They should have known not to trust the Decepticons. Not to trust that Megatron would be able to resist bringing Optimus to his knees.

The canisters opened the moment Optimus smashed the Omega Lock. It took a moment for anyone to realize what had even happened - the force of the blast had winded everyone, Autobot and Decepticon alike. It wasn't until Miko began to scream that the horrified Autobots realized just how much they had lost.

Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee desperately tried to clamp their hands over the vents that had suddenly clicked open all along the tops of the canisters, sucking out the oxygen and replacing it with the toxic air of Cybertron. Raf collapsed first, his small lungs giving out faster than his older friends. Jack was coughing violently, attempting to shield his face with his sweater as Miko clamped one hand desperately over her own mouth and nose, attempting to claw through the lid of her own canister with one hand. Bumblebee released a shrill whine of despair as he raced through the swirling green spacebridge first, Arcee and Bulkhead following immediately behind as Optimus and Smokescreen covered their retreat.

Ratchet's face was one of pure shock and horror as his comrades tore into the base, canisters nearly flying to the ground as the humans' partners frantically attempted to free their friends. All three children had collapsed by now, Miko still with one hand raised against the glass, fingernails bloody from her struggles. As their last breaths fled from their bodies, the canisters lids opened, spilling their human captives onto the floor, unmoving. Arcee screamed and slammed the ground as Bumblebee numbly cradled Raf's body in his arms. All Bulkhead could do was stare.

Smokescreen watched his three comrades in stupified silence, mouth agape, not fully comprehending what had just happened. Optimus rounded on Ratchet, still watching in horror from the console.

"How did they get the children?"