Another chapter! Sorry it took so long! I just got back from North Dakota (I live in Missouri) and the place we stayed at had NO SERVICE. Uh oh. Anyways, enjoy! I'm sorry for making you all wait.

                             *************
Hope's P.O.V

        How did I end up in the desert?
     
          I rubbed my bottom in pain. After being spit out of a portal, I looked around to find myself in what looked to be the Sahara dessert. Great.

             How the heck am I supposed to get out of here? I'm too weak to make another portal and even if I did I would hurt the Autobots from the lack of energon.

            How am I supposed to save my brother now?! By dying in the dessert!? I growled in frustration as tears prickled in my eyes. The anger I was feeling soon overcame my sadness and I forced myself to think.

             Flying is my only option. It's so hot out, my wings will dry soon and I'll fly out. Then I'll somehow find energon and groundbridge myself back to base. Simple.

                Okay, not simple. After two hours of waiting for my wings to dry, it began to get dark, and the air grew cold. It would take even longer for my wings to dry.

            So why not walk?

            Forcing myself to stand, I slowly began to walk across the sand. The sun was still out, but for how long? The Autobots would know I'm missing, and ratchet will just track me down.

               He can just use my energon signal. Optimus explained to me once that as long as I was free from any hidden fields that blocked my energon signature, I would be easy to find.

              That thought stuck in my mind for another hour and as I continued to walk. Suddenly, I felt the presence of energon. My eyesight changed and I longed for the energy source.

            The same thought about my energon signature passed through my mind and I weakly frowned.

            If the Autobots can track my signature, can't the-

             The sound of jet engines cut off my thoughts and I gasped. Decepticons! I have to get out of here. Frantically, I jumped into the air and flew up a hundred feet or so. My wings still being damp was my only problem, and my heavy feathers weighed me down.

                The engine grew closer, and my eyesight never changed. The outline of a large metal being not even five miles away caught my sight.

              "Don't even think about it." I said through clenched teeth." I fought off the urge but to my horror, my body turned and flew clumsily towards the source of energon.

                  My weak body wouldn't allow me to fly any longer, and I began to fall. I caught myself a few feet from the ground and landed softly.

              There was the sound of grinding gears and scraping metal. I froze at the sound of Megatrons deep voice.

              "Femme, you have proven difficult to find."

                    ************************
Lockdowns P.O.V

          "Starscream, you test my patience. You have called me here, for what?" I growled out. Starscreams optics gleamed with mischief.

            "I was merely waiting for the right time. Megatron has gone to retrieve Shockwaves creation."

            I began to grow impatient. "Go on and tell me why you insisted on bringing me here?" I motioned towards the vast forest around us.

             "There is nowhere aboard the nemesis where I can plan without that mech Soundwave hearing us." Starscreams spit out frustrated. I nodded in agreement.

            That mech could hear and see everything.

          "So, what do you have planned?" I questioned, my servos holding one of my weapons. Starscreams eyes me nervously.

                  "You are the only one that isn't loyal to Megatron, and I know you do not care for his wellbeing. I am offering you a job-"

                "What's the reward?" I highly doubted starscream could get his servos on anything much to my value. Starscreams faceplate showed me my suspicions were correct.

            "I have nothing now-"

             "You waste my time." I turned to leave.

              "Wait! I have an offer! I plan on offlinkng Megatron once and for all. Then I will be rightful ruler to the Decepticons!" He boasted proudly. His chest plate stuck out and he stood tall.

                "You know I am not interested in your petty war." I snapped.

                 "Once I am the ruler, I will be in charge. Megatron is greedy. I know of several hidden energon mines he keeps for just himself. Once I am ruler, I will set you as second in command, and you will be allowed to do as you please with as much energon as you please."

            I paused mid step. "You have me interested."

            Starscreams grinned. "I know you are the only one strong enough to off line Megatron. I don't agree with the filthy humans involvement with winning this war. Help me use the human to dispose of Megatron and then we will get rid of the human femme. I will rule and you will get what you deserve."

                  I felt a smile inch up on my faceplate. I had no doubt Starscream would fail. But it would be interesting to see how Megatron would react to his attempts and how much reward I would get for turning him in.

             On the other hand, of Starscream did win this war between himself and Megatron, then I will get what is promised to me. A win-win situation. Starscream smiled at me as I stepped forward.

                     "I'm in."

                       ********************
Wheeljacks P.O.V (two hours earlier)

            "And boom goes the land mine." I smirked as the explosion took place behind me. The tenth one in the past two earth hours.

             If this didn't work, I'm not sure what would.

            With a sigh, I went to the channels to contact Megatron. There was a slight buzzing sound before there was a monotone voice that answered my call.

                 "Autobot. Why are you contacting the nemesis?" A vehicon asked.

                "I want to talk to your boss bot."

                There was more silence for a few minutes. Come on, bucket head....

                  "Are you so desperate, Autobot scum, that you think you can demand you talk to me?" Bingo.

              "Not at all, bucket head. I just want you to know I'm sitting on one of your big, juicy energon mines right now."

          As I spoke, I landed in a hidden area behind the mine I already rigged to blow hours earlier. Megatron scoffed.

              "You threaten one of my thousands of energon sources?" I grinned.

              "Sure am."

              "Wheeljack. The one who likes explosive devises." Megatron either just recognized me or read my energon signature. It didn't matter, though. Now I had his attention.

             "What can I say? I like explosions. And right now, I'm itching to know how big this one will be." I pulled out the hand detonator and grinned.

              "What is it you want, Wrecker? Simply put of curiosity. I could care less about your pitiful attempts to slowly end my energon supply."

               My anger boiled and my servos clenched. "I want you to release the human boy, Megatron."

               He chuckled darkly. "You do not know the value of this human, Autobot. What makes you think I will simply give the mech away?"

                   "This."

          I pressed the button on the detonator and the mine exploded. A large, glorious sound that was music to my auto receptors (I think that's what they call ears 😅)

                  "That will not even be a minor setback." Megatron laughed. I grinned, pulling out another detonator.

              "Oh, Megatron, you doubt my skill. That is the eleventh mine I have destroyed. Wondering why your drones aren't reporting back? And guess what? I have forty other mines set with explosives and I can set it all off with the press of my digit."

            There was silence on the other line, and I grinned. Perfect. He was calling my bluff.

                  "You wish for me to release the human to you?" Bucket head scoffed. I nodded my healm.

                "What can I say, bucket head? I come prepared." Megatron hummed to himself and I suddenly felt that something was off.

               "Oh, wrecker, if only you contacted me at a better time. It seems you charges energon signature just came online." I felt my spark drop.

              Hope. She's supposed to be at the base.

            "So sorry, wrecker, but it seems you have a choice to make. Continue with this silly debate or save your pet." He laughed darkly and the line went dead.

                "Scrap!" I slammed my servos on the controls and immediately contacted ratchet.

              "It's about time-"

               "Where is she!?" I cut off the medic. "Where is hope!?"

            "Lower your voice! My audio receptors cAnt take it!" Ratchet shouted back.

             "Ratchet, I am in no mood to argue. Megatron has picked up on hopes energon signature. Now is she with you at the base or not?"

              "You contacted Megatron?" Ratchet didn't seem surprised. I didn't blame him. This is me we are talking about.

              "Of course she is here! She should be in her berth room... " a few seconds passed before he cursed. "SCRAP!"

           "What is it, old friend?" I heard Optimus.

             "Hope left." I growled.

              "She went to the top of the base, I simply thought she was-"

              "You left her alone!? When her brother has been kidnapped and she is unstable?!" I shouted.

              "If you hadn't been a scrap head and left in the first place you could have been here to stop her!" Ratchet bit back.

           I felt a pang of guilt go straight though my spark. Though I knew he was right, I forced myself to spit out, "track her. I'm going after her."

            "You will need help, my friend. Megatrons signal has also gone online." Optimus stated. Scrap.

               "Optimus, you'd better hurry it up and groundbridge over there. I don't know what Hope was thinking, but I know it's not a smart idea."

                         ***********
Hope's P.O.V

          "M-Megatron." I stuttered. The warlord smiled cruelly as he stared down at me.

              "Why are you alone with no Autobots by your side, sparkling?" He taunted. "Are you foolish enough to place yourself out in the open after all this hidding?"

              "You have my brother." I growled angrily. I felt energy course through me. Megatron laughed evilly.

           "Indeed I do. A weak little mech he is. So weak, unable to protect himself-"

                "You hurt him!" I shouted. Electricity shot through my palms and it hit Megatron square in the chest plating. He shook and stumbled backwards.

                "You have grown powerful, femme." He hummed after standing straight again. He didn't even seem fazed.

                  "Give me my brother back!" I shouted.

                  "Hardly an option, child." Megatron grinned and took a step forward. "You are in no condition to demand anything from me."

            I dodged his servo and flew a few feet in the air, landing a few yards away. Megatron growled in annoyance.

              "I'm not going anywhere with you! You cNt take me back there!" I shouted. "Boy unless you give me my brother!"

                "Don't text my patience." Megatrons faceplating went from hundred to angry in a split second. "You will not demand something from me, pet. You belong to me."

            "Fine! If you won't do it, I'll make you do it." I felt more energy surge through me again and I stuck my hand out. My hands shook as well as the rest of my body.

             I craved energon. I needed it.

              Megatron grinned and laughed as I felt a sudden pain in my entire body. I screamed in agony as I sudden realized a tiny little fact.

                I need energon. But something was different about Megatron. There was not energon flowing through him. Dark energon.

               "I can say, you have grown braver than the last time I layer my optics on you, femme. You will soon be fearless and my weapon against the Autobots. I suggest you come with me willingly, or I will hurt you brother." Megatron sneered.

           I whimpered at the pain I still felt course through my body. How am I supposed to get my brother back when Megatron has dark energon glowing through him.

              He had it all planned out. He knew I couldn't control it without getting hurt. I can't touch him, let alone disobey him.

            I can't go with him! I can't betray the Autobots!

               My heart ached. But what about my brother!?

            "Good, femme." Megatrons smile was sinister as he leaned over and picked me up into his servo. I didn't attempt to run or fly away. He had my brother. He could hurt him.

                  "You will be my pet, girl. Soon the Autobots will fall to their knees. I will rule this planet and be the rightful ruler to Cybertron once again!" Megatron laughed.

            Suddenly, a swirling green portal appeared behind him. I squinted to see past Megatron. Then, up above, I heard another engine. I craned my neck and felt tears in my eyes.

               The jackhammer! Wheeljack!

            "Megatron, release the girl!" Optimus stepped out of the groundbridge along with all the other Autobots. Even smokescreen was there, and ready in a fighting stance in the back of the group.

               They all came for me?

                I suddenly felt a large familiar pain in my head. I winced and groaned.

                I'm coming, hope.

            My eyes widened. Wheeljack?! I read his mind again! Being unable to control my mental abilities was hard on me, but now I felt like it was a blessing to hear Wheeljacks voice... or thoughts, should I say.

             "Optimus." Megatron sneered.

                "Release her!"

                 Megatron grinned. "In good time, Optimus, she will not wish to be released." I was thrown into the air. A scream escaped me but I landed inside Megatron last minute as he finished transforming.

              "No! Let me go!" I screamed. Megatron ignored me and shot off into the sky. A few blaster shots were heard and my hopes peeked up.

              "Blasted wrecker." Megatron cursed as he dodged multiple shots from the jackhammer. My thoughts swam around in my mind and my head pounded.

               I don't want to do anything for the Decepticons, but they have Ryan! What am I going to do...?

              A groundbridge appeared ahead of Megatron, and I screamed as we entered. I knew that if we entered, I may never come back. My head pounded harder and I heard Wheeljacks thoughts one last time as we left the Autobots behind.

               I'll find you.

            For once, I doubted my guardian.

                      ***************
Finally! another chapter complete! Sorry guys! I have seven books I'm working on right now. This one, my other book on wattpad "forever and always", two on my phones notes and two on google docs.

My writing can get out of hand sometimes... 😅

Anyways, hope this was a good chapter and worth the wait. Just letting you all know, there will not be a sequel after this book. This one is coming to a close pretty soon since I'm almost done, and then I will begin on another transformer fan fiction I'm working on.

Love you all! Please vote! A round of applause to fangdove101 for being the BEST READER EVER and voting on all of my chapters!

Thank you readers, and I apologize for my mistakes in grammar and other plot holes.

Bye! Until the next update!