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Skyress98—Your wish is my command. Here's the next chapter.

Alice Gone Madd & SunnySides—I'M THROWIN' YOU GUYS FOR A LOOP! WHOO-HOO!

Anyway, enjoy, and I'll probably update the next chapter tonight too, since they kinda go together. :)

FLUFFINESS WARNING!

I do not own Transformers Prime, unfortunately. I'm simply borrowing the characters. I only own my OC, the Hybrid race, and any other characters you may not recognize.

" Our lives are made... in these small hours... these little wonders... these twists and turns of fate. Time falls away... but these small hours... these small hours... still remain..." Rob Thomas; Little Wonders

23

Ω Reunited Ω

Comet Thunder ignored the cold, hard-packed ground beneath him as he stretched out, his rifle in sniper position. The desert air around him was growing cold, but unlike his fellow Marines, he was all but oblivious to it. Along with his essential Hybrid powers—hyperspeed, superstrength, microscopic vision—he had the ability to regulate his body temperature. Unfortunately, that was also his only other power besides essential powers. This fact is what had made him the disgrace and the dark little secret of the family, starting with his great-grandsire. Not that Comet cared anymore. Having grown tired of the stress and strain long ago, he'd since given up on trying to conform to the visions and morals of his family. He was tired of trying to fit in. If they didn't want and value him for the way he was, then he just wasn't going to be around them... or be around them as little as he could. That was part of the reason he'd joined the Marine Corps. Another part was that he loved his country with all he was worth and would do just about anything to protect and defend it.

As he scanned the horizon with the night-vision scope of his rifle, he felt somebody's presence coming up behind him. " You're lucky I know your God-awful tread there, Wallace," he announced, not looking away from his scope. " I mighta thought you were Taliban and killed you otherwise."

" Oh, but you still might end up killing me regardless," a voice that wasn't Wallace's replied.

A chill went down Thunder's spine, and he quickly whipped around to see a large man, late thirties, early forties, head shaved bald, dressed in a pair of fatigues, combat boots, and a USMC T-shirt. Blood-red eyes shone evilly out from his shadowy face. Almost instantly, Comet knew he was another Hybrid; he didn't know how he knew, he just knew. He also knew he wasn't friendly either. Grabbing his gun, the young man leapt to his feet, aiming for where the intruder's spark chamber was. " Identify yourself!" he barked.

The intruder didn't reply, he just looked at the gun and shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed. " Is that anyway to greet a fellow Hybrid, son?" he questioned with a tsk of his tongue. He took a step forward, reached out, grabbed the muzzle of the gun, and bent it back without even trying. He then snatched the weapon from Comet's hands and threw it away. " And it won't matter to you who I am and who I'm not in a minute. Besides, I think you already have a pretty good idea who I am."

" Let me guess," Comet snarled, rolling into a ready position, " my great-grandsire sent you after me, right?"

The intruder chuckled. " You're a smart kid, ain't ya? Yeah, you're great-grandpa did send me after you. Payin' me real nice too."

" You know I won't go without a fight," Comet growled.

" Wouldn't expect anything less." Suddenly the intruder lunged.

Thunder roundhouse kicked him across the face.

" Ugh!" The other Hybrid fell back and turned away, his back to Comet. When he turned back around, a single trickle of blood was starting at the corner of his mouth. Chuckling he wiped it away and spat. " Not bad, son," he praised the younger Hybrid. " Not bad at all. Hah!" He lunged again.

Comet swung his fist, ready to make contact with the intruder's face. Instead he found his wrist caught in a tight grip and a strong hand around his throat, but he wasn't being choked. The young man tried to pull away, but he couldn't. He glared up at the intruder. " What'r'ya gonna do?" he demanded. " Choke me to death?"

The intruder simply shook his head, a demented grin crossing his face. " Not exactly," he replied.

That's when Comet could feel himself getting weaker; could feel his life-force being sucked from his body. " What... are you... doing to me?" he rasped as he sank to his knees.

" What I was paid to do," was all the intruder said, hands still at Thunder's wrist and throat. His grin grew so big that it seemed to be a grimace. He could feel the power flowing from Comet's body into his. It wasn't a lot of power, granted, but it was still power, and he could feel himself growing stronger because of it. Finally, he let go.

Comet Thunder collapsed, nearly lifeless. He moaned. He'd never felt so weak—so old—in his entire life! Suddenly he heard the scrape of metal and lifted his eyes to see the intruder was holding a large, curved knife, and he knew. This is how it ended.

" Let's make 'em think you got snuck up on by a terrorist, huh?" With that said, the intruder plunged his knife into Thunder's back again and again.

Hunter woke up with a gasp. A single tear slipped down her cheek and for a moment her frame shook with quiet sobs. Had she really just seen what she thought she saw? Had she really just witnessed her father's murder? Her whole life she'd grown up believing her father had been killed terrorists, but now... if her dream was right... he'd been killed by another Hybrid. But who? Sucking in a deep vent, Hunter decided not to think about it until she wasn't so confused. Sighing, the fifteen-year-old groaned and lifted a hand to her throbbing head. " Scrap!" she winced as a twinge of pain shot through her nerves from her shoulder wound. Why was it that her wounds never fully healed until she was conscious? Ever so slowly, the femmling sat up, gritting her way through the pain and causing the thermal tarp that was draped over her to fall around her waist. That's when Hunter realized that the familiar, protecting walls of Autobot Outpost Omega One surrounded her. She was back! But how? The Hybrid came to the conclusion that the 'Cons had left her for dead and Team Prime had locked onto her coordinates and brought her back. That left her with the next question: what about Jack, Miko, and Raf? The last time she'd seen them they'd been running off as fast as they could, trying to get far enough to call for back-up. Were they okay? Hunter decided that the 'Bots must have found them too. So were they here? Carefully, her wounds still healing, Hunter swung her legs off the berth and tediously stood. She was a little wobbly at first and leaned back against the medical berth for support, but she soon gained her footing and limped her way across the lab to the door. As quietly as she could, she opened the door and peeked out. The room was empty except for Ratchet, who was at the computer working diligently. Jack, Miko, and Raf weren't there, and neither were their Autobot companions. The fifteen-year-old decided they were probably at their charges' homes.

'Home'; the word caused an undeniable urge of longing to grip onto and crush Hunter's spark. At that moment, she knew who she wanted to see more than anybody. So, as quietly as she could, the young Hybrid pushed the door open just enough for her to squeeze through without drawing Ratchet's attention, crept out into the main room, and slipped over to the hallway. She peeked around the corner one last time, just to make sure her presence had gone undetected, then turned back around and headed in the direction of Optimus' berthroom. When Hunter came to it, she found his door was already slightly open. Creeping over to it, she pushed it open a little farther and peered in.

Sitting there at his desk in all his magnificent red and blue glory, was Optimus Prime, poring over data pads that looked like they'd been piling up for a while. Hunter ran her optics over him for a moment. He was in a pose she'd never seen him in before. His left foot was braced against the side of the desktop and his left elbow was perched on his left knee, his forehead held in his left hand. He was leaning back in his chair, and in his right hand he was holding a data pad. What's more, he was mouthing the words as he read them to himself. The position made him look so... foreign... and yet... still so Optimus-like at the same time.

Hunter was so busy being shocked by and taking in this new pose of his, that she didn't realize that she was dangerously leaning on one foot to look in on him until she lost her balance and tumbled through the door and into the room with a yelp. " Whoa-oh!" The Hybrid crashed to the floor and the door slammed against the wall.

Optimus jumped, dropping the data pad, then spun around to face the door and was met with the sight of Hunter lying on the floor. He froze. She was awake!

Hunter pushed herself up into a sitting position, brushing herself off as she did. That's when she felt eyes on her. Slowly, she looked up to meet Optimus' gaze, and she, too, froze.

For the longest time, the duo simply sat in their respective places, staring at each other, looking shocked like it was impossible for this to happening. Optimus finally broke the silence. " Hunter," he said, clearing his throat, trying to get rid of the surprised tone in his voice, " you're awake." He moved to stand and Hunter did the same, finishing brushing herself off as she did. " I-I was... um..." he cleared his throat again, "... was just going to come and, uh, check on you when... when I was done with this... uh..." Optimus held out his hand which had previously been holding the data pad, only to find that he was no longer holding the data pad, and looked around to find it before reaching down and picking it up to show her, "... this data pad. And, um..." he cleared his throat again.

Hunter simply continued to stare at him, not taking notice of the pad at all.

" And... um..." Optimus tried to start again, setting the pad back on his desk. " W-well, I-I was just..." he cleared his throat again and tried a different tactic. " How are you feeling, little one?"

All of a sudden stinging, biting tears welled up in Hunter's optics and began spilling down her cheeks. The teenager bit her lip and turned away, screwing her eyes shut in an attempt to control them, but she soon realized that she wasn't going to and she didn't care. All she wanted was to be in her mentor's arms. " Optimus!" Without warning, the young Hybrid darted forward and threw her arms around the Prime. Unfortunately, as she did this, she crashed against him with such force that they both toppled over backwards into the chair and then took the chair over with them as they fell to the floor.

Once they were righted, Optimus came out in a sitting position with Hunter kneeling in his lap, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and her faceplate burrowed into his chest, bawling her optics out. The Prime remained frozen and rigid for a moment, surprised by her desperation. Then his shock faded, and the only thing he could think of was holding the little girl he loved with all his spark as closely and as tightly as he could. In a flash, his arms were around her and were all but crushing her to his chest. He nuzzled and kissed the top of her head. " Oh, my Hunter," he crooned, rocking her back and forth. " Oh, my shooting star." Tears of joy pricked at his optics and trickled down his cheekplates. Hunter was back! She was really back, and she was here, safe and sound in the protection of his arms! The mech was determined to never let her go again.

" I missed you so much, big guy!" Hunter wailed, holding him tighter and snuffling into the crook of his neck. She almost couldn't believe this was real. It seemed like forever since she'd felt this warmth and affection, that was meant only for her, radiate from within his spark chamber and flood through their bond and into her body. For so long she'd missed his embrace that was real and true. She never wanted to leave his big, strong, sheltering arms again for as long as she lived.

" And I missed you," Optimus replied, trying to pull her closer than she was already. " Shh. Hush now, it's all right. Everything is all right. I'm here now. I have you."

Suddenly Hunter pulled away so that she could look her commander in the optics and braced her hands against his chestplate. She looked beyond ashamed and sorrowful. " I'm sorry, Optimus," she sniffled, her voice shaky and tight as her waterfall of tears gradually began to slow into broken streams. " I'm so sorry for being stupid and selfish. And I'm so sorry for causing you all the worry and grief." Her eyes fell away from Optimus' as she said the last part, her hands curling into fists against his windshields.

Smiling gently, Optimus reached up and cupped her face in his hands. " It is true that I was worried about you," he admitted, drawing her optics back up to meet his. " It is also true that I was greatly aggrieved when I heard that you had run away." The Prime looked deep into the femmling's optics, once again making her feel like he could see into her soul, and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs as his smile and their spark-link grew warmer and more loving with each second that ticked by. " But none of that matters now, Hunter," he told her, his voice almost at a whisper. " All that matters now is that you are safe and you are here with me, and that's all I care about." Then a devious yet serious gleam came to the red and blue Autobots optics and he shook his head at her. " And if you ever run away and put me through something like that ever again, I'll ground you until my dying days and see that whoever succeeds me grounds you until your own as well."

Hunter could only sniffle and laugh, giving him a watery grin. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck again and snuggled against him as he took up rocking her again. She was home again... at long last.