Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Prime!”

Optimus looked past Ratchet, seeing his frame fume and his optics cry in heartbreak. His ears were pressed down on his temple and he looked at anyone for a hint of support.

“You better get your tailpipes out of that mountain before Megatron blows it to bits!”

“What do you mean, Agent Fow-”

“Now!”

Ratchet looked up and lunged over Bee while Bulk tried to cover the kids as an ungodly, deafening screech cried out. Optimus didn’t have time to turn before his frame was shoved into the ground, everything turning black as his HUD initiated a shutdown.

Optics cycled, clicking as it broke away dirt from under its many layers, trying to cleanse off the black smoke that clouded his vision. A third of the base melted away and burned; energon blue and yellow fire glowing in every corner. Arcee was unconscious, hanging over Smokescreen's shoulder, who phased through the fallen rocks while Bee called from under a nearby pile of rubble.

“Autobots, is everyone ok?” Struggling to get pounds of concrete and earth off him, Optimus tried to look past his shoulder. The computer screen glitched out from green, to nothing, to the Groundbridge setting in a repeating loop.

“Arcee’s out and Bulkhead…” Smokescreen tossed Arcee up more while Bulkhead shook the rubble off his back, already having his green paint chip in new dents.

“I’m fine, so are the kids.” Moving a dusty servo off his chassis, four parts disconnected and Miko flung her arms out and over the green metal, groaning as her hair flopped in a mess.

“What was that?” Looking over at the Prime, Optimus only groaned and forced himself up, armor and hydraulics creaking.

“I can only assume Megatron is showing us what newfound power he holds.” He looked up at the gaping mouth of a smoking beast and turned to the groundbridge. It was barely functional… but functional enough.

“Well, we should get moving then.” Smokey hopped and headed over to Bee, flicking the Phase Shifter back on and setting Arcee aside before grasping onto the closest servo he could snatch. Optimus looked back at the screen and placed his servos on the keyboards. The Groundbridge sparked in response, connecting with the broken commands from the system.

“We might have one use out of it." Leaning in, he plugged in the first coordinate that came from his recent memory. A dense forest with hills and thick trees that reached the skies. It was a hassle to try and walk around during a mission. Perfect for a hideout.

"Everyone gather. This is no longer a..." He looked over at Bee, seeing the scout struggle and chirp under the weight of solid rock that still trapped him, even with Smokescreen’s help. "A home. Come." Optimus grabbed under Bee's shoulders and slowly dragged the scout out. "Has anyone seen Ratchet?" Glancing around as he brushed down Bee's scraped-up frame, a feeling of dread chewed at his tank.

Bee's voice box reset, pushing through the static. :: He :: The it grew as he stared back at the rubble. :: He jumped on me when the roof fell ::

Optimus looked at the pile he just pulled him out of and looked back at Bumblebee. “Of course he did.”

Bulk groaned and limped over, servos over his seating compartment. “I can help lift the rocks up to-”

He shook his head and his antennae perked at the sound of what he could only guess would be the recharging sequence. “We don’t have time. With or without our doctor, we need to escape.”

“What about Arcee? She needs Ratch.”

“She will have to show the strength she’s capable of using.” Turning on the ground bridge, Optimus brushed Bee forward before Bulk followed shortly after. Smokescreen watched as Optimus turned and knelt down at the rubble, mumbling something.

Shifting and heaving Arcee up once more, he grabbed Bulk’s shoulders. “Take her for me. I’ll run in after you. I just have to do something.”

“Smoke…” Bulk turned and opened his servos, cradling the two-wheeler before his chassis erupted in chatter.

“Please.”

Bulk sighed. His frame sagged before he nodded and took Arcee with him.

“I owe you!” Hopping backward, he called out and spun, running to the rubble. “Alright, Optimus.“

“Why aren’t you with the others?” Slowly turning, he watched Smokescreen scoff and shake his helm.

“I can help! Just- Just move out of the way.”

A wind-slicing whistle filled the base, pushing through the smoke and breaking any bot’s audio receptors. “There is no time. You must go. Now.” Optimus pushed Smokescreen towards the sparking bridge before he heard a familiar click and felt his knees crash into the earth.

“As you said. There is no time so just-“ He waved his arms in the air before bounding over to the rock pile and reaching in, rock and metal being nothing but air. “Come on….” Clicking his voice box as a human would their tongue, he felt for any metal that felt like a bot. Nothing but phantom feelings of beams and earth. “Primus! Where are you?”

Optimus pushed off his knee and turned back to the monitor. Irritation twitched in his antenna before hearing the whistle grow into processor-ripping heights. Smokescreen kept looking before freezing up.

“Finally!” With a pull, he dug his heels into the melting metal flooring and strained. The phase connection was flickering as interference swam around him. “Just a bit…”

Optimus stared up and saw the Nemesis watch him with raw hunger, her eyes piercing into his plating through the smoke. They had to leave. Now. They had to go, now.

“Smokescreen, we have no time.” Pulling his head back to the computer screen, it was 80% done with a purge. “Go to the ground bridge now.”

“Just one more minute! I almost have him out.” He pressed against the rock more and was ready to plunge into the pile itself. “He’s-he’s really stuck in there!”

“Smokescreen. That’s an order.” Hearing nothing but his own voice drowned by the whistle, the base flooded in red before Optimus tried to grab Smoke’s wrist.

“No! I’m so clos-“

“Ratchet has survived worse. Get to the groundbridge, now.” Confidence was forced over the fear and grief that filled Optimus’s field, praying to Primus it would be enough to talk to the sparkling-mech. He couldn’t think about losing another by the rubble, not now. Not… how only seeing their frames covered, having no clue if they suffered, how that will chronically eat him alive like rust. The thought that they could have still been alive under it. That he didn’t just dig and blast deep enough to reach them. That if he did dig deeper into the falling buildings, she'd still be alive beside him. 

“You will go, now.” Feeling his servo finally grasp around the kid’s wrist, he pushed his pedes into the ground and flung Smokescreen into the bridge. As he started to run, he made the mistake of looking back. The base was painted neon red, drowning out every other color as the rubble pile shook. He felt the heat of a thousand suns melt his paint before he was thrown into the bridge, his frame starting to mold with the heat before he disappeared.

I am sorry, Old friend.

-..-

Rolling and crashing into a large redwood, his helm rang and his optics shortened.

“-kie! Jackie! Come on, don’t say you are in trouble now!” Bulk snapped into his mic while a smaller servo helped Optimus off the ground. Bee’s optics watched before dilating and a small cry broke through the static.

He put a servo on his yellow shoulder pad, gently patting it before he heaved himself up from his knee. “What is his status?”

“Jackie isn’t responding, Fowler is off to apparently save June, and Megatron has a new fort right in Jasper.” Bulk shut his com-line down as he spoke.

Optimus vented before feeling optics pry at his armor. “Megatron has started his plan. The Cyberformation of Earth. We must take down his… fort before this gets out of hand. Humans might make a stand in the beginning but Megatron will no doubt get greedy and use his skill of words and strength.”

“It’s weird enough that he let us go…” Smokescreen mumbled as he knelt next to Arcee, worry and anger dripping from his field. Her blue armor was buckled in on itself and some energon stained the deep blue a sick cyan. “Maybe the dark energon got to him again…”

“I have no doubt that he is still using the vile substance,” Optimus bent down and tried to go through all the teachings Ratchet put him through, and his own little tricks he picked up during the many… many quick patch-ups on the frontlines. “But, I don’t think Megatron is foolish enough to let us go when we were at his mercy. Megatron is a complicated mech, there is no doubt...” He vented and grabbed a spare first aid kit he kept in his subspace.

“Then what was Buckethead trying to do?”

“He was putting on a display like we were…” He opened the kit and tried his best to patch up Arcee’s wounds, feeling energon pulse at the newfound pressure of bandages before turning back to Bulkhead.

“Lab rats,” Raf muttered and curled up at Bee’s pedes.

“Yes. Like ‘Lab rats’.” He pressed his back on the wood after he finished and felt his smoke stacks bend further into his back strut. “To watch us panic and run into each other or fight back and lose.” Offlining his optics, he felt someone’s muted field brush against his. “But, we are lucky his initial target was off course. If it wasn’t for the ground bridge, I fear we would be in a darker situation.”

“So, we ran.”

“That we did,” He shifted his optics and saw Bulk lean up on the tree, peds tapping the ground and digits gripping onto each other. “But, there's no doubt that the others survived and would agree with us.” Bulk glanced over and scoffed. “Wheeljack is a strong mech. I have heard and gotten enough reports on his lack of,” Venting in, "authority, yet bounds in efficiency to know he is a reliable and self-sustaining mech.” Optimus scooted up and rumbled his engine as the stacks dug in deeper. “He will be ok.”

“I know… I know. Just,” Bulk sighed and looked over at Bee and Smokescreen. “What if he isn’t?”

“Then his efforts will all but be forgotten.” He followed Bulk’s gaze and felt his spark sink. Bee had his servos huddled around a quivering Raf as his own door wings trembled. Smokescreen leaned toward the scout, mumbling something that was out of earshot.

“He’ll be back…” Bulk grunted as he went to sit next to Miko, who was rubbing Raf’s back as he came down from hyperventilating.

Optimus pressed his helm into the redwood and offlined his optics once more. Just a minute break… just a minute. He worked through his memory and tried to pick apart the images.

The type of laser Megatron used. Jagged and sick, a boiling ball of red at the tips before drowning the ground below in black smoke. The broken base and the purging computer, all the lost data. The years, decades, lost. Ratchet struggling under the rock.

Optimus heavily vented, feeling his own frame weigh him down and ride against the different layers as his auditory sensors burned in static. “Auto-…” He cycled his optics and felt someone lean against his leg. Jack curled up with his back turned against Optimus’s optics. Watching him slowly breathe up and down, he leaned over and watched Arcee’s frame lightly vent. “Jack.”

“Hm?” Blinking and looking up, he followed Optimus’s gaze. “Ah.” He put his hands up and chuckled. “I’m… I’m alright. No need for a lecture.” He slowly pulled himself up and left Optimus alone. “Let’s just find a base.”

“...As you wish.” Optimus pushed himself off the tree and sharply heaved as more metal jabbed into his frame. “Autobots, we need to keep moving.”

Smokescreen nodded and helped Bee up while Raf sat on his shoulders, leaning on his helm when he could. Bulk got up and started to pace, looking around what felt like an endless forest before holding Miko in his servos, hearing the teen comfort him with hoarse hums of vague rock 'n roll songs.

“Let’s start heading east. We might get further away from civilization and have more freedom to roam.” Optimus kneeled down and gently scooped Arcee’s frame off the ground. With a soft servo turning her around, he saw the bandages put enough pressure onto the wounds to halt the leaking energon.

Jack sprinted into the forest, a couple of yards in front of Optimus and Arcee before Optimus’s shadow covered his.

“Jack.”

“Yes, Optimus?” He sighed, pressing his hair spotted with leaves and dirt out of the way before turning. He knelt down with a servo open, inviting as it lay still, barely bothering the ground below.

“You can help watch her while we walk, if you want. It would help me feel reassured that she is looked after while I traverse this forest.”

His shoulders fell and a small smile tugged at the ends of his mouth. “If it’ll help, I’ll do it.”

“It would.” They slowly rose again and Jack was nestled against Arcee’s arms, carefully stepping over the bent and energon-stained metal. The three took charge, Optimus looking at the Redwood trees and Jack feeling Arcee’s engine quietly rumble under his back.

-..-

An hour passed and the sun was beginning to set when it would be nighttime in Nevada. Raf was asleep in one of Bee’s servos while Miko was curled up in Bulk’s more vehicle-like seats in his chassis, protected by metal and strumming the leather seats. Smokescreen was looking at the trees in awe before running around like a sparkling, using the phase shifter to run through trees and roll through boulders, terrorizing every bird and rabbit he came across.

It made Optimus’s spark shine to see such a young frame still joyous under such circumstances.

Walking back into his mind, his antenna lowering slightly and frame locking in on itself as the matrix grabbed the reins. He just went through the best ways to work with this so everyone made it out alive.

Finding a crashed ship would be most beneficial… but Megatron would be monitoring any communication lines, or seekers would be claiming the skies. It would take too much time to try and venture to the nearest crash site. They needed to be under any cover they could. To find Wheeljack, maybe even Ratchet, if he survived.

It would’ve been best to believe that he was crushed on impact. To die in a painless way protecting someone they both loved more than life. But he had a terrible feeling that was far from true. It would’ve been better to have Ratchet next to him, walking alongside them and reassuring the team in his own grumpy way that they might make it. To drown his own worries in ways that worked back in Iacon as the war was still young. To give Arcee the necessary treatment their two-wheeler needed. The reassurance that she would live to recharge another day and allow Jack to finally rest.

He cycled his optics, feeling a servo on his forearm and a chirp beside him. He reset his audio sensors and looked over.

:: Are you ok? ::

“Yes.” He forced his antenna up and looked out into the forest. There was a creek nearby that echoed across the hilly ground they found. “How are the children?”

:: Raf is asleep and Miko is playing music. Jack…:: He leaned over to look at Arcee in the Prime’s arms and his door wings fell. The boy was asleep but was restless, tossing and turning in the crevices of Optimus's arms and hers.

“That’s expected. This is not an easy loss to process, premature or not.” Optimus hummed, a somber feeling weighing down his field just enough to reach the outside world. Bee nodded and looked up once more. His optics moved before looking down at the floor and staying quiet.

“Bumblebee.” The scout perked up. “How are you?”

He faced the creek’s direction and sighed, a mix of static and a vent. :: I feel… guilt. :: Juggling his binary, Bee offlined his optics and tried to feel the breeze. :: He would still be here if I acted faster. ::

“What you could’ve done would’ve changed very little. The rock fell on all of us. It could’ve gone the same way it did now if you moved or not.” Optimus looked over, filling his field with comfort and allowing it to expand off his frame, wrapping his sparkling in it like a blanket. “Bumblebee, while his loss is a devastation for me and the team, he cared for you like a carrier would a sparkling.”

Bee stared down at the creek, just a hill away, before venting and feeling a mix of emotions fill his frame.

“And I know, if he is one with the AllSpark, he wouldn’t have changed his decision.” Optimus stopped him and knelt down. “Both of us would lay our spark down to protect you.”

:: I know. And I think that’s what concerns me. ::

Optimus hummed. “How so?”

:: He is our medic. He…He is like my carrier. He was the first to understand me after Tryger Pax. The one who stayed with me during unrestful recharges. I know he wouldn't change his stupid choice but I’m so angry with him! :: His door wings flared and his field erupted.

:: It’s just!:: Bee’s voice box broke into static before crumbling into a thick vent.

The team carefully walked past them and reached the creek, sitting down. Optimus got back on his pedes and led Bumblebee to the others. Jack stirred before waking and looking up at the sky. It was getting darker as the sky bled in orange and pink.

“Ratchet is…” Optimus sighed and sat down, leaving Arcee to lay on the ground. “I am..” He only vented and watched Jack sleepy walk to the creek to sit by the water.

“Ratch is the best there is. He had to have made it.” Bulk butted in and sat down next to them.

:: Yeah… :: Bee sighed and felt Raf wake up, lightly pressing against his thumb before smiling. :: He had to. ::

The young boy yawned and looked down at the creek. He reached for his crooked glasses and blinked. “Who had to have what..?”

“Rafael, feel free to stretch your legs before we find a place to rest. If you know a way to clean.... water, please inform me and I’ll do what I can.” Optimus carefully stretched his own hydraulics, pedes pressing past the grass, before looking over at Arcee’s halting wounds.

Bulk shifted. Digits rubbing against each other in anxiety. “Optimus?”

“Yes?”

“Look,” Bulk sighed and rubbed the back of his neck cables. “I- we- the Wreckers, have this code that when we’re separated, we always meet at the same place to regroup.” Heavy pedes started to tap the ground, shaking the bushes.

“And if Jackie is alive, I bet he’s on his way over there now. I need to make sure he’s ok.” Pleading, Bulk looked over as Raf pulled Bee over to the creek by his finger.

“I have no right to stop you, as I would do the same if I had a similar code. I only ask that you stay the night.” Optimus started to move, welding new, cleaner bandages on.

“I… Of course. I wouldn’t- couldn’t- walk out on Miko. I just want to head out as soon as I can.” He opened his chest, feeling Miko move around. “It’s a long drive.” Optimus nodded before he got up and walked off into a more covered area, placing Arcee down.

“It is morning already…?” Miko yawned as she hugged one of Bulk’s digits.

“No, we found water though. Go talk with Raf and figure out how to clean it.” Bulk ushered her over.

Optimus watched as Miko grumpily walked down and squatted next to him. “However, you must inform me when you leave. I doubt I will be under recharge long and it’s most likely I’ll be up when you will want to go.”

“I’ll make sure to tell you.”

“Good.” He nodded and turned back to the creek, resting his legs and watching the water flow between the children. Smokescreen hopped across and ran down the water, disappearing from his view as the children called after him.

His mind floated away as he let the creek’s bubbling and ripples against rocks slowly put him into a short, sleepless rest. He felt like he was drifting on a beach, the soft noises being enough to null his pounding aches and pains like waves. He tried to think of where they could go next. No abandoned ships, no bases to hunker in, no technology close enough to work. His thoughts on his own personal beach shattered as Miko screeched and fell into the water, pulling Jack down with her. 

He cycled his throbbing optics and vented into his forearms. Bee and Raf were working on a tiny tent of wood while Bulk grabbed an empty energon cube from his subspace, filling it with clear water. Miko and Jack waddled to the nearest hill and huddled together, waiting for the fire and creating small puddles around them.

He took a moment to capture the moment before offlining his optics, feeling his body mold into one with the ground below. His pedes felt how the grass surrounded and protected him, in a silly way. A way that made him feel safe as each piece of grass gently brushed against his wartorn frame. 

“Hey, Bee! Look at this funky pebble I found!” Smokescreen called across the clearing before Optimus’s frame hitched, too many protocols going off before it recognized the voice. He heard the world move around him, amplified and spooked as he shut the remaining protocols down one by one. As his HUD juggled this, he felt another lay next to him, leaning their head on his legs while he tried to become one with the grass again.

-..-

Cycling his optics, a sturdy hand pressed against his shoulder as his systems reset from a recharge.

“...Ratchet..?” Groaning, he looked up blind and his mind reached for a comforting field.

“No, OP… Just Bulkhead.” Accepting the attempt, he filled his field with compassion and bent down.

“Ah... Right.” Optimus mumbled and cycled his optics a couple of times, watching the early-day sky force his optics to adjust. Bumblebee and Smokescreen were still in their alt-modes, no doubt keeping the children warm while Arcee was still unbothered in the shadows. “Your search for Wheeljack.” He spoke clearer as he pushed himself up.

“Yeah. Where do you think you’re going to go next?”

“We’re going to keep heading East,” he grunted and felt his frame disconnect into static before resetting all his systems once more. His ripped metal layers still didn’t heal as 'pins and needles' filled his body, but it was better than yesterday.

“East. Far enough that we leave the forest or to where we are still in the forest?”

“It depends if the seekers catch up to our progress, but I would assume east enough to leave the forest and head for Nevada.”

“Let’s all meet up at a set place then, so we don’t get lost and get picked off like lone mechs on a dead battlefield.”

Optimus nodded and went through his memories of Nevada counties that Fowler ordered he memorize or at least recognize. “We could meet up at Star Peak. Big enough to get us into the state but not populated enough to cause too much disturbance.”

“Star Peak…” Mindlessly humming, he tapped his forearms before nodding. “Sounds like a deal to me.” Bulk flipped into his alt-mode and began to back up. “Tell Miko I’ll be back with a friend.”

He bowed his head. “Be safe, Bulkhead."

Bulkhead only revved before slowly driving away.

“...Be safe.” Optimus stood up and went back to waking up while Bulk revved one last time before disappearing with the massive, sky-breaking trees, its canopy creating hundreds of sun rays. Below, in the grass, was a painting of golden spots and dew, its own earlier Golden Hour. He sat still and just... stared off into the distance, spotting critters of the forest wake up and watch him. He watched dew drops and give off a scent he wished he could smell more before quietly getting up and scouting.

-..-

Heaving Arcee up and carefully setting her in his arms, Optimus caught up to the rest of the team and watched Smokescreen race around the forest. His wheels crashed against some roots and some rocks but he was otherwise speeding across the dirt ground.

Bumblebee jumped up and down, watching Optimus and then looking at Smokescreen, doorwings perking up.

“We are at the edge of the forest soon. Stay in your root mode until we reach a road.” Commanding as he watched every corner, Miko and Jack had their own quiet conversation while feeling Arcee’s sparkbeat.

:: Fine.:: Smokescreen revved and spun around, zooming past them. :: Fine! :: Bee flared his door wings and waited while Smokescreen donuted on a free clearing and burst into his rootmode, stretching with laughter.

“I see why Bulkhead and Miko go off-roading!”

Groaning and crossing his arm, Bee stared down at the floor as he vented hard enough for his plating to flare and crash back into each other. Raf just patted his shoulder and smiled in sympathy.

-..-

Optimus watched the treeline grow sparse and the vegetation get bushier. “We’re almost out. Bumblebee, look for a road nearby. We’ll stay here.”

:: On it! :: Flipping into his alt-mode like second nature, he slowly drove across the forest, his yellow paint disappearing in the green.

“Children, stretch your legs. We’ll be on the road after this.” His legs bent as Arcee was placed down, a slight grumble seeping out as her servos twitched. Jack curled against her arm while Miko and Raf heard their own knees crackle and pop. They laughed in their collective pain and pops before flopping sideways onto the grass.

Smokescreen hopped over and joined, stretching before stopping and transforming his weapons and tools in and out, stretching his own gears.

“Just one walk?” Raf chuckled as Smokesy turned into a shifting enigma. He offered his hand, palm inviting, to Jack and frowned as he just shook his head.

“She’s just waking up. What if something happens and I’m not here..?”

Optimus sighed as his hydraulics groaned, trying to see eye to eye. “It seems my request is burdening you. Please, walk with the others. I will watch over her.”

“But… what if you miss something or..." He stared at the ground and felt his body ache from being curled up against metal for hours on end.

“I will keep a close watch. While Bumblebee is scouting, there is no need for me to leave. Please, take care of yourself while you have the chance.” Looking up at the sky, he scanned for any movement.

No seekers yet.

“We may be driving for joors.” He brought his gaze back down and watched Jack’s shoulders slowly destress.

“Hours!” Smokey piped in before Jack slowly walked over to Raf, hand digging into his pockets.

The children, bot or otherwise, started to disappear behind bushes, ferns, and spread-out trees while Optimus held onto one of Arcee’s servos. He stared at the sky, rebooting his audio sensors and tuning them as high as he could without a processor meltdown. There was nothing but the wind that now sounded like a whistle.

“I know you are there…” The clouds moved above him but the sky was just…

Clear.

Nothing claimed the sky but the birds and small bugs that felt like dust jumping off his armor. Turning back to Arcee, he hummed as his antennae twitched. Her rigid frame was slowly starting to self-heal, smoothing out and allowing her gears to not grind against each other and for her root mode to once again mold with her alt-mode.

How was he going to successfully carry her on the highway? Optimus hadn’t a clue. He didn’t grab his trailer -and it wasn’t in his subspace this time- and a bot laid out in the open was no doubt going to get them all in trouble, human or Decepticon. MECH and Megatron was the last combination they needed on their tailpipes right now.

Feeling her frame start to shift a few inches, he only hoped she’d be up in time. At least enough time to take a stasis nap in her alt-mode. That was by far the best option right now. He took his gaze off and leaned backward, digging his free servo into the grass and the dirt.

A stasis nap. Primus, when was the last time he was allowed the pleasure of such a thing? Back before the war? Before the Council named Orion a Prime? He let go of Arcee and pressed into his helm, groaning. Primus knew he needed a solar cycle rest, maybe longer after the eons of cut-off recharges or his just-on-the-edge ration cuts. The nights of trying to ignore his chronic pain to only wake up 3 hours later and stay up. The many nights of Matrix-screaming dreams and foggy commands.

He felt the wind blow again before something sliced through the clouds, leaving fluff to spread like blood. Shooting up and staring at the sky with his blaster readied, he stood over Arcee.

The clouds were cut once more, a silver frame ripping past and firing into the distance before he could even fire up to them. Four more followed and he fired, missing each one and they seemed to ignore him in turn. His eyebrows pressed together before he got his servo back.

The children.

“No!” Grabbing Arcee and covering her in the bush and leaves, he ran to the flames that barely lit the distance.

-..-

Nearly crashing into Smokescreen, Optimus spun and fired at the new seeker armada, battle protocols snapping into place. The silver frames ran into the field and fired back, adding new burns to his already scratched and abused body.

“Bumblebee!” Smokescreen skidded around to cover the Prime's back, pedes digging into the ground. He launched at the nearest Vehicon, firing blindly into their chassis until he felt the heat of an explosion burn his.

Optimus shoved more frames into the earth and turned to Smokescreen. ”What’s wrong?” Smokescreen yelped as he struggled under two Vehicons, feeling servos dig into his paint and pull drops of energon up before the weight was gone and he was shadowed. "What is wrong?" Optimus boomed and tossed the two Vehicons into the distance, venting and pulling Smokescreen up onto his pedes.

"He has the-"

A familiar frame rushed past, razor-sharp talons drawing energon out from the Prime’s thicker armor in one graceful move.

“Optimus!” Screeching as he rounded back and dug his talons in deeper, Starscream ripped them out. “You ran!”

With a deep rumble, he backed away from Smokescreen. “I did what was only necessary.” Pulling the seeker off, he spun and flung the mech into the nearest tree, hearing his gears turn and shift. Starscream's alt-mode barely scorched the bark behind his engine before he was back on Prime’s chassis, digits threatening to cut his neck cables.

“Megatron got too greedy again, but I’m here to fix my master’s mistake.” Hanging on while Optimus tried ripping him off again, he just barely missed the Prime's neck, sending red flakes of paint and metal shavings off into the dirt behind him. As he pulled back for one more try, he yowled as his sensors burned in agony.

Optimus had a tight hold on his wings before ripping him off and throwing him into the dirt. Nearly getting stomped on as the Prime bought his pede down, Starscream unsheathed his claws once more and lunged forward, scampering off his windshields and cutting his front outer neck cables. He rolled off his shoulder and fell into the dirt behind, sneering as Optimus seethed.

“Aren’t you going to defend your actions?” Practically spitting, he kicked the inside of Optimus's legs while he still stumbled and grasped onto the side of his neck as energon started to trickle. "What about how you left your own medic?” Firing up his own blasters, he aimed in front of him and paused...

Optimus watched through burning optics before Starscream growled and the ground blew up in smoke. He stalked before something ate at his tank. He looked down, blasters readied once more, at the blue drops that soaked into the ground before looking back up, following the trail. He just watched Optimus back up more and try to reach his team, being blocked by waves of silver and purple.

“You know,” Starscream pointed towards the Prime, his voice edging on uneasy. “He was just in terrible shape. Molten and still somehow alive.” He twitched before his world flashed in blue and exploded, sending him to crash back into the dirt.

“I...do not care for these taunts.” Seething behind the mask with a smoking blaster, he latched onto Starscream’s wing and flung him into the sky. He grunted as the seeker shot back into the clouds before shoving the earth below his pedes as he ran, following what he could only guess were the crashes of Vehicons ahead.

As he slid down a hill, a steady servo on a nearby trunk, another seeker broke through the canopy and nosedived into the Prime’s back. Crashing into the bushes and hearing weapons power up, he rolled, stretching his servos out to protect his head as a purple bullet hurled toward him. Two servos pulled down on his smoke stacks before a yellow frame fired back, taking the bullet to the side and rolling in front of him, still firing. The Vehicon kept at it until he was impaled with a stick, falling back into the brush.

“Bumblebee,” grabbing his scout and kneeling down, he spun Bee around and vented when there was no other damage. It sounded like a piece of plating got loosened and rattled around. Bee just looked at him and perked his door wings up, seeing the Prime's bleeding neck and dented back. He chirped before getting ready to guard.

“Where are the children?” His antenna clicked and he grabbed Bee's wrist, pulling him behind one of the trees as purple hellfire rained from the new group of seekers that bore through the canopy.

:: With Smokey! ::

“Good.” Optimus watched the seekers regroup. “Make sure they get out safely.” Without a second to question, Optimus ran out and fired into the sky, watching frames burn and explode into each other while some transformed and landed, firing from below. Bee jumped back into the battle before his shoulder was grabbed.

Optimus shook his head. "Head back to Smokescreen.  I will meet you there."

Bee could only nod before Optimus was thrown back by Starscream, nosediving his way through the chaos and bringing up dust and smoke with him.

Prime took one more hit before getting ground back further and further into the dirt, having his joints crack with the gravel and pebbles. He tore his ion blaster out in the open and fired blind, hearing two frames burn above him and fall before Starscream scrambled out of the way. He shifted and pushed his wheels up, flying out of the ditch and speeding between the fleet as a wave of silver followed from behind.

-..-

“Optimus has to be close, right?”

:: Smokey… Primus, I don’t know. All I know is we have to get away. :: The two sped off into the hills, their suspensions cracking as they crashed back into the earth.

Raf peeked out from the floor mats and over at Miko. Dread broke any past joy as more explosions erupted behind them, sending gravel and dirt to crack the back window. “He’s taken worse… right?”

“He’s Optimus! Of course, he has!” Anxiously chuckling, Smokescreen shifted into a higher gear and sped off the next hill, catching up with Bee before the armada's bombs could melt his paint job. Jack curled up against Smokey’s back door, watching thick smoke bore through the thinning canopy.

:: Yeah… ::

“Bee!”

He shifted his mirrors. :: I see them too! It’s our only shot before these seekers trap us. :: Drifting onto another trail, his wheels spun and nearly crashed into a fence, leaving dirt to fly into the air and fall on Smokescreen’s hood and the fence line.

“Not like I needed a clean paint job anyways!” Transforming into his root mode, blasters out with Jack in the other servo, he fired. “Just go down already!”

Two of the seekers dodged and fired their own energon rounds, derooting bushes and sending dust up into the air while another broke into flames, dragging more down with them in a horrifying blue and orange explosion.

“Slag!” Smokey set Jack down into a nearby bush before whipping back to face two seekers.

It was like a dance as they narrowly avoided energon blasts and dodged nosedives. Another energon blast tore through the air before Smokescreen jumped and ripped through the first seeker, his blade throwing blue into the air to splatter. The second froze before burning up and crashing into the dirt. Their smoke trail burned across the field as more seekers went back into the clouds, circling like vultures.

He took a step before a servo pulled his door wing down. Bumblebee jumped over him and shot the sky up to high heavens, watching the vultures disappear or burn into the distance.

:: Let’s get going! ::

“Yeah, right behind you.” Emptily mumbling, Smokescreen watched the fire grow and pump smoke out into the sky.

Humans must've seen this by now...

-..-

The two ripped through the trail, pulling up stones, gravel, and dust clouds. Raf was on his laptop, getting the fastest route to Star Peak while Miko leaned on the back window, waving to Jack as the smoke got smaller yet thicker... denser.

“Alright. You’re gonna want to take a left in the next couple of miles.” Looking back, “I doubt the rangers are happy about this…” he muttered and saw the National Park slowly die down into smoke and ashes. Soon it’d only be redwood poles left.

Bee only hummed in acknowledgment before going silent, the thrum of his engine and Smokey’s muffler filling the silence.

Miko dragged her hand against the glass and fell on the seat. With a groan, she wrapped her arms around her body. Her stomach started to churn as her body begged for water, clean, fresh water. Not barely-cleaned-from-a-failed-fire water.

:: We can try and stop by a food… place, if I can get my hologram up in time. ::

“You have a hologram?” Raf looked at the wheel and raised an eyebrow.

Bee hummed. :: We all do. Just haven’t had to use them in years. ::

Miko perked up and leaned on the divider. “Dude! A hologram? What did he say?” She turned to Raf, who didn’t look excited enough for Miko’s taste. She kept looking at Bumblebee’s screen and back at Raf, bouncing up and down as if he would pull a hologram out at that moment.

“He says he has it but hasn’t used it in ages.”

“You gotta show us!” Miko pushed through and stared at the empty seat. Bee chirped back and groaned.

“He said maybe later. It takes energy and concentration.”

“And we’re on the run…” She nodded and sat back down, catching a glimpse of Smokey and Jack. She turned and waved again, getting a wave from Jack and a funky, short honk from Smokescreen before they both quieted down.

She looked over at Raf and he slightly nodded. Sirens. They started to hear sirens blaring in the background. The National Park Fire Department finally arrived.

“Uh guys, the fire department-“ Raf turned back to his computer before something crashed into the earth, pulling up tons of dust, dirt, and rock.

Bumblebee screamed, rolling over his own wheels as Smokescreen nearly crashed into his trunk, laying on his horn as he swerved out of the way.

"What gives!"

“No way…” Raf’s mouth fell open as the dust settled. Optimus had a grip on Starscream’s neck while he cut into Optimus's frame, paint fragments, metal shavings, and blue flying in the dust as blue talons shined in the sun.

:: Optimus! ::

Not even noticing the two, he rolled and flung Starscream into the clearing like a rag doll, heaving and dripping energon. Black smoke seeped up in puffs from his stacks and started to mix with the dust. It mixed into a thick, hellish smog. The only thing they could really see was the glint from Starscream’s talons as the Seeker launched back.

“What is he doing?” Miko pressed against the glass before Bee spun out in reverse just as Optimus fell, sending out a wave of smog as he kept blocking with his energon blaster.

“He’s fighting, what do you think?” Raf swallowed and watched the massive frames clash like rabid animals.

Optimus kicked the seeker into the air and through nearby oak trees before he got up, falling onto one knee. Something was covered in his other servo, shining.

It took a few moments, moments where Raf looked at Optimus’s wounds and saw the blue frame before the dots connected.

“He has Arcee!” :: Arcee! :: Yelling in unison, Bee floored it and caught up to Optimus, having Smokescreen struggle to race by his side in time.

:: Optimus- ::

Wheezing, he turned and felt his world drop. “No! Get out of here. It is not safe!”

“But!” Smokescreen butt in, watching the seeker stalk from the clouds, no doubt injured as well before he disappeared in the sky. “We can’t split up.”

“We will if we need to be.” Optimus heaved, feeling his frame fall weak as his legs buckled, crashing into the dirt. Arcee rolled, meeting Smokescreen's bumper. His vents hitched and he tried to push himself back up. “Right… right now you need to leave.”

:: You're injured. We're not leaving you behind. :: Bumblebee transformed, holding Raf and Miko in his servos before gently setting them down. He lifted one of his arms up, nudging the Prime’s shoulder before feeling the limp weight of it. :: Let’s all get out while we can then. :: Turning to face Smokescreen, he flashed his lights and gestured to Miko and Raf.

“Go.” Optimus fell and groaned, digging his knees into the dirt while holding his side. “I.. I.will find a way to meet you there.” Collapsing, more sick, black smoke seeped out. It was clear he wasn't in the state to go anywhere.

“It’s.. 4 miles on this path then a left.” Raf whimpered as he opened one of Smokescreen’s car doors. He just leaned out the side and flinched as more shots echoed from the forest.

:: Sire..? :: Bumblebee mumbled as he sat next to him, trying to quickly bandage his wounds with whatever he had in his subspace. :: What happened? ::

He stayed silent, turning and feeling loose rocks grind against his back. “...That is not important.” Trying to get up once more, he dug into the dirt and pushed up, shaking as he felt his frame cry in anguish.

:: Then let me help. :: Bee took one of Optimus's arms again before leading him down the trail. Smokescreen transformed, having the children either walk or ride on his shoulders while he went to get Arcee. 

Miko looked over, watching the specs of blue trail beneath the large mech before she sighed and turned. "Where's Bulkhead when you need him..." 

"Busy doing Wrecker code stuff." Smokey offered a smile before flinching as Optimus fell behind them. 

"Where's Ratchet..." Jack spoke to nobody as Optimus tried to get up once more. Bee kept helping him, hoping to stop the shaking before the Prime would just collapse anyways. 

:: Try to find some cover, Smokey? :: He looked over. The kids were watching Optimus before looking up at the sky for him. :: See if we can wait this out or at least rest? ::

"One step ahead of you." He nodded and broke into a trot, looking under trees, by hills, and for any bridges big enough to use as cover. 

:: Just hang on. :: Optimus only groaned as the sirens got closer.

-..-

It took some time before Smokescreen came back with the children. "I found a decent sp...ot." He stopped trotting and just looked down. Bee was trying to wrap the Prime's wounds while Optimus was just trying to breathe past his energon. "It's not that far."

:: That's great. Thanks, Smokey. :: He looked over and filled his field with pure appreciation before turning back and finishing his bandage. :: Can you help me? ::

"Of course." Without even pausing, he was under Optimus's other arm and helped to drag the Prime to their new resting place. "He'll... be ok though?" 

No one answered. They just kept moving. The kids were even able to keep pace before Miko took charge, leading the two scouts to the hideout. 

"It's snug for bots like you three, but it's big enough to fit you three." She chuckled, ponytails going down before she hopped over the hill, sliding down the dirt into the broken-down bridge. 

Optimus gasped and vented in, "Thank you," before trying to pick his pedes up and limp down to the bridge, dropping the moment he was in cover.

"Yeah... No problem." Miko looked up and sat next to him, patting his servo in what she hoped was comfort before looking over at Bumblebee.

Bee averted his optics and turned to watch the sky. He wouldn't be too surprised if Starscream was watching, or worse, Megatron. With Optimus out of order, Megatron was a ticket to Primus himself. 

Jack and Raf followed behind Smokescreen and sat by Miko, watching Optimus try and leave Bee's medic work undisturbed, turning over and staring at the rotting wood and rusting metal through unsteady optics.

"What now?" Jack spoke up and felt the air get thicker. "We... we have a plan, right?"

"Jack." Smokescreen sat next to Arcee, she was placed in the more covered area of the bridge, before cracking his servos. "Of course we do."

"Great! So... what is it?"

"A great question." He grimaced and leaned to watch the sky. "I have an idea but it's not the best idea."

Miko turned while Raf just stayed with Optimus, holding one of his digits at every pained vent.

"So, I take one of you with me and we meet Bulk and Wheeljack at Star Peak. Bee would stay here to guard Optimus and Arcee, along with whoever is staying behind. I grab the two Wreckers and bring them back. We have some extra muscle and that gives OP some time to heal up." He looked at Optimus, not getting a response before speaking up again. "And, Wheeljack can maybe patch him up..?"

"Great plan, except I don't think Bulky gonna be back that soon." Miko leaned into her knees and sighed. "Wheeljack isn't even a medic."

"Right... Well, we can't storm Darkmount as a 2 member party." Smokey glanced over at Bee who still watched the sky, servos twitching at every movement.

"It's the only idea though." Jack sighed and leaned against the dirt. "We can leave tomorrow morning, see if things get better then?"

The kids just waited before collectively nodding.  Miko crawled over to Raf while Jack went over to Arcee and started to draw in the dirt.

It was going to be a very long day.

-..-

The moon was just starting to rise as the shrill screech of a siren drove above them, waking everyone up. Jack shot up and looked around while Miko already had a flimsy stick in hand, standing in front of Raf and Optimus. Bumblebee just hid in the shadows, still awake, before Smokescreen tapped his shoulder and took his place.

"Get some rest."

:: ... Ok. :: He slowly turned back and sat down, checking the bandages as Optimus just took in a rattling vent, something still out of place. He fell back into a recharge, sitting up against the dirt wall, before Bee leaned next to him shortly after. He shifted in place, nearly squeezing himself into the dirt before watching the bridge above.

"Tomorrow we leave?" Jack looked over, laying back down while Miko hurled the stick into the darkness.

"Yup." Smokey flatly answered before falling silent.

-..-

"Alright!" Smokescreen hopped up and looked around. Bee was still in recharge, leaning into a semi-conscious Optimus while the kids were just getting up. "Still... getting ready." He plopped back down and went over his map, where to go and what or who to avoid.

"Do we need to leave now?"

"Ye-... No. Not like, right now. But soon." He chuckled and nearly shrunk as Jack shot him a look. "I know it's early but humans are going to be over here again soon and a sportscar doesn't really blend in that well out here."

"Alright." Jack dusted himself off. Luckily he still had his wallet in his pocket so food and water weren't going to be that big of an issue. "We can go get breakfast on the way, at like a Mcdonald's or something."

"Awesome." He started to get up again when Raf staggered over, still rubbing his eyes. "Good morning."

"What time is it?"

"5 am."

Raf just shook his head and looked over at Jack, who only shrugged. "5 am... In the morning?"

"And we're up, why?" Miko stretched, hearing her shoulders crack. 

"Because this," He opened his arms and spun around. "Doesn't fit into that!" He then pointed to the forest outside, gray with heavy clouds.

Miko put her hands up and groaned, sitting next to Raf. He shrugged and wiped his dirty glasses clean.

"Should," Raf looked over to Bee, seeing Optimus's optics cycle before he slightly moved his head. "We should wake them up, right? Tell them we're leaving?"

"Probably." Smokey nudged Bee's shoulder, hearing the scout's gears chern before Optimus slowly patted the scout's arm. "Oh-" Smokey looked up and chuckled. "Didn't mean to wake you..."

He only shook his head and tried to get up himself. Metal started to grind on metal as he moved. "It would be better... if all of us were to leave. If a ranger spots us down here, it is over." He took a breath. "Alt-modes would leave us less exposed." He spoke each word slowly and pained. Smokescreen just nodded and sat down, waiting.

It took a few minutes, but Bee was up and moving, helping Optimus out into the open to climb to the nearest dirtroad while Smokescreen gathered the kids.

"Alright. Let's get moving." With a jump, he landed and transformed, having Raf give new directions.

Bee opened a simple radio channel. :: How are we going to go about this? ::

"Us in the front, Optimus in the middle, and you in the back?" Raf hung out the window, pointing as he spoke before hearing Bee honk. "Good." He looked over at Optimus, kneeling and lost in thought. "Can... are you able to transform?" He shot a concerned look toward the yellow mech before cringing into his seat as the Prime tried.

It was metal screeching, scrapping, with gears grinding into each other, sounding as if they were going to snap off and crumble. Layers of metal waved in the air like ribbons as his body tried to avoid opening his cuts and bruises, overlapping one another.

But, he was okay. A dented, badly patched up semi-truck but a drivable one. 

"And Arcee will just hang in the back for now? Until she wakes up?" Jack looked out too, seeing Bee gently set her down on Optimus's bay before giving a thumbs up.

Smokescreen revved and slowly started to drive, watching Optimus pull up behind him and Bee spin into his alt-mode, tailing him to make sure everyone stayed in one piece.

The trail later became grass, avoiding any ranger checks, before it became laid out dirt of a hidden pathway, and then finally, concrete. Optimus was chugging along, smoke not seeping out of him every minute, but instead it was like steam; barely even there.

Smokescreen turned on his radio. "We're almost out of the forest. Just one more mile." 

"Noted."

:: Thanks, Smokey. :: 

"Anytime." His grin was basically beaming as he revved and slightly sped up. Optimus followed, barely, just by a few mph, but keeping the same distance.

"We're ok to play music.. right?" Jack looked over to the back window, seeing Optimus's grill start to shine as the sun came out. "It won't like, break the 'No internet' rule, right?"

"No. You are free to play music as long as it is from the radio or offline."

:: And not heavy rock... :: Bee quietly added.

"Or anything... loud. My apologies, Miko." Optimus's voice started to waver, crackling through the radio as he slowed down, feeling his gears start to lock.

"Bulkhead would let me."

"Well, that's just Bulkhead." Joking, Smokey chuckled and went through the multiple local channels. It was a mix of pop, folk music from nearby towns, news, and some more. "Anything you guys have in mind?"

Raf looked over, seeing Jack have the same idea. "Something calm."

Miko grumbled and crawled into the back, sitting opposite to Jack. 

"You got it." And like that channel that played more bedroom pop and instrumental music came on. "Can anyone else hear that?"

"No."

:: Nope. You're good. ::

-..-

They reached the final mile of the forest and a town was just visible in the distance. It seemed to have some sort of fast food restaurants and housing.

"Smokescreen, take the children to eat." Transforming and sitting down, Optimus held his chassis and caught his breath, each vent sound more and more like someone was shaking a jar of loose coins.

"Are you sure? We can wait." He backed up and turned around, fidging with his wheels, moving them side to side

"Yes. I need to rest before we move onto the freeway." He started to speak slower again, careful as if a single word will knock something out of him.

"Alright. We'll be back soon." And he dove off. The kids waved on their way out before hiding back in the car.

Bumblebee sat down with him, fiddling with a stick that was stuck on the side of the road before hiding Arcee in the bushes. :: Speaking of food. :: He looked over, seeing Optimus's larger pieces of plating drag down onto each other as he sat. :: You need to get some energon. ::

He just shook his head. "I have gone longer without."

:: Not while leaking energon and collapsing every groon! :: Bee vented hard and rested his helm in his servos. :: It's been joors like this and I don't want you to... just collapse and not get up again because you're running dry. ::

Optimus looked over and placed a servo on his back. "I won't. We will find energon and we'll make this right." He offered a tired smile before laying his own helm on his forearm, feeling it start to ring.

:: I...I can't call anyone to come fix you up. Arcee's out, Wheeljack... I don't even know what to think of that, Medix is too young to see you like that and I can't have that talk with him. :: Bee started to ramble in his servos, looking up and feeling his doorwings drop. :: And I can't even find FirstAid! ::

"Bee," He steadied a servo on his shoulder. "I will talk to Medix after this is over. We'll find a way to explain it to him. Just focus on getting yourself out alive and I will focus on me." He gently rubbed in between Bee's doorwings, feeling the tension.

The two sat there for some time, silent and listening to cars drive by in the distance with birds chirping above them. Optimus watched above, seeing robins and finches jump between branches before hopping down to the ground. He smiled and just sank into himself, trying to ignore the spikes of pain that seemed to be constantly shooting up and down his back strut for the past day.

:: The... the birds are nice. :: Bee muttered, looking over at a robin who watched from a nearby bush. 

Optimus hummed. His antenna twitched before he turned to the road, hearing Smokescreen slowly drive over.

"Come. Let's go." He heaved himself off from his knee and helped Bee up, patting his shoulder once more before heading over.

Smokescreen let the children out and transformed himself, stretching and rolling his wheels. He grunted and brought out his weapons and then servos. "Everyone ready?"

:: Yes. :: Bee looked over and knelt down, giving Raf a small wave as the boy offered one of his apple slices. He held it and chuckled, showing it off to Optimus before placing it into the forest. :: For the birds! :: Raf just smiled and sat by his pedes. 

Jack sat by a rock in the forest, watching Smokescreen talk to Optimus, probably about driving plans, before spotting a glint in the sky.

A blood-curdling roar echoed across the clouds before a beast dove down.

Optimus looked up and shoved Smokescreen away into the brush. “Run!”

:: What about Arcee? :: Bumblebee scrambled over, uncovering her and holding her close.

“Just go!” His vocalizer boomed and fizzed out into static. He unsheathed his blade and stared at the beast’s mouth as it dived down. It was prehistoric. Nothing like modern Decepticons. But he recognized it, back from his days as Orion.

Bumblebee only watched in terror as Optimus was bitten and flung over his helm, breaking trees as he rolled.

Miko dragged Jack and Raf into Smokescreen's back seat with her, slamming the door before he shot off. She turned and watched as Optimus was grabbed and hurled into the hills like a rag doll. “A robo Dragon?” Whipping her head to Smokescreen’s radio, she cried, “When did Megatron get a robot DRAGON?”

Raf only stared at the back window, feeling his breathing shorten and crush his chest. “Optimus can’t beat a dragon… not like this”

Smokescreen's mumbles weren’t heard as everyone watched the beast pounce into the trees.

Bumblebee screeched and slammed his brakes, hissing as Smoke broke to a stop, nearly getting flipped on his hood. Optimus rolled in front of them from a hill and stayed down, groaning as he weakly tried to move his arms before his helm fell.

The beast roared above as its shadow swallowed them whole. The kids covered their mouths and stared up.

It landed on top of them, every claw being in their corner. It bellowed as it stared at Optimus, covered in dirt and unresponsive. Drifting to a turn, Bee sat on his horn and revved his engine. :: OVER HERE! :: The beast snapped, turning around before it stopped and arched up, having three rounds of bullets scorch the back of its neck. Optimus's ion blaster glowed before falling back into the dirt and dying out. 

“Let’s get going!” Smokescreen thrummed as Bumblebee tried to run in front of the moving dirt mound, just to get pulled back as Smokey gripped onto his wrist. "We need to go, now!" Optimus was under the beast's talons, having them flex and cut into metal before getting dragged into the sky.

“Bee! We can’t fight that thing.” He pleaded, practically begging, before hearing the scout transform.

:: I'm going! :: Hitting his max and tearing through the street- which was no doubt used to 20-40 mph- with a pent-up Arcee smushed in his back seat, he watched fire tear into the sky.

“Well, go faster!”

:: Smoke, I’m trying! :: Bee floored it once more and drifted around a corner, feeling his wheels burn and his frame bend. :: Where did he go? :: Chirping and watching the sky, the beast was nowhere to be seen.

“I-I don't know!”

The two watched, nearly hitting a barrier before turning into another pathway.

:: … Smokey..? ::

His commlink only placed static before a small "Yeah?" filled the car. Miko watched as Bumblebee drove up next to him.

:: What now? ::

“We keep on going.”

They all kept watching the sky before hitting the town roads and slowing down. Raf cradled his laptop in his arms and shoved his eyes into his knees. Miko climbed over and sat next to him, patting his back as buildings slowly passed and parked cars filled the shoulders. Jack just... looked out the window. He looked at the sky, the residents watching two sportscars drive past, he looked back at Smokescreen's buzzing radio. He just watched.

-..-

He didn't remember waking up or what really happened before this pain. All he knew is he hurt and was burning from the inside out. His sensors were on fire or unresponsive while his frame felt like it folded into itself. Like one of those box puzzles sparklings get when their coding is still in the works. He couldn't see or feel anything around him besides the blinding pain and darkness, but he could somewhat hear. 

He heard the crackle of a fire, the faint shadow of a roar, the click of a door opening, and the crushing of grass below. The thumps of a heavy mech and the trees shaking from birds flying away. The deep vent of somebody exhausted.

“Sir?" There is was, that vent again. "Sir! Optimus!… By Primus.” He barely felt the air change around him as he was lifted up before the sound of a ship engine got closer. “How did this happen to you...”

-..-

After four hours of getting their paint changed, they could finally get onto the freeway. Arcee was conscious long enough to transform before shutting down again and laying flat in Smokey’s back seat. No doubt the painters were concerned when a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl drove a sportscar with a motorbike shoved in the back, but hey, at least they still did their job. It was better than what Raf said Bee's experience was.

Where they had to hide before Bee perfected his hologram. He was a young man in a bright yellow and black hoodie and shoes with blue steampunk-esque goggles on his forehead. He had a mix of dark brown and yellow short locs with a black fabric mask over his mouth. Where Jack and Miko were looked at with concern, Bee and Raf were looked at with confusion and got riddled with unnecessary questions.

But, they also got their paint job and drove out of there. 

"Before you go away, we got to show Miko!" Raf jumped up and down before waving them over. 

:: Is this really necessary...? ::

"Yes! They'll love it."

Bee 'stepped' out of the car and did a slow, painful spin as Miko dragged Jack over with stars in her eyes. "Dude! DUDE!" 

His spin wasn't so painful anymore as he gave a small smile.

-..-

Bee was ahead, carrying Raf and his freeway directions while Smokey, with Jack and Miko, stayed behind him and watched the skies. It’s been nothing for the past few hours but he refuses to give up looking, even with Jack’s requests to pay attention to the road. His engine revved at the slight sight of an airborne machine before the commercial airplane or helicopter came into view.

“Just a few more miles and then we’ll be in Nevada.” Raf muttered and kept staring at his laptop screen.

Bee chirped and drove down the carpool lane, glancing at Smokey in his rearview window. Jack seemed to be taking the wheel this time.

“Ok,” tapping the screen, Raf looked up and finally saw the road. “Take exit 68.”

:: Got it. ::

-..-

“Ok…” Miko hung out the window. They’ve been sitting in this parking lot for the past two hours, waiting for the sun to set and for the other few cars to leave. “Can we get out now?”

Raf looked at 'Bee' and nodded, opening the door. Their knees cracked and backs strain as they finally felt something other than concrete and padded floor mats.

Smokescreen transformed, flipping into his root mode as Jack set Arcee upright against a fence. “Alright, let’s feel free to roam around for once!" He jogged off with a loud "WOOO!"

Arcee creaked and stretched her arms as she transformed. Jack let go, backing away as she folded out. “Sorry, Arcee.”

“Hey, don’t mention it.” Walking over and helping Bee up, they all just…stood there. Maybe taking in what happens now or what happened. What happened to Ratchet. The base. The Omega Lock. Optimus. So many things.

Raf looked up at the rocky mountains in front of them before putting his laptop in his bag. “Bulk said he’d be here… or that’s what Optimus told us. So, let’s go.”

Bee chirped in agreement before following, Smokescreen not far ahead.

Arcee only sighed, feeling for hours of being a motorbike biting back, and looked down at Jack. He was putting on another layer. “Hey, uh. Can you fill me in on what I missed?”

Watching Raf and the others, he just took a breath and nodded. Gravel was unshoveled under his heels and rolled to the side as he walked in the darkness. The crunch, crunch, crunch of rocks disappeared as he stopped for a moment.

“Alright.” Following from behind, she turned her headlights on and watched the night sky. "The stars are beautiful tonight."

“Yeah…” mumbling, Jack just aimlessly looked at the landscape before spotting Bee’s darker paint job. "What you missed...”

Raf turned, seeing Jack chat with Arcee before they both stopped and Arcee put a servo over her mouth. Bee moved forward, beeping and thrumming in an attempt to hum while Smokescreen kept jogging.

“So.” Smokey spoke up, looking up at the mountain. “Do we just wait?”

:: Yeah. Until the others arrive. ::

Smokey hummed and squinted up into the stars. "I think I see Cybertron." He lifted a servo to point aimlessly.

:: It would be pretty small. You sure? :: Bee cycled his optics before looking up, following Smokescreen's gaze.

"Yeah! I think so."

Raf looked at him, stifling a laugh at two grown bots beginning to banter over where a star is before turning to Miko. She was gone and off to join them, threatening to climb on top of Smokescreen to get a better view.

"How do you two even see it?" She squinted harder before rubbing her eyes.

"After 4 million years of war, you know where your planet is." He chuckled before shooting a look towards Bee, getting a field full of ‘The audacity you have’ thrown back. 

:: I know where my planet is, thank you. :: Buzzing, he turned away and scoffed, sitting next to Raf. :: Like you would, being in stasis all those years. ::

"I heard that!"

Raf just put his chin in his hands and chuckled, breathing in the night breeze. It was cold and fresh. "Bee?"

He buzzed.

"Can you... smell?"

:: Yup. ::

"Like, earth stuff?"

:: Sadly. ::

"Ok so- wait, sadly? The earth smells good!"

Bee just cycled his optics, looking down at the boy.

"I- anyways. Do you smell the air?"

:: Kind of. It's... earthy. :: Bee waved a servo in the air before looking back down.

Raf took a breath and shook his head with a smile. "I guess."

"Bee has a point. It is earthy." Arcee slowly walked over and plopped down next to him, rubbing his shoulder. He slowly leaned in, his engine starting to rumble as they shared a knowing look.

"No, it's fresh." Jack sat next to Raf, looking at the sight of Miko struggling to climb Smokescreen's back while he painfully directed her to what might be Cybertron. 

"Same thing, kid. Fresh, earthy, all the same meaning."

"You don't know what you're even talking about." Muttering, he stretched his legs out and stared at the stars. His eyes slowly gazed to the mountain in front of them before freezing up. "Guys..."

Arcee looked over and shot up, servos forming into a blasters before she slowly stalked in front of him. "Someone’s already here.”

Bee pulled his helm up before staring. He squealed and scrambled up, running and flashing his headlights. :: They’re here! ::

“Really?” Raf squinted and saw it. Two pairs of blinking lights were at the base of the mountain. “Bulk and Wheeljack?”

:: Yes! :: Bee flipped and tore into his wheels, sending gravel on everyone as he sped away.

Smokey sputtered before changing and flinging his door open. “Get in!” Miko and Raf practically lunged before he floored it, leaving Arcee and Jack in the dust.

Another car, white, or he would guess, came racing toward them. A bot, a hammer for a head with ears, spun out and rolled on the ground, skidding on his knees as Miko cheered out of Smokey’s front window.

“Wheeljack!”

“Hey, kiddo!” He offered his servos before getting up off the ground. “Bee, hey buddy.” Miko jumped out and pressed her weight onto his servo.

“Bulk?”

“Waiting, or coming over.” Jackie gave Bee a little bump before turning to the mountain, seeing, of course, Bulkhead ran his wheels off getting over there.

“Miko!” His speaker yelled across the rocky clearing before skidding to a stop and nearly running the kid over with a hug.

“So,” Jackie turned and faced Bee just as he transformed over. “Heard about the Doc…” Putting his servo on Bee’s shoulder, he vented. “I’m sorry kid. I know Ratch meant a lot.”

:: Yeah. He did. ::

Jackie patted his shoulder as Arcee strolled over. She gripped onto his free servo before letting go and trotting over to Bulkhead. "Bulk!”

Bee only chirped before following Arcee and getting a crushing hug.

“Bee! ‘Cee!” The wrecker cried and set them down, his frame shaking as he finally got to see his family. “You made it! You... you made it.”

:: Yeah… :: Bee vented and gave Bulk another hug before looking up at the mountain. It was dark and overwhelming to even think about climbing. He was so tired. :: Hey uh…. Is Optimus with you? ::

Bulk backed up, only an inch, and turned to Jackie. He just shrugged and headed back to the mountain with Smokescreen. “No.” Worry started to chew his tank as Bee’s optics cycled, only getting smaller before facing Arcee. “Why..?”

Miko looked up from his shoulder and stared at the sky. “A Robo Dragon took him.“

“Massive beast with wings. Think mythology.” Jack chimed in, standing next to Raf and scanning the parking lot.

“A flying beast.” Bulk mindlessly repeated before following Jack's gaze at the empty parking lot. “And you didn’t see him afterward?”

:: We… don’t know where he was dropped or if he was taken or- :: Bee’s vocalizer burned in static as Bulk placed a steady servo on his shoulder. His frame hitched before he took a breath, trying to center himself. :: Or if Megatron now has him. :: His binary was distant.

“Come on, Bee.” He chuckled and saw his optics cycle once more. “It’s Optimus we’re talking about.”

Bee stared.

“Of course he made it.” He swallowed and looked back up at the sky.

:: I... We just have to keep moving. :: Resetting his optics, Bee felt Raf lean on his pede. Bulkhead just nodded and led the way to the mountain base. :: How was meeting up with Wheeljack? ::

Arcee peeked over. "Yeah. What trouble did you two get into this time?"

He perked up and rubbed his servos together. "Jackie did the craziest thing. So, he was captured but!"

Arcee shared a look with Bee, shaking her head and getting ready.

-..-

An hour in and Miko started to shiver in her sleep while Jack slept against Arcee’s ped and Raf curled up into Bee’s servos. It’s been an hour and there was no news. No appearance and no new comm calls, even in lockdown.

:: We should probably sleep soon. ::

“Probably.” Arcee muttered in her drowsiness before gently lifting Jack off the ground. “I can’t let him freeze. Maybe Smokescreen will take him.” Walking past, she gave Bee another pat before heading out. “He’ll come back.”

:: … Good night. ::

She nodded and left the two alone. Bulk watched her go before heaving his own frame up, joints creaking under the night cold and optics squinting. “I have a question, Bee.”

:: Yeah?  ::

“Cybertron. Can you see it from here?"

Bee looked up and stretched his legs out. :: Yeah. ::

He smiled and offered a servo. Bee took it and walked to the pile of sleeping bots and kids. "It's still burning out there."

:: ... Yeah. Still burning energon… :: Bee gently held Raf before shifting and backing up deeper into the shade. :: Goodnight, Bulk. ::

"Night, Bee. We'll start to take down Dark Mount tomorrow, together."

His wheels turned towards the Wrecker. :: Dark Mount? ::

"Buckethead isn't all too good with names, huh?" He knocked on his helm with a fist before setting Miko in his seated chassis. 

:: No kidding. :: Bee hummed and turned his headlights off.

-..-

Bright lights woke him up. Bright enough to break his recharge as the sound of engines slowly through with his audio sensor reboot.

An engine… A… He picked apart the sound as his optics still rebooted. Air. A seeker engine? No too, too heavy. A ship? His frame shot up blind and a servo formed into his stinger while another held onto Raf, guarding him. The Nemesis?!

As the world finally came into view, a realm of blinding white, a heavy servo fell on his shoulder.

“Get going, soldier. We don’t have a lot of time. It’ll be following us.”

He chirped but got no response. Only an uneasy grunt in blind affirmation. His optics cycled as he rounded the clearing they rested on. No one was there.

:: Bulk? Arcee? :: Crying out, he shot up and kept cycling his optics, trying to see through the light more. There were grass indents and moved rocks but no spilled energon or fires...

“Soldier!” Heavy pedsteps stormed over before another, messier footstep, followed. “Get a hold of yourse-”

“Go easy on him, sir.” Drowsy, Bulk grabbed Bee's arm before Magnus could scold him, leading him to the ship with a comforting field. “Ultra Magnus found us, Bee. He also found someone else.”

:: What? :: Optics finally adjusting to the sudden light, he stared at the opening.

Arcee and Jack were asleep against the ship’s inner wall while Smokey sat by a berth, half asleep and nearly ready to fall over. Wheeljack was manning the weapons with Miko on his shoulder, waving before turning back to the computer screens.

Magnus closed the ship bay up as soon as he stepped in, hearing it click up and lock before taking off. “We should start going before that Predacon gets us again.”

“Thinking the same thing.” Jackie chuckled and set Miko on a side table, giving her space to rest.

“Sir.” Walking over to the pilot seat, Magnus stated as Wheeljack loudly scoffed and just kept his focus on the screen.

“I was thinking the same thing, sir.”

Bee turned to the berth, seeing dull red hang over the ends. An overwhelming feeling of relief and pain crashed throughout his frame.

A torn-up and duller Optimus lay by the side of the ship. His optics were dull, similar to one in a deep recharge, and his body was tied to an energon drip that was put in by an amateur. But, it was at least something. Bee’s chirps broke into shaky static as he slowly slid down and laid against the berth, leaning on Smokescreen's side.

Smokey just wrapped a servo around Bee's shoulder and sleepily patted him, extending his field, too tired to smile.

He vented before slowly drifting back into a recharge, the hums of multiple engines acting like a bedtime melody to a sparking as Raf sat by his side.

"So. Off to the Harbinger?" Jackie looked back at Bulkhead, a teasing look on his face. "Really?"

"Really."

Chapter Text

Optimus stared at the scene, cooled molten metal and exposed wires that used to be their home. He took his first step and felt the ground nearly crumble under him. He was heavier but he doubted that was the cause. It was cracked and had so many craters riddling the floor. It was raided and abused. But it was still theirs. The Autobot symbol wasn't completely broken, just a little dusty.

It’s been only a few days but it felt like years since it was destroyed.

He walked over to the same rubble that cursed his recharges- just add it to the list- before kneeling down. The rocks looked moved and melted but not replaced. He gripped the largest one and pulled up.

His spark crashed into dark waters as he saw another loved one’s frame crushed. Ratchet’s frame was surprisingly untouched by the laser. He still was… Him. His colors were closer to gray than red and one optic was shattered with a rock jammed into it. This was nothing like he thought it would be. He looked as if he got into a fight and had a nasty recharge, not that he died in a slow, horrific way.

Optimus sat beside him and sighed, grazing a servo on his helm, feeling the dents and the slightly turned metal. The age of war and the result of it. The war was far from over. While Darkmount was gone, they were still hiding and he took a risk by coming here. The Autobots still needed him but he just wanted to visit. To see for the last time. His mind wouldn't let him sleep if he didn't.

So, they just sat for some time. For as long as he could before a quiet beep filled the room.

:: Ready to go? :: Bee peeked in before his doorwings lowered at the sight.

Optimus sighed and gave a short nod. "In a moment." Getting up and gently moving the rest of the rubble off him, he carried Ratchet to a quiet place that still stood. There was a closed-off, calm section of the lab that wasn’t melted. Sure it was raided like every other corner of the base, but the structure, counters, personal items, most of it, was in the same place. He took a moment to just… just, before walking in and setting him down. There were no tarps or blankets to cover him in, so it was just a medic and his lab.

It felt as natural as it could get.

Kneeling down and pressing his helm against his, he got up and closed the door, locking it so he could be at peace.

“Let's head back.”