Given that my online classes started today and I've apparently gotten myself into ones that are going to give me problems I decided to update early. I'm not sure when the next update will be, given the challenging nature of my classes, but I'll try not to let it be too long. So until then I hope you enjoy!


Brie flinched as she heard the sound of the door to her quarters open. She remained curled up on her berth, all thoughts of recharge gone from her mind. She braced herself, expecting it to be Megatron coming to assert his dominance. Instead she heard the sound of something being set on the table in front of the couch and the unknown visitor leaving. She sat up and slid from the berth, cautiously approaching the living room. She spotted the cube of Energon sitting innocently on the table and debated on simply ignoring it and going to recharge anyways. In the end she sighed and walked over, grabbing it before sitting down. If she was going to attempt to keep the Decepticon leader at bay she was going to need all the energy she could get.

As she sipped at it she found her nerves slowly beginning to rise. Why was he waiting for so long? It wasn't as if she was going to be any more accepting than she was! She set the half-full cube back on the table, suddenly feeling nauseated. Just the mere thought of the Decepticon leader touching her was enough to ensure that she wouldn't be recharging for quite some time.

As she stared absently into space she allowed her thoughts to turn back to the information she had received. The thought of sexual intimacy between Autobots had never crossed her mind. Sure she knew that Ironhide and Chromia as well as Optimus and Elita were 'bonded' and as such most likely enjoyed the activities that Knock Out had took such pleasure in telling her about. She just had never thought about the fact that there was a distinct lack of femmes and mechs were bound to get lonely.

She could understand why Ratchet hadn't spoken of it to her. She had already been overwhelmed and trying to cope. The last thing she had needed was to get 'The Talk' when she had still been trying to adjust. She wondered just when exactly Ratchet had been going to discuss things with her.

'Well I can always ask him for more clarification,' she thought with a shake of her head. Despite her situation she couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her. She could only imagine the look on his face when she asked him questions.

Feeling much more at ease Brie finished her Energon and stood, heading back into the berth room. She curled up in the middle of the surprisingly soft surface and began to relax. She slowly slipped into recharge with one thought going through her processor. Jazz and 'Cade would be coming for her.


Jazz had to fight the urge to hide behind Optimus as Ratchet turned his angry gaze onto the saboteur. He shifted slightly, sensors quickly scanning for a way out. Sensing his thoughts, Optimus moved to block his right side, while a newly arrived Ironhide and Prowl boxed him in from the back and left side. The small saboteur glared briefly at the three mechs, reminding them that they were still in the doghouse with him, but said nothing.

"Just what in the pit were you THINKING coming here by yourselves?" he snarled as he subspaced one of his favorite wrenches. Jazz instinctively ducked and was surprised when he received no following whack. He cautiously stood up…then winced as he received the smack that he had been expecting.

"Easy Ratchet there's no need for violence," Optimus said. Though he tried to keep his voice reproachful there was a strong note of amusement in it that made Jazz glare balefully at him.

"I'll show you violence Prime!" Ratchet snarled as he briefly turned his attention towards his suddenly nervous leader and waved the wrench towards him. Optimus quickly backed up and Mikaela shook her head as Sam snickered.

"Are they always like this?" Michael whispered suddenly. Mikaela turned and the male winced as he was sent stumbling back by a fist to his face. Sam laughed. That was his girl; mess with her friends and she'll mess you up.

"THAT'S for all the trouble you've caused!" she hissed. Michael rubbed at his nose, wincing as he caught sight of the blood on his fingertips. The girl had a deadly right hook. Mikaela then pointedly turned away from him to resume watching the fireworks that were going on between the four truant 'Bots and ex-Con and the recently arrived 'Bots.

"Jazz as head of Special Operations you know how important it is to have a plan before rushing into battle," Prowl's voice was stern and disapproving and Jazz tensed underneath it. Before he could say anything Barricade spoke up.

"Don't blame him it's my fault. He was just coming along to keep me from getting my aft handed to me too badly," the ex-Con said coolly. Ratchet snorted but whacked Barricade all the same, drawing a snarl from him.

"Now, where are those pit-spawned terrors? I know you're here Mirage!" Ratchet growled. The sound of dual whimpers could be heard coming from behind some rocks and the dirt nearby seemed to stir and settle, as if someone had quickly moved from the spot. Before Ratchet could move to show just how annoyed he was with the frontliners Optimus spoke.

"Ratchet you can dispense your punishment later. For now we need to concentrate on rescuing Brie," he said firmly. Ratchet settled back with a soft grumble and subspaced his wrench as all optics turned towards Prowl.

"What do we know about the base? Is there any weaknesses we can exploit?" Prowl asked coolly. Jazz nodded and turned to a suddenly cringing Michael. All optics turned his way as well and judging by the look in them if he didn't have a good answer he was going to face a wrath even more deadly than Megatron's.

"There's a tunnel entrance that not even Lord Megatron knows about. I found it when we were sealing off the others. Something told me not to seal it off; that it would be needed," he replied with a shrug. He touched his nose again and winced, though he was pleased to find that it had stopped bleeding. Perhaps the girl hadn't broken it like he feared she had.

"He speaks the truth," Mirage's disembodied voice said suddenly. Ratchet unerringly tracked it down and subspaced his wrench again, swinging towards the sound of the voice. He smirked at the number of vicious curses that escaped the noble's mouth as he found his mark and placed his wrench back in subspace again. That was nothing compared to what he had in store for them. As for the twins…

"Hmm…how heavily guarded is Brie?" Prowl asked, his icy blue optics fixing such a piercing cold stare on Michael that he was surprised that he hadn't been frozen in place immediately.

"T-Two of the Seekers guard her. No one is allowed inside except Lord Megatron and Knock Out," he replied. Prowl nodded absently, his processor forming and discarding plans with frightening ease as the others kept a wary eye out for Decepticon activity.

"Jazz, you and Mirage will be following the human to where Brie is being held. Sam, you and Mikaela will go as well. The rest of us will provide the distraction. Optimus, are Major Lennox and Epps on their way?" Prowl asked. The Autobot leader nodded.

"They will be here with more Autobot reinforcements within the hour," he replied. Jazz frowned.

"We can' afford ta wait an hour! Megs might be gettin' ready ta take advantage of Brie now!" he snapped. He yelped as he was immediately smacked again, this time upside the back of his head by Ratchet's hand.

"Cut that out!" he snarled. Ratchet's optics narrowed and Jazz's sense of self-preservation kicked in and he stepped back away from the medic before he could receive yet another non battle damage dent.

"You will listen Jazz or so help me Primus I'll tie you to one of Ironhide's cannons!" Ratchet snapped. He ignored the protests from both mechs and turned to Optimus and Prowl.

"Now…what's our part in this?" he asked. Prowl smirked slightly, a sight that never failed to send a shiver through any mechs that caught sight of it. It was something that promised that things were not going to be pleasant. His next words confirmed that feeling.

"We do what Sunstreaker and Sideswipe do best: cause mayhem."


Laserbeak pushed off of the wall he had been sitting on and began flying towards the command center where Lord Megatron and Soundwave were. He didn't think that they knew that the Autobots were so close. The bird mimic cringed. Soundwave was going to be very unhappy with him and Lord Megatron…he didn't even want to think about what he would have to say.

Within moments he was inside and flew over to where Soundwave stood before Megatron, listening intently to his instructions. Both mechs turned to face Laserbeak as he landed on the ledge of a window, far enough away where he would be able to make an escape from the sure to be enraged Decepticon leader.

"Lord Megatron, we have Autobots outside the base," he hissed. Immediately Megatron let loose a roar of rage as he shot to his feet, his optics flashing dangerously.

"WHAT? HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN THERE?!" both Laserbeak and Soundwave cringed at the absolute fury in their leader's voice.

"I am unsure my Lord. I do know that the human Michael has been spotted with them. I believe that there is an entrance that he knew about but didn't tell us," Laserbeak continued. Megatron turned to Soundwave, who nodded at his unspoken command before withdrawing from the room. Laserbeak hastily followed, leaving Megatron alone in the room. As he listened to the sound of his Decepticons scrambling to mount a defense against the Autobots he knew one thing. If he was going to make Brie his he needed to do it now. With that thought in mind he strolled from the room, heading for where Brie was staying. It was time to take her and he didn't care if she was ready or not. He would not lose her back to the Autobot scum!


Brie knew that her time was up. Judging by the sound of activity outside her door apparently the Decepticons had visitors and they weren't very welcome. She paced restlessly, unsure of what to do. All of a sudden all the plans she had half-formed were gone.

Unconsciously she found herself back in her human form and stared at the huge furniture before her. A slow smile crept onto her lips even as she made her way slowly to the door. She wondered if Megatron even knew she could do this. Judging by the sound of the heavy determined footsteps coming towards her she was about to find out.

She plastered herself in the shadows by the door, just in time. The door opened and Megatron stalked in, a scowl on his face. Brie didn't stick around to find out what he did next. She slipped out the door and down the hallway, taking care to avoid being noticed or stepped on by the Decepticons rushing around the area. A sense of unease filled her and she ducked into the shadows of another doorway as Megatron's roar of anger echoed throughout the hall.

She watched as the Decepticon leader stormed out of the room, his optics a dark crimson as his clawed hands clenched into fists. He suddenly struck out, snagging a passing by Decepticon and hauled the terrified mech to him. The unknown worker went limp in his leader's hands as said leader's face stopped a few mere inches from his own.

"Where is the femme?!" he snarled. The smaller mech flinched at his words.

"I-I d-don't know L-Lord Megatron. I a-a-assumed she was in her quarters," he whimpered. Megatron growled before suddenly ramming his free hand through the smaller mech, grabbing and crushing his spark chamber before dropping the lifeless husk to the ground.

"FIND THE GIRL! DO NOT LET HER GET TO THE AUTOBOTS!" Megatron's roared command echoed throughout the hall and sent the nearest mechs scrambling to obey. Brie closed her eyes tight as several large feet walked past her. She was so screwed. How was she going to get herself out of this mess?