Sorry, I changed this chapter. It turned out better this way. Next chapter we'll go into Optimus history a bit more. This chapter takes place the same time as the previous chapter. I needed everyone's reactions to Optimus falling and didn't want to take from them with a boring history lesson. Hehe. If you feel gypped, blame my muse! She's immune to threats and has a will of her own.

Italics denote comlink chatter and Hound's flashback.

Bumblebee

Optimus fell. Optimus fell?

Frag it to vector sigma! I couldn't believe my optics when Optimus fell and didn't bounce right back up to his feet. I'd seen him fall before. But nothing ever like this. His large form had crashed hard to the ground and convulsed violently.

"Optimus!" Ratchet, Ironhide, and Elita all shouted.

Ratchet shoved me out of the way to get to Optimus. Ironhide and Magnus were trying to hold Optimus still. Giving myself a proverbial kick in the aft I hurried to do the same.

"Optimus! Look at me!" Ratchet ordered, holding our leader's head still as best he could. My panicked spark pounded furiously within its chamber. When Prime's optics came on they didn't look well. "You can do it…LOOK AT ME!" And then they blinked out, his body spasmed hard. "OPTIMUS! FRAG! I'M LOSING HIM!"

It took all my strength just to hold one of Optimus' arms still for Ratchet as he inserted a medical probe into a port on Optimus' forearm. I was so focused on what I was doing that I didn't even notice the initial blasts from the Decepticons.

"We got incoming!" Magnus shouted. I looked up, horrified to see a dozen of them descending from the sky with Megatron in the front. "Get Optimus to safety!"

"The fraggers are gonna pay!" Sunny growled not hesitating to return weapons fire.

"There…to the north!" Hound shouted.

I turned and there were another half dozen coming for us.

"Prowl, send that back up!"

"Already on the way!" he quickly responded via our comlinks.

"What the frag is going on?" Sides asked in total disbelief.

"Is Optimus ok?" I shouted at Ratchet over Ironhide's booming cannon fire.

"Just kill those fragging Cons and ask questions later!" Ironhide ordered, glaring at me. Not focusing on his target for that mere second was costly as he took a direct hit to the shoulder. To my amazement the mech roared, rising to his feet, cannons firing even more rapidly than before with his sparkmate at his side.

"Bumblebee, Sides…get his legs!" Ratchet ordered. "Magnus!"

"We got you covered! Head for the shuttle! Hound, get it fired up! Hide, Sunny, Chromia…we must protect them at all costs!"

I noticed Magnus didn't order Elita to do anything. Not sure I would either. Not that any of us had to. She was the femme commander after all and knew what to do during a scenario similar to this. In fact, I've seen her fight viciously to defend Optimus if he fell.

Only she didn't do any of that. She had a look of desperation in her optics. Her hand was clinging tightly to Optimus. For her to lose her resolve during a crisis such as this meant only one thing.

Optimus was dying.

My spark fluttered with a fear I'd never known. Optimus was indestructible on the battle field! I'd seen him take bigger hits, seen a limb get blown off and the mech still fought like it was a scratch. He instilled such confidence in the rest of us that no matter how many times he got knocked down we knew he'd get back up. He always got back up.

Frag! He couldn't die!

What about Kacey? My spark suddenly ached for her because I knew how much she loved her father. I knew she'd be devastated if we lost Optimus. I'm not sure I'd be able to comfort her as an uncle would. I love her so much. And if he died that would mean…

A terrifying thought flashed through my processor causing me to pray.

'Please, Primus. Please don't let Optimus die. Kacey is too young to assume the burdens of leadership as Prime. Far too young. It wouldn't be fair to her. Please, for her sake let her father be ok. I beg of you. Don't do this to my Kacey.'

Hound

Optimus was dying before my very optics.

I was too stunned for words. Only my training as a soldier kept my wits together. I turned and ran for the shuttle to do as Magnus commanded. My processor trying to put out the image of Ratchet frantically doing his entire medical know how to save Optimus. I tried to forget the anguish I saw in Elita's face as I have no doubt she was feeling the strain on her spark bond.

Having experienced the loss of my beloved I wished that no bonded should ever have to feel such pain. To feel the very essence of one so close to you fade or get ripped from within…it's excruciating. I had never felt so helpless in my long life. I was so thankful my son was away on assignment in another region of our solar system when his mother was killed. He was spared the pain.

The same cannot be said of those four younglings back on the base. My spark goes out to them, wishing I could take away their pain. It wasn't right when Megatron killed Sentinel make Optimus our Prime when he was so young. And if Optimus dies here, it's even more unfair to place such a burden on young Kaceystar.

"Back up will arrive…ETA five minutes!" Prowl's voice sounded over the open channel on my comlink.

"I'm almost to the…"

The shuttles suddenly exploded as I got near them and everything went black.

I froze up when I saw the unthinkable. Megatron killed Sentinel! I knew he was dead. His spark chamber was partially exposed. The weapon's blast was deadly accurate. Our leader, my friend, was dead.

But my spark ached for the young mech running to his father. I had always believed that Optimus was too young to be on the battlefield even though his transformation systems were fully functional for exactly that reason. He shouldn't have had to watch his father die. He'd already experienced the worst when his real parents died.

"Die Autobot scum!"

Wham! I was tackled to the ground. With my attention on Optimus and not my immediate surroundings a Decepticon caught me off guard. Yet before I could fight back the Decepticon was shot in the back. His optics offlined and his body was yanked off me.

"Father! Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," I grimaced. I managed to turn my head to see Optimus who was locked in combat, struggling to fight against his own brother. "Help me up! We need to help Optimus!"

Sunny

When Hound went down, I didn't hesitate to run towards him. Sides, never one to stray too far from me, was right behind me as well. The two of us…well we had a special place in our sparks for Hound. Not just because we were good friends with his son, Marshall. But because Hound was the only mech who never got mad at us for the pranks we pulled on him. He'd laugh while everyone else got mad then laughed later about it after Sides and I were in the brig.

"Come on old timer! Get up!" I grunted lifting Hound up off the ground, my brother there to help me.

"Marshall?" Hound questioned, his optics looking rather unfocused.

"Sides, he must have taken a good blow to the processor to forget that I'm better looking than Marshall," I shouted.

"Sorry, my mind was else where for a moment," Hound chuckled, shaking his head, looking better than he did moments ago.

"I'll forgive ya," Sunny smirked. "Marshall may have been a tight aft like Prowl when it came to security, but at least he knew how to let loose and have fun!"

"Optimus?"

"Ratchet's working on him still," Sides replies solemnly.

I reached through our bond to comfort my brother. Seeing Optimus fall like that really shook him hard. I could feel how scared he was over our bond. I was scared too. Only I was scared for Kacey too. I didn't want to see her lose what was left of your younglinghood by being made Prime.

"Come on, we can take cover over here behind this structure and maybe knock off a few Decepticons before back up gets here," I suggested.

"You two grew up to be regular mech wreckers," Hound commented, running on his own now. "I'm proud of you both."

"Thanks Hound," I sighed, sensing the ever rising fear from my brother. He wasn't scared of fighting. He was scared of losing Optimus. He always thought of Optimus as his guardian even though we had many. But Optimus was our favorite, even I would admit that. "Sides, make sure he's ok. I'll see about take out a few of these fraggers."

Sides

It was difficult for me. I wasn't as strong as my brother during situations like this. I couldn't handle loss like he could. I could barely function at times. At least Sunny would drown himself in high grade to dull the pain in his spark from a loss. Everyone kind of expected that of him and expect me to be the one to pick him up.

I wish I could drown my sorrows with him. But I was the responsible one, I was the one that hurt deeper and longer, I was the one who really took the loss of a friend to spark. Oh, I could put up a good front for the others. But I could never fool my brother. Sunny, even in his drunken state would always provide me with some comfort.

Honestly, I think he gets drunk on purpose knowing I'd help him. Kind of his way to keep my processor distracted from my sorrow. That or he'd tell his god-awful jokes and get all the punch lines wrong in an effort to cheer me up. I must admit, he can make me smile when I am feeling my most depressed.

But Optimus…I'm not sure anything in the universe could make me smile if we lost Optimus.

'Everything will work out bro. You must have faith,' he reassured me over our bond, sending his love.

"Ratchet will fix Optimus," Hound told me, patting me on the head. "He's a miracle worker."

"But if he doesn't…what will we do?" I asked even though I knew what would happen. But I needed reassurance from someone other than my brother. I needed to hear it.

"Then it is our duty to be there for our new Prime, when she is ready to take command," he seriously said, then rose to his feet and started helping Sunny. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

My processor glitched for a moment. I'm not sure I could get used to Kacey being Prime. She's like a baby sister to Sunny and me. We've comforted her through her tears at times when she was upset. She even makes us proud that she's a terror just like us too. Her pranks are the stuff of legend when she pulls them off. Only she's way smarter than Sunny and I combined which makes as just as proud.

No. My processor will never get used to Kacey as Prime. She'll always be that spirited young femme to me with a smirk on her face and a sparkle in her optics. I prayed to Primus like I'd never prayed before. I didn't want to see Kacey change. She's too young to be made Prime.

I didn't want to see her have to grow up too soon.

Chromia

My love refused any kind of medical treatment I tried to offer, pushing my hands away with an angry growl. His anger wasn't directed at me. Ironhide actually didn't have a mean bolt or nut in his frame despite the façade he put on for everyone. His anger was mask attempting to cover the grief constricting his spark.

I glanced back to see Ratchet busy working on Optimus, Elita dutifully holding her beloved's hand. My own spark twisting with the grief of my sparkmate's.

I had always known Optimus meant a lot to Ironhide. But I never felt the depth of his feelings for our leader until now. Of course, I should have known. I heard stories about how the soldiers often saw Ironhide toting a youngling Optimus on his shoulder around the base. The pair was inseparable at times when Ironhide was off duty. Bottom line, the same love Hide has for our sons he has for Optimus.

"Chormia, did they get Hound to safety?" Magnus asked as he and Ironhide kept firing, keeping the 'Cons at bay as best they could until back up arrived.

I glanced past them out the door. I could barely see Sunny, Sides, and Hound firing their weapons from their position.

"We need them here to help cover our back sides," Ironhide shouted.

"The east side entrance," I suggested, knowing they could entered the old base that way since they were closer to that entrance than the main entrance where we were located.

"Good idea," Magnus commented. "Chromia…up here…on my mark…we provide cover fire for them."

I immediately took up my position beside Ironhide and nodded that I was ready.

"Three…two…one…mark!"

The three of us jumped out and laid down some heavy cover fire. Fraggers weren't expecting us to do that. I grinned picking a couple of them off. It forced Megatron to pull his troops back out of firing range.

"We're in!" Hound informed ups over our comlinks.

"Fall back," Magnus ordered Hide and I. As quickly as we emerged, we retreated back into the shadows of the corridor. "Bumblebee, report."

"No activity at the western entrance. I'm almost done sealing it up."

"No 'Cons following us," Hound said. "We'll seal up then entrance and then join you."

"Good.," Magnus replied and then turned to me, concern etched into his normally stoic features, worry filled his optics. He gave a quickly glance towards Optimus before looking at me again. "See if Ratchet needs any help. Ironhide and I will hold this position."

Nodding my head, I then turned and moved down the dimly sunlit hall.

'I love you, Mia,' Hide abruptly said over our bond, a wave of such pure emotion came with it.

'I love you too,' I replied, hugging him, caressing him through our link in a way that eased his processor.

"Good, Chromia, I need some light here," Ratchet ordered.

I immediately activated my headlights and directed them where he wanted them.

"Magnus, this is Bluestreak, we're on final approach….counting eleven Decepticon energy signatures in your immediate area."

"Sweet! I did take that fragger down!" Sunny hollered.

"Put a socket in it!" Magnus barked. "Bluestreak, how many you have with you?"

"More than enough, Sir. Twenty-five mechs and a few femmes, all itching to blow the slag out of some 'Cons."

"We need to move, Optimus now!" Ratchet urgently said.

Then just as the words filtered through our comlinks Optimus arched his back hard and wailed. It took all of Ratchet's weight and a bit of mine to force the large mech back flat on the ground.

"Optimus, don't leave me!" Elita desperately shouted, tears streaming down her faceplates. In her frantic state, she shoved Ratchet aside and tried to take Optimus into her arms. "Optimus…no…I love you!"

"CHROMIA! KEEP HER BACK!!" Ratchet shouted, trying to control some of Optimus' limbs as he had another seizure.

Ironhide suddenly jumped in, yanking Elita off Optimus and putting her into my arms. I held her tight as my love did his best to help hold down Optimus. During our entire friendship I have never know Elita to totally lose control like this. I actually felt her trembling in my arms.

"What's wrong with him?" Hide demanded.

"I honestly don't know," Ratchet answered, not once taking his optics off Optimus. "I need to run some diagnostic test with the computer in the med bay. My sensors just keep telling me he has a virus. But a virus has never done this before."

Rapid footfalls approached. I looked up to see Hound, Bumblebee and the twins coming. Elita's form clinging to me, shaking more than before. Even her optics dimmed.

"I ordered Bluestreak to drop his shuttle right in front of the entrance," Magnus spoke softly. "The 'Cons are retreating so we shouldn't have any problems getting Optimus into a shuttle."

"Ratchet, what's wrong with Elita?" I asked.

"Spark shock," Magnus replied sadly, his large hands reached to take her into his arms. "Ratchet…"

"Stasis…it's the only way," the CMO muttered to himself. He looked up at us. "I'll give her a mild sedative on the shuttle. First I want to get Optimus into stasis then we can move him."

"Whatever you think is best," Magnus sighed.

"Optimus! Can you hear me?" Ratchet asked, his face close to Prime's. I saw those normally noble and strong blue optics come on. They looked so weak, nothing like the Optimus I was used to seeing. "I'm going to put you into stasis! Do you understand! It's the only way to save you right now!"

"Can he even hear you?" Hide question, rising to his feet.

"I don't know," Ratchet frowned. "But putting him into stasis will slow this virus or whatever it is down. Plus, there will be less spark shock on Elita."

"And the younglings," I added.

We all looked at each other. So concerned were we with what was going on here not one of us thought of what those four younglings were feeling back on the base.

Alpha Trion

The morning had started off with my normal opening lecture. I had been notified through a brief and discrete communiqué from Prowl that Optimus, Elita, Ironhide, and Chromia had both gone out an urgent mission. Standard procedure now whenever any creator of my students left the base. It was a way of keeping me inform just incase something was to happen.

Only I had never expected it to happen.

Leo was the first. He let out an audio receptor piercing howl before collapsing unconscious to the floor. Before I could even reach the little mech Orion and Ariel both started crying. Orion curled up around Ariel as if trying to protect her. Their sparkling like wails and pained expressions made my spark tremble.

During my lifetime I had actually never witnessed the pain and suffering that a bonded mechanism had to endure when their creator or loved one was dying. I can only say I hope to never experience it again. I have never felt so utterly helpless in all my life.

"I'm here, Alpha Trion," Red Alert said, startling me. "Prowl sent us as a precaution. Something happened."

I looked up to see him and Moonracer rushing to my side. Both of them working quickly to administer sedatives to Prime's twins.

"Mother, what's wrong with, Ariel?" Galen asked, tears in his optics.

"Shh, she's going to be ok," Moonracer told her son. "I want you and Sidewinder to go with Huffer. He's going to watch over you and your sister until I collect you."

The young mech nodded his head. He was frightened. I was frightened. What happened? Was it Optimus or Elita? I got my answer when Huffer left with the two younglings.

"Let's get them to the med bay," Moonracer suggest, gently lifting Ariel into her arms. "Akima sent me a private message that it was Optimus who went down."

I picked up Leo. His tiny form so warm, so full of life. He had the spark of a warrior. He was so much like his father. More so than Kacey. Primus, what of Kacey?

"Where's Kacey?" I asked, concerned.

"I'm not sure," Red answered. "Wheeljack said she just took off from the lab without a word or anything. We were hoping she'd be here to help deal with the little ones."

"Do we know Optimus' status?"

Neither of them answered. I don't think they knew anymore than I did. One thing I did know, they were as frightened as I was. I could see it in their optics.

My spark sank thinking of that young femme. With all the knowledge and wisdom I was able to pass onto Kacey during her studies, it suddenly didn't see like enough to prepare her for what might lay ahead if Optimus were to pass on.

Prowl

After Optimus and the others had left, I had ordered an increase in Teletran's range to search more of the surrounding area and to alert me the moment it picked up any Decepticon energy signature other than the youngling. I watched the continuous video feed Roller provided only to see my worst fear come to be. Teletran's alarm sounded that precise moment the youngling Decepticon bit Optimus signally more 'Cons were on the way.

I didn't hesitate one astrosecond to send the reinforcements before Optimus even fell. I couldn't relax. I couldn't afford to allow my processor to be distracted. Me, along with the fifteen Autobots in the command center saw Optimus fall on the main view screen. I ignored the gasps, the whispered prayers; my focus was on getting my fellow Autobots on the battlefield to safety.

"Prowl, send that back up!" Magnus requested.

"Already on the way," I told him. The sounds of their voices faded to the background for a few moments as I dealt with issuing orders. "Tracks, can you get me a count? How many 'Cons are they dealing with."

"Eighteen Decepticons inbound. Megatron's energy signature is amongst them."

"Red Alert, get Kacey from Wheeljack's lab and collect her siblings."

"May I ask why?"

"Just do it! Huffer, you're to tend to the other younglings until their parents can collect them."

"Yes, Sir," he saluted and took off running from his station.

"Akima, take over on the long range sensors. Inform me the astrosecond you pick up any other Decepticon energy signatures."

"I'm on it, Prowl."

"Bluestreak, once you arrive, you will take orders from Ultra Magnus."

"Acknowledged, Sir."

"Sir, at their current speed, Teletran estimates their arrival at five minutes," Tracks informed me.

"Let's hope our people can hold out that long," I muttered to myself.

I opened my comlink to Magnus and the others and quickly informed them. My optics locked on the main view screen. Roller, the loyal little bot was near Optimus, continuing to send Teletran a video feed. I wasn't sure what was worse, watching Optimus fall or watching his form shaking violently on the ground. I felt so helpless that I was unable to be there for my leader and my friends. Then I felt my spark shuddered when I heard her voice from behind.

"DAD!!!!"

"Cut the video!" I snapped, turning to face Kacey.

The young femme was running hard towards the monitor and the computer controls. I have no doubt she came here as fast as she could once her spark sensed trouble with Optimus. I only wished I had sent someone sooner to keep her out of the command center. She didn't need to see what she was feeling.

I've only been witness to one occasion when a mech lost his bonded sparkmate. Though it pains my spark and I miss Jazz, I was fortunate to be so far away that I didn't have to suffer such spark shock. My friend Hound wasn't so lucky. He was a well trained soldier, very well disciplined. I saw how it tore him up when his sparkmate was killed. But he had the fortitude to keep his processor in the fight and didn't give in to his grief and agony until it was over.

But he was a mature mechanism able to cope with the pain. Kacey was not a mature femme yet. Far from it despite her emotional maturity. I had no idea how she was going to react to the trauma from Optimus' spark echoing through her own. Judging from her initial reaction…not well.

"DAD!!!" she screamed again as I intercepted her. She didn't like it one bit and thrashed violently in my arms, fists flying, legs kicking. "LET ME GO YOU FRAGGER!!! THAT'S MY FATHER!!"

For an immature femme Kacey was surprisingly strong. It took all of my strength to try and hold her. However, I was afraid to use too much force and lost my grip. She broke free shoving me aside. A couple of Autobots leapt up from their stations to try and corral her only to get flung aside as Magnus had taught her so well to do. Tracks got the worst of it getting up end and flipped over her shoulder onto his back.

Kacey's desperate hands flew across the control panel and reactivated the video feed and reopened the comlink that someone had wisely muted. Magnus and the others had moved Optimus inside the base. And there was enough light to see he was still on the ground. But it wasn't what we saw that affecting us but what we heard.

"Ratchet will fix Optimus. He's a miracle worker," Hound said

"But if he doesn't…what will we do?" Sunny asked, the same question I'm sure was running through many processors here in the command center.

"Then it is our duty to be there for our new Prime, when she is ready to take command," Hound answered.

Many of us, including myself, turned to Kacey. Tears were streaming down her face plates. The fear and grief was so prominent in her features. This was the first time she'd be faced with this situation. My spark ached for her.

Ever so gently I pulled her hands away from the console and turned her away from the images. The sound had been muted once again. The video feed gone. I glanced at everyone, giving them a look. They all nodded, understanding and returned to their posts.

"Come with me, Kacey," I softly told her, supporting her listless form. "Let us do our job. You know Optimus is in good hands with Ratchet."

Her tear filled optics locked on mine. It took all of my will to control my emotions. The depth of sorrow I saw in them was so indescribable and so moving. The pain and grief she was going through stuck me close to my spark for I knew it well when I had found out Jazz was gone.

Despite my best efforts, a single tear trickled down my face.

Then Kacey suddenly cried out and collapsed to the floor, hand grabbing her chest just over her spark. Gasps sounded throughout the command center. Rapid prayers were murmured.

And I did the only thing I could think to do. I held Optimus' daughter in my arms and tried to comfort her, praying that Ratchet found a way to save Optimus. I couldn't bear to think of Kacey or her brothers and sister having to endure such a loss when they were all so young.

"FATHER!!!" she screamed, arching her back.

Primus, I thought she was going to break her back. I barely managed to hang on. Akima came over to lend a hand as Kacey was nearly uncontrollable. After several short, but agonizing minutes her form went limp in my arms.

"What's happening out there?" I quickly questioned, my initial reaction thinking that Optimus had passed.

"Ratchet put Optimus into stasis," Tracks answered much to my relief.

"What's wrong with Kacey?" Akima asked.

I looked into the youngling femme's emotionless face. Optics appeared as if they were looking through me. Her lips were moving rapidly but I couldn't make out what she was saying only that the language was our own.

"Her spark rate is racing," someone said.

"Get Red or Moonracer in here," I ordered, gently laying Kacey on the floor. I had never seen anything like this before. "Kacey, can you hear me?"

"Spark rate is climbing…so are her energy levels!"

My own sensors told me the same thing. Almost as if she had a power surge coursing through her systems. Her optics flared brightly and I saw pure rage on her face. I'd seen that look in Optimus' face a couple of times just before he went into a fighting frenzy to save Elita or someone he cared deeply for. Surprised at such intensity I moved back not wanting to give Kacey a target to attack. If indeed she was going to attack.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she roared with a surge of energy.

And then it was gone. Kacey appeared drained, optics dimmed, spark rate slowed. She looked up at me and she started crying again. Her grief had returned.

"I don't understand, Prowl," she whispered as I picked her up, cradling her in my arms as she choked and sobbed.

"Prowl, they're in the shuttle on route back to the base," Tracks discretely said.

"Make sure they take all necessary precautions that they're not followed. We cannot risk the Decepticons discovering our base's location at this time. I'm taking Kacey to the Med Bay. Keep me informed." Tracks nodded and I returned my attention to Kacey and walked quickly out of the command center. I wanted to drop Kacey off before heading to the shuttle bay. "What don't understand, Kacey?"

"Why does Megatron hate my father so much? They're brothers."

I sighed unable to answer her question. I never understood either. I know that Megatron did once deeply love Optimus. The two were inseparable when Megatron's duties allowed them time together. As to what changed Megatron, turned him from the Autobot way I may never know for that was one thing Optimus never discussed with his second in command.

Megatron

I was angered when I felt the presence of young Kaceystar interrupting my invasion of my brother's spark. Her goodness was as repulsive as my brother's. So I retreated quickly to avoid it. Still, it did not take too much away from the satisfaction I felt at accomplishing my goal.

My brother was dying.

I knew. He knew it. I was confident the rest of the Autobots knew it as well. It was simply a matter of time now.

I smiled. The end of the Autobots was so close now!

"Father! Mother! Did you see him fall? Did you?!" Venom asked excitedly as he ran out of the shuttle craft to greet me as we arrived at our rendezvous coordinates.

Once again I felt overwhelmed with pride for my son. He was most definitely a Decepticon worthy of fighting at my side. His spark was nearly as cruel as mine and he was so young with still so much more to learn.

"Yes, you did very well my son," I smiled, picking him up.

"I'm so proud of you," Thunderblast grinned, caressing Venom's head.

The youngling purred, leaning into her affections. I handed our son over to her, needing to tend to the matter at hand.

"Report Soundwave."

"The Autobots cloaked their shuttles' energy signatures and I lost track of them. However, I was able to narrow our search parameters based on their flight trajectory before the signals were lost. It is simply a matter of time now, my Lord."

"Excellent," I said, glancing to see Venom yawning in his mother's arms. "Let's head back to base. Today was a successful day and my son needs to be feed and have a proper recharge."

"Yes, my Lord."

"I think he got over excited," Thunder smirked as I sat beside her.

"Youth," I chuckled, taking my recharging little mech into my arms. "He will learn. You did well, Thunder. Venom is a ruthless Decepticon already."

"I think he gets that more from you than me," she countered. "He definitely has your laugh."

Her comment made me laugh heartily. Indeed, Venom's laugh sounded similar to my own, just not as deep or menacing yet. And like me didn't hesitate to laugh at the demise of his enemies. Perhaps I'll turn him loose on Kaceystar once we capture her. She should be easy prey to torment once her family and friends are gone.

First things first. My brother must die. Once Soundwave has located the Autobot base we attack and keep attacking until they give up or die. Preferably die. I'm not one for having prisoners, the fewer Autobots around the better.

Regardless, if they give up or die, it will be the end of the Autobots forever. I'll have to figure out a way for my son to be there on that day. After all, Venom was a part of it and should be there to witness such a glorious and historic day for my Decepticons.

Up next: We'll get Ratchet, Ironhide, Elita, and of course Kacey's POVs.