Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.

Skywarp: *growls* She isn't in any of her normal hiding spots. What did she do?

Starscream: I'm not sure, but whatever it is that the Authoress has done, she will pay for dearly.

Authoress: *hiding in a super-secret spot* I am so dead.

Chapter 50: The Death-Bell Tolls

Wheeljack's 1st P.O.V.

I onlined my optics when my internal alarm went off. Eight thirty-five local time. I figured that was early enough before I met up with Pandimala. The femme was almost a clock herself with how she kept her fragging schedule. Start to wake up at eight local time, leave her room at eight forty after she took care of her weapons, got her solar energon at eight forty-five, and want to do a round of training by nine. After that, her schedule was just as crazy as everybot else. However, her morning routine never changed. It must have been like that when she was with the Decepticons.

As I worked maintenance on my weapons, I thought about all of the surprises that I had to go through during the previous twenty-four cycles. A group of, what I assumed were, humans that Panidmala used to know when she was human turned out to be Decepticon soliform who owned a freaking bar! Then, come to find out that they really are working towards peace and somehow roped me into helping them out with that.

But, I honestly didn't mind as much as I probably made Pandimala think I did the other solar. I was interested to see what sort of peace we all could have after all of this fighting. Peace, if Pandimala was to get what she wanted, that would benefit both Autobots and Decepticons equally. I wasn't sure how well that would work with grudges running pretty deep on both sides, but we would work through it as the problems came up. Getting to the peace table was the important step right now...and right now the Autobots were not ready for that.

Once I finished polishing my last sword, I put it on my back before I stood and made my way out of my room. It was only a click walk to Pandimala's room so I should be getting there just as she was leaving for her start-of-solar energon. Hopefully, we could have a small chat about what happened the other solar and our plans moving forward with that.

However, as I caught sight of her door, something felt wrong. I wasn't sure what it was, but my instincts were on high alert. Once I was in front of her door, I lightly knocked on it. "Pandimala, are you almost ready." Silence. "Pandimala, are you awake yet." Still silence. This was weird. Pandimala should be up by now. I tried her door handle but it was still locked. Pandimala usually left it unlocked when she was out in the metal and not her soliform. "Pandimala?" Now I was starting to get worried.

"Wheeljack, what's with the loud voice?" Zarron asked as he walked toward me.

Perfect. I was sure he was going to be able to help me. "Something's not right. Pandimala is usually up by now but she isn't answering me. I tried her door handle, just in case I missed her, and the door is locked."

He frowned at that. "That is weird. Pandimala is almost militaristic when it comes to her start-of-solar routine." He then tried knocking on the door. "Pandimala, this is Zarron. Can you hear me?"

Silence.

"Slag it all can you pick the lock? Something isn't right." I asked my friend as I felt the urge to pace. Something wasn't right with this, and we needed to figure it out as soon as we could.

Thankfully, Zarron seemed to be thinking on the same wavelength I was. "Already doing it." He messed with the lock for a few more clicks. At that time, I felt like I was going to implode. "Got it," He said as a click echoed in the air.

I didn't waste a nano as I opened the door to her room and turned on her light. "Zarron get a medic in here now!" I yelled as I ran up to Pandimala and started the basic scans that I could. She was not conscious, and her faceplate was still. However, her expression was morphed into one that looked like she was being attacked by a brutal blow. Her spark rate was slightly above normal, but that wouldn't explain this. As the scan of her processor came back though, I felt my spark clench in panic. There was nothing. No sign of any processor activity at all. How...how could this have happened.

"What happened Wheeljack?" Ratchet asked me as he and Balm arrived next to me.

"I don't know doc," I started to answer as I got out of his way. From the noise outside her room, it seemed like the rest of the base was outside her room right now. "I came to meet her to get our beginning-solar energon together and found her door locked. That's not normal for her in the morning if she had already gone to get her energon, but she should have been awake. So, I asked Zarron, who had joined me, to pick the lock on the door. Once we were inside, this is what we found. I started basic scans before you got here. She…" I felt my vocals hitch at the words I needed to say. "Her processor didn't show any signs of activity."

"He's right Ratchet, I'm not getting any readings from her processor," Balm spoke up.

Ratchet shook his helm. "We need to get her to med bay stat." He then looked at the door. "Springer, Optimus; I need you two to carry Pandimala to the med bay now." I then got out of the way as Optimus and Springer ran in. Once they were clear of the door, Ratchet and Balm ran out, hopefully, to get med bay ready.

As Optimus and Springer lifted Pandimala, I felt my spark clench again. The previous solar, she had been so full of hope for peace between our two factions. And now...now she might not even be online if Sunshine and Balm couldn't get her processor going again. As the others followed Optimus and Springer toward the main hub, I held back for a click to study her room. There weren't any signs of a struggle that I could see, but that could just mean that this attack was planned out.

I saw how Pandimala and the Decepticons interacted with each other. There was no malice between them, and I even noticed a little bit of overprotectiveness when it came to Pandimala. When Skyquake had asked how I would take the fact that I now knew Pandimala was a loyal Decepticon, through and through, I had noticed that all three of them had been tense about my answer. Even more so than Pandimala had been. Megatron, I had put that as part of his probable feelings for her.

But Skyquake and Starscream? That had felt like very overprotective relative vibes coming from them. They wouldn't let her get hurt no matter how small the fight was. And something told me that the remaining Decepticons had similar feelings about the femme.

…

Slag!

Starscream had told me, during our private talk, that they could monitor Pandimala's spark rate and it was during her panic attack that they had debated attack our base. Whatever happened during the night had to have had her spark rate soaring if that was the expression that was stuck on her faceplate. While it was normal now, they were going to want answers.

But, those had to wait. As I entered the main hub, I realized that I needed to have all the information that I could before going to the Decepticons with this. I couldn't have them launching a full-scale assault on the base if the docs ended up being able to pull her out of this. I needed to stay at the base until we learned the full extent of the damage.

"She didn't look good," Zarron whispered to me as we all seemed to hove around the med bay. I glanced at the human area and noticed that Paul was even up, in his night-wear. He usually wasn't up until ten or eleven local time, unless his company needed him to do something. The commotion must have woke up earlier than normal. As I studied the human for a nano, I felt confused. While he looked sad, he also had a look mixed in like he knew this could happen to her. How he would know that I wasn't sure.

"Not at all. No processor activity that Balm or I could detect." I responded to him.

I heard a scoff coming from Ironhide. "Just goes to show how far the Decepticons went with her. She was defending them and they had this hidden in her the whole time. Whatever they did, they are going to pay for this."

Well, at least he was in Pandimala's corner. But, I was almost positive that the Decepticons had nothing to do with what happened. If I had more evidence, I would say that it was probably somebot here in base...or, as I looked at Pitch, Sentinel, and Flamewar, some bots.

The clicks dragged on into cycles and I was starting to get worried. Optimus and Springer hadn't even come out of the room yet. Something had to be very wrong in there. It was hard to not just start pacing the room. But, I wanted to be alert for when they finally came out. Given that it was a non-school day, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee left to go and pick up their charges. Great. That meant that we would have even more tension once the kids found out.

Finally, the med bay doors opened and Ratchet, Optimus, and Springer walked out. Balm must be doing some post-op on Pandimala. But, as I looked at their faceplates, I felt dread creep into my circuits. No. I had to be imagining it. She couldn't…

"We tried all we could," Ratchet spoke up. "But there must have been an electrical build-up that we missed during our previous exams. Pandimala's processor is offline. There is nothing we can do but make everything painless before her spark follows. Given how long we think her processor has been out, we are giving her spark another twenty-four cycles top."

"This is a dark solar for us all," Optimus added, and I could feel the weight of pain in his vocals. "You are all to remain in the base for the foreseeable future." He then motioned to the med bay. "Ratchet, Springer, and I, later, will be moving Pandimala's chassis to a location where it will not be disturbed and her offlining will not take as long, so she won't have to suffer."

"You're moving her chassis out of the base?" Zarron spoke up before I could. He had a puzzled look on his faceplate. "Why?"

I wanted to know why Optimus was doing this as well. "It was not an easy decision to come to, but we felt it best that her chassis be far removed to make sure she would not be disturbed, come what may." Did he worry about Decepticon retaliation? How would he know they would know about it? I only knew that the Decepticons could keep track of her spark beat thanks to my talk with Starscream.

Unless… "You're going to go inform Megatron about this, aren't you?" I asked him as the pieces came together in my processor.

Not to my surprise, Optimus nodded. "Yes. Given the amount of time she was with the Decepticons, it is only right that I tell them. Also, I hope that they let go of what they did to cause Pandimala to change from her original human form." From the tone in the Prime's vocals, he was not going to budge on this.

"Do you think they would tell you what they did to her?" Paul finally spoke up about his offlining ex-employee.

Optimus turned to Paul and, even though I didn't think it was possible, his expression grew more grave, "I can only try Paul." He then turned to the rest of us. "Now, the rest of you are to leave this room, so we can move Pandimala's chassis. Prepare for the backlash that this will certainly cause."

I growled but listened to the Prime as I turned and made my way to one of the training rooms. This wasn't right, but I couldn't fight against it. Without any proof, outside of my not-so-legal meeting with the Decepticons, I couldn't argue against the Decepticons having done this to her. But, I knew they hadn't. No, I knew they wouldn't.

"Need to go a few rounds?" Zarron spoke up from next to me.

"This isn't right. I don't think Doc and Balm just missed that kind of electrical buildup." I growled as we continued to walk. "Something else had to have happened."

Zarron, to my surprise, nodded in agreement. "You haven't been wrong about Pandimala yet. And even if you had been, the situation just doesn't add up. It's been so long since the Decepticons had Pandimala, and Ratchet and Balm don't make such obvious mistakes like that. An investigation should be started by the base commander to verify everybot's whereabouts and check their rooms for contraband that could have been used to cause this in her."

"But that ain't happening." I finished for the mech as we arrived at the practice ring. While I wanted to go and warn the Decepticons about what happened to Pandimala, before Prime somehow messed it up, this base arrest threw that idea into the air. Somebot would notice if I left, even in my soliform. So, I was going to have to wait until Prime lifted this ban before going to the bar.

Slag it this was not going to end well.

Megatron's 1st P.O.V.

I was on edge, as was the rest of the bridge. Early in the solar, I had been awakened by a message from one of the drones in charge of keeping an optic on Pandimala's spark rate. I think his designation had been Aquila. At any rate, the mech's message informed me that Pandimala's spark rate had been at frantic levels for the past five clicks. I had immediately gone to the bridge to observe her spark rate myself.

But of course, the drones also had to contact the other high-ranking officers when her spark rate rose so I had been joined by a frantic Starscream and his trine along with Soundwave, Shockwave, and Knockout since he was the highest-ranking medic on the ship. We had debated over whether or not to go and retrieve the femme. Given the timing between revealing a part of our plan to the Autobot and this attack, it seemed likely that he must have changed his processor in helping us.

However, after a few clicks of our debating, her spark rate had started to decrease until it had stopped at a slightly higher than normal pace. After it stayed stable for about thirty more clicks, it was agreed that we would return to our rooms and get some more recharge. Later in the solar, once we were rested, we would check on her signal again. If it was still at that slight edge, then we would wait for Pandimala to contact us. If a solar would pass and she didn't contact us, we would send her a message to meet. If that were to fail, then I would give Starscream clearance to attack the Autobot base and bring our strategist back to us.

Now, I had just come out of recharge and, since there was no message from the drones waiting for me, that meant that Pandimala's spark rate hadn't changed. Of course, that also meant that there was no message from Pandimala to hopefully explain what had happened. My spark constricted in pain as I felt worried for my strategist. I wasn't sure why, but something didn't feel right about what was going on. The strange attack in the early morning, with no precursor for it to happen, to turn into the now almost normal spark rate we were seeing now.

The femme had done so much for the Decepticon cause. Without her influence, I knew where we would be right now. I had seen it in her memories. We would be even more frayed as a faction than the Autobots were at this click. I would have had to already survive multiple assassination attempts from within my faction, not including fighting the Autobots. Outside of a few moments, there were many close calls in that original timeline.

If those Autobots hurt her, I would rain down vengeance on their base the likes of which they had never even imagined before. If it wasn't for that femme, I would only have a fraction of the troops with me than I had right now, and those troops would, for the most part, be ready to offline me if they thought they could get away with it. She had become a beacon that had helped me lead my Decepticons toward a better future. There had been trouble along the way, but we had logically gotten through it together.

My spark twinged as I pictured the femme. I would make sure that she was returned to us, no matter what. The Nemesis was her home, and we Decepticons were a united front. I would bring her back to us. That, I swore to make happen.

I pushed those emotions to the side as I entered the bridge. Not to my surprise, I saw that the others were already there. While I could see that they were working on different projects that needed to be done, it did not pass my notice that they all were stealing glances at the spark rate on the monitor.

Noticing that Shockwave was working on the synthetic energon formula, part of which we were able to get from Pandimala's helm. While we had failed to get the formula from the actual cylinder, Pandimala's memories had given us enough information for Shockwave to start working on making it complete. "Shockwave, how goes your progress on the synthetic energon?"

The mech turned to me before answering, "My Lord, I believe I can say I have the formula about two-thirds of the way translated. I should have the full formula completed within fourteen solars."

"Very good Shockwave. For our plans to move forward, we will need this formula." The Decepticons had many plans working together, and much of the information was compartmentalized. Even Pandimala would be surprised at the different plans working in tandem at this click.

"Yes, Lord Megatron. I shall continue to focus on completing the formula as efficiently and quickly as I am able." Shockwave responded.

I then turned to Soundwave. "Soundwave, how does the restoration project planetside look to be progressing?"

"On schedule. We should complete when projected, my Lord," Soundwave responded before returning to his work.

That restoration project was going to give the Decepticons a very good advantage once the peace talks began. It would be difficult for the Autobots to not bring their best negotiating tactics if we were able to complete the restoration project in time. It was a big project, and I had been worried that it might not be finished when I wanted. But, keeping a steady rotation of drones going to the site, instead of keeping the same ones there, was making sure that work stayed steady.

Next, was Knockout. However, when I turned to ask about what he was working on, I could see that he seemed focused on the information on the screen in front of him. Best for me to just let him work without interruption. Knockout could be easily distractable on the best of solars, and given the stress with Pandimala's unknown condition, it was best to just let the mech focus.

However, that also meant that it was time for me to speak to the one mech I had been avoiding. When it came to Pandimala and her health, none of my Decepticons went up in arms faster than Starscream. It could be due to his seeker protocols...but that wouldn't explain the amount of worry Starscream made known whenever Pandimala had a medical emergency. Perhaps it was the fact that he was the first to discover her presence on the Nemesis. That sort of connection would have made the two close.

But, that didn't seem like it was everything either.

No, what was probably the case, was that Starscream realized just how much Pandimala had saved him from going through the misery he was destined to by her arrival. His over-protectiveness of the femme, while always present before the patch, seemed to move to the forefront after we watched her memories, and he saw everything that was supposed to befall him. Then, immediately after, she was taken by the Autobots before he could speak to her about it, and that probably made the seeker latch onto the femme who had, not only saved the rest of us but, saved him from a fate of disaster.

"Don't," Starscream spoke before I could say anything to him. From what I could see of his screen, he was just going over the remaining drones online. "Don't act like everything is just fine. Like everything is normal. Until we hear from Pandimala, I don't think I can take it." I noticed that his digits were slightly digging into the console in front of him. "She shouldn't have to go through all of that, but that fragging femme is too stubborn. Since the beginning of her time with those monsters, Pandimala has been in danger from them. While things seem to have gotten better, I can't forget all that they have done to her. Until I hear from her that she is alright, I can't deal with mindless chit-chat. Please." I could hear the pain in that last word as it came out of his vocals. This was affecting my second-in-command more than I thought.

While that normally would have gotten him a spot in the brig for at least a solar, if not more, I let it slide. The ship was tense right now with the unknown fact of Pandimala's condition. I was sure by now that the rest of the officers and the drones were aware of the spike in her spark beat this solar.

As I studied Starscream's faceplate, I finally realized what my strategist was to the mech. He seemed to have come to think of the femme like a sister...possibly even a split-spark twin in everything but actuality. Having her constantly in danger was affecting him as if it was one of his trine in trouble just as often. His processor and spark were probably screaming at him to go to her immediately and make sure, with his optics, that she was alright.

"Very well, Starscream." That was all I said in response before turning from the mech. He needed to sort out himself before I spoke to him more anyways. I would get nowhere with the mech as he was right now anyways.

Before I could find something to keep myself busy, the comm suddenly sounded, causing all of us to focus on the main monitor. For the briefest nano, I hoped that it was Panaimala. But, I quickly dashed that aside. She wouldn't be calling the Nemesis. It would be too great of a risk. What she would have done would be to get a ride to the bar and then get a hold of us...unless she had to flee the Autobots. But, again she wouldn't call the ship. She would just contact one of us directly if that had happened.

There was only one way to find out, however. Moving to the console, I picked up the request. "Megatron, are you there?" Well well, what a surprise that Optimus was calling on me.

"Optimus," I started, "What a coincidence you are calling. I was just thinking about you." Yes, and about how they would pay if they did anything to Pandimala.

But, the Prime's tone sounded heavy. There was something that I was not seeing. "I wish to speak with you Megatron, at neutral coordinates, alone."

My optics narrowed as I heard his words. Something was going on. Optimus never just wanted to meet to speak...and especially not alone. There was going to be more to this little meeting of ours than he was letting on. If it was any Autobot outside of Optimus...and possibly now Wheeljack since he was a part of our plans for peace, I would suspect a trap and refuse to meet with him alone. However, I had known Optimus longer than any other Autobot, and most Decepticons. I would meet with him. "Very well Optimus, send your coordinates and I will meet you there." I then ended the communication, though left open the ability for the Autobots to send me these coordinates.

While I waited, Starscream walked up to stand next to me. "The timing can't be a coincidence. This has to do with Pandimala."

That was what I was fearing. Perhaps the Prime thought we manipulated her into going against the Autobots who Paul, her previous employer, supported? I wouldn't know until I arrived at this meeting. There was no use in preparing for the worst when I wasn't sure what the Prime's motivations were for this. As the coordinates came in, and Soundwave started to input them, I responded to Starscream. "While that may be, we must keep an open processor. With Optimus, I've come to expect the unexpected from him." The ground bridge then opened. "Keep work on your projects while I am gone, and do not launch any attack against the Autobots unless they provoke us. This may take a while to finish. I will keep my comm open so you will be informed about what this meeting is about."

As I started to walk through the bridge, though, I couldn't stop the bad feeling I was having about this. The timing of this talk was worrisome, and my spark seemed to constrict slightly at that thought. But, as I connected my comm to the ship's main console, I readied myself for whatever the Prime was going to say. No matter what it was, this would be information that we needed to know and, as the leader of the Decepticons, I had to receive it.

Wheeljack: *angry* Authoress where are you?

Zarron: *puts servo on his shoulder* Don't worry, we will find her and make her undo this.

Wheeljack: Oh, she better. She's been putting me through enough to drop this on me. What the frag?

Authoress: *still hiding in super-secret spot* Well, at least he doesn't sound like he is going to tear me limb from limb.

AN: And here is the next chapter. Dang, I'm getting these out. So, Pandimala is out of commission and has been transported somewhere secret by Optimus, Ratchet, and Springer. Wheeljack seems halfway to panicking because he knows that he just got into the know about Pandimala's mission. Then, we have the Decepticons. They don't know that anything has majorly happened to her, but they know something is wrong and poor Starscream seems to be one incident away from going and offlining all the Autobots he comes across.

Before I give anything away, here are the next chapters (excluding season three names of course).

Chapter 51: Changing Fates

Chapter 52: ... (nope season 3)

Chapter 53:...(and again, season 3)

So, that's all for now. Please drop a review. I do enjoy them a lot. Either you can review, or just say hello! And as another reminder, please vote on the poll on my profile if you haven't already. It's getting ever closer to the end of this story and that means less time for the poll to stay open. Well, that's all I have to say for now. See you all next time! TTYL! *glad I finally finished a puzzle I started before I got sick*