Author's Note: I got The Two Towers soundtrack today! ^_^ It's the best! The movie comes out next weak and I really recommend you go and see it. I might have more references to it later in the story. At the very least you'll know who Éowyn and Éomer are. I had a request to explain Silverbolt's opinion on this so here it is.

Chapter 15

Dinobot woke nearly ten hours later due to something that was making a buzzing sound. Instinctively, he reached for the chronometer next to his bed. After failing to make the noise stop, he became annoyed. Angry, he hurled the chronometer across the room. It hit the wall and smashed to pieces, but the noise continued. Dinobot raised his head and looked around his quarters before realizing that the sound was actually coming from outside. Someone was at the door.

"Leave!" he shouted, but whoever was at the door was very persistent.

"Yo, ya overgrown iguana! Ya know what time it is?"

"Vermin?" the former Predacon opened the door just slightly, but it was enough for the transmetal rat, who rolled inside and transformed to robot mode. Dinobot growled in frustration. "Have the curtsey to promptly exit my quarters, garbage breath, before I throw you out."

"Sheesh don't shoot the messenger, chopperface. Trust me I ain't in this hole-in-the-wall ya call quarters for fun. It just so happens that the boss monkey has been tryin' to reach ya. Ya been dead or somethin' ?"

"Possibly, yes," he growled. "Now what does the primate want of me?"

"Ya got mornin' patrol with the bird-dog. Did ya forget?"

Dinobot's features screwed up. He realized that not only did the day start badly but that it would get even worse. Under normal circumstances, the Fuzor was not too bad on patrols. He was good natured and a bit naive by Dinobot's standards. However if anything could be said about Silverbolt it was that he was extremely protective of his mate.

"I will be there soon. Now get out!" he picked up the transmetal rat by the scarf of his neck and literally threw him out the door.

* * * * * * * * * *

The future inhabitance of earth known as humans would come to adore the landscape of the Rocky Mountains. They would call the site the Grand Canyon, and come from all over the globe to see it. But that was four million years into the future. The bearer of the silver wings who soared over the scene could only see a thin blue shimmer that was the river fated to carve the mountains to its will. Mighty rocks would break under its persistent pounding, and the earth itself would wash away. Of coarse that was too long away for Silverbolt to worry about.

"Optimus reported traces of Predacon activity in this sector," he called down to the velociraptor from his position in the sky. "I suggest we begin our search with the rock formation up ahead."

"As you like," his companion muttered.

The Fuzor raised an eyebrow. Wolf ears perked up as Silverbolt spread his wings, gliding down. As soon as his eagle talent touched the ground, he transformed to robot mode and faced Dinobot.

"Is something troubling you, Dinobot?" he peered at the raptor.

"Mind your own business, Fuzor," he spat with a growl.

"I believe it is my business," Silverbolt replied, unmoved by the insult, "at the very least, it is my concern. If my friend is in trouble, I would like to help."

Dinobot regarded the Maximal Fuzor with a mixture of distrust and apprehension. If Silverbolt knew of the events that took place the previous evening, he was hiding it well. Perhaps he was truly concerned. After all, the silver transformer was the last bot in this war who would plot or scheme something. He usually voiced his opinion without regard for what would be thought of him later. He was not at fault, in which case Dinobot had no right to be angry with him.

"My apologies, Silverbolt. It is true that I am concerned about something."

Silverbolt frowned and cocked his head to the side. "You called me by name," he observed. "Is that respect I sense in your voice, Dinobot?"

"Is that sarcasm?" he stalked forward a few feet.

"Not all, my friend," the Fuzor replied honestly. "I am mearly observing the fact that I may be able to assist you in finding the solution to your situation... Taratron."

The raptor froze in his tracks. So he did know after all. "Does she inform you of everything?" he faced Silverbolt once again.

"I hope so."

"And you have yet to attempted to attack me?"

"Blackarachnia personally asked me not to do so," the other male smiled, but then his face became serious. "What happened, Dinobot? I refuse to believe that you committed this atrocious act of betrayal with no remorse. Perhaps there are vital details of which I am unaware?"

"If she recalled everything I told her, then there is nothing to add."

They exchanged looks of suspicion. On his part, Dinobot was wondering what was going through the Fuzor's mind. Surely Silverbolt must have been furious, even if he didn't show it. This puzzled the former Predacon, for such behavior was extremely out of character for the silver transformer. If he was truly not angry, what was he thinking? As it happened Dinobot didn't have to wait long to find out. Silverbolt gave him a solem nod, then his features turned to an understanding smile.

"I am glad to hear it."

"Why?" the raptor was now thoughrely confused. He did not follow the Fuzor's logic at all.

"Because it means that you truly cared for her," seeing that Dinobot was not understandimg him, he attempted to explain better. "You did this because the Tripredicus council was planing to execute her, correct?" Dinobot nodded. "Your intention was to save her life; though I have no doubt there was a better way, the intention itself was in the right place.

"What you still fail to realize is that your priority was different from her own. Yours was to save her life, even if it came down to reprogramming. Hers was not to lose her scense of self. Understand, my friend, that she does not fear death, but she does fear Tarantulas and his capability to make her lose the knowledge of who she is."

For the first time since they met, Dinobot regarded Silverbolt with high respect. He saw a warrior not only of the sword and battle but of wisdom.

"You speak the truth," he replied. "I only whish I saw it earlier, before it was too late."

"Ah but that is another tragic piece to this tale. There was no possible way for you to recognize her priorities or fears, because she had not realized what they truly were at the time. Tarantulas seems to posses the kind of evil whose full magnitude can not be recognized unless one experiences it directly. "You are not an evil man, Dinobot. Yes, you made a bad choice, but that does not make you an evil man."

"I appreciate that," he replied sincerely, "but I do not deserve your forgiveness."

"Many do not deserve what they have," Silverbolt observed, "and others who have nothing deserve the world. Can you give them that? Then do not be so quick to deal out judgment, especially on yourself."