When Jetfire brought back Sparkplug and the matrix no one could believe Optimus Prime was gone. He had sacrificed himself so that others would live. All hoped that his sacrifice wouldn't go in vain. All wished he was still there.

The children all wished him to still be there with them. We all did, but, as I feared, Hot Shot took his death the hardest. I could see he was mad at himself, he was mad at everyone, he was mad at everything. I knew he had a right to know who his true father was, but I knew I couldn't tell him yet for if I did there'd be nothing left of his spark to exstinguish.

I knew Optimus was, Hot Shot thought, the only one like a father to him left. Now they were all gone. Who would he look up to now? Now was not the time for mourning for we needed to work on the spaceship if we were to ever stop the decepticons. This wasn't going to be easy to get over, but they all needed to . . . for cybertron's sake.

We all did our part, but it went very slowly. All were still mourning our leader's death. All still ached inside. I knew things weren't going to be easy, but without a leader things began to fall apart.

I came to Jetfire one day and we discussed many things.

"Jetfire this team is falling apart," said Scavenger.

"You don't think I know Scavenger?" said Jetfire with crossed arms. "I have optics too."

"They need a leader . . . they need a Prime," said Scavenger clear and simple.

"Yea, well the only Prime left, I can plainly tell, isn't ready and for how long . . . you can't tel with him," said Jetfire bowing his head. "And besides Hot Shot isn't ready to know he's the last Prime."

"No way!" came a gasping voice.

Jetfire and I turned to see the children staring at us with wide eyes. Could they have heard everything?

"Is it true?!" gasped Carlos in excitement.

"Eh, what are you . . . talkin' about kids?" sweated Jetfire raising his hands up.

"I could tell they knew so I touched Jetfire on the shoulder and said-

"It's alright Jetfire. We can tell them."

"Scavenger, Jetfire," started Rad as he looked at each of them. "Is Hot Shot Optimus' son?"

I then nodded and said-

"Yes . . . yes he is."

The children then quietly stared at us. I could tell by Rad's face that somehow he already knew.

"Wicked!" gasped Carlos. "That's awesome!"

"Yea, and you know what would be even more awesome is if you kids keep your mouths shut about this," said Jetfire bending down to them.

"But why?" asked Billy. "Doesn't Hot Shot know?"

"No and we're going to keep it that way till I say so," said Scavenger.

"I thought Optimus lost his only child in a fire," said Alexis.

"He did, but later found that he had somehow found that he had somehoe left the house before the fire started . . . You should've seen the look on his face when he found out Hot Shot was still alive," he smiled.

But then he stopped and looked down with sad optics. I then told the children-

"We know Hot Shot has a right to know, but now is not the time for him to know. Hot Shot is the last Prime and all expect him to caryy on his father's name, but he is too young and I fear he is breaking."

"That's why Optimus wanted Hot Shot to hold onto the matrix," said Rad figuring things out. " . . . Optimus knew he wasn't going to make it . . . he knew that the matrix would he thrust onto Hot Shot too soon."

"That's right," said Scavenger shaking his head. "Optimus wanted to make sure no one would force his son into this position . . . it was, as you humans say, his last wish."

"But you won't force it onto him will you?" asked Alexis.

"We won't," Started Scavenger. " . . . But I fear when we get back to cybertron the high council won't abide to Optimus' wishes."

"Huh, the high council, who arre they?" asked the kids.

"They decide most of the things for us, like who would be next leader and such. They, too, know that Hot Shot is Optimus' child and they will, when we go back to cybertron with no leader, force him to be Prime," said Scavenger. "And we all know he isn't ready for that."

"Then what are you doing to do?" asked Rad.

"That is what we're trying to decide kids," said Jetfire. "It's just so gosh darn difficult with Hot Shot acting the way he is."

"Please children, don't tell him," said Scavenger with sad optics. "He's gone through so much, and you heard nim before . . . the only thing keeping him from going crazy from this ill war is that fact that his real father is out there somewhere. There would be nothing of him left if he knew Optimus was his real father."

"You're right Scavenger," they said. "We promise we'll never tell."

"Good," sighed Scavenger.

I was glad the children listened to us. Now they understood a bit more about Optimus, but not exactly why he didn't tell Hot Shot. Only a few people knew what Optimus thought. He thought he was somewhat predictable if you knew him well.

But Hot Shot, his son, is very unpredictable. At times he acts like his father, but not often. He was the one who slowed everyone down those slow weeks. Even though he didn't know it everyone followed him.

If he slacked off so did they. He was a leader, but not in the way I wanted him to be. I couldn't have him causing everyone else to slack off. He shouldn't be like this.

Hot Shot had just stomped off in the middle of work and mostly everyone decided to do the same.

"What's his problem?" asked Sideswipe.

"Just leave him Sideswipe," said Scavenger.

"Oh, alright," grumped Sideswipe.

Hot Shot went looking for Jetfire so he could get revenger on the what the decepticons did to Optimus, but Jetfire wouldn't take him into space. At that he grew very angry and so began shouting at everyone. I couldn't let him take another step forward, for I knew if he did we would never see him again. he would be lost in his emotions forever.

So I came to him and threw him down. I then took himto an adandoned highway where I could have at him alone. I knew what what I was doing and do did the others, but the children wanted us to stop.

"Let him go kids," said Jetfire. "Scavenger know how to handle things."

I tried asking Hot Shot questions that Optimus would more or likely know, but he couldn't answer them.

"Tell me!" shouted Scavenger throwing his fist at Hot Shot's face. "What would Optimus do?"

Hot Shot then caught his fist and said-

"ERR, I know he wouldn;t ne pusjed around by you . . . he would fight!!"

He couldn't get it. Optimus wouldn't fight, he of all people should know this. I tried giving all the clues, but it just wasn't coming to him. He was so blinded by his emotions. I hoped it wasn't too late.

Hot Shot then did the unthinkable . . . he left us. He decided to run away from his problems.

"No Hot Shot!" cried Scavenger watching him drive away. "Don't do this!"

But he was gone. he wasn't going to listen to me now. I can't believe Optimus raised him like this. He let Hot Shot run from his fears. He never touched Hot Shot . . . He was too gentle with him.

Now how was I supposed to get him back? But I tell you I wasn't about to give up on Optimus' only child. Blurr had tired to stop him, but Hot Shot slipped through him and escaped. Sideswipe had then tried to stop him, but Hot Shot wasn't going to stop for anyone.

Then the minicons heard about what was going on with Hot Shot and so decided to help out. They came before him and tried to stop him. Hot Shot grew weary of all these obstacles.

"Please leave me alone," he cried. "Can't you see I want to be left alone?"

The minicons started walking before him and this made Hot Shot back away. He didn't want to hurt the minicons. Then his minicon Jolt joined them.

"Jolt not you too," he cried. "Why is everyone so against me?"

He then heard Optimus' voice from the other side. He couldn't believe it, but his words were the ones he needed at the moment.

"Don't give up on your friends Hot Shot for they're all you have left," said Optimus from the other side.

They looked just like his old friends. He could see them now. It took a while, but then Hot Shot had realized what he had done and what Optimus would do in this position. He then gave in to everyone. He stopped his anger . . . He was done acting the way he was.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized to everyone.

Then I found him and I ran towards him ready to strike him . . . but he just stood there not even moving. I stopped my hit before his face and saw that he didn't even flinch. It reminded me of the time when something like this happened to Optimus. He acted just about the same way.

"Hm, you didn't even flinch," smiled Scavenger.

"Of course not," smiled Hot Shot.

He was his father's son alright.

"Yea, you got what it takes," Scavenger smiled.

That day it was decided that Hot Shot was to be the new commander. All knew it's what Optimus would have wanted. They then gave Hot Shot the ceremony of Primes.

"As our new leader," started Jetfire as he took the matrix from Sparkplug. "It is only fit that you receive the matrix of leadership, like the other Primes."

He then handed Hot Shot the matrix of leadership, but before Hot Shot put it in his chest he just gazed at it a bit. I could tell by the way he looked the matrix began changing him. I knew he could feel its power surging through every inch of his body trying to change him into a Prime. He gazed at it for the longest time.

Hot Shot then gave it back to Sparkplug and said-

"I-I . . . I can't."

"What, why not?!" Jetfire said.

"I'm not ready," said Hot Shot. "Till I am hold onto it for me, but for now let us keep Optimus close to our hearts and never forget his leadership."

I gave out a small chuckle at hearing this.

Yep, he is just like him, thought Scavenger.

"If Optimus were here he would be proud of Hot Shot," smiled Red Alert.

"Yes . . . he would," smiled Scavenger.

Then Hot Shot smiled and shouted out with a large smile-

"Yo autobots, gear up we're heading to cybertron!"

Then all cheered and finished the ship in no time. I knew Hot Shot would make a great leader and so did everyone else. With a leader like Hot Shot I knew we'd be going all the way.

Hot Shot's girl: Sorry guys I won't be able to update in a while. 'cause I got four other stories to try and update and cause of my large family I can only update a chapter every two or three days, but I'll try as hard as I can to update the next chapter I promise. But the next chapter is long so it will take a while.

Next chapter is called Many Changes-Both autobots and decepticons go through a series of changes. It happens during Puppet, but I, of coures, changed it around and it's a little scary if you ask me, but that's me and I get scared easily so I hope you enjoy it. Until next chapter, bye for now my adoring readers I love you all!