Major thanks to PrimesSPARROW, since it was her story "A Calm before the Darkness falls" that gave me the idea for this one. She allowed me to use it. In my story, Optimus is only a youngling, and Ironhide is the leader of the Autobots obviously. They ARE on Earth, and the events of the first movie have still happened, just with slight differences. And I haven't decided if Jazz is alive or not. That can be up to you my readers. Oh, and could you please check out ChloeBee AlexisPrime's story "A Series Of Mechanical Events: Chloe And Alexis" after reading/reviewing this one? It has no reviews, and it's making ChloeBee sad. Anyways, enjoy!

Ironhide sighed. William Lennox watched the black mech, the leader of the Autobots, sit back and glare at a space above his head. "I'll deal with him," Ironhide promised. The human watched him for a moment.

"Ironhide, may I ask you a question? What are you going to do with him? Train him? Send him off base? I mean, he's a great bot but... I don't think the base is a good place for him," Will said. Ironhide gave another sigh.

"What am I supposed to do? I love him; I think my entire team of Autobots love him, but you're right. He shouldn't be here. Like I said, I'll deal with him," Ironhide responded. He stood and offered a servo for the human soldier to climb onto. He gently placed Will on the floor before leaving the room to find the Autobot he needed to deal with.

A&A

Bumblebee chirped and whistled as he told them a story. Sam and Mikaela didn't understand a word of it, but Optimus, who was seated on the floor near them, did. The two humans watched Optimus to see his reactions throughout Bumblebee's story. The youngest Autobot on base was probably one of the most interesting.

Optimus gasped at something Bumblebee said and asked, "Is that true? Did he really do that?"

"You bet," Bumblebee replied through his radio. Optimus smiled. Bumblebee stood then, propping his fists on his hips and Ironhide's voice floated through the room thanks to Bumblebee. "You're a Prime, so act like one." Optimus, Sam, and Mikeala laughed at Bumblebee's mocking.

"Optimus!" Ironhide's true voice made everyone in the room jump. Sam and Mikaela watched Optimus as the very young Autobot scrambled to stand at attention before his leader.

"Yes, sir?" He asked timidly.

"What have I told you before?"

"Not to frighten the humans?"

"Right. And what did you do?"

"I didn't mean to! Honestly!" Optimus objected. Ironhide looked down at him sternly.

"This has to stop. You're a Prime. If you don't, I'll have to find a place for you to stay off base."

"No! You, you, you can't! Please," Optimus begged. His young, innocent optics were wide and frightened, filled with tears that would soon fall. Ironhide's expression softened, and he knelt down to be closer to Optimus' height.

"I don't want to, but if you force me to, I will move you off base. You're too much like your father."

"No! I'm not Megatron!" Optimus yelled. He backed away before turning quickly and taking off at a run. Ironhide growled, standing instantly despite the protest of the hydraulics in his legs, and looked to Bumblebee for help.

"Go get him! I don't want him getting very far. Megatron's just waiting for Optimus to wander away from us. Autobots!" Ironhide bellowed. He commed the others and gave them orders. He knew that Optimus wouldn't get away if all of the Autobots looked for him.