Disclaimer: We're still not even close to the end of this story, but I for one am very happy with how it came so far. Next chapter is as the ball is preparing to drop, so enjoy.

2013, here we come!

Chapter XXVI

Location: Autobot City

In a separate comm. room from where they were before with the Autobots, Marissa and Lennox were speaking to a middle aged man on the screen. He was dressed in military garb with a receding grayish hairline. His name was General Morshower and he was speaking plainly to Marissa. "It's not a matter debate, Director Fairborne. It's a lack of options." He told her in a gruff tone.

"General, sending troops into Seattle endangers not only them but any civilians still trapped within the city," Marissa stated. "We have no idea why the Decepticons attacked in the first place but they appear to be making the Space Needle their base of operations."

"Sir," Lennox spoke out. "Whatever the Decepticons are planning at the moment might have something to this so-called Fallen character."

"Fallen?" Morshower repeated.

"The Fallen, according to the Autobots, is supposed to be some ancient being from which they originated. He was one of thirteen Primes," Marissa explained. "That was until he betrayed and murdered them."

"And this Fallen; was he the original leader of the Decepticons?" Morshower asked out of mere curiosity.

"That's… hard to say, sir." Lennox answered.

"Regardless, we have orders from the President of the United States to mobilize our airborne and naval forces on Seattle within the next 24 hours," Marshower stated and then became slightly more open. "It would help greatly however if the Autobots could provide assistance, maybe turn the tide against the Decepticons."

Marissa and Lennox, William as she often thought of him, shared a similarly pain glance before Marissa reluctantly said, "General, the Autobots have been severely demoralized by a recent series of mishaps. They have no one to lead them and their Second-in-Command, Ultra Magnus, is currently a prisoner of the enemy."

Morshower sat back in the chair he was occupying and let out a sigh. "Well then I'm sorry, Marissa. If we can't count on the Autobots, that means we're on our own. Our first responders will converge on Seattle at 0900 hours. That is all; Morshower out." The screen cut out from there.

After an uncomfortable silence between them, Lennox said, "That could've gone better."

"Those soldiers are going to get slaughtered without Autobot support" Marissa gravely stated.

"That's why I hate politicians," Lennox quipped. "So now what? Wait a sec, what about your mother? She's part of that Special Ops military division, isn't she? You know; the once with that silent ninja guy?"

"They're all the way on the side of the world. Hate to say it but we can't count on them lending support anytime soon," Marissa said grimly. "The Autobots are the only hope those civilians in Seattle have, if they can get out of this funk."

"That's too bad; I was kind of hoping to meet that ninja." Lennox said.

"We get through this, and maybe you might get your chance." Marissa said.

The Revenge was hovering in the skies above Seattle as the sun was setting in the horizon. Pillars of smoke and flame were rising from various points of the city, particularly from the charred remains of Safeco Field. On the city streets, Onslaught, Brawl and Swindle were on patrol shooting at anything that moved while Blast Off, Vortex, Scourge, Misfire and Slugslinger were on aerial patrol. Starscream, Prowl and Sentinel Prime were standing atop the saucer area of Space Needle taking in the view of the partial burning city. In fact, Starscream was sitting on the saucer, which creaked slightly under his weight.

Inside the Revenge, Gregory was hard at work contrasting the portal device. He wasn't acting alone nor was he acting by choice. Soundwave had deployed Ravage and Laserbeak to keep the human in line. Soundwave himself was on the bridge with Barricade while Mindwipe had taken over with helping the human scientist put the device together. All this to bring an omnipotent being into this dimension, Gregory mused. For once in his worthless life, he was starting to wish the Autobots would intervene. As he worked, Gregory looked around the laboratory where he was working for a way out. Laserbeak and Ravage would hunt him down like a dog if he tried to escape now. Even if he were able to get away, the ship was still airborne. It'd be suicide if he tried to jump from the ship. If he did that, there was very good change of Laserbeak swooping down to catch him.

"What are you waiting for, human," Mindwipe bellowed. "Do your work before Ravage makes a meal out of you."

"I am. I just can't bear to watch as you Decepticons raze Seattle like this," Gregory snapped at Mindwipe. "All those people down there, dying, and for what; the twisted ambitions of a psychopath?"

"In the event that you wish to join those poor flesh bags in the city, I'd be more than happy to toss you off this ship myself," Mindwipe snapped back. "Until such time as necessary, you will continue your work, human," Mindwipe stalked around Gregory and knelt down, looming over him. "You've seen what my telekinetic power can do other of my kind. What do you think would happen if I used them on you?"

Gregory didn't want to think about what would happen if Mindwipe followed through on his threat. But then something else occurred to him. "I'm pretty sure Starscream would object to you killing me here and now. Maybe he'd kill you in retaliation."

"Maybe he will kill us both but until then, I strongly suggest you finish your work, human." Mindwipe snapped.

"And I suggest you continue assisting me, machine." Gregory snapped back.

Mindwipe could only snarl in annoyance. Damn you, Soundwave, for leaving me with this flesh bag.

While it was that Gregory and Mindwipe bickered aboard the Revenge, Starscream continued to observe the goings on around the city from atop the Space Needle. He did so with glee. But Sentinel Prime… he still felt like he was reliving the same sort of carnage he brought to Cybertron. The images of all his victims, their faces continued to haunt him as he watched the fires burn into the night. It was beautiful; it was a tragedy. There he stood doing nothing about it but watching. He looked over at Prowl. He appeared completely cool and aloof, his optics burning a violet shade. He was clearing under the thralls of the Fallen now, unlike Sentinel since he still retained his free will.

But what good was free will? Sentinel was by definition still serving the Fallen even though he wasn't in his thralls. Not completely anyway. Starscream on the other hand; he was in it for himself. He got what he wanted; command of the Decepticons. But Sentinel wondered if Starscream had the slightest idea of what the Fallen would if, when, he was freed. Sentinel wasn't sure if Starscream even cared at all. He seemed far more interested in watching this human city burn. His ambitions, Sentinel determined, had given way to madness.

Sentinel had acute audio sensors; he could hear explosions and the cracklings of great fires around the city. But he could also the screams of the human populous, slaughtered by the Decepticons for no reason. It was too much. Looking back at Prowl a second time, seeing that he wasn't budging, Sentinel decided to take steps. That meant literally as well as figuratively as Sentinel approached Starscream. But as he was approaching, Sentinel was suddenly doubling over in pain and holding his head. It was the Fallen again exerting his will and sapping Sentinel of his. Then everything around Sentinel became pitch black.

"You will not turn now, Sentinel. You will see that I am released or parish under my influence." The voice of the Fallen ringed in Sentinel's head.

"And, when you are released, I will parish regardless." Sentinel spat.

For a long moment, the Fallen was silent. Then he replied, "Yes you will, and vengeance against the Primes and their descendants will be mine for the taking. Then I will destroy this wretched planet."

"No," Sentinel finally shouted. "I won't allow you to destroy this world just to satisfy you lust for vengeance."

"You no longer have a choice, Sentinel Prime." The Fallen declared before Sentinel grasped his head in absolute pain.

Sentinel could feel the influence of the Fallen creeping into his mind like a space slug worming through the subsurface of Cybertron. Except, what Sentinel was experiencing was far more insidious; more painful. From their point of view, Starscream and Prowl looked on as Sentinel writhed in agony, no different from how Unicron once tortured Galvatron in the past. Prowl was stoic and unflinching while Starscream could barely contain the desire to break into hysterics at Sentinel's pain. Sentinel continued to writhe in pain, even slamming his fist into the metal of which the Space Needle was made. Then the pain subsided and Sentinel became still. He started to rise to his feet, head down. When he brought it up, his optics were the same glowing violet as Prowl; the same as the Fallen.

In the dark recesses of Sentinel's mind, the Fallen whispered, "I am the Fallen and this world is mine."

As the sun set in the distance and the first stars began to appear in the sky behind a few light clouds, there was stillness at an out of the way lake. It was only a few miles from Autobot City and very quiet with only a couple splashes from the fish swimming around. The crickets were sounding off in the stillness to let it be known of their presence. An owl called out somewhere in the darkness. A Full Moon was slowly rising into the sky to light up the lake. It shimmered in the Moon's lights. A light breeze passed of the lake, howling as it went along.

The fish, the crickets and even the elusive owl weren't the only presence by the lake. Hotrod lay on the grassy field beside the lake staring up at the sky as it filled with stars. In the past, long before he ever took up the leadership reigns, Hotrod always felt like he could come to the lake. He felt it would help to clear his thought and get away from the grind of the seemingly never-ending conflict with the Decepticons. He believed he come to this place and simply relax. Tonight seemed different; Hotrod didn't feel as relaxed as he was expecting. That was because he was thinking.

Hotrod had been thinking about that day two Earth years ago that he and Daniel were at the lake when that shuttle hijacked by the Decepticons was approaching Autobot City. He thought about how Optimus Prime gave his life to stop Megatron, because of him. Optimus died because Hotrod had to get involved and put himself in harm's way, because he had to try playing Hero.

You've got to let it go, Hotrod. he thought to himself. He balled his hands into fist. Maybe it was his imagination, but Hotrod could swear he was hearing a voice in the light wind.

"Hotrod… Hotrod..." the voice said, and Hotrod looked down at his reflection in the water. He saw Optimus looking back at him.

"Op… Optimus," he said. "Optimus, I'm so sorry. I let you down, Optimus; I'm not the leader you were so long ago, not by a long shot. I never had the right to call myself a Prime." he noticed the reflection hadn't made a move, and Hotrod felt like a complete idiot for seemingly talking to himself.

Yet, he could still hear his name being spoken, and it sounded oddly like Optimus. "Hotrod… Hotrod…" Then the voice lightened little by little until it wasn't Optimus Prime voice anymore. "Hotrod…?" came a decidedly female voice.

Hotrod turned around to see Elita One standing right behind him. "How'd you find me," Hotrod asked and then had his question answered when Daniel and Verity appeared behind Elita. "Of course!"

Elita vaguely ignored Hotrod's annoyance and looked out across the lake and beyond. "Daniel was right; this is a beautiful place. So clam and peaceful. You wouldn't even know there's a war on."

Hotrod cracked a small smirk before asking, "What're you doing here, Elita?"

"I was hoping I could talk you into coming back. The Decepticons have taken Seattle and they're planning something with the Matrix, something really bad." Elita explained.

"Get Magnus to come up with a plan." Hotrod said dismissively.

"Magnus is a prisoner of the 'Cons, who not only have him and the Matrix but Sentinel Prime as well," Elita paused for a moment, knowing the next thing she was about to say would shake Hotrod to his Spark. "Prowl handed the Matrix over to them."

"What?!"

"I swear to Primus, I'm not making this up," Elita said. "Prowl took and hadn't it over to the Cons, and he murdered Tempest while he did it. Ultra Magnus is their prison, Breakaway quit the Autobots, Prowl and Sentinel Prime betrayed all of us and the Decepticons have control of a human city," Elita paused again to let all of what she said sink into Hotrod. "We're, how do the humans put it… We're dead in the water right now. We need you to come back."

Hotrod looked at Elita, then to Daniel and Verity and took a step toward the edge of the water. He looked down at reflection and saw it no longer appeared to be Optimus but himself instead. He began to contemplate and take in all of what Elita One had told. By the sound if it, yes; the Autobots were in severely dire straits without someone to lead. His impulse should've been to jump in immediately, to offer his services and get back in the fight. It was the one thing that was expected of every Autobot who'd ever held the Prime mantle. Unfortunately, Hotrod was no Prime.

"I can't. I'm sorry." he said before he started to leave.

Elita watched him for a split second before snapping, "So, you're just going to walk away, is that it? You're going to tuck you tailpipe and drive off into the sunset while the rest of us are paralyzed by a lack of leadership," she spoke harshly enough for Hotrod to stop. "What Prime does that, huh? Optimus never walked away from his duty, not ever."

Hotrod spun around and shouted, "I am not Optimus."

"No, you're not, but you're turning your back on everything he ever fought and died for," Elita snapped. "What happened to you, Hotrod? What happened to Autobot who destroyed Unicron, or the Autobot who defeated the Quintessons," Elita approached Hotrod until they were face to face, and she touched his with hand. "What happened to the Autobot that I've come to love so deeply? What happened to him?"

Hotrod was taken aback by the last question to come from Elita. Did she say love? Did he just hear that from a female Autobot who, at one point, strongly despised? Elita stepped back to let Hotrod take in ever little bit of her words. "He's gone, Elita. He's gone and he's not coming back."

Elita nodded and solemnly said, "Yeah. Yeah, I know," As she started walking away, motioning Daniel and Verity to follow her. She stopped and said, "You still feel responsible for losing Optimus, I get it. But how can expect forgiveness when you can't even forgive yourself?"

Elita One assumed vehicle form. Daniel got on first with Verity following. As the engine revved up, Daniel looked back at Hotrod as he turned back toward the lake. The human wasn't sure what to say or if he even wanted to say anything. Hotrod was a beast friend and he had nothing to offer in the way making him feel better. Hotrod gazed back at the human that was his best friend, like the little brother he always wanted. Daniel sighed, revved the engine and took off rolling with Elita taking control. They were out of sight, leaving Hotrod alone once again to contemplate.

He wasn't expecting one of Elita One's comments, or confessions that she'd grown to deeply love him. He wasn't even sure when it happened. It was probably sometime after Optimus died or after they left Blackarachnia and the Predacons behind on the jungle planet. There was something else Elita told him; he was expecting to be forgiven for his actions, yet he couldn't even forgive himself. Hotrod wondered if Optimus Prime had in all his time as leader of the Autobots, ever faced the same problem. If he did, it must've been after a great many tragedies. Forgiving oneself was often the hardest part of moving on, and Hotrod was having a lot of trouble doing that. He wasn't sure if he could do it.

The following morning saw the Decepticons in full control of Seattle, but it also saw the United States Military converging on the city. The Air Force, Navy and even the National Guard were deployed to attempt to take back the city, which the Combaticons had quarantined from intruders. Out on the Pacific Ocean, two to three miles off the coast, several battleships, destroyers and an aircraft carrier were preparing for a massive counterattack. F/A 18 Hornets launched from the carrier while the destroyers leveled their primary and secondary guns on the still airborne and stationary warship. At the same time, a small series of Apache gunships approached from the east while several Abrams tanks rumbled across the land. Along with the Apaches was a pair of Blackhawk helicopters. It was an impressive show of artillery and human ingenuity.

Starscream wasn't impressed. "Foolish humans," he said and contacted Onslaught. "Onslaught, you and your teams focus on the human's ground vehicles."

"Understood, Starscream." Onslaught responded.

On the ground, the giant missile truck form of Onslaught was flanked by Brawl in his tank form. The Abrams tanks opened fire on the two Combaticons, shelling them on both side. Brawl rumbled to one side to avoid the shelling before returning fire on the humans. His shots missed, but it gave Onslaught an opportunity to fire on the tanks himself. Like Brawl, his first shots missed their mark, but the next round struck on the tanks dead on. The ill fated Abrams exploded in a flash of fire, pieces flung from the wreckage. The other Abrams tanks, two of them remaining, fired on Brawl first since he was arguably the toughest of the Combaticons.

It was at that moment that Swindle came roaring to the fray. He opened fire on the tanks with his mounted Gatling gun, distracting one of the tanks so it was focused on him. Onslaught focused on the tanks attacking Brawl. As Swindle was keeping his target occupied, Blast Off and Vortex came in to handing the Apache and Blackhawk helicopters. Vortex fired a missile at one of the Blackhawks and scored a direct hit, blowing that Blackhawk to pieces. Blast Off flew circles around the other Blackhawk, distracting it long enough for Vortex to blow it out of the sky.

The Apaches focused fire on Vortex when the F/A 18 Hornets arrived on the scene. They focused on Blast Off, firing their sidewinder missiles. Blast Off out flew the missiles, causing one to get shout out of the sky by Vortex. The other missile was caught by Vortex's whirlwind and spun out of control into the ground below. The Hornets focused on Blast Off and stayed on him, firing with their guns. Blast Off led them back toward the city skyline, where he suddenly started fly below the burning buildings there. One of the Hornets lost a wing as it tried to fly through, and it crashed down into the street. The other Hornet was able to make it through and follow Blast Off out of the city, where it was suddenly blown away by Scourge.

"Bulls eyes," he declared right before a salvo struck the building beside him. He looked back toward the human warship further out at sea. "Misfire and Slugslinger, with me."

Scourge assumed alt form and took off toward the fleet with Misfire and Slugslinger following him. The battleships and destroyer focus on the three Decepticons, firing their triple cannons and machine guns. Slugslinger flew down below the range of one the battleships, literally skimming the surface of the water. He was so close to the ship that he could count the rivets that held it together. As he flew passed, he pulled up and flew high before stalling briefly, letting himself fall. The he fired on the battleship, striking the triple cannon on the bow. Scourge finished it off with perfectly aimed laser shot.

Misfire was the one having slightly more difficulty with his target, a destroyer. Despite having an entire fleet to shoot, he just kept missing so badly that it was almost laughable. Misfire then did what Slugslinger did earlier, soaring over the water and passed the destroyer. Except, he flew closer to the destroyer and his wing left a massive gash that angled down below the water. Scourge fired another blast that widened the gash.

From atop the Space Needle, Starscream continued to thoroughly enjoy the conflicted when Mindwipe contacted him. "Lord Starscream, the device is completed."

"Excellent, Mindwipe," Starscream said. "Bring it to the top of the structure, and we can prepare for the Fallen's arrival."

"The United States Military has been met with overwhelming force from the Decepticons, who had taken over control of the city of Seattle over 12 hours ago. The counterattack from the National Guard as well as the Air Force and Navy branches has thus far been ineffective in turning the tide. As the struggle continues, the question is being asked; Where are the Autobots?"

"We've got to figure something out here. The Con's are just going keep razing the city until they release the Fallen," Override pointed out while she and others were watching the news feed on Teletraan II. "Then after that, we're pretty scrapped.

"Well, we could just let the 'Cons keep this mud ball for themselves," Rattletrap quipped. Everyone in the room was practically gawking at him. "What? What I say?"

"Leaving Earth to the Decepticons or the Fallen is not an option, Rattletrap," Arcee said. "Override's right; we need to come up with a plan."

Marissa was present with Chip and Jessica while Lennox was elsewhere within the city with the Wreckers. "I've spoken to my mother. She told that her Spec. Ops until is all the way in Europe on a mission. Even if they could make the trip, it would take hours form them to get here."

"And here I was hoping to meet this Duke lad," Kup said. "But if that's the case, then we're on our own."

Elita One was present with everyone, lamenting her failure with Hotrod. "I'm sorry, everyone," she said. "I tried to get through to Hotrod, Primus knows I did. He just wouldn't budge."

"It's okay, Elita," Arcee said. "You did the best you could, but I guess Hotrod's just too far gone."

Then a new voice sounded off, "Don't tell you're giving up that easily," There was Hotrod, leaning at the entranceway, arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "Someone's got to clean up this mess."

"Hotrod," Arcee called out and rushed to Hotrod, quickly throwing her arm around him. Then she struck him in the shoulder. "Where've you been?"

"Missed you too, Arcee," Hotrod said while rubbing his shoulder. He glanced briefly at Elita One, who looked away slightly with a smile. "So, what's the plan?"

"First of all, it's good to have you back, lad," Kup said. "Right now though, we were hoping you might have a plan of attack if at all."

"I've got a few ideas,' Hotrod said. "One of them involves getting Optimus back online. Any have any suggestions?"

There was a momentary silence in the room before Chip stepped forward, "Hotrod, there might be way to make it happen."

"You've got my attention, Chip," Hotrod said. "Let's hear it."

Author's note: I'm ending this chapter right now and picking it up next time.

Yes indeed; Hotrod is back in the game but is he ready to take the lead again? It took a while, but at least Hotrod seems to have come out of his funk thanks in part to Elita One, who apparently had developed feelings for him. Aww!

Oh, I threw a couple of G.I. Joe references in there for the hell of it. YO JOE!

The Military arrives and is getting whooped by the 'Cons, and Gregory may be finally realizing his folly. But it may be too late if the Fallen shows up.

Finally, the groundwork is being laid for the return of Optimus Prime. Be sure to throw in some feedback and I'll get back to it soon. Ya'll have a Happy New Year.