Hot Shot had tried his best to race for the planet cup, but he did not race for the cup right now. He raced for nothing, for Ransack and Crumplezone had made a fake race just to lure him into a trap. They had also gotten a bot named Dirt Boss to help and get rid of Hot Shot. It was a dark day when they raced and Hot Shot pushed himself to near death just to win a fake race.

"Hot Shot you've got to stop this!" said Red Alert helping a downed and injured Hot Shot up. "You're going to kill yourself if you continue to do this!"

"Well then maybe Optimus won't be mad at me anymore!" said Hot Shot as he got up. "You don't understand Red Alert. I disobeyed Optimus' direct command and I have nothing to show for it!!"

He then turned and transformed and sped off.

"Hot Shot wait!!" cried Red Alert after him, but he was gone.

Red Alert then transformed and chased after him pleading with him to stop. Hot Shot wouldn't stop though. He'd rather die then have Optimus yell at him again. He knew that it was his own fault for Optimus being so hard on him.

He was reckless and immature. He was irresponsible and lacked the compacity to think of what to do before he did what he did. He was a failure to everything and everyone . . . and especially Optimus. He promised to try and be the son Optimus lost, but if his real son was alive right now Optimus would be the proudest father in the universe, for his real son would probably make him very proud . . . unlike himself.

As Hot Shot fought to stay on course with Dirt Boss, Ransack and Crumplezone stood on top a mountain to have a perfect shot at Hot Shot.

"Time to die blue boy," smiled Ransack as they aimed at Hot Shot.

They then fired at him causing him to go off course and transform. Hot Shot was tired of this and so decided to shoot them, but they had the high ground and he was wide open to any attack. He tried to find cover, but they had blasted rocks above him and caused an avalanche to fall right on him.

"OH NO!!" he cried as he looked up to see the rocks falling on him.

Hot Shot then dunked for cover as the rocks buried him alive. Ransack and Crumplezone then came to him and prepared to blast away at him.

"It's about time we get rid of the little pest!" chuckled Ransack as their guns heated to be fired.

Then there came a portal and out of it came two large bots, and, following, three others. The largest then came before them with his guns raised at them saying-

"Just who are you planning on getting rid of?"

"Uh . . . we gotta go!" they said as they sped off.

Optimus then turned to Landmine and said-

"Landmine get Hot Shot out of those rocks!"

"Yes sir!" said Landmine running off to dig Hot Shot out of the rocks.

Red Alert then came and transformed as he saw Optimus.

"Optimus!" said Red Alert surprised to see them their so soon.

"Red Alert I want to know everything that happened here!" said Optimus turning to him.

"I," started Red Alert.

Then Landmine came with Hot Shot on his shoulder. Landmine smiled and said-

"Look what I found under a rock."

"Hot Shot!" said Optimus looking at Hot Shot's poor condition.

"Please Optimus don't blame Red Alert . . . It was all . . . my fault," he said as his strength failed him and he fell to the ground.

"Hot Shot, HOT SHOT!!" cried Red Alert watching his friend fall, almost, lifeless.

They had then came to Breakdown and Clocker's home. Red Alert told them that they were friends ever since Hot Shot saved them from the decepticons, but Optimus was still not pleased. There they tried to help Hot Shot. Red Alert did all he could, but now Hot Shot had to rest and recover his strength.

"Will he be okay?" asked the children seeing Hot Shot through the monitors.

"He should be," sighed Red Alert. "It's now up to Hot Shot to finish his healing."

Optimus then looked at Red Alert with angry optics and said-

"Red Alert I want to know why Hot Shot was in that bad of condition he was and why YOU let him get there!"

"I couldn't control him Optimus," said Red Alert. "He wouldn't listen to anyone!"

"That is no excuse!" said Optimus. "When he wakes up I will see what he has to say, but mark my words this will NOT happen again!"

"Yes sir," bowed Red Alert.

Hot Shot eventually woke up and when he did Optimus did not greet him lightly.

"Hot Shot explain to me why you disobeyed me?" asked Optimus crossing his arms.

"I . . . can't," bowed Hot Shot.

"Oh you can't . . . or you won't?" said Optimus. "I thought I told you to stay low and not to make contact with anyone!"

"But I had to!" said Hot Shot. "They would have died!"

"And what about the key?!" shouted Optimus. "I guess you find racing more important than cybertron right?!"

"NO!" said Hot Shot. "I had to race in order to win it!"

"Yea right," said Optimus. "You expect me to believe that?!"

"I don't expect you to believe anything Optimus . . . especially not me," said Hot Shot as he stood up and walked away.

Optimus then turned to Red Alert and said-

"You're both off the mission. When I get the key from the leader of this planet I want Hot Shot shipped back to earth!"

Optimus then walked off. Vector Prime had never seen Optimus like this before. He could tell that Optimus was worried about the young Hot Shot, but he didn't bother giving him a second chance to prove himself to him. Vector Prime believed Hot Shot was telling the truth about wining the key, and besides why would Hot Shot lie?

Optimus had come to the leader of the planet Override. He had tried to tell her about how important the key was, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to race and Optimus knew he wasn't fast enough for her and he knew that her mind was not going to be changed. There was nothing he could say or do to make her listen for she only wanted to race.

"Hot Shot, Hot Shot what's wrong?" asked Clocker as he came to Hot Shot who stood outside.

"Everything," sighed Hot Shot as he bowed his head.

"Is it about Optimus?" asked Clocker.

"It always is," said Hot Shot turning his back to the young one. "He expects so much from me. I can never be that son he wanted."

"So is he your father?" asked Clocker.

"No," sighed Hot Shot turning back to Clocker. "My father left me a long time ago. It appears no one wants me around anymore."

"That's not true Hot Shot," said Clocker.

"Oh, but it is," said Hot Shot. "I tried to get the planet cup and help everyone out. If I could have done that then maybe I could have been . . . I thought I could be a HERO!!"

He then turned and punched the side of a cliff, but it still didn't help him. Clocker then straightened and proudly said-

"Well you're my hero Hot Shot."

Hot Shot then turned to the young bot who kindly smiled at him. Hot Shot then gave out a sigh and then smiled a bit and said-

"Thanks Clocker."

Optimus was not to far away from them as he heard this. He was going to teleport Hot Shot back to earth, but stopped as he saw Clocker spoke to him. He had forgotten how much other transformers looked up to Hot Shot. He had then remembered when Hot Shot was little . . . he used to be the same way.

FLASHBACK

"Daddy, daddy!" cried Hot Shot as he ran to Optimus in the middle of the night.

"What is it son?" asked Optimus as he got up from his bed and held his scared son.

"There are bad people in my dreams. Will you fight them off?" asked Hot Shot is baby blues staring at his father.

"Well why would I do that?" smiled Optimus knowing that this wasn't the first time his son had come to him from a nightmare.

"'Cause you're my hero daddy," said Hot Shot giving his father a tight hug.

Optimus gave a soft smile as he heard his son say this. He then held his son close to his chest and said-

"Thank-you son."

END FLASHBACK

Optimus had then realized how much his son was admired on that planet. Clocker and Breakdown admired him for saving them and Override admired him for his speed. He had forgotten how much other transformers loved him. Optimus had forgotten how much Hot Shot tried to make him love him.

He had tried to please him for so long and Optimus had no idea. All Hot Shot ever wanted from Optimus was for him just to say good job. How could Optimus have been blind to his own son?

I should have known better, thought Optimus as he left to go inside.

Later as Hot Shot went inside he knew it was time for him to be shipped to earth with all the other useless autobots.

"Hot Shot," said Optimus as he turned to him.

Hot Shot kept his gaze from Optimus. He didn't want him to be angered at him any more. Hot Shot did not say a word and Optimus caught this.

"Hot Shot?" he said trying to look at his optics.

Hot Shot just turned his head away from Optimus. He was mad at Optimus and at himself. Optimus then said-

"I spoke with Override and she said that she will not give us the key, but we have to win it . . . in a race . . . and there is only one who is even capable at competing with her."

Hot Shot had sat himself in a corner hoping everyone would stop looking at him, but then Optimus turned to him and said-

"Hot Shot."

Hot Shot then had no choice but to look at his commander. Optimus then said-

"You, Hot Shot, are the only one who could possibly match her speed."

"Me?" gasped Hot Shot seeing his commader lighten his anger at him.

"The fait of the universe rests on you winning that planet cup Hot Shot. Can we count on you soldier?" smiled Optimus seeing Hot Shot's smile widen.

"Yes sir!" smiled Hot Shot jumping to his feet. "Thank-you Optimus for giving me a second chance."

Optimus just smiled and nodded his head a bit. He then looked at Red Alert and said-

"Well what are you waiting for? let's get Hot Shot ready for that race."

Hot Shot raced in many races and had to save a number of lives 'cause of the high stakes. Breakdown gave up the race to help Hot Shot and Override would have been swiss cheese if Hot Shot didn't save her from a large bolder. She thanked him very greatly for that and admired him even more. No one would have ever done that for her.

One of the races Hot Shot had come in second. Coby had snuck on the planet just to see Hot Shot race. None but the minicons knew he was there. All were glad to rute for Hot Shot.

"Go Hot Shot!" shouted Vector Prime as he past by.

Optimus gazed at Vector Prime in surprise. He had never seen him act like this before.

"I mean . . . he is doing well," said Vector Prime straightening. "What, I cannot rute for my own great great great grandchild?"

Optimus then turned more to Vector Prime looking at him with even more surprised optics.

"What, you think I couldn't tell?" smiled Vector Prime. "I had a child just like him and I acted the same way you did to him. Dartus, after all, was your decedant. You get alot of your characteristics from him."

Optimus just shook his head and smiled.

"So when were you planning on telling him?" asked Vector Prime.

"When he is ready to know," sighed Optimus. "And I think it will be very soon."

"I hope so," smiled Vector Prime gazing once again at the race.

"Me too," smiled Optimus. "I've been wanting to tell him ever sice the day I found out he was my lost son."

The races went on and Hot Shot was one of the chosen to be part of the last race. Coby had come to him and wanted to help him. Hot Shot had asked Optimus if Coby could help. Optimus wished for the humans to stay away from harm as possible, but he agreed that Coby could help Hot Shot win the race.

The last race course was intense. There was sharp turns and curves and wide loops. One thing happened where Hot Shot's engine began to fail him, but thanks to Coby it was fixed. It was then a neck-in-neck race between him and Override.

Hot Shot used his cyber key to go faster and at the last second he passed Override and beat her. She transformed and just gazed at him in awe.

"I . . . lost?" she said in disbelief.

Then, just as Hot Shot got the planet cup, the decepticons came and took it, but the autobots weren't going to give up without a fight. After a series of blasts and dodging Override managed to get the planet cup back. The decepticons knew they had lost and so they left. After that incident Hot Shot received the planet cup in the awarding ceramony.

He was so happy and Optimus was ever more proud of him.

"This is gonna go straight to his head," said the autobots with a few chuckles.

"You're probably right," smiled Optimus. "I just want him to enjoy this moment as long as he can."

"Yes, he deserves it," smiled Vector Prime. "He worked hard and long to perfect his racing skills."

Later, just before they were going to leave Override decided to join the autobots and travel with them. One reason was beacuse she'd have no one to race on the planet that would be a real challange, and the other was she liked the ways of the autobots and she liked a certain autobot as well. She immediately grew attached to one of the humans named Lori. They were like sisters and so they referred to each other as big sister and little sister.

Hot Shot thought this to be very strange, but Override and Lori paid no attention to that. They didn't care what other people said. They would be sisters even if it killed them. Override has, also, the honor of placing the key in the omega lock.

They now headed for the jungle planet where Megatron had won friendship with the leader of the planet. A dragon named Scourge.