CHAPTER 13
Panic From Both Sides

Jake woke up to darkness, his eyes heavy, and his fear high. It took several minutes for the haze to clear from his vision and the energy field to break through the darkness. Hugging himself slightly, Jake felt his body tremble, he had no clue where he was, but he did know the last he'd remembered, he was in the hands of a Decepticon. "You said I'd get to keep him as my pet." An annoyed voice that Jake recognized as Dreadwing broke the silence "Not that we'd keep him as a prisoner." He added.

"Did you not see the video Soundwave's drone showed us?" Another voice, that of Megatron answered with a growl "The boy is to a prisoner because he is worth more to us as leverage." There was a long pause, but the silence spoke volumes "An Autobot has claimed him as one of their own. Something unheard of until now. Not to use this to our advantage would be foolish." He added.

Before Jake knew what was happening the shield had turned off around him. Meagtron and Dreadwing's heads had turned toward him. Megatron was the one to make a move though, stepping forward slowly, he plucked Jake up. "Let me go!" Jake barked "Let go of me you freak!" He added, fear evident in his voice.

Megatron only sneered at the young human's obvious fear, he liked that, a lot. Baring his razor sharp fangs, he quickly succeeded in shutting the young human up. "It's quite simple, really." Megatron continued his speech to Dreadwing "Wheeljack has been damaged. But the automatic reboot the EMP caused should reactivate his systems." He added.

"And that helps us, how?" Dreadwing asked, confused.

Megatron peered at his new underling quietly, then at Jake, who tried to avert eye-contact. Megatron's sneer said it all, Jake was a pawn, a very valuable pawn, but expendable. "He'll bring the Autobots right to us, of course. After all, he'll no doubt realize we've taken his little pet." He then added "It's all too perfect." He added, then stared at Dreadwing "You can have him once they're out of the way." He added.

"That wasn't our deal." Dreadwing replied.

"Our deal was if you brought me the boy, no harm would come to him." Megatron snapped "But the drones under your control failed, now didn't they?" He added flatly.

Dreadwing grimaced, but knew that Megatron had a point. It had been Soundwave who had succeeded in taking the human boy and bringing him before Megatron. Megatron set Jake on the arm of his throne, and grinned wickedly. "Though I have yet to assign a prisoner keeper." He noted, tapping his chin plate a bit "Tell me boy, who are you afraid of most?" He sneered.

Jake didn't reply, he wouldn't give Megatron the satisfaction. Megatron frowned a bit, he didn't like disobedient captives, shaking his head a bit, he stroked the boy's head. It was rough, and hurt a bit, just as Megatron had hoped it would be. "Stop it. Leave me alone!" Jake muttered, trying to swat, but knowing it would do nothing.

"If you push harder, you'll crush his head." Dreadwing stated flatly, he looked Megatron in the optics "If you hurt this boy, if anybody hurts this boy, I refuse to join your cause." Dreadwing's voice was low, and threatening "Make no mistake, I do not sympathize with any human. But no child should be a victim of war." He stated quietly "If-" He began.

"A Decepticon doesn't care who is hurt if it's for the good of the cause." Megatron stated flatly "What makes you care so much what happens to this one human, Dreadwing?" Dreadwing remained silent "Well? That was not a rhetorical question. SPEAK." The Decepticon Leader growled.

Dreadwing peered at Jake, he shifted on his feet again, then turned his head towards Megatron. With the most serious of faces Jake had seen from Dreadwing, the mech spoke at last. "There is no reason other than the boy interests me." Jake looked at Dreadwing, in confusion "He is much stronger willed then other humans from stories I've heard. Even now he masks his fear so easily." He explained.

"So?" Megatron asked coldly, Dreadwing was silent "That only makes him dumber than most of his species." Jake looked up at Megatron with a glare "Don't tell me you actually pity the human, Dreadwing." Dreadwing's optics fell to the floor "You're kidding me, it's a human, Dreadwing. A human who happens to serve as a well placed pawn." Megatron finally let go of Jake who rubbed his neck slightly "And one who now belongs to me." He said flatly.

"But-"

"Until you prove to me you can be a DECEPTICON, you are not allowed in my presence." Megatron stated, coldly "You may leave."

Dreadwing frowned a bit at Megatron, but did as he said, turning around and leaving the room slowly. Jake felt a great deal of confusion inside of him, why did Dreadwing even care? He understood, in some ways, that he apparently had a code of honor. But this was a Decepticon, they were talking about, not an Autobot, what did he care about honor? "Now, human. You're going to do me a favor, if you want to live anoter second." Megatron sneered.

"I'm not doing shit for you." Jake snapped.

"Then you will die, and it will be a slow death." Megatron replied, coldly.

That was all he needed to make it clear to Jake that he had no choice, or say, in the matter.

...

Wheeljack had already left the Hunter's in search of Jake moments before the Autobots found him. Needless to say, their presence, and their mention of a Deepticon signature only made the mech panic. They'd brought him back to base, where he'd debriefed all five on the events of the last several weeks. By the time he'd finished all of them were dead silent. Though at first glane, Ratchet looked between happy and disturbed. Arcee looked confused beyond belief, followed by Bulkhead, who's expression was mixed that of suspicion. Bumblebee and Optimus's expressions were unreadable.

"Alright Makeshit, the jig is UP." Bulkhead finally broke the silence, stalking forward, and nearly throwing Wheeljack against the wall "Do you honestly think we're going to believe that? Do we look stupid to you?" He asked with a shout.

"Bulk, first of all it IS me. And secondly, if you want proof. I can recite at least EIGHT embarrassing stories about us as younglings." Bulkhead glared, but let go, Wheeljack groaned a bit "I know, it was dangerous to take Jake along, but understand my position. They would have found him anyways. I was certain I could have kept him safe, but the Deepticons blindsided me." He added.

Bulkhead crossed his arms a bit, inclined to trust that this was his best friend, and he was telling the truth. It was just almost a little too bizarre for him, in all the years he'd know Wheeljack he had never done something like this before. "And you are certain the Decepticons hit you with an EMP before Jacob disappeared?" Optimus questione, Wheeljack nodded his head slowly "If they know the level at which you care for this boy, things could become very dangerous." He noted.

"I know... And it's all my fault." Wheeljack muttered, he looked at the leader once more "Is there any way we can find their ship?"

Optimus frowned a bit, he turned to Ratchet, who looked ready to throw a wrench at this point. He didn't like the many risks Wheeljack had taken, most of all, bringing a young human into their war in such a way. Yet, he refused to leave a young human in the hands of a Decepticon. "Does the boy have a cell phone?" Ratchet asked, Wheeljack nodded "Then we can very easily find him, but it will take time. As the ship is likely on the move." He explained.

"How long?" Wheeljack asked, optics filled with concern.

That was all it took to confirm to Bulkhead that this really was Wheeljack, and not a trick. If there was one thing he knew about his best friend, it was that when it came to his kids, he was very paranoid. "As long as it takes me to do it. Do not RUSH me, Wheeljack." Ratchet stated flatly "You all need to leave me to my work now, this will not be easy." He added.

Wheeljack's face fell as Bulkhead gently set a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Jackie." Bulkhead said calmly, Wheeljack turned his head "We'll find 'im. The most you need to worry about is Fowler's reaction when we do." The mech raised an optic ridge "Our liason, he isn't going to like the paperwork he'll have to fill out for this." Wheeljack nodded slowly "Kid must be something special for you to be so worried." He added.

"He is..." Wheeljack nodded his head a bit "I just can't let him be hurt, Bulk. I blame myself for the danger he's been in more than enough." He explained quietly.

Arcee watched the two from a distance, considering trying to help calm Wheeljack down. But she herself had no sparklings, so she wasn't sure how exactly she could have helped any. It was Optimus, again, who spoke up about Wheeljack's worry. "Do not fear, Wheeljack." The mech stared up at the Autobot Leader slowly "However he has gotten into this situation. We will bring him back safely." Somehow, it did help a great deal for Wheeljack to hear it from him "But for now, you must allow Ratchet to do his job." He added.

"Yes sir." Wheeljack nodded "Forgive me, I don't always think straight when it's my children on the line." He explained.

Wheeljack made his way down one of the hallways with Bulkhead bringing up the rear. Arcee crossed her arms, and looked up at Optimus slowly. "What would Megatron want with this kid anyway?" She questioned, shaking her head "They wouldn't actually be aware that Wheeljack considers this boy his son." She added.

"I cannot be certain of why, but I can be certain it could be nothing good." Optimus replied.

Deep down, for both the sake of the boy and his fellow Autobot, he hoped that Jake remained safe.