Warning. Power breach. Sealing hatchets Alpha, Omega, and Epsilon.

Optimus groaned. His body felt shaken and off balanced, yet he managed to stand. Smoke swirled through the air as Optimus gazed around the bridge, surveying the damage. Ratchet and Prowl seemed to be alright, and the ship was already repairing the damage.

Warning. Planetary impact inevitable.

Optimus's eyes widened at the warning, turning his optics to the window. A large planet sized meteor was in the ship's path. Slag, Optimus thought, immediately jumping into action. "Go to manual override!"

"Can you even do that?" Prowl's voice barely reached his audibles over the sirens and more warning tones going off all around them. Optimus couldn't find it in himself to make a reply as he grabbed hold of the controls. He could feel the ship's engines protesting as he tried to steer the ship away from the asteroid. For a brief moment he feared that the ship would collide with the asteroid, but to his brief relief the ship managed to pull up, flying across the large asteroid's surface and out of harms way.

Keeping the ship from impacting with the meteorite, he kept a hold on handles, fearful to let go and let the ship crash. His current worry soon faded as the ship went over the asteroid and the Space Bridge came in sight. We just need to get to safety, somewhere to hide the AllSpark away from the Decepticons until help arrives. But how—

{Uhh, Prime?} Bulkhead's voice through the comm-link broke Optimus out of his thinking. {Something is happening.}

"Can it wait Bulkhead?" Optimus asked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "Kind of busy at the moment!"

{B-But. It's glowing! Like really, really bight!} The worry in Bulkhead's voice made Optimus pause, chancing a quick glance over his shoulder towards the open doors to the back of the ship. A faint blue light caught the corner of his optics, coming from the ship's cargo hold. And it was getting brighter by the nanokilk.

"Bulkhead what's going on back there?!"

{It's the AllSpark Optimus! It—} Bulkhead's words were cut off by a startled sound, and before Optimus could ask what had happened, the ship was suddenly glowing in a blue bright light. Optimus was in awe. He could power circling around him, beating inside his very spark as he looked in wonder.

"What the slag is going on?!" Ratchet yelled out, though Optimus couldn't find a reply as the light shot out from the ship, heading right towards the Space Bridge. Light flashed and right before Optimus's optics, a gateway opened in the Space Bridge, though he had little time to stare at it as the ship went through without stop. There was a tingling sensation in the Prime's body, gazing at his servos that twitched and shook.

Huh, so this is what Kup Minor was talking about. Despite himself, Optimus cracked a small smile. Just a tiny barely there one. The sensation didn't last long as the ship came out of the Trans Warp and jolted, throwing the Autobot off balance. Note to self, never doubt that old war bot's advice ever again. "Is everyone alright?"

His optics quickly located Ratchet and Prowl picking themselves off the floor, groaning in pain but seemed to be alright. Yet…

There was no verbal or visual sight of Bulkhead.

"Bulkhead! Report!" Optimus called out through the ship's computers, hoping for an answer from the big bot. A servo touched his shoulder, and for a brief moment Optimus thought it was Bulkhead, or Ratchet trying to calm his circuits.

Then he realized how big the servo was.

Optimus had no time to react as he suddenly was lifted up and slammed harshly against the wall, pinned by the large servo that held him in place. His spark froze for an astrosecond as his blue optics gazed into red piercing cold optics.

"The AllSpark." A deep voice rasped, shaking Optimus to the core from the deep coldness it held. "Where is it?"

A retort from in the back of his throat, but never got a chance to say it as Ratchet and Prowl jumped on the larger mech, trying to attack the Decepticon, but where tossed away effortlessly. Optimus felt limp as he was thrown around, the servo now pressing against his neck. "My patience grows thin Autobot." The large bot growled, tightening his grip.

In desperation, Optimus lifted one of his servos up, aiming it at the controls and shot out his grappling hook. He wasn't really aiming, but luck must have been on his side the moment he heard the ship's computers announcing the gravity field turning off. The sudden feeling of weightlessness was disorienting, but Optimus was focused enough to kick away the Decepticon leader.

"Good thinking Prime! Putting us all on equal ground… so to speak."

Optimus pulled out his axe, digging it in the wall so that he didn't float around and kept himself steady. Optics were locked on the Decepticon, who used the remains of his right arm to lodge it in a crack on the ceiling. Now that he saw it at a different angle, Optimus could see that the right side of the Warlord was covered in damage armor and exposed wiring. Slag, his whole arm was nothing but some pipes and gears.

I wondered how that happened, Optimus wondered, remembering seeing Megatron intact and with both arms. Don't focus on that Optimus! He's a Decepticon, an enemy. You need to focus on an attack and get him off—

{OPTIMUS!} Bulkhead's voice screamed in his audibles, making Optimus wince. {Optimus! There's a! It's a! It! It's freaky looking!}

"Bulkhead! Calm Down! Now is not—"

{ITS GOT THE ALLSPARK!}

"What?!" Optimus spark did a flip, looking towards the cargo hold. "Bulkhead what—" A blur rushed past Optimus, catching him by surprise. "Prowl!" Optimus called out once he recognized the black and gold coloring. "Wait! Don't—!"

He reached out, making a grab for one of Prowl's peds, but it fazed through.

A hologram, he quickly realized just before the Decepticon took a swing at the fake Prowl. Some small part of Optimus smirked on the inside at the confusion on Megatron's face when the hologram flicked out of existence before the real Prowl snuck up behind him and sliced off the last bit of 'Con's arm.

"Okay, the distraction was a nice trick, but next time wait for my—"

SCRRRREEEEEEEEEEEE!

Optimus's voice fell mute as the sudden noise sounded off. A sound that shook Optimus in the very core of his spark as emotions suddenly flooded his whole being. He had never heard such a sound before. It sounded metallic yet… something entirely else as well.

"… Hornet?" The deep tone of Megatron's voice snapped Optimus out of his thoughts, returning him to the situation at hand. He was about to shout an order when—

"Incoming!" Ratchet, standing on the ceiling of the ship, was using his magnets to grab and pull lose the remains of Megatron's arm, throwing it at the Decepticon with full force.

"Good thinking Ratchet!" Optimus shot the medic a small nod, bending his knees and kicking off towards the cargo hold.

"Just where are you going?" Ratchet asked. There was fear underneath his rough voice, but Optimus chose to ignore it. "We've got a Decepticon to deal with here!"

"Bulkhead's in trouble!" Optimus looked back at the medic. "Something is attacking him and he needs he—"

"LOOK OUT!" Was all the warning he had to duck down as a large mass of familiar green flew past him overhead. He heard Ratchet shout Bulkhead's name. He heard some bot crash into another bot. He heard the ships computers come online. He heard the engines kicking into full power. He was suddenly jolted forward.

Optimus let out a startled yelp as he was flung from the main deck to the cargo hold, slamming into equipment and creates. Groaning, he shook his head, getting himself to sit up and to get back on his feet, ready to fight again—

And stood face to face with red tinted visor.

A startled sound left Optimus's vocalizer, swinging his axe out without thought. The axe barely made contact as the being they were attacking had moved, jumping back far enough for Optimus to get a good look at them… and wish that he hadn't.

The creature looked robotic, if he could call it that, but it also looked… non-robotic? It certainly didn't look like a bot. It had a large head, and small body, and a much larger… part behind it. Six thin legs were attached to its middle, four underneath it, and a much larger pair behind it. Two large flat limbs stood out on its back, dark as a starless night, as like the rest of its body. Something about the creature's appearance sent waves of emotions crashing into Optimus's spark, staring wide optic at the thing before him.

"… wh… what are you?" He asked before he could stop himself, staring at the thing that stood a few feet away from him, staring right back at him with large dome shape bright red eyes.

No, didn't think about that right now. You need to focus, you need to get rid of the Decepticon. You need to check up on your crew and see if they're alright. You need to keep the AllSpark safe and out of Megatron's clutches. You need to focus! Not ask question, just plan and act on it. It has red eyes, so it must be a 'Con. An enemy. You need to focus on how you're going to attack it, how you're going to defeat it, and how you—

"Hornet."

Optimus blinked.

"Hornet'zzzz name izzzz… Hornet."

Optimus was taken back. He honestly didn't expect the creature to speak, let alone answer his question, but, there was something about it. Something that Optimus couldn't pinpoint or identify. Strange… yet familiar.

Optimus opened his mouth, ready to question the creature—Hornet, its name is Hornet, apparently—when he was suddenly kicked in the chest, sending him crashing floor and promptly pinned there.

"Now, bring me the AllSpark and I may spare your miserable Autobot lives."

Optimus gazed up at Megatron, grunting in pain as the Decepticon put more pressure down on his ped, keeping him pinned to the floor with no leverage to help him escape. The Warlord glared down at him, raising up his only arm. Knowing what he was about to do, Optimus raised his own weapon up, blocking the attack in the nick of time.

"Ah!"

Megatron flinched, looking away from Optimus. "… Hornet." The Decepticon growled. "What are you doing here." Optimus could tell it was a demand rather than a question.

"U-Um, H-Hornet wazzzz zzzzent to—"

"Stop talking in that form." Megatron snapped, pressing his ped down harder on Optimus's chest. "You know fully well that I cannot stand that voice of yours in that… lesser form. Transform into your robot form this instant so that I stop looking at that hideous form your creator calls real Decepticon power."

Optimus saw Hornet flinch from the corner of his gaze, and while he did feel a little sorry for it, Optimus also spied something behind Hornet. His optics widened as he recognized the AllSpark's container, sitting so close to the Decepticon, so close to danger.

So close to falling into the grasp of Megatron.

No! Pressing the button on his axe, the handle shot out, extending all the way to the panel on the wall.

Warning, docking tunnel deployed.

Whirlwinds of air suddenly filled the room as the doors and the weight holding him down was lifted. Optimus felt weightless again as he rammed into Megatron, throwing them both down into the tunnel. But Optimus didn't plan on leaving his ship.

Digging his axe into the wall, he held on for dear life as the bright end of the tunnel was getting closer and closer. He could faintly see the giant 'Con in front of him, reaching out with his giant servo to grab him. Pulling back one of his legs, Optimus put everything inside of him to kick the large Decepticon out.

The was a painful scream as Megatron was kicked out of the ship, burning away from the fires surrounding the ship as it entered the atmosphere of… well, Optimus wasn't sure where exactly they were now. But, as he watched the Decepticon Warlord burn away from his sight, he was certain that Megatron was no longer a threat.

That's one problem down, Optimus pulled himself up, aiming one arm to the other end of the tunnel and fired his grappling hook. It latched onto the edge, and giving it a few tugs, he began pulling himself back into the ship. But now I need to make sure everyone is alright and—

"You."

Optimus froze after he stepped into the ship, the door shutting behind him.

"You."

He stood rigid as he stared at the bot standing a few feet away from him, standing where the creature known as Hornet had been.

"You… you kill him…"

The bot, if he could call it that, gazed at him. Optimus couldn't tell if it was in shock or in hesitant surpassed rage as the bot's face plate was covered up. Only its red visor was visible, though it lacked any form of expressions. The bot only stood there, staring at Optimus with blank or hidden emotions.

Optimus, however, was silently panicking. Dealing with Megatron was hard enough, but how was he supposed to deal with another Decepti—

"You don't have a Decepticon symbol." Optimus blurted out without thinking. The bot flinched, covering its bare chest.

"H-Hornet has symbol! Hornet just not worthy of it yet!" The bot growled, the two dark flat limbs on its back twitched, creating a soft buzzing noise. "Hornet is Decepticon! Hornet is! Creator says so!"

"… and yet." Optimus took a step forward, which Hornet flinched and stepped back. "You don't have a Decepticon symbol on you."

"… H-Hornet… Hornet…"

Optimus continued advancing, getting ready to attack or capture or do something, but before he could, the AllSpark decided to start glowing.

Both bots froze, turning their gaze towards the box. They stared at it for a nanoclick before looking back at each other. They instantly knew what was going on in each other's minds as they stared at each other.

Hornet dove towards the AllSpark and Optimus reached out a servo to stop it. He knew he was too far away to grab the 'Con before it could reach the AllSpark, so his spark filled with dread as Hornet grabbed the handles, the flat limbs on its back shot out wide and began moving so rapidly it was creating wind, moving to jump away.

Then the AllSparks container burst open, catching both bots by surprise. There was a strangled yelp as a bright flash went off, blinding Optimus as he raised his servos to cover his optics. There was a loud crash next to him, and Optimus lowered his servo just enough to see the room was back to normal. The AllSpark was still there, looking innocent and no longer glowing, but Optimus quickly turned his focus away from it as his audibles picked up a small groan.

Gazing down to his side, Optimus found Hornet, laying on its side and smoking. The 'Con groaned, which informed Optimus that it was still online.

{Optimus!} Ratchet's voice caught the Autobot off-guard. {The ship is going down! Fast! We need to get to the stasis pods now!}

Optimus felt horror bubbling inside him, heading for the bridge… and stopped. He looked back at the creature. It was still laying on its side, though it remained unmoving and still. The smoke was clearing away, and Optimus could just barely see the damage done to its chest. He glanced at the AllSpark, then to the docking door, then at 'Con.

He grit his denta, he headed back over to the 'Con. "Ratchet." Optimus commed the medic, summing out a long cable from his grappling hook. "I need you to modify one of the stasis pods so that it can only be opened on the outside."

{What? Why the slag would I need to do that?}

"It's important and I don't have time to explain." Optimus urged as he wrapped the cable around the 'Con. "I'll explain later but just trust me on this, okay?"

{… it better be a good reason Prime.}

"Yeah." Optimus finished tying the cable around the 'Con, casting one last look at it. "I hope so too." He sighed, dragging the 'Con with him to the main deck, silently hoping that he was doing the right thing, and that Ratchet wouldn't chew his out for sparing a Decepticon instead of throwing it out like Megatron.

There was a dull pain in their body.

Pain was nothing new to them.

Their body had been put through plenty of pain their whole life and were quite used to it.

Though, Creator had promised that they would help them no longer feel pain and gave them this body to help with it.

They could still feel pain, but it was always dull and small, always easy to ignore and keep going.

The body kept them from feeling any big pain, kept them from feeling any fear besides when standing next to a true Decepticon, but Creator promised that they would have their mark soon and be a Decepticon soon enough.

But, when?

They didn't like waiting.

Waiting took forever, and they didn't like not knowing what was happening around them.

So maybe that was why they felt worried when their sensors picked up what sounded like faint shouting, but they couldn't pick up on what it was or make out the words or understand what was going on.

All they could feel was a dull pain and the tall tale sign of approaching full body shut down.

It was alright though.

Creator promised they would be alright as long as they stayed in the body, nothing could hurt them.

But they wished that they didn't need to wear the body, it was so hard to move when it went into shut down.

Oh well.

Maybe they could offline and get some shut optic, like they normally did when the body started to shut down.

And maybe the dull pain would go away too…

Promise.

What?

Promise me. Promise me that… no matter what, no matter what happens… you'll always have my back.

Why would you need me to promise that? I'll always have your back, no matter what.

But… but you promise… right?

Forever and more.