Three months. It had been three months since Wheeljack left to go out on his own after he saved him from the Decepticons. For the past twenty-five minutes, Hotshot had been laying on his recharge-bed in his quarters, trying to go into recharge, but he couldn't stop wondering what Wheeljack was up to. During the last few weeks, whenever he wasn't training with either Scavenger or Sideswipe, or working on the spaceship, he was standing on a peak outside, watching out for any signs of Wheeljack. "I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for, Wheeljack," he sighed quietly, and, finally, he drifted to sleep.
The next day, Hotshot was helping out on the construction of the spaceship. "Hey, Red Alert," he said to the 'Bot next to him.
"Yes?" asked the medic.
"Do you think Wheeljack will eventually come back?"
After thinking it over for a second, Red Alert replies, "I don't know; learning the truth of his rescue was quite a shock to him, you know."
"Yeah, no kidding. I still remember the look on his face when he approached me about it," replied Hotshot.
"Just try to be patient, Hotshot," said Red Alert as he placed a reassuring hand on the young mech's shoulder, " and try not to get your hopes up."
Grinning, Hotshot replied, "Don't worry, Red, I won't."
All of this time, Sideswipe had been listening to Hotshot and Red Alert's conversation. Not that he meant to eavesdrop, but it was difficult not to considering they were about sixteen feet from each other. He struggled to keep his temper in check and his mouth shut when the two talked about Wheeljack's possible return. 'Talk about being saved by the bell,' Sideswipe commented to himself when the Minicon alarm went off; maybe looking for the latest of the little mechs would give his mind something else to think about.
The new Minicon's location was discovered to be in a open rocky area. While Red Alert stayed behind at the base, the rest of the Autobots went to retrieve it. Just after the 'Bots were assigned their search groups, lasers started firing on them from above. Optimus immediately recognized Megatron's laugh. "Autobots, take cover," he called to his compatriots. "Decepticons, destroy them," Megatron ordered. As the two sides exchanged laser fire, Laserbeak and Cyclonus went in search of the Minicon.
At the base, Alexis noticed that something strange happened to the Minicon signal and started typing on the computer. "What's wrong, Alexis?" asked Rad.
"This is really weird, you guys. The Minicon signal just stopped," she replied.
"Huh?" Carlos gasped, "What do you mean, it stopped?"
"I mean it stopped; the scanner's not picking it up anymore," elaborated a little annoyed Alexis.
"Let me try something, Alexis," Red Alert steps in and types away on the computer console, but doesn't have much luck either.
"How did that happen?" asked Billy.
"To tell you truth, I'm not really sure," a baffled Red Alert confessed.
Out on the battlefield, after ten minutes of searching, Laserbeak returns to Optimus' side and bobs his head. "What is it, Laserbeak?" Optimus asked. It looked to him like the tiny mechanical bird was trying to tell him something. Suddenly, Rad's voice starts emanating from the little robot itself.
"Optimus, you're not gonna believe this, but that recent Minicon signal just stopped, our scanners are not picking it up, like it was never there," said Rad.
"That must've been what Laserbeak was trying to tell me," Prime realized, "Have you found out the cause yet?"
"The only thing I can think of is that someone must've already activated the Minicon, sir," announced Red Alert's voice.
"Thanks for the info, guys," said Optimus and Laserbeak took to the air.
"Just hand over the Minicon and we'll be on our way, Optimus," called Megatron.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Megatron, but we're too late," Optimus announced, "Someone's already activated the Minicon."
Megatron, however, laughed, "Do you really expect me to believe that pathetic story?" That earned Megatron some shots in the side and right shoulder from Hotshot and Sideswipe, who had triumphant grins shining on their faces. "You succeeded in nothing, but earning yourselves a death wish, Autobots," Megatron growled, "Leader 1, power-link," and the Minicon combined with the Decepticon leader, who fired his now turned-up cannon barrel at the Autobots. Optimus, Hotshot, and Sideswipe are thrown back and their cover is blown completely into dust.
"Optimus, Hotshot, Sideswipe," Blurr gasped. When the smoke clears, the three fallen 'Bots are covered in dents and scratches, but nothing serious and they begin to get up.
Jetfire runs to Optimus' side and asks, "You alright, sir?"
"Yes, I'm fine," replies Prime, "Now, what do ya say we link-up?"
"Yes, sir," Jetfire salutes, and the Autobot Commander merges with his second-in-command into his Jet Convoy mode.
"Ok, Autobots," addresses Optimus, "lets take 'em down."
"Not so fast, Optimus," called Megatron, "you will do as I say and hand over your Minicons, or your little friend here is history," he holds up a yellow and silver Minicon, who looks a little crushed, and all of the Autobots gasp.
"Oh no," exclaims Rad back at the base, "he's got Sparkplug!"
"Now what is Optimus gonna do?" asked Fred.
"I'm not so sure if there's anything else he can do, Fred, except do what Megatron says," replies Alexis almost hopelessly.
"He can't!" exclaimed Billy, "If the Autobots do that, the Decepticons will become too powerful."
"He knows that, Billy," said Carlos, "but Optimus doesn't really have a choice." The group hopelessly watches the situation on the screen, via Laserbeak, feeling totally helpless and defeated.
Feeling frustrated and defeated, Optimus gives in and commands, "Autobots, give them your Minicons."
"No, Optimus," a voice calls out. It takes a minute, but everyone soon realizes that the voice came from Sparkplug himself; the Minicon was actually talking in English, not the beeping language that his kind has been associated with.
"Sparkplug?" Prime gasped.
"Let him do what he wants," Sparkplug pleaded, "just don't obey him."
Back at the base, the kids and Red Alert are just as surprised as everyone at the battlefield. "Man," said Carlos, "that was totally unexpected."
"Sparkplug," said Alexis, " he. . spoke."
"He actually talked in plain English," stated Billy, "I didn't think the Minicons could do that."
Then, Alexis remembers something, " Wait a minute you guys; this happened once before." The boys and Red Alert give her confused looks.
"What do you mean, Alexis?" asks Red Alert.
"Remember?" asks Alexis, "When Megatron first had the Skyboom Shield as well as the Star Saber? He declared a decisive battle, and just when he was about to take Optimus down for the count, Sparkplug stepped up as a shield for him."
"Yeah, I remember," realizes Rad, "Then, Sparkplug announced in plain English that he had locked onto the shield, and he brought it up just in time to save them both."
"And now, it's happening again. This is so freaky," said Fred.
At the battlefield, Sparkplug continues to plead, "Please, Optimus, don't make the others sacrifice their freedom for me; remember what happened the last time Megatron took some hostages?"
Optimus, however, doesn't change his mind, "I'm sorry, Sparkplug, but I will not risk your safety."
"No-" the Minicon begs, but is cut off when Megatron squeezes harder and he groans in pain.
"Quiet!" Megatron orders to the Minicon, and turns his attention back to Optimus, "My patience is running thin, Optimus; either you hand over the Minicons now, or you and your men get front row seats to watch me crush your partner like tinfoil." Then, as if to prove his point, he tightens his grip and Sparkplug screams in pain.
"I'm sorry my friends," Optimus said to the other Minicons, "go ahead."
The remaining Autobot Minicons start walking over to the Decepticons when a voice calls out, "No, that won't be necessary." As the 'Bots and 'Cons try to locate the source of the voice, a laser hits Megatron's hand and Sparkplug's flung into the air. As the Minicon falls to the ground, a gray hand catches him. Everyone can hardly believe their eyes when they spot the one who was responsible for the whole commotion- Wheeljack. "You might wanna get out of here," he said as he put Sparkplug down, "things could get ugly," and the Minicon ran to Optimus' side.
"Wheeljack, you traitor," Megatron growled.
"If there is one leader here who I've betrayed, it's Optimus, Megatron, not you," proclaimed the dark gray-blackish mech in a low voice.
"I saved your life all of those years ago, and this is the thanks I get?" said Megatron.
"That rescue was a lie, Megatron," Wheeljack growled, beginning to lose his cool, "just like everything else was in my life as a Decepticon; you took me in when I was both physically and emotionally vulnerable, and you knew that. Plus, you tricked me into hating the one person who was the first friend I ever had and treated me like one in return."
Even though he didn't mention his name, Hotshot knew Wheeljack was referring to him and he grinned as he said to himself, 'You tell 'im, Wheeljack.'
"And, you believed me, Wheeljack, you trusted me; why not trust and believe in me again?" Megatron asked.
After a short pause, Wheeljack reflects, "It's true; I did trust you," then presents his answer, "but that's in the past. I was a fool to trust you."
Megatron tries to win over Wheeljack again, "I gave you power you could only dream of at the time; you owe me your life."
"You gave me nothing and made me give up everything I had," Wheeljack shouted, "therefore, I owe you nothing." A pause follows Wheeljack's proclamation and he adds, "I would rather die than kill Hotshot."
With a scream of rage, Megatron aims his barrel at Wheeljack, "So be it," and fires. Wheeljack, however, jumps and avoids the blast and the two armies fight.
Megatron throws Wheeljack to the ground with a punch, rendering him unconscious. He approaches the mech. "Now," he said dangerously, "I'm going to do what I should've done years ago," and he aimed his cannon at him. However, he earns a shot in the back from Hotshot.
"You leave him alone, Mega-moron," demands the Autobot, "You've messed up his life enough already."
"How dare you interfere with me," Megatron growls and rams into Hotshot, pinning him against a wall. He grabs hold of Hotshot's neck with his right hand, lifts him up along the wall, and squeezes. "I've had just about enough of you getting in my way," said Megatron as Hotshot struggles in his grasp, trying desperately to pry the hand off. Meanwhile, Wheeljack wakes up to see Megatron strangling Hotshot.
"No," he says quietly enough that Megatron doesn't hear him, "Hotshot." Just then, Hotshot's hands drop to his side. "Wind Sheer!" calls Wheeljack, and a small dark gray-blackish and red jet streaks through the air and power-links onto Wheeljack's back. With the help of his Minicon partner, Wheeljack streaks into Megatron's side, and Hotshot falls to ground, coughing and rubbing his throat.
"That's two I owe you," he said in a raspy voice.
"Who's counting?" said Wheeljack as he kneels down.
"Your little friend there wouldn't happen to be the same Minicon we came here for, would he?" Hotshot pointed to the Minicon now on Wheeljack's shoulder.
Wheeljack chuckles, " This is Wind Sheer, my new partner." Wheeljack notices Megatron's getting up. Wind Sheer power-links back up with him, and, grabbing Hotshot, takes to the air just as a blast misses them, leaving a surprised Megatron in his wake.
"He must've found the Minicon first," he mused, " Decepticons, withdraw at once," and he warps out, followed by the other Decepticons.
"So that's why the Minicon signal went dead," realized Alexis after seeing the action on the viewscreen, "Wheeljack activated the Minicon before anyone could find it."
"Gotta admit, that ability Wheeljack's new Minicon gives him is slammin'," commented Carlos.
"Yeah, literally," chuckled Fred.
Back at the battlefield, Wheeljack lands on the ground and Wind Sheer detaches from him and takes a seat on his new partner's shoulder again. "Thanks for the help," said Hotshot.
Wheeljack nods and hears Optimus call, "Wheeljack."
"Yes?" asked Wheeljack, not sure of what to expect.
"I was just wondering, have you reached a decision yet?" asked Optimus.
A pause follows before Wheeljack finally admits, "Not really, Optimus; I still need some time to think on this," and he begins to leave the group.
"Still need some time?" asked Blurr, "You've been 'thinking on this' for three months."
"Yeah," agreed Jetfire, "I'd say it's about time you should have your mind made up."
"If it's acceptance back into the Autobot ranks as a whole that you're worried about, Wheeljack," said Scavenger, "like Optimus said, we can work something out."
"Right," said Optimus as he approached the dark gray mech, "So, what's it gonna be, Wheeljack?" Wheeljack looks at the bots around him and sees the encouragement written on their faces, except for one- Sideswipe, who had skepticism on his features, then nodded.
'Probably because someone gave him a dirty look that made him think twice,' Wheeljack thought to himself, but decided not to push it. Finally, he faces Optimus and salutes, "I wish to come back into the Autobot fold, sir." A gentle glow seems to emanate from Prime's optics, making Wheeljack suspect that the Autobot commander was smiling at him, even though he couldn't see it.
Optimus salutes back, "Wish granted." Hotshot approaches Wheeljack and holds out his fist, earning him a confused expression on Wheeljack's face. Grinning, Hotshot takes Wheeljack's hand, forms it into a fist, and slaps it with his own fist.
"It's a little Earth custom we picked up from the kids," he explained, "They say it's like a sign of friendship, if that's ok with you?" Wheeljack could hardly believe his audio receptors. Hotshot wanted to be friends with him again? After what seemed like an eternity, a small, shy grin formed on Wheeljack's face, he nodded, and slapped fists with his old friend a few more times. Everyone started laughing, happy to see that the two 'Bots were friends again. It took a little while, but, eventually, Wheeljack joined in and started laughing. His laugh, however, wasn't the evil laugh he had developed that Hotshot had heard from the first time they met on Earth; it was the friendly, cheerful laugh that the yellow mech remembered from the past, before Megatron started this whole mess.
"Alright, men," said Optimus after he got a hold of himself, "let's head back to the base," and they warped out.
At the base, a thought came into Rad's head. "Hey, c'mon you guys, lets go," he said.
"Yeah, we've got both a new 'Bot and a new Minicon to welcome into the team," said Billy.
"Although, for Wheeljack, it's 'welcome back'," corrected Carlos, and they, Red Alert included, ran to go meet the others at the Warpgate.
Later that day, Wheeljack laid down on his new recharge berth in his new quarters. It had been an overwhelming day. However, despite seeing so many of the group willing to give him a second chance, he couldn't help but notice that Sideswipe was the only person who seemed less than enthused about accepting him into their ranks. " Just give 'im some time; he'll come around," Jetfire had advised him. Wheeljack could understand why Sideswipe didn't trust him, and didn't blame the young mech. He did, however, hope Jetfire was right. With a tired sigh, Wheeljack turned onto his left side and proceeded to go into recharge; he had an appointment with Red Alert to go over the plans for the spaceship in the morning so he would be able to help in its construction, and he had a feeling that it was going to be a busy day.
Next Chapter: Tensions continue to rise in the Autobot ranks asSideswipe refuses to accept the reformed Wheeljack. But, when the former Decepticon gets badly damaged in battle saving him, will the rookie get a chanceto apologize?