The night was silent after the men left and Vos grumbled as he stayed on the couch and pouted a bit, not wanting to stay there. Nickel had cleaned up her mess and stood by the stairs as she stared blankly. She got the food and went to give it to the prisoners as she thought. She went to the boy's room first and quietly opened the door, he was hiding in the corner as he stared at her with fear. She sat a few feet away and shushed him as she held out the food.

"It's okay... I won't hurt you." she promised and worked on gaining his trust by eating a little of the food. "It's good." she smiled and he slowly inched closer. He sat by her and quietly ate the food as he glanced around.

"I want my... daddy..." he whispered and shook a little more as he ate, she noticed he still had his backpack from school. He had a police beanie on his head now and his pack was open. She figured his dad was a cop. The beanie just had the police departments logo on it. 

"Well... your dad is... Tesarus." she said and knew his adopted father would probably be furious when he found out the boy was gone. "I mean he's your real dad so...." she trailed off and thought about what she found out.

"He's not my dad." the child said bravely and with as much defiance as he could muster. "Ultra Magnus is my dad... he will always be my dad." He choked as tears filled his eyes. "Because I love him... and he saved me... because he loves me." He whispered quietly. Nickel stared at him as he cried quietly and sniffed. She knew the said cop was dead. Starscream bragged about it for a long time. As if killing him was a great accomplishment, similar to Optimus being killed by Megatron. Though that didn't turn out as planned. She thought for a moment and hesitantly put an arm around him. He tensed then hugged her as he sobbed quietly.

"I wa... want to be like him... like... my big brother and sister... they're like him...." he whispered.

"I'm sure you will.... and he'll be so proud of you." She said as she smiled a little at him. He nodded and looked at her as he calmed down. He sat back and quietly ate the food she had brought up. She waited for a moment then stood and left the room, locking the door behind her.

The house was silent as she stood there and she quietly went to give the other two girls some food. Nickel entered the room to see the teen laying in bed unconscious still, while the child hugged her as she sniffed sadly. The little girl saw her and stood up as she glared darkly and put her hands on her little hips.

"Big meanies!" She cried and stomped her foot. "Let us go or... um... I'll scream." She huffed as she stood taller and puffed out her chest.

"Ya okay you do that. I'll just leave and take your food." Nickel said seriously. Peregrine hesitated and sat on the floor as she hugged herself. She thought for a moment as the young girl set their food down. She then gave her food and worked on waking Miko.

"No stop!" the child cried and hugged the sleeping teen. "Don't hurt her." she whispered and Nickel sighed before going to get Pet, but then realized he wasn't here anymore. She grumbled and looked at the girl. 

"Finish eating. I won't hurt her." she said seriously and the child nodded then quietly ate her food as she watched her. Nickel went back to Miko and brought smelling salts from her pocket. She worked on waking her so she would eat.

The Asian teen opened her eyes and looked at her for a brief moment, before she shoved her off. With a wild cry she jumped out of bed and tackled Nickel then started choking her. Nickel was surprised by this and quickly kicked her away as the child hid. Miko wasn't done and tackled her again then hit her a few times.

"Vos!" Nickel screamed as she caught the girls hands and kicked her away again. "Vos!" She cried out and the man came into the room. He glared at Miko then smacked her before choking her. The girl kicked and screamed as she flailed and worked on scratching at his face. 

"She's a dragon child! I like you." he smiled crazily as he choked her and pressed his hands into her neck, pinning her to the ground as she kept scratching at him. She started to slow as she gasped for air and started to black out.

Peregrine cried out as she watched the man then looked around. She jumped on the bed and grabbed the closest thing she could find, a pillow. She didn't know what to do but remembered something she did to her dad. She saw they were just below her and she dropped the pillow on the villains head before jumping and landing on him.

"Ow!" He cried out as he went down and let go of the teen. Miko rolled to her side and coughed as she tried to breathe. Peregrine was still sitting on the mans head with the pillow under her and she looked over to her cousin.

"You okay?" she asked and the other girl just nodded as Nickel got up and brushed herself off, Vos was still under the pillow with the child sitting on top. He grumbled and got up, making the child scream in surprise as she fell off. 

"You'll pay little brat." he sneered and reached out to grab her. Despite Miko being weak and winded, she kicked the man hard in the stomach and then the nose. Peri wanted to be brave like her family and bit the mans hand as hard as she could. He cried out and threw her at Miko then got up and growled. The teen held the little one close and glared at the man as he held his bleeding hand. Peregrine spit out the taste of blood and made a disgusted face.

"I'm going to kill you both." The man spat and left the room as he stormed off to get something. Peri whimpered and hugged Miko close then buried her face in her. Nickel frowned and left the room then closed the door and locked it.

"Vos, you can't kill the prisoners. Tarn needs them still." she said as she followed him. "He'll be furious if you end his bargaining chips." she tried to reason as he found his gun. "You need to liste-" He whipped around and smacked her hard across the face. She cried out as her head turned and he glared darkly. 

"Shut up little imp." he spat. "You think you're so special because Tarn has a soft spot for you. It's your fault we had to leave our headquarters. Just shut up and know your place." he seethed and walked off to the kitchen to eat.

Nickel watched him go and stared blankly then went to give Beta her food. She entered the room as she shook a little. She stopped when she saw the woman in bed, she had her hands tied to a bed post and her ankles tied to the posts at the end. She already had nasty rope burns and she was beaten from the leader. Beta opened her eyes weakly and looked at her. She smiled kindly as dried blood colored her chin and neck.

"Hello... sweetie..." she said kindly as she watched the young woman. Nickel stared and set the food down before untying her hands. "Oh... thank you.... dear...." she rasped as her sore arms were freed. Nickel stared at her scars and felt bad for her. The young woman shook the thought away and carefully helped her sit up then set pillows behind her. Beta thanked her again with a tired smile, making the other girl stop.

"Please... stop thanking me...." Nickel muttered as she started to feel bad about the kind woman's capture. Tarn said she was a monster, but the only indication would be her scars. She seemed to have a kind and gentle soul.

"You're s.... showing... me kindness... where no one else has..." she said and smiled a little to the young woman. Nickel didn't say anything and helped her finish then worked on cleaning the blood off her face. Beta hardly winced as if she was used to the pain, or couldn't feel anything.

"Tarn.... say's.... you were an awful person.... took everything from him." Nickel said as she finished and looked at her again. Beta stared with sadness and emptiness in her eyes.

"Do you believe... everything.... he tell's you?" she asked and looked at the young woman. The other hesitated then looked to the window. 

"I... don't know anymore.... I'm confused more than anything else." she admitted and the older woman watched her then smiled sadly. "Pharma said my father.... is someone named Ironhide... Tarn was so upset with him..." she muttered and Beta's expression became unreadable.

"You shouldn't... be here.... you need... to leave..." she whispered quietly as the young woman started to clean up.

"I have to be here.... this is my home." Nickel said and looked at her. "Besides there isn't anywhere I can go." She muttered. Beta looked at her and gently gripped her arm. They heard the front door open as the men returned.

"You need... to leave." She said seriously. "Megatron... will find me... I know it... and I won't be... able to stop his wrath. I know he's on his way now." She whispered and Nickel's eyes widened in surprise.

Megatron was alive? Another lie her family had told her. Could they even be called her family at this point?