A/N: Took a while to get these posted. I would have last night, but things happened and I had to do a lot of cleaning cause a frag ton of people are coming over tomorrow.

Main Pairings:

Ann/StardustxOptimus

Child(s): Stella/Gem, Bumblebee (adopted),

future Ann/StardustxOptimusxJames

Child(s): Gem, Bumblebee (adopted),

BarricadexBumblebee

RatchetxLuna

Warnings: romance, kissing, mentions of interfacing, past violence, anything else I forgot.

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Only Hasbro. I only own my character(s).

"Have we found his signal yet?" Lennox asked.

"Nothing," said Sideswipe.

"It is possible they went out to look for Stella. If this man that took her is the same one that is with A.R.O, then we know who has her. They may have contacted Optimus and blackmailed him into going," said James.

"If those creeps have them, then we have to go get them back!" Ironhide growled, cannons activating.

"Optimus is hurting, so I have no doubt he has been taken prisoner. I can try to use the bond, but he has been shutting me out," said Megatron.

"He doesn't want you to feel his pain," said Ratchet.

"Then what are we going to do?" Bumblebee asked.

"I'm not sure Bee. I think I have something in my lab that can help, but I don't remember," said Wheeljack.

"I'm surprised you can find anything in there 'Jack," Sideswipe snickered. "It is such a mess."

"It is not," Wheeljack defended.

~~~000

James left the bots to talk and plan. He was on a mission now. He would hunt the one responsible and make him talk. He had memorized how the man looked from behind and the side, since they couldn't see his face in the security footages. The first place to look was the rec room.

James stood in the doorway, scanning the many men and women on the base. He didn't see the one he was looking for. Turning around, James began to look around the entire base. He would not stop until he found the man. The last place he ended up was the soldier parking. He still didn't see the vehicle that took Stella, but he did find a new one with his target getting out of it.

"Nice ride. It looks new," James commented.

"Yeah, it is. My old one broke down on me. It's in the shop for now," said the soldier. "You're James Savoy, correct? I'm Kyle Turner. We trained together with the grenades."

Big mistake rookie. James glared, stomping up to Kyle. He held him in a choke hold against the new vehicle.

"Whoa! What the hell are you doing?" Kyle demanded.

"You're not who you say you are. You're really Dean Turner, and you're with A.R.O," said James. Dean's eyes widened. He had been found out. "You're going to start talking."

"And if I refuse?" Dean asked cautiously. James pulled out his handgun and put the barrel to Dean's head, taking the safety off.

"I blow your brains out. Now, where is A.R.O located? Where did they take Stella, Prime, and Ann?" James demanded.

Dean stayed quiet, thinking over his options. He really didn't want to die. Not after he just collected the rest of his payment.

"I don't know," Dean said.

"You're lying," James said, finger going to the trigger now. "You better start telling the truth, or you'll be facing God and confessing. I won't ask again. Where are they?"

"I don't know! I swear I don't know exactly. I just know the general area," said Dean. Sweat beads trailed down his face.

"Then you had better get in that car of yours, and you better take me to them. Now!" James said, keeping his gun trained on Dean.

"All right, all right, just don't shoot me," Dean said.

James got in on the other side. Not once did Dean leave his crosshairs. Dean pulled out of the base, taking James to the general location that A.R.O was at.

'Hold on Ann, Optimus. I'm coming for you,' James thought. He swore he would bring his crushes home safely. He just prayed they weren't too badly hurt.

~~~000

Optimus trembled, pain washing over him. Despite his attempts, the scientists still took what they wanted. But he was worried about Ann. She had the worse of it. He felt her growing weaker with each day that went by. When the humans finished for a break, they left the two alone.

Optimus turned his attention back to Ann. Her eyes were glazed over as she looked at him.

"Hold on, Ann. Please," said Optimus. "We'll get out of here."

Ann didn't respond. She nodded her head a bit before going to sleep. She felt so tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. Optimus got worried, but stayed strong. His mate and daughter depended on him.

~~~000

Stella caught the last bar before it could hit the ground. She set it down with the other two, slipping out of her cell. She had a vague idea of where to go. She went back they way they took her, leaving the empty cells behind. Stella would duck and hide in the shadows when someone would come by, being careful she wasn't spotted.

She followed the bond to her creators, hoping it wasn't too late. She was already feeling really weak from lack of food and water to survive. If she got injured too, then that would be it for her. The preteen peaked behind a corner, seeing the familiar door. That was where they kept her. She would check there first. No doubt her creators would be there. A tap on the shoulder had Stella screaming and whipping around.

"Marcus?" Stella asked, surprised to see the man there.

"I applaud you in escaping. Your parents are through that door. Use this to get them free," Marcus said, handing her a key card and key.

"Why are you helping me?" Stella asked, relaxing as she took said items.

"Because experimenting on anyone is wrong. I do not approve of what my brothers do," said Marcus. "You were the last straw. When you free them, the exit is down that hallway."

Stella looked to her right. She nodded in appreication. She would make sure her creators knew what Marcus did for her and that he was actually good, not like his brothers. An alarm went off, a red light flashing.

"What's that?" Stella asked.

"An intruder," said Marcus. "You must hurry. Whoever has come is on your side."

"Thank you Marcus," Stella said, bowing a bit.

She turned to the door, sprinting to it. She used the key card to access the room, going inside. She spotted her creators towards the center of the room.

"Sire! Carrier!" Stella shouted, running to them.

"Gem," Optimus muttered, optics flashing dully.

Stella saw the energon loss and other things they did. The damage looked bad. The squeaked when the door she just came from was kicked down. Stepping inside was James, his gun still to Dean's head. As soon as he saw the three, he sighed.

"I guess your usefulness is over," said James, pulling the trigger.

The gun clicked. Dean shook, afraid he had been shot. James pistol whipped the man. His gun wasn't loaded, but at least Dean would be dealt with by the military like the rest. He ran over to Stella, hugging her.

"Thank God you're okay kid," said James.

"Yep. I managed to escape and Marcus helped me. He gave me these to free sire and carrier," said Stella, showing James the items.

"Well then let's hurry before any guards come. I'll send my coordinates to NEST," said James. He went over with the key, using on a computer to unlock the bonds.

Optimus got up, picking up his mate and daughter. He turned to James, nodding gratefully.

"The exit is out that door and to the left," said Stella. "Let's go sire. You and carrier need grandsire."

"I agree little one," said Stella.

Optimus scooped up James too, holding the three humans to his chest. He broke through the wall, heading to the exit. The Prime could hear human voices behind him over the alarm. He still felt weak, but he pressed on.

"Stella!"

Optimus stopped at James' panicked voice. He looked down to see Stella unconscious. James checked her over, cursing under his breath.

"She's too weak from lack of food and water. We need to get her to Ratchet," said James. "She doesn't have long."

Optimus' intakes hitched. He couldn't lose his daughter too. He already knew there was a chance of losing Ann. Optimus ran as fast as he could outside and away from the building. In the distance, he spotted his troops and NEST vehicles. They had come.

Megatron transformed in front of his brother, pulling him into a hug, being careful of the humans. The others transformed, at the ready for any attack.

"Where's Ratchet?" Optimus asked.

"Right here," Ratchet said.

"Please, they need help," said Optimus, passing his mate and daughter to his sire. He set James down on the ground, who was tackled by Luna.

"They're both in bad condition. I need to get them back to the base ASAP," Ratchet said, transforming around the two. "Megatron, have Bumblebee help Optimus back to the base. He'll need repairs too. Lennox will deal with any humans. Don't kill any, but immobilize them for arrest."

"Understood," Megatron nodded. Optimus watched as Ratchet sped off, worried about his family. "They are strong brother. Do not fear."

"I know," said Optimus, all his energy leaving him. He collapsed, exhausted. Bumblebee came over, helping his sire.

"Get him back to base. We'll deal with things here," said Megatron.

Bumblebee nodded. Optimus felt so tired. He fell into stasis.