The closer Bumblebee got to his destination, the more he got nervous. With servos slightly shaking, he knocked on the lab door and he heard a loud

"Come in!"

Bee opened the door and saw Wheeljack looking up from his work desk. Wheeljack waved to the minibot and his fins flashed as he said

"What can I do for ya, Bumblebee?"

Bumblebee vented a deep sigh and said

"Wheeljack, we had an intruder enter the base a cycle ago." Wheeljack briefly paused and asked

"Who was it? Did we catch him?" Bumblebee shook his helm in reply.

"No. It was Soundwave. He, uh..." Bee was unable to form words as he tried to speak. Bee shifted uncomfortably as Wheeljack now turned himself to face Bumblebee and looked down at him.

"What is it? Did Soundwave take anything?" Wheeljack asked concerned. Bumblebee stared at him and answered

"Wheelack, he took Marie."

At this, Wheeljack immediately froze and his whole body tensed up. His optics widened and he stared at Bumblebee. The inventor couldn't process what he had just heard. Marie, his charge, Marie? Everything seemed to go in slow motion for Wheeljack. He couldn't make out anything else Bumblebee was saying. She had been taken by that slimy, no good Decepticon, right under the Autobots' noses?!

"He what?!" he suddenly shouted at Bumblebee, his fins flashing a vibrant red color to match his anger. His servos clenched. Energon pulsed through his circuitry. He couldn't protect her. His best friend, his charge wasn't there because of him. Wheeljack suddenly picked up his experiment and chucked it across the room. Bumblebee ducked and stared numbly at the scientist. There was no doubt that Wheeljack was furious.

"Wheeljack, calm down." Bumblebee told him and Wheeljack whipped his helm towards him as he gritted out

"How the frag am I supposed to calm down?! Marie is gone! How is it that no one noticed Soundwave walked in and took her? Wasn't she in her room?"

"He jammed the feeds and hacked the cameras so they would loop their feed. Sideswipe couldn't have noticed." Bumblebee answered shakily.

"Sideswipe was on security duty?" Wheeljack asked with a deadly glare. Bumblebee opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Wheeljack rushing past him and out the door, down to the rec room, where Sideswipe was gathering the others by now. Bumblebee was on his heels as Wheeljack barged into the rec room and charged at Sideswipe. He was inches away from his face as Wheeljack glared down at the red Autobot menacingly.

"How is it that you of all bots managed to be completely oblivious to the fact that a Decepticon waltzed in and took her?" He asked deadly calm. Sideswipe almost shook in fear of the scientist's aggressive demeanor and replied

"Wheeljack, this is Soundwave we're talking about. No one could have-" but he was cut off by Wheeljack punching his face with a servo, causing Sideswipe to fall to the ground by the sudden action.

"No, this is Marie we're talking about! Don't you think she's scared about what's going on? She has an impairment, Sideswipe! And because none of us were there to make sure she was safe, Primus knows where she is now!" Wheeljack yelled at him, optics turning a dangerous red tint. Ironhide, who was already in the room with the other bots, stepped in between the two while Sunstreaker helped his twin up off the ground. The older warrior held out a servos to prevent the inventor from continuing his tirade.

"Wheeljack, ya need to cool down. I know ya care about Marie but takin' it out on Sideswipe isn't gonna help us." Ironhide told him sternly. Wheeljack was about to argue when Ironhide interrupted him.

"'Jack, stand down." That seemed to get through to Wheeljack because he finally took a step back and just stood there, staring blankly in front of him. Ironhide sighed and led Wheeljack to a nearby chair to sit down. Afterwards, he went to the front of the room and began to brief the Autobots in on what was happening. Every once in a while, Sideswipe, Bumblebee and Ironhide would glance back at Wheeljack, who hadn't moved from being seated and was still staring into space. His optics seemed deprived of all life.
The only thing going through Wheeljack's mind was
I failed her.
They needed to find Marie, for her and Wheeljack's sake.

Marie's POV
I was surprised that Soundwave didn't return to the Decepticon base. Instead, my captor brought me to a small clearing of an unknown patch of forestry. I had no idea where I was. I must have blacked out when Soundwave took me. I felt his grip on me loosen and he stopped moving. I turned in his hand and my eyes widened as I saw the Decepticon leader himself.

Megatron.

I had heard encounters from the various Autobots and none of them were good. What I didn't realize was how frightening and scary Megatron really was up close. Not only was he there but also Starscream and Shockwave were there too. But why? Was I leverage for them? As they came closer to Soundwave and I, my whole body tensed. I was practically within sneezing distance from the most fearsome Decepticon and I was utterly terrified. Megatron's mouth moved and he appeared to be speaking with Soundwave and then he looked down at me. His mouthed moved again and then stopped, as if waiting for me to speak. I huffed in frustration. I wasn't good at lip-reading, which is why I used ASL.
They probably didn't know of my disability. I shook my head and looked up at them. I pointed to my ears and signed

Deaf.

Starscream gave her a weird look as Shockwave glanced at her with confusion. It didn't seem like they understood what I was saying. Did they not understand sign language? They were robots from another planet. The Autobots understood ASL, so why didn't the Decepticons? Megatron glanced at Soundwave and said something to him. I waited for what seemed like forever before I was picked up roughly and brought to face Megatron. I gulped inwardly and almost forgot how to breathe.

So who talks first? I talk first? Or you talk first? I thought to myself. Turns out, no one spoke to her afterwards. Instead, they just stood there. What was going on? Why was I here and where were we? No one seemed to notice my confusion as Megatron began walk a few feet and then stopped completely, with the other three Decepticons following suit. Then, Megatron had Soundwave stand in front of him and activated a screen from his arm. That's when I realized that they were contacting the Autobots for them to arrange an exchange for me. For what, I didn't know, but I had a sinking feeling that it had something to do with Wheeljack. Why else would they need me? They must have found out that he was my guardian.

No doubt Wheeljack found out that I was gone and was worrying his butt off. Suddenly, I felt myself being picked up roughly. This was going to be bad. The more I waited, the more I grew scared.

3rd POV

Ironhide had informed the rest of the Autobots of the kidnapping. Jazz and Sideswipe were the ones that seemed distressed by the news. Optimus had informed Ironhide that he and Prowl would be arriving shortly and that they were to wait if the Decepticons were to contact them with demands.
The Autobot leader and SIC went to Marie's school to discuss a certain classmate of Marie's and her actions towards her. They were on their way back to base when Ironhide was dismissing everyone. Once they arrived, Ironhide greeted the two.

"Prime. Prowl." He said gruffly. Optimus nodded and asked

"Ironhide, how is everyone?"
Ironhide didn't say anything at first and then replied

"They're takin' it hard, especially Wheeljack. But I think he's takin' it differently then the others."
He nodded towards Wheeljack who was still seated, unmoving. It seemed very unlike the inventor to act like that.

"How long has he been like this?" Prowl inquired.

"Ever since I got him to stop using Sideswipe as a punching bag. He went after Sideswipe when Bumblebee told him about what happened with the security cameras." The red Autobot warrior explained. Optimus's optics widened slightly. He looked at Wheeljack, who had finally acknowledged their presence and left the room.
Before Wheeljack left, however, Optimus stopped him.

"Wheeljack, I'm deeply sorry." He said sincerely as he placed a servo on his friend's shoulder. Wheeljack stared at Optimus for a moment and continued walking towards the direction of the security room. The inventor seemed deprived of all excitement and life. They all knew Marie was meaningful to him and was his charge. The girl was always making things around the base lively and happier. Now that she wasn't there, everyone was affected by her kidnapping.
Once he left, Optimus returned his attention to Ironhide and Prowl.

"Have they contacted us at all yet?" He asked Ironhide. Ironhide shook his head but was then cut off by the sudden alarm of Teletraan I.
"Incoming transmission from the Decepticons." Teletraan I's monotonous voice rang out. At this, the three Autobots sped off towards the main control room. Sideswipe, Bumblebee, Jazz and Wheeljack were already there. The transmission came through and Megatron's figure came into view.

"Ah, Optimus! So glad you could join us. Tell me, are you missing an Autobot recently?" He sneered and at the corner of the screen, a servo brought a wide-eyed, scared looking girl. Her long light brown hair and eyes were obviously familiar. It was no doubt Marie. Suddenly, Wheeljack stepped towards the screen and growled

"You fragging, pit-spawned heap of metal! Let her go, or I'll..." Jazz had to pull him back before he did anything rash. All the while, Marie was quietly crying and rapidly signing. Her words were the same.

Help me.

It broke Wheeljack's spark to see Marie so scared. He only wished he was able to do something about it.

"Megatron, if you have harmed her, then you will find yourself facing my wrath and Wheeljack's." Optimus voice rumbled out dangerously.

"Do you really think I would do something like that to my leverage? I merely needed her to ask your inventor to hand over a certain experiment."
Megatron's voice dripped with fake sweetness. Wheeljack squirmed under Jazz's grip and seethed

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play stupid, Autobot. Don't tell me that you don't have an energon grid that you've been tinkering with."

"And if I do?" Wheeljack said, glaring at the tyrant.

"Then you will bring it to the coordinates that will be transmitted and I will release the girl." Megatron ordered him.

"How do we know that you are speaking the truth, Megatron?" Optimus asked him, his voice low with anger.

"You don't. I expect an answer in the next cycle. I will be waiting." the Decepticon answered and the screen went blank. There was silence before anyone moved or spoke.

Wheeljack's POV

The message that Megatron had sent didn't reassure me one bit. It only made it worse. I had seen Marie's face when he brought her to the camera. She looked scared. She needed me. I recognized the words she had signed.

Help me.

Marie had never gotten into trouble before this, except for the occasional prank on base. The Decepticons took her in order to get to me. They were using her as bait to have me bend to their will and it was working. I didn't want to give the grid to them, but if I didn't then Marie was going to get hurt. The grid was unfinished. It didn't work yet. If Megatron had any common sense in his circuits, then he would know that already. I had a reputation for explosions when it came to my experiments. So, doing the only rational thing my processor could think of, I began to make my way to my lab, a plan formulating. However, Optimus stopped me before I got far.

"What?" I snapped at him. The Prime looked at me sternly and said

"Wheeljack, I know how much she means to you, but if we engage this the wrong way, we can't risk a life. We need to think clearly."

"We don't have time to think, Optimus. I'm gonna give 'im what he wants and get her back." I argued. Bumblebee spoke up, taking a step towards me.

"But he wants the energon grid. We can't just give it to him!" he exclaimed. I looked down at him and narrowed my optics at him, daring him to challenge me.

"He never said that it had to be operative." I muttered.

"Wheeljack,"

"I'll be in my lab for about 5 minutes if anyone needs me." I said and with that, I walked out the door towards my lab to get to work, leaving my fellow Autobots in confusion. All that was on min mind was getting Marie back.

3rd POV

Once Wheeljack left, the rest of the bots were speechless. Wheeljack's behavior was escalating quickly the longer Marie wasn't there. It seemed as though she was the only one that could keep him from going off his motherboard. Optimus sighed in frustration and turned to Jazz and Prowl.

"Is Wheeljack doing what I think he's doing?" Sideswipe asked.

"What? Going off the deep end? Then, yep." Sunstreaker answered with a frown. Ironhide elbowed him sharply in the chest and the yellow twin cried out in pain.

"No, he ain't. He going to make another energon grid, you two!" Ironhide growled in annoyance. A pair of 'Ohs' were heard from the twins and the gruff Autobot rolled his optics.

"He's makin' one that don't work for the 'Cons." Jazz explained.

"I've never seen Wheeljack so upset and angry about something." Bumblebee mentioned. Jazz shook his head.

"Me neither. But he cares 'bout Marie and one thing I've learned about guardians and their charges, is that ya never make the guardian angry, especially if ya take their charge." he explained sadly.

"I hope Marie is ok." Bumblebee whispered. The Terror Twins nodded in agreement.

"If they hurt her..." Sideswipe started.

"Then, they're going to have to deal with us." Sunstreaker finished.

"Listen, we all love Marie like she was one of our own. But I think right now, Wheeljack needs her back the most. He's the closest thing to her father that she's got." Ironhide spoke up above everyone else. It was true. Marie's father was a dear friend to Wheeljack and when he passed away, Wheeljack began to look after Marie and became her guardian. Everyone had their own fond memories of the girl. No one spoke afterwards, leaving the room with an uneasy atmosphere. Thankfully, Optimus was the one to cut the tension.

"Prowl, Jazz, prepare the rest of the Autobots for departure. I want Wheeljack to have back up as a precaution. Megatron might have something up his servo." he ordered. Prowl nodded and the two bots led everyone out of the room. But Ironhide stayed behind. He walked up next to the Prime and asked

"What about Wheeljack?"

"As much as I want him to remain here, I am afraid that he will disobey me and come with us anyway. Even more so, this is his battle. Once they took Marie, they are making this rather personal." Optimus answered solemnly.

"I would be more concerned with what he will do out there once the exchange happens." Ironhide muttered and Optimus agreed.

"I fear Wheeljack will not stop until the Decepticons fully understand." Optimus and Ironhide then left, joining the others to prepare to for the trade-off. About 5 minutes later, Wheeljack finally joined them, carrying an exact copy of the original energon grid he and Marie were working on earlier. Just looking at the thing made Wheeljack sad and angry at the same time. But he shook the feelings off. Right now, he had to get Marie back.

"I got the coordinates." Wheeljack told them.

"Lead the way, Wheeljack." Optimus said. The Autobots transformed and sped off, with the inventor leading the way. One thing was for certain. Once they arrived, no one could predict what Wheeljack would do.