CHAPTER 25

"I can't believe you would do such a thing to your own comrade!"

Perceptor and Lockdown turned their heads toward the table. Prowl was awake. His head was lifted and he glared coldly at the Autobot scientist. "Why would you do such a thing?!"

The scientist looked back at Lockdown, ignoring Prowl's questions. "You did manage to take the female as well, did you not?" he asked.

Lockdown nodded. "Yes, I have her too," he replied. "She is in perfect condition as well."

Perceptor nodded. "Good enough." he turned away and headed out of the room. "Bring them in."

"What do you want?" Professor Sumdac demanded.

"I just thought I'd contact you and let you know that I am out of prison."

"Why would you want to tell me that?" the inventor demanded. He had had no contact with Megatron since the incident with the space bridge. The man hoped to never have any form of meeting with him again.

"Personal reasons," the Decepticon replied. "For one thing I know where you live and can go there any time I want and destroy it."

Sumdac looked toward the window. He searched the sky for any sign of an attack helicopter. The only flying machine was the city blimp.

"Don't bother looking for me," Megatron replied. "I'm not there and you know as well as I do that if I wanted to take you out I wouldn't do it in broad daylight."

Isaac moved away from the window. "What do you want?" he asked again, more nervously.

"You know what I want," his caller replied calmly. "I want to see you fall, Professor Sumdac and fall you will."

"What do you mean?"

The smile was back in Megatron's voice. "Not what you're thinking," he replied. "But it comes should have known this way would come when you allowed me to run all the systems in the building."

Sumdac was starting to panic. "No!"

"Yes," Megatron replied. "this is it for you. I hope you like falling, because that is something you're going to be doing a lot of very soon."

"What-"

Click.

Ratchet wasn't sure if contacting Prowl was a good idea. In fact he didn't even know if he could. The cyber ninja didn't exactly have a commlink any longer. Attempting to get in contact might end up being pointless.

"Didn't Sari give him a cellphone?" Bulkhead inquired when Ratchet voiced the question.

The other two Autobots turned to look at him. They hadn't heard him come into the room.

"What?" the big green robot asked. "She did. I saw her."

"And you didn't think to tell us sooner?" the medic asked. He looked annoyed.

Bulkhead shrugged. "I didn't think it was all that important."

"Why would you do such a thing?!"

Prowl's words came back to Perceptor's mind as he stepped out of the ship. They repeated themselves in a steady mandate that came down to one thing. Shame on you. Shame! Shame! Shame!

It was understandable why Prowl would think that way. He was the very subject of Perceptor's latest interest. But if he only knew the whole reason for it. Maybe then he wouldn't be saying such things.

Or maybe he would?

But the scientist wasn't feeling guilty about it. Not in the slightest. He couldn't really feel that emotion any longer anyway. Besides; it wasn't like what he wanted to do was anything harmful to the masses. He just wanted to know what had caused Prowl's resurrection, why it happened, and the reason for him coming back in such a strange yet fascinating form.

He glanced back at the ship. Lockdown was busy getting the two techno organics ready. Sari had actually been a huge source of curiosity for quite awhile but, with everyone protecting her, he'd had no ways to get alone with her for study. Now that she no longer had anyone to watch her, really it had been the perfect time.

Hopefully his questions would be answered quickly and easily. Though he had the patience he did not think it was wise to take too long. Somebody might get suspicious. He did not need that.

Distractions took up too much time.

Optimus Prime just wanted to go back to Earth. The longer he stayed on Cybertron the closer Megatron would get to the planet where his friends were. He'd reminded the council of that but his words fell on deaf audio receptors. He also wondered where Ultra Magnus was during these briefings. He was strangely absent. His little meeting with Sentinel hadn't helped either since the other Prime blamed him for everything. Just like always.

When Optimus asked him about Ultra Magnus he'd been strangely aloof which meant he knew something but wasn't telling.

"Where has Ultra Magnus been all this time?" he asked himself as he walked down the hall. "Is he away on business? Did he leave the rest of the council in charge and Sentinel too? Does he even know about any of this?"

Of course he did. He was the one who wanted Optimus and Jazz to return.

Speaking of Jazz... where was the white cyber ninja anyway?

The Prime noticed a familiar figure walking further down the hall. "Cliffumper!" he called, running to catch up with him.

The small red Autobot stopped walking and turned. When he saw Optimus he waited for him to catch up. When he was close enough he said. "I'm sorry Optimus but I can't help you with anything."

Prime stared at him. "But why?" he asked.

Cliffjumper looked away. "It's complicated," he said.

"How is it complicated?" he asked. "You don't even know what I'm going to ask you."

"Unfortunately I do," the other robot responded. "It's either about Ultra Magnus absence or Jazz's."

"How did-"

"It's not that hard to figure out," he cut him off. "Those are the questions quite a few of the Guard have been asking. Just two hours ago Sentinel Prime was in here asking the exact same question you were going to. Of course I could not give him an answer either." he stared the Prime in the face. "I can't answer you because I don't know myself. The only information I can give you is that when you both arrived Ultra Magnus took Jazz aside and I haven't seen them since." he shook his head. "Maybe they're having their own conference about this whole thing."

"Jazz knew where Megatron was heading," Optimus replied. "He told me himself."

"Yes, Earth, we know that," Cliffjumper replied. "But we can't prove anything. He could be anywhere. We aren't even sure if that is the right destination anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"It all comes down to Barricade."

"Barricade?" The Prime looked confused. "What does he have to do with this?"

"Plenty since he's the one who had a hand in Megatron's escape from the stockade." the small red Autobot folded his arms. "Barricade has access to maps of barely used sectors of the galaxies. They were programmed into his very processor. He is the only one who has them aside from the classified files. If he chose to use those maps they could be anywhere."

Optimus was silent. He didn't know that. "If that is true why did you allow him to access them?"

"We didn't," Cliffjumper replied. "He hacked into the system and pirated them out. Since he never used them we figured we had nothing to worry about." he shook his head. "When it happened we should have done more than give him probation."

"It's not your fault. Maybe he hasn't thought to use them."

"Maybe not." but by the look on the smaller robots face the Prime could see that he did not believe it.

Ratchet couldn't believe what he just heard. "Didn't think it was important!?" he exclaimed. "Of course it's important!"

"Hey, don't get mad at me," Bulkhead said, annoyed. "It's not my fault Prowl never said anything about it. I thought he would..."

"Prowl is notorious for keeping things to himself," the medic responded. "He isn't likely to come out in the open and blab things."

"There you go then," Bulkhead said. He turned away and headed out of the room. "Now that you know, why don't you try contacting him?"

"I don't know the number!" the medic called after him.

Bulkhead turned around and looked back at him. "Well I can't help you there," he said. "By the way. Why are you so desperate to call him anyway?" He saw his friends exchange a look. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Ratchet knew the green robot needed to know what was going on. Sari was his friend too and it would be better if they all were aware of Professor Sumdac's call. "It's about Sari," he began. "She's missing."

Bulkhead's optics blinked. "Missing?" he asked. "What do you mean?"

"She left Sumdac Tower early this morning and never called Professor Sumdac to let him know where she was," he explained.

That didn't sound like Sari. "But I thought she-"

"So did we."

"What does that have to do with Prowl?" he wanted to know.

"He's not here either," Bumblebee spoke up. "We went to his room and he's not here."

"So?" he asked. "That's not strange for him. He does that a lot of times."

"But it is strange when he disappears the same day that Sari decides not to call her father," Bee informed him. "If he's missing and she isn't calling her dad that must mean that something happened to them."

Ratchet shot him a look. "We don't know that."

"It's the only scenario that fits!" the younger robot shot back.

"You don't know that! You're only making theories"

Bumblebee folded his arms. "Whatever," he said, making a face. "Think what you will but I know I'm right." he started out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Bulkhead called after him.

"Wherever I want!"

Barricade was headed back to the main control room when he realized someone was following him. Stopping he looked behind himself but saw nobody. This feels familiar. he thought, starting up again. Like what happened in the Darksyde.

He remembered the entire incident clearly. Oil Slick had been stalking him until the police-bot had called him out. After that they'd had a confrontation and the cyber ninja had tried to poison him.

After that things got to where they were now. The police bot was determined not to let that happened again.

"So what were you and the traitor talking about, Empty?"

Barricade stopped and turned around. Oil Slick stood behind him with his arms folded. "Not what you think we were, chemist," he responded, his optics hardening.

"Of course you would say that," he shot back. "I wouldn't expect you to tell the truth."

"I would not lie about something like that. I'm the one who took care of him."

"With help from his little clone baby." the cyber ninja smirked. "She proves to be more useful that you are."

Barricade wasn't going to fight him him. It wasn't worth it. "Whatever. Just leave me alone." he turned away. "Things would be a lot better if you did."

"Is that a threat?"

Barricade looked back at him. "No," he said. "It's a warning."

"This is wrong!" Prowl shouted, struggling to free himself. "Why are you doing this?"

Perceptor looked over at the examining table Prowl lay strapped to. The scientist had decided to look at him first. Sari was currently inside a transparent glass test tube on the shelf. She banged her fists against it and shouted her indignation but the tube was soundproof and her words only echoed back at her. "It's not what you think, cyber ninja Prowl," he replied in a monotone. "I am doing this for the benefit of everyone."

"How can kidnapping one of your own and subjecting them to this be for the good of anyone?"

The scientist adjusted his glasses. "What happened to you is fascinating," he answered. " I would like to find out what caused it. There has to be a logical explanation for it." he put his hand on his hip. "Of course you could tell me what did this and maybe then I won't have to examine you."

Prowl didn't reply. He honestly had no idea why that happened. "I don't know," he blurted out. "But I don't think dissecting me will explain it either!"

Perceptor actually smiled. "That remains to be seen."

The cyber ninja couldn't believe what he was hearing. Perceptor actually thought this would be useful? What had given him such an idea anyway?

Scientific curiosity. He's been wandering about this kind of thing since he saw Sari. Of course he'd want to run tests on the two things that have gone through such a change. To the pit with the consequences. The bot doesn't even have a conscious anymore.

"So what are you going to do?" he demanded. "Take me apart to see how I work?"

The scientist picked up a tiny handsaw. "Something like that." he replied, turning the machine on.

Prowl stared at him in horror as he came forward.

Bumblebee decided to try contacting Prowl since Ratchet wasn't going to. Even though he didn't really know the number he took a guess anyway. If the phone Sari gave the cyber ninja happened to be her old one then it would be much easier. If not... well then it would just take longer.

To slag with it. I'm going to find out for myself. If Sari isn't calling because Prowl's got some kind of biological curiosity... the thought made him shutter. What if that was the reason? Prowl had always been interested in the thing called reproduction. What if he and Sari...?

Bumblebee shook his head. No, I can't think that. Even if Prowl's acting all hormoney I don't think he'd go that far and I doubt Sari would let him. She might just hand him a book about that and make him read it or something.. the yellow painted Autobot stopped that thought. "If she didn't that he might get even more curious."

Bumblebee charged toward the door, transforming. "I can't let him do that!"

As he roared out of the plant he opened his commlink and tried to pick up the frequency for Prowl or at least Sari's phone. It was likely that she'd taken it with her when she left. After a moment he heard a ringing which told him he'd gotten Sari. But she never answered. The phone just kept on ringing and ringing.

That did not help Bumblebee's fears. Suddenly panicky he attempted to pinpoint to location of the Mobile device. It zeroed in on an urban area. "Gotcha!"

He changed lanes and took the road that led to the location.

When he arrived he transformed and looked around, still trying to find the area. So far the only people he saw were mothers outside with their children. That gave him an idea. Maybe one of these people had seen them.

"Excuse me," he said, walking up to an Asian looking woman weeding her garden. "Maybe I asked you a question that might seem strange?"

"Okay," the woman replied, getting up and facing him. Since everyone knew about the Autobots she wasn't the least bit nervous talking to one. "What do you want to know?"

"Have you seen a girl with red hair and an orange and yellow dress escorting a man with black hair and clothing?" he wanted to know.

The woman thought for a moment then shook her head. "I'm sorry,' she replied. "I haven't seen anyone who fits that description."

"Oh," he said disappointed. "Thanks anyway."

He turned away and headed down the street. Most of the houses in this area had at least one person outside. He sighed and slumped his shoulders. "This is going to be a long day."

Perceptor lowered the saw closer to Prowl's body. The cyber ninja didn't even flinch. He glared over the top of it at the scientist, his eyes challenging him to get closer. It made the scientist uneasy.

"Don't make this harder than it already is."

'Then I would suggest taking me offline before you start."

Perceptor was about to comment on that when he heard his computer screen flaring up. Instantly he hid the saw and turned around so his body blocked Prowl's. The face of a blue and white colored femme appeared o the screen. "Perceptor," she said.

"What is it, Chromia?" he asked.

"Ultra Magnus requests your input on an important issue," she replied. "He told me to tell you to head there immediately."

He nodded. "I am on my way."

Chromia nodded. "I will let him know.' then the screen blinked out.

"Well it seems," Perceptor said, turning back to Prowl. "That you have been given some time." he turned away and headed toward the door. "I wouldn't advise trying to escape. You will not get very far."

When the door closed behind the scientist Prowl instantly started struggling. He pulled against the metal straps holding him onto the table but wasn't accomplishing much except bruises and a lot of pain. Eventually he had to take a rest and went limp.

Sparks, I can't break free! He glared down at the metal strap on his wrist. I couldn't break them on Lockdown's ship and I can't break them here. This would be much easier if I were bigger or at least stronger. he stared at the ceiling. "So just because I got a new body my abilities have to be toned down to fit them?"

Now that he said it out loud he realized how logical that sounded. "Of course they have to be lowered. This body most likely wouldn't be able to handle that much power. But even so." he looked at the bonds again. "Couldn't I at least have been given some kind of ability to help me break free from something like this?"

Try using your brain, genius.

He jumped, startled. Where had that thought come from? He lifted his head and looked up at the shelf where Sari was. She was leaning against the jar, staring back at him. Had it been her?

Oh course who else would it be?

How are you talking to me?

I don't know. I just am. I was thinking that I wished I could say something to you an the next minute I was reading your thoughts.

Well well a new ability but it wasn't very useful besides being able to talk to each other. Do you have any ideas?

No. That's Why I told you to think of one.

I can't.

Come on, Prowl. you always get yourself out of situations. I'm sure this one will be just as easy.

But those other incidents happened when I was a robot. This is different.

He saw her frown. You're giving up? Whatever happened to the Prowl I knew? You going to change just because your body did? How many times do I have to repeat myself. You're still you. Don't think otherwise.

Sari.

What?

Please don't state the obvious.

Then get your rear in gear and think of something!

Fine. I'll try

No try. Do or do not do. There is no try.

What kind of advice is that?

He saw her smile a goofy smile. Master Yoda.

A/N

This chapter.. I don't know what to say about it. I got writers block doing this one and my mind went blank. It was hard to come up with stuff for it but I eventually got something down, even if it's not that great.

Now how am I going to get Prowl's glasses back?