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The Ties that Bind
Chapter Twenty: What You Know

The base opened to receive them as they skidded to a halt through the sand. Transforming, Breakdown and Dead End were proud of a mission accomplished. The base shut soon after and the hanger was lit up with dim lights running in a row high on the wall.

"What are you two so happy about?"

Breakdown spun around. "Shockwave!"

The self-proclaimed scientist merely stared at the two. Scorponok was beside him clicking and skittering on the ground always seeming to be on edge.

"Did you do it?" Dead End asked.

"Of course we did."

"Where's Vortex?"

"He should be arriving soon that is if Starscream didn't destroy him."

Breakdown looked genuinely surprised. "Starscream?"

"He's not so eager to see our leader revived," Shockwave explained, "He was at the base when Vortex attack, but saved a human rather than finish the battle. He came back while we were extracting Megatron from the trench."

"Are you serious?" Dead End blanched, "He saved a human?"

"It appears so," Shockwave brushed imaginary dust from his hands, "You'll have to talk to Vortex if you want the real story."

"So, where's Megatron now?"

"In my work room. I was just going start repairs on him when you two came in."

"Did Barricade get the kid?"

Shockwave grinned slightly. "Why don't you go see for yourselves?"

The two looked at each other and in silent agreement went to check the kid out. Neither of them had really seen Sam Witwicky since he had been so fiercely protected. Shockwave waited until they disappeared through the sliding doors before he walked across the main hanger to the open hall that lead to his work room. Megatron was lying on the large metal table his face stuck in an opened mouth yell in his last moments of life. His leg had been detached, but Scorponok managed to salvage it.

If they had the real All Spark it would've been simple to revive him. Hold the Cube close to him and the body would mend itself and his spark would return. But during it's destruction a majority of the power filtered through Megatron, destroying him while the smaller fraction went to the human. If they forced the boy to repair the giant then it could very well kill him before he could revive the spark. No, Sam was being saved for the last task of actually reviving Megatron.

Scorponok, who had followed Shockwave into the lab, sat idly in the corner. Grabbing various tools he got to work on reattaching the left leg. After that he'd work on the spark casing. After that it was all up to Sam.

Meanwhile, in the other part of the base Sam was sitting on his 'bed' staring at his hands. His face was flushed and he was sweating. Clenching his teeth while his hands shook he tried to concentrate. As soon as his tired eyes slipped closed his hands started to flicker. The silver lines that had replaced the burns from the Cube started to glow, radiating brightly.

This was something he had been doing since he got there. So he was a new All Spark. While in the beginning that sucked entirely he figured that if he was gonna be cursed with pain, nightmares, and strength he couldn't control then he was just gonna have to get over it and learn some control.

"Well, well, well. Blast me to the Pit, would ya look at that."

Concentration broken Sam looked up startled at the two mechs that had appeared before his cell. The cell was tall, reaching to the ceiling, but the bars were close together and electrified, which he learned the hard way of course. The one that had spoken knelt down, red metal flashing in the dim light as he stared at the human in amusement. Sam wasn't too familiar with these two but he still knew who they were.

"Breakdown," Sam said scathing, "Dead End."

"Hey, the kid knows us!" Breakdown said, sarcastically pleased.

"That was pretty impressive, human," Dead End pointed out, "With the glowing hands and stuff."

"Thanks," Sam grinned, also sarcastically, "Now unless you're here to bring me food, because, you know, us weak organics need it to eat and stuff. Oh, and some water would be great."

"We're not here to serve you, cretin," the Porsche spat.

"Well, I don't think you're here to visit and if you are you must be really bored."

"Nah," Breakdown waved, "we just had some fun with one of your friends."

Sam's mind immediately went to Mikaela. "What did you do?" he yelled rushing at the bars.

"You're friend Maggie," Dead End started, "Hope we didn't hurt her too bad. Reports say she's in a coma."

"Than how she gonna deliver out message?"

Sam saw red. His pupils expanded, just like they did with the Trent incident and his hands glowed. Breakdown felt something that he was totally uncomfortable and ashamed of. He backed away, wanting to get away from the enraged human as far as he could.

"Get out."

Breakdown and Dead End turned to face a battered Vortex. The Black Hawk didn't seem to be in the mood so with one last cautious look at the still glowing, black eyed human they left. Vortex walked around until Sam came into sight. It was the first time he had seen him since his arrival where there was a small scuffle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Sam had rushed out in the middle of the battle to get a black haired girl that the Bumblebee had been trying to keep Demolisher from stepping on.

"Sam," Vortex greeted, "It's an honor to finally meet you."

"I can't say the same," the human spat, his eyes dark with hate.

"I see." Walking over to the wall he sat down, his tired body aching from having to fly so damaged from the battle. That collision with Starscream caused him more damage that he had thought. "You should calm down," he said, "You're wasting your energy."

"Fuck you."

"Hmm."

But Sam couldn't stop. His body was getting tired from being in this state and if he didn't cut it out he was going to pass out. His hands sporadically tightened and released as he took a deep breath. His eyes returned to normal and his hands flickered dark. Collapsing to his knees he nearly threw up, but since he didn't have anything in his stomach he suffered dry heaves.

Vortex was silent until the human finally went calm. "So do you know why you do that?"

"I'm the new All Spark," Sam said hoarsely, "My old buddy Barricade filled me in."

"You had a previous encounter with Barricade once before didn't you?"

"Yeah," Sam laughed dryly, "He screamed LadiesMan217 in my face. First impressions always last."

Vortex didn't think it was funny, but he grinned anyways. "Did he happen to tell you why you are here?"

"Well, I don't know," the boy snapped back, "Maybe because I'm the human incarnate of the power that created you guys? You're gonna hold me as bait for the Autobots? I dunno! Let me know if I'm getting warm!"

"You are the only way to revive Megatron."

That made Sam's heart jump just like when he found out he was the All Spark. "I won't do it."

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice."

"The hell I don't!"

"Unfortunately for you, you've gained the power from a source that created life. You won't be able to help yourself."

"I can stop myself!" Sam protested, "I'm still me!"

"No," Vortex replied, "I don't think you will. I don't think you'll be able to fight what you are and you are the All Spark."

Sam's hands clenched into tight fists, his pupils growing and shrinking with every flicker of the familiar white light that seeped through his fingers. Vortex watched the entire time, watching as the boy tried to maintain himself, not lose himself to the power that had been bestowed on him, seemingly, by fate.

It was his Great Grandfather that found Megatron and had the location of the Cube on his glasses.

It was his Father that bought him the used 1976 Chevy Camaro that turned out to be an alien robot.

He became involved in their war.

He was chosen to protect the Cube.

He was the one that shoved the Cube into Megatron's spark.

And he was the one the All Spark transferred its power to.

The All Spark was not sentient though it had the ability to create life. Its powers could have been lost to space and never even touched Sam, but they did. It was like the All Spark chose not to die. It chose to live on, even through a mortal.

Sam ended up fainting, the rush of power proving to be a little much. Vortex could tell from the boy's vitals that he wouldn't wake anytime soon. He could hear the boy's stomach growl for food even as he slept and the dehydration that would be setting in soon. He'd get Demolisher on that, but right now, he had to check on Shockwave's progress with Megatron.

"Glen, please come down."

"No."

"C'mon, man!"

"I don't feel like it."

"If you don't come down here I just keep on yelling," Sideswipe stated, "And then the neighbors will come out, see a giant robot, scream and panic like humans usually do, call the cops and I'm really not in the mood to be shot at so please?"

"I can't face the others," Glen stated from the open window, "Sunny's right. It's my fault."

Sides pleading expression dropped into a melancholy one as he leaned against the building. "You couldn't have known that it was going to happen. How do you think I feel? My brother trusted me to protect the only other person he truly cares about and I let him down."

"Let's just say we both suck and call it a night."

"We have to return to the base," Sides said, "Optimus wants us all together. The only ones allowed to be out on their own are Peyton since she's trying to find where they took Sam and Jason since he's taking care of Maggie at the hospital."

"What about Sunny?" Glen asked worriedly out of guilt and fear, "I don't think he'll be there."

"Probably not," Sides agreed, "He's probably at the hospital, waiting on Maggie."

"I can't believe this happened."

"It's a war. People—"

"It's not just that!" Glen snapped, "That this happened to Maggie!"

Sides frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I met Maggie when she first moved to America five years ago for school," Glen explained, "We took a lot of the same classes. My family couldn't afford college so I had to drop out, but that's what Maggie came for. She's always been better than me with the technical stuff, I'm just a hacker. Even though she was going places she'd always come back to see me, let me barrow some of her text books and…" he sighed, "She was my friend when no one else would be."

Sides sighed as his optics shut briefly. "Glen."

"Yeah?"

"Let's go."

"Okay."

Glen grabbed his and Maggie's equipment in one trip and tossed it into the trunk of the transformed Autobot. Climbing in, Sides was silent as the pulled out of the alley and peeled out into traffic. Glen immediately noticed that they were heading in the opposite direction of the base.

"Where we going?"

"I wanna go to the beach for a bit," Sides said, "The sun's rising, but I think at least a few minutes there will be good for both of us."

Glen grinned and silently agreed.

It was apparent that the repairs on Starscream's spark casing were going to take the longest. The fool had made a rash move in his obvious desperation to kill Vortex and it nearly cost him his life. Sparks flew from the tools as he mended the metal back together in its designated place. Not to far away the newest human to be pulled into their war was standing against the wall watching silently, not wanting to get in the way. Ratchet figured that since it was Starscream that saved him he would want to see if he was alright.

How the human cared about a Decepticon was beyond him.

Now there's a thought. Is Starscream really a Decepticon now? From Kale's recounts Starscream didn't want Megatron's body to be recovered and it wasn't like he was making it known that he was the new Decepticon Leader. In fact, Starscream disappeared and when Vortex proclaimed himself leader he didn't even flinch from hiding.

Ratchet set one tool that seemed to function a lot like blow torch aside and grabbed a sort of clamp, prying the metal together. Looking down at a device on his wrist he checked the mech's vitals. The pulse of his spark, much like a heart beat, was slow and uneven, but it was not a cause of concern yet. The damage he sustained could've been a lot worse with the close proximity of Vortex's shot. A red laser shot from his finger as he continued to pull the clamp across pulling the metal, resembling a human rib to the main structure where it had been broken before grabbing the torch again to weld it.

"Is he gonna be okay?"

Ratchet didn't even realize how close the human was to him until he glanced under the elevated table like surface he was using. The sparks that were falling were huge so it was a good call to stand under the table. Ratchet set his tools down and knelt to look at the obviously exhausted human. He decided on a quick bio-scan to make sure everything was functioning properly, which it was which was lucky for him because it meant one less patient to worry about.

"The damage is great, but his repairs are coming along nicely," Ratchet explained, "He should be fine, though I can't determine exactly when he'll wake up."

"Alright," Kale nodded, keeping his head bowed, "Thanks."

"What is your relationship with Starscream?"

Kale looked startled by the question as he finally looked Ratchet in the eye. "There isn't one. He was hiding out at the base and I recognized the insignia on him and I knew he was a Decepticon, but I didn't…" he sighed, "I didn't report him."

Ratchet looked unnerved by that. "And why is that?"

"If I told you I risk getting flattened," Kale laughed softly.

"I'm not allowed to harm humans," Ratchet explained, "Not that I prefer to if given the chance."

Looking up at the medic's blue optics, so similar yet different from Starscream's he relented, "I knew he was there for nearly a week before Vortex attacked the base. I thought he was just hiding out. He could've attacked us anytime he wanted and he didn't. Sure he destroyed my jet and took its place, but he didn't try anything even with Megatron and the other dead guys in the trench. I thought that maybe…Well, maybe he changed."

Ratchet stared at the young man as he shifted on his feet. His deliberately disobeyed his superior officers, John Keller, the President of the United States and even Optimus, but not alerting anyone of Starscream's presence. But Starscream didn't attack. In fact, it seemed more like Starscream was trying to keep his former comrades away so they couldn't get Megatron so in all actuality it was good that Kale kept him a secret. If Starscream had been forced to leave or killed there would've been no one there to slow Vortex down.

Not that that really helped either.

Sam was gone, Megatron was reclaimed, and the entire base had been annihilated except for Kale.

Ratchet stood up. "His repairs are coming along. I should be done shortly."

Kale nodded and got out from under the table and to the other side of the room again before Ratchet went back to work. Maybe Starscream has changed, but still, one human life didn't make up for the hundreds he took since he arrived on this planet.

Will looked down at his watch. It was still early. Sarah had fallen asleep in the passenger seat and Bella had passed out long ago. Yawning loudly, he covered his mouth to stifle it as much as he could. He didn't think that anyone got any sleep tonight, what with Sam's kidnapping and Starscream's strange appearance.

"If you require rest you should do so."

Will grinned at the radio. Ironhide's voice was a soft whisper like the volume dial had been turned down one knot from mute.

"I'm fine," he said, "What about you?"

"I don't need as much recharge as you do."

"But you have to be getting tired now."

"I'm fine Lennox."

"Well I don't think it would look good if the driver of this monster truck fell asleep."

"There are hardly any humans on the road."

"It's fine. I'll sleep when we get back to the base."

Ironhide sighed if only to indicate he didn't like the Captain's stubbornness, but it all actuality that might have been why they got along so well. Sure they butted heads on more than one occasion and numerous topics varying from weapons, humans, and the weather, but they were more alike than different. Both soldiers, both fighting for something they believed in, but one major difference was that Will, though he was strong for a human, was extremely fragile compared to them. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, this made Ironhide worry.

"What's the problem, big guy?" Will asked, "And don't tell me nothin' because I think I know you a little better than that."

"Do you ever wish to stop fighting?"

Will was shocked silent from the blunt question. It usually took a lot of convincing to get Ironhide to talk about what he thought or felt. "Yeah," Will answered, "Everyday."

"Why?"

"Well," he began, "I just want to live normally with my family. Not get called away all the time. A lot of humans don't want to die because of fear of what happens after death, but I don't want to die because I don't want to leave my girls alone. I wanna see my little girl grow up and I want to grow old with Sarah. There's always a chance we can die, every day we take risks, but in a war…the chances are higher and there's a higher chance that I may not come back. Not to say that it isn't an honor helping you guys. I don't think I could turn my back on you even if I wanted."

"I see," Ironhide mused.

"What about you? Do you want to stop fighting?"

Ironhide really found himself thinking about that question, which surprised him since he had always been so gung-ho about shooting first and asking questions later. Honestly, he couldn't even remember a time where he wasn't fighting. He was still remotely young, middle-aged by human standards, and that was an estimate, and with their life span millions of years shouldn't wear on you, but during a war that lasted a majority of you lifetime took its toll.

"Sometimes."

Will was surprised again. "Really?"

"I'm a warrior. It has always been my designation unlike the others. It's what I was programmed to do since I was a sparkling. Sometimes I wish the war would end and maybe I could try a hand at a more normal existence, but other times I don't think a normal existence is in the cards for me."
"You don't think you could handle it?" Will asked.

Ironhide chuckled lightly, "I think I would be bored."

Will laughed as well. "You'd be here with us and I'd make sure you had fun."

"I bet you would. Unfortunately, I cannot ingest alcohol which you humans typically use to have 'fun'."

"And that blows," Will pointed out, "But still! There are lots of things we could do."

"Really? Like what?"

"Well, for one, I have eighty acres of property that I haven't seen in a long time. The trails probably need to be cleared and you and the others are welcome to it anytime you want to get away from the city. We'll have big parties, with or without the beer, and we'll show you how to have a good time human style."

Ironhide would've grinned if he could. It still seemed a little to peaceful for his tastes, but it was still something to look forward to. Their conversation was interrupted by a whine from the backseat. Annabelle was squirming in her car seat rubbing her eyes as they slowly opened adjusting slowly to the darkness.

"Look who woke up," Will pointed out with a smile, "Good Morning Sunshine!"

Bella sneezed.

Ironhide took over as Will turned in his seat to attend to his daughter. It sure didn't look any better than sleeping since all that was visible in the driver seat was Will's ass sticking in the air.

Much to his dismay Bella started crying which woke Sarah up in a panic, kicking that dashboard, which startled Will who hit his head on the ceiling and Bella continued to scream.

"Ugh…" Sarah murmured tiredly, "What happened?"

"Your offspring," Ironhide replied.

"I put a container of Cheerios in the diaper bag," Sarah stated.

"Which one?" Will asked as he searched the back seat.

"The red one."

"Which red one?"

"There's only red one!"

"No there's two red ones!"

"I keep telling you that that one's pink!"

"It's lightish red!"

"Oh my God, Will, get the stupid Cheerios!"

Will grumbled as he got the yellow, round container, supposedly child proof out of the red diaper bag and opened it handing it to Bella. The child shrieked and tossed it on the floor spilling it contents.

"Okay!" Ironhide growled, "She doesn't want the breakfast cereal! Do not give her anything else that she can throw! I don't want mushy baby food on my interior like last time!"

"Sorry!" Will called back, "What does she want?"

"Does she need her diaper changed?" Sarah asked.

"Trust me, if she did," Ironhide stated, "I would've woken you up to let you know."

"Well, then, what's up?" Will asked. Touching his daughter cheek the baby screech, slapping it away and gnawing on her fingers in tears and drool. Sighing, he tried the cereal again only for the same result.

"Blast it, Lennox! She doesn't want the cereal! She wants her teething ring-thing!"

"Oh!" Will awed in realization immediately scrambling to get what she wanted.

"You know, Ironhide," Sarah said with a sly smile, "for saying that human children are nothing, but a nuisance you sure know a lot about them."

"I do not."

"Then how do you always know what she's wants, huh?" the blonde woman teased.

"Well, someone has to," the mech grumbled.

Peyton was feeling a little bit of jealousy at the present time as she went through one of the nicest kits she had ever had the privilege of working with. That's not to say that the LVPD didn't provide their CSIs with amazing kits, but these ones were just so…so…shiny!

"Feeling a little green?"

Peyton glared over at AJ as he snapped pictures of the scene. "No."

"Don't they have nice equipment in Vegas?"

"Yeah. Yours is just really shiny."

A bark of laughter filled the air.

Peyton walked around the area where the other five were doing their respective jobs. She couldn't believe that she was assigned the entire graveyard shift. It felt exhilarating to be in charge, but under normal circumstances it would mean a lot of paper work which she was not a fan of.

"So you wanna fill us in on what our boss refuses to tell us?" Troy asked as they passed each other.

"Sorry no can do," she replied, "But if anything looks strange, out of place, or…inhuman maybe it's evidence."

"I don't like working blind," Emily sighed, "What can you tell about the victim?"

"Samuel Witwicky, seventeen-years-old," she smiled a little as she thought of the boy, "He's a good kid. He's been through more than anyone should have to. He was last seen—"

"Wait!" Taylor looked startled, "You know him?"

Peyton nodded and waited for the uproar which of course there was.

"Don't you know that compromises the case?" Terri asked in surprise, "You shouldn't be involved."

"Then it's a good thing this isn't a normal case," Peyton bit out as she knelt down to lift a fiber she found in the track Sam's body made when he was dragged.

"Not a normal case," the supervisor mused, "Then what kind of case is it?"

Peyton ignored the question as she dropped the fiber into a plastic bag and labeled it quickly. Getting up she walked around the scene again trying not to look at the five people that pegged for answers she wasn't at liberty to give. She stopped when she saw something in the grass. Kneeling down again she sighed heavily.

"Vomit."

"From your friend?" Troy asked snidely.

"Most likely," she snapped back, "Wanna get me a container?"

"Whatever." She got the feeling he wasn't going to help.

Terri knelt down beside her, her blue eyes piercing and unfortunately making Peyton a little uncomfortable. "We don't like be lied to."

"We not telling you anything is not being lied to," Peyton whispered harshly, "I'm just not disclosing all the details and it would better if I didn't for your own good."

Peyton didn't look away from her even as she tried to make her do so with her harsh look. Terri relented first and handed her a container from her own kit. Peyton said a soft thank you before scooping a small amount of the vomit into the plastic container and capping it.

"There isn't much here," Taylor pointed out, "Not many hairs in the grass minus the victims. There are tire treads though. I can print them and—"

"Ford Mustang," Peyton interrupted, "It's a 2008 Ford Saleen Mustang."

"How do you know?" AJ asked suspiciously.

Peyton looked at him. "I've already been here," she said, "and I found this before you were assigned to me."

Peyton held out the syringe in a plastic labeled bag. Once again, her seemingly poor processing skills got her another volley of criticism.

"You took that from the scene?" Emily shrieked, "It wouldn't be admissible in court now!"

"Trust me when I say the justice system isn't going to do this kid any good now."

"What the hell is going on?" AJ growled, "What kind of forensic lab is in Las Vegas?"

Peyton was done. "You know what? I don't need the criticism! I know how to do my damn job!" she shouted angrily, "You are here to help me gather any evidence that may link to Sam's kidnapping! I don't have the time or the patience to deal with you and since this is a matter of national security I expect you to shut the hell up and do your Goddamn job!"

They all glared at her out of shock and anger, but she didn't care. She needed to find Sam. Turning around she took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. Closing her eyes her fingers twitched irritably so she pulled them into fists before facing him.

"Okay," she said, "I'll tell you this. The ones that took Sam go by the names Barricade and Frenzy. Don't bother looking them up because you won't find them. Sam knows them personally which is why I think they took him, also to bait on me and my friends."

"How is this a threat to national security?" Terri asked.

"We don't know yet, but Sam is," she didn't know how to phrase it, "important. We have to find out where they took him."

They were silent.

"I know you want answers, but I can't give them to you, not just because it's top secret," she admitted, "I made a promise to someone and I'm not about to let him down. So please," she begged, "Please help me."

Terri moved first after a long moment. Walking to her kit she grabbed a plastic bag and returned to her holding it out. Peyton saw that there was sand in the bag.

"Found that by the tire treads. There was a trail of it," she explained, "The sand around here is fake, but that," she pointed to the bag, "looks like the real stuff."

"Like a desert?"

"Maybe. Or a beach. Wherever they came from has sand."

Peyton smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

Terri nodded and faced her team. "Well," she said, "since we don't know what we're looking for, pick up anything suspicious. If we run out of bags we'll get more. Get to work."

Sunny ignored the calls from Optimus to return to the air base. There was no way in the Pit he was going to leave this spot until he saw Maggie walk out. He sat in a parking spot as close to the building as he could without drawing suspicion. Jason had come out, looking horrible, he might add, to let him know about Maggie's condition. Sunny took it all in and refrained from trying to find the Decepticons that did this, though he had a pretty good idea who it was.

Breakdown had always had a personal vendetta against him and his twin. For some reason they hated each other. Sunny and Breakdown always sought each other out during battles like it was some kind of competition or personal score to settle, but neither had done anything to each other in the past to get them to act so hostile towards each other.

Sunny didn't notice the occupied car pull up beside him, which wasn't a good thing, but since it was his brother and Glen he was safe.

"How is she?"

Sunny's attention was immediately drawn to the two next to him, his anger still fresh in his mind and spark. They were the last he wanted to see at the moment, but he didn't want to talk to them so he didn't tell them to leave.

Hell, who was he kidding? He didn't want to be alone right now. "She's in a coma," he answered, "Jason doesn't know when she'll wake up."

"But she will right?" Glen asked worriedly.

"There is a good chance she'll be okay, but still…"

"Don't think like that," Sides ordered firmly, surprising his twin, who had never hurt sound so serious in all their years together, "She'll pull through. Maggie's tough."

Sunny appreciated his brother's support though he didn't voice his thanks.

"We're really sorry, Sun—"

"Don't," the silver mech said, "Neither of you could've known that this would happen."

A moment of silence settled over them before Sides sighed heavily with, "Well, I turned off my communications, how about you?"

"After the sixth call from Optimus, yeah."

"He even tried my cell phone a couple times. Ratchet too."

"They'll just have to get over it."

"…Man, we're gonna be in so much trouble."

I think this is what you call a filler chapter...lol! Kinda important, especially with Sam and the sand found at the crime scene, but yeah I hope you liked it. Writing the part with Will and Ironhide was fun. Anyways! Until next time! Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!

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