*Some are from Season 3, Project Predacon

This is an oil field? Smokescreen wondered to himself, following behind Bumblebee with his blaster armed and ready. He remembered the oil field's on Cybertron being ten times bigger than the one he was seeing, and not covered in so much sand. He hoped they would still be there when they returned home, something to show Steele that, maybe, not everything was damaged in the war.

"But I wanna go!" Steele had begged before he departed with Optimus and Bumblebee. He had grabbed Smokescreen's servo, holding him still. "I wanna help! I wanna learn! Please, Dad?"

"Maybe next time, son." Smokescreen promised, lowering to his height. "This mission's too dangerous."

"But I can help, can't I?"

"You can help." Smokescreen placed a servo on his son's helmet, his bright blue optics showing heavy disappointment. "I need you to stay here, keep an eye on your mom and the others."

"Keep an eye on me?" Tier asked in a slightly irritated tone. "Need I to remind you who is the mother here?"

"Ok, Dad." Steele managed a small smile and hugged his creator before joining the other sparklings.

"You know, he always wants to be with you." Tier mentioned, her optics expressing jealousy.

"He wants to be with you too."

"Not as much as you." Tier argued, crossing her arms defensively. "You are his father, after all. What son does not wish to be around his father constantly?"

"And you're the mom." Smokescreen placed a servo under her chin plate and tilted her head to look at him. "Just spend some quality time with him. Take him for a drive, show him around Earth, you know things I don't."

Tier sighed in defeat, knowing Smokescreen had a point.

"I suppose it would not hurt to take him on a drive." She said, glancing over at Steele.

"That's my girl." Smokescreen smiled, kissing her cheek. "Remember, talk to him, try to be a little fun." He winked before saying the last words. Kissing her mouth valve, he transformed and quickly followed the others into the ground bridge.

Boy, I'm in trouble when I get home, Smokescreen chuckled in his thoughts. The sound of Optimus's jet above them was almost quiet, but then again, he was pretty high up. Watching Optimus, Smokescreen was forced to remember what happened in the cave.

What harm can come from asking?

"Hey, Bee, have you thought you might wanna be a prime?" Smokescreen asked, watching his surroundings . "Someday, I mean."

"Beep ee ee mir."

"A warrior like your dad? Really?" Smokescreen paused, surprised to hear Bumblebee's answer. "What about your dad? What do you know about him?"

"Eep beepbeep ee."

"You don't remember him." Smokescreen said the words slowly. Then he remembered the relic. "So if it wasn't for the relic, you would have no idea who your creator is?"

"Ir, beep beep wir ee."

"So you know he's a good bot and who died a hero." Smokescreen grinned slightly, feeling envious of Bumblebee. Despite them, possibly, never having a relationship. Bumblebee still thought highly of him, and still admired his creator. "You're lucky. Wish I could say the same."

Bumblebee paused, looking over his shoulder at Smokescreen. Sometimes he forget's what kind of bot Smokescreen came from. It also reminded him that not all creator's were great hero's like his. Bumblebee still had chills from when Smokescreen shared his story about his past with his carrier and his creator. "Weep, ee mir bee."

"Yeah, I know there's nothing I could have done about it." Smokescreen said with a sad smile. "But still, I just...never thought he'd be a Decepticon. My mom always told him he died before I was activated. Kinda wish he was."

"Wir eep bee."

"You know, you're right." Smokescreen's smile brightened up slightly, walking around the corner. "He's in the past. I should be more focused on raising my son. I just hope I do it right."

Smokescreen glanced up, checking to make sure Optimus was still flying above them with ease. While they were covering the ground, Optimus was taking the skies like he was born to take flight.

Of course he would, why not? Smokescreen felt slightly jealous of Optimus's upgrade. What bot wouldn't want to know what it was like to fly? At the same time, he was proud of it. If it wasn't for him placing the Forge in his servos, Optimus wouldn't have that capability, or even a spark.

But Optimus wasn't the only one who changed. And more than anything, Smokescreen wanted to try it out.

However, he made a promise to Prime in that cavern that he would not nor tell anyone about it until Optimus gave him permission. Not that he blamed him. Although Smokescreen was in control, but it was still dangerous without proper guidance.

'There will be a new prime'.

"Smokescreen Prime." Smokescreen whispered to himself, checking to make sure Bumblebee was out of audio receptor reach. "I'd be a Prime with a curse."

Despite his thoughts, Smokescreen wondered what he would do if he were a Prime. There have been times when he toyed around with the notion of being the one Prime that ended the war for Cybertron. But at the same time, he would be in command of so many bot's. It would be a great accomplishment to see them come back successful. At the same time, he couldn't bear the weight of the guilt from sending those to their death. It was a miracle that Optimus can somehow manage it so well.

Smokescreen was pleasantly surprised he didn't get a lecture from Optimus or from anyone else on the team for going against protocol. They must've figured Optimus was alive, and that's what mattered. He didn't want to imagine what they would say if they heard he was a candidate for the next Prime. He did imagine Arcee lashing out at him for not being good enough to lead them and then at Optimus for choosing a rookie over any of them. They would start doubting that Optimus truly trusted any of them, and that was something Smokescreen didn't want to risk in the more dire time in the war.

That's why he didn't tell them about anything that happened down there.

"Me being a Prime sounds just as impossible as me being a dad. Yet here I am, a dad. Man, that still sounds weird. I wonder what you think, mom." Smokescreen whispered again, glancing down at his chestplate, knowing she was with him, seeing everything he was doing. It still pained him knowing she was gone, and could never live a life similar to Bianna's. At least it would have brought him comfort knowing she would be proud of the things that he has done so far. What did bring him comfort was remembering just how proud she was to raise him, to be called his carrier.

Now that he thought about it, he now knows that sense of pride. In fact, he's more proud of being a creator than he would have been if he were a Prime. He put his servo over his spark, the heavy vibration caused a small sense of dread in his spark.

"Would you be proud of me?"

"Whir?"

Smokescreen gasped, turning around with his gun aimed. He was relieved to see Bumblebee putting his arms up.

"Don't do that, Bee."

"Wir ee." Bumblebee apologized, lowering his arms, no doubt smiling amused behind his faceplate guard. "Wee bir?"

"What did I say? Oh, uh, nothing." Smokescreen answered quickly, shocked that Bumblebee was so close. Lowering his energon blaster, he hoped Bumblebee didn't hear anything he just said. "Just talking to myself."

A loud clank got both of their attention. Nodding in acknowledgment, they proceeded with caution towards the origin of the sound. Of course, if they discovered a place where Predacon's bone where, no doubt the Decepticons were slightly closer thanks to their more advanced technology.

They both paused, seeing Shockwave and a few other Decepticons digging in the ground near oil mills. No doubt the scientist has found the bone and was trying to dig it out. Both bots knew they had a much better chance facing off against the Vehicons. Shockwave was going to be more of a challenge. That's when an idea came to Smokescreen. He waited for Bumblebee to get ahead of him slightly. Grinning, he closed his optics and focused.

"Smokescreen."

Gasping, Smokescreen's focus broke and his optics shot open. Bumblebee turned to look at him, then back at Shockwave waiting to see if they had heard him. Then he turned back to Smokescreen, waiting for him to explain himself.

"Remember," He heard Optimus's voice print continue in his audio receptor. "Unless I say so, you are not to use him."

"But Optimus... with all due respect-"

"Smokescreen."

Smokescreen didn't need to look up to know Optimus was looking down at him with firm understanding.

"Yes, sir."