Transformers: Eternal Eclipse

Chapter 4

(Two Years Before Age of Extinction)

Elita One watched the sun set, it had become a habit of hers since they went on the run. After Optimus emergency message the group had abounded their small base but it soon became clear that they were being followed and with the hatchlings it was slow moving. Jolt had decided to go in another direction to draw attention away from them. They hadn't seen him since and she could only assume the worst.

They couldn't morn, they had to focus. Keep the hatchlings safe and try to find the other Autobots. . . if any were still alive. Elita quickly shook that thought from her head, she couldn't think like that. Just concentrate on the here and now.

Her group comprised of her and her sisters Arcee and Chromia as well as the hatchlings. The journey had been very hard of the small beings, well it had been hard on all of them. Arcee had grown quieter and more serious, long gone was the friendly and headstrong warrior Elita had fought besides. And Chromia was worrying her more and more every day, ever since Ironhide's death the blue femme had become more withdrawn and sullen but being on the run had only made it worst. No longer the bash and outgoing femme she remembered, Elita prayed Chromia wouldn't do something stupid one day.

The hatchling's were really the only thing keeping any of them going. Currently she held Star Saber, Hot Rod, Hot Shot and Windblade in her arms and most of them had finally gone into recharge. But ever the stubborn mechling Hot Rod refused to follow them. "Hot Rod, you need to go into recharge."

"Why?" The little one squirmed in her arms.

"Because you need rest. You want to grow into a big strong warrior don't you?"

He beamed at her, "Like Optimus?"

". . . Yes, just like Optimus," she said wishfully.

"Will Optimus come save us?"

Hot Rod was probably too young to remember him but he loved the stories she told, it was the only thing that would keep his attention. Elita hugged the sparklings close, "He'll come back little one." She looked into the sky, "He's always comes back."

(Present)

"AHHH!" Tessa wasn't sure which of them screamed first, her or the Sparkling. He ducked behind the crate thought she could still see the top of his red and gold helm.

"Um, hey little guy why are you in here. . . alone?" Tessa finally asked.

He dared to peek at her over the crate, "Humans scary."

Okay, that pulled at the heart. "Um, well. . ." She tried to think of something. "What's your name?"

"Hot Rod."

"I'm Tessa." He finally moved from behind the crate, thought he didn't get any closer. "You know were not all scary." He didn't look convinced but didn't move when she came closer. "What about Olivia?" She remembered how much fun the hatchlings seemed to have with her.

"Umm, she okay," the mechling declared.

Tess held a hand towards him, "How about we get back to the others? I'm sure your friends are looking for you." He watched her for a moment before taking her hand.

"So your saying a whole ship of Autobots will be arriving?" Epps asked. After the initial excitement the human members were hoping to finally got some answers.

"Yes, and they should be arriving in a few weeks," Dino answered.

"Who's Prowl?" Will asked, he was sure the name sounded familiar.

"Only the second-in-command of the entire Autobot forces," Hound exclaimed.

"I think Optimus mentioned him, but how come none of you talked about him?"

The Autobot's shared a look and it was Chromia who answered, "Because none of us were sure if he was still alive."

"Yeah, the exodus from Cybertron was. . . kind of chaotic. It's not like everyone could stay in touch," Hound added.

"When Optimus led the search for the AllSpark Prowl lead a group to search for other survivors," Arcee added. "He must of been really far away to just answer now."

"He's second-in-command?" Shane asked, "What's he like?"

"Think of the kindest most fun loving bot you can. . . then take all that away and you got Prowl." Sideswipe answered, "But there is some good news out of this, if he's still alive then that means Sunny might be with him!"

Before Shane could ask who Sunny was Ratchet spoke up, the first time he had spoken since the discovery, "That's all I need, both of you on the same planet." But it didn't have the same exasperation, and the Autobots and humans who knew him best immediately picked up on it.

Luckily Tess arrived with Hot Rod and Elita turned her attention to the red and gold youngling. "Where have you been?" Elita scolded him.

He looked at his servos sheepishly, "Explodin'."

"You know someone should keep an eye on them, I don't need a bunch of kids running around my building," Joyce said. He cringed a little at the looks he got, "You know. . . there are dangerous things they could get into."

"He does have a good point," Sam agreed surprising the others. At the shocked looks he continued, "With all of you and the hatchlings that's thirty-nine bots, and we still need to work on bodies for Leadfoot, Topspin, Jolt, Skids and Mudflap."

"Which we need to work on soon," Ratchet muttered.

"And we don't know how many bots Prowl has with him, where are you all going to stay."

The Autobots went silent at that. [That will have to be a plan for another time] Bumblebee said thought only the Autobots and a few of the humans could understand him.

Ratchet suddenly rose, "Well I'll let you figure it out. I have other business to attend to."

Bumblebee grabbed the medics arm before he could leave, [Are you sure your alright?]

Elita stepped in, "It's been a long stressful time for all of us, maybe you should rest a little first."

"Yeah," Sideswipe cut in, "You don't even have a paintjob yet."

Ratchet turned on him with a snarl almost knocking down Bee. "Do I look like Sunstreaker!" There was a stunned silence from everyone, the hatchlings hid behind their guardians or whatever they could find. The angry look quickly left Ratchet's face, he looked away, "I'm sorry, I truly hope he's okay."

Sideswipe nodded numbly without meeting the medics optics.

Bumblebee tried to step in, [Maybe you should rest-]

"I don't need rest, I need to make sure our comrades are back in bodies before Prowl arrives." Ratchet turned from them and started walking out of the room, "Come along Sam, we need to get started."

As the two left Elita and Bumblebee shared a look.

Later that day Drift found himself on patrol near the KSI building. Bumblebee felt they were still needed even though some though these were pointless. Drift didn't mind, he like these quiet moments. He also had a feeling there wouldn't be many of them soon.

It still helped to be cautious, Galvatron was still out there and who knew how many Cemetery Wind had escaped. The samurai bot still had his doubts about Bumblebee but this time he believed the young bot was right.

But when nothing appeared out of the ordinary Drift decided to head back, he drove down a side street passing an empty lot when something caught his optic. Drift stopped, luckily no one was behind him, and moved back a few feet to get a better look. Someone was spray painting a billboard. Not something he usually cared about but the person was spraying in red paint the Autobot symbol.

He tried to move closer but unfortunately the figure heard him. Wearing a very faded blue coat with the hood pulled up Drift couldn't see their face, the figure jumped down and ducked under a broken fence before samurai bot could follow. Whoever they were they were fast, he'd give them that. but it would take a lot more than that to lose him.

Meanwhile the mysterious person thought they were in the clear as they turned a corner. . . only to collide with a metal leg.

"Leaving already?" Drift asked.

After the collision the person stumbled back dazed and fell backwards, the hood fell back letting the sword wielding mech see the mysterious painter. And he was surprised to find a young girl with long reddish hair laying there.