Optimus and Silverstorm stood very still, all too aware that their chances of getting out of this intact were so slim it was almost laughable. Both of them recognized Devastator's members in the crowd and they knew this could be very, very bad. Shockwave knew it, too, and he began to prowl back and forth above them, looking like a cat toying with helpless mice.

"Here's what we'll do," Shockwave said, glee in his tone. "We'll give you a head start. Whoever captures you first gets a prize. How does that sound?"

Silverstorm couldn't help it. He scoffed. "About as good an idea as what you did to the Aerialbots. Prone to backfire in your face."

Optimus couldn't help it. Despite the danger of the situation, he laughed at Silverstorm's quip. The youngling did have a wise mouth but when it wasn't aimed at him, Optimus found it to be rather delightful. Shockwave clearly didn't like that, and he scowled.

"You will learn respect, youngling, if I have to teach it to you with the point of my blade! Your head start begins now."

Silverstorm puffed up and grabbed Optimus's wrist, jerking him down a side street. Optimus stumbled then got his feet under him and they began to run.

"Where are we going?" Optimus asked.

"Away from him," Silverstorm said.

He shoved Optimus down another street. Optimus followed, unable to do anything but hope that Silverstorm knew where he was going. Optimus's spark burned, and he couldn't help but begin to talk as they continued to move.

"I'm sorry, Silverstorm. I shouldn't have said what I did," Optimus said. "Primus doesn't make mistakes in choosing Primes, and I know it. What you were doing wasn't a fit and it was a valid complaint. I just was too afraid to stand up to Ratchet in front of everybody."

"You could've left with him!" Silverstorm spat. He paused and looked around. "I wasn't asking you to do it in front of everybody."

"You did," Optimus pointed out.

Silverstorm huffed and seemed to get his bearings as he turned down another street and began to run again. Optimus followed.

"You've got a point," Silverstorm said reluctantly. "But I was so angry at the time I didn't think of that. I didn't want to shame him in front of everybody. But he shouldn't have read their files when I ordered him not to!"

"He shouldn't have," Optimus agreed. "And we'll deal with that if we get out of this alive."

There was a concussive thud in the distance then cheers. "Here they come," Silverstorm muttered. "This way."

"Where are we going?" Optimus asked again.

"Toward the southern square," Silverstorm said.

There was a sudden shriek of jets, and Silverstorm swore and grasped Optimus then ducked into the nearest building. "Frag," he moaned. "Fliers. They'll pin us."

"Well what do we do?" Optimus demanded.

Silverstorm began to pace, his wings held high and tight. Optimus reached out. "You could fly and get help."

"I don't think I could outmaneuver them, Optimus," Silverstorm said grimly, brushing his hand aside. "My wing sensors are still too sensitive. Besides, I'm not leaving you here to be hunted down by Shockwave and his goons."

"Then what do we do? There's only two of us."

Silverstorm glanced at Optimus then stopped. He brought a hand to his mouth and pressed it over it. Then he hesitated. "What if there was only one of us?" he asked.

"One of us?" Optimus asked. "That would make the odds even worse!"

"Not necessarily," Silverstorm said.

"What do you mean?"

Silverstorm stared at him. "Ever wanted to fly?" he asked.

Optimus understood. Silverstorm was offering to combine with him. They were both Primes. They could do it. But it would change them both forever. There was no hiding in a gestalt bond. Were they ready?

"Well, we don't have much of a choice," Optimus said. "But I don't know how. Jetfire guided it last time."

"Don't worry. The Aerialbots told me how to initiate it," Silverstorm said. He held out his hands. "Come on. Let's try this."

Optimus sighed and placed his hands in Silverstorm's. Silverstorm clutched at them and pulled him close. Suddenly, Optimus wasn't alone in his spark and he realized something. It was Silverstorm he'd been feeling for all those months! It burned and he could feel himself being pulled forward. His body suddenly began to burn like his spark, and he groaned at the ache of new transformation. But as he transformed, he became different, his mind slipping into Silverstorm's as they combined. And suddenly, he was neither Optimus nor Silverstorm. He was somebody new.

Onlining his optics, the new mech looked around. His first glance of the world wasn't impressive, but a mech came through the door, distracting him almost immediately. The mech looked ecstatic as he aimed his weapon.

"I found…" he began, then his face went blank as his weapon lowered. "What?"

The mech laughed at the confusion, waving his hand idly. Sparks took him down and the mech stepped out and looked around again. His wings itched to fly, so he ignited his thrusters and burst into the sky. The fliers screamed at him, but the mech only laughed again. He was having fun! This was all so new and wonderful! He knew this was a serious situation, but a bit of fun would make it more memorable.

The Decepticon fliers pelted toward him, transforming to aim at him. They stopped when they caught sight of him, confusion crossing their faces.

"Who are you?" the lead Seeker demanded.

"I am Optimum Storm!" the mech said, pulling up in midair to smirk at them. "And I want to have a bit of fun. Catch me if you can!"

With a burst of his jets, Optimum Storm twisted around and took off like a bullet toward where Shockwave was waiting. The fliers cried out in surprise at his speed and power and gave chase. Optimum Storm raced through the sky with ease, feeling light and free. He liked flying. Both of his halves did, which made a very nice whole feeling for him. Seeing Shockwave turn to look at him, he waved cheekily and watched as the scientist's face twisted into horror and rage.

Optimum Storm could feel the fliers behind him, two sets of Seekers now, and he decided to try something. He angled himself up, high into the sky. The drop in pressure around his wings startled him, but he maintained his course until he was pushing at the edge of the planet's atmosphere. He stopped and let them approach, his thrusters burning and body vibrating at his idea. The Seekers all stopped and aimed at him, distrust on their faces. But they stayed. That was their first mistake.

"Want to see a trick Silverstorm's been working on?" Optimum Storm asked.

Without waiting for an answer, Optimum Storm switched off his thrusters and let himself fall. The Seekers were so startled that they didn't fire. Mistake number two. Then they followed. 'Three strikes and you're out!' Optimum Storm thought gleefully.

All of a sudden, he ignited his thrusters and went supersonic as he activated his electrical powers. The concussive explosion knocked the Seekers back and electricity burst across the sky. As he looked back, Optimum Storm saw the sky light up, the electricity arcing like lightning in those big Midwestern thunderstorms in the States back on Earth. He couldn't help but laugh as he shot back down toward the planet. To his delight, he saw Bumblebee leading what seemed to be both teams in a frantic race to get to them.

"Good old Bee," Optimum Storm said with a laugh. "Time to introduce myself!"

He put on another burst of speed and rocketed toward them. He knew when they caught sight of him because everybody slid to a stop and transformed, aiming at him. Nobody fired, though. Optimum Storm tapped his comm link.

"Are you all going to shoot your Primes?" he asked teasingly.

The weapons all lowered at once, and Optimum Storm came in for a landing. He touched down, his body still buzzing from the excitement of the battle, and was met by both teams gaping at him. Silverbolt and the Aerialbots broke from their stupor first, rushing forward with bright faces and gleeful grins. Silverbolt stopped in front of him, staring up at him.

"You combined!" he exclaimed. "And you're staying together. So you're not fighting anymore?"

"They have things to figure out, but I'm more concerned about Shockwave."

The Aerialbots froze. "Shockwave's here?" Fireflight asked, suddenly present again.

"Oh yes," Optimum Storm said solemnly. "And he brought some of your old acquaintances. Can I count on help from your friend if I need it?"

The Aerialbots stared at him for a moment then Silverbolt let out a breath. "We'd do anything for Silverstorm. But who are you?"

"Designation's Optimum Storm," he said with a grin. "And it's nice to meet you. Though half of me knew you better, both halves know now."

"Yeah, that's how it works," Silverbolt muttered. He took a deep breath and glanced at the other Aerialbots. "Any objections?"

"No," Fireflight said. "We knew it would come out eventually."

"Too fragging soon if you ask me," Slingshot muttered.

"Sometimes, Sling, we don't get a choice," Optimum Storm replied. "But you have one now. I'm not going to force you. It's your decision."

The Aerialbots stared at him, but just as Silverbolt opened his mouth to answer, Shockwave was dropped in front of them by a trine of very ill-looking Seekers. Optimum Storm grinned.

"Did you like my trick, Shockwave?"

"Very interesting display of power," he said, his voice painfully pleasant. "But I tire of your games."

"You started it," Optimum Storm replied, placing a hand on his hip. "Now, are you going to walk away, or are we going to keep fighting? I'm in no mood for more banter."

Shockwave glared at him with such loathing that many of the others stepped back. Silverbolt grabbed Optimum Storm's wrist. When he was glanced at, he gave a short nod, and Optimum Storm turned back to Shockwave.

"Tick tock. Make your decision."

Shockwave raised his hand and snapped his fingers. "Devastator! Combine!"

The team from Earth suddenly looked petrified. They'd faced Devastator in Egypt, and if it hadn't been for the humans' prototype rail gun, they wouldn't have won. There was a gleeful laugh as the six Decepticons lunged for each other and began to combine. Optimum Storm turned to face Ratchet.

"You wanted to know what was 'wrong' with the Aerialbots?" he asked.

Ratchet nodded, intimidated by the large combined mech.

"Here you go. Aerialbots! Combine and take out Devastator!" Optimum Storm ordered.

The looks on the faces of Optimus's team turned from frightened to skeptical as the Aerialbots hurried to get a distance away. Their expressions turned to delight soon after as they watched the team of fliers begin to combine into a very large mech.

"They're a gestalt?!" Ratchet exclaimed.

"Of course they are," Pipes said calmly. "That's why I can trust Silverbolt when he answers for the others. He can literally feel what they are."

Ratchet looked at Optimum Storm in surprise but couldn't hold his gaze. The combination of Optimus and Silverstorm gazing at him was too much. He looked away in shame.

"Don't expect them to hold together," Shockwave said. "I've made some improvements to Devastator so they should hold together longer than those younglings."

"We'll see," Optimum Storm said. "Honor rules from the gladiatorial ring."

Shockwave smiled grimly and nodded, but Optimum Storm wasn't fooled. There was a good chance Shockwave would break the code and order the Decepticon soldiers to start fighting the Autobots. If it had been Megatron, Optimum Storm wouldn't have worried so much. Megatron was all about honor. Or he had been once. Shockwave was sneaky and underhanded. Just look at how he had created Superion. The Aerialbots hadn't wanted it, but he hadn't cared. All he'd cared about was science.

And that, Optimum Storm knew, was the difference between them. In the battle of results versus people, Shockwave had picked results and become the mech he was, but both halves of Optimum Storm had chosen to love people more than results.

"Are you ready?" Shockwave asked, turning to sneer at Superion as he stood up and stretched. Devastator followed a few seconds later.

Love had to make a difference. It had to matter.

So Optimum Storm turned to look at Shockwave. "Always."

Shockwave nodded. "Then let the battle begin."