Okay, here is my Transformers: Prime story!

Title: Adaptation

Rating: T, may be M for torture scenes later on

Universe: Prime, post-Predacons Rising

Warnings: Torture coming up soon/possibly/in the future. Warnings will be in the beginning of the chapter only, so if you fail to read the author notes, the blame is on you.

Apologies for my attitude. Enjoy the story!

It was quiet on the Nemesis...

...until there was an explosion.

"What in the Allspark's name was that?" Bumblebee shouted, trying to regain his balance as the ship rocked precariously.

"I can give you a guess," Arcee said.

Bumblebee was silent until realization hit him.

"Wheeljack!"

The Wrecker entered with Bulkhead steadying him. His white paint was charred, and smoke rose from the Energon conduits on his back.

"What were you doing?" Bumblebee demanded.

"Relax, 'Bee. We were testing the strength of new explosives for construction," Bulkhead explained.

"On a ship miles in the air? What were you thinking?"

"It's Wheeljack, 'Bee," Smokescreen said as he cleaned his blaster. "Thinking isn't a given for the insane Wreckers."

Wheeljack laughed hoarsely at this. Bulkhead glanced worriedly at him.

"I need to get him to med-bay," the massive Wreckers stated. "Jackie nearly got his face blown off."

"That's what he gets," Arcee muttered, "For trying to blow us out of the sky."

"Aren't inventors supposed to do that?" Smokescreen said. Arcee turned to glare at him, and he raised his servos, his doorwings twitching. "Just sayin'."

"Ratchet!"

The medic's voice echoed from his small Energon storage room. "What have you come to bother me about now?" He appeared, a scowl on his faceplate and stacks of Energon cubes in his servos.

"Lab accident," Bulkhead explained when Ratchet noticed Wheeljack. "Grenade testing."

"Of all the stupid-" The medic stopped, collecting his temper. "You did this on an airborne ship why?" He slammed the crates down on his desk with a forceful, near ground-shaking thud.

"It was on the deck," Wheeljack shot back, pushing Bulkhead off of him and wincing as his damaged servo moved. "Only thing that went kablooey was the grenade."

"And nearly you with it," Ratchet snapped.

"I'm in one piece, aren't I?" The Wrecker jerked away as the medic applied disinfectant.

"Barely," Ratchet snapped.

"Aren't you supposed to have an assistant?" Bulkhead asked suddenly.

Ratchet scowled. "Yes, but his whereabouts are unknown."

"He couldn't have left without us knowing," Wheeljack said. "He's a land-mode, which means he would have used the Ground Bridge and we would have known."

"Yes, yes, I know." The medic approached his computer and brought up recently admitted coordinates. "The most recent coordinates are the set that was used to pick up Ultra Magnus from the Sea of Rust."

"He probably deleted them," Bulkhead said. "He still doesn't trust us."

"You mean he doesn't trust Smokescreen," Wheeljack countered as the medic patched the gash on his side. "The kid did stick him in a wall."

"Ultra Magnus confined him to the ship," Ratchet reminded. "It is not our problem if he desires to go against his orders."

"But it is our problem if he finds Megatron." Arcee appeared in the doorway.

"He said he'd never inflict oppression again," Wheeljack said, "And something tells me that KO isn't the type to just up and leave."

"We never thought he'd have the guts to fight, but he reached through Screamer's chest and knocked him unconscious with the Immobilizer."

"Which was a weapon we needed," Arcee countered.

"As well as one we probably wouldn't have used unless someone attacks," Wheeljack snapped, "But that is unlikely because we have this gigantic airship." He shifted slightly, attempting to adjust to the Energon drip Ratchet had stuck him to as a means to restore the amount in the explosion.

"That is possible," Ratchet responded, taking a step away from the Wrecker as he ran another scan. "You should be fine unless you try another insubordinate ploy of some sort. The rest of you can leave." He watched as Bulkhead helped Wheeljack out of the room.

"Do you really think Megatron was telling the truth?" It was Arcee, who had stayed despite the medic's order.

"I cannot give my view on that. We have trusted him before and the results were both triumphant and catastrophic."

"What would Knock Out be doing down there, other than the theory that he's looking to join forces with Megatron? It's not like he had anything to do."

"Decepticons are naturally misleading, Arcee. He could have an actual reason for being down there without a given order." He turned away, heading back to the storage room and ending their conversation.

Arcee took the dismissal as it was and left. "Let's just hope it's a good one."

The ex-Con sped down the uneven metal road, swerving to avoid the jagged spikes that protruded from its surface. The War had ravaged the path; faint flashbacks of the bombings and the injuries they caused plagued his mind.

Stop. Do not let inconsequential matters haunt you. They are beneath you.

Swerving suddenly, he jerked off the path, transforming. Picking his way through the broken field, his burning gaze swept over the clearing. Where was it?

Out of the corner of his optic, he saw the glint of light on metal. He enhanced his scanners, and picked up the faint, albeit dampened, spark signal of an Autobot. Venting in irritation, he checked to make sure his own signature was dampened. Seeing it was, he came to the conclusion that the Autobot had been shadowing him for quite some time, though certainly not from the time he had left the ship; the only explanation as to why he had not sensed it earlier being that he had been lost in his thoughts. The others must have noticed his absence and sent one to investigate.

Joy.

She trailed the ex-Con, keeping out of his sensor range. What was he doing out here, in this war ravaged field? There was nothing here.

"Bulkhead." She contacted the Wrecker. "I found him."

"I'm not surprised," the Autobot responded. "What is he doing, finding a nice place to buff his finish?"

"I'm not so sure. Right now, he's just driving, and...hold on." She watched as the mech suddenly tore off of the path with a violent, screeching swerve and into the field, transforming.

"Arcee, what is it? Are you in trouble?"

"No, he just moved off the path. It looks like he's looking for something. I'll call you back, Bulk. I need to be prepared for anything."

"Let me know if you need backup. That 'Con can be a handful."

She suppressed a laugh. "Bulk, this is Knock Out we're talking about here. He isn't much of a threat."

"You can never be too careful. He has some tricks up his sleeves."

"His tricks never impressed me." She hung up.

A shadow passed over her. "I'm sorry that my tricks don't impress you." A deep voice drawled above her, full of annoyance and ridicule. "Perhaps if I gave you a shock?"

Electricity surged through her body, and the last thing she saw was the leering face of Knock Out.

Aaaannnddd...that's that! Hope you liked!

Also, I know Wheeljack was a bit out of character, and I apologize for that. I have reasons for making him so...things you will find out about later.

Review or PM with suggestions/comments/concerns!

Bye!