A/N Happy Easter guys and because today isEaster, I decided to surprise you with two chapters.. P.S. Thank you all for the reviews/alerts/favorites. Don't forget to tell me what you think. :).
Three and a half years earlier….
A few months after Ratchet's death...
"Hey Bee," Sam greeted his guardian as he, Mikaela, Tessa and Shane walked into the Autobot base and walked up to him.
"You came," the young scout replied, happily trough his radio as he went down on his knee in front of them.
"Of course we came Bee," Mikaela said, with a small smile on her face as she gently put her hand on Bumblebees cheek.
"And where is the big guy?" Sam asked, turning around; his eyes searched for the Autobot leader, but the Autobot leader was no where to be found.
The Autobot scout sighed sadly.
"He is still locked in his quarters," Bumblebee replied, as he rose to his feet.
The four humans exchanged glances among themselves.
"I see. Have you tried to talk to him?" Sam asked.
"Yes; we all tried, but he refuses to talk to us and he does not let anyone into his quarters, even his sparkmate Elita 1. We are all worried about him Sam; we have never seen him like this," the young Autobot replied, starting to walk as the four of them followed him.
"We have to do something," Tessa began. "Maybe if we talk to him…"
Bumblebee shook his head in response.
"No."
"Why not?" Shane asked.
"Because, he will not listen to you. He lost hope."
"Can you blame him? Ratchet was one of his closest and oldest friends beside Ironhide, and they offlined him," a soft femme voice, spoke behind their backs. "He saved Prime's life countless times."
The five of them turned and saw the Autobot leader's sparkmate approaching them.
"He needs a time to grieve," Elita 1 said gently.
"I understand that, but we need him; we need his guidance more than ever," Bumblebee said. "Especially now when Lockdown joined forces with the Cemetery Wind."
"Bumblebee is right," Mikaela started. "There are millions of billboards across the country that calls people to report any transformer they see. Autobots and Decepticons. "
"I know. I saw them too," Elita 1 replied.
"Then you know, we have to do something about it," Bumblebee continued.
"And we will. When Optimus says so," the femme Autobot leader said, before she walked away.
"This is bad guys," the young scout whispered, turning his helm to look at them. "Very bad. I just hope Optimus will snap out of it before it's too late."
"So do we Bee," Sam said. " So do we…."
00000
Aboard Lockdown's ship
"Where are you hiding Prime?" Lockdown spat, looking at the satellite images on his computer screen.
He was trying to locate the Autobot leader for months now, but it seemed like he disappeared off the face of the earth. He hadn't much luck in locating the female hybrid either. The Quintessons were becoming impatient, which was not a good sign, and what was supposed to be an easy task now turned into his worst nightmare. He needed to find them and fast if he wanted to stay online.
As he looked at the satellite images, a beeping sound, informed him about incoming transmission.
"Scrap, not again. I need more time," Lockdown whispered to himself. He knew very well who was trying to reach him.
Reluctantly, he pressed a red button on the keyboard. The computer screen flashed and an image of the Quintesson appeared.
"Yes…?!" Lockdown said, trying to sound calm as he sat on the metal chair in front of the computer screen.
"Did you find them?" War asked, narrowing his eyes at the bounty hunter.
"No, not yet, but I'm still looking for them," Lockdown replied.
"Time is running out Lockdown."
"I'm aware of that, and I'm doing everything in my power to find them."
"It's not good enough."
"What do you want from me?" Lockdown snapped at the Quintesson. "I said, I'm doing everything in my power to find them."
The Quintesson looked at the bounty hunter calmly before he answered,
"You have 24 hours to find them or.. "
"Or…?
"Or you will join Barricade," War said, ending the transmission.