[Hey, Nitrosiren here-no no, not the ONE from that Transfan Mania series. THE REAL ONE. I've spent a few weeks really bonding with my older spark-sister Shortshift-NOT THE ONE FROM THAT FICTION EITHER…sheesh people…That fic is loosely based off of the human imagination…This tale you are about to read? Well…As I was saying. Spark-sister and I were talking about being Cybertron in a past life. Her older spark-brother Blitzkrieg (Also known as Hardhat) had some ideas on it. What if-because of our odd connections-We had been Cybertron in the past? It would explain some of the things we can do. So…I started thinking about a history for us. The story to tell people, one that would explain us. *nods head vigorously* And…my tiny processor…came across a Muse-with Primus whispering to said muse about what to write…It'll take me a while to write this particular story…because I'm really trying to FEEL our background history here…Hopefully I've captured it. Here's hoping you enjoy a rather…unique tale. I'm sorry for the really long Author's note as well. This story is slightly AU for the Movies. I'm going to stick as close to the main story line as possible with maybe some changes to it. It takes place a bit before the first movie…Then I'll pass through the first movie stage…Then it'll be the between the first movie and second movie…Then on to the second movie and then a bit afterwards. Just to explain our history. Here's to hoping that Shortshift and Blitzkrieg enjoy this tale…It is just a side portrayal of our weird lives as I saw fit. Hopefully you two agree. I must admit I've never tried a story like this before. And I promise the Author's notes won't be this long later on.]

Chapter One "In the Beginning…"

"There's nervous chatter going around," a bigger mech said nervously, fiddling with his two pincher like claws leaving his work unhandled for now. Hardhat spared him a passing glance with an optic before cracking open a larger ore of iron. The stuff was everywhere in this valley. He was a type of Builder, working with construction. He hefted a large bar of the Iron before turning to glance at the mech who had yet to accomplish anything.

"It's just chatter," Hardhat snapped at him, and made a half-handed gesture at the stuff around them," Nervous chatter isn't going to get the work done…" He shook his head slightly, muttering under his breath as he made his way to deposit the iron. He came back, and still the other mech hadn't made a move. He'd also attracted other workers attentions. Hardhat vented some air in frustration, clearly no work would get done until this was dealt with. "Fine Pincher…What has the nervous chatter been about?"

"Word has it that Megatron's planning on overthrowing Optimus…," Pincher said and their were collective gasps, before murmuring broke out. Hardhat didn't like where this was going. "See, He's gonna call them Decepticons-"

"Decepticons?" Hardhat asked with a scoff, he received a glare from Pincher.

"Yeah. Decepticons. He's got some…real bad characters on his side too-," Pincher started.

"Well, if they're so BAD then we needn't worry," Hardhat said with a slight dimming of his optics as he studied all the work that had been left by everyone. Rumors. They had everyone scared though. A war would be bad. A full-blown war even worse. "…What does he want?"

"Word has it that Megatron plans on taking the Allspark and using it to recreate a new race…," Pincher said with a nod of his head. He fidgeted with his claws. The whispering increased in frequency causing Hardhat's optics to shutter briefly in annoyance. They had better things then to stand around listening to one mech's gossip. Pincher was as bad as any femme.

"That's enough of this grime talk…everyone back to work," Hardhat ordered and the others shuffled off to finish their various jobs. He fixed Pincher with a steely look. "It's just talk. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"H-hardhat?" Pincher questioned, fidgeting. Hardhat glanced over at his friend.

"What?" he asked perplexed.

"What if Megatron does turn this into some kind of war….?" Pincher demanded, still not meeting Hardhat's optics. Hardhat sighed.

"Then I'd place myself on Optimus Prime's side," Hardhat told him sternly and Pincher glanced at him in alarm. "Tell me you aren't considering joining Megatron. The mech's got a glitch in his processors…"

"o-of course not," Pincher said too quickly, fidgeting still. Hardhat let out a small vent before placing a hand against his companion's shoulder.

"It'll be fine…in a few days, Optimus will have talked some sense into his brother…You'll be laughing about this soon enough. War? Here…Get back to work Pincher," Hardhat assured him kindly, before gently reminding him that there was still stuff left to be accomplished. Pincher gave a small nod, before hastily hurrying back to his station to finish, leaving Hardhat time to contemplate things. There had been some mentions from Arcee about an overthrow being plotted. He knew Optimus Prime was the leader of the Autobots. Maybe he could speak to Ironhide about it. See what the old Weapon Specialist thought about it all. Surely just rumors. Megatron was a bit crazy, but not crazy enough to start a war. Yet, Hardhat couldn't shake the ill tremor within his spark. The one that made him cautious. He worked hard that day and was glad when it was finally over. He even managed to visit Ironhide, a friend of his. Despite his gruff nature, Ironhide had a kind spark within.

"Yeah…Chatter's nothing…," Ironhide told him, taking a long draught from an Energon cube as they relaxed. "Megatron's got some screws loose or something up there…He really means business…"

"Surely Optimus can talk him out of it?" Hardhat demanded, spark pulse spiking at the very thought of their civilization going to war with each other over this dispute.

"Nay…Megatron is just too fragging stubborn…it's his way…or no way at all," Ironhide growled darkly under his breath. He gave Hardhat a look, and a smile broke out over his face. "No need to worry lad…Optimus will fix this all…" He clapped a comforting hand on Hardhat's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You'll see…We'll be laughing later…Jumping at shadows…Heh…." Ironhide took another sip, but something about the glow in his optics suggested he did not believe the words he spoke. This did not reassure Hardhat's spark. His younger sister was too young to understand the dangers of war. What could he do to protect her? He hadn't visited his creators in so long either. What if something happened to them? Would it be his fault?

His worries were not for nothing. War did break out on Cybertron. Megatron rose with his liege of Decepticons in tow. Optimus responded to the threat by summoning the newly reclaimed Autobots. Hardhat knew his place was with the Autobots. It was something in his spark that pulled him towards protecting the Allspark. Protecting his younger sister. She'd been born before this war, now a youngling just shy of adulthood.

"Will you join me?" Optimus had asked him one day. Hardhat had been surprised really, to see their leader coming to the mining fields. Pincher had run off to join Megatron, not after a much heated debate. He'd even convinced half of the other workers to drop their tools and join the fighting. Hardhat would have none of it. He'd continued right on working. That was how Optimus Prime had come to find him, diligently working despite the threat of a newly broken out war. He could not simply abandon his work for nothing. That was until he realized the situation had become much MUCH worse then anyone had anticipated. And it was expected to grow more so. So, then there was Optimus Prime. He seemed to emit an aura of respect, and authority. Hardhat set down his tools and glanced at the Prime.

"….," Hardhat was silent, giving it serious thought. This would put him at war with Megatron, but declaring himself neutral would NOT save him either, at least with the Autobots he stood a chance. Even if small.

"I know it is a heavy price to ask," Optimus spoke up before he could," I would not ask such a thing of you…but times have grown hard…and Cybertron needs all the warriors she can get." Hardhat heard the truth in these words, but he couldn't bring himself to answer. "She needs protection…the citizens of Cybertron NEED protection…Protection that you can provide. I'm not trying to force you into anything…but we could use your assistance…Will you join the Autobots in the fight to protect Cybertron? To protect the Allspark and all that we know?"

"…I will," Hardhat said firmly. That was the day he'd given up the old days of working as Hardhat, and accepted the new warrior role of Blitzkrieg. Instead of the tools of the trade for mining, he'd become a heavy arms Brute Squad, cannon wielder.

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"There's a good little sparkling…There's a good little sparkling," Shortshift cooed at the sparkling her femme creator held against her, propped on her hip really. Shortshift wiggled a finger at the sparkling, well, really a youngling who'd just come out of her sparkling years. Shortshift kept waiting for the darn femme to speak. It was a femme youngling, surely it'd speak by now. She'd been born the day Megatron had openly declared war upon Optimus Prime, not that she really understood any of that since it'd been going on for a while and nothing important seemed to have happened that she knew about. She just wanted her baby sister to speak to her, she got so bored and lonely here. She sighed, wiggling the finger just within the little one's reach. "There's a good little sparkling…" Nitrosiren, her baby sister, let out a small coo of her own and grabbed Shortshift's finger with a quick flick of her hand up, startling Shortshift. Her femme creator let out a light thrilling sound of amusement and Shortshift felt anger course through her. How DARE this youngling of a sister startle her? But then she glanced down at the innocent, fragile form of her little sister…and those big wide purple optics that tried to take in as much detail as possible…and found she COULD not be angry at her.

"Gentle Shortshift…You're little spark-sister is still working on fine tuning her motor skills," the femme creator scolded her oldest daughter firmly, but in that gentle motherly way that only a creator can pull off. Shortshift smiled up at her femme creator.

"Can I hold her?" Shortshift pleaded. Her femme creator started to shake her head but Shortshift made a slight whining sound, and formed the 'sparkling' eyes. Her femme creator allowed a smile to grace her lips.

"Very well…but she is nearly your own size," their creator informed them before handing over Nitrosiren, making sure that Shortshift had a good grasp on her. Indeed the younger femme was growing very quickly and was almost Shortshift's size. Shortshift was named for her temper and her height. She would be small even as a full-grown femme, but her femme creator loved her none the less.

"There's a good Nitro…Hi…Can you say Shortshift? Shortshift?" She cajoled the younger femme, bouncing her on her hip. The little one let out a high pitched thrill of joy, waving her little arms in the air. Shortshift giggled, pressing her forehead against her little sister's so they could stare into each other's optics. That's one thing she'd learned about Nitrosiren. She liked to get up close and personal with you and would always stare into your optics as if she could read your very spark through them. She probably could. Shortshift's optics burned a bright shade of blue. Their femme creator gave them a smile, but Shortshift could see she was tired and sad. "Something wrong?" She asked, observant as always.

"….Remember when I told you…about the war?" her femme creator questioned seriously, arms wrapped around herself as if debating whether or not to tell.

"Yeah? The one with Megatron and Optimus Prime?" Shortshift questioned, just a little confused. Small digits poked at the seam of her chest plate and she glanced down at Nitrosiren.

"Coming," Nitrosiren squeaked out and Shortshift's optics widened.

"Did you hear her?" Shortshift demanded excitedly. Her femme creator had tensed and was staring at the door intently. "Can you say Shortshift now? Shortshift?" Her little sister flicked purple optics towards the door, before sticking her tiny thumb digit into her mouth, and curling her other hand's digits lightly into the armor shell of her shoulder, before resting her head against it. "Oh come on. It's easy. Just say Short-" There was a loud banging on the door that interrupted her. She flicked alarmed optics to her femme creators. They usually didn't have visitors at this late of an hour. Who could it be?

"here here," Nitrosiren said and let out a small purring coo. Shortshift was a little put off by her behavior.

"Take your sister and run," their femme creator ordered.

"But-" Shortshift started, confusion over all of her features. Nitrosiren struggled out of Shortshift's arm before running to the door.

"NO!" Their femme creator shouted but it was too late. Nitrosiren had already hit the door control-something she'd never operated before-and the door was sliding open to reveal…Berserker. His vibrant lemon yellow paint stood out against the odd splashes of crimson and lime green. A mix of colors that bright, suggested he was deadly. His red optics sized them all of. Not threats. All femmes. His claws whirled in anticipation. Oh, how he itched to just tear them to pieces. Upon his forehead blazed the brand of the Decepticons. He glanced down towards the door panel at the youngest one present. She gazed up at him with odd purple optics that seemed unfaltering in their gaze.

"Hi hi," She said with a small wave. Her femme creator dashed forward to scoop her up and then was back to her other daughter's side just as quickly.

"Berserker…" She muttered disdainfully as if it were a curse. He gave her a cold smile, revealing razor sharp teeth. He was built bulky with plenty of hidden weapons, he also had razor sharp spike ridges along his back. They moved depending on his emotions, and right now they were quivering with unsuppressed glee. The femme's position told him all he needed to know. She would NOT accept his offer, and would do all she could to protect her younglings. The thought filled him with glee, because…he would get to kill again, and so soon. This is why Megatron specifically picked him for this job. Berserker had no real emotional processor. He registered happiness, but only from killing, he had no pity. No mercy. No sorrow or regret. Aside from losing a kill, but then usually he was just angry about it. He was named Berserker on the fact that he experienced intervals in which he literally snapped and went berserk, off-lining anything in his way. He preferred to use his hands, wanting to feel the spark fade within his grasp. He'd off-lined many femmes this way, a quick jab through their chest plates. That didn't kill them…no…it was the slow wrenching twist of his claws that really ended it. Drawn out just the way he liked it.

"I sssuppossse you know why I am here?" he hissed out much like a serpent creature would. He tilted his head to the side, red optics flicking to the little one again. Who had YET to look way from it. He felt a slight chill through him that he'd never felt before, but he couldn't quite identify it. He dismissed it as unimportant and focused at the task at hand, fully prepared to watch the spark die within her. His claws swiveled with glee. The femme's optics narrowed. "Ah….sssuppossse I will remind you…Lord Megatron will sssoon be in command…You had bessst be on the right ssside when he isss." He chuckled and flexed his claws in a threatening manner. Shortshift pressed against her femme creator's legs as if trying to hide herself. He took notice. "Think about your little onesss. The life they could have…Imagine what it will be like without a creator left to take care of them…Jussst like their father…Gone…Hisss ssspark too easssily extinguissshed." He chuckled, noting the look of horror on the femme creator's face.

"Y-Y-You MONSTER!" she screamed at him in anger, letting Nitrosiren go as she flung herself at him in fury. Beating at him with her fists, he merely grunted and grabbed her arms, flinging her to the side. She crashed into the wall hard, leaving a sizeable dent.

"I take that asss a no?" He questioned and chuckled, starting towards the children. "Come now…Which of you would like to ssserve a worthy caussse?" Again that startling gaze that seemed to pierce his very spark, the look that said one lie would be detected. He'd seen that look before. Megatron gave it often, but with more malice and even Optimus Prime pulled it off but with regal authority. How could such a tiny thing do that? He headed over to them and was savagely attacked by their creator, apparently the toss hadn't knocked her off-line. He snarled, grabbing her with his clawed hand by her throat and held her away. "Do you pledge allegiance to the Decepticonsss?" he hissed at her, claws twitching in anticipation. He nicked one of her energon lines and it began to ooze out slowly.

"I'd rather spend eternity in the pit," She snarled at him, defiance in her optics.

"Fair enough," he replied, plunging the other clawed hand into her chest. It didn't bother him in the slightest that the little ones were witnessing the death of their femme creator. A small whining caught his attention as the spark slowly faded from the femme in his hands, he tossed her aside having already enjoyed enough of this. He turned his attention back to the younglings. The whining sound was coming from the older one surprisingly enough, her optics were affixed to her dying femme creator's. The smaller one…was still staring at him. "Whatsss wrong with you?" he snarled at her.

"I could ask the same about your face," the little one replied cattily. The older one whipped her gaze to her younger sister in shock. Had she really just said that? From no talking to suddenly knowing speech? Was it possible? Or had Nitrosiren been hiding speech all this time? And for what purpose? One of Berserker's clawed hands twitched in annoyance. Easy. Easy.

"You've got sssome nerve consssidering you're about to die," Berserker replied, bluffing. He didn't really have plans to off-line them. He was going to take them back to Megatron, to be raised as new Decepticon warriors. They needed all they could get now. The Autobots were putting up quite the fight.

"…" She didn't flinch but coolly responded," And I was under the impression that you wanted us alive to expand your growing army." Berserker visibly twitched. Could the little one read minds? Only Soundwave could do that! This little one unnerved him. Maybe he should just offline her here and now, she looked like she'd be more trouble then she was worth.

"Well…I take it you don't want to join?" he asked.

"SLAG NO!" the older one snapped at him angrily, hands balled into tight little fists. "I'll OFFLINE you before that happens! We will NEVER serve Megatron!"

"Speak for yourself," Nitrosiren piped up quietly and Shortshift stopped her speech to examine her.

"Do you have a glitch in your processor?" She shouted, "HE JUST OFFLINED OUR-OUR-OUR…." She broke down, making high-pitched whining sounds. Nitrosiren shuffled over to hug her older sister, who wrapped arms tightly around her. Both made soft crooning noises of comfort to each other. Berserker was pretty darn confused. He scratched his head.

"Ssso uh-" He started.

"SHH…We're having a moment," Nitrosiren whispered and he fell silent. "There there…It's not so bad…We'll be fine…You'll see…We'll kick his aft…and make him pay…Right?"

"Y-yeah," Shortshift said with a determined nod. They let go and glared up at Berserker with determination.

"…You ssseriously aren't consssidering attacking me are you?" Berserker asked seriously and a little amused.

"Actually…that kind of IS the plan," Nitrosiren admitted glancing at her older sister who nodded, fists held up in a fighting position.

"…I hate my job," Berserker muttered as the two little femmes attacked him. They could only reach his knee and their fists barley damaged him. Only scratched his paint. Then the little one with bright purple optics got the idea to slip her tiny finger digits behind his armor plating to the wires. Once she got her tiny finger digits around his cabling, she let loose with the ripping and tearing. Luckily none of the wires were important but it still was painful. He kicked her away from him. She took a tumble and crashed into the wall nearby and didn't get back up.

"DON'T YOU DARE HURT MY SISTER!" Shortshift screamed and attacked him with a new vengeance, going for the same spot on his leg as Nitrosiren had been digging in. Due to being older, she had more strength and popped an important wire out of place. He could no longer move his left leg. He backhanded Shortshift hard. Hard enough to send her flying as well, but she was up just as quickly and attacking him, tearing into his cables. Due to her small size, she could reach the delicates areas that other brute warriors could not. He roared in anger, trying to get her off of him as she scrambled along his back now.

"GET OFF OF ME! GET OFF!" he roared and slammed backwards into the wall, jarring her but she held on. Her fingers tearing into the cables at his throat. Energon sprayed the wall and Berserker realized with dismay that it was all of his energon. Sure, the femme creator he'd off lined had dripped a bit but most of it was pooled around her. This was his. This pain. HIS. He roared again, snapping and become more violent. His claws ripped and turned menacingly. Shortshift slipped, losing her grip on him and he seized her by her leg, spinning her around to face him. He bared his teeth at her. "Prepare to die little one!" He screeched at her. She glared at him bravely, prepared to die. Nitrosiren made a weird crooning sound as she sat up.

"NITROSIREN! RUN!" Shortshift screeched at her sister. If anything, she would sacrifice herself in order to save the little one. Nitrosiren seemed hesitant as if contemplating her actions. Berserker growled, glancing to the little one. His processor switched from battle frenzy to normal in the blink of an eye.

"Now now…letsss not do anything hasssty 'Sssiren," He hissed out calmly, still holding Shortshift by her leg. She was attempting to punch and kick him but he held her too far away. The mech was just too big for them. His systems assessed his current condition, the two little ones had done a good job on him for such small things. They would make excellent additions to the Decepticon army. He reached down with his free clawed hand and twisted a wire in his left leg. Pain shot through him but he switched it to a pleasure receptor so that the experience was…enjoyable even. A dangerous method. He fixed his leg as best as he could, making the necessary adjustments. Now he could walk and run, but not for very long. "Now then…where were we?"

"You're going to let my sister go," Nitrosiren said in a calm deadly tone.

"Why would I do that?" Berserker questioned with a little laugh of his own. His optics gave her a run down and he saw no weapons of any sort. What did the little one expect to achieve?

"You'll take me in her place," Nitrosiren said.

"NO! TAKE ME! NOT HER!" Shortshift screeched. Berserker shook her hard, shutting her up effectively.

"I'm taking BOTH of you…Whoever is LEFT here will be DEAD," he snarled at them. "Underssstood?" Silence followed. "Good…Now…Heresss the plan."

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"This sectors clear," Ironhide's voice said over the main communications link between the team. Blitzkrieg nodded to himself, stepping around some fallen debris. Proof of the war that was raging. They were checking for hidden Decepticons, expecting an ambush, and looking for any surviving bots.

"Head back and regroup," Prowl's voice cut in command-like. Blitzkrieg sighed, and started heading back. He was startled when Arcee joined him. He honestly hadn't thought she was in the same area as him, not that he was keeping tabs on her. Last he'd checked she'd been with Chromia and Ironhide, unless she was slyly giving them some more room. Everyone KNEW there was something happening between them…except for them. Odd how that happened.

"Hey," She said softly, her pink armor glinting in the caught light. Blitzkrieg's foot bumped into some debris and he stumbled, almost falling down in front of her. She giggled, a wonderfully musical sound. "You okay?" She asked coyly almost, giving him that soft serene smile of hers.

"Y-yeah," He replied, suddenly nervous. It was no small secret that he had a thing for Arcee. Well, he thought it was a secret. Her finger digits trailed gently over his arm as she wheeled with serene grace around the debris. Her optics turned sad as she contemplated their surroundings.

"…There seems to be no pattern," she replied, wrapping her arms around herself. Blitzkrieg was tempted to wrap his arms around her as well, but restrained himself to merely walking beside her. He allowed his optics to drift over her small form and glanced up, realizing she was watching him as well. He felt the metal of his face heating up.

"Uh yeah…No uh…pattern," he said, clearing his vents and heading off a little faster. She sped up to keep rhythm with him. It felt so natural being beside her. If only he could express himself to her, but no. He was going to sideline himself this time and just watch her. She seemed amused, if her glowing optics were any indication of it.

"…Chromia and Ironhide seem to be hitting it off," she mentioned as they came to a ridge that overlooked more war debris. They could indeed see Chromia and Ironhide below.

"Yeah…Their the lucky ones," Blitzkrieg said almost bitterly and he felt soft digits brushing against the metal of his arm, then a warm light weight against his side as Arcee leaned against him, entwining her arm with his gently rubbing her fingers against him.

"Yeah…I'm happy for her," Arcee responded and glanced up at him," You're a good friend…" He nodded tightly and she sighed, letting go of him. "…Clueless but a good friend none the less." She shook her head slightly at his now confused look. "Never mind Blitz…" She glanced down at Chromia who glanced put at them startled, then beckoned them over. They obediently went over to the other two.

"Anything?" Chromia asked, optics glittering worriedly. She gently touched her sister's arm.

"No…I'll…go on ahead," Arcee said before leaving quickly. Blitzkrieg stared after her vanishing form with some alarm. Chromia let out a small giggle, much like her sister's but a bit deeper.

"Blitz," Ironhide said smacking his comrade's shoulder. "You're letting a good thing slip away from you…"

"I-what?" Blitzkrieg asked startled. Chromia met his eyes.

"I can see why she likes you," Chromia said with a light giggle, one hand to her mouth. "You're sweet…but a bit clueless…"

"…She said the same thing," Blitzkrieg said, shoulders drooping. "Do you mean…Is there…Can it-"

"Yes, Blitz…" Chromia said and lightly tapped his arm with hers, "My sister has affections for you…but she's been waiting for you to notice…" Blitz smacked his face plates with his palm.

"Gah…I'm an idiot…I hope there's still time," he said and raced off. His foot caught on some debris and he crashed down but hopped up just as quickly and ran off.

"…That boy worries me," Ironhide admitted. Chromia nodded with a light giggle.

"ARCEE! WAIT!" Blitzkrieg shouted after her, but she was too far away. He sighed, slowing to a walk as he contemplated what he should do now. It was then…away from outside interference…that he felt a small pull at his spark. So tiny he almost didn't recognize it. He let himself be pulled with it. The scene around him changed and he stumbled, falling to his knees as images over took him. Voices rang out through his head. None that he recognized-NO WAIT! BERSERKER! And he had Shortshift! Rage exploded through him. He had to save her.

"BLITZ!" Chromia shouted from not too far away, having witnessed his almost collapse. They hurried over to him as he struggled to get up, Ironhide had to pull him up.

"It's my sister! She's in trouble! Berserkers got her!" Blitzkrieg shouted. Ironhide switched his communications link on, relaying the message to Prowl and Jazz. There was some arguing. Apparently that sector had already been checked just recently and Prowl didn't want to go back just because of a possible circuit glitch.

"Come on," Ironhide growled, tugging the younger mech along side him. Chromia was quick to follow. "We'll just go ourselves…" Blitzkrieg had never felt such terror before in his life, and he'd faced down many Decepticons on his own. He stumbled, half-blinded as alien images filled his optics. All of Berserk's sneering face. He was going to kill his sister. That thought compelled him to put on an extra burst of speed. They were covering ground quickly. It wouldn't be too long for them to get there and hopefully Shortshift could hold on a little longer.

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An alien calm filled her spark, soothing her panic. Shortshift was startled at it, but knew help was on the way. She tuned Berserker's speech out and examined their situation. Berserker's arm was around her leg, leaving her hands free and with some swinging, she could reach his arm. Then her tiny fingers would do some serious damage. She was shaken roughly out of her thoughts by Berserker.

"I can sssee you plotting femme…" he hissed at her," And I will have none of that…Now…Heresss the plan…The plan…Alwaysss need a plan-WOULD YOU SSSTOP SSTARING LIKE THAT?" He demanded, snarling at Nitrosiren who was doing her best impression of an irritated Megatron. A chill settled over his spark, one that he couldn't explain. The cold fury in one this small was…breathtaking. He suppressed an urge to simply bow down to her, to submit as his spark was commanding. NO! She was a tiny little youngling, just out of her sparkling years…She held no power over him. And with that, he lunged forward grabbing her. She let out a startled chirp and her optics lost that look, giving him more control over the situation. He had her around her throat, thumb claw digging into her vocal receptor temporarily stopping her from speaking. His other fingers pressed against the cables pumping energon through out her systems. The large vital one, constricting the flow. She somehow got out a whimper, but it was muffled and almost none existent. He grinned, loving the power he now had. "Now…where wasss I?"

"You were going to let us go," Shortshift suggested, just a tad bit hopeful. All the energon in her systems was causing her processor to heat up as they rushed to that area. She was upside down after all.

"Not a chance femme. I'm going to sssimply offline you and enjoy-" Berserker started.

"I don't believe that was the plan," a dark sinister voice rang out from the doorway. Megatron. Shortshift's spark turned cold as his malice radiated over them. He had his arms crossed over his chest plates as he idly surveyed the situation. "Do tell me that the off lined femme caused those injuries…."

"NO! I DID! AND I'LL DO THE SAME TO YOU!" Shortshift yelled out.

"Brave words…for one so small," Megatron replied in an almost silky purr. Then it changed to mild irritation. "I send you to collect…yet you destroy…and fall prey to two femmes barely old enough to even speak.." he let out an impatient snarl.

"But Lord Meg-" Berserker started and was backhanded, his grip slipped and the two femmes were freed.

"RUN!" Shortshift screamed and they took off. Megatron snagged Nitrosiren as they ran past.

"…go boom," Nitrosiren replied quietly and Megatron's expression indicated confusion. Shortshift was already out the door and Berserker was just behind her as the room erupted in a brilliant explosion. Shortshift screamed, flung a few yards away. Berserker's heavy form crashed down on top of her, pinning her beneath him. He was still alive just briefly knocked off line. She screamed again. There was an emptiness in her spark. The place where her little sister's happy thrum usually met hers, filling her with excited energy.

No more.

She was offline.

She struggled to pull herself out from under Berserker's massive form. Several of her energon cables were leaking. She could still see the blazing rubble of her once home. The place where Megatron and her sister had vanished into. She let out a whine, then a small vent of frustration. Pinned helplessly.

"Oh…sweet…primus," a female voice rang out in a bit of a hushed whisper. Shortshift was suddenly freed as a large black armored mech tossed Berserker's form off of her. Shortshift lashed out angrily, thinking more Decepticon reinforcements had come.

"NO! YOU WON'T GET ME! I NEVER JOIN! NEVER JOIN DECEPTICONS!" She screamed shrilly, beating her tiny fists against Ironhide. She remembered her experience with Berserker and set to work trying to get at the cables behind the armor plating at the knee. "NEVER EVER EVER!" Chromia grabbed her.

"We're not Decepticons!" Chromia called out soothingly. Shortshift paused, glancing at Chromia. She noted the red symbol of the Autobots. Then she let out a cry of grief. Chromia cradled her against her chest plate. "There there…you're safe now…you're with us….There there…" The rubble exploded and out came Megatron. Berserker was getting up also, and growling angrily with his blades whirling. A large cannon burst from Blitzkrieg knocked Berserker back down, but Megatron was making a get away and with him, the limp form the femme creator. Nitrosiren's weak signal was blocked by Megatron's and she was hidden by the dead form of her own creator.

"I'll spare your lives for now, Autobot scum!" Megatron snarled before seeming to vanish into the distance. Berserker scrambled up and away.

"W-Wait for me!" He called out, running after Megatron. Blitzkrieg and Ironhide started after the pair but it was too late. The Decepticons had made a get-a-way.

"So…This is your sister," Chromia said glancing down at Shortshift who clung around her neck. She had entered a light recharge cycle brought upon by the occurring events and the depression of losing her only sister.

"…Yeah…but she doesn't know me," Blitzkrieg admitted and received an alarmed look from Chromia," I wasn't around when she was…born…and…I hadn't visited….She doesn't…know me…"

"…She will now," Ironhide said clapping a hand on Blitz's shoulder. Ratchet and Optimus Prime showed up, clearly looking for a fight. "Megatron fled…He took the body with him…"

"Berserker was here too," Chromia spoke up, as Ratchet approached her. He ran a few scans over the slumbering child in her arms.

"She'll be fine…Just needs a little energon in her systems and she'll be fine…her recovery time is normal…" Ratchet said and glanced at the destruction," I don't think she'll want to speak about it…" He gave Blitzkrieg a look.

"It is for the best," Optimus Prime said with a slight nod, and his tone grew grim," Megatron is becoming ruthless…I'm afraid his neck actions won't be as…kind."

"KIND?" Blitzkrieg demanded, snapping now. Chromia gave him an uneasy look. "You call this KIND?" He gave a wave of his hand," THERE'S A FEMME DEAD BECAUSE OF HIM!" He screamed at Optimus Prime. The others merely watched in silence. "This WAR is reaching a point! Megatron should be OFF LINED!"

"…I understand your feelings-" Optimus Prime started but was cut off.

"NO! YOU DON'T! She's DEAD!" he shouted, indicating the destroyed house. "My SISTER was almost KILLED as well!"

"…but she's not," Chromia put in, shifting Shortshift's weight around in her arms. "She's still alive…and this experience will only serve to strengthen her…As it has motivated us…Action must be taken…but not hastily…" She reached out with her spark, and found that Arcee was already on her way. "Blitz-" She reached out with one hand for him and he shook it off.

"No…I'm tired of this war, Optimus. I will end it," Blitzkrieg snarled, before turning and leaving after where Megatron was last seen.

"Should we stop him?" Ratchet questioned. Optimus looked deep in thought, before venting some air.

"…I'll…go get him," Arcee spoke up from where she stood not too far away. Optimus glanced at her and gave a slight nod of his head. She was quick to follow Blitz. It wasn't long before she caught up to him. "Blitz…Please-"

"Leave me alone!" he snapped angrily.

"Blitz…you aren't thinking clearly…What Megatron has done is bad-" Arcee started and Blitz whirled around. She almost crashed into him and he caught her arms in his, holding them against his chest.

"Bad? He's the worst excuse there is! Pit-spawned evil…," Blitz snapped at her, crushing down on her arms with his hands without realizing it. She let out a small whine and he let go quickly. "I didn't…" He turned to go and she grabbed his arm.

"It's…okay…I understand," Arcee told him, wheeling closer to him until she was touching him again. She wrapped her arms around him in an almost embrace, resting her head against his lower torso. "There there…It's okay…" The soft purr of her spark broke the silence around them, a comforting pull on his. An alien tug on his spark. He allowed the feeling to wash over him.

"…Thank you," he whispered for only her audio receptors to pick up, his arms wrapped around her as best he could without crushing her. She was so small and delicate. He was so…bulky…full of strength, power…a destructive force at times. He vented a slight bit of air in a sigh. She fit against him like the missing part of him. Could this…Would they ever be something?

"…Now…we wait for Primus to lead us in the right direction," Arcee told him in her soothing voice, rubbing a hand against the sensors in his back in a comforting manner. "You'll see…We'll win this thing…before he even can attempt taking the Allspark-"

"He's taking the Allspark?" Blitzkrieg snapped," I thought that was rumor?" He let go of her just as quickly, happy tender moment gone replaced by business man.

"Uh…" She said and that was enough. Blitzkrieg face palmed. "Blitz? Something wrong?"

"Taking all the bodies of the dead…It makes sense," Blitzkrieg snapped at her, giving her a good look," Sorry Arcee. I uh…I really like you. But…The war and all that." He stood close to her speaking in a low tone of voice, gently rubbing a digit along her chest-plate and hearing a strange gasp-like intake of air through a vent. "Maybe after…" He ran off quickly, mind getting to work. Arcee pressed a hand to her tingling chest. A sensitive area when handled right. How had he done it with one little touch? She let out a soft vent of air. He'd said maybe after. That meant she had a chance after all. Her spark sang out loudly and happily, and she felt Chromia's responding to her with curiosity as to what had just happened. Arcee wheeled around in a giddy circle. Oh. If only that moment could've lasted longer then it had. She let out a happy exhale of air before wheeling off almost in a daze back to her sisters.

[A/N: Like a little footnote, endnote thingy. Hi. Here's a not so interesting beginning chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I appreciate reviews A LOT. They make me happy, but know that I am not begging for reviews. If you feel motivated or moved to review and tell me your complaints, your questions…anything. Feel free to PM me if you don't want it to be shown public. But I ask that you sign in so then I can respond to you. *smiles* Thank you and I hope you enjoyed without getting TOO lost.]