It had been five years now since Hot Shot had been taken by Unicron and each day that passed only killed Optimus more. They had told the kids, whom were safely back on their planet, that when they found Hot Shot they would tell them, but so far they hadn't found him and Optimus was ever so deeply grieved. He remembered telling Hot Shot, when he was little, about Unicron in old stories and ever it scared him whenever he would talk about it . . . but now his child was trapped within the monster that scared him so when he was little . . . it must have been a nightmare each day just to wake up and know that you were still in that living nightmare. Ever Optimus wanted to relieve Hot Shot of that nightmare . . . but he couldn't . . . and that's what killed him the most.

As they searched the universe for the fifth year at still finding nothing Optimus began to grow tired of all this.

"I can't take it much more Jetfire," sighed Optimus as his optics darkened. "I miss him so much . . . I should have taken better care of him. Primus is punishing me for not seeking after him after the fire."

"I still can't believe Hot Shot's your child Optimus, sir," sighed Hoist shaking his head. "I just hope Unicron hasn't hurt my little buddy."

Optimus then placed his hand over his spark and looked downward. He knew his son was still alive, but in what condition he knew not . . . and that is what scared him the most.

"I'll never give up on him," said Optimus looking out into space. "Primus show us the way to him."

And so they flew through space searching for their lost comrade.

Hot Shot realized another year had passed and he began to have second thoughts about his so-called friends coming to his rescue. He began to wonder if they would. Some years ago he knew for certain, but now . . . he didn't. Would they rescue him? Did he know them that well?

Once upon a time he thought he did, but now . . . everything was too dark to know for certain. He was so lost . . . so lonely . . . so cold, but the worst thing was is that is exactly what Unicron wanted and there was nothing Hot Shot could do about it. Hot Shot began to feel it in his spark that he began to grow darker and darker. Ever he got the urge to say yes to Unicron . . . to evil.

Hot Shot began to know what evil was and . . . he liked it. But soon he would take back control of his thoughts and stop thinking those dark thoughts . . . but in time they would return. He knew that was not his own will at thinking such things, but soon he began to wonder if it was or was not. Things began to get so dark to Hot Shot.

Hot Shot began to notice the change in his body as well. His hands began to get slimmer and sharp like he had claws . . . like the horsemen and the same with his teeth. They felt a bit sharper than normal like fangs . . . like the horsemen. Even his optics changed from baby blue to a sickly yellow every now and then, but he feared that soon it would stay that color for good.

His yellow, red, and black colors to his body began to dampen and darken more into dull off colors. Soon, he knew, he would give into the evil that surrounded him for so long. He thought he was stronger than that, but Unicron did something to him that made him weaker and easily subdued by the evil within. What had Unicron done to him?

But this year wasn't going to be so bad for Rhinox left him alone and this only made Hot Shot grin. At least he still remembered how to do that . . . but was it good? Most of the horsemen left him alone, but Cheetor for Cheetor, fr some strange reason, cared about him and was always concerned with how he was progressing.

Hot Shot wished him as well to leave him alone, but Cheetor wouldn't do that and Hot Shot wanted to know why.

"Cheetor why do you care so much about me?" asked Hot Shot as he recieved a normal daily visit from Cheetor.

"What kind of a question is that Hot Shot?" asked Cheetor.

"Why do you care how evil and dark I am getting each day . . . aren't you sapposed to be happy that I'm becoming . . . one of you?" said Hot Shot keeping his optics away from Cheetor.

"Because Hot Shot," started Cheetor as he stood straightly. "You are strong and I admire that. You never give up when others would have. You leave me asking why again, but I know it is because you have the will power of even Primus perhaps."

"Yea right," scoffed Hot Shot as he continued to linger in the dark corner of his room. "I can't tell you how many people have looked up to me and I only disappointed them."

"But how many times have you just picked yourself back up Hot Shot?" asked Cheetor. "Since you do that then you teach others to do just the same. Haven't you looked up to anyone before?"

"Yea," sighed Hot Shot as he came to sit on the side of his bed. "But they never helped me up I had to learn to pick myself up."

"You mean your father didn't teach you, or help you?" asked Cheetor.

"You mean the father that abandoned me when I was 2,000 or the father that died when I was 13,000?" smiled Hot Shot as he turned his gaze to Cheetor.

"What about the one you looked up to? why didn't he help you?" asked Cheetor.

"Who Optimus?" said Hot Shot. "Why would he . . . he never really cared about me like he said. If he did he would have found and rescued me by now."

Cheetor was about to say something but contained himself. He couldn't talk to Hot Shot anymore. Hot Shot's mind was so messed up by the years of torture by Unicron that he had forgotten the joy of having friends and being loved. He thought that no one cared about him anymore and that is exactly what Unicron wanted him to think.

So now since he could not longer talk to Hot Shot Cheetor decided to leave him alone for that is what he wished. But before Cheetor left he turned to Hot Shot and said-

"I'm sorry your life has come to this Hot Shot . . ."

Then as Hot Shot looked at Cheetor, Cheetor finished his sentance-

"For you deserve so much more."

He then left Hot Shot alone and for once in a long while Hot Shot wanted company, but that feeling was soon thrust out of him after Unicron's torture. Hot Shot now, always, wanted to be left alone. He didn't want to see anyone especialy Cheetor. If he ever saw anyone he would get so mad that they don't abide by his wishes and so wish to hurt them and he didn't want to . . . especialy Cheetor.

But Cheetor would continue to visit him and try to cheer him up, but nothing seemed to work anymore. It would have two years ago, but unbeknowest to all Unicron's spark made Hot Shot feel this way and so he was never himself so much. Hot Shot even knew at times he would say things or do things that he would never do or dream of doing. He still wanted to know what thing made him do what he did, but he would never find out less anyone told him.

Cheetor kept encouraging him to fight Unicron's hold over him like the way he did some years ago, but Hot Shot keep saying he was so tired of doing just that. He would wonder if this would all end if he would just give in to Unicron.

"You said it yourself Cheetor . . . it will all stop if I just give in to Unicron and become his . . . forever," sighed Hot Shot starring off into the darkness of his room.

"But Hot Shot, you yorself said it will never stop," said Cheetor. "You said that a new torture will start . . . the torture of not being with the ones you love . . . with your friends!"

"Why would I want to be with them now?" asked Hot Shot. "When they don't care about me."

"Hot Shot you don't know that," said Cheetor. "Two years ago you seemed so sure that they cared so much about you."

"But that was a long time ago Cheetor," said Hot Shot. "Things have changed . . . friends change you know."

"Unicron has clouded your mind with darkness and blinded you from the truth," said Cheetor.

"You seem . . . so sure," said Hot Shot.

"Well I do know Unicron a lot better than you Hot Shot," chuckled Cheetor.

Hot Shot tried to give a smile, but all he got out was a slanted lip. Cheetor then knew Hot Shot would speek to him no longer and so he left.

"Take care of yourself Hot Shot and don't give up on your friends . . . for they're all you got," said Cheetor as he left.

At that Cheetor opened up a memory in Hot Shot's mind. It was of Optimus saying that same line when Hot Shot almost went rogue from the autobots after Optimus' death. At seeing Optimus' face again as a memory and not an illusion Hot Shot bowed his head and smiled a bit. Tears began to fall for the memories of his lost friends.

As time went by like the last four years Hot Shot was again laid before Unicron to await his torture for the day, but this time he was late and Hot Shot wondered why Unicron prolonged his 'daily torture'. Hot Shot grew tired of waiting. He just wanted to get it over with.

"Come on you overgrown bucket of bolts. Why are you delaying my torture?! Is this another way of torture Unicron?!" Said Hot Shot just wanting to get things over with already.

Then a sharp jolt of pain went throughout Hot Shot's body making him go offline. Unicron then gazed at Hot Shot and saw that his spark began to shoot up red flares, but then Unicron stopped it from trying to contact his friends.

"Ah, ah, wouldn't want you doing that now would we?" smiled Unicron.

Unicron then scanned that he indeed had great powers. He then thought to himself. Unicron then took his gaze away from Hot Shot and focused his attention on a ship that neared them. He knew who it was and he knew why they had come . . . they had come to take Hot Shot away from him and so he decided to avoid them and go into n asteroid field.

Cheetor then came in and saw Hot Shot. Hot Shot began to awake and there he saw Cheetor.

"What do you want Cheetor?" asked Hot Shot weary of everything and everyone.

"Just thought I'd loosen the bolts on your left hand . . . it looks a little tight anyways," he said as he loosened it.

Hot Shot saw what he was doing and whispered to him-

"Cheetor why?"

"You deserve this," said Cheetor as he walked out of the room.

Hot Shot then used all his strength and energy and so slept again. Then as Unicron turned his gaze back to Hot Shot he thought of many things. Airazor then came in and stood beside Hot Shot just gazing at him. Unicron then said, as he gazed at the sleeping Hot Shot-

"If he has a child the child shall be more powerful than even Primus, perhaps . . . would you like to bare his child Airazor?"

"Hmp, would be my pleasure," she grinned as she came and placed herself ontop Hot Shot.

She then looked at him for a while and then smiled and began to kiss him. Hot Shot then began to wake up. he tried to move his head away from her but she still kissed him. He had then gotten his hand free and he slowly moved it.

Airazor felt his hand move and so she placed his hand on her leg where Hot Shot felt . . . her gun. Hot Shot then took action and grabbed it and took it to her stomach and then shot her. This made her fly to the walls and hit it hard.

"What? NO!!" said Unicron.

Hot Shot then broke free of the bolts and turned to Unicron's spark knowing that if he just shot a large enough blast it could either kill or put Unicron out of commission, and so he shot his spark with a large blast and then ran out of the room.

"MY HORSEMEN, GET HIM!!!" cried Unicron.

Hot Shot ran down the halls with Airazor's gun in hand just in case he ran into any trouble. The first horseman he ran into was Cheetor.

"So . . ." started Hot Shot as he gazed at him. "Have you come to take me back 'cause I will fight."

"I know," said Cheetor stepping aside. "I'll come after you when you escape."

"Thank-you," smiled Hot Shot as he ran away. "My friend."

"Good-luck Hot Shot," said Cheetor as he watched him disappear in the shadows of the dark halls.

As Hot Shot made his way through Unicron's laberinth the wires came and tried to get him.

"NO!" said Hot Shot as he prepared for the impact.

But then they stopped before him. Hot Shot looked up at them and saw that they were not moving. They had just stopped in mid air.

"Huh?" he gasped in confusion.

Then as Hot Shot moved his hands down they followed the direction he put them.

"What did Unicron do to me?" whispered Hot Shot to himself.

He then stood straight and said-

"Take me out of here."

The wires then wrapped around him and took him through the walls and ceiling. Hot Shot gave a smile as the smell of freedom came to him.

"He's figured out how to use my spark!" growled Unicron. "I'll take back control!"

Then as Hot Shot went through the ceiling the wires then wrapped tight around his legs.

"Oh no!" Hot Shot said trying to get them off.

He then had no choice but to blast them off. He shot at them and injured his leg greatly. He fell to the ground with a hard crash and now stood up and looked for a way out. The halls were endless though.

He then limped his way down a hall that only led him to a dead end, but he didn't give up. He then blasted his way through the wall and found it was space. He then jumped out and turned to Unicron and blasted the gun again to act as a jetpack away from from him, but the blast didn't last too long and he had to hide in an asteroid. There he waited, but for what? . . . Optimus? . . . Unicron was probably right he gave up on him a long time ago.

As Hot Shot heard Unicron release the horsemen his spark began to hurt him like never before and the pain soon forced him to go offline. Now he knew the only thing he could wait for . . . is death. No one was coming for him. No one cared, did they? He was forgetten . . . or was he?

Right before Hot Shot went offline he managed to gasp one last thing-

"Primus help me!"

Optimus then felt a sharp pain surge through his spark and it made him crouch over.

"Optimus are you okay?" asked Jetfire seeing this.

"The matrix it's . . ." started Optimus, but another pain shot through him again causing him to take out the matrix.

As Optimus looked at it he saw it was glowing red.

"What's wrong with the matrix sir?" asked Jetfire seeing it glowing red.

"It's trying to tell me something," said Optimus gazing at it.

It then burnt his hand and he dropped it to the ground. It them shot out a red beam showing the way to Hot Shot. Optimus then saw what it meant.

"Jetfire hurry, link up!" he said turning to him.

Optimus then flew outside in space and searched the asteroid field before them and, with the matrix showing the way, found Hot Shot hinding in one of them. He looked like he was offline.

"There he is!!" gasped Optimus as he flew to him.

As Hot Shot came back online he looked up and saw Optimus coming towards him, but, thanks to Unicron, he thought he was an illusion.

"No . . . stay back," Hot Shot cried weakly trying to crawl away.

"It's me Hot Shot . . . it's the real me," said Optimus as he came and took Hot Shot in his arms.

Hot Shot then began to cry on Optimus' chest and so Optimus stayed there. Optimus had to keep from tearing himself.

"I thought . . . I thought you'd never come for me . . . I thought you forgot me!" cried Hot Shot digging his head into Optimus' arms.

"My Primus," Optimus gasped as he saw Hot Shot's condition. "What did Unicron do to you?!"

Hot Shot's chest then began to hurt him again and he cried out in pain because of it.

"Hot Shot, what's wrong?!" asked Optimus seeing his only son in pain.

"Something's wrong with me!!" he cried holding his spark. "Unicron . . . my spark!"

"Don't worry Hot Shot, I'll get you out of here!" said Optimus as he readied to take off, but as he did this it only made Hot Shot hurt worse . . . Optimus didn't know what to do.

Then Hot Shot's cries ceased and his breath left him in a soft sigh.

"No Hot Shot!!" cried Optimus.

Then Hot Shot's body went limp in Optimus' arms and his color changed to black and grey. His spark had left his body and gone through space . . . and Optimus had watched it all happen.

"Wait Hot Shot I'm your father!" cried Optimus, but saw he was already dead. "I'm your father."

Optimus then took Hot Shot's body back on the ship and all saw they were too late.

"For five years we searched for him," bowed Hoist as tears filled his optics. "We were too late."

Optimus held his son close to him and wept on him.

"No," he cried as his tears came out like the time when he lost Hot Shot to the flames of that horrible night.

Optimus brought Hot Shot's body back on the ship and Unicron and his horsemen were never seen again. They came back to cybertron and there Optimus placed Hot Shot on a gold bed where he'd be remembered always as a hero of cybertron. He was laid next to his mother Elita One. Optimus gazed at Hot Shot remembering talking to him when he was little about Unicron.

FLASHBACK

"Unicron is the meanest creature . . . monster in the universe and will kill you if he got the chance," said Optimus to his little boy who sat on his lap with a couple of picture books.

"Even meaner than Megatron?" asked Hot Shot.

"Yes, even meaner than Megatron," smiled Optimus as he tickled his son.

Hot Shot then gazed at a picture of Unicron in his book and then looked up at his father and said-

"I hope I never meet him daddy."

"I hope so too son," said Optimus kissing him upon the head.

END FLASHBACK

And now that monster has killed his only child . . . what was Optimus to do now? Optimus gazed at his dead son and only wished that he find peace in the allspark and that Elita greet him with open arms. Optimus placed his hands on the side of the bed and they scrunched up into hard fists as his anger for Unicron took hold of him. Not only did Unicron take away Galvatron's son, but his as well.

Optimus then let out all his anger as he cried out with all his might-

"CURSE YOU UNICRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Hot Shot's girl: Would you all kill me if I said the end?