The atmosphere was tense.

Even to someone who was missing a lot of details, like Kup, they would have to be pretty dense in the processor to make a joke about the situation.

Recapping the past few hours after arriving in the alternate universe, it was a lot, even when summarized. First, they fell through a hole in space. Second, they meet the clone of whoever is supposed to be in charge of this cybertron. Third, the troops of the real leader kidnap the still very young prime and other young bot Kup was watching. Fourth, trying to undo the kidnapping led to an even bigger mess, with Kup and Arcee being dragged along for the ride with Rodimus, Springer, an elite guard commander, the actual monarch, and one mortally wounded seeker winglord.

Now, he was standing in the most likely command center of the resistance bunker waiting to hear if the leader of Vos was going off line or not. The uncertainly being heavy in the air.

The Apparent Real Princess Nebula had been pulled out of the room by the medic, leaving just his charges, this world's version of bumblebee and a decepticon femme. Said yellow commander was huddled up with a Cheetah (which earlier Kup learned what beast former) curled up next to his pedes and what looked like a human on his should platting, with whom he was sharing a conversation with. Arcee was leaning onto Springer, her faceplate understandably tired. While the Lime green mech had wrapped his arm around the pink femme. Rodimus was pacing around, the young prime unable to keep still. Frankly giving their current situation Kup made no fuss about the Maroon Mech needing to expel his panic in a physical way.

The saddest sight however, were the pair of young seekers curled up together on the far wall. Kup recognized who they were supposed to be. Starscream's creations. It wasn't all that hard to figure it out. The mech seeker's faceplate was nearly identical to his father's, and the femme's blue markings were the same shade as the winglord's. It was a sad sight. Kup wasn't close to his version of Starscream, and the older model doubted that the dead seeker would've ever wanted or needed sparklings. However, it was clear that in this world, these young seekers had been loved and wanted.

A new set of pede steps sounded down the hall and back towards the room everyone stood in, slowly getting louder as they came closer. Kup turned to the lighter pede steps just as the Princess entered. The short femme medic, that looked way too much like Ratchet, following her. The medic spoke quietly to the seeker pair. Said Seekers quickly rushed off to the Med-bay.

"Data?" The decepticon Femme said.

"He's stable for now, conscious too, but lucid not so much," Data said, "That's better than the worst outcome."

The Princess clenched a servo to stop it from shaking, "Always looking on the bright-side, right?"

Data nodded.

The Princess vented a sigh, before turning to the others, "Look, I'm sorry about this. I didn't mean to get you involved in something that you had no business being in, especially considering you're not from this reality. I won't ask you to help us, but please for you own safety I need you to stay in the bunker. Whether you agree with us or not, you'll be associated with us. I promise once we're safe, I'll help you get back home. For now, we'll shelter you."

Kup had half the processor to be impressed. For such a young femme she held herself with the maturity of a seasoned commander, even if she was shaken by the recent events. She took responsibility as well, not something youth, or even older bots, were very good at. Compassionate, honest, strong yet gentle. She really was Optimus Prime's daughter. Kup could see a lot of the late autobot leader in her, far too much for her heritage to ever be in question.

"You technically saved our lives, missy," Kup said, "I'd think you've done enough for us."

The blue femme huffed, "Thank you for the complement. I just wish it was enough for some others."

"Hey, don't do that," Commander Bumblebee said, "Starscream is going to be fine. In the war he was a living punching back. Ratchet had to re-weld him back together so many times, I doubt any wound will kill him."

"Don't joke, Dad, you'll jinx it," The cheetah said, with drooping ears.

The Princess nodded, "I'll show you to where you can stay…"

The seeker pair walked in. Their wings hanging low, and faceplate stained oily with tears. The mech sobbing in the Femme's arms. The femme's odd mixed-matched optics looked up.

"H-He…He keeps asking for mom," She whispered.

"Hey come on," The princess said walking over to the seekers, "Let's get you some energon okay? You look like you need a pick me up."

She took the pair and left the room with them. No words were said, except for a few whispers shared with the decepticon.

"Poor things. I can't imagine how hard it is to not being able to contact their mother about this," Arcee said.

The human on Commander Bumblebee cleared her throat, "The twins' mother was killed in a terrorist attack when they were little."

"Same one that killed Nebbie's mother," The decepticon spoke, "Doctor, Soundwave is requesting your assistance, Data you should get back to your patient, and as for the rest of you please follow me. I'll show where you can power down for a few joors."

The human nodded, "On it. Let me down, you should sleep."

"Put you down?" Commander raised and optic ridge, "This is the first time I've gotten to pick you in years. I was the driver at our wedding and I'll be your driver now."

With that the elite guard commander folded into vehicle mode and drove off. The Cheetah chasing after them.

The decepticon flashed a small smile, "Shall we?"

The first thought that went through Kup's was the Pit no. However, Rodimus nodded and gestured for her to take the lead. Kup would never trust a con to take out his own trash, but the kid's choices had been right on the shanix recently. And technically, Kup was supposed to follow the Prime's orders. So, despite his probably better judgement Kup followed the younger bot's lead. Still, that didn't mean he watched every move that the decepticon made as she led them through the halls.

"You planning on boring a hole in to my plating?" The decepticon asked after what had been a quiet short walk, "I can feel you're glare from where you stand."

"Sorry if it bothers you, I'm just having hard time how a Decepticon could be working with the princess of the autobots," Kup stated.

The decepticon let out a chuckle, "I supposed the situation is quite odd. Especially to a veteran like yourself. You believe me and Nebbie should hate each other, correct?"

"Seems more logical than you working side by side."

"Perhaps, but Nebbie doesn't really see sigils, she's only ever worn the autobot one because it was branded on her since birth. I wouldn't be surprised if she were to remove it after all this is over."

"Yeah right," Springer said, "The Princess of the Autobots, the daughter of Optimus Prime would remove her sigil. And do what? Be a traitor and join your side?"

"It may be hard for you to understand given the possible state of your reality, but one of Nebbie's goals is to end the division between the factions. She wants all cybertronians to just be that, cybertronians. Not autobots. Not decepticons. Just cybertronians."

"So, that's why you're here?" Kup said, "To help the next cybertronian leader unite our people?"

"To help my friend, and yes. Though there is a little more to our plan than meets the optic," the decepticon smiled, "This will be the first of peace movements between the two factions. Since before the war. I am quite excited to follow in my predecessor's pede-steps, and achieve his youthful dreams."

"Wait, predecessor?" Rodimus said, "So, you're…?"

The decepticon's optics widen, "Oh, I supposed we haven't had a proper introduction. Forgive me for overlooking that. My name is Zerlina, heir to the Decepticon throne."

"Heir?" Kup said, "So, this is a political venture? Secure your people's safety after the death of the old SlagMaker?"

"Death? Oh, no. Our founder is still alive and kicking. He stepped down to raise me and surprisingly found his peace beyond the battle field," Zerlina said.

"Raised you? So, you betrayed him?" Arcee asked.

Zerlina's face plates twisted, "Me betraying him? No, no, no, why on cybertron would you think that?"

"Oh, just you peacefully working with the daughter of his nemesis maybe?" Springer said.

"Nebbie might be related to Optimus Prime, but Daddy sees her as her own person rather than an extension of her father."

"Wait…Daddy?!" Arcee said.

Kup froze. Visions, memories, of a tall bulky silver mech, a gun attached to his arm, laughing manically, as he slaughtered crowds of civilians and soldiers. Glimmering optics as red as the blood of the humans who had died at his servo, being the last thing, they would ever see. The Megatron that Kup knew was a killer, a murder, someone who didn't care what happened to others, only the success of his goals. Not even the fates of his own troops ever seemed to be a concern. An unpredictable rage fill opponent, who was without mercy.

Zerlina by contrast, considering the number of scars on her plating and the obvious blades, seemed rather well-mannered. Now, Kup still didn't trust her completely. However, never once did she raise her voice. Nor did her tone ever become hostile. She merely explained her situation, and didn't embellish a single one of her words. How could this seemingly well behaved and polite femme be the spawn of such a devil in metallic flesh.

"Megatron? Is your father?" Rodimus said slowly.

"Yes? Why do you seem so surprised?" Zerlina said.

"You just don't…?" Rodimus started.

"Don't what? Look like him? Well, I don't think it's fair to make that comparison, due to the whole 'alternate realties' situation, however I my frame is similar to his. I'm a mining chopper, that would've been in the same caste as he was placed in. And according to Ratchet, I do similarities personality wise. At least from before the war," Zerlina said.

"Yours must a lot more stable than ours was," Kup said.

"Once more, I don't think we can make a judgement," Her rose optics saddened, "And even then, there are many decisions he made that I don't agree with. Especially later in the war. It was an unfortunate slip in his sanity."

"Unfortunate slip?" Springer growled, "You call a war that nearly killed our entire planet and culture a 'slip'?! You have no idea what your father did?! How many lives paid for his unnecessary tantrum! How can you even accept the legacy of a killer like him? How can you say you're his pit spawn and be proud of yourself!"

"Springer…" Rodimus started.

"No, Rodimus," Zerlina said, "It's fine. Let's make one thing clear. I am not my father. And he is not person you associate with that name. Not anymore at least. I am proud to be a decepticon, and proud to be leading them, because I can see the people that they can be beyond soldiers on the battle field." She vented and a servo rose to trace the sigil on her chestplate, "I wear sigil to honor our leader and my father. Not the tyrant he became, but the little miner who stood up for what he believed when no one else would."

"Oh, what he believed? And what was that? Killing innocent sparklings in the streets? Over throwing the bots who were keeping our society together? The council? Was murdering innocent bots' part of his beliefs?" Springer scowled.

"That's council you speak of," Zerlina said for the first-time venom slipping into her voice, "Was the first to kill. My people, the so-called killers were slaves. Beaten if they stepped out of line. Killed if they ever began to question their existence. Trapped in a world of darkness, many dying before they ever see the sun of their home world. Do not place all the fault of the war on my people. Because war was inevitable the moment Sentinel Prime decided to keep the caste system in place. If it hadn't had been my father who stood up, it would've been someone else."

"Pretty big claim to make for someone who wasn't there," Springer said.

"Perhaps, but I am not the only who believes this and I hope to change minds about my people. Because being a decepticon is not a life of slaughter. It was supposed to be one of equal treatment no matter who you were, freedom to do and be what you wanted, and speaking the truth when others would prefer to believe the lies. That is what I want my people to be known for, their ideals, not their actions."

Kup nodding, "You think the princess is up for that?"

Zerlina's rose optics looked at the older model, "Nebbie has expressed similar beliefs, and she's a good friend to me. The first I ever had in fact. She told me something once, that made me understand that she was trustworthy."

"What was that?" Rodimus said.

The decepticon looked at the young prime, "That it was the prime's duty to protect them all. No matter what faction they were born into."

Nebula was trying very hard not to throw datapad in her servo at the wall. As while the action would help release some of her pent-up frustration and stress, it would also mean losing the datapad and disturbing Docter Sari and Soundwave while they worked. Not mention it would be very childish. So, she settled for a heavy ex-vent, and rubbing her optics with her thin digits.

Pede-steps slowly increased in volume as they neared. Her azure gaze drifted up finding a yellow and black mech approaching.

"Hey," Bumblebee said.

"Hey," Nebula said in reply, "Something wrong?"

"No, just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm fine," She spoke quickly, out of reflex.

"Are you?"

Nebula looked to the floor, "You should worry about yourself. I mean you just got Doctor Sari and Cheetor back, they're going to need support after…"

"So, will you, kid. You lost someone too," He put an arm around her shoulder plating, "Don't forget that. You deserve support too."

Nebula nodded, her voice box feeling hollow all of a sudden. Along with her optics moistening, and spark chamber feeling tight. Still, she vented and pulled all those emotions back down.

"I'll be alright. We have a job to do," She voiced.

Bumblebee's optics saddened, but he nodded in turn.

Laserbeak gave a mild scream from here he rested on Soundwave's chestplate, drawing attention back to the silent mech. His thin digits paused on the keys of his station, as he turned to look at the blue femme.

"You've made contact?" Nebula said.

Soundwave nodded.

"Their response?"

"-taste the rainbow mother*uckers!-" A distorted oddly young female voice spoke.

Nebula's optic ridges furrowed. Soundwave, always preferred to use random sound bites he had collected over the stellercycles over his actual voice. Whether or not he didn't want to talk or just like messing with people was still under debate. Zerlina was the only one who really understood everything he "said" however, if someone had enough pop-culture knowledge they could catch his meaning…mostly.

"Take that as an affirmative," Bumblebee said through the smile on his faceplate.

"Alright…Uhm…open the bridge?"

The usually silent decepticon turned back to his station, and activated the miniaturized space-bridge that Maccadam had in his basement (Nebbie really needed to ask him where he got that). A bright mass of swirling green and blue energy split open in the back of the room. The whitened center of which slowly darkened with silhouettes of Cybertronians traveling through. It was hard, but Nebula could pick out the different frames. Two large and bulky, a slim two-wheeler, three in-between the last two frames, and three sparklings. A small fond smile graced her faceplate.

A red sportscar frame was first to exit and was quickly followed by his spark mate and grown sparkling.

"Your Majesty," Knockout greeted, with an over-dramatic bow.

The smile vanished and Nebula did her best dead-pan, "Pleasure as always, doctor."

The ruby optics in the pearly face narrowed as they looked her over, "Scars? Honestly, child I thought being raised in palace you would take care of your finish more. Look at you. You look more like a front-liner, not a royal."

"She's kinda had to be for a while dad," Wildbreak said.

Nebula's smile grew wider, and she walked up to hug the navy sportscar. It may have been only a few megacycles since she had seen her friend, but it still felt far to long. She had understood why Wildbreak had to leave the planet. Her clone had started cracking down on families that had connections to the decepticon cause, being one member who had sided with the cons during the war, or anyone who was sympathetic to the cause. Wildbreak wasn't very good in a fight, he was Data's assistant and kept the twins out of trouble mostly when he was a member of her crew. It was too dangerous, and his family was first priority.

"It's good to see you again," Nebula said.

"Yeah, I missed you too," Wilbreak said.

"Heard their was going to be a fight, and that old screamer was hurt," Breakdown said, "Came to help."

"Hoping to punch out a few quint-lovers?" Nebula said.

"Not before we get too!" Bulkhead shouted as they came through.

"No one gets to hurt Nya's pigeons without getting a grenade down their intake," Wheeljack said.

The sparklings at Bulkhead's pedes, all scream their support. Two of them being two-wheeler femmes, while the youngest was a mech that looked like a tiny version of his father just in his mother's blue. Bulkhead, chuckled at his children's antics.

"Yeah, that just the wrecker spirit we need," Wheeljack said.

"Cheering us on from the sidelines, where it's safe," a blue Arcee said very sternly, making her three sparklings groan with disappointment.

"Why can't we fight!" the little blue sparkling asked his father.

"You heard your mom," Bulkhead answered.

"Don't worry, kiddies, you'll be hanging out with me," Doctor Sari called from her platform on the other room.

"Doc!" Breakdown said, a smile on his red faceplate.

"It's been far to long since we were in the same place," Knockout said.

"Hopefully, I'm here to stay," Doctor Sari said.

Nebula nodded, "The council would have to kill me before your family is separated again."

"And we thank you for that," Bumblebee said, "But we prefer you staying alive kid."

Nebula nodded.

"So, we have a plan?" Arcee said.

"If the twins are up for it, I think I got one, but we'll need to be quick. My clone is already using the media to turn the public in her favor," Nebula said.

"Parden my interruption…" Nebula turned seeing Zerlina enter from the hall on the right, "But…Oh, Wildbreak, hello."

The short navy mech's yellow optics darted to the floor, and a shy look came across his face plate, "H-hi, Zerlina."

Nebula looked between her two friends. As much as she would like to tease these two about their obvious relationship problems. She couldn't do that in front of Wildbreak's parents and it was also a very bad time to do so.

"Something wrong Zer?" Nebula said, "I thought I gave you the go ahead to sleep for the next joor."

The Decepticon Heiress straightened seemingly remembering the current situation she was in, "Oh, uhm yes, you did. However, someone wanted to speak to you regarding inter-dimensional relations."

Rodimus had to steady his spark with a quiet vent as he entered the main chamber of the bunker. Maybe it was stubborn of him, but he couldn't just let Nebula and the rest of her team risk their lives, after they had done so much for his crew. His spark was telling him to help her. Even if it was just him joining in on the fight, he couldn't let her do it alone. For some reason the young prime felt as if it was his duty to protect her, to make her smile because she doesn't allow herself to do it enough. Maybe it was that they were 'kindred spirits' as humans like to call it. Forged from the same molten metal. Two sides of the same shanix.

When Zerlina nodded at him to enter, he could tell right off the bat that this wouldn't be a casual discussion. Nebula held her shoulders back, the small bits of kibble on them that pointed upward perfectly parallel to each other. Her helm high, and posture border lining on perfection. This was not the soldier; this was the Princess.

The young ruler before him, cleared her throat, "Rodimus Prime, is something the matter?"

The formality of her tone only sealed the picture. It was oddly upsetting to watch as she locked so much of the funny kind leader that she was, to become this stoic person of poise and power. Maybe it was the audience in the room, that caused this shift. Though, the strange new bots seemed more focused on him, than her. Seriously? What was with those wide-optic stares.

"Actually, yes, I was wondering when I would be allowed into the room," Rodimus said, trying to match her formal tone and failing miserably.

"Parden? I was under the impression that you and your comrades would remain here while we handled the current unstable situation. If you feel anxious, I can ask Doctor Sari to look into the little information on the multiverse we have."

"No, it's not the dimension traveling thing I want to talk to you about. In fact, it wasn't even about what you guys are doing for us."

"With all due Rodimus, you shouldn't feel as if you are indebted to us…"

"It's not that…it's more of…I can't let you leave by yourself in this. You saved my life, and have been more helpful than I can honestly be grateful for. I'll let the others sleep. If it makes you feel better, think of it as a friend offering a hand."

A smile, a true smile spread across her blue faceplate, "You are a Prime of wit and honor, Rodimus. I will accept your offer."

"Thanks, so you got a plan?"

Her smile, turned into a smirk.

A/N:

I live! Chem has been a bitch. However, I saw "Rise of the Beasts" today and had to write about this fandom in some way.

The quote that soundwave said was from, Shazam 2.