Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I love you all.

Transformers are still not mine. Hasbro owns them

Chapter 4

It had been four days since the Wreckers had contacted the Ark. Springer had been released from his stasis lock. There was nothing wrong with him physically, but everyone could see the damage the fractured bond had caused. Springer was not holding up well. He had not resumed command of the Wreckers, instead choosing to allow Roadbuster to maintain command. He had not been informed of the manhunt that the Wreckers were planning once they reached Earth, as that would only upset him more. Roadbuster had made it very clear to the others that they were not going to kill Hot Rod, not matter how angry they were with him. Rather, they were going to drag him back to Springer and the other Autobots, to allow them to decide his punishment.

"We've entered Earth's gravitational pull. The estimated time of arrival is twenty breems," Broadside spoke from the pilot's seat.

"Alright. We have to check in with the Autobots first, as that was one of Prime's stipulations in giving us the time off, but after that we have time to ourselves. Springer has said that he wishes to remain on the ship, and Scoop will return here to stay with him after he briefing ends. The rest of us will begin searching the immediate area, and spread out if nothing turns up. Earth, though densely populated is not a large planet. He can't hide forever." Everyone on the bridge could hear the smirk in Roadbuster's voice. Springer was his best friend, and he was looking forward to teaching Hot Rod a lesson.

"Guys, I still think we're missing part of the story. Why would Hot Rod just break off the bond with no warning? I think something bad happened to the kid. We may only be making the situation worse." Scoop had been the only one to believe that there was more to Hot Rod's disappearance than they knew. He had taken the young mech under his proverbial wing, and spent the most time out of all the Wreckers with him, excluding Springer. He knew how loyal the kid was, and how much he wanted to prove himself as a warrior. It didn't make sense that he would just abandon the cause. The others were too angry at the perceived defection, however, to listen. No matter how many times he said it, they wouldn't listen to reason. When no one answered him, Scoop merely sighed. He prayed to Primus that they were not making a mistake.

"Prime, Xantium has landed. Whirl contacted Blaster to let us know that they are on their way for the briefing."

"Thank you Red Alert. Relay that information to Prowl and Jazz. They have control of the meeting."

"Yes sir. Red Alert out." Optimus sighed. Even if he had wanted to take part in the briefing, he could not. Immediately after the morning hearing, Prime had headed to his quarters. He was not on duty after all and all mechs who were not had to return to their quarters. Although Prowl did not have the authority to place him under confinement, the Autobot leader had chosen to suffer the punishment alongside his men. It was only fair, seeing as if he had taken time to check up on his men, the whole fiasco with Hot Rod could have been avoided. For the next two months, his second and third in command had control of the Autobot affairs, and that included dealing with the wayward Wreckers. Optimus was no fool, and he knew exactly why the Elite team had come to Earth. He only hoped that Jazz and Prowl would be able to stop them from doing anything foolish. On the bright side, with the team readily available on Earth, that made an additional six, or seven is Springer was up to it, mechs who could aid in the search for Hot Rod.

Something wasn't right. Instead of being greeted by the usual hustle of the Ark, the Wreckers walked into a ship that seemed to be manned by a skeleton crew. The few mechs they did meet on the way to the command center refused to make optic contact with them, and instead hurried along the corridors with their heads down. The sombre attitude was enough to unnerve even Whirl, who normally preferred the quiet to the loud activity on the Ark. The mechs they passed however had none of the buoyancy the Wreckers were used to. Most of them seemed to be feeling rather...guilty?

"Oh hey guys, there you are Blaster said you were coming, and Prowl thought I should come meet you to tell you that he briefing is in his office because Prime's grounded, well grounded is the right word it's a human word, but Prowl put the whole base under arrest, including Prime, so anyways come with me please!" With that, Bluestreak disappeared down the corridor he had just come from. The Wreckers weren't sure what was more disconcerting: that Bluestreak was cheerful and smiling, or that they were pretty sure the young mech had said the entire base was under arrest. Bemused, they followed after him. A few kliks later, Bluestreak came to a stop. "Ok, well, were here, so you can go in, they know you're coming after all, and, um, Prowl's in a really really bad mood, and I know you guys like annoying him, but don't. Seriously, don't because he might just kill you, well not really but during the meeting earlier today, Sideswipe said that he almost attacked Cliffjumper because he was being a prat, so, um, yeah, I've gotta go bye now!" Blue was halfway down the corridor before the Wreckers had processed what he said. Shrugging off the warning, they entered the office.

Prowl was seated behind the desk, reviewing datapads. He signed one, and stacked it neatly in the completely pile before picking up another. Jazz stood behind him, to the right. He watched as the team entered the office, but didn't say a word. A solemn expression covered his face.

"Good afternoon. I will be with you in a moment," Prowl did not look up as he said this, attention focused on the paperwork in front of him. Annoyed, the Wreckers had no choice but to wait while the SIC finished what he was doing. They were wasting time by standing around, but there was no help for it. Half a breem later, Prowl finished with the pad and put it away. Jazz still had not so much as twitched. Though they didn't show it, the Wreckers were beginning to feel uncomfortable. Though they did not get along Prowl, they did so with Jazz well enough for the most part. The mech's blank stare was not something they were used to.

"Now, I understand that you have requested the next decacycle off. You have certainly earned it, but before we get into the briefing, I must ask why Springer is not with you. Don't answer that," Prowl snapped when Roadbuster moved to speak, agitation showing through his professional facade. "I know why. Hot Rod broke the bond he had with Springer, and now you six are out for revenge. Understandable, if Hot Rod was a traitor, but what I cannot comprehend is the fact that you wish to punish him for being captured by Decepticons."

"He wasn't captured. If he was, he would have sent an SOS over the bond to Springer." Prowl's smile was unpleasant.

"Clearly, you do not know Hot Rod, or understand how he operates. Do not argue with me," the SIC's tone had taken on a lethal quality. Scoop closed his mouth. "Hot Rod would not call for Springer as he would not want his mate, and by extension, the rest of you, to be placed in danger trying to rescue him. As for your unfounded belief that he did this deliberately to hurt your leader, you must first understand that in order to protect Hot Rod, Springer mutes the bond. Hot Rod, despite the fact that he feels as though Springer does not trust him when he shuts him out like that, respects it, but he would never close his end of the bond because he knows how much it hurts. This is something Springer does not understand. You know as well as I do that Hot Rod loves Springer. So why then would he inflict a pain that he despises on his mate?"

"I can answer that." Jazz's voice was hoarse, like he did not want to say what he was going to. "Most don't know this, but shortly after the Combaticons were brought back online I was sent on what was supposed to be a simple scouting mission. The intel we had received was false and I was captured. Before the Combaticons, captured Autobots sat in the brig until Prime and Megatron organized an exchange. Vortex, however, is an accomplished interrogator, as well as a sadist. In order to "refresh his skills" I was given to his team so that he could practice. Vortex favors two types of techniques: psychological mind games, and stripping a mech down to his protoform. It is an extremely long, slow process, and mid way through I was ready to sever my bond with Prowl. I would have, had a rescue team not arrived when they did. And I can guarantee that I have a lot more experience resisting torture than Hot Rod does. Hot Rod believes he is going to die, and if he has been given to Vortex he has good reason to. He is only trying to do what Springer does, and that is spare him the pain of his death." Scoop looked sick at the end of the tale. He had been sure that something along those lines had happened to Hot Rod, but he had hoped he was wrong. Jazz fell silent again. Prowl sent a wave of comfort to his mate and thanked him for his assistance. The black and white mech smiled faintly, before looking to see if the story had any effect on the Wreckers. They had all humbled their attitudes but the Special Ops bot could see that they weren't all convinced.

"You may leave the base at your leisure, but I require you mission reports from the last stellar cycle, and Ratchet will need your medical reports as well. Dismissed."

The Wreckers showed no surprise at the quick change in topic, or at the dismissal. They left without another word.

"You didn't go as hard on them as you did the others," Jazz said softly.

"No. It is likely that the Wreckers, with their determination to find Hot Rod will be the ones to do so. I think the state that they find him in, as I have no doubt it will not be pleasant, will be more than enough punishment. We can only pray that they find him in time to apologize." Prowl seemed weary now that there was no one around. Jazz wrapped his arms around his mate, both giving and taking comfort.

'Primus, watch over Hot Rod.'

"I don't buy it."

"Oh, come on you guys! Prowl placed the entire base under arrest because they didn't "buy it" either. Even Prime, if what Bluestreak said is true."

"I just can't believe that Hot Rod would be so stupid as to not call for help if he was captured!" Whirl was firm in his opinion.

"Hot Rod loves Springer."

"Sorry Scoop, but I agree with Whirl. No sane mech would willingly remain a captive of the Decepticons." Roadbuster knew how much Scoop liked their leader's mate, but he had to see reason.

"I would." Scoop's voice was almost to quiet to hear.

"...what?" The others were stunned.

"But then I suppose you do crazy things for love." He shot a sad look at his friends, before breaking off and heading back to Xantium. It wasn't good idea to leave Springer alone right now.

"Springer sat in his quarters, still stunned by what he had heard. Xantium had used her long range scanners to hear what was going on in the briefing. Roadbuster's insistence that he not come had picked at his curiosity, and he had asked the ship to listen in, and relay what she heard to him. What had been said had shocked him. He had been hurting Hot Rod? Hot Rod hadn't abandoned him? He didn't know what to believe, but there was one sure fire way to find out. He left his corridors, and exited the ship, just as Scoop approached. His team looked up at him in surprise.

"I don't know what's going on, but if there is even a chance that Hot Rod is in Decepticon hands, I am going to save him."

"We're coming too." Roadbuster said immediately. One by one, they all gave their affirmatives. No way was Springer going into Decepticon territory by himself, especially in his condition.

"Fine. Let's go."

Vortex was in a foul mood. As he stormed down the corridor to his team's quarters, Decepticons in his path quickly got out of the way. All were smart enough to not trifle with the helo when he was in such as mood. Angrily, he stomped into their room before the doors were fully open.

'How is it possible? Why has he not broken yet? Primus damned brat!' Consumed by his rage, he did not notice Onslaught sitting in the front room, a datapad in his hand.

"Is something the matter, Vortex?" His older brother asked. Happy that he had been given an opportunity to vent, Vortex began his tirade.

"It's that cursed Autobot! No matter what I do, he refuses to break! I have sent his broken chassis to the Constructicons more times than I can count, but he still refuses to even bend to my will!" Onslaught looked up at that.

"He is able to resist torture?"

"No! He has very little tolerance for pain, and can only withstand a few moments of it before he screams." A dreamy look came over the interrogator's face. "He screams so beautifully, some of the best I have ever heard."An ugly look replaced the smile, "But by now he should be a broken, mindless toy, ready to do whatever I tell him to, but still he fights me! I don't understand! No one has ever lasted this long before! It was amusing at first but it's not anymore! Even the broken bond did nothing to crush his spirit."

"And therein lies the problem. You see Vortex, a broken bond his supposed to be the most painful thing a transformer can endure. Not only did the little Autobot break it himself, he did it to protect his mate. So, theoretically he has already undergone a self inflicted torture worse than anything you can do, but you cannot break him because he clings to the fact that no matter what you do to him, his mate is safe."

"Then how the Pit am I supposed to do anything with him!? I might as well kill the whelp right now!"

"Don't be so hasty brother, I'm sure you can think of a way around this problem." Onslaught's smug attitude indicated that he already had. "And while you are working on a strategy, you might consider this little known fact about breaking bonds: it is physically more painful for the one who did not break the, the psychological effects on the one who did are just as dangerous. To break a bond you must force everything related to your bonded into a quarantined section of you processor, and then purge it. It is not possible to purge it entirely from your spark however, and slivers are left behind, forming a ghost bond in the breaker. This bond relays emotions and sensations back and forth from the bonded, but it is registered as phantom pain." With that, Onslaught turned back to his reading.

Vortex continued on to his quarters, reviewing Onslaught's words. He recalled certain times with his plaything when the Autobot would react so a sensation, but Vortex had not done anything to him. He had passed it off as spasms from receding pain, but if what Onslaught said was true...Vortex grinned. Oh yes. He could use this.