Transformers belongs to Hasbro, not me. This idea popped into my head while watching the last episode of Season 2, and listening to Face Down by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Enjoy!

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One by one the members of our unit ticked down. First was Raf and Bumblebee, then Miko and Bulkhead, followed by Arcee and Jack. Smokescreen moved towards the ground bridge, turning on his heels and giving us all a salute, before transforming and speeding off. Then it was just the three of us.

"What about you two?" Ratchet asked, looking up at us as the ceiling shook.

"We-"

"I will stay here an make sure the Decepticons cannot follow you," he butted in, looking down at Ratchet with calm optics. I clenched my servos, hearing an odd humming noise above us.

Ratchet sighed, and walked towards the ground bridge. He stopped at the entrance, and shook his head. "I, I never thought it would end this way," was the last thing we heard as he transformed and drove through.

"Neither did I, old friend," the tall red and blue mech murmured, turning to me, "Your turn."

"What? NO! I'm staying with you!" I protested, stomping my foot. That's when he moved behind me, and grasped my shoulders.

I squirmed as the firm servos shoved me towards the open ground bridge. "No! Let me stay and fight with you!" I growled, struggling harder.

"No, hide until I relay further orders like the rest of Team Prime," he told me calmly.

"Optimus! Please! I can't abandon my sparkmate!" I growled, digging my pedes into the ground.

"Shadow Stalker, please," Optimus pleaded, glancing over his shoulder as some rubble fell from the roof.

I dug my pedes in, twisting around on the heels of my pedes as I quickly kissed his cheek. "Fine, but you come back. You hear? You come back!" I scolded him, before dashing towards the groundbridge. I stood at the entrance, casting a worried glance back at him, before disappearing through.

To my surprise, I was transported only a few miles away on top of the cliff face. I crouched down, watching the Nemesis hover over our base. My optics widened as I realized just what was happening. "No. Oh frag no!"

Optimus! Get out of there! I comm. linked him, shooting up to my pedes as I frantically scrambled towards the cliff face.

Shadow, I love you.I heard his reply, a tone of lost hope and desperation. I dug my digits into the rocky outcrop, paralyzed from the fear. I barely heard the next words he told me.

I'll need you to protect our cause and take over when I'm gone.

Optimus...No... You p-promised..

I'm truly sorry, sweetspark. Goodbye, my Shadow.

My optics widened as the beam fired, instantly destroying our base. My cry was drowned out by the roar that shook the Earth. "OPTIMUS!"

No. Pit no. This isn't happening. I'm going insane. Yeah, that's it. I tried to comfort myself, but completely lost it when something snapped inside of me. The sparkbond had snapped off.

"NO! FRAG IT! I WON'T BELIEVE IT!" I screamed, clawing at my chest plates, scratching the paint a bit. "OPTIMUS!"

I shakily shot down as I spied Megatron and Starscream fly towards the ruble pile of out base. I narrowed my optics, cursing in every language I knew at those two tyrants. Well, a tyrant and psychotic backstabbing murderous traitor.

I snarled, digging my digits into the rock. Don't be an idiot and attack... He wouldn't want you to do that... I thought to myself, rocking back and forth from the crouching position on my pedes.

On the other hand, he deserves it...

(Shadow Stalker's Flashback)

I fell to the ground, slamming into the wall of my cell at the Kaon Pits. I curled into a ball, holding the newest gash that had formed on my stomach. "N-No.. P-Please.." I whimpered, feeling Energon drips snake down my forehelm.

"Then obey me!" the large silver mech snarled, brandishing his plasma blade at me again. I coward back, my optics wide with fear as I eyed the blade. It had already sliced a gash in my abdomen, helm, arm, and a small cut on my pede. I did not want it near my again, for the next time he swiped, it could be the end of me.

He raised a fist at me, baring his blade-like teeth. "Well?!" Those blue optics did not fool me, his fists and blade was stained with my Energon, and those azure optics hid his icy spark well.

"I-I will try my best to obey you," I whimpered, pressing myself into the wall. He smirked, placing the blade back into his subspace.

"Good femme," he cooed, striding over to me with a twisted smirk. I watched him fearfully, but dared not obey him. If only I was fast enough to grab my Energon sword, I'd end his pitiful life.

"Now, will you obey me?" he growled, squatting down to look me in the optic.

I knew what he wanted. He wanted to be my bonded one day, but I will never allow it. And the more he abuses me, the more rebellious I become...

"I shall obey you, Megatronous."

(End Flashback)

Then before I registered what I was doing, I transformed into my SR-71 "Blackbird" mode, and was shooting towards the wreckage of the base.