The sounds of war rang out throughout the base. Bots and soldiers yelling orders at each other. Ratchet Trying his hardest to subdue Kup, but to no avail. Kup was able to rip out the wiring that was hooked up to him. His shot hit Sunstreaker straight in the chest, just barely missing his spark, leaving a large hole in his chest. As Ratchet quickly went to attend to him and that's when Kup sprung loose. Running out of the medical bay, shooting anything that moves. For an old bot, he could move quickly and diligently.

"Sunny!!!" Sideswipe screamed, holding his brother as energon bleeds down his chest and torso. "Sides..." Sunstreaker coughed out. "Don't talk." Ratchet ordered. "Nichole." He wheezed out. "Oh my god Nichole." Sideswipe could feel his brothers worry for their love. "Go!" Sunstreaker is able to scream, just before he passes out. Shouts for Ratchet come from out in the hallway. "Help me get him up here, quick!" Sideswipe hurries to help Ratchet. Ratchet does what he can for now, enough so he doesn't bleed out. "He will be stable for now, but I need to go help others. Go help." Sideswipe nods firmly and rushes out of the medical bay.

The stench of blood hits his airways as he runs out. Soldiers bodies litter the floor, like a tornado had gone through. Grunts and groans, clashing of metal and blast are heard from in front of him. He transforms quickly to get through and find Nichole. As he gets into the hanger, he finds a gruesome sight. Ratchet soon catches up with him and gasps. He doesn't hold it to long, before he swiftly gets to work helping the injured. Ironhide and Jazz were in the middle of battle with Kup. Sideswipe fought with himself, who to help. His spark and the feeling of his brother's spark chose for him. He must find Nichole.

"No, Diesel! I have to help!" Her voice rang through the violence. His head snapped in her direction to see Diesel trying to get ahold of her, while she is trying to help injured soldiers. "No, we need to go!" Diesel barked down at her. Just then a blast whizzed over her head. "Nichole!" Sideswipe roared, his alt speeding over. He transformed and turned to give them cover. "Nichole, go with Diesel. You need to get out of here." He ordered, keeping his eyes on Kup, who is still fighting with Ironhide and Jazz. "I am not leaving! I will not fail again." She screamed at the two worried Autobots. "This is not up for debate!" Diesel roared back at her as he tried to reach down and grab her. She swiftly dodged his servo, running to the next victim. She then began to move soldiers to a safer place, all while trying to get away from Sideswipe and Diesel. "Sunny wants you safe. Please go with Diesel." Sideswipe begged. "Sunstreaker! Where is he?" She whipped her head around to see a horrified look on Sideswipes face. Her stone grays demanding an answer.

"We need to get you to safety." Diesel blocked a shot sent their way. More Autobots were fighting against Kup now. It shouldn't take long to get him down now. "Where is Sunstreaker?!?" She screamed again. Her stare holding with Sideswipes. "Kup shot him. He's in the med bay. He will be alright." He said quietly, but just loud enough that she could hear. Before they could say anything, she took off to the other side of the hanger. To the side the Medical bay was on. She is blocked before she can get there. Kup is being dug into the ground by Bumblebee. She falls backward, landing on her ass, coughing from the dust filling the room. When the air clears, she freezes, two large yellow optics are staring into her stony gray. Its as if time froze. His optics focus in on her. She can see a tinge of red lining the outside of his irises. "You." He growls in a low rough voice.

She keeps her face emotionless, like she was out on the battlefield again. Its almost as Kup got some kind of energy surge, he stood up as if Bumblebee weighed nothing and shook him off. He didn't just let him go, he kicked Bee as hard as he could, making Bee fly to the other end of the hanger. Nichole does her best not to let out a gasp. Thinking Kup is occupied she gets up to run. Her goal set in mind, but before she can get to it, she is grabbed. Her breath shortens, the airways being crushed from the tight squeeze she is getting from the tainted Autobot. He brings her up to his face, looking over her, as if waiting for her to break. "NICHOLE!" Sideswipe and Diesel scream, aiming their weapons at Kup. Everyone stops. Sparks fly, and dust settles around them. No one makes a move; all eyes are on the girl in Kup's hand. The two stop a few steps away when Kup raises his other servo. Holding a blaster to Nichole's head. "No" Sideswipes servo reaches out to her, his optics wide, waiting for Kup's next move.

"Don't move or I kill the girl?" he says through gritted teeth. "Kup, why are you doing this?" Sideswipe asked, staring at the mech he once called sire. The older mechs optics adjusted on the younger mech. Looking him up and down as if trying to remember who he was. "It's me, Sideswipe. Remember? You raised Sunny and I." Sideswipe took a step forward, his optics never leaving Kup's. "I never had any sparkling's. And if I did, I would never raise an Autobot scum." He spat, disgust showing on his face plate. The hurt is prominent on Sideswipes face, as if someone killed his brother. "Now I'm going to leave and none of you are going to stop me. If you try, she will die." His voice rang throughout the hanger. He stared down every individual left alive in the room. Sideswipe and Diesel were the first two to lay down their weapons. Followed by Ironhide and Jazz and slowly going down the line. "Good." He sneered, then walked out of the hanger bay.

Kup's transformation to his alt mode was clunky and his gears grinded together. His alt being an old 1948 Ford F1. Rust fell off his frame as he transformed. Nichole sat strapped in the passenger side seat, seat belts wrapped around like a straight jacket. The bench seat she sits on has ripped up tan leather seats. The steering wheel is also torn, string from the inside hanging, dangling towards the floor. His light blue exterior paint is so faded it looks almost white. The rust spots along the edge of his fenders weren't helping either. His engine, though, is the only thing that doesn't sound old. It doesn't purr like a new engine would, but it doesn't grind together or struggle to drive forward. It must have been Ratchets work he had done on him. He speeds in and out of traffic, not paying attention to traffic signals. Cars honk and people shout at them as they go past.

"Where are you taking me?" After an hour of driving, Nichole finally decided to speak. "Not your concern." Kup answered. "Why did you kidnap me?" Ignoring his comment, she continued. Holding her stare out the window, watching the scenery fly by. "That isn't your concern either." Annoyance heard in his voice. "Why are you attacking the Autobots, when you're an Autobot yourself?" The truck gave a low growl, clearly not liking her questions. "I was never an Autobot." He spat. "What happened to you? You were imprisoned by the Decepticons. Sunstreaker risked everything to save you. Including lying to his own twin. I know you don't believe that you were never an Autobot." She raises her voice, not caring that he is getting annoyed with her. Though, he doesn't answer. He continues to drive in silence. After a few more moments, Nichole speaks up again. "The Decepticons did something to you. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe told me all about you. They were so excited for you to wake up. How you didn't give two shits, but you knew your shit. You raised them like a dad would a child. Kept them out of trouble and you loved them." Her voice seemed to trail off as she spoke. Still no answer from Kup. The cap became eerie and silent. Nichole isn't sure what is going on through the old bot's mind. Just hopes that he is thinking over what she has said.

*-------------------*

Ratchet has been working in overdrive to get the Autobots and humans back on track. Out of all the Autobots, Sunstreaker got the worse. The shot just missed his spark. It is going to take a few days for him to be healed and back on his feet. As of right now, he is in stasis until his wounds heal more. After watching Kup take off with Nichole, Sideswipe hasn't left his brothers side. "I'm so sorry Sunny. I tried. I tried. She wouldn't listen. Then I told her you were hurt, and she lost it. She ran. Kup took her before we could do anything. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Sideswipe cried, his head resting on his arms that rested on the berth. "This is the second time I lost her. What am I doing wrong?" He continued, the tears pooling on the metal berth. Sunstreaker's side of the bond is blocked, because of him being in medical stasis. Oh, how he wished he could feel his twin right now. Just to hear him talk would calm his nerves.

"I have to go find her!" Sideswipe hears Diesel roar from the hanger. He quickly gets up and rushes to find out what is going on. "Diesel, we don't even know where he's going. We need to figure out a plan." Ironhide attempted to explain. "Diesel don't worry we will get her back. Please calm down." Lennox jumped in. "Calm down! You want me to calm down. She is my charge and Kup just walked out of here with her. Kup of all bots!" His voice echoed throughout the hanger. "We need to know what happened to Kup. The way he talked was as if he was never an Autobot. He didn't even recognize the twins. It doesn't make sense." Ironhide tried to change the subject. "I don't give a frag why Kup did it. I want to get her back." Which, in this case didn't work. "I'm going to go find her." He stated walking way, not caring what anyone is going to say.

"Diesel, wait!" Lennox called out, running to catch up with the determined mech. "Do you know anything about a bright blue cylinder that was found in your tool bag? Megatron forced Nichole to go get it for him. Though she had no clue why." Diesel stopped in his tracks. He turned swiftly and looked at everybody. "Did she say anything about it glowing?" Diesel Knelt down, needing to know the answer. "Yeah she said it glowed when she touched it." Lennox looked at him, a little frightened. "That explains everything." The look of shock formed on his face. Everyone looked at him confused. "Why didn't anyone tell me about this sooner? This makes so much more sense." He started pacing up and down the hanger. "You gonna clue us in?" Ironhide barked. "It's called an Opposium Cylinder."

*-------------------------*

"Humph" Groaned Nichole as she landed on the dirt ground from being thrown out of Kup's cab. She slowly stood back up, rubbing her butt. "Was that necessary?" She complained. Kup transformed and glared down at her, not answering. They stopped in the middle of no where as night set in. Kup found an abandoned building to park for the night. The bot groaned and creaked as he moved. Nichole knew the bot probably hasn't had his joints oiled in a long time. Sunstreaker had told her how he had been imprisoned by the Decepticons for a few thousand years. The old bot probably needs a lot of work done. Instead of thoughts on what he could do to her or how she would get out alive, she thought about him and things she could do to make him more comfortable. She didn't care about her wellbeing, knowing that this mech is like a father to the twins she has feelings for, she wants to help him get back to them.

"You don't realize what you are?" His voice surprised her as it echoed throughout the empty building. "What are you talking about?" She played dumb. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking at the old bot, waiting for him to speak up.

"You don't remember the odd things that happened to you while you grew up. Why you lived where you did. There is a reason you lived in the north. They we're trying to control you. They were trying to find others like you and still are. You were born to cause damage. Kill on a whim. Defy nature. You take pain and turn it into energy. The only thing that can make you mighty and strong. The only way to keep you weak is the cold. They know what you are and were going to sell you to the highest bidder when you were old enough. Running away destroyed their plan but didn't stop them from looking for more of you. They don't realize how rare you really are. It's a pity really. You will outlive any human you come across. You always will be alone." Kup explained. Her eyes widened at the information he told. "How do you know about my childhood?" She asked, backing up a little, her past was coming back for her. "They tried to suppress your urges. They kept you under lock and key. Your room always cold and even colder at night to make you pass out. They would do this to the others, wouldn't they? Keep them in below freezing temperatures. Most mornings they wouldn't wake up and who had to get rid of the body? They made you kill, the only way to keep you up to par, but not enough to make you stronger than them. You would do damage to yourself to keep yourself alive." His dermas curled into a cruel grin, knowing he hit it right on the spot.

Her eyes couldn't get anymore wide as they now stared at the floor, memories from her childhood flooding into her mind. Pictures of the horror she had to go through. Pain and torture were all she knew as a child and the coldness. Freezing temperatures she lived in. Then there are the others that were put through the same, but never came out alive. 108, 108 the last time she read an article. 108 children missing, and she played a part in it. "Oh, sweetie it's okay. Look at you now. You're a ruthless killer, using your skills for good while in the military. You have grown so much. Aren't you happy with how your life turned out? You were able to leave the horror show and put yourself to good use. While others continue to die because you're such a one of a kind." He hissed, walking around her. A deep laugh came from his throat, he knows he hit a nerve. His old worn frame creaked as he circled her. "Unfortunately, you are about to become just another missing child." She turned to look at him, her eyes snapping to his. Just in time to see him raise his blaster.

She dodged the first blast, running underneath him and out the door. Kup not to far behind her.