They say never judge a book by it's cover. Well, you'd be more than dead if you tried to judge me by my appearance. I maybe small, but I pack a mean punch if you mess with me and my team... Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude... hey there! I'm Windswept! And boy, have I got a story to tell you. Well, what are you waiting for?! Get over here and get ready for my adventures on Team Prime!

'It's a Tuesday night. A female writer is sitting in her room quietly, bored by the show that was being shown on T.V. She's ready to shut her laptop down and go find something better to do elsewhere, eyeing up the blue console known as the Nintendo Wii sitting below her T.V. A "BUZZ BUZZ" sound interrupts her thoughts, her eyes darting to her Tablet sitting beside her. She grabs it and presses the home button where a small notification pops up. It's an email. An email that's telling her that someone has just followed her story that she posted a few weeks ago and had nearly forgotten about...'

I was quite pleased to see that small notification pop an hour ago. It reminded me that someone had also favourited this story a wee while back too. Thank you both for the follow/favourite. It inspired me to post a new chapter of this. So I hope you both, and hopefully many others, enjoy this chapter.

- Transformers Prime does not belong to me. All rights go to the people and brands who were able to create this show.
- Windswept, Carly Esquivel and Rebecca Rose belong to me.

(The first bit after the recap is No One's P.O.V)

* Show Optimus Prime leaping out of the Groundbridge and standing before his Autobot team. *

Previously on Transformers Prime…

* Show the Decepticon drones and Cliffjumper fighting. *

Arcee: "The 'Cons are back. Cliff might be neck deep in scrap."

* Show an Energon explosion occurring behind Cliffjumper, the force shoving Cliffjumper forwards and into unconsciousness *

* Show Cliffjumper's life signal going offline *

Ratchet: "Cliffjumper's signal just went offline."

* Show Optimus standing before his Autobot team at the memorial for Cliffjumper *

Optimus Prime: "As of today, only we six Autobots remain on this Earth."

* Show Arcee fighting against a Decepticon drone while Windswept battles against Slipstream *

Rafael: "What are they?"

Jack: "Talking cars that turn into robots…or the other way around."

* Show Slipstream gaining an advantage on Windswept *

Slipstream: The Decepticons are back. Let Optimus know the good news.

* Show the Decepticon drone in their vehicle modes driving and firing at Jack and Arcee *

Arcee: "Look. You may be in danger because you are one of the few –"

* Show Arcee getting up close and personal with Jack

"One of the only – to have seen us."

* Show Jack with the other humans walking up to Optimus *

Jack: "Why are you here?"

Optimus Prime: "To protect your planet from Megatron."

* Show Megatron transforming mid air and deep in space. *

Optimus Prime: "But if his return is imminent, it could be catastrophic."

Megatron: "I HAVE RETURNED!"

The Decepticon Warship began its' descent downwards as it arrived at a mountain. This wasn't no ordinary mountain however. If the Decepticons were to arrive at a location, then there must be some sort of reason, right?

The Warship began to open up at its' rear, a tube similar to an elevator making its way further into the mountain when the Nemesis couldn't go any further. The tube made its' way down to the bottom of the open mountain, bypassing levels and levels of working Decepticon miners. It revealed the blue crystals known as Energon, the lifeblood of all Decepticons and Autobots alike, resting, waiting to be collected by the miners.

As the tube continued down the mineshaft and paused at one of the levels, Starscream boasted proudly about the discovery of his particular find,"Of all the Energon deposits we have located while you were away, Lord Megatron, this one, by far, is the most significant."

A Decepticon miner carrying a trolley of mined Energon walked into the tube where the elevator floor was waiting. As soon as he was ready, the floor lifted up to take the miner to the Nemesis where he would go and store the Energon before returning to the deposit to mine more Energon and continue the process.

"Since the discovery, the drones have been mining without pause during your absence and have amassed quite a stock pile. You there! Fetch me a sample!" Starscream barked the order at a Decepticon miner with a wave of his hand.

"Starscream." The silver and red Cybertronian jumped when Megatron called his name, walking further into the mine with Slipstream, "Now that I have returned, I will issue the commands."

"I understand, Lord Megatron," Starscream nodded reluctantly, stepping out of the way for him to oversee the progress of the Decepticon miners. Megatron looked over his shoulder briefly at Slipstream, "The same rule also applies to you."

"Then as your humble servants, shall we ready the space bridge?" Slipstream asked.

"Ahh yes," Starscream agreed, "To bring forth the Decepticon Army you have surely gathered during your three years in space?"

"My army will come," Megatron answered, halting Starscream's excitement, "But my time away has yielded a more…intriguing means of materialising them. The solidified form of the matter the Ancient Texts refer to as the Blood of Unicron." The leader of the Decepticons held out a purple flaming crystal for the twins to see.

"Unicron the Destroyer?" Starscream gasped.

"It is said that his blood is the anti-spark," Slipstream added, taking a step back.

"Plucked from Cosmic Shores, gaze upon Dark Energon," Megatron announced.

"Legend tells that it holds the power to revive the dead," Starscream remembered, whispering the last three words.

"We require only a cadaver to be certain," Megatron hummed, turning to Starscream, "Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?"

Slipstream stifled a laugh of amusement, keeping her composure while her twin laughed nervously,

"That may not be necessary. If I may, Lord Megatron…"

The trio of Decepticons looked at the tube where the elevator floor floated down to their level. Two Decepticon drones were standing behind a stretcher holding the recently deceased corpse of the fallen Autobot Cliffjumper. At the end of stretcher was Rebecca, who snapped her fingers at the drones. The stretcher was soon brought forward before the Decepticons.

When the stretcher was sitting in front of Megatron, the girl looked up at the Warlord and curtsied before him, "Lord Megatron, it has been a long time."

Megatron nodded, "Rebecca Rose, you have grown up well I see."

The sixteen year old teenager fought the embarrassed blush that was about to leave its mark on her pale cheeks. Spinning around and facing the deceased body before them, she spoke, "Consider this a welcome home present, Lord Megatron."

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

"And since now you know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours," Optimus announced to Jack, Carly, Miko and Raf.

"Got it. If we spot any strange vehicles, call 911," Jack summarised quickly, "Can we go now?"

I blinked several times. Did I hear that boy right?! He just met a race he probably never thought that would exist and all he wants to do is go home? Seriously, if I were him, I'd be begging to stay!

"Are you insane?!" Carly asked him, "We could be living a dream here in Botswana!

Miko wrapped an arm around the girl, "You tell him my girl!" Then she turned serious and pointed at the boy she's probably just meet. Or probably knows him since they do go to the same school, "And me and Cazza are not gonna allow you or anyone else to shatter it!"

I piped into the conversation, watching Jack's reaction carefully, "Jack, its really not that simple."

"It is best that you four remain under our watch. At least, until we can determine our enemy's intentions," Optimus agreed.

"Optimus, with all due respect, the human children are in as much danger here as anywhere," Ratchet warned Optimus quietly.

"Children?" Jack repeated in offence.

"I'll have you know that I am a sixteen year old teenager whose a lot smarter than she looks," Carly muttered.

"Your point, Doc?" I asked the medic to continue.

Ratchet sent me a warning glare before continuing, "They have no protective shell. If they get underfoot, they will go… squish." When he had finished what he had to say, Ratchet took a small warning step toward the humans to prove a point. Jack, Miko and Raf took a step back.

Carly, however, stood there and crossed her arms. She looked up to our medic, "Gonna take a lot more than that to scare me. Heck, even my own mother is scarier than you."

Miko and Raf nodded behind her, "Agreed."

I bit my lip at the thought.

"Then for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step," Optimus told him before the alarms started going off.

Great.

"What's that?" Jack asked nervously, seeing that all of us had turned towards the computer screens high above us.

"Proximity sensor," Bumblebee whirred to Jack while pointing at the roof.

Jack looked to Raf for guidance on what he was saying. The boy opened his mouth to speak, but a female voice spoke before he could.

"He said proximity sensor. Someone must be up top."

My eyes widened and my mouth was agape. Raf AND Carly were able understand Bumblebee?! I shook my head, folded my arms and leaned on a support beam beside me, "What kind of family do you two come from?!"

"The smart kind," Miko muttered.

"It's Agent Fowler," Ratchet announced when he checked the security screens.

I groaned, "Really?! What did we do now?"

"I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys," Jack recalled his earlier conversation with Arcee.

"Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world. As he tends to visit only when there are…issues."

"Issues ain't the word I'd be using," I whispered with some slight annoyance.

"It may be best if you do not meet him at this time," Optimus advised.

Almost immediately, the four humans scrambled for cover. My foot tapped the ground purposely; the support beam I was leaning on should be wide enough to provide a hiding spot for four humans just like these ones. Carly almost instantly noticed and nodded. Quickly grabbing Raf, she ran to me and hid behind the beam. Jack and Miko soon followed. Just in time too. The elevator doors opened and here came the dark-skinned man with the grey suit he wears almost every day. I studied his facial expression.

He. Looked. Pissed.

"Seven wrecks, Thirty-four fender-benders, a three-hour traffic jam and a particular note: numerous reports of two speeding motorcycles of unknown make-"

Arcee and I exchanged a look when Fowler mentioned the motorcycle part. She shrugged it off like she didn't care. I, on the other hand, thinned my lips and directed my optics elsewhere.

"-And a black and yellow custom muscle car."

Bumblebee then looked at the pair of us. Out of the corner of my optic, I spotted Jack and Carly trying to sneak a peak at the Agent. I coughed suddenly, forcing them to scatter behind me. When I knew that they were out of sight, Fowler and Optimus looked at me like they were waiting for me to finish up. Once I nodded that I was okay, Fowler continued droning on.

"So anything you'd care to get off your tin chest, Prime?"

"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler," Optimus reassured him.

"They're back, aren't there?" Fowler asked him plainly.

"They never left Fowler. Earth is too valuable to leave with supplies still lingering around," I told him simply.

"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon," Fowler suggested with intent.

"Hear me, Agent Fowler. We are the best – possibly, your only – defence against the Decepticon Threat," Optimus retorted.

"Says you," Fowler shot back darkly.

"Oh boy," I muttered when Fowler decided he wouldn't give up the argument.

"Hey, fleshy! Did anyone get splattered on that free-way?" Bulkhead interrupted, "Team Prime knows when to use force. And how much to use." The former Wrecker grabbed one of Ratchet's tools and before anyone could stop him, the tool was in pieces thanks to Bulkhead's strong grip.

"BULKHEAD! I NEEDED THAT!" Ratchet exclaimed.

"Enough," Optimus warned, shutting the pair up before turning back to the Agent, "Military involvement will result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot."

"Then do us both a favour and handle this, Prime. UNDER the radar," Fowler requested, "Or I will." The elevator doors slammed in front of the him, signalling the end of his appearance for now.

"Pretty big bearings for a human," Bulkhead remarked.

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead. As he should be," Optimus told him.

"Man, that was tense," Carly commented as she and her human friends came out from behind me, "Thanks for the hiding spot."

I shrugged casually, "No biggie. Thanks for catching onto what I was saying."

"What can I say? It's a gift," She smirked. Oh yeah, her and I are gonna get along just fine.

"Carly!" The girl looked up to see Miko up on the stairs jumping around. The girl looked at her with a grin before running up the stairs to join her, Jack and Raf following them.

Hmph, maybe having humans around such as these may work out...

NO ONES P.O.V

The returned Megatron, still holding the Dark Energon shard, stepped forward to the recently deceased Cliffjumper. "Let us see if power born of darkness can reignite the spark." The Warlord stabbed the former Autobot in his chest where his spark chamber would be.

Slipstream and Starscream backed away while Rebecca jumped off the stretcher and stood in front of the twin Decepticons. They watched the scene unfold before them.

The Dark Energon shard shone brightly before slowly entering Cliffjumper. The former Autobot opened his mouth as if he was going to speak, but it came out as a ferocious growl. The wiring and circuits around his body turned to a purple glow as well as his optics that snapped wide open. He broke free of the restraints pining him to the stretcher, and immediately put his newfound strength to good use, tackling one of the Vehicons on standby, throwing punch after punch at him.

He even ripped off the drone's blaster that he had activated when the reanimated Autobot started to go feral, landing close to the four Decepticons watching the scene. Starscream stumbled back, Slipstream stood, or more rather hid, behind Megatron in slight panic and Rebecca dove behind the blaster while peeking her head over to continue watching, all while Megatron watched with hidden glee. Another drone began shooting at the feral Cliffjumper, but this only angered him further, and he tackled the second drone, sending them further into the cavern.

"That's your plan?" Rebecca asked, starting to understanding her leader's idea.

"Bring Autobots back from the dead to attack us?!" Starscream screeched in disbelief

"That is no longer an Autobot; just a mindless beast. It's only instinct to destroy anything in its path," Megatron corrected darkly.

The 'mindless beast' suddenly changed its mind and began charging at Megatron. While Starscream, Slipstream and Rebecca scampered away from the deranged beast, their leader simply activated his sword and sliced the beast into two. Both halves of the Cybertronian monster fell off the cliff, but the top half managed to grab a hold of the edge, attempting to climb up with only one hand.

"There, Starscream? Rise the indestructible seed of my army. The ultimate weapon," Megatron announced, kicking the top half of Cliffjumper into the mine.

Rebecca snorted, crossing her arms as she watched the top half of the former Autobot fall land onto a platform, "Yeah, once we learn to control it, that is."

WINDSWEPT'S P.O.V

"Blasted Earth tech," Ratchet cursed out of nowhere, turning towards us, "Cliffjumper's life signal popped back online!"

I looked up in disbelief. That can't be right! Cliffjumper's gone!

"Who's Cliffjumper?" I heard Miko ask.

"How is that possible?" Optimus questioned with a step forward.

"It isn't. Another bug! The system's chock full of them," Ratchet grumbled.

"If there's any chance Cliff's alive," Arcee trailed off.

Arcee and I exchanged a look of hope before she looked up at Optimus. He wouldn't turn down this opportunity, would he?

"Ratchet, prepare sick bay. We may need it," Optimus instructed, activating his mouth guard.

We all began to make our way toward the Groundbridge. However, out of the corner of my optic, I could see Carly trying to stop Miko from doing something. But she couldn't stop her.

"Hey!" Optimus and I looked over at the girl with the pink streak in her hair, gripping the ladder tightly with excitement. "What can we do?"

Optimus and I shared a knowing look.

"Remain with Ratchet."

"Awwww…," Miko sighed in disappointment.

"Awww," Ratchet moaned in frustration at the thought of baby-sitting the humans before activating the Groundbridge.

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus instructed. We all transformed in our vehicle forms and rolled out.

NO ONE'S P.O.V

"What just happened?" Jack asked in disbelief.

"I transported them to the designated coordinates via the Groundbridge," Ratchet replied, watching the humans turn to face him

"What's a Groundbridge?" Raf questioned.

Ratchet scoffed as if the humans should know what a Groundbridge was, "A scaled-down version of Spacebridge Technology. Since we don't currently possess the means or the Energon required for intergalactic travel…"

"You're stuck here on Earth," Carly interrupted in realisation, walking forward and gripping the protective bars.

"With the likes of you, yes," Ratchet answered sarcastically, turning to the still open Groundbridge and becoming very proud of himself, "But I constructed the Groundbridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."

"Whoa..." Raf gasped in excitement before looking back at Ratchet and asking excitedly, "Does it work for humans?"

"Naturally."

"You mean, I could just shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked with a tone similar to the younger boy.

Ratchet jumped at the idea, "Within moments. In fact, allow me to send you there immediately. All four of you."

Miko glared at him with her hands on her hips, "Watch it, Ratchet." The medic could only look at her with a small tint of surprise.

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

As we rolled out of the Groundbridge and into an Energon mine, we transformed out of vehicle forms and stood in a stance where our blasters were activated and ready to attack any Decepticons that threatened us. There were none around for the moment and they gave us the ability to relax.

Though I doubt that it'll last.

"Energon mine," Bulkhead observed.

"Judging by its scale," Optimus started, "The Decepticons have been tunnelling here for quite some time."

I spotted a bunch of huge rocks nearby and hid behind them for cover. The others followed my lead and joined me. From this point of view, we could see the Decepticon drones mining the Energon we desperately needed.

"Let's find Cliffjumper," Optimus decided, having enough of watching the drones.

Together, we approached the drones. When they noticed us, that was when the party really began. The Decepticon miners activated their blasters and began shooting at us. One drone actually pulled his drill directly towards us. Well, he would've continued driving towards if Bulkhead didn't smash it with his Wrecking Ball. Individually, we all charged and fire at the Decepticon miners that were threatening to harm us.

I ran up to a few miners, leaping and shooting at them. They fell to the ground with ease. One drone, who pulled his drill towards one of my teammates, ended up becoming my landing pad, stomping on him and nearly crushing him. The drill continued driving until I felt it being picked up by none other than Optimus Prime himself.

I leaped off it before he chucked it down so it couldn't continue driving to anyone else. We continued shooting miner after miner, eager to finish off these drones so we could find Cliffjumper.

If Cliffjumper was still Cliffjumper that is. Somehow, I highly doubted that the mech was still the same Autobot we knew and loved...

NO ONE'S P.O.V

While Ratchet kept an eye on the computer screens above in case the Autobots needed a sudden aid, one of the humans began to get a little bored. With curiosity beginning to get the best of her, she began exploring down on the floor level, looking around at the machinery that Ratchet had left lying around

Miko looked at one piece and reached her hand out to it, "What is this, anyway?"

Ratchet was quick to reply as he walked over to the controls, "Broken. Don't touch."

Miko stood to full height, watching Ratchet and making sure that his attention was elsewhere. She looked at the machinery and reached out to touch it again.

"Don't touch that either."

As Carly and Jack walked up to Miko, the former threw her hands up and whispered to her school friends, "Does he have eyes at the back of his head or something?"

"Is there anything in here we CAN touch?" Jack asked.

Ratchet went to answer, or to make a smart comment, when a red cross and an error message appeared on one of the computer screens.

"How come you are using human computers?" Raf questioned innocently

"It certainly isn't by choice," Ratchet answered frustratingly, "It was handed down from the previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make changes as I see fit." After his explanation, more red crosses and error messages appeared on both computer screens. The medic could only sigh in frustration.

Carly looked up from her position on the ground, hands on hips and eyeing up the computer screens, "I think we can fix that."

"We?" Miko questioned, but was ignored by her close friend who ran to the ladder.

"Hey Raf, you brought your computer right?"

"Hey yeah, I did!" Raf realised, pulling his computer out from his bag and plugging into the control console. (AN: This might be a good time to point out that I don't know what to call whatever it is the Autobots have set up. So I'm making it up as I go along.)

"Really?" Ratchet scoffed in disbelief, watching Carly join her younger brother and help him type some commands into his computer, "You know this is complex technology, don't you? I mean, it isn't a child's toy."

Raf typed in a few more commands before he and Carly both looked up at the orange and white Autobot,.

"Now try."

Thinking he could just entertain the two humans who think they're so smart, Ratchet turned back to the computer screens that were still full of red crosses and error messages. Suddenly, all the red crosses turned to green ticks and the error messages disappeared, going back to whatever Ratchet had set up on the before the issues started.

In shock, he turned back to the two humans in disbelief. Maybe some humans aren't as bad as he previously thought...

WINDSWEPT P.O.V

We dispatched the first wave of those dumb Decepticon drones easy-peasy. But we all knew there were more coming. A lot of them this time around, and more of them were bringing their drills to the party, knowing very well that it slowed us down when we were trying to stop them the first time.

"Maximum overdrive!" Optimus advised as we transformed and drove straight towards the wave of drones.

We all managed to either dodge the blaster shots or destroy the drones that threatened to stand in our way of reaching our goal. To find Cliffjumper and take him home.

Finally we reached the main mine, kind of like where the actual base of operations was happening. We transformed and ducked for cover behind some large crates that are probably filled with Energon ready to be taken up to the Nemesis. We all good quite a good view of the place.

Bulkhead whistled in admiration, "Quite the operation."

Great, just great.

We all activated our weapons and began shooting while more Decepticon drones began to fire at us. Seriously, the Decepticons never seem to run out of these guys. Just where do they get them from, I do wonder.

NO ONE'S P.O.V

Unaware of the chaos in the mine below, Megatron eyed the up dark purple crystals in their holding compartment, humming and speaking to them as if the Energon was an actual Cybertronian.

"Blood of Unicron, how might I fathom the depths of your mystery?" Megatron practically pressed his entire upper body up against the glass, his red, piercing eyes seeking answers to his questions, "Become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?"

Behind him, Slipstream watched with her arms folded behind her back. Concerned would be a stretch, but an appropriate word to use given she was witnessing Megatron eyeing up the Dark Energon like he was the hunter and the Energon the hunted.

Before anyone could say or do anything, a beeping at the monitor halted Megatron and Slipstream in their tracks.

"Lord Megatron, intruders have been detected in the mines!" Starscream announced.

"Optimus," Megatron realised.

"Indeed, along with another familiar face."

"Windswept?" Slipstream eyes lightened up at seeing her enemy once more.

"Patience Slipstream," Megatron warned, placing a hand in front of her when she made her presence known and walked up to the monitor. He turned to the screen Starscream had appeared on, "I need more time to prepare an appropriate reception for my old friends. Ready the ship for departure."

Starscream was already hesitant, "B-But the Energon I've mined! The Autobots will seize it!"

"Then BLOW the MINES!" Megatron snarled.

When Starscream disappeared off the monitor, Megatron turned to one of his oldest friends, "Go and see fit that your worthless brother does what he is told."

With a nod, the femme ran towards the tube that would take her down to the mines.

"And Slipstream." Said Decepticon paused, turning back to Megatron, who's attention had gone back to the Dark Energon. "Do not go near Optimus or Windswept. Their part in my plans are necessary."

Confused, but not willing to anger her leader, the blue and purple femme only nodded at the order and continued her journey.

WINDSWEPT'S P.O.V

During battle, sometimes I tend to get distracted. Usually, I'm distracted by the arrival of Slipstream and my urge to fight or, the preferred option, kill her. Sometimes I have to protect something, or someone, and get it, or them, to safety as soon as possible. But today, it was a certain colour that grabbed my attention out of the corner of my optic.

Something red.

I grabbed Arcee, making sure she dodged a shot along the way. She was about to scream at me until I pointed at the red figure on a higher-up platform. She knew who it was. We both did.

"Cliffjumper."

"Optimus, we have a visual," I announced to him.

"We'll cover you," Optimus told us, "Go!"

Arcee gave me a look that said, 'You coming or what?'.

I silently agreed, transforming into our motorcycle forms. We dodged shots left and right to get to the platform where our fallen friend was. I just hoped that he was in better shape than I was expecting. But when we transformed and our optics fell upon his figure, my body went cold and I knew Arcee's did too.

Cliffjumper had been sliced into two, his upper body lying there. I felt sick in my stomach when I saw a purple liquid surrounding his body.

... Is that what I think it is?

Arcee and I ducked at the incoming shots from the Decepticons. They weren't hitting us exactly, but the area where Cliffjumper was. I heard a creaking noise and realised that part of the platform was collapsing. The part that Cliff was resting on!

"CLIFF!" Arcee cried as she dove for him.

She grabbed his hand and when I saw her grip on him slip ever so slightly, I grabbed it. Optimus and the others continued to provide cover for us below. A rock suddenly hit my head with a loud CLANG!, making me look up to see more rocks dropping from the roof around us. The place was collapsing.

"Arcee," I began warning her.

She ignored me, "Let's get you home, partner."

Cliffjumper looked at us with a deranged look in his now purple optics. I was shocked to see him this way, so shocked that I let go of his servo in fear. He began howling at us, but Arcee was not tempted to let go. Cliff wriggled out of her grip and began plummeting to the ground below us. My friend held her head down in anger and in pain of losing him. I clasped her shoulder tightly to provide her the comfort we both needed.

A cackle ruined the moment. I looked around angrily before seeing two out of many Decepticon figures I hated most.

Slipstream and Starscream.

And they were armed.

"Prime," Starscream greeted.

"And Windswept," Slipstream smirked, "I see our battle didn't do much damage to you. What a shame."

My only reaction was to roll my optics.

"We'd love to stick around. But…we're squeamish," Starscream remarked as he and Slipstream activated the bombs and dropped them.

Starscream leaped from the platform and into the elevator the Decepticons must have used to transport the Energon to the Warship. He transformed and flew away. Slipstream however, paused for a moment, and stared at me as if she had more to say. I presumed that with the ticking of the active bombs, it seemed that whatever she wanted to do would have to wait. She leaped from where she was standing and followed Starscream's path out of the mine

"The joint's gonna blow!" Bulkhead sounded his warning, interrupting me from my staring contest with Slipstream's retreating form. With Bulkhead's experience as a Wrecker and with them playing with bombs and stuff like this back on Cybertron, it was best to listen to him.

Looking down at the Energon, I found the bombs, slowly, but noisily ticking down. I looked at Optimus, who only nodded at me before facing the tunnel we had come from.

It was time to go.

"Roll out!" Optimus instructed.

"Come on!" I yelled to the silent Arcee. I had to grab her wrist and pretty much drag her away from the site. Optimus waited for us while the other two drove away. Us three transformed and quickly followed them.

The bombs began detonating behind us, making me look into my side mirrors and watch the Energon explode into blue smoke. The smoke began chasing us at alarming rates. Inside I panicked. Optimus, you better do something quick!

"Ratchet, bridge us back!" Optimus instructed, "Use the arrival co-ordinates..." There was a pause for a second, "NOW!"

I sighed in relief when the Groundbridge appeared before us. We quickly drove on through, knowing that the exploding Energon was still following our tailpipes. It was a close call as once we all drove through, Ratchet closed it straight after Optimus back-flipped the hell away from the portal. The Energon explosion would have continued to follow us had he not have closed it in time.

We all transformed and I could tell that the four humans were all in awe. Their mouths were agape, especially Miko and Carly's.

"Cutting it a bit close," Ratchet remarked before he eagerly asked the question we knew he'd ask, "How about Cliffjumper?"

We all lowered our heads, and our winglets and doorwings in mine, Arcee and Bumblebee's cases, in disappointment. The sombre moment was ruined when Miko began asking questions.

"What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time?"

Arcee maked her appearance from behind Optimus known with a dark growl, "Look."

"He-hey, Miko, let's go see what the bots hiding in their sock drawers," Jack decided, directing her attentions away from us.

"Seriously?" Miko questioned disbelievingly. She still allowed herself to be dragged away by the arm wrapped around her shoulder's. Carly and Raf joined them.

Once they disappeared, Optimus asked the question both Arcee and I were fearing, "Arcee, Windswept, what did you see?"

"Not Cliff. At least…not any more," Arcee answered, folding her arms like she was protecting herself, "He was mutated. Butchered like something from those 'Con experiments during the war."

She fell backwards slowly, me presuming that a wave of dizziness must have crashed over her. She stabilized herself on a crate. Bumblebee whirred, heading to her quickly as I jumped to her side instantly. I looked over her arms to see if anything was obvious that was affecting her. Just as I was about to say that there was nothing there, a small patch of purple liquid on her arm captured my optic.

I took a step back in panic, Bulkhead grabbing my shoulders like he thought I was dizzy. I wasn't. The purple liquid on Cliffjumper must have rubbed off on Arcee, causing her to become dizzy. Bulkhead released me and patted my shoulder while I observed myself for any liquid traces. I scrunched up my nose plate when I saw purple on my hand. This liquid has never really had much effect on me for reasons I have never figured out. But the others didn't know that so I rubbed it off as quickly and discreetly as possible.

"I'm fine," Arcee told us instantly, holding her hand out to stop Bumblebee from going any closer to her, "Just dizzy." We didn't believe her... Well, at least I didn't.

"Bots who get dizzy," Miko had gasped.

"Robots with emotions," Raf added after her.

"Robots who can die," Jack piped in next.

"They're just like us," Carly whispered to sum it all up.

My spark sunk at their words.

Ratchet had gone to help Arcee when the humans spoke and scanned her also immediately as Bumblebee helped her onto a crate. The blue beam from the scanner turned red almost instantly on her hand. Our Autobot medic was intrigued by this and quickly noticed the purple substance on her hand.

"What is this?" Ratchet asked himself.

"Don't know. Cliff was covered in it," Arcee answered.

"He was leaking it," I recalled.

Ratchet briefly looked at me as he took a sample from her hand. He instructed her quickly, "Go take a decontamination bath. Now."

As Bumblebee helped Arcee into the medical showers, Ratchet walked up and scanned me also. He took a few more scans before looking at me in the optic, "You were with her? Surely some of it could have rubbed off on you?"

"I-It must have come off or I never got it on me," I answered the best I can. Our focus was on Arcee and the events of today. I don't want to get in anyone's way that could set off some words filled with anger and pain.

Ratchet was going to continue until Carly spoke up, "Optimus, I don't mean to pry, but uhhh. We have no bars on our phones." Jack waved his phone in front of our leader.

"A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves," Optimus explained.

"Well, if I don't call my mom, like NOW, I'm pretty sure the cops will come looking for me," Jack told Optimus.

"Have you broken a law?" My leader asked worriedly, bending down so he was eye-to-eye with the humans.

"Uh, curfew. It's after 10pm," Jack corrected.

"I'd better get home too. Or I'll be grounded for a year," Raf piped in.

"And me two years," Carly added. Raf looked at her with a confused look which she seemed to notice, "I'm older than you. Therefore, harder punishment."

"Earth customs. I haven't considered," Optimus hummed, "But the issue of your safety remains. Bulkhead, accompany Miko home."

"AWESOME! My host parents will freak!" Miko cheered.

"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form," Optimus added.

"Curbside duty. Got it," Bulkhead nodded.

Miko moaned in disappointment as Carly giggled, "Are your host parents still gonna freak when they see an all-terrain vehicle parked outside their house?"

"Not as much as I wanted them to."

"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf," Optimus decided before turning his attention to the medic, "Ratchet?"

"Busy," Ratchet waved him off as a much-better looking Arcee appeared from the showers.

"Arcee, you'll accompany Jack," Optimus told her.

"Still dizzy," Arcee informed him. Her voice went up a pitch. She was faking it.

"You're fine," Ratchet told her.

"Says your physician," I added cheekily, earning a sigh from Arcee.

"It's only fair that if I have to take home a human, so does Windswept. It's makes sense since there's only one human left and Windswept, I'm sure, would love to get out of base more often."

"Hey wait what?!" I began stumbling over my words.

"You are correct Arcee."

"Gang up on me why don't you," I muttered under my breathe.

"Carly, your guardian is Windswept," Optimus announced.

I looked over to Carly, who gave me a small wave and a smile. I bet Arcee was smirking at me in her vehicle form when I transformed. I pulled up beside her as the two older teenagers talked while walking over to us.

"That's how you wanna play?" I whispered to her, "You just wait, it ain't over."

"Looking forward to it. I'm expecting a good challenge. That is, if you're ready to handle it," Arcee challenged.

Even though our emotions were being swallowed down for the heck of it, I knew that they were still there, ready to boil over us. But we needed to keep ourselves together for the humans.

"Oh its on!"

As soon as Jack and Carly got on Arcee and I, we took off out of base. I never realised how nice and cool the night was sometimes. It's definitely refreshing after what happened today. Losing Cliff was hard, but gaining four human allies in the same DAY?! They certainly cannot replace that red mech, but I'm willing to give them a chance.

During the ride, Carly told me to follow Bumblebee as they were just up ahead. We turned off, saying goodbye to Arcee and Jack while doing so.

"Windswept, are you okay?" The girl asked after a moment of silence.

"Yeah I guess," I sighed. Truth is, I wasn't. But I didn't really need Carly to worry about me. Optimus does enough of that as it is, even though I don't want him to.

"You're lying to me."

"Really?" I asked her dryly.

"Were you and Cliffjumper close?" She asked.

"Not as close as Arcee and Cliffjumper, but yeah we were kinda close," I answered, "But it happens. The ones we love die in the hands of our enemies. We just have to accept it and move on, even if we don't want to."

I moved one of my rear-view mirrors just so I could see Carly's face. Her eyes were moving around as if she was avoiding optic contact. I inwardly shrugged it off - I needed some silence anyway.

I flashed my headlight twice when I saw Bumblebee parked up across the road from the house. He flashed his back, as I watched Carly pull out a small remote. She pressed a command on it and the door to her garage opened up. I drove on in when she gave me a nod allowing me to. I pulled up and flicked my stand down, watching Carly's movements.

She pulled the garage door down, humming a little as she wandered around to a bench where she flicked a light switch on. The room lit up brightly when she did. I could see photo frames on the bench, one of which her fingers drifted over lightly. I heard her sniffle a little bit before turning to me.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Carly said, leaning back on the bench, hands gripping its' ledge.

"It happens," I told her simply, "We can't control the future and we certainly can't change the past. Things happen for a reason-" I stopped when I saw her eyes water slightly. Did I do that? "Oh, I'm sorry! Di-Did I hurt you in some-"

A door to what could be the inside of the Esquivel house slammed open. A woman slighter taller than Carly walked through. She had caramel brown hair tied up in a bun and red rim glasses like Rafael. She had a very slim build and had her arms folded when she saw Carly.

"Carly!" The older woman yelled, "Where have you and Rafael been?"

"Mama, relax!" Carly cooed, "Me and Raf were out with friends."

"Friends?" Mama Esquivel questioned.

"Yeah, like Miko and Jack-"

"Ahhh Jackson Darby," Mama Esquivel softened at the sound of Jack's name, "He's a nice boy, isn't he? How long have you been going to school together?"

"Practically forever Mama. Look I'm not interested in-"

The older woman gasped, "Carlotta Zita Esquivel!." Mama Esquivel stood in front of the door when her daughter made an attempt to leave the garage. She gave a sideward glance at me before looking at her daughter again, "This family has not seen a motorcycle since-"

"Yeah I know. Since Alejandro!" Carly snapped.

"Don't speak to me like that!" Mama Esquivel scolded instantly.

"Mama, just listen to me please!" Carly pleaded, "Alejandro wasn't wearing his helmet that day! That was his own fault! He may have been my older brother, but that doesn't mean that I'm gonna turn out like him!"

Mama Esquivel sighed and placed a hand on the bench to stabilise herself, "My star. I just don't want the same thing happening to you. If anything happened to another one of my children-"

Carly wrapped her arms around her mother, "Mama, we've suffered enough. It's time to let go of the past and look to the future. And this is what I wanna do." She pointed to me, "Riding MY motorcycle through the wind, deciding on where I wanna go next. Please Mama, let me keep it."

Mama Esquivel looked away from her daughter and snivelled. She bent down and began pulling something out of a cabinet underneath the bench. It turned out to be a blue helmet with the name 'Alejandro' written in fancy lettering. She pushed it towards Carly.

"Wear this helmet. For Alejandro?"

Carly took the helmet into her hands and smiled, "For Alejandro." She placed the helmet on the bench, staring at it fondly for a few moments.

"Come on," Mama Esquivel whispered, wrapping an arm around her daughter and pulling her to the door she had blocked earlier, "I've been worried about you and Rafael."

Once the doors were closed, I looked at the blue helmet with Alejandro's name on it. Looking at it reminded me about my friends back on Cybertron. A wave of emotions crashed over me as I quietly powered down to recharge.

I awoke with a jump. My breathing was heavy as I looked around in an attempt to figure out where I was. My systems cooled and slowed when I realised that I was sitting in the Esquivel garage.

I looked out the window just above the bench. The sun was shining brightly as if it had just risen. I looked at the clock on the wall near the door.

7:45am.

Scrap! I was supposed to have left to head back to base ages ago!

I considered yelling out to Carly or Rafael, but I ended up on revving my engine. When no one turned up, I revved a little louder and for a longer period of time. Finally the door opened and two familiar heads popped out and looked at me with angry looks.

"Are you crazy?!" Raf asked me.

"You're gonna wake up Mom! And you don't know what she's like when we wake her up from her 'beauty sleep'!" Carly whisper-yelled.

"Well, hurry up. Just because Bee and I are your guardians, it doesn't mean we spend all day here. Come on, let's go!" I told them.

Carly looked down at Raf when he looked up at her, "Write the note for Mom and bring those chips we love so much and I'll do the dishes tonight. Deal?"

"Oh...all right. But next time, you're writing the note." And with that, Raf disappeared inside.

The garage door opened as Carly grabbed her helmet she was given last night. I pulled out of the garage, down the driveway and waited. Carly slammed the door shut and walked down to me. She hopped on and we sped off to enjoy the day drama-free.

Drama-free... yeah, right.

NO ONE'S P.O.V

When the clouds are at their darkest high in the sky, normally that's a sign that it's going to rain. Why? Because the darker clouds always carry water. So, if a similar-coloured Warship was floating around within the clouds, is that a sign that it's going to start raining Decepticons?

It hadn't started raining yet, maybe that's also a sign that it's not gonna rain Decepticons for a little while longer.

After all, there's no action that's going to occur for a little while. Not while four of the main Decepticons were currently meeting up in the room where the Dark Energon was currently stored.

Oh, what a surprise.

"I don't think you need to worry about further Autobot interference, Master," Starscream told his leader. "Not with Optimus AND Windswept gone."

Slipstream snorted and Rebecca rolled her eyes at his words. They ignored the annoyed look the latter gave them when Megatron emerged from one side of the holding compartment where the, more rather his, Dark Energon continued to rest in, and walked around it.

"And what evidence do you present of this fact?"

"I destroyed the mines as you instructed," Starscream answered simply as if it was the most easiest thing in the world to do.

Rebecca folded her arms, pointing her head towards the Decepticon, "You are well aware that this is Optimus Prime and Windswept we're talking about, right?"

Starscream growled at the thought of allowing the little brat known as Rebecca Rose make him look like a fool. He opened his mouth to protest, but Megatron beat him to it.

"Optimus is not so easily destroyed. Optimus and I have millennia worth of battles behind us to prove it."

"And Windswept has survived worse," Slipstream added, looking at Starscream with a hand one her hip, "And I would know. I've given her worse!"

Defeated, Starscream ignored his sister and instead focused his attentions on Megatron, who was still eyeing the Dark Energon up like a piece of candy, "Maybe you should take a break, my lord. I fear too much contact with the Dark Energon might allow its properties to adversely affect you."

"Or perhaps, Starscream, I have not permitted myself contact enough," Megatron contemplated, ripping a Dark Energon crystal from the holding compartment.

Panicking, Slipstream stepped forward, "Wait! Lord Megatron! No!"

"Not your spark chamber!" Rebecca protested immediately.

"You do not know what it will do!" Starscream reminded him in an urgent tone.

But their begs and pleads were not enough to stop Megatron from stabbing the purple crystal of Dark Energon into his spark chamber. Allowing the Dark Energon to start making its course throughout his frame, the Decepticon leader stood, shaking as the Blood of Unicron started to light his frame up in the colour of purple, his eyes following suit...

Meanwhile at Autobot Base, having taken a sample of the purple substance he had scraped off Arcee after discovering it on her hand and having seen her react badly to it, Ratchet was analysing it to see what the substance was. He looked at the computer screen with a hum.

"The base elements of this goo are like nothing I've ever encountered. It must be extremely concentrated to have affected Arcee so rapidly. Unfortunately, complete results are slow-coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools. Thank you very much, Bulkhead."

Removing the slide from the hard-drive, Ratchet began his way into the med-bay to examine the so called 'goo' further. As he did so, he unknowingly spilt some of the substance onto the broken diagnostic tool Bulkhead had destroyed earlier when he was trying to prove a point to Agent Fowler.

The goo reanimated the tool, glowing purple and becoming alive as it stood. Getting used to its' legs, its' instinct became well known when it started to look around for something, something to destroy that was in its' path.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Another chapter down. Sorry I took a long time to post a second chapter. These episodes aren't exactly easy to write so I do try my hardest to make sure I get every detail. But with me finished with schooling for another year now that I am on exam leave, I have all the free time in the world to do some more work (as well as getting a few extra things done, but I ain't telling you all about that!)

A little follow/favourite/review won't hurt a single fly. But no promises, just in case. ;)

Thank you for reading.

(Last edited: 11/07/2019)