Traitor.

Chapter Two.

"These are the co-ordinates sent by Starscream to Barricade." Bumblebee told the assembled Autobots.

"We should take him out. We know he is a threat to humans." said Ironhide.

The scout, Cliffjumper, said "Yeah, I agree, let's blast him!" Cliffjumper was a recent arrival on Earth, a scout with an aggressive streak when it came to Decepticons, and in him Ironhide had found a kindred spirit: both liked to blast the slag out of potential Decepticon threats.

"There is something strange about all of this. Why contact Barricade on an unencrypted channel? Optimus asked. Bumblebee raised his hands in a 'who knows' gesture.

"Maybe they've realised we've cracked their latest code, and are hoping we won't be monitoring the unencrypted ones?" Bumblebee theorised.

"Whatever reason it is, we now know." said Ironhide. "We know where Barricade is, we also know that he will happily threaten humans. One less Decepticon on this planet will be one less that the humans-and us-will have to worry about when Starscream comes back. I say we take him out." The Weapons Specialist's opinion was eagerly seconded by Cliffjumper.

"Actually, Prime, I am forced to agree with Hide and Cliffy over there." said Jazz. "If Starscream is telling Barricade to stand by and wait to be contacted, he must be planning something, and Barricade agreed to get rid of nosy humans if they happened upon him. That involves a risk to humans. We should at least be there to counter if he does attack."

Optimus sighed: he hated having to kill. He hoped that he might somehow be able to negotiate with Barricade, but he knew that, with Barricade's personality, and 'shoot not talk' philosophy, the possibility of this was remote. However, he could still hope.

"Okay, Ironhide, pick your troops and come with me. I shall call Ratchet to accompany us." Optimus knew that if it came to a fight, if anyone could save Barricade's Spark if they managed to down him without destroying him, it would be Ratchet.

"Permission to accompany you, sir?" asked Prowl. Optimus looked at the tactician in surprise.

"You would be willing to join in with an attack that is likely to prove fatal to your younger brother?" Optimus asked.

"I would prefer, if the opportunity arises, to have a chance to talk with him." said Prowl. "There is something that he should know, and, as a consequence, that you should know." Prowl shuttered his optics for a millisecond, and then looked up again.

"I am not the only younger brother that Barricade has. He and I have another brother, but Barricade and I left before our parental units obtained the brother. I stayed in contact with them, which is why I know, but 'Cade did not, so is unaware. Even our younger brother is unaware of the relationship, which I thought was the best option considering that he might end up fighting him, which he did. You did not need another soldier who might have to choose where his loyalties lie in the middle of a battle." Prowl beckoned the young scout, Bumblebee, over. "I feel that Barricade should have the opportunity to speak to our younger brother, Bumblebee, on that basis." he said.

Bumblebee squeeped in surprise, optics opening very wide. "You and Barricade are both my brothers?" he asked. Prowl nodded.

"Why did you not inform me of this earlier?" asked Optimus.

"Because I promised our parental units that it should not be revealed unless necessary, for further investigation would have revealed our family's shameful secret-a secret that directly involves Barricade, and that he is unaware of. We decided, for his own peace of mind, that he should not know unless it becomes necessary. I feel that he should know the truth before he dies-particularly as it should no longer be a shameful thing." Prowl looked at the floor. "The prejudice runs deep, even I had to work hard to overcome it."

"What is it, Prowl? What is so shameful that you hid that knowledge from both Barricade and I?" asked Bumblebee. Prowl looked up again.

"Our brother, Barricade…….is femmeborn." Prowl stated.

Bumblebee was the first to speak into the shocked silence that followed Prowl's statement.

"You're right, Prowl, it should no longer be seen as shameful or sacrilegious now that the AllSpark is gone. The only way to create sparklings now is for them to be remember. After all, Optimus, now that Elita has arrived, and is carrying, your Sparkling will be a femmeborn itself." He looked at Optimus, who nodded.

"That, I believe, is why Prowl has said it should no longer be a shameful thing." Optimus stated.

Bumblebee turned his attention back to Prowl.

"How did it happen?" he asked.

"It was an accident. Our femme parental unit told me that her contraceptive failed." Prowl shrugged. "Despite that, there were still those who would have seen his existence as offensive, simply through the circumstances of his Spark's creation."

"None of this changes the fact that the longer we wait, the greater the chance that Barricade will do something to harm the humans." stated Ironhide. "Are we going to go and find him, or discuss the theological basis of Cybertronian prejudice against femmeborns?" asked Ironhide bluntly. "May I respectfully suggest that we get our afts moving, and save the discussion for later?"

"Okay." sighed Optimus. "Prowl, Bumblebee, you may accompany us. Ironhide, who are you bringing, and who are we leaving to guard the base?"

"I am bringing Cliffjumper and Mirage." Ironhide said, as Ratchet, who Optimus had called via data burst, turned up. "That leaves Hound, Jazz, Bluestreak, the Twins, Elita, and Chromia to guard the base." Ironhide gave a smile as he said this, leading Optimus to believe that if Ironhide had any say, Elita would not be the only femme carrying in the near future.

"You wanted me to come with you, Prime, to help track down Barricade?" he asked. As Mirage, who Ironhide had called, turned up, Optimus nodded.

"Yes, Ratchet."

He turned to face the others.

"Okay, everybody transform and roll out, we have a Decepticon to stop."

The designated 'bots all took vehicle form, and headed for the co-ordinates relayed in the message that Bumblebee had intercepted.