The metallic screeching was deafening. Your body, burned by chains, hung in the semi-darkness of the hangar, more like a butcher's shop. Here, among the pipes, red-hot, and huge containers with boiling molten metal, there were no people - there were only bounty hunters and machines of the KSI corporation.

Cold chains squeezed your limbs, metal links dug into the armor, leaving dents. You felt how their winches slowly lowered you closer and closer to the bright yellow stream of hot metal, gushing from a huge reservoir. The air was saturated with soot, hot iron and the death of the Autobots who had already gone through this hell.

The technician's metallic voice echoed throughout the shop:

"Another sample. The body will be melted down within three minutes."

Your optics reflected the furnace flames, and fear arose inside you - real, sharp. You knew that in another moment your shell would melt, your spark would fade, and everything you were would turn into a faceless piece of liquid metal for their greedy hands.

And suddenly - a roar. The walls of the hangar shook, steel beams rained down sparks. A furious roar of an engine was heard, familiar, dear.

"GIVE ME BACK MY FRIENDS!!!"

The hangar doors burst open as if a storm had blown them away. Optimus Prime entered in a cloud of smoke and flame, his eyes blazing with rage. Behind him was Bumblebee, ever-restless, his blaster raised. The massive Hound, his weaponry fully loaded. The graceful Drift, his katanas drawn out. Crosshair, already aiming his rifle.

You heard the whistle of bullets and the roar of guns as the crew took revenge. Hunter metal was flying, sparks were flying, the shop was filled with battle.

But you were still hanging over the red-hot tank. The chains tightened, slowly lowering you down. Your body was starting to feel the heat, the panels were heating up, internal sensors were sounding the alarm.

Optimus noticed you. His optics widened and he roared furiously as he charged through the enemy line. Bullets and explosions rained down on his armor, but he didn't slow down. His blades left his hands with a deafening ringing sound. He cut through like a storm until he was right at the platform.

"HOLD ON!" — His voice shook with rage and determination.

Bumblebee covered him with fire, shooting down drones from above. Hound smashed turrets with grenade launcher volleys. Drift fought so fast that his blades left only traces of light. Crosshair covered you, shooting down the gunner who was already reaching for the console to speed up your death.

Optimus jumped, and his blade cut through one of the chains that held you. The metal groaned, sparks rained down. The heat from the furnace was already searing your armor, but he was in time. The second chain gave way under his blow, and he grabbed you in his arms, catching you before you would have fallen into the boiling tank.

You felt your systems overheat, your body trembling from the heat, but his strong arms held you tight, not allowing you to even touch the flames.

"No one..." — Optimus growled, looking up at the remaining enemies, his voice like a hammer blow.

"No one has the right to touch my friends!"

And with that, he smashed the nearest enemy with a blow.