"You Autobots have gone through impressive lengths to recover your leader," Megatron growled darkly. "Rest assured, I shall never underestimate you again."

I was shivering madly at the sight of the giant silver titan and the sound of his merciless voice. One look at him, and you knew he was truly evil. A bloody desire to kill and destroy lingered in his fiery optics, the ones that glistened with anger even now. A blade extended from his arm, a loud shing erupting into the air. I brought my knees up and cowered backward in fear.

Ratchet moved swiftly, turning quickly while Bulkhead and Bumblebee covered him. He bent over quickly, taking me in one servo without a second thought. I gasped at the sudden movement, but he was being gentle. I covered my mouth with my hand to prevent making any more noise that could draw attention to myself. He set me down hastily, waving his servos to tell me to remain here. I nodded with tears in my eyes, backing far under the console to stay out of sight.

"Now, I assume the one called Arcee will be coming through that portal," Megatron mused, "with the reloaded Matrix of Leadership in hand."

He has no idea Jack is with her, I realized, taking deep breaths through my nose in hopes of calming down. My back hit the end of the console and I froze, keeping utterly silent and still.

I saw three pairs of pedes rush off and stop in front of the GroundBridge. "We hold the SpaceBridge at all costs!" I heard Ratchet order, and a moment later, the three Autobots rushed the Decepticon leader. I could hear metal pounding on metal and fierce battle cries, mostly coming from my enraged guardian. I swallowed, knowing he had it hard without any blasters and that he was out of his game. But I also knew that he was probably more upset about the loss of Optimus than the rest of us were. The two were such close friends, it almost made me jealous.

"You're going down, Bucket-head!" I heard Bulkhead shout, right before I heard a loud noise, and saw Bulkhead and Megatron rolling in the distance. I shuddered as more and more sounds of battle followed. As they grew more and more frequent, I realized that the sounds of pained cries were mixed in. My heart fell to my feet as I realized that the Autobots were being beaten. I saw Bee get thrown to the floor, and a few minutes later, Ratchet was kicked beside the scout.

Optimus is really the only one who can stand up to Megatron.

Taking many shaky breaths, I dared bend over and crawl forward quietly. I peeked out the most I could without being seen, and watched in horror as Bulkhead did his best to battle the silver titan, but was only thrown into the pile. He groaned, but didn't get up, his optics closed. I shuddered violently, my heart hammering in my chest a thousand miles an hour. My vision was swimming in panic and fear for their lives, and mine.

"Ratchet, we have the Matrix," I heard Arcee say through the commlink. "We're coming through."

No, not now!

I couldn't allow Megatron to even touch Arcee or Jack. The key was at risk, and after everything we had gone through to get it... Megatron would destroy our only hope, and then the rest of us. He would kill all of us, and he would find me. And end my life, too.

He'll kill Optimus. He'll kill Ratchet. 

Fire suddenly flew up my body, but it wasn't in pain. Determination burned over me, the fear turning into an overwhelming desire to protect. I got to my feet immediately, bending down in preparation for battle. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Visions of Ratchet, what I had done to him in the past, visions of what I had become, all showered into my mind like rain. I shook my head and charged forward out of my hiding place. It didn't matter what had happened last time; this time, I wasn't under their control. This time, I was doing it for the right thing.

"Hey!" I screamed furiously, pointing at the warlord. "Megatron, was it?!"

The lumbering Con turned quickly at the sound of my voice, his optics scanning for the enemy. He seemed only the tiniest bit shocked when they lowered down to me, his optic ridges crested slightly above his optics. They quickly narrowed again, and his derma pulled up into a chilling smirk. He took steps towards me threateningly.

"Another human?" he mused, waving his servo as he spoke. "The Autobots truly are getting fond of pets."

"This human will surprise you," I hissed through clenched teeth. I was honestly surprised on how dark and cruel I sounded, but I pushed that thought aside. Instead, I willed with every fiber of my being for the blasters to erupt from my hands, and thankfully, they did in a matter of seconds. I raised them threateningly, taking what I figured was a battle stance.

His optic ridges once again raised in surprise. "You're armed..? Yet you are human.."

I didn't respond, just narrowed my eyes as I took aim and fired upon the murderer. He roared in shock and pain, the blasts having a harder impact than he would have expected. He raised his arms to protect his helm, taking one step back. I charged left, not willing to get closer to him. I had to keep my distance. He growled angrily, turning sharply and charging at me, swinging his arm as he flung out his blade.

"Your pathetic attempts will not harm me, pesky human!" he roared. He swung his arm at me, his blade flying.

I screamed as the tip of it sliced at my stomach, blood oozing out. I jumped away before it could get any deeper. I landed on my feet, my knees bent over as I clutched my side. "Your sizzling wounds say otherwise, freak!" I growled despite my injury.

"T-Taylor.."

I turned my head quickly at the sound of my name. Ratchet was looking at me dazedly, terror in his optics as his chassis shook. Luckily, Megatron didn't seem to hear him as he tumbled towards me again, his optics furious. I sidestepped his attack, an advantage of being so much smaller than him, and gave Ratchet a look. I shook my head, telling him silently that I wasn't going to stop. I was going to protect them.

"You cannot fathom my power!" Megatron boasted in anger as he raised his cannon. "I will destroy you easily, human!"

I forced myself not to scream again as the shots rang out all around me. I backed away quickly, crossing my arms over my face. My blasters turned back into hands as the dust cleared, revealing that he had missed his small target. He clenched his denta and shot only once more, and it was all he needed. The blast landed right in front of me, sending me flying. My mind flashed to my first encounter with the Autobots just before I slammed into the ground. I couldn't help the cry of agony that flew through my leg as it twisted horribly from under me.

"You will not stop my plans," he hissed with a dark grin as he raised his cannon again. "I will end the lineage of the Prime's for all time."

"I cannot allow that to happen, Megatron."

I gasped at the familiar voice behind me, turning my head in a split second. I grinned like a madman when I saw the unmistakable presence of Optimus, although he seemed almost smaller and kinder. His optics were full of innocence, but they were hardened in anger.

"And why should you care, Orion Pax?" Megatron growled, stepping over me. "You are no Prime."

"That may be true, or yet another Deception," Optimus-Orion said, looking away. "But this much I do know: My sympathies lie with the Autobots, and you are not one of us."

I was gasping for breath as the two duked it out, my eyes flying to my fallen guardian. He was unconscious on the ground again, his chassis still. The other two were still out as well, but I knew Orion wouldn't be able to hold his ground forever. I held back my screams as I forced myself up, clutching my side as blood ran from my wound. I did my best to drag myself over to where they lay, grunting.

"Guys.." I muttered weakly. The ground shook from under me and I gasped in pain as I collapsed again. I looked back at the two fearfully, my eyes widening when I saw Orion on the ground with Megatron towering over him. 

"You're spark may be in the right place, Orion," the warlord sneered, "but you have much to learn before you can hope to ever again stand your ground against me." He pulled out his blade and tilted it at his neck cables. "A moment sadly, which shall never come."

Just as I was about to scream in terror, Arcee came barreling through the portal, kicking Megatron right in the helm and sending him stumbling back. A relieved squeak escaped from my throat as I saw Jack walk up to Optim-Orion, holding out the restored key card. They exchanged only a few words before a blue glow flew from the key and into Orion's suddenly open chest chassis. I sat up, hope making my entire body shiver.

"NOO!" Megatron suddenly roared, and I saw him throw Arcee away and charge at the blue and red mech.

I shrieked in fear, catching Ratchet get up shakily out of the corner of my eye. He dazedly ran at the warlord, determined to protect his friend. Megatron, however, effortlessly slammed him aside, his stride not even faltering slightly. I quickly raised my blasters and shot, roaring through clenched teeth in pain. The silver titan raised his sword just as the key card finished, floating into the leader's servos. As the blade swung down, the red and blue mech quickly turned and caught it with both servos.

"Megatron..," he said angrily.

His voice sent excited chills up my spine. It was him.

It was Optimus.

"Be gone!" he roared, and Megatron was easily tossed aside. I held back cheers as the others got up and went to their restored leaders side. "Ratchet! How did we arrive here?" he asked.

"Long story, old friend," the medic replied in relief. 

Tears slid down my face in pure joy, and I lowered my chin and sobbed quietly. I was smiling despite my cries and the pain, the tears falling from my cheeks onto the ground below. I heard fast pedesteps running my way, and I looked up with a happy, weak smile. Ratchet was kneeling over me, extending his servos. 

"Oh, Taylor," he vented, his optics flooded with regret and sorrow. He very gently slid his digits under my legs.

I held back a hiss of agony and grabbed a digit for support. "It's alright," I assured him with a grin. "We did it."

His optic ridges bent in worry, but he didn't reply. Instead, he huddled me close to his chest chassis, holding me as comfortably as he could. I sighed in relief as he ran back over to the others, shouting something that I didn't really hear. I could feel myself slipping, but I forced myself to stay awake as a GroundBridge opened.

"It's ours!" Arcee shouted as she shot.

"Autobots, fall back!" Optimus ordered.

"This time, he's coming with us," I heard Bulkhead boast just before Ratchet raced into the portal.

My vision swam again, and I shook my head as we reached the inside of base. Ratchet kept me close to his chest chassis, holding me anxiously, but keeping his optics glued to the GroundBridge. One by one, the Autobots and Jack returned, Optimus being the last to come through. Though all the words were fuzzy to me, I was touched by the warm reunion. I shook my head again to focus harder on what they were saying.

"Although it seems there is much I do not remember," Optimus said, looking at a Decepticon insignia I hadn't noticed before. 

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour," Ratchet told him. "But know this: from every indication, your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot."

"See?" I muttered weakly up at my guardian as the others erupted in excited cheers. "I told you it would be okay.."

He blinked down at me, cradling me in his servos ever so gently. His optics thinned as his derma turned up into a sweet smile. He lifted one servo out from under me and brushed the side of my face with a couple of his digits. I smiled fondly up at him.

"You were correct," he whispered. "Now rest, Taylor."

I sighed contentedly as I closed my eyes, almost immediately falling into a calm, dreamless sleep.

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This was a good, long chapter! 2000+ words!

I hope you guys like it. 

Sorry, I'm in a hurry.

Bye!

*waves*