A/N: Again, thank you guys so much for the wonderful reviews. I'm trying to get everyone responded to, so if you've left a review and don't hear from me, please just wait. I promise I will answer you. You all are so kind. I don't even know what to say. So please enjoy this chapter ^_^

Optimus woke to pain. He'd been dreaming of Cybertron before the war. Alpha Trion had invited him into the inner chamber at the Hall of Records and they had been discussing the latest news coming out of Kaon.

"You've handled this all wrong, Orion. You should have known better."

"I know . . . I don't deserve the title of Prime."

"Of course you don't. You are Prime in name only. Never has another Prime caused Cybertron such harm, not since the Fallen."

He'd woke with a jolt, pain sparking through his circuits. Was it really just a dream or was it a vision from Alpha Trion himself. Who better to know if he was a failure as a Prime than one of the Original Thirteen?

No. He shoved that thought away. He might have had to make some terrible choices but destroying the Omega Lock had been absolutely necessary. Even looking back now he knew it had been the only way to save Earth and humanity. Cyberton might never regain its former glory but that didn't mean that all hope was lost. There were many secrets Alpha Trion had hinted at that could show a new way. He refused to believe that the Omega Lock was the only way to heal their planet. It was one method, nothing else. After all this time fighting to get back to Cybertron he refused to believe otherwise. He just wished it had not come to such a decision. What was Megatron thinking, cyberforming earth? They had Cybertron, The Hub, Velocitron, Junkion and all the other settled sectors, so why bother with Earth?

It made no sense to him. Hadn't control of Cyberton been Megatron's ultimate goal? Hadn't he understood that he'd won. Optimus shut his optics willing the line of thought to go away. He didn't want to think about it any longer. Yet his processor had other ideas. It kept playing the incident over and over again from the moment the space bridge had opened and the three Decepticons had walked out with the children, to the final explosion. Was there something he'd missed, some opportunity he'd failed to see?

There had been no time for a drawn out battle. The longer he'd waited the more humans would have died and the greater foothold Megatron would have had on Earth.

"Optimus? Are you alright, you are doing it again."

"Hmm? Doing what?" He opened his optics to see Wheeljack peering down at him.

"You are drumming your servos."

"Oh . . . Sorry. I didn't realize I was."

"Nervous habit?"

Optimus stopped to think about that. He'd never thought of himself as having a nervous habit. "I suppose so."

"I only say that 'cause you did the same thing that time in the Jackhammer." Wheeljack laid a hand on his shoulder for a moment. "Anyway, don't worry. June will be back soon and we will get going. It finally quit snowing."

The parking garage was quiet for several minutes. "Ratchet got ahold of me."

Optimus felt a surge of happiness that his oldest friend was still with them, then the memory of their last conversation hit him. He hoped Ratchet wasn't still upset with him, though it seemed a bit far fetched to hope so. Out of all of them Ratchet had most looked forward to going home to Cybertron.

"Did he?"

"Yeah, he's gonna meet up with us to get you patched up."

"I see."

"He told me what happened."

Optimus remained silent. What was there to say?

"Listen, Optimus . . . I know we never really saw eye to eye, but I know how things can change during a battle. How plans go to scrap and everything you thought you would accomplish is suddenly unthinkable. I know you had your reasons for saving this planet over Cybertron."

Optimus' spark seemed to pause between one oscillation and the next, pain radiating from it. "The choice was taken from me."

Neither of them had anything to say after that much to Optimus' relief. It was not something he wanted to dwell on when he was so powerless to do anything.

"Are you guys awake?"

June's voice reached them and Wheeljack stood up from where he'd knelt next to Optimus.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Well they are getting the roads cleared and the pass is open so we can head out."

"Best news I've heard all day."

Optimus watched as the two of them got everything ready for them to leave. The blankets were folded and put away, the tarps and tie downs readjusted and triple checked. June gave him a sad smile as she pulled the tarp up over his head.

"Sorry Optimus."

"Don't worry about me, June."

"That's a little difficult considering the circumstances."

He would have nodded, but settled for a small smile, then it was back to seeing blue again. The rumble of the diesel starting made him miss the similar sound his own engine made while in altmode. Then they were moving again.

###

Wheeljack was beginning to understand what Ratchet had been complaining about. He had ice and mud caked up under his bumper and in his wheel wells. It was going to take a long soak before he'd feel clean again. He glanced back in his mirrors to see how June was doing. They were taking things slow and easy. The climb up to the pass had been relatively easy, going down on the other side was proving a bit more difficult. She'd almost rear ended him once due to a patch of black ice.

By the time they got to the bottom of the grade and were on relatively flat ground Wheeljack felt like his circuits were on edge. He silently thanked Primus that there was little traffic. The snow tapered off to little more than a dusting in the foothills. At a stop to refuel he took the opportunity to try and shake off the worst of the snow packed under his bumpers.

"Slagging uncomfortable." He pulled back up next to the wrecker, waiting for June to return from paying. He frowned as a sensor alert went off. Pulling up his internal HUD he growled.

"Scrap!" Opening his comm line he called June's cell phone. He was about ready to transform and go tearing through the service station to find her when she finally picked up.

"Whats going on that couldn't wait for me to get out of the bathroom?"

"We've got trouble. I just picked up a Decepticon signal."

"Oh. I'll be right out."

Keeping all his sensors on high alert he scanned the vehicles passing on the road. He looked over as June came running and hopped into the wrecker. The diesel roared to life and with a lurch started forward. Wheeljack started after her, trying to keep on eye on the other vehicles and the truck. There was a flash of red in his rear view and then he was slammed into a 180, the hit stunning him. Tires squalled as he narrowly avoided a head on collision with a car. Shaking off the pain he floored it, catching back up with June and Optimus. Apparently, whomever was attacking didn't realize they were together. Maybe it was best to let them continue thinking that.

Crossing both lanes of traffic he cut down a side street. The red and white car was hot on his tail and gaining. Pulling up the map for the city he downshifted and drifted through a turn onto another street that would take him parallel to June's route. The red car didn't lose any ground.

"Hmm, so you wanna race do ya'?"

The next cross street was a main intersection. He made a sharp right and headed for the interstate. June would be heading the same way. He just needed to take care of this 'Con first. He couldn't help the grin as he hit a hundred down the acceleration lane. The red 'Con following suit. They wove through traffic, missing human drivers by scant millimeters. Every chance he could he'd cut off the red and white sports car. Laughing at the sound of brakes locking up. That had to hurt.

Apparently it did, because the next time he did it, he got rear ended, both of them spinning into the median. He transformed to keep from flying into oncoming traffic and was tackled by the 'Con.

"Slagging Autobot! Look what you've done to my finish!"

He back flipped out of the way of the energon prod and pulled out his katana. "Oh please, you look better in retro crackle."

Red optics narrowed. "I'll make you eat those words."

"Hey, I know you. You're Megatron's excuse for a medic aren't you? You get demoted or somethin'? What's got you out here slogging through the muck after us refugees?"

"The name is Knockout and I am more than just a simple medic. I'm his science officer."

"Well, here on earth anyway."

"You must be the Wrecker Starscream shot down. Looks like you tried to repair yourself." Knockout pointed at the scar.

"Actually I let a human do it."

Knockout blinked, his lip curling. "That is disgusting, how could you let those filthy vermin touch you?"

"Better than letting a 'Con like you." He back peddled blocking the downswing of the staff with his blade. He stepped into Knockout and brought the other sword up, aiming for the other bot's waist where the cabling was most exposed. Knockout blocked, hissing in pain as the blade cut into his door panel. Wrenching away he jabbed the end of the prod at Wheeljack forcing him back a step.

"Do you have any idea how difficult those are to replace?!"

"No, but I have a feeling you are going to tell me." Out of the corner of his optic he caught sight of the wrecker. Time for another car chase. "But, I've got better things to do than stand here and listen to you whine, 'Con."

Jumping the concrete barrier he transformed and took off. An enraged shout from behind told him the medic had taken the bait. He needed to get to a less populated area if he was going to fight all out. He didn't want to risk harming any of the humans. Optimus would be less than pleased if that were the case. He shot down an off ramp, over the cross road and back onto the interstate, the red car screaming after him. Spinning around he transformed, took a shot and transformed again, never losing momentum. No one was going to out drive him. Especially not some flashy little 'Con with an ego problem.

Once he was satisfied they were far enough ahead of June he transformed again, vaulting on top of the 'Con. Fairings shredded as they met asphalt at a hundred miles per hour. The 'Con shrieked and Wheeljack was tossed to the side as the other bot transformed. Both of them went aft over helm down the interstate, scattering vehicles like toys.

Wheeljack went to get up and collapsed. His injured leg wouldn't support his weight. "Scrap!"

He looked over as the other bot groaned and staggered to his feet. Red optics met blue and the 'Con grinned. "Well, look at this. Seems your medic made some rather hasty repairs that didn't hold."

"I can still scrap you."

The prod made a whirring sound as Knockout spun it in his servos. "Maybe, but not today."

The prod slammed into Wheeljack's chest and his circuits lit up like they were on fire. He might have been screaming. He certainly felt like screaming. Everything went black for a long moment. When he opened his optics the medic was grinning down at him.

"No more smart aft remarks Autobot?"

The sound of a familiar engine reached him. "Just one. Run."

"What?"

There was crunch and the screech of mangled metal that nearly downed out the Decepticon's screams. Wheeljack let out a pained chuckle seeing the Decepticon medic crushed by the wrecker. Ironic to say the least. By the time June got the truck stopped the Decepticon was either offline or in stasis. The once pristine red and white car barely recognizable.

Getting to his feet he hobbled over to the truck, ignoring the blaring horns and yelling humans. Looking down into the cab he spotted June, wide eyed and staring straight ahead, a death grip on the steering wheel.

"Hey . . . You alright?"

"Did I kill him?"

Wheeljack looked over at the still, silent form. "No, he's in stasis, mostly just cosmetic damage and bruised ego."

"Oh . . . He was hurting you."

"Yeah. We need to go June, you okay to drive."

She finally looked at him. "No, but there isn't much choice is there."

"No, the local authorities are on their way."

"We better go. Are you alright? Do you want to ride on the back with Optimus?"

"Oh please, I am not that desperate, lady." He held up his servos at the glare. "I'm fine. Just a bit banged up. I can still drive."

"You lead. I'll push you if I have to."

Wheeljack sincerely hoped it wouldn't come to that. Bulkhead would never let him live it down. Ever.