A/N: Sorry this is late. I blame Christmas. I also blame Christmas for making me write a bunch of Autobot angst and fluff. Eeesh, can we say out of my comfort zone?

[this is silent comm speak]

Enjoy? ^_^

ELITE GUARD HEADQUARTERS

Only a couple cycles have past since Prowl's encounter with the Council. He makes his way back into the maze of hallways of the Autobot base but his processor is too clouded to call upon his cyber ninja sense to guide him further. He finds the nearest bench and retreats to it, burying his head in his hands.

What was that? Why did I say that? Who am I to elect myself a hero? A true hero doesn't act in expectation of praise. Master would be so ashamed…Perhaps that's why the Well didn't see me fit to enter; why I was left to drift in oblivion instead of fully merge with the All Spark. Are my past sins too many? Have I not learned from them? I nearly returned to my old ways, influenced solely by a mind trick. Chromia's powers are not that strong, she knew…knows me; knows my flaws and weaknesses. Why wasn't I aware of my cure when it happened? That may have prevented the damage she did to me. How did Starscream figure it out before I did?

I've spent the majority of my functioning serving only myself. Did I truly think I could achieve hero status with one impetuous action, one that may have been avoided if I had listened to Jazz? Perhaps there was another way. Perhaps it was not my place to play the hero. Perhaps the Council was right and the title of hero is reserved only for a select few.

STARSCREAM
Prowl, are you there?

The unexpected voice in the ninja's comm snaps him out of his world of burdensome thought.

PROWL
Yes, who is this?

STARSCREAM
(sarcastic)
Do you really need to ask?

Prowl lifts his head from hands and looks both ways down the hallway to make sure no one is in earshot.

PROWL
(talking low)
Starscream…did Swindle deliver my mod to you?

STARSCREAM
Yes.

PROWL
Did he do so without complication?

STARSCREAM
No, he tried to sell it to us but Blackarachnia, with strategic use of her stingers, 'haggled' a fair price. Where are you?

PROWL
Elite Guard Headquarters. I am trying to locate my team.

STARSCREAM
Trying? What's to try? Download the base's map to your processor and trace Optimus Prime's comm frequency. Are all cyber ninja's this technologically inept or are you just--

PROWL
(frustration rising)
I thank you for that helpful information. Now what is it I can do for you, Starscream?

STARSCREAM
Have you told any Autobots of my plans?

PROWL
I don't even know your plans.

STARSCREAM
I mean, who else knows I'm not in league with the Quintessons?

PROWL
I have only told Chromia and she is informing the Council of the Quintessons as we speak. However, I suspect they'll be skeptical of her testimony.

STARSCREAM
Why? She is a trusted official. Why wouldn't they believe her?

PROWL
Was a trusted official. I just blew her cover.

STARSCREAM
What the spark did you do that for?

PROWL
(growing more frustrated)
Wha-- Why didn't you tell me she was a double-agent? You do realize how much damage she did--

STARSCREAM
So it wasn't enough that I helped you escape the Death's Head? You expected me to betray my faction, despite the fact we were unaware of the squid threat then? Are all Autobots this ungrateful?

Prowl drops his head back into his hands.

PROWL
(thoroughly frustrated)
No, forget it. (pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a few deep ventilations) Why did you call? Do you wish me to inform the Autobots of your position?

STARSCREAM
No, I prefer you not mention me at all.

PROWL
(confusion now added to his frustration)
What?…Why?

STARSCREAM
Tell them Blackarachnia is planning to disarm the WMD. They're more inclined to trust her. She has Autobot programming. If you mention me, it'll only complicate the matter. No Autobot will ever believe me capable of…you know…

PROWL
(softening slightly)
Selflessness?

Starscream doesn't respond but Prowl can practically hear the Decepticon's processor spinning. He gives Starscream a moment of morally driven discomfort while he rises from the bench and downloads the base's map from a "You Are Here" kiosk.

PROWL
You said I can trace Optimus Prime's location using his comm frequency?

STARSCREAM
That is correct. You shouldn't need to call him, simply plug the numbers into your personal scanner. When you find him, tell him to call Blackarachnia. She will provide regular updates to our status of disarming the weapon.

PROWL
Should I mention you at all? Perhaps suggest that you may be an ally? I don't believe it's as hard to fathom as you think. Autobots think differently from Decepticons.

STARSCREAM
(sarcastic)
Do they now? I had no idea.

PROWL
(not amused)
Starscream…

STARSCREAM
You obviously know nothing of the reputation I built for myself during the war. No self-respecting Autobot who knows their history will accept me as an ally.

PROWL
You speak as though you pride yourself on this.

STARSCREAM
Under normal circumstances I would, but since these are not normal circumstances, I suggest we desist the friendly exchanges and you get on with carrying out my request.

PROWL
I have accepted you as an ally, Starscream. Does that mean I do not respect myself?

STARSCREAM
Possibly, but you are the exception. You can relate to the influence of an alien personality altering your processor.

The ninja is not convinced by this explanation. He takes a seat again, leaning against his legs staring straight ahead at nothing in particular.

PROWL
(speaking softly and introspectively)
Your human influence was a far cry from mine. You have found strength from it while mine simply poisoned me…sickened me by my own dark desires.

STARSCREAM
If you're trying to make me feel guilty, it won't work.

Prowl runs his hand over his head, his circuits twisting in a self-loathing realization.

PROWL
You intentionally merged me with a detestable character because you knew I would relate to it.

STARSCREAM
(growing bored)
Honestly, we didn't put that much thought into it.

PROWL
You must have. One of you must have known the human would have surfaced my true nature. It cannot be mere coincidence that he was so closely matched to who I really am.

STARSCREAM
(boredom replaced with impatience)
Not to burst your bubble Prowl, but my colleagues and I regarded you as nothing more than a convenient distraction for Optimus Prime while we went about on our agenda. We didn't analyze your 'true nature' beyond the fact that you were an inherently noble Autobot who was in need a good moral compromising. Now can we please focus on the apocalyptic issue at hand?!

Prowl rises from the bench and paces a few times, his fingers pressing in his forehead.

PROWL
(shaking his head in self doubt)
I am not the one you should rely on for help. (he leans his forehead against the wall) I can't even think straight anymore. Even after I was cured I abandoned my team for my own selfish desires. It probably took Chromia very little effort to manipulate me. All she had to do was draw upon a very prominent part of who I am.

STARSCREAM
(after a pause)
Are you done?

The Decepticon's lack of sympathy reminds Prowl who it is he's oddly enough chosen to bear his soul to. He feels a twinge of embarrassment wash over him yet he still can't deny how good it felt to vocalize some of his maddening affliction.

PROWL
I…think so.

STARSCREAM
(typically sarcastic)
Are you sure? Because I can put the welfare of this planet on hold while you wallow in your useless pity party.

Prowl remains silent, dimming his optics and keeping his head pinned to the wall.

STARSCREAM
(softening his tone a notch)
Prowl…I'm not asking you to single-handedly take down the Quintesson ship. I simply require you get your superiors in contact with Blackarachnia…Can you do that?

More silence; not ideal to Starscream's agenda of impatience but he refrains from speaking as he can practically hear the ninja's processor spinning.

PROWL
(near whisper)
Optimus will listen to her…more than he'll listen to me at this point.

STARSCREAM
(biting back irritation)
Is that a yes?

PROWL
Yes.

STARSCREAM
Good. We will attempt to analyze the trigger mechanism of the WMD, but I can't say for sure when that will happen. We may just have to wait until tomorrow when the Quints unveil themselves to the Autobots.

PROWL
Why tomorrow? What are they waiting for?

STARSCREAM
(fresh out of tact)
Tomorrow's Autobot Independence Day you ninja ninny! Primus, maybe I did pick the wrong bot for-- OUCH!

Prowl furrows his brow questioningly as he hears a -smack- and some raspy feminine vocals laying into Starscream.

STARSCREAM
(short)
We'll be in touch. Starscream out.

Prowl shakes his head and take a few deep ventilations as he pries himself off the wall. He projects the newly downloaded base map on the inside of his visor, but before he can make sense of the image, a message flashes across it.

UNKNOWN
[You ask many questions to which you already know the answers.]

The text isn't typical comm speak rather it glows an ethereal blue. It hovers in his vision field, even after he lifts his visor up and reveals his rarely seen narrow blue optics.

PROWL
[Who is this? Starscream? What are you talking about?]

UNKNOWN
[You let your worries cloud your spark, my student.]

A shudder travels down the ninja's chassis, leaving him cold, disbelieving and guilty.

PROWL
(gasping)
Master Yoketron.

Prowl's legs weaken and he braces himself on the wall, reading each word meticulously, verifying the realness of them. He leans his back into the wall then slides down to sit upon the floor.

PROWL
[Master Yoketron…is it truly you?]

MASTER YOKETRON
[Search your spark, Prowl. What does it tell you?]

Prowl drops his forehead to knees and ventilates heavily for an excruciatingly shameful moment.

PROWL
[Master…Why couldn't I join you in the Well? Did I fail you?]

MASTER YOKETRON
[It was not your time, young one.]

Prowl lifts his head slightly, a flood of questions filling his thoughts again.

PROWL
[Was my sacrifice in vain? Too impulsive, too careless? Should I have listened to Jazz?]

MASTER YOKETRON
[Only you can answer that Prowl. I can only tell you it was not your time to enter the Well.]

PROWL
[Why not? Why did it reject me? Why was I subjected to all this humiliation and indignity?]

MASTER YOKETRON
[You were not rejected, Prowl, you were chosen. I do not expect you to understand this now, but you will.]

Prowl carefully studies the words across his visor.

PROWL
[Chosen for what? What more can I do? I'm not a Prime. I never even graduated from the academy. My spark is tainted with selfishness and pride. What use am I to anyone?]

MASTER YOKETRON
[Prowl. Even if I had answers to your questions, you cannot gain understanding from my words alone. It is not my place to reveal what you are to learn through time and experience.]

Prowl shakes his head in hopelessness and hugs his knees to his body, his head dropping again in shame.

PROWL
[I try Master, but nothing makes sense anymore. I don't know who I can trust. I can no longer decipher my friends from my enemies.]

MASTER YOKETRON
[That is not true. You know who your friends are and you know they need you right now. Many depend on you. The girl, the bounty hunter and the Decepticon have all risked much on your behalf. Do not dishonor their faith in you.

PROWL
[But Master…I cannot--]

MASTER YOKETRON
[You can and will. Self defeat is not in your programming…Get up, Prowl. Get up and rejoin your team.]

ELITE GUARD HEADQUARTERS - EXTREMELY UNEVENTFUL BREAKROOM

Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and Bulkhead are seated together at one of many uneventful tables, exchanging expressions of impatience, frustration and all out boredom. Bumblebee has worn a circular groove into the floor where he has skated a ridiculously huge number of laps around the room.

BUMBLEBEE
(speaking a single word each time he passes the occupied table)
This…royally…sucks…Junkion…wastevalves. Why don't they give us an assignment?

Ratchet eyeballs the yellow bot with annoyance and resists the urge to shove a chair in the kid's path.

RATCHET
Bellyaching about it won't solve anything now will it! Why don't you do something useful, like try calling Sari again.

Bumblebee screeches to a stop and taps his comm, his face a picture of rare pessimism.

BUMBLEBEE
She's not gonna answer. She's probably sleeping. Anyone know what time it is on Earth?

BULKHEAD
(chugging his fifth cube of military issue (low grade) energon)
Depends on where ya are little buddy. Earth is weird, it has a bunch of timezo--

BUMBLEBEE
Detroit, genius! Unless Sari has picked up and taken one of those caribou bean cruises.

RATCHET
(shaking his head)
Do you even bother to run a filter on your mouth before using it?

BUMBLEBEE
You're one to talk!

OPTIMUS PRIME
(fed up)
Bumblebee, that's enough!

The Autobot leader rises from his chair and falls into his autonomous habit of pacing and chin rubbing. Bumblebee bites his lip, sensing his leader's frustration and amazingly holding back his next outburst. He rolls up behind Bulkhead, sheepishly elbowing him in the back.

BUMBLEBEE
Sorry Bulky, didn't mean to be a jerk. (he plops down next to the lumbering mech) I'm just so slaggin bored. (looks to Optimus) Why couldn't we go with Jazz on the ninja recon mission?

BULKHEAD
(speaking softly to his friend)
Cuz we're not ninjas, I'm guessing.

BUMBLEBEE
(sulking)
Oh, right.

Static from Bumblebee's comm breaks the tension in the room. Everyone looks anxiously to the yellow bot.

BUMBLEBEE
(into comm)
Sari! That you?

SARI
Bee! Omigosh omigosh you'll never believe where I am!

Optimus approaches Bumblebee with concern, leaning over to speak into the small bot's comm.

OPTIMUS PRIME
Sari, why haven't you been answering your comm?

SARI
I think the transwarp energy made it go dead for a while.

BULKHEAD
Transwarp energy?

BUMBLEBEE
(concern rising)
Sari, where are you?

SARI
I'm on Cybertron!

OPTIMUS PRIME
What! Where?

SARI
(bubbling with excitement)
I'm at a night club…with Lockdown. He's not as bad as Ratchet says. He's actu--

RATCHET
(rises from seat, optics popped)
Lockdown!…Sari are you alright? Has he kidnapped you?

A calming, baritone voice emerges from the doorway.

PROWL
I assure you she is unharmed.

The room goes eerily silent as all eight unsuspecting blue optics lock on the unbelievable figure standing tall in the doorway. The silence is suddenly replaced with the ninja's name shouted in unison accompanied by the sounds of shifting chairs and varying weights of footsteps clambering across the floor. Prowl grows slightly fearful by the pile driving force of Bulkhead b-lining for him but he's unable to act before he's engulfed in a hulking bear hug, lifting him off the ground and squeezing with a force that would be painful if it weren't backed by so much affection. Bumblebee wraps around one of Prowl's dangling legs and Ratchet stands back and watches the pile up with a rare, heartfelt smile.

Optimus is the last to reach the scene, hesitant to join in the mirth until he knows for sure his teammate is for real. After one final squeeze, Bulkhead drops Prowl to his feet but before the ninja can regain his composure he's scooped up by two thick red arms and pressed into a firetruck windshield.

SARI
(from Bumblebee's comm)
Lemme guess, Prowl just found you guys.

Optimus breaks the hug but keeps Prowl close as he grips his hands on the sides of the Samurai helmet and looks over his friend in disbelief.

Prowl, despite being overwhelmed by the barrage of affection, smiles warmly at his leader. He basks in the calming moment of hope that could only be possible with the odd collection of mechs he calls family.

OPTIMUS PRIME
But how, and when? And where did you find your helmet?

PROWL
I have had the fortune of encountering a number of unsung heroes. (raising his voice) Isn't that right, Sari.

The Autobot leader's optics widen as he recalls spark stinging worry. He drops his hands to Prowl's shoulders and looks over the rest of his team.

OPTIMUS PRIME
Sari! We need to save her.

Prowl grips his prime's arm and looks reassuringly into his optics.

PROWL
She is fine.

SARI
(still squeaking from Bumblebee's comm)
He's right guys. I've been making this crazy old mech sober up so he can drive me to Iacon.

BUMBLEBEE
I am so confused.

BULKHEAD
How did you get here Sari? And why are you--

SARI
I came to talk sense into Prowl, and it worked…well, after Lockdown gave him his helmet back. I'll tell you the details later, right now we need to figure out how to save Cybertron from some squid things.

RATCHET
(with worry)
Squids? The Quintessons?

Everyone gathers around Bumblebee and attempts to comprehend the girl's words. Their faces contorting in varying degrees of perplexing except for Prowl who's fishing for a moment to speak.

SARI
Yeah that's them. Apparently they're pretty bad, hasn't Prowl told you about them yet? They have some kind of nasty missile and giant invisible ship….oh, and they've captured the Decepticons, which I guess doesn't make them all bad, but--

PROWL
(finally interjecting)
Sari! I'll handle the explanation from here. Don't worry about coming to us, we'll come to you and make sure Lockdown doesn't drink anymore.

SARI
He doesn't dare, not with ME on his case. I'll see you guys soon. I love you all and miss you, especially you Bumblebee!

BUMBLEBEE
(still gaping in disbelief)
Ditto kiddo. (the call ends and he turns to Prowl, optics widening) You left her with a drunken Decepticon!?

PROWL
He is not a Decepticon.

OPTIMUS PRIME
(now gripping Prowl's arms desperately)
What is she talking about Prowl? What missile? What ship and--

RATCHET
And what about the Quintessons!?

PROWL
(raising his voice over the chaos)
They intend to hold the planet hostage in exchange for control of the crystal mines.

The Autobots look at each other questioningly.

BULKHEAD
(skeptical)
How do you take a planet hostage?

PROWL
With a weapon of mass destruction.

RATCHET
(doubtful)
How is it you know this but the entire Elite Guard is in the dark?

PROWL
Swindle told me. He was working for them but now he's one of us.

Bumblebee approaches the ninja and pats his head with pity.

BUMBLEBEE
Dude, your processor is still glitching…pretty bad too.

Prowl pulls away from the prodding hand, his processor threatening to jumble up again.

PROWL
I know…it may seem that way…but it's not…not in the way you think.

The ninja sighs, letting his body go limp, fully aware of the difficult explanation ahead of him.

PROWL
While I was on board the Death's Head, Starscream discovered that I was cured of my organic contamination. Then, after a couple fruitless days of attempted mediation, I decided to go to Iacon, but Lockdown accosted me and gave me my helmet back, which was apparently all my processor needed to be broken of Chromia's spell.

Optimus Prime releases the ninja and turns away pinching his brow in pure confusion.

PROWL
Look, I know it doesn't make any sense, but I'll explain it later. Right now we need a base-wide meeting to discuss what we're going to do about the Quintessons.

The prime shakes his head, his expression heavy with sadness.

OPTIMUS PRIME
Prowl…(meets the ninja's optics with concern) I can hardly call a meeting of that caliber with only your…highly unlikely testimony to go off of.

Prowl hangs his head, attempting to hide his frustrated defeat.

PROWL
I knew it…I knew you wouldn't listen. Just…call Blackarachnia, have her explain it to you.

OPTIMUS PRIME
(not sure whether to be worried or irritated)
Blackara-- what's she got to do with any--

Everyone is jolted as Sentinel's voice bursts over the intercom system.

SENTINEL
Attention all Autobots! Please drop what you are doing and report to the Meeting Hall at once. An urgent matter of planetary security has been brought to our attention. It is mandatory that all Autobots attend this meeting, right now!

BUMBLEBEE
What the spark is this about?

SENTINEL
(continuing)
If anyone has any information in regard to the Quintessons, I need you to report specifically to me on the double. I repeat all Autobots…

The announcement continues but Optimus Prime and his team tune it out as they look to Prowl with an exhausting mix of emotion. Optimus falls into the ninja, trapping him in another hug. Prowl, despite his inability to move, dims his optics in relief and lets a tiny smile push out of the corner of his mouth

PROWL
(voice strained)
Then…I take it you believe me now?

OPTIMUS PRIME
(voice barely louder than a whisper)
Yes, Prowl…I'm sorry I doubted you…and I can't tell you how good it feels to have you back.

PROWL
It is good to be back.