Kidnapped and the New War's start

At the Neutral craft, Optimus woke to find himself chained up tight in a concrete cell. Optimus struggled to free himself from his bondings and soon gave up. Then, Optimus was joined by another mech in this cramped space of a cell.

"Well, greetings Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots, once enemy of Megatron, Leader of the Decepticons."

"Who are you and what do you want?" Optimus asked aggressively.

"I'm BloodShed, soon to be grand overlord of Earth and Cybertron." The other said, voice nearly booming with egotistical self praise.

"BloodShed, why have you kidnapped me?"

"I plan to bait your new and old comrades to praise me for your safety. I will tell them on the battle field that you will be killed if they choose to attack my Neutral army."BloodShed said, grabbing Optimus's chin so they stared each other in the optics. "You know how Megatron is. You'll never survive."

Optimus sneers at BloodShed, knowing he was right about Megatron's love of battle.

In the Decepticon med bay, KnockOut was finishing up the repairs to SoundWave's vocal center.

"Almost done, SoundWave." KnockOut said while connecting the last wire.

SoundWave could feel his vocal systems reactivate after millennia of being offlined by a nasty fight he got in when he was just a sparkling.

"Try talking now, SoundWave."

"Th...thank you, Kn...KnockOut." SoundWave said, static half scrambling his words.

KnockOut smiles and tweaks the main vocal box to get rid of the static. "There now try."

"KnockOut...I don't know how to thank you enough for this." SoundWave said without difficulty or static. SoundWave's voice was smooth as silk and its depth just a bit higher than Megatron's.

KnockOut couldn't stop himself from blushing. "Wow...such a beautiful voice."

SoundWave smirked at the comment but stopped, remembering KnockOut's bonding to Proximity.

Soon, though, KnockOut and SoundWave are joined in the med bay by two mechs.

"KnockOut, I'm back for you."

"P-Proximity? Is that you?" KnockOut asked, turning to the two new mechs. At the sight of Proximity, KnockOut smiled and ran to him, coolant pouring from his optics. Proximity hugged KnockOut tight, kissing KnockOut's helm.

"KnockOut, I never want to leave you again. I didn't even want to leave you the first time."

"Y-You didn't?"KnockOut asked.

"No. Of course not. You're my bond mate. I love you more than anything."

KnockOut smiled and kissed Proximity. Proximity kissed him back but stopped, remembering JackCrane and SoundWave were present.

"KO, I have someone here who wants to meet you. KO meet JackCrane."

KnockOut looked at Proximity then at JackCrane. "Hello JackCrane. Pleasure to meet you."

JackCrane nearly fainted when KnockOut looked and spoke to him. "H-hi. Y-you can call me Jack."

KnockOut smiled, realizing that JackCrane was shy. "Alright, Jack."

Two hours later, SoundWave had apologized for any personal assaults to KnockOut when he knew of their bonding, and now all four were in the control room and trying to find Megatron's location so they can explain the details of the neutral conspiracy. But they weren't having much luck with this strenuous task.

"Any luck, SoundWave?" KnockOut asked.

"No. Megatron is covering his and StarScream's signal. He is untraceable." SoundWave responded.

"We must hurry. BloodShed is going to initiate the attack in three hours." JackCrane said.

"And when were you planning to inform me of this?" Proximity said. "Before or after the war starts?"

JackCrane flinched and cowered in fear of being harmed because of delayed in tell.

Proximity sneered and looked away. "I won't hurt you right now."

KnockOut giggled and patted JackCrane's head softly. JackCrane calmed a bit and smiled.

"I FOUND THEM!" SoundWave exclaimed in success. "They're at the Autobot base."

"Then let's get a move on. We only have three hours to get to them and inform them about the attack." Proximity said.

At the Autobot base, Megatron and StarScream were hanging out with Rodimus and Altra Magnus. Apparently Altra Magnus wanted to have some time to learn more of his new allies. Suddenly, though, the lounge door burst open and SoundWave, KnockOut, Proximity and JackCrane walk in and straight to the lounging mech's in front of them.

"Lord Megatron, we have disastrous news." SoundWave informed.

"And what might this 'disastrous' news be?" Megatron inquired.

"Optimus has been kidnapped and is currently being held for ransom." JackCrane blurted. "And in less than three hours, BloodShed, the neutral commander, will wage war on The Autobots and Decepticons."

"Well, you gave him more information than you gave us." Proximity said.

"Lord BloodShed demanded that I told no one but Megatron that much." JackCrane whimpered, knowing that he was sure to get hit this time.

Proximity growled and smacked JackCrane on the back of his helm hard and sharp. JackCrane screamed and whimpered as he cowered on the floor of the lounge. In-fighting among comrades was regularly seen about the Decepticons, but Megatron was surprised to see that even neutrals punished their own with such rough handling.

"You weren't blunt this time, Prox. You're usually very blunt when you hit me." JackCrane whimpered.

"I'm usually blunt because it never mattered as much as it does now!" Proximity scolded at his larger comrade. "You kept secrets from your best friend and you think I'd be BLUNT when you screw up this badly!"

Once Proximity finally calmed, he looked around at the staring optics around him.

"What? As if you haven't seen someone frag up so badly that he gets his aft chewed out this much." Proximity huffed, crossing his arms.

JackCrane stood but slouched so he didn't appear threatening to his smaller but older superior. "Sorry."

Megatron stood and faced JackCrane. "What's the ransom?"

"Hm?" JackCrane gathered his thoughts. "Oh! Right, the ransom. The ransom is Optimus Prime's life for the surrender of Earth and Cybertron, and that the residents of both planets worship him as supreme overlord BloodShed."

Megatron stood with his jaw at the floor and the expression of Awe on his faceplates. "What? No deal! This war will have to commence."

"One problem. He also said that if you attack his army, he'll kill Optimus." JackCrane said.

Megatron sighed. "This guy is so well thought out." Megatron stood straight. "Seems we are stuck."

"Not exactly, Lord Megatron. I have a way to get into the Neutral base undetected." Proximity commented. Proximity reveals a case and places it on a table, opening it to show several small containers holding purple optic lenses.

Megatron picks up a container and opens it. "Would these be enough though?"

"You'll also need a temporary new paint job. Most Neutrals prefer a vibrant paint job to show off more."

Megatron puts the purple optic lenses in and looked around. "How do I look as a neutral?" Megatron asked, jokingly.

"You look better with red." StarScream laughed softly.

Megatron smirked at his Seeker before returning his attention to Proximity's case of lens containers and cylinders of spray-on temporary paint.

"You have any red and purple in there?" Megatron asked.