Hello Readers I have some news. First, I have a poll on my profile for anyone who can take it. The poll is what will decide the future of the story. The second piece of news is that I posted a different story on my account if you want to take a look, but be warned it is an extension of "Of Mice and Men" and it is a very dark take on the story.

YAY Reached over 5000 views! That is a big milestone for me. For all the people who read my story I applaud you and thank you greatly, because every time someone favorites, reviews or follows my story, it pushes me to keep doing this for you. Love you guys.

*UPDATE!* Thank you I Am The Silver Lining for pointing out my mistake with the mix up in the name of the Decepticon. It is not Mirage but Makeshift. Props for catching my mistake

Chapter 21

As I slept I had the worst dream. In my dream I was being tortured, and it actually hurt. It wasn't like any other. I felt as though I was stuck inside the dream, unable to escape and wake up. Time passed as my torturer did things that would be physically impossible if it were reality. He would cut my arm open which wasn't the worst part. It was what he did to my bones. He would saw lines into them and shove spiked wires into the lines and down the arm and sew it back together and move onto another bone. Every single bone was worked one, each as painful as the other. My head was the only part that wasn't tampered with.

The pain and images slowly blurred away and my vision in the dream became black. As I awoke, I felt stiff and heavy. Like I'd slept on a pile of rock's all my life. I slowly opened my eye's. I was in the base on the floor right next to the couch. Must've fell off and slept on the floor all night. I slowly got up with a huff. It felt like I had gained 50 or so but surely I got up and began to stretch off the sleep. All my joints stiffened and became hard to move. My fingers, toes, shoulders, elbows, knees and hips all felt stiff. My back and neck were also pretty tight.

"Man, I had a horrible sleep." I said to myself as I painfully raised my arm to rub the back of my neck.

"I don't think I've seen anyone move in their sleep as much as you have." Jack said as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"I almost thought you were having a seizure." Raf put his two cents into the conversation.

"Laugh it up guys. I had a really painful nightmare. It felt almost real. Now I wake up sore and feeling like I weigh 50 pounds heavier." I said to the two other teens.

"Everyone began to gather around the main console as Ratchet began to type something. "Optimus, I'm receiving a signal on a restricted band. It appears to be coming from a starship inside this solar system." He said as he typed something else into the console. "It's an Autobot identification beacon."

"There are other Autobots out there?" Jack asked.

I shot a flat look at Jack. "Really?"

"We were scattered across the galaxies when cybertron went dark, but Con's have been known to bait traps with Autobot beacons." Arcee told Jack.

"Unknown vessel, this is Autobot outpost Omega-1. Identify yourself." Optimus said as the message was relayed to the vessel.

There was a short time of static then a voice came back over the speakers. "I've had a warmer welcome from decepticon combat brigades."

"Wheeljack?" Bulkhead asked the speaker. "You old con crusher, what are you doing all the way out here?"

"Bulkhead? That's you? What's with all the security?" The bot I knew as Wheeljack asked.

"The rock were on is crawling with cons. How soon can you get here and even the odds?" Bulkhead asked.

"Some time tomorrow if I put the metal to the petal." Wheeljack said as he cut out.

Optimus walked towards Bulkhead. "Wheeljack, I know him by reputation only. Bulkhead, can you verify his voice print?"

"He is 1000 percent the real deal Optimus."

Optimus did not doubt him in the slightest. "We are sending you coordinates now. Have a safe journey."

After I knew what was happening I stepped away and back to the couch. This was not the time to be feeling stiff. I was going to have trouble with the ensuing probability of being tricked by an imposter. My slower movement must've been noticed because I was being approached by CliffJumper.

"Hey Evan, little slow today. Not get enough sleep?" He asked.

"Na, I just feel like I slept on a pile of rocks. All my joints are aching and I feel really heavy." I explained, since I don't think he would understand what I was feeling like.

"Have you talked to the doc bot about it?"

"No, It should go away after a day or two of good rest." I told him. "Hey I'll talk to you later." I said as I moved away slower than usual to a small human sized door. When we had arrived at the ex-human military base and fowler had found out he recommissioned one of the human restrooms for us to use. Originally it took a few hours to get everything cleaned and dusted but now we all take turns cleaning it weekly. Miko put up an argument but we persuaded her by bringing up the alternative. She happily accepted the responsibility.

I entered and locked the door behind me. Since it was a military barracks they had showers built into the washrooms. When they turned the water on to this part of the base, the showers also were getting water. I turned on the water and felt it. It was not too hot and not too cold, but the right temperature to help me wake up and prepare for the day.

As I stood under the stream of water I relaxed, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Wait. My eyes quickly opened. The shower stall had been filled with steam.

Steam comes off hot water. The water I was standing under was lukewarm at best, but that makes no sense.

I dried off and got myself redressed... Which was a process in and of itself with how my joints were aching. I then unlocked the door to a very unhappy looking Miko.

"What the pit dude? You've been in there for like 20 minutes. What were you doing in there, giving birth?" Miko said quickly in an annoyed tone.

"Miko I need a favour." I said as I grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the shower stall I had been using. I turned the shower onto the same place it was before. "How hot is this water?"

"Why can't you check for yourself?" Miko said angry that I had dragged her all the way over for a stupid thing like this.

"Miko that's the problem. I can't tell." I admitted to her.

She reluctantly put her finger under the stream of water. She quickly removed her hand and hissed in pain. "Damn that was hot." She said in a whisper.

I put my hand underneath the stream of water and held it there. "It only feels lukewarm for me. Miko I think I'm losing my sense of temperature." I said in a worried voice. Miko looked me in the eyes with a glint of worry in hers. "Miko... Please keep this between us. I don't need Ratchet prodding me with more needles." I said to her while looking at her in the eyes. She nodded and I walked out.

-The next day-

The team had just been sent out to pick up "Wheeljack"... but they had problems with the ground bridge before they left. This gave me time to move out of the room and into the suit. Todays pain was worse then yesterday, but I guess things must get worse before it gets better. So I passed it off again. My mind hasn't stopped thinking about the conversation I had with Miko. It kept playing out in my head. Was I losing my sense of temperature? Could I be losing my sense of touch totally? What is wrong with me.

The sound of the groundbridge broke my train of thought. I will not reveal myself to the imposter until I had formulated a plan. "Ohhhh boy… what could I do… hmmmm… I guess i could… no that won't work" I said quietly to myself. I have no idea what I should do. "Unless-" That was it. I would do nothing, let things play out and set up an ambush. Since I know where he will be standing I'll set an ambush. If I can catch him off guard I can take him down. I could land on him knocking him out. Now.. how do I get onto the roof?

I used my cloaking device to sneak into the main room without anyone noticing. As soon as I walked in, Miko and Wheeljack left to get a tour of the base, I had to act fast. I started looking for a way to get on the I beams on the roof. There were 2 ways up, I could take the elevator up and get out when it gets high enough, but that would draw too much attention. The other way up was probably my best way up. I would have to climb up a pipe with either electrical lines or energon running up it and jump two or 3 feet across to an energon line that lead up to the roof and to the groundbridge. I used the gloves but made sure not to make too much noise climbing up the pipes, as to not draw any attention.

Once I got high enough up it was time to make the leap of faith across the gap. No one under me to catch me. Well.. its now or never. I jumped across the gap and landed on the pipe with a dull "Clunk". I froze for a second making sure not to give away my position. No one acknowledged if they did hear me, o I continued moving along the pipe until I was directly above the groundbridge I raised myself into the shadow of the I-beam and turned off my camouflaging device.

I awaited for the right time to spring the trap. I waited and watched as the scene unfolded beneath me. Wheeljack had just grabbed Miko. Scrap. I forgot about her. How am I supposed to land on him and incapacitate him without hurting her.

"Decepticon coward! Let the girl go and face me." Bulkhead said angrily.

"Don't fret there's more fighting to come." Makeshift said.

"Is there even a real Wheeljack?!" Jack asked Makeshift.

"Oh, yes. And I expect soundwave to be making him scream for his sire by now." Makeshift said as he grinned evilly.

Makeshift activated the ground bridge. "Bout Time."

Wheeljack came through and kicked Makeshift from behind, knocking Miko out of his servo but to everyone elses dismay got back up again. I kept my eye on Makeshift as to not mix the two up. As they were fighting I realized this was my best chance.

I dropped down and landed on Makeshifts head. Painfully if I might add, but it was enough to knock Makeshift into a concussed like state.

"EVAN!" Multiple people and bot's said at once. Still shake up from the fall I couldn't distinct the voices. While I was being attended to by Arcee and Ratchet, Bulkhead grabbed the slightly conscious Makeshift and carried him towards the ground bridge and threw the lookalike through. Bee shut down the portal and everyone surrounded me around me.

I slowly reached to my helmet and took it off. "Did not think that through." I said aloud as the helmet popped off and fell onto the ground. This comment was received by a string of laughter, but as I looked up I was greeted by the worried face of Arcee. I knew that I would need to talk to her about this later, but now I didn't want to worry her.

I shook off the fall and got back up. It wasn't by any means fast but I got up. Ratchet motioned towards the med bay. I returned a gesture by shaking my head meaning I was fine. "I'm good. Just a little stiff." I told Ratchet. I started to head into the hallway to get out of the suit but Arcee had walked up behind me and I knew why. She wanted to confront me about what happened. I knew I was in for a long conversation.

I apologise for any spelling/grammar/punctual errors.

Till Next Time :D