Tier:

Somehow we manage to be very sly with Parate in the lead. He held Sanna's servo, behind her were Arc and Ree and I was behind them. Parate would pull us along then he would stop at each corner. I could not tell how he knew where he was going. Every corner and every hallway looked the same: Dark, quiet, depressing. I have been around this warship many times before but not while trying to escape.

"How in the pits of Kaon can ya know where ya goin' P?" Sanna asked quietly.

"I've been around these parts. Remember I was a Con warrior?" He whispered gently.

That is true, he is a former Decepticon so he ought to know where he is going.

My servo slipped from Arc's and the door opened. I managed to back away before anyone could step out. Parate pulled them to the side and hid in the shadows. He gestured for me to hid in the shadows.I waited for a few nano-clicks and Cholo came out. She stopped and the door closed. She looked left and right like she was looking for someone. Then an evil grin appeared on her faceplate.

"Trying to escape are we?" She turned my direction and looked right at me. I stood still frozen in horror. What is she going to do? Is she going to take me to Megatron? Am I going to be punished?

"Good timing too. Trying to escape while Megatron and most of the little Vehicons are out is perfect timing." Chills went down my back, her face was so horrid that it was hard not to stare. However the longer I stared the more I feared her. Parate leap out from the shadows and readied for battle.

"It's kind of selfish you know," She said looking back and forth.

"What is selfish?" I asked even though I do not know why I was speaking.

"You're just going to leave Smokescreen behind?" I hate to admit that she is right, but she is. She had a point. Smokescreen was the reason we are escaping, he was the reason I have hope again. So she has a point. Cholo smiled the evil smile again."You'll find him at the bottom of the ship, last door on the left. There shouldn't be many Con's down there so you shouldn't have any trouble,"

I jumped a little and stared at her. She was helping us? Helping us escape? Why? What is she hoping to gain?

"Just in case though go to the weaponry room and gather some weapons. You never know," My optics went to Parate who was just as shocked as I was.

"Why are you helping us?" I asked.

"Why else?" She shrugged,"After what that bastard Roads did to me you think I'm just going to let him get what he wants? Not a chance," She shook her head and walked by me," Good luck,"she whispered and walked forward. I stared at Parate who was gesturing me over. Shaking my head I ran to him and Arc grabbed my servo. Parate guided us again and this time he guided us into the weaponry room. Taking deep breaths we tried to relax. Parate on the other hand started gathering weapons and shields. He handed one shiled to each of us. Then he handed a gun to Sanna, twin swords to the twins and giant sword to me.

"Parate," I said trying to calm my voice,"We must find Smokescreen," He preoccupied himself with a gun.

"No, we can't risk it," He said not looking at me.

"Why not?"

"It'll be to risky. We could get caught and all of our efforts will be for nothing,"

"No I know where he is,"

"From where? Cholo? Teir we can't trust her,"

"But it would make sense," Arc said,"She would tell us where he is so that the Con won't get what he wants,"

"And what if it's a trap?"

"We ought to think of a plan darlin'" Sanna said trying to hold her sheild up.

"Well Tier if you know where he is then where is he?"

"Cholo informed me that Smokescreen is at the very bottom of the ship at the last door on the left,"

Parate stopped and looked at me in horror,"Tier listen to me. He might very well be dead,"

I gasped and backed away. How could he say that? How could he just give up hope? How could he not understand? My body went numb with fear if this were true, deep down I was worried. I was starting to shake, my hopes were starting to crush, my motivation started to die down. I did not want to escape anymore. I wanted to go back and die in the dungeon. I wanted to give up, I wanted to throw the weapon at Parate.

"Now hold on nosey,"Sanna said putting her hand up,"How could you know that? Where you there darlin'?"

"I know what they do to bots down there,"Parate looked away," Bots go down there and they never return. They take bots down there to die!"

"Ssshh"Ree said frantically.

"Sorry,"he said embarrassed,"Look I don't know why you are so committed to finding a bot who could possibly be dead. Why is he so important?"

Why was he so important? I was angry when he said that but at the same time he had a point. I did not know why Smokescreen was so important, I just knew we had to find him before escaping In my spark, I felt we just had too. I suppose one reason is that he makes me feel...different. I feel full of hope, full of life, joy even. I cannot get his smile...his warm, loving smile...out of my processor. My wires start shaking every time I think about it and I go nearly numb. The second...

"If not for Smokescreen we would not be escaping right now," I said with boldness. Every bot turned and looked at me with shock in their optics.

"What?"Parate asked irritated.

"That is right Parate. Ever since I met him I have been filled with hope and faith. Somehow, when he said 'we will escape', I believe him. That is something I have not felt in a very long time. When Frag handed me that note, I would have tossed it into the trash. But I did not because I believe we will get out, we will succeed. How can we leave him when he is the reason we are escaping?"

Parate started pacing knowing our time was short. He knew what choice we had. But he still had a side of him that had the need to watch out for all of us. Especially Sanna.

"Fine," He said and opened the door,"But if he's dead-"

"We will still take him and give him a burial with his friends,"

We manage to get away from the weapon room. We made down to the bottom of the ship when Roads came out. My spark stopped as memories came flooding back. The last memory of my mother and father, my home, Crystal City, his evil grin...I wanted to kill him. I wanted to lash out and kill him more than anything else. But I know better. We must get to Smokescreen.

I followed everyone into the room and the door closed. The room was empty. Except for a startled Knockout who was staring stright ahead where a puddle of blue energon laid. All of us jumped when the door opened and a femme and another bot came in. I recognized them.

"What is going on here?" THe red femme demanded putting her servo on her hip.

"That's what I was just about to ask sis,"

"Shut up Reedline," The femme commanded.

"Knockena, Reedline,"Parate said calmly,"I'll make a deal with you,"

"Oh really? Coming from a traitor, this ought to be good," Reedline chuckled while Knockena remained still and emotionless. All Parate had to do was point. Knockena and Reedline turned and spotted Knockout on his knees.

"Brother!" Reedline yelled and both of them ran to him. Knockena put her servo to Knockout's helmet while Reedline started shaking him.

"WHat have you done to him?" Knockena growled looking at us.

"If you promise to keep us a secret, I will tell you," Reedline looked at Knockena who started cradling Knockouts head in her arms.

"Fine,"

"Teir,"Arc said,"He's not here,"

My spark would have hit the floor. I had somuch hope that he would be here. I had so much hope...now they were gone...

"That is impossible-"

Then alarms went off and the sound of robotic servos came closer and closer to where we stood. Parate was the first to act, he charged out the door and started firing the gun he held. Sanna ran out after him and blocked the red blasts, the twins hid behind her. I remembered there was a way to close a door half way down the corridor. I ran behind them and turned the corner.

"Slave femme?"