Chapter 1: Chapter 1 – The Voice in the Dark
Chapter Text
Chapter 1 – The Voice in the Dark
The night was quiet, apart from the deep hum vibrating through Sam’s skull. It wasn’t a sound in the conventional sense—it was a frequency, resonating through his core as if it was pulsing through his very spark.
He had ignored it for two nights. Two long nights of lying awake in bed, trying not to react. But the hum didn’t stop. It wasn’t aggressive, not panicked—but it was unmistakably a call for help.
Sam rolled onto his side, pulled the hood of his sweater deeper over his face, and pressed his hands against his ears. "Damn it… just stop…" he muttered tiredly, but the frequency continued to seep through every fiber of his being.
He didn’t know exactly who or what was calling him. But he knew one thing:
It wasn’t human.
And he was the only one who could hear it.
On the third night, he gave in.
With a tired sigh, he sat up, pulled on his black hoodie, and wrapped his scarf over his mouth.
"This is a damn stupid idea…" he mumbled.
But it wouldn’t be the first time he’d done something stupid.
Sam’s feet barely touched the asphalt before he moved into the void again. Teleportation was a delicate game of calculation and instinct. Too far, and he risked materializing inside a wall. Too close, and he’d be spotted.
He emerged in a forest clearing a few kilometers from his destination—a classified government facility buried deep underground.
"Great… Government Lab Number 372. As subtle as ever." he muttered.
His eyes scanned the area. From the outside, the facility looked like a simple storage complex, well-hidden in the dense forest. But Sam knew better. The real structure lay beneath.
He teleported onto the roof of the main building, crouching in the shadows as he observed the guards. At least four soldiers on the upper platform, plus movement on the sides.
Silently, he counted down in his head.
Three… two… one.
A brief power outage flickered through the security systems, killing the cameras for exactly four seconds. Just enough time.
In a single motion, he teleported into an upper ventilation shaft, slipping inside the building.
He moved through the narrow corridors, keeping his breathing shallow. The entire facility was unnervingly silent. No voices, only the hum of machinery.
And beneath it… the frequency.
It was louder here. More intense.
Sam followed the sound, his pulse steady, until he stood before a massive steel door. He placed a hand on the cold metal and closed his eyes for a moment.
Energy pulsed behind it.
Something… big.
With a sharp click, the door unlocked, and Sam stepped into a vast underground chamber.
The walls were lined with reinforced steel, heavy machinery and monitoring consoles scattered across the space. But at the center of it all was the thing that had stolen his sleep.
A massive Transformer, chained to the wall. His body was damaged, armor covered in deep gashes and scorch marks. A freezing containment beam kept him immobilized. His red optics flickered as he noticed Sam.
"The soldiers keep getting younger…" he rumbled dryly. "What’s next, sending babies?"
Sam ignored the comment, his gaze sweeping over the captured giant. Ironhide let out a metallic grinding noise, a frustrated sound that triggered something in Sam—a reaction he couldn’t suppress. Before he could stop himself, a soft chirp escaped him.
Ironhide froze.
"Do that again." he demanded.
Sam crossed his arms. "No."
Ironhide studied him for a long moment. "You’re not a soldier."
"Congratulations. You’re a real detective." Sam muttered, turning his attention to the freezing beam’s control panel.
Ironhide watched in silence as Sam deactivated the machine. With a soft hiss, the beam shut down. The Transformer stirred, servos grinding as he regained movement.
"How do you know how to do that?"
Sam looked down, avoiding his gaze. Then, he pointed first at Ironhide, then at his own chest.
Ironhide let out a deep rumble. "You heard me."
Sam shrugged. "And you were annoying. So let’s end this."
Sam inspected the chains. "I can’t reach them. I need to climb up on you."
Ironhide pulled a face. "You want to climb on me?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
With a low growl, Ironhide relented. Sam carefully climbed onto him, his fingers finding grip between the metal plates. Just as he reached the final chain, the door was kicked open.
"TARGET LOCKED! OPEN FIRE!"
Sam cursed, yanking the chain loose. Ironhide tried to move, but his systems were still sluggish. Sam felt the air shift as the soldiers fired.
"Time to go." he muttered, activating his powers.
The world twisted around them—he teleported Ironhide with him, but the Transformer was heavier than expected. The pressure on Sam’s body was immense.
A second later, they reappeared—
Right in the middle of an ice-cold lake.
Ironhide sank instantly. Sam surfaced, coughing.
"Are you serious?!" Ironhide roared, struggling to pull himself out of the water.
Sam huffed. "You should be glad we didn’t end up in a volcano."
Ironhide grabbed him with one hand, lifting him out of the water with a thoughtful look. "I like you, kid."
"Yeah, good for you. I don’t like you tin cans." Sam grumbled, rubbing his arms.
Ironhide smirked. "You’ll change your mind."
"Not in this lifetime." Sam muttered.
Ironhide attempted to shift into his alt mode, but his body stuttered, systems failing.
"Damn it… I’m still too damaged
Chapter 2: Chapter 2 – A Spark Out of Control
Summary:
Sam’s eyes widened as an electric impulse shot through his body.
Bright light crackled around his fingertips, arcs of energy jumping from his skin onto Ironhide’s chassis.
The Transformer stiffened in surprise as his systems were unexpectedly flooded with power.
Chapter Text
Chapter 2 – A Spark Out of Control
Sam shivered from the cold as he stepped onto the soaked ground. Ironhide sat heavily beside him, still unable to shift into his alt-mode. Water dripped from his damaged chassis as he watched the boy rub his arms, teeth clenched against the chill.
"Okay, listen," Sam began, his voice frosty. "I want to go home. To my warm bed. I have no idea why I put myself through this, but you're free now. I can't carry you. So… transform. Or do whatever it is you do."
Ironhide rumbled in amusement. "I would if my damn systems were working."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Of course. Why would anything be easy?"
Reluctantly, he stepped closer, inspecting the damage. Dents, deep scratches, fractures in the plating—it didn’t look good. His fingers twitched slightly, his powers humming just beneath the surface, waiting to be used. Maybe… maybe he could restart the damaged systems with a controlled burst of electricity?
"No idea if this will help, but…" Sam muttered, cautiously placing a hand on Ironhide’s shoulder.
A faint tingling ran through his arm, a whisper of energy flowing into the metal—but it wasn’t enough.
"No reaction?" Ironhide asked.
Sam sighed. "Nothing."
Ironhide chuckled softly. "Looks like you’re stuck with me for a while, kid."
Sam groaned. "Great."
As Sam continued to search for a solution, Ironhide began producing a low, rhythmic hum. It was almost unconscious, a vibration that pulsed through the cool morning air.
Sam’s shoulders twitched slightly. His body responded even if his mind resisted. A quiet, instinctive chirp escaped him—barely more than a breath.
Ironhide grinned. "Interesting."
Sam narrowed his eyes. "Stop that."
Ironhide hummed deeper, his tone playful.
Sam bit his lip, fighting against the involuntary reaction. But his spark responded on its own, and another quiet, irritated chirp escaped him.
Ironhide laughed. "Sounds like you're complaining."
"I am complaining!" Sam snapped. "Stop making noises!"
Ironhide ignored him, releasing another deep, vibrating sound.
Sam cursed, pressing his hands over his ears, but it was useless. His body reacted instinctively, another short, uncontrolled chirp slipping out.
Ironhide’s grin widened. "See? You can't suppress it."
"Go. To. Hell." Sam growled.
As the first rays of morning light crept over the horizon, Sam's patience finally snapped. Exhausted, soaked, and frustrated, he raised his fist—and without much thought, slammed it against Ironhide’s chest plate.
"Dammit, why does nothing work?!"
But the moment his hand touched the metal, everything changed.
Sam’s eyes widened as an electric impulse shot through his body. Bright light crackled around his fingertips, arcs of energy jumping from his skin onto Ironhide’s chassis. The Transformer stiffened in surprise as his systems were unexpectedly flooded with power.
"Kid… that’s not you, is it?" Ironhide’s voice sounded unusually serious.
"I—I'm not doing anything!" Sam gasped in panic.
But the electricity only grew stronger.
Sam’s chest tightened, his skin felt too tight, as if he were about to burst. The light became blinding, every sensation amplified—sounds, touch, the cold air. Everything was too much.
"Stop, stop!" he cried, but Ironhide did nothing. He could do nothing.
Then, with a desperate, broken sound, the light exploded.
A wave of raw energy surged from Sam’s hand, a blinding flash that struck Ironhide’s chest plate with a deep, metallic boom.
Sam felt the strength drain from him, his body suddenly weak and heavy. The world tilted, his head fell back, voices around him faded into a muffled haze.
Then everything went black.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3 – Trapped in Darkness
Summary:
But then… there was another sound.
A strange spark, one that wasn’t made of metal. A frequency that felt different from anything he had ever known. An echo that reached someone three states away—someone he didn’t know.
Chapter Text
Chapter 3 – Trapped in Darkness
Imprisoned. Chained. Humiliated.
Ironhide had been in countless dangerous situations before—fighting battles, surviving explosions. But nothing compared to this. Here, he was immobilized, shackled like an object, his systems locked down by freezing beams. The pain wasn’t the problem—he’d endured far worse. But the helplessness…
That was what drove him mad.
He had called for his team. Over and over again. But nothing.
No response signal. No transmission. Nothing.
Somewhere deep inside, a fear began to grow—the fear that they couldn’t hear him. That, to them, he was already dead.
But then… there was another sound.
A strange spark, one that wasn’t made of metal. A frequency that felt different from anything he had ever known. An echo that reached someone three states away—someone he didn’t know.
But someone who heard him.
And suddenly, three nights later, the door opened.
Ironhide expected a soldier, maybe a technician.
But instead, a cloaked figure entered. Dressed in black, most of their face hidden behind a scarf. But this wasn’t a warrior—Irohide could tell immediately. Their movements were too fluid, too light to be a threat.
A human.
Ironhide let out a deep, annoyed rumble. "The soldiers keep getting younger… soon, they’ll be sending babies."
He expected a reaction—maybe fear, maybe anger. But the figure froze.
Then—barely audible—a sound. High-pitched, soft, almost instinctual.
A chirp.
Ironhide was stunned. A pure, uncontrolled signal, on a frequency he only associated with Cybertronians.
"Do that again," he demanded.
"No," came the curt reply.
Interesting.
His optics followed the human as they approached the console. Fingers moved swiftly over the controls, and within seconds, the freezing beam deactivated. He felt his systems slowly begin to loosen. But he was still bound.
"How do you know how to do that?" he asked.
The human hesitated, avoiding his gaze. Then, they pointed—first at Ironhide, then at their own chest.
Ironhide rumbled thoughtfully. "You heard me."
Ironhide couldn’t help but smirk.
This kid—and he was certain it was a kid—had teleported into a government facility just to free him. And now, he wanted to disappear again?
"I need your permission to climb up," the kid finally said.
Ironhide blinked. "You want to climb on me?"
"Got a better idea?"
With a suppressed growl, he relented. The kid climbed up with surprising agility, movements quick and efficient. Just as he reached the final chain, the door burst open.
"TARGET LOCKED! FIRE!"
Ironhide knew what would happen even before the first shot rang out. His body wasn’t ready to fight, so he did the only thing he could—he grabbed the kid, shielding him with his body.
He felt a strange distortion in the air. A sudden pull, a force that wasn’t mechanical.
And then, suddenly, they were gone—ripped from the facility, only to land in ice-cold water.
"Are you kidding me?!" Ironhide roared as he surfaced.
The kid coughed and flailed in the water. "…Rescue missions aren’t exactly my thing…"
Ironhide grabbed him with one hand, pulling him out of the water. His system was damaged, he couldn’t transform, but he was amused.
"I like you, kid."
"Yeah, good for you. I don’t like you tin cans."
Ironhide grinned. "You’ll change your mind."
"Not in this lifetime."
Ironhide attempted to activate his alt-mode, but nothing happened. "Damn it… my systems are still down."
Sam grew more frustrated by the second. Finally, he slammed his fist against Ironhide’s chest plate.
"Damn it, why does nothing work?!"
And then the light exploded.
Ironhide froze as the kid was suddenly enveloped in electricity. Energy surged from his hands, pouring into Ironhide’s body in a brilliant flash.
"Kid… that’s not you, is it?"
"I—I’m not doing anything!" Sam gasped.
But the electricity only intensified.
Sam’s chest tightened, his skin burned as if he were about to burst. The light became blinding, every sensation amplifying—sounds, touch, the cold air. Everything was too much.
"Stop, stop!" he cried, but Ironhide did nothing. He couldn’t do anything.
Then, with a desperate, broken sound, the energy erupted.
A wave of raw power shot from Sam’s hand, a blinding force that struck Ironhide’s chest plate with a deep, metallic boom.
Ironhide was thrown back—but something was different. His damaged systems began to reboot. He could feel his internal structure repairing itself, circuits reconnecting. His body moved on its own—and suddenly, Sam found himself sitting in the passenger seat of a matte-black armored vehicle.
Ironhide ran a diagnostic check. "Ha! You fixed me!"
Sam, still unconscious, didn’t respond.
Ironhide activated his comm-link. "Optimus? This is Ironhide. I’m out."
"Ironhide?!" came the stunned reply. "We thought you were still captured!"
"Long story. But I’ve got a passenger."
He sent a recording of the chirp.
Silence. Then Optimus: "Ironhide… that was a nestling call."
Ratchet sounded confused. "But… he’s human."
Ironhide chuckled. "Maybe not entirely."
Behind him, Sam groaned, clutching his head. "Can you all stop shouting?!"
Ironhide looked around.
No one had spoken.
"Oh boy… this is going to be interesting."
Chapter 4: Chapter 4 – Loss of Control
Summary:
A faint crackle filled the air. Electricity gathered at his fingertips. The dashboard flickered, sensors malfunctioned.
Ironhide cursed. "Damn it, kid! Calm down before you send me off the road!"
But Sam had only one goal—escape. And if that meant tearing the car apart, then so be it.
Chapter Text
Chapter 4 – Loss of Control
Sam slowly regained consciousness. His head throbbed, his muscles felt heavy, and something was terribly wrong.
He blinked groggily, trying to get his bearings—only to realize with a sudden jolt that he was no longer outside. No. He was sitting in a car. A moving car. With no driver.
Panic shot through his body as he abruptly sat up. The seats were too high-end for just any cheap vehicle, the dashboard too advanced. This wasn’t a normal car.
"Nice to see you back among the living, princess."
Sam whipped around. The voice came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "What the… Who…?!"
"Well, if you hadn’t thrown such a dramatic fit, you wouldn’t have passed out. And now I’m stuck here with you."
Sam recognized the tone—Ironhide. He was no longer in his robot form. "Wait… you’re… the car?!"
An amused rumble echoed through the speakers. "Sharp one, aren’t you? Took you long enough."
Sam ran a hand over his face. "This can’t be real."
At that moment, his stomach growled loudly.
Ironhide let out a disapproving grunt. "Again with the problems? I swear, you humans are high maintenance."
Sam crossed his arms. "Sorry I don’t run on motor oil."
"We can’t stop now, but once we get to the base, you’ll get something to eat. Think you can survive until then?"
Sam scoffed, ready to argue—but then, unconsciously, he let out a soft chirp. Quiet, almost pitiful. Hunger and discomfort laced in the sound.
Ironhide went completely silent.
"…You did it again."
Sam froze. He hadn’t meant to. It had just… happened. His body reacted on its own, betraying him.
Then the realization hit him.
"The base…," he muttered. "You’re taking me to the base."
Ironhide hesitated. "Yeah. And?"
"No." Sam grabbed the door handle. But it wouldn’t open. He yanked at it again, but nothing moved. "Open the door."
Ironhide remained calm. "Can’t do that, kid. You’re not stable. We’re taking you somewhere safe where you can get help."
"I don’t want your help!" Sam snapped, pulling harder on the door. His heart pounded, his breathing quickened. He couldn't go there. He couldn’t stay with them.
"Kid, calm down." Ironhide’s voice grew serious. "No one’s gonna hurt you."
But Sam wasn’t listening anymore. Adrenaline surged through his body. Fear. Panic. The thought of being trapped burned through his nerves.
Then his powers responded.
A faint crackle filled the air. Electricity gathered at his fingertips. The dashboard flickered, sensors malfunctioned.
Ironhide cursed. "Damn it, kid! Calm down before you send me off the road!"
But Sam had only one goal—escape. And if that meant tearing the car apart, then so be it.
Ironhide felt it first—a strange flicker, an electrical surge that ran through his systems. Then the displays went haywire. His sensors gave conflicting signals, his navigation failed, and suddenly, he couldn't maintain control.
"Kid, stop that right now!" he growled, but it was too late.
A massive energy pulse surged through his entire frame, forcing his systems into emergency mode. At full speed, he lost control of his transformation.
With a metallic crash, his exterior structure folded, wheels turning into limbs, chassis shifting apart—and then, he was back in his robot form.
The impact was brutal.
The momentum sent Ironhide skidding backward, his massive frame tearing into the asphalt as he tumbled with thunderous force. But his focus wasn’t on himself—it was on Sam.
Without the car’s protective structure, Sam was thrown forward at full speed.
"Damn it!" Ironhide roared.
The boy hit the ground hard, rolling multiple times before finally coming to a stop. Dust and debris clouded the air, and for a moment, there was silence.
Then, Sam moved.
Slowly, gasping, he pushed himself up. Ironhide spotted the bruises already forming on his skin, the way he slightly favored one leg as if it hurt. But he didn’t seem to care. Instead, he lifted his head—and grinned.
Ironhide growled. "Are you out of your damn mind?!"
Sam shrugged. "It worked, didn’t it?"
Ironhide stomped toward him. "You could’ve snapped your neck, you complete lunatic!"
But Sam immediately stepped back. His fingers twitched, muscles tensed. Ironhide recognized the signs—the boy wasn’t planning on staying.
"Not so fast, kid."
Sam raised his hands, ready to teleport.
Ironhide lunged forward, trying to grab him—but before he could reach, an invisible force spread out.
A shimmering energy field.
Ironhide slammed into it like a solid wall. The energy pulsed between them, vibrating through the air—a barrier of pure power. He tried to push through, but it was like being held back by an overwhelming tide.
Sam gasped, his expression firm. "I’m not going with you."
"Kid, you have no idea what’s out there waiting for you!" Ironhide called out. "We can protect you!"
The energy field glowed brighter.
Ironhide realized he had no chance of breaking through. His servos groaned as he tried one last time—until he saw it.
Sam’s body started to flicker. The air around him distorted. The energy inside him swirled, ready to tear him away.
Ironhide bellowed, "Damn it, kid, stop!"
But it was too late.
With a final, blinding flash, Sam vanished.
The energy field collapsed into nothingness.
Left behind, Ironhide clenched his fists, staring into the empty night as the dust slowly settled.
"Stubborn little bastard…"
Chapter 5: Chapter 5 – A Trail in the Dark
Summary:
Ratchet turned to the rest of the Autobots, then looked at Optimus. "The energy signature… it matches a frequency we all recognize."
"Which one?" Optimus asked, his expression unreadable.
Ratchet glanced around the room before finally saying it. "The AllSpark."
Chapter Text
Chapter 5 – A Trail in the Dark
Ironhide still stood on the empty road, fists clenched, as the last spark of Sam’s teleportatio
He growled in frustration and slammed his fist into a nearby tree. The massive trunk groaned, splintered, and crashed to the ground with a dull thud. He took a deep breath, his servos whirring softly as he tried to steady himself.
But the anger remained.
With heavy steps, he trudged in the direction where Sam had vanished. Chasing him now was pointless—the kid could teleport anywhere. But maybe… maybe he’d left something behind.
Then he saw it.
Dangling from a low-hanging branch, barely visible in the dim light, was a soaked, dark hoodie.
Ironhide stopped, staring at the piece of clothing. Droplets still dripped from the fabric, likely from the fall into the lake. Sam must have taken it off before he ran.
Slowly, Ironhide reached out, brushing his fingers against the fabric.
A faint, barely noticeable shock pulsed through his circuits.
Ironhide froze, then pulled his hand back slightly. "Well, now…"
That wasn’t normal static electricity. It was Sam’s energy—a weak remnant of it still clinging to the fibers. Even after vanishing, he left traces.
A slow grin spread across Ironhide’s face. "Clever little punk…"
He picked up the hoodie, holding it carefully between two fingers, studying it for a moment before tucking it into one of his compartments. Now, at least, they had something to work with.
Maybe, with Ratchet’s scanner technology, they could figure out what kind of power the kid really had.
And if they were lucky…
A DNA test might just tell them who he really was.
The Autobot base was silent in the night, only the faint hum of security systems breaking the stillness. But as the main doors opened and Ironhide stomped inside, chaos erupted.
The other Autobots immediately gathered around. Curious optics locked onto him, voices overlapping.
"Ironhide! You made it back!"
"Where were you being held? How did you escape?"
"Optimus said you had someone with you—where is he?"
Ironhide growled, raising a hand. "One at a time!" he barked, and silence fell instantly. He didn’t have the patience for small talk right now.
Optimus stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Ironhide, what happened?"
Without a word, Ironhide reached into one of his compartments and pulled out the still-damp hoodie. He tossed it to Ratchet, who barely caught it in time.
"Scan the damn thing, Ratchet. I want answers."
Ratchet frowned, holding up the garment and running his scanner over it. His expression remained neutral at first—but then, his optics widened slightly.
"Interesting…" he muttered.
Ironhide clenched his fists. "What?"
Ratchet sighed. "Well, I can’t tell you who he is. The DNA traces are fragmented. Either he deliberately altered them, or his abilities interfere with data collection. But…"
"But what?" Ironhide pushed.
Ratchet turned to the rest of the Autobots, then looked at Optimus. "His energy signature… it matches a frequency we all recognize."
"Which one?" Optimus asked, his expression unreadable.
Ratchet glanced around the room before finally saying it. "The AllSpark."
A heavy silence fell over the base.
Ironhide froze, then slammed a massive fist against one of the control monitors. The screen shattered under the impact.
"You’re telling me that kid is a walking AllSpark?!"
Ratchet raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Not exactly. But his energy is similar. It follows the same frequency, the same pattern—like a remnant of something greater."
Optimus’ expression darkened. "If that’s true… then he’s in great danger."
Bumblebee stepped forward. "So he has a connection to the AllSpark? That might explain his powers."
Ironhide snorted. "And it explains why the government wants to get their hands on him. If they have even the slightest clue about what’s inside that kid, they won’t stop hunting him."
Ratchet nodded. "The problem is, we don’t have any leads on his identity. But with the right tracking, we might still be able to find him. His energy signature isn’t easy to hide. If he uses his powers again, we could locate him."
Ironhide crossed his arms. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Optimus stepped forward. "We’ll assemble a search team. But we need someone who knows how to operate in the human world."
Ironhide let out a long sigh. "I know just the guy."
He reached for his comm device, opening a secure channel. Within seconds, a familiar voice responded.
"Lennox here. Who is this?"
"It’s me, Ironhide. I need your help."
A brief pause. Then, a serious tone. "What’s going on?"
Ironhide hesitated for a moment. "We have a problem. A kid with powers we can’t explain. And he’s missing. I need to find him before the wrong people do."
Lennox immediately sounded alert. "I’m in. Where do we start?"
Ironhide smirked slightly. "That’s the problem. We have no idea."
Lennox let out a dry chuckle. "Great. Guess we better start tracking."
Chapter 6: Chapter 6 – An Unwanted Connection
Summary:
This time, it was clearer.
It wasn’t a typical Autobot frequency. It was too high, too pure, too… young.
His spark stuttered.
That didn’t come from a bot.
That came from a Nestling.
From him
Chapter Text
Chapter 6 – An Unwanted Connection
While the Autobots, with William Lennox's help, did everything they could to track down their little Spark, the very one they were searching for had finally found a moment of peace.
After escaping, fighting, and exhausting his powers, Sam had made it back to his own bed safely. For the first time in days, he was able to sleep.
And he slept deeply. For two whole days.
When he finally woke up, he still felt tired, but at least not completely drained. His muscles were stiff, his body heavy, but the worst had passed. With a groggy groan, he untangled himself from the warm blankets and slowly sat up.
Something was off.
There was a dull sensation in his head, a faint echo that didn’t come from his own mind. Sam blinked sluggishly, frowning. What… is that? It didn’t feel like his own thoughts. It was… foreign. Metallic. Deeper than his own voice, almost like a distant hum resonating in his consciousness.
Then it hit him.
Damn. The connection.
His body hadn’t been fully under control when he had accidentally struck Ironhide with his uncontrolled energy. He must have created an unintended resonance with the Transformer. Sam’s heartbeat picked up. He could suppress his energy signature so Ironhide couldn’t track him directly—but the mental link? He had no idea how to stop that.
Panic rose in his chest. He couldn’t send anything. He had to ignore the connection. Sam focused on closing off his thoughts, pushing his inner chaos into the background. As long as he remained silent, Ironhide might not notice anything.
It worked. For a while.
Then, Sam tried to stand up.
A sharp pain shot through his leg the moment he put weight on it. He lost his balance and collapsed back onto the bed with a startled gasp.
The problem?
The sound he let out wasn’t human.
A deep, Cybertronian pain signal slipped through the connection. A frequency that any Transformer would recognize instantly.
Sam froze. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Shit!
He bit his lip, breathing shallowly. Maybe he didn’t hear it. Maybe the connection wasn’t strong enough. Maybe…
A faint, clearly irritated hum vibrated through his thoughts.
Sam groaned internally. So much for good luck.
Ironhide sat with his arms crossed in front of the holo-table at the Autobot base, his expression grim. Various data streams, maps, and potential leads on the missing boy’s whereabouts were scattered across the holographic display. Lennox stood beside him, sifting through a stack of reports while the other Autobots focused on different search methods.
"We need to be faster," Ironhide grumbled, scanning over the footage from a traffic surveillance camera they had acquired through human contacts. "If he’s injured, he can’t have gone far."
Lennox sighed, flipping through another report. "We’ve checked military protocols—no unusual energy spikes, no suspicious sightings. Either he’s damn good at hiding, or…"
"Or he doesn’t want to be found," Ironhide finished with a growl. His spark twisted uncomfortably at the thought that the kid might be actively avoiding them. Why? We’re trying to help him, damn it!
Before Lennox could respond, two all-too-familiar voices interrupted the tense atmosphere.
The twins, Skids and Mudflap, had been more than a distraction in the last few hours. They were a nuisance. Ever since they learned about the boy’s existence, they had been obsessed with finding out more.
"Ironhide! Come on, tell us!" Skids whined, poking him in the arm.
"Yeah, man! We got so many questions!" Mudflap added, bouncing around excitedly.
Ironhide ignored them.
That only made them more persistent.
"What does he look like? Does he have weapons? Can he fly? Is he a superhero? Is he gonna be an Autobot?"
Ironhide growled, but they kept going.
"Does he have laser hands? Can he walk through walls?"
"Or better yet—CAN HE TIME TRAVEL?!"
Ironhide was about to lose his patience. "Shut. Up."
But they didn’t.
Then—suddenly—the connection in his mind vibrated.
A cry of pain.
Ironhide froze.
His gaze sharpened as he glared at the twins. Then he growled, "Okay, you two have gone too far! This connection isn’t a damn joke to get attention!"
The twins stopped, exchanging confused glances.
"Uh… we didn’t do anything?"
Ironhide blinked. "What?"
Skids raised his hands innocently. "Wasn’t us, man."
Mudflap nodded quickly. "For real! We were just asking about laser hands!"
Ironhide’s frown deepened. If it wasn’t them…
His optics narrowed. He focused on the connection, ready to yell at whoever had sent the signal—but then, another sound came through.
This time, it was clearer.
It wasn’t a typical Autobot frequency. It was too high, too pure, too… young.
His spark stuttered.
That didn’t come from a bot.
That came from a Nestling.
From him.
"Damn," Ironhide muttered, standing up abruptly. His optics flared as he scanned the room. This search had just taken a whole new turn.
"I’ve got him."
Ironhide stood still, entirely focused on the connection that had just existed moments ago. The pain signal he had received had been unmistakable—the kid was injured.
But now? Nothing.
He tried again to reach out.
"Kid? Can you hear me?"
Silence.
"Answer me, boy. I know you’re there."
Nothing.
Ironhide clenched his jaw. "Damn it, you can’t just block me out!"
He pushed harder, more directly.
But there was no response. No echo. No trace of him.
"DAMN IT!" he snarled, slamming his fist into the nearest metal crate. The container crumpled instantly under the force.
Skids and Mudflap, still nearby, quietly took a few steps back. Even they knew Ironhide was not in the mood for their antics.
Lennox approached cautiously, brow furrowed. "Did you reach him?"
Ironhide shook his head. "No. Either the connection is broken, or he’s shutting me out on purpose."
Lennox swore under his breath. "Then we need another way to track him down."
Minutes later, Ironhide, Ratchet, and Optimus gathered in the medical bay of the base. Ratchet ran scans over Ironhide’s systems while Optimus observed with arms crossed.
"So?" Ironhide asked impatiently. "What did you find?"
Ratchet examined the holo-display with a serious expression. "Interesting… It seems like your connection to him is still there—but it’s blocked or suppressed."
Ironhide grumbled. "Told you."
Optimus pondered for a moment. "Can you determine if the connection is permanent or temporary?"
Ratchet sighed. "I can’t say for sure. But if I had to guess—no, this isn’t a one-time thing. A bond like this doesn’t just vanish. Once it’s established, it stays."
A slow grin spread across Ironhide’s face. "Then I just have to annoy him until he gives up."
Ratchet raised an optic ridge. "Ironhide, you can’t just—"
"Watch me."
Optimus sighed but didn’t stop him. He knew Ironhide well enough to know he’d do it anyway.
For the next several hours, Ironhide used every spare moment to try and reach the boy. Every time he had a break, he sent a message.
"Kid? You still there?"
"Ignoring me won’t work."
"Admit it, you can hear me."
No response. Nothing.
But then, in the middle of the night—just as he was about to try again—the connection vibrated.
A human voice.
"STOP! It hurts!"
Ironhide stiffened.
"YOU’RE ANNOYING! Let me sleep, damn it!"
A slow, wide grin spread across his face.
"Ha. Gotcha."
Chapter 7: Chapter 7 – A Deal
Summary:
"Sam."
"Sam? That’s your name?"
"Yeah."
Ironhide was silent for a moment. "Hmph. I was gonna label you ‘Annoying Spark’ in my database, but Sam works too."
Chapter Text
Chapter 7 – A Deal
Sam had thrown himself back onto his bed after his frustrated response to Ironhide, hoping he’d finally get some peace. And for a while, it worked. The link was inactive—no annoying signals, no rumbling voice in his head. Finally.
He fell asleep.
And then…
"Wake up, kid."
Sam flinched, yanking the blanket over his head and trying to block it out.
"Come on, it’s morning. Time to get up."
Sam groaned into his pillow. "No."
Ironhide wasn’t impressed. "You’ve slept enough."
Sam turned onto his side and mumbled, "Leave me alone."
"Not happening, princess."
Sam buried his face deeper into the pillow. "I hate you."
Ironhide chuckled. "A lot of people say that before they end up loving me."
Sam wanted to snap back, but all that came out was a long, exhausted sigh. His head pounded, his eyes burned, and he felt like he had lost years of energy in just one week. He knew Ironhide wasn’t going to let this go. The bot was as stubborn as a damn rock.
"Okay… okay…" Sam slowly pushed himself up and ran a hand through his hair. "If I answer your questions… will you leave me alone?"
Ironhide snorted. "That’s not how this works, kid."
Sam rubbed his temples. "Please… I’m tired, my head is buzzing, and I can’t even think straight with you constantly pestering me."
Ironhide could hear the exhaustion in Sam’s voice—the weak tremor behind it. The kid was running on empty. And despite his usual pushy nature, Ironhide recognized that he’d been pressing too hard.
"Alright. I promise not to bother you at night anymore. But you’re going to talk to me, understand?"
Sam gave a tired nod. "Fine."
Ironhide rumbled in satisfaction. "Good. Let’s start with the most important question—who are you?"
Sam hesitated. Should he tell him? Honestly, it didn’t matter. Ironhide wouldn’t leave him alone anyway, so he might as well be honest.
"Sam."
"Sam? That’s your name?"
"Yeah."
Ironhide was silent for a moment. "Hmph. I was gonna label you ‘Annoying Spark’ in my database, but Sam works too."
Sam rolled his eyes. "Wow. So creative."
"Or maybe ‘Lightning Pest’?"
"No."
"Mini Shockwave?"
"Absolutely not."
Ironhide chuckled as Sam groaned and dropped his forehead onto his pillow. "If you give me one more stupid nickname, I will launch myself into space."
Ironhide hummed in amusement. "Fine, fine. Sam it is."
Their conversation continued for a while. Sam answered a few harmless questions but avoided talking about his real plans or why he was running from them. Ironhide let it slide for now. The kid was at least talking to him—that was a start.
Eventually, Sam sank deeper into his mattress, his answers becoming shorter, his breathing evening out. Before Ironhide could ask another question, the kid had already fallen asleep again.
Ironhide remained silent for a moment before pulling back from the connection.
He opened his comms and reached out to Lennox and Optimus.
"I got a name."
"You spoke to him?" Optimus’ voice was sharp with interest.
"Yeah. The kid’s name is Sam. Didn’t get much more than that, but it’s a start."
Lennox whistled. "So we finally have a lead."
Ironhide smirked. "Oh yeah. And trust me—we’re going to find him."
Ironhide was pleased. He had finally gotten an answer from Sam. Granted, it was reluctant and full of resistance, but it didn’t matter—it was progress. But it wasn’t enough.
He wanted more.
He wanted to communicate with the boy properly. To hear his Cybertronian side—the chirps, the undeniable proof that Sam was more than just an ordinary human.
So, Ironhide came up with a plan.
At first, he kept things simple, messaging Sam repeatedly throughout the day.
"What are you doing?"
"Where are you?"
"What’s your favorite color?"
"Are you eating enough? Humans are ridiculously fragile."
The replies, if they even came, were short and unimpressed.
"Working."
"None of your business."
"Blue."
"Yes."
Ironhide rolled his optics. This wasn’t getting him anywhere. It was time for phase two.
He decided to confront Sam directly with Autobot sounds—humming, low-frequency signals, all the things that should trigger an instinctive response.
He was hoping to get more chirps out of him.
Sam had been working all day. The past few weeks had already been exhausting, but today? Today was worse. The bar was packed, music pounded through the speakers, people shouted over each other, and the air smelled like spilled alcohol.
He worked as a bartender. A decent job, at least for someone trying to stay under the radar. Here, he could blend in, disappear among the crowd, and no one would question him.
Just as he was pouring a drink for a customer, it happened.
A deep, resonating hum vibrated through his skull.
Not just a sound—it was a frequency, something that hit him directly, something his whole body responded to. He stiffened, the glass tilting slightly as his hand trembled from the shock.
Then, the worst thing happened.
The noise escaped him.
A loud chirp, high-pitched, instinctual, completely uncontrollable. It was a reflex, like his body was reacting to the signal in his head without his permission.
The bar went quiet for a moment.
A few customers who weren’t completely wasted turned to look at him in confusion.
Sam’s face burned with panic. No, no, no! No one was supposed to hear that! What if someone started asking questions? What if someone got suspicious?
He grabbed a towel, fumbled it, yanked off his apron, and muttered to his boss, "I’m not feeling well—I gotta go."
Without waiting for an answer, he bolted out of the bar.
The cool night air did little to calm him down. The sound in his head wasn’t stopping. His body was still reacting. It was like something inside him was being pulled, forced to respond.
He stumbled into a dark alley, chest rising and falling too fast. Then—it happened again. A chirp. High-pitched, desperate, confused. His body was sending signals instinctively, like a Nestling on Cybertron.
His heart pounded. What the hell is this? Why is my body doing this? Why can’t I stop it?
Shaky, he pressed himself against the alley wall, pulling his knees up and trying to control his breathing. Calm down. Calm down.
But deep down, he knew—he was losing control.
Chapter 8: Chapter 8 – The Consequences of a Mistake
Summary:
Ironhide was growing more desperate.
He couldn’t reach Sam anymore, no matter how many times he tried.
The link, which had been so stable before, was now nothing but fear, pain, and distress.
Chapter Text
Chapter 8 – The Consequences of a Mistake
Ironhide was satisfied.
He had done it. He had heard more of Sam’s chirping. It had been intense, instinctive—exactly what he wanted. His plan was a complete success.
“Heh, kid. Knew it. You can’t suppress it.”
He wanted to hear more, to push just a little further—but then he froze.
Something had changed.
The link suddenly vibrated differently. Where there had just been a playful sound, now there was something else.
Something wrong.
A feeling of fear.
Desperation.
Confusion.
Ironhide’s optics widened. “What the…?”
The feeling grew stronger. Sam’s presence in the link was no longer hesitant—it was panicked. Almost as if he were… trapped.
He was afraid.
Ironhide sank heavily onto one knee as the full force of the emotions hit him.
“Oh, damn…”
He had wanted to awaken Sam’s Cybertronian side—but instead, he had driven him into panic. He had made him afraid.
And now, Sam was no longer responding.
The link remained, but it was filled with growing waves of pure desperation.
Ironhide felt like he had just made a massive mistake.
Ironhide was growing more desperate. He couldn’t reach Sam anymore, no matter how many times he tried. The link, which had been so stable before, was now nothing but fear, pain, and distress.
The waves of Sam’s emotions were so intense that they seeped through the connection to the other Autobots. Ironhide could feel himself being affected, and before he could consciously stop it, he had unintentionally transmitted those feelings to his comrades.
The first reaction came from Optimus.
“Ironhide?! What’s going on?”
Ironhide tried to pull himself together, but the panic from the link made him tremble inside.
“It’s not… I… I messed up.”
Without further questions, Optimus stormed to Ironhide’s location. His friend’s call had been desperate, an urgency that Optimus could not ignore. He expected a threat, an enemy that had put his weapons specialist in distress—but when he arrived, he found nothing of the sort.
Ironhide was alone.
No battle, no attack, nothing that could have triggered the alarm. Just Ironhide, kneeling with his head lowered, fists clenched tightly.
Optimus’ optics narrowed. “Ironhide. Explain.”
Ironhide slowly looked up, his expression a mix of anger, frustration, and—guilt.
“I screwed up.” His voice was rough, his entire frame vibrating with suppressed tension. “I wanted to draw him out. I wanted to hear more of his Cybertronian side… but I pushed him into panic.”
Optimus said nothing, giving him space to speak.
Ironhide exhaled heavily. “It was too much. His fear hit me—I couldn’t block it. I… I transmitted those emotions to you all without realizing it.”
Optimus’ stance remained calm, but his voice sharpened. “And now?”
Ironhide shook his head. “He’s not answering anymore. I can’t reach him… He was just radiating panic before the connection got weaker.”
Optimus’ face darkened. “Come with me.”
Optimus took Ironhide directly to Ratchet. The medic had already noticed something was wrong since he, too, had felt the strange emotional pulses. But when he saw Ironhide’s condition, he realized it was worse than expected.
“Sit down.” Ratchet’s tone left no room for argument.
Ironhide sank onto the examination berth as Ratchet began scanning him. His optics flickered briefly as he analyzed the results.
“Well… this is interesting.”
Ironhide grumbled. “Explain it to me, Doc.”
Ratchet sighed, set the scanner aside, and gave him a stern look. “The link to Sam is still there, but it’s unstable. You overwhelmed him, Ironhide. Your frequencies forced his reaction, but you had no idea how his body would respond. We have no data on him, no way to monitor exactly what’s happening to him.”
Optimus folded his arms. “In other words—this was reckless and dangerous.”
Ratchet nodded. “Very. We don’t know how his biological processes interact with his Cybertronian abilities. Forcing them could have serious consequences.”
Ironhide growled lowly, but not out of defiance—out of frustration with himself. He hadn’t thought it through. He had just heard Sam finally chirping, and he had been so focused on that moment that he ignored the consequences.
“Damn…”
Ratchet placed a hand on his shoulder. “You need to find him. As soon as possible.”
Ironhide nodded slowly. “I know.”
Chapter 9: Chapter 9 – Discovery and Escape
Summary:
Anger flared inside him. His body vibrated with suppressed emotions. His blood boiled.
Then it happened.
He had lost control.
Chapter Text
Chapter 9 – Discovery and Escape
Sam woke up in the cold, wet alley. His body felt heavy, his head pounded, and as he moved, he immediately realized that his wallet was missing. Someone had robbed him, but he didn’t care right now. He was still alive—that was all that mattered.
Slowly and cautiously, he pushed himself up, his body protesting with a dull ache. Especially his leg. He clenched his eyes shut as a sharp wave of pain shot through his muscles. Great. It had started hurting again.
Gritting his teeth, he leaned against the cold wall and pulled himself up. His hands trembled, his heartbeat was irregular. And then the memory came back.
Ironhide.
That damn, stubborn, annoying Autobot had manipulated him. Had used that deep humming to make him react like a Nestling. Had forced him to do something he didn’t want to do.
Anger flared inside him. His body vibrated with suppressed emotions. His blood boiled.
Then it happened.
A loud crackling. A shift in the air. Suddenly, a row of streetlights around him exploded in a shower of sparks, car alarms blared, and some vehicles burst open. Power lines crackled as sparks danced across the cables. Sam flinched, his head snapping around—too late.
He had lost control.
His eyes darted to the street corner. There, on the opposite side, was a security camera.
Shit.
Without thinking, he sent a focused surge of energy at the camera—a snap, a quick flash, and the thing was fried. But it was too late. He knew it. The footage already existed.
His heartbeat sped up.
I have to go. Now.
He limped out of the alley, using the walls for support as he moved toward his apartment. As soon as he got there, he yanked his backpack from the closet and hastily stuffed the essentials inside—clothes, emergency cash, an old phone with no GPS.
He couldn’t stay here. They would come for him.
Meanwhile, five states away, the Autobots were in a briefing. Tactical maps were displayed on holographic screens, possible locations were being reviewed, when suddenly, the quiet atmosphere was shattered by an urgent message.
Lennox’s voice echoed through the speakers.
“We found him. Samuel ‘Sam’ Witwicky, 19 years old. He was just spotted in a city—and he made cars explode.”
Ironhide froze.
The others immediately turned to Optimus, but it was Ratchet who spoke first.
“He’s unstable. If he’s using his powers uncontrollably, that means he’s emotionally overwhelmed.”
Ironhide shot to his feet. “We need to go.”
Optimus nodded slowly. “Prepare for deployment. We’re bringing him in.”
As the Autobots gathered, Sam sat in his apartment, backpack slung over his shoulder, breathing heavily. He took one last look around—his safe haven, his hiding place. He had hoped to stay longer.
But life had other plans.
Sam ran.
His heart pounded in his chest, his lungs burned, his leg protested with every step—but he couldn’t stop. He knew they were after him. The shadows shifting in the alleys, the heavy footsteps that made the ground tremble beneath him.
They had him.
He dashed around a corner and nearly tripped over a toppled trash can. His hands barely caught him in time, but the pain in his leg made him grit his teeth. A mistake. A moment’s hesitation—just enough time for them to surround him.
When he straightened, he saw them.
Lennox’s team had locked down the streets. Armed soldiers positioned themselves in a half-circle formation around him. Their weapons weren’t lethal—he knew that. They wanted him alive. That was almost worse.
And then there were the Autobots.
Optimus. Ratchet. Bumblebee. And Ironhide, the closest one to him.
Sam felt his entire body tense. His breathing was shallow, his hands clenched into fists.
“Sam,” Ironhide began calmly, stepping forward cautiously. “Take it easy.”
But all Sam heard was manipulation. Lies. Again, that damn bot was trying to control him. His fingers twitched, his entire body vibrated with suppressed rage.
“You want me to calm down?” Sam’s voice was sharp, filled with tension. “After everything you did?! After all the damn manipulation?!”
Ironhide opened his mouth, but Sam cut him off.
“I know exactly what you’re doing! You’re trying to influence me! To manipulate me into something I don’t want!”
“That’s not true.”
“Bullshit!”
Sam felt his powers building inside him. Electricity crackled in the air, small sparks danced between his fingertips. The environment began to react—streetlights flickered, metal vibrated.
Lennox gave his team a quick signal. They were ready to subdue him.
“Kid, listen to me—this doesn’t have to go down like this. We don’t want to hurt you.” Ironhide’s voice was calm, but Sam could hear the tension beneath it.
“And I don’t want to go with you.”
Sam saw no way out. They were too many. He couldn’t fight, not with his injured leg. That left only one option.
He prepared to teleport.
Ironhide sensed it through the link.
“Oh no, you’re not doing that.”
Before Sam could react, he felt Ironhide do something unexpected.
An attack—but not physical. It was a mental strike, directly through the connection. A sudden pressure that knocked him off balance, disrupted his concentration. Sam gasped, stumbling back, his vision blurring for a second.
“You… you…”
He struggled for breath, his thoughts spinning. He hadn’t known Ironhide could do that.
But he wouldn’t let himself be stopped.
Sam pushed through the pain, ignored the burning pressure in his head, and focused on his powers again. His body pulsed with energy, and with one last, desperate effort, he triggered the teleportation.
A bright light engulfed him.
But just before he vanished, he felt something cold and heavy on his shoulder.
Ironhide had grabbed him.
As the light faded and Sam felt solid ground beneath his feet again, he immediately knew something had gone wrong.
The surroundings had changed—they were no longer in the city. The sounds were different, the air was cooler, and the scent of old metal and dust filled the space.
Then a shadow fell over him.
He turned around.
Ironhide.
The massive Transformer stood directly in front of him, his bulk even more imposing in the darkness.
Sam blinked. “Oh, shit.”
He quickly turned, scanning his surroundings. Rusted fences, destroyed hangars, abandoned barracks—they were in an old, decommissioned military base.
“You really need to work on your aim, kid,” Ironhide rumbled, straightening as he looked around.
Sam ignored him. His mind was racing. He had gotten out of the city, yes—but he wasn’t alone.
And that was a problem.
Chapter 10: Chapter 10 – Cat and Mouse
Summary:
Ironhide’s head snapped up.
His sensors pinpointed the exact location of the sound. A broad grin spread across his face.
“Thanks, kid.”
Notes:
Hello,
I'm glad you enjoyed the story enough to make it this far!
🤗🤗🤗
There's another story under the same name, Echoes of Steel – The Call of the Spark (title might still change) by me.
Both stories are identical up to Chapter 10—this one—and then diverge in their plots starting from Chapter 11.
(I had too many ideas, sorry about that!)
Chapter Text
Chapter 10 – Cat and Mouse
Sam wasted no time.
As soon as he recovered from the initial shock that Ironhide had teleported with him, he started searching for a hiding place. This old military base might be abandoned, but it had plenty of nooks, dark rooms, and corridors where he could disappear.
And it had ventilation shafts.
Sam spotted an open shaft, ripped off the old grate, and with the last of his strength, pulled himself inside. The tight space forced him to lie flat on his stomach and crawl forward slowly. The metal walls groaned slightly under his weight, but it was the perfect spot—Ironhide wouldn’t be able to follow him in here.
Down in the hangar, the massive Transformer moved forward, his heavy footsteps echoing through the silent complex.
“Come on, kid, this is childish,” Ironhide rumbled. “We need to talk.”
Sam remained silent. He needed a plan.
Ironhide stopped, his gaze scanning the room. Then he heard it—a faint creaking from the ventilation shafts.
“Ah. There you are.”
Sam clenched his teeth. Damn it.
“I know you’re angry.” Ironhide’s voice was calmer than before. “And I get it. I shouldn’t have done it that way.”
Sam glared at him through the grate, even though Ironhide couldn’t see him. Too late for apologies.
“I can’t force you to trust me, but I can help you. You just have to let us—”
“Shut up.” Sam’s voice was hoarse with frustration. “I don’t want to hear anything from you!”
Ironhide sighed. “Kid, you’re making this harder than it has to be.”
Sam ignored him and crawled deeper into the network of shafts. He moved as quickly as he could, avoiding rusted areas and trying not to be too loud. But Ironhide wasn’t stupid—he followed the sounds, moving slowly beneath the vents, anticipating Sam’s route.
It became a game of cat and mouse.
Ironhide lurked at the exits while Sam slipped through the shafts, constantly changing direction. Hours passed, and Sam managed to stay ahead of him.
But eventually, the chase took its toll.
His stomach growled painfully. His body was exhausted, his injured leg throbbed with exertion. And then the worst realization hit him—he had lost his backpack.
No food. No water. No way to hold out.
Angry and drained, he pressed his forehead against the cold metal of the vent and took heavy breaths. “Damn… stupid… bullshit…”
And then it happened.
Without meaning to, without being able to control it, a loud, Cybertronian sound of frustration escaped him.
Ironhide’s head snapped up.
His sensors pinpointed the exact location of the sound. A broad grin spread across his face.
“Thanks, kid.”
Before Sam could react, Ironhide’s fist slammed against the side of the vent. Metal bent, the shaft trembled—and then, with a final, brutal strike, it collapsed.
Sam fell.
He hit the ground hard, dust swirling around him. Coughing and disoriented, he blinked as a massive shadow loomed over him.
Ironhide stood over him, arms crossed.
“Game over.”
Ironhide held Sam firmly in his grip as the boy struggled in vain. Despite his exhaustion, despite the hunger that was obvious in his face, his resistance remained unbroken.
“Let me go!” Sam growled, trying once again to break free. But it was useless. Ironhide had him secured, and he wasn’t letting him escape again.
“Quit the nonsense, kid. You’re at your limit.” Ironhide’s tone was sharper than before, but there was no malice in his eyes—only impatience and a hint of concern. “I got you food. You’re going to eat it.”
Sam turned his head away defiantly. His stomach screamed for food, but he refused. “I don’t need anything from you.”
Ironhide grumbled in annoyance. “Oh, come on. Even you aren’t dumb enough to think you can last like this.”
“I’ve made it on my own so far.”
“Oh yeah? And where has that gotten you? Lost, injured, and so hungry you can barely stand.”
Sam clenched his fists. “I can handle myself.”
Ironhide leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower. “Listen, kid. You can hate me all you want. But you’re going to eat. Whether you like it or not.”
Silence stretched between them. Sam looked at him, eyes burning with anger, but beneath it was something else—exhaustion. Bruised pride. Fear.
“Why are you even after me?” Sam’s voice was quieter now, but sharp. “Why do you care?”
Ironhide exhaled heavily. “Because you’re not just anyone. And whether you like it or not, you belong with us.”
Sam let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
Ironhide studied him for a long moment. Then, quietly but firmly, he said, “Yes, Sam. You do. And you know it.”
Sam averted his gaze, his body tense. Ironhide knew he had struck a nerve—not with force, but with words.
After a long silence, Ironhide finally heard a faint sigh. Sam reached for the food, holding it in his hands as if he was still debating whether to give in.
Then, he took the first bite.
Ironhide let Sam eat in silence, watching him closely. The boy was worn out, exhausted, but still as stubborn as ever. Now that he was no longer running on empty, it was time for the next conversation.
“Alright, now that you’ve finally eaten,” Ironhide rumbled, crossing his arms. “Next topic—we’re going to the base.”
Sam froze, then looked at Ironhide like he had lost his mind. “Forget it.”
Ironhide rolled his optics. “Kid, we can’t stay here forever. We both know they’ll track us down sooner or later. And your powers aren’t exactly making it easier to hide.”
“I’m safer here than anywhere else,” Sam snapped. “I’m not getting locked up again!”
Ironhide growled in frustration. “No one is locking you up, dammit! We want to help you!”
“Oh, just like you ‘helped’ me by throwing me into a panic, manipulating me, and cornering me?!”
Ironhide snorted. “Oh, please. Stop acting like a scared puppy! I screwed up, yeah. But now’s not the time for your damn stubbornness!”
Sam shot to his feet, his glare burning with fury. “I’m not stubborn, I just refuse to trust you! And you’re giving me no reason to change that!”
Ironhide was done. He stood, towering over Sam. “Then tell me what you plan to do instead! Sit in this abandoned base until you run out of food? Wait until someone else finds you? Or just pretend you don’t have powers while they betray you every damn time?!”
Sam bit his lip but said nothing.
Ironhide leaned down, his voice darker, more serious. “You’re out of choices, Sam. And whether you like it or not—you’re coming with me.”
Sam glared at him, frustration burning in his eyes. A tremor ran through his body, as if he was barely holding himself back. The air around him flickered, small electrical sparks danced over his fingers.
Ironhide noticed instantly. “Do you really want to do this?” he asked quietly, his voice not a threat, but a warning.
Sam breathed heavily, battling himself. Then, he lowered his hands, shaking his head before sitting down again. “I… I can’t just go with you. I can’t.”
Ironhide knelt down, leveling his gaze. “Why not?”
Sam pressed his lips together, hesitating. Then, he murmured, “Because I don’t know if I can trust you…”
Ironhide snorted. “Then figure it out by coming with us.”
Sam looked at him, his mind racing. The inner conflict was clear in his eyes. Finally, he lowered his head and muttered, “I… I need time.”
Ironhide nodded slowly. “Time isn’t something we have forever, kid.”
Sam didn’t respond, but he also didn’t pull away anymore. And for Ironhide, that was a step in the right direction.
Chapter 11: Chapter 11 – The Decision Against Ironhide
Summary:
Severe energy surge detected. System failure.
Emergency reboot initiated.
Ironhide dropped to his knees as his systems forced him into a shutdown and restart. He fought against the enforced stasis, struggling desperately to regain control.
Chapter Text
Chapter 11 – The Decision Against Ironhide
Ironhide gave Sam time. He knew the boy was overwhelmed, that he wasn’t ready to give up his freedom just like that. So he let him think, tried to give him space, even though it was difficult for him. He didn’t want Sam to feel forced—he wanted him to come with him out of his own conviction.
But Sam made a different decision.
When Ironhide cautiously approached him again after some time, Sam’s cold gaze met him. Something in him had changed.
“I’m not going with you.”
Ironhide felt his spark pulse uneasily. “Sam, this isn’t a good idea. You’re not safe out there—”
“Safe?” Sam laughed bitterly. “I’ve never been safe, Ironhide. Not from you, not from humans, and definitely not from whatever I am.”
Ironhide took a step toward him. “Let me help you.”
“No!”
Sam’s voice echoed through the room, accompanied by a sudden surge of his powers. The lights flickered, a low hum vibrated in the air. Ironhide recognized the pattern instantly—he had witnessed Sam’s abilities before. But this time, it was different.
He was stronger.
“I won’t be locked up! Not by you, not by anyone!”
Ironhide knew it would escalate even before Sam moved. He immediately switched to defense mode, but he underestimated how fast the boy was. Sam was on him, his hands crackling with electricity. Ironhide stepped back, but the burst of energy struck his shoulder, making him stumble.
Ironhide growled. “This isn’t the way, Sam!”
“For me, it’s the only way!”
Sam raised his hand, and another wave of energy shot out of him. Ironhide was ready for it, but the impact still caught him off guard. His systems registered an extreme overload—warning messages flooded his display.
Severe energy surge detected. System failure.
Emergency reboot initiated.
Ironhide dropped to his knees as his systems forced him into a shutdown and restart. He fought against the enforced stasis, struggling desperately to regain control.
“Sam… wait…!”
But as his sensors briefly failed and then slowly rebooted, Sam was already gone.
Ironhide was left alone, his spark burning with frustration and fear. He had failed to stop Sam—and now the boy was back out in the world, alone, vulnerable… and more dangerous than ever before.
Chapter 12: Chapter 12 – The Hunt Begins Again
Summary:
Ironhide clenched his fists. “This has gone on long enough. He’s pushing it too far!”
Lennox, clearly annoyed, snorted. “Tell me about it! We had him! He was right there!”
Chapter Text
Chapter 12 – The Hunt Begins Again
Ironhide had wanted to give Sam time to think. He had hoped that the spark would make the right decision, that he would realize the Autobots weren’t trying to imprison him but protect him.
But he hadn’t expected Sam to attack him, overwhelm him, and then simply disappear.
Frustrated and angry at Sam’s decision, Ironhide radioed the Autobots. His voice was tense as he explained what had happened—the boy’s growing powers and the fight he had lost against him.
“He hit me with a shockwave and forced my systems into a restart. I couldn’t stop him.”
Optimus was the first to respond. “That’s concerning. Sam’s abilities are growing faster than we anticipated.”
Ratchet let out a dissatisfied hum. “And he’s using them to escape from us. That means he still doesn’t trust us.”
Ironhide clenched his jaw plates. “Then we need to make him understand.”
After speaking with the Autobots, he checked in with Lennox.
“Any traces?” Ironhide asked as his internal scanners worked at full capacity.
“Negative,” Lennox replied shortly. “Sam masked his signature again. As long as he doesn’t use his powers, we can’t track him. He’s damn good at running.”
Ironhide grinned. “Not this time.”
Lennox frowned. “What do you mean?”
“This time, we have another option.”
Ironhide activated his visor and focused on a specific data stream. Within seconds, a small marker appeared on his map—Sam’s current location.
“You have him?!” Lennox asked in surprise.
Ironhide rumbled in satisfaction. “I felt guilty at first for hiding a tracker in Sam’s backpack… but now I’m damn glad I did.”
Lennox let out a dry chuckle. “Sam won’t like that.”
Ironhide snorted. “He hit me, Lennox. This time, I’ll be ready for his tricks. And when I catch him, he won’t slip away so easily again.”
The hunt had begun—and Ironhide was determined not to let his sparkling escape this time.
Ironhide tried to reach Sam through their mind-link, reasoning with him. He sent message after message, trying to make his voice sound calm and convincing.
“Sam, stop this. You know you can’t run forever.”
“We’re not trying to hurt you—you’re only making this harder on yourself.”
But Sam didn’t respond.
Ironhide growled in frustration. He knew the boy could hear him—the connection was still there, even if Sam was ignoring it. It was proof that he hadn’t completely shut him out yet. But that didn’t make the chase any easier.
With Lennox’s team, Ironhide combed through city after city, always searching for the elusive spark. But every time they tracked Sam down, thinking they had him, he vanished.
He was playing with them.
Ironhide could call it nothing else. The boy was leading them on purpose, letting them catch glimpses of him, only to disappear at the last second. It was like he was testing how far he could go, how long he could keep them running in circles.
It had just happened again.
Lennox had spotted him inside a shopping mall. They had seen him clearly, set up a trap, planned their approach. But just as Lennox was about to grab him, the lights flickered—and Sam was gone.
The only thing left behind was the faint, crackling energy of his discharged powers.
Ironhide clenched his fists. “This has gone on long enough. He’s pushing it too far!”
Lennox, clearly annoyed, snorted. “Tell me about it! We had him! He was right there!”
But it got worse.
The next time they tracked Sam’s signal, it led them straight into a sewer system.
The team climbed in, waded through dark, foul-smelling water, getting covered in who-knows-what—only to find no trace of Sam.
The only thing they got in return was a quiet, amused sound over Ironhide’s connection.
A laugh.
Ironhide froze when he heard it. It wasn’t loud, not openly mocking—but it was there. A soft, entertained noise, barely more than a whisper, yet unmistakable.
Ironhide wiped the filthy sludge from his plating and radioed Lennox. “He’s laughing. He’s laughing at us!”
Lennox, currently trying to scrape the disgusting muck off his uniform, looked like he had finally lost all patience. “Alright. That’s it. He’s officially dead when I catch him.”
His men nodded in agreement. The mood had shifted. No one saw Sam’s behavior as harmless anymore. They had spent weeks trying to secure him, treating him with respect—and now he was acting like a child playing games while they crawled through a stinking sewer.
Ironhide rumbled darkly. “Enough is enough. The next time we find him, there will be no escape.”
Chapter 13: Chapter 13 – Sam’s New Hideout
Summary:
Now it was time to set a trap.
Sam had always been one step ahead of them, but this was their chance to finally catch him.
No more escapes.
No more tricks.
No more last-second teleportation.
Chapter Text
Chapter 13 – Sam’s New Hideout
Since his escape from the old military base, Sam had been doing surprisingly well. Sure, a Transformer search party was hunting him, but once he realized they were tracking him through the locator in his backpack, he made it a game to mislead them.
He let them get just close enough to think they finally had him—only to disappear right under their noses. Their frustration was palpable every single time—especially Ironhide’s. And Sam enjoyed every second of it.
He knew he shouldn’t push it too far. But this was his revenge for Ironhide’s little “experiment” back in the bar. Sam still vividly remembered how the Autobot had manipulated him into chirping in public, then left him unconscious in an alley. Yeah, Sam could hold a grudge. And if he was being honest, it was just plain fun to mess with them a little.
Lennox and his team, who had now joined the hunt, didn’t concern him much. They wouldn’t take it personally. At least, he hoped they wouldn’t.
For now, Sam had settled into his new hideout—a submerged cave he had found through old coordinates on the internet. It was perfect: large enough for an improvised bed, a small self-made heater, and even a corner for his inventions. Down here, no one could spy on him.
Currently, he was working on a new project—a bracelet designed to suppress his energy signature. Up until now, he had to focus intensely to avoid detection whenever he teleported to the cave. That was exhausting.
He held the half-finished device in his hands, inspecting it critically. It wasn’t working as intended yet, but he knew he was on the right track. Once he perfected it, he would finally have a permanent solution—and the Transformers would never be able to find him so easily again.
Ironhide and his search team gathered around a holographic map, marking the last known locations where Sam had been spotted. They were done playing games. The time for patience was over—it was time to bring the boy back to the base once and for all.
“He’s too smart for us if we just chase him blindly,” Ironhide growled, dragging a massive hand over the map. “Every time, he misleads us—like this is all just a damn game to him.”
Lennox crossed his arms. “Maybe it is. Or at least, maybe he tells himself that.”
“He thinks we’re predictable,” Ratchet added, joining the discussion. “If we want to catch him, we have to surprise him.”
Ironhide nodded. “That’s exactly what we’ll do.”
As they analyzed the locations where Sam had been spotted, a pattern emerged. Every sighting formed an almost perfect circle. Ironhide’s optics narrowed as he looked at Optimus, who was also studying the data.
“If we follow this logic, Sam should be right here,” Lennox pointed to the center of the circle. “He keeps moving in this pattern—probably because that’s where his hideout is.”
“This gives us a rough location,” Ratchet agreed. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t vanish the moment he realizes we’re closing in.”
“He won’t realize it,” Ironhide rumbled, “if we don’t chase him the usual way this time.”
Now it was time to set a trap.
Sam had always been one step ahead of them, but this was their chance to finally catch him. No more escapes. No more tricks. No more last-second teleportation.
He needed to be somewhere safe—under supervision, at the base, where they could help him. Somewhere he would finally be protected. And, hopefully, somewhere he would finally come to his senses.
Chapter 14: Chapter 14 – The Hunt Escalates
Summary:
Sam’s heart skipped a beat. Not good. Not good at all!
Instinctively, he raised his arms, trying to activate his force field. But instead… nothing happened.
His eyes widened in panic. No. No, no, no! Not now!
He tried again—still nothing. Only a few stray sparks flickered from his fingertips.
His powers weren’t working.
Chapter Text
Chapter 14 – The Hunt Escalates
The trap for Sam had been set. The search team had decided not to chase him directly anymore but instead restrict him using strategically placed energy disruption fields and signal blockers in his vicinity. These measures prevented him from teleporting out of the area quickly. They had effectively locked him in an invisible cage—at least, that’s what they thought.
Ironhide carefully monitored the situation while Lennox and his team stood ready to finally capture Sam. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. Sam had appeared in the city. The trap was closing in.
But then everything went wrong.
Suddenly, multiple red signals appeared on Ironhide’s sensors. His alarm systems blared loudly. Right next to Sam’s position—Decepticons.
“Damn it!” Ironhide growled furiously and immediately radioed Optimus and the team. “We have a problem! Decepticons are right on Sam! They’re attacking!”
Sam’s Perspective ...
Sam had hoped for a quiet day. After all the chasing, he wanted to give Ironhide and his team a little break from the stress. He had teleported from his cave into the next city—with one very important goal in mind.
He needed more pillows.
His makeshift bed in the cave was good, but not perfect. The relentless urge to get even more pillows had led him to a small secondhand store. Now, he stood in front of the shop window, counting his coins to see if he could afford a few more.
And then it happened.
A dark shadow fell over him. A loud, metallic screech made the glass panes vibrate.
A Decepticon appeared right next to him—and reached for him.
Sam’s heart skipped a beat. Not good. Not good at all!
Instinctively, he raised his arms, trying to activate his force field. But instead… nothing happened.
His eyes widened in panic. No. No, no, no! Not now!
He tried again—still nothing. Only a few stray sparks flickered from his fingertips.
His powers weren’t working.
Sam spun around and ran.
But the Decepticon was right behind him.
People screamed, running in all directions. Cars swerved, tires screeched. Sam sprinted through the streets, but he knew that without his abilities, he had no chance.
And then it got even worse.
Two more Decepticons landed in front of him, their red eyes gleaming menacingly.
The path forward was blocked.
The path behind him as well.
Sam was trapped—surrounded, powerless, with no way to escape.
Ironhide and Lennox quickly mobilized their team. They had to intervene—immediately. The other Autobots would need some time to reach their position, but time was something Sam didn’t have.
Ironhide transformed into his alternate mode and sped through the streets toward the Decepticons. His sensors scanned the surroundings, searching for Sam—and then he heard it.
For the first time in weeks.
A cry for help.
Sam’s voice echoed through their link in panic. It was a pure reflex, an instinctive call for rescue.
Ironhide reacted instantly.
At full speed, he rammed the first Decepticon, knocking him to the ground and immediately beginning to strike. “RUN!” he bellowed at Sam.
And for the first time, Sam did exactly what Ironhide told him to do.
Sam ran.
But the other two Decepticons immediately took up the chase. Ironhide couldn’t help him—he was locked in combat with his opponent and couldn’t break free.
Sam zigzagged through the streets, leaping over cars, ducking between panicked civilians, trying to find somewhere to hide. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounded.
Then he saw them.
Lennox and his soldiers, searching for him while simultaneously bombarding the Decepticons with explosives and heavy gunfire. Smoke filled the air, debris was scattered everywhere.
Just as Sam was about to react, a strong hand suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him upright.
It was Lennox.
The soldier quickly checked him over with a trained gaze, searching for injuries while simultaneously speaking into his radio. Then, he pulled Sam with him down the street, through the dust and rubble.
“Stay close, kid!” Lennox ordered without looking back.
Stumbling, Sam ran after him. His legs felt heavy, his head buzzed from the sudden panic and exertion. Behind him, he heard the deafening sound of explosions, the clash of metal on metal as Ironhide fought his opponent.
Lennox led him behind a solid-looking wall and urged him to sit down. Sam collapsed, breathing heavily, his entire body shaking.
Commands were shouted through the radio, and shortly afterward, the other soldiers gathered around them. They formed a protective barrier around Sam, weapons at the ready, securing the area.
Lennox knelt in front of Sam, his face filled with focus and concern. Without another word, he gently but firmly placed a hand on Sam’s head, checking him for injuries.
Sam was still in shock. His gaze was empty, his breathing unsteady.
“Hey, stay with me, kid,” Lennox said firmly. “You’re safe now.”
But they both knew—the danger was far from over.
Chapter 15: Chapter 15 – Reality Strikes
Summary:
“Damn it, kid, wake up!” he growled and struck again.
Still nothing.
He raised his hand for a third time—but this time, Sam’s arm shot up and caught his wrist.
Lennox looked into glowing blue eyes.
Chapter Text
Chapter 15 – Reality Strikes
Lennox saw it immediately—Sam was on the verge of severe shock. His breathing was erratic, his gaze unfocused, his body trembling slightly. There was no time for gentle words or careful reassurance.
He resorted to drastic measures.
With a firm motion, he swung his hand and slapped Sam across the face.
No reaction.
Grinding his teeth, Lennox struck again, harder this time. Sam’s head jerked slightly to the side, but he still didn’t seem fully present.
As Lennox raised his hand for a third time, a hand suddenly shot up and caught his arm.
Sam’s eyes locked onto him—furious, glowing faintly blue. His gaze was sharp, focused.
Lennox immediately grasped Sam’s face with both hands and looked him straight in the eyes. “Are you with us again?” he asked firmly.
Sam glared at him, his eyes still crackling with residual energy, but after a moment, he nodded.
Lennox exhaled in relief. Good. But the danger was far from over.
Suddenly, Ironhide came crashing through the wall behind them with a deafening impact. Debris flew in all directions, dust filled the air, and the grating sound of metal against stone made everyone flinch.
“RUN!” one of the soldiers shouted.
Without hesitation, Lennox grabbed Sam’s arm and pulled him along. The team sprinted through the ruined street, dodging explosions and the screeching voices of Decepticons echoing through the battlefield.
But this time, Sam’s mind was clear.
He was no longer drowning in panic and confusion—and with that clarity came a realization that hit him like a punch to the gut.
He yanked himself free from Lennox’s grip, his chest rising and falling heavily as he turned to him with pure fury.
“How did you find me?” Sam growled, his voice as sharp as a blade.
Lennox shot him a brief apologetic look but reached for his arm again. “Now’s not the time for this, Sam! We need to get out of here!”
But Sam didn’t move.
His gaze flickered around, piecing together the puzzle in his mind. His powers weren’t working. Ironhide had arrived too quickly after his distress call. The soldiers had been exactly where they needed to be.
His stomach twisted as the truth struck him.
“It was a trap,” he whispered in disbelief.
Lennox cursed under his breath but remained composed. “Now pull yourself together, kid.”
But Sam ignored him. His anger boiled over. “You led me into a damn trap!”
Lennox didn’t have time for this argument. They had bigger problems. So he stopped, looked Sam dead in the eye, and shouted over the chaos:
“You want to talk about traps? Survive this damn battle first!”
Lennox knew they had no time to lose. The Decepticons had appeared faster than expected, and now Sam was completely defenseless in their midst.
“We have to get in there!” he shouted into his comms, while his team was already advancing.
Ironhide tore through the streets in his vehicle mode, his engine roaring with tension. The other Autobots were still too far away—they had to work with what they had.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar frequency crackled through Lennox’s earpiece—a faint, distorted signal.
Sam.
Just one word. But it was enough. An instinctive cry for help, sent out in pure panic.
“There he is!” Lennox shouted to his team, then sprinted forward.
In the distance, he saw Ironhide slam into one of the Decepticons with full force. Metal clashed against metal with an earth-shattering crash.
“RUN!” Ironhide bellowed.
For the first time, Sam did as he was told.
Lennox and his team moved tactically through the chaos as Sam sprinted through the streets. But two more Decepticons had already set their sights on him.
“Cover fire, NOW!” Lennox commanded. His soldiers obeyed instantly, hurling flashbangs and explosives at the enemy machines. It slowed them down—but not enough.
Lennox weaved through the battlefield, eyes scanning for a familiar figure. Then he saw him—a lone figure ducking into a narrow alley between two buildings.
Sam.
He grabbed the boy’s arms and pulled him up.
“Are you hurt?” Lennox asked sharply, his eyes scanning for injuries.
Sam shook his head, still breathless, his eyes wide with shock.
Lennox pressed his comms. “I have him! We’re moving out!”
He pulled Sam with him as they ran through the dust and rubble. Explosions thundered behind them, debris rained down from collapsing buildings. Lennox led them to a sturdier-looking wall and pushed Sam down.
The soldiers formed a protective perimeter, weapons raised, while commands were barked into the comms.
Lennox knelt before Sam, gripping his face with both hands, forcing him to focus. “Are you still with me?” he asked sternly.
Sam’s gaze was glazed over, his breathing uneven. He was teetering on the edge of shock.
Lennox cursed silently. Not now.
Without hesitation, he slapped Sam.
No response.
“Damn it, kid, wake up!” he growled and struck again.
Still nothing.
He raised his hand for a third time—but this time, Sam’s arm shot up and caught his wrist.
Lennox looked into glowing blue eyes.
“There you are,” Lennox muttered, relieved.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Suddenly, Ironhide came crashing through the wall behind them, sending debris flying. A guttural metallic screech echoed through the battlefield.
“RUN!” a soldier shouted.
Lennox grabbed Sam’s arm again, pulling him through the chaos. They had to keep moving.
But then Sam stopped.
Lennox turned, confused.
Sam stood still, his chest rising and falling heavily, his gaze darting around.
Then it hit him.
His head snapped up, his eyes burning with realization.
“It was a trap.”
Lennox’s jaw tensed. Damn it.
“Sam, we don’t have time for—”
But Sam cut him off, his voice shaking with fury. “You led me into a damn trap!”
Lennox cursed under his breath. Not now.
He stopped, looked Sam dead in the eye, and growled:
“You want to talk about traps? Survive this damn battle first!”
Sam struggled against Lennox’s grip, but the soldier held him in an iron vice. He yanked at his arms, but it was pointless. Lennox’s grip was unyielding.
“Let me go!” Sam snarled, his voice a mix of rage and desperation.
But Lennox didn’t react. His gaze flicked past Sam, and he gave a subtle nod.
Before Sam could process what was happening, his arms were abruptly yanked behind him.
A cold snap of metal.
Handcuffs.
Sam’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Seriously?!”
But Lennox didn’t flinch. No explanation, no regret—just a cold, practical decision. He grabbed Sam by the back of the neck and pushed him forward.
Anger boiled inside Sam, but he was powerless.
The squad kept moving. They had almost reached the city’s outskirts when a massive shadow fell over them.
A Decepticon had caught up.
Lennox cursed under his breath and immediately raised his weapon. “Take cover!”
The soldiers reacted in an instant, unleashing a barrage of gunfire to keep the Decepticon at bay. But the massive metal creature only hesitated for a moment—before hurling debris in their direction.
A colossal chunk of concrete crashed to the ground near them, sending dust and jagged shards flying in all directions. The air thickened with smoke and dirt, making it harder to see, harder to breathe.
Just as the Decepticon prepared to throw another projectile, an earth-shattering BOOM tore through the battlefield.
Ironhide.
The Autobot warrior slammed into the enemy with unstoppable force, metal grinding against metal as the two titans collided. Sparks and shrapnel exploded from the impact.
But the danger wasn’t over.
The massive debris the Decepticon had been holding was knocked loose by the sheer force of the battle—hurling it directly toward Lennox.
He never saw it coming.
The thick haze of dust and smoke obscured everything around him. He was standing right in its path—completely unaware.
But Sam saw it.
Without thinking, without caring about the searing pain in his bound wrists, he tore himself free from the soldier’s grip.
“SAM! STAY BACK!” someone shouted behind him.
But he ran.
With every ounce of strength in his body, he threw himself into Lennox, tackling him out of the way.
And in a blinding flash of blue light—
—they were gone.
Chapter 16: Chapter 12 – The Cave
Summary:
His gaze flicked back to Sam. “Damn it, kid… You could’ve just let us run.”
Lennox took a deep breath. He knew he had to keep Sam stable. And he also knew that Ironhide and the rest of the team were probably searching for them by now.
But how long would it take for them to find him?
Chapter Text
Chapter 12 – The Cave
The bright blue light faded, and Lennox’s world shifted abruptly.
Suddenly, there was silence. No explosions, no gunfire, no screeching metal. Just darkness, damp air, and the distant sound of water dripping.
Lennox blinked, his balance wavering slightly as his mind adjusted to the sudden change in location. Sam had teleported them.
He quickly surveyed his surroundings, realizing they were in a cave—likely Sam’s hideout. The walls were uneven, damp rock glistening under the dim light of weakly glowing LED lamps. The space was surprisingly large, with makeshift furniture, scattered inventions, and a hastily assembled sleeping area. Tools and metal parts were strewn across an old table, and a small, improvised stove stood in one corner.
Then his gaze fell on Sam, lying motionless beside him.
"Sam?"
No response.
A sinking feeling settled in Lennox’s gut. He immediately knelt beside the boy, checking for visible injuries—and then he saw it.
A deep, dark red stain spread across Sam’s stomach. Lennox cursed loudly as he looked closer. A jagged metal shard was lodged deep in Sam’s abdomen.
"Damn it, kid…" he muttered, pressing his fingers against Sam’s neck to check his pulse. He was still alive, but his face was pale as ash, his breathing shallow and unsteady.
Lennox swore again, forcing himself to stay focused. He needed to stop the bleeding—fast. His hands trembled slightly as he assessed the situation. The shard was embedded too deep; pulling it out would only make things worse.
The cave had few resources—no proper bandages, no medical supplies. Frustrated, Lennox rummaged through the scattered belongings, pulling open drawers and digging through crates. Eventually, he found a piece of old but relatively clean fabric and fashioned a crude pressure bandage, hoping to slow the bleeding. He took Sam’s jacket, rolled it up, and gently placed it under his head.
His gaze flicked back to Sam. “Damn it, kid… You could’ve just let us run.”
Lennox took a deep breath. He knew he had to keep Sam stable. And he also knew that Ironhide and the rest of the team were probably searching for them by now.
But how long would it take for them to find him?
Would Sam last that long?
Lennox grabbed his radio—nothing. No signal.
He exhaled sharply in frustration. Of course, Sam had shielded his hideout.
His gaze returned to the boy. Sam’s face twitched slightly, his fingers barely moving. A faint, almost inaudible sound left his lips, but he didn’t wake.
"Come on, Sam… wake up," Lennox murmured, giving his shoulder a slight shake.
Still, no reaction.
Lennox sighed, rubbing his face before steeling himself. He had work to do—he needed to keep the kid alive.
Lennox remained kneeling beside Sam, his gaze darting between the wounded boy and the darkened cave. The metal shard in Sam’s abdomen was a serious issue—one he couldn’t fix without proper medical tools.
He pressed the makeshift bandage against the wound, clenching his teeth. Sam couldn’t afford to lose too much blood. He needed help—fast.
"Damn it, kid… you're one tough bastard," Lennox muttered, scanning the cave again. There had to be something useful here.
Then he noticed it.
In one corner, various devices sat stacked haphazardly—some incomplete, others flickering weakly. Sam’s inventions. Maybe, just maybe, he had something that could help.
Lennox cast a final glance at Sam before forcing himself to his feet. He couldn’t afford to waste time. Moving quickly, he searched through the pile, opening metal cases and digging through the improvised workshop. His fingers skimmed across wires, metal components, and small control units.
And then he found it.
A small device marked with a medical symbol. It looked old, makeshift—but it might be exactly what they needed. Lennox cautiously activated it—a faint hum filled the air before a soft green light blinked on. It was a rudimentary scanner.
"This better work," Lennox murmured, rushing back to Sam.
Holding the device over the boy, he watched as a small screen flickered to life, displaying Sam’s condition. The analysis confirmed what he already knew—severe internal bleeding, critical condition.
"Shit…"
Lennox applied more pressure to the wound, then attempted his radio again. Still nothing.
Sam twitched again, letting out a faint sound. His face was damp with sweat, his breathing even shallower than before. Lennox leaned over him, shaking his shoulder slightly.
"Hey, Sam, wake up," he said firmly.
Nothing.
Lennox narrowed his eyes. "I swear, if you pass out on me, I’m gonna slap you the moment you wake up."
A weak, strained noise left Sam’s lips—a small sign, but a sign nonetheless.
"There you are… come on, kid, stay with me."
Lennox exhaled slowly. He had no choice—they needed to get out of here. Now.
But first, he needed to get a signal through.
Lennox swore under his breath, jabbing at his radio again. No matter how many times he tried, the signal wouldn’t go through.
"Damn it all…" he growled. The cave was shielded—Sam had chosen his hiding spot well. Too well. No signal, no way to call for help. They were on their own.
He ran a hand over his face, eyes drifting back to Sam. The kid was still deathly still, his breathing too shallow, his forehead slick with cold sweat. The metallic shard still jutted out from his stomach—an ominous sight.
Then Sam moved.
A sharp gasp escaped him, his fingers twitching against the cave floor. His eyelids fluttered before his dull, tired eyes finally cracked open.
"Sam?" Lennox immediately leaned closer. "Hey, can you hear me?"
Sam blinked slowly, looking dazed, unfocused. His gaze swept around the cave, as if trying to remember where he was. Then his eyes landed on Lennox—before trailing downward.
And widening in horror.
"What the hell—?!"
His panicked cry echoed through the cave as he took in the jagged shard embedded in his stomach. His body tensed, his breathing hitched, panic overtaking him. He struggled weakly, his bound hands pulling against his restraints.
"Damn it, kid! Stay still!" Lennox shouted, but Sam wasn’t listening. His breath quickened, panic flashing in his eyes.
Smack.
The first slap didn’t bring him back.
Smack.
The second made him freeze, if only for a second.
Lennox raised his hand for a third—
"Stop hitting me!"
Lennox grabbed his face between both hands, forcing him to focus. "Get it together. Panicking won’t get us out of here."
Sam’s breathing remained labored, but the panic in his eyes faded—replaced by raw pain. He let out a strangled whimper as the shock wore off and reality set in.
"Damn… this hurts…" he muttered through gritted teeth.
"Yeah, no shit," Lennox said dryly, still pressing against the wound. "That thing is pretty deep. You need to stay still."
Sam clenched his teeth, his whole body shaking. He knew Lennox was right, but the pain made it hard to think straight.
"We need to get out of here," Lennox said firmly. "And you’re the only one who can call for help. So do it."
Sam’s tired eyes flickered with hesitation. "No…"
"Sam, this isn’t a game," Lennox growled. "We need help, and you’re the only one who can get it. Call him."
Sam weakly shook his head—but the pain was worsening. He wouldn’t last much longer.
With trembling fingers, he reached for the connection.
Ironhide answered immediately.
"SAM?! Where the hell are you?! What happened?!"
The sheer force of his voice made Sam flinch. He tried to speak, but before he could—
"If this is another one of your damn tricks, there will be consequences, boy!"
Sam’s breath hitched. The pain spiked, and before he could stop it, his desperation surged through the connection.
Help…
He let the wave of pain and fear surge through the connection, opening it wide enough for Ironhide to locate him. He felt the Autobot abruptly fall silent—a moment of pure stillness before Sam grew too weak to maintain the link.
His vision blurred, his breathing grew shallower. But before he slipped into unconsciousness again, he forced his gaze onto Lennox’s radio.
"What—?" Lennox looked at him in surprise.
Sam’s blue eyes flickered, and with one final exhausted twitch, he made the radio in Lennox’s hands light up.
Lennox flinched as a bright signal suddenly flashed across the display. A burst of static crackled through the speaker—
Then, he heard the familiar voices of his team.
They had a connection.
azer_abyss on Chapter 1 Wed 02 Apr 2025 05:59PM UTC
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Sam_the_human on Chapter 16 Sat 14 Jun 2025 04:11AM UTC
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