Miko tapped her foot, "Well where is she?" The children had been dropped off by Ratchet at Jacks house. Jack shrugged, "I'll try calling her again." The phone rang to her voice mail. Jack sighed, "I don't get it." Raf sighed, "Maybe she's working late?" Jacks widen, "My Mom works all day today!" He ran to the kitchen, "Yeah she works 9am-10pm today." Miko came to stand beside him, "so what?" Jack looked at her worriedly, "that means she won't be on break for another hour, there is no way she could have called me." A sudden thud came from outside as the children ran to the window. Jack backed up quickly, "Run!" He shouted as he lead Miko and Raf to the back door, "Hello Children, frightened?"
SilverStorm jolted as Ratchet shifted her leg, "Sit still." SilverStorm shook her head, "it wasn't the pain...something else is wrong." She looked over to Optimus whom had a blank expression that told SilverStorm is was confused. "I felt...terror like someone was really terrified..." she sat still for a moment trying to regain the connection. Her eyes widened as she looked around the base, "Where are the children?" Ratchet shrugged, "At Home June needed them." SilverStorm felt another pang, a pang of fear. "They are in trouble."
SilverStorm stood up shakily, keeping her weight off her broken leg. Her wings hurt to move but they were functional. "I have to help them." She breathed heavily, Optimus took a deep breath as he pushed himself to a standing position. "We will help them." SilverStorm smiles, "You're gonna have to drive I can't carry you, specially with how damaged I am at the moment. The ground bridge swept to life as the other three team members drove through. "Optimus!" They whispered in shock to see their leader standing fully on his own, a little shaky and wobbly but none the less on his own. "The children are in danger we must help them." The team transformed rushing out of the base leaving Ratchet to the coms.
Soundwave dropped the children at Megatrons feet. Jack wrapped his arms around them in a protective manner. "What do you want with us?" He hissed as he pushed the two behind him, Megatron snarled, "You dare to address me in such a manner?" Jack shook his head, "You ain't nothing special so answer my question." Miko held her breath bracing herself to surely see Jack die right then and there. Megatron lifted his head higher so his eyes dropped down on the humans, "Your demeanor is about to get you killed boy." Jack stood his ground, he wouldn't budge. He wouldn't give Megatron the satisfaction of scaring him. Megatrons pulse was rising, "Speak boy!" Jack merely shook his head. Megatron reached down and scooped up the children in his clutches. Throwing Miko and Raf into a metal box knocking them both unconscious, Jack however he held onto. "You want to know what I want? Fine I shall allow you to watch as you mighty Optimus Prime falls." Jack felt his heart skip a beat. That was it, they weren't what Megatron wanted, they were merely bait.
The team arrived at the Darby's house. Everything appeared quite, Arcee inches forward and gasped. "There in the grass." Optimus pulled up to the curb, skid marks in the grass where it would appear a bot had transformed and then flew off.
"The cons have them." Bulkhead whispered. Optimus commed SilverStorm who had stayed high in the sky to avoid to much human interaction. "The children are not here, all evidence points to a kidnapping." SilverStorm looked around her, "Nothing but blue sky for miles up here." She sighed as a thought hit her mind. "Crystal! Crystal would know where the Nemesis is!" SilverStorm took off across the sky in a bolt of blue, as the rest of the team struggled to catch up. Optimus felt his legs panging as he panted to keep up with his team. Bumblebee noticed the Prime lagging behind and fell back to drive beside him, ""Optimus You ok?"" Optimus responded, "Indeed BumbleBee I am well." Bumblebee continued to drive along side him. Not yet convinced that the Prime wasn't lying. ""I need to slow down, gotta keep my eyes open, being a scout an all."" Optimus smiled, the young scout was a poor liar. The team reentered the base to find SilverStorm has already arrived, "Crystal now calling herself Exitium will know where the ship is located! All we need do is to convince her or trick her into telling us. I'm down for either." Optimus nodded, "Very well SilverStorm, please hurry our young friends lives are at stake." SilverStorm nodded as he headed to face Exitium.
Exitium paced her cell, Windchargers word ate at her like acid. "You has choosen your fate." The sound of footsteps shook her from her thinking as SilverStorm appeared to her door. "Crystal I know you are still in there somewhere and if you are I need your help. Megatron as the kids and he will kill them...that much you know." Exitium cocked her head in a "i don't care" manner "please You'll say anything to get my masters location."
"Dang it Crystal! SilverStorm through herself up against the door, "Listen to me please! Those kids, they don't have powers, they aren't strong like you are. Megatron will...will destroy them. Please help us!" Exitium turned her back to the femme, "Why should I help you when no one was there to help me?" SilverStorm sighed letting her shoulders fall, "Your right, im sorry." Exitiums hatred suddenly seemed to standstill, "I'm sorry I disregarded you like you didn't matter. I got so caught up in my own problems I forgot about everyone else." Exitium felt a cool feeling go over her as if all of the hatred and anger was beginning to melt away. "I don't know how else to tell you that I'm sorry Crystal but I need your help. Please, don't make the same Mistake that I did." Exitium turned to face SilverStorm, tears had begun to fall, "What have I done? Oh Primus what have I done!" SilverStorm opened the door as Exitium fell into her arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." She kept repeating as the anger faded from her eyes and the energy that surround her began to fade. "His ship is just over the pacific. 350 clicks off the coast." She took ina sharp breath. "SilverStorm," she whispered SilverStorm took her hand, she felt the life draining out of her. "Tell the others I'm sorry."
"We forgive you." Optimus Primes voice came from the back of SilverStorm as he knelt down next to her, the others followed suit. "Megatron manipulated you, you are not to blame." Exitium chuckled, "I think I was. I wanted it, the power, the hatred,...the killing. I wanted someone to pay for the hurt they had caused me. But I'm doing so I only hurt others and never helped me. I only killed me." SilverStorm held back tears, "You are helping us now by saving our friend." Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee all nodded and raced back toward the ground bridge where Ratchet has put in the coordinates. Exitium sighed, "Thank you SilverStorm." SilverStorm smiled, "Go in peace...Crystal." Crystal smiled one last time as the life left her eyes and her body fell limp. SilverStorm took a deep breath, "This never gets easier." Optimus placed his hand on her shoulder, "A life being taken should never be easier." SilverStorm nodded "Let's get our friends back."
Megatron paced his ship, "come to me Optimus!" He grumbled under his breath. The first part of the team arrived, storming the ship and heading toward the main control center. Megatron grabbed Jack and ran for the engine room. Raf and Miko called out to their partners. Bulkhead raced over to the run in which the children were being held. "Miko your head, it's bleeding." Miko shrugged "That's what happens when you get dropped by Megatron." She snarled, Raf cuddled up to Bees chest as Arcee desperately searched for jack. "Me...Megatron has him." Raf stuttered, Arcee turned to face the corridors, "Get those kids out of here." She bolted down the hall before Bulkhead could stop her. The two ran to the flight deck to get a bridge back when Optimus and SilverStorm arrived, "Megatron has Jack and Arcee went after him." Bumblebee blipped at the two as they ran by.
SilverStorm used her wings for support, her leg still damaged and Optimus was no better off. "Aren't we a match." SilverStorm joked as a loud battle scream came from up ahead, the two found Arcee and Megatron engaged in a throwdown. Jack was unconsciously the floor. SilverStorm nodded to Optimus as the two lunged at Megatron knocking him to the ground as Arcee grabbed Jack. "Run!" SilverStorm hollered as the two struggled to keep up with Arcee. Megatron noticed the weaknesses and saw it as an advantage. "Pathetic!" He hollered as he jumped landing on SilverStorm and brining her to the ground. Optimus slid to a stop when he notice SilverStork not next to him. He turned and saw her in Megatrons clutches, his sword sitting on her throat. "This ends now!" Megatron slid the sword quickly across her throat. Optimus yelled her name as everything seemed to happen in slow motion, her body fell to the ground in a crumpled heap with Megatrons sword dripping over her. His face twisted in an evil smile, Optimus felt his legs grow weak and give out beneath him. Megatron strutted over to him his sword lifting the Primes head to face him, "Your turn." Just as he drew back bulkhead leapt from behind the doorway colliding with Megatron and taking him to the ground. "get out of here!" He hollered. Optimus quickly stood up, grabbing his sisters body and running for the bridge, "Please SilverStorm do not leave me." He felt a weak but steady pulse as he rushed through, Bulkhead following not far behind.
The bridge closed as the team stood panting and lookingmover their human friends. Ratchets nearly collapsed when he saw what Optimus was holding. Optimus just stared as he knelt with the prescious bundle in hand. Ratchet walked slowly over to him and place his hand on her wrist, his head dropped and his spark broke. "Optimus she's ah...she's." Optimus looked down at her, and pulled her closer. Energon staining his armor and the floor. The team all stood silent including the children as Optimus merely rocked back and forth like he was holding a sleeping baby. The team stood solemnly around the Prime, their heads hung low as the tears slowly fell to the ground. Optimus cursed himself for not paying more attention to where his sister was. He held in a scream of anger, he was still a Prime and had to keep it together. Optimus laid SilverStorm down on a med berth next to Crystal. He wanted to hate Crystal, this was all her fault. He shook his head, you mustn't think that way. He repeated to himself over and over again. He turned to face the grief stricken team. "SilverStorm does with Honor, let us remember her as such." He made his way to the silo doors, "I will find a proper burial place for her." Ratchet laid a hand on his shoulder, "Don't old friend, not today. It can wait till tomorrow." Optimus kept his stance, he didn't even look back. "I must." He transformed and nearly sped out of the base, if anything he had to clear his mind, his grieving spark.
Crystal wondered through what appeared to be a haze, "Hello!" She hollered into the mist with only her voice to respond to her. "Crystal." A voice she recognized appeared from the most, "SilverStorm? What?" SilverStorm smiled, "I'm head to help you." Crystal shook her head confused, "Help me what? I thought I died?" SilverStorms face saddened, "You did" this remark only earned her an even more confused look from Crystal, "So why are you here?" SilverStorm sighed as she walked to stand directly in front of Crystal. "To save you." Crystal furrowed her eyebrows as SilverStorm walked by her explaining, "in order for you to join the allspark you need to terminate any remains of Unicron, when you joined him his life blood became part of you. You can't join the allspark if you have Unicrons blood." Crystals shoulders slumped, "WindCharger told me that I had decided my fate." SilverStorm turned to face her, "Your decision is now." Crystal cocked her head in confusion, "I can take away all remains of Unicron from you and you can join WindCharger in the all spark, or I can let you be and you can join Unicrons domain, he may even bring you back to life. But the choice is yours to make." Crystal clasped her hands behind her back and paced, "Your saying that if you leave me now, I will come back to life?" SilverStorm shook her head, "Only a small chance, you would be Unicrons slave forever." Crystal sighed, "But you can take away his essence from me?" SilverStorm nodded, "Right now I am holding you, us at an "in between" place, you must make your decision. My ability to hold you here is limited."
Crystal looked to SilverStorm, "How are you here?" SilverStorm shook her head, "That does not matter." Crystal gasped, "You died?" SilverStorm nodded, "It was the only way to possibly save you." Crystal just shook her head, "I don't know what to say." SilverStorm spoke, "Make your decision." Crystal took a deep breath, "I choose WindCharger." Just as she spoke the words a form walked toward her, "My little Star." Crystals eyes welled up with tears as she ran to embrace the figure. "WindCharger!" He held her with a smile on his face, "I'm so glad you've found your way." She looked over her shoulder at SilverStorm, "Without her I would still be lost." SilverStorm smiled, "Go now." She whispered softly as the two walked arm in arm away. "Where are we go..." Crystal stopped speaking as a brilliant light swallowed them, taking them into the allspark where they could live in peace and tranquillity forever.
SilverStorm covered her eyes as he bright light radiated the plain, as he disappeared she notice another figure walking toward her. "you have done well my student, very well indeed." SilverStorm smiled, "Alpha Trion!"
Optimus sat next to SilverStorms body, just praying that somehow she would still be alive and wake up at any moment. Ratchet had cleaning her up and sealed the wounds, placing her hands over her spark in a very elegant manner. The others had left to take the children home, they would stay with them to make sure Megatron would not take them again. June and Jack had been moved to an apartment by Agent Fowler until further housing arrangements could be made. Optimus just sat thinking, his mind flooded with memories, SilverStorms laugh, her eyes, her bright and happy personality. Ratchet had just finished cleaning everything up, he squeezed Optimus's shoulder as he walked by. There were no words to describe the hurt in their sparks. Optimus had found a beautiful spot to bury her, deep in a wooded mountain overlooking a running stream, surrounded by flowers. He wanted to bury her right away, but couldn't. He fought back the tears that threaten to spill as he rocked his body back and forth, "No." He whispered to himself "No."
"Alpha Trion!" SilverStorm embraced him, "It's been so long, we had wondered what happened to you but I guess I know now." Alpha Trion smiled a sad smile, "Do not mourn for me my child I have long since joined the allspark and it was my due time." SilverStorm straightened up, "I'm sorry Sir, it's just, there were so many time we needed you. Specially Optimus." Alpha Trion smiled, "The young Prime does an excellent job on his own, if I were there he would default to me, he does well leading on his own." SilverStorm nodded, "I think I understand that." She looked to the ground, "I sure am gonna miss him." Alpha Trion smiled, "You have done well, you helped save that femmes life and with out hesitating or thinking about how you yourself would be affect." SilverStorm shrugged, "Yea I guess I still dive into things head first," she joked. Alpha Trion waved his hand, as a swirling blue light appeared. "The primes have not yet deemed it your time to join the allspark. Go now, rejoin your brother and win this war for all whom have fallen." SilverStorms eyes lite up, "Thank you sir!" She hugged him again, "Will I see you again?" Alpha Trion nodded, "Someday yes." SilverStorm smiled and ran through the vortex, stopping once to look back.
Optimus felt the berth vibrate, he looked over at SilverStorms body but saw no movement, it happened again. Optimus jumped up, the body was vibrating, suddenly her eyes opened as a brilliant blue light shone around her body lifting her into the air then gently placing her back down. Optimus slowly walked toward her, jumping backwards as she moved to stand. Optimus held his breath, "SilverStorm?" SilverStorm spun around slowly, "Its me!" Optimus didn't hesitate, didn't look around, he ran to her scooping her up in a large embrace. "Thank the Primes." He whispered, "Literally." SilverStorm quipped, "What?" Optimus placed her back on the ground as a sound of metal clanging echoed the two looked over to the corridor to see Ratchet standing there, he had dropped the flashlight he was carrying. "I don't believe it!" HE mumbled, "Believe it!" SilverStorm laughed as she ran to him. Optimus sighed in relief, "What did you mean by literally?" SilverStorm told them the story of what happened. "And he sent me home, I do have something to confess." She turned her full gaze on Optimus, "I knew I was going to die." Optimus's Spark stopped beating, "What do..." "Alpha Trion had appeared to me in a dream and told me what I could do to save Crystal. I had to do it, that's why I couldn't tell you. If I had told you you would have tried to stop me from being killed." Optimus nodded his head, "Of course, there had to be another way." SilverStorm shook her head, "There wasn't." Optimus just smiled, "All of that is past, you are here now, alive and for that I am grateful." SilverStorm smiled, "Patrol run?" Optimus nodded, "Patrol" Ratchet watched with gladness as the two drove off, the war was far from over and they had not shared their last loss but together they all could withstand the strongest of storms