like twelve robots in different shapes and sizes charging towards another, who hovered in the centre with their arms wide, as if inviting them to get close. Behind, a large circle with horns pertruding and what appeared to be a halo surrounding its frame. How odd.

Brad walked in the shadow of a throne that had begun to rust. It was taller than his house. Naturally, he tried to climb it, but to no avail. The rust either caved under the weight of his left foot, or because it was too steep. Slightly embarrassing.

'Who could even live here?' Alexis traced her fingers along the mural. 'What could even live here?'

'Something incredible.' And Carlos wasn't wrong. If only they knew who this void belonged to. He looked up and saw the remains to the cycle of the moon on the ceiling. Only now, he noticed he had been walking on glass from the missing pieces.

'We should go.'

'Yeah.' He turned. 'Hey, Brad.'

Now, it was Alexis and Carlos' calls to be ignored. The pair saw his back turn to them at the entrance. They approached and quickly noticed a problem.

'Sure, but,' there was more than one fracture. Instead of one, now, there were three. 'Which one was it?' All looked identical. The same green glow with speckles floating from the edges like pollen before disintegrating. Same shape. A perfect split, as if a sword had sliced them open. Brad looked to Alexis. 'Well?'

'Well, what?' She asked, her tone tinkering with annoyance.

'Which one was it?'

'I don't know!' She snapped. 'You went first, you tell me.'

'Yeah, but,' Brad shrugged. 'You're the smart one.' Alexis glared. 'Okay. Okay. Fine.' He stepped forward, trying to think which one was right. He didn't pay attention to their surroundings until they reached the ruins. In fact, the fractures looked a little too far away. Was it just his perspective? Had he taken that many steps since arriving?

Brad felt Alexis' eyes on him. He had to be quick. Just pick one. They could always come back.

'This one,' he concluded.

'You sure?'

'Absolutely.'

He chose it by doing Eeny, meeny, miny, moe in his head. Sticking to his decision, Brad led the trio forward. Carlos saw another crack silently appear out of the corner of his right eye, still identical to the others. Brad and Alexis didn't notice.

Together, the three stood beside each other and, without giving it much thought, all stepped into the glow.

Then, everything went a blistering white. A blinding light not seen before forced them to shut their eyes. But, something felt off. This didn't feel like they were stepping through a door. The world around them felt disillusioned as they navigated blindly. Sounds of each others footsteps muffled in their ears. All felt like they were alone. A shiver down their spine. A knot in their stomach.

Then, a light breeze touched their faces. This had to be it. Freedom was right there. A wave of calm washed over, only, when they took their final steps through the fracture and into their realm again, they fell. A sudden lurched forward. The breeze became a deafening sound of wind. Alexis kept her eyes shut, but she could feel her body go into a free fall.

'...Exis...'

'Al...is...'

'...Alexis...'

'ALEXIS!'

The girls eyes shot open, only to be greeted by a clear sky above and the blinding sun, causing her to shield her face. And that's when she noticed it.

Her skin had become metallic. A two-tone red and white match the red t-shirt and white shorts she wore. Her forearms now gave the illusion she was wearing a type of fingerless knight gauntlets. Her fingers, now digits that looked like claws, were now made from a jet-black metal. Alexis didn't notice the wings on her back, but she felt the weight. She had also realised her hair wasn't blowing into her face. Her entire body was now made of metal, yet she didn't feel anything happen.

'B-Brad?!' She called in a panic. 'Carlos?!'

Alexis couldn't describe it.

She didn't know which way was up and which way was down. As she, Rad, and Carlos continue to fall through the sky, their metallic bodies spun in all directions. One moment, they saw the mountains off in the distance. Then, the sun. Then, the skyscrapers of a distant city.

Brad yelled.

'WE CHOSE THE WRONG ONE!'

A change in the wind left the trio falling on their backs again.

The sound of roaring engines approached. They turned and saw a large jet flying alongside them, less than 15 feet away. Time slowed for a moment. Alexis didn't think about the logic to whatever was happening. All she saw was a primary red, black, and white trimmed jet with visible thrusters and a blue cockpit canopy. And, for some reason, as she stared, she couldn't help but feel it staring back at her.

The jet changed course and vanished into the sun's beams, its thrusters sending the trio off course to wherever they were falling.

Wait.

Where were they gonna land?

The ground was approaching fast.

The trio screamed, watching their short lives flash before their eyes. Brad managed to reach out and grab Alexis and Carlos, pulling them close into a group hug. The guilt weighed heavy on his mind. This was his fault. He got himself and his best friends killed. He shut his robotic eyes and waited for the end.

A loud crash echoed throughout the landscape. Brad, Alexis, and Carlos had landed. Somehow alive. They stared up at the sky, slowly wrapping their heads around what had just happened.

'...Shit...'

That was from Carlos.

Chapter Text

'Is...' Brad paused, only now noticing he was still alive. 'Is everyone okay?'

'I don't know,' Carlos said, his head still spinning.

'Maybe,' Alexis gasped, remembering to breathe.

The trio stared at the large hole in the metal their fall had caused. The sun slightly exposed into where they landed, giving Alexis the energy to stand, where she could now see herself in full, thanks to the metal walls.

It didn't even look like her. Her face shape wasn't even the same unless that was the strange helm that seemingly replaced her brown hair. Her chest looked like someone folded a jet in half. Her knees had a piece of diamond-shaped metal for either protection or to act as a joint. From the knee down, the rest of the leg was enlarged with wide feet. She turned to see thrusters acting as heels. Oh, how she hated it.

Then there were her wings. They were as long as her body. She felt like a space toy she had when she was a toddler. At least her freckles were still here, and her eyes, now optics, were still a dark green. Alexis leaned in and, out of curiosity, tapped one. She expected to just hear a tapping of glass, and she did, but she didn't expect a sudden pain. Holding in a scream with a hiss, Alexis covered her optic and arched her back, tapping a foot and waiting for the pain to pass. Never do that again. With her other optic, she saw Carlos looking over his own robotic body.

His frame matched his clothing of orange and denim blue. He didn't have wings like Alexis, but gauntlets that branched above his shoulders, only stopping at his cheek, making him look bigger than he was. It looked like he wore a baseball cap. Where his ears should be, could be mistaken for large headphones, and coming off of them were a large piece of metal resembling a butch knife. His optics were an electric yellow. His pedals were flat on the ground with his thrusters sitting on what should be his calves.

'Is that me?' He asked, tilting his head from side to side, tapping his face once it was centre again. 'Where's my nose?'

Brad groaned. 'Help me, please.' Alexis and Carlos turned to see Brad, instantly noticing the main difference in his own body. Instead of feet, he had two tyres he was trying to balance on. With his arms spread out wide, Brad leaned forward, then back, but a little too far, slipping and landing with a thud that echoed the entire room. 'Ow.'

He tried again. Alexis and Carlos wrapped an arm under and over his own, helping him stand. His frame was the same blue as his jacket, with a white trim and dark blue optics that no one could see due to the visor on his helm, which was the spitting image of what you'd find on a motorcyclist, leaving only his mouth to express his emotions. Apart from a storage box on his back, there was nothing else unique about Brad's body. He still looked the most human. No wings or giant off-branching gauntlets. No thrusters. If he did, then they weren't visible.

'Okay, I think I've got it.' Brad centred himself. Alexis and Carlos slowly let go and stepped back. A little wobble. A flinch from Carlos, ready to be support. 'Just like learning to rollerblade.' He pushed his left tyre forward and maintained balance glided into a circle. 'See?' Brad laughed. 'I know what I'm doing.' He wobbled but maintained his balance.

Another glared from Alexis. Brad either didn't notice, or he did and was trying to avoid eye contact. He didn't want another lecture, and Alexis knew there were more pressing matters to be addressed. Like finding out where they are and how to escape this place. Thankfully, the large room that Carlos now realised was actually a chamber, had an outline of a door that opened automatically when he got close to inspect.

It felt like he was in the opening cutscene of a game.

'This way,' he called.

This place was completely made of metal. Oddly pristine, too, despite clearly being abandoned. No signs of rust. Carlos noticed the metal patches of grass and weeds growing through the cracks. He stopped to give them a quick tap with a pedal. They responded with a light ring.

A set of stairs sat at the end of the corridor. Each step echoed as they approached the entrance. There, they were greeted to an amazing sight. A world made of shining metal, with a clear sky allowing them to see the towering cities beyond the horizon and mountains that formed a spiral. Looking up, the trio realised they had just existed the mouth of one and were standing on a cliff. It was incredible yet strange at the same time. Beautiful yet bleak. If they were back on Earth, the mountains would be surrounded by a lush forest or heavy snow, but here, just metal of various shimmering colours.

Alexis knelt and touched the ground. It was warm. She could feel a light heat and quickly concluded that this place had internal heating.

'Now what?' Carlos asked, breaking the silence.

'Well...' Alexis stood and looked out towards the metallic scenery. She pointed to the nearest city. 'Could start there. Ask for help.' Then she noticed just how high they were. 'But, how do we get down?'

'You have wings.'

'I don't know how to fly.' Suddenly, the pair heard the sound of wheels screeching below. They saw Brad already taking advantage of his wheels and the spiral. He was cheering to himself with his arms in the air, racing himself down the mountain at top speed. Alexis was kicking herself for not realising the obvious. 'Looks like he has a brain.'

Brad waited at the foot of the mountain, waving up to the others who were racing down, unable to control their speed. The gravity here was light, allowing what would be a regular jog become a full-on sprint. Somehow, they didn't fall off the edge and made it to the bottom safely.

'Alright, let's go!'

Just like with the cave, it was eerily quiet, with no signs of life and only the sound of their pedals filling the emptiness. The bottom of the mountain sat within a canyon. Alexis heard a snap as she unknowingly stood on a flower that resembled a daisy. Brad tried but couldn't lift his visor. He wanted to see if the sun reflecting off a cliff wall would burn his optics. It wouldn't, and Alexis noticed. At first, she squinted but didn't feel a burning sensation. 'Makes sense,' she muttered under her breath.

An orange and blue robot, shaped like a bird with binoculars for a face, sat on a ledge above them, with a tail that could be mistaken for a damaged VHS tape. Its 'optics' flickered, taking pictures and a recording of the human turned robots, before flying in the opposite direction. Carlos heard and turned, only catching a quick glimpse of the bird as it vanished over the canyon walls, unable to make out what it actually was. It left him with a sense of dread.

'What do you think happened to the jet?' He asked, trying to distract himself and stay calm. 'Was it military?'

'Could be,' Brad answered. 'Did you guys not see its wings?'

'No?' Alexis narrowed her optics, trying to retrace her fall.

'It had an emblem on them. Like a weird, purple skull-face, thing.'

'Doesn't sound very military.'

'But, it had them.'

'It didn't have a pilot,' Alexis commented.

'What? How?'

'I'm not sure, but we've been turned into,' she gestured to herself. 'This. I'm not gonna question a jet with no pilot.'

They turned the corner and were stumped at the sight of what appeared to be herd deer. Metallic, of course, with lights in their antlers. They could see they weren't grazing on the plant life but dust. They were cleaners.

Alexis cooed. 'They're so sweet.'

The deer in the middle raised its head, soon followed by the others, looking in all directions. The lights glowed bright red before they turned and bolted. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but trio knew better.

A purple light appeared where the herd once stood. A spiralling vortex of pure energy that gave off the illusions of flames. The stomping of something big echoed. A figure appeared. Another robot.

He was huge, glaring down at the friends with glowing red optics. Angular in shape with a wide chest and large shoulders. He had a primary grey frame and silver face, with accompanying black accents, mainly below the knee, giving the impression of wearing military boots and his servos like gloves. A curved helm stretched like horns. A fusion cannon sat on his right arm, the weight not affecting him as he stood tall. There was coldness radiating from him. The vortex closed. Brad saw that same purple emblem on his chest.

The stranger reached down. A wicked smile crossed his face.

'Found you.'

Megatron.

But, something stopped him. The familiar gait of someone of equal size and power, yet with a warmth approached.

An electric yellow and teal wave of energy came hurdling at the robot from his left. His optics shifted in their direction, and he jumped back, doging the attack that hit the canyon walls.

Megatron turned and saw his attacker charge. A masked red and blue bot with an axe for a hand and exhaust pipes projecting from his arms.

Optimus Prime.

Chapter Text

Optimus Prime raised his axe. Megatron swapped his servos for his purple mace, grasping the chain and preparing for impact. Optimus didn't have time to react and change strategy.

Sparks flew as the weapons collided. Megatron pushed back. Optimus retracted before preparing himself for another attack. Megatron switched from defence to offence. A flurry of attacks sent more sparks of purple, yellow, and teal. For Alexis, Brad, and Carlos, they could only see a blurred outline, their movements too quick to keep track. Seconds past. The mace had wrapped itself around the belly of the axe. Optimus grabbed Megatron's shoulder and pulled, lowering his height to throw the bot over him. He pinned Megatron to the floor, who was trying to break free. The earth rumbled, and the metal screeched. Instinctively, the trio covered where their ears should have been. Optimus caught them from the corner of his optics. He turned, willingly letting his guard down.

'Run!'

No need to tell them twice. They bolted towards the end of the canyon. Another robot, with a red and white frame and a helm near identical to Brad's, appeared but completely ignored them as they charged in the direction of Optimus and Megatron. The canyon now became a cliff with debris of spiked metal. Alexis and Carlos kept Brad towards the wall in case he lost his balance and fell, with Alexis in the middle and Carlos closest to the ledge.

The chains of the mace broke. Megatron switched back to his servos and pushed himself up, grabbing Optimus by the neck, forcing him off with a haymaker punch and a kick to the tank.

Optimus stumbled back and found himself staring down the barrell of the fusion cannon. He caught a glimpse of its purple light. Knocking it away with a backhand, with help from the second bot shoulder barging him, caused Megatron to fire prematurely. Right in the direction of the children. None of them noticed as the blast of pure energy landed less than an inch behind them.

The explosion sent them flying forward. They felt the heat scraping the back of their legs and singeing the finish. Alexis knew they could feel pain in their new bodies, but it still surprised her with a gasp. Carlos was thrown further than the two. He failed to regain his footing and fell over the edge. Brad and Alexis scrambled to the cliff with a look of horror on their faces. Both reached out to him, but it was too late.

'CARLOS!'

The boy watched his friends fade further away. He still tried to take their servos, hoping, praying for a miracle, with his own look of horror staring back at them. Eventually, he shut his optics and waited.

'Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.'

The sound of something mechanical whirled to life under Carlos' frame. He felt a surge of electricity run through his mechanical body as it began to change shape. His limbs tucked themselves in, and his head retracted into his chest. The branched out gauntlets tilted and flipped in the other direction. The blue lining on his frame glowed. The thrusters powered up. Carlos suddenly came to halt inches above the ground. Brad and Alexis saw their horror turning to surprise.

Carlos had transformed into a hoverbord.

'What just happened?!' He called up, surprised he was even able to talk. His voice echoed up the cliff. After a moment, now that the shock had worn off, Carlos fell to the floor again, shifting out of alt-form.

Brad's shock turned to amazement. 'How did you do that?!' He called down.

'No idea!' Carlos called up.

Without a word, Brad willingly jumped over the edge, but unlike Carlos, he was able to stake his way down. Alexis watched, her face still in shock, now wondering how Brad could move down such a steep surface. Brad wasn't sure how it happened either, but he guessed replaying what Carlos had just done in his mind triggered his own transformation. He pushed himself off the wall and into a swan dive, and his body transformed into a moped. Landing back on the cliff with a laugh, he continued to drive to the bottom, transforming back to high-five Carlos.

'YEEEEEAAAAAH!' The boys cheered in unison.

Another spiralling vortex appeared before them. A loud thud stopped their celebration short. They turned and saw a towering robot with a boxy appearance, a primary golden and red frame with a near black trim, and a rusty brown face. His only left optic was neon green. A metallic eyepatch covered his right optic down to the cheek. Two cannons you'd find on a tank branched from his shoulders, making him look taller than he was. Below the knee, his legs resembled idler wheels, giving his massive red pedals that reminded them of clown shoes. Like Megatron, he wore the purple emblem on his right arm. He eyed up the duo and huffed.

Demolisher.

Brad and Carlos yelled in fear. They turned on their pedals and tyres, transformed into their alt-forms, and began riding up the cliff again. Carlos' hoverboard acted like a magnet, keeping him relatively close to the surface. Demolisher punched the cliff next to Brad, purposefully missing the boy, causing him to fall back into his humanoid form, rolling twice. Carlos transformed his left arm, snatching Brad and throwing him onto his back. Together, they rode up the final stretch.

Alexis leaned back, seeing her friends celebrate their race to the top. Her optics widened, and all the air left her. It's as if she was seeing all the colours in the world glistening in her optics, and she wanted to experience it. She wanted to transform. Without stopping, Brad grabbed Alexis, dragging her away as he still stood on Carlos' hoverboard, as Demolisher began to climb, his servos gripping onto the edge and pushing himself up.

The trio continued on the road, finally making it to a clearing. Carlos transformed back, causing Brad to jump off and letting go of Alexis, but she managed to find her footing.

'Where are we going?!' Brad yelled.

'Anywhere!' Alexis called back.

Another bot dropped from the sky before them, wearing that familiar purple emblem on his wings. Alexis knew who it was. It was the jet. His orange optics stayed firmly on her, like a predator targeting its prey.

Starscream.

Demolisher blocked their path from behind. Starscream readied himself to snatch Alexis until the sound of a horn came barrelling his way.

What looked like an electric yellow and red trimmed sports car headed straight for Starscream. It transformed and went in for a punch, but the seeker moved away in time. The newcomer got between him and the trio.

Hot Shot.

He readied himself for a fight, aiming his rocket launcher on his back in Demolisher's direction. It stopped him from getting closer, giving the unknown bot who ran past Alexis, Brad, and Carlos a chance to approach.

Red Alert.

He pointed the gun attached to the end of his arm at Demolisher's head. He was trapped. A stand-off between the four. Alexis noticed Hot Shot and Red Alert had two emblems on their arm and chest plate. They also looked like a skull, but with softer features, and were red instead of purple.

No one moved, each waiting for the other to attack.

The sound of Optimus and Megatron fighting filled the air. The two appeared, their frames scratched and sparks continuing to fly. Megatron held onto Optimus as they both came careering down the canyon and cliff. Optimus lay on his back, using his multiple tyres to keep him moving at top speed. Megatron laid punch after punch onto his face. He went in again. Optimus grabbed his fist, swerved to his pedals, and tossed him aside, landing beside Starscream, who still didn't move, only shifting his optics to glance at his leader. He knew he wouldn't accept help.

Megatron knelt. He felt a shooting pain up his leg, causing him to snarl at the Prime, who held the mace in his servos. Either out of honour, or as a way to show that he had won this fight, Optimus threw it back to its rightful owner. Under the mask, he looked disgusted at the weapon and at Megatron, who scrambled to attach it back onto his frame.

'I warned you what would happen if you came this way, Megatron.' The Prime stood tall. 'The Decepticons will not destroy Nova Cronum nor its regions, again. Now, leave.'

Advice Megatron heeds.

The vortex, or more accurately, the portal opened. The Decepticon leader shifted, keeping his narrowed optics that were full of hate on Optimus. 'Retreat.' Megatron led the way. His soldiers followed, even Starscream, who went last. He gave Alexis one final glance. It sent a shiver up her Bipedalism cord.

'Go back to Helex where you belong, you scrappers!' Hot Shot yelled with amusement as the portal closed. Red Alert responded with a small smack against the back of the helm. 'What?!'

'You had an opening, why did you use your horn?'

'To let them know I was here and to back off.'

'You could have gotten yourself killed.'

'And yet, here I am!'

'You have a lot to learn,' Red Alert dryly said with an accompanying sigh.

Alexis, Brad, and Carlos awkwardly stood between the bickering bots. If they thought the shock had worn off, then they were clearly mistaken. Everything happened so fast. They wanted to ask the millions of questions running through their processor, but none of them could bring themselves to say anything.

Optimus approached, rubbing a trickle of energon from his cheek. 'Red Alert, Hot Shot.' They stood to attention. 'That's enough.'

'Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir.'

'It's fine, but,' his focus shifted on the children. 'I think some introductions are in order.'

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The Autobots towered over the trio. They stood in their shadows and could only stare with mouths hanging open and finding themselves unable to blink. Alexis compared they must be taller than most of the buildings back in Lincoln. If they stood on top of each other, they'd be the same height as the State Capital. If her math was correct.

But, those buildings in the far off city...

Alexis turned her helm towards the cityscape, and only now was she realising that this was real. She found herself staring, and all the sounds around her became white noise. Until, Red Alert rested a servos on her shoulder. She flinched. Seeing his mostly covered face up close spooked her, but quickly calmed when she remembered he did save her life. Only now did she see that his left servos had been replaced with a gun.

'Are you okay?' His voice was deep yet gravelly, worn down by time.

'Yeah. Thanks. What about-' Alexis turned and saw Brad and Carlos clearly taking this better than she was. Asking questions and fawning over Optimus and Hot Shot, talking over each other as they did, making it hard for them to answer anything. So, they just smiled awkwardly, backed up against the canyon wall.

'What's your name?'

'You have an axe for a hand?'

'How did you find us?'

'Who built you?'

'Are you military?'

'How does a sports care have a rocket launcher?'

'What do those emblems mean?'

Alexis and Red Alert stared, both sharing the annoyed expression.

'...And they way you swung your axe, like-' Brad motioned with quick swings, making whooshing noises, until he smacked his servos against Carlos' arm. He brushed it off with a victory laugh. 'With the sparks flying. That was awesome!'

Optimus chuckled. 'Why, thank you.' His voice was a deep, baritone echo that rattled their frames, but friendly at the same time. 'To answer your first question, I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.' He tapped his emblem. 'My companions here today are Hot Shot-'

'The one and only!' Hot Shot saluted.

'One of my younger soldiers, and Red Alert, our Field Medic.'

'A pleasure,' Red Alert bowed his head.

'So, they are military,' Carlos muttered to himself.

'But, enough about us. Are you three okay?'

'We are now.'

'Good. Now, what were you three doing out here?'

'And who brought you out of stasis?' Hot Shot asked quickly, as if he would forget if he didn't speak right then and there.

The trio exchanged a confused look. Optimus noticed.

'Stasis?' Carlos asked with a cautious tone.

'Yeah,' Hot Shot shrugged. 'All Mini-Cons went into stasis panels at some point during the war.'

'War?' Brad asked.

'Mini-Cons?' Alexis asked. 'That's what we are?'

The Autobots now mirrored their confusion.

'...Yeah...' Hot Shot elongated his word. 'What did you think you were?'

'Well, we know what we are,' Carlos answered. 'We're humans.'

That didn't help.

'What's a human?' This was going to take a while.

'I guess we kinda look like this, just without the metal, and the ability to turn into a hoverbord.'

'Then what's the point of you?'

'Hot Shot!' Prime barked.

'Sorry. Sorry.' His tone said otherwise. 'Just curious.'

Prime reset his vocalizer with a light cough. 'Humans aren't native to Cybertron, and we've never had another species here before. To us, you look like Mini-Cons, a subspecies born through unknown origins.' Prime's optics reflected a sadness. 'And, the reason for the war that still continues to this day.' He opened his servos, allowing his subspace to open and reveal what looked like a shield. Prime knelt and allowed Alexis to take it. It was the size of a serving tray. It was heavily damaged. A large crack spread from the centre with several chips around the edges. 'Many of you hid yourselves away in these - a storage panel - waiting for the day they can awaken in peace. However, some of you have been in stasis for so long that your signals have stopped. Perhaps you could help.'

Alexis could tell something was wrong. She couldn't feel any heat. The panel was cold to the touch. No light reflected from the metal. The Mini-Con inside was dead. She offered the panel back.

'What makes them so important?'

'Powerlinking.'

'Powerlinking?'

'Mini-Cons might be small, but they serve a purpose in boosting the power of a Transformer like us. They bond to one of us and act as a companion. Some, like you,' he motioned to Alexis. 'Could give someone like myself wings. Others might create a shield. Some just power up weapons. The Decepticons and their leader Megatron wish to use you to win this war. We Autobots wish to make a safe haven for them. Although...' It then clicked. 'Mini-Cons have alt-forms that resemble tools rather than vehicles like you.' Prime stood tall. 'Forgive me, but we didn't catch your names.'

'Brad.'

'Carlos.'

'Alexis.'

'They do sound like human names,' Hot Shot commented.

'How would you know?' Red Alert asked.

'A pleasure to meet you.' Prime bowed his helm, ignoring his soldiers. 'Now, could you tell us how you arrived? There's no sign of a ship.'

'We fell.' Brad didn't see a problem in being honest. Neither did Alexis and Carlos, who stayed quiet. Mentally, he counted a couple of seconds, waiting for either of them to stop him, but when they didn't, he continued. 'Out of this green crack in the sky.' He pointed behind the Autobots, who turned to see, but it was gone. 'And we landed in that mountain.'

'You survived?'

'Somehow.' Brad shifted his attention to the city on the horizon. 'And now, we're trying to get there.'

Hot Shot laughed with pride. 'That is Iacon. Cybertron's Capital City and main Autobot stronghold. Great place for a holiday.' He rested his servos on his hips, turning to Prime. 'I can escort them there.'

'Not yet,' Prime ordered. He shifted his optics to the trio. 'The Ark might be best for now.'

That seemed to deflate Hot Shot, but he tried his best not to show it. He missed the city, seeing the neon streets and going to his favourite Energon Bars hidden in the backstreets. Maybe another time.

Another portal opened. The same purple vortex greeting the group. Prime stepped forward, followed by Red Alert and finally Hot Shot, whom he let pass through first. The trio lingered, watching the Autobots step into the light. Prime glanced down and gestured for them to follow.

'Don't worry. We'll find a way to get you home soon.'

'Well,' Carlos shrugged. 'This isn't the first time.'

Better with the Autobots than trying to trek across a metal planet alone.

They stepped into the vortex. Prime took one final scan of the canyon, shared a glance to his home city, and, with a heavy spark, followed. The vortex closed behind, and Nova Cronum fell silent.

Chapter Text

At this point, travelling through portals or cracks in reality were second nature to the trio. Only this time, they kept their optics open. A tunnel of purple with neon flames danced off their frames. An exit slowly comes into view. On the other side was a large metal room of bronze walls, blue computer screens, and grey floors. The Ark's interior.

Even though they had stepped into the dome lost to time and space, the trio were still amazed.

The trio noticed the red Autobot emblem on the floor. Carlos noticed how he could easily blend into the walls. The beeping of code and a series of sounds that formed a tune captured Alexis' imagination back when they would pretend to be space explorers, and she played the navigator. She would make similar noises and flick the light switch whenever they were going to crash. To Brad, it felt like home.

'Welcome to The Ark,' Prime announced, the vortex closing behind him. 'The Autobot's base of operation.'

'This is awesome,' Brad whispered to himself.

'Not as awesome as Iacon.' Clearly, Hot Shot, and everyone heard. 'Or Crystal City, but it ain't Darkmount, either.'

'Please remember he has no idea what you're talking about,' Red Alert droned.

'Well, it's in the name. Crystal City. Darkmount. Pretty obvious.' Red Alert didn't respond. Hot Shot vented to himself and rubbed the back of his helm. 'Ignore him. He's a buzz kill with no berth manner. Now-' Hot Shot clapped. 'Who wants a tour?' Three servos shot up in unison. 'Did I even need to ask?'

No.

Hot Shot spread his arms out wide and began. 'This is the Bridge. Where we navigate the skies and monitor systems, all thanks to this fellow.' He leaned on a large computer embedded into the wall. 'Teletran-1.' It dwarfed the trio, who couldn't even reach the keyboard. 'It picks up signals, keeps records of any findings, and tracks the weather.'

'Weather can be a problem for robots?' Even if they were made of metal, Alexis had to ask. She didn't think rain would cause them to rust, but she would quickly be proven wrong.

'The acid rain can be.'

'You have that?'

'Not always,' Prime interjected. 'The overuse of weapons in the early years of war damaged our atmosphere. Extreme contamination from chemicals leaks is the main culprit. It's only good for ceasing a battle. Do humans have acid rain?'

'No, but we know what it is,' Carlos answered.

'Lucky you,' Hot Shot hummed, but there was a sadness in his tone. He caught himself and quickly recovered. 'Just stay out of it. Unless you want your circuits to melt.' Hot Shot continued the tour before the morbid conversation could continue. He moved towards a set of stairs the vortex hid and pointed to a set of chairs besides the cockpit windows. Looking outside, the Ark wasn't flying, hidden within the outskirts of Nova Cronum's territory. 'That's where we pilot the Ark. Not as hard as it looks.'

'Anyone can pilot it?' Brad did have his optics on the control panel.

'Sure. After six months of training.'

'Don't even think about it,' Alexis whispered harshly.

Moving on.

Along the corridors of the ship, Hot Shot continued to lead the trio. Prime stayed behind on the Bridge. The next room was the Chambers. It was a circular room with large cylinders optimising the space against the wall. Wires connected to a dome at the centre of the room, acting as a plug. 'The Chambers. We go here only in case of an emergency.'

'Such as?'

'Evacuations. Going into deep space. Serious injuries when Red Alert has no more room in the Medi-bay.'

Speaking of;

The medi-bay sat next to the main entrance of the ship. It was by far the largest room with the same computers wedged into the walls and medical equipment that did look oddly similar to what you would find on Earth. The CT-Scan was the obvious giveaway. Carlos looked up and noticed transparent cables hanging above the beds. The Cybertronian equivalent of a drip. Red Alert hovered in the corner, tapping away at the controls.

'No need for introductions,' Hot Shot mused. He bowed to conclude the little tour for now. 'Whatcha up to, Red?'

'Alert.' He didn't give the young Autobot any acknowledgement. 'And I'm making files for our newcomers.'

Alexis, Brad and Carlos exchanged looks.

'You are?' Brad asked.

'Of course. Until we figure out a way to get you home, you three are in my care, and for that, I need to make a medical report for each of you.' He shifted in his chair and leaned down, resting his arms on his knees. 'Alright, who's first?'

No one moved. Despite the differences, they all shared an unease towards doctors. Alexis and Carlos shared a look, raised a servos, and pushed Brad forward. The de facto leader didn't notice he was moving until a couple of seconds passed. He snapped his helm back and gave the duo a look of utter disbelief. Alexis and Carlos tried to hold in their laughter. Being so small had some advantages if you kept your helm low. Red Alert noticed knew what they did and simply ran with it.

'Thank you, Brad.' He began typing out the boy's name, and that's when it hit the trio. They could read Cybertronian. What looked like glyphs to them might as well be written in English. 'Now, I just need to take a scan from you. From there, we can set up a signal. That way, we can keep track of yourself and upload a copy onto Teletran-1's system so it may identify a Mini-Con from any other subspecies. Do you have any questions?'

He wanted to ask if it would hurt. The look on his face screamed that, despite trying to seem calm. If he still had skin, it would have been drained of all colour. His frame went stiff, but he had to be brave. After a slight delay, he just gave a thumbs up with a smile. 'Let's do this!'

Prime sat in one of the pilot seats, typing in a code for one of his fellow Autobots. He waited for a response through the radio, and as he did, he let his processor wander. The idea of three humans making it to Cybertron and being turned into Mini-Cons. He couldn't find the logic behind it. Even in the fictional novels he tended to in his youth, there was nothing like this.

'Prime?' The voice brought the leader back to reality. 'Prime? Anyone?'

'Yes. Go ahead, Smokescreen.'

'Can you hear me good?'

'Good enough.'

'Signal's been a pile of scrap down here.' A pause. 'I'm sorry, Prime. I found one, but I was too late.'

'Don't beat yourself up, Smokescreen. We knew this could be a possibility.'

'I know, but-' Smokescreen's voice quickly became jovial. 'I'm sure there's more. I'll keep you updated.'

'Do you need our assistance?'

'Nah,' he laughed. 'I've only been down here for two days. I'll ask for help at three.'

'Have you encountered any Decepticons?'

'Nope. Crystal clear.' And, he didn't find that odd. 'I guess abandoned undergrounds are too much for flyers.' He suddenly made his voice hoarse. 'And Megatron himself.'

'Just be careful.'

'No promises.'

'I'm serious, Smoke-'

'I know. I know. Smokescreen out.'

The line went dead. Prime vented and was starting to regret letting him go alone. Just as quickly as they left, the thoughts came back into Prime's processor, and time vanished. He didn't know how long had passed before Red Alert shook him awake, but dust had started to set in on the horizon.

'Prime? I was able to take a scan of our guests.'

'And?'

'They have all the inner workings we do. Circuits. Inbuilt heating. A T-Cog. The works. They're just like us, yet they claim to be humans, whatever that is. What do you think?'

'I think whoever they are, right now, it doesn't matter. As Autobots, we keep them safe. They are now members of Cybertron. We will treat them no differently.'

For someone with a logical mind like Red Alert, that answer wasn't enough for him. His optics reflected annoyance, thankfully hidden under his visor.

'I'm uploading their scans onto the system. Soon, we will know where all the Mini-Cons are.'

'Thank you, Red Alert, but where are they?'

'Hot Shot took them into spare accommodation below deck. I think they need to rest.'

'We all do. It's been a long day.'

Alexis stared at the ceiling. She lay on her back on the top bunk. Brad and Carlos occupied the bunk beside her. All three were drowning in size of the berths. They weren't comfy to lie on, but they were warm. It was the little things that mattered, and to Alexis, it was having a pillow and a warm blanket. It felt like a piece of her was suddenly gone. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. A piece of her wanted to throw Brad out of the nearest airlock. She wanted to go home. Thanks to her wings, she couldn't sleep on her left-hand side. Her optics felt heavy. There was still a lingering sting from when she poked herself. She raised a servos and looked at the claws she now had.

Then she remembered the jet. He was near identical to her. The only difference was the pattern of colours across his frame and optic colour. Powerlinking. So, that's why he wanted her. Great. The feeling of being targeted by someone left a weight on her chest.

'We should use codenames.' Brad's voice broke the silence. Alexis quickly stopped her thoughts and composed herself, taking a quick, deep breath.

'Like what?' Carlos leaned over the top bunk.

'I dunno. But, something that sounds robotic. Something to help us blend in.' He pondered for a moment. 'Like Rad.' Alexis and Carlos groaned in disgust. 'What?'

'Last time I checked, it wasn't 2002,' Carlos mocked.

'It sounds Autobot-enough,' Brad protested.

'No it doesn't.'

'It'll come back into fashion.'

'No it won't.'

'Okay then, what do you think?'

'Names that begin with the same letter as our own.'

'Something that speaks to us,' Alexis muttered. 'Something that just fits our vibe.' Moving herself fo sit up, Alexis shuffled her body to sit at the edge of the bunk. Brad followed suit. 'The only rule is that it has to be one word.'

'Alright. First thing that comes into your head,' Brad announced. He counted to five. 'Okay. On the count of three, we just say them together.' Alexis and Carlos nodded.

'One. Two. Three-'

Chapter Text

'I apologise to all of you.' Megatron stood from his throne. Leader-1 still perched on his shoulder. Starscream, Demolisher, and Cyclonus stood to attention. 'For far too long, we have been scouting Cybertron for Mini-Cons with no results. But, thanks to Cyclonus and his efforts, we will now be on equal footing with the Autobots.'

Megatron always knew what to say. How to charm his followers and stir their rivalry. He could see Starscream and Demolisher try and not glare at Cyclonus, who was still relishing in the praise. None of them noticed Megatron's smile was one of amusement. It was his form of amusement.

'With Leader-1 beside me again, we will be able to locate the rest. Starting with those three,' he glared at Starscream and Demolisher. 'You failed to aquire.' The pair kept their optics on Megatron, but the want to look away in shame was strong. 'Be ready to depart.'

Demolisher's optics lit up. 'But, My Lord, are you fit to travel?' No harm in asking. Megatron snapped his helm towards the fellow tank.

'My health is none of your concern.'

Demolisher flinched.

'Sorry, my Lord.'

Starscream couldn't help but smirk, and Megatron noticed.

'Something amusing for you, Starscream?' The jet quickly composed himself.

'Nothing, my Lord.'

'If you're going to get so easily distracted, perhaps I should call for Thundercracker or Skywarp instead.' He saw the panic on Starscream.

'No!' A sudden outburst Starscream had to quickly reclver from. 'Megatron, please. I gave them strict orders to protect Kaon's boarders. They won't be needed.'

Cyclonus' spark was practically dancing in amusement.

'As I was saying, prepare for departure. I don't want any slack this time.'

Megatron stomped past his soldiers, showing how his limp had vanished without any medical help. He could feel their surprise. He left his throne room and made his way to the Nemesis Bridge, processor whirring in thought.

'If Prime was smart, he'd take those three Mini-Cons and use the data to track their kin.' Red optics stared at the control panel. Without looking, he reached up and stroked Leader-1's helm, who cooed at the touch. A slow grin etched across Megatron's face. 'Perfect.'

The Ark hummed to life, its powerful engines lifting the vessel high into the sky with perfect balance. Teletran-1's radar had registered the coding of a Mini-Con, now trying to search Cybertron for one. The trio didn't know how much time had passed, but when they stirred from their rest, dusk had fallen. The already vibrant red, oranges, and pinks somehow burst against the metal landscape that would have blinded them if they were still human. They approached the window and stared in awe at the view.

The Autobots watched the radar with baited breath. Nothing so far, but there was a sense of hope shared between their sparks. The beeping filled the silence until the sound of the door opening to the Bridge made their helms turn. Alexis, Brad, and Carlos entered, looking unsure for a second or two if they had found the right room.

'Hello, Brad,' Prime smiled under his mask as he addressed the boy. 'Did you have a good rest?'

Brad stopped, lowered his helm, and scoffed. A smirk crossed his face.

'Who's Brad?' Prime blinked. 'From now on, I'll be known as-' He punched the air. 'Bullseye.'

'Bullseye?'

'We want to use codenames,' Carlos explained. 'To help us blend in.'

'Better than Rad,' Alexis said to herself with a smirk.

'Then Bullseye it is.' Prime was equally amused and humbled. He turned his attention to Alexis and Carlos. 'And, what shall we call you two?'

'Astrid!' Alexis yelled.

'Compass!' Carlos bellowed.

Prime chuckled. 'Welcome to The Ark, Bullseye, Astrid and Compass. And, welcome to the Autobot team.'

'Where we'll be great additions.' Brad gave a thumbs up. It then clicked with Prime that he was their leader. It had already clicked for Alexis and Carlos that Brad was treating this like a morning television show.

The radar beeps picked up in pace, and their frequency turned into a higher pitch. Everyone looked and saw the signal of a Mini-Con. But, now wasn't the time to celebrate.

'Autobots,' Prime raised his voice. 'Get ready to roll out! Hot Shot, open the vortex.'

'Yes, Sir.' The trio could only watch and try not to get under anyone's pedals until Hot Shot knelt down to their level, holding a tracking device in his servos. 'Ready for your first field mission?'

'You're letting us come with you?' Carlos asked, sharing their surprise.

'You're Autobots now, aren't you? That means we have to look out for each other and pull our weight.' Even Red Alert seemed to agree with them coming along, giving a small and first smile. 'Well, come on.'

Excitement was shared between the trio. Even Alexis found herself getting excited to explore more of Cybertron. Until...

'Won't there be Decepticons?' She asked.

'They have no way to track down Mini-Cons.' Hot Shot waved off their concern. 'Like us, its been a guessing game for them. Now, let's go!'

With a leap into the vortex, Hot Shot turned into his car mode and vanished. Red Alert quickly followed. Wanting to test out their alt-forms, now that they weren't in a life or death situation, Brad and Carlos transformed and raced each other into the vortex. Prime saw Alexis step forward but not transform into what was clearly a jet.

'Are you alright, Astrid?'

'Yeah. I'm fine.'

'Are you not going to transform?'

'I-I don't know how.'

Kneeling, then slowly raising a servos, Prime was careful with his strength to give Alexis a small pat on the back. 'Don't worry,' he reassured. 'It'll come to you in time.' Prime stood tall again. 'Why don't you tell me what it's like to be a human?'

'...Sure...'

Together, they stepped into the vortex. The others were long gone into the swirls of purple.

'Like you, Hot Shot and Red, we all look different. You can't see, but Brad has blue eyes.'

'Eyes?'

'Yeah, you know?' Alexis tapped under her right eye.

'Ah. We call them optics.'

'Optics then. Carlos' are brown, but here they're yellow like yours. Mine are still green.' Alexis continued. 'We're not a tall species.' She looked down at her pedals. 'I'm only taller now because of the heels. Same with Brad. He's the tallest, but the tyres have given him a few more inches. Carlos is the same. He just looks boxy. But, we still have some growing to do. Humans keep growing until they're eighteen, sometimes twenty years old.'

'Cybertronians are brought online with a height already decided by our maker.'

'Your maker?'

'Primus. He's the one who created this planet, using his own body to form Cybertron. The Well of Sparks gives us life, each with some of Primus' divine essence.'

'He's a God, then?'

'That he is. Do humans worship a God?'

'Depends. We have different religions, and each worships someone else, but there are people who don't follow a belief.'

The pair reached the exit to the vortex.

'I'd like to hear about them, one day.'

'Let's get us a Mini-Con first!' Alexis caught herself. She was enjoying herself, and she didn't know how to feel about that.

'-Alright, over and out.' Red Alert approached Prime. 'I've alerted Smokescreen of our position. He says he's he'll recon with us shortly.'

'Smokescreen? Is he another Autobot?' Brad already knew the answer, but he wanted to know more.

'He's a scout for us. Volunteered to explore the tunnels outside of Iacon.' Turns out, they were closer to the city than they thought. Less than five miles away.

Hot Shot glanced at the tracking device in his servos. 'This way.'

So far, so good. But, now that Carlos thought about it. 'How did you find us?'

'Oh, with Laserbeak.' And right on cue, the bird-like robot landed besides the boy, making him flinch, only to quickly recognise it.

'Hey, I saw you before.'

'You did?'

'Yeah, after we got down from the mountain.' Maybe because they were similar in frame colour, or because Laserbeak knew that Carlos saw him first, but the bird glided over and landed on Carlos' slouched shoulders. It was a tight fit due to the large gauntlets, but neither of the two seemed to mind.

'Seems to like you.'

Alexis and Brad couldn't help but feel slightly jealous. First to transform and now a companion of his own? Carlos was lucky.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Hot Shot glanced back at the tracker and slowly stopped, causing Brad to walk into the back of what should be his lower calf. The Autobot didn't react besides an instinctive flinch and slowly raised the tracker for all, but mainly Prime and Red Alert to see. A look of shock crossed their faces.

'There's, another singal.'

'Then, we split up into groups,' Prime ordered. He focused on the location, memorising the coordinates. Confidence ran through everyone's circuits. 'Hot Shot, Bullseye and Astrid go together. Compass and Red Alert, with me. Regroup here when you're done.'

'Yes, Sir.'

'Yes, Sir.'

Prime, Compass, and Red Alert transformed and headed east, moving away from Iacon. Hot Shot, Bullseye, and Astrid continued north. But, when they reached where the Mini-Con should be. Nothing. No Mini-Con. The trio just stood in a clearing, where nothing could hide, but Hot Shot instantly knew and sighed in defeat.

'It's underground.'

Prime's team had a much easier discovery. However, their Mini-Con was just sat down like a teddy bear, staring blankly at them, with a curious tilt of the helm, inviting them forward.

Leader-1.

Chapter Text

'Why are they just sitting there?'

Was the thought that ran through everyone's processor. Optics darted around the area. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but they kept their distance. Prime made sure Carlos stayed hidden behind his giant frame. Red Alert stepped forward.

'I'll go.'

'Wait-' Prime moved to block the medic, but Red Alert lightly pushed him away.

'They may be hurt, Optimus-'

Without giving Prime a moment to respond, Red Alert slowly approached. He kept his arms out wide, showing Leader-1 he was no threat. The Mini-Con didn't move. They stared blankly. A sudden, uneasy feeling continued to grow among the Autobots. Prime began to think. Had he seen this one before?

A glint caught Carlos' attention. It ran along the metal earth, and he slowly looked up, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. Red Alert kept his distance so as not to scare the bot. Prime watched with narrow optics. Carlos continued to look.

There.

The nose of two machine guns. And they aimed right at Red Alert. Carlos dashed forward, stopping ahead of Prime, who still hadn't noticed.

'GET AWAY FROM THEM, RED!'

A jolt of pain ran through Red Alert's arm. Noise around him became an echo, followed by a ringing in his sensors. Fragments of metal flew past his optics. He glanced down and saw his blaster hand completely shattered. A mix of sparks and energon poured from the wound. It all happened within several seconds. Laserbeak captured footage of Leader-1 running in the opposite direction.

Red Alert jumped back. Prime rushed ahead. Carlos quickly ducted away but kept watch on the hidden Decepticon. It was Demolisher, who continued shooting at the Autobots, his digits acting at noses for the machine guns hidden below his first frame layer. Prime and Red Alert retreated back into hiding, making sure not to step on Carlos and Laserbeak.

'I'm sorry.' Panic filled Prime's spark.

'No. That one's on me,' Red Alert reassured. He cradled his arm, hissing as the pain grew.

'Can I help?' Carlos asked instinctively.

'No, you get back and stay down.'

Demolisher approached, bullets no longer flying. He knew where they were hiding and seemed annoyed. Annoyed that a Prime would hide.

'Come on. Give me something to work with!' He bellowed.

'How in Primus' name did he find us?'

'The Mini-Con,' Prime muttered. 'They must have picked up the signal from us.'

Bullets flew past their hiding spot.

'I hate being ignored, Prime.' Yet, Demolisher's voice was full of joy. 'Stop hiding.' He would patiently wait.

Prime was quick to act, opening his subspace to wield his Ion Blaster. He signalled and gestured to Red Alert, who nodded in agreement. Carlos didn't understand but knew to keep quiet. Red turned to the teenager and mouthed for him to wait. The sound of the blaster hummed to life. Demolisher stopped in his tracks and smiled.

He always wanted to hunt a Prime.

The Autobot stepped out from hiding and pulled the trigger, firing a shocking blast of light towards Demolisher. The Decepticon knew Prime would miss on purpose, and he did, but he aimed the blaster perfectly next to his only optic, closing it in the underlying fear of losing his sight. He heard the thundering pedals of Prime approach, but he had no time to react. When he forced his optic open, all he caught was Prime's figure, then felt the uppercut punch to his chin. Demolisher stumbled back, and Prime went in again for a punch, sending a haymaker his way.

Red Alert and Carlos transformed. Red Alert's form resembling a reacue SUV. Using the battle as a distraction, they managed to escape. Both Prime and Demolisher heard their engines fade into the distance.

Demolisher twisted his pedals, found his balance again, and returned the haymaker with his own. Prime felt the force in the centre of his mask. He returned with a punch to his side, where, if Demolisher was human, his ribs would have shattered. Instead, he felt a deep dent form. But, Prime was close. Seeing an opportunity, he grabbed the Autobot leader's helm and smashed it into a headbutt. The Decepticon felt proud until that was replaced with Prime grabbing and throwing him forward into a belly to belly suplex. Prime didn't want to kill him, but he needed him to stay down.

'Where are we going?!' Carlos flew alongside Red Alert, both going at top speed. Laserbeak was settled on the hoverbord, knowing it couldn't keep up.

Red Alert didn't answer. He switched on his radio. It crackled under the bad signal for being out in the middle of nowhere.

'Hot Shot?! Hot Shot, come in! HOT SHOT!'

'GAH!' The young Autobot groaned with an arched back and trying to hold back a yawn. 'This is boring.'

'Do you know what you're looking for?' Alexis asked as she tapped the ground, waiting to hear something that could get them underground. Brad did the same to no avail.

'Yeah, but it's hard to pinpoint an entrance.' He rubbed the back of his helm and checked the radar. The blip was still there, but not in the centre, more towards the top left corner. 'See. Cybertron is a living entity, and we are its children.' Brad and Alexis halted their search. 'Outside of the cities, the metal can change. Ever adapting. Makes it hard to navigate unless you know what you're doing. Which,' he chuckled. 'I'm not.'

'Is that why the pipes branch out this far? Because this was once a city?'

'In a way. Many think the underground did belong to an old city, back in the early years of Cybertron. Others think they were built during the reign of Megatronus.'

'Megatronus?'

'Aye. The Fallen. The one who betrayed the original Primes and sided with Unicron. A God of chaos and destruction. The Fallen became his prophet and would have ripped the universe apart if he wasn't defeated by his fellow Primes.'

'And what happened to Unicorn?'

'Sealed away after The Fallen's defeat. Some say he was locked away in deep space. Others say he became our moon, sealed in his own body, unable to do anything. But...' Hot Shot laughed. 'That's just a story we tell naughty Sparklings before stasis. These were probably tunnels for the first generation of Cybertronians.'

Ever attracted by the lights, Alexis found herself staring back at the city. Now closer, she noticed the city was built upon layer after layer. What should be down was up. Buildings hovering in the sky, their tip pointing towards the earth. She found herself tilting her helm.

'I think I found it!' Alexis and Hot Shot looked at Brad, who looked at what appeared to be an opening to a bunker. The outline was faint with a large hand wheel at the centre.

'Good job, Bullseye,' Hot Shot praised. He leaned in to open the door-

'HOT SHOT!'

He pulled back as Red Alert's signal final screeched into his audio sensors, letting out a yelp. He could barely hear the medic, more the static that hurt his processor. 'WHAT?!' Two can play at that game.

'THE DECEPTICONS ARE HERE - GET ASTRID AND BULLSEYE SOMEWHERE SAFE, NOW!'

Right on cue, the sound of jet engines roared above the Autobots, and they were getting closer, followed by the sound of metal altering its shape. Hot Shot snapped his helm towards the sky and saw Starscream land beside him, sucker-punching the Autobot across the face and causing the ground to rumble. Alexis and Brad kept their balance by holding onto the wheel. Without a word, they used all their might to open the door. And, without any exchanging of words, the Autobot and Decepticon charged at each other.

Hot Shot went in for a punch of his own. Starscream dodged, grabbing the bot by the helm and arm, twisting it behind his back, and slamming him against a wall. Using his free arm, Hot Shot twisted it around Starscream's that was keeping him in a lock and managed to break free with a spin. Sparks flew as their frame scraped against each other. The Autobot went in for a double punch. The Decepticon raised his arms and blocked the impat. He then coiled his arm around Hot Shot's, not allowing him to retreat, pulling him close and delivering a headbutt. He let the young soldier go, only to punch him square in the fuel tank. Hot Shot fell to his knees, coughing up Energon spit.

'Got it!'

Starscream looked at the duo, optics registering Alexis. She could feel him staring, but she didn't look. The door opened with a groan. Starscream took a step forward, ready to break into a sprint. Suddenly, he felt a weight wrap around his left leg. He tumbled. Hot Shot began to pull him back. Starscream kicked and dragged himself forward in a tug of war. There was a look of anger and desperation in his optics. For a split second, he reached a clawed servos out to Alexis before she vanished into the underground, and Hot Shot pulled himself up, using Starscream's wings, trying to keep him in place. They kicked and punched, and all composure was thrown out the window.

Now, Alexis and Brad thought there would be a ladder they could scale, not a slide of rust and disused Energon sticking to their frames, followed by a sudden drop into the actual underground passage. Brad landed first. Alexis landed on his chest, somehow bouncing off and rolling onto her back.

'Sorry,' she groaned.

'That's okay,' Brad wheezed. The duo gave themselves a moment to recover, where they discovered they could now see in the dark. The pitch black tunnels might as well be a sunny day. Together, they looked over their shoulders, not seeing an end, then ahead to the same result. 'Which way?'

A sudden bang from above. Hot Shot and Starscream were still fighting.

'Away from here.'

Chapter Text

They couldn't put a digit on it, but there was a smell in the air and a tense feeling that crushed against their frames. Alexis and Brad wringed their servos and rolled their shoulders to try and ease up, but the lingering silence between themselves and the world above was eerie. The tunnels were high and wide enough to fit two Primes. Congealed energon stuck to the floor and the walls were rusting away.

If you were a Mini-Con, this would be a good hiding place.

'Do you think Hot Shot's okay?' Brad asked.

'I hope so.' Honestly, neither were sure. Seeing two giant robots fight is something they would watch together on a show before school, or on a Saturday morning. Never did they think they'd experience it firsthand. It wasn't as exciting as they thought. 'I also hope we're going the right way.'

Brad flickered his optics to and from Alexis. He felt heavy as he rolled his lips inwards before pursuing them in thought. The guilt he felt slowly crept back. It was easy to ignore with so much happening so fast, and with others around to keep his and Alexis' attention from the obvious. He hoped it had gone away by now, but he could feel her resentment. A tough pill to swallow. 'Hey, I'm-' A faint signal ran through their processors. They pair stopped and shared a glance. 'You feel that?'

'Yeah. It's like a faint hum.'

'Can we hear Mini-Con signals?'

'Makes sense.'

Small smiles began to form on their faces. Brad secretly jumped for joy. The feelings of guilt quickly washed away. The duo picked up the pace, following the signal. It was strange. It wasn't a noise they were following but a sensation running through their sparks. The tunnel was a long stretch, lasting nearly a minute, before breaking up into two. They took a sharp left turn and there it was.

The Mini-Con storage panel sits in a large crack within the wall. Together, they gently grabbed the panel and noticed how, compared to the first one they saw, there was a green glow and a reflection within the metal. The Mini-Con was alive.

'Let's get this back to Prime.'

What they failed to notice was the looming bot above them, with their glowing blood orange optics staring down at them.

'Hey, you found one-' the stranger praised. Alexis and Brad screamed, jumping back against the wall. Brad lost control of his tires and fell on his back. Alexis held the storage panel close to her chest. Out of the shadows, an Autobot appeared, clearly with the alt-form modelled after some type of silver, royal blue and black trimmed sports car. He looked like Hot Shot's older sibling. Their frame was slimline in build, except for his shoulders, where missile launchers sat. A blast from Megatron's cannon would rip him in two. He held up his servos and his doors flickered. 'Sorry. Sorry. Didn't mean to give you both a fright.'

'Who are you?!' Brad asked, carefully pulling himself to his tires. The sleek walls provided no help.

'Smokescreen,' he bowed. 'Autobot scout at your service. Prime allowed me to search the tunnels for any Mini-Cons, but should have known their own kin would find them first.' He knelt down to their level. He noticed how different they looked compared to what he's been told. 'Guessing you came with him.'

'Yeah. I'm Bullseye and this is Astrid.' They both mentally told each other to not to delve into everything prior until they got back to The Ark. 'There's also Compass, but he's with the others.'

The banging on the surface echoed. Pockets of dust exploded from the force and the tunnels rattled.

'Sounds like a party up there.'

'That'll be Hot Shot and the jet.'

'Starscream. Well, then. Best go help.'

Hot Shot charged. He swung upwards with his right servos. Starscream blocked, but failed to notice the Autobot switch his weight into his left servos. He returned the prior favour and punched his fuel tank. Starscream stumbled but didn't fall to his knees. It was more out of a reaction than pain. The punch itself was weak. Both Autobot and Decepticon were out of gas. Energon blood trickled from their mouth. Frames covered in scratches and dents. Hot Shot had a visible scratch running from his left optic. Starscream spat out a denture. His wings felt heavy.

'No sword today, Screamer?' Hot Shot mocked with what was left in his vents.

'You're not worthy of it,' the Decepticon said bluntly.

'Well, I'm gonna have to change that.'

Both stood to attention for another brawl, but before they could lift a pedal, the earth opened beside them from a missile being fired underground. It threw the pair several feet into the air. Starscream landed on his back. Hot Shot landed on his fuel tank. His body was done. He couldn't find the strength to stand. Pushing himself up to see what just happened was a chore. Starscream used a raised piece of metal for support to help him get to his pedals. His legs shook. Through the dust, they heard, then saw, a servos latching onto the ledge. The sound of an engine revved.

Smokescreen leapt in his alt-mode. His arm transformed back after retracting his servos that doubled as a grappling hook. He aimed for Starscream and tackled himself into his chest. Starscream barely had time to react before flying back, scraping across the ground and hitting his helm. Everything went black for the seeker.

Alexis and Brad froze, sitting in Smokescreen's car. Because of her wings, Alexis took up the entirety of the off-white back seats whilst Brad took the passenger. Both clung to their seat belts, refusing to let go, even when the doors opened. 'I'm not a taxi service.' That got them to move. Transforming back, Smokescreen approached Hot Shot and offered him a servos, which he accepted. Smokescreen allowed him to rest his body against his. 'Fashionably late as usual.'

'I'd say you were just in time,' Hot Shot wheezed. 'Did you get the Mini-Con?'

'Ahem.' Brad turned to show his storage box. It opened to reveal the panel inside. He had a smug look on his face to match Smokescreen. 'One down.' Who knows how many to go. 'Let's get this back to Prime!'

'Hot Shot?' Red Alert's voice crackled over the radio. It was calmer than before.

'Yeah?' The Autobot answered. 'Sorry about that.'

'Are you all okay?'

'Took a bit of a beating, but we're all still online. Little Astrid and Bullseye got the Mini-Con.' He gave the pair a thumbs up. 'What about you and Compass?'

'Back on The Ark. Just go and help Optimus. Opening a vortex for Astrid and Bullseye.'

'Will do.' Hot Shot disconnected the line and focused on Smokescreen. 'Ready?'

'Absolutely.'

The vortex opened and Hot Shot waved Alexis and Brad off, forcing himself to stand on his own. 'You two get the Mini-Con back to The Ark, and we'll see you soon.'

'Are you sure we can't help?' Brad asked.

'You've done enough, trust me.'

Starscream slowly sat up, still dazed and confused. He groaned, hissed and held his helm in his hand. No time to argue. Through his digits, he watched Alexis and Brad bolt into the vortex with a look of frustration on his face. He tried to stand, but stumbled to his knees.

Hot Shot and Smokescreen gave him a passing look, transformed and bolted for Prime. Starscream's breathing deepened and became rapid until, living up to his name, let out a scream of frustration.

Chapter Text

Optimus stood above Demolisher's unconscious body. He had to admire the Decepticon. He's only gotten stronger since their first encounter. Optimus could see why Megatron asked him to join his private fleet, but it was a shame that he did. He turned to leave, but the familiar sound of pedals approached.

Megatron stopped and their optics locked. Leader-1 sat on his shoulder.

'That's where I know you,' Optimus addressed to the Mini-Con. They didn't answer. He turned to Megatron. 'What did you do to him?'

'Nothing. I merely found him. You know what happens to Mini-Cons when they choose their Cybertronian, Prime.' He paused, tilted his helm and a smirk crossed Megatron's face. 'Still upset about Sparkplug?' He spoke in a mocking tone.

A rage suddenly built in Optimus. He glared at Megatron, his dentures gritting together under his mask. The tyrant clearly found this amusing. He loved seeing a beacon of hope lose his composure. 'Here. Let me remind you-' Leader-1 jumped into a slot on Megatron's back. 'What happened-' The Powerlinking process began. A dreadful sound of an engine roared within Megatron's cannon. The one purple glow became many. 'That day.'

A singular cannon blast now formed into a hail of minigun bullets.

Optimus summoned his axe, spinning it in a continuous motion for the 'bullets' to bounce off. He charged forward, moving his other arm back and firing up his exhaust to land a powerful blow on Megatron's face. Megatron stopped and took the punch, unable to step aside in time. He recovered quickly, lifting one arm up, blocking Optimus from going in for another attack. Optimus swung his axe. Megatron ducked, transforming into his tank and began to circle the Autobot leader. He fired his cannon-minigun hybrid. Optimus could only cross his arms across his face. He felt each bullet stung. Some scratched his finish. Others managed to break his frame. If he wasn't a Prime, he would be dead.

Optimus kicked Megatron back into his humanoid form. The Decepticon punched downwards. Optimus bobbed and weaved. The Autobot went in for a cross punch. Megatron blocked. He went in for a jab. Optimus slipped the attack over his shoulder. He jabbed Megatron's upper chest. Megatron shoved his fist away, grabbed his helm and headbutted him twice. Optimus couldn't react, only feel as he felt several, sudden pains in his fuel tank. He had to recover. A couple of jabs and a punch to Megatron's audio sensors. A weak spot for all Cybertronians. Megatron shoved him away.

Optimus charged for another attack, body low. Megatron punched down, returning the strike to the audio sensors, before another knee, this time to the chest. The force was so strong, it brought Optimus back onto his pedals. An uppercut followed to his jaw, but he didn't stumble. Optimus went for a haymaker. Megatron blocked and kicked out the side of the Autobot's knee. Optimus fell. Megatron tackled.

Pinned to the ground, Optimus could only move his helm away from another hail of bullets. Two punches to the Decepticon's sensors, who jerked away after the first impact. Good. Optimus managed to wriggle his right leg free and shove Megatron off. They both got on their pedals and readied themselves. Energon stained their frames. The battle had awoken Demolisher, who stared in amazement, but a crushing reality came over him. Optimus was holding back in their brawl.

'Did that jog your memory?' Optimus ignored the question. He had an exhausted look in his optics.

'Stand down.'

'Never.'

They charged. Axe and mace at the ready. Only one more hit will determine the winner. Who will it be? The one standing for peace, or the tyrant? Both prepared to attack. Their roars pierced the sky, when-

A smoke bomb landed between them, halting their battle. The plumes made it hard to see. It was as if they were both standing in a thick fog, barely able to see their own servos in front of their face. Another bomb besides Megatron. Another next to Demolisher. 'What the frag is this?!'

Under the mask, Optimus smiled, finding peace in his spark. 'Thank you, Smokescreen.'

Two missiles launched into the air, breaking through the smoke towards Megatron. He dived at the sight, feeling the extreme heat across his body and the deafening sound of the explosion against the metal. Optimus took his chance. He transformed and drove away from the scene, back to where the vortex brought them. Hot Shot and Smokescreen saw from above and followed.

Megatron groaned and turned to stand. Demolisher waded through the plumes until he found his leader. 'Lord Megatron.' He knelt beside him and offered a servos for him to lean on. To his credit, Megatron accepted, but quickly pushed Demolisher away. His optics tried to find the Autobots, but all he saw was a faint glow of the vortex vanishing.

Cyclonus heard, then felt, Starscream land on the ridge behind him. Orange optics burned into the back of his helm.

'Care to lift a digit, Cyclonus?' He snarled. 'I'm sure Megatron would love to learn you did noth-'

'They've acquired the Mini-Con.' Cyclonus didn't give Starscream the satisfaction of even looking at him. What he said stunned the seeker. 'This is our second failure, so I hope you have something to please our Lord.'

---

'Optimus!' Brad held the Mini-Con panel above his head, arms outstretched as if he was holding up an olympic medal. 'We got it!' Holding in the pain that had begun to numbing sensation, Optimus knelt and gave a weak smile under the mask. It took Brad a second to realise the amount of damage he took. Smile turned to worry. 'Frag, are you okay?!'

'Frag?' Carlos muttered to himself. Brad didn't notice.

'I'll be fine,' Optimus reassured. 'It's expected for us.' He glanced at the Mini-Con and, like before with Alexis, he carefully patted the boy's helm. 'Well done.' He stood, now noticing everyone waiting in The Ark's Bridge. His optics shifted to Red Alert, who nodded, mentally telling him he was okay. It wasn't the first time he lost his servos. 'Everyone, let us gather and celebrate our victory, and welcome a new edition to the team!'

A round of applause and cheers filled the Bridge. Brad sat the panel down and everyone waited, only for nothing to happen. Seconds passed with an awkward silence. Brad lightly tapped it with a tyre. 'Erm...' He paused. 'Why isn't it waking up?'

Hot Shot chuckled. 'Mini-Cons will wake when they find a companion to bond with.' To demonstrate, he knelt down and touched the panel. Nothing. 'See? Not going to be my partner in crime.'

Smokescreen followed. Still nothing. 'And, I spent all that time down there...' Wait. He just realised and glanced over to the Mini-Con trio. 'Who did you bond with?'

'Long story,' Alexis quickly answered, not wanting to explain herself again. Quickly, she shifted her attention. 'Hey, Optimus. Maybe they'll go with you?'

Optimus felt a shiver across his frame. There was a look of shock, then sorrow in his optics. Silence fell among the soldiers. He was quick to catch himself, but the joy was gone, deflated like a balloon. But the trio weren't stupid. They could feel the sudden shift in mode.

'No. Thank you. Your turn, Red Alert.' The medic stepped forward. Optimus shrunk into the background, but being the tallest Autobot, it didn't do much. Alexis' optics lingered on him. She tried to read his face but the mask made it impossible. A green light caught her attention. She snapped her helm back and heard the all too familiar sound of a machine whirring to life. A strand of lighting ran down Red Alert's arm. The panel began to transform and take on their own colours. Brown, blue and orange. And out popped a Mini-Con. They looked like a smaller Red Alert, right down to the helm. The only difference was that it covered their entire face.

They stepped into Red Alert's servos, who brought his new companion to his face. The bond was instant. A sense of what could only be described as fatherly love washed over Red Alert. He smiled and stroked their helm with a digit. 'Hello, little one.'

Everyone watched with pride. Alexis covered her mouth, trying not to cry. Brad noticed and nudged her arm. She nudged back.

The Mini-Con quickly got to work. It ran and jumped onto Red Alert's back. The medic felt his spark accelerate and the stub on his arm became heavier. Everyone watched as the Mini-Con gifted Red Alert with another blaster. Sleeker in design with a double-barrel, a mix of the Mini-Con's colours. It didn't match his own frame, but that didn't bother Red Alert, who cradled the newfound power.

'Oh, sick,' Hot Shot said. 'You'll light up the battlefields like a-'

'Christmas tree.' Brad interrupted, confusing everyone in the room.

'A what?'

'Human saying.'

'What's a human?' Smokescreen asked. Hot Shot snickered. 'No, seriously. What's a human?'

'They're gonna need a name,' Carlos said to Red Alert.

'...Oh, frag me, I guess...' Smokescreen muttered to himself.

Red Alert looked at the boy, then to his blaster, and, after a short pause to think, spoke the name for his companion. 'Longarm. I think, Longarm would suit them well.'

'Wow.' Red Alert internally vented. He looked at Hot Shot with a deadpanned expression. He was going to ruin the moment. 'I knew you had a boring personality, but isn't this a bit much?' He ruined the moment.

'You know, I need something to test my blaster on. Thank you for volunteering.'

A nervous look crossed Hot Shot's face.

'Whoa, whoa. There- Astrid, Bullseye and Compass are here.'

'I'm sure they won't mind.'

'RED!'

'Just stay riiiggghhht there.'

Alexis turned to Optimus, but he was gone. No one heard him leave. He must have slipped out, using the noise as cover. Her smile dropped and she focused on the door.

The doors to Optimus' chambers opened. He silently sat at the foot of his berth, in the dark. The shadows were a cold comfort to him. He rested his arms on his knees and hung his helm low. He dropped his mask, revealing severe damage to the left side of his mouth, where several of his dentures were exposed, and scorched metal with cracks he refused to treat.

His shoulders began to shake uncontrollably. Energon tears ran down his face and dripped onto the floor. He slowly brought his now shaking servos to his face, trying to hide his shame. His back panel where Sparkplug should be was empty. It has been for a while.

Chapter Text

The Decepticons stared at the hole left behind by Smokescreen during his valiant entrance. Energon from Hot Shot and Starscream stained the metal. The seeker saw and, for some unknown reason, tried to hide a splattering with his pedal, not knowing if it was his or Hot Shot's. He hoped no one noticed. Megatron didn't seem to. The tyrant stared into the once lost tunnels, his processor slowly realising that Optimus had once again beaten him. He bit his lower lip in thought. He could hear Unicron's voice, whispering to him to keep moving forward.

'Follow me.'

One crash after another, the Decepticons were quickly struck with that foul stench in the air. Demolisher stepped on some congealed Energon. It was sticky like gum. He grimaced and quickly took a step back, trying to not hurl up whatever was in his fuel tank. A piece of it was stuck to his pedal. It made a noise when he moved. 'This place is disgusting.'

'This place might have more Mini-Cons,' Cyclonus corrected. 'Which makes sense.'

'Well, if you think it makes sense, then why didn't you voice this before?' Starscream accused.

'Because I follow our Lord's orders.'

'You have an answer for everything, don't you?'

'Enough.' Megatron's voice crackled through the tunnels, followed by a low growl. 'I did not hire Sparklings to join my fleet.' But, they were the best he had. Brilliant...

The group continued forward, twisting and turning down the long passages of rusting metal where the metallic nature wouldn't dare grow. Leader-1 was quiet. They couldn't sense their kin.

'I have to admire you, Prime,' Megatron spoke to himself. 'You knew we couldn't access this place alone.' Megatron had to thank Smokescreen for his antics to show off. Everyone knew about these tunnels, but a Decepticon could never access them since they begin in Iacon. Slowly, the tyrant came to a stop. 'This is pointless.' Everyone froze. Their sparks jolted for a moment. ‘We'll never know how much time that Autobot was down here. We could just be tracing his steps.' He looked back at his soldiers. 'Branch out. Keep your communications open and if you find a Mini-Con, alert me to your position immediately. Am I clear?'

'Yes, Sir.'

Watching his subordinates leave, Megatron continued on alone. Leader-1 still didn't say anything. How far will these tunnels go? Where would he end up? The echos of his footsteps was the only noise you could hear. He went left. He went right. Nothing. Why? This place was perfect for a Mini-Con to hide, so what kept them, apart from one, away?

One final turn and Megatron could only stop. He had hit a dead end. Must have been an abandoned project, or a safe zone in case of a fire. A silent rage began to build in his spark. He closed his optics and took a deep vent before exhaling and fluttering his optics open. He could blast it open. Just aim and fire, but what would be on the other side? Megatron raised his fusion cannon and took a step back. The hum of the weapon increased, but Leader-1 still stayed quiet. He prepared to pull the trigger.

'My Lord?' Cyclonus' voice crackled onto the radio. Megatron lowered his cannon.

'Go ahead, Cyclonus.'

'I've found something, Sir.'

'Is it a Mini-Con?'

'No, but I think I found out why they're not going to be down here.'

'Fine. Send us your coordinates.' It was better than nothing.

Cyclonus waited patiently for the others. His optics lingered on a large crack in the wall, as did the others when they began to regroup. Something purple shone. It was mesmerising. Deep down, everyone knew what it was, but no one dared to say it.

'Move,' Megatron ordered. Not letting his fusion cannon go to waste, he took aim and fired. Smoke and rubble filled the air, but Megatron didn't wait for it to settle. He stepped forward. Everyone followed, and what they thought but didn't want to believe, was true. Greeting them was a lake of Dark Energon. It oozed out of the ground like an infected wound, the bubbles popping under the heat. It didn't have a smell, but Starscream and Demolisher took a step back in fear and repulse. Unicron's whispers drove Megatron to smile. 'This is perfect.'

'Sir?' Starscream asked.

'We have managed to narrow down where the Mini-Cons might be, and that we can now travel further afield. If Prime doesn't want us here, then we'll simply expand our search elsewhere.' The thought made Megatron chuckle to himself. His focus went back to their discovery. 'Do any of you know what this is?'

'Dark Energon, Sir,' Cyclonus answered.

'Yes. Unicron's blood. It might be useful to us, someday.' Starscream and Demolisher shared a sideways glance. It wasn't their place to question Megatron, but how could Dark Energon be useful in finding Mini-Cons if it scared them away? And, if it's Unicron's blood, how was it here? A question Demolisher had to ask, but one Megatron ignored as he pulled out a small vial from his subspace and took a sample. 'Bring the troops. I want this harvested as safely as possible.'

'Of course, my Lord,' Cyclonus nodded, watching his leader face his fleet.

'You've all done well,' he praised, but there wasn't a smile. 'But I cannot award you with a Mini-Con. That is your own responsibility, so, to whoever is chosen first, I wish you well.' And with that, Megatron returned to the tunnels. The rest followed. No one was in high spirits, their egos and bodies too bruised. Well, except for Cyclonus. Starscream gave the Dark Energon one final glance before leaving. Demolisher waited for him, the pair taking up the rear. 'Oh, and Starscream. Going forward we will need another jet.'

'But-'

'Let me finish.' Starscream shut his mouth. 'I will not ask for Thundercracker or Skywarp for your benefit, but the other one will do nicely. So, please, go and fetch him. We will see you back on the Bridge.' Starscream didn't have time to answer, as Megatron continued his orders. 'Actually, remind me the name of that young Autobot.'

'Hot Shot, Sir.'

'Alright then.' Megatron's tone was dripping in a sickening delight. 'Demolisher, go and get that new recruit of ours. If he wants to prove his worth, then this might be the best time.'

'Yes, Sir.'

The vortex opened onto the surface. Starscream watched them leave and waited for Cyclonus to open a vortex for the seeker who stepped through.

'Sky Shadow. I'm approaching your location.' To Kaon.

Megatron sat on his throne, holding the vial up to the light. Unicron's whispers filled his processor like a lullaby. A familiar chill entered the room as the God entered. 'I see my work continues to leave a mark on my dear brother.' Seeing his own blood filled Unicron with amusement. 'Not even Gods are safe from the corruption in their spark, but what do you plan to do with it?'

Megatron gave himself a moment to think. So much power within one vial. So many possibilities. Dreams. Ambitions. Order. He couldn't think of a word. All he could do was look to his God with pride.

'For all you've done for me, Master. This is my gift back to you.'

Demolisher wandered through the lower corridors of the Nemesis. A place for prisoners to never see the light of day again. Made to suffer through the constant noise of the engines beside them, along with dim lights and stuffy air. You either break or adapt, and their one and only guest to these cells, did indeed adapt.

Within the shadows a bot sat with a white and black frame, with wheels on his shoulders, making him look bigger than he was. Neon blue trimmed his chest that bore a large downwards scar that cut through their Autobot emblem. A rocket launcher sat on the left shoulder. It had a golden tip to match his face and rims. The Decepticon emblem now plastered his arms. Hearing the tank approach, he slowly raised his helm and a pair of blue optics stared through the bars. Demolisher noticed the dents in the walls and dried Energon on their fists.

'Lord Megatron thinks you're ready.'

The bot stood and stepped into the light with a smile.

'About time.'

Chapter Text

Kaon is exactly what you'd expect the Decepticon capital to look like. A large industrial city, dominated with towering factories and warehouses. Classic gothic architecture mixed with a modern sci-fi aesthetic. Purple lights everywhere you turned and Decepticon propaganda hung off every wall. It was a place the sun had long abandoned.

Starscream stepped out from an alley. He could still taste Energon in his mouth and his tongue kept digging into where he lost his denture.

Deafening music played from the speakers. Smoke contaminated the air. Both from the chimneys and those who smoked cigarettes on street corners. The seeker passed a drunkard sitting against a wall with a kick to the pedal. Upon hearing a buzzing, he took a quick glance at a bot getting a tattoo on their back. A passing bot barged him.

'Watch it, Kite,' he grunted.

'Dirtkisser,' Starscream whispered to himself.

Checking his radar, the seeker turned off the main drag and into a market square for food trucks and mobile bars. A large monochrome jet with red accents and golden optics greedily ate some form of food. A mix of Energon dipping sauce and metal he ate with his digits. Starscream approached and noticed they were on their sixth helping. He went to speak, but the jet picked up the bowl and drank what was left. Some dripped down his chin and onto his lap. Starscream internally vented, but he'd wait, crossing his arms and leaning on the counter.

'Again, perfect, Dusty.' The small femme smiled, holding up her tray to her face to hide her blushing.

'Same time tomorrow?' She asked.

'Yes.'

'No,' Starscream interjected. 'Evening Sky Shadow.' The larger jet spun in their stool and scoffed a laugh at the sight of his commanding officer.

'Frag me. Did you just step out of The Pits?'

'I'd never go there willingly.' He nodded towards Dusty. 'Pay up. You're with me.'

Sky Shadow let out a playful whine, but orders were orders. He poured a handful of Shanix, a currency on Cybertron, into an old mug and leaned over to the femme, causing the truck to tilt forward under his weight. He cupped her chin and tilted his helm. 'Until next time, Bright Eyes.' Dusty sheepishly giggled. Starscream rolled his optics.

The best way to describe Sky Shadow was simple. A giant. He towered over even Optimus Prime and Megatron. Everyone looked like a Sparkling in comparison. Starscream noticed many bots gave them a wide berth, but the femmes were clearly attracted to Sky Shadow, sneaking in quick looks as they passed. No surprise. Despite being a Decepticon, he was very charming. Very kind. He had a way with words that felt like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. That is until he's in the field...

'She's cute,' Sky Shadow hummed.

'She needs a better taste in mechs,' Starscream bluntly said, causing Sky Shadow to snort a laugh.

'Good to know you're in a foul mood. So, Big M wants me?' He walked with his servos resting on the back of his helm. 'What did I miss?'

'Leader-1 has been acquired.

'That's a name I haven't heard in a while.' Starscream led the pair into an empty factory. A secret discussion away from prying optics. Sky Shadow had to duck his helm and shifted his body sideways to fit. Once inside, he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. 'So, we're going after the Mini-Cons? That will take a while.' And he wasn't wrong. For every Cybertronian, there was a Mini-Con. It will take years to find all of them. Even longer to find them a suitable partner. Starscream didn't answer. He kept his helm down and bit his lower lip. Sky Shadow's jovial smile faded, replaced by a growing worry as he pulled away from the wall. 'You alright?'

'Yeah.' A lie, and Sky Shadow knew that. 'Yeah. I'm fine. I just.' He paused. 'I need a Mini-Con, Shadow.' Starscream's heel began to bounce.

'Well, I'm sure there's someone around here who can sell you one,' Sky Shadow joked. 'Can't promise they'd be a good match for you.' No response. 'Okay, what's got your bolts twisted too tight?'

'I saw three Mini-Cons.'

'And?'

'They were falling from the sky in the Nova region. Like they had just,' Starscream began to motion with his servos, trying to find the logic in what he was saying. 'Appeared out of thin air. One of them is a jet.'

'Starscream.' Sky Shadow's tone turned to one of concern. 'That's - That's not possible.'

'But it happened. She didn't know how to fly.'

'Okay. What happened to them?'

'The Autobots took them.' The seeker played the events in his mind. 'She looked right at me...'

'Are you sure you didn't see any bots that could have partnered with them?'

'I'm sure of it.' Only now, did Starscream give Sky Shadow his complete attention. 'I don't know who they are or where they came from, but that jet will be my Mini-Con partner.'

Sky Shadow smiled. 'Sounds like your mind is made up. What about the others?'

'One is a moped. The other is a hoverboard. Nothing special.'

'All Mini-Cons are special to someone, Starscream.' A giant servos patted the seeker's shoulder. That trademark warm smile crossed Sky Shadow's face. It was enough to bring back Starscream's. 'These things take time.' He pulled away. 'Right. Shall we go?'

The pair headed back towards the alley Starscream stepped out from. They rounded the corner to the factory where a group of neutral bots sat against the wall where overgrown metallic weeds grew and broken glass sat at their pedals. Starscream couldn't help but slow his pace and stare with a look of pity. One bot looked up. Starscream quickly turned his helm and continued walking, but the jet had a recognisable face. The bot stood with a smile.

'Starscream?' He wanted to keep walking, but Sky Shadow got in his way, allowing the stranger to approach.

'Scrap. I thought this place was abando-'

'I thought it was you. When did you get the new frame? Very high grade.' Compared to them, with scratches and debris from smoke across their body, whilst their smile showed how many dentures they were missing or rotten.

'It was a gift from Lord Megatron.' Starscream's tone reflected how uncomfortable he felt. Embarrassed even. 'How are you?' He couldn't remember their name.

'Been better. It's all stations go since you left.'

'O-Oh,' he stuttered.

'If that's a gift from Megatron, then you have to take better care of it. You look like you came-'

'Came out of The Pits. I know. I know. It's not a smooth ride.'

'Well, if it's too much, we can swap.'

'That's okay.' Starscream paused, unable to think of anything else to say. This bot looked familiar, but from days long gone. He was surprised they even remembered him. 'Well, duty calls. Have a good evening.'

'Make us proud, Scream!'

The Decepticon briskly walked away, his spark bouncing in his chest, trying to escape. Sky Shadow followed in silence, giving the bot a final glance over his shoulder. He wasn't stupid. He knew. 'There was no need for that,' he said, tone serious.

'No need for what?' Starscream snapped back.

'You were rude back there.' Starscream didn't reply. 'Did you work with them?'

'Just forget it.'

'They clearly knew you. I had no idea you were a factory bot.'

In a flash, Starscream turned back to Sky Shadow, getting as close as he could to the giant. 'And you were never supposed to know. That place has been empty for years. It was supposed to be safe.' He hissed through his dentures, keeping his words quiet enough for no one to hear, but sharp enough for him to express his mix of frustration and embarrassment. Sky Shadow's lack of a response to the small outburst didn't help, but instead of arguing more, Starscream headed back to the alleys. 'We have a job to do. Don't speak a word of this to anyone.'

It was a quiet walk back to the Bridge.

Chapter Text

'Maybe we'll be stuck as robots,' Rad said.

'Maybe a thousand years have passed,' Carlos said.

'Maybe we'll melt from radiation poisoning,' Alexis said.

'Can you three lighten up?' Hot Shot asked as he leaned on what was best described as a kitchen counter within The Ark's break room. 'We'll find a way to get you home.' The trio sat with a small cube of Energon in their servos. They were hungry, but didn't know if they should eat what looked like melted bubblegum ice cream. Compared to Hot Shot who was drinking his like a cup of coffee. Each gave the other a glance, waiting for someone to make the first move, before saying 'fuck it' and took a swig.

Carlos smacked his lips, giving himself a moment to realise how refreshing it was. It reminded him of a sports drink. Rad and Alexis soon followed in that regard.

'That's actually really good,' Alexis stated aloud.

'Guessing Energon isn't something humans eat?' Hot Shot chuckled.

The doors opened and Optimus stepped inside. He seemed to be in better spirits today, smiling under the mask, but there was an air of tension around his frame. Hot Shot could sense it but chose to ignore it. Red Alert and Smokescreen followed with Longarm sitting on the medic's shoulder.

'I'll keep this brief,' Optimus began. 'We are one step ahead of the Decepticons, and must not let them pass us.' Smokescreen nodded. 'Two more signals have been picked up. Laserbeak has scouted the regions and there are no signs of our enemy. However, one of them lies within Kalis.' The tone instantly shifted. Every Autobot froze, feeling a chill run across their frame.

'What's wrong with Kalis?' Brad asked, the trio sensing something was obviously wrong.

'Well call it The City of the Dead,' Red Alert chimed in. There was a distant look in his optics, as he recounted how the days went from a time of peace to chaos. 'It was once under Decepticon rule, but now it's a battle-scared landscape no one would dare venture, mainly due to the countless of unattended bodies and radiation emitting from the tunnels, even if it is safe to traverse in small doses.'

'And a Mini-Con chose to hide there?'

'It must have been desperate, or it's user is one of the casualties. Honestly, I'm more surprised it's still alive.' Red Alert made a quick mental note to study the next panel for its defences. 'And, where is the other one?' He asked Optimus.

'Still in the Nova region. Should be...' Optimus' voice trailed off as Brad turned to the others and whispered.

'I really wanna go to the dead city.'

'Yep,' Alexis and Carlos said in unison.

'Hey, can we go to the dead city?!' Brad called, making everyone's helms turn.

'No,' Optimus bluntly stated.

'What? Why not?'

'Did you hear the part about the radiation?' Smokescreen asked.

'Yeah,' Brad smugly said. 'And I also heard that it's safe to travel in small doses. Come on. Please?'

Optimus didn't say anything and merely turned his attention back to the others. The answer was clear. The trio felt their energy deplete. Hot Shot took a quick glance. 'I understand if no one wants to do this. I can go myself.'

'I've got this, Prime.' Hot Shot raised his servos high. 'Sounds easy enough.'

'This isn't a holiday.'

'I know. I know. I'll be straight in and out. Like a ghost.' Under the mask, Optimus ran his tongue across his dentures in thought. He kept his gaze solely on the younger soldier, processor trying to make up its mind. 'Come on, Prime.' Hot Shot was just as eager as Brad.

'Alright. But straight in and out. I want communications open at all times.'

'Roger that!'

'Smokescreen and I will retrieve the other Mini-Con. Red Alert, you stay here and keep the vortex running, alright?'

No. It wasn't alright for Red Alert. Under his visor, he looked insulted yet he kept that opinion to himself. 'Yes,' was all he could say.

'And what about us?' Brad asked.

'You three will stay here.' Optimus was not going to put three Mini-Cons in danger. He could still here Megatron's words. They were deafening. If he had hairs, they'd be standing on end.

'But-'

'Autobots, get ready to roll out.' No time to argue, and if there was, Optimus wasn't having it. He left for the Bridge and everyone followed. Hot Shot offered his servos for the trio. He and Brad shared a look, followed by a wink. It wasn't subtle, but Alexis and Carlos' lips were sealed.

Red Alert loomed over Optimus like a shadow. His arms were crossed and he stayed quiet, watching the Prime trying to keep himself busy by setting the coordinates for the vortex. The tension was a balloon ready to pop, and Red Alert held the needle.

'Why am I staying?'

'Because I need someone to manage the Ark.'

'Hot Shot can do that. Smokescreen can do that. I'm a field medic, Optimus. My duty is out there.' Optimus didn't argue. The sound of the vortex powering up filled the air, followed by the purple glow. He hoped it would drown out Red Alert's complaints. Red Alert saw it as an opportunity to push his argument. 'Is this because of Sparkplug?'

'Stop it.' He heard the sadness in his tone, but Red Alert continued, even if this hurt.

'Look, what happened to Sparkplug was awful, but you cannot have it cloud your judgement. We all need to work together, and I refuse to babysit every Mini-Con we find.' Red Alert's voice was clear but to Optimus, a mix of white noise and the sound of his own laboured breathing. He kept looking ahead with a panicked look in his optics. His spark began to bounce and jitter in his chest. Time slowed. Vision blurred. A rising anxiety dried his throat. He wanted to escape. Run. Escape this deafening noise.

'So!'

And just like, reality came crashing back down for the Prime. Hot Shot's often misplaced enthusiasm could bring anyone back from the brink. It was enough to make Optimus pull himself together. Now wasn't the time to drown in grief as he rubbed his face. Red Alert vented to himself. He knew his words did nothing. Hot Shot, in his vehicle mode, pulled up at the vortex opening. 'Straight there and back.'

'Not like you to go in vehicle mode,' Optimus mused.

'I'm faster like this.' Hot Shot's engine roared. 'Keep the vortex open for me, gramps,' he said to Red Alert. 'Okay, bye!'

'And, he's gone,' the medic sang in a drawl tone. 'You and Smokescreen next.' He turned and began to set the coordinates within the computer, only to catch Alexis and Carlos out of the corner of his optics. Just Alexis and Carlos. Red Alert punched down on the machinery.

'THAT LITTLE SH-'

Kalis truly lived up to its nickname. The sun still shone down, but it was unsettling. Felt oddly cruel. The silence was deafening. Once towering skyscrapers, reduced to rubble and shattered glass. Bodies littered the streets. Brad's optics lingered on one empty shell with a hole in its chest. The colour was gone, but the Decepticon badge remains. It was clearly a jet but bulkier in size compared to Starscream. Alongside the wings, there were displays of weapons that would fit a tank.

Blitzwing.

'Right.' Hot Shot stuttered to himself and rocked on his pedals. 'Signal's this way.' Yes, he had turned his communications off.

'I can faintly sense it.' The hum was distant, but there, itching at the back of his processor. What was also there was Brad's curiosity about Kalis. He's never seen anything like it. Not in person, anyway. 'So, what happened here?'

'Kalis was once a rich city, full of art and culture. Good place to spend your days off. When the war broke out, the Autobots made sure to defend its borders, along with all the places Iacon neighbours. But, the Decepticons got crafty. Planted engines deep within the tunnels and sewers. What they didn't account for was how powerful their terrible invention was. Brought the city to ruins within minutes. It's where the radiation came from. Anyone who survived was shipped off to neutral territories.'

'Were you there?'

Hot Shot bellowed a laugh. 'I'm not that old. No, no. I was still being called a Sparkling. This happened about,' he gave himself a moment to count on his digits, muttering numbers under his breath. 'Six million years ago?' He wasn't good at math. In human years, he was only about nineteen. 'But I joined as soon as I got my final upgrade.' Which in human years, was when he had just turned sixteen. 'Optimus must have seen something in me to bring me onto his team.' He punched his fists together. 'And I'll prove to him I'm the best.'

'Get him this Mini-Con and you may get a promotion!'

Hot Shot liked the sound of that. 'And rub it in Red Alert's face.' Speaking of Mini-Cons, the signal got louder for Brad, soon becoming clear as day as they approached the remains of what was once an art museum. However, it wasn't under the rubble.

'There.' Brad pointed to a husk of a neutral Cybertronian laying on its back. Its lower half was gone and scorched marks on the body made it clear what happened to them. Their servos cupped together, protecting the Mini-Con panel on their chest. A morbid sight, but Brad didn't think much about it. 'Seems Red was right. It had no choice but to rest here.'

Hot Shot gave the corpse a small apology, before carefully prying the servos open. They had rusted over the years of radiation and acid rain. Unfortunately, even after being as careful as he could, they broke apart. Hot Shot didn't stop to think and snatched the Mini-Con. It didn't activate. 'See? Straight on and out.'

A sudden feeling of dread ran through Hot Shot's spark. His demeanour shifted into one of shock as he picked up the Energon signal behind him. He began to shake. He turned and there, standing out in the open was a bot with a golden face and a chest scar crossing through his Autobot emblem.

'This seems like a fitting place for us to meet, doesn't it Hotty?'

That name. That stupid nickname opened a well of feelings for the young Autobot. Optics wide and full of disbelief with a jaw hanging open in pure shock.

'W...' He had to catch his breath. '...Wheeljack...?'