Optimus held Arcee close, touching her cheek. The bruises were healing, all evidence of her time with Megatron was fading away, but not from her memory. He wished he could pluck those foul memories out of her helm and make her the femme he once knew.

She smiled up at him. "What are you looking at, Optimus?"

He smiled a little back, resting his forehelm on hers. "You." He rubbed her arms and was about to draw her into a kiss when...

EWWWWWWWWW! Carrier! That's disgusting!

Arcee turned her helm. Optimus followed her gaze.

A blue armored femme stood in their line of view, silver streaks down her sides. She had pointed digits, her mother's frame, and big, bright optics that took in everything. She was only a helm shorter than her carrier, but she would grow. She rolled her optics at them. "Really, sire, you should save it for the berth."

Optimus chuckled, then looked down at Arcee. "I told her I would take her out for a patrol."

"Bring her back all in one piece, eh?" She tapped his chest, meaning it though she said it playfully.

Bad things seemed to follow Optimus everywhere.

"Of course," Optimus said and he ushered Hope out of base. "Did you take an alt-form? Is it Earth-based?"

"Yes, sire." She transformed into a motorcycle, glittery blue like her carrier, but the streaks on her became flames that lapped all around her flanks. "See?"

"Kind of flashy," Optimus noted.

"Mother always breaks Autobot Rule Number One. She even changes it every time she lectures me! Autobot Rule Number One is keep a low profile. Now it's don't use abilities for personal gain. Now it's look both ways before crossing the street."

"All of those things are important," he said and he transformed.

"And your paintjob isn't flashy?" She teased him, like she always did, and took off down to the road. Optimus was relieved that she hadn't figured out how to access a higher gear...yet.

Then Megatron landed in front of her and she lost balance, skidding across the road. Nemesis was pleased, having grown bored in his brother's mind. He took control in a matter of seconds, using his brother's shock to overwhelm him and shove him to the darkest parts of his mind.

"And stay there," Nemesis muttered as he transformed. "Megatron, look at this...just you and me, alone, no one to stop me from wiping the floor with you."

"Yes, it does seem that I am at a disadvantage. You and my daughter versus me? Oh, I must begin begging for mercy. How does it go?"

Hope transformed and looked up at Megatron. Her paint was scratched, but Ratchet could easily fix that. From what Nemesis saw, her damage was only cosmetic. But she was confused. "You're not my dad..."

"Who do you think sired you? The spineless Optimus Prime? No, dear, I did."

Hope turned on Nemesis, who smirked. "Optimus is pretty strutless."

"You lied to me?"

"Hey, if it was my place to put in my two cents, I would have killed you when I found out Arcee was carrying, but my brother has something about life. He loves it too much, his life and most importantly, everyone else's."

Hope glared at Nemesis, then glared at Megatron. "My carrier can't sleep at night because of you! How could you?"

"I needed an heir. It's not like sparklings grow on trees." Megatron waved his servo in a dismissive way. "Come along home, lovely...You belong with the Decepticons."

Nemesis snarled, stepping up behind Hope while she collected herself mentally and emotionally on her aft in the middle of the road. "The only thing that belongs to the Decepticons is a fist to the face whenever you guys think you're superior!"

SHUT UP!

They looked down at Hope, who had struggled to her pedes. She was furious. Her little winglets trembled in rage. "I hate you," she said with a pointed digit at Nemesis. "And I hate Optimus for lying to me like he did. But I hate you more, Megatron! You raped my carrier and then act like it was for the greater good of everyone! You're sick!"

"Who, I wonder, taught you to scream at your elders?" Megatron mock tapped his claw to his chin. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be alive."

"I'd rather not be alive than be your creation!" She bared her denta at him, her optics dark and furious. "For now, I'll let you go without hurting you, but if I see you again..."

"You won't hurt me? Love, I thin-"

She barely even moved. Megatron's outstretched servo was crushed and the wrist was broken.

"When you sired me, I got your strength and your burning desire to inflict harm, but I got self-control from my carrier." She growled. "It could have easily been your arm."

Megatron believed her. He commed for an emergency GroundBridge and was quickly Bridged away.

Nemesis touched her shoulder, about to guide her away when she swatted him away.

"Don't touch me," she growled. She marched back into base and into her mother's arms. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Arcee glared at Nemesis, who was standing in the entrance. "You told her?"

"Actually, you can thank her sire for breaking the news."

"I'm going to kill him," she growled.

"Well, get in line, lovely," Nemesis growled back. "Because Hope has dibs."

Arcee patted her helm. "That's my girl."