I promised action! You got ACTION! Hold onto your afts!

Optimus

I didn't hesitate to drop my pursuit of Barricade and head straight for my brother once my sensors picked him up. I had ordered Bumblebee to get Sam and Mikaela by any means possible. Even now Ratchet was loading their parents in his vehicle form. And Prowl was sending reinforcements via shuttlecraft.

The fact that there were no other Decepticons in the area suggested that Megatron had no idea we were here. That however changed quickly. Once he was in my sensor range I knew he had detected me. He changed coarse and headed straight for me.

Not wasting another moment, I quickly transformed shouting for the humans to take cover. There ahead and descending rapidly was my brother in his jet form. I stood my ground and braced for anything.

'So, we meet again…brother!' he growled over our sibling bond. 'Shall we finish what we started?'

'What you've started,' I countered. 'And yes, I will finish it!'

'We shall see little brother!'

Megatron fired at me. The ground exploded up around my feet. My weapon transformed on my back. The astrosecond it was primed I pulled it out and fired at my brother. He rolled over, narrowly missing the blast.

More laser fire erupted from my brother. I took off running towards him, weaving back and forth making myself a difficult target for him. I never stopped firing my weapon at him either. I was determined to blast his aft out of the fraggin sky!

When he rocketed over my head I took steady aim and shot one of his plasma burners. It exploded causing him to cry out angrily in pain. He transformed in mid air, turned and glared at me.

I put my weapon away as Megatron shot towards me, arms extended. The impact jarred my circuits momentarily. I felt us tumbling and rolling over the cars. I could hear the people screaming as they fled. A hard hand slammed against my face. My mask protected my faceplates.

I grabbed hold of his face guard and wrenched his head to one side. The sound of twisting metal filled my audio receptors followed by his shout of pain.

Then suddenly he lifted into the air, keeping his hold on me. I thrashed violently against him causing him to lose control. We fell from the sky, crashing through the roof of a building.

Dust wafted into the air around us. Debris came falling on us as we continued to wrestle. My sword erupted from my forearm causing my brother to leap from me, narrowly avoiding the edge of my blade as I swung it at him.

Before I was all the way on my feet his mace hit the side of my head, momentarily stunning me. Megatron took advantage and whirled his mace at me again. The ball whipped tightly around my right wrist. My brother yanked hard pulling me towards him. My arm almost felt as if it was being ripped from its socket as I stumbled forward.

I quickly retracted my blade. The ball and chain lost their hold. My hand had transformed just in time as I regain enough of my balance and I threw a hard punch at his face. The blow caused Megatron to fall backwards.

Without hesitation I pounced on my brother, determined to beat his fraggin head into the ground if I had to!

Ironhide

My spark did a somersault in its spark chamber when I saw Optimus being lifted into the air by his brother. I knew he was capable of taking care of himself in battle but it didn't stop me from worrying about the lugnut.

"Ironhide! This is Prowl! I can't get through to Optimus."

"Go ahead, he's engaged with Megatron at the moment."

I winced slightly when they crashed into a vacant building.

"Teletran 2 picked up two more Decepticons in your area. They were cloaked! Shade and Nighthawk! Backup will arrive in 10 minutes."

"Acknowledged. Bumblebee, get Sam and Mikaela out of here now! We have two more slaggin 'Cons in the area!"

"Working on getting their afts out of the fraggin movie theatre! Sam won't answer his cell phone! I'm sending him a text now!"

"I'm…"

Before I could finish my sentence Barricade slammed into the side of my vehicle form. The impact caused me to roll over several times. I transformed in mid roll, scrambling to my feet. My cannons fired the moment they were activated hitting their mark with accuracy.

The fraggin coward sped off.

I hate getting suckered punched like that! I transformed and raced after him.

However, I knew my vehicle form wasn't as fast as Barricade's. I had to push my engine as hard as I dared just to get within firing range. All these fraggin cars in the way were making it difficult as I had to weave around them.

After a tight corner we hit a straight away. I poured on the speed. My sensors indicated I was within range. My hands dropped, catapulting me up so I could transform without losing momentum. I fired once blowing out the rear left tire and wheel.

Barricade lost control, skidded, and crashed into a row of parked cars. He was up on his feet by the time I reached him. Only he couldn't react fast enough as I tackled him throwing my entire body weight into him.

The 'Con huffed as I landed on him. Having the advantage and remembering our objective, I grabbed his head in my hands.

"Where's your base?"

"Eat slag!"

"How many of there are you?"

"Frag off! You won't get anything out of me!" he growled back.

His hand hit something on his wrist.

Barricade started laughing at me.

On instinct alone, I let go and took off running. Barely two astroseconds later, he self-destructed behind me. The force of the blast threw me into a lot of parked cars. Glass shattered and metal crunched as I bounced on them.

I lay on my back for a long moment, taking a quick inventory of all my bits and pieces, and moving parts.

Thank Primus, everything was still there! Chromia never forgive me if I got my interface appliance blown off! She'd been talking about another sparkling for a month now and would see that as an excuse to get out of it!

Sam

For the tenth time my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. It was the same unknown number again. So, for tenth time I ignored it.

"Maybe you should just tell them they have the wrong number so they stop calling," Mikaela whispered to me.

Almost immediately someone shushed her from behind. I ignored them too.

"I just deactivated incoming call sounds so my phone won't even vibrate now."

It vibrated and I nearly jumped out of my seat. Mikaela giggled at me. Once again, someone from behind shushed her.

This time it was a text message and not a call.

This is Bee! You're in danger! Come out front, NOW!

My heart started pounding hard within my chest. While I was thrilled beyond measure to get a text from Bumblebee I was also terrified out of my mind. I had known that this day would happen, that the Decepticons would find me. I just knew it!

"We gotta go!" I said, standing up and grabbing her hand. "We gotta go now!"

Mikaela didn't argue with me. I apologized as best as I could as we hurried through the row of people.

"I'm sorry. Excuse me. Family emergency. Pardon me."

I tripped and stumbled over the last foot into the aisle. Mikaela's grip on my hand was the only thing keeping me from falling on my face. Once steady, I ran, dragging her with me. Not that I had to drag her. She kept up with me sensing the danger we were in.

We hurried through the scattered people in the lobby of the theatre. I noticed none of them were in a panicked state. Even when we burst out the front doors everyone was walking around like normal.

For a moment I began to think the text message was someone's idea of a sick joke. My anger started to rise.

Then suddenly I heard the familiar rumbling of my favorite car.

I saw him!

The same vibrant yellow with black racing stripes I remembered. The same fucking awesome looking Camero!

Bumblebee braked hard in front of the theatre. The squealing sound caused everyone to look curiously. The passenger door opened and I heard the voice I didn't get to hear much of when we were together but missed terribly.

"Get in…hurry!"

Of course, we didn't hesitate for one second.

"Buckle your safety belts! We're on our own until back up arrives."

I quickly did as Bumblebee instructed, glancing over at Mikaela in the passenger seat to make sure she did as well. Looking up I knew we were in for a ride.

Looming in the windshield view I saw a deep midnight blue Porche 911 GT3 RS and beside it the same model only a deep dark purple. Both were racing side by side straight for us forcing the other traffic to get out of their way.

"Are they…"

"Decepticons! Shade and Nighthawk!" Bumblebee said as he did a one eighty on the spot and sped off.

The Decepticons gave chase.

"Hold onto your afts!"

Mikaela and I jerked back slightly in into our seats as Bumblebee poured on the gas. The speedometer read ninety miles an hour. Behind us the two Decepticons were gaining and gaining fast.

I didn't need to tell my friend. He was experience with this sort of thing. I had confidence in Bumblebee. Yet, I found myself clinging onto the seat for my life!

I felt the g-force deep within as Bumblebee power slid around a corner. The steering wheel skillfully turned on its own, straightening out the vehicle. We shot forward down the street barely losing any momentum.

The Decepticons still gained on us.

Bumblebee suddenly made a hard turn, slamming through a closed gate of a construction site. We were going so fast we lifted slightly off the ground as we descended the small sloping driveway.

Dirt sprayed up in the air behind us creating a thick dust cloud. I couldn't make out if we were still being chased. I assumed so by the way Bumblebee was zigzagging around the equipment.

"Fraggin femme is stuck to my aft! I can't shake her!"

"Just one?" Mikaela asked.

"Where'd the other Decepticon go?" I asked, looking back but seeing nothing but a dust cloud.

When I turned back around I got my answer. There sat the purple Porche blocking the exit. We were trapped! At least, I thought we were trapped. The fact that this Decepticon was blocking our way didn't seem to slow Bumblebee down. He headed straight for it!

About halfway up the slope it appeared the Porche still was determined to hold its ground. Bumblebee was equally determined to leave as I literally felt something move within him. My side of his form suddenly lifted into the air.

"Oh shit!" I screamed, thinking we were going to tip over.

Only we didn't. On the two passenger side wheels Bumblebee slipped past the Decepticon and back out onto the street. Once we were clear he dropped back down with a bounce.

The tires smoked as Bumblebee hit the accelerator and rocketed away, hitting over a hundred miles an hour in just a few seconds.

Mikaela and I glanced back.

"They're still coming!" I shouted.

"I know! Backup's almost here!"

Bumblebee suddenly slid to a grinding alt to avoid hitting a bus loaded with people.

"The Interstate…less cars! Up ahead, turn right on Prospect Ave. Five miles and you'll hit the onramp!"

"Good idea, Sam!"

The engine revved and the tires smoked again. The two Decepticons gave chase as Bumblebee weave through the street traffic. When we arrived to the on ramp I noticed Highway patrol cars were there forcing cars to the side of the road.

"Thanks, Sam. I called for assistance from the local authorities. We should have a clear path on the freeway. I just need to keep a head of these femmes for a few more minutes. My buddies are on their way."

With a clear straight away Bumblebee hit his maximum speed of one thirty miles an hour. Yet it wasn't enough. The two Porches gained on us. And caught up to us fast.

"Any ideas?" I asked glancing to my right to see the deep blue Porche and then glancing to my left to see the purple Porche.

"Yeah…hang on!"

The two Decepticons were getting close were mere inches away when Bumblebee slammed on his brakes. Just in time too! The two Porches were trying to body slam Bumblebee and ended up slamming into each other.

We didn't hang around to watch much. Bumblebee reversed, did a one eighty and sped back towards town. In the review mirror I saw the Decepticons had recovered and were pursuing us again.

"Oh crap," I gasped upon seeing two Dodge Vipers, orange and red, with grey racing stripes heading straight for us.

They were side by side with only inches between them as they raced towards us. Behind, the two Porches were side by side as well and gaining on us fast. My head felt like it was on a swivel looking back and forth!

To my surprise, Bumblebee speed up even more heading straight for the Vipers! I could even swear I heard him giggling! I shrank in my seat, certain we were going to crash.

Suddenly and to my amazement, something catapulted the two Vipers up and into the air. As Bumblebee blew beneath them I could see the Vipers transforming in sync with each other. I could swear I even heard them shouting 'Yippy kiya mother fuckers!' as they flew over.

Mikaela and I quickly looked out the back window and watched as the Vipers, now in their robot forms, landed with their arms out and legs extend right on top of the Porches. Even over the sound of Bumblebee's rumbling engine and screeching brakes I could hear the metal crunching sounds as they tumbled and rolled.

The Porches were tossed into the air during one tumble. They too transformed in mid flight, landing on their feet. The two Autobots were up on their feet with their weapons aimed.

"Please, hurry out!" Bumblebee insisted, opening the door.

Mikaela and I scrambled out and hurried into each others arms. Bumblebee quickly transformed and ran towards the others. The Decepticons obviously didn't like being out number transformed and sped off.

"You know Bee, if you wanted a date, there are easier ways to get a femme," the orange Autobot smirked as they walked over towards us.

"I know. Just my luck that I get chased by a pair of femmes who want to get their hands on me…but not in a good way!" Bumblebee chuckled.

I of course came over, now that the danger was over and kicked Bumblebee's foot!

"I can't believe you didn't tell me you had girls and that you're an uncle!" I chastised him, making him laugh.

"Once I realized our time together was short I didn't think it important to discuss the females of our kind. And at the time, I had no idea I was an uncle. Primus, Optimus didn't even know he was a father!"

"You have to tell me everything!" I insisted.

"I plan to, Sam," he smiled.

"So this is Sam and Mikaela?" the red Autobot asked, kneeling down and inspecting us closely.

"Yes," my friend said proudly. "Sam…Mikaela, these two mech wreckers are my best friends, Sunstreaker…"

"Howdy!" the orange one nodded.

"And his twin brother, Sideswipe."

"Hello," the red on smiled. "You can call us Sunny and Sides."

"Boy, do we have lots of stories to tell you about Bee, Sam!" Sunny smirked.

"I can't wait to hear them," I grinned. I placed a hand on Bee's lower leg. "It's good to see you, my friend. I missed you."

"I missed you too, Sam. Did you get my message from Kacey?"

"Yeah," I laughed. "That Kacey sure is a character. I can't wait to meet her."

"You're gonna love her," Sunny added. "She's a little pit spawn of a femme and so much like her daddy!"

"Primus…Bee, take care of Sam and Mikaela!" Sides suddenly said. "Ratchet's calling for back up. Optimus is in trouble!"

"Nice meeting you Sam!" Sunny said as he was transforming.

"Same here…let's roll bro!" Sides said.

"What are you waiting for?" I snapped at Bumblebee, giving him another good kick. "Let's go help!"

My friend smiled warmly down at me. Mikaela and I hopped in once he transformed. Then we raced to go help our friend.

Megatron

We tumbled and rolled, wrestled and chased each other through the city. My little brother, the sentimental fool managed to lead us to a lush green clearing on the outskirts of town so we wouldn't accidentally hurt the fleshlings. The few that were here took off running and screaming like the weaklings they were.

Honestly, I didn't give a slag where I fought my brother.

Blow after blow was exchanged until I finally had the upper hand. I managed to grab hold of my brother's chest armor and flung him aside. His form bounced a couple of times before he managed to get to his feet.

I quickly allowed my laser rifle to transform and fired.

The first shot only clipped my brother's shoulder. It didn't even phase the fragger as he advanced towards me. The stubborn slag never knew when to give up!

"Megatron, this is Shade. Barricade is dead. More Autobots arrived to protect the boy. What are your orders?"

"More Autobots have been detected!" Nighthawk added.

I let out a loud growl of dissatisfaction firing rapidly at my brother. Most shots were wildly off their mark due to my anger. Others hit their marks, causing my brother to cry out in pain. One shot finally hit him squarely in the chest knocking him on to his back.

He groaned in pain.

I slowly approached his prone form.

I let out another growl. I wanted that boy!

"Retreat! And make sure I do not lay optics on you for I will tear you both apart for failing me!" To my brother. "I may not have gotten the boy today. But I will get him."

"You will never harm the boy!" my brother growled, feebly attempting to get up.

I quickly held him down with my foot on his throat. Slowly I applied more pressure causing my brother to choke. His hands weakly pawed at my immovable foot.

"At least I have the satisfaction of finishing what I started so long ago…Optimus."

There was no fear in my brother's optics as I aimed at his head. Nor was there any confusion like there was when he was a youngling so long ago. Only this time, I wasn't going to make the same mistake. This time I was going to make sure he was died before I walked away!

Ratchet

The families were safe in the shuttlecraft. Wheeljack had taken it away to a safe distance. Magnus stayed with me, his alt form, a red Chevy Trailbazer SS, rumbled along side with me. The twins had raced off long ago to go help Bumblebee.

I now had but one worry.

"Ironhide, where's Optimus? He's not responding to my hails. And I can't locate his energy signature."

"I don't know. My sensors were damaged by the explosion when Barricade self-destructed. I'll relay his last coordinates."

"Anything else need repairing?" I asked while receiving the transmission.

"Frag, my weapons systems are offline!"

"You still have two legs! Use them to get your aft moving and find the lugnut!"

"Primus, he makes it sound like it's the end of everything when his weapons are offline," Magnus chuckled.

"To Ironhide, his weapons systems being offline is the equivalent of having his interface appliance blown off!" I snorted.

"I heard that! That's not funny."

Magnus and I laughed.

My laughed faded fast upon see the smashed cars and demolished building at the coordinates Ironhide gave me. Still, I wasn't too worried. I knew Optimus could handle himself in a fight against Megatron.

"Prowl, this is Ratchet. Can you have Teletran 2 locate Optimus' energy signature? He's out of our sensor range."

"Acknowledge."

As I waited, Ironhide pulled up beside me. My scans indicated his repairs were minor. Even though his weapons were offline he was still of use in a hand to hand battle.

"Got him!" Prowl finally continued. "There's a golf course located just outside of the city, nine miles due west of your position. Primus! Ratchet hurry…his vital signs are barely registering!"

"Wheeljack! Get that shuttlecraft down here! Prowl, whatever you do, don't say anything to Elita yet!"

"Too late, Ratchet, who do you think told me his vital signs were low."

Frag!

"Don't you ever say anything like that again, Ratchet! He's my sparkmate! It's my right to know!"

I cringed upon hearing Elita screaming at me through my communicator.

"Ratchet, this is Sides. The boy is safe. The Decepticons are buggin out."

"Get you and your brother's afts to the west now! Optimus needs help! Elita…I'm sorry."

"Just get you fraggin aft over there!" she ordered me.

Not that I needed to be ordered. I knew I had to get to Optimus quickly. I knew I couldn't let Elita down. I knew I couldn't allow those four darling sparklings grow up without their father. Kacey was much too young and not ready to be Prime. The Autobots aren't ready to be without our beloved leader.

And I...I am not ready to lose the mech I love as much as I love my own son.

Wheeljack

It was a short trip, even after quickly picking up Bumblebee and the twins who'd been racing below me to get to our leader. Yet each of us agonized as the astroseconds passed by slowly. Each of us worried for Optimus.

I gasped upon seeing the two mechs locked in combat in the middle of a green field. My spark clenched with fear. Megatron stood menacingly over Optimus with the barrel of his laser rifle pressed against the forehead of my commander and my friend.

"Primus, land this bucket of bolts!" Ironhide growled at me.

"I'm descending as fast as I dare go without us all getting crushed upon impact!" I fired back at him and all the others who were crowded up against my back, looking out the window.

Then suddenly, to all of our amazement, Optimus and those lightening fast reflexes of his shot into action. He'd yanked Megatron's weapon aside at the last possible moment. The laser fire blew up chunks of the ground instead of Optimus' head. With a swift, powerful kick of his leg, he sent Megatron flying into some trees.

We all cheered excitedly. I had the shuttlecraft door opening even before we landed. Once down, all of us flew out the back. The humans all seemed to understand to stay out of our way. Bumblebee actually was standing between us and them, making sure we didn't accidentally step on them in our haste.

Optimus sprinted a short distance then launched himself at Megatron who was trying to run away. Again, we cheered loudly at our leader's efforts as he tackled the Decepticon to the ground.

Megatron, the fraggin aft of a coward, jammed his fingers into the open wound on Optimus' chest. The cry of pain was felt by each of us as it pieced our audio receptors. Even I pulled out my weapon with the others and started firing at Megatron.

The fragger flew off before we could do too much damage.

Of course, Ratchet and Ironhide were the first to rush to Optimus' side. None of us got in their way. It was no secret how much love they had for our leader.

The rest of us gathered close by but far enough to not interfere with Ratchet. Optimus looked physically exhausted as he struggled to get on his feet despite Ratchet's protests. When Optimus failed he relented and opted to remain on one knee and allow Ratchet to tend to his injuries.

His chest was covered with blast marks. He had a nasty dent above his left audio receptor. My limited scans indicated his internal communicator was damaged. Probably why he didn't respond to anyone's hails. Primus, he was a mess.

"Ratchet, patch me up good," Optimus rasped, his chest heaved rapidly. "You can't let Elita see my like this."

"She's seen you in worse shape," the medic countered, injecting what I assumed were pain inhibiters into Optimus' neck.

"That was before she became a mother," he said in earnest. "She's changed…she worries more than before. Please, Ratch."

"I'll do my best," Ratchet nodded.

"I'll help too," I volunteered. "I'm sure between the two of us we'll have you looking as good as new. That is, if we can trust Ironhide to pilot the shuttlecraft without crashing it this time."

The twins cover their mouths giggling.

"Maybe you should have built a stronger hull and the rust bucket!" Ironhide snapped back at me.

"I don't think the strength of the hull would matter for one moment," Optimus smiled. "You're a terrible pilot, Ironhide."

We all roared in laughter which seemed to give our leader energy as he stood up on his feet.

Optimus

Primus, even with the pain inhibiters in my system everything still hurt! But I wasn't going to tell Ratchet. He was over protective of me at times whenever I was injured, treating me like I was still a youngling. It was often embarrassing when in front of my troops when being treated that way.

Besides, I was just glad I was sitting comfortably on the shuttlecraft and heading home to my family. Despite not getting any information about the Decepticons I felt I could relax a bit. I had communicated with Prowl. All the humans were safely on the base except for Sam, Mikaela and their families. And they were safely aboard the shuttle.

"Optimus, Sam would like to speak with you, if that's alright," Bumblebee requested quietly to me.

"Sure…Ratchet, Wheeljack…give us a minute," I told them.

They did so without question. The rest gave me some space within the small confines of the shuttlecraft. Sam, the boy, who was actually more a man now as I could see the maturity in his face, stood tall before me.

It warmed my spark to see he was safe and unharmed.

Without hesitation, I bent down offering him my hand to climb into. He smiled, happy to oblige. I put him gently on the seat beside me. Normally, I would have knelt down to his level but I was too exhausted to even do that. As it was, I was fighting off my automatic recharge systems.

"What is it, Sam?" I asked when he remained quiet.

The boy looked over me, my injuries. There was sadness in his face.

"I'm sorry you got hurt," he spoke softly. "I'm truly grateful to all of you for coming to rescuing us the way you did."

"It was the least we could…for a friend," I smiled warmly down at him.

Upnext: Bumblebee introduce's Sam to Kacey. And we get to see Kacey interacting with the humans the Autobots are safeguarding.