Hello Dear Readers! I'm sorry for the hiatus. I don't really have an excuse, just some more writer's block. I've been second guessing how I'm going about the story and it's making it hard to put words on the page. That doesn't mean I'm giving up on it! I've been reading back over the chapters and considering what needs to happen next. I might diverge from the outline I have planned, not completely, but it's taking me time to get things back in order. As I have told you before, I am a new writer and have a lot to learn in terms of planning and management of my story. Thank you for being patient with me.

And thank you especially to my wonderful reviewers; SkyenhaMarisa, SolusPrimeLightblast, TomRiddlesTwin, .Princess, (Anonymous), Saylix, C, Rachel0424, branamxrie, mary123ciel, and Cinematronix.

Chapter 30

"Come on Prowler, we both know you shouldn't be held up in here all day. Let's go out and get some light. It'll be good for you!" Jazz pulled at Prowl's door wings, something only he was allowed to do.

As usual, the small silver mech had barged in and offered to get some energon with the SIC. Prowl, too engaged in his work, had politely refused. He would refuel later. His friend, however, had other plans. And just like that, Jazz had decided to turn an energon run into an entire outing.

Usually, Prowl would go along with whatever the mech wanted, he always seemed to know what was best for him anyway. But as his investigation kept turning up more dead ends, he had been increasing his efforts in finding the infiltrator. Every empty servo report he gave to Optimus Prime only cut into the mech's confidence.

Prowl pushed the smaller 'bot's arm away and seated himself back down. "Not now, Jazz." He sighed, "I'm busy with the latest security footage." The SIC promptly ignored the low energon warning flashing over his HUD. He could monitor his own refueling just fine.

Jazz looked skeptically at the black and white mech. "You know that stuff's scrapped, Prowler. Obsessing over it isn't going to make the perp appear in front of you."

"We lost Arcee, Jazz." He reminded him harshly, "She may not have been a carrier, but she was most likely the last femme of our kind. And then Mirage turned traitor. We are on the brink of extinction and someone is trying to push us over the edge. If I don't find out who, we could lose more 'bots."

Jazz's reply was caught in his vocalizer. Prowl could not be sure whether it was his words, or the defeated look on his faceplates, but the mech sobered quickly. After a moment of silent communication between the two of them, Jazz nodded and sat on one of the available chairs.

"Show me the footage from the that night again." He said, shifting into his role as Prime's Third in Command.

Grateful for the understanding, Prowl pulled the video clip onto his data pad. It was Jazz who first realized the cameras must have been put on a loop whenever the intruder made a move. Since there was no physical evidence of tampering, he must had been using some kind of remote device. With the help of Sideswipe, Prowl upgraded the cameras to withstand remote hacking. Then, the enemy also changed tactics. Prowl was greatly concerned as to how the individual had learned of the upgrade and prepared a response in only a few short weeks.

The target's quick adaptations made evidence gathering slow coming. Luckily, though, the new footage from three nights prior provided interesting results.

On the screen, what appeared to be a fuzzy white, human sized mass moved down the hallway, towards a storage closet outside the communications room. The two mechs had already surmised that, since upgrading security, the infiltrator could not access any communications hub, So they hacked into the system on the other side of the wall. Small holes in the closet leading to one of the servers on the other side confirmed the theory.

"So," Jazz stated after watching the video loop a few times, "since he can't hack the video feed, he's sending some kind of signal that disrupts the visuals around him. He's gotta be carrying some kind of device on him. We could set up scanners for odd wavelengths. See where that leads us."

Prowl had already considered this and agreed that it could lead to something. "If we figure out the wavelength used, we could calibrate the scanners to defeat it." Even if their enemy managed to get past yet another of Prowl's traps, they would still be one step closer to cornering him.

"Right, my mech." Jazz added, "Also, this new device has a fatal flaw. Look, see that." His digit tapped on the data pad, right to the white object.

Prowl quirked his optic ridge in just the slightest display of emotion, "A shadow?"

"Yup," the small mech chirped, "that confirms it's a real person prancin' across that hallway. And we can use that to our benefit."

Jazz's confidence intrigued Prowl. "How so?" He asked, mood lightening.

Jazz grinned knowingly. He was well versed in being the one who would "prance" around a target's base, so he knew how to find others like him. This was his element. And it was a welcome relief for an autobot who had been removed from all combative roles. "Well, right now, there's too much light, so the shadow's faded and blurry. But if we can cut some of it out, every other fixture should do the trick, then the shadow will be well defined. It could help us get an ID on our man. At the very least we can get an estimate of height and build."

It was a reasonable proposal, however obvious the ploy may seem to the enemy, it was worth a try. "Very well," Prowl replied, "I will run this by Prime."

"Nu uh, Prowler." Jazz snatched up the SIC's data pad. "I'll do that, you are gonna get some energon. I'll meet you in a tic, alright?"

Prowl spared no expense in the hard glare he sent his friend, grumbling, "Alright." It did not pay to argue with Jazz when he had his mind set on something.

Prowl left his office and headed towards the rec room, just as his systems were pinging him with more low energon warnings. Jazz could always tell when the SIC had reached his limit.

It was a risky game he was playing, letting the base activities continue as if nothing was going on. His first instinct was to lock everything down, but a perpetrator this well prepared would know how to hide in the chaos. He could only hope that the enemy would slip up at some point. If he captured them, then perhaps he could find out more about Mech's plot.

Sideswipe contently read from his data pad, a new manga gracing the screen. He was comfortably curled around his femme, one arm holding up his device, and the other carefully resting against Rin. He'd onlined a while ago and, not wanting to disturb the femme's rest, decided to entertain himself.

Through the bond, the front liner could sense that his twin must still be in the wash racks. He had left for the racks nearly half an hour ago. Even more concerning, he could feel Sunny's brooding frustration lapping at the edges of the bond, like a sea of mercury. Much to Sideswipe's disappointment, he had not joined him and Rin in the berth the night before, instead staying on his own side of the room.

Once whatever high he was experiencing from the femme's forgiveness subsided, Sunny started to revert back. It was worrying how he still wouldn't admit to enjoying her presence, but even he couldn't deny having a descent night with the femme.

It was rather uncharacteristic for Rin to just fall into recharge and it was oddly satisfying to see that side of her. She wasn't guarded like normal. To a gladiator, that trust meant a lot.

Images of Rin still popped up in his processor every so often, images that he should not have been imagining. The more he thought of it, the less abnormal it seemed. Sideswipe's initial fantasy had been pretty sparse. He lacked the experience to imagine exactly what it would feel like. All he had to go on was her external softness. The curiosity was almost palpable. Sideswipe knew that Sunny felt the same way. That, and the yellow mech wanted to beat him to scrap for it. Sunny was fully convinced these thoughts and feelings were a side effect of Sideswipe's own fragged up emotions and had nothing to do with him. But Sideswipe knew better.

However, when Sideswipe tried to push for details about their date, his brother was distant. They immediately switched to coms when Erin began to stir.

:I only did it to make things normal again.: He muttered, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself.

:Don't do that.: Sideswipe warned, :Don't go back when we've made so much progress. Don't you realize how happy we can be with her?: It was painful to watch Sunny do this to himself, to them.

:And what would she want with us?: he challenged hotly.

Sideswipe started for a moment, unsure of how to answer. :That's for her to decide.: He replied slowly.

Sunny's optics narrowed on the femme who was dozing peacefully unaware of the two mechs. :It's disgusting.: he muttered.

An initial shock of cold fury ran through Sideswipe's energon lines. No one should be allowed to talk about Rin like that. However, wanting to avoid another fight, he vented deeply and challenged Sunny's assessment, reverting to a mocking grin. :You know you let her touch you last night, right?: It was more than just a touch, though, and Sideswipe knew Sunny would never curse that display of affection and comfort Rin shared with him after learning some of the mech's most traumatic secrets.

The yellow mech growled verbally. :One more word and I'll reformat your faceplates.: He slammed the bond shut and turned away, but Sideswipe didn't let that outburst effect his victorious smile.

:I can't help it, Sunny.: Said mech paused before he reached the door, iving Sideswipe an opportunity to plead once more. :I wouldn't feel this way if I could stop it. But,: a fond smile appeared on the silver mech's faceplates, :how many femmes are like her? I really care about her. The rest is… mostly curiosity.:

Sideswipe could see Sunny's shoulders drop. :Sides, she's human,:

:But what if she wasn't?: The mech shot back, a dreamy look on his faceplates.

Sunny grabbed the door, signaling he wouldn't discuss this much further. :Wishing won't do you any good.:

:Just tell me, if she was a 'bot…: Sideswipe pushed, hoping to get his brother to realize just how good she was for them.

:That would be a different story.: he relented while stepping out.

Sideswipe's voice sobered. :Attraction aside, I know you care for her just as much as I do.:

He left without a response.

Hardly any light filtered through Erin's eyelids when she regained consciousness. Wherever she was, it was dark. Instinctively, she knew she was not in her own bed. This was different. The area around her was hard, and the sheets covering her were different. However, after a moment of caution, familiar sensations drifted towards her consciousness. She knew the smell of the comforter that rolled around her. And she could easily name the mechanical venting sounds coming from the large, solid being against whom her back was pressed.

Calmly, she blinked her eyes open, and stirred from a relatively comfortable position. Regardless of the change of venue, she had slept remarkably well for being with company. As soon as she showed signs of awakening, Sideswipe started. Erin turned her head to meet his gaze. The blue glow of his optics and the pale light of the data pad on his servos were the only things brightening the room. Through the shadows that molded over his faceplates, the soldier could see the mech's gentle smile.

"Good morning, sweetspark." He greeted, speaking barely above a whisper.

"Morning." She mumbled, not sure what she was supposed to say.

The bright spark on Sideswipe's optics told the soldier that the mech was, in fact, having a very good morning. Internally she admitted that the previous night had gotten away from her. She wanted to test a theory and could safely confirm all her suspicions. However, she had no idea what she wanted to do with this information.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had feelings for her. What the exact form of these emotions were, she couldn't be sure. But with Sideswipe it was mostly apparent. He might as well have woken her by reciting poetry. Internally, she cringed, not knowing how to proceed. She'd woken in men's beds before, but she always had a clear plan for escape mapped out, and she almost never expected to see them after her retreat. Sideswipe was her teammate, a teammate who was attracted to her, and whose berth she was laying in. Not that she had done anything regrettable the previous night, but there was an implied sense of intimacy she never intended to foster.

She was so off guard, she hadn't known what to say. Before Sideswipe could get two words in, she jumped up, citing she had a Tarnian lesson with Ironhide and he wouldn't like it if she was late. Aside the fact that the night before Erin had told Sideswipe she had no plans and no duties the next day, she hadn't even checked the time as she stood in the windowless room.

Before Sideswipe could respond to her obvious excuse, she fell off the berth, literally. She just slid to the edge without thinking and, without any light to guide her, stumbled onto the ground. A pitiful squeal left her lips, her heart stopping for a moment as she lost her balance and landed stiffly on her side. Sideswipe had shot forward to catch her, but he was too late. After the mist of fear cleared from her eyes, the young woman, even more embarrassed, stumbled to her feet and hurried to the door. Sideswipe's optics illuminated her way as his gaze followed her. As she reached the door she vainly attempted to wretch it open, hearing Sideswipe wheel up behind her. She paused, waiting for him to beg her to calm down and stay.

"Need a servo?" he asked quietly. The dejected sound of his voice could have torn her heart out. When she didn't answer, he pressed, "Are you still mad at me?"

Erin froze, finally looking up and seeing the hurt in the silver mech's optics. An uncomfortable guilt swelled in her chest. "No… no, Sideswipe, it's nothing against you." She rubbed her neck, embarrassed by her brash behavior. "I was just… I didn't want to be in the way, I've obviously been here all night and…" she wasn't sure how to respond, but she saw Sideswipe's shoulders drop, he didn't believe her. "Look," she tried to forced her body to relax, taking in a deep breath before letting it out quickly, "I was embarrassed." She admitted. "I didn't mean to fall asleep in your berth and I wasn't sure how to react waking up there."

Sideswipe appeared to mull her answer over in his mind before relaxing, a forced smile quirking his lip plates. "I'm sorry, that's our fault. We should have woken you and taken you back."

Erin could not bare to see him so upset. Signing, she waved away him apology. "No, you did nothing wrong. Thank you for letting me rest here. Besides," she added awkwardly, "I doubt there's anywhere safer for a girl to sleep."

At that, the mech seemed to brighten a little. "Any time." He replied.

His smiled warmed Erin. It was nice to know that someone cared for her feelings and opinions. Ever since she lost Cora, the soldier had never imagined she'd find another friend like her.

"So," Sideswipe interrupted Erin's thoughts, "do you still need to leave or can you hang out for a bit?"

Embarrassment and guilt pricked at Erin's conscious. "No, I can stay." She muttered awkwardly. She couldn't help but notice the mech's use of 'need' rather than 'want'. He was giving her an out. Instead, she stepped away from the door as Sideswipe finally turned on the lights.

He looked around the room, optics searching and coming up short if his faceplates was anything to go by. "Um," he started, suddenly looking unsure of himself, "why don't we just talk?"

Erin had a feeling she knew what he wanted to say. There was a lot to discuss, but neither of them could bring it up.

Quickly, Erin tried to redirect his focus. "So, where's Sunstreaker?" she asked, leaning against the leg of said mech's berth. After already falling once, Erin decided that she was done with heights for the day.

Sideswipe seemed to accept Erin's unspoken wish and sat on the ground, crossing his legs. "He's in the wash racks right now." He chuckled lightly, "I bet you a case of high grade he'll be there for a while."

She waved off his wager. "I'll pass. Not only is that a vague timeline, but you know you'd win that one either way."

With a good humored shrug he said, "Worth a shot."

In the end, they had a non-purposeful conversation and Erin was fine with that. She was learning that Sideswipe was someone she could be comfortable with in nearly any setting.

Eventually, though, Sideswipe nervously looked like he wanted to ask something, waving his servos in a very human gesture. Noticing this, Erin questioned what was on his mind. Though, she feared what he might say, she couldn't just ignore him. Sideswipe was usually so confident and occasionally cocky, seeing him in such a state wrecked Erin.

"Well," he started, looking off to the side, "I was just thinking that it's been a while since I heard you sing and I was wondering whether you would be willing to sing something now."

The soldier blinked in surprise. Not only was that completely different from what she had been expecting, but Sideswipe usually threw caution to the wind when making such requests. In fact, he was often quite blatant when he wanted to hear her sing. When he asked like this, Erin couldn't find it in herself to deny him, especially upon seeing the hopeful glimmer in his optics.

It had been a while since she'd sung for either him or his brother but she had begun to even enjoy those little performances; mostly because of how much they seemed to appreciate them.

Closing her eyes, Erin recalled one of her favorites, "All around me are familiar faces. Worn out places, worn out faces…"

Unbeknownst to her, Sunstreaker was leaning on the other side of the doorway, listening with closed optics.

Erin felt awkward sitting on a human sized sofa, after having grown so accustomed to the autobot rec room. However, she felt the need to be around her own kind for a while, even if her own kind were a bunch of drunken men.

It all started when Franky invited her to a game of poker. Even he seemed sure she wouldn't agree, since she'd turned him down every other time. However, on this occasion, Erin decided to take the man up on the offer. Franky, in turn, seemed pleasantly surprised.

After leaving Sideswipe so she could grab some breakfast for herself, the soldier decided that she needed some space to think. Though, she was grateful that Sideswipe had convinced her to stay a little longer, so she could eventually leave on better terms with the mech. A lot had gone on in the past twenty four hours and Erin needed time to process it. And maybe spend the evening with her own kind for once. Not only had she practically gone on a date with Sunstreaker, whom some men had dubbed 'The Yellow Demon', but the twins loaded many lifetimes worth of personal history on her. While she was receptive to it, and appreciated their trust, it would take more than a single evening to process all she had learned about them, mainly Sunstreaker. Ruststreaker. Just taking in through hindsight, Erin would find herself shuttering. She was also thankful to have not seen Sunstreaker that morning, having apparently missed him when he first woke and whenever he returned. She wouldn't know what to say.

The game went smoothly, Erin didn't win, but there were no real stakes. Her fellow soldiers were surprisingly appropriate, aside from Franky of course. Though, Erin had could sense some of that behavior was rooted in fear, if the cautious glances cast her way were any hint. After Living on Diego Garcia for a year, most of the men knew to respect Erin's boundaries. That, and none of them wanted to offend Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's teammate.

Afterwards, Erin once again agreed to join Franky, this time in the human rec room. While she'd seen it before, Erin had before never spent more than a few seconds there. It was large with high ceilings and a doorway sized to fit the occasional cybertronian who visited. Erin had heard how Jazz would frequent the shared space but the only 'bot there at the time was Que.

Franky sat just outside Erin's comfort zone, an arm casually hanging on the top of the couch so it stretched just over her head. There banter was light enough, though Franky couldn't seem to resist the occasional innuendo. Personally, Erin thought Sideswipe's sexualized jokes were far more entertaining. That may have had something to do with the fact of how thirsty the man was acting. She accepts one invitation and he was apparent how he was already thinking of afterhours activities.

However, the woman's focus drifted away from her perverted companion and to the mech who swung his arms animatedly as he described a past battle, the energon in his cube purple, rather than the usual blue.

From that side of the room, Adam seemed to be listening intently to Que's slurred words, an amused smile on his face. In return, he appeared to be the mech's main focus.

"They seem to be hitting it off." Erin commented, nodding to the pair.

Franky followed her line of sight. "Yeah, that's been going on for a while. Of course you wouldn't know, since you hardly come up here." There was a hint of interest in his voice which Erin thoroughly ignored.

Instead, she turned on him, amusement in her gaze, "I'm surprised you're willing to be this close to an autobot without shaking."

"Ha ha." He said unamused. "I'm not scared. I leave them alone and they leave me alone." Using the arm which was not lurking over Erin's shoulder, he reached for his open beer and took a long swig.

Erin snorted as his reasoning. "Mechs are not spiders and they wouldn't just attack you."

"Even the yellow one?" Franky quirked his brow challengingly before emptying the bottle.

The woman felt some kind of prickling sensation beneath her skin, pairing with distinctive annoyance. "Sunstreaker isn't the loose cannon you think he is." She shot back defensively. In the back of her mind, Erin reminded herself, And he wasn't always yellow. He suffered a lot before he could get that beautiful color on his armor and Francis spat out the word as if it meant nothing. Internally, Erin knew she was being unreasonable, Franky wasn't actually attacking Sunstreaker's appearance but that logic failed to calm the woman's nerves.

The man raised both hands in a placating gesture, "I never said he was," he quickly responded before adding with a mutter, "but he at least has a history of threatening people."

Aggravated, Erin leaned away from the man, "He's just defensive around people and I don't blame him." She added with an accusing glare. There were too many people like Franky who would never even give any of the mechs a chance. Other 'bots wouldn't even give the twins an opportunity to prove themselves. Mechs like Wheeljack and Mirage always assumed the worst of them. At least the latter wasn't around anymore. The twins deserved better.

Their attention was diverted by Que stumbling to his pedes, issuing an apology to the 'bot-sized concrete couch he accidentally kicked. Adam followed him out, waving to Erin and Franky as he left with the scientist.

"Where are they going?" she asked, mostly to herself.

Nevertheless, Franky responded, "Adam usually walks him back after he's had too much to drink, makes sure he doesn't fall asleep in random places or whatever."

Erin looked back to the man in surprise, "Back to the berth in his lab?"

"I don't know where he sleeps." However dismissive he sounded, Franky still looked relieved to have steered away from the previous conversation. "Well," he stretched his arms, "I'm gonna hit the sack. How about I walk you back?" he added while waggling his eyebrows.

"No." she replied flatly before adding, "I'm going on a run. I'll see you tomorrow." Without another word, she left the disappointed looking man and headed to the nearby track which was well lit in the evening. She didn't think she was ready to sleep just yet, not while so many thoughts were clouding her mind.

She saw Adam and Que turn the corner before being engulfed into the night. She never knew they had any kind of friendship and they seemed close. Granted, Que was friendly with anyone, but Adam never seemed to care about interacting with the autobots.

The cold chill of suspicion shrouded Erin's thoughts. She'd always been around Adam because he seemed different with that calm, unaffected gaze of his. There was something about him Erin was trying to figure out whenever she observed him. Especially since he seemed to do the same to her.

Putting caution aside, Erin sprinted after the pair, not seeing them all the way to the hanger. She headed for the quickest route to Que's lab. There was always the chance she was being paranoid, but something seemed off. Few humans went to the autobot hanger, outside the common areas of course. Erin had long known she was suspected of Mech involvement. Prowl and Jazz watched her constantly. The soldier idly wondered whether Adam was the recipient of the same suspicion. Not being a member of Team Prime himself, he had no reason to be on that side of the base. Plus, Que's lab had no surrounding cameras, to avoid risk of a hacker gaining sensitive information. Instead, cameras watched either side entrance off the hallway so anyone going in or out was recorded. Erin had once thought Mech was able to breach security and take Que's experimental weapon because of the scientist's unbridled friendliness, perhaps even allowing non Team Prime members access to his lab. Yet Adam was taking a rather inebriated Que right to the entrance.

However, before Erin could enter the hallway, she came face to face with Adam, returning from his 'bot delivery. The man stood over her, unflinching while Erin quickly schooled her featured.

"Adam." She greeted, ensuring her breathing was under control.

He nodded back on his usual silence.

"Going back to the barracks?" she asked conversationally.

Again he nodded, his eyes casting a questioning glance at her.

Calmly, she explained, "I'm headed to see the twins."

"It's late." He replied, voice barely above a whisper.

Before Erin could respond, her data pad received an alert, the chime cutting through the thick atmosphere between the two. "Excuse me." She retreated a few paces and pulled out the offending device. The message was a level 1 alert from Prowl, "Meet in the War Room." Erin responded with an affirmative before casting one last glance at Adam. "I have to go." She turned on her heels and ran for the other corridor, leaving Adam alone.

*The song is "Mad World" by Tears for Fears.