"Okay, ya ready?" asked Hot Shot ready to throw the ball.

"I was born ready," smiled Alex as he raised his bat high to hit it.

Hot Shot then, ever so lightly, flicked the ball Alex's way and he hit it. He had a pretty good arm as well as they watched the ball almost fly out.

"Ironhide get the ball!" said Hot Shot seeing the ball pass right by him and he not know it.

"What is the point of this game anyway?" he asked as he picked up the ball.

"Come on we gotta get Alex out!" shouted Hot Shot.

Ironhide then threw the ball to Optimus who was very close in getting Alex out, but he slid just in time to not get tagged.

"Yup, he's safe," smiled Optimus replaying the move in his mainframe to make sure.

"I still can't believe you got us into dodger stadium," smiled Alex getting up and wiping the dirt off his hands and pants.

"Well we can stay here for about an hour till we have to leave just to make sure no one notices," said Wheeljack.

"Whatever, let's just play ball," said Alex.

Makeala was up in the stands as she watched the boys play their game. Alex was on first while Sam was on third. Ratchet was next to bat. He came out with a nice long poll being his bat and he was ready to hit.

"Ya ready Rach?" smiled Hot Shot.

"Go ahead," shook Ratchet.

Then as Hot Shot was about to throw Ratchet starts on a swinging rampage.

"Wow, wow Ratchet," said Hot Shot stopping his motion.

Ratchet had his optics closed so he couldn't see what was going on. After his swinging rampage he went straight into a stabbing rampage all though none knew why.

"Ratchet stop!" said Hot Shot coming to him.

"What, what?!" gasped Ratchet snapping out of it.

He then saw how he was holding the bat. Clear not for slinging. He then looked down and found he had beat sensless the catcher . . poor Bumblebee.

"Oh . . . I am so sorry," said Ratchet dropping the bat.

All just laughed seeing Ratchet act this way towards the human sport. Well Alex was right, playing baseball really kept your mind away from all the bad things. Hot Shot could now see things a little more clearer with Alex. Alex just smiled the 'I told you so' smile at Hot Shot and he just smiled back.

"So I heard about things Optimus," said Elita One as she came up to Optimus after training.

"Yea, Everyone knows," sighed Optimus.

Elita One just smiled and shook her head a bit saying-

"Oh Primus, do you remember when we were little?"

"Yea, why?" asked Optimus.

"I thought that your were going to be the next Prime and you-"

"Said 'no my brother Megatron's going to be'" smiled Optimus recalling things. "Yea and when I pointed to him he was across the play area beating up someone."

At that they both shared a laugh and then Elita looked at her hands and said-

"Do you think it is better this way . . . that you be the next Prime?"

"I don't know," said Optimus looking at her. "But if it's to marry you then yes."

Elita One glanced upward to Optimus and just gazed at him with beautiful blue optics. They were lighter than usual. Then as Optimus broke out a smile so did she. Megatron saw them, but coudn't care less.

Sure he was supposed to marry her, but like he said he didn't want to get married yet so Optimus could have her. He could find another in the first place, but still . . . Megatron wondered what more Optimus could take of his that was rightfully his.

After Elita One had left Optimus sat and joined his brother and just let the time go by till one said something.

"Hope you can get used to all this strange Optimus," sighed Megatron gazing downward.

"I'll do my best," said Optimus.

"Yea, that's what father said and now look where he is," said Megatron gazing rather harshly at his twin brother.

It seemed to Optimus that Megatron had gotten meaner since their father died. Optimus wasn't too sure he liked this too much. Optimus just sighed and shook his head saying-

"Yea, well I remember father always saying 'you know boys at the end of this day-"

"One shall stand one shall fall," finished Megatron with a small smile. "You don't think I remember? . . . it was the last thing he said to us . . . before . . ."

"Yea," sighed Optimus bowing his head in sadness at the memory.

FLASHBACK

"I'll see you soon boys, if I can," said Sentinel Prime as he readied to leave for battle.

"Don't say that father," said Megatron.

"You both know that at the end of this day one shall stand and one shall fall," pointed Sentinel at his twins. "I just pray they fall."

"Yea, yea," sighed Megatron rolling his optics at hearing that saying over and over again.

Their father then took his blaster and looked at them both. he could tell what they were thinking and he hated seeing that look they always made.

"If you continue to give me that look boys I'll slap you both . . . again," he pointed.

Megatron just smiled 'causing his twin brother to crack an ever so slightly one.

"Now be good to your mother," he said hugging their necks and kissing them good-bye.

"We always are father," smiled Optimus.

"I know," smiled Sentinel Prime looking at his boys one last time. "I know. I love you both, always."

He then left and they never saw him, alive, again.

END FLASHBACK

"Yes it seems you inherited his traits more than me," sighed Megatron. "Perhaps that is why the high counsel picked you to take his place instead of me."

"Oh come on, like they would do that," scoffed Optimus.

Megatron then looked at Optimus with a straight serious face and so Optimus stopped. Both then gazed at the ground till one spoke.

"Well at least there's one good thing coming out of this," sighed Megatron looking up.

"What's that?" asked Optimus.

"You getting to marry Elita One," smiled Megatron looking at his brother who clearly had the largest crush on her forever.

Optimus just giggled a bit knowing this was true. Megatron let out a hearty laugh seeing Optimus' affection for her. He then slapped him on the back and said-

"I'm proud for you brother . . . give me nephews."

"Welcome Shockwave," smiled Starscream as he and Barricade met the decepticon scientist. "Are you the only one here?"

"Oh there are others coming," said Shockwave regaining his stand after the fall to earth. "They should arrive shortly after me . . . it's good to see you both again. How are things Barricade, up to any more torturing like you love?"

"Not so much now," smiled Barricade looking at his old teacher.

"Yes, you were always the strange one in my class. Very unique in your . . . practice," recalled Shockwave. "Now I heard things with the allspark didn't go so well. Where is it now?"

"In a boy," said Barricade.

Shockwave's optics widened a bit at hearing this. He smiled at this saying-

"Really?"

"Yes, we don't know how, but the allspark managed to fuse into his organic body and become his source of life," said starscream. We are waiting for the autobots to figure out how this happened and perhaps how to remove it so we can go in before them, take the boy, and remove it ourselves without damaging the allspark, but the boy . . . well humans aren't so precious to us."

Shockwave just smiled at this. This was very interesting and in many ways as well. He loved a good mystery about these things. He adored them, as long as he got to dismantle something to figure out how something worked.

He wasn't much of a torture doctor like Barricade, no, he was a scientist, but he wasn't afraid to get dirty and play torture doctor for a while.

"Well keep me updated on this . . . situation," said Shockwave placing his fingers on his chin. "I do so enjoy these complications."

"Will do," smiled Barricade.

"So it's take me out to the baseball game?" started Hot Shot trying to figure out this old American song.

Alex was chewing on some cotton candy and walking out of the stadium when he heard Hot Shot trying to figure out their simple song. He just smiled and said-

"No, no, it's take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd."

"Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks," came Sam throwing his arms around Alex almost jumping upon him and making him fall.

"I don't care if I ever get back!" sang Sam and Alex.

Makeala just shook her head seeing the boys act this way. Typical boys, all the way, but she couldn't help but smile.

"So it's rute, rute, rute for the home team, if they don't win it's a shame!" Sam and Alex sung with all their might showing the autobots their glorious vocals. "For its one . . . two . . . three strikes your OUT in the ole . . . ball . . . GAAMMEE!!!"

"Bravo, bravo," smiled Makeala clapping her hands.

"Thank-you, thank-you," bowed Sam and Alex.

"You, uh, sang like a bunch of, uh . . . what is the word?" thought Makeala.

"Professionals?" gloated Sam stretching his arms out.

"No, like a bunch of dying geese," smiled Makeala. "Well, at least you Sam, but Alex wasn't that bad."

"Ah gee, thanks," blushed Alex.

"It's late . . . we better go," said Makeala looking up at the night sky.

And so Ironhide took Makeala home and Sam got in Bumblebee to drive home and Alex in Hot Shot. Optimus, Ratchet, and Wheeljack sped off towards there base telling Bumblebee and Hot Shot to take care of their humans and drive safely. Bumblebee and Hot Shot drove together till it was time for them to split and take their humans home.

"See ya Alex," smiled Sam before they took their turns home. "Maybe we'll find out what's wrong with ya tomorrow."

"Yea, maybe . . . bye," said Alex as they turned and went home.

Hot Shot drove up into Alex's drive way and Alex got out. His dad was waiting for him and so he had to explain why he was so late.

"Hi dad, I was out with Sam and Makeala."

"Like you always are," sighed Gary crossing his arms. "You know son, I'm beginning to miss the father son time we had. That seemed to have left when you made these new friends."

"Do you not want me to make friends dad?" asked Alex.

"No," said Gary. "It's just I'd like for you to squeeze me into that busy schedule of yours for once."

"I can do that dad," said Alex. "Just tell me when."

"How 'bout this Saturday huh? I take a day off and we get some down time," smiled Gary.

"Sure," smiled Alex.

"I was thinking of taking you to dodger stadium like you always wanted."

"Oh, well you don't have to take me there if you don't-"

"Oh come on, you're acting like you've been there before," said Gary. "Just relax Alex. This Saturday we'll have fun okay."

"Okay," shook Alex heading into his room.

"Night son," sighed Gary watching his son disappear again.

"Night dad," said Alex shutting the door.

Before Alex went to bed he went to his window and thanked Hot Shot for the fun day.

"Aw, your welcome Alex. Hey, it's the least I can do after all you saved my life remember?" smiled Hot Shot.

"Yea," sighed Alex. "It's just I wish I knew how."

"Don't worry, we'll figure that out soon enough," said Hot Shot. "Just rest and tomorrow will be a new day okay?"

"Okay Hot Shot," smiled Alex as he shut his window and went to bed to get ready for the next day of school, baseball, and testing.