First of all, I'm so sorry it has taken me an eternity to continue this story. I have struggled with this chapter for who know's how long (and I'm still not too happy with it) but at least I can now go on. ^^ So, I apologize and hope you like the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except my OC (Ionette). Viper, Airazor, Ravage and the minicons belong to Dragonmaster789.
Rating: Safe T


"Here's your room, Viper, and the one on the other side is Ionette's. Sorry for the small quarters, we really do have a slight space issue," the blue motorcycle said pointing at the two doors.

"Thanks!" Viper exclaimed happily dismissing the last part of the introduction and walked towards her room.

"Remember to set the door codes," Arcee called out and gestured the two beasts to follow her deeper into the base.

"Will do," the lavender blue femme answered waving good recharge to Airazor.

Clicking and swooshing of a door caught the young bounty hunter's attention.

"Hey, Ionette! Wait!" The lavender-blue femme said slipping her servo between the door and its frame. "What's the big rush?"

"I'm tired," The jet answered monotonically and getting ready to pry off the hand blocking the closing of her door.

"Nice try, I know you have been through worse than freefalling and hitting the ground and still having had Energon to burn," Viper challenged with a smile on her faceplate.

The older femme crossed her arms over her chest and vented a sigh. The only light illuminating the flier's room was coming from the hallway, slightly blocked by the younger bot. Ionette narrowed her optic and scoffed:

"So you're over the fact that he's here?"

The grounder femme bit her lip. "No, but I won't let it change anything."

The jet tilted her helm, urging the other to continue.

"I mean, about staying here and joining the battlefield."

"You could help out Ratchet. I'm sure the medic would welcome that… in his own way," the black and silver bot mumbled tapping her cheek with a clawed fingertip.

"Yeah, he would indeed," Viper snorted dismissingly, "but I want to get even, for what he has done. You know that."

"Sadly I do. Apparently I couldn't hold onto my promise and keep you away from him."

"Well, it's not like you have completely failed. I haven't yet laid optics on him, but I will. And no one is going to stop me from taking revenge!"

"Revenge is never a solution," a deep voice said behind the lavender-blue Camaro.

Viper glanced over her shoulder to quickly turn away her gaze from the tall red mech. Ionette sighed ever-so-lightly.

"I did not mean to intrude in your conversation, for that I apologize. I only wanted to make sure that you were alright. Wheeljack mentioned you didn't feel good. Could you tell me why?" Optimus asked softly, placing one of his large servos on the young femme's shoulder.

Ionette arched an optic brow.

"I'll take my leave now," she muttered and stepping back let the door close shut.

The clang echoed in the otherwise empty hall.

"I think you know, Optimus. So why ask?" The lavender blue grounder said, her voice quivering, as she turned around to face the mech.

"Because forming feelings into words helps to relieve the pain."

Viper chuckled. "I knew you would say something like that, I should've made a bet."

The Autobot leader smiled gently. "I'm sure Ionette would've taken you on."

"'Nette? No way! She's no gambler. I guess you two have never met, then."

Optimus shook his helm. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting her, or of seeing her fight. In fact not even her rarity among the Autobots, as Ratchet would've put it, hasn't reached my audios."

"Oh, about her bearing wings? Don't worry, Optimus sir, she's fine," the young femme said with a smile coloring her features.

"It is not her I'm worried about, Viper, it's you. I fear what shocked you was the fact of having your father here, on this planet."

Viper scowled and pouted. She sifted her weight around couple of times not looking at the older mech she almost regarded as the father figure she never had.

"Yeah, Ionette broke the news. Said she had gotten a reading of his Energon signature on her way back with Raf."

An alarmed looked shot past the Prime's face. It didn't go unnoticed by the young bounty hunter.

"Everything okay?" She asked tilting her helm a bit.

The red mech nodded, his blue optics dimming as he pondered the newly acquired information. He lifted his gaze and looked sternly at the lavender-blue femme.

"Will you be alright?"

Viper nodded.

"Very well then, please, get some rest; we can continue our talk tomorrow," Optimus stated before reassuring the femme with a small smile.

She smiled but doubt gnawed her spark.


It was quiet on the command bridge, and Soundwave liked it. Dreadwing had dismissed himself only moments before referring to 'good recharging hours'.

The Intelligence officer snorted mentally. He was aware that the local time was around midnight, the time when most of the planet's inhabitants would be sleeping –as well as most of the Decepticons-, but he regarded it as peaceful work time. The sleek mech always seemed to work more diligently when the others were recharging –perhaps because he didn't have to monitor them so effectively.

The tapping echoed in the empty room. Soundwave's fingers raced over the console, his tentacles typing in a few commands every now and then.

"Soundwave," the Decepticon Lord's voice rumbled in the silent space.

The dark-colored mech halted his actions and turned his helm slightly, acknowledging his master's presence.

Megatron stopped behind his loyal third in command. How he had managed to move so quietly in the empty bridge was something that always had left Starscream boiling with rage.

"I believe you're aware of recent… quests among the Autobots," Megatron rasped glancing out the large windows and at the dark night sky outside.

Soundwave brought up two pictures.

"I see… You wouldn't happen to know of the incident involving our dear medic and one of the new arrivals?"

The intelligence officer turned to face his master. Activating his visor he played the fight fought in the desert.

The Warlord nodded. A small chuckle rose from his voice box. "So it was you… Poor doctor. Make sure he does not go out on his adventures again."

With that the intimidating mech left the bridge, his servos clasped behind his back, a smirk playing on the corners of his faceplate.

'Soon, very soon.'


And that's that. Comments, reviews, ideas and requests are always welcome.