Optimus Prime walked across the main bay of the Autobot base, the computer console with all its scanning instruments his destination. He paused, the flash of a red fender catching his attention and making he think of the late Cliffjumper. As the events of the last couple of weeks replayed in his mind, Optimus reminded himself that this car was not the red muscle car that had belonged to Cliffjumper, but rather the red sports car that was currently the prized possession of Knock Out and something to practically worship for Sideswipe.

With a huff of amusement that would have gone unnoticed by anyone whose name didn't rhyme with Hatchet, Optimus recalled the day when Fowler had asked Knock Out what Earth transportation vehicle she would like, since she was now an Autobot. Without hesitation, Knock Out had demanded the Aston Martin and, with a lot of grumbling about Knock Out's expensive tastes, Fowler had provided; he even made sure the Aston Martin was bright red and had the silver designs and yellow rims. Knock Out was incredibly proud of her car, and Optimus doubted it'd ever leave the base for fear of damaging the chassis, or, even worse, the paintjob.

As he continued on toward his original destination, Optimus reflected that another Autobot vehicle never left the base, but for a completely differing reason. Ratchet's red and white ambulance simply sat gathering dust in the entranceway among the other vehicles as she hardly felt the need drive off. Instead, she always left in the form of a shaggy, white dog named Rachel to continue her guardian job of Raf.

Speaking of his wife, Optimus noticed she was standing at the computer console, looking at one of the screens. She was dressed in jeans, a white sleeveless shirt and had a red scarf tied around her neck. The last time Optimus had seen her dressed in such a causal way had been back on Cybertron – perhaps in the days before that fateful High Council hearing. Ratchet didn't look at Optimus as he approached, but she acknowledged his presence with a hum.

Optimus studied her face, noting the faint signs of exhaustion. A month along in her pregnancy, fainting and bouts of nausea were frequent. Optimus had finally convinced Ratchet to take more than her fair share of Energon since she was now consuming for two, but it was harder to convince the stubborn doctor that she was to be resting more than before – especially in the coming months. Besides, the Autobots now had Knock Out to deal with medical disasters, despite her constant complaining and outbursts of vanity.

"You should take a break," Optimus told his wife.

"Then who would watch the scanners?" Ratchet replied absentmindedly. She reached up to push her glasses up on her nose.

"I'm sure I could find someone," Optimus retorted evenly. "You really need to rest before you faint again. Bulkhead thought you were dying when you passed out yesterday mid-sentence."

"I wasn't dying," Ratchet said. "And Bulkhead always overreacts."

Optimus resisted the urge to sigh. Ratchet's stubborn streak was sometimes admirable, but at times like this, Optimus had to refrain from physically grabbing her and getting her to do what was required for her own health. Instead, he turned his focus on the rest of the main bay.

Ultra Magnus was having a conversation with Arcee, the two occasionally glancing at Knock Out who was in the process of trying to get Sideswipe to detach from her leg in the middle of the room. Wheeljack and Bulkhead were walking toward the back, probably to tinker with something. The teenagers – Jack, Smokescreen, Miko – were playing a video game up in the sitting area on the upper catwalk. Raf was sitting down on a couch on the lower level, playing chess against himself. He smiled up at Optimus when the Prime happened to look his way; the smile was so sweet and cute, Optimus found himself returning the gesture with a small smile of his own.

Ratchet followed his gaze. "You know, you never did bring Raf back that snowball."

"I almost froze to death," Optimus replied, turning to look at her.

Ratchet shrugged. "I almost got eaten alive by Scraplets. I think we're at a draw here. Unless you think you're nearly died more than I have."

Optimus recognized this tactic – deflection and redirection. Ratchet was a pro at the tactic and could steer a conversation in any direction she wanted practically all the time – unless she was talking to Optimus. The former librarian was a pro at recognizing the tactic and refusing to acknowledge the distractions that Ratchet offered.

But, he wondered if there was another reason Ratchet was mentioning that particular day. He knew it had been stressful for the both of them, and, when the day was over, Optimus had really just wanted to be alone with his wife. The Prime wasn't above admitting that Ratchet was the one who always stopped them going too far. That particular day, she hadn't; neither had Optimus. And now they were going to be parents. He felt a flash of guilt, as if he were solely responsible for the stress that the pregnancy was going to put on Ratchet.

"Go rest," Optimus said. "If not for your sake, then for the sake of our child. I can watch the scanners for a while."

Ratchet hesitated – Optimus knew that this was her way of telling him that she wasn't doing this just because he said so – but then agreed to take a break and sit down for a while – which told Optimus that she had actually been feeling the effects of her pregnancy, though she had never admitted it. The Prime watched her walk over to couch and sit down beside Raf.

"Ratchet, I have a question for you." Raf twisted to look at his guardian.

Ratchet responded to her favorite human with a questioning hum.

Taking that as an okay, Raf asked, "What happens to the fetus when you transform into another animal?"

Ratchet's blue-green eyes lit up in the way that Optimus loved, the light that glowed whenever she was discussing something she was passionate about. "The fetus transforms as well," Ratchet said. "After all, transforming is very much part of Cybertronian DNA." She twisted the chess board around so that she could play as the black pieces (Optimus dully noted that she had chosen to play as the team that was currently winning). "Back in the ancient times of our race, just after the extinction of the Predacons during the Rust Age, Cybertronians lived in nomadic tribes. It was a ritual for a female Cybertronian to shift forms during labor and if she lost concentration and shifted back to her natural form, then she would be killed for not being strong. If the baby was born in its natural form, then it would be killed for having defective genes. Luckily, this ritual was dropped upon the rise of the Primes."

"The rise of the Primes?" Raf asked. "What was that?"

Ratchet sighed, and Optimus could see the sudden exhaustion that seemed to overtake her. "A story for another time, Raf. How about we just play this game of chest?"

"It's chess," Raf corrected her. He didn't seem too upset about having to wait for another story about Cybertronian history.

Optimus was distracted from the two by someone pulling on his jeans. He looked down into the blue eyes of Sideswipe. "Can you tell me a story? Mama says she's busy."

Knock Out walked over, her yellow wedges thudding on the concrete ground. "Sideswipe, leave Optimus alone. He's a busy person." She pushed at Sideswipe's shoulder until the eight year old started to walk away. "And don't you bother Ratchet either!" she added.

"Can I go play with Jack and Smokescreen?" Sideswipe asked.

"Yes, yes," Knock Out said with a wave of her hand. "Just don't punch anybody – you'll make me look bad."

"I won't," Sideswipe promised with a wide, toothy grin as he scampered toward the yellow, metal stairs that led up to where Jack, Smokescreen, and Miko were.

Knock Out huffed and began gathering her red hair up in messy bun. She looked at Optimus, her lipstick-red lips curling into a smirk. "I do believe that you are supposed to be watching the scanners?"

Before Optimus could formulate a response, Knock Out straightened her red leather jacket and flaunted off. Optimus found himself wondering if the former Decepticon could do anything without a dramatic flair – and then quickly decided that she could not (just as she could not diminish her vain streak).

However, she did have a point. He had promised Ratchet he'd take care of the scanners while she currently preoccupied with losing to Raf. Considering all the Cybertronian games Optimus himself had lost to Ratchet, he figured she wasn't really all that concerned with winning.

He had just finished checking all the readings to determine there was nothing abnormal when he was approached by Ultra Magnus. The general looked annoyed – Optimus wasn't above admitting to himself that that seemed to be the default expression for the older man – but he ran a hand through his dirty blond hair as if he had nervous energy. Optimus had never known Ultra Magnus to be nervous about anything, so he doubted that was really the case.

"May I talk to you, Prime?" he rumbled.

"You should know you don't even have to ask," Optimus replied. Sometimes, it still seemed surreal to him when Ultra Magnus asked Optimus's permission for things. Ultra Magnus was older and actually had a military background, while Optimus himself was simply from a middle class family and had had the occupation of a librarian. "What is it you wish to discuss, Ultra Magnus?"

"I do not like the fact that the Decepticon medic and her child are still here in our base," Ultra Magnus stated, glancing at Knock Out's retreating back. "She has a way of unsettling me."

Optimus resisted the urge to sigh, or perhaps roll his eyes. Ultra Magnus had been the most vocal against Knock Out's (and, by default, Sideswipe's) acceptance into the Autobot ranks. Arcee had been incredibly angry at first, but after Knock Out's admission that she herself hated Airachnid, the two women had mutually agreed to be largely indifferent to one another.

"Knock Out has been here for two weeks and has followed all of our orders without question," Optimus reminded Ultra Magnus.

"She complains, though."

"As does Wheeljack, or even Arcee about certain things," the Prime pointed out. "Besides, Arcee has been keeping an eye on both Knock Out and Sideswipe and neither have done anything suspicious. Sideswipe spends his days playing and getting into typical child mischief, while Knock Out is either with Ratchet or cleaning her car." Optimus glanced back at the couch to see that Ratchet had lost the chess game and was currently curled up on the couch in the form of Rachel, her eyes closed. Raf was playing against himself again. "You must admit that it is good to have another medic on the team considering Ratchet's current condition."

Ultra Magnus gave Optimus a slightly incredulous look. Probably wondering how Optimus was handling the said condition himself, as he was the father. Then he shook his head, apparently deciding that was a topic he did not yet wish to discuss, and then said, "Speaking of Ratchet's condition, perhaps we should consider finding Raf a new guardian."

"First off, you are welcome to inform Ratchet that she is no longer adequate for her guardian job," Optimus said, knowing full well that Ratchet would not take kindly to that conversation whenever it came. "Second, Ratchet is still quite capable of being Raf's guardian for a few more months. Third, Smokescreen would probably make the best replacement, so he gets some time out in the human world. And finally, when I say 'you are welcome to,' I mean that you will be the one to tell Ratchet to step down from her guardian duties."

"Back to my original point," Ultra Magnus said, his voice a little tight, "Knock Out unnerves me."

"Unnerves you how?" As he spoke, Optimus glanced back at the scanner readings. Same old typical readings of Energon and energies with no sign of Decepticon activity – all not worth mentioning or checking.

"She makes me…feel like I need to keep an eye on her," the general explained. "Or like I need to run out of the room. Perhaps I feel the need to retrieve my weapons in case she attacks."

"Does she appear threatening to you?"

"Well…no, but my nerves fritz out like she is a threat."

Optimus raised an eyebrow, unable to completely hide his surprise. It sounded as if Ultra Magnus was attracted to the redheaded medic, but unfamiliar with the feeling of love, he believed that he was reacting to Knock Out as if she was a threat. The Autobot leader supposed he couldn't blame Ultra Magnus for being attracted to Knock Out. She was beautiful (and was definitely well aware of this) and she avoided mentioning her, most likely, late husband. Whenever someone happened to ask her about Breakdown, she'd simply shrug and say that Silas and his M.E.C.H. team had probably killed him.

Optimus decided he had more important things to do than get involved with Ultra Magnus's romantic drama. "Just keep an eye on her, then, Ultra Magnus, to calm you nerves. Ratchet assures me that she believes Knock Out is true in her dedication to the Autobot cause, and the two of them grew up together. You must admit that Knock Out has taken very well to the humans."

That was true. She liked Raf and June, was seemingly indifferent to Fowler and Jack, and was easily annoyed by Miko, but she had refrained from zapping her with her Energon prod, so Optimus considered her annoyance an improvement over maiming.

Ultra Magnus nodded. "Very well," he muttered. He scratched his beard, and then turned and walked off. "Arcee, I want you to take a groundbridge out and patrol Sector Four. I'll go with you."

The black-haired woman hurried over to the Autobot SIC, her blue eyes flickering with the impatience to get out of the base for a while. Optimus reflected that Arcee had more restless energy than Wheeljack or Smokescreen, though both could be described as more energetic.

An alarm sounded, and Optimus turned to face the scanners. One of the beacons was blinking, but Optimus wasn't actually sure what it meant. Raf jogged over, with Ratchet at his heels, shifting mid-stride into her natural form. The teenagers discarded their video game and looked down from the catwalk, while Sideswipe stopped dancing around and stilled for once. Bulkhead and Wheeljack reemerged from the back of the base, and Knock Out poked her head out of an entranceway. Ultra Magnus and Arcee walked over, forgetting about their earlier mission.

"There's a spike of Cybertronian energy," Ratchet said, triangulating the coordinates. She looked at Optimus. "Like every other time, I'd amuse the Decepticons are already there."

"We'll fight them off, like every other time," Bulkhead said, slamming his fist into the flat of his palm.

"Autobots, roll out," Optimus ordered. He looked up at the catwalk. "Smokescreen, you too." Miko opened her mouth and Optimus, turning away, added, "No humans. We do not know what we are walking into."

"Do we ever?" Arcee muttered.

Optimus ignored her. He glanced at Ratchet as she started up the groundbridge. He was always a bit worried about leaving her behind permanently, but now he realized he would be leaving behind more than a wife. Ratchet glanced at him, her expression neutral, and Optimus knew she was guarding her emotions, as she always did, in an attempt to keep Optimus focused. The Prime nodded at her once, and then turned to the swirling green light of the groundbridge.

He started forward, his team following. Arcee and Ultra Magnus strode confidently on either side of him. Smokescreen eagerly awaited one of his first skirmishes, while Wheeljack and Bulkhead were anticipating the chance to pound some Decepticons. Optimus forced himself to not look back at the people he was leaving behind – Ratchet and Raf would be standing beside one another, silently watching them leave; Miko, Jack, and Sideswipe would be peering down from the catwalk with varying degrees of worry on their faces; Knock Out would be slowly emerging from the hallway and walking toward the others.

Optimus Prime's field of vision was flooded with swirling, green light. Then, he could see bright daylight, orange cliffs, and a wad of Decepticon Vehicons.


I personally like to imagine that Optimus has all these witty and sarcastic thoughts and no one ever knows because he never voices them. Also, less focus on Ratchet in this chapter, but I will definitely be including the progressive of her pregnancy and its symptoms throughout the story.

Also, the whole Ultra Magnus and Knock Out thing...well, it may or may not work out. (Remember, nothing has been confirmed yet about Breakdown).

The season one episode "Scrapheap" was alluded to here, but the story will not follow the timeline of Prime exactly.

Sorry for the cliffhanger.

Reviews are welcome, as always! They help me determine what the people want. :)