-Chapter 14-

A/N: And the suspense rises once again! Lol. I'm really feeling much better now :) Also, Drift and Gasket aren't really in the Shadowplay Era as actual characters(Drift does get a short part to introduce Ratchet and Orion but that was pretty much it) and yeah I'm bending their stories a bit, but who can't love a little AU somewhere in there?

Guest Starring: Orion Pax(He returns!), Ratchet, Prowl(brief), Chromedome(brief), Drift and Gasket(those two are no longer cameo)

"Don't worry about it, I know we're being watched..."

There was something to be uncomfortable about...

Who was watching them?

They must somehow know about whatever it is they're planning...And now we're in on the plan...Though we haven't been briefed on it yet. It must be important than.

I only suppose anyways...

Skids seemed to have finally dozed off, all his recent ongoing thoughts coming to a complete standstill as the medicine began to work its way through his systems once again. The pills they had been issued from the medic known as Ratchet who worked a small free clinic in Rodion had told them it was normal that they'd be worn down by it and he was often dozing off in the middle of his studies, and along with this Windchager's napping schedule increased over the past few orbital cycles but that really wasn't much of a surprise to many. And if it were possible in any way whatsoever, he'd probably have napping as his professional occupation. Shockwave glanced up from his datapad as he saw Skids go under, taking note that the blue black mech was more than comfortable on the plump couch he's sitting on in the jet's office and Windcharger laid comfortably next to him. Curled up to himself with a plush magnetic field generating off in a soft pinkish-purplish glow if Shockwave were to walk over it'd brush over him in a soft wave of energy. Smiling about the defenselessness of the two was the least of his worries.

Kids, I have to remember they're still just kids. Young, strong, determined kids. Special brave kids, they took on my offer to be briefed and they didn't back down, Glitch and Trailbreaker are patient as well. All we're doing it waiting for you two to get better, but don't worry, we'll wait for you.

Shifting his thoughts off to the side he went back to reading, the novel was nearly complete and the story was amazing, especially with the plot twist towards the end of solving the mystery, gave it an even better sense of secrecy. And because of it, he's thinking about rereading it over a short amount of time, maybe go back and read some older stories before rereading this one so he can forget how this one goes and continue on reading it without knowing what happens next. But with his busy life that's certainly not going to be a very difficult task. Setting down the datapad he looked at his students once more before he questioned to himself.

"Huh, I wonder why it glows pink?" Shockwave randomly stated to himself as he watched Windcharger's magnetic field pulse, filling the room with a tingling feeling for a few brief seconds. "I wonder why he always does that when he recharges. Ah well, time to get back to reading."

"And you're positive that Prowl and Chromedome aren't going to get involved in this Orion? How can you be sure?" Ratchet questioned as they watched the recorded video again for the twelfth time. This constant investigation in looking for something different was tiresome and they just kept on watching the video feed, however Ratchet really stopped paying much attention a few breems ago after the eight play anyways. But he was curious on how the so called "super cop" was going to stop Prowl and his police force from getting involved with this and how he was going to do it. Whatever it was it has to be able to stop more than just a devil in order to cease Prowl from going forward and digging himself into a hole too deep from him to climb back up and brush himself off.

"I sent Roller to...'Peace talk' him out the situation." Orion simply stated as he continued to observe the video feed that was replaying on the giant screen in front of them, and if Ratchet didn't know any better he would have thought that he meant they were going to negotiate in a settled manner. How off would that guess be! Truly...

"And when you say 'peace talk' you mean beat him up and lock him in a dark room until he surrenders?" Ratchet replied in a neutral tone and Orion shifted positions slightly as if he had suddenly become uncomfortable about the command he had given the enormous mech.

"Okay...Maybe peace talking was a bit too harsh..." Pax replied and slouched back to think about exactly what was going to happen to Prowl if he were to put up too much resistance against Roller. After the orange slate black plated mech could be seen as a brute and normally worked in a more hostile environment even Prowl did give off little threat. Ratchet just placed a servo on one of Orion's shoulders and have him a gentle shake.

"Yeah, that one was your call, so don't come complaining to me if you get the repair bill."

"GET YOUR AFT BACK HERE!" Prowl yelled as he staggered outside in the pouring rain, his plating was dented harshly and he was in need of seeing a medic to buff them out and he spat energon, Chromedome and a group of officers were staring at him from the doorway as he cursed and swore at the mech who was already long gone. Damn, he really looked awful, but that was expected seeing how he had been warned after all, Roller did say if he were to resist about the offer it wouldn't be pretty for the Enforcer, and truthfully it hadn't at all. Just about as Prowl as going to fall over Chromedome rushed over and caught him out of pure luck.

"Unconscious? Figures you dumb idiot...I told you not to pick a fight with him..." Chromedome stated as he carried Prowl to the medibay.

The two of them entered the academy feeling terribly out of place and honestly they didn't even know why they were here or why they had agreed to run this little errand. Yes it was under Ratchet's request to check on Senator Shockwave and his two students, but they could have easily turned down the job, it was always an open option to help and besides, two Guttermechs from Dead End really wasn't a good thing to find in a city like Iacon. As they walked down the hallways, they were getting stares and that was something a bit uncomfortable, their plating was dull and in terrible condition despite Ratchet's constant efforts to get it decent looking he could only do so much with his limited equipment and their paint was faded and scratched in several places. A brave act wasn't going to get them past this challenge that was for sure. Maybe Ratchet had sent them to strengthen their minds on self awareness and other skill sets, if that was the case then, what a jerk!

"Oi? Drift, are you okay?" The gray tan mech asked his friend who was a bit wobbly in his steps as he tailed him from a bit of a far now. Oh how he wanted to just strange the medic for doing this to them. Walking back over he kindly patted his friend on the back and encouraged him to go on, ignoring the looks the students were giving them. "Come on Drift, do I have to hold your arm? We got work to do!" He said and Drift glared at him with piercing gold optics but he was still just smiling. He knew his friend was now going to start walking probably-or maybe a little grumpily-since he had brought up the arm holding suggestion.

"Gah! Let's just get this over with! And don't you dare hold my arm!" Drift exclaimed as he marched off with fire in his optics and the other followed behind happily not even embarrassed in the slightest as the gazes were still upon them. After all he couldn't help but to laugh for suggesting the harmless action on the speedster, it always got him going with burning fire. Besides, only "couples" held each other's arm or servo, and Drift was obviously not wanting to be in a "couple" relationship, he saw him as brother and that was final. "RATCHET WHEN WE GET BACK I'M GOING TO HURT YOU!"

"Now that was a little mean don't you think?" He tried to calm the white gray mech down as they continue to head towards Shockwave's office.

The five of them looked up as the two Guttermechs burst into Shockwave's office, both Skids and Windcharger recalled the two of them but they didn't know their names leaving Glitch and Trailbreaker utterly confused. It wasn't everyday that you saw a Guttermech who was brave enough to walk into the streets of Iacon after all. However the jet did get up from where he was sitting on the floor for their board game of Revolons and hugged the gray tan mech who returned it with much strength and when he offered to the other he declined, though he was nudged by his friend but he still furtherly declined.

"We just stopped by to see how they're doing." Drift said after introductions, placing a servo on his hip in an uncomfortable manner, he really didn't seem to like the place, but that wouldn't surprise many, he was surrounded by a bunch of high living socials and a Senator in a well built academy. And besides it was a little too fancy for him and Gasket gave him a look. "You think they'll be ready for the briefing? I hear you're sick leave is ending soon." Shockwave looked back at his students and they nodded.

"Most definitely." Shockwave answered know they were more than capable to handle the upcoming event in the very near future.

"Alright then, we'll go tell Ratchet that so he can tell Pax. Come on Gasket, let's go." Drift said turning on his heels as he was about to leave when Gasket gently tugged him back by the arm.

"Can't we stay a little longer at least? You're always in such a rush to leave Drift, why don't we sit down and join them for a game of Revolons?" Gasket asked a little sad about Drift's rash nature.

"I thought you're suppose to be the big brother..." Drift commented. "But okay fine, one game." Gasket seemed overly joyed as he dragged Drift to sit down next to him as Trailbreaker cleared the board.

Average sick leave, its always full of operatives.