Rodimus panted quietly as he let his heart stop racing, though he was freaking out inside, this was his baby brother, and even though the child was adopted, he still felt the need to protect him. He listened to the radio chatter as his men stood by down the road quite a ways, ready to stop anyone that tried to run. He closed his eyes and took the earpiece out so he could focus on his breathing. His mind going to his father, making tears come to his eyes. 

"I won't fail you again..." the young man promised silently before he looked back to the house. He aimed his gun in the air and took a deep breath before he fired. He had to get their attention somehow. He let the shot echo, then he quietly went to his next position further away and off to the side. He crouched where he could see them and frowned.

"Kaon and Pet are at the station..." he mumbled to himself as he watched people leave. "Two... three..." he frowned again and sighed then kept going. Only three and his brother. This wouldn't be too hard. He set the ear piece back in and winced a little at someone talking loudly. He frowned as he listened but had to focus elsewhere as the villains got closer.

"Rodimus, come in dang it!" Heatwave suddenly said over the radio. The chief blinked in surprise as he glanced towards the barricade that was out of sight.

"There's more hostages up there! Bumblebee's two nieces and my mother." he said a little more calmly. Rodimus was silent for a few minutes and blinked a couple times. This complicated things. He froze as he heard a second gun shot nearby. But it wasn't him.

~

Soundwave went over to Jim and they both waited for a few minutes as they tried to figure out how to get inside. They heard the shot and glanced to the house as the men came outside. The silent man started to go when the older man gripped his arm tightly. The younger looked at him and Jim stared at the house for a long time before heading inside.

Soundwave wanted to stop him but decided not to and moved further back into the woods as he furrowed his brow. He paused as he came out of the brush deeper in and stared at Tarn. The man looked to him and narrowed his eyes as he pulled out his gun and aimed it at his own son. The young man didn't move as he watched his father and stayed half crouched, his mind blank for a moment, which was a moment too long in his mind. 

"Who's with you?" Tarn growled as he watched him and kept his gun on him. The musician didn't respond as he stayed where he was, still crouched from moving through the brush. "Answer me." he seethed as he cocked his gun.

"Where's my mother?" Soundwave asked calmly as he quickly devised a plan to get away, he noticed his father stiffen at the mention of his ex-wife. 

"This is a waste of time. You're a waste of space and useless." Tarn seethed and fired his gun at him, Soundwave managed to move out of the way but his shoulder was grazed.

He grunted and kicked the other man in the stomach then kicked the gun away from his hand. He jumped up and took the gun then disappeared as Tarn cursed angrily. The older man realized just how good his son still was. He went to follow only to fall and land on his face. He grunted and glanced to see his shoelaces were tied together. He frowned deeply wondering when the young man did that. 

"Child's play." he muttered though was slightly amused, not that he would admit it. He glanced around then towards the house before working on getting free. Grumbling to himself the entire time. 

~

Megatron held on to Beta and sighed forcefully as he looked into the hallway, Guilt settling into his heart and stabbing him. He looked to the woman he loved and tears filled his eyes. She stared back and gently set a hand on his cheek, she then kissed his other as she smiled a little.

"Go be the hero I know you are... I'll be fine." she whispered. He shook his head but knew he didn't have time to argue. He carefully set her on the bed again and kissed her before leaving the room and heading upstairs. He glared as he went and quietly opened the door to the room he heard the girls in. Nickel looked up and her eyes widened in horror. 

"You're not dead." she gasped and moved away from him as she shook in fear. Megatron glanced at her then at the two children. Peri smiled brightly and ran over then hugged him. 

"We found you." she smiled and he looked at her in surprise. "Pretty lady is here too... but I don't know where she is... she misses you." she said sadly. He just nodded and picked her up then put her on his back.

"Hold on tight like a monkey." he smiled slightly and she nodded as she giggled, feeling better already. He picked up Miko and held on to her then started to head out. He stopped and looked at the remaining child.

"I order you to follow." he said in his commanding tone and his eyes darkened a little. Nickel paled and nodded then followed him.

He went down stairs and headed back to Beta's room before he heard Tarn yelling outside the back door. He stopped and looked towards the said area as Peregrine whimpered in fear. Nickel hesitated and went towards that section of the house.

"No." Megatron growled at her. She looked at him and whimpered then nodded before they went out the front door and headed into the woods. "Forgive me Beta..." the man whispered and glanced back to the house. He had to get them to safety. Then he'd be back to save her.

~

Rodimus ran towards the house as he heard the second shot, he saw the men wandering around looking for the others. Helex yelled angrily about something and looked around then he caught sight of something and ran after it, Vos quickly following him as he laughed madly. Rodimus went to follow when he heard Tesarus yelling Elliott's name. He stopped and froze as he glanced towards the sound. He quickly went that way and saw Soundwave go after Helex and Vos. He relaxed slightly but just a little. He set his finger to his com as he ran.

"All units move in now." He seethed as he ran. "Move in now and take them in." he growled as he ran towards the noise. Hoping he got to his brother in time.

Jim continued to run into the woods and away from the house, towards what he hoped was the cops. He had the boy in his arms again and clung to him as he ran. He heard a third gun shot and pain ripped through his leg. He gasped in surprise and agony as he fell to his knees. He set a hand on the ground to stop himself from falling further. Elliott clung to him as he shook and tried to see what happened, but the man wouldn't let him. 

"Shh shh... it's okay..." he panted as he struggled to get up, hearing the man running and shouting as he got closer. "I just tripped is all." he smiled the best he could. He got up and started half running and half limping. He had to get to the cops. He heard Tesarus yelling at him to stop and another burning pain entered his back, a third bullet was fired and hit him again in the back.

He gasped as he fell to his knees once more and hugged the boy close as he knelt there. The two holes in his back burned and his leg ached as it throbbed. He heard the man walk over and glanced up as he stood in front of him. Tesarus glared darkly and aimed his gun at the injured mans head. Jim kept the boy close as he shook from the pain and blood leaked from his mouth. He panted heavily as he realized the man was going to execute him. 

"Drop the boy." The villain said darkly as Jim wheezed and clung to the child, not letting him see anything. Elliott tightened his grip as he shook and let the police cap hid his view of the horrible man. Jim looked at the villain as he wheezed weakly and glared back, more than willing to give up his life to protect the child.

"Back away." Soundwave growled as he aimed Tarns gun at the man, approaching from the direction of the house. He saw Jim's back and his eyes flared with rage as he saw the blood. He glanced to the killer and kept his gun aimed at him, stopping a few feet away behind his friend.

"Leave my father alone." Soundwave said darkly as his anger continued to boil inside his heart. Jim was surprised at the title but said nothing as he continued to wheeze. 

"This man is nothing but a loose end who's in my way." The con growled and looked to the silent man. "I'll get to you when I'm finished here." he grumbled and they heard people running nearby in the woods.

"Tesarus! Stand down." Rodimus said seriously as he came up behind the villain. "You're surrounded." He seethed as the cops came into view. The villain looked at them and chuckled darkly.

"You won't shoot me with the boy nearby. Stand down or I shoot them both." he smirked darkly and looked at Rodimus.

"I won't give you the chance." Soundwave growled and the other man smiled darkly as he watched him. He moved the gun and they heard three gun's go off. The area was silent and Rodimus panted quietly as he looked at them. Tesarus was in the grass, one bullet in his head and the other in his heart. Both Soundwave and Rodimus had shot him when he moved to kill his captives. The two men looked at each other then went over and knelt by the injured man. The last shot had grazed his ear. Barely missing the boy.

"Jim... Jim it's over..." the musician whispered as he gently set a hand on his shoulder. The older man didn't respond as he wheezed weakly, his ear ringing. Rodimus gently gripped his other shoulder as medics were called. "It's okay... his brother is here...." the silent man said gently as Rodimus carefully took the boy from him.

Elliott sobbed and hugged his brother tightly as the chief moved away and took him towards the safety of the barrier. Soundwave sat by his friend and pulled him into a hug as he fought back tears. 

"It's okay... I've got you..." he whispered as Jim shakily held on to him and wheezed. "I've got you..." he rasped as tears fell down his face. "Hold on for me, Dad... hold on... please..." he whispered as the older man slowly closed his eyes.

~

A little earlier, Megatron continued to run through the woods but stopped as he heard yelling behind him and he glanced back. He watched as Soundwave tackled the two men and quickly knocked them out by banging their heads together. The mafia leader sighed in relief and let him catch up to them. He glanced to Nickel and then to his friend.

"Thank you." he muttered and Soundwave nodded, he was about to say something when he heard the third gun shot and yelling from Tesarus.

"Jim..." the young man whispered as he paled and he looked towards the noise before looking at Megatron. Nickel watched them and looked back towards the house.

"Go." The ex-con leader said seriously and the silent man hesitated before he stepped back and bolted back towards the yelling.

"Go down the hill to safety!" His young friend called after him and ran faster. Megatron nodded and started off towards the barricade. 

"Let's go." he muttered and glanced to the young woman before continuing on again, but she didn't move and watched where the boys were. Her family. She looked at Megatron and bolted back to them.

"Nickel!" he cried but she didn't stop. He growled and ran towards the safe zone. Once he got there he hide out of their sight and knew he couldn't get caught. He grumbled to himself and set the girls down by a tree. He crouched down and made she he was at the child's level. He gripped her shoulders as she looked around with worry.

"Peregrine... I need you to be brave and do something for me." he whispered quietly and the girl looked at him then nodded. "Good girl... I need to go back and get Beta... do you see Bumblebee over there?" he asked and pointed. Her eyes lit up and she looked towards her uncle then smiled brightly. "Go to him and tell him where Miko is... then lead him here." he whispered. She nodded and he let her go before he took off again. He wouldn't fail Beta.

~

Some cops ran towards the house to contain the others and Heatwave followed them, knowing he had to get to his mother.  He couldn't let her get hurt again. They rushed inside and searched the house for the captive but found no one. Heatwave found the room and stared blankly. He knew she had been here and he looked around more before he realized she was gone. His heart filled with dread as fear and anger gripped him.

"No!" He screamed and fell to his knees as tears threatened him. "No!" He yelled angrily. His mother was gone and with Tarn. He had just gotten her back and she was ripped away. He cried out again as he realized he'd never see her again.