A/N: Sorry…I meant to have this up earlier, but finals week is eating my soul. I promise I'll get back to more regular updates as soon as I pass my chemistry exam.

Thanks for reviews, follows, favorites, etc. as usual! I really, really appreciate you guys. You're awesome.

Chapter 11: Compromised

Three humans slammed into Riella, tackling her to the ground and dragging her away from Bumblebee as the telltale hiss and fog of gas surrounded the young Autobot. At his pained screech, Riella's optics snapped wide for an instant, too bright to be hidden by her holograms. Anger welled in her throat, tearing out in an outraged Cybertronian scream. "Stop! Enough!" She lashed out, fast and hard, quick controlled strikes driving past the humans' attempt at defending themselves and sending them skidding off in different directions. Without a pause, she was up on her feet again, racing back to Bumblebee's side with her blades up.

The cables pulled tight, flattening Bumblebee against the ground and scraping metal across concrete. "I said, enough!" Riella pivoted, neatly slicing through the nearest cable with a backhand slash and drawing her blades up in front of her. "Stop! We are no threat to you – we are not here to harm you!"

Both of the Sector Seven agents closing in on her froze, guns out and leveled, eyes fixed on her weapons. They weren't shooting – she could only assume they had seen her shake off gunfire moments before – but for all intents and purposes they had her cornered. Transforming would ensure they backed off, but was it worth it? Behind her, Bumblebee made another pained sound, and anger tightened in her throat, enough to draw a slight involuntary snarl. Easy, easy, hold the line but do not start a fight - easier said than done – Prowl!

Stay calm. Stay calm! Her mate's presence flashed across the open bond, concern and hyperawareness tangling in with her own emotions. He'd nearly reached them while she was distracted. Give me a minute – backup is on the way -

Every gun in the area must have fired at once, judging by the hail of bullets that cut into Riella's attempt to respond to Prowl. She flinched and took a quick step back, throwing one arm up in a reflexive effort to shield her optics. Prowl, hurry!

Something grabbed her from behind, and on pure reflex she spun and sliced downward, driving through the unlucky human's arm and chest before she could stop herself. The Cybertronian blade went through Kevlar easily, and blood splattered across Riella's chest. Shocked, she jerked back and retracted the blade. "Stop! Enough! I –"

Three more humans grabbed for her, and she barely had time to deactivate her blades before snapping into a blocking stance and deflecting attacks at high speed. Just as she sent the last one stumbling away with a quick side-kick to the chest, the now-familiar thud of the air cannon sounded above her, and a cable tangled around her arms and chest, pinning her. A rough jerk on the cable threw her off-balance and sent her sprawling. Her head smacked hard into concrete, stunning her for a few seconds, and before she could get back up, heavy weaponry was pinning her down, and the sharp hiss of nitrogen gas next to her head made it clear they intended to knock her out.

"Riella!"

The gas was taking effect. Even Prowl's harshly accented Praxus dialect of Cybertronian was barely audible through the haze. She tried to reach out to him over the bond, vision and hearing failing rapidly. Prowl…

Riella, respond! Riella!

Her name, along with the sense of Prowl's presence, faded into static and then darkness as she finally passed out.

Riella! Prowl all but screamed her name over the bond, transforming at high speed on his way and racing toward the edge of the bridge. Every weapon he had was already online, regulations and protocol shoved to the back of his processor by the need to reach her, now, before the humans could harm her -

Ironhide crashed into him, sending him skidding across the road and knocking him off-balance. Before Prowl could get up, the larger mech was on top of him, pinning him to the ground. "No!"

"Get the frag off me, Ironhide!" Prowl twisted, already bracing to kick the weapons specialist off, when Ratchet's hands clamped around his shoulders and immobilized him with a stern growl.

"Kid, you'll only get yourself captured. You'll be no help to her." The medic's optics were dark with anger and worry. "I know, Prowl. Believe me, I know. But if you run in there, we'll lose you too."

"Hang back, let me check it out. Prowl – " Jazz's optics narrowed warningly in the darker mech's direction, as Prowl pulled away from Ironhide and Ratchet and got back to his feet. "I said hang back!" The silver mech swung down over the railing, trying to get a better view, and winced at the sight of the human vehicles disappearing into the distance. "Optimus, we can't jus' stand here an' do nothin'! I can take Prowl an' – "

"No, Jazz." Optimus stepped down from the bridge, shaking his head sadly. "There's no way to free Bumblebee and Riella without harming the humans."

"What?" Prowl tore away from Ironhide's restraining hand and lunged toward his commanding officer, stopping just short of grabbing the larger 'bot by the shoulders. "That's Riella and Bumblebee we're talking about! Do you think the humans have any problems with harming them? Do you have any idea what they could do to him? To her?"

"Easy, mech." Jazz put a restraining hand on Prowl's arm, pushing him lightly away from their leader. "Optimus, it's not right. They -"

"Let them leave." Optimus reached down and picked up the glasses that had fallen from Sam's pocket, unnoticed. "Prowl, if there was any other way, I would take it. But for now, we must wait."

"No!" Prowl shoved Jazz away, optics flaring, and for a moment debated the possibility of taking off after the humans. I could reach her if I just – Ratchet's hand came down hard on his shoulder, stopping any possibility of movement.

"Prowl, enough! Stop and think," the medic snapped. "Do the math. Attacking may put her in more danger. Riella's not injured badly – if you're walking with an open bond, I know she'll make it. And she would never let them hurt Bumblebee. It's Riella. Trust her. She can handle this."

No – I could –

No. Probability of success: approximately 45%. Probability that Riella or Bumblebee would be further injured? 76%.

With a slow, reluctant, head-shake, Prowl stopped fighting Ratchet's hold. He turned to look up at Optimus, fists clenched and optics flickering. "Leaving her entirely alone and without backup, while held by hostile forces, is wrong. Prime..."

"I am truly sorry, Prowl." Optimus rested a hand briefly on his tactician's shoulder before turning to lead the way off the bridge. "We will get her back as soon as there is a way to do so safely. You have my word."

Optics narrowed, Prowl stared after the convoy of human vehicles, now almost out of sight even for him. He could still feel Riella over the bond, her presence faint and withdrawn, but not in pain. That was something, at least. It wasn't enough to stifle the guilt or worry he felt turning away from the vehicles and following the remaining Autobots. Riella, I'm sorry…I am so sorry. I will find you. I promise.