The vents were extremely dusty, fogging up Rumble's optics. He stopped to rub them clear.
*Are you sure we're heading the right direction?* Frenzy asked from behind.
*Yes.* He responded in an eerily calm manner.
They continued to crawl.
*There it is.*
Rumble could see through a small grate to his right. There was Knockout, sitting slumped against the wall of his cell, in stasis cuffs.
*This is it.*
He undid the latch on the grate. It swung open into the room and creaked loudly.
Knockout flinched, looked up, and gasped. "What? Who's there?!"
Rumble jumped down, out of the vent. Frenzy followed.
"We need to know the truth." Frenzy said quietly.
"What are you doing here?! I can't-"
"Where. Is. Soundwave?"
"I can't tell you that. The Ultra Magnus would send me straight to the pit if I told you." Knockout spat. "Go away."
"He's in some place called the 'Shadow Zone', correct?" Frenzy glared.
Knockout looked shocked. That was more than enough of a response.
"I don't understand. Why would the Autobots-" Frenzy started.
"They're gonna pay for what they've done." Rumble grit his teeth. His servos started to shake.
"Rumble, wait-!"
"NO! No more waiting!" Tears sprung in his optics.
His arms transformed into pylons. His injured arm started to bleed.
And Rumble charged to the door, pylons extended.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
"What is going on?! Report!" Ultra Magnus demanded as he felt the ship shake under his feet.
The Vehicons had scattered as soon as the shaking began.
"Someone get a camera on the Minicons' quarters, now!" He ordered.
But no one would listen.
Ultra Magnus decided to comm the only members on board the ship that weren't cowards. "Bumblebee! Arcee! Smokescreen! Come to the bridge immediately."
Suddenly, the shaking stopped as soon as it started. The Vehicons, unsure of what to do, migrated slowly back to their assigned positions.
The door to the bridge opened as Bumblebee sprinted in.
"What's the situation, sir?" He asked.
"Where is Rumble?" Ultra Magnus replied.
"Last time I spoke with him was when I came to clear him from the Medbay. Frenzy helped him back to their quarters."
"Where is he now?"
"Not sure, sir."
Bumblebee walked to a computer, and signaled for the Vehicon working their to move. He brought up the security cameras, and checked the one for the Minicons' quarters.
"They're not in there." He replied in slight alarm.
"Find them!"
Bumblebee continued typing as Arcee entered the bridge.
"Knockout is not in his cell." She reported. "The door has been smashed off, and is laying across the hall on the ground. There's two clear pylon marks on it, sir."
"Rumble must have helped him escape." Ultra Magnus narrowed his optics and accessed the central computer. He turned on the intercom. "Code purple, code purple. I repeat: this is a code purple!"
An alarm began blaring. Vehicons scuffled about to their emergency positions.
"What defense systems does this ship have against on board attackers?" Ultra Magnus asked a hurrying Vehicon.
"Uh, we have wall-mounted turrets, and um, hallway sweepers." The Vehicon replied. "But they can't distinguish friend from foe-"
"Thank you. Bumblebee, get a fix on Rumble's position. Arcee, find Smokescreen." Ultra Magnus ordered.
Arcee was about to exit when the door opened and Smokescreen came running through.
"Woah, what's going on? The alarm is on and everything." He started as the door closed behind him.
"No time for questions. Rumble has gone rogue and has helped Knockout escape." Arcee gave him a warm welcome.
"Smokescreen, what do you know of the situation?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"I-I mean, I could feel the shaking, but, um, yeah, um. . ." He tried to respond.
"Are you certain-?"
"Sir! I've got a fix on his location." Bumblebee called from the computer.
"Where?"
"He's- he's right on top of us!"
The door opened.
Suddenly, the ground shook wildly, throwing everyone to their hands and knees.
Rumble ran in, dripping a trail of Energon behind him.
"Give him back!" He stopped in the center of the bridge. "Or I'll bring this entire ship to the ground!"
Frenzy sprinted in after him. "Rumble, Rumble wait-"
THUD!
The quake knocked everyone in the room onto their hands and knees.
Bumblebee scrambled back up and pulled out his blasters. "Stop. If you don't, I will be forced to-"
"If you send me to the pit, you're coming with me!" Rumble readied his pylons again for another strike.
"Wait, a-are you sure about this-" Frenzy tried to whisper.
THUD!
"I want Boss back. Give him to me." Rumble stiffled a sob. "Give him to me. . . and I might let you LIVE!"
THUD!
A loud groan could be felt, from deep inside the ship.
Ultra Magnus's comm rang. He glanced down and answered.
A Vehicon mechanic sputtered. "Sir, I'm not sure what's going on up there, but another hit like that and the starboard engine might quit. Her repairs won't hold for long, sir."
The call ended. Ultra Magnus looked up slowly.
"Bumblebee, put your weapons away." He ordered.
"But, sir-"
"It appears we're at. . . an impasse." He took a deep breath. "What do you want?"
The two Minicons were silent for a moment before Frenzy spoke.
"We want you to free Soundwave from the Shadow Zone, and clear him of all charges. Then you will leave us alone."
Ultra Magnus avoided eye contact. He glanced over to Bumblebee and Arcee. The look in their optics was impossible to read. Smokescreen, however, seemed to be frozen in terror. Or was it guilt?
"And in return?" Ultra Magnus replied.
"You will never see him- Or us, for the matter -ever again. We will leave you in peace. I swear." Frenzy's voice rose as Rumble tensed.
There was a moment of pause.
"We will consider your offer."
"NO!" Rumble raised his pylons. "You either do it now or say good-bye!"
"Give me a moment to concur with my crew, before you destroy us all." Ultra Magnus gave him a glare, and then turned to his officers.
Bumblebee looked past him. "This isn't worth losing our lives over."
"I agree." Said Arcee.
"Smokescreen?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"I vote yes. It's been cruel to keep them separate from Soundwave." He replied in full seriousness.
Ultra Magnus looked at him, but decided that wasn't important at the moment. "Alright. Bring up the equation to open up a groundbridge into the Shadow Zone."
There was tense silence as Bumblebee prepared the groundbridge. Ultra Magnus moved off to the side where the rest of the Autobots were standing.
"It's ready. Should I open it, sir?" Bumblebee asked.
"What are you waiting for?!" Rumble snapped.
The groundbridge opened. Sparks came erratically shooting out, and the colors were off. It warped and vibrated.
The entire world seemed to hold its breath.
At first, all he saw was green. A groundbridge had opened up in front of him. But this one. . this one was different than the normal ones. This one seemed to be in his realm. . .
He hesitated. What if this was just a hallucination? What if this was another trick of his own mind? Was any of this even real?
Soundwave blindly walked into the light.
Seconds seemed like hours as the Rumble saw the groundbridge swirl ahead of him. Nothing was happening.
Suddenly, sound. A loud crack echoed throughout the room. It looked like the bridge was trying to suck something into existence.
Light. The groundbridge flashed, and then went out. Rumble covered his optics.
*I'm. . . back?* A voice linked quietly.
Rumble uncovered his optics and gasped.
It was almost hard to recognize his carrier. He looked like he's been through the pit and back. Scratches and scars covered his plating. His Decepticon symbols had been clawed over so badly they was barely recognizable. But most startling was that a part of his visor was missing, broken, revealing a single optic.
"Boss!" Rumble put away his pylons and ran forward. Frenzy followed.
Soundwave knelt down, and flinched when Frenzy and Rumble ran right into him and hugged him.
"By the Allspark, Boss, you're alive, you're alive, you're here. . ." Frenzy couldn't stop talking.
"I-I missed you so much!" Rumble sobbed.
*This is. . . real.* Soundwave seemed to be talking to himself. *This is all real.*
"Yes! Yes! I'm right here. You're right here." Rumble hugged even harder.
*Right here.* Frenzy echoed.
They stayed there for a some time. The world seemed frozen around them. Nothing moved, nothing mattered. They were finally here. Together.
Ultra Magnus gave an awkward cough. Soundwave's grip on his Minicons loosened. He stood up, and Frenzy and Rumble turned around.
The Autobots stood in front of them. Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee were emotionless. Arcee looked oddly remorseful. Smokescreen wiped a tear from his optic.
*Are you ready?* Soundwave asked his symbiotes.
*More than anything.* They replied in unison.
And for the first time in centuries, Soundwave spoke.
"Rumble: dock. Frenzy: dock."
On cue, the twins jumped and transformed to their docking stations on Soundwave's legs.
*I've forgotten how comfortable this is!* Rumble remarked, settling into his familiar spot.
*We aced the landing, didn't we boss?* Frenzy laughed.
Soundwave couldn't keep from smiling. Thankfully, what remained of his visor still covered his mouth.
He turned his attention to the Autobots. They were in shock.
"Did- did he just. . ?" Smokescreen asked.
"So, Soundwave." Ultra Magnus began. "Are you going to uphold what Frenzy negotiated?"
Soundwave nodded before plotting coordinates for a groundbridge.
The door to the bridge opened. The Autobots turned around.
"What did I. . . miss?" Knockout trailed off as he saw Soundwave.
The Autobots gave him an awkward stare.
"Well, I'll just let you get right back to that, then." He backpedaled out of the room. Smokescreen snorted.
When the Autobots turned around again, Soundwave was already gone.
"I wonder where he went?" Arcee asked softly.
"He could be anywhere on Cybertron, as far as we know." Bumblebee replied.
Smokescreen gave a nervous smile. "Right. Absolutely anywhere. . ."