Author's note. Hee, well done to those who knew what the words meant, and to those who had a good guess. And big thanks to all those who gave me suggestions.

Iníon means daughter and mo mhac means my son.

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"Iníon," Alexis said softly, frowning as she stared after Megatron. "What on earth does that mean?"

"Not to mention mo mhac," Carlos added, with the same thoughtful expression as Rad. "Man, do you think he meant to say that, he sounded half asleep."

"Maybe not," Rad agreed softly. "But there must be some relevance to them."

"I think Iníon must mean girl or maybe Femme," Carlos said after another moment's pause. "He seemed to be talking directly to Alexis, he'd have called us the same thing if it meant something different."

"You're right," Alexis said with a nod. "So mo mhac must be boy or maybe...Mech?"

This seemed reasonable but still...they had this strange nagging sensation deep within them that it meant something more. But since their knowledge of the transformer language was next to nothing, it was impossible to guess. It could be the words for boy and girl or it might be some sort of affectionate nickname.

"Think we can ask later?" Alexis now said causing the boys to grin.

"If he won't say, you can ask Starscream, I bet he'll tell you," Carlos chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

"Starscream's just a friend," she said exasperated.

"Did we say anything else?" Rad said with a teasing smile.

"No but you implied," Alexis said, trying to appear stern.

"Nuh uh," Carlos protested. "We only inferred, you implied."

With a glint in her bright optics, she lunged at them, they dodged and rushed off laughing as she chased them. Of course, the Moon's lack of a proper atmosphere made running difficult, it was like they were doing everything in slow motion. But it also made it easier to dodge thus making the game a lot more fun.

Carlos did a powerful leap upwards only to soar slowly forwards as Alexis tried to grab him but couldn't propel herself fast enough. Rad was laughing, he was resting on top of the edge of a shallow crater. But suddenly, Carlos dodged his way and Rad overbalanced and plunged into the crater. Luckily, his new body meant he wasn't injured, just slightly taken by surprise by his fall.

He lay stunned for a moment but started to laugh, especially when Carlos fell in beside him. A moment later, Alexis had pounced and the three of them had a hearty laugh, their previous uneasiness about Megatron's strange words forgotten. They had no idea just how things were about to kick off.

Optimus's POV

So far things were going well, they hadn't come across any Decepticons or their Minicons. Optimus wasn't entirely sure about the Mech in front of him, he didn't have a very trustworthy aura about him. However, he was helping Optimus to escape and Optimus knew Megatron well enough to know he'd never bother with a trick like this.

He figured that Sideways might be a bounty hunter of some sort, he didn't have an insignia. He hoped that his men weren't paying Sideways in Minicons although Energon wouldn't be so bad. They were able to produce plenty here and with the kids help, had managed to obtain certain minerals and metals. This allowed them to produce all sorts of Energon including High Grade.

Even bounty hunters needed to refuel, especially if they travelled all over the galaxy. Optimus would learn the reasons soon enough, as soon as they were both back on Earth. Now was hardly a good time for chatting, they all had to keep their wits about them. The base appeared to be strangely silent and Optimus didn't like it. He always preferred to be able to hear things happening in any base, silence in an occupied base was unnatural.

Sideways suddenly halted and as Optimus stopped as well, the Mech gestured for silence. Optimus waited and a moment later they could hear the heavy tread of footsteps. However, they weren't heading towards them, it was as though they were heading in front and past them. They were near a corner and Optimus was sure it led to at least two corridors which would explain why this Mech wasn't heading towards them.

A few moments later, the footsteps were dying away and both Mechs relaxed. Sideways glanced back and said.

"Any idea who that was?"

"It was either Megatron or Demolisher," Optimus said quietly. "Starscream is considerably lighter and it doesn't sound anything like Cyclonus."

"Well, at least we know one of them is going in another direction," Sideways muttered as they started forward again.

Optimus nodded, not needing to say anything. As they turned the corner, they could see there were two choices of direction, one which continued along the outer part of the base and one which headed back into the inner part of the base. But as they moved to the junction, Optimus suddenly saw that the outer wall had a door which led out onto the Moon surface, except it appeared to be locked.

It had a window hatch however which allowed him to look out onto the Moon surface and he came to an abrupt halt. His optics widened as he spied three Minicons playing out on the Moon's surface and having a great time by the look of it. Except those weren't ordinary Minicons...

"The kids," Optimus breathed in hopeful delight causing Sideways and spin around with a sharp "What?"

"They're out there," Optimus said, pointing in their direction. "The kids, Megatron's left them out there."

Sideways looked to where Optimus was pointed and frowned heavily. Secretly, he was very annoyed but hid it well. He now critically examined the locked hatch door and shook his head slowly, smirking behind his mask.

"Prime, we can't get through this door, I have no weapons that would allow us to open this...silently."

Optimus looked a little disappointed but he quickly got over it. There was bound to be another exit especially as this base was the battered remains of a ship. It wouldn't surprise him if there was a part that opened right onto the Moon with no protective door. If they could only grab the kids and get the hell out of here, that would be just fine with Optimus.

"There should be another way out there," Optimus now said, barely able to contain his excitement. "We can signal the children and have them come to us."

"If there aren't any Decepticons guarding them, warned Sideways but Optimus just said.

"We can assess the situation better once we find a way out but somehow I don't think so. Megatron knows there's no where they can run to out on the Moon's surface and he's...conditioned them not to try and escape."

Sideways didn't comment on this last bit, instead sighed and said.

"Alright, let's check it out but we can't take too long."

Optimus nodded and they set out again along the outer corridor. Optimus's nerves were on fire, he was so close to freeing those children and yet it would only take a moment for everything to come undone. Which was why he was praying to Primus that everything would go well, he wanted to make things right for the kids.

He'd failed to protect them the cycle they'd been taken and now he wanted to make amends.

They continued along the corridor which arched in a rather dramatic semi circle but the good news was it meant Optimus could still see the kids. He was pretty certain no one was guarding them, there was nowhere for the Decepticons to hide, not to mention the fact they had no reason to hide. It was possible there was a Minicon there but he didn't think so.

Just as he was starting to think they'd never find an opening, they at long last discovered one and it appeared to be unlocked. Optimus went for it in triumph and with a grunt, got it opened. The only shame was they were quite a distance from the kids now but since they were still in sight, they could still signal them.

Optimus started to step out but Sideways hissed.

"Watch it, they could be watching those kids from the base."

"I doubt they can spot us from here," Optimus pointed out and started waiting for them to look in their direction so he could wave. He didn't want to start yelling in case any Decepticons were about.

He heard Sideways grumbling, he obviously didn't like the delay. But he wasn't bothered, he was focused on the kids and at long last, one of them glanced in his direction. It was hard to tell who it was as they kids looked so much alike as uncoloured Minicons but whoever it was yelped. This caused the others and point eagerly in his direction.

Grinning behind his mask, he beckoned them over, trying to put as much urgency as he could into the gesture. One started forward but the other two stopped him, apparently pointing out they needed to be more cautious. After checking no one else was about, they started to run towards the base but their progress was hindered by the Moon's lack of gravity.

"Tell them to hurry up," Sideways said irritably. "We can't hang around here all cycle..."

"Hey, what are you doing?" exclaimed a voice and they turned in shock to see Starscream emerge from a door they hadn't noticed. He looked just as shocked to see them as they were to see him but this quickly turned to anger.

"Get those brats," Sideways roared, whipping up out his blaster and firing at the Seeker who dodged to one side, bringing his own blaster out.

Cursing his lack of a weapon, Optimus charged out onto the Moon's surface, hearing Starscream's screams for assistance. It wouldn't be long until the whole base was roused, and that would mean dealing with a very angry Megatron. So Optimus tried to move as fast as he could towards the kids, he had to scoop them up and get away.

"Optimus," Rad yelled as Optimus pounded towards them, they could see and hear the sounds of a fight going on inside the base.

"We're getting out of here, kids," Optimus yelled, skidding to a stop and scooping them up, glad for once that they were Minicons. He didn't have to be quite so careful when they were in tougher bodies.

He now flung himself back at the base, wishing he could transform but his transformation cogs had been disabled when he'd been made prisoner. Sideways seemed to be holding his own against Starscream but the Seeker's loud cries were too much for anyone to ignore, there'd be backup soon enough.

The kids yelped as they clung to him, they could barely comprehend what was happening.

"Let's get going," Optimus roared as he rushed inside, behind Sideways.

"Right," Sdieways growled, suddenly aiming at the ceiling above Starscream, causing a shower of old metal and wire to come crashing down on him.

Leaving Starscream cursing, they now rushed into the inner part of the base, there was no point in being cautious. Especially as he could hear the sounds of reinforcements, they had to get to the Warp Room as soon as possible. He could hear Sideways cursing behind him but didn't care, Starscream could have come across them even if they hadn't stopped.

"Optimus," Alexis squealed as a very familiar figure suddenly came into view.

"Prime," Megatron roared, his optics blazing with fury as he saw that not only was his prisoner escaping but he was also stealing his prize pets.

"This way," Sideways snarled, leading Optimus down another corridor as Megatron charged after them, firing heavy shots. The walls all around them exploded with clouds of dust and rubble, making the kids scream with fear and exhilaration.

"Get back here, Prime," Megatron yelled furiously as he went after them, trying to trip them up or at least slow them down.

"Not a chance," growled Optimus just as a confused Cyclonus came out of a room.

"Uh, what's going...yah...!" he cried as he was knocked aside by two fast Mechs.

"We're here," Sideways exclaimed, still firing shots behind him. "Damn it, we need to activate that Warp Gate, they'll have it locked."

"You do it, I'll hold them off," Optimus declared, grabbing Sideways's blaster and exchanging it for the kids.

The kids looked up at Sideways who glared at them before dumping them on a nearby table. He started to work on the controls as Optimus started up a barrage of shots, keeping the Decepticons at bay but it wasn't going to last. Even if it was just Megatron and Cyclonus, they'd get through in the end.

"Damn Decepticon technology," Sideways muttered as he worked the controls, cracking the codes much faster than a normal Mech but not fast enough to stop Megatron's progress to their position.

He was so close...just a bit more, ah got it. But there was another problem, they needed to get onto that platform and they needed to be able to stay there for a few moments. But in that time, they could easily be blasted to pieces, they needed some way to distract the Decepticons.

And that's when his optics fell on the kids who were huddled together.

"Prime, fall back, the Warp gate's ready," Sideways yelled to Prime who started to back towards him.

"No you don't, Prime," Megatron snarled, surging forward, regardless of the shots that were hitting his armour, he wasn't about to allow Prime to get away.

"Hey Megatron, catch," Sideways roared, seizing one of the kids and throwing them straight at Megatron before Optimus realised what was happening.

Carlos screamed as he was propelled through the blaster fire thick air, heading straight for a very surprised Megatron. He felt something flash by his side and cried with pain as a burning sensation swept through him. A moment later, he was snatched out of the air by Megatron who held him close.

"Carlos," Optimus yelled but Sideways suddenly grabbed him and threw him backwards onto the Warp platform.

Before Optimus could do anything, Sdieways also landed a kick to his chin, stunning the Prime. And before Megatron could start firing again, he grabbed both kids and jumped back onto the platform, now chucking Alexis in Megatron's direction. No one else was firing now but Alexis was still heading for a nasty fall before Megatron caught her as well.

Just as Sideways felt the Warp about to take them, he threw the last of the kids away as Optimus tried to rise. As Rad went falling hurtling upwards, Optimus cried out in dismay but the Warp had done its work and he and Sideways disappeared out of sight. Megatron had to lunge to catch Rad who fell from a much greater but shorter distance than the others.

Megatron's POV

He only just managed to catch the last child thrown at him but he was forced to curl and roll as he did this, so the other two wouldn't be injured. In that time, he heard the slight whine of the Warp Gate and knew it was too late to stop Prime but in that instant, he hadn't cared. He was not losing his pets, he just wasn't and especially not to Prime and whoever the hell that was.

He lay there for a few moments, cradling all three to his chest as the dust settled in the smoke filled room. The first to move was someone behind him and a voice said tentatively.

"Megatron sir, did they get away?"

"Yes, you fool," Megatron snarled, sitting up and giving Cyclonus a furious glare that caused the soldier to cower back.

"And as for you three," he snarled, turning his attention right back on the three.

"You were trying to escape," he snarled, gripping them tightly as they yelped in pain and fear. "I warned you what would happen if tried something of that nature."

"Megatron, no," Alexis cried out but he was already slamming them onto his knee and pinning them there.

"Never...," he began, giving them a ferocious wallop which made them shriek with pain.

"...Try to escape...," he continued with another wallop that made Cyclonus wince.

"...Again," Megatron finished, raining several hard thumps on their unprotected rears.

"Do you understand me?" he demanded, now gripping them to give them a good shake.

As they whimpered and nodded, Megatron suddenly noticed a trickle of blood running between his fingers and down his wrist. Optics widening, he opened his fist to find Carlos clutching his side which was burned and bleeding. Groaning softly to himself, Megatron then snapped.

"Cylconus, do something useful and get Demolisher, one of the brats is injured."

"Yes sir," Cyclonus said, making a hasty retreat.

"Why did you try to leave," Megatron asked softly as he sub spaced a cloth and pressed it against Carlos's side.

"Optimus grabbed us," Rad said, his voice horse as he tried not to cry.

"Really, he managed to get all the way out to you and back?" Megatron said sarcastically as he now cradled the three of them in his arms.

They all shifted, even Carlos who was in a lot more pain than the other two. Megatron grumbled before getting to his feet, saying.

"We'll discuss this later, I will get to the bottom of this...incident. And you will be treated accordingly, make no mistake about that."

As he started to head out of the room, the three of them miserably reflected that now wasn't the best time to ask about those two mysterious words. But they would be finding out soon enough and in a surprising way.

Author's note. In the next chapter, Optimus is angry at Sideways but how does that go? Meanwhile, Carlos receives some care and Starscream treats his charge to a little outing. Find out how all that goes, until next time.