There! I finally explained what happed to Kicker and his family; now you all are going to hate me. Enjoy!

Shadows of Them

Twenty years in the making

Lori entered her dad's hospital room; Zipline tucked away in her pouch, having been told last night that Zipline transformed into a cell phone. Her father smiled at her and opened her arms into a hug motion. She fell into his arms, hugging him closely. He patted her back, and then whispered, "I suppose you got the little gift I asked Alexis to get to you?"

She nodded into his chest, absently reaching into her pouch and pulling Zipline out. She transformed and fluttered up, sitting on her head. The brace broke, and Fred looked over Zipline, smiling, "She turned out better than I expected when I asked Alexis to build her."

"Her name is Zipline. Thank you soooooooo much dad! I never really thought I'd ever have a friend that I get along with this much…"

He chuckled, "I told Alexis almost everything she'd need to know about you. She's designed to be your friend."

Lori went quiet for a long while, finally whispering, "Is it my fault you had a heart attack?"

"No! No… not at all Lori. You see; when I was a kid I ate a lot of unhealthy stuff, and my cholesterol has never quite been the same since. If anything you and your brother being around helped me lose all that weight. I love you kids; you should know that."

"All those stories you told me…"

"Yes. With most of them the Autobots were involved. Ten years ago they had a secret allegiance with the government, and many humans became involved. But now…"

His sudden silence unnerved both Lori and Zipline, "…Dad? What happened to everyone? I-I mean… if so many people knew about them… then why hasn't any of them been contacted? Why don't the Autobots have help from more than a few humans?"

He sighed, having known that some day he would need to tell her. "…All right… Lori? There was a human; he had spent almost half his life involved with the Transformers… he met them when he was seven or eight years old… his father was a scientist… heh… kid had a bad temper… hated the bots for the longest time… ironic since his best friend was a Autobot… anyway… everyone knew he was a lose canon… but we never thought…"

"Dad? What happened?"

He shook his head; it was too horrible to say. Zipline knew what he was getting at; she had been programmed chock-full of knowledge of Autobot-related events. "He was the one who went berserker wasn't he?" she whispered timidly.

"Yes… his fiancé tried to warn us about his loss in stability… but everyone just figured… that being around everyone would help… no one who went their survived. Kicker is now a permanent resident at a mental institution… his fiancé didn't even survive… not his little sister either… I know this is all hard to sink in… but…"

"So the Autobots don't know what happened to their friends? They don't know-"

"No. and I wouldn't suggest being the barer of this type of bad news to Optimus. He won't just take that kind of thing kindly… First time I met him… never mind. Go play with your friends… Kobe and Bud probably are worried. Alexis is going to give them their 'friends' as soon as she can."

Zipline's wing's fluttered nervously; her optics wide, "But when Lori last saw them she yelled at them! They might not be happy to see her…"

"Tell ya what; they're letting me out of the hospital tomorrow… what do ya say that on the way home we make a stop with some old friends."

Her face brightened right up; "Really Daddy? You'd do that for me?"

"Sure. Plus the talk it'll probably do them some good too. I love you my little Lori-Ori. Now… how about filling me in on why they're here this time?"

"What?" Optimus was speechless. So Lori was Fred's daughter? And he knew all along that she was involved?

"It's true sir. Apparently Alexis and the others know as well; the only thing that has me puzzled is the fact that they knew yet stayed away from us." Red Alert answered; unsure of the cause.

"Maybe they're scared. Honestly; who would want to be involved in a war when they have the option to keep their family safe." Red Alert glared at Jetfire; not just because the bot had a point… also because he knew what he was implying; how would he ever understand? He had never had Sparklings; his bonding partner had dropped off the face of the Universe true; but she occasionally made contact, never revealing were she was, but Jetfire had the safe knowledge that she was alive. How could he ever understand family?

"Maybe…" Red Alert grumbled, hating to admit that the self-centered 'bot was right.

"What Red? What'd I say?"

"Never you mind. Lori's probably going to end bringing Fred to see us when he's better; so we'd best prepare for a visitor." Red Alert couldn't get past his annoyance at Jetfire; or at himself. His bondmate was long dead. Twenty years had passed since she had been destroyed, and he still hadn't gotten over it. He had never told anyone; but she'd been with spark when she was destroyed, Hotshot had found out on accident, but had sworn on his life not to tell.

Too bad it was over. She had been a beautiful femme, to him anyway. He missed her more than anyone else who had died in the war. Not that he'd ever in his right mind admit it. "Red?"

Hotshot had interrupted his train of thought, "What Hotshot?"

"… I'm sorry. Common; lets get to work."