Ratchet and Optimus Prime stood within the central hub of the Autobot base, consulting one another about the current dilemma with the Ground Bridge, and condition of the base, as well as the recent string of deaths.

"Optimus, with all due respect, we've lost so many defending these humans, and befriending them has only." Ratchet said, as his eyes flashed from blue to white, "I've seen many hard times, we both have. But Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, the...the kids! And even you were taken from us, and now Cheetor! An innocent scout, just blown away because we were too careless to check for bugs!" Ratchet gripped his head in frustration as he exhaled heavily, his systems going out of shape over the strain of it all.

"I too have experienced these loses, and I too mourn for those who gave all they could," Optimus said, his voice in a commanding, yet comforting tone, "but their sacrifices will be in vain, if we do not press on."

"How?" Ratchet exclaimed, "Optimus you know I trust you, but right now what do we even have that the Decepticons don't? We have no bridge, no defenses, we have no army, and Megatron has a warship! What could possibly win this for us?"

Optimus turned to the hallways beside him, as Luna, still adorned in the Savage Claw mode armor, had slowly stepped out. Her face hidden behind a metal helmet, looking up at them.

"We still have hope my friend." Optimus answered.

Cheetor groaned his mind and spark still inhabiting Luna's body temporarily as a means of keeping him alive longer, "I knew we should've made that left, but nooo, you had to go right!"

"Hey, you could've told me to go left y'know!" Luna exclaimed telepathically to Cheetor via their mental link, unaware of Optimus and Ratchet watching her with concerned expressions.

"I read your mind kid! I knew you would've gone right even if I did suggest otherwise!" Cheetor remarked.

Optimus Prime knelt down and examined the share body of Luna, unaware of the mental feud taking place inside, "Luna, are you alright? Speak to us."

"Oh crap!" Luna thought as she regained focus at long last, Cheetor taking a back seat inside of her head, "Sorry I ummm, wanted a drink of water?"

Ratchet laughed and looked down upon her, "Highly unlikely, since we don't even have a source of water here." Ratchet's glare intensified as he took notice of the panels from his arm opened, a flashing light going off as Ratchet expression shifted to absolute disbelief. "Optimus, I'm picking up a new energy signature, my scanners say three Cybertronians are in the room right now." Ratchet exclaimed.

"And since Luna holds no spark of her own." Optimus answered as the two veteran Autobots leered at Luna, "So, I see that gift of Cheetor's did hold some answers, didn't it?"

"More than you'd know." Luna replied, laughing to herself, "But, I'm not sure if a mental roommate is exactly an answer I wanted."

Ratchet's jaw dropped as he eyed back and forth between Luna and Prime, "Would SOMEONE fill me in on what is going on here?"

Luna's eyes shifted to an emerald green shade, as her mouth plate moved, but Cheetor's voice emanated from within, "Listen doc, calm down alright? Who-broke-what-I-needed is the last game on our agenda, first up is a game of cat and mouse!"

Green shifted to blue in Luna's eyes as she regained control over her body once more, her head pounded as the strain of carrying an extra mind was quite draining. It was one thing to carry Prime's spark around, it was half the size, and was in a dormant stasis. This was an active, burning spark, carrying with it the online mind of Cheetor, "Cheetor! Stop doing that!" She yelled into the air, unaware of the scene she was making, "Sorry, it's just; I was left in the dark too. One minute I'm flipping through photos, and the next thing I know, my head is up for rent."

Optimus looked puzzled, but more concerned about what Cheetor had said before, "Luna, what did Cheetor-?" Optimus paused, even he hadn't heard of such a concept of a spark inhabiting a human mind, "What did Cheetor mean when he said, "a game of cat and mouse?"

"AND MORE IMPORTANTLY!" Ratchet exclaimed, "How did you not only bring a stasis locked being back to life, merge with their components, and now are sharing a mind with? That goes against every law of medical science I've ever studied!'

"Yeah, I'm a marvel aren't I?" Luna groaned as she formed a tightly bound fist, "Listen, where is Rattrap? We need to trap this rat and fast! We can't let him...get someone else."

"Are you implying that Rattrap was somehow involved in Cheetor's accident?" Optimus asked.

Luna gripped her head as her eyes shifted to green once more, Cheetor's rage overpowering her mind, "Involved?" Cheetor exclaimed, "He was responsible for it! He's a dirty rat and I know what he's up too now! We need to stop him this instant, before-"

Regaining control Luna groaned as her hands rubbed against her eyes, the shifts beginning to bring mild discomfort, "-Before he targets someone else. I saw it with my own eyes Optimus. He-his rat things-, they made me watch it happen." Tears began to roll down Luna's cheek as Ratchet and Optimus glanced at each other, the tension of their previous conversation coming back into the fold.

"I'll check his quarters. Ratchet, check all locations of military defense stations and search for any of his drones. We can trace them back to the source if we must." Optimus commanded, his trust broken, as he lowered his eyes away from the views of his peers.

He had hoped the new visitor would be like Wheeljack, and bring hope to his team. Instead, Rattrap brought only destruction and greed.

"That won't work!" Cheetor exclaimed, once more taking control.

Luna yelled out and groaned, "SHUT UP! If you have something to say to them, tell me via the link and I'll pass it on! Stop playing around with my head already, sheesh!" A brief pause brought uncomfortable silence, as Luna took in all Cheetor had to say, her eyes widening as she looked up at Optimus,

"Where are the others? Tell me now, where are they?"

"Arcee is currently out on patrol." Optimus responded softly, "Bulkhead is guarding our ship bay. The Starhopper and Rattrap's ship are our only means of escape should a Decepticon attack be launched. And Bumblebee is-" Optimus' optics widened as his communicator switched on in a split second.

"Bumblebee, Optimus here. Report Bumblebee, report!"

Bumblebee lay motionless on the ground next to Rattrap's feet, the old rusted bot poking the helmet of the Autobot scout with his walking stand, "You're lucky I've got a tight schedule, or you'd be nothin' but a pile of yellow bricks by now."

Rattrap stepped forward, his eyes glaring at his prize. He raised up a communicator to his mouth as he drew closer and closer to the unseen object.

"Eh, this is Rattrap to Air Chicken, come in Air Chicken." Rattrap muttered.

"I told you not to call me that-!" A voice rang out from the Autobot hanger, specifically inside of Rattrap's ship, "Besides, Air is fine, it's the flying that I can't get used too, it's so, high!"

"Will you shut it already with the flying thing? You fly my ship for me, help me keep my cover, and I make sure you stay safe and sound, remember? Now keep your part of the deal and be ready to cruise outta here once I got what I can, understood?" Rattrap barked out at his communicator, more of a dictator-ish command then a request.

"Understood sir, this is Big-S, signing out!" The voice said, as the communicator went quiet.

"Useless kiss-aft." Rattrap muttered, as a small device in his head glowed brightly as he neared what the Autobots had tried to secure more than anything else, "Big mistake Big Bot; never let a rat, into your cupboard." Rattrap quipped as he chuckled hysterically.

Before him, the doors to the Autobot arsenal and the personal archives of Optimus Prime opened up for him, all the weapons and treasures, just waiting for the picking.