Chapter 2

Smokescreen panted as he stared into his mirror. His blade was out, marked with even more Energon which stained the sink counter. The most recent wounds indeed opened up, even some older ones started to crack open. Due to his pressure, he had to create more slashes to calm himself down. Afterwards, he washed the Energon off his arms and wrapped some Cybertronian gauze around the wounds. Shifting his armor back on, Smokescreen rinsed the Energon off the sink, sheathing the blade and locking it away in the secret lid compartment. He came out, making sure no one was in his room, then put the box back in his drawer. He sighed and rubbed his nose bridge, "Why?" He moaned, "Why did we have to train so early? If we had just done it later..." He shook his head and furrowed his optic ridges, "Doesn't matter. As long as they don't find out, everything will be alright." He walked out of the room and left for a drive with no one's permission.

/

Arcee was pacing, Bulkhead and Bumblebee watching her. "I'm telling you! He's hiding something! I saw it!"

"You saw what he was hiding?" Bulkhead asked

Arcee stopped and faced them, "Well, not exactly. But I did see something. Something that might explain all this." Just then they heard footsteps out in the main room. Arcee went to the corner and saw Smokescreen sneaking out. He transformed and drove away. Arcee's face became even more serious. She turned to the others, "Come on!" She dashed down the hall with the two mechs close behind her.

They stopped by a large door. Smokescreen's room. Arcee started to punch in a code. "What are you doing?!" Bulkhead asked.

"Were gonna find out what Smokescreen's hiding." She stated. The door opened and she went in, the mechs hesitantly following her. She looked around, "Alright. I remember seeing something red, like rust."

"Rust?" Bulkhead asked as she looked around the room. She peeked behind and under the berth and cabinets.

"And it looked like some kind of box." She added. She went into the wash room, hoping to see the box in there like before. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

*You mean like this?* Arcee and Bulkhead turned to Bumblebee who was looking into a drawer. They approached him and looked to see the rust colored box.

Arcee smiled, "That's it!" She shouted. She grabbed it and lifted the lid. But was shocked to see nothing whatsoever inside.

"Huh. Guess he's not hiding anything after all." Bulkhead noted.

But Arcee wouldn't have it. "No! He IS hiding something." She stated. She closed the box and ran out of the room, the two mechs following suit. She led them into the training area where Ratchet, Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack were still there. She ran up to the medic and held out the box, "Ratchet! I need you to scan this!" She ordered. "I have a hunch whatever Smokescreen's hiding is in here!"

The medic took it, opened the lid then closing it, and inspected it. After a while he set it on the computer console and scanned it. Cybertronian code appeared on the computer screen and moved rapidly. After a while, an X-ray image of the box appeared, something hidden in the lid. "Hm, interesting." Ratchet muttered. He looked over the screen as a code popped up above the lid where a hidden number panel was revealed on screen. The medic turned to the box and punched the code in, 6-7-2-0.

Just then, the lid opened up in half. Every bot gathered around and gasped at what was inside. A dagger, sheathed yet dangerous. "By the All-Spark!" Ratchet gasped.

"Why does Smokescreen have a dagger?" Wheeljack asked.

Arcee slowly reached inside and took it out. She removed the sheath and her optics widened at the new sight. The edges were serrated and stained with Energon. Fresh Energon. She felt a servo on her shoulder. She turned to see Ratchet, "Let me see." He requested, "I need to see whose Energon this is." She nodded, putting the dagger in his hand. He set it next to the box and scanned it. After the scanning was complete, a CNA image appeared on the screen as well as its code. The room was silent as Ratchet typed away, trying to find who the Energon belonged to. Suddenly, a mug shot-like picture appeared on the screen. Everyone, even Ratchet, backed away from the screen.

"Smokescreen?!" Bulkhead gasped.

It was true. Along with the CNA code and picture, Smokescreen's headshot was there. All the clues were added up. The box, the dagger, the Energon... Smokescreen was harming himself. Ratchet was the one who broke the horrific silence. "Ultra-Magnus. Find Optimus and bring him here." The lieutenant nodded and ran off. Ratchet continued mumbling under his breath, "I believe it's about time we had a talk with Smokescreen.

/

Smokescreen returned to the base, having blown off some steam, he realized he overreacted in their optics and he needed to apologize before they got suspicious. But when he got to the base, he transformed and saw no one in the main room. "Guys?" He called, "Hello?" He walked through the base, looking for his team. Primus, please don't let them be in his room. Undoubtedly, they'd find his box, and then they'd-

"Smokescreen." The rookie froze and turned to the left. He had just passed the training room where his entire team was standing there.

"Hey guys. What's with the hiding?" He chuckled, entering the room.

Optimus looked at him, something definitely bothering him. One could see sorrow and concern on his face. "Smokescreen... We need to talk to you."

Smokescreen looked at everyone, the same expressions on their races as well. "Look if this is about earlier, I'm really sorry. My actions were uncalled for. I just didn't want you guys to make a big fuss about-"

"Smokescreen, we know about the dagger!" Arcee interrupted.

The rookie froze. His optics wide and fearful. He averted his eyesight from his team, "I-I-I don't know what you're..."

"Don't lie to us Smoke!" Arcee shouted, "We know about everything now. The Energon, the box, the dagger. You're harming yourself!"

"No I don't!" Smokescreen shouted back, "I... I just-"

"Smokescreen." Optimus spoke up, gaining the rookie's attention. They looked at one another, one in fear, the other in concern. "Is it true?"

Smokescreen looked at him, sorrow starting to appear on his faceplates. Then he lowered his head and sighed. "... Yes... It's true." He mumbled, "... I... Cut myself."