First off, I'm sorry about the lack of updates. I went through a period of being caught up in another fandom and then not really wanting to write. But I'm back writing again, and here's an update.

Units of time as I use them:

Astrosecond= .273 seconds

Klik= 1 minute

Joor= 3 hours

Cycle= 1 day

Breem= 1 week

Groon= 1 month

Stellar cycle= year

Meta cycle= 5 years

Deca cycle= 10 years

Orn= century

Vorn= 5 centuries

:underline:- spark twins talking

:bold:- bonded mechs talking

:italics:- comm link

Disclimer: I don't own Transformers! I just own the plot and any OCs.

Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 20

Optimus and Ratchet were both exhausted the following morning, and both knew that they were going to be in for a long cycle. The two had been up all night trying to keep their creations calm.

Springer, Hot Rod, and Lightshow had been terrified after what had happened. They had thought something might have happened to their carrier when they heard somebot in the other room and did not see their carrier. They were also scared because they could have been in that room.

Ratchet could have killed Optimus for letting that detail slip out. It had led to an even longer session of calming their younglings down.

It was almost dawn, and Optimus and Ratchet were both going to run on only a few joor of recharge.

:I am so not looking forward to his.: Optimus was sitting on the berth with Lightshow in his arms and Hot Rod leaning against him.

Ratchet was beside him with Springer in his lap. :I know. I dread my carrier's reaction to this. Last time was bad enough.: He shook his helm. :Will Shadowstrike ever stop?:

:No. Not until we get her or she succeeds.: Optimus hated that thought. :If I meet up with her, I'm not going to promise that I will remain professional.:

:Optimus-: Ratchet started.

:No, Ratchet! She is the reason that I almost lost you for good, and she's the reason I lost an orn of my time with you and our creations!: Optimus growled.

:Optimus-: Ratchet tried again.

:And now she's sending assassins to kill you! I am not going to let her get away with this! No bot endangers my family and gets away with it!: Optimus snapped.

:ORION!: Ratchet shouted.

Optimus glanced at him, a bit startled.

:I'm asking you to follow the law. If only for my sake. This is the best way to go about it. Besides, you have your image to the Cybertronian public to think about.: Ratchet could tell that the Prime was about to say something to him. :And don't tell me that outright murdering her won't reflect badly on you. I know it would, and I am not going to have that. You don't need to be like me and let your temper rule you.:

:I know, Ratchet. And I wouldn't do it.: Optimus replied. He shifted Lightshow in his arms. :Doesn't mean I don't wish it.:

Ratchet checked his chronometer. :When are you going to have to go meet with-: Ratchet realized he didn't even know who Optimus was meeting with.

:Ironhide, Ultra Magnus, Grimlock, and Swoop will be there because they were present last night. Megatron, Galvatron, Jazz, Prowl, and Elita will have to be informed, and I've asked my sire to be there. He was a Prime and will have advice for us. Plus, Grindor will be there since we've kept him up to date on everything that has happened recently.: Optimus replied.

Ratchet nodded. :I say I still have the tougher job. Telling our carriers will not be fun.:

:Ratchet, I'm of the processor that you got the raw end of the deal in this situation.: Optimus stated.

:Believe me. I know.: Ratchet agreed.

"HOW IN THE SEVEN LEVELS OF THE PIT DID A SECOND ASSASSIN MANAGE TO SNEAK THEIR WAY INTO THE PALACE?!" It was clear that Galvatron was royally slagged off, more so because his niece and nephews had been placed in such great danger.

"I already have Red Alert looking into that Galvatron." Optimus shook his helm. "With all the added security measures, I thought that it would be next to impossible for anybot to sneak in here."

"Well, don't know about tha rest of ya, but I'm more convinced than eva that Shadowstrike is behind all this. And she ain't gone stop until we stop her once and for all." Jazz stated.

Grindor was upset about all this. He had hoped that the added security measures would ensure that no more attempts would come that close, but this one came even closer. "Is there anything more that can be done to find her?"

"We're doing all we can. We are certain that she is still in Iacon because she wouldn't have had time to get away." Megatron stated.

"Shadowstrike is a flyer. Any chance she got away in the sky?" Elita asked.

"No. We've kept a watch on the skies, and Starscream has patrols in the air at all times. No sign of her. She most definitely is on the ground." Megatron replied.

"Which means Shadowstrike is most likely getting more and more agitated." Ultra Magnus stated.

Megatron nodded. "Indeed. Starscream has mentioned before that fliers get agitated if they are kept out of the air for so long."

"It could also mean she's just going to become even bolder." Ironhide shook his helm. "Don't like it. If she's as crazy as we think she is, she might try to do it herself once she learns that this assassin didn't manage what she wanted them to, either."

None of this was making Optimus feel any better. He knew that his mate and his creations were in a great deal of danger, and that was something that just didn't sit right in his tanks. He was supposed to keep them safe, but he hadn't managed to do that yet.

"Where are Ratchet and the younglings at right now?" Grindor asked, concerned about them.

"Ratchet is with our family right now. He's informing them of what happened." Optimus replied. He knew he was safe at least. "Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are still remaining close to them in order to protect them."

Elita snorted. "Why do you need the terror twins with him when my carrier and yours are with them? Put those two together, and I guarantee that no assassin is going to get far."

Optimus smiled slightly. "That is true."

Nemesis frowned. "Back to the main point. We have to do something to ensure that no assassin manages to get here again. Twice in such a short time is unacceptable." He looked over at Galvatron and Megatron. "Is there any chance that someone who works inside the palace is aiding these assassins by allowing them in?"

Galvatron frowned. "Not to my knowledge. I always ensured that anybot who came to work at the palace had no association with any Senate member and that included extended family members and known associates of the senator."

"Any chance that one could be bribed?" Prowl asked.

"Anything is possible, Prowl." Galvatron hated that thought. "I'll start looking into all palace employees just to make sure that none of them are helping Shadowstrike."

Prowl then turned to look at his sire. "One other thing, sir." He always referred to Optimus in a professional manner when in a professional setting, even though the mech had raised him as his own. "Jazz is still continuing the investigation into what happened an orn ago. I think that it would be prudent to bring in an impartial medic to perform the processor exams on Arcee, Firestar, Metallica, and Windstreak. It might also be wise to do them as soon as possible."

"I'll arrange it, Prowl." Optimus assured him.

"Ah'll make arrangements fer Firestar and Metallica to come here. They'll stay on tha base while they're here." Jazz added.

Optimus nodded. "Very good, Jazz."

"And I'm going to do a full background check on every bot who works in the palace. If anybot is in on allowing these assassins in the palace, I am going to find out." Galvatron stated.

"Perhaps it would be wise to not inform the Senate that Ratchet is actually alive. With all that has been happening, it seems practical to keep Ratchet's presence here quiet." Grindor stated.

No bot argued that point.

"What's next?" Megatron asked.

"Figure out how these assassins are beating our security." Optimus stated.

"How dare she keep doing this! She has no right to send these monsters after you!" Starlight growled.

Ratchet glanced over at his carrier. "Please calm down. We are all fine."

"I will not calm down! Shadowstrike nearly killed you back then and she keeps trying to kill you now! I can't stand this! Somebot needs to kill her!" Starlight snarled.

"I am in agreement with her." Alpha Trion's optics were blazing. "Shadowstrike needs to be held accountable for what she has done."

"Besides, Ratch, that assassin was the younglings' room. Think about what might have happened if they had been in there." Wheeljack reminded him.

Bulkhead and Breakdown decided to do the cowardly thing and hide since they knew that was not going to end well.

Less than an astrosecond later, Ratchet had Wheeljack pinned to the wall so that they were nose-to-nose. "Don't ask me to think about it, Wheeljack." Ratchet's tone had become deadly. "That's all I've been thinking about since last night! I know what might have happened, and it's the last thing that I want to happen!"

Everybot else in the room backed up.

Swiftwind was the only brave one as he walked up and placed a hand on Ratchet. "We all know that this must be weighing on your processors, Ratchet. I'm sure Wheeljack didn't mean anything by it." He gave his other son a hard look. "Right, Wheeljack?"

Wheeljack nodded. "Right."

Ratchet vented deeply before releasing Wheeljack. "Sorry, Wheeljack. But I have considered every possible scenario. And I don't like any of them."

"Well, at least Grimlock and Swoop were there to stop anything else from happening." Wheeljack pointed out.

Ratchet nodded in agreement.

"I'm assuming that they're going to be looking into how these assassins keep managing to work their way within the palace." Chromia stated from where she sat.

"I don't know, but it's highly likely." Ratchet sighed. "I'll just be glad when all this is over."

"It might be a while." Skyfire stated.

Ratchet thought a moment before deciding that they needed to think about something different. "Regardless about what is happening, we do still having Springer's creation cycle celebration tomorrow. Which means we have things to get ready."

Starlight clapped her hands together. "Of course we do."

Ratchet turned to look at Skyfire. "Think you can keep an optic on my younglings. All five might be driving Bluestreak out of his processors by now."

Skyfire chuckled. "Oh, I'm certain that Bluestreak is having the time of his function looking after all five of them. He loves sparklings and younglings."

Chromia stood up. "I'll help you keep an optic on them. After all, when Bluestreak is around younglings, he tends to act more like a youngling himself."

Skyfire and Chromia then left the room.

"All right. Let's get things ready." Ratchet stated.

The others set off to get what they could planned.

Ratchet walked over to the couch and dragged Bulkhead and Breakdown out. "Come on, you two. You can help get things ready."

"Yes, sir." Neither mech, regardless of the fact that they were bigger and stronger than Ratchet, were going to say no to him.

A vehicle drove through the streets of Iacon before finally coming to the massive gates that led to the palace of the Prime.

Rung then transformed and looked up at the enormous palace of the Primes. He decided that Ratchet had certainly outdone himself when it came to finding a new place to live. The psychologist then walked up to the gates of the palace.

Inferno stepped out. "What is your business here?"

"Good afternoon. My designation is Rung, and I was asked to come here by the Prime." Rung explained calmly.

Inferno glanced through his list and found that Rung's designation was on the list. "Come on in. We have high security measures, so somebot is going to have to verify that you're who you say you are."

Rung nodded.

Inferno opened the gates and walked inside before motioning Rung inside.

Rung followed Inferno.

"You didn't have to come with me." Ratchet glanced to the side at Optimus. "I'm very capable of meeting an old friend and letting Inferno know that he is my friend without you coming with me."

Optimus smiled. "Well, you'll have to forgive me for being overprotective. I lost you once, Ratchet. I'm not going to lose you again."

Ratchet would have argued that he would be safe inside the palace walls, but the medic was not sure about that at the moment. "Rung isn't a danger to me. I know him, and he's a good friend, even if he does get on my nerves at times with all his psychobabble talk."

"And you want him to help us try to understand Shadowstrike?" Optimus asked.

"I don't care for psychology, Optimus, but I do know that it is Rung's specialty, and he's good at it." Ratchet stated.

Optimus nodded.

They entered a room near the entrance to the palace to find Inferno waiting with Rung.

Rung smiled. "Ratchet, it is good to see you." He stepped forward. "I honestly did not expect to see you again so soon after you left Creon."

Ratchet smiled back. "It's good to see you as well, Rung. As long as you don't try to analyze me again."

Rung shook his helm. "One wrench to the helm for analyzing you was enough. I don't need two to tell me to stop."

"If only all bots were like you, Rung." Ratchet chuckled. "Most need multiple wrenches to the helm to make them stop."

Optimus looked at Inferno. "You may return to your post, Inferno."

"Yes, sir." Inferno saluted before he headed back to his post.

Ratchet turned to Optimus. "Optimus, this is Rung. He became a good friend in Creon." The medic then looked at his friend. "Rung, Optimus Prime."

Rung inclined his head. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Prime. I hope that I will be able to help you."

"From what Ratchet has told me, you're one of the best there is. If anybot can help us, it should be you." Optimus stated.

Rung nodded. "I can only hope so."

The three then headed deeper into the palace.

Rung watched Optimus and Ratchet. He noticed that they were rather comfortable in each other's presence. He also made note of the fact that they were so close that their EM fields were mingling. Rung had never seen Ratchet this at ease with anybot other than his creations, Bulkhead, and Breakdown. He knew that Ratchet wasn't this at ease with even Knock Out and Arcee. There was a great deal between them. Granted, that was clear since they shared two creations together as well as a previous life together, though one Ratchet could not remember. Perhaps Ratchet was open to the idea of being in a relationship with this mech.

Ratchet caught Rung's inquisitive star and glared at him.

Rung immediately shifted his optics away, not wishing to draw Ratchet's ire.

Optimus remained unaware of these actions. He noticed Jazz up ahead. "Rung, this is Jazz. Jazz, could you please make sure that Rung is shown to his room?"

"Sure thing, Prime." Jazz looked at Rung. "So, yer tha bot the doc here says can help us wit' Shadowstrike."

"I will do my best." Rung replied.

"Rung, if you do not mind, we'll meet in three joor to give you all the information you need." Optimus stated.

"Thank you, Prime. I would like to get started as soon as possible." Rung agreed.

Jazz then showed Rung out of the room.

"Do you really think that Rung will be able to help us at all?" Prowl asked as he gathered together all of the data that would need to be copied and given to Rung for study.

Optimus glanced over at his son. "I honestly don't know, Prowl. But Ratchet seems to have faith in Rung's ability, and that is enough for me."

Prowl nodded. "I actually did a thorough background check on Rung. He has an exemplary record. Nothing to indicate that he might end up working for Shadowstrike. He has several commendations for helping Enforcers in Creon and in surrounding towns with psychological profiles on wanted criminals. Most of his profiles are accurate, and he has led the Enforcers to bringing in several of those criminals."

Optimus nodded. "Good. Perhaps Rung will be able to help us."

Prowl glanced up at his sire. "How are you and Carrier doing?"

Optimus smiled. "We are fine, Prowl. Given the amount of time that we have spent apart, we have already reconnected. We are getting along incredibly well, especially considering that Ratchet has amnesia." He chuckled. "And I've already gotten in trouble with him a few times, though he has yet to take a wrench to my helm yet."

"Yet being the key word." Prowl stated.

"Indeed." Optimus agreed.

"That's good to hear." Prowl smiled. "I know that Bluestreak is thrilled that Carrier is going to be able to attend his bonding ceremony. I think that means more to him than anything else at the moment."

"And you're glad of it, too." Optimus put in.

Prowl nodded. "Things were different, but not better without Carrier. If anything, they were worse. Having him back now, it makes me wonder how we all managed to survive having Carrier gone all that time."

"We survived because we had to, Prowl." Optimus reached over and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "And it's because of the fact that you were so desperate to find the answers to the questions surrounding Ratchet's "death" that we now have him back."

Prowl smiled. "Probably the best thing that I ever asked Jazz to do."

"I will agree with that." Optimus then straightened. "Let me know once you have all of the information copied for Rung."

Prowl nodded.

Optimus then left the room.

"Hi, Rung!" Lightshow jumped up and into Rung's arms. "It's so great to see you! You have to meet our family!"

Hot Rod pulled on Rung's leg. "We've got to meet our sire, Rung! And we're living here with him now!"

"And we've got grand-creators here! And uncles and aunts and cousins!" Springer piped in from Rung's other side.

Rung chuckled. "Yes, so I've heard. It's great to see you all as well."

Ratchet shook his helm. "All right, you three. Settle down. I know you're excited to see Rung, but he has traveled a long way, and I'm sure that he could use some rest."

Rung waved him off. "No need to worry about it, Ratchet. I'm fine." He glanced at the younglings' surrounding him. "And I've already met your sire."

"Isn't he great?" Hot Rod asked.

"Yes, he is." Rung agreed. He then noticed the red and yellow mechs who were standing in the room as well. He also noted that they had a very similar build as well as other similar features. "And who are these two?"

Ratchet glanced at the two. "My grand-creation, Bluestreak, is to bond with them both in time. The red one is Sideswipe, and the yellow one is Sunstreaker."

"Split-spark twins, I assume." Rung surmised.

Sideswipe looked rather startled. "How did you know that?"

"You two possess several indicators of split-spark twins. It wasn't a far leap." Rung replied.

"And you're right." Ratchet stated.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rather impressed by that fact.

"I thought as much." Rung glanced at Ratchet. "Your bodyguards?"

"For the time being." Ratchet answered. He still wasn't happy to have body guards at all times when he was not with Optimus, but the medic understood why they wanted a bodyguard with him, and considering the recent attacks, Ratchet wasn't going to argue against the fact at the moment.

"Do you have time to play with us?" Lightshow asked, still in Rung's arms.

Rung knew he had a little bit of time before he was due to speak with Prime and his staff about his reason for being there. "I can for just a little while."

Ironhide stomped down the halls of the palace in a bad mood. He went right past Ultra Magnus, not paying the large mech any attention at all.

Ultra Magnus followed him. "What has your gears in a twist?"

"Those fragging assassins, that's what!" Ironhide growled. "They're so smug thinking that they're just going to get away with this!"

"Have we identified the second assassin?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"Goes by a designation of Speedstrike. Don't know much more than that." Ironhide replied.

Ultra Magnus frowned. "I know that designation well. There are several open murder cases in regard to him. There is evidence that he committed them. The Enforcers could just never catch him."

"He took the wrong job then." Ironhide stated.

Ultra Magnus nodded. He decided that he might have to have a talk with Speedstrike himself.

"This is everything we have complied in regard to Shadowstrike, Rung." Prowl told him, handing over the datapad with all the information in it.

"Thank you, Prowl." Rung replied.

"I have included the psych evaluations she underwent, though considering the fact that we suspect they were forged, they may not be of much help." Prowl stated.

Rung nodded. "I understand."

"We have also included everything from the moment I started my investigation up to this recent attack, though we know little about the second attack." Jazz added.

"Very well. I will review everything and attempt to give you an idea of what is going on in her processors." Rung stated.

"Thank you, Rung. We do appreciate what you are doing for us." Optimus told him.

Rung smiled. "Ratchet is a friend of mine. I am glad to help him."

Optimus handed Ratchet a cube of energon. "Rung seems to be likeable."

Ratchet chuckled. "Just wait until Rung decides to start analyzing you. You're going to want him to shut up."

Optimus sat by his mate. "And yet, you two are friends."

"Yes, we are." Ratchet replied. He took a sip of the energon. "Rung offered me the type of intellectual conversation with a bot my own age that I needed. As much as I love our younglings, Bulkhead, and Breakdown, I needed to talk with somebot my own age."

Optimus nodded in understanding. "So, will Rung be attending Springer's creation cycle celebration with us tomorrow?"

"Yes, he will. If Rung doesn't show up, I know that it would break Springer's spark. Besides, Springer already got him to say he would come." Ratchet replied.

"Good. I'm glad that we decided to go ahead and have the celebration." Optimus stated.

"Well, we all could use something good and relaxing to take our processors off of what has been happening, even if it is only for a few joor." Ratchet replied.

"We do need it." Optimus leaned back against the couch. "This investigation is about all that I've been thinking about recently."

"It's all any of us have been thinking about." Ratchet looked at Optimus. "Now, why don't we go on to recharge?"

"This early?" Optimus asked. He knew that their creations were in their berth room already in recharge.

"Trust me. We're going to need the recharge. They get rather wound up at parties like this, and I'm sure that Jetfire and Jetstorm are the exact same." Ratchet stated.

"Something tells me we're going to need a cycle to just recover from the celebration tomorrow." Optimus said as he stood up.

Ratchet stood up as well. "And we get to go through all this again in three more groon for Hot Rod and Lightshow."

Optimus groaned at that.

Ratchet just laughed at him as they headed for their berth room to get some rest.

Let me know what you thought of the chapter!

And I'll try not to make you wait as long for the next update, but no promises!