Being led down the halls of the Nemesis, the light not a bright red, but a dull blue. CliffJumper was having a hard time accepting the fact that the Decepticons were the good guys in this alternate reality. But he followed after the two, DreadWing splitting off to go and assist with his Master's orders and needs. Possibly an update of what had happened and why an emergency space bridge was needed since it consumed a lot of SoundWave's Energon to create and dispel one.

Silence loomed between the three of them before a clearing of the vocals. "So, uh, where are we, exactly?" CliffJumper asked, causing StarScream to turn his helm slightly and slow his pace to walk alongside the grounder, having Knock Out lead them towards the Energon storage where all their remaining fuel was kept.

"We don't stay in a set location, we fly around. If we were to land, the Auto Bots could easily storm us and overtake us. And take the Nemesis for their own warship and wreak havoc for the lives below and even for those out in the galaxies. We never land." StarScream explained, his servos held behind his back as he lowered his helm, his ridges were slightly raised in sadness and desperation.

"We hardly have enough to keep her in the air, and the mines are getting harder to be able to get to when the Auto Bots storm us at every moment. We're lucky to get enough to power the ship and to feed us."

"Damn… I'm really sorry to hear that. It's like that where I'm from, but it's us that are struggling to keep Earth from falling into ruin. And you guys are the ones destroying it trying to get to us." CliffJumper sighed as he moved to pat the others forearm in a reassuring way. "When the going gets tough, you just gotta give it your all and shove them twice as hard as they're shoving you."

StarScream blinked at the touch and smiled at the words. "Yes, that's right. We will make it through this, one way or another. Thank you."

The silver and teal seeker fell quiet, moving his servos out front to wring his digits. "Say, what are we like in where you come from, if you don't mind me asking." He looked down at his servos with teal optics before looking back up to CliffJumper. Knock Out had his helm slightly tilted to listen in on their conversation.

"Well, for starters, you look like you, but red crest and optics. But the only thing completely different is your personality. You're a jerk and you have this insane quest for power and knowledge and you even try to overthrow Megatron. But he ends up beating you to a pulp and it repeats. He screams a lot too. Knock Out's all red with gold in the neck vents and red optics. He's obsessed about his appearance and whatever. He enjoys taking things apart more than putting things back together. That's all I know about him, I haven't met him personally." CliffJumper started, getting a frown from the seeker as he looked down to his digits. He looked downright miserable of his alternate's actions.

"I'm sorry." StarScream apologized in a whisper. CliffJumper was taken aback and even paused in his walking, causing StarScream to take a few steps and realize he was walking alone, pausing to look back at CliffJumper.

"Why are you apologizing?" He asked as he tilted his helm, the single horn glinting into the light as he eyed the seeker. StarScream blinked and fidgeted, Knock Out had paused to listen and watch quietly. StarScream stammered for a few seconds before he was quiet.

"Because it's m-me that's doing all this and causing such trouble for you and your t-team…" He murmured, only to shrink back when CliffJumper marched forward. He put a digit up between them and looked at StarScream straight in the optic, teal with teal.

"Don't you ever apologize for something you didn't do. That StarScream I know isn't you, so don't ever say that again. Alright?" CliffJumper said, lips pressed into a firm line. StarScream let out a small whimper, Knock Out was tense, but relaxed when StarScream nodded. "Good, because I hate it when others say they're sorry for something they didn't do." He said sternly. StarScream only nodded and wringed his servos.

Knock Out moved forward slightly and put his servo on the seeker's arm, which flinched in surprise before he moved to press his helm against the others.

"Scrap, I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell…" CliffJumper now realized he sounded just like the CliffJumper they knew and he felt immensely guilty. He sagged his shoulders and looked down to the steeled floor below them. Knock Out chuckled lightly, surprising the red grounder.

"It's alright. The Commander is hard on himself often and he needs a good talking to once in a while." Knock Out said, StarScream was quiet as he mulled over the words and let them sink in, trembling slightly from where he stood with his helm against the others. An intimate way to show support, CliffJumper guessed, it often occurred between him and Arcee when they were alone or one was having a bad day.

He sighed softly and nodded, smiling a little for the teal seeker as he looked up and offered a weak smile back. CliffJumper rolled his optics and sighed, holding out his arms. StarScream and Knock Out were both confused at the action as he waved his servos for the other to come closer.

"Come on 'Scream. You know you want a hug. Plus, I'm sorry and I guess this is a better way to say it." With a wide grin at the seeker, StarScream flushed a little blue and he mumbled a 'no-thank-you' before he fidgeted. He sighed as he rolled his optics and moved to put his servos around the others neck as CliffJumper embraced the seeker.

CliffJumper hummed as he hugged the other for a short moment before he let go. "Better?" He asked, getting a nod from the seeker.

"B-Better. Thank you." StarScream smiled. Knock Out chuckled as he put a servo on his hip, watching the two of them. But that smile disappeared as his optical ridges furrowed upward, servos up and waving.

"No no no!" He exclaimed. And before he could escape, CliffJumper had his massive arms around the slim grounder and hugged him tightly. He struggled before he laughed and moved to pat the others side since his arms were immobile. CliffJumper snickered.

"I ain't gonna leave you out of this." CliffJumper hummed and StarScream laughed softly as did Knock Out. He let go after a few seconds and smiled. "Now let's get to that Energon, huh?" He smirked, getting nods from the two of them. Knock Out led the three of them again, all beaming with smiles as they glanced to CliffJumper behind them. If he was an Auto Bot, why were the others so evil? And the same thought ran through CliffJumper's mind; if they were Decepticons, why were they so nice?

While he was piecing everything together like a broken mirror, with many sharp shards and many pieces stabbed him, the thoughts that didn't make sense would burn like the cut on his digits. He looked up when the footfalls of the others were silent. StarScream, being Second in Command, had the passcodes to most of the doors on the ship. Typing in the simple code, he opened the door.

"Take as much as you want, CliffJumper." StarScream smiled as CliffJumper could feel his tanks constrict in hunger. But when he rounded the corner to look inside, the feeling wasn't from hunger any longer.

There was hardly anything in the room. He had heard from one or two of the others that they had a pretty impressive stock. This was enough to last everyone on the ship a few days. CliffJumper swallowed as he looked at the two. Now that he thought about it, they didn't look very full either.

"I… I can't…" He said as he looked back at the small stock.

"Please, we can spare a day of Energon." The racer said softly with a nod, saying it was alright for him to take what he wanted.

"Spare a day…?" CliffJumper was confused; didn't they all just eat three meals everyday? What did he mean by that?

"We have rations. Since things are low, we are only allowed a cube every day and a half, to help keep enough for everyone on the ship. StarScream and I are willing to cut our ration for you." Knock Out explained, causing CliffJumper to frown. "Please."

"I can't. No way, I can't do that. As much as I would like to eat, I can't do that to you guys." He said as he backed away from the door, causing the two of the teal cybertronians to look at one another. Knock Out clasped his servos in a begging motion.

"Please, CliffJumper! You need enough so you don't leak out when you return to the Auto Bots, we don't want to kill you just to pretend you weren't in our care!" Knock Out said. CliffJumper looked down to his pedes, servos clenching and soon unclenched. Damn it all. Damn the Auto Bots. Damn everything.

"Fine. Fine… But I get no enjoyment from this even if I'm an Auto Bot. I owe you guys. Once I get back to uh, their base, I'll see if I can find a mine for you guys." CliffJumper smiled weakly. Knock Out smiled softly, brows furrowed upward.

"We would be in your debt if you helped us." StarScream said with a smile, getting a nod from Knock Out. "Please, take what you need."

CliffJumper swallowed, he hated to do this to the two of them, but if he was going to fall through with this plan, he was going to have to do what they asked. So he quietly moved into the room and took only two cubes, meaning the two of them would go three days without refueling. He frowned quietly as he brought them out with him.

"What if you both drank half and I drank the other half of both of them? Then you don't have to go hungry." He offered, the two glanced at each other, he could tell they were deeply contemplating the offer, but they both declined.

"I'm sorry, CliffJumper, but if this were to work, we need you at your best capacity to ensure you make it back alive." Knock Out said as the vermillion grounder sagged.

"I'm so sorry." He mumbled as he held a cube in each servo. "Where should we go…?" He asked before he watched as StarScream shut the door and moved to place a servo on his back plating to lead him back the way they came.

"For now, you'll have to stay in the medical bay. Knock Out has a hidden room for storing tools and the like, but it hasn't been used in eons." StarScream said and CliffJumper looked back to Knock Out who gave a nod to confirm what StarScream had just said. The seeker sighed as he rubbed at his optics. He could see the fatigue on the seeker's frame, now realizing they were on high alert constantly since they were being hunted.

"Oh. Okay." CliffJumper said simply, "I just have to be quiet for a while, right?"

"That will be not needed, StarScream. Knock Out." A voice said from behind the three of them, causing the two teal mechas to pause and quietly turn around. The voice was deep and, unlike the alternate, gentle. CliffJumper was last to turn around and he nearly dropped his cubes.