Would you look at that. I am becoming active. Free time man. It changes a lot.

Also: Canon? Pft. Who cares about canon when writing fanfiction anyway :'D

Okay that is just a joke. Normally I try to keep close to canon but with the amount of reincarnations they all went though and with the fact I still need to finish watching the G1 cartoons I have decided to just wing it. Sorry if that bothers you but that makes up for a lot of nights of useless research in the hope of finding the official names of the different blasters and stuff.

Warning: UN-beta'd, also some torture I guess? But that was expected I guess.

.~,~.

The four transformers in the room all stared in shock at the communication terminal in the room.

For the first time in a long time did Bumblebee feel panicked. For the first time in weeks, maybe even months did he feel fear.

"You can't send me there!" Bumblebee looked directly at Soundwave as he said that in panic. Only know he realised just how much he had been counting on Soundwave to keep him save from the other decepticons. Especially when all of his weapons had been removed and he had no way to escape or call for help.

Soundwave was staring at him as he spoke "I… don't have a choice…" he sounded so apologizing.

And Bumblebee realised, he really didn't. Soundwave may have been the third in commend but this was Megatron directly telling soundwave to come to him, and to take Bee along with him.

Panic was rising "No… no no no no. This can't be happening." Bumblebee stared in panic at Soundwave "Please. Do anything. I don't care what or what I need to do to pay you back for it but please!" If he went had to go to Megatron he would be killed. Bumblebee was sure of it.

Soundwave looked away from him as he spoke "I can't… I am sorry…"

Bumblebee stared before looking down, his wings hanging low in fear but also sad acceptance.

Laserbeak looked between the mechs and spoke "Maybe Megatron will only want some information?" She tried in the hopes of cheering the two up.

"The last time he asked me for information it ended with me losing my voice-" Bumblebee froze as his servos shot up to his throat in protection "My voice! No… not again" please not again.

That seemed to set dark blue mech into action as he opened some drawer and pulled out the yellow mech's old translator "Here."

Bumblebee stared in shock at it as he took it over "You kept it?" the yellow mech looked at the other shocked.

"It was yours. Even when no longer needed it was still yours." The dark colored mech was looking at the door "Put it on and talk though it again if you need to… Lord Megatron may not realise your voice has been repaired."

Bumblebee looked at the other shocked "You didn't tell him?"

Ravage jumped in bee's lap "There was no need to tell Megatron."

"But if we don't go soon he may send others…" Laserbeak looked unsure between the mechs as she spoke.

Soundwave nodded and put his visor back on. Bumblebee put on his translator and let the protective armour appear around his scarred throat. Once ready the two left the TIC's room and started to walk towards the throne room.

.~,~.

The way there was spend without any talking. Laserbeak and Ravage went ahead to ensure they wouldn't meet anyone threatening on the way. Some vehicons did come by but those were quickly ignored.

Bumblebee didn't feel right being out in the open. His Autobot mark proudly displayed on his chest suddenly felt much more like a target.

The dark hallways of the Nemesis didn't help as Bumblebee treat to calm his spark down from its terrified pulsing.

They arrived at the door to the throne room much to quickly. Soundwave opened the door and the two walked in.

The dark grey mech with red optics was sitting on the throne, looking down on the two arrivals. Soundwave gave a half bow as he stopped before him. Bumblebee stood frozen in place as the giant decepticon looked at them.

"Ah Soundwave. I was already starting to think I would need to send anyone over." The mech's voice almost made Bumblebee shudder. The yellow mech tried to activate his weapons ones more but found that they had still been removed.

Soundwave just stared at his leader and played a recording of Knockout saying there wasn't any problems.

Megatron nodded and looked at the much smaller mech. "Prime's scout. I see you are still in one piece."

Bumblebee's spark was pulsing in fear and Bumblebee had the strong instinct to run back to the door. His optics shot to the door before going back to Megatron. Part of him wanted to look at Soundwave for some kind of reassurance but decided to not show just how terrified he was of the situation.

Megatron turned to Soundwave "Soundwave. You can leave now. I believe you still have work to do on the bridge."

Bumblebee's wings shot up as he looked between the decepticon lord and Soundwave. He wouldn't right? Soundwave wouldn't leave him here… right?

"Lord?" Soundwave replied with a small recording from Starscream.

Megatron just waves Soundwave off "Don't worry. Your plaything will be ready to be picked up again after a cycle or two."

Bumblebee had taken to giving Soundwave and the little deployers a slightly desperate look as he screamed at Soundwave in his mind 'Don't leave me with him! Please!'

The dark mech was silent but turned around and walked towards the door. Bumblebee felt betrayed for some reason. The Autobot looked at the little cassettes and noted that they hadn't moved away yet. Both looked confused at Soundwave leaving but dind't seem willing to just leave Bumblebee to his fate.

Megatron looked annoyed at the cassettes and spoke "Leave with Soundwave or accept punishment." The two didn't move at the threat but suddenly both looked up and at Soundwave, who was waiting by the door.

Laserbeak left first and lifted up and flew towards her creator. Ravage left slower but joined the other two.

The door closed and Bumblebee was left alone with the Decepticon lord.

.~,~.

'Why are we leaving!' Ravage was screaming at her creator though their bond.

'We need to be in there for Bee! What if Megatron is going to hurt him?!' Ravage kept looking back at the door they were walking away from.

Soundwave quickly checked around them and heard not saw anyone. "Lord Megatron won't hurt Bumblebee. He gave him to me. He is honourable, he won't come back on that."

Ravage snorted 'Yeah right! If that is the case why call us to him and order us to leave Bumblebee there?!'

Laserbeak had been quiet before but softly spoke over the bond 'Master. Could we maybe stay near the throne room? Just in case? We won't interfere unless needed.'

Soundwave kept walking as he thought. He trusted his lord. Megatron was honourable and he had gifted the Autobot to Soundwave. It slightly sickened Soundwave to think of Bumblebee as property but that is how the other Decepticons saw the Autobot now and Soundwave believed that his lord would never damage another's property unless it was as punishment, and Soundwave never earned punishments.

'Please sir…. Please we will be quiet and not interfere but we can't just leave him there… Bee was afraid and has nothing to defend himself with.' Ravage was looking at him begging.

"Very well. Stay hidden. It isn't needed but… It is better just in case." Soundwave gave his two symbiotes the go ahead and Laserbeak did a small somersault in the air to go back while Ravage disappeared into a vent.

Soundwave walked all the way to the bridge where he stood at his normal spot.

His spark was demanding him to turn back to his Autobot to ensure he was save. That he was undamaged and that he truly was only being spoken to by Megatron.

Soundwave trusted Megatron. Megatron had long ago told everyone that the only one allowed to damage and play with the Autobot was Soundwave. Megatron would not come back on that… right?

The Autobot had been with them for 24 day cycles. Almost 15 joors. That was so much time for Megatron to suddenly change his mind right?

Soundwave stood in front of his normal terminal as he tried to keep his mind focused on his work. The quicker he finished the sooner he could go back to the throne room.

He was a Decepticon. Decepticons were made to battle the corrupt Autobot council. Megatron was an ex-gladiator and leader of the Decepticons. He wanted to corruption to stop and an honest chance for all.

Soundwave frowned behind his visor. Okay so maybe the Decepticon leader had been slightly more focused on getting power and spreading fear instead of the old Decepticon ways but war changed mechs. It was to be expected. But throughout the changes the Decepticon lord was still honourable and trustworthy and should be treated with respect.

As long as he was faithful he would be treated with the respect he had earned.

Megatron had let him live back when they had been gladiators.

Soundwave had earned the Decepticon's lord's trust and respect.

He would not ruin that by reading his lord's mind.

He wouldn't.

Soundwave ignored the part of his processor that whispered that no one would ever know. That it was just to give his spark some rest knowing that his master would not hurt his scout.

The mind reader finished another report and looked around him.

No one except him was on the bridge.

His mind whispered again, no one would know.

He sighed, spoke a small apology to his lord and concentrated on the minds on the ship. And he found the two in the throne room quickly.

"-perish at my servo, or the servos of my followers."

Soundwave stopped and concentrated, his lord was thinking and speaking at the same time.

"This will do two things. One, Show the Autobots their place. And Two, get some of my frustration out. Goodbye. Scout."

Soundwave had left the terminal and was running towards the throne room.

.~,~.

The door closed as Soundwave left and Bumblebee felt like that had sealed his fate.

But Soundwave wouldn't have left him if it had been dangerous right?

Bumblebee felt like slapping himself for that. What was he thinking?! Thinking he could count on a con like that. Of course Soundwave would leave him to die without a second thought if his Lord sad it.

Thinking about lord.

Bumblebee turned back to keep an eye on Megatron. This was bad. This was really bad.

"If it isn't the Legendary scout."

Reaaally bad.

The decepticon rose of his throne and walked over. The scout couldn't help but take a few steps backwards. The grey mech smirked as the small mech showed fear.

"Ah! It seems like you do know your place."

The Autobot stopped walking back and he glared at the giant mech in anger. This only seemed to amuse the Decepticon as he walked to the scout. The yellow mech managed to stay still while the Decepticon walked around him.

"Curious." Megatron spoke as he circled the yellow mech "Seems like Soundwave does keep his toys in well condition." At that sentence Bumblebee's servos turned into fists but he kept quiet.

Megatron chuckled "Oh well. I will make it up to Soundwave later with some new toy."

Bumblebee didn't have time to realise what it meant as a fist hit his side hard and he heard more than felt his armour crack and break under the pressure. The force of the hit forced Bumblebee almost to his side on the ground but his quick reflexes saved him from ending on the ground.

Bumblebee turned to watch the other mech for the next attack and already saw another fist coming his way. Bumblebee could only move backwards and twist to the side in the hope of escaping the blunt of the attack.

The giant mech smirked and readied his endarkened energon sword.

The Autobot felt his spark pulse in panic, pushing him to do anything to keep him safe.

"I thought I was supposed to be from Soundwave or something?" the beep-ing sounded strange to himself but he had to try.

Megatron chuckled "You are an Autobot. Meant to be whatever you are useful as. Now? As a message and some stress relieve." The sword came down in an attack.

Bumblebee jumped out of the way but heard the sword chip his armour. Megatron was fast, too fast.

"Run for as long as you can Autobot. In the end you will be one with the All Spark." Megatron seemed to enjoy the fear coming from the Autobot.

No, Bumblebee was sure that Megatron was enjoying this. But the Decepticon was right. Bumblebee had no weapons, his transformation cogs were all offline and his communication systems were jammed.

He was stuck. He was alone. And he was going to offline.

Megatron moved forwards into another attack and Bumblebee managed to dodge the sword sadly Megatron seemed to have expected this and kicked the Autobot in the chest and forced the Autobot to fall back.

Bumblebee groaned as he tried to get back up only for Megatron to stand on his chest, sword raised.

"And now it is time to do what I should have done a long time ago." The Decepticon smirked at the defenceless Autobot. "I must admit. There are not many who have managed to escape their fate for so long." The sword was raised above his head "But yours, much like all the other Autobots, was always to perish at my servo, or the servos of my followers."

Bumblebee tried to twist free but winced as he heard his chest armour crack.

Megatron smirked once more "This will do two things. One, Show the Autobots their place. And Two, get some of my frustration out. Goodbye. Scout." And he brought the Dark Star Saber down.

Only to curse as something attacked his faceplates.

Bumblebee stared in shock as Laserbeak was scratching and attacking the faceplates of her fractions leader. Next Ravage attacked the undefended side of the grey mech and started to tear the cables open there.

The weight on his chestplates disappeared and Bumblebee started to raise again. His armour was protesting but he ignored those.

The two symbiotes were tearing into Megatron but neither seemed to do much damage. Bumblebee spotted the door and ran towards it, finding it locked but he expected that. He didn't mind as he started to try and hack the locks on the door. He hadn't tried to hack the locks on Soundwave's room but that hadn't been because he couldn't hack it, but because it wouldn't have mattered at that point in time.

But now he just needed to get away from that power crazy mech.

Bumblebee typed furiously into the touchpad of the lock and slowly made his way into the coding of the lock, looking for a way to disable it. He heard the hiss of the doors unlocking and believed he had made it just in time.

Only to feel a servo grab his wing and a harsh pull throw him backwards into the throne room. He groaned and rolled to his side, his wings haven taken the full damage from his fall. He moved to get back up when the Dark Star Saber was slammed into his wing and into the ground beneath him. A scream of pain escaped him but was transformed into a harsh screeching sound by the translator as the sword went straight into the ground.

Next thing he felt was a weight on his helm. Blue optics opened again and he tried to turn to look up but something held his helm in place. Megatron held his pedal on his head.

The con smirked and started to step down.

His helm felt like it was being split open.

Oh wait. It was.

Bumblebee felt his helm starting to crack and almost sobbed in pain. Help. Please…

The yellow mech tried to twist free away but the pain from the Star Saber in his wing kept him in place. His mind reminded him of the small symbiotes who had come to help him and tried to focus on one last thought and call for help.

Please. Please Soundwave, please help… please…

The pressure was increasing and he saw his vision starting to blur. His optics were starting to crack.

He heard an angry growl from someone in the room and suddenly the weight was gone.

.~,~.

Soundwave was running towards the throne room, he would have transformed and flew but the hallways weren't open enough for him to safely make the turns, and crashing would take to much time that he did not have.

In the back of his mind he heard his cassettes scream at him to get to them. That Megatron had gone insane and was attacking Bumblebee and that they were trying to stall for time.

He should have stayed.

Soundwave turned another corner and spotted the door. He got there and got ready to unlock the lock when he noticed the lock had already been inactivated. He pushed open the door and stalled.

His cassettes were both on the ground and covered with some rumble to keep them both down. Megatron was standing over his Autobot. The Dark Star Saber in one of those fragile wings and a pedal on the poor scout's helm. Which was cracked and energon had started to leak out.

Soundwave activated his feelers and grabbed the other ex-gladiator. One around the petal which was forcing his scout down, another around the arm holding the Star Saber and the other two around the shoulders and chest. Once all the feelers were secure did Soundwave pull with all his might.

Surprise was on his side as he managed to flip the grey mech off of his scout. Soundwave ran forward and removed the Dark Star Saber from the wing which made the scout whine in pain. Soundwave wanted to drop to his knees next to the scout to apologise for the harsh treatment and the unintended pain he had caused him.

But there was something else he had to finish first.

Soundwave turned towards the Decepticon while his feelers moved to quickly removed the rumble from his precious symbiotes.

Megatron stood back up from the other side of the room and growled at soundwave "What do you think you are doing Soundwave?"

Soundwave didn't even answer the other mech as he raised his feelers ready to attack and held the Dark Star Saber in his servo. Ravage and Laserbeak ran over to stand by Soundwave.

'Ravage, Laserbeak. Stay with Bumblebee' Soundwave spoke to his cassettes over his bond as he kept looking at the Decepticon lord.

Ravage growled at Megatron before running over to check on the yellow mech. Laserbeak flew around the room once more before joining the other cassette.

"This is treason Soundwave." Megatron made his displeasure clear in his voice. "Stop with this foolishness and hand over my Star Saber."

Soundwave didn't move to hand it over. In matter of fact, he raised the weapon in warning.

"Soundwave! You will stop this foolish behaviour!" Megatron growled as he looked over the situation "Is this about the Autobot pet? You will get a new one but you will stop this." Soundwave didn't move to listen.

Megatron glared at his third in commend "Cease this behaviour now and hand over the weapon! And that is an order!" and Soundwave did stand up a bit straighter. Megatron smirked, finally his Third in Commend was coming around.

Suddenly a sonic blast was shot straight at Megatron smashing him into the back wall.

Megatron groaned as he looked up, seeing that the cassette master had transformed his servos into his old sonic weapons which had been much used when the mech had still been on the frontlines but had been put away when Soundwave had focused on the data progressing, but it seems like the weapons and systems were all still installed.

Which would not make battling the other easy as Megatron knew from experience.

Megatron lifted himself up from the floor and away from the now dented wall "You are making a mistake Soundwave. A big one." Megatron readied his own weapons. "This is your last chance Soundwave. Stop this traitorous behaviour and give me back the Dark Star Saber."

Soundwave just raised his sonic blaster which had replaced one of his servos. Normally the blaster would be by his chest plates and the area by the cassette docking station but that had been remodelled a long time ago, he would have to see to remodel it back but that was a problem for later. The other servo raised the Star Saber.

The Decepticon leader growled as he moved to attack.

Soundwave had waited for it and his feelers attacked right away. Soundwave knew that the grey mech was fast and he would need to keep his at a distance if he wanted to win.

In the gladiator pit that is where it had gone wrong. Megatron had gotten near him and defeated him. Now Soundwave was planning on keeping Megatron back and keep himself out of arm reach. If he wanted to win and get his scout out of here safely he would need to overpower Megatron before any of the other officers got back from the relic hunt.

'Master. We patched what we could but these wounds need a medic.' Laserbeak sounded worried.

Correction, Soundwave needed to finish this really fast so he could help Bumblebee.

Megatron stood with his arms raised as he laughed and smirked "Go ahead and try Soundwave. You had earned my respect but after this?" Megatron gave a regret full shake of his head "You were part of something greater. Of the Decepticons. But all of that thrown away. For an useless piece of scrap."

Soundwave wasn't really listening to the other. He was focused on looking though Megatron's mind to look for what he would do next. What his next attack would be and how to block that.

Megatron activated his own blaster and took aim to shoot. Soundwave pulled his feelers back as he shot another sonic blast at the larger mech. Megatron dodged most of the force and moved to attack Soundwave from the side. The dark blue mech didn't move away from his spot between the downed Autobot and the Decepticon leader as he left the other come closer. Megatron transformed his blaster into another sword and moved to attack.

Soundwave had been waiting for that as he shot another sonic blast at point blank. The force hit and pushed the other mech back just a bit. This was enough for Soundwave to move forwards and shoot him again at point blank.

Soundwave kept this up until the other mech was right by the wall. When there he called for his feelers and attacked the grey mech. The feelers easily penetrated though the armour and the cables beneath it.

Megatron was immobile at the wall.

Soundwave had won.

Megatron stared for a nanoklik before he started to chuckle before that transformed in a full blow laughing fit.

"Ah Soundwave. It is a shame it had come to this. But I always knew that if my life-cycle were to end it would have been at the servos of another Decepticons. The Autobots are just too weak to ever do what was needed." The grey mech smirked.

And that was the problem. If Soundwave ended the Decepticon lord all the alarms in the Nemesis would go off at the offlining of the lord's spark signal. All the officers would be called back and would attack Soundwave. Making an escape impossible.

Soundwave stared at Megatron before raising a feeler, and scattering the transmitter from the Decepticon lord. Next the feelers keeping the grey mech in place moved and grabbed the metal of the walls and twisted these around and through the wounds. Effectively keeping the grey mech trapped in the twists of the metal and unable to comm. link for help from any of the vehicons.

Soundwave turned away from Megatron once he was completely stuck and made his way to Bumblebee. The yellow mech was still shuddering and slightly whining in pain as his cassettes stood by him guarding.

The dark mech dropped to his knees next to the yellow mech and quickly looked at the cracks on the other's helm and on the wings. He quickly checked the temporary welds and bonding.

'Ravage. Get to the groundbridge and get us somewhere safe and ensure that the coordinates get deleted once it closes. Laserbeak. Make sure that all the vehicons and eradicons are busy and away from the throne room and the bridge.'

Both the cassettes looked at soundwave.

"Got it boss!" Ravage nodded and ran towards the vent, but not before hissing at Megatron one last time.

Laserbeak flew over to Soundwave and gave her cassette master a quick nuzzle before flying off to complete her own mission.

"So you are going to flee!? Like some weakling! Come back here and finish this fight Soundwave! Have some honour!" Megatron was displeased.

Soundwave turned to look at Megatron for a second before turning back to Bumblebee as he used a large comination of the different officers to commute what he wanted to say "Megatron lost his honour a long time ago. When Megatron destroyed youngling centre." Soundwave didn't look at the Decepticon leader. "Soundwave. Blind to changes. But not anymore. Megatron lost the cause. Lost the values the Decepticons had had." Soundwave finished the bindings on the wounds and lifted the scout up in his arms. "Endarked energon destroyed Megatron's mind. But end of Megatron's spark in Prime's servos."

Soundwave walked towards the door of the throne room and left it ignoring the enraged screams of the Decepticon lord.

Once outside Soundwave quickly closed the door and relocked it.

Once that was done he stared to quickly move towards the bridge while holding Bumblebee close to him.

.~,~.

Pain was splitting open his processor. His doorwing was sending error after error and hurt like pit.

But he was online.

Soundwave had returned after all.

Bumblebee hadn't understood most of what was going on. The pain to blinding and deafening for him to make out details but he knew a few things for sure.

One, Soundwave had come back for him. Two, Soundwave had saved him. And three, Soundwave had fought against Megatron to save him.

Bumblebee had been shocked about this but right now he was only relieved as Soundwave got him out of there. Out of that pit of pain. They were walking in the dark halls of the Nemesis and Bumblebee finally felt his spark calm down. He was out of danger.

"I apologise."

Bumblebee looked up just slightly, just enough to show he was listening.

"I should have stayed with you just in case. I should have focused on his mind from the start."

Bumblebee frowned slightly "'his mind'? Why not just mine?" Bumblebee was slightly shocked at hearing his own voice. Huh. His translator must have gotten damage. He should probably remove it but he was tired and everything hurt.

"I never listen in on your thoughts. It is rude and disrespectful." Soundwave answered without a second thought.

Bumblebee wanted to continue questioning but he heard the sound of heals hitting the metal of the floor and froze as panic returned to his spark.

"Soundwave! I see you are taking your Autopet out for a moment?" Bumblebee recognised that voice and shrunk slightly closer to Soundwave and silently begged in his mind. Please don't let her close. Please keep her away.

He knew he couldn't fight right now. He couldn't handle much more of this stress.

The arms holding him just pulled him closer to the dark blue chestplates.

Soundwave used Megatron's voice to address the femme "Airachnid." And Bumblebee felt the other turn slightly and the young scout called up all of his old training to act like he was in recharge.

The clicking sound stopped was the femme stopped "I see you finally decided to tame the Autobot?" Bumblebee wanted to turn away, hide the damage and wounds from the hunter but stayed still.

"Airachnid purpose?" Soundwave made sure to use the inpatient voice of Megatron.

"Well, I was wondering if I could borrow the pet for a small torture session. Or if I could have the record of the next lessons he is thought." The femme's voice was all business as she spoke. "I have been meaning to send a message to Arcee to get some revenge on her for destroying my ship and collection-"

"Negative."

Femme and Soundwave were both silent as the femme stood in shock and the mech made sure to keep her in sight at all times.

Bumblebee could hear the smile in her voice when she spoke. "I am sure we can work something out Soundwave. You are a logical mech. I am sure-" and she gasped.

Bumblebee frowned and onlined his optics just slightly only to stare in shock.

The femme was trapped against the wall with Soundwave's feelers keeping her trapped. One feeler came up to the side of her head with the transmitters for communication was located and the feeler ripped it off and crushed it. Next the feelers ripped the metal walls into ribbons and tied the femme to the wall.

"What do you think you are doing?! Let me down!" the femme was screeching in displeasure as she tried to get lose.

Soundwave let a small smiley face appear on his mask before playing of a recording.

"Always watch out for the quiet ones."

After that he turned and continued walking. Leaving the femme to shout after him.

This was too much to think about right now. He was tired. He hurt.

And he knew it in his spark.

He was save.

Bumblebee fell back in recharge as Soundwave entered the groundbridge.


A blast sounded around the Autobot base.

Optimus sighed as he listened to Ratchet yelling at Wheeljack to keep the experiments down.

He was worried.

Very worried.

Soundwave had taken Bumblebee at a moment of inattention.

Now 15 joors had past and they hadn't found any trace of the youngest member yet.

Optimus sighed as he looked at the computer.

No message from Bumblebee. Nothing from the Decepticons. And no reaction to the question for a trade to get the young mech back.

The leader had seen Arcee go through more training dummies than they could make but her anger had disappeared. Now she was just sad as she waited for any signal of her friend who was more of a brother.

Optimus sighed sadly.

They had told the humans what happened 13 joors ago, about 22 days ago. Mostly because Rafael had been very worried about where his guardian had been.

They had explained that Bumblebee had been taken by the cons and that they hadn't heard anything of it yet.

"I am sorry. Optimus?"

The prime looked up at the sound of the voice and saw the creator figure of Arcee's charge and Agent William Fowler.

"Good morning miss Darby and agent Fowler." Optimus greeting the two human allies with a nod "What can I help you with."

June smiled sadly as she looked back at the kids. Raf was sitting sadly on the couch half-hearted playing with the game station there. Jack was trying to entertain him while Miko was ones again trying to convince Bulkhead that they should just storm the Decepticon base.

June sighed "I am worried about Bumblebee. He has already been gone for almost a month. If Jack had been taken…" She looked back at the kids "It must be horrible for you all."

Optimus gave a small nod "Thank you for your kind words."

"You are all so close." June smiled softly "Like a family."

"We are in many ways a family." Optimus spoke softly as he thought back to the Ark. And even further. The war back on Cybertron "Many of us lost the bonds we had. The Autobots that came together became a family without the bonds."

June stood up straighter "You told us about these bonds. It was like marriage right?"

Optimus paused for a nanoklik before answering "It could be seen as such. But in our case we bind our very being to the other. There is no breaking this bond. It is until we are one with the allspark. And sometimes even further."

"You are afraid the Cons will use that?" Agent Fowler asked it straight away. "Are you afraid they will force him to do that?"

Optimus stood up straighter "Never. No one would risk it."

"How so?" June looked worried.

"To touch another's spark is the deepest most horrible thing someone could do in our kind. It is a privilege only meant between sparkmates and has always been respected." Optimus was deeply troubled by the mere mention of someone doing that.

June and Fowler shared a look before Fowler spoke again "Will the Cons respect that?"

Optimus nodded "It is part of who we are. None will do that."

"But didn't Soundwave already got freaky with Bee right? What will stop him?" Miko had suddenly appeared and seemed honestly curious as she asked that. June looked disapproving at the young girl as she spoke without thinking.

Optimus seemed lost in what to say or how to explain before looking at the medbay where he saw Ratchet working "Old friend? I need your help explaining the matter of sparkmates and the norms belonging with that." Ratchet looked up from his work but walked over.

"What is wrong Optimus? You are able to explain it just fine." Ratchet looked at the humans and at Optimus in confusion.

"Well. Agent and miss June said that they were afraid that the Cons would try to force a bond on Bee. But OP said they wouldn't. But we don't understand why they wouldn't." Miko was leaning against the railing as she quickly summed it up.

Ratchet was about to speak when he paused for a minute, like he wasn't sure how to explain it. "Our kind is very different than your kind. As we explained before, we have heats. There heats show when our sparks are stable and ready to support a bond."

June looked up "Like reaching adulthood?" Ratchet nodded.

"Much like that yes. Only when a spark enters a heatcycle they could support a sparkbond. Before that it is already part of familybonds but a sparkbond is different." Ratchet took his time explaining "A familybond gets made when the sparkling is still being carried. The sparkling is so close to the carrierspark that the bond is made from the start. The sire also makes a bond with the sparkling y sparkfeeding energy to the carrier and sparkling." Ratchet waved off any questions.

"I understand it is confusing but it isn't important right now. The matter is that sparks are tricky things, and very stubborn. Once a spark bonds to another spark this bond can not be broken. It is forever." Ratchet concluded as if it was the easiest matter in the world.

Miko looked ready to keep asking, most likely what this sparkfeeding was and how the sparklings were made but June stopped her.

"Okay. So no fear for bonding. But what about Stockholm syndrome?" June looked worried as she spoke the name.

Both Optimus and Ratchet paused and tilted their heads to the side to quickly look up things on the internet.

Ratchet was the first to finish searching "What has a city to do with the situation?"

June gasped "You don't know Stockholm syndrome?!" She looked really worried "It is where a captive starts to feel sympathy towards their captive! You all said that Soundwave could read minds. What if he tries to use that to control Bumblebee's and makes him believe he wants to be there and-"

"Calm down miss Darby. I have found what you are worried about but that is not a problem for us." Optimus stopped the woman from panicking.

June looked up "It is not a problem for you?"

Optimus nodded "We do not function as your kind does. We have two driving factors. Our processor. And our spark."

Miko jumped up "oh! Like our brain and our heart?"

"Not really." Ratchet answered "For you. Your only driving factor is your brain. It decides what to do, how to react and moves your body. Your heart just functions as a pump keeping you going."

Optimus stopped Ratchet before he got to medical "We have our processor and our spark. Our processor looks though information works through it and gives results. It makes our body move. In many aspects it functions for the same matters as your brains. But our personality. Our will, our wishes, our dreams and emotions are all send from our spark. The processor reacts to what the spark feels. The two work so closely together that they are often in complete sync." Optimus continued.

"This stockholm syndrome, while we do not have it we have something like it. Called Processor Submission. It is when the Processor reacts to the stress and fear of the spark. If the spark is in too much stress and pain in certain situations the processor will step in and prevent the body from reacting and will often submit to the torture which has triggered these emotions as a way to protect the owner of the spark and processor.

"However, this does not affect the spark in any way. The spark will still want to fight, escape the pain but the processor will keep the owner save. But when the situation changes. The spark and processor both will return to the old situation and fight for freedom." Optimus looked at the others calmly "Our sparks can not be swayed. They are too stubborn and will forever fight if they feel in danger."

Miko looked really interested "Is that why they can't force a bond? Because the spark is to strong?"

"If someone tries to force a spark to bond the spark will refuse. And if a sparkbond is refused the spark will perish, taking the one trying to force the bond with it." Ratchet looked over at the humans "Even mates don't always dare to set the step. Afraid to perish if their sparks don't agree at the last second." Ratchet looked at the humans "When a spark makes its choice it is final."

The humans stared in shock. Miko hummed and smiled "It is kinda sweet. You love the other so much you give your very being to them and they do the same in reverse."

Optimus nodded "That is indeed what sparkbonding is about." The human girl seemed content as she moved back to Raf and Jack, who had been listening in on the whole matter.

Fowler and June also walked off to talk about the new things they had learned.

Ratchet sighed softly as the humans went on their own way.

Optimus looked at Ratchet as the medic spoke "I am worried."

The prime nodded in agreement "Me too old friend. Me too…"