Aura's P.O.V.

I sat down, worrying eating away at my body. "Great. Everyone's in danger, and I'm not able to help them." Smokescreen shrugged. "I want to help them as well, Aura, but I have my orders. And... I don't want to leave you." I laughed. "Smoke'!" I chided, though I couldn't help the small, slightly embarrassed smile that crept onto my face.

He smiled at me as he got some energon and handed a cube to me. I took it as he took a seat beside me. "I mean it Aura, really. I know how you felt when Optimus left. He was a great teacher to me, and a good friend. So I promised him and myself that I would watch over you. Help you when you need it." said Smokescreen.

I had a bit of energon as he spoke, trying to conceal just how his words truly made me feel - warm on the inside. "Oh, Smoke," I said quietly, with a smile. "Yeah, it is hard with Optimus gone, but I'm hanging in there. I've got you now." Smokescreen smiled. "I don't intend to break that promise ever, Aura. If you need anything, just come to me and I'll help you however you can."

"I will." I replied. Now that I thought about it. Smokescreen may not be ready to be a Prime. Wrong place wrong time after all with the incident back on Earth. But this made me think, perhaps King material?

I thought about it quickly. Smoke' and I were good friends, so we wouldn't argue and would get things done quickly. And also, he could lead. He'd proved that by being second-in-command of the Cybertronian police force.

"Something wrong?" asked Smokescreen. I refocused and looked up at him shaking my head. "Oh, no I'm fine. Just thinking that's all." I replied. "well, I'm getting seconds. Want any?" he asked. I shook my head no.

He left the room. I sighed and leaned back, closing my optics. I was glad we were in the safe house; I knew I'd be able to rest easier here than the palace, where I knew Ransack could appear at any given moment.

I let out a sigh as I thought of everything that happened, in less than 2 days! Unbelievable. We hardly had a break these past few days. Maybe now we were secluded from everyone else I could have a small break. Smokescreen walked back in with his second energon cube and sat back down. "Smoke?" "Yeah?" "Do you think the others are ok? So much as happened for the past 2 days, and I can't stop thinking about father. Esspecially since he's going up against the dinobots."

"He'll be fine, Aura," he told me. "Your father's more than capable of holding up. I've in him in action."

"I guess that, well, thinking about everything that's happening, I'm wondering what will happen next," I said with a sigh.

"I know its been eventful, but I'm sure things will calm down." said Smokescreen.

"Yeah, it can't remain this hectic forever," I reasoned.

After a few minutes of waiting I get tired and decided to go into recharge. "I'm gonna get some shut eye. Wake me up when Magnus gets back." I said. "Sure thing." replied Smokescreen. I gave Smoke' a quick hug before heading into my room. I slouched on to my bed and slowly fell asleep.

Meanwhile Smokescreen fell asleep while at the computer. The door slowly opened and someone slipped inside. The figure looked around the room and spotted Smokescreen recharging by the computer. The figure laughed inwardly. You thought you could hide from me, he thought. He shook is helm and crept through the house, peering into every room. Finally, he found the one he was looking for, with a certain femme asleep on her bed. Too easy, he thought, and slipped inside.

He carefully closed the door, making sure not to wake Smokescreen. He crept up the the sleeping form of the Princess, a maniac grin on his face. It took time to make it all the way across, but it had to be careful. If she woke up and spotted him, it would ruin the whole plan.

Finally, he was by the bed. He grinned, transforming one of his servos into a blaster and leveling it at her head. He placed a servo over her mouth, muffling her voice as she woke up.

Aura's POV

I woke up and tried to scream but my voice was blocked by a mechs hand. My optics glanced around the darkened room fearfully. I was able to make out a vague shape of someone in the room. I could feel something at my head and breathed in shakily. There was a gun at my head.

"Not a word, Princess," the voice hissed. My optics widened as I recognised the voice. I should've guessed who it was when I woke up in this position. Ransack. "Now, get up, and don't try anything."

I followed his command and slowly got up from the bed. Once I did, I elbowed him in the stomach then flipped him over me. He landed on the floor back first with a loud 'CRASH'.

There was a startled cry from another room. I smiled grimly, knowing Smokescreen must be up. You're letting your guard down, Smoke, I thought, and dodged a blow from Ransack. Smokescreen charging into the room. "Aura are you---" said Smokescreen but stopped when he saw Ransack. An angry expression formed on his face.

"You," he growled. He loaded his blasters and aimed them at Ransack. "How did you find us? But that doesn't matter so much right now, just get away from Aura, NOW!"

I slowly backed away towards Smokescreen as Ransack got back up. "Lets just say a certain ex-con spilled the beans." said Ransack. Knockout..... "What did you do to him?!" I asked.

As soon as I was close to him, Smokescreen grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. He placed himself in front of me protectively, his blaster never trailing of Ransack as he laughed.

"Did he think he could keep that act up for long? I knew switched sides the moment I saw him mingling with other Autobots." said Ransack. "Forget about this insanity! The war is over, so both sides can live in peace. Why do you want to take over Cybertron?" I asked. "You'll just fail like Megatron did!"

"Why do I want to take over Cybertron, Princess Aura? Well, it will give me power. And who is to say I'll fail like Megatron? I am nothing like him."

"You think that." said Smokescreen. "Now leave." Ransack smirked. "As you wish, Smokescreen," he drawled, and took a few steps forward. The both of us watched as Ransack walked to the door. "One way or another Princess, you will be mine." said Ransack.

I narrowed my optics, and Smokescreen pushed my further behind him as Ransack left. When he was gone, I sighed in relief and leaned against Smokescreen's side. "You ok Aura?" asked Smokescreen. "Anything broken?" "I think I'm ok."

He exhaled in relief. "That's good." He hugged me, and I returned the hug, feeling relieved that the ordeal, though brief, was over. "I can't believe the nerve of that good-for-noting Decepticreep," Smokescreen growled, "showing up here and trying to kidnap you."

"I know. Thanks for the save Smokescreen." I said. A smile forming on my face. "All though I did the dirty work of beating the scrap outta him." "Hey! I was the one who convinced him to get out!"

I chuckled and leaned my cheek on his shoulder. "Whatever you say, Smokescreen," I mused.

"True. He had it coming." "Indeed he did," I said. Smokescreen squeezed me closer to him and I closed my optics, a small smile on my face plates.

All of a sudden my mind became foggy, and the next thing I knew, I woke up. I was sitting in my bed. I anxiously looked around the room. No Ransack, No Smokescreen. "It was just a dream." I whispered.

I sighed and sat up, just as Smokescreen walked in. He smiled. "Morning, Princess," he said. I rubbed the back of my helm and groaned. "Morning, Smoke." "Rough sleep?" asked Smokescreen. "Sorta. I don't know if it was a dream or a nightmare. Maybe both? It's all a blur." I answered.

He sat down next to me and put an arm around my shoulders. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" he asked, sounding concerned. I looked up into his optics and slowly explained my nightmare last night. Smokescreen didn't interrupt as I told the story, instead just tightening his hold around my shoulders.

"And that's what happened." I said. "Sounded like some nightmare." Smokescreen replied. "I know, but that's the problem! Back on Earth when me and Wheeljack were held captive on Darkmount, I had a vision of Starscream saying that he would terminate us. Next thing we knew, the 'Cons took us to a smelting pit. And after that day when Dreadwing gave us the forge, I had another vision of Megatron killing Dreadwing!" I explained in fear.

"What if this is another one of those visions? What if Ransack really comes looking for me?!"

Smokescreen's optics hardened and he squeezed my shoulders reassuringly. "I swear to the AllSpark, Aura, I will not let that Decepticreep anywhere near you, ever! I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you remain safe, I promise." "You really mean that?" I asked. "Ever word. With all of my spark." replied Smokescreen.

I smiled and placed my head on his chassis. "What would I do without you, Smokescreen?" I asked. He chuckled. "You'd probably be a little safer," he said. "I wouldn't be dragging you into scrap all the time." Memories of certain situations back on Earth - such as the time we went for the Star Saber and the time we'd spent captive on the Decepticon warship - flashed through my processor. I laughed lightly. "Probably," I agreed, "but that was the past. Things have changed now."

"Yeah I guess your right." I said. "Come on, lets get something to eat." replied Smokescreen We left my room ad Smoke' got the energon from the supply room. Wait? Did he say it was morning? Ultra Magnus has been gone all night?!

"Wait, what's happened to Father, Bumblebee, Jackie, Arcee and Bulk?" I asked fearfully. "Have you received any transmission from them?" Smokescreen paused. There was a heavy silence for a moment and he shook his head. "Sorry, Aura. I haven't heard from anyone yet."

"Oh." now I was starting to get worried. Back in the war Ultra Magnus would be gone for a few hours, but an entire night?! Something didn't feel right.

As though he could read my thoughts, Smokescreen looked down at me and smiled gently. "I'm sure they're fine, Aura. They probably just got held back. They'll get into contact soon, I'm sure."

"I hope so." I said. Smokescreen handed me an energon cube and we began eating. Probably because I was scared for Ultra Magnus and the others, time felt as though it was dragging by. I took small bites of energon, though it tasted slightly off. Again, that was probably due to my anxiety. I didn't want any of my friends to be hurt. If they were... I didn't want to think about it.