I'm trying something new. Please forgive me if you really dislike this. So, there will be romance, with the main couples I'm focusing on as Optimus Prime/Ironhide and Sarah Lennox/ William Lennox. There may be Samuel Witwicky/Mikaela Banes, but I'm not sure. Please enjoy and review.

William Lennox finally mustered up enough strength to open his heavy eyelids to look around. Dang. The bars at the front of the room, the dripping sounds, the moldy walls, and thick metal hand-cuffs on his wrists told him everything he needed to know. Or, almost everything. What he didn't know was why in the world he was where he was and where the others were. There were footsteps that made the ground shake slightly as one of the Transformers approached. The question was, who? The energized bars slid away to reveal a sight that made Will's blood run cold. And it wasn't Megatron that caused the reaction. No. It was what was behind him. In the cell across from his. "Well, well, well. Looks like the human finally decided to awaken. How are you feeling. Hungry? Thirsty? Both? Good. For you see, you won't survive this. You will die. Slowly. Painfully. Then I'll dump your rotten fleshy corpse outside the Autobot base beside his-" he jerked a thumb towards the cell behind him "- and they'll be so weak in misery that the Decepticons will swoop down and slaughter them while I stand. Oh, and I hope you enjoy the show of me destroying your friend," he spat the words with so much hate that Will couldn't help but gape. "If you're good, I may spare your miserable life so you can watch the Autobot's come to an end."

AA

Sarah was sitting in the living room on the floor with her now five year old daughter Annabelle. The phone began to ring and Sarah sighed before getting up and walking into the kitchen, giving Annabelle a pat on the head as she passed by. She leaned against the door frame as she picked up the phone. "Lennox household, Sarah speaking."

"Sarah, it's Hide. Are you alone? It's important," Hide's voice filled her ears and she glanced to where Annabelle had gone back to playing. She sighed before heading to her room and shutting the door.

"Yeah. I'm alone. Hide, what is it? What's wrong? Is Will hurt?" Sarah asked. Her concern causing the words to tumble from her mouth.

"Sarah," Ironhide said. Sarah stopped at the serious tone. "I hate to say this, but Will was captured during the last battle. He wasn't harmed when I last saw him. He isn't alone either. The boss was taken as well." Ironhide fell silent and the words made her heart feel like a heavy stone in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes and she stumbled towards the door. She sunk down until she was sitting against the wood of the door. A choked sob left her lips and the flood-gates opened. She trembled badly as she cried. "Sarah, I'm so sorry. I'm on my way-"

"No!" Sarah's yelped response startled even her. "No, the other bots need you more than I do. I'm... going to bring Belle to the base. Don't stop seaching. We'll be there soon."

"Sarah, at least let me come and get you. I promise we'll come back here right away. But I'm not gonna let you come alone while you're upset," Ironhide objected. Through her sobs, Sarah ran her fingers through her hair as she looked to the picture of William on her dresser.

"F-fine. Come soon."

"I will. I promise. Be there soon. Bye," all sound fell silent and Sarah placed the phone down beside her as she cried even harder.

AA

Starscream paced through the brig hallway. He glanced into Will's cell from time to time, but he pointedly avoided the one that was just across from the human. But then again, Will didn't blame him. He couldn't help but have his eyes wander to the other cell. To look in at his friend's damaged frame. To watch the Energon drip slowly off the armour. "What did Megatron do to him?" Will suddenly asked. Starscream's frame froze.

"Got what he wanted. A chance to beat Prime without a fight. Or at least, without much of one. It was your safety or his. He chose yours," Starscream replied. For once, Starscream looked over at Optimus' slumped form.

"He shouldn't have done that," Will said softly.

"No. That was a glitched choice, I'll admit it. But that's Prime for you," Starscream said. Will stared a the mech for a full minute.

"Why are you talking to me?" Will finally asked. Starscream gave a very human shrug.

"Talking to a lowly fleshy is better than talking to one of the slaggers who call themselves Decepticons. They're not worth the title."

"Then who is?"

"None of your business. Go back to worrying about Prime."

"He needs repairs," Will said. One more look to Optimus before Starscream walked off.

AA

He wasn't sure how long had passed. But at some point the door nearby that led into the hallway the cells were in slid open. Will heard voices before Starscream appeared with the Decepticon Hook. Will watched as the bars of Optimus' cell deactivated and opened so that the Decepticons could enter. Hook shifted Optimus so that the Autobot leader wasn't nearly leaning over himself any more. Will winced at the damage. The Autobot's windshields were nearly hanging, and the metal beneath was torn apart by sharp claws. His left arm was only hanging on by a few wires and tubing. His legs had been dug into by a blade of some sort. The metal of where his stomach would've been had been ripped apart. There was an ever growing pool of Energon under Optimus.

Hook picked Optimus up with Starscream's help and placed the Autobot leader on the berth against the back wall. He pulled out tools and began to work. Will looked on as Hook made very basic repairs. Another Decepticon entered and wiped up the Energon that stained the ground. "He needs Energon. Without it, he'll go off-line," Hook said. He stood and looked down at Optimus before looking back at Starscream. "I've done as much as I'm gonna do. He'll remain on-line with Energon." Hook gathered his tools before pushing past Starscream and leaving the brig. Starscream glared at the other Decepticon still remaining until he left. Starscream stalked over to the other cell and waited for the bars to open to allow him through.

"Better?" Starscream snapped. Will glanced over at Optimus before shrugging and giving a nod. "Good. Because it's the last nice thing I'm ever gonna do for you." He leaned in so close to Will that the human felt the warm air seeping through the openings between plates. Something that Will could only call spit dripped from Starscream's mouth and coated the soldier. He gave the human a very light flick and sent Will flying into the wall. He straightened up and left the cell behind.