Disclaimer: I don't own anything but some of my OCs.

Note: Excellent news! I finished my other story, finally! XD Now...whether or not to stop with the updates on this one, since either way it's incomplete, and begin with the other, or keep updating this one and start posting the other when this one is done?

*Brain dies*

.....Yeah, I'm gonna crash for a bit, but enjoy! XD

Oh! And check out my deviantart account, info's on my profile. Comments are greatly appreciated. ^^

(Kendra's POV)

"Are you alright?"

"What did they do to you?"

Routine questions, right? Usually used to express concern? You fall and skin your knee and you hear them. You come down with a cold and you hear them. They're meant to show people care, and usually tolerated.

However, after the fifteenth or sixteenth time, I'd stopped repeating my answers and instead chose to start glaring at whoever asked them. It shut most of them up, but instead of asking, Ratchet had just taken to scanning me without my permission, and Optimus obviously asking him about the results over their internal links.

"Do it one more time. I dare you." I finally snarled lowly, my newly repaired and returned propellers straightening in the process.

Ratchet's eyes narrowed, even as Optimus turned our way. "Your threats mean nothing to me. I am a medic, and I will fulfill my duty."

"Kendra. We are merely concerned. Your strength has returned, but you have admitted to having difficulties with your powers." Walking over, he kept a hand over his lower chest, where the sparklings sat. "If this is all because of the priestess of old, could we not ask her for help?"

"What would she do? If she has stolen your powers, perhaps she can be the key in getting them back, but... I have a theory that the only way to get her powers back might very well to be to offline Sun Dancer."

Sun Dancer, the priestess of old. The original me, the one who saved Cybertron alone. Since telling the Autobots she was once again alive, they seemed to perk up. They thought it was a possible hope, especially when Barricade mentioned she attacked Starscream.

Unfortunately, neither Soundwave or Barricade had noticed her turn on me. They didn't see her chest when it was open. They thought she really was back, and not the truth. They had no idea just how big a threat she might be.

"So you think we can find her if we search?" Optimus turned to me. "Her aura would probably stand out a great deal." He seemed to tilt his head a little, as if inquiring.

I couldn't keep my eyes on his. Glancing away, I sighed. "We should..." Should what? Run? Keep searching? I can't see auras, how the hell am I supposed to help them?! Closing my eyes, I tried to ignore the burn in them that threatened tears. I could at least defend myself before, but how am I supposed to help if I can't even see the threat??

"Ken?" Rana's voice hit me, and I found myself looking down.

"Hey. Rana." I forced a smile, transforming down into my human form and giggling as Star trotted over to me, leaping effortlessly into my arms. I stared down at the little fox kit as I scratched the back of her head. If I'm so useless, will they still want me around? The question held frightening answers. Swallowing heavily, I cuddled Star to me, taking comfort in her tiny form and quiet purrs.

"It's so good to have you back." Rana leaned in and surprised me with a hug, before stepping back again. "We've been worried sick."

Star yipped in response.

"My most recent scan results reveal that Kendra is once again strong enough to take her sparklings if she wishes."

I paused, my hands buried in Star's fur and my eyes locked on the ground. "I think Optimus should hang on to them for now." I had to struggle to swallow past the lump in my throat. Even if they weren't my own little ones by birth, my body and heart still cried out for them, but I couldn't afford to put them at risk. I couldn't see auras anymore, so I was in even more danger than I used to be.

There was a deep sigh. "Kendra..."

It's now or never...With a sigh of my own, I gently handed Star over, before stepping back to a safe distance and transforming. Then I turned, shooting Optimus a look before heading away from the temporary base. They won't want me. They'll make me go home.

But I'm Cybertronian like them, now. I can still fight.The problem was...would that be enough? Once I was a little distance away, I stopped, turning back. I crossed my arms over my chest, longing to touch the little sparklings, but struggling to control it as I gazed up into the confused blue eyes of his. "I can't take them. I'm not... I'm not safe, Optimus. I can't..." I bit my tongue, fear of being kick out of the group causing me to freeze in the middle of telling him the truth.

"If this is because of your weakness in purifying powers, we simply need to find the priestess."

"No." I shook my head, feeling a tear roll down my cheeks as I took a deep, shuddering breath. I was filled with pain and fear, but knew I had to tell them the truth. "We can't go to her." I watched his eyes widen and as he took a step forward. I kept my eyes on his face, only startling when his hands came down on my arms. "The Decepticons made her, but...she's not alive." I shook my head, shuddering as the horror of the thought rolled through me. "Her heart doesn't glow."

His eyes widened even more, and seemed to blink a moment, before slowly shaking his head. "I don't understand. She is...not alive."

"She's not." I stepped forward, leaning my head against the comforting hard heat of his chest, feeling him stiffen up a moment, before he almost hesitantly wrapped his arms around me. "She told me they forced her back, but she needed the rest of her soul. She... She was going to kill me." He stiffened up even more. "And that's not all. I'm...basically useless now. I dunno if I can purify anymore, and I can't..." This was the hardest part.

"The shards you hold are pure."

"The priestess purified the one from Starscream, and the other was purified before we were captured."

"But they've remained pure."

Shaking my head, I sighed. "So the shards we have are pure, but what happens when we cross another shard? What if I can't purify it? We'll lose the ones we've got. Besides... We won't be able to even easily findthe other shards. Optimus..." I pulled back far enough to look up into his eyes. "I can't sense auras anymore." It was a whisper, but the shame and weakness that hit me were almost enough to floor me. "I feel completely useless."

"Do not say that." Optimus slowly pulled away, and before I could feel hurt or really acknowledge the loss of his body heat, I watched as he pulled open his chest. Gently, he removed the two femmes, handing them over, and I found myself taking them more than eagerly, holding them against me and listening to the little mewlings they were making, before cooing at them. "For one thing, you are the only femme with sparklings. You are also a fighter. I believe you can still purify things if you tried, and if you are right about the priestess, we need to find her."

"I dunno what she wants. She fired at the enemy, but also almost fired at me. I saw how dark her chest was, it was...horrible." I shuddered, scritching at Sunfire's antennae and holding Moonfrost's little hand between my fingers.

"I can't begin to imagine. I wish you to stay with us. We will sort this as we go." He looked away a moment, before looking back. "We now hold nearly a dozen shards, how many does Starscream have?"

"Four." I remembered the individual glows, all varying shades of black, and all at different points in his body.

He nodded quietly. "I've sent some of the others to scout the area, looking for any signs of danger. We will remain a larger group for now, so we don't risk a repeat of what happened before."

"You didn't listen to me." It was a sudden realization. I recalled seeing him in the main fighting force, and knew he still held not only the other shards, but the sparklings as well. "I sent you away to protect you, and you came back and fought anyways!" Carefully shifting the sparklings into one hand, I reached out and punched his arm, before hissing and shaking out my hand. Damn, forgot how hard their armor can be.

He chuckled slightly, but then paused, his eyes darkening. His eyes dropped to the sparklings I was holding out, before he pointedly took a step back. "No. You are their femme creator. They need you. You may believe you are dangerous, but they require your love and protection."

I looked down at the little ones who were both gazing at me. I felt their overwhelming sadness and sense of abandonment, even as Moonfrost reached out towards me, sending love over her link. Their eyes were so wide and innocent, I felt like my own heart was shattering, and brought them to my chest, cooing at them as I cuddled them. "I just want...them to be safe." I sent mental reassurances and love as I stroked their backs and arms.

Sunfire buried her face in my armor, settling down with ease, and Moonfrost curled up at her sister's side, following her lead. I found myself smiling as I looked up, taking in Optimus' gentle look as he nodded and smiled at me.

"So now what?"

"We continue on as we have. I am hoping we will come across the priestess on the way and find out what she is truly after. One way or another, we must sort this out."

"And...if she does want me dead?"

"I won't allow it." The strength and determination in his voice both startled and comforted me at the same time. "Kendra, the priestess of old... She offlined a long time ago. If what you say is true, she does not belong in our time, and she is not online anyways. As I said, we will figure this out when we find Sun Dancer."

It wasn't a comforting thought, but I nodded, allowing him to lead me back to the others, and noticing when both Barricade and Soundwave were watching her, the black and white 'Con wearing a softer than usual expression -though it changed pretty damn quick when he realized I was watching him- and Soundwave with his usual blank mask.

"They really have surprised us all." Optimus murmured quietly from my side. "I doubt anyone ever expected Decepticons to join us." He chuckled quietly. "Prowl's logistics subroutines glitched when we informed him they helped you escape from Decepticon captivity."

I found myself giggling at the thought, easily able to picture Prowl's head smoking as his expression went blank. Looking around, I found him holding Rana in his hand, and watched the girl converse with Mikeala and Sam in Bumblebee's palms. "He's really taken to her."

"Hm... Indeed. He's put it upon himself to remain her guardian since you first appointed him as such. I believe they have grown fond of each other."

"Indeed." I smirked as I echoed him, and listened to him chuckle again. "Optimus... What... I mean, ifwe get all the shards and put the allspark back together again, what should I wish for?"

"What do you want?"

"I want everyone to be happy."

"I am uncertain a single wish can accomplish that." He almost sounded uncertain about saying the words. "So many wish for so much, every wish varying slightly from the next. I don't know if I believe it's possible to make everyone happy with one wish."

"But...I think it is. I know of a wish... I think it would make everyone happy, but something inside tells me I'll be tearing so many families apart, even if they never know it." I willed opened my chest when I felt my femmes' hunger, placing them within the little hold before closing my chest again. "It feels...like the right thing to do, but so painful."

"If it is so painful, then perhaps it's not the right thing to do. What is it you want to wish for?"

I opened my mouth, fully intending to tell him, but then I remembered who he was. Optimus Prime. He always put others before himself. Would he not find fault with my wish? Him more than anyone else? Or would he, for the sake of his people, think it was a good idea?

Before I had a chance to discover the answer for myself, let alone tell him, the sound of several powerful engines came flying in our direction. I turned, spotting a yellow Camaro followed by the 'Vette' twins. They skidded to a stop before Optimus and myself, before quickly transforming.

Reporting for duty, Captain! Bumblebee saluted smartly before smiling at me and waving, a little warble escaping him. Target located.His eyes dimmed momentarily, before brightening, and I turned to Optimus.

The large bot nodded almost absently, before his own eyes seemed to brighten. "Ahh, I see. Another school. It seems, however, other than the occasional missing student, it isn't much. Still, we should check into it." He nodded.

My heart fluttered nervously, and I found myself leaning against Optimus' arm a little. When I realized what I was doing, I blinked and felt my cheeks warm and cooling fans kick in as I looked up, spotting him looking down at me. "Uh, sorry. I'm just...a little nervous about this."

"You will not be alone." He nodded a little, even as I pulled away.

That was of little comfort. Having lost the ability to sense auras was a huge fright for me. Sure I could fight, but I hated that the difference wasn't as clear as it was. Now I'd have to pay extra close attention to whom I fought and everything in my surroundings, and even then...

"Come. Lets go get the others."

With an almost admittedly absent nod, I found myself rubbing at my stomach as I went, not really looking forward to this. Without my full power, I felt incomplete, and that was definitely going to hang over my head.

Shard Tally :

Good Guys = 10

Bad Guys = 4

Hope you like it

R+R Please

Thank you

Tenshi