Here it is! I had to do something different for this chapter. The POV changes frequently. I've given a bold heading each time it changes to make it clear who's POV you're reading. I hope you like it. Oh, since Optimus is one of the main characters of this story, he is the focus of the chapter. I sincerely hope you all like it. I worked my aft off to get it just right.

Author's warning: violence and...you may want a box of tissues handy.

Optimus

I stand alone watching my Kaceystar setting on the distance horizon, same as I do on every night now. And like on every night, my spark longs for her…for my love, Elita…for the day I get to hold them in my arms. My arms literally ache to hold them close. My lips want nothing more than to smother them with affectionate kisses. I yearn to express to them the love within my spark that's bursting to be free.

I have not given up hope at the possibility that my bonded sparkmate is still alive even though she is not with our daughter. I can only imagine that some unforeseen occurrence had forced them to split up. Elita is a survivor, too stubborn to let her life be terminated without reaching me or our daughter. I feel that deep within my spark because I would do exactly the same thing. I would refuse to give up.

I sigh heavily sensing an old friend approaching. No doubt I'm about to get a lecture about not recharging properly as I have stood out here all night and the sun is now slowly rising in the east.

"Shouldn't you be in recharge?" Ratchet asked.

"Shouldn't you be?" I countered with a sideways glance as he arrived at my side.

"I couldn't…I was…restless," he admitted, which surprises me.

I grinned. I had my suspicions.

"What?" he asked me.

"It wouldn't have to do with a certain femme I always see hanging around your Med Bay of late, would it?"

I was immediately given a good swat on the back of my head.

"Thought so," I chuckled.

"I don't know," he groaned. "I do really like Moonracer. I can't tell if she's really interested in me or not."

"She's in the Med Bay all the time!" I laughed at him, making him shrug his shoulders in a bashful way.

"It's only the beginnings of a relationship, Optimus. We're a long way from sparkmates and sparklings."

I exhaled slowly. Sparklings have been on my mind of late since the arrival the younglings we've been blessed with. They and other family issues fill my thoughts when my duties allow it.

"It would be nice to see sparklings again," I said seriously. "We need to consider propagating in order to save kind. I'm not entirely sure how many of us are still out there."

Ratchet burst into a hearty laugh.

"I sincerely hope you never used that word with Elita when talking about sparklings! I would have kicked your aft out of the recharge bed for good!"

"Well, thankfully I never had to share a recharge bed with you!"

"Actually…"

"Stop! Please, don't tell me you have some story about when I was a sparkling and you had to wipe my aft clean before cradling me until I fell asleep in your arms or some slag like that."

"No," he laughed. "But as a youngling you did turn up in my quarters after a bad dream on a few occasions and could only fall back asleep after I calmed you down."

I rolled my optics grateful some memories were filed away were I had no intention of ever recalling them.

"I couldn't be more proud of you, Optimus, you were like a son to me," he said with great affection. "You were like a son to most of us at the base."

"More like a little brother who always got into things he wasn't supposed to," I snorted.

"True. But you always came to me when you needed advice. That meant a lot to me."

"I could really use some now."

"What kind of advice could I possibly give my commander except to get some recharge?" he teased then saw I was serious. "You can always ask me anything Optimus, you know that."

"Ratchet, am I…do I have the potential to be a good father?"

He smiled wide, patting me on the shoulder.

"You already are, Optimus…you already are. Come on. I'll tuck you in."

I roll my eyes but follow Ratchet none the less. I know if I don't he will resort to strapping me down on a table in the Med Bay until I do recharge properly.

I never made it to my quarters.

Bumblebee

Even though my commander didn't wear the same intimidating jagged battle armor he used to on Cybertron, he still exuded the aura of a mech you wouldn't want to mess around with on the battlefield unless you wanted your aft turned inside out. I always believed his mask that had something to do with it. It shielded his face hiding his emotions from everyone. It made him seem more dangerous when all you could see was his glowing optics glaring you down.

I was wrong. It was only a single attribute that when combined with all others including his imposing size, his sheer strength, and his iron will that made him the inspiring leader we've all come to respect and adore. Through his words he could instill confidence in the weakest of us. Through his actions he compelled us to follow him.

He made me proud to be an Autobot.

"Hound! How many of them?" Optimus asked over the communication frequency we were all using for the upcoming battle.

Chromia and I had to literally sprint after him through the base just to keep up with him as his already long strides were that much longer as he ran. We were the only two awaiting orders. Every one had something to do. Wheeljack and Moonracer were monitoring all of our positions from Teletran 2. Ironhide was in charge of weapons. Prowl would be deploying the mechs accordingly. Optimus said to follow him so we did.

"My long range sensors detect at least twenty of them. They're on course for the base."

"Teletran 2 estimates that they'll be in one Earth hour," Wheeljack added.

"Very well. Get back to the base Hound. I need all of us out there as there are still so few of us. Ironhide…"

"Issuing weapons now, Optimus!"

Optimus came to a halt, his mask retracted before he entered the recreation room we converted into a playroom and classroom for the younglings. They were all huddled together with the three femmes. Many of the younglings were frighten, I could see them trembling. One youngling was in near hysterics, clinging to her caretaker. My spark ached as I understand the fear they're going through having been in their situation before.

"Shh…little one," Optimus cooed, gently lifting the youngling into his arms. She clung onto him. His voice was soft and comforting as he spoke to her in our language, his hand tenderly caressing her back until her tears subsided. He reached down with his free arm and picked up another youngling. "Follow me."

Chromia picked up Nitro. I grabbed the hands of two older younglings and the other femmes gathered the rest. We quickly followed Optimus to a more secure area of the base. The femme youngling who he had first picked up was gently transferred to my arms.

"Bumblebee…Chromia," he said, his tone and his optics stressing the importance of our duty. "I leave it to you to protect them…all of them."

"But…"

"Do as I command, Bumblebee!" he ordered then sprinted out of the room.

"Come on Bee," she said taking the youngling from me.

I reluctantly followed her as my desire to fight the Decepticons tugged on my spark. I didn't want sparkling duty during a battle. I wanted to fight!

Ironhide

I stand proudly beside my commander, my friend, my brother. Optimus is all of these to me. He, who once was a tiny youngling who was so unsure of himself and is now the monstrous mech at my side who stands with a confidence like no other. He is the epitome of unwavering courage, enduring strength, and pure integrity.

Only today it is different for the both of us as we wait for battle. Today we are different. We are more than we once were. We are two fathers fighting to protect those most precious to us.

I know Optimus would give his life to protect me, to protect my family. It is my duty to see that it doesn't come to that. It is my duty to help him find his family so that he may be whole once again.

I thought I was whole when I bonded with Chromia. The way our sparks pulsed as one always brought me joy. I had no idea how wrong I was until I saw my Chromia return to me with our son. My son filled me with a happiness I never knew existed. And like my beloved, his spark pulsed as mine. We are a family…together, we are one.

It is my deepest desire that my friend beside me gets to experience this happiness. For if there was anyone who deserved it more it is Optimus.

Optimus

"Incoming, Optimus!"

I see the flight formation descending from above, before Ironhide informs me. My laser cannon is primed and ready. I could feel its comforting heat on my back as I could sense my fellow mechs standing behind me all ready for battle.

I could hear the hum of Ironhide's cannons to my right. I could almost eve hear Prowl's cerebral processor clicking to my left. I move a few paces in front of them to leave no doubt in the minds of the Decepticons who the leader of the Autobots is.

I immediately recognize the lead Decepticon, and many others, as they land some thirty or so Earth yards away. I have to admit, he wasn't who I had guessed to be their leader after Megatron was killed. But I also notice how all of them are still in the Cybertronian battle armor. None have taken a new alt Earth form yet.

This worries me. Where did they come from? It's obvious they don't have a base on Earth. Or are these the first to arrive? Will there be more?

Frag it! We need to get Teletran 2 fully functional and get our own satellites in orbit! Helpful as they try to be, the humans' technology is of no use to us. I can't rely on it protect my people.

"Well, if it isn't the great Autobot leader, Optimus Prime," Skywarp sneers. "Starscream said you had changed."

"Where is Starscream?"

"He's busy tending to a more important duty. What's the matter am I not a worthy enough opponent for you, Prime?"

"You'll do just fine…as will any Decepticon!"

"Oh, I'm so scared," he mocked. "Are you sure you have the strength, Prime? Starscream told me an interesting story about how you couldn't even kill your own brother." He turned, facing his battalion. "Look fellas, the great Optimus Prime, so weak that he couldn't kill his own brother so he had some pathetic fleshling do it for him."

They laughed loudly.

"What is it you want, Skywarp?" I asked calmly, not taking the bait.

"I have information for you, Prime," he said, closing the gap between himself and I just a little more.

I couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

"You brought a battalion of Decepticons with you to give me information? I find that hard to believe."

"You're right…enough with the bullslag!" he huffed. There was a long pause before he continued. "Where's your beloved sparkmate, Elita?"

My optics flared as I didn't like his tone or the fact that he spoke my love's name.

"Did she not make the journey to the Autobots' new home world to be at her lover's side?"

I took a step forward. Prowl's hand grabbed my arm holding me back.

"Pity, you two do make quite the lovely couple."

"Leave her out of this!" I snarled, fighting to keep my anger at bay.

"Ah…you don't know do you…shall I tell you… shall I tell you why she couldn't make the journey? Shall I tell you how your precious…Elita…died?"

I gasped grateful for my mask, my spark nearly becoming still within my chest.

"Don't believe him, Optimus!" Ironhide said, moving to stand beside me. "A Decepticon's word means nothing!"

"Oh, really Ironhide!" he spat towards my friend. "I was there! Imagine my surprise when I saw the little youngling standing behind Elita and Alpha Trion. It didn't take a genius to figure out the little slag was the offspring of the great Optimus Prime!"

I wrenched my arm free from Prowl's grasp and moved further away from my men. He wisely let me go as I was so angry I would have taken his head of for getting in my way. No one talks about my little sparkling that way!

"Spit it out, Skywarp!" I bellowed.

"Did I upset you? You're trembling," he said with an evil grin.

I couldn't stop shaking. I was beyond slaggin pissed off!

"Your precious Elita made a good fight of it…for a while. She and Alpha Trion kept us busy long enough for the little slag to run away like a weak coward. So like an Autobot already that one, she must make you very proud. I left a little gift for your beloved before I chased down the little brat. Kaboom! It made…a big mess of things! I admit I got a little careless and the little slag managed to get away. But fear not. We have found her again."

Skywarp paused, moving forward a few steps with a malicious look on his face.

"You're youngling is heading into a trap as we speak. Soon, she will join your beloved…."

Something within my cerebral processor snapped! I whipped out my laser cannon and shot his fraggin head off!

Was it the right thing to do?

Probably not.

I never claimed to be the wisest Autobot leader or the smartest mech. I led with my spark the majority of the time. And it was a blazing fury pulsing in my chest at the moment.

The fighting was to start again sooner or later…I never liked to prolong the inevitable.

And so our war resumed.

Prowl

I was so stunned. It defied logic. Optimus just blew Skywarp's head off without hesitation. I've never seen him act so impulsive.

But I didn't care! Skywarp was blabbering on too much for my liking as well.

Only Prime didn't stop there!

While the Decepticons stood stunned at their fallen comrade he fired at another and another, taking down two more of our enemy. Ironhide was of course to the first to follow Prime's lead. After that the rest of us just started blasting.

Laser and plasma fire quickly heated the early morning air. I had purposely positioned the stronger armored mechs who could take a few laser hits up from. While the weaker armored mechs, whom Ironhide issued long range plasma rifles to, were in the rear. I didn't like us being out in the open but Optimus insisted we keep the fight away from the base.

Of course, the Decepticons were equally exposed. One had tried to get a better angle by rising into the air. He was quickly shot down fast by a barrage of plasma fire. No other Decepticon tried that strategy again.

I was beginning to think we could out last them in a fire fight when my commander changed the rules of this match.

Optimus charged forward, his laser cannon being enveloped by his back. He closed the distance between him and the Deceptions so quickly Ironhide and I barely had a chance to lay down cover fire. We glanced at each other and shrugged not knowing what Optimus' plan was. We've never seen him like this before as he rammed his blade in the belly of the first Decepticon who got in his way.

"Should we go after him?" I asked Ironhide.

"I think it's best if we stay out of his way! I'd be fraggin pissed off to if someone was bad mouthing my little youngling too!"

Yes, that did make sense to me. And for once I allowed my spark to sway me…I turned and ordered the others to charge and follow our leader.

Ratchet

I never used to be much of a fighter when Sentinal Prime was our leader. He never wanted to risk losing his CMO and so I had remained behind to tend to the injured as they came in.

But then the war changed after he was killed. We had a new Prime and a new attitude. And we were all required to fight because of our dwindling numbers.

I had never felt the intense rush of adrenaline through my energron before until that first day I fought side by side with Optimus. He was so young, not quite a fully mature mech, yet he was mature beyond his orns. He was able to bring the fighter out in all of us, including myself.

Today is no different than the many battles I've fought since that day. I fight, I kill, and I tend to the injured Autobots. I am not the best fighter but my blades and I get the job done. And every so often I get lucky enough to witness the art of war fought by the best of us.

Optimus had his own style with his blade that took him many orns to master. I watched as he gracefully whirled around, whipping his blade upward at an angle and slicing through a Decepticon. As the next one approached he used pure brute strength slamming his left foot squarely into their chest sending them to the ground. To my surprise, instead of moving to the next, Optimus rammed his blade through the prone Decepticon's head.

I have never seen him be so aggressive or savage on the battlefield. I supposed I don't blame him for being cruel on the battle field to our enemy today. Being the CMO, I knew the stress of worrying about his family desperately needed an outlet. So let it be the Decepticons that suffer.

And suffer they did as Optimus pushed on.

Bumblebee

I could barely see the battle from the window. Laser fire, the occasional body part flying through the air…it got my energon pumping fast through my systems. I so badly wanted to rush out there and join in.

"Optimus, short range sensors just picked up an inbound target…I think it's Starscream. I'd recognize that slag's energy signature anywhere. About five Earth miles out and incoming fast!" Wheeljack said over the communications.

"Acknowledged!" Optimus growled back with the sound of metal clashing against metal in the background.

"Three Decepticons are breaking from the group!" Prowl quickly inserted.

My optics widened.

"I see them…they're heading for the ship! I'm going out to intercept them!"

"Bumblebee, stay with your charged duty! That's an order, soldier!" Prime ordered.

"OPTIMUS, LOOK OUT!" Prowl screamed. "IRONHIDE, DON'T SHOOT, YOU COULD HIT OPTIMUS!"

I stood there…torn between what my mind was telling and what my spark was telling me. Do I obey my orders or help my friend? I was ordered to protect the younglings. I'm not supposed to disobey my orders. But on the other hand, the ship…if the Decepticons destroy it like they do everything else they touch then Optimus would have no way of finding his daughter.

"Frag it!"

I switched my internal communications off. I didn't want to be distracted while I was disobeying my friend's orders. Optimus was busy. I wasn't too worried about him as Prowl and Ironhide were always there to protect him. Besides, Chromia was a much better shot than I and she'd be fine for a few minutes.

I raced to the ship.

By the time I got there they had already landed and one had just disappeared through the main hatch and into the ship. My laser cannon formed instantly and I fired at them, careful to not hit the ship. I had only gotten off a few shots when the Decepticon came running out of the ship. He and his buddies took off flying.

Confused, I started to run towards the ship.

It exploded. The massive fireball was the last thing I saw as the shockwave sent me flying.

Ironhide

It felt like an earth tremor below my feet. I glanced down while engaged in combat so see the dirt undulating.

Wham! A left hook caught my chin, dazing me for a moment as I stumbled back.

"Catch you off guard, Ironhide!" Demolisher sneered at me.

"Never!" I snarled instantly forgetting about the odd occurrence I had just witnessed.

I charged and hurling my weight at him. Metals crunched as my body forced him to the ground. My fist smashed his face plates over and over until he wasn't moving and energon had pooled up beneath his head. So focused on killing the Decepticon, I had paid little heed to my internal communicator until I heard Prime's voice yelling at Bumblebee to follow orders.

I glanced towards my leader in time to see the dirt explode behind him and the Decepticon that came with it. Prowl screamed a warming but it's already too late. Scorponock's tail had whipped forward to strike. Precious energon spurted from the back Optimus' left shoulder as he cried out in pain. My spark leapt up into my throat for a brief moment. His shout of pain suddenly turned into a thunderous roar as he quickly broke free, grabbed the tail with his left hand and hacked off the end with his blade.

I raised my cannons as Scorponock pounced on Optimus spitting and hissing over the loss of part of his tail.

"IRONHIDE, DON'T SHOOT, YOU COULD HIT OPTIMUS!"

Prowl was right, he always was. So I sprinted as fast as I could. I grabbed what was left of Scorponock's tail, yanking him off Optimus and hurled him at a pair of Decepticons who were rushing to take advantage of our fallen leader. I fired a few grenades at Scorponock as he crashed into them. More of my fellow Autobots did the same giving me a moment to give my friend a hand.

"Thank you, Ironhide," Optimus panted as I helped him to his feet.

"Ratchet…."

"On my way!" the medic responded quickly.

Of course he was. He was never to far away when Optimus was injured.

Optimus

Ironhide had turned and was pumping a few more rounds into Scorponock looking to terminate the Decepticon. I took the moment to evaluate how badly damaged I was. I knew it was bad as I could barely move my left arm now. I had just begun the diagnostic when a heavy force hit me in the back. I cried out as a blinding white hot pain spread from the back of my shoulder throughout my chest.

Shaking my head I blocked the pain as best as I could. When I got enough of my senses back I found that I was high off the ground and rising. Ironhide and Ratchet were below me calling my name. Prowl ran over to them, yanking Ironhide's arm down as he looked like he had intended to fire his cannon in my general direction.

Primus…I hate heights! I don't have a phobia. I just hate heights…immensely. I feel most comfortable with both feet planted firmly on the ground.

"Starscream, you slag!" I growled making him laugh.

I twisted my two ton frame about, doing anything to make our ascent as difficult as possible. It was working for he was struggling to maintain a stable altitude. We plunged down then blasted back up repeatedly.

"Be still or you'll make us both crash!"

"I can take the fall…can you?" I bluffed, not really knowing if I could handle a fall from this height.

I didn't want to test it out either. I grunted and reached up with my good arm and grabbed onto his neck, wrenching it down hoping to change our trajectory. It had the desired effect. Starscream cried out and tried to compensate. We tumbled uncontrollably through the air. I honestly couldn't tell if we were going up or down as the ground and sky were flipping from one to the other so quickly.

I think we were going down for the ground now appeared closer each time it came into view. It was difficult to tell as the spinning made me feel like my gut was doing hula-hoops around my ankles.

But during one of the tumbles, I noticed Bumblebee running towards the ship. I only noticed because it appeared that was the general direction Starscream and I were heading. My anger flared up for I know I distinctly ordered him to protect the younglings!

The ship suddenly blew up!

A wave of heat slammed into Starscream and me with such force that it disentangled us from one another and sent us flying in the other direction.

Did I mention I hate flying too? I'm not built to fly! I'm too fraggin heavy! I was surprised Starscream was able to even carry my weight for as long as he did.

"Primus, this was going to hurt!" I muttered as the ground rushed up at me.

Every one of my circuits screamed on impact. My optics had gone offline. My audio receptors must have gone offline too because I couldn't hear myself screaming in pain. I know I was screaming…I could feel my vocal processor vibrating deep within my neck. And I had to have been screaming loudly to feel that over the pain I felt everywhere else.

When my optics came back online all I could see was dust.

'Get up you slag!' screamed my inner self.

Yes. I had to get up. The battle probably wasn't over. My men needed me. My automatic recharge system screeched at me in protest as I told it to kiss my aft.

My arm trembled badly as I tried to push myself up. I groaned, grunted, my systems wailed and throbbed as I somehow got to my feet. My knees buckled. I fell back down. I cried out. The sound of my cry of agony was deafening to my audio receptors as they came back online.

"Elita!"

I wept for the one person who always could take the pain away…the one person who could always easy my suffering…the one person who could always give me strength when I need it most.

Elita…my love…my life…my reason for existing.

I rise to my feet for her and no other.

"ELITA!" I bellow to sky above foolishly wishing she could hear my pleas for her to return to me while at the same time know she couldn't because she was gone to me.

The ache in my spark suddenly had become an unbearable weight upon me. I could no longer hold it.

"I got you," Ratchet whispered to as he suddenly appeared. "Shh, I got you, Optimus."

I barely felt his arms around my chest as he supported my weight against his body. I laid my head on his shoulder and clung to him with what little strength I had left, weeping much like I had done so long ago when I was a frightened youngling in need of comforting.

"She's gone, Ratch. She's gone."

Hope you didn't need to use too many tissues. Up next, the Aftermath of the battle