"I know a way how we can get them back-- we just need to get them to come back."

- John.

~~|||~~

Iris:

Is it... normal to dream of swords and blood?

Iris blinked the tiredness away, remaining in the dark on her own. Already two days had passed, and she still hadn't find a single hour with peace. She was nervous, anxious of something and feeling the lack of being done for. Something was really wrong, and she didn't know what... that makes her feel uncomfortable also. Responsible, perhaps.

Like she had other unknown instincts like cats.

You glitch... I never though this much.

All I do remember is an word starting Pra-- and something with O.

"What could you be...?" Iris hummed quietly, suddenly her eyes narrowed to see her laptop's screen give a notification on her email of an unknown senter. She crawled out of her warm covers only to get the computer, but she was back in bed again. Only this time in crossed Indian legs as she wrapped her cover on her. "... And who are you?"

I'm starting to speak to myself, for Christ's sake.

Iris tapped her password down and waited her laptop to open before it did, forming first a picture of her whole family. There was her Father, brother, Mother and she herself. Right there all happy. Why did John send goosebumps go down her spine-- perhaps she remembered something. But now; to the message.

"-- From Ohio!?" Iris quietly gasped, the sender lived in her town, then it was time to open the email then. It was time to read, and it went crazily like this;

Yo, Iris.

Perhaps you can't tell like your whole team cannot, but we Trio can. We have written this same message for all of your other friends also and let me say, we're in big trouble. You all must meet today night at New York's statue of Liberty. It's closed, I know. But you're Team X, remember? Like guards of Our World would hold ya down! But please... Weque is counting on us, and remember just one thing, girl--

Unicron.

-- Rosalie.

Iris was up like thunder.

She took her car keys, dressed quickly on her some army trousers, black top and random white bobby socks. Even though she was sick, she had no time. All she had was 24 hours to get in New York, thus she had to book a flight ticket.

I REMEMBER.

Iris quietly exited her room and stepped into the dark hallway, running down the stairs like speed was gonna be enough. She was in the kitchen, and only froze on her spot to notice one flight ticket to New York laying on the table. Of course she remembered then that Josh was heading there to get his brother to visit us here... and it was today's one.

So the girl took it.

Josh would be up soon so Iris was in a rush. She got something to eat -- as in took yesterday's cold hamburger-- with her, took paper and pencil then she wrote down.

Mom, Josh.

I wish I could say more than this, but I had to leave. Forgive me. If we see still on one day, I will bring back to you maybe the strongest team of mine, and... my man.

Hold tight.

-Love Iris.

Iris folded the paper, and left it to lay where the flight ticket was. Hopefully they were gonna let her in the airplane.

Now; she made run for it outside. There greeted her beautiest gray car again as the night she left her house to go into a party. But now she remembered the whole thing; as if the barrier keeping her blacked out was shattered into millions of pieces. Iris was the newest Leader, Praxina was the first name she was seeking for and the important one; Optimus.

What actually made her leave in such a hurry was the chance of rescuing her Guardian. The fact that she remembers his death right in front of her eyes still grasped her heart, but perhaps rescuing him was possible. At least she wasn't going down without their final fight for him. Unicon-- Iris would punch him really hard. No... she was going to end him once and for all.

Everyone... please be on time.

~~|||~~

"Thank you!"

Iris paid for her bringer to the statue of Liberty, meaning of her aged Asian guy who nodded and left her there then. The place was closed by night-time, and the clock was only 4 p.m... so morning was rising. She was probably the last one who got the message, but at least she lived close. Now; she walked up towards where the stairs into the statue starts. Hoping, dearly wishing that her friends didn't turn their back on for their Guardians, and for Wequel.

"I'm saying, that she's not coming!"

"Shut up!"

"Anyone has any food with? I'm starving."

Half-way going up, Iris couldn't do else but feel her heart warm up each step she took closer for her destiny. Primus thought them not to be right ones, but perhaps he was wrong. These were the people right ones in order to defeat Unicron and maybe Galvatron in good luck. But now; only worry was the Ancient evil.

"Ouch! Stop that!"

Iris took her final step, a wide smile spreaded on her face as she saw her whole team there, thus the Trio themselves. No one had turned their back towards anyone, and seemed to possess same kind of attitude as back in Third Dimension.

Guys...

"Maybe we send it to her too late..." Rosalie rubbed her hair, hardly knowing how to use the phone in her grasp now. Praxina flamed by this, kicking the rock which misunderstood to cross her way pretty hard.

"Wonderful!" Praxina yelled out loud.

I still need to teach them how to be quiet in a secret meeting place!

"We need to get along without our Leader?" Jack whined like a small child, looking down in disappointment.

"Not cool..." Ann added, her arms folded.

"Or perhaps you should shut the fuck up and once in a time start looking around you." Iris stopped teasing her friends any longer, as she started walking towards the crowded people. Their heads spun into her direction, and faces turned wide as if seeing maybe the populariest person of all time. "Miss me?"

"Iris!" Everyone called out, Savannah the one bringing her into a tight hug first.

"You bitch!" She declared.

"Don't scare us like that ever again!" Katie sighed in frustration, but clearly was glad of Iris' presence also. Been back at home felt safe, but been with her almost whole family felt like home to Iris.

"You idiot!" Ann had formed tears in her eyes, nextly Iris and she embraced a tight hug. How Iris missed this tough-head, and Praxina who smiled beside her wide. "Now we can go and save the damn world together." They split up, everyone gathering into one place.

"What now?" Andrea turned for the Trio after hugging Iris also, her small eyes requiring an answer of how to get back.

"You must hear us out first," Will begun, exchanging looks with Rosalie and Sebastian about something. "But we were offered some help from other side, and we desided to rescue our Parents just like you plan to save yours."

"Who... offered you help?" Alex asked bluntly, little shocked to say.

"-- I did."

The clear blue sky with rising sun was suddenly surrounded with dark clouds and lightning. But that didn't stop there; as an dark portal opened up right in front of them all. The two Teams were to soon taken back at this, but Iris and Will --leaders of their teams-- remained in front. And Will did have his hand rose as for them to back down. Now from the bridge came a familiar person.

One that Iris had thought right on this morning.

"... John?" Iris asked too shocked, she hadn't seen her brother in such a long time. When he actually was out of the bridge which still remained open and looked directly at Iris and her team, those overprotective ones soon covered their Leader's sides. "What are you doing in here?"

His hand rose towards the bridge, the sea surrounding them started getting stampeded and outrageous of it.

"I came to bring all of you back." John knew by the looks and actions most of the Team X did that he wasn't welcomed.

"You--!?" Praxina snarled and almost went to bite and claw the male monster if Chris wouldn't be the one throwing himself to hold her down. They didn't have their powers in real world, oddly the powerful one in that spot was John with his deep voice.

Why's that?

"You're picking up a fight with wrong people, scum." Ann warned, brushing Jack's hand away like a piece of scrap. But at least she stopped attacking.

Iris did look back at her friends' mood change, finally the one turning to face John. His face seemed approval for her team-mates actions, knowing himself the things he had done. But why was he here to pick them up? Why Primus didn't send them back? Already multiple questions filled her head up, and she desided to continue her interrogation.

Only to convince her Team and Will.

"Why?" Iris asked simply.

"Why, you ask?" John stepped away from the bridge, showing respectly his hand towards it as if forcing them almost to go through. (His voice shifted to cooler and much more convincing, don't be shocked!) "Because of Unicron-- Wequel is dying. The inhabitants on it are included, he doesn't spear one mosquito to fly on that planet no longer."

"Hah." Savannah snorted. "Don't you have your precious Galvatron? And his army!"

"Unicron has allied himself with Zynx." John knew how to shut this girl up, seeing damn well how it worked of speaking her Guardian's most hated enemy. "Minute by minute it gets harder to win him, he has almost become immortal."

"What's it up to us?" Alex wasn't quite sure of John's plan.

"You expect us to win him and you're just gonna sit back and watch?" Andrea was rather angry today, and dared to growl for the enemy.

"No." John answered very angrily. Then his black eyes were back on Iris', who remained only to listen very carefully. John was damn good at convincing. "Galvatron barely allowed me to suggest a petition such as this, when we must rely to ask your assistance... in order to defeat the long lasted enemy."

"Was that a yes?" Praxina snapped.

"We have personal reasons... so I can assure you all that we will fight side by side. But we cannot win without you and your Cybetronians." John knelt down, shocking the entire group. "So we humbly ask you to aligne forces with us... Guardians of the Stones."

Everyone pretty much exchanged looks. Except Iris who remained eyes wide staring at her kneeling family-member. Maybe this was their death-wish or a ticket out of this whole mission, but why would John go all this trouble just for nothing? And this Leader wasn't going to show her back to anyone.

"Rise, my dear brother--" Iris joked as took few steps to reach John, the man suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. His gaze rose, only to see his sister show the biggest smile of all time as for her team widest shocks. "Since we're totally in."

"IRIS!?" Everyone gasped.

The girl helped her brother back on his feet, wondering when had he became two heads taller than she was. But John looked grateful, even showing one of his rarest smiles as turning for the portal. Maybe that was enough to convince the two teams.

"One big group we are then." John said, taking the portal's side as motioning towards it. Woah, his voice was gone. "I guess ladies first."

"Ohh nah-ah!" Chris passed Iris, sharply standing in front of John. Seeming threatening, she guessed. "Why would ladies be going first if Unicron requires them for his plan." He growled, damn Iris forgot all about that!

"Because that might've be the best etiquette you'll ever get." John deeply snorted back, causing Iris chuckle as well step to stand beside Chris. "There is nothing waiting on the other side... as I wasn't so convinced of my team's reaction yet." He reassured, but Iris already had gained trust on him. The one she had always done for her overprotective family member.

"Together we go then... or in pairs." Iris glanced back, seeing hesitant looks between one another. "If you still are having second thoughts about this... I am no one to force you for this mission." But their Leader turned, saying the words she had thought the whole fly up to this point. The trouble she had gone through already for this moment. "Perhaps Primus allowed us to come home to see our families one more time or to say goodbye... but maybe also to stay. He didn't ask us to do anything, but look where have we been brought into? My point here is that... I still want to be the one named into the history book Megatron told us about." Now she laughed, although the memory was still sad.

What if we can't get them back?

"... I just wanna kick that son of a bitch's ass." Savannah bluntly said, stepping closer to the bridge to show that she was in. "Predaking will so be in also."

"Why wouldn't we be in?" Jack questioned from Iris. "I would be damn stupid to leave you all in trouble."

"Aren't you stupid already?" Ann teased, brushing her hand once in the air as she got already everyone's attention. "Aye, aye, count me in." Jack soon begun fight on her.

"You don't need assigment from us, we've always been ment to finish everything once and for all." Will rose his fist up in the air, Rosalie and Sebastian followed his lead. Now this was the spirit of Team Trio, and they looked damn badasses.

Iris smiled, seeing everyone else approval except...

"I'm not coming."

The Leader's smile faded, as she almost forgot to breathe. When Praxina, her Second in Command lent to one railing and looked away, allowing everyone to process what she just said.

"Praxe? What are you--?" Katie begun, but Iris left everyone's side while run up to her friend. They had became so close, and hearing those words coming from her mouth were unspeakadly impossible.

Iris and Praxina stared at each other for a while, neither of them knew how to start. But Iris seeked for an answer, until realized the pain in her eyes. Perhaps it was because of Megatron, or something far more worser. She understood that, but... Iris was going for Optimus too right? Praxe was misunderstanding something!

"Praxina..." Iris couldn't believe herself. Just when she said that she wasn't going to force anyone to come look what she was doing.

"You shouldn't go either-- none of you should." Praxina spat, glaring John above darkly. "Cause we should never trust our enemies."

"Praxe, we've got a backup plan." Iris laughed quietly, her smile fade again once her SIC stood on her feet to face her. "I'm not forcing you to anything... just, looking an answer from my best friend."

That stucked Praxina hard from the look on her face. But she remained stern, her mood changed totally.

"We have a life in here-- there we're kept as obstacles and targets to be killed!" Praxina yelled, knowing damn well how much she enjoyed been hunted down. "You have your own arm now, Iris!" She grabbed her fleshy right arm, reminding their Leader if she goes back, she will have her Cyber-limb back. "And if we get hit by anything deadly... we won't survive of it and will die there all alone. Without our family knowing it." She had tears in her eyes.

"... The only reason I'm going back?" Iris said, her face quite down. Everyone must've been wondering that. "I once swored to Primus that I would defeat Galvatron, the harmer for Wequel. But I was hesitant of my succeeding just as you all are now... but I did have one person who just had entered my life from blue sky. And that particular person was Optimus." She continued, despite the fact that she started crying also. Her sniffs became louder with Praxina's. "I saw him die right infront of my eyes, the Bot who had taught me so much, made me laugh, kept me safe for all those days and of course; allowed me to be part of his resting days."

"Died!?" Her friends were shocked on the background.

Now worst came for everyone then. Was their Guardians dead also?

"So I'm going back for him." Iris rose her gaze finally, turning to the portal. "I don't care what it takes, but he deserves a way of life-- not yet with the Allspark." Now she turned back for her friend, who looked at her fully. "I bet you still want to have that fight with Megatron?"

.

.

.

"... Yeah." Praxina growled deeply, suddenly standing beside Iris while she grasped her hand with hers. "On other thought; I want to hear his thanks for me saving his ass." She grinned, now Iris smiled.

I didn't do this for my own well-being.

But I knew how much Praxina and Megatron loved to pick on each other... it would be a great mistake for her to left uncome.

"Everyone's in..." Jack sighed in relief, holding hands with Andrea. "Now; allow hell to greet us once again."

John nodded, being the first to step through the portal. Alex ran up to Chris as these two hesitantly went through next, disappearing into the circling lights. Secondly was Ann and Katie which went through without arguing or words been left to speak. Will, Rosalie thus Sebastian and Savannah --ehh Predacons-- were up next, they disappeared into the dark portal also. And finally, Jack and Andrea slowed enough to go through together with Praxina and Iris.

It was one hell-ride.

"I'm gonna puke." Andrea said inside, slapping her hand over her mouth as they now walked straight in the darkness. Iris focused on nothing else but to get through, and already saw a dimm of light. Her stomach was twitching quite badly, but she desided to keep her last food all in.

"I don't like this..." Praxina said unsure, Iris only squeezed her hand and pulled her with.

Into the light finally.

There was sand soon greeting their feet as they weren't balanced and fell on their knees. A loud groan left pretty much everyone by this.

"When you say nothing waits us, was that a joke or real definition what it means?" Savannah acted sarcastic, pushing herself on her own feet. Now everyone saw; they were in middle of desert pretty much. Ruins of ancient buildings shined in the moon light, giving also a clear sight of a long road. Once the bridge closed, John turned for the two teams to check on them.

"Our powers are back." Ann tried her fire which burned briefly on her palm, until she suffocated it down.

"And Stones." Andrea admired her own blue stone.

Iris looked down, feeling the weight her Cyber-limb gave for her shoulders again. Seeing it again made her vince, perhaps even narrow her eyes, but it was part of her now. So there was no going back. Also she had her Matrix of Leadership back, it shined through her shirt clearly. But the Leader rose her gaze then after hearing Chris making out the most dealing question in this whole situation from now on.

"How we get our Bots back?" His eyes were stern. Seemed that he cared after Cyclonus in the end.

"It is best if we try getting your Guardians back... perhaps we use the technique you summoned them in the first place." John grabbed his chin, looking the Team X's members.

"I kinda... didn't 'summon' Drift." Katie rubbed her shoulder little uncomfortably.

"None of us did." Praxina made a round to see how they agreed. "My Guardian came when I was surrounded by those damn wolfs... probably when I felt fear." For her to admit that-- Iris knew something was wrong.

Why's she like that?

-- Does she mean the wolfs which led Jack and I to jump down also back then!?

"I guess we must be threatened," Alex rubbed the Stone on his chest now, wishing obviosly something. "I just wish that Moonracer's still here."

"Hmm..." John wondered, no matter how hard Iris tried to look him the other way she couldn't. John resembled so much of Optimus. And that stuck really hard. "To save everyone's time and my team's patience we must act quick--" Suddenly the Team X felt gravity pull them down furiosly. Their faces smacked down hard, and hands locked behind their backs as well legs didn't obey any will. Now Iris had been granted to be shocked. "I will crush your bodies with this rock."

"A ROCK--!?" Savannah looked above, seeing a just-well-said humongous rock loom above them. Like really really big, where did John get that thing? And why was only Team X included!? "Holy-- Mother!"

"What are you doing!?" Will asked patiently right beside John, Iris didn't want to hear. Not to ruin their possible chance to know, did they have a chance to change anything or will things be just as happened?

"Your Guardians are held captive by Unicron, if we believe having some chance in order to save them we require bigger muscles to take his army on." John said quietly only for the Trio to hear. This got the Predacon-sparklings growl deeply, and look down the whining and struggling teenagers.

"Ahh, my head!" Alex growled out loud.

"I can't change-- my arms are TIED!" Praxina showed her frustration, Iris gritted her teeth also. Maybe this should've been the way they had train back then. Now they were vulnerable for the enemy.

"It's coming!" Jack widened his eyes above them.

Iris raised her gaze also, first sighting John holding his palm up and all spread, until he crushed it close. The humongous rock came down at the yelling team-mates in horror. Everyone shut their eyes, yelling the only name popping into their head at that time.

Their Guardians names.

.

.

.

Metal struggles.

Iris opened her eyes, not feeling herself been crushed yet.

Then; she looked up.

Her eyes wide.

"What the...?"

To be continued.

《~~|||~~》

Ahahaha what a tease.

~keep reading.