As time passed by there were still sightings of Unicron. People prepared to take caution now that the whole universe knew that Unicron had began to show himself and began to drain whatever life he could of whoever he could. People began to fear that soon Unicron would drain enough life and energy to form his old body to what is was again and destroy the universe where he started. It would only be a matter of time now.
Hot Shot was kept on cybertron now and under close watch. He wanted to go back to velocitron but Optimus forbid him not to. Hot Shot could understand their caution, but he hated being babied. He felt liked he was caged from him life, but it was for his own good.
He would have to stay there until they found a way to control Unicron and all knew the only one who could do that is Primus and that His spark was lost from Hot Shot and that none knew where it had went. Red Alert took a team to search through cybertron scanning many transformers trying to find out who has it, but soon they found that none had and so it took them to the speed planet and jungle planet and so on. They could not find it, but they knew there were many other transformers to go till they scanned them all. All knew they would probably not find the spark in time and all would be lost.
Hot Shot though kept his mood pretty good. He was very positive about his situation. He looked as if he had no fear of Unicron. Some figured it was because he has lived so long with him that his fear had vanished, but the truth was Hot Shot was afraid. He was afraid of so many things, but he did not want to show it.
In truth Hot Shot was afraid of losing control. He was afraid of hurting his loved ones. He was afraid of not seeing his friends again. He was afraid of leaving Override a widow.
Hot Shot was afraid of letting Unicron destroy all life as he knew it . . . but Hot Shot did not want to show it. He wanted to be positive for the others would not be and so if they wouldn't be then he would. He always liked being positive. It not only made him in a better mood, but others would follow and lighten up on the situation.
No matter how dark or how cold Hot Shot would always be happy. He knew it would take him years of this stuff to down-size his mood. Like his years of torture. He fought to his very last breathe against Unicron to try and stay positive.
Now he knew Unicron had succeeded in the end to turn him against everything he ever loved, but when Hot Shot had escaped Unicron Hot Shot remembered that sweet feeling. He remembered what freedom felt like and why it was so important to him. He remembered why he fought for it . . . so that others could share that glorious feeling with him as well. He wanted others like him to know that feeling and always remember it.
As Hot Shot stayed on cybertron he had noticed that Optimus had put the space bridge project on hold and so he wondered why. Later he found out that Optimus had put it on hold for him. So that he could get all the men he could to try and find that spark, but it was the same still. None had known where it had went or gone or if it was even there anymore.
Now that all cybertron had known who Hot Shot really was there were some that looked down on him and Hot Shot knew this. Most he had known from war. They were the ones who had a hard time listening to Optimus' orders when he told them to back down from the decepticons. They were the ones who hated the decepticons with all their might and would do anything to murder them all if they could.
Hot Shot had never trusted these bots. Sure he knew they were good fighters, but after the war they still longed to fight and kill. Hot Shot always figured they belonged with the decepticons, but solely they hated them and would never turn. Hot Shot knew the only reason they were even autobots was because of their hatred for the decepticons and not for their love of peace like Optimus and the others.
But then again, as Hot Shot thought, wasn't that why he joined the war? To get revenge on the decepticons for what they did to his friends in school? Hot Shot was in no position to judge. He had no right to say it was wrong when he was in the war for the same thing. He was just as guilty.
Hot Shot sighed as he thought about this. But then again . . . Hot Shot was different. He had changed as he grew and matured through time. He had changed his whole out-look on life and war because of a certain someone who stood by him and trained him into a seasoned warrior no matter what.
Hot Shot smiled as he remembered Optimus training him and ever wanting him to mature and learn the ways of what he was fighting for and how to fight. Hot Shot had taken in many skills from Optimus' training, but then again Hot Shot remembered how stubborn he was and that he only wanted to listen when he wanted to. He remembered how annoyed Optimus used to get because of this, but Optimus was always right there to forgive him for doing something stupid. Optimus was always like that . . . he guessed that it was just the father in him and it was . . . Optimus had always been like that to everyone and that Hot Shot was glad for.
Through time Hot Shot had gained some characteristics from Optimus. Even though he didn't know it, he was becoming more like his old bot than he knew. Hot Shot remembered the time when he wanted to prove to Optimus how good he was and he always thought he was never good enough for him, but he didn't know that Optimus had already seen his greatness long before he knew he had it and so decided to take it upon himself to bring it out in him. Hot Shot never could understand how Optimus could see these things.
Later Hot Shot learned to look closer and even himself, he began to see it, no only in himself, but it others as well. This Hot Shot knew Optimus was glad he learned. Hot Shot had learned many things from Optimus, many things that pointed him to Optimus' son, but even Hot Shot could be blind at times. There were so many signs that Hot Shot decided to ignore and not take heed when he should have stopped and looked.
Now Hot Shot was glad he didn't for it was worth the wait to find his real father, or his real father finding him. Hot Shot remembered how he thought his real father didn't care about him for he was not looking for him. Hot Shot was so relieved when he found out he was wrong. He was so glad when he found out that he was always right there beside him . . . watching over . . . and protecting him.
It had been a couple of weeks now and ever Hot Shot could feel Unicron coming out. At times even his power would be set loose and Hot Shot would do nothing. One time when Hot Shot sat outside to think to himself things around him began to rise and he had no part in it. Hot Shot had to struggle to stop it and when he had succeeded in putting all the things that rose back down his energy would be so drained that he could feel Unicron feeding off him.
Hot Shot did not want Unicron to take the best of him and so he restricted himself from ever using Unicron's powers again. No matter what Hot Shot had decided to never use them again. When the others found out about this there close watch got even closer and Hot Shot was afraid of being really locked up. Optimus knew his son did not want this and never did and so he restricted anyone from ever locking him up.
But Optimus now ever pushed the autobots to find Primus' spark that was missing from Hot Shot, but they had no luck. The humans even joined in on this search, but again, they had no luck like the transformers. This only broke Optimus' spark more for he knew he was losing his son and now there was nothing anyone or anything could do about it but Primus . . . but He would do nothing. Optimus begged Primus to give Hot Shot another piece of his spark so that Unicron could be put back under control, but Primus denied him that saying He had nothing more to give.
Soon they got so desperate that Optimus had ordered a spark separation attempt. Red Alert knew this would not be good to do, but he had to follow orders and so he took Hot Shot and attempted it. Optimus just told him that if anything goes wrong to stop it . . . well . . . something did go wrong . . . Unicron had threated Hot Shot's very life if they did not stop the spark separation. Red Alert knew if he didn't stop that Unicron would kill Hot Shot and bring him down with him into death.
Red Alert had no choice but to stop. Unicron knew this would happen in the future and he knew by the autobots. So if he ransomed Hot Shot's life for the safety of his then he knew he would live. He knew how soft the autobots were and that they'd never harm a life . . . especially not that last Prime.
Red Alert quit and told Optimus about what had happened. Red Alert had tried and ever Optimus was saddened by this.
"I'm sorry sir," bowed Red Alert. "I tried, but Unicron would have killed Hot Shot if I didn't stop."
Optimus didn't look so good as Red Alert spoke about his failure. Optimus didn't even want to face Red Alert for he knew it was his own fault for even suggesting it. Optimus thought of many things as Red Alert spoke to him. He later sighed and asked him-
"How is Hot Shot doing Red Alert?"
"He is stable sir," said Red Alert. "The attempt caused him much pain, but after I stopped he seemed to recover quite well."
"Good," sighed Optimus as he gazed out into space.
Red Alert could tell Optimus was so tired of this. He could tell Optimus was so tired of losing those most dearest to him. He saw that deep down inside Optimus blamed himself for Hot Shot's condition. Optimus blamed himself for so many things.
"If I may say sir, you need to stop blaming yourself for Hot Shot's condition," said Red Alert easily reading Optimus' mind.
"But I can't," said Optimus looking at the doctor. "I wonder what would have happened if I would have kept searching for Hot Shot when he was little. What would his life be like now? I wonder if I should have told him so long ago that I was his father, perhaps . . . his life would have been better."
"What if not sir?" asked Red Alert. "No one knows what would have happened but Primus. All these things happened for a purpose Optimus. Sometimes we don't know why and perhaps never will till He tells us."
Optimus then darkened his optics, bowed his head, and sighed. He didn't know what was to happen, but he just didn't want to lose his only sparkling to Unicron again. He was distraught before when it happened and if it happened again it would nearly, or would, kill him. He always feared Hot Shot was to be the death of him, but not in this horrible way.
The chaos-bringer has brought much chaos upon the Prime family. Ever since the first Prime and his family. It seems nothing good ever comes out of being a Prime and this Optimus knew ever since he thought he had lost Hot Shot to the flames that dark night so long ago. Would anything happy ever be possible with the Primes?
Soon time came when they had to figure out a way to stop Unicron from draining the planets' life so he could rebuild himself to his natural state. Scattershot had suggested a energon shield around the planets so Unicron could not get to them, but even energon couldn't stop Unicron. He absorbed that power too and it only got him one step closer to fulfilling domination. But something happened when Unicron absorbed too much of the energon Shields . . . the power had went throughout the planet cybertron and into the ground and into the dead corpses of the decepticons.
That power had placed in them bits and pieces of Unicron becoming his minions. They rose from the dead and became Unicrons. Their minds were not their own, but his and he knew this. When he had seen his many minions he knew the perfect thing for them to do for him . . . bring his holder to him.
"Hey Optimus can I take Hot Shot out for a race?" asked Override as she came to him knowing Hot Shot could use it.
"I don't know," said Optimus as he thought about this.
"Don't worry I shall keep a close optic on him Optimus," smiled Override. "I believe Hot Shot could use the fresh air."
Optimus looked at Override and then smiled shaking his head 'yes'. Optimus knew Hot Shot would enjoy getting out of the place he was being kept. Optimus knew Hot Shot enjoyed racing and especially with her for she was the only real challenge for him and so he allowed it.
"Very well Override, but watch him close alright?" said Optimus pointing a finger at her.
"Yes sir," she smiled as she saluted him.
And so she and Hot Shot left to go to a couple of race tracks on cybertron where it was only them two to race. Hot Shot enjoyed what Override was doing for him. She could always cheer him up and for that he was thankful. They didn't really race to win, but just raced for fun and to clear their minds.
"Hey thanks Override," smiled Hot Shot as he drove up gently beside her.
"No problem Hot Shot," she smiled. "I know what can cheer you up."
"And what else Override?" smiled Hot Shot as he stopped and transformed.
"What?" asked Override as she stopped, turned to him, and transformed.
"You," he smiled as he took her in his arms and captured her lips with his.
It had been a long while since Override and Hot Shot had went out to race. Optimus trusted Override to watch over him and all, but what was taking them so long to race and come back. When Optimus decided to go check up on them something stopped him as he caught a glimpse of it in the distance.
"What the-?!" he gasped as he thought his optics deceived him.
There came before him what he saw a large decepticon army, but how?! Optimus did not know how this happened but he knew what he had to do. He rounded up the autobots and prepared to attack them if they attacked. What did they want and why did they come?
Now it was too late to think. The decepticon army had attacked them and they had to defend themselves. As they fought Optimus found them very strange. They were unlike normal decepticons. It was as if something else controlled them.
But as Optimus gazed up in the sky passed the flying decepticons he knew it was someone who controlled them.
"Unicron!" gasped Optimus as he saw him pierce through the sky and look down upon them.
Unicron gazed down upon them and placed his hand over the building where the autobots were and began to absorb it till nothing but ruins stood and you could see everything inside. Soon the decepticons controlled by Unicron entered the building and searched for something.
"What could they possibly want?" wondered Optimus knowing there was no power source for Unicron to absorb in there.
Soon as they clouded the whole building they left it and returned to Unicron. They took nothing and Optimus then knew what they were looking for wasn't there, but what? When Unicron turned his attention else where Optimus then knew what they were after.
"Hot Shot!!" he gasped.
"Optimus, sir, what do we do?" asked Smokescreen as they come up to their leader.
"We have to go find Hot Shot before they do!" he said turning to them. "Unicron wants his spark back!"
And so they sped off to where Override had taken Hot Shot to race.
Hot Shot and Override both noticed that the sky had turned into a strange red color and both knew that couldn't be good. When Hot Shot went to take a better look to see why he only saw the worst.
"No!" gasped Hot Shot backing up.
"Hot Shot what is it?!" asked Override.
"Unicron!" gasped Hot Shot as they both gazed up at the thing that soon engulfed them in its shadow.
Override looked for the first time upon the evil monster all transformers feared and he who dwelling inside of Unicron. She grew afraid now, not for her life, but for him taking Hot Shot away from her and this she did not want to do. They then saw the risen dead army of the decepticons and that they were controlled by none other than Unicron.
Unicron looked down upon them as if with no emotion. He then saw Hot Shot and so reached down his mighty hand to take him to himself.
"NO!!!" cried Hot Shot as he stood before Override and held his hands up having no choice but to use Unicron's power to protect both himself and his love.
Hot Shot used a force field of some sort to stop Unicron's hand from coming down upon them. Override stood behind Hot Shot and just gazed upward at the monstrosity before them. Unicron then pressed down upon them harder and Hot Shot knew that if he didn't do something quick that Override would be killed and he lost forever to Unicron. He had to do something soon!
But soon Hot Shot had to do nothing as Unicron stopped pressing upon them, but he just held his hand above them and began absorbing Hot Shot. Hot Shot could not stop this as Unicron took over him for using his power. Override saw this and so cried out as she grabbed a hold of him-
"NO!!!"
As Override grasped him not wanting Unicron to absorb him something happened. Hot Shot snapped out of Unicron's power and became normal again. Override fell back as Hot Shot's body jolt back. Even Unicron had to raise his hand from them as that jolt struck his hand giving it a little sting.
Override fell to the ground holding Hot Shot and he fell beside her. She soon got up and saw he was unconscious.
"Oh Primus, Hot Shot wake up!" she cried shaking him to wake up.
Override saw it wasn't working and so she feared that Unicron had succeeded and Hot Shot was now gone.
"Hot Shot please," she cried as her tears came down her face.
She then looked up at Unicron who had prepared to let his decepticon armies to take him. Override knew she had to try her best to fight them off and so she did. She knew she could not fight them alone and for long and so she called for back-up and before she knew it Optimus and the other autobots stood by her side ready to fight with her.
"Optimus!" she gasped as she looked at him. "I thought it would be too late!"
"Not as long as I'm still alive!" said Optimus as he gazed up at Unicron with no fear.
Optimus then looked at all his men who stood with him and then at them army of Unicron controlled decepicons. He then raised his hand and said-
"Autobots . . . attack!"
And so the two armies clashed. Unicron did not care if his men died or not all he wanted now was to get his spark back. He looked through the crowd of decepticons and autobots fighting among one another and there saw Hot Shot still laying where he had fallen and he was his for the taking. And so he reached his hand down one more time to him.
Override kept near Hot Shot and made sure no one touched him. As she fought to protect him she noticed Unicron again reaching down to take Hot Shot. Before he got above them Hot Shot had awoken and stood up. Override gasped at seeing he was still alive.
"Hot Shot!" she gasped shooting at someone and then looking back at him. "I thought you were dead."
Hot Shot then almost got hit by a laser and so came up beside Override to fight and said-
"I almost will be if I don't fight back."
As they fought they only found Unicron bringing up more and more decepticons to kill the autobots. At this rate the autobots knew they could not last for long and that they would die, but if they did not make their stand here then the whole universe would die with them. They knew how important it was to make sure Unicron did not get to Hot Shot. They knew how important it was to stay alive for him.
Hot Shot saw all these autobots dying for him and he knew this was not right. No one should ever die for him. He had to save them for he was the only one who could, but how? As more men died and more decepticons came to kill the rest Hot Shot looked at Optimus and as a faint light shimmered from his chest Hot Shot knew the only way to defeat Unicron.
Hot Shot looked up and saw some autobots trying to attack Unicron, but their missiles and lasers just went right through him for he was not full yet. He would not be full yet till he had his spark and ever Hot Shot knew he wanted to be full again . . . but so did Hot Shot.
"Father!" cried Hot Shot to Optimus who was a couple of yards away from him.
Optimus quickly turned to see Hot Shot through all this madness and saw that Hot Shot wanted something. Hot Shot then called out to him saying-
"Father give me the matrix!"
"What, why?!" asked Optimus as he shot a couple more decepticon trying to claw their way through him.
"It is the only way to stop Unicron!" cried Hot Shot.
Optimus did not want to give Hot Shot the matrix for he did not know if it would work or not or what would happen if he did, but he looked into Hot Shot's optics that looked tired of his friends dying for him and knowing only this would stop Unicron for good. Optimus had to trust Hot Shot and so he nodded and took out the matrix and then flung it to Hot Shot. It headed right to Hot Shot but something hit it and caused it to spiral away. Hot Shot soon acted quickly and grabbed the matrix making sure it was safe and secure in his hands.
Override turned and saw Hot Shot holding the matrix in his hands. She gasped as she caught her breath as the battle raged on. She then asked-
"Hot Shot what is tha-?!"
But before she could say anything Hot Shot gave her one last kiss and looked at her and said-
"I love you Override."
"Wha-?" she gasped confused and a little scared as Hot Shot ran off.
She saw Hot Shot run to the highest place he could to be better seen by Unicron. There all watched as Hot Shot placed the matrix close to his chest where his spark was and looked at Unicron. Unicron saw the matrix in his holder's hands and he did not want it anywhere near him and so he reached down to Hot Shot, but it was too late by then. Hot Shot then opened the matrix and let its power loose upon Unicron's spark . . . and his own.
"NO!!!!" cried Optimus seeing this.
As Unicron's spark was attack so he attacked Hot Shot's, but this time there was no one to stop him. Hot Shot felt the power of Primus burn him from the inside out but if that is what it took to get the evil out then so be it. Hot Shot could feel Unicron attacking his own spark and so he toughed out a smile and gasped out-
"That's right Unicron . . . kill me, but soon . . . you shall join me in death!!!"
Unicron then through his head back crying out in pain as his spark was ripped apart from Hot Shot's and destroyed by the power of the matrix. In that moment of time there was a bright flash of light and the matrix fell out of Hot Shot's hands falling near Optimus. As Unicron vanished with the light a pulse of power wiped throughout the field and destroyed everything that was his like his minions and power. Unicron was gone now and never would come back.
The fighting had stopped because of him. As all could see again they all saw Hot Shot . . . he didn't look too well as they saw him.
"Hot Shot," gasped Override covering her mouth with her hand.
Optimus made his way to Hot Shot and wondered if he was still alive. Hot Shot was dim and he looked like he was dead but was he.
"Hot Shot?" gasped Optimus as tears began to swell in his optics.
Hot Shot then moved! He turned to his father and gave a slight smile. He then managed to say a couple words-
"Father."
Hot Shot then lost all strength in his body and fell, but Optimus quickly caught him and held him in his arms. He could not hold back his natural tears as he watched his only son slowly die in his arms.
"Hot Shot," he cried as the rest of the autobots came next to him to see Hot Shot.
"I . . . I," said Hot Shot forcing the words out. "I finally feel . . . free."
"Please Primus don't take him from me again!" gagged Optimus through his tears and sadness.
Hot Shot, with barely working optics, looked up at his father and said-
"I love you . . . father."
"Hot Shot don't," cried Optimus.
"W-what was that . . . that lullaby that you and my mother would sing to me . . . to-to calm me down?"
Optimus couldn't tell him as everything began to make him choke, but soon Optimus forced it out as he tried to say-
"Hush now . . . baby . . . don't you cry-"
Optimus then choked on his tears put pushed himself forward again-
"Rest your wings my butterfly."
Hot Shot just smiled as he shook his head slowly saying with his last words in a hushed whisper-
"I think I'll do that."
Hot Shot's optic lights then faded in nothingness for good and he let out his spark in his father's arms. There his spark went to its final resting place . . . forever. Optimus shook all over as mournfulness and sadness struck him. He then came close to his sparkling's face and kissed him on the forehead.
But as he did that Hot Shot's body was so broken that after that touch it fell to pieces . . . into space dust that seemed to glow like small stars.
"NO!!" cried Override as he shoved herself on Evac.
Evac knew that he could not comfort her for even he too was sad. None that day could keep their tears in for all loved Hot Shot and now he was gone and this time . . . he was not coming back. Optimus hit the ground hard and only blamed himself for Hot Shot's death, for who else was there to blame but himself? Unicron was gone, all the decepticons were gone, and so he was the only one left and ever Optimus was lonely.
Optimus couldn't even cry out for his lost son for there was nothing more to cry out for there was no mournful cries he could let out . . . they had been taken from him so many years ago. Now he knew being a Prime would always mean not only being the highest . . . but alone as well.