I am sooooooooo sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I've bitten off more than I can chew in RL so this was put on the back burner. Now that things have slowed down a little I should be able to get the next chapter out quicker.

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"This is getting us nowhere," Sandstorm complained. The Wreckers had followed Springer to the ocean, but could go no further than the shoreline. They knew the Decepticon base was somewhere below the waves, but none of them had aquatic altmodes, and despite their strength, even they would not last long against the crushing depths of the water.

"Be quiet!" Broadside hissed, optics on his leader. The mech was pacing up and down the beach, frustration clear in his movements. After they had found him on his knees in the sand, Springer had adopted a completely different persona. Gone was the depressed mech, gone was the playful attitude of cycles passed. This new Springer seemed to be as a cold as any Decepticon. They had said nothing of the piercing scream that had echoed through the desert. Springer had calmly looked up at them and said, "He has a lot to answer for," before transforming and moving towards the pull. Springer wasn't the only one frustrated. They were so close to finally getting some answers, but they had no way to get down to where Springer said Hot Rod was.

Roadbuster approached his friend, moving to intercept his path. Springer stopped in front of him, but seemed to look through him, searching the waters for a way to get to the ship.

"Relax Springer. I know that we are close, but if you continue on like this you will merely waste your energy. The Decepticons run patrols like us. We just need to wait for a party to either leave or return. At this point, that' all we can do." Springer nodded to show that he had heard his SIC's words, and though he stopped pacing, he tension did not lessen.

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It was almost time. Excitement ran through the Decepticon base as the cycle of the bonding approached. Duty shifts had been lightened, and the rations had been increased. Many mechs used this gift to brew their own high grade. None of the Cons really cared about the bonding itself; it was just a chance to party. The humiliation of the Autobot was just a bonus. Motormaster and his crew were particularly smug about that. Hot Rod was a fine piece of and if it worked they would have a not-so-loyal slave. Motormaster was planning on using the bond to make Hot Rod do whatever he wanted. The Autobot was less than pleased, but he would be dead within the next two cycles (and would hopefully take the brute with him) so it didn't really matter. He was mostly just disgusted that the Cons could twist something as meaningful as bonding.

As the ceremony drew closer Hot Rod's spark began sending panicked flares across the broken bond, trying to find a mate that wasn't there. The young mech tried to clamp that, but his spark knew something was wrong and was calling desperately for its other half. Eventually though, he was able to get it under control, and his spark beat a rhythm of reassignment.
One of the Stunticons had been assigned to guard him at all times. They knew he would try something, but they didn't know what. Didn't matter. Breakdown was a spastic and he spent most of his time agonizing over the cameras that were "watching him" in Hot Rod's room. It would be easy to get away with. That thought gave him some satisfaction. He ignored it when the other Stunticons entered the room with polish and cloths. Motormaster didn't like dirty things after all. Hot Rod held still, allowing them to poke, prod and polish his chassis. It was a mockery of the pre-bonding ceremony, one he was sure the Decepticons were only doing to remind him of his helplessness. It didn't matter though. His salvation was hidden in his hand.

"Excited Autobot?" Drag Strip tried t get a reaction from the fiery Autobot but was met with a cold, blank stare.

"Should I be?" The voice that answered was mildly unnerving. The Stunticons had fought the brash Autobot once before in battle, but the mech that stood before them now was more like the cold tactician Prowl than the passionate mech they remembered. Drag Strip brushed it off.

"Broken all ready? Shame. Motormaster won't like that."

"I hardly care what Motormaster likes." 'And he really won't like what I have in store for him.' Vindication rushed through Hot Rod at that thought, but he took care to keep his face stoic. 'They'll regret targeting me.'

"Drag Strip, stop taunting him and get back to work. Motormaster will kill us if he's late. And that's saying nothing of Megatron." He let them do as they wanted, replaying images of happier times with Springer and Bluestreak and his family. He felt almost at piece by the time they were finished. This was why he was fighting. To protect those he loved. Maybe others would condemn him for his actions against his bondmate, but he would die for those he cared about before he would lead them to their deaths. Resolve strengthened further, he settled down to wait. It was almost over. The Stunticons left, one by one until only Breakdown remained. In just a little over a cycle he would do it. Hot Rod let himself fall back into his memories.

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The Wreckers cried out as one, dropping to the ground as a sonic attack hit them all. Whirl and Sandstorm made it to their pedes, stumbling towards the sapphire mech standing further down the shoreline.

"Wreckers: desist."

"Frag you!" Springer climbed to his feet, trying to pull out his gun. He had taken the brunt of the attack, and was furious. Not only with the Con, but that was a given, but with himself and his team. They had let themselves become so distracted that they had allowed the telepath to sneak up on them. Admittedly, the ghost pulses in his spark were distracting, but that was no excuse. They had put themselves in a very dangerous situation. He watched as the rest of his mechs stood; ready to fight despite the crippling pain.

"We mean you no harm." The scratchy voice was despondent, and far quieter than they had ever heard. "But if we had approached you without incapacitating you first you would have fired and alerted the base to your presence." The Air Commander, who was far smaller than any of them would have guessed, stepped out from behind the larger Soundwave. "If we let you go will you hear us out?"

"Why should be, filthy Con?" Sandstorm spat.

"You want into the base right? We can get you in." Shock. That was really the only word for it. They knew the SIC was treacherous, but this went beyond mere treason. And Soundwave was the most loyal Decepticon there was. Why would he help? Cautiously, Springer nodded.

"We're listening." Immediately the crushing pain disappeared. The Wreckers all reached for their weapons, but Starscream and Soundwave did not. The Seeker actually held up his hands, null rays pointed to the sky, showing that they had no intention of attacking. They really were just there to talk.

"Look, I know you think that the cons are sparkless bastards with no morals, and some of us are. We understand, better than the Autobots, that this is a war and you do anything to win. But there are some lines that should never be crossed and Megatron has gone way too far this time."

"Agreed." Soundwave's voice was quiet, like it hurt him to admit his leader was wrong.

"Look, everyone knows by now what your mate did. We know it was a deliberate attempt to hurt you," Roadbuster hissed at that, "but it's the kid's intent to keep you away. Had you come for him you would be in his place, probably watching Megatron gut him. Don't look at me like that; it's true. You have no idea how much effort our "Mighty Leader" put into making sure the base could contain you. Were that the case, we would have left your brat to his fate, but plans changed. In five breems they are going to force Hot Rod to bond to Motormaster." Looks of horror and disgust flashed across every face there.

"You're lying." Springer's voice was murderous. "This is nothing more than a trap."

"Assumption: incorrect. Hot Rod: a valuable addition to the cause. Motormaster: a sick fragger who has long lusted after your mate."

"Son of a..." Topspin was enraged. He himself had almost been forced into a bond once, it was only chance that he had gotten away. No matter how angry he was at the kid, he would never leave a mech in the hands of someone as twisted as the gesalt leader. "How do we get in?" If the others were startled by the ferocity of his response they did not show it.

"When we enter the base we will take you with us. Soundwave can convince anyone we meet that you are simply not there. We will leave you at the communications center, as we have to be there for the...event. But so long as no one touches you, you should be able to stay unnoticed until you get to the rec hall. After that, you are on your own." Springer took a moment to think it over. It could still be a trap. But if that was so, why not take them all out when Soundwave had the chance? They wouldn't fall for that trick again. And Starscream really wasn't a good actor - they had heard stories from the others on Earth - but he looked faintly ill and extremely upset. And they couldn't leave Hot Rod there to suffer such a fate. Springer wasn't one to abandon mechs, even if they deserved it. And nobody deserved to be forced into a bond. Besides, even if he said no, Topspin would go anyway. He knew the story.

"Alright. Thank you."

Starscream was relieved. He didn't show it, just nodded before turning to the ocean and requesting the tower be raised. Soundwave, as impassive as ever, sent a comforting pulse over their bond. Only Skyfire knew, and he kept his peace, but they had bonded vorns before the war. They cherished the connection, and like the Autobots, saw it as something sacred and treasured. The fact that Megatron was abusing it in such a way disgusted them both.

Within moments all eight mechs were aboard the docking tower. Soundwave scanned for the presence of other minds, but found only his cassettes waiting for them. Good. The telepath searched for Hot Rod's location. If they could get to him before he was moved it would be so much easier. His visor flashed in surprise. How had he not caught this before?

"Situation: Hot Rod has ingested a vial of cyanide. Time until death: approximately three breems."

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Author's Note: In the last chapter I made reference to the quote "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... or the one." It was said by Spock in the Wrath of the Khan. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and let me know

I hope I made the thing with Cyanide clear. Thoughts in Chaos gave me the idea of how it would work for a Cybertronian. No offence taken hun! It was a good idea. Let me know if it needs more detail.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.