"Uhhhh, what's a sparkling doing out here by itself?" Bulkhead asked, scratching his head in confusion.

"I'm not sure..." Optimus mumbled, watching Cascade climb on his pede and cling to his leg. "Are you alright, little one?"

"I tink so. Who are you?" Cascade asked, smearing berry juice all over Optimus's leg armor.

Arcee held back her giggles, seeing that Optimus was trying to keep his patience intact.

"My name is Optimus Prime. I am the leader of the Autobots. Do you ne—"

"Oppy Prime!" Cascade giggled, clapping his little hands together.

"Aww, he said your name." Arcee cooed, bending down and patting Cascade's head. "Sweetie, are you lost?"

Cascade slid off of Optimus's pede and sat down in the dirt, his different colored optics wide with curiosity. "I lost Sire an' Carrier... I don't know where dey are!"

"Don't worry little buddy, we'll find your parents. Where did you last see them?" Bulkhead asked, tilting his head.

"Umm...." Cascade glanced around worriedly, forgetting where Knockout and Breakdown had let him play. "I don't know!" He burst into tears, rubbing his optics with his hands.

"Awww, it's okay.." Arcee said softly, scooping him up and cradling him in her arms.

Her frame wasn't the soothing warm one of his Carrier, so Cascade continued crying.

"What do we do, Optimus? We can't just leave him here!" Bulkhead turned to Optimus, who was busy cleaning off his leg armor.

Optimus rose to his full height and sighed, his optics scanning the tree line before landing on Bulkhead. "We will have to watch him until his parents are found. Until then, lets move." He waved his hand forward, gesturing for them to continue forward.

Arcee sighed, trying to calm Cascade down as she followed Optimus into the undergrowth.

-Meanwhile...-

"Cascade! Where are you?" Breakdown called out into the forest, but got no answer.

"Cas! Come on sweetie, we aren't playing hide and seek! It's time to go!" Knockout was beginning to get worried. It had been an hour since they last saw Cascade and they had found no sign of him. He sighed and nudged Breakdown's arm. "What if he ran away? Or what if... what if something took him!"

"Calm down, Knocky. We'll find him soon, we just have to be patient." Breakdown mumbled, stroking Knockout's back.

Suddenly, Knockout tensed up and his frame went rigid. His optics were narrowed and his audio receptors were on high frequency.

"What is it?" Breakdown asked, pausing his search.

"I hear something..." Knockout mumbled, hearing a faint noise coming from far away. He immediately recognized the shrill cry of Cascade and took off sprinting through the undergrowth. "I hear Cascade! Come on!"

"Oh!" Breakdown said in surprise, trampling the small bushes beneath his pedes as he ran after Knockout.

-In the middle of the forest-

"Optimus, he's been crying nonstop for an hour! Isn't there anything we can do?" Arcee groaned, still trying to make Cascade stop crying.

"Here, let me hold him." Bulkhead said, gently taking Cascade from Arcee and holding him in his bulky arms.

Cascade's cries faded to little whimpers as he snuggled against Bulkhead's large frame.

Arcee was dumbfounded. "No fair!" She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"He probably likes my big, warm chestplate." Bulkhead chuckled, glancing down at Cascade's tiny form.

"Bulkhead, keep a tight grip on the sparkling." Optimus said sternly, his battle mask sliding over his mouth.

"Why? Are there cons?"

"We've got company!" Arcee snarled, unsheathing her battle blades and widening her stance.

The undergrowth rustled and the ground shook as Breakdown came tearing through, wielding his signature hammer. He smashed his hammer into Optimus's head, sending him flying into the thicket.

Knockout soon followed, his electric staff crackling with electricity. He pierced Arcee in the side, sending electricity through her body.

Arcee growled, twisting the staff and throwing Knockout into a tree. "Get out of here, Bulkhead!" She yelled to Bulkhead as she ducked under another attack from Knockout.

Bulkhead covered Cascade with his arms and started running away from the battle.

"No ya don't, Bulkhead! You're mine!" Breakdown snarled, knowing that Bulkhead was carrying Cascade. He yanked him back by his armor, punching him in the head and slamming him on the ground.

Bulkhead played along perfectly, protecting Cascade as he crashed to the ground. That's exactly what Breakdown wanted him to do. He groaned, his vision wavering as Breakdown loomed over him.

"Yer time is up..." Breakdown growled, bringing his hammer up.

"Sire!" Cascade's shrill voice stopped him before he could swing his hammer.

Breakdown froze when he saw Cascade crawl out from Bulkhead's arms and stand up. "Cas?"

Cascade grinned, holding his hands up to Breakdown. "Hi Bweaky!"

Distracted by Cascade's cuteness, he didn't notice Optimus sneaking up behind him. He was hit in the back and thrown into a tree, splinters of wood showering them.

Cascade shrieked, feeling coolant pool in his optics again. "Bweaky no!" He tried to reach him, but Optimus kept him from doing so.

He felt Optimus's strong hand wrap around him and render him immobile. He cried and struggled against his grip, trying to reach Breakdown, who was on the ground.

"Let go!" Knockout hissed, shoving his electric staff in between Optimus's chest and neck cabling.

Optimus's body spasmed as the electricity ran through his circuits. His body locked up and he fell unconscious, slowly tipping over and falling.

Knockout managed to grab Cascade before Optimus fell and crushed him, hugging him tightly. "Don't ever leave me again!" He said, kissing Cascade on the helm.

Cascade clung to Knockout's chest and sniffed, still shaken from the experience.

Breakdown groaned and got up, rubbing his back. "Is he okay?" He asked, checking over Cascade quickly.

Knockout ran a few scans and sighed in relief. "Thankfully, Yes. We need to get out of here before the Autobots come to their senses..."

"Already have!" Bulkhead growled, kicking Knockout while he was still holding Cascade.

Knockout immediately pulled his knees in and shielded Cascade from impact as he crashed into the ground, tearing up grass and plants. When he finally stopped, he winced in pain and looked down at Cascade. "You okay, honey?"

Cascade nodded shakily, still clinging tightly to Knockout's chest.

Knockout heard light pedesteps approaching him and struggled to get up. His leg pistons just weren't responding and he couldn't get up. "Frag!" He cursed, holding Cascade tightly.

Arcee ripped through the bushes, her blades drawn aggressively. "Give up the sparkling, Knockout!" She growled.

"Over my lifeless husk!" Knockout spat, energon trickling from his mouth.

"Fine then..." Arcee hissed, ripping Cascade out of Knockout's arms.

"No! Don't you dare take him! I'll tear you apart, you Autobot scum!" Knockout snarled, trying desperately to get up.

He managed to stand, but his pistons creaked loudly in protest and he sank back to his knees. He growled in frustration as Arcee turned and started walking away. "You won't get away with this! You hear me?!" He shouted, shaking his fist.

Breakdown ran over to him, completely out of breath and bleeding energon after fighting Bulkhead again. "W-Where's Cascade?" He gasped, leaning heavily against a tree.

Knockout growled deeply, coolant pooling in his optics. "Arcee took him. The Autobots have him now..." he muttered, staring at the ground in defeat.

Breakdown was shocked, which was quickly replaced by anger. He smashed his fist into a rotten log, the wood splintering on impact. He took a deep breath and growled lowly. "They will pay...."

Hehe I'm an evil person XD sorry but it will all be better soon!