(Please see first chapter for the disclaimer. Aquaformer and Scarclash are my and a friend's creations)
Ultra Magnus was not pleased by what he had learned. Sentinel had greatly overstepped his given authority. Ultra Magnus began to see that they were chasing Aquaformer not because she was in trouble but because Sentinel feared her. Ultra Magnus was starting to get angry. Not at Aquaformer, but at Sentinel. Very angry. After all, Ultra Magnus had never told anyone that he an Aquaformer were siblings. She was his older sister. That was why he knew Stropnghold and Aquaformer had bonded as he had given "permission" as neither of their parents were online any longer.
Magnus realized he may have a way to figure things out and obtain a bit more information, and so using a secret communication that only the Ultra had, he reached through the isolation wall and reached Stronghold. Stronghold was shocked. "Stronghold?"
"Yes sir?" Stronghold answered quietly, shocked that someone other than his mate could reach him.
"I just found out from your guard that you have been wrongfully imprisoned and isolated" Ultra Magnus said.
Stronghold was relieved, but cautious. "Why do you contact me, sir?"
"Because this is Ultra Magnus, and I need to know why Sentinel fears you and your mate, my sister."
"Because she and I have proof that he is a rogue Autobot who flaunts the law and enforces it as he sees fit. She has far more times and evidence than I do. She also knows secrets of the cons, as she infiltrated them once. She knows their weaknesses, plus the weaknesses of almost every Auotbot, as she was a nurse bot for a long time, working beside bots like ratchet and First Aid. She is also sparked, sir" Stronghold revealed.
Ultra Magnus was shocked at the revelation, but didn't show it. "By the powers in me from Primus, I will make sure Aquaformer is safe, returned to you, and you are freed as soon as I can. I will also take care of Sentinel."
"thank you. I now no longer fear that Aquaformer will fail to reach you. Stronghold out."
Meanwhile, at the Con base, Jazz, Bee, Sari, and the reformed Thundercracker were in the brig. Bee and Sari tried to reach the others while Jazz tried to calm down the anxious seeker. Jazz knew Thundercracker was sparked but none knew Jazz was bonded much less sparked, including Jazz himself. They were trying to hold it together until their friends came to save them.
Megatron gazed over the small group. He frowned that they hadn't caught Optimus, but that frown turned to an evil grin when Soundwave revealed that not only was the former con Thundercracker sparked with seekerling, the white, blue and red ninja bot was sparked as well. Megatron smiled evilly. This was too good. These bots could be used as "breeders" once this set was sparked.
"I will let them have these ones so that their spark chambers are not destroyed" Megatron said to Wave, "However, these will be the last sparklings that these bots spark as full Autobots."
Wave nodded, but cautioned Megatron. "Word of warning sir, as both are bonded."
Mirage growled, but then realized what an opportunity that was. "That just means we must prepare for an attack here, as those bots will be led to us like lamb to the slaughter, as the disgusting organics of this wretched planet say." Soundwave bowed and made preparations.
Meanwhile, back at the Autobot base, Kryptonight was livid! He was not standing for this. Slugbug barely kept his twin under control. Sentinel's constant comments didn't help any, in fact, at one point it made it so bad that Kryptonight attacked the arrogant prime once again. He still had yet to learn it was not wise to piss off a seeker.
Optimus just kept out of it. He knew, thanks to Slugbug, that it was never wise to piss a seeker off and that he needed to rest. His swollen belly was now showing. He feared what Magnus would say when the young former Prime informed the Ultra that Optimus was carrying. Optimus didn't know that Magnus had a special place in his spark for those who could carry, especially since the Ultra himself was unable to carry life. "We have to tell him, love" Bug said.
"I know, I know, but I fear I will be further demoted for this. I was given this assignment to lead and yet I end up messing it up. Part of my team is captured, one of the bots is missing, and the others seem to fear I will have a mood swing at the drop of a hat" Optimus said.
Slugbug comforted him. "Optimus, you arent' seeing things quite as clearly because you are sparked. I do not think you have anything to fear when we reveal your condition to Magnus"
"I hope you're right, bug, I really hope that you are right"
"trust me, I know" Bug said. Optimus merely nodded and snuggled close to his small but powerful mate. Bug held Optimus until the young leader fell asleep.
Meanwhile, deep in the water of lake Michigan, Aquaformer got a strange message from her mate. It said things were ok, Magnus knew what had happened. Aquaformer questioned her mate over their bond, and found that he wasn't lying. He had really talked to her brother and told him what was going on. Aquaformer was relieved but still wary, as Sentinel was still free to harass and pursue her.
"Love, please, go help them and reveal yourself. Magnus will make sure you stay safe from Sentinel"
"Are you sure that is wise, with the little ones I carry?"
"You will be safer if you return now than if you remain on the run."
"Then for the sake of our bond and the little ones, I will go help them" Aquaformer said, pulsing love to her mate before he pusled love back and they silenced their bond between each other. Aquaformer blasted out of the water carefully and headed back to the Autobot base. She had a mission – to save the others, and she knew with Optimus in his condition, she might have to lead it. No problem for her as she had been a leader before. She would lead once again and save those who had been captured.
She flew back to the base, shocking all but Sentinel, Scarclash, and Slugbug. Aquaformer had a scowl on her face and looked deadly. "Alright, this is what we will have to do to rescue our teammates" She said and went on to explain. All but Sentinel listened, as he just didn't care. She laid out their plan, which left Optimus here under the care of Magnus while the others rolled out. She told of weak points and the best places to enter. Kryptonight was glad someone finally had a plan to return his mate. Scar smiled, as this was the Aquaformer that she knew. The only question was, would the reach the captives in time before Megatron did anything to them.