Author's Note: I'm back! Hope I haven't lost any of you faithful few in the hiatus! Sorry it has been a while since I have posted. It's the start to the new school year here in 'Straya for me which, as a teacher, is almost as hectic as the end of the year! Besides, life always has a funny way of well - getting in the way. That and writer's block which sucks btw... and now on with the show...

Chapter 122 – The Missing Piece

Prime P.O.V

The sound of screaming and snarling, of torture and pain surround me as I was dragged unceremoniously along a gangway within the cavernous ship, I was now held prisoner aboard. I desperately craned my helm around to try and get my bearings, to try and search for a possible escape route.

My body was still unable to move so I could do little more but listen to the condescending tone in Lockdown's voice as he strode along behind me. ''Remember this ship Prime? Built for all those Knights of Cybertron, those great crusaders to explore the universe, looking for new planets, new - possibilities?'' Lockdown sneered down at me as I was hauled along like a pile of scrap metal. ''Well, I commandeered it, it's my personal prison now.'' He almost spits the words out as we make our way into a large chamber of sorts hidden within two revolving metallic arcs.

''Welcome to the 'Knight's Temenos' Prime.'' Lockdown gloats at me, his green optics flashing.

Laying on the floor in the centre of the room, I managed to find the strength to lift my helm and send him a scornful look, ''You have disgraced it!'' before I turn my helm away in disgust. There were several massive cages around me and my optics locked onto the piercing optics of one of the occupants of these cages. /Could it be?/ I furrowed my brow as I digested the possibility of what, or rather who, may be held captive in these cages.

''Join your fellow rebels, fugitives, scum. It's for the rarest specimens, the worst of the worst.'' Lockdown stalked up to me, unsheathing a massive hook from his right servo. ''It's taken centuries, but I've collected all my - employer's - trophies,'' he swings it around and it hooks underneath my right pede. ''Except you!'' Lockdown drags my aching body across the floor, and I let out a series of small groans of frustration and protest. Lockdown swings his arm around and my right leg is flung towards some sort of claw that clamps down and hauls me up off the ground, upside down within a cage. My arms hang limply towards the floor, I groan yet again in pain and irritation.

Lockdown re-sheathes his hook, his gravelly voice addressing me once again. ''The creators want to sweep their chessboard clean.'' A series of razor sharp, massive spikes shoot out from the sides of the cage, aimed threateningly at my torso and helm.

Gathering as much strength as I can muster, I reply in a determined and resolute voice, ''I'm slave – to no one!''

Ignoring my defiance, Lockdown crouches down towards my helm, his face filled with contempt, ''All this species mixing with species,'' he shoots out his right servo and grabs at my face. I only just manage to repress a growl. ''It upsets the cosmic balance.'' Lockdown frowns at me, his green optics glowing menacingly. ''The creators – they don't like it.'' He points accusingly at me, ''They built YOU to do what YOU were told!'' He roughly shoves me away and rises to his pedes again. It is clear my ''audience'' with him is at an end as the door to my prison clamps shut.

As Lockdown disappears back into the bowels of the mighty ship, I am left alone with my thoughts. /A dangerous thing at times/, the mocking, self-depreciating thought wends unbidden through my processor. I close my optics and try to focus, calming the anger that burns and simmers away within me. A dull pain throbs throughout my body as I try and think how I might get out of this prison – in case my Autobots and Cade are not able to come for me – for us.

I let a low growl escape my dermas as I spare a thought for the young human female /Tessa/. I pray to Primus that she is okay, that she has somehow managed to find a safe place to hide until someone comes for her. I try to move my body, strain against my bonds, but it is no use. The next growl I make is louder as I allow some of my frustration and anger to escape.

I hear one of the occupants of the cells near me growl as well. I turn my helm to try and make out who or what it is and belongs to but from my position, it is difficult to tell. Lockdown had said he had captured the worst of the worst - rebels. The piercing blue optics I happened to gaze upon moments before, flashed through my processor and images of the past were fed to me via my connection to the matrix. /Legendary warriors, fierce, powerful and devastating in their ability to lay waste to their opponents/. ''Could it be them? Could Lockdown have somehow captured them?'' I whisper within the walls of my cage.

A loud, defiant scream, almost a roar, sends a shudder along the metallic walls of my prison and is the only answer I receive - and it is enough. /If it is indeed them, then they may well prove a useful ally should I have the opportunity to break free of this wretched cage and ship!/.

Once again, I close my optics and try to centre thoughts drifting back to my fight with that KSI creation. The presence I felt, that arrogance, that hatred towards me, even the voice, it reminded me of - /Megatron!/. Yet even as his name echoed through my processor, I wondered how it was possible. He was dead. /Killed by my own servos five years ago – again!/. And yet as I recalled the sneer on his face as he fought me, those red burning optics as they stared hatefully at me, I knew it could be none other than he.

I sighed out loud, shifting my focus from such troubling thoughts for a moment. Those flame red optics that had contained such hatred and malice now blazed before me set within a precious, beloved face I had not seen in five long years. /PHOENIX!/. Drift and Rachet had both said that she had come back, that she had returned after I had sent that message. I felt a pang of guilt at the thought of her hearing my voice filled with such pain and anger, with the possibility that the first time she heard my voice could well have been her last. I let a low mournful sigh pass my dermas. ''My Phoenix, so much I have to atone for, so much I have to beg forgiveness for. Primus willing, I will get the chance.''

Once again, I fought against my restraints. I seemed to be regaining some control over my body as my repair systems seemed to be compensating for most of the damage I had sustained, though I was still relatively helpless. I closed my optics yet again. Even though Phoenix had returned, had apparently been looking for me, she was now missing. Had been for over two weeks now without a sign of her whereabouts. /Had she thought twice about staying here, looking for me? Had she been taken by KSI?/. Instantaneously, the energon in my lines froze and then boiled at that thought and I physically shook my helm to rid myself of the wholly horrible thought.

The sound of growling, barking and commotion thankfully drew my attention away from such dark thoughts. I strained to listen for any sign my Autobots had come for me, that my hope had not be misplaced in either my Autobots or my human friends. The sound of the engines straining and the ship coming to a standstill made my spark pulse faster and hope flared to life inside me.

A moment later I heard the unmistakable sound of Hound, ''I'm hit! I'm down. It's melting, it burns! Oh, I think its acid!''

Hanging upside down as I was within my prison, it was hard to clearly discern who else may have somehow made it on board with Hound. There was the sound of a weapon being discharged and a sarcastic, irritated bark of a familiar femme's voice, ''Hound! Stow your weapon! The aim is to find and free Optimus without alerting Lockdown to our presence!'' A flash of pink and white in the distance left no doubt in my spark as to who it could be, and I felt a wave of relief and joy sweep over me.

''Elita, Hound! Over here!'' I tried to move to get their attention.

''HE'S ALIVE!'' Hound yelled and I could picture Elita casting him a stern stare.

''OPTIMUS!'' Elita called out within the cavernous room, seeming to forget her own advice in her haste to locate me.

''Optimus, sound off!'' Hound called out.

''Hold on boss we're comin'!'' Crosshair's voice was also added to the mix.

''Elita, Hound, Crosshairs, in here quick!'' though I am relieved beyond measure to hear my Autobot's voices, I was keenly aware of the time constraints. It was only a matter of time before the dark matter drives of this ship were fired and we were all catapulted into deep space.

''Hang in there, we're comin' for ya,'' Jazz encouraged somewhat ironically. /So, I have at least four of my Autobots on board/, I surmised from the voices I had heard.

''The arms of this Knight's ship detach,'' within astro seconds Drift appears before the door to my cage and, using his sword, opened it. I continued barking my orders, ''We can break free! It's a separate ship – hurry!'' As Drift stepped aside, a very relieved Elita and Hound came into view.

At seeing Elita standing before me after five long years apart, knowing our last words were in anger and seeing the look of relief and happiness on her face, I found myself involuntarily trying to reach for her. For a moment, all thoughts of escape were forgotten as I tried to reconnect to the femme who once held my spark. ''Elita…'' I whispered quietly.

Elita's optics shone brightly at me, a myriad of emotions swirling within them. ''Optimus…'' She too started to reach out towards me, though almost immediately she withdrew her servo, a serious and determined look descending on her features. ''We have to get you out of here.''

Though a brief stab of pain assailed my spark, I nodded my helm curtly, agreeing with her actions. Hound's gruff words also served to shatter the moment, ''Where's the cockpit? Right or left?''

My tone was now one of urgency, ''RIGHT!''

Hound began to back away, ''I'm on it boss! Cross hairs with me, we're gonna need a diversion to break free – you just volunteered!''

Drift, Jazz and Elita stepped in to help me free of my bonds. ''Hurry! We have no time!'' I growled at them in desperation.

''A diversion? What kind of diversion?'' Crosshairs argued with Hound as the sound of pedefalls faded into the distance.

''I dunno… make one up… use a ship to….'' Hound's voice trailed off.

''Hunh! When do we eva have enough time Prime,'' Jazz wryly observed as he moved beside me to support my body and keep me from falling once I came loose of my bonds. Elita stood on the other side and did the same. At first her touch felt odd after all that had transpired between us, but almost immediately, as her servos grasped my shoulder struts, it felt comforting and good to have my dear friend near me again, especially seeing as I thought I may never see her again. /Focus Optimus! There will be time to talk to her soon/, I chided myself.

''Sensei,'' Drift replied simply to my orders and in greeting as he sliced apart the device that held me captive. I slid towards the ground only to be helped to my pedes carefully by Jazz and Elita, though I did my best to assist them given my greater mass.

''Thank you, my friends,'' I spared a moment to nod my thanks before a sudden thought hit me. I cast my optics around the room. ''Are you all that came aboard? Where are the others?''

Jazz smiled at me as he folded his arms across his chest, ''We are tha rescue party for you Prime. Ironhide, Bumblebee an' Arcee accompanied Cade an' Shane ta find an' rescue Tessa, which I just received a comm they are all safe and off tha ship.'' Jazz gave a chuckle, ''They ah, found their own interestin' way down.'' I felt a rush of relief at the thought my new found human allies would be okay. ''I sent tha Wreckers off on a separate mission ta assist Dino an' Sideswipe in case we failed here and Rachet elected ta stay behind on tha ground as a final resort should we need it an' ta assist with any casualties. We should be all present an' accounted for.''

I nodded my helm in understanding and approval. ''Very well Jazz. Quickly, time is of the essence, Lockdown is preparing to head into deep space.'' I took off at a run towards the cockpit of the separate arm of the ship, Elita, Jazz and Drift hard on my heels.

As I entered the cockpit, I heard Hound's gruff voice address me as he mouthed his cigar, ''Almost ready to separate – we're almost there!''

''HURRY! He's launching!'' I ran up to the window of the cockpit and looked out over the city below.

''All over it chief,'' Hound replied.

''Lockdown will be in deep space before he realises I am gone,'' grasping the frame of the window, my sense of urgency was slowly being replaced by excitement and a sense of triumph as I realised we were almost free of Lockdown.

''At leas' we hope so!'' Jazz calls out from behind my right shoulder near Drift. I could feel a presence come to stand a few paces behind me. /Elita/.

''I'm a sucky pilot, but let's give it a whirl!'' Hound completed the decoupling procedure, and the ship fell free of the Temenos.

I grasped the framing tightly in my left servo and I braced myself as we fell sharply and suddenly towards the ground. ''Hell yeah!'' Hound shouted as he began to pilot us towards safety.

A small smile of triumph spread across my dermas as I watched Lockdown's ship disappear into the skies beyond, blissfully unaware his quarry, his prize, was watching him depart. My smile remained until I felt the gentle touch of a hesitant servo on my shoulder. I closed my optics briefly, savouring the gentle appeal for my attention from one whom I thought would never speak to me again. I turned on my pedes, a soft smile on my dermas as I addressed the femme who owned the servo in question. ''Elita.''

She seemed taken aback by my reaction for a moment, as if she expected me to rebuke her tentative request. I placed my servo over hers, wanting to embrace her but I simply stood there, smiling at her. After a moment she too smiled warmly back at me before closing her optics as she spoke, overcome with the emotions she had managed to keep at bay back on Lockdown's ship. ''Optimus! I thought you were.. I didn't think I would…''

My spark twisted painfully in my chassis as I watched my normally brave, unfazed and composed Elita overcome by emotion and unable to form a single intelligible sentence. /And I am the cause of it - yet again!/, came the mocking thought. I dared not move to cup her cheek or make any gesture that might contradict what I said to her that horrible night, even though I wished desperately to comfort her. I sighed out loud and grasped her shoulder for a moment in shared pain. ''Come Elita, I believe you and I need, and very much want, to talk. To clear the air and,'' I shuttered my optics and hung my helm in remembered shame, ''ask for forgiveness?''

Elita's optics flew open at my words and she bit her dermas, nodding fervently. ''Yes Optimus! I would like that very much.'' She smiled brightly at me and a warmth flooded through my spark at her radiant smile. ''Thank you.''

Releasing my servo, I gestured for her to lead the way to an area we might have a chat, albeit a quick one, as I noted Jazz had commed the others to give them coordinates to rendezvous not too far away. /Perhaps a moment is all we need to heal this rift between us? Primus, please help me make things right with Elita/.

Smiling as brightly at her as she had at me, I replied with deep sincerity, ''No Elita. Thank YOU.''