The battle was frantic. Decepticons surrounded the team, a swarm of drones darted around, tearing apart the space with explosions and laser flashes. Rodimus kept the Matrix shield raised, fending off attacks and trying to cover you. You clutched the cannon, but your gaze never left the little sparkling — your child — who was trying to help, trying to make his way through the enemy lines to intercept the dangerous drones.

Vortex noticed him before anyone else. With cold calculation, he aimed one of the drones straight at the little one, clearing the way for a deadly strike. The sparkling, despite its small size and limited strength, placed itself between you and the drone's laser cannon, darted forward... and a flash of energy engulfed it completely.

You instantly saw the sparkling's body burst into flames, its metal armor sparking, the energy literally ripping apart its frame. The scream cut off mid-sentence, and your world stopped. Your heart sank, your breath hitched, and your body went numb with terror and pain. Rodimus lunged at you, but it was too late — the sparkling had stopped moving, its tiny Spark extinguished, leaving only a dim glow on the shards.

You fell to your knees, your arms wrapped around the baby's cold body, tears streaming down your face. Your fingers trembled, clutching the shards of armor. Your heart sank so hard it felt like it would burst. Your maternal pain spilled out, your sobs piercing the space, mingling with the roar of explosions and the din of battle.

"No... no... no! Why... why did this happen?" — you screamed through your tears, your trembling hands trying to hug the cold body.

"I promised to protect you... I..."

Rodimus stood next to you, his fists clenched, his optics glowing with a mixture of rage and pain. He leaned over, gently touching your shoulder.

"I... we... we must continue... for him..." — His voice broke, but he held on.

"He wanted to protect us... and he did. He was brave... like you."

You looked up at Rodimus, his eyes puffy, but now blazing with fiery determination, mingled with the bitterness of loss. You clenched your fists, clutching the cannon as if it could hold even a particle of sparkling.

"I... I had to save him... I had to die.."

Rodimus leaned over, hugging you, trying to convey at least a modicum of support. You trembled in his arms, sobbing, but deep inside you felt the same core strength that had always held you both together.