Wow! I cannot believe how well received this was! I'll start off with some review replies, as I always have done in the past.

Awesomo3000: You quoted Thor. I like it. THANK YOU!

3luv3eva: You ask, I shall deliver.

Mimzy94: Thanks. I may be some luck. If I'm honest, I tried watching the new series and I couldn't really get past the animation, personally. But that's just me. I may give it another shot.

TheTalidaPrimeFan: Thank you!

redlinevcr: We shall see, won't we?

Don't judge me I'm a fangirl: Thank you!

As I'm sure you all know by now, I own nothing outside of my OCs and this plot.

I forgot. I originally meant to name the previous chapter something different, but for some reason, I went with Introducing Me. Might be because Camp Rock 2 was playing on my TV for some reason. This time, it's Pieces by Red. Needless to say, hearing this song made me want to go cry in a corner.

ENJOY!

...or not...

Also, in terms of the late updates... BLAME UNI AND HAVING TO DO 70 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING! Thank God they lowered it from the original 105...

The Autobots weren't the only ones that had travelled to Northern Ireland.

The Decepticons were there as well.

Usually, they were lead by the ruthless warlord Megatron. The former gladiator had risen from the ashes of Kaon protesting the caste and guild system and promised a Cybertron where all would be deemed equals. With his movement gaining momentum, he was able to seek an audience with the Ruler Rayna and the High Council. It was there that Megatron revealed his true colours, taking about using violence as a means of achieving justice and even demanding to be named the next Prime. In his eyes, he was betrayed that day by his brother, Orion Pax, the archivist who would lead the Autobots against him in the war and become Optimus Prime.

With Cybertron now nothing more than a barren wasteland, Megatron and Optimus spanned multiple galaxies in their battles with their respective factions until they both - almost mutually - decided to settle down on Earth. They enjoyed twenty-three years of battles both through themselves and through their children. Like Optimus, Megatron had a techno-organic child of his own. A daughter named Malita Roberts.

With her dark brown hair and darker brown eyes, Malita appeared to be her father's daughter, inheriting his ruthlessness and his thirst for blood among other qualities. Quickly, as she grew older, the 24-year-old rose in the Decepticon ranks, taking on the role of an enforcer. As his child, she was also his natural heir to the Decepticon leadership.

But taking on a leadership role in the Decepticons was not something she desired. So instead, the role of Megatron's successor went to Starscream, his cunning - and cowardly - second-in-command.

That was who lead the Decepticons now. To everyone's surprise, Megatron decided to travel to deep space for an unspecified amount of time, promising that he would return with something that would give them an edge over the Autobots. It had been over a year since he left and they had still heard nothing from their master.

Not that the power-hungry Starscream was complaining.

"Well, we are at the location, but I see no sign of Energon!" Starscream complained before turning to the surveillance chief, Soundwave, "Are you sure we have the correct coordinates, Soundwave?!"

Soundwave was renowned not only for his skills in surveillance and his loyalty, but for his silence. He never spoke - only in the form of playing back excerpts from other conversations he just happened to pick up. So his only response was a nod.

"Commander Starscream!" a Vehicon called, "Autobots are in the vicinity!"

"Really?!" Starscream said in surprise, "Identification?"

"We are getting reports of the one they call Cliffjumper," the Vehicon nodded, "And Talida Prime is with him."

'Wow. Daddy Prime actually lets her out of the base?!" Malita scoffed with a chuckle, as the Prime's overprotectiveness of his teenage daughter was well known among the Decepticons.

"I believe this could be an opportunity we were waiting for," Starscream mused.

Immediately, Malita knew where Starscream's mind was heading.

"Starscream, need I remind you that my father has given strict orders that Talida Prime is not even to be harmed, never mind kidnapped?!"

"Malita, need I remind you that Lord Megatron is currently not with us and will not be back for some time? What our dear master does not know will not hurt him," sneered before turning to the gathering group of Vehicons, "Go after them. Bring the Prime girl to us. I want her alive and, if possible, unharmed."

"Yes, Commander Starscream!" the Vehicon nodded before he disappeared with his group.

"I still don't like this," Malita sighed.

"Think of what we can gain, Malita. We can learn the location of the Autobot base. We can bring Optimus Prime himself to his knees just at the mere thought of us harming his precious daughter," Starscream retorted, "She is the key to this war and that is something we must take advantage of."

"Where is that damn Energon?" Cliffjumper grumbled frustratingly.

Not long after Cliffjumper and Talida arrived, they had quickly picked up an Energon signal. Immediately, they decided to follow the signal, but it was proving to be a difficult task.

"Maybe the scanner's scrapped," Talida shrugged as she hit it with her hand.

"I just find it interesting that the girl who is top of her class in autoshop and has been Ratchet's apprentice for Primus knows how long just goes to hit the scanner like any other chump," Cliffjumper chuckled before asking casually, "Have you told Jack yet?"

"Told him what?" Talida inquired, pretending to be ignorant.

"That you love him, "Cliffjumper deadpanned.

Talida froze before finally answering him, "Telling him is not as easy as you think, Cliff. For one thing, he's practically drooling all over Sierra. For another thing, if I tell him and he doesn't feel the same way, there goes a lifetime of friendship. If I can't have him in my life the way I want, I have to settle with just our friendship."

"You should never have to settle," Cliffjumper shook his head, "You deserve more than anyone to be happy. You don't deserve to be forced to settle for second best."

"Hold on," Talida said, forcing Cliffjumper to stop, "When did we swap roles here? Usually, I'm the one reassuring you and telling you not to settle for second best."

"What can I say? I learned from the best," Cliffjumper smirked.

Talida just shook her head as she laughed. She could easily argue for the other way around.

However, an explosion tore that opportunity from her.

"You're worried," Arcee stated knowingly.

When Talida and Cliffjumper left, the base had gone quiet. After all, Cliffjumper and Talida were the source of life in the abandoned missile silo with Cliffjumper's never-ending chatter and Talida's youthful optimism and wisdom. It was certainly strange to have them both gone at the same time.

"She's just a child, Arcee," Optimus rumbled.

"She's 14, Optimus. She's been going on these patrols since she was seven," Arcee pointed out.

"Only because she stumbled onto a battle with Megatron," Optimus retorted before raising an eyebrow, "Usually, I'm the one placating you about our daughter."

"We have to switch roles every once in a while," Arcee shrugged as she lent into her spark mate's embrace, "You and I both know Talida can take care of herself. Besides, Cliffjumper's with her. You and I both know he would never let anything happen to her."

That only placated Optimus' concern slightly. Deep down, he knew Arcee was right. Talida was a capable fighter in her own right - both in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry (including her new partners) - not to mention her resourcefulness. He also knew that any member of Team Prime would lay down their lives for her if it ever came down to it. Even Ratchet. However, like any other father, he still worried.

"OPTIMUS!"

Seeing Bulkhead run in the way he did wasn't doing anything to ease his worries either.

"There's trouble! Cliff and Tally are being attacked by Decepticon troops!" Bulkhead panted.

The thought of their child being in danger was enough for Optimus and Arcee to sprint upright.

By the time Optimus, Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee got there, it was all over.

Trees were fallen. Fires were spreading. Vehicons lay dead at their feet. However, they were not their concern.

Cliffjumper and Talida were.

"Fan out," Optimus ordered, "Bulkhead, Bumblebee, head east. Arcee and I will head west."

"Got it," Bulkhead nodded as they split up.

Usually, Arcee was a strong-willed warrior. Even after all the traumas she endured during the war - including the brutal murder of her family under Decepticon hands and being captured and tortured, which included being forced to watch as her first battle partner was executed before her eyes. However, the mere thought of her child - her baby - in danger crushed her resolve more than the war ever did.

Optimus sensed this. In fact, he felt his own resolve cracking as well. However, he was still a Prime. He couldn't afford to let his emotions slip through the cracks. Not yet, at least. But he still couldn't ignore the icy grasp that paralysed his spark in fear.

A groan pulled Optimus and Arcee from their thoughts. Whipping around with their blasters armed and charged, they saw Cliffjumper lying on the ground. The resident conversationalist was a little worse for wear with dents and bruises covering his body and some wounds that were leaking precious Energon.

"Cliff!" Arcee gasped as she raced forward and pushed the tree that was pinning his legs away.

"What happened?!" Optimus demanded.

"They came out of nowhere," Cliffjumper gasped, coughing Energon into Arcee's lap as she knelt beside him, "There were about ten Vehicons. Maybe more. We tried taking them on. Then Starscream came into the picture. He started the fires.

"Where is she?!" Arcee finally asked the question she and Optimus dreaded asking, "Cliffjumper, where's Talida?!"

"I tried...," Cliffjumper breathed weakly, "I tried... to save her..."

"CLIFFJUMPER, WHERE IS SHE?!" Optimus finally roared.

Bulkhead and Bumblebee arrived in time to hear Optimus roar the question. They almost wish they weren't there when they heard Cliffjumper's answer before he lost consciousness,

"She's gone. Starscream took her."

OK. What should happen next? Talida wake up aboard the Nemesis? The Autobots come to grip with what happened? Jack find out Talida is missing? HELP ME!

BYE!